Guyana Times International

Anti-money Laundering Unit to be set up by October

Guyana will soon be establishing a Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) that will be dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of suspected financial transactions.

Cabinet on Tuesday approved a ‘turn key’ approach for the creation and operationalisation of the unit. Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon told the media of this development on Wednesday.

He said the unit will be based at Police headquarters, Eve Leary, under the supervision of acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud and will collaborate with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

Dr Luncheon said the SOCU is intended to be Guyana’s response to its treaty obligation to investigate suspicious financial transactions that are related to money laundering and its creation is in response to non-parliamentary recommendations from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

The HPS said Cabinet’s approval will

be used for the recruitment of investigators from suitable members of the Joint Services and the security sector and it is anticipated that the unit would be in place within the next 12 to 14 weeks. Funding for its operations has also been approved by Cabinet.

Bilateral and multinational partners have been approached and have shown interest in supporting the SOCU, Dr Luncheon said. It is the intention to have as soon as possible a professional and competent capacity in Guyana to investigate such offences, he added.

The HPS further explained that the FIU is

tasked with monitoring the financial sector and information compiled will be passed on to the SOCU. Investigations will follow to establish whether transactions are indeed money laundering or financing terrorism. If so, prosecution would follow.

Dr Luncheon added that the FIU operates without reference to the administration, Police or Cabinet and information will be going straight to the SOCU. Investigators for the SOCU will receive training from a trained and skilled foreign investigator, who will act as a partner to the SOCU Head for the next three years.

NY landlord charged with dismembering Guyanese woman

- body parts found scattered in different parts of Long Island

A42-year-old New York woman has been charged in the killing of a missing Guyanese mother of four whose partially dismembered body was found in a parking lot on Long Island earlier this month, police say.

NBC 4 New York says that Leah Cuevas was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Chinelle Latoya Browne, who lived at the same Brooklyn address as the 42-year-old suspect.

Browne was last seen at her home in Brownsville on July 5, police say. Her dismembered remains were discovered in a vacant parking lot in Bay Shore early

on July 8 by people going to the nearby Fire Island ferry. Law enforcement sources told NBC 4 New York at the time that the woman’s legs had been partially cut off.

Sources told NBC 4 New York Wednesday night that that Cuevas, the landlord, may have had a dispute with Browne before her death. Investigators are also looking to see if a second person played a role in disposing the victim’s body and plan to question Cuevas’ husband about the case. Cuevas was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals yesterday (Wednesday) and will be arraigned in Islip today (Thursday), the report said.

Police couldn’t confirm Wednesday night if the body parts dumped in lawns in Hempstead earlier this month are Browne’s.

On July 17, a severed head was found on Boylston Street in Hempstead. On July 9, a homeowner found an arm with women’s clothing attached to it in his front yard on Webb Avenue. The next day, another person discovered another arm in their yard about a halfmile away, near Stewart Avenue and Cornell Street, the report said. Investigators say DNA tests were being done on the body parts to see if they matched Browne’s.

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EDITORIAL

Cricket in nation-building

There is the cliché, “Sports: it’s not just a game!” The three games played by the Guyana Amazon Warriors during the last week proved in so many ways, that like all clichés, it expresses an almost universal truth. That is why expressions become clichéd.

For such a small nation as ours, commentators of all persuasions have been forced to remark on the deleterious impact of our “divisiveness”. Of recent, there has been greater openness in accepting that our salient cleavage, as far as negative outcomes are concerned, is “ethnicity”. Even those who cleave to ideologies such as Marxism, which denies the “reality” of such divisions and once dubbed it “false consciousness”, have been forced to grapple with its salience.

The question posed is: “What is it that can make us see past our ethnic divisions and begin to act and work as a nation that accepts its fate as the fruits of a collective endeavour?” There have been several proposals – not the least being the said ideologies undergirding the programmes of most of the political parties in the post WWII era and operationalised in their activities in and out of Government. Most kindly, they can all be said to have “failed”.

Like most human behavioural patterns, ethnic salience is not the result of any one factor, and as a corollary, it cannot be addressed through any one “silver bullet”. But what we do know is that ethnicity is an affective orientation – much of its salience is not due to the “rational choice” premised on the social sciences, but also on emotions and feelings. And one of the ways to move past its gravitational pull, without necessarily invalidating its relevance for identity, is to cultivate positive emotions in the populace as a whole, around events that are not tied to ethnicity.

And this is where sport, in general, and cricket, in particular, comes in. Cricket is not a game tied to any one group in Guyana, or even in the wider Caribbean. It is the game of all our people. In that remarkable book of his, “Beyond the Boundary”, CLR James exposed us to the deep and wide wellsprings of the game in our psyches. And during the aforementioned three games at the National Stadium, Providence by the Warriors, the truth of James’ epiphany came alive.

Guyanese of all ethnicities became as one when they cheered, fretted, screamed and waved their flags for THEIR team. They wore the Warriors colours to identify with their talisman. Strangers hugged and gave high fives when victory came; and consoled each other (“they did their best”) when victory was finally denied.

Cricket demonstrated that we can be united. What we would like to suggest is that the Government must design a national sport policy, with cricket at its centre, as an integral part of our overall thrust to create “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

While it may be claimed that we do, in fact, have a “sports policy”, in our estimation, as executed in practice, it does not demonstrate adequate acceptance of the vital importance of sport in the holistic development of the individual, the community and the nation. And, especially of its importance in transcending cleavages, of all types. The Football World Cup in Brazil recently demonstrated the effect of another “national sport” in bringing together a nation of 200 million. Imagine what a focused, national programme in cricket can do for us.

One immediate action by a Government pushing cricket in a national sports programme is to make the game part of the school curriculum from nursery to university. As shown by the success of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL), modern cricket is big business and can be significant contributors to the GDP, as any of the “traditional” industries.

In the language of the economists, the transcendence of ethnic boundaries can eventually become merely a positive “externality”.

It’s official: UG tuition fees to increase from September

By Gomatie GanGadin

The University of Guyana’ administrative council on Tuesday unanimously voted for the current tuition fees to be increased come September. The adjusted fee applies to both new and continuing students who are pursing programmes which previously attracted a fee of Gy$127,000.

Speaking to the Guyana Times International on Tuesday afternoon, Registrar of the University of Guyana, Vincent Alexander, disclosed that the administration will be implementing the increases from the new semester which begins in September, since they are of the view that it is the best course to take if the university is to survive in the coming days.

He said the application of the new fees was determined following a series of consultations held with current students and other stakeholders in June 2014.

Incremental increase

According to a release from the institution, continuing Guyanese students will be required to pay an incremental increase beginning with Gy$130,000 in 2014, Gy$145,000 in 2015 and Gy$160,000 in 2016, in addition to the Gy$50,000 Facilities Fee, which replaces the various miscellaneous fees they previously paid.

However, the fees for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Science Degree in Optometry, Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Imaging, Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy, Bachelor of Science

Degree in Rehabilitation Sciences, Bachelor of Science Dental Surgery, Masters of Science in Environmental Management, Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management-Climate Change and Disaster Management and Natural Resource Management, Bachelor of Laws, Commonwealth Master of Business Administration, Commonwealth Master of Public Administration, Master in Education, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Tourism Studies and the Associate Degree in Tourism Studies programmes will not be adjusted, but the students pursuing these programmes will be required to pay the Facilities Fee of Gy$50,000.

The new Guyanese students who will be commencing studies from September at the institution will be required to pay Gy$210,000, inclusive of the Facilities Fee for most programmes, except for those listed above.

Meanwhile, though the fees

for foreign students have not been adjusted, they will be required to pay the US$ 250 facilities fee instead of the various miscellaneous fees, which they were required to previously pay.

According to the University’s administration, the fee adjustment has become necessary because of the rising cost of providing quality education not only in Guyana, but worldwide.

It was noted that inflation has negatively affected the allocation to the University from the Government, making the current tuition fees paid by students unsustainable and unrealistic since at the time when fees were reinstated in 1994, it was the understanding that adjustments would have been made to reflect the change in the exchange rates. The fee at that time was pegged at US$ 1000.

Academic services

The university expects that this added revenue will be used to create new academic services and facilities, help hire new faculty staff and expand and improve programme offerings.

The university administration said that while it is aware that many of its students and their families find it difficult to finance tertiary education, they can only continue to deliver to our students if the university is able to cover its operational costs.

Meanwhile, the increase has received mixed reviews from various stakeholders across the board. While a large number of students particularly those at the Tain Campus at Berbice, have rejected the idea of an increase, other stakeholders have endorsed the move by the university.

Expert NPTAB panel picks NEW GPC

…in Pharma Pre-Qualification exercise

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon on Wednesday announced that an expert panel has selected NEW GPC INC as the only pre-qualified supplier of drugs to the health sector for the 2014-2016 period. And again he was at pains to point out that internationally-recognised (World Bank) transparent standards were used in the selection process, which was free from any government control and influence.

Only after this prequalification selection, as is legally specified, was the Cabinet asked for its “no objection” which was given. The announcement comes months after government had announced it was revisiting the procurement process for pharmaceuticals and medicines following criticism -the third such activity for the past decade.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing Dr Luncheon comprehensively rubbished assertions again that government favours the NEW GPC in the

process, telling reporters that the pharmaceutical company was the only one which had passed the pre qualification process for the supply of drugs for all of the public medical institutions in Guyana and as such Cabinet has given it’s no objection to the company being awarded the contracts.

This however was met with comments from several media representatives who were at the briefing who questioned the Cabinet Secretary as to whether it was a case of ‘sole sourcing’ and why other companies did not qualify in the process while asking too whether Cabinet had a role to play in making the decision. Realising the reporters confusing the diametrically opposed process of “sole sourcing” versus “competitive pre-qualification”, Luncheon explained that that it was not a matter of sole sourcing but rather, a case of which company had best satisfied the open criteria which the procurement board has in place for the selection and awarding of con-

tracts.

“Other companies submitted their bids but when subjected to the array of analysis and the requirements to be met, only one company survived and that company was the NEW GPC …The pre qualification process sees the procurement committee publicly putting out the requests for those who are interested in qualifying or pre qualifying in any category of prequalification. It starts out as a public activity and the respondents are then subjected to a fairly intensive array of the assessment according to an established matrix, under the supervision of the tender board.

At its conclusion, a list of those who pre qualify is submitted to Cabinet for it to grant it’s no objection or not”, Dr Luncheon explained.

The suggestion was made, by some media representatives, without any evidence, that the contract was awarded to the company based on the fact that the owner of NEW GPC, Dr. Rajnisinghi Ramroop is a close friend of former president, Bharrat Jagdeo and not on the criteria.

However, the Cabinet Secretary debunked the claims, noting that the government was not operating on a “give away” agenda but had given its no objection based on the

high standards of safety which is practiced by the company especially at a time when the pharmaceutical market is being flooded with counterfeit products.

Additionally, this year, the application for Pre-Qualification had explicitly spelt out the point system that was utilised in the 2011-2013 criteria.

There were 200 maximum points that could have been allocated to bidders according to how they scored on a number of questions in the categories of General Information, Financial Capacity, Infrastructure, Previous Experience, Established Linkages, Manufacturer/

Distributor Information, Quality Information and Product Information.

In the interest of the integrity of the process, three unnamed experts were selected by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to select local pre-qualified suppliers, based on their ability to satisfy the publicly stated criteria.

In some press reports, it was stated that international suppliers were locked out of the process, but according to officials international firms were rolled over and bids were solicited from all Caricom nations.

In terms of giving priority to local companies that have satisfied other criteria, this is a standard procurement practice the world over once their prices are in line with those from the abovementioned multilateral agencies.

Additionally, local companies pay the blanket two per cent Stamp Tax, hire locals and pay local salaries, from which Pay as You Earn (PAYE)

Soloman drops out of PNCR leadership race

…but seeks position of Chairman

BY UTAMU BELLE

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon has dropped out of the race for leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) his key backers in Linden have confirmed on Wednesday.

Solomon earlier in the day had issued a statement thanking persons for nominating him and outlining vaguely his vision for the party.

However, sources close to him said he will run for the position of Chairman of the party. Solomon and former General Secretary Aubrey Norton were nominated to challenge Granger for the post as leader. Norton draws strong support from the Region 10 constituency.

Prominent representatives of the PNCR

Region 10 party office on Wednesday told Guyana Times International that Solomon will no longer be among the contenders challenging Granger at this weekend’s 18th Biennial Congress.

They noted however, that while the Region 10 Chairman declined the offer to be a front-runner at the Congress, he will still be contesting for the position of Party Chairman, along with Basil Williams as was previously announced. The Congress is slated to be held from Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27 at Congress Place, Sophia.

PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke had previously announced that Granger, Norton and Solomon had accepted the nominations. However, the party representatives on Wednesday stated that

the disclosure of the refusal to contest was made by Solomon himself, during a party meeting, attended by approximately 60 persons in Linden on the said morning. Not done

PNCR member

Maurice Butters said a Committee was expected to be established by the party, to examine the front-runners of the Congress, but according to information received, such was not done.

“The party, based on the Constitution, should establish a Credential Committee, which will go through the list of delegates and nominees, and then they make such a pronouncement, but I heard that that was not the case, the Committee did not meet,” he stated.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Solomon in a statement had

Expert NPTAB panel...

is deducted in addition to paying the 35 per cent Corporate Tax on profits. There are, of course, the externalities in fostering upstream and downstream linkages, both with the local scientific community as well as other manufacturers. In Guyana, medicines and medical supplies are procured through two mechanisms: open bid-

ding and via bidding by pre-qualified suppliers. The latter was recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank for comprehensive coun-

said he was humbled by the confidence reposed in him to be nominated for positions of Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Committee Member. “The Central Executive is a leadership arm of party and as part of this leadership, it would be a humbling experience to serve people at a larger scale,” the Region 10 Chairman said.

He noted that leaders evolve from many different areas and becoming a national figure is one of strategic positioning or transformation. “The people’s hope is that as a member of the party’s leadership, I will be in a position to influence decision-making that will see the party optimise its potential. I hope to fulfil their vision, regarding building and uniting the party and to provide leadership that will bring about growth and consolidation of par-

ty resources to effectively address and respond to the political challenges and dynamics of this era: crime, injustice, joblessness, corruption and youth hopelessness. I hope to put the history of the party in its proper perspective, for there are lots to be proud of and lots of achievements that have been either distorted or denied.”

Chances good

On his chances of being elected, Solomon

said these were good. “Very good. From feedback, people are ripe for change, both in the party and outside of the party. The PNCR is a party that is alive and in constant motion. We have to sometimes take cues from public opinion. I believe from the support I have, the feedback and encouragement, I represent the change that the party needs. The reality is though, that my chances for being elected are not only hinged on the will of the people but the circumstances under which these are expressed. I would encourage all who support change to safeguard their democracy within the party the same as we seek to safeguard it nationally and as other parties in other nations do also. The PNCR is the only party where such democracy exists and we must constantly safeguard it.”

try purchases so as to address the complexities and scale of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

The last change in procurement was at the end of 2010, when, following the recommendation of the Auditor General, medicines and certain medical supplies began to be procured through a system of competitive bidding to produce the list of pre-qualified suppliers. This list would be compiled after an open tender process, using public tendering modelled after a WHO model. It was stated quite clearly that the list would be valid between 2011-2013.

A “Pre-qualification Questionnaire” by the National Procurement Administration and Tender Board (NPATB) spelled out the criteria necessary for compliance, even as it noted that the traditional international suppliers PAHO/WHO, the UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP and IDA were automatically qualified.

Suppliers also had to be legally registered in Guyana and the Caribbean; be “principally” involved in the distribution of drugs, and be in a position to sup-

ply at least 75 per cent of the number of line items on each list. The questionnaire also requested business, manufacturing, quality and product information.

There were several local and Caribbean suppliers that applied, including the International Pharmaceutical Agency, but only two local companies were able to be added to the five international suppliers. These were the NEW GPC and MediPharm.

Even though there were strident criticisms of the results of the PreQualification process, no one has been able to dispute then Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s contention that “Guyana has successfully procured items through pre-qualification and other methods at 20 to 30 per cent less than the International Average Reference prices”. These average prices are established on publicly available WHO Guidelines on “Country Pharmaceutical Pricing Policies”.

This feature of the process that compares prices to the International Average Reference yardstick is strenuously ignored by

local critics. Some of these critics harp on the need for “cheap” or “cheaper” drugs, not understanding that if prices are significantly at variance from the WHO prices, something is amiss. More than likely, these drugs are expired or made from inferior formulations or are not packaged properly.

In line with the expiration of the 2011-2013 Pre-qualified List, towards the end of 2013, there was an advertisement soliciting suppliers for 2014- 2016, from Guyana and members of Caricom to be pre-qualified and be added to the list of international suppliers that once again were defined as being compliant.

What this meant was that the NEW GPC had to once again stand in line and be evaluated along with other local and Caricom companies. These included: Trinidadian companies ANSA McAL and Western Scientific Company as well as locally-based Telcom Solutions (Guyana) Inc, Meditron Scientific Sales, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) and Global Healthcare Supplies Inc.

An open letter to the President

Dear Mr President,

I write to you out of deep concern over the unauthorised and unconstitutional withdrawals made from our nation’s Consolidated Fund by the Finance Minister.

It is my Party’s belief that such withdrawals as reported in Financial Paper 1 of 2014 are in clear contravention of Article 217 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana and Section 16 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act.

In addition, we believe that this action taken by your Government greatly exceeds the mandate given by the people of Guyana in the elections of 2011, in which your party received 48 per cent of the vote. I wish to emphasise that the Alliance For Change has always respected the results of those elections, the supremacy of the Constitution of Guyana, and the rule of law which are the bases on which your party ought to govern.

I wish also to emphasise that the will of the Guyanese people is reflected in the composition of the National Assembly, and that one of the key roles played by that body is the authorisation of all public spending.

My party, therefore, finds it wholly unacceptable that your Government is now spending from the Consolidated Fund beyond the provisions of the Appropriations Act of 2014 or any other approved by the National Assembly.

We cannot condone participation or lend any support to such a serious breach of the Constitution and laws of Guyana, and we find it necessary in the light of the clear and present danger to the Constitution and the rule of law to explore all options necessary for safeguarding the public purse against further lawless spending.

I am aware that Article 106 (6) of our Constitution provides an option that is currently being discussed nationwide, ie the forced resignation of the Cabinet including the President following a defeat in the National Assembly on a vote of no-confidence.

In the light of what has occurred, I wish to formally clarify that my party has, indeed, been actively considering this option and, currently, is of the view that the options for lawful and constitutional alternatives have rapidly decreased.

Our party sees no other alternative than to proceed with this constitutional mechanism for removal of an unpopular Government that has ceased to enjoy the confidence of the National Assembly and who, by its actions, has demonstrated an unlawful and contemptuous disregard for the Supreme Law of the Country.

Respectfully, Khemraj Ramjattan

AFC Leader

Cc: Brigadier (Ret’d) David Granger – Leader of the Opposition

PPP/C demands AFC put nation first over self-interest

Dear Editor,

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has noted the recent 10-point demand on the President and the Government by the Alliance For Change (AFC). It appears as if the AFC is developing a penchant for such brazen demands on the Executive under the guise of having the interest of Guyana and Guyanese at heart.

Our Party remains cognisant of the terror that was unleashed on innocent Guyanese along part of the East Bank corridor following a previous demand/ ultimatum by the AFC. During that fateful afternoon, many were beaten and robbed and denied their constitutional right to freedom of movement. Law enforcement officers were also subjected to the wanton abuse that ensued.

Such actions, and those that continue to be taken in the National Assembly, are demonstrative of the scant regard the AFC has shown for the welfare of Guyanese. Our Party must, therefore, remain concerned over what this new set of demands by the AFC may precipitate. If the AFC’s utterances were to be believed as having the interest of Guyanese at heart as it claims, then it must endeavour to unconditionally support Government’s policy and programme.

It is this context that the PPP demand of the AFC that if it is indeed genuinely concerned about improving the lives of Guyanese then it must forthrightly put national interest over its own blatant partisan self-interest in which it wallows. This self-interest was very evident with regard to the construction of the Marriott Hotel and the Specialty Hospital. It is no secret that the owner of a major hotel in Guyana is a lead financier of the AFC.

This was made public by the financier himself. There is, therefore, no ambiguity in comprehending the resulting natural propensity of the AFC to demonise the Marriott to save the interest of its financier. Their continuous opposi-

The Limacol CPL creates many opportunities for businesses

Dear Editor,

The second edition of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League has breathed freshness into the lungs of Guyana’s tourism, hospitality and business sectors. All the matches held last weekend were filled with great excitement.

Last year, the League made an indelible impact on Guyana’s economy which was highlighted by President Donald Ramotar.

In fact, an impact study conducted by experts at the Mona School of Business and Management in Jamaica revealed that Guyana invested US$175,000 and would have derived approximately US$915,000

worth of marketing exposure for various service and business sectors in the country. Additionally, the Limacol CPL reportedly had an overall economic impact of US$4 million on the Guyanese economy when compared to other countries where franchises are held. An additional US$54 million was raised by spending across all six countries that hosted various matches with Jamaica raking in US$10.65 million and Trinidad US$12.8 million last year.

There can be no doubt that the Limacol CPL created much stimulus for the country’s economy at a time when it was still dealing with the impact

of the global financial crisis and the aftermath of the US recession.

The overwhelming support for the Guyana Amazon Warriors both home and abroad in the Diaspora is refreshing, when one considers the diverse make-up of our society and the undertones that exist. It proves true the school of thought that sports and, more particularly, cricket can unite a nation.

The truth is that the Limacol CPL presents a host of opportunities that can be exploited and translated into real direct benefits for the masses, including the sports sector.

Sincerely,

Annalisa Ally

Bond is junior in the political sphere

Dear Editor, I read with much anguish Mr James Bond’s defence of PNC/R Leader David Granger as the ongoing Vanessa Kissoon incident is nearing its climax.

tion to this project remains unsurprising. Ironically, the AFC has been vehement in its support for competition in other areas, but is conveniently opposed to the same in the hospitality sector.

This ingrained proclivity for self-interest by the AFC and use of its parliamentary position to protect its self-interest was demonstrated with regard to the Specialty Hospital. Again, it is no secret that the Leader of the AFC was part of the team of a bidding company which was not awarded the contract.

The PPP, therefore, demands of the AFC that if it wants to remain truthful to the development of Guyana and Guyanese, then it must meaningfully use its parliamentary position to ensure the following are realised:

1. The Specialty Hospital

2. The Amaila Falls Hydro Project

3. The CJIA Expansion Project

4. The passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of Financing of Terrorism Bill

5. The Customs Amendment Bill

6. The restoration of the budget cuts

7. The Amerindian Development Fund

8. Support for reforms in the Security Sector

9. Cabinet no-objection

10. Support for Government’s developmental policies

Our Party calls on the AFC to meet these demands in the interest of our country and its people since the benefits that would be derived are known to all. The AFC cannot escape being responsible for denying Guyanese such benefits. More so, the PPP demands that the AFC cease playing games with the welfare of our people and that of the nation and we reiterate our demand that if the AFC has the country and Guyanese at heart, then it must immediately put the nation first over it politics of self-interest.

Sincerely, People’s Progressive Party/Civic

Firstly, Mr Bond is living in a dismal world and is far removed from reality. Having being handpicked by David Granger for a parliamentary seat, which he does not deserve, Bond is in no position to speak on behalf of PNC members about how they view Granger.

Since Mr Granger’s rise to fame in 2011, the PNC/R’s future took a turn for the worst. The party’s decline was eminent and it became clear

to all and sundry that the PNC/R was no longer a place for grassroots people and their ideologies.

Bond, a junior in the political sphere and clearly a novice, is not fooling anyone in or out of the party about its sordid state of affairs. He knows, like many of us do, that Granger is a dictator and a middle-class elitist who believes in top down decision making processes.

Who is Bond attempting to fool? Vanessa Kissoon is merely one example of the inequality and injustice that continues behind the walls of Congress Place. There are many more Vanessa Kissoons who are unwill-

ing to speak out. No attempt by Granger’s cabal will silence them in the near future.

Bond seems to know more about the matter and dispute between Kissoon and her General Secretary than Kissoon herself, the party leader and the public. Or is he trying to achieve relevance by commenting on the matter with a view of distracting the attention from the real issues at hand.

I would challenge the young Attorney at Law to do so more research before attempting to represent Mr Granger again in the public fore.

Respectfully,

Name and address withheld

Limacol CPL sparks tourism boom in Guyana

There has been a sharp increase in tourist arrivals and hotel booking for the Guyana leg of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, a senior tourism official has confirmed.

Checks at some of the major hotels in the city revealed that some facilities were fully booked during the weekend, while others had experienced sharp increases in bookings. The Guyana government had said it would be working earnestly to exploit the benefits that can be derived from the second staging of the Limacol CPL in 2014, given its resounding success and contributions to national and regional tourism growth in 2013.

Last year, several hotels were fully booked, and entertainment hotspots and restaurants packed.

Scores of Guyanese opt-

ed to return home, while many Caribbean Community (Caricom) citizens wanted to catch part of the action. The tournament also managed to create quite a stir in the Diaspora because of the composition of the teams with the mixture of local, regional, and international players, and the hype and party atmosphere associated with the League.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister (ag) Irfaan Ali had told Guyanese media that Limacol CPL is now considered one of the flagship tourism events of the year.

“I think the LCPL is here to stay and the partnerships that it would have established across the Region are good and were a resounding success, as there are tremendous economic and social benefits therein which

far outweigh the investments made,” he indicated. He acknowledged the potential of the tournament to provide the greatest opportunities for sport tourism in Guyana, the Region, and beyond.

“In 2013, though the tournament had a very short planning window, the benefits that it brought to the regional economy were indeed enormous. Guyana even benefited, additionally, by having one of its national products (Limacol) being the overall sponsor for the tournament,” he explained.

Meanwhile, regarding arrivals, this newspaper was told that there has been a sharp increase. “In fact, we had expected this since early in the year… so we are seeing that right now,” the tourism official said.

Jamaica police arrest 18 suspected gangsters under new anti-gang legislation

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

The Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force reported that 17 men and one woman have been arrested in Kingston, St Andrew, Clarendon, St James and Westmoreland for various offenses under the newly-enacted antigang legislation.

The police stated that three of the men, Ismael Higgins, Shaquille Barnes and Christopher Lyons, are members of the ‘Scare Dem’ gang based in west Kingston who have been charged with participating in a serious offence by a criminal organisation.

Three other west Kingston men, Demar James, Javanne Whoupe and Curtis Richards, have been charged for being part of, or partici-

pating in a criminal organisation.

In Clarendon, the police indicated that five members of the ‘Savannah’ gang – Mario White, Kenric White, Shammar Mitchell, Henry Samuels and Grafton Friths – were arrested for participating in a serious offence by a criminal organisation.

Over in Westmoreland, the po-

lice say they arrested two members of the ‘Tony Reid’ gang, Romario Sinclair and Linval Forrester, for impersonating law enforcement officers and being part of a criminal organisation.

The lone female in the group, Kimesha Williams, has been charged with participating in a serious offence by a criminal organisation. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Local Gov’t bodies must push economic development of communities - Whittaker

The role of local Government agencies is not only to collect garbage and taxes, but also to facilitate the economic development of the constituencies they represent.

And while the Central Government has a responsibility to every citizen, those elected to serve within the local Government structure are bound by a special task of looking after the affairs of the locals. These were

the sentiments of Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker as he addressed a forum of local Government officials at the Regency Hotel on Tuesday. Most of the local Government agencies in Guyana are dysfunc-

tional owing to delays in the holding of Local Government Elections which was last held in Guyana 20 years ago.

The one-day Local Economic Development Seminar was sponsored by Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED) in collaboration with the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry at Regency Suites, Georgetown. There, mayors and their deputies, councillors and other officers attached to local Municipalities, Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils across Regions Two, Three, Four and Six, were informed of the distinct roles they must play in developing the communities under their stewardship.

Minister Whitaker, in his address to the gathering, declared that the roles of all elected officials serving in local Government are informed and guided by accompanying regula-

tions and guidelines, of policies and plans that were developed over time. Those regulations, he stressed, guide all that is done and the procedures involved.

CARILED

Programme Director Alix Yule brought the message home to the regional councillors and other representatives. She said the organisation, which receives funding from the Canadian Government, currently offers its service to seven countries around the world, including Guyana, working with ministries that have responsibility for local Government. It also works with small communities, she noted, pointing out that in Guyana, the organisation is working with Regions Two, Three, Four and Six.

Its objective, she noted, lies in helping communities to be economically viable, by becoming proactive in local economic development. She posited that Regional

and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils have distinct roles in stimulating growth in the local economy, reducing poverty, providing opportunities for employment, assisting small and medium-size businesses expand, and improve trade. She said recent research has shown that more jobs are created from small businesses than larger ones. Owing to this fact, Yule challenged the officials to be cognisant of three important matters, including, their roles in planning for local economic development, what can be done to help local community businesses in their pursuit of economic growth, and what development plan the councils and staff may have for local businesses.

In the “grand scheme of things”, Yule said, councillors and other staff members must be the facilitators and coordinators of national development.

US-based Guyanese honours Berbice top students

Twenty-five top performing students of East and West Berbice who sat the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) 2014 were honoured by overseas-based Guyanese, Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh.

At a simple presentation ceremony held at the Lions Club Den in New Amsterdam, the students were presented with school and stationery supplies.

Dr Singh, who lives in Texas, USA, is also a Berbician. He implored the students to continue to strive for excellence.

“You must keep striving for excellence and follow the guidance of your

teachers and parents in order to achieve higher goals; success comes through hard work and you will only reap the rewards through dedication,” he advised.

He noted that he is grateful to be able to give back to his country and community and hopes to continue collaborations with the Lions Club.

“You are our future doctors, lawyers, teachers… even community leaders, it is with great pride that I take this opportunity to mingle among you and, reward you in a meaningful way for your outstanding performance.”

Meanwhile, New Amsterdam Lions

Over 65 overseas-based Guyanese return ‘home’ for family reunion

OPresident Yvette Kertizious expressed gratitude to the donor for his valuable contribution towards the promotion of education.

She noted that all the students did well and must be commended for their achievement.

Twenty-five students were selected for their outstanding performances, with a total of 18 from Region Six and seven from Region Five.

Simeon De Abreu of All Saints’ Primary School in New Amsterdam shared the top honours with 11-year-old Joel Persaud of Cropper Primary School, who scored 518 marks each.

Commonwealth launches women entrepreneurship award

Women entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the Commonwealth are to be recognised with the launch of the Commonwealth Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

This will celebrate their achievement and beneficial impact on societies across the world.

The award is not just to do with finance but also about those women who have made a real difference in any area of business across the Commonwealth. In addition to the financial success of the business, the judging criteria will take into account the entrant’s journey overcoming adversity, inspiring others, making a difference to their community, social impact and international reach.

“The Commonwealth is home to a billion women and we are delighted to celebrate women entrepreneurs in the Commonwealth with these awards. While women in business is an

area of increased policy focus, which we welcome, these awards will also highlight the innovation and initiative from women in business in varied contexts.

We expect that entrants will be rolemodels for everyone from school children to business people and policy-makers in the Commonwealth and beyond,” Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) Director General Peter Callaghan said.

The winner, who will be announced on August 1 in Sri Lanka,

will hold the title until the next Commonwealth Business Forum being held in Malta in late 2015.

The prize will not only provide well deserved recognition but also an all-expenses paid trip to Sri Lanka when the announcement is made. During the tenure of the award, the winner will act as Brand Ambassador for Commonwealth businesswomen. The award has been made possible by the Sri Lanka Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) working with CBC.

Nominations, which can come from an individual or be for someone who inspires, must be received via awards. cwbusinesswomen.org.

The only restriction is that entrants must be either a national or resident in one of the 53 Commonwealth countries. A shortlist of six outstanding women will be announced during the Commonwealth Games Business Conference in Glasgow in late July.

n Monday evening, more than 200 descendants of John Rimple who lived 100 years ago, including the more than 65 who returned home from the United Kingdom and the United States, kicked off their family reunion at Park Vue Hotel, East Bank Demerara. Guyana has been their destination of choice for the reunion, which has been held for the past two years.

Special invitees included President Donald Ramotar, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh.

President Ramotar pointed out that families are the bedrock and

pillar of any society and that the reunion is a good way to promote a more tight-knit family. Welcoming the overseas members, he acknowledged that while there are problems in Guyana, they are not worse than in other Caribbean countries.

Ramotar also commented on Guyana’s developing infrastructure, saying that while it was a work in progress, Guyana remains second to none. He commended the family for holding the event and urged them to visit as many places as possible to whet their appetites to return.

In his remarks, Tourism Minister Ali also applauded the family for choosing Guyana.

Ali boasted that Guyana was adjudged one of the top countries to visit in 2014 by Discovery and one of the countries to visit in one’s lifetime by the BBC. He noted that a number of family and school reunions will be hosted in Guyana this year, as the benefits of the Rediscover Home Campaign launched last year are now being reaped. For instance, more than 400 Guyanese are expected to return home next month for the Tutorial High School reunion.

The Minister advised the Chances and Rimples to spread the word about Guyana and its beauty upon their return to their overseas homes.

Consultation on professional standards for teachers nears completion

In a coordinated effort to craft a model professional standards policy document for teachers, the Education Ministry is hosting a series of public consultations countrywide with a number of key stakeholders. This process is designed to gain feedback on ways to improve the standards, and to invite engagement from the profession.

To date, 61 consultations on the Professional Standards for Teachers have been held across the country. The last public consultation meeting is scheduled for Paramakatoi Secondary School on July 29.

Through the establishment of professional teacher standards, the Ministry strongly believes the teaching profession will be significantly strengthened, further recognised and aptly placed among the other leading professions in Guyana.

Education minister Priya manickchand

Caricom-Japan to hold first summit in TT

Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the first-ever Caricom-Japan Summit on July 28 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Since 1993, Caricom and Japan have enjoyed friendly relations and this summit signals a quantum leap in their engagement as it is the first time that a Japanese Prime Minister is visiting the region.

Copies of the draft Professional Standards for Teachers were made available to teachers in printed form for their perusal and comments.

Professional Standards for Teachers set expectations for achieving desired educational outcomes. These standards are not intended as a tool for punitive action. Rather, they reflect professional consensus of what is desirable in the supervision, leadership and delivery of education. They also provide a framework that permits professionals to engage in self-assessment. These standards are aligned to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Caricom and other international standards.

The Ministry has also placed the document on its website, www.education.gov.gy to allow additional comments to be made and to facilitate those who would like to contribute, but are unable to physically be present at consultations. In addition, members of the public were invited to submit their comments on the document via email toeducationministry@gmail.com.

Professional standards offer the professional community specifications against which teachers are able to set goals for personal development and progress in the profession. The standards are multi-dimensional and give cognisance to the key props for learning to take place, namely: (a) a motivated and willing learner; (b) effective teaching and learning and, (c) an enabling environment.

It is being held during the designated CaricomJapan Friendship Year to observe two decades of relationship in diverse fields such as culture, trade and tourism; and a special logo has been created to symbolically express this relationship.

The summit’s agenda issues for discussion include: The vulnerabilities of Caricom and the necessary cooperation for its sustainable growth; strengthening exchanges and the bonds of friendship; and deepening cooperation in the international arena.

At a time when regions across the world are

engaged in discussions on the priorities for the Post 2015- Development Goals and the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this September, in Samoa, the summit provides a timely opportunity to advance Caricom’s priorities in these areas and for fostering solidarity between Caricom and Japan.

The summit comes on the heels of the 35th meeting of Heads of Government which ap-

proved the community’s strategic plan for the next five years (20152019) which includes deepening foreign policy coordination among its priorities.

The official opening of the summit will be addressed by Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque; Trinidad of Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar; Caricom Chair and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne; and Prime Minister Abe.

Chand turns down GuySuCo Board invite … but GAWU to

be represented

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU)

President Komal Chand has turned down an invitation to sit on the Board of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), but his union will field a representative to sit on the body.

be announced next week.

This was confirmed by Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Wednesday. Dr Ramsammy also said that the full board will

During the annual Enmore Martyrs rally earlier this year, President Donald Ramotar had extended an invitation for Chand to sit on the Board. He said this move is neces-

sary to ensure that the management does not “short change” workers.

But in an interview with Guyana Times International, Chand had said he has not received a formal invitation from the Office of

the President to represent workers at the level of the Board and until an official document was issued to GAWU, he will not offer a comment on whether he will take up the offer.

Subsequently, the Agriculture Minister wrote to Chand on the issue and the matter was discussed last weekend by the union. The decision was taken that Chand would not sit on the Board, but GAWU would nevertheless take up the offer and appoint a representative. That representative, has been identified.

President Ramotar had publically offered the invitation minutes after Chand had told those at the forum that the time had come for a new Board to be installed.

“A new Board of Directors is long overdue, since the last Chairman became the new Chief Executive Officer, leaving GuySuCo headless and the present Board headless,” the GAWU President said.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan had opposed

Chand taking up the position, preferring rather a union representative appointed by the union. The AFC had also called for a professional and competent Board of Directors at GuySuCo, saying that the brightest and best persons available should be appointed with a skills set that includes but is not limited to accounting and finance, engineering, agronomy, human resources management, among others.

Ramjattan had said that Chand is a highly respected trade unionist… and should remain at the helm of GAWU and keep the union from compromising its integrity.

Ramsammy says soaring cost of rice production affecting Guyana’s ability to compete on Int’l market

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

The towering cost associated with rice production continues to cripple Guyana’s ability to compete on the world market, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said on Monday.

The Minister made the comment after the Agriculture Ministry was placed under the microscope when it appeared before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee Meeting on Natural Resources at the Parliament Building.

Although a glorious picture has been painted of the rice industry, Minister Ramsammy told the committee that its inability to compete

on the world market remains a major hindrance. It was explained that while Guyana has demonstrated the ability to produce an overwhelming volume of rice, the cost of production is crippling its ability to compete.

“The rice industry’s biggest challenge is finding the right market, we can sell but for us to sell we have to compete against Thailand and Vietnam at prices that are not favourable to us, so the issue is finding the right market and reducing the cost of production,” Dr Ramsammy said.

But even as Guyana struggles to reduce the cost of production, the big producers of rice on the world market are

creeping in on the region’s market share, placing the country at greater risk.

“While Guyana has focused entirely on premium price market, some of our world market price competitors are beginning to enter into our domain and

that represents a major challenge for us,” the Agriculture Minister said as he sounded an alarm for Guyana to take stock.

While Guyana has the ability to expand its premium market share, Dr Ramsammy said the cost of production must

be addressed, in an effort to withstand the challenges within the global industry.

Prior to 2010, Europe was the largest importer of Guyana’s rice, but subsequent to an agreement between former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo and

the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, 70 per cent of the country’s rice and paddy went to Venezuela. At the time, Venezuela was buying the rice at better prices

In 2013, the country produced approximately 535,000 tonnes of rice, of which 395,000 tonnes were exported, raking in approximately US$240 million in revenues.

Projection By the end of 2014, it is projected that the industry would produce approximately 614,000 tonnes of rice. Based on the current market share, it is also anticipated that Guyana will export approximately 461,000 tonnes of rice while selling 120,000 tonnes locally.

Gov’t strengthening measures to go after tax cheats

The Guyana Government is implementing stronger measures to tackle tax evasion, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh told a regional conference of tax administrators.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) 23rd General Assembly and Technical Conference at the Pegasus Hotel, Dr Singh said the issue is a worldwide one and he hopes participants at the conference come up with strong recommendations to tackle the scourge.

The conference is being held under the theme “Efficient tax administration as a catalyst to growth and development in the Caribbean Community”.

A recent InterAmerican Development Bank study had found that despite marked improvements in the tax administration in Latin America and the Caribbean, tax evasion remains widespread. In the study titled: “More Than Revenue: Taxation as a Development Tool”,

the bank said tax collections have increased approximately 30 per cent for each dollar of output or income in Latin America and the Caribbean in the last 20 years. Most of this increase is due to improvements in tax administration. It said tax administrations now boast technical and budgetary autonomy and highly qualified professional staff, while their collection function, focusing on large taxpayers, has been strengthened, thanks in part to the widespread use of technology.

“However, the challenges facing tax administrations are greater than their achievements. A large number of workers and businesses in the region never have contact with the tax authority. Although some are exempt by law from filing tax returns, most simply hide from the tax administration through the use of avoidance strategies or directly illegal fraud,” the study found.

According to the IDB, half of the potential collection of individual and

corporate income tax is lost through evasion, along with over a quarter of the tax revenues that VAT should raise. The bank said the main reason is the probability of being punished for tax evasion is virtually nil.

Share experiences

Meanwhile, Dr Singh told the gathering that there has been no time in regional history that this year’s theme has been more relevant. He stated that this conference provides the Caribbean Community with an opportunity to share experiences so that a change may occur.

Whether it is expected across the Caribbean, Minister Singh noted that there is a situation where a country’s own fiscal fragility is more evident and more stark now, than at any other time in living memory.

According to the Minister, countries face the reality of slow economic growth, the need for significant fiscal intervention to stimulate growth at a time when there is no fiscal space to finance those interventions.

Representative Desiree Field-Ridley in her remarks to the Tax Administrators noted that the bi-annual event in is an occasion for joint-decision making.

She noted that this 23rd conference is occurring at a time when the Caribbean Community economy has not yet fully emerged from the global economic crisis, which has affected Caricom states more negatively than most developing countries, particularly, because of the underlying weaknesses in many Caribbean economies.

New asphalt plant commissioned in Berbice

Amore than Gy$100 million modern asphalt plant was on Saturday evening commissioned in Tarlogie Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The plant is the first of its kind in the Ancient County and will serve to provide quality asphaltic concrete. It is the brainchild of Peter Lewis and family of Associated Construction Services.

Present at the commissioning ceremony were Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, Minister within the Finance Ministry Juan Edghill, Member of Parliament Faizal Jafarally, PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha and Regional Vice Chairman Bhopaul Jagroo, among others.

According to Joseph Lewis, brother of Peter Lewis, the plant is fully computerised and has the ability to produce 60 tonnes per hour. He noted that it is their vision to reach 120 tonnes per hour in the near future and, at the same time, provide employment for many Berbicians.

Praise

He also thanked the Government for providing opportunities for investors.

Recognising the many roads being done across the region, Minister Robeson Benn underscored the need for an asphalt plant in Berbice.

He highlighted that now there is a permanent one, many issues will be resolved and with the investment in such a plant, roads are expected to have longer surface life.

He congratulated the Lewis family for taking on the initiative of investing in Guyana’s economy. The company will facilitate the continued maintenance, development and rehabilitation of new structures of roads in Berbice.

The asphalt plant was sourced from India, and an Engineer from the Vidayak Plants assisted in the installation and training.

“The achievement of having this plant here is very important in respect to assuring the delivery of quality product;

it’s very important that we pay attention to quality and the choice that this plant has with the computerised controls, by the training which has been providing by the Indian engineers… they are computer-controlled, the temperature profile is controlled by computer, bituminous mixture is computer controlled as well as the end product,” Benn pointed out.

24 young doctors complete internship at Suddie Hospital

By IndrawattIe natram

Twenty-four doctors have successfully completed their one-year internship programme at Suddie Public Hospital.

A simple graduation ceremony, on Friday, courtesy of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana, at the hospital’s Boardroom marked the culmination of the medical apprenticeship of the doctors who had trained in Cuba for six years before embarking on the internship.

In his address at the ceremony, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud commended the Government of Cuba and its people, with whom Guyana enjoys a good bilateral relationship, for training the Guyanese doctors.

The Region Two Chairman congratulated the 24 new doctors and said they will provide a significant boost to the health sector, noting that full-time services will be offered to the public at health centres on the Essequibo Coast.

He told graduates, parents, doctors and other hospital officials present that the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana is doing an excellent job, and owing to their efforts, the health sector has been enhanced. The Chairman said over the years, Cuba as a country has

offered tonnes of humanitarian services to people in various countries, including Venezuela.

In her remarks to the graduates, Director of the Teaching Process of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Guyana, Ana Antonia Fernandez Assan, said the internship programme was successfully achieved with a 100 per cent pass rate. She said in this present batch, the programme was realised with quality and the results of students are recognised.

The Director stressed that “a doctor is like a Pastor, a missionary and a crusader of health” and stated that the training was made possible through the spirit of kind solidarity of Cuba.

The top graduating doctors were Amit Rajpersaud, of Hubu Backdam, Parika, Region Three; and Jewel Chester of Linden, Region 10. Dr Amit Rajpersaud told Guyana Times International that studying in Cuba was the best opportunity given to him, and expressed thanks to his teachers, parents and the Government of Cuba.

Dr Chester also expressed gratitude to the Government of Cuba. She added that she enjoyed her training at the Suddie Public Hospital, and was aspiring to become a great medical officer.

Glowing tributes pouring in for Habeeb Khan

Nicknamed the Ambassador of Comedy, Veteran Comedian and stage actor Habeeb Khan passed away aged 78 at his Friendship, East Bank Demerara (ECD) residence on Tuesday morning.

According to the man’s son, David Khan, his father had been suffering from asthmatic bronchitis for quite some time and it is supposed that he succumbed to that. The younger Khan told Guyana Times International that he heard of his father’s death while he was at work and immediately sought to get to his father’s residence, but, by the time he had arrived, his father’s body had already been taken to the Sandy’s Funeral Home.

Khan leaves a legacy of vintage memories, with unforgettable skits and personas, as he graced television screens and stages in Guyana for well over five decades. The comedian lived his art, being known for having an antennae connected to his sewing machine and an enormous padlock on a gate in front of his yard but no fence.

Khan also landed

roles in several onscreen projects which boosted his public appeal; these included his depiction of George, an abused husband, in the Torginol Paint ad and a local film in which he was the lead actor – “If Wishes Were Horses”.

As news of the comedian’s death rippled through the entertainment fraternity, many expressed condolences to the actor’s family and reminisced on working with him over the past 60 years.

Linden “Jumbie” Jones was one such person. In an invited com-

ment, Jones told GTI that Khan was certainly one of Guyana’s more formidable actors. He added that Khan would be remembered for his daring in Guyana’s theatre.

A great loss

Jones highlighted that while he held Khan in the highest of regard as an actor and entertainer, he held him in even higher regard as a friend and mentor. “He was a great friend, he was a great colleague… his death is a great loss for Guyana,” said a bereaved Jones.

He said that while

Khan was not the recipient of any accolades for his countless breathtaking performances and the role he played in the development of Guyana’s theatrical awards, he is clinging to hope that Khan would be honoured with a posthumous award.

Expressing a simi-

lar view was Kerwin Mars also known as Sir Mars. Mars told GTI on Tuesday evening that it was tragic that Khan was not in receipt of a National Award prior to his passing given the colossal contributions he would have made to the local arts scene.

Mars said that in all

of Khan’s performances, there was always an underlying message that his audience could relate to. “Habeeb Khan was an icon, his jokes always had a message that you could have related to… it is sad that such a person would have passed away without being honoured,” Mars said.

Guyana looks to increase trade relations with France

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds extended congratulations to the French Government and people at a reception last week to mark Bastille Day, an auspicious occasion in France.

Bastille Day, the Prime Minister said, is significant in many ways as it marked the beginning of the French Revolution and was a symbol of liberty, fraternity, equality and the fight against oppression for all French citizens.

The Prime Minister, who was performing the duties of President, joined France’s Ambassador to Guyana Michael Prom, other French and Guyanese officials, parliamentarians, and members of the Diplomatic Corps at a reception to commemorate France’s National holiday at Cara Lodge, Georgetown.

“Our friendly relations, which were formally established on June 27, 1976, have grown and deepened over the years. As a testament we have been collaborating on many fronts at the multilateral level, at the UN and the EU and sought to draw closer to French Guiana to take advantage of our similar interests.”

PM Hinds stated that the process to facilitate the full functioning of the Honorary Consul’s Office will be concluded soon. He added that there is much potential to improve the country’s relations with French Guiana through increased trade, invest-

ment, people-to-people contact and the protection of Guyanese in French territories.

He said that Guyana was appreciative of the many initiatives undertaken over the years to assist the country in its development process.

Guyana has acknowledged France’s strong support and partnership for the United Nations REDD programme. He said that Guyana looks forward to France’s continued cooperation with other partners and nongovernmental stakeholders to achieve their shared objectives under the REDD+ partnership, while also supporting sustainable livelihoods, providing biodiversity benefits and promoting sustainable development.

Guyana has also welcomed companies willing to invest in the country’s economy. Ambassador Prom said that he was pleased with the Guyana Government for appointing an Honorary Consul with the French authorities who are open to facilitating meetings. He thanked the Government for supporting projects that they have initiated.

“We can generally mention the enabling of development, protection of our environment and the fight against climate change while Guyana is biologically reserved and is vulnerable to consequences of climate change…that is why it is important for the contribution of your country to the Meeting of Parties which will take place in Paris in December 2015.”

Antigua-Barbuda signs US$120 million luxury hotel joint venture

ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA: On Sunday, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Sheikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qassemi, a member of the ruling family of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for a luxury hotel project valued at US$120 million.

The sheikh signed the MOA on behalf of Al Caribi Development Ltd, the company that will develop a five star branded luxury resort at Morris Bay. The new resort will occupy 36 acres of prime beachfront property, five acres of which will be developed into a public national park facility for the use of Antiguans and Barbudans, and visiting tourists who wish to swim on the magnificent beach.

The development will be carried out by a joint venture company; however, should the company fail to perform in a

specified period, Browne insisted that the land, which forms a part of the government’s contribution, reverts automatically back to the government.

“This safeguard is intended to ensure that no long drawn-out court procedure is required to settle any complications resulting from non-performance,” the Prime Minister said.

Nonetheless, the first

phase of the project is expected to break ground in six months or less, following the granting of licences and the completion of architectural renderings, approved by the relevant Antigua and Barbuda authorities. Additional phases of the development will be determined by Al Caribi Development, in consultation with the government. (Antigua Observer)

Struggle for political power hurting country - Private sector body

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)

President Lance Hinds is calling on parliamentarians to adhere to the cries of the electorate, saying that it is time political leaders work to address the core issues affecting Guyana.

November 28, 2014 will mark three years since the Government was voted into power with the Opposition gaining a one-seat majority in National

Assembly. It is no secret that since then, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have been engaged in a battle for power.

Currently, snap election is possible as the AFC threatens to move a “no-confidence motion” against the Donald Ramotar Government.

But the GCCI President opined that another election could result in a

similar configuration in the National Assembly, arguing that there is “no evidence on the ground” that a majority Government would return to power anytime soon.

Referencing to the 2011 Elections, the GCCI President maintained that the people of Guyana are advocating for improved governance through meaningful consultations.

“It is the voters who in their wisdom contributed to that configura-

tion… the political leaders must find a way to respect the decision of the voters,” he further opined. Reinforcing the position of the chamber, Hinds said political policymakers must engage in constructive dialogue on issues affecting the economy and social development.

Costly

According to the GCCI, general elections are costly and time-consuming. “The citizens of Guyana deserve no less an effort. This process of

negotiation and agreement occurs in many comparative jurisdictions and it is therefore up to our political leaders to demonstrate resolve and maturity that leads to win-win outcomes,” the GCCI had said in an earlier statement.

The body said discussions on elections should instead be focussed on the hosting of Local Government Elections (LGE).

Region 10 members claim PNCR ‘rigging’ upcoming Congress vote

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

The Region 10

People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Committee has accused the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of allegedly trying to rig the elections for the Leader and Chairman at this weekend’s Congress billed for Congress Place, Sophia.

Committee members

Leslie Gonsalves and Maurice Butters made the allegations against the CEC on Monday; three days ahead of the PNCR’s Congress slated for July 24 to 26. In defense of this bold argument, Gonsalves told media operatives on Monday that approximately 90 delegates were listed to participate in

the upcoming Congress; however, the Linden Committee was recently informed that only 60 delegates would be admitted.

According to him, records show that the PNCR has a membership of approximately 800 persons in Linden, but the Central Committee is insisting that the membership is smaller; hence, only 60 delegates would be allowed to attend.

Questioned about this sudden move by the party to downsize its membership in Linden, Gonsalves said “it is clear that the PNCR is fixing the upcoming elections. Well, the motives are simple, if you are reducing a group in terms of its delegates from in excess of 90 to 60, it is obvious you are saying to yourself, if you allow them to get 90, they are going to have their way in terms of winning whether the leadership or Chairmanship of the party,” he contended.

He said the current leadership of the party is doing all in its power to “call the shot.”

According to Butters, it was discovered that the PNCR point person Sandra Jones, who has

BK Group entering aviation sector

After years of dominating the mining and construction sectors, the BK Group of Companies is expanding its services in an area out of their comfort zone, the aviation sector, and will be introducing a new domestic airline.

BK Group of Companies Public Relations Consultant Alex Graham said the local aviation sector has been busy, particularly with heavy traffic in the domestic flights; hence, the reason for the investment.

He disclosed that over the past two weeks, the company acquired own-

Public relations consultant alex Graham

ership of a domestic company, Jags Aviation, and is currently processing the necessary documents

Fly Jamaica says flight delays not unusual in industry

Fly Jamaica Airways Director have rubbished media reports, saying that delays in its flights are not unusual to the airline industry and that the company has not been rocked by resignations.

Insisting that the safety of their passengers and crew is their top priority, Captain Paul Reece, Chairman and CEO; his wife Roxanne Reece, a Director; and Captain Patrick Cousins, also a Director, said the information in a Jamaica Observer story was wrong.

“No one in this company must have any apprehension or any thought that we’re flying an aeroplane that is not safe. So that’s why we have a maintenance delay,” Captain Reece said in response to the report of a number of delays experienced by the airline in recent weeks.

“If we have a light go on in the cockpit, we are not going to fly with it. We have to be safe. No one must say that any of our pilots or engineers let the plane take off with a fault,” Captain Reece insisted.

“So when we have a delay, and we say we’re grounded for mainte-

managing Director of BK International Brian tiwari

to begin flights.

The new company is expected to have seven aircraft in its fleet, some of which will operate from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) because of their size.

The company will commence operations by providing domestic services, but will move to include regional flights.

“Once people want to fly, we will fly them. The whole idea is to provide expanded capacity… a lot of our interest is expanding infrastructure to explore Guyana so we want to provide services to people who are visiting Guyana to see its tourism products,” Graham stated.

The PR Consultant went on to say that the new company is mostly driven by the new generation of Tiwaries who have joined the BK Group, and have considerably enhanced its operations.

“The new generation has brought an energy

of dynamism. For a long time, we have stayed in construction, now we have been able to convince the Directors to expand so this is just a careful examination of what the opportunities are and what the company’s resources are, and aligning our resources with those opportunities so that we will provide better service and grow the company,” he explained.

Investors’ confidence

Meanwhile, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali lauded the BK Group for investing in the local aviation sector. He noted that the investment shows investors’ confidence in the local market. The Minister noted that Government is working to continue im-

proving the aviation sector and is calling on businesses to do the same.

Ali also pointed out that his Ministry has observed an unwelcome increase in fares and has spoken to some of the airlines. He pledged his full support to models that have economic returns and ensures profitability, but said he will not support one that seeks to exploit the market, especially at a time when demand is high and capacity is low.

Nevertheless, the acting Tourism Minister said that there has been a tremendous development in Guyana’s airlift sector, adding that the travelling population is growing; hence, the need for more airlines to work the local scene.

nance, we are grounded for maintenance, because we want to fix it so when we fly, the aeroplane is safe,” he added.

In a news release on Saturday, the company noted that in the airline industry, passenger safety requires that pilots and engineers are trained not to allow any aircraft to be operated with any malfunction.

To emphasise his point that delays are occupational hazards of the industry, Reece related his experience of travelling from Los Angeles to Miami on an American carrier which was delayed for 12 hours.

Taking things in stride

“This happens to any airline, and you have to take these things in stride. It’s a standard thing in the industry,” Captain Reece said.

Captain Cousins noted that Fly Jamaica is being overseen for safety by both the Federal Aviation Authority and Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority because the company has an American-registered aeroplane. “We have two authorities continuously monitoring us for safety, so we have to ensure all safety standards are met,” Captain Cousins said.

‘Mr Clean’ pleads guilty to narco trafficking in US

Guyana National Power Lifting Champion Colin Aubrey Chesney, also called “Mr Clean” has recently pleaded guilty to trafficking in narcotics in the US when he appeared before a judge there. He will be sentenced to prison sometime in October.

The national athlete was busted on May 24 at the John F Kennedy International Airport by Customs officials after he was seen acting in a suspicions manner. He later confessed to swallowing “foreign bodies” and was taken to a medical facility where an X-ray was performed.

It was then that the cocaine pellets were discovered in his intestinal track. Initially, he had excreted 33, but on the day of his court appearance, he had excreted 54, with a total weight of 1.25 kilograms. The judge refused him bail, thus, he will spend some time in prison before being deported to Guyana.

During the hearing, the court reportedly ordered that Chesney be detained pending trial, since he posed a risk of not attending court in the future and becomes

a risk to the community.

He has been appointed a public defender. Chesney faces the possibility of 10 years or more in prison for the drug trafficking offence, once found guilty. Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) is heading the investigations locally with the aim of finding the source.

It is believed that the drug was given to the power lifter by a local drug cartel to take to the US, where he would have been paid after making the delivery. He had admitted to swallowing the pellets moments before

boarding a Caribbean Airlines Flight on May 24.

It was reported that this was the second time Chesney had travelled to the US after acquiring his US visitor’s visa from the Embassy in Georgetown.

In April last, US Customs and Border Protection arrested Godfrey Cassius, who arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana, with an alleged US$300,000 worth of cocaine.

Drug agents at the JFK Airport found nearly 18 pounds of cocaine concealed in a bag of custard powder in his suitcase.

CBP officers arrested Cassius and they found eight packages of “Champion” custard powder in his bag. Officers opened the bags and found a white powder that had a strong chemical odour. The powder was tested positive for cocaine.

Cassius, of Guyana, was arrested for the importation of a controlled substance and turned over to Homeland Security investigators. He was later prosecuted and remanded to prison.

Florida House of Representatives member for Guyana Festival

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce

Minister Irfaan Ali on Monday announced that Hazelle Rogers, a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 95th District in the United States, will be joining the Florida delegation attending the inaugural Guyana Festival.

Minister Ali related that Rogers is a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 95th District, which includes North Lauderdale, Lauderdale Lake and Lauderhill in Northern Broward County. According to a Tourism Ministry release, Rogers will be part of the delegation coming to Guyana for the Guyana Festival which opens on August 8 and runs until August 10, at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara. The Florida delegation is one of a number of foreign delegations expected, with groups coming from Suriname, Canada, Jamaica among other countries.

The Guyana Festival Cookout, set for August 10, is also attracting wide local and international participation as several members of these visiting delegations have already registered to participate. This component of the Festival will celebrate our culinary delights and pay homage to the distinct taste of Guyana; groups, families and organisations are invited to register for this cookout by visiting the website www.guyanafestivalgy.com and filling out the registration forms.

Region 10 members...

been accused of creating major division in the district, is hand-picking persons from the original list submitted by the Linden PNCR Committee.

Former PNCR

General Secretary Aubrey Norton, a favoured Lindener would be contesting against David Granger for the leadership of the PNCR. Norton had told Guyana Times International that

there is an urgent need for the party to reconnect with its grassroots support base and membership at all levels. According to him, his decision to challenge Granger for the leadership was based on the requests of several groups and party members who believe that he understands the fundamentals of the party, and would therefore have the

Rohee pleased with pace of police reforms

Despite a nine per cent increase in serious crimes, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said he is pleased with the ongoing reformation of the Guyana Police Force.

Late 2012, Rohee had announced several sweeping reforms aimed at changing the security landscape in Guyana for years to come and create more professional law enforcement agencies.

Among these reforms are the rebranding of the Guyana Police Force to the Guyana Police Service in 2013, the operationalisation of new multimillion-dollar strategic plans for the Force, and an increased budgetary allocation for ranks of security services to access training while pursuing higher education, both locally and internationally.

Plans were also unveiled to operationalise the National Forensic Laboratory, implement changes within the internal structure of both the Police and Home Affairs Ministry, and

establishment of Houses of Justice in Regions Two and Three.

Security

Rohee said during the launch that his tenure has been a period of strategic planning and policy formulation, as he familiarised himself with the operational and logistical aspects of the security sector, which he deemed crucial, before implementing major changes and reforms.

The Strategic Plan was prepared by the UKbased Capita Symonds Consultancy in 2010, while the implementation plan was drawn up by the US-based Julian Laite Consultancy in February 2012. It is geared at tackling issues related to the Force’s administration, succession planning, integrity and professionalisation, and public relations enhancement.

Speaking to Guyana Times International last week, Rohee said he has been pushing for the reforms, which have resulted in greater cooper-

ation with communities and new intelligence structures being established.

The Minister noted that despite the Opposition had voted down key bills to enable the reform process, including the Security Reform Bills, which he presented in the National Assembly in 2012, he did not allow that to distract him from strengthening and improving the law enforcement agencies under his stewardship.

The Minister explained that a lot of changes are being done administratively in the various law enforcement agencies such as the Guyana Fire Service. He said the Ministry has also provided the Fire Service with ambulances to expand their line of work. However, he noted that there is much more work to be done regarding promptness of the Fire Service, since there are always complaints of lateness. On the other hand, Rohee stressed that persons should remain cognisant of the fact that firefighters cannot foresee a fire and can only act when they are informed. Rohee pointed out that those persons who often criticise the Guyana Police Force are making a mistake since the institution has been around for some 175 years. He specifically named the Opposition, whom he noted worked with the same agency when they were in power.

Teen remanded for allegedly murdering GuySuCo Chairman

Days after reportedly confessing to the murder of GuySuCo foreman Ravendranauth Thirkha, a teenager was on Monday arraigned with murder at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

capacity and ability to move it forward. Norton, like other senior and long-standing PNC stalwarts, believes that the PNC should have a different leader from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. He argued that there is a lot of work to be done within the PNC to ensure that it is fully prepared to win the upcoming elections.

Vishal Michael Edwards, 19, called “Uncle Roy” of Number 77 Village Housing Scheme and of Church Street, Number 78 Village, Corriverton, was remanded to prison by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that between Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at Number 78 Corriverton, Berbice, he murdered Thirkha. The young man was unrepresented and the

case was transferred to the Springlands Magistrate’s Court for August 8.

It was reported that the young man, along with another, was arrested one day after the discovery of the foreman’s body and during the interrogation, he reportedly confessed to killing Thirkha. He also admitted to robbing him of his personal belongings.

The GuySuCo foreman was on his way home from a get-together when the suspects confronted him and demanded that he hand over his personal items, according to reports. The suspect reportedly admitted that he used a piece of cloth to strangle the 52-year-old man.

The teen is reportedly a known character to the Police, as he had been questioned before in connection with several robberies.

Thirkha, of Lot 485 Block 19, Line Path, Skeldon, was found on Tuesday morning lying face down at the Number 68 Foreshore with blood oozing from his mouth. A post-mortem performed on the body of the man proved that he was strangled.

Guyanese reporters sharpen skills to cover parliament

The Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly held a oneday media workshop on Wednesday aimed at strengthening relations between reporters and the Parliament and also for them to effectively report to the public, the affairs of the House.

TravelSpan commits to CJIA as airline hub

…application for certification submitted

public have low levels of trust and respect for politicians.

Participants of the workshop included members of the media, who usually cover the Parliament and staff of Parliament.

Addressing the workshop, Speaker Raphael Trotman said several surveys around the world showed that the

The workshop, held at the Georgetown Club under the theme “Parliament, The People and The Media” was funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

He noted that since the commencement of the 10th Parliament, he has been trying to implement a less conflictive and a more inclusive approach to politics.

“We at the Parliament Office came up with a vision to realise a more modern and truly representative National

GuySuCo to expand training programme

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is moving to expand the Port Mourant Training Centre as it seeks to train more persons to meet the needs of the industry, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Raj Singh indicated. According to him, the Port Mourant Training Centre is one of the primary sources of attracting apprentices to the sugar industry, with many elevating themselves into senior managerial positions in the sector.

Addressing the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic

Services recently, Dr Singh disclosed that GuySuCo is in the process of formalising a strategic plan that would allow for the expansion of the Port Mourant Training Centre. It was explained that prior to 2014, the centre graduated 319 apprentices over the last five years, but only managed to retain 201; reflecting a 71 per cent retention rate.

While many of these apprentices remain in Guyana, others have migrated to the Caribbean, the US and Canada in search of greater opportunities. Based on the retention rate, the CEO said the programme will

be expanded to draw in more apprentices.

“We will be graduating more than we need and we will be doing this very scientifically based on the number of persons we actually need,” he told the committee.

Additionally, GuySuCo will be placing major emphasis on meeting the technological needs of the industry. “Naturally, our industry is changing, the technology is changing, the methodology is changing… so we have to continuously change the curriculum, changes to meet the skills required,” the CEO posited.

BY BHISHAM MOHAMED

Since the introduction of several new airlines to the Guyanese market, there has been talk about the country becoming a hub that will connect passengers from around the world as they arrive at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

But not many have taken the talk further as was TravelSpan which recently applied to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for permission to operate a scheduled service, moving away from the charger service it is licenced to provide. Officials at the airline told Guyana Times International that the move to acquire such a licence basically indicates that TravelSpan is here for the long haul. “A charger service is basically to operate seasonal, but with this Scheduled Licence we have applied for is indicating that we are here for the long haul,” the airline official

said.

Contacted on the issue GCAA acting Director General Ankar Doobay told Guyana Times International last Friday that the airline has indeed submitted the application and it is presently being looked at. He said he was certain that the request will be granted once all the documentations and infrastructure are in order.

Most international airports serve as hubs, or places where non-direct flights may land and passengers switch planes. International airports often have many airlines represented, and many of these are often foreign.

Passengers connecting to domestic flights from an international flight generally must take their checked luggage through Customs and re-check their luggage at the domestic airline counter, requiring extra-time in the process. In some cases in Europe, luggage can be transferred to the final destination even if it is a domestic connec-

tion.

Expansion project

Observers believe that this should ultimately be the goal of the authorities in Guyana with the multibilliondollar airport expansion project.

“It makes no sense you invest so much into expanding the facilities at CJIA and we only have flights dropping off and picking up people. We must be able to have connections and operate truly as a hub,” a top local aviator said.

TravelSpan Chief Executive Officer Nohar Singh explained that in order for Guyana to be a hub, the airport expansion is a necessity, noting that hundreds of passengers will be passing through the airport and there must be modernised facilities to cater for this development. He added that they would not have been in discussion about hub operation, if they were not sure the Government is committed to the expansion project.

IDB, Earth University call for proposals from youth on climate change projects

The InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Earth University of Costa Rica invite young innovators to participate in a session in which 30 projects selected to combat climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean could receive seed capital of up to US$15,000 per project. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years from the date of enrolment and must present a project with an innovative approach, which can be from a new idea or already in operation. Projects should fit

in one of the following categories: Education and Awareness; Energy Efficiency; Renewable Energy; Sustainable Transport; Sustainable Business; Resilient Agriculture and Water Resources.

Interested youths can submit their proposals between July 17, 2014 and August 14, 2014 at 11:59 pm (EST) on the website www.iadb.org/greenovators. The selection of the winning projects will be conducted by a panel of experts and the winners will be notified by mail in midSeptember. Winners will also be

invited to participate in a youth event at Earth University in Costa Rica in November of this year. The competition – created in collaboration with the IberoAmerican General Secretariat and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica through its Ministry of Environment and Energy – is open to entrepreneurs who have discovered a business opportunity or who identified a need in their community and find a scalable solution whose bid, apart from the competition, adds innovative elements for the Region.

Ramjattan on fishing expedition, says Nandlall

“No-confidence motion frivolous, vexatious, specious and without merit”

Legal Affairs

Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, has again denounced the Alliance For Change (AFC) for threatening to bring a no-confidence motion against the Government because Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, has used money from the Consolidated Fund to restore funds cut from the 2014 budget.

“The basis or the reason offered by the Alliance For Change for threatening a no-confidence motion is one that is frivolous, vexatious, specious and without merit,” the Legal Affairs Minister said.

Expressed provision

Speaking on a recent programme on the National Communications Network, Minister Nandlall rejected the basis of the no-confidence motion, on the ground that the Finance Minister did not act on his own volition, but instead, in pursuance of legal advice and a decision of Cabinet, and of the Government of Guyana to restore the sums that were cut from the budget.

“… it is not Dr Singh who is responsible. It is a collective responsibility; it is a Government action that Dr Singh simply ex-

ecuted. Dr Singh acted in accordance with expressed provision of the Constitution which were interpreted by the constitutional courts of this country (by the Chief Justice of this country) and Dr Singh was essentially advised to act accordingly to the Chief Justice’s interpretation of article 218 of the Constitution,” Minister Nandlall said.

Article 218 of the Constitution allows for money to be spent and a statement of excess to be laid by the Finance Minister in the National Assembly.

Minister Nandlall noted that a person cannot in law act in conformity with the constitution, and then at the same time, for that very action, contravene any principle of criminal law.

“It is a legal impossibility and Mr Ramjattan as a lawyer must know that, so he is on a fishing expedition. He feels frustrated, that his actions are being defeated… so he is going down that road and we are prepared to deal with it,” Minister Nandlall said.

Minister Singh had

twice before, acting in accordance with Article 218 of the Constitution, restored funds cut from the Budget in 2012 and 2013, and subsequently laid in the National Assembly, financial papers on the statement of excess. The Minister in those two years received the support of the AFC and the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) in passing these financial papers.

Minister Nandlall said therefore that he cannot comprehend the “significant outrage” that is now being expressed by the Opposition with regard to the Finance Minister following similar action on the issue of the restoration of the 2014 budget cut sums.

Urling defends work of Blue CAPS

There continues to be much concern and suspicion surrounding the agenda being pursued by the newly formed Blue CAPS group, which has been making several controversial statements in the public domain under the hands of some of its members.

It is widely felt that the organisation, which was formed since March this year, is being used as a vehicle to pursue its founder’s political ambition. Back in May, the group officially started its recruitment of only young people who were under the age of 40 to get involved in public-policy advocacy, even though it argued that it was a social-change organisation.

The group became engaged in heightened political rhetoric mainly against the ruling People’s Progressive

Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration after the Government rejected the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Leadership and Democracy Project (LEAD). One of the components the Government rejected was aimed at working with youth to

create change through their involvement in various aspects of advocacy and politics.

As expected, key policymakers and stakeholders felt that the group headed by former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Chairman Clinton Urling was being

funded by the USAID and had links to the leadership of the Opposition political parties. The group slowly turned into a pressure group and continued its broadside against the Government, while enjoying the support of the Opposition and a few youth bodies.

Speaking during an

interview with this newspaper on Friday, Urling attempted to defend the work of Blue CAPS while denying that he had any political ambitions. This view conflicts sharply with the widely held believe that Urling, having lost the bid to become the Private Sector Commission Chairman is now using the group to make a pitch to become Mayor or an independent stakeholder in the political sphere.

Political power

“Political organisations do two things. They either seek power or try to gain Government. There is nobody sitting in the Blue CAPS as an organisation [interested] in gaining any sort of political power through elections or campaigning,” he explained.

Urling also denied the charge that the Blue CAPS group was be-

Guyanese reporters sharpen skills to cover...

Assembly… which mandates us to include an inclusive form of decision-making process,” he stated. The Speaker said they want Parliament to be seen less intimidating and more welcoming. Trotman disclosed that his office has implemented some initiatives to help aid their drive.

Meanwhile, columnist Allan Fenty, who was one of the presenters at the workshop, said the forum is an eye-opener for reporters. He was joined by other presenters including former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran and Head of the Centre for Communications Studies, at the University of Guyana, Carolyn Walcott. Ramkarran spoke about the past encounters with the media as Speaker and made some recommendations of how Parliament can improve and more successfully achieve their aim of

ing funded by resources from the Opposition and the US Government. He said staunchly that the group was funding its own work.

Asked how much the contribution of the members in dollars and cents was so far, Urling declined to say. He advised nonetheless that there were 150 youths in the group. He also denied that he was funding the group with monies earned from soup sales at German’s Restaurant, a business he owns.

Urling for the first time, when questioned by this newspaper, admitted that he would accept monies and resources from the US Government were they to approach the group to provide funding. He said that once the funding was in line with the group’s objectives, there would be no problem.

from page 23

strengthening their relationship with not only the media, but the public. There was also a heated debate among the participants, particularly members of the media, and the facilitators on responsible reporting; when and what should journalists publish. The participants were also given a breakdown of the procedures in the National Assembly. Member of Parliament Cathy Hughes also made a presentation.

The winner of the inaugural pageant to be crowned in early August

One of the integral aims of staging the first-ever Miss Global International Guyana is to promote tourism, hence the pageant’s theme: “Uniting the world through beauty and tourism”.

According to the pageant’s PR Melicia Partab, the winner will be revealed on 2 August at the Pegasus Hotel Poolside. “Our ambassador would have the honour of representing our rich tourism at the 10th annual Miss Global International, which will be held in Jamaica’s prestigious resort capital, Montego Bay from 2-7 December 2014. With an anticipation of having a contestant base of over 50 beautiful and talented beauties, the pageant is fully endorsed by the Jamaica Tourist Board and blessed by the Governor General and Prime Minister,” Partab noted.

Four finalists are selected and will undergo an audition against a panel of qualified judges both in pageantry and tourism and will be awarded a maximum of 70 points. The additional 30 points will be received via texts voting from the public. Commencing 31 July at 1pm and concluding on 2 August at 12pm, Guyana will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite contestant via text.

Top four finalists

Onesha Hutson is a natural charmer and is a third year medical student at the University of Guyana and model. This 22-year-old is no stranger to the glitz and glamour of pageantry. She was a contestant in the Miss Guyana Universe pageant 2012 and the Miss Jamzone Guyana pageant where she placed as first runner-up. Notably, she has walked the runway numerous times locally and regionally. The beauty is also currently one of five Guyanese models chosen to take part in the Music and Fashion Battle (MAFB) in Suriname and the Netherlands.

Apart from Hutson’s life as a runway model, she has been actively involved in various health programmes with the Ministry of Health and private entities. She is a trained Phlebotomist and volunteers at the St Anne's Orphanage. She enjoys reminiscing on her school days, which were spent at St Gabriel's Primary and St Rose's High School, where she graduated as an honour student in 2009.

A well-rounded individual, Hutson formed and directed the first drama club at her high school and also played basketball and badminton in her fifth year. Hutson also managed, directed and edited the Daily Rose, her high school's newspaper.

The 5’9” beauty is the first daughter for her parents, and puts her family first at all times because they are her biggest supporters.

The Miss Global international will give her the opportunity to

showcase her country on a regional stage and be that ambassador for her nation.

She is inspired and encouraged by her mother and other young women she refers to as her "chicas".

Next on the list is the effervescent Ayana Harris, who has been modelling since the age of 12. Her first pageant was at her high school, Central High, where she won the junior category. As soon as she became a teenager, Miss Guyana Talented Teen was her next pageant where she secured the best gown and platform portfolio along with the Miss Intelligence prizes.

Modelling comes naturally to Harris and refers to it as “the love of my life”. In the year 2003, Harris competed in her third consecutive pageant and was the first and only Miss Guyana Junior queen. When she turned 18, Harris entered the Miss Guyana Universe 2007 pageant and was awarded third runner-up. Subsequently, she entered the inaugural Guyana Model Search competition, placing second.

At age 22, she decided to compete in the Miss Guyana Universe 2011 and gained third runner-up. In 2012, she entered the Miss Jamzone Guyana pageant and was crowned queen, representing Guyana at the Jamzone International Pageant. There again placing third runner-up.

“Representing Guyana is a great honour; an empowering experience that lets me express the many faucets of our heritage. That feeling of pride extends to my consciousness as a Caribbean citizen. It’s a privilege to be born in this part of the world. We as a continued on page 34

Providence Thriller!!!

By Anu Dev

“The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money.” – Ernie Banks

Heading to the Guyana VS Trinidad (can we still call them that?) game last Thursday, we were all hoping for an exciting game. The previous games, elsewhere, seemed to be missing that special oomph! that we’ve come to expect from T20 cricket. Especially Limacol CPL cricket!

Well, we clearly got much more than we bargained for that Thursday night. The game had us all out of our seats, falling on our knees praying, jumping into the air, biting our nails and screaming ourselves hoarse. And I really do mean hoarse: several cups of hot tea later at home, a few Strepsils and my throat still hasn’t recovered.

During the innings break there was an expectant, almost celebratory atmosphere – there was a nice parade with dancers and Tassa players and everyone was just milling about stretching from sitting down throughout Trinidad’s innings. We were sitting pretty – our bowlers dominated Trinidad’s batting and limited Trinidad to a paltry 118. The asking rate was under six runs per over! What could go wrong? Funny you asked. The answer was “plenty!”

Our wickets started tumbling like ninepins as soon as we went in – with each wicket like a sucker punch sending fans reeling into new depths of despair. When Simmons got out in the 10th over, it seemed like it might all be over. Six wickets down and 62 runs left to make? It seemed an almost impossible ask for Barnwell, and our bowlers. After all, at that point only one of our recognised batsmen had scored over 30!

But then Barnwell and Narine buckled down, taking singles and hitting the occasional boundary when opportunities presented themselves. And then hope (which I’m told, “beats eternal”) started to flutter. We started to believe we could WIN this thing. They were bringing us so close! And then we got to the 19th over- 16 off 12! And every fan in the stadium started chanting in unison: “War-ri-ors!” “War-ri-ors”!!

We took things down to the last man, the last over, the last ball and we scampered towards a Super Over. The moment Beaton and Permaul crossed their creases to make the two runs the crowd erupted. It was absolutely insane!

But then when we gave Narine just 11 runs to defend, worries started to creep in again – will it be enough? After all, Trinidad just had to defend 11 in that fateful last over as well!

But then the first ball Narine bowled was a dot ball! And the crowd exploded! And we kept cheering after Narine kept bowling perfect deliveries and the over ended up being a wicket maiden. It was absolute pandemonium after that final ball was bowled. Everyone was on their feet screaming, laughing, hugging and jumping up and down.

Strangers were embracing. Flags were being waved like crazy. Boys were thumping their chests proclaiming that Narine was their hero. Expectant mothers were screaming that they’ll name their firstborn “Sunil”. And people were demanding that the entire Guyana team be knighted. And I may be exaggerating – just a little bit.

But really, in that moment it felt as if we had just won a war, it was incredible.

On a separate note, I hope our top order gets their act together; so far our bowlers have been phenomenal as all-rounders, but it’s time for our batmen to do their part.

Go Warriors!

A merciless civilian war

Guyana today must raise its voice in condemnation against the Israeli invasion and bombing of Gaza. It is the right thing to do and it is consistent with our foreign historical policy position. The bombing of civilian targets and now the invasion with ground troops is a heinous and unjust war.

Make no mistake about it – the launching of missiles into Israel by Palestinians is wrong. But what is presently going on in the Gaza Strip cannot go without resolute global condemnation. The Jewish response has escalated the Gaza situation from a conflict with two sides to a global criminal scene.

If the real reason for ground troops invading Gaza was the launching of missiles from Gaza into Israel, there are many other options Israel could have exercised. The real reason for this war is that it is intended to prevent the political unity between Gaza and the West Bank. It is a war against striving towards a Palestinian state. It is a war against, not for, peace.

Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory is at the heart of the problem. The global family must not ignore this long-standing problem. Until and unless we solve the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory by the Jewish State with support from countries like the US, the constant Israeli-Palestinian war will not end.

The world must, however, view the present situation as a global emergency that must be stopped immediately. Israel’s bombing of civilians is unjustifiable and constitute a war crime. Gazans live in an already immensely difficult humanitarian crisis.

Crime of immeasurable horror

What is worse about the present war is that Israel is trying to argue that the civilians brought their calamity unto themselves by allowing themselves to be used as human shields.

an

The truth is innocent civilians are being killed, maimed and deprived by Israel’s determination to prevent a Palestinian State from being realised.

The world must not forget that the land that many citizens of Israel now enjoy as their own was once the home of many of the Gazans. The Gazans who live in the Gaza Strip are subjected to Jewish violations of numerous accords. Those violations include the illegal imprisonment of hundreds of Palestinian civilians without charge and the continued building of illegal settlements, which has been addressed by United Nations Resolutions 446, 452, 465. The UN has passed more than 45 resolutions since its inception that condemn Israel’s oppressive actions in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has stated that the present war was initiated by Hamas who they accused of kidnapping three Jewish teenagers. That kidnapping must be condemned and globally, we should be in solidarity to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice. But to exercise an option for “collective punishment” is unacceptable.

We should not ignore that a Palestinian teenager was also kidnapped by Jewish elements. Even though some persons were arrested, what if Hamas uses the same argu-

Satiricus felt he had to do the right thing. This recording had been dropped on his doorstep and he’d agonised all night as what to do with it. It was two voices. Voice number one appeared to be the Chairman of the “Pee ‘n See”, Mustache Willie, while the second one appeared to be that of Oskar Clerk, the General Secretary. Satiricus copied the conversation verbatim. He would give it to his editor.

Voice 1: Wha goin on?

Voice 2: I deh.

Voice 1: Ah just give the Chairman of the CoI a good juk. Ah think he tekking sides…

Voice 2: Banna, yuh know dese kinda people. Deh still remember deh old days, when dem di running around wid Afro hairstyle and clenched fists!!

Voice 1: But we gat to protect de Kabaka, right.

Voice 2: Yuh bet yuh ass, yuh gat fuh do dat.

Voice 1: Ah gon do wha a gotta do. So whey de General deh?

Voice 2: Me ain’t know if he geh you. I tell he…

Voice 1: He come back?

Voice 2: Yeah, I told him yuh might, yuh sey you might need to talk to he.

Voice 1: Uh hmm, I ain’t know he come back.

Voice 2: Yeah, he say he wanted to talk to you.

ment of collective punishment?

Unethical collective punishment

The collective punishment of Gazans will not help bring peace to the region.

Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians is not just unjustified, it’s unethical, and largely ineffective.

Guyana must voice its position now. Political parties must be in solidarity with the people of Palestine at this time. For a start, the global family at the UN must demand that Israel remove its armed forces from the Gaza now. This must be followed by a serious review of the UN resolutions, calling for an end to Israeli occupation and building of settlements.

The global effort to bring peace in Palestine and in Israel will never bear fruit if countries like the US and the Europeans do not take a humanitarian position now: the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians cannot end unless a Palestinian State is realised. The longer the world takes to recognise this reality, the longer is peace deferred in favour of war.

The war being waged on the Gaza Strip today must end now.

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

“I wanna be number 1”

Voice 1: But I ain’t want fuh talk to he no mo’.

Voice 2: Good. But is wha yuh call fuh, Banna? You big shot lawyer don’t usually call me.

Voice 1: Well I tired of being the bridesmaid and never the bride.

Voice 2: (Sounding alarmed) You want to be a BRIDE? Boy, I never tek you to be like dat! Is the mustache like a…a cover?? You want fuh come out of the closet??

Voice 1: Is wha schupidness you goin on wid?? I is all man. I mean Ah want to be Leader. You know, to fill de Kabaka shoes.

Voice 2: (Sounding even more alarmed) You want fuh be the LEADER???!!! Yuh want fuh tek on de General??

Voice 1: Is why yuh so surprise?? Yuh think goat bite me?

Voice 2: Calm down, Banna. Calm down. But is why yuh think you should be Leader??

Voice 1: Well, I is a lawyer, like de Kabaka. I like fancy suit, like the Kabaka. And Ah trying to like brandy, like de Kabaka.

Voice 2: But, Banna, the question is, can you ride a horse like the Kabaka??

Voice 1: Not really. But I can ride an ass.

Voice 2: (under his breath) And be one too…

legal corner

By RichaRd Kistnen, esq

When New York enacted the uncontested divorce laws several years ago, the hope was that parties seeking to obtain a divorce would be able to obtain one more expeditiously. If the parties can resolve outstanding issues on their own, and provide the documents required by the law, an uncontested divorce would be granted in relatively short time compared to the time (and expenses) incurred in a contentious divorce.

Whether or not from oversight, parties that enter into some kind of marital settlement agreement often fail to truly appreciate how liabilities are apportioned. It often happens that, in an effort to obtain the uncontested divorce, parties will transfer assets, such as houses or cars, just to get the divorce over with as quickly as possible. While the focus is often on assets, liabilities are overlooked. Soon after, a party that gave up an interest in an asset soon finds himself or herself being contacted by a creditor for satisfaction of a debt that the party thought was “transferred” to the other spouse. Ultimately, bankruptcy often ends up being an option, and it is in a bankruptcy where the unintended consequence comes to light.

There is a growing body of courts across the country, most recently in Minnesota, which hold that transfers made in an uncontested divorce may be voidable as fraudulent transfers. In this most recent case, a 93 year-old-man and his 55 year old

spouse obtained an uncontested divorce. Prior to the uncontested divorce, the husband had defaulted on several large debts, which the creditor had sought to enforce and collect. In the uncontested divorce, the husband transferred to the wife some substantial assets, including an investment account worth $1.2 million dollars, and a one-half interest in a business that owned commercial property. The husband kept some assets but were not as valuable. He also agreed to accept liability on joint debts worth $270,000.00, and sole debts worth $8.8 million.

The court ultimately decided, based on the facts of the case, that these transfers were fraudulent transfers, and may be avoided. The fraudulent transfer law indicates, generally, that transfers may be avoided if they were made with the “intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any creditor.” The law also lists certain factors which, when present, lead to the conclusion that there was intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor, which the court found in this case.

Ultimately, if you are obtaining an uncontested divorce or have obtained one, it is critical, if you are thinking of filing for bankruptcy, to speak with a bankruptcy attorney to understand what could happen. Unintended consequences often lead to difficult experiences down the line, especially in court. If you would like to speak to an attorney, contact the Law Office of Richard Kistnen, (718) 738-2324, www.kistnenlaw.com.

Miss Global International Guyana aims...

region express in colour, warmth, cuisine, music, and I’m glad to be a part of that. I believe that education can get a person anything and anywhere. However, we cannot all be lawyers, doctors, CEOs etc, so I have great respect for the guy that collects the garbage, the lady that cleans an office or the man or woman that sells on the corner,” Harris declared.

She added, “I also believe that life is what you make it, change is inevitable, and respect is always due.”

Hailing from the West Coast district to settling in the capital city, Rashawna Alleyne is an ambitious 25-year-old who holds a degree in Biology from the University of Guyana and a diploma in Project Management from the Institute of Commercial Management-UK, passing both fields of study with honours.

Alleyne currently holds the position of the youngest female managers within her workplace. However, she wants to contribute her time to make the Caribbean a more appetising tourists’ haven by preserving its natural beauty. Consequently, she aspires to become a diplomat in the field of Management Sciences.

Alleyne is truly a dynamic young woman who is working diligently to achieve her goals despite challenges. Additionally, she believes that “hard work will give you what you want but making time to do what you love gives you a priceless gift called peace of mind and that there is a joy forever”.

The resplendent beauty enjoys travelling, embracing different cultures, boosting her peers’ self-esteem, the night life, and the arts.

Ashley Andrea Cameron is not your typical girl. With poise and charisma, her body language com-

mands attention whenever she steps into a room. Standing 5' 9", Cameron is an astounding representation of what an all-rounded Guyanese pageant contestant is. With the figure of a model and the graceful movements of a dancer, singing and dramatic poetry are just a few of her hidden talents.

Cameron holds a prestigious degree in International Relations and Psychology from the University of Guyana. Her ambition in life is to be an ambassador of her country in the hopes of working with young children in and around the Caribbean region. She enjoys volunteer work and is a very active member with the Every Wish Foundation - a charitable organisation founded by her and other friends.

Presently, she is employed as a Revenue Officer at the Guyana Revenue Authority and a member of the National Youth Council.

She is no stranger to the camera. From the year 2007 to present, Cameron has taken part in Facts 2, a designing competition for young people; the Guyana Model Search; and the Miss Guyana Jamzone 2013 pageant, where she placed first runner-up and was awarded the prize of most intelligent delegate. She also competed in the Hugh Ross Classic Body Building Competition 2014. She has worked as a model with various companies such as Digicel and GT&T and continues to excel in all endeavours.

Cameron believes that “whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. For there is no work, or might, or service, in the grave thou goeth”. This is a quote she feels deeply about and was taught it throughout her high school years at the Bishops' High School.

Tail wagging dog…

…with AFC and APNU

Poor APNU…or maybe its “poor David Granger”. Looks like the pattern that began right after the elections has only intensified – with the teeny-weenie AFC having PNC/APNU dancing to its tune. And the tune is certainly no lullaby – what’s with all the military-sounding clash of cymbals and the call to arms of trumpets. Now you’d think, with the PNC/APNU having five times more seats in parliament than the AFC they’d be calling the shots, won’t you?

But you’d be dead wrong, since it’s been the AFC tail wagging the APNU dog all the way. What gives? Well, you see, APNU – or more specifically, David Granger – is in a bind. Inheriting a party founded on brute force and violence – we don’t have to rehearse the CIA backed shenanigans of the PNC (1960s) after the British midwifed the birth of that party (1950s), do we??

Especially with the tradition of dealing “condignly” with the Opposition in the 70s being regurgitated in the Rodney CoI, as we speak, no?? And of course, most readers would’ve experienced firsthand, the excitement of “slow fyaah; mo fyaah”. So onwards we plough.

Granger wants to convince the Guyanese who haven’t voted for the PNC up to now that they’ve turned over a new leaf. That the stripes of the hyena have disappeared. He thinks he can lead the PNC back into power if he plays his cards right –no rough stuff. But this was exactly the stuff that’d gotten Corbin in trouble with the party’s base. You don’t convince your people their party’s motto is “wrong and strong” – and suddenly tell them the lion and the lamb will lie down together.

Corbin was accused of betrayal!. And as a matter of fact, the AFC in their first outing under Raphael Trotman in 2006 reaped a harvest from the PNC’s field. Granger brought them back because they thought with his “army” background he was going to be “bigger and badder”. The AFC called him out in Linden after he’d agreed to the tariff increase. He had to respond or lose his reputation. He backed down. They called him out in Agricola. They called him out on AML/CFT. And now the AFC’s calling him out on Ashni Singh and the No-Confidence motion.

Granger has gone along with Ashni Singh, because like with Rohee, that’s going nowhere. But with the no-confidence, that’s a horse of another colour, isn’t it?? Granger could lose corn and husk.

Let’s see if he has the cojones to tell Ramjattan where he could stick his “no-confidence” motion!!

…on race baiting

The Bar Association’s called out the President –as Information Minister – to denounce a letter and an editorial they claim constitute “hate speech”. Now we’ll leave it to the constitutional scholars to parse the cited comments to determine whether in fact they meet the definition of that term of art. Problem is we can’t even reproduce the comments – because the Bar Association took pains to point out, if the said comment were re-published by any other publisher, they’d be just as guilty of promoting “hate speech”!

Puts us in a bind, doesn’t it. How the heck do we discuss something if we can’t spell it out? So we’re stuck with the Bar Association’s asseveration. The problem with this, however, is all the signatory members of the Bar Association that we recognise, are members of the Opposition.

So are we back to the usual politicking?? With the usual suspects?? What’s the Bar Association record in calling out “hate speech” from the Opposition? This will give us some confidence in judging the claimed “unmentionable”.

The horse cart

The horse drawn cart has been a common sight along Guyana’s roadways for as long as most Guyanese can remember. They remain part of a Guyanese heritage; something most overseas-based Guyanese and tourists can always recollect.

Used especially to transport goods like lumber, zinc sheets, bags of grass or grains, the horse cart also hauls away garbage for those affected by unreliable garbage services or those who want to get rid of old vehicle and machine parts or appliances like refrigerators.

The horse cart has also had a tradition of carrying Christmas carollers around – not so popular these days however. Again, at Christmas time, they can be seen in parades as well. Additionally, in some instances, grooms have been known to arrive at their wedding in a horse cart.Persons, including children, often hitch rides to close destinations on horse carts also.

However, not everyone finds favour with this traditional mode of transport, citing animal cruelty among the various reasons the practice should be stopped. The

aesthetics of horse carts on our roads have also found disfavour among some citizens who, in addition, feel this traditional transport is ar-

chaic and suggests underdevelopment in the country.

In fact, there is little public knowledge about the horse carting commu-

nity, though the Guyana Revenue Authority does have a “4 Wheelded Cart (Horse and Mule) Licence” requirement for this form of transporta-

tion.The licence requirement though, makes no mention of the horse, stating only that the applicant should have a TIN, valid ID and receipt of purchase (of horse and of cart).

It has been suggested that the Guyanese horse cart evolved to that of the so-called modern societies where it is used as a novelty in parks, fairs or parades. But for those in the business of horse carting, it remains a livelihood for them and their families, and in some areas of the country children continue to learn the traditional art of horse carting from their fathers.

The rich antiquity of the Berbice Chair

By Dmitri Allicock

It seems that since humankind first stood up to see over the tall savannah grasses, we’ve been looking for a place to sit back and relax. The historical record is not quite so concise but when early migratory peoples first settled into a domesticated lifestyle, it appears one mark of the civilized person was a seat that elevated the body “away from the cold, damp floor”. By the simple act of constructing an artificial place to sit, humans began the long tradition of distinguishing themselves from the animal world.

History of the chair

The earliest known form of the Greek chair dates back to six or seven centuries B.C. On the frieze of the Parthenon Zeus occupies a square seat with a bar-back and thick turned legs; it is ornamented with winged sphinxes and the feet of beasts. The characteristic Roman chairs were of marble, also adorned with sphinxes. The most famous of the very few chairs which have come down from a remote antiquity is the reputed chair of Saint Peter in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Ancient Egyptian’s chairs appear to have been of great richness and splendour. Fashioned of ebony and ivory, or of carved and gilded wood, they were covered with costly materials and supported upon representations of the legs of beasts or the figures of captives. Egyptians believed that

the chairs need to represent natural forms to avoid creating chaos in the universe, by creating an artificial object.

The Berbice Chair for the plantation elite

It is with this backdrop of such rich antiquity and splendour that the ‘Berbice Chair’ of Guyana distinguishes itself in status and affiliation. The Berbice Chair, named, of course after the county of Berbice, is also referred to as a ‘Plantation Chair’ and dates back to early slave plantation days. There is some reference in the historical records of the early Dutch planters to this invaluable piece of Guyana’s heritage. The plantation furniture of the colonies inspired the dramatic shape and clean silhouette of

this chair. Crafted and framed by Guyana’s hardwood, it is reinforced with stretcher bars for decades of wear. As comfortable as it is handsome, this is an exotic work of furniture art at its best. This large armchair is fitted with a variety of matting or decorative cover and adorned with splendid fasteners. The long arms of the chair have the ability to be folded inward to act as a leg rest. This handsomely styled chair with deep laid back relaxing look adapts to the natural contours of your body to reduce pressure points giving long lasting comfort. A chair associated with such prestige and relaxation in our time yet belongs to that dark age of such repulsion and suffering. The chair would have been

a prime piece of furniture for the ‘Plantation Great House’, providing comfort and as a showpiece of status.

The hammock for workers

The overworked and exhausted workers on the plantations would have used the other great piece of antiquity, the hammock, for sitting and resting. There remains a bit of mystery revolving around the origin of hammocks, but one fact is incontestable: hammocks have been a commonplace tool for both survival and burial since as early as 450 B.C.

This is the earliest recorded date of the swinging bed, said to have been developed by an unassuming student of Socrates named Alcibiades. However, the native people of South America would dispute that finding since they have been using this device since the Bering Strait crossing. The natives of the wilds in what would later be known as the Amazon Basin had an extremely difficult time surviving the gruelling, thick, sticky climates born of their region.

The origin of the hammock lay here, in this uncertain and miserable environment, when getting off the ground and covering up every body part meant the difference between survival and death. Hammocks are easy to carry. There’s a wide price and quality range. There are massproduced striped cotton hammocks from Brazil. Arawaks from coastal districts of Guyana make hammocks from Tibisiri,

a fibre made from the immature leaves of the eté palm. Local hand-made cotton hammocks are top of the line in style and quality. Some of the finest are made by the Wapishana Amerindians of the southern Rupununi. The privileged chairs

The homes in Guyana have as many doors and windows as possible to keep interiors cool. Balcony with awnings or overhangs, louvers to keep rooms cool, draperies to filter sunlight and an openly fashioned “downstairs” where it is always the coolest.

The Berbice Chair, due to its elegancy, is generally displayed in a prime location of the house while the hammock is more suited to a breezy balcony or downstairs. The Morris chair, coffee table, sideboard, cabinet with the treasured dishes- cutlery and other fine furnishing, usually enhance the Berbice chair, sitting graciously on a cedar polished hardwood floor.

It wasn’t Christmas when I was a child without the smell of black cake, pepper pot, garlic pork, ginger beer, sorrel, Christmas cards, and all wooden furniture scraped, sanded and polished with a new coat of lacquer. The elegant Berbice Chair was delicately prepared with new expensive matting, glistening polish of renewal and ready to serve another year.

The distinguished Berbice Chair remains part of Guyana’s rich cultural and living history.

This week's Crossword

J kes

Feeding Shamu

At Sea World, a young boy absolutely refused to see the show featuring Shamu the killer whale, but he wouldn't tell his parents why. No amount of discussion could get him to change his mind.

Later, when they got home, the parents discovered the reason for his reluctance.

An aunt had told him how exciting the show would be because "They choose children from the audience to feed Shamu."

The high-jump

A kangaroo kept getting out of his enclosure at the zoo. Knowing that he could hop very high, the zoo officials put up a ten-foot fence.

He was out the next morning, just wandering around the zoo. A twenty-foot fence was put up. Again he got out.

When the fence was forty feet high, a camel in the next enclosure asked the kangaroo, "How high do you think they'll go?"

The kangaroo said, "Pretty high, unless somebody figures out to lock the gate at night!"

Small

town sheriff

In one small rural town the sheriff also fulfilled the role of the town's veterinarian.

One night the phone rang, and the sheriff's wife answered.

An agitated voice inquired, "Is your husband there?"

"Well, do you need him as the sheriff or the vet?" the wife asked.

"Both," came the reply. "We can't get our dog's mouth open, and there's a burglar in it!"

A needed raise

"I need a raise," the secretary said to her boss. "There are three other companies after me."

"Is that so?" asked the boss. "What other companies are after you?"

"The electric company, the telephone company, and the gas company."

This week's Puzzle

Hard work

Frank was the manager of an upscale men's wear store in a wealthy section of town and was interviewing Larry for the recently advertised salesman role.

Frank looked at Larry's resume and noticed that Larry had never worked in retail before.

Frank mused, "For someone with no retail experience, you are certainly asking for a high salary."

"Well I suppose I am," Larry replied, "but you must understand that the work is so much harder when you don't know what you're doing."

A better excuse

Toby came into the office an hour late for the third time in one week and found his boss waiting for him.

"What's the story this time, Toby?" his boss asked sarcastically. "Let's hear a good excuse for a change."

Toby sighed, "Everything went wrong this morning. My wife decided to drive me to the harbour. She got ready in ten minutes, but then the ferry didn't turn up."

"Rather than let you down, I swam across the river, ran over the mountain, borrowed a bicycle and cycled the 20 miles through the field to this office.

"

"You'll have to do better than that, Toby," said his boss, disappointed. "No woman can be ready in ten minutes."

Coffee un-creamer

A man set down in a cafe and a waitress approached him: "Can I get you something to drink, sir?"

The man replied, "Yes, I'd like a cup of coffee with sugar, but no cream".

Nodding agreement, the waitress walked off to fill the order and the man read the paper while waiting.

A few minutes later, however, the waitress returned and said, "I'm sorry, sir, we are all out of cream -- how about with no milk?"

A relaxing, adventurous getaway

The Corentyne River has been the pathway to many tourists’ destinations such as Orealla, Cow Falls and Wonotbo Falls, and is sought after by vacationers who want to get away from the monotony of the concrete jungle.

The Corentyne River forms the whole of the eastern border with Suriname, and is said to be the second longest river in Guyana. It flows northward from its source for approximately 724 km (450 miles) between Guyana and Suriname, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Corriverton in Guyana and Nieuw Nickerie, Suriname.

When choosing to go further to Cow Falls or Wonotobo Falls for a getaway, be sure to expect just that. No signal for cell phones or electricity; just you and nature. Fishing for your dinner, waking up to a breathtaking sunset or just observing the incredible scenes along the river make the hours travelling to the desired vacation spot oh so worthwhile.

During the nights, get lost in the starry heavens with the multitude of stars embroidering the night sky. Be lulled by the cool breezy evenings and feel the fresh wind as it kisses your cheeks and erases all the stresses of life, even if it’s just for a moment.

For the time needed to find yourself or just a getaway from a sometimes stressful technology age, Corentyne River is the ideal destination.

People disowning dem own people

People disownin people like crazy nowadays. Even yuh own people disownin yuh. It don’ matter wheh yuh come from. Or who yuh belong to. Or who is yuh mummah and yuh daady. Or how much money yuh got. Or wheh yuh live. Or who yuh married to.

Not even wheh yuh wukkin does wuk to help yuh out nowadays. Because is every body dem pullice men does ask fuh a raise. And de bigger de wuk place, de bigger de raise. That was a thing of de past when yuh coulda turn up and people woulda know yuh right away and treat yuh nice. And pullice woulda give yuh a break instead of breakin yuh down fuh a raise.

De Mayor-fuh-Life fuh instance used to turn up and every body used to fall down at he feet. Especially when he was Pee-M under de Pee-N-C, although that was a lotta pee. Now de Mayor-fuh-Life is de one who fallin down instead.

In fact, de Sober woman seh every ting fuh de Mayorfuh-Life does fall down nowadays. Plus she not givin he any more free gas to put in he free car fuh any more gallavantin all over de place. Is de same as when yuh cut a fowl wing so it can’t fly. Well, de Mayor-fuh-Life never coulda fly but some ting get cut.

As fuh de disownin problem, Pee-N-C now disown de Kiss woman who had a problem wid Oscar de bite man. If de Kiss woman had only know that Oscar still got teeth, she woulda be more careful wid she kissin and both of dem woulda still be kissin and bitin wid no problems. Now de whole of Linden bitin, and all dem skalliwags in de Pee-N-C fightin.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And de Trickydadians disown dem own cricket team. Plus de man who cause it was same Tricky Minister who disown all dem people and ‘stuff’ whah he was hidin in a hotel. He thought he had more tricks than de mohawk fella who turn round and trick dem!

ISimply the

Political vision

t is becoming more and more apparent that Guyana is bereft of adults with political talent and vision. This is a harsh truth, and it brings us no joy whatsoever to come to this conclusion; but this truth applies to all of the people in all the current political parties.

The reasons for political blindness and dumbness could be many, but one of the main reasons for this paucity of political vision is that the political gene pool has been rendered muddy from incest and endless duplication.

We recycle the same old people who bring up the same old ideas that they got elsewhere anyway. There is no creativity or originality so there can be no vision. This goes for both the two traditional parties. The newest party is made up of the flotsam and jetsam of the other two, and all they bring to us is bitterness and blame.

In recent years, the only time we had something like a visionary leader was Bharrat Jagdeo. One may not agree with the way he may have gone about things or the manner in which he may have spoken on certain occasions, but he was a leader with a vision of economic advancement for the nation that he headed.

And he never held this entire nation up for derision by people outside of this nation. One witnesses with admiration of Bharrat’s dignified silence in the face of much poison being spat in his direction.

People like me who are by nature hopeful have lost much of that hope.

Change will not come from the current set of people that infest parliament. It is not that they are all bad people.

Some of them, we hope, mean well. But simply meaning well does not cut it these days. Once again, it is about the absence of vision. This poverty is compounded by shameful ego and self-service, no political sophistication, no diplomacy, and no communication in any direction.

For instance, it does not appear as if any single Ministry recognises how its work or failure to work affects every other ministry. If the Ministry of Education does not function, it affects every other Ministry—and therefore all Guyanese in every way. Each Tuesday, we have Cabinet meetings.

Then they try to tell us all what happened, what was decided, and why they decided what they decided. The thing is that no one that I have met in or out of Guyana understands what their spokesman is saying. It is all gibberish to us, and we feel it is the usual run around. This is not how one motivates a nation, especially not how we motivate our Youths!

How can any of this be changed?

That’s the question! The answer: A NEW political party in Guyana. By “new”, we do not mean a whole set of wet-behind-the-ear people with no experience whatsoever.

If this new political party builds a platform for progress, one that is built on solid ideas in all areas and for all Guyanese, we can then attract those competent and experienced people from other parties and from abroad.

If they have the good sense to see the Vision of the New Party, then the new party will have the good sense to utilize their expertise, experience and good sense for the benefit of all. The corrupt and bitter and divisive and foolish can stay with their tired old parties. At the same time, the New political party can, make full use of the fresh ideas and energy of the Youth of this Nation.

The most important newness is a sense of service to this nation, a sense of service that makes all politicians the servants rather than the masters of the people. If the people want to see any of the leading members of this NEW Party, those leading members MUST make time to see the people and address their concerns or explore their ideas immediately. This alone would be revolutionary.

The New Political Party can advance a platform and a vision in key areas, including education; medicine and medical delivery; internal and external security; investment/business; infrastructure; research and development; international relations; the utilities sector; agriculture and post-agriculture sectors; Sports; job creation; Youth Projects; and social security. In the next few weeks, we shall explain exactly what we mean by these key areas and the plans for advancement.

The New Party can put together a team of bright, visionary, and honest people to go before the people of Guyana and say: “We want to be given a chance to serve you.” Any takers? Just let us know.

Providence Mandir

Described as an eloquent reminder of our Eastern heritage, the Providence Mandir, built in 1932, is a fine example of timber craftsmanship and localised architecture that employs traditional Indian elements and features alongside Christian and western influences.

Decorative and intricate fretwork can be seen on panels, doors, and open areas; there are also stained glass, turned columns, jalousies, and ornate fenestration (window design).

Another prominent ornamental feature is the decorative railings or balustrades encircling the structure. This is evidenced in the turned supports of the handrails of staircases and along the galleries and porches.

The centrally placed tower or sikhara is the focal point of this octagonal mandir. Such eightfaced parts represent the regents of the four cardinal points of the compass, and the ninth panel or segment in the centre of the ceiling is topped by a sikhara that represents Brahma, the creator deity of the Supreme Hindu Triad. (National Trust of Guyana)

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

The Shaping of guyaneSe LiTeraTure

Frank Thomasson

B y P etam B er P ersaud

There are many parts to a theatre, some parts serving more than one function, others used for specific purposes, all playing a major role in society. There are many aspects to a theatre, but the more important aspect is the people who make up the theatre, some playing many parts in their lifetime.

Frank Thomasson was one such person who played many parts in the Theatre Guild of Guyana. Thomasson was like a founder member of the Theatre Guild due to the fact that he was there from the beginning and he was the Guild’s first secretary. The founding members were Lloyd Searwar, Bertie Martin and Arthur Hemstock. Thomasson was also an actor and the Guild’s director from its opening in 1960 to 1965. But his greatest contribution to Theatre Guild and theatre in Guyana was his book, A History of Theatre in Guyana, 1800-2000 (Hansib Publications). This book was launched at the Theatre Guild in 2008 to coincide with the resuscitation of the playhouse. The blurb of the book reads: “Frank Thomasson’s study of 200 years of theatre in Guyana is a fascinating work which includes a compilation of related articles extracted from local journals dating back to the early 19th

century. His survey establishes itself as a pioneering and indispensable segment in the history of Guyana. It makes a case for the importance of the theatre in the diverse culture of the Guyanese people, in helping them to understand and appreciate the lives and concerns of each other.”

This valuable study encompasses the performing arts, which the different ethnic groups brought with them. Added to this was the beginning of the European theatre in 19th century Georgetown, which gave rise to the emergence of theatre organised by the East Indian and African Guyanese mid-

dle classes in the early 20th century, to the vibrancy of a diverse and socially committed theatre in the 1950s, leading up to independence.

Thomasson’s extensive definition of theatre embraces not only the emergence of serious repertory theatre, but also all forms of entertainment and staterun public extravaganzas. He explores the national and regional examples of encouragement of theatre, from the Booker Company’s sponsorship and support of theatre groups and competitions on the sugar estates, to the inclusion of drama in the extra-curricular activities of the lead -

King Clown give away GT

Once upon a time it had nuff kings and queens in de world. But nowadays it only gotta few kings and queens still around. De old-fashion kingdoms slowly becomin a ting of de past. And some kings and queens even givin up de kingship and de queenship. In de UK, one princess had even leff de prince and went wid some body else.

However, it gotta lotta people who tink dem is some kinda king or some kinda queen and does behave like dem is king and queen right hey in Guyana. Some of dem in Parliament and some of dem in de s*ity council doin sheer s*it.

On de other hand, it got some kings who prefer to be queens and some queens who tink dem got whah kings got. Hence, dem kings who stay like that does tek other kings fuh dem selves, and dem queens who don’t want kings does look fuh other queens when dem got certain special tings to look after.

Guyana had Sydney King and a Kenneth King who both had wanna be kings, but wid Burnt Ham playin king, dem didn’t stand a chance. Then, of course, not too long ago there was King Kong in de movies. Plus de s*ity council gotta king too.

De only ting is that de s*ity council gotta different kinda king. That is a special king. That king is King Clown. Any ting he do is clownish. Usually people does laugh at whah a clown do on stage, but in this case de people laughin de clown.

And he don’t need a stage. In fact, in reality he already got a stage at de s*ity council. Not too long ago King Clown had wanna be de Town Clerk as well. But he was more like a Clown Clerk. So either way, he is still a clown.

ing schools, the birth of the National Cultural Centre and Carifesta. The longest section of his history is dedicated to a detailed study of the Theatre Guild of Guyana, the longest existing and most ‘profes-

sional’ of the repertory groups in the country.

Thomasson was born in Manchester, England, and was always involved in some aspects the theatre. He was a Business Psychologist by profes -

sion. In 1956, he came to Guyana to take up employment with the Bookers Sugar Estates. Between 1956 and 1965, he served the company as Deputy and Chief Personnel Officer, later Personnel Director.

Dr Ian McDonald, in his foreword to the book, wrote that in those ten years “Guyana entered his bloodstream, his mental make-up and, I dare say, his soul… And ties to his adopted land were doubly secured by his marriage first’… to Carlotta Croal and then to Aileen Morgan – both Carlotta and Aileen springing from famous Guyanese families and themselves celebrated in the theatre”.

In 2006, the Guyana Cultural Association honoured him with the Exemplary Award for a lifetime of service to the theatre in Guyana. Frank Thomasson passed away in 2012 in the United Kingdom. Responses to this author tel ephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

The mother of late 'Glee' star Cory Monteith admitted that she has only recently begun to accept her son's death.

During her appearance on 'Good Morning America', Monteith's mother, Ann McGregor said that it was terrible losing her son, 31, and she couldn't even bear to look at his picture until three days ago, CNN reported.

McGregor admitted to have been keeping contact with Monteith's co-star and lover Lea Michele, and said that she knows Michele's going through the same pain and sadness.

Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on Fox's musical show, and had voluntarily checked himself into rehab, was found dead three months later in a Vancouver hotel room due to deadly intake of heroin and alcohol. (TOI)

Singer Selena Gomez, who has just turned 22, was spotted getting wet and wild while celebrating her birthday in Saint Tropez.

The "Come and Get It" hitmaker was seen getting close to a good looking guy who has not been seen with the brunette before. The mystery guy is said to be Tommaso Chiabra, reports eonline.com.

The two were photographed exchanging ear-to-ear smiles as they jetskied together, with Selena holding on tight to Chiabra as he steered.

Selena looked stunning in a black bikini top and white high-waisted shorts.

Model Cara Delevingne was also spotted with the singer who flaunted her bikini body in a black two-piece. (Times of India)

Justin Theroux is so beautiful: Jennifer Aniston

'Friends' star

Jennifer Aniston thinks her fiancé Justin Theroux is so beautiful and gets better looking every year.

The 45-year-old actress, who has been engaged to 'The Leftovers' star for almost two years, said she is a fan of his eyes, reported People

magazine.

"He's just so beautiful and handsome to me. I love that his eyeballs are so beautifully captured because those eyes just knock me out every day. He just gets better every year. He's just like a lost gem in the sand, and he's just always been there and been brilliant, and now this is just in a different light," she said.

Theroux is the new cover boy of Details magazine's August issue and to launch the issue a party was held, which was attended by Aniston. (TOI)

Zac Efron named 2014's hottest hunk

Zac Efron has been named the "hottest hunk" of 2014 by Heat Magazine.

The 'High School Musical' star has managed to oust Tom Daley, who took top spot in the poll last year, followed by David Beckham, Harry Judd and Leonardo DiCaprio, the Daily Star reported.

According to the magazine, Efron's topless appearance in 'Bad Neighbours', along with having his shirt ripped off by Rita Ora at the MTV Awards, had secured his place at number one in the 101 'Hottest Hunks' list.

Meanwhile, George Clooney was placed at the 60th position, while Benedict Cumberbatch was at number 24 and Prince Harry scored the 32nd position. (TOI)

Bradley Cooper and Suki Waterhouse may wed next year

Bradley Cooper is reportedly planning to marry Suki Waterhouse on his 40th birthday next year.

The 'Hangover' hunk is keen to tie the knot with the 22-year-old model - whom he has been dating since March last year - in the US on their joint birthday on January 5.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: ''Bradley wanted to wait until his 40th before getting hitched as he's been married before. It's very important for him now that they seal their love.''

The loved-up couple have already begun planning their big day and are keen for it to be an intimate affair in front of their close friends and

family.

The source explained: ''Bradley and Suki spend a lot of time daydreaming and planning their nuptials.

''They know they want to get hitched in the States, most likely LA, because they want it to be hot. But it's likely to be a very small, private affair.''

The pair sparked rumours they had got en-

gaged earlier this month after they were spotted wearing matching rings on their wedding finger as they left The Chiltern Firehouse in London.

Meanwhile, Bradley was previously married to actress Jennifer Esposito in 2006, but just four months later they announced that they were divorcing.

He then went on to date Renee Zellweger from 2009 to 2011, before striking up a relationship with Zoe Saldana from December 2011 to January 2013.

Suki, on the other hand, has had previous relationships with The Kooks' frontman Luke Pritchard and Miles Kane. (Times of India)

Brooke Shields goes semi-naked

at 49!

Brooke Shields, who's 49, recently gave semi-nude sexy poses for Social Life magazine.

According to a source, the 'Blue Lagoon' actress was only in "strategically placed bed-sheet" in one shot, while in another she sported a dress with a very long slit, the New York Post reported.

The beauty, who started her career as a child star 1980, is married to producer Chris Henchy with whom she had two children. (TOI)

Ralph Fiennes taught Tony Revolori how to kiss

Tony Revolori has revealed his experience whilst shooting 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' saying that Ralph Fiennes taught him to how to kiss.

The 18-year-old actor said that he was nervous about doing the kissing scene with Saoirse Ronan, so he took Fiennes advice to help out with the kissing scene, the Daily Express reported.

The American actor revealed that Fiennes asked him to tell Ronan that he was sorry if he get aroused, and he was sorry if he won't, and this made Revolori laugh which was exactly what

he needed.

Revolori asserted that being around Adrian Brody, Jude Law, Edward Norton, and Owen Wilson among others all day was a dream for him and it was amazing working with them. (TOI)

Scarlett Johansson and her fiancé Romain Dauriac reportedly will tie the knot in a few weeks.

The star of 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' was overheard talking about her wedding plan at a dinner held by Martha Stewart at her East Hampton estate on July 19, reported Ace Showbiz.

In addition to Johansson and her journalist beau, the dinner was attended by Matt Lauer, Nathan Lane, Barbara Walters, Susan Lucci, Christopher Meloni, Dan Abrams, Andrew Saffir and Daniel Benedict, Thom Filicia, Gucci Westman and David Neville, Dylan Lauren and Rachel Zoe among others. Johansson, 29, and Dauriac got engaged last September. The couple is now expecting their first child together. (TOI)

Love is everything for me: Rithvik Dhanjani

Adie-hard romantic, TV actor Rithvik Dhanjani says love has played a beautiful and important role in his life.

“Love is everything for me. It’s the way of life. It’s the way of expressing and way of breathing for me,” Rithvik told IANS.

“It’s the strongest and sweetest… Everyone should at least experience the emotion once in a lifetime,” added the actor who is dating his “Pavitra Rishta” co-star Asha Negi. The two had won the sixth season of dance reality show “Nach Baliye”.

He also feels that love has different connotations.

“Love is not just about

love for your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife. Love, for me, is the love for my work, family and even friends. The emotion is very strong. It comes with a lot of responsibilities,” said the actor.

Rithvik, who hosts “Yeh Hai Aashiqui” for UTV Bindaas, says his stint on the show has strengthened his belief in the emotion.

Anupam Kher to undergo minor eye surgery

Veteran actor Anupam Kher will undergo minor eye surgery to remove the cyst formed in the upper eyelid. The operation was supposed to be done on Monday but it got postponed.

"Thanks to your wishes, surgery postponed because of the infection around the eye. #KucchBhiHoSaktaHai.:)," Anupam posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Earlier on Monday, he had shared about his surgery, "On my way for a minor ‘cyst in the upper eyelid’ surgery. Thodi sympathy mil jaye to shayad Dard cum Ho jayega. Baki aapki marzi. (If I get some sympathy, maybe the pain reduces. Rest is upto you)."

The 59-year-old actor is currently hosting a chat show, "The Anupam Kher Show--Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai". He recently tweeted for good wishes for his mother, who underwent ankle surgery. (Bollywood Mantra)

Akshay Kumar to record live before the media

Kapoors'

For decades the Kapoor family has been a mainstay of Bollywood. The list of stars the family has produced over the years is really long, starting from the acclaimed actor Prithviraj Kapoor and still continuing with the most recent introduction of Armaan Jain, his great grandson. While they have been living in India from 1947, their original ancestral home is in Peshawar, Pakistan. While the house still exists today, it

Akshay Kumar will be recording a song live in front of the media at a suburban Mumbai studio later this week for his next film Entertainment.

Kumar, who has previously lent his voice to songs in earlier films, says the idea of recording a track live sparked off in a conversation with film's producer, Ramesh Taurani. And the latter instantly agreed. "We usually call the media when we are shooting a film or for its premiere, but never for a song recording. It's a nice change for people to watch how a song recording happens, as compared to seeing the final product," says Akshay. (TOI)

lying in ruins

Priyanka Choprastarrer biopic on Olympic medalwinning boxer of Mary Kom will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this September.

Priyanka Chopra plays the titular role in the film, to be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

The world premiere of the film will take place on the opening night of the festival on September 4.

“This is a landmark entry for VMP in the biggest film festival in North America. Mary Kom is the compelling story of India’s only Olympic woman boxer who fought against all odds winning not just championships but hearts of Indians the world over,” said Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

Lis in such poor condition that it may come crashing down soon. The information was revealed by a leading English daily of Pakistan.

The report noted: “The air inside their old (Kapoor) haveli is still, the gloom in the empty rooms is like time mourning its own passage, a surrender to dust, to dampness and to death. It is the indifference of a terminal patient to a visitor who brings no hope but stands by the bed."

(Bollywood Mantra)

Directed by debutante Omung Kumar, ‘Mary Kom’ is slated to hit theatres on September 5.

ove in Paris! Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan is all set to tie the knot with her live-in partner and actor Kunal Khemmu soon.

The actress, who is currently vacationing with her beau in Paris revealed that Kunal Khemmu proposed to her ‘with a perfect ring and she said ‘yes’.

The excited actress took to Twitter to make an announcement, “It gives me great happiness to share with you all that Kunal proposed to me in Paris with the most perfect ring in the world and I said yes.”

Earlier Soha Ali Khan had said that her mother and veteran actress Sharmila Tagore was keen for her to get married. However, for the ‘Rang De

Bollywood's young star Alia Bhatt put up a confident front while walking a three-ramp set-up in a lehenga as heavy as over 20 kg, for ace designer Manish Malhotra's show at the Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers India Couture Week. She said she was nervous as she's usually clumsy.

"I get very nervous. I

Priyanka Chopra, a former Miss World, who won national award for ‘Fashion’, had called the biopic her career’s toughest and important role. (Indian Express)

Basanti’ actress a live-in relationship was as good as marriage. The couple have been dating for quite some time and moved in together only last year. (Indian Express)

am not the best walker. I am a very clumsy human being, I fall (while) standing, so walking on the ramp wearing (an outfit of) almost 25 kg and high heels, looking good, posing and smiling while people are clapping...I think it's nerve wrecking, but I think it's the best two minutes," Alia told reporters after the show. (TOI)

Mwho

is the goodwill ambassador for polio UNICEF campaign, is happy that

the disease is finally eradicated from India. The 69-year-old was appointed as the ambassador in 2005 and has since fronted their polio eradication programme successfully.

"Polio eradicated from India. An 8 year campaign with the UNICEF ambassadorship! Feel such accomplishment and joy!," Bachchan posted on Twitter. India was declared polio free by WHO (World Health Organisation) earlier this year. (TOI)

“9 out of 10” rating for Limacol CPL security

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Security Manager of the Guyana leg of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL), George Vyphuis, has given the security team a high rating following the conclusion of three highly successful games in the country.

Vyphuis, who was in charge of ensuring all security plans were formalised and executed, was a very pleased man on Sunday night following the completion of the games in Guyana.

Guyana hosted three games involving the home franchise team Guyana Amazon Warriors, against Trinidad and Tobago Red

Steel last Thursday, St Lucia Zouks on Saturday and defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs on Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium.

“Like anything else, when we started we had teething problems. We call them pot holes, the second day we filled them and today [Sunday] we delivered,” Vyphuis said.

He continued, “Like anything else you would never get 100 percent, but should I rate ourselves, I would say we finish at nine…nine out of 10.”

Vyphuis, the former Commander of ‘A’ Division, reported that there were a few minor hiccups, but nothing to severely test the security

Guyana

The National Under-17 footballers have been eliminated at the group stage of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-17 Qualifying competition in The Dominican Republic.

After drawing their opening game against

George Vyphuis, DmS

plan that was in place as persons were generally cooperative.

One of the concerns that arose was persons from some areas turning up at the venue without tickets, as they were sold out.

He added that the support from the Guyana Police Force and private security was crucial in ensuring the success of

For most persons it was a smooth process through the turnstiles

the three days, as the team did a fantastic job in handling over 40,000 people who passed through the turnstiles.

Like last year, the security arrangements

CFU Under-17 QUaliFiers

were once again followed, allowing for a smooth flow of persons and vehicles to and from the stadium.

Vyphuis was part of the local Limacol CPL

squeezed out of goal difference

Barbados and beating Antigua and Barbuda, the young Guyanese stumbled badly at the third hurdle, losing 0-3 to hosts The Dominican Republic on Tuesday.

The Guyanese needed a win to stay in contention to win the group, but instead

turned up on the losing end against the host nation and were squeezed out of the competition on inferior goal difference.

The Guyanese had drawn their first game against Barbados 1-1, before rebounding to beat Antigua and

Barbuda 3-2 in their second match.

The Bajans took top honours in the group and have booked a place in the finals of the competition. They defeated Antigua and Barbuda 2-0 in their final group game to end on seven points from two wins and a draw.

The Dominican Republic ended as the runner-up team with four points (one win, one draw, one loss), the same points as Guyana, who had to settle for third on goal difference.

National Coach Bryan Joseph commented on Facebook after the loss that he was disappointed in the result, but noted that the little lads gave of their best.

“We have failed, but we are proud since we gave of our best amidst a mountain of challeng -

es at home and abroad. I’ve asked all the players and staff to chin up and be proud because your great effort was just not enough. We’ve won the hearts of the other teams with our power, grit, determination and humbleness and they still doubt that we were able to put together this team in less than two weeks.” Joseph also apologised to the Jaguars’ supporters for the and also expressed appreciation for the “prayers and support”.

GASA announces 12-member IGG swimming team

By TreisTon Joseph

The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) has named a 12-member team to represent the country at the upcoming Inter- Guiana Games (IGG) to be held in Guyana during the first weekend of August.

The team is made up of six males and a similar amount of females, with Olympian Britany Van Lange spearheading the team, along with upcoming star Hannibal Gaskin.

The team has been training at the National Aquatic Centre, where Guyana Times International Sport spoke to Team Manager Leon Seaton on Tuesday. Seaton was full of optimism for the team, especially since he believes home advantage may come into play.

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake undergoes hamstring surgery -

out for remainder of 2014

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:

Yohan Blake will miss the remainder of the 2014 season after undergoing surgery in Germany to repair a damaged hamstring muscle.

Blake, the 2011 World 100-metre champion, damaged the muscle while competing at the Diamond League meet in Glasgow, Scotland, almost two weeks ago.

The male team will include: Omar Adams, Omari Dunn, Philip DeNobrega, Dylan

“This year the team has seen great improvement and I know that they are going to do better than last year. It’s a full team and the swimmers are eager to go especially because the games will be keeping in Guyana, so I expect them to do well,” Seaton stated.

Nurse, Selwyn Miller and Hannibal Gaskin while the girls’ team includes: Accalia Khan, Britany Van Lange, Nikita Fiedtkou, Jamila Sanmagon, Soroya Simmons and Kenita Mahaica.

Canada-based coach preparing IGG basketball team

By TreisTon Joseph

The services of Canada-based coach Sherlon Chance has been engaged as the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) continues preparing the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) basketball team for the tri-nation event scheduled for August in Guyana.

Chance is being assisted by the experienced Lugard Mohan to get both the male and female players ready to entertain their opponents.

Guyana Times International Sport visited the practice session on Tuesday and observed that the females were displaying good ballhandling skills and understanding of the game, while the men were gelling well with each other.

The Guyana-born Chance, who has coached multiple teams in Canada and the United States of America, noted that he was impressed with the intensity of the players but said there were areas that needed to be addressed.

“I’m very impressed with the speed, intensity has picked up a lot over the last couple of days, just a couple of little things that got to be worked on but I think I corrected a lot of those things, defence, talking to each other… com-

munication is very important in basketball, so we are trying to get that over with them that they got to communicate, share the basketball and work together as a team,” Chance stated.

Further, Chance pointed out what was the major difference between the teams he coached outside of Guyana and the current IGG team.

“It’s ok to run up and down and play scrimmages all the time, but if you don’t have the basics: dribbling, passing, teamwork, shooting, if you don’t have the basics then the scrimmages don’t help…so you need to combine the fundamentals along with the playing.

“I think that’s the biggest difference that I’ve noticed is fundamentals, a lot of the guys

are weak with the basic fundamentals and that is what I want to bring to their basketball,” Chance noted.

With the team looking to run a system based on ball movement and cuts to attack the basket, Chance talked about the potential of the team.

Meanwhile, Audrey Doorn, who was a part of the 1996 Caricom female championship team and is also a part of the group visiting with Chance as part of the John Rimple family reunion, said helping to develop the IGG team is being seen as a wonderful opportunity to give back to the country.

“We all share the same passion. When we heard about the team in training, and although this was the time to be here for our family reunion, we thought what better way to give back to our country than to work with this wonderful group,” Doorn stated.

Doorn also revealed that it was the Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali who set the link between the group and the YBG to conduct the training sessions. There is also a plan to donate items to various elderly persons.

The Guyana team for the Inter- Guiana Games will continue its preparation for the event which is set for the first weekend in August.

The athlete's coach, Glen Mills, confirmed that Blake underwent surgery, but said he didn't have much detail.

"I will know more when he comes back to Jamaica, I think, next week," Mills said in response to queries. "He is there with his agent."

The injury was considered to be more severe than was originally thought, after Blake fell early into his 100-metre race on July 11. Blake flew to Germany afterwards to have the injury evaluated and subsequently underwent an operation.

Earlier this season, Blake had opted out of competing at the Commonwealth Games, which began Wednesday

in Glasgow, Scotland, so that he could focus on preparing for the World Championships in Beijing next year and the Olympics in Rio in 2016. He missed most of the

Limacol CPL seen as a catalyst for change

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:

The Caribbean Premier League can be the catalyst for positive change in West Indies cricket says Tom Moody, the international cricket director of the league.

“We are bringing some of the leading players in the world to play in the league along with the top cricketers from the region. In addition we also have a development programme that includes several young West Indies cricketers. It is our intention that these young cricketers will learn and de-

velop from their association with the senior West Indian and international cricketers who are playing in the CPL and as a result West Indies cricket will benefit,” Moody told Barbadian media earlier this week.

He explained that the CPL played a multiple role in West Indies cricket along with its fast paced and entertainment value.

“Our brand of cricket is exciting and brings a new demographic to the game. We hope that the CPL will create interest among younger fans in the region who will become attracted

to first-class and Test cricket,” the former Australian all-rounder said.

Moody indicated that the newest version of the game should not be compared with Test cricket because the longer form of the game was the holy grail. He, however, added that T20 cricket would create a new awareness of the Test and first-class cricket.

The former manager of the Sri Lanka team said that he was looking forward to his stint with the CPL.

“This competition has generated interest throughout the cricket

world. This year it will be televised in Asia, England, Australia and North America so it will be beamed into millions of households.” He added that every cricketer had a soft spot for the West Indies and longed to play cricket in the region which made it easy to attract players to the CPL. Moody, who played eight Test matches and 37 OneDay International matches for Australia, said it was a privilege to be part of the CPL. Moody was appointed to his post with the CPL in March this year. (Barbados Today)

Guyana rifle shooters win Junior Overseas Competition in UK

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA: Guyana’s shooting quartet of Lennox Braithwaite, Mahendra Persaud, Ransford Goodluck and Dylan Fields scored a ma-

jor victory at the 2014 Rifle Shooting championships at Bisley rifle ranges in the United Kingdom last Thursday.

The Guyanese won the Junior Overseas Competition with an

overall score of 408 points with 40 V-bulls, beating into second position the New Zealand side who ended with 407 points with 49 V-bulls.

Braithwaite, the

reigning Caribbean individual champion, national captain Persaud and national champion Ransford Goodluck are currently in training for the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The team was captained by United States-based Guyanese Sigmund Douglas. The shooting condition was one Sighting shot and seven rounds to count

at 300, 500 and 600 yards, for a maximum score of 420.

Braithwaite and Persaud are Guyana’s two-man pair, while Goodluck will serve as manager/coach for the Games which will open on July 23 and will run until August 3 At the X1X Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India in 2010, Guyana’s representatives then–Persaud and Goodluckplaced a creditable fifth place from a line-up of 43 countries.

The Guyana shooters have been in the United Kingdom for the past two weeks and Braithwaite, Persaud, Fields and Goodluck have performed exceptionally well.

Barbados Tridents stick St Lucia Zouks with third loss

– Smith hits second century of Limacol CPL as Tridents win by 29 runs

The Barbados Tridents made the most of home advantage against the St. Lucia Zouks as they scored the highest total of this year’s Limacol Caribbean Premier League to set up a comprehensive victory.

The home side, skippered by Kieron Pollard, posted a daunting 1862 and then restricted the Darren Sammy led St Lucia Zouks to 157-4 to win by 29 runs

A century from local man Dwayne Smith was the star performance, the second hundred of this edition of the tournament.

Having been set such a daunting target, the Zouks never looked like reaching it under the Kensington Oval lights. The Tridents’ victory keeps them in touch with the leading teams, but the Zouks’ third successive loss leaves them struggling.

Smith was in fine form from the first over, destroying the left arm spin of Roelof van der Merwe, as he hit 18 runs off the South African to give the Barbados Tridents an excellent start. The second over saw Sohail Tanvir pick up the wicket of Shane Dowrich for a golden duck before rain took the teams off the field. A relatively short delay saw no overs lost, and when the game got back under way, Smith was joined by Shoaib Malik.

An excellent over from Darren Sammy at the end of the power play checked the progress of the home side slightly, but not for long as they reached 78 for one at the half-way stage.

A platform had been put in place for a big total, with Smith looking to make the most of the base he had set.

The Bajan opener reached his half-century off just 39 balls and he always looked like going very big.

Smith’s partnership of 110 with Malik was the perfect contrast in styles. While Smith was booming bat and big shots, Malik was about glides and touches that he times to the boundary. With his teammate going so well, Malik was more than happy to give the strike to Smith, but the Pakistani was capable of finding the ropes. One cut shot off Tino Best travelled so fast, it was a blur as it left the bat. The next ball was a slower one that was just as sweetly timed by Malik for another four.

That over cost Best 16 runs, but also brought him Malik’s wicket. This was not without controversy as the two men shared some angry words as the batsman headed back to the dressing room. A timely intervention from Zouks captain, Sammy, helped to calm things down as he explained to his bowler that he was crossing the line.

While the kerfuffle took place, Smith carried on as before, bringing up his century with a six over midwicket off the 68th ball he faced, the penultimate delivery of the innings. He repeated the feat off the last ball to finish on 110 not out. It was Smith’s highest score in T20 cricket and the first ever 100 in this format at the Kensington Oval. He was ably supported at the death by his captain, Kieron Pollard, who finished on an undefeated 18.

A target of 187 was always going to be difficult for the Zouks, but Johnson Charles made a good fist of it in the opening exchanges. In the second over, he

hit a “helicopter” shot for six that India captain, MS Dhoni, would be proud of. If the Zouks were going to get close, they would need one of the openers to bat for the majority of the innings. A bullet throw from Ravi Rampaul that hit the stumps from well over 40 yards away ran out Charles by a few feet, so ending his hopes of fulfilling that role.

That left the responsibility of managing the chase with Henry Davids, and he was lucky not to depart inside the power play as Jonathan Carter failed to hold on to a difficult catch off the bowling of Jason

Holder. The South African opener failed to make the most of his life, hitting the ball straight into the hands of Dwayne Smith on the leg side boundary for Holder to claim his wicket for 22. It was a stop-start knock as he struggled to domi nate the Tridents bowling in the way Smith had managed in the opposition’s innings.

The Zouks players struggled to go at better than a run a ball as some excellent and then from

Emrit, quired rate and falling lorn hope. When Darren Sammy departed second ball without scoring, even

A very expensive over from Akeal Hosein that went for 20 gave the Zouks ways too little, too late. Keddy Lesporis played a mature innings of 50 not out, and an entertaining cameo from Tanvir of 38 off 18 balls gave the visitors something to cheer, even if