Guyana Times International

Massive Gy$120M fraud at Mohamed’s Enterprise

…one employee in gold operations charged

Eron Ferrier, an employee who was attached to Mohamed’s Enterprise for over six years, was charged for robbing the entity of over Gy$120M. Mohammed Enterprise, located with headquarters on Lombard Street, is one of the largest gold dealers in the country.

Ferrier, who supervised Mohamed’s Enterprise Office in Bartica, was brought before the Georgetown Magistrates Courton Wednesday 1, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge that between June 22 and 28, he was given Gy$120M by the company’s Managing Director Nazar Mohamed to purchase gold for the company.

However, he fraudulently converted the large sum of money to his own use.

Speaking to media operatives outside of the Court House after the hearing, Mohamed explained that management would often encounter financial hiccups with Ferreira.

“He would often mismanage and misappropriate the company’s money, large sums of money,” Mohamed disclosed. It is understood that these sums amounted to hundreds of millions.

He related that there was one incident in which the defendant lent “large sums of money” without management’s

approval.

However, instead of taking the matter to Court, the two entities entered into private agreement where Ferreira was required to repay the misappropriated money.

“We kept him on along with someone else to look over the work he was doing but he corrupted the other person and together they misappropriated the Gy$120M,” Mohamed stated.

In the Court, Ferreira adamantly denied stealing the money but when asked by State Prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat to present the gold which he was entrusted to purchase, the defendant fell silent.

Ferreira subsequently requested bail, which was refused and instead being charged and remanded to prison.Since the gold industry ballooned during the past decade, frauds in the mining sector are

occurring with increasing frequency due to the nature of operations on the ground and the inadequacy of human resources supervising and controlling all mining districts. Despite a solid legal framework favourable to the development of mining and sustainable exploitation of other natural resources, the reality on the ground reflects a different situation where monitoring of cash flows becomes a veritable challenge.

Gunmen terrorise Corentyne family

- Granny scales fence to escape bandits

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Alarge gang of armed bandits

early Tuesday morning forced an elderly Port Mourant, Berbice woman to scale a fence after they attacked and robbed a Corentyne family and their neighbours, carting off a quantity of jewellery, cash and other valuables in a 45-minute ordeal.

The incident occurred at Johns, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). According to reports received, at about 01:00h on Tuesday, 10 armed men who were masked and dressed in camouflage clothing attacked the family, minutes after they had emptied a 40-foot container which had arrived earlier in the day.

According to Ishwar Bignauth, also called “Buck”, he had just left the yard to visit a friend when he saw the men. He related to Guyana Times International that some of the men were hiding behind one of two containers as the others approached. “I run back and start fo hola fo thief. Ah fall down three times and they catch me by the

gate,” Bignauth related. He said he was immediately struck on the head with what appeared to be a gun.

Meanwhile, Dera Singh also known as ‘Bull’, to whom the container was posted, related that he hid himself under a tractor which was off loaded from the container.

“Six men run in with six guns me see, and me run bottom the tractor an me hide. One ah dem say watch ah owner gone under de tractor.”

According to Singh, one of the men proceeded to use a piece of iron to hit him on the body, ordering him to come out.

His brother-in-law

along with his wife, who had arrived in the country earlier in the day, had just left the premises in a car to have a bath at his mother-in-

law when the bandits arrived. “They carry me in the kitchen an ask me where all the money and gold deh,” Singh recounted. “Me say ‘before allyuh do me anything this is all the money me get.”

He then gave them the Gy$760,000 he had in his pocket. However, he was told that they wanted US money and the foreigner. “Me tell dem that the man gone, an they carry me in the bedroom an start broadside me an then lash me with a iron bar an me head bus,” Singh related.

According to Singh, the men took about Gy$120,000 worth in jewellery, a cellular phone, two amplifiers and stock from the re-

frigerator, among other items before they locked the nine-member family in the kitchen and made good their escape. However, this was not before ransacking his son-in-law’s house which is in the same yard.

Beeram Singh was just returning home after having a bath at a friend’s house when he was taken captive and had his towel placed over his head. He said that the men asked for gold and diamonds while at the same time hitting him in the head with an iron bar.

At his home, the door to the wardrobe was broken open and jewellery and cash removed. The house was

also ransacked. His wife, Kurardavi Kalicharran, who is said to be five months pregnant, was also hit in the face with a gun.

Kalicharran said when she heard the shout for ‘thief’, she ran around the side of the two storied house, scaled the back fence, ran a short distance before being forced to scale a second fence, spraining her ankle in the process. “I didn’t care if me foot break, I had to get away because they would ah beat me and ask me to carry them to me mother house where me sister from overseas went.”

Kalicharran explained that she made it continued on page 5

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APNU/AFC: an attempt at power play

Now that the dust has been settled, there is definitely an attempt at power play unfolding at the highest level of the Coalition Government (APNU/AFC) in relation to the implementation of the Cummingsburg Accord.

Over the past few weeks, the pressure has been building on the APNU/AFC Government to explain to the Guyanese public, especially the persons who would have voted for the Coalition, the real reasons for breaching the Accord. Many commentators have expressed the view that the mere brushing aside of the concerns that are being raised is not enough as persons would have voted for the Coalition based on the premise of the Accord. That is, there would have been a new and improved style of governance and even more importantly, a break away from a system where one party dominates the corridors of power.

Unfortunately, now that the time has come for the Coalition to ‘walk to talk’ we are witnessing all sorts of excuses being made as to the reasons for not honouring the pact made with the electorate. What citizens are seeing and experiencing now is very far from what was initially agreed to by both APNU and AFC before the elections were held. One is therefore left to believe that the coalition of the two parties and subsequent signing of the Accord had one main objective which was to see the PPP/C removed from office.

Based on the Accord, the President shall, among other things, delegate the responsibilities of domestic national affairs and the chairing of Cabinet to the Prime Minister. Other responsibilities delegated to the Prime Minister should have included recommending ministerial appointments and providing the organisational structures of Ministries for the approval of the President as well as the appointment of heads of agencies and non-constitutional commissions, with the required and agreed democratic mechanisms of consultation and domestic security (Home Affairs).

So far Prime Minister Nagamootoo hasn’t been given the responsibilities of chairing the Cabinet or of exercising responsibility for domestic affairs. In fact, one commentator points to the contents of Minister Harmon’s regular engagements with the press which suggests that domestic affairs reside with him and/or the President.

Many are of the view that the explanation which has been put forth by the President of the Constitution having to be amended in order for the Cummingsburg Accord to be followed is inaccurate. Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran had expressed the view that there is and would be no violation of the Constitution if the terms of the Accord are implemented. He had pointed to the fact that various articles of the Constitution allow the President to appoint others to execute his responsibilities.

This view was also supported by social commentator, Ramon Gaskin, who was quoted in this publication as saying that the excuse being put forward for the violation of the Accord must not be accepted since the Constitution makes clear provisions for such.

At the moment, there is talk that the key players intend to amend the Accord on the grounds that the reality of political office has clashed with the Accord’s constitutionality. However, Like Ramkarran, Gaskin and others, we believe it is unacceptable for the two parties to just sit and decide that there will be modifications due to unforeseen clashes with the Constitution without engaging the third party – the electorate. The electorate understood and voted for the Coalition on the basis that the AFC would have had a distinct and visible management role in the affairs of governance through the Prime Minister.

The fact that in these early stages citizens are raising questions and are beginning to have doubts about the sincerity of the Coalition in relation to the many promises made doesn’t go down well for the nation as a whole. That said, we strongly believe that the APNU+AFC Government has an obligation to go back to the Guyanese people and explain the reasons for the breaches of the Accord, what changes would be made (if any) and what guarantees would be put in place to ensure that the Accord is fully respected and implemented.

Merely dismissing the concerns being raised is unacceptable.

Future star of the CPL?

The #BiggestPartyInSport seems to be attracting the next generation of superstars! In photo, a young fan enjoying part of the action during the match between the St Lucia Zouks and the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Beausejour

NY-based Guyanese hosts India’s cultural scholar

By Emran ahmad & Vishnu Bisram

The Shri Lakshmi

Narayan Mandir played host to a spectacular concert last Sunday evening, "The Voice & Soul of India Sings" with renowned classical singer/musician Professor Uma Garg of Delhi University. The concert as cosponsored by the Richmond Hill Economic Development Council (RHEDC) which is led by activist Vishnu Mahadeo.

The event was held mainly to benefit the Senior Citizen program that is held on behalf of RHEDC in partnership with the members of the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, every Wednesday from 11 am - 2 pm. Every week seniors from the surrounding area attend the Senior Citizen program to get information and help with medicare, medicaid, housing, food stamps, and SSI. They have also been treated with delicious and nutritious meals that are organized by Mahadeo and a host of volunteers. Mahadeo has developed a reputation as one of the hardest working community volunteers in the Indo-Caribbean community in America.

Last Sunday’s concert began with the RHEDC President, Vishnu Mahadeo along with the President of the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Rishi Persaud, delivering remarks and welcoming the singers and musicians.

Uma Garg is India's most renowned vocalist who has been blessed to have trained by the very best of vocalist since her childhood (age 4), like Pandi Mani Prasad and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Kirana Ghana. Umaji is currently the Dean and Head at the Faculty of Music & Fine Arts at the University of Delhi, one of the largest and most prestigious universities in India. At the University of Delhi, she trained dozens of Guyanese and other Caribbean singers and musicians including Dr.

Roopnarine Balkaran and his wife Mala. She sang several ghazals, ragas and bhajans. Few have her talent and ability to sing that kind of songs. Mala and Roopnarine serenaded Uma-ji with a couple of their own classical geets -- demonstrating to their guru how far they have progressed since their training in Delhi a couple decades ago. Pandit Rai Ramdeen, who also studied under her guidance and runs a music school and is affiliated with the Arya Samaj under Pandit Ramlall, accompanied Uma on the harmonium.

Uma’s singing was praised by those in the audience which included guests visiting from Guyana. She was described as nothing but excellent and fantastic. Her enchanting voice was described by those in the audience as “as a sweet innocence of honey-laden flowers”. Indeed, that purity and sweetness that lie in her voice, takes the listeners to a different world as it soothes the mind.

Also performing in the concert was none other than India's most renowned tabla player Ustad Kader Khan of the Kalavant Center along with the divine couple of Guyana, Dr. Roopnarine (Devo) & Mala Balkaran, who officially opened the program with two lovely bhajans.

Umaji began her session with an enchanting raga "Shiva Shiva Mahadev." Her

singing painted some magnificent images of the Lord. Whilst listening to this lovely raga, one can closed one’s eyes and envision meditating in the Himalaya mountains singing to Lord Shiva. One can also meditate on the divine feature of Lord Shiva.

At the conclusion of the concert, Umaji was presented with a proclamation from New York City Public Advocate Letitia James in “Recognition of her Outstanding Talent & Achievements in the Arts”. Ms. James is the second ranking official of the city just behind the Mayor. The proclamation noted that the caliber of the singing ability of Uma saying the community is blessed to host her. The Proclamation noted that Uma is worthy of the community and city’s highest respect and esteem.

Uma has given selflessly of her talent and she voluntarily teaches classical music when not at the university. She stresses the importance of classical music and of teaching it to children at a young age. She said it was a joy to teach Caribbean students music and dance at the university.

Activist Vishnu Mahadeo of RHEDC was also presented with a Proclamation on behalf of Public Advocate, for his “Contribution & Dedication towards assisting the Seniors of the Richmond Hill Community”.

Gunmen terrorise Corentyne...

to a neighbour’s house, from where she contacted the Police. However, her 62-year-old mother who was following suit, was not as fortunate and she was caught as she tried to escape.

According to Dularie Sewghair, after she was caught escaping, she was dealt several slaps from one of the bandits. As the bandit became distracted, however, she said she seized the opportunity and ran to the back fence, managing to jump into a neighbour’s yard, where she sought refuge.

One of the men who was in the house said he was able to identify two of the bandits. “All of dem had cloth tie over

they face and the cloth fall off of one of them face and I know him from right here in Port Mourant.” He said that he was able to identify another from his voice and features.

Meanwhile, Singh said after the men left he went to a neighbour’s house and called the Police, who arrived shortly after. One of the victims led Police to a house where two men were arrested; one of whom was identified as the man whose mask had fallen off. Several persons were treated at the Port Mourant hospital and sent away. Police are continuing their investigations.

Rape up by 60% in Guyana … Police set up unit to tackle scourge

By Bhisham mohamed

Against the background of low convictions for sexual offences in Guyana, the Guyana Police Force said it has recorded a 60 percent increase in rape during the period January 1 to June 11, 2015 with most of the offences being perpetuated against underage girls.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told this newspaper that most of the cases of rape were reported in A Division (Georgetown) and C Division (East Coast). He added that taking into consideration the increase number of rape cases, the Guyana Police Force has established Sexual Offences Unit in each division comprising female ranks that are strictly mandated to investigate offences of rape.

Blanhum noted that over the past few weeks, they have seen persons becoming more confident in the police and as such are not afraid to make a report. These matters, he noted are treated with utmost confidence. Nevertheless, he stated that the police force will soon embark on a project to sensitize the public about this crime.

“Most of the cases involved under-age girls and we must let the men out there know that not because a teenager gives permission to have sexual intercourse, it is correct… once the girl is below the age of consent, it is called statutory rape”, he added. With this in mind, he stated that the perpetrator will feel the full brunt of the law.

As of September last year there were more than 140 cases of rape which represented at the time one case every two days. Police generally do not release statistics on rape in their periodic crime statistics update. For the year 2013, during the period of January to July, there were 179 cases of reported rapes. A number of social groups have lamented the manner in which rape is generally handled by the Police, and the Guyana Human Rights Association in a study titled “Without Conviction: Sexual Violence Cases in The Guyana Justice Process” some years ago had revealed that there was an average conviction rate of 1.4 per cent in rape cases compared to rape reports originally made to the Police. Additionally, as of last

year there were no convictions for sexual offences since 2011– a situation which was described as “alarming”.

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall had blamed the archaic jury system, as well as reluctant witnesses for the problem. For the years 2012 and 2013, some 22 sexual offences cases were taken before the court, but there has been no conviction. Instead, there have been a number of hung juries, witnesses failing to attend court and some victims deciding not to pursue the matter.

In 2011, 16 sexual offences cases were completed. There were three guilty pleas and three cases were nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue) because the Virtual Complainant (VC) gave a statement expressing a desire not to proceed with prosecution. There were seven not guilty verdicts by the jury.

However, in 2012, 10 sexual offences cases were completed. In two cases, there was a formal verdict of not guilty because the VC did not attend court to testify; eight cases went to trial and in all eight cases the jury returned a not guilty verdict. For 2013, 12 sexual offences cases were completed, eight of which the VC went to court and indicated that they were not willing to proceed with the trials.

Those cases had to be discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Additionally, in one case, the VC could not be

The Cummingsburg Accord is a big farce

Dear Editor,

There are a few issues that I want to address. The first one is the witch hunt that is going on in Guyana since the APNU/AFC administration got into office.

Everyone is afraid to speak out. When the PPP/C won landmark elections in 1992, the Jagan government did not go after anyone. Adam Harris mentioned that Jimmy Carter was behind this decision.

Yet Harris, Freddie Kissoon and many others are calling for more dismissals. Isn’t this hy-

pocrisy?

Of significant note is the fact that it has now been approximately seven weeks since elections and knowing the PNC’s dubious track record with respect to honesty with elections, what guarantee will we have, that the ballots and records of the SOPs and other crucial election records will not be tampered with?

The circus continues with Goolsarran and Ram, two vocal critics of the PPP/C being given the task of doing the auditing of various min-

Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is committed to improving the well- being of all Guyanese

Dear Editor,

Former President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo is truly committed to the wellbeing of Guyana and all Guyanese. Whatever your personal prejudices, no fair minded person will deny the tremendously significant contributions of the former President who has placed Guyana on the world map in an indelible manner. Any person with sight, hearing and smell can discern this for themselves by simply looking around (even at the simple yellow cabs brought us in line with international standards). High and low, small and large, near and far, black, yellow or brown, Dr. Jagdeo’s imprint is everywhere as he worked to serve Guyanese – not just a portion, true to the legacy of Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

Even President Granger indirectly acknowledged his contributions at his swearing in ceremony when he acted contrary to his remarks shortly after holding the Holy Bible. At that ceremony President Granger denied any achievements of the PPP/C Government but yet, he opted to have his inauguration at the National Stadium which was built under the tenure of Dr. Jagdeo. How myopic. Imagine that: after holding the Holy Bible.

But President Granger has made a lot of mistakes since taking office and because he is new and elderly one is tempted to forgive him. But he is playing with Guyana and the lives of Guyanese and we do not have the luxury of time. Like the giving of a

istries. This definitely is a conflict of interest. The former never did an auditing of any government ministry when he was Auditor General (during the rule of the PNC), while Ram has a personal vendetta against the PPP/C, especially, former President Jagdeo.

In fact, it was reported that Ram apologized for trying to make contact with the presiding Magistrate in the frivolous case that he brought against the former President. How can Ram and Goolsarran be considered fair and im-

The

medal to a most undeserving Mayor, Hamilton Green who is most unconscionable and without merit, the renaming of the Ministries without public consultation while confusing school children and wasting stationery, the pardoning of prisoners sending the wrong message that crime is acceptable (while most Presidents pardon when leaving office but he pardoned upon arrival).

He speaks about training public officers when his Ministers should be trained. Some can’t speak properly and try to muzzle media personnel and we call that democracy.

The 100 days is fast approaching without any real action apart from window dressing by the APNU-AFC coalition. But Guyanese are not foolish and distracted by these frivolities. The business community is at a standstill. APNU/AFC should get on with governing this country and stop witch hunting and wasting time and resources.

The PPP/C has set such high standards that the population will not allow you to do otherwise or insult their intelligence.

As President Granger acknowledged in his speech, it took six parties to win the PPP/C. APNU/AFC is easy to topple and the coalition may even undo itself by its own actions. It should know that it’s being watched by all Guyanese, even its own supporters. Start governing, the campaign is over.

B Moses PPP/C supporter

partial?

The Cummingsburg Accord is a big farce. Nagamootoo is being pushed aside by Granger. There was no intention of APNU honouring this agreement. Nagamootoo was used to help the PNC get into government and now he cannot pretend that everything is okay.

The AFC supporters voted for the AFC based on the agreements outlined in the accord. Now they are holding ‘Larwah’! Soon it will be Nagamootoo’s turn!

Another grave in-

justice was perpetuated on long standing AFC Member of Parliament Dr Veerasammy “Edgar” Ramayah, who was overlooked as the Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) representative for newcomer Charrandas Persaud.

Ramayah did fundraising and spent a lot of money on party work, especially on television, but Persaud was selected instead. The AFC owes their supporters an explanation. Freddie Kissoon is now redundant more than ever. Almost two months after

elections, he still attacks the PPP/C. For him the new administration is perfect. This is a microcosm of what is happening in Guyana! People will move out of Guyana in droves just like what happened under the PNC. My letters are only published by Guyana Times. The others –Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and Chronicle – do not publish letters critical of the government, unlike what they did when the PPP/C was in power.

Rakesh Singh

APNU/AFC had disapproved all major PPP/C economic initiatives while in Opposition

Dear Editor,

Around the world, there are unique differences between political parties. In Great Britain, there has been, until recently, three major political parties. In the 2010 elections, two of them, the rightist Conservatives and the leftist/middle of the road Liberal Democrats came together to form a coalition government.

At the recent UK general election, the Liberal Democrats were punished by the electorate and were almost wiped out.

Many commentators put this down to the Lib Dem supporters being disenchanted with leaders of the party for compromising their deeply held beliefs and joining a party whose view on a wide range of issues were diametrically opposed to liberal democracy.

In so doing, the party had lost the trust of the people who had previously voted for them and their unique identity.

Our immediate neighbours, Trinidad and Tobago, will have General Elections in September. The current ruling coalition versus the Opposition party which is still divided among racial lines for the most part.

All other Caricom countries have two major political parties

Forensic

that go back and forth at an election.

Here in our own nation, we somehow feel that it is now important for all of us to work together, citing national unity, and ditch our principles. Why is this? I would concede that national issues such as Venezuela’s potential aggression and major economic structural changes should be debated and supported.

What we saw in the 10th Parliament by the then Opposition which is now the government was truculence and a lack of cooperation. They disapproved all major economic initiatives and completely failed to demonstrate any political unity with the then PPP/C Government.

Now that they are the Administration and in order to show immediate success they have embarked on supporting the very projects which they had so vehemently opposed because, as we all know, they were the right projects for Guyana.

At least, this validates that the PPP/C’s economic programmes were sound and effective.

Political power is what elections are all about and all our citizens are fully aware of this. They vote for a party that best reflects their beliefs

and aspirations.

Ideology is a major backbone of political parties; it guides their vision for how they wish to govern. To compromise strongly held views with idle talk of working co-cooperatively for the good of the nation is a confidence trick which should be identified as such.

APNU supporters for the most part are attempting to differentiate themselves already from the AFC. A recent online publication detailed the election results and concluded that the AFC did not deliver the results that were expected.

The negotiated Cummingsburg Accord between APNU and AFC has already been breached. The key aspect is the AFC’s leading candidate Moses Nagamootoo not being able to chair the Cabinet, which is in conflict with the Constitution.

Top lawyers of the AFC, including Nigel Hughes, negotiated the Accord and would have known there was a conflict.

Yet they signed it in order to hoodwink the electorate as an election gimmick.

Those that call for racial unity are hoodwinking the population. We need institutions that ensure equal access as a must.

Dr Peter R Ramsaroop

audit would be good for wood

working establishment that collapsed

Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to an article published on June 21 titled, “US$500 variance in price of exported Wamara logs points to customs fraud – Bulkan urges forensic audit.”

The exportation of all logs from Guyana is subject to the national log export policy. Harvesting, transportation and exportation of forest produce are guided by a series of processes and documentation that are systematically checked at each stage of the forest monitoring system.

If there is a detection of noncompliance, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) takes the necessary corrective action.

The forest sector has in place a graduated scale of export commission computed on the free on

board export price for logs.

These prices are continuously revised, taking into consideration local and international rates. The log export policy consists of two schedules: A & B with rates of 1517 per cent on the export of main log species.

Most of the species exported by Baishan Lin and the joint venture partners attract these high rates. These rates are among the highest rates in the world, in tropical timber producing countries.

The Wamara species attracts a rate of 15 per cent. Prior to 2009, the rate for all species of logs was two per cent. Five years ago many of these species such as Wamara were deemed as lesser utilized wood species.

However, with emerging markets in India and China for these

species, they are now harvested in commercial quantities. This has been of significant benefit to local operators at the small and medium size levels whose concession may not have an abundance of the traditional commercial species, such as green heart and purple heart.

It is therefore important for the forest expert Janette Bulkan to know that the exportation of Guyana’s logs in subject to its national log export policy and not by unfounded perceptions caused by personal axe-grinding against Guyana’s forestry sector.

It is a pity that Bulkan did not recommend a forensic audit for a wood working establishment in Ruimveldt that collapsed.

Rita Culpepper

Rape up by 60% in...

Govt channels US$100,000 into Iwokrama

from page 3

located, while three cases went to trial. In one of the three cases, there was a unanimous not guilty verdict and in the remaining two cases, there were hung juries. “Therefore in 2012 and 2013 there was not a single conviction for sexual offences in a total of 22 cases,” Nandlall lamented.

Serious crime up

Meanwhile, Blanhum stated that the Guyana Police Force has also recorded a 16 percent increase in murders with a whopping 53 percent increase in plain robberies while there has been a decrease of robbery under arms by 8 percent.

In addition, a 6 percent reduction was recorded in robbery whereby other instrument other than firearms was used. Robbery with violence was reduced by 6 percent and robbery with aggravation saw a reduction by 23 percent. On the other hand burglary also recorded a 1 percent reduction while there was an 8 percent increase in break and enter and larceny. Kidnapping saw a 100 percent reduction for the period January 1 to June 11, 2015 when compared to the same period last year.

Overall, the Guyana police force recorded an 11 percent increase in serious crimes. Those crimes that were monitored are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.

Government has plugged some

US$100,000 into the ailing Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development and has also established a committee to oversee the operations of the organisation.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Wednesday said the organisation has been failing miserably, particularly in the areas of reaching its operational expenses and being able pay its staff and other expenses.

The representation was made by Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, whose Ministry is responsible for the protection of the national patrimony for the money to be granted to the Centre for its work up to the period September 2015.

Cabinet also approved the appointment of a committee comprising Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, Major General Retired Joseph Singh, Clayton Hall, Dane Gobin from the Iwokrama Centre, Dr Raphael Thomas from the Iwokrama Centre, David Singh from Conservation International, Damien Fernandes of the Protected Areas Commission, along with representatives of the University of Guyana, the Tourism Ministry, the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry and the Public infrastructure Ministry.

The purpose of the committee is to review the operations of the Centre and to recommend a way forward for the Centre. He said the committee has been given clear instructions to commence work immediately so that decisions could be made in that regard. Only a few months ago – in February of this year – the Centre’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dane Gobin had reported that the organisation has been operating at a shortfall of US$1.3 million for the longest while.

At that time, he told Guyana Times International in an exclusive interview that the Centre was in need of an average US$2.5 million to effectively execute its mandate which is to promote the conservation and the sustainable use of tropical rainforests in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological,

economic and social benefits for the people of Guyana.

With the drying up of financial support from international donors, Iwokrama last year managed to rake in a total income of US$1.2 million, with the Government of Guyana contributing US$600,000. In 2013 and 2014, the Government provided a total of US$1.5 million to relieve the Centre of its financial burden. It has since indicated that this year, it will once again bail out the Centre using some US$100,000 from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Gobin pointed out that in 2013, the Iwokrama International Centre commissioned two financial reports which suggested that between US$750,000 and US$1.2 million was needed annually to meet its core functions. The Centre’s total income of US$1.2 million in 2013 was down by 38 per cent over 2012 levels of US$1.9 million mainly, as a result of a 40 per cent drop in grants income.

As a result, total expenditure fell in 2013 recording levels of US$1.1 million against US$2.1 million in 2012 – a decrease of approximately 44 per cent. This decrease was also as a result of the Centre’s austerity programme which included a reduction in staffing levels and operational expenditure together with a consolidation of activities. Financial records for the year ending 2014 are pending.

“Mother Patsy” on attempted murder charge …after another exorcism exercise

Patricia ‘Mother Patsy’ Alves who was convicted and jailed for killing a woman during an exorcism exercise back in 2004 was in court again on Tuesday this time charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to “beat demons” out of a New Amsterdam woman.

Alves had served a 10-year prison sentence for the killing Parbattie Camille Seenauth called ‘Paro’, between February 14 and 15, 2002 in a failed exorcism attempt in Alberttown. Since being released from jail she had been living in New Amsterdam and has continued her “spiritual healing” practice.

The 55-year-old Alves was remanded to prison on Tuesday by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus when she appeared in a New Amsterdam court on an attempted murder charge. The accused was not required to plea to the charge.

It is alleged that on Wednesday, June 17, at Lot 157 Smythfield, New Amsterdam Berbice, Alves unlawfully and maliciously wounded 75-year-old Jean Joyce Dean with intent to murder her. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Desiree Pilgrim, told the court that the two women live at the same address but in different apartments.

Alves, the prosecutor said occupies the upper flat of the house while Dean stays on the lower flat. The court was told that the two women were friends and during the month of May 2014,

Dean became ill and told Alves who is a self-proclaimed spiritualist. She told Dean that she needed spiritual healing and promised to help.

However, when Dean went for the treatment she was told that she is unclean and had chased away all of the accused demons, and needed to bring money for them to return.

Dean had been paying every cent she earned to the accused who treated her with beatings using various implements, including a hammer, cutlass and even knives. The victim was then rescued by a son and treated at the Fort Wellington Hospital.

A report was made to the police and the accused arrested. She was refused bail and will have to return to court on July 20 for a police report.

In addition to the Government of Guyana, Commonwealth Secretariat, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the European Union, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, NORAD, the Caribbean Development Bank and Chicago Zoo were among the main contributors for the previous financial years. Harmon however said on Wednesday that the Commonwealth Secretariat had indicated its inability to continue funding.

Iwokrama was the first institute to receive Forest Stewardship Council Certification, an international certification in Europe which shows best practices in forest management. The Iwokrama International Centre was established by Guyana and the Commonwealth through the donation of approximately 360,000 hectares (one million acres) of intact tropical rainforest by the Government and people of Guyana to the international community.

The responsibility for management, conservation and sustainable development of this forest area (the Iwokrama Forest) has been entrusted to the Iwokrama International Centre, through the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development Act of 1996, and an Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth signed on November 9, 1995.

Guyana, China’s relation set for further strengthening – Chinese Ambassador pays courtesy call on PM

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Zhang Limin, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at his temporary office at the Ministry of the Presidency, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, to congratulate him on his new post, as well as to discuss issues which will further strengthen the two countries’ bilateral relations.

During the meeting the two officials discussed a number of areas of mutual interest that could see possible collaboration between the two countries. Continuation and expansion of marketing Guyanese products in China was also discussed.

though the new Government has only taken up office for approximately two months, they “have demonstrated a willingness to develop and further strengthen China and Guyana’s friendly relations… China also gives great importance to developing relations with Guyana… we have been conducting close cooperation in their international affairs as well.”

Nagamootoo with a collection of work done by China’s President, Xi Jinping.

The Chinese Ambassador also recently paid a courtesy call on the Public Security Minister, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan during which discussions were held on numerous areas of collaboration for the security sector primarily in the area of capacity building. Guyana is to receive security equipment valued US$4M from China.

According to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, the meeting was a very good one and which has further bolstered the bilateral relationship shared between the two countries.

exchanged our views on a number of matters including how to strengthen our bilateral relations.”

He also alluded to the fact that Guyana and China are “very old friends” and Tuesday’s courtesy call was “a very cordial visit in which we

Another focus area which derived from this conversation was an improved investment climate for Chinese investors in Guyana.

Meanwhile,

Ambassador Limin, through his translator, echoed the same sentiments as the Prime Minister with regards to the relationship shared by the two countries.

He said, “China and Guyana (have) enjoyed very good relations for a long time.”

He added that al-

In closing, the Ambassador also committed China’s continued support to Guyana, as it has done over the years. He noted that he has seen a broader opportunity for cooperation and a brighter future ahead for the continuation of this partnership.

The Ambassador also used the opportunity to gift Prime Minister

In 1972, Guyana was the first Englishspeaking Caribbean country to recognise the People’s Republic of China, and after more than 42 years of friendship and cooperation, the bilateral relationship shared between these two countries continues to flourish.

UG unions claim Opadeyi’s lawsuit vicious, malicious

The Gy$10 million lawsuit which was filed by Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi against Dr Melissa Ifill, President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) has been deemed “vicious” and “malicious” by the body.

The UGSSA and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) went so far as to point out that they were of the belief that the attack was personal and intended to target Dr Ifill.

The UG Vice Chancellor has sued Dr Ifill for Gy$10 million for ‘brewing’ a document disparaging his character and calling for his re-

moval from the post at Guyana’s leading tertiary educational institution, after a petition of no confidence was circulated by the UGSSA President and UGWU President Bruce Haynes on behalf of the joint union membership and with their authorisation and endorsement at a general meeting held on June 23.

According to a release from the unions, the UGSSA and UGWU, they stand by the no confidence petition in its general and specific content.

“This private action by the VC that specifically names the UGSSA President is a signature action by Professor

Opadeyi in the sense of being ad hominem, malicious and vindictive

dence,” the statement read.

They noted that the

“It is an attempt to bully and intimidate, and will be legally and

and confirms the rationale for the issuance of the petition of no confi-

suit was now seen as an attack on all staff and the unions.

vigorously defended. We are convinced that this will only serve to exacerbate an already unhealthy atmosphere at the University of Guyana. As responsible bodies, we remain committed to serving our membership and will continue to carry out our work without fear,” the unions continued.

Most unhelpful

“The unions find it unprecedented and most unhelpful that the Vice Chancellor sought recourse to the law against the President of one of our two unions notwithstanding Section 7 (1) of the Trades Union Act, which states that unions, or their members or officers, cannot be sued for actions on behalf of their union. This private action by the VC, which should not replace his official response, is diametrically opposed to the spirit of the Minister of Education’s expectation and public statement

that ‘…I don’t think [the Vice Chancellor] would stay in a situation where nobody wants to work with him…’,” the unions added.

The UGSSA and UGWU had attacked the Vice Chancellor, saying that he was responsible for “eroding the powers of the Academic Board as prescribed in the statutes of the University of Guyana; and compromising academic quality and integrity for the sake of cutting costs.” In addition, the unions said Opadeyi was responsible for the “dictatorial, vindictive, micromanagement leadership style that is characterised by dishonest and deliberately misleading communications.”

He was also accused of altering terms and conditions of work without consultation with employees; failing to honour contracts with employees, including illegally withholding legitimate payments due to staff among many other breaches.

CCJ brings end to Essequibo rice land dispute after 24 years

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Monday ruled on a case originating from Guyana, bringing an end to a 24-year dispute over the ownership of two plots of rice lands, located in Essequibo.

The case, Daniel Ramlagan vs Narine Singh, was dismissed by the CCJ. The appeal was filed by Ramlagan challenging the ownership claims by Singh of a twoacre parcel of rice land. The dispute dated back to 1991, when Ramlagan attempted to remove Singh from the lands, which is part of a larger 12-acre plot of land.

Singh had subsequently sued Ramlagan for trespass, claiming that he had occupied the land since 1975 to plant rice and rear cattle. However, Ramlagan maintained that the entire 12 acre parcel of land was owned by his family and had even presented a Transport (a deed) which was issued after legal proceedings in the Land Court in 1983.

A statement published on the CCJ’s website detailed that the Court accepted Singh’s evidence that he had been on the two-acre parcel of land since 1975. The CCJ pointed out that Singh therefore satisfied the 12-year time period, required to claim adverse possession under the Title to Land (Prescription and Limitation) Act. Consequently, the highest judicial court in the Caribbean also ruled that the legal claim initiated by Ramlagan’s family in the Land Court did not stop time running under the Act, given that Singh was not a party to the proceedings before the Land Court. In addition, the Court highlighted that no other proceedings

were brought against Singh prior to the expiry of the 12-year period.

The CCJ further concluded that on entering the land in 1991, Ramlagan had trespassed on Singh’s property. Additionally, the Court ordered that a Transport be issued to Singh for the twoacre plot and that the Transport for the 12-acres held by the Ramlagan’s family be cancelled and a new Transport be issued reflecting the remaining 10 acre parcel.

According to the release, the decision of the CCJ was delivered by Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee. Attorneys Roopnarine Satram, Chandrapratesh Satram and Mahendra Satram appeared for Daniel Ramlagan while Attorney Khemraj Ramjattan appeared on behalf of Narine Singh.

In February last year, during the CCJ’s first itinerant sitting in Guyana, this case was among three that were heard by the panel comprising of the President, Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron along with four Judges of the CCJ namely Justice Adrian Saunders, Justice Jacob Witt, Justice David Hayton, and Justice Winston Anderson.

When the matter was called up, an application for special leave was made by Attorneys Roopnarine Satrohan and CV Satrohan. They presented arguments on behalf of the applicant, Ramlagan, on why the appeal should be heard. Submissions for the respondent, Singh, were presented by Attorney Khemraj Ramjattan in association with Attorneys Neil Parsram and Juman Yassin.

3 ministries named

in

alleged fuel abuse probe

The Ministries of Home Affairs, Tourism and Natural Resources and the Environment have now become the centre of an investigation into the alleged abuse of the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) fuel credit facility. And while the amounts used up by these Ministries, headed by former Ministers Clement Rohee, Robert Persaud and Irfaan Ali respectively, were not released, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said it would soon be done.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Harmon said he has also instructed all Permanent Secretaries (PSs) and accounting officers of the Ministries to provide assistance to the investigation.

Last week, the Minister had disclosed that Government had discovered rampant abuse of the credit facility, which is extended to the various Ministries and state agencies in Guyana, and has been investigating the matter. He said he had in his possession some evidence that Government personnel in the previous Administration had been abusing the facility. Government had asked the oil company to present it with the accounts and statements

minister of State, Joseph Harmon

and the names of persons.

Updating the media on the issue Wednesday, Harmon told reporters, “Guyoil has actually given us full support in our investigation into the matter and has provided us with information on several things. They have given us indication of conflict of interest situations in the company.”

Harmon said Government now has the list of vehicles and the names of some of the persons who have drawn fuel from the oil company. He said while he was in possession of all of the necessary information, he was giving persons the opportunity to make payment for the fuel before any contact is made with the Police.

He explained that there were at least five

Guyanese girl tops Tobago secondary entrance assessment

Twelve-year-old

Guy¬anese national Debra Amata is the top 2015 Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) pupil in Tobago. The girl, along with her parents, moved to Tobago one year ago.

Her parents, Vivienne and Andrew Amata, are both doctors at the Scarborough General Hospital.

Debra, who attended Signal Hill Government Primary School, will head to Bishop’s High School come September. She amassed 238.29 points, according to the Division of Education.

Speaking to the media after learning of her achievement on Wednesday, Debra said she was relieved the wait was finally over.

“Well, I just want to tell them that they have to strive hard and they have to put in the work and they

vehicles and individuals who were taking gas free of cost while they were not in the employ of Government. The money owed for the five individuals are somewhere in the vicinity of over Gy$200,000 for each vehicle, he related.

“There are vehicles that were drawing over 20 gallons a day filling empty containers. I can say to you that there are at least five vehicles and names of individuals who are not employed by one particular ministry….The bills were being taken to the various ministries,” Harmon informed.

He said too that he has also been advised that apart from Guyoil, there were private gas stations from which Government vehicles have been drawing gas.

In a release to the press following the disclosure by Government last week, Guyoil had explained in detail the steps taken in the transaction of sale of fuel to the various Government Ministries and agencies.

It stated that the Government Ministries and agencies were granted monthly credit by Guyoil in purchasing fuel at the company’s service stations and terminals, for which strict procedures have to be adhered to for the supply of fuel.

will reap great rewards,” was the advice she offered to other pupils.

Her parents were all smiles when they learned of their child’s achievement.

Almost at a loss for words, Dr Vivienne Amata said her daughter, one of three children, was always a well-disciplined child and despite her studies, she was also enrolled in the school’s football team and active in gymnastics and tennis.

“She worked hard, she studied, she used the Internet a lot, so she went beyond the textbook. So like language arts, any time there was another rule, she went to the Internet to get more about it. She was very dedicated and very disciplined,” Amata said.

Her father echoed similar sentiments. “I am very excited, ecstatic, actually. I’ve always been impressed

with her. She is hard-working, she is a disciplined child and she is very intelligent,” Dr Andrew Amata said.

Teachers delighted Her teachers, Ms Roberts and Ms Kerr, also expressed delight in Debra’s achievement.

“There are no words to express how I feel. I’m ela¬ted, overjoyed and am extremely thankful. Yes, she was extremely diligent and self-motivated,” one teacher said.

Other results

The second-placed pupil overall—Shane Telesford, of Carnbee—attended St Nicholas Private Primary.

Five pupils of Scarborough RC School captured five places in the top ten. Other schools which placed in the top ten were Belle Garden AC, Hope AC and Patience Hill Government primary schools. (Trinidad Express)

T&T PM says she refused to be blackmailed by Warner

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad:

Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar said last night corruption accused Jack Warner is releasing tapes because she refused to be blackmailed in exchange for his reinstatement to the Cabinet.

Persad-Bissessar said she was made aware of the information on the tape immediately following the resignation of Warner as national security minister, but refused to give in to his demands and give him back his job.

This particular tape, featuring allegations of corruption against former minister of the people Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh and his instructions to Kristyan Gokool to go to her official St Ann’s residence (which he has denied), was made on August 2013, about four months after Warner resigned from the Government.

Responding to questions sent by the Express on Tuesday by text, enquiring whether she was privy to the information on the audio tapes before it was aired by Warner, Persad-Bissessar said: “Yes. Immediately after he had resigned from my Cabinet on my request, when in the face of damning allegations about FIFA (including the Sir David Simmons Report), I requested that he go and clear his name. I was made aware of what was being alleged, in an effort to blackmail me into taking him back into Government. Indeed, the allegations featured in the Chaguanas by-election.”

Contrived and bogus allegations

Pressed on her blackmail statement, Persad-Bissessar said: “In light of all of these bogus and contrived allegations, what am I left to assume? As you are aware, he has been bragging that he has files on members of my

Government, and immediately after his resignation and more recently, he has been coming to the public with contrived and bogus allegations. He asked to be reinstated in his Government position or else he will bring down my entire Government.”

Former minister of national security minister Gary Griffith is on record as saying he held informal talks with Warner to bridge the gap between him and the People’s Partnership.

When the Express contacted Warner on Tuesday, asking if he attempted to use the recording to get back his job or form an alliance with the Partnership in the upcoming elections, he denied doing this.

Warner said: “I never ever bargained with Ms Persad-Bissessar or anyone else re these disclosures. There are only three people who I have given a copy of the tape—the Integrity Commission, about two years ago; a lawyer, three weeks ago; and Mark Bassant (TV6 reporter), two weeks ago. Kamla has no favours that I want, now or ever. Finally, I do wish to reiterate to the national community that the worst is yet to come. (Trinidad Express)

PPP/C shakes up Region 2 representation

…elects new RDC, Chairman, Vice Chairman

Newly-elected Regional Chairman and Regional Vice Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt and Juliet Nandranie Coonjah have pledged their support to further developing Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) by working with stakeholders, both private and public, for the continuity of progress, peace and prosperity.

Speaking with Guyana Times International immediately after being sworn in as Chairman, Ramdatt, a father of three, said he was happy to have been elected to the position. He credited his success to God; family; parents; the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) supporters and Executive Members of PPP/C for having confidence in him.

Ramdatt said he planned to work with all stakeholders to move the region forward. He explained that it was his responsibility to make sure that the region continued to be managed in a smooth manner underscoring the importance

of transparency and accountability.

Ramdatt said that people should come first and as such there needed to be enhancement in the infrastructure within the region. “Although I was elected by the PPP/C I will be a Chairman of all the people. Transparency and accountability will be a top priority under my stewardship,” Ramdatt noted.

In his effort to continue amicable relationships within the region, Ramdatt said emphasis would be placed on building team spirit among all workers within and outside of the Regional Administration. He continued that he would be working with all farmers and business stakeholders in finding best solutions to solve the many challenges that exist in today’s society.

Under his stewardship, he said, priority would be given to children – the future leaders, young people and the elderly to ensure quality services are being delivered. He also vowed to implement programmes

to fight against social ills such as suicide and teenage pregnancy in society.

Ramdatt’s assistant, VC Coonjah said she too would work along with stakeholders to help move Region Two forward. The women activist served as a councillor on previous Regional Democratic Councils and also on the Women Progressive Organisation (WPO). Coonjah has served the Party for more than 20 years.

Speaking with the media just after the swearing-in process, Coonjah said she was open to talking with any other political parties, agencies and nongovernmental officials. Coonjah, who will be tasked with managing the drainage and irrigation system, said she would work closely with the Drainage and Irrigation engineers. She said she believed in working in a team and vowed to continue to do so. Ramdatt replaced Parmanand Persaud while Coonjah replaced Vishnu Samaroo.

Women’s health needs still not adequately met –

Women’s health needs are not being adequately met by current social and health policies in the countries of the Americas, according to scientific articles published in the latest issue of the Pan American Journal of Public Health of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

Original research articles highlight the multiple health problems the women of the region face, particularly those with fewer resources and among indigenous and

rural populations. Other articles focus on the persisting gaps in health systems in responding to these problems.

Specifically, the Journal explores a variety of subjects ranging from women’s health throughout the life course, reproductive and sexual health, gender-based violence, non communicable chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and mental and occupational health, to the adaptation of quality health services required to respond to health promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation needs during different stages of

PAHO

life and in several regional contexts.

“There is no doubt that women in the Americas and worldwide have gained ground over the past few decades in many spheres. Health is no exception,” stated the Director of PAHO/WHO, Carissa F Etienne, in the Journal’s editorial.

Among the advancements she mentions are the decline in the number of preventable deaths and the increased life expectancy among women, increased access to contraceptives, improved ability to control fertility, better prenatal care, continued on page 13

PPP/C awaits date for hearing of elections petition

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is now awaiting a date fixed by the High Court for the hearing of the election petition it had filed on June 24 to challenge the results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

All defendants named in the election petition have been served and an affidavit of service was filed on June 30.

This affidavit is a notarised testimony signed by the server that details the time, date, the manner of service, identity of the person served and other details of the job.

If a party in the case claims to not have been notified of pending legal action, the Affidavit of Service can be presented to prove otherwise.

PPP/C Executive Anil Nandlall who is actively involved in this aspect of the party, told this publication that all nine individuals were served on June 29 and the next move was to file the affidavit of service, which was done immediately.

The next step will now be for the court to set a date for the hearing on this matter.

The defendants on the petition are the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) Keith Lowenfield, and the representatives of the List of Candidates for all eight parties that contested the recently concluded election.

These are Donald Ramotar for the PPP/C, Harold Lutchman for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC), Candidates Marissa Nadir for the United Force (TUF), Mark Benschop for the Independent Party (IP), Saphier HussainSubedar for the National Independent Party (NIP), Vishnu Bandhu for the United Republican Party

Guyana Goldfields plugs Gy$8M into Linden Technical Institute

The Guyana Goldfields / AGM Inc has committed some Gy$8 million in financing for the introduction of an occupational safety training component to the curriculum of students at the Linden Technical Institute from September 2015.

The collaborative effort dubbed ReTOOL Guyana is designed by CUSO International in response to an approach by and funding from Guyana Goldfields Inc ,and will provide for the engagement of an industry professional to provide internationally acceptable levels of safety training for tutors and students.

At an official contract signing ceremony at the company’s office on Tuesday, AGM Inc committed the financing necessary for CUSO to provide the personnel – a professional occupational safety instructor, to create and implement a groundbreaking safety training curriculum at the LTI, which will ultimately become the first technical vocational school in Guyana to offer the programme.

According to the company, the LTI has a long

history of training for the mining industry and its graduates form a large portion of its employees while a collaborative relationship has long been enjoyed between the company and the LTI.

“In an effort to build on this relationship, several consultations were held with the school’s administration and the AGM Inc’s corporate social responsibility department to arrive at collaborative initiatives that could result in the preparation of students for real world of work challenges. A recognition of the fact that students would emerge technically qualified, but lacking the safety culture necessary for today’s competitive work environment provoked the exploration of this curriculum intervention – ReTOOL Guyana: Reinvigorating Training Opportunities and Occupational Learning in Guyana,” Country Manager and Senior Vice President Violet Smith said.

She remarked that this project aimed to motivate and provide students with the opportunity to achieve real world skills that provide a competitive edge to their vo-

(URP), Gerald Perreira for the Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP), and Leon Saul of the Healing The Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP).

The petition was filed by former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, on behalf of the applicant, PPP/C

Executive Member Ganga Persaud, under the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act Chapter 1:04.

In the petition, Persaud asks the court to “determine and declare that the whole of the electoral process was so flawed, contained so many procedural errors and so many instances

of fraudulent and/or suspicions actions that the results that have been derived from the process cannot be credibly deemed to represent accurately the will of the electorate”.

The election results disclosed by GECOM shows that the PPP/C gained 202,694 votes while the APNU/AFC gained 207,200. Since before the election results were officially declared and gazetted, the PPP/C made several requests to the election body for a total recount of the ballots but to no avail. In the application submitted to the court, the party identified a long list of particulars which led to the conclusion that the May 11 General and Regional Elections were massively rigged in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition.

cational qualifications in areas that are in great demand by almost all industries and companies.

To this end, she encouraged the students and faculty of the LTI to take full advantage of the opportunity to acquire the unique skill set.

Foreign experts for T&T Govt’s campaign

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: Foreign experts are on the ground to assist the People’s Partnership in its general election campaign.

Campaign manager for the United National Congress (UNC) Rodney Charles told the Express on Tuesday a team is working together, which includes Ernie Ross, of Ross Advertising.

UNC chairman Khadijah Ameen said the campaign will intensify when the election candidates are named. The general

election will be held September 7.

“We have a team of people who are working together and collaborating and we have been working for some time,” said Ameen.

“We do have persons from abroad working with us, we have local experts working with us and, of course, we have married that to the constituency expertise, the people who have the expertise on the ground,” she said.

Asked if the foreign personnel included the team that ran newly re-elected British Prime Minister David Cameron’s successful May 2015 general election campaign, Ameen said: “I cannot give you that kind of detail, but I can confirm to you we do have people working with us from abroad.”

Sources told the Express the team who worked with Cameron is in fact in Trinidad and assisting with the UNC’s campaign.

In 2010, Bernie Campbell, who was an election campaign strategist for US President Barack Obama, was hired to work with UNC leader Kamla PersadBissessar, who was elected as this country’s first female Prime Minister on May 24, 2010. (Trinidad Express)

Contractor General concerned about high level of corruption in Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica’s Contractor General Dirk Harrison says that his office remains highly concerned about the high level at which corruption is perceived in the society.

He has also appealed for an effort to commence with educating the public on the perils of corruption, including at the post-primary educational levels and a resumption of teaching civics in schools.

“It is my considered view that enough is not being done to get to the root of the problem, and that surface remedies are being applied,”

ly and ethically upstanding”.

“That said, it is therefore important to appeal to the moral compass of each member of society,” Harrison stressed. “In this regard, it is imperative that ‘lessons’ and anti-corruption sensitisation commence in the schools at the primary level and continue through to the post-primary and secondary levels, while at the same time, sensitising the adult population through other media.”

Harrison said in his latest report (2013) tabled in Parliament.

“Changing the society’s view of corruption has to be an aggressive and deliberate undertaking. The solution should not simply be putting measures in place to deter would-be perpetrators and where identified, have them face the courts,” he added.

He argued that corruption, for the most part, is “a matter of moral values and personal decisions taken for or against being moral-

As such, Harrison said that he “strongly” supports the move to reintroduce civics in the school curriculum.

“It is my view that appreciation for and love of country through education, along with consistent sensitisation relative to corruption and its ill-effects, will serve to instill some amount of pride in each Jamaican and will also challenge each person to do the morally right thing when faced with choices,” Harris said in the closing remarks of the report. (Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica’s Education Ministry wants prosecution over ganja-laced sweets

Kingston, Jamaica: Jamaica’s Education Ministry is calling for the authorities to pursue and prosecute vendors who sell sweets laced with ganja to students.

The call from the Education Ministry follows the disclosure last week that students at the privately run Hillel Academy got sick after ingesting ganja through a popular candy.

Education Minister Thwaites, who is attending an education conference in the Bahamas, is reiterating that the use of ganja, tobacco and alcohol is forbidden in schools.

He says persons who market the products, in any form, to students should be prosecuted.

The Education Minister says he is confident that the administration at Hillel will appropriately deal with the issue.

Meanwhile, he says more public education is required to inform students and the wider public on the implications of the usage of ganja and recent legal changes.

While the laws on ganja usage have been liberalised, the drug remains illegal in Jamaica.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Women’s health...

and earlier detection of breast and cervical cancer.

However, she added that “progress has been uneven on many issues that affect women’s health.”

PAHO’s Director calls on the countries of the region to develop a new women’s post-2015 health agenda in order to achieve comprehensive care that will appropriately respond to the health problems that most affect them.

“A prioritized agenda would make it possible to sort out the problems, assess their real magnitude and develop research and health strategies to solve them,” she stated. Etienne added that accomplishing this “will require a broad, intersectoral, interdisciplinary debate among countries, stakeholders and civil society.”

“Women in our region are facing old chal-

lenges – like maternal mortality and violence – as well as new ones, like the increase of noncommunicable diseases such as cancer,” stated Suzanne Serruya, Director of the Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women’s and Reproductive Health (CLAP) of PAHO/WHO. “A new agenda would allow us to reorganize and prioritize problems that directly affect women’s health and strengthen the actions and strategies needed to resolve them.”

The 24 articles that have been published in the Journal cover topics and experiences in different countries in the region closely related to the reduction of maternal mortality, the relationship between maternal mortality and socioeconomic factors, femicide, domestic violence, sexual violence, HIV infections in adolescents, breast cancer mortality trends, the inclusion of midwives in health systems, and protection for the right to health in obstetric services. All the articles are available at: www.paho. org/journal

The findings of the Journals’ articles support the previous work in the women’s health field, mainly the 2009 WHO report.

Guyanese charged for US$12M cocaine-in-shrimp bust in New York

Guyanese Heeralall

Sukdeo was denied bail when he appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court on Tuesday charged with allegedly smuggling 268 kilos of cocaine stuffed in shrimp last week into New York.

Magistrate Lois Bloom refused bail to the Guyanese on the ground that Sukdeo posed a flight risk. Heeralall Sukdeo, the owner of Sukdeo and Sons Fishing Establishment in Queens, New York, USA, was arrested following the discovery of more than 268 kilograms (kg) of cocaine hidden among frozen shrimp shipped from Guyana.

In a US Daily News report, it was stated that the shipment of cocaine was addressed to “Randolph Fraser” which is apparently Sukdeo’s alias. Sukdeo was held without bail as the authorities continue their investigation. According to reports, a drug-sniffing dog detected the drug in a shipping container that arrived at the Red Hook Terminal from Guyana last week. The street value of the cocaine discovered is estimated to be more than US$12 million.

Upon discovering the drugs, agents secretly removed the coke-filled shrimp and tailed the

container after it cleared customs on June 15, US Homeland Security Special Agent Ryan Varrone reported. The container was delivered last Monday to an unidentified warehouse in Brooklyn where agents spotted Sukdeo together with others, organising and supervising the unloading of the shipment of shrimp.

Sukdeo, 59, was arrested, but reportedly declared his innocence claiming that he was present in the vicinity of the truck containing the shipment, because he was curious about its contents. It was reported that Defence Attorney Andre Travieso said Sukdeo has never been arrested before and was confident that it was a huge mistake.

Sukdeo was arrest-

ed less than a week after a shipping container arrived at a Red Hook Terminal in Brooklyn where he rents warehouse space, and agents spotted him “together with others… organising and supervising the unloading” of the shipment. Sukdeo operates a fish processing plant at Lusignan in Guyana and is said to receive the shipments himself in New York.

A top drug enforcement official had told Guyana Times International on Friday that the cocaine was detected ever since it left Guyana for the United States and they would have contacted US drug agents who began to monitor the container as it reached there with the aim of busting the persons involved. The official said that when a shipment of

that amount of cocaine is exported, it means that a ring of persons is involved, hence the collusion with the US authorities to track the container.

The container was indeed addressed to Rudolph Fraser in Brooklyn, New York; the official added but the shipper is unknown. Guyana Times International also understands that Heeralall Sukdeo who was arrested in Queens, NY would have been in Guyana when the consignment of shrimp left for the US. He reportedly left Guyana a few days ago and it was upon his return to the US that he was arrested after he was seen supervising and organising the offloading of the crustaceans that were packed in crates.

The official believes that Sukdeo knew that the container with the shrimp contained the drug and would have stayed back in Guyana until it was cleared by customs officials. “Once the container was given the green light in Guyana, the US agents started their operations and would have also paved the way for the container to be cleared there as well”, the official added.

Venezuela to hold parliamentary election on Dec 6

Caracas, Venezuela:

Venezuela’s parliamentary election will be held on Dec 6, authorities announced on Tuesday, ending lengthy speculation over the date for a vote that surveys showed was likely to punish the ruling socialists.

President Nicolas Maduro’s ruling Socialist Party currently enjoys a majority in the 167seat National Assembly, but an economic crisis including widespread shortages and roaring inflation has hurt the government’s popularity.

Pressure had been mounting on the National Electoral Council (CNE), with two jailed politicians and dozens of students staging partial hunger strikes to demand a date.

“The National Electoral Council does not act under pressure,” its head, Tibisay Lucena, said during a televised speech, chiding hard-line opposition critics who claim the CNE is beholden to the government.

The date is a symbolic one for Venezuela. Maduro’s charismatic predecessor, the late

Hugo Chavez, who founded the left-wing “Chavismo” movement, was first elected to the presidency on Dec. 6, 1998.

His “Chavista” supporters will hold primaries on Sunday to choose their candidates for the parliamentary election, a month after the opposition Democratic Unity (MUD) coalition did the same.

“Now we have the date of the battle for a new people’s victory,” Maduro tweeted, using the military language favoured by Chavez during the multiple election wins of his 14-year rule.

The South American OPEC country’s fragmented opposition is seen as having its best chance in years to recapture the National Assembly amid a biting recession, severe crime and growing dissatisfaction with Maduro.

The opposition needs to lure disillusioned “Chavistas” and reignite the enthusiasm of their own power base. But they face a formidable state propaganda machine, electoral districting that is seen helping the socialists, and an image of being elitist.

“Finally we have a date for the elections!” tweeted opposition leader Henrique Capriles. “Now more than ever #UnityAndChange.”

Supporters of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, who has been consuming only liquids for the last 28 days, said he might end his protest, given that one of his demands – a date for the vote – has been met. (Reuters)

“Where’s the

change?”

- Bus operators protest police harassment outside Ramjattan’s office

Ahandful of minibus operators, particularly from zones 40 and 45, took to the streets with placards in front of the Public Security Ministry on Tuesday, demanding that the subject Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan heed their concerns.

“They victimising you all day and they pushing phone in your face and tekking out your photos and stopping you for no reason, like they just fishing for something to charge you with. It does happen on a daily basis and by the time you done, they give you 8-10 summons in one day,” one of the drivers, Mark Hopkinson, complained.

Collectively, the minibus operators explained that they have to uplift a road service document from the Ministry which outlines the route that the 40 and 45 buses need to take. In the road service document, it states that the buses, when

travelling on the Avenue of the Republic, they must turn onto Croal Street.

Another explained that he was once confronted by a Police Officer who “pushed” a phone in his face to take out his photo, with no reason given.

“I don’t know who he think he is. Why is he pushing up he phone taking out my photo? When I inquire, he said the Commander in Chief told him he could do it, so I get vex and I lash the

phone away from me face and because of that, I get eight summons,” he related.

Serious crimes

Another of the minibus operators, Donald Rambissoon, claims that the Police Officers spend all day harassing the bus drivers when there are other serious crimes occurring right under their noses which they pay no attention to.

“Sometimes, and this thing does happen very often, when the bus stop at a street light or some-

where and then it about to pull off, passengers gun start shouting for you to stop the bus, because somebody snatch something from them and then when you stop, you get hold up for that, but they don’t do anything about the person that just get robbed. Stuff like that does deh happening. Sometime even, they (the Police) deh right on the park, people does snatch things from people and the Police Officers them don’t do anything,” he expressed.

3 charged for murder of Rubis Accountant

“Murderers, you destroyed my family, we’re gonna get justice, you should be ashamed of yourselves,” were just some of the expressions of condemnation and hurt that were hurled at the three accused alleged to have killed Rubis Account Executive Jason Cort on Monday as they exited Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Twenty-three-year-old Loynton Eastman, 27-yearold Stancy Rodney and Clifton Gibson made their first court appearances before Magistrate Ann McLennan where they were remanded for the murder charge.

They were not required to plead to the charge which state that on July 17 at 262 Jamoon Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, they murdered Cort in the course of committing a robbery at his home.

Cort’s family showed up in their numbers to support each other, as well as to condemn the supposed killers who killed a son, a nephew and a fiancée. Guyana Times International observed that it was difficult for the family to contain their

tears and bitterness towards the three men. Cort’s mother broke down in tears after they were brought into the courtroom to face the charges.

Attorney Peter Hugh was present in court to represent Clifton Gibson. He told the court that his client has a fixed place of abode in 991 Perry Street, Tucville, Georgetown; is not married and has no previous convictions to his name.

Rodney, on the other hand, was not. He told the court that he is a Jack-

CANU loses case against suspected narco trafficker

Guyana’s narco fighting entity, the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) lost its case against a suspected narcotics trafficker on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Magistrate Judy Latchman, who presided over the matter, ruled that CANU has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that 38-year-old Ron Reid is guilty of being in possession of 70 grams of cocaine.

The 142 Fourth Street, Albertown, Georgetown resident was read the charge for the first time by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on March 11. It stated that Reid was found with 70 grams of cocaine at his home, trying to wash the illicit substance down a sink.

However, his Attorney Peter Hugh had argued that the cocaine was found in the accused sink but he was nowhere near it.

During his submission before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday, Hugh reiterated this, adding that his client had neither control nor possession of the substance. The Attorney said that the prosecution had even been unable to prove that his client had placed the cocaine near the sink it was found on.

The only issue the Prosecution’s case appear to focus on, the Attorney said, is on the discovery of the illicit substance. He said this does nothing for their case against Reid, other than place him in the “proximity of narcotics

of-all-Trades as he does carpentry, masonry and mining. Eastman is a Miner.

Magistrate McLennan refused bail for the trio and ordered them to return to court on July 17 for reports to be made as Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones had informed the court that the case files were not completed.

Reports show that Cort

was gunned down moments after returning home with his fiancée Shauna Garraway.

The Rubis Account Executive was shot once to the chest while he was about to place coconut water into the freezer. While in the lower flat of the two-storey home, he was confronted by a group of men armed with handguns who relieved him of his own licensed firearm, a sum of cash and his cellphone.

The defendant’s fiancé Shauna Garraway had gone upstairs only a few minutes prior to grabbing a coat as the couple had intentions of going out again. In prior reports, she was recorded as saying that she was in the upper flat of the house when she heard an explosion followed by a male voice inquiring about money.

Garraway rushed back into the room, where she hid and called 911, as well as several family members and friends. A close friend of the family then arrived at the scene, checked

the area and informed the young lady that the coast was clear to come out.

It was then that she came downstairs and found the father of her child lying unconscious with a bullet wound to his chest.

He was rushed to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

and proximity alone cannot prove a case.”

Hugh urged the court to consider each detail of the defendant’s case before making a decision.

However, he said that if the court is unable to believe what was proffered by the defence, he asked that it go back to the prosecution’s case and analyse it carefully for its strengths and its weaknesses.

Prosecuting the case for CANU was Prosecutor Oswald Massiah, who responded to Hugh’s confident submission. He asked the court to pay attention to the testimony that had been given by two of CANU’s Officers relating to how the cocaine had been found, emphasising on the evidence on Andrew Yarde.

However, Magistrate Latchman brought it to the court’s attention that Yarde had also disclosed that he could not recall several important premises that were instrumental to the prosecution’s case. Thus she ruled that the court cannot “equate ownership with possession” as the prosecution had not proven their case beyond doubt to the court.

Magistrate Latchman said that the prosecution had left areas of doubt in their case, particularly if the accused even knew of the cocaine.

With this, Reid walked out of Court Three a free man. His reputed wife Sheneza Bacchus expressed her gratitude to the court in a heartfelt “thank you.”

Guyana Govt asks for UK’s help as crime soars

Amid soaring levels of crime President David Granger on Monday announced that his Government was seeking to have the United Kingdom designed Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) revived and has approached the British Government for assistance in this regard.

The US$4.7 billion programme was scrapped by the UK some years ago after major disagreements with the then Bharrat Jagdeo Administration over some of the conditions of the plan. Granger made the announcement while addressing members of the diplomatic corps; executive members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC); and members of the business community, at the PSC’s 23rd Annual General Meeting at the Savannah Suite at the Pegasus Hotel.

Back in 2009, Guyana virtually walked away from the security reform programme, saying that aspects of the project threatened to encroach on the country’s sovereignty.

However, the British had contended then that the Guyana Government proposed a “fundamentally different” programme, focused on

Police modernisation rather than the holistic reform originally requested. The UK’s proposed project had aimed to build a sustainable foundation for improving national security and reducing serious crime in Guyana by 2011. To this end, it spoke to the need for implementation of a national security plan and the security sector reform and to increase public confidence in Government’s response to security issues.

National security policy

It had also explained that developing a national security policy, as well as establishing

Rohee urges end to alleged political witch-hunting

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee said Government’s continued witch-hunting spree would have far-reaching consequences for Guyana’s economy.

“The PPP warns that the current political and economic situation is fraught with serious dangers for the future of our country. The solution will not be found in the current confrontational approach adopted by the APNU+AFC [A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change]. On the contrary, what is required is an end to the witch-hunting and the arbitrary dismissals of public servants as well as the reign of intimidation and fear now gripping the country,” Rohee said on Monday.

He said under the circumstances, warnings have already been sounded from certain quarters about the “early signs of arrogance of the ministerial level of the Granger Government”. He said as the “witch-hunt” continued unabated, insensitive chatter about “not being distracted” by the Jordans of this world would only serve to throw salt in the wounds of the thousands who were still traumatised of them being ‘cheated electorally’.

“Claims that they will not be distracted by claims of witchhunting. If the witch-hunting which Jordan said will not allow them to be distracted continues and the dismissal of persons continues, obviously, the atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the country will prevail, especially in a small economy like Guyana.”

He said it was quite obvious that the productive forces which

management and oversight structures and building capacity within the Police Force were all crucial to responding to serious crime. The proposal had set out almost three dozen activities with detailed milestones and specific timelines until 2011.

Towards the development of the security reform strategy, the targets included a series of public stakeholder consultations and training to strengthen parliamentary oversight, throughout the lifetime of the project. These were aimed at building government capacity for man-

PPP/c General Secretary clement rohee

predominate certain sectors of the economy will not feel a sense of security to produce. “When that happens, we will have less to export and earn less foreign exchange.”

According to Rohee, whatever is said or done politically will always have an impact on the economy and if Government feels that what it says have no effect on the economy, “they have their analysis wrong; they will end up with wrong results”.

Meanwhile, Rohee said the Party was appalled at the extent to which the President David Granger-led “de facto” Administration was misleading Guyanese into believing that Guyana under the PPP/C Administration had experienced a mismanaged economy and increased poverty and crime, while portraying those who hold the reins of power as politically spotless compared to others.

aging the reforms, developing a national security policy and a reform strategy, establishing accountability and oversight of the security sector, strengthening the professional standards and service delivery of the Police Force and establishing an effective structure for managing the reform project.

The proposal listed specific activities to be carried out in each area, ranging from the recruitment of staff, the design of legislative strategies, parliamentary programmes to public consultations and workshops. The proposal also

had identified potential risks to these processes, including “weak” Government and Police Force commitment to and ownership of holistic reform; the unwillingness of civil society to participate in consultations and/or consultations that are not inclusive and therefore compromised; and a lack of commitment by Members of Parliament (MPs) to their oversight role.

Granger’s plea

At the PSC’s forum, the Head of State said the programme must be reintroduced since the country needed to be safe. “When people overseas hear about pirates killing fishermen and miners being robbed or when they hear persons returning to attend some wedding and being shot at, they don’t want to come to Guyana,” Granger said, continuing that “we need to deal with this public security problem. We are part of the continental landmass and we are not going to get rid of transnational crime overnight…Our borders are susceptible to gun running, trafficking and we need to ensure that our Police Force and Defence Force are effectively deployed,” the Head of State said to a rous-

continued on page 22

2 new judges sown in

After a long wait, former Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry and former Deputy of Public Prosecutions JoAnn Barlow were finally sworn in as Puisne Judges in the High Court by President David Granger on Monday.

In a momentous occasion in the lives of both women, Sewnarine-Beharry and Barlow both pledged to serve their country with due honour and dignity.

“I will bring what I have been doing for the last 10 years; I promise to serve my new office without fear or favour,” Sewnarine-Beharry told media operatives shortly after being sworn in.

Meanwhile, Barlow, a Victorian and wife of Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland, said: “There is no one feeling that I can tap into because as happy as I am about today, I am also sad about leaving where I worked for most of my working life and that is in the

chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions but, I am sure that in the days ahead, my feelings will find balance.”

Both women had received their confirmation letters last year, but were told that because of limited space in the courts, they were yet to be assigned to relevant areas. It is rumoured that Sewnarine-Beharry will preside over the Family Court –which is yet to be operationalised. It is unclear whether Barlow will also be placed at the Family Court.

The High Court in Demerara only has eight courtrooms a few of which are shared by Judges, while the Berbice High Court has two courtrooms that are served by two separate Judges, a civil and a criminal judge. However, in Essequibo, there is only one judge who presides over both criminal and civil cases.

In February 2014, President Donald Ramotar

had increased the number of Puisne Judges from 12 to 20. This change to the more than 50-year-old High Court Act was done following consultations with the judiciary sector. He signed the order under Section Three of the High Court Act, Chapter 3:02 and it was published in the Official Gazette last February 8. It was felt that the previous complement of Puisne Judges was inadequate to deal with the increasing number of cases engaging the justice system. Meanwhile, in attendance at the simple swearing-in ceremony were Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams; acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Speaker of the National Assembly, Barton Scotland; Director of Public Prosecutions, Bibi Shalimar-Hack, and family members of the new judges, among other officials.

Govt taps Prof Nigel Harris as next UG Chancellor

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has announced that it is the Government’s intention to have Professor E Nigel Harris nominated through its representative on the Council to serve as Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG).

The University of Guyana has been without a Chancellor since Professor Compton Bourne resigned from the post in 2012. The Education Ministry said in a release that Professor Harris served as Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) from 2004 to 2015.

Prior to serving as VC at UWI, he was Dean and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He has held several leadership posts including Chairman of CXC (2006 -2014), Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (20112013), and he is currently President of the Caribbean Association of Universities, Colleges and Institutes (UNICA) and administrative board member of the International Association of Universities (IAU) – a

consortium of over 600 universities around the world.

He is a Rheumatologist who is best known academically for identifying with collaborators a disorder called Antiphospholipid Syndrome and for developing the test for its diagnosis –he has published extensively on these subjects. While he was Vice Chancellor, UWI sent several teams to UG to assist in areas such as strategic planning, updating the library and ICT system, an audit of UG’s finances, restructuring the Human Resource Department, and curriculum reform. UWI also collaborated with UG to win grants from the Europe Union and to deliver a few postgraduate programmes.

Professor Harris is Guyanese by birth and was educated at Queens College (1955-1964); Howard University (BS – Chemistry (19651968)); Yale University (M Phil –Biochemistry (1968-1970)); University of Pennsylvania (MD (1973-1976)) and the University of the West Indies (DM – (1977-1981)). He is married to Dr Yvette Williams-Harris, who is Guyanese by birth and they have three children and five grandchildren.

Norman Mc Lean elected Chairman of private sector body

Recently appointed President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Norman McLean will have his position deputised by Ramsey Ali of Sterling Products Limited, as he takes up a new position as the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

The PSC on Tuesday announced that its election, which was held on Monday at the Pegasus Hotel, saw the retired Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major General being elected as Chairman.

It was the organ-

isation’s 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Mclean, who was only in May last elected President of the GMSA, told Guyana Times International that former Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President Ramsey Ali will fill in for him as he takes up his new position.

He said there are a number of issues he feels must be addressed, pointing out that he will be doing so as soon as Executives of the Commission meet.

The retired Major General, who was the first Head of the Guyana National Service (GNS),

has held a number of positions since his retirement from the GDF in the late 1990’s. The 80-year-old McLean served as Director General of the organisation between 1974 to79. McLean was also President of the Guyana Cricket Board of Control and a member of the West Indies Cricket Board during 1980-90; a former President of the Guyana National Rifle Association and a former Vice President of the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Council. He had also served as Human Resources Manager of the OMAI Gold mines Ltd.

Morian installed as Region 10 Chairman

…booted Sharma mulls future

Former member of Parliament Renis Morian was on Tuesday installed as the new Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), replacing the more youthful Sharma Solomon in one of the most divisive Regional Democratic Council elections held in that region for years.

Although there were threats of protests, Lindeners largely shunned the swearing ceremony held at the Region 10 RDC office. According to information reaching Guyana Times International, the election commenced at around 09:00h and was smoothly executed. Pastor Morian was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the region, while Errol Adolphus was elected Vice Chairman.

Solomon, who has the backing of most residents of the region, is believed to have been punished by the People’s National Congress Reform for his open challenge against the leadership of that party – the largest component in the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) coalition.

Chief Whip of the APNU/AFC Amna Ally had predicted that there would have been protest actions

over the removal of Solomon as the region’s leader. Since reports began emanating that Solomon would be replaced, the mining town of Linden launched several protests, calling for the decision to be reversed since residents were of the view that Solomon worked assiduously for the welfare of the people and the entire town.

Soloman, who is a friend and colleague of the controversial Vanessa Kissoon who was suspended in 2013 for misconduct in the party, was visibly absent from the coalition’s list of Candidates when it was handed to the GECOM on April 7, weeks before the election. He was later named however as the Campaign Manager for the coalition in Region 10 in the lead up to General and Regional Elections and was instrumental in healing the rifts between that town and the party.

2 held for execution of Corentyne businessman

As Police in Berbice continue their investigation into the execution of Corentyne businessman Rampersaud Shivcharran on Sunday evening, two persons have been taken into custody.

According to a source close to the Police, the dead man’s wife, Debbie Rampersaud arrived in Guyana from the United States on Monday at 06:00h and provided information which led to the arrest of two brothers who are business owners of Port Mourant, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The two businessmen, who had reportedly owed a large sum of money to Shivcharran, are assisting Police with the investigation.

Following Sunday evening’s shooting at Managers Compound, Port Mourant, family members of the dead man had pointed an accusing finger at his wife claiming that she planned the ‘hit’. At the time of the shooting, his wife was in the United States.

Shivcharran, who operated Debbie’s Grocery and Off-licence, was shot once in his torso execution style. Reports are that two armed men went

into the shop and ordered the two customers present to leave. Immediately after, the US citizen started a scuffle with the men and shortly after, a loud explosion was heard. At the time of the shooting, there was a power outage in the area. Residents in the area who heard the explosion reported that it was too dark to see anything.

Relatives of Shivcharran say that the couple did not have a good relationship and had frequent fights, an accusation his wife denies. The relatives say that they have never been allowed to get to meet the dead man’s youngest two children who both attend primary school, but his wife says that her mother-in-law never speaks to her. The couple had been married for 20 years and shared three children. They returned to Guyana six years ago and set up a business.

At the time of the shooting, two of Shivcharran’s children – a six-year-old and an eight-year-old were at home, but when the gunmen arrived, they hid under a cupboard towards the back of the lower flat of the two-storey building. The children later discov-

ered their father lying in a pool of blood with what appeared to be a gunshot wound in his chest, and reported the incident to a group of women who were standing in front of a shop one corner away.

According to one person who asked to remain anonymous, they were standing about a block away when two boys ran up saying that two men had just killed ‘Uncle Rakesh’. When persons arrived on the scene, he was seen lying on the floor in a pool of blood and still wearing a gold chain. A drawer containing money was also visible and accessible. Police subsequently

arrived and cordoned off the area. Undertakers later removed the body. One spent shell from a shotgun was found on the ground about 10 feet beyond the front fence.

The dead man’s mother, Chitra Shivcharran, said she last spoke with her son on Sunday morning when she called him to wish him a happy birthday. “But he tell me that I getting old; that is tomorrow is his birthday and forgetting the day.” Police are continuing their investigation. The matter is being treated as a murder and not as a robbery as reported in sections of the media.

Guyana–Venezuela border controversy: Commonwealth fully supports Guyana’s position

The 53-nation Commonwealth grouping has pledged support to Guyana and will help internationalise the illegal claims by Venezuela to Guyana’s territory.

“The Commonwealth stands as one and speaks with one voice in our commitment to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are an association of 53 member states worldwide accounting for one quarter of the United Nations membership. Commonwealth member Governments, individually and collectively, are also committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and to the rule of law,” Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said in a statement on his arrival in Guyana for a meeting with the country’s leaders.

“There have been recent developments including a claim by a neighbour-

ing country over Guyana’s land and maritime areas, and the Commonwealth has moved swiftly and appropriately in collective solidarity with Guyana,” the Secretary General said.

According to him, all Commonwealth Foreign Ministers have been kept informed of this development. The Secretary General has convened the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana, which is now scheduled to meet in New York in September. The situation has also been placed on the agenda of the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting, which is also taking place in New York in September. At the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held in Sri Lanka in 2013, the Commonwealth leaders “…

reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the maintenance and preservation of Guyana’s sovereignty and

Guyana Attorney General holds talks with Bar Association

– law students’ entry into Hugh Wooding among issues discussed

Attorney General and Legal Affairs

Minister Basil Williams on Monday met with members of the Guyana Bar Association at his office in Carmichael Street, Georgetown, to discuss a number of priority legal issues which have been gaining traction over the past weeks.

Bar Association

President Christopher

question of putting on a firm basis the admission of Guyanese students to the Hugh Wooding Law School is also on the Bar Association’s agenda, because “the profession always needs to keep renewing itself, renewing its membership, so it is important that we have new members coming out every year and it is also important we remove that

we can make this into a very lucrative type of operation,” he said.

He noted that it was a venture that had with it the potential for Guyana to become a centre for the teaching of law in the Caribbean. “… it means that we have to get lots of pieces into place, we have to have the resources and also very importantly we have to have the support of the

Ram, speaking to the media, said that the agenda items included amending the agreement establishing the Council of Legal Education and the Bar Association’s concerns over the now seeming annual issue of the admission of Guyanese students to the Hugh Wooding Law School.

Ram explained that the Attorney General had passed the amendments to the Council of Legal Education to the Bar Association and it has been circulating the document among its members. He said that the

uncertainty that always seems to characterise the Turkeyen Campus around this time of the year.”

Questioned about the Bar Association’s position on the current Administration’s plans to build a local law school to rise above the issue of the Guyanese students’ admission to the Hugh Wooding Law School, Ram noted that this is a very major step that would require lots of resources. “… it would take some time, it would take some planning, but I am very optimist that

Government of the day to ensure those resources (land, buildings, judges ) are available,” he said.

Minister Williams explained that he just recently met with the Hugh Wooding Law students and they were sharing with him their problems, among which was the sudden change in the policy of the law school to have them pay, from the onset of the year, the entire 100 per cent fee, (which amounts to about US$11,000).

Minister Williams explained that what obtained previously was

that the students were expected to pay 50 per cent of their fees before admission and 50 per cent by January of the following year. This is among the issues that he plans to take up with the Council of Legal Education at its meeting in September, the Minister said.

He will also seek to address having a temporary fix to the automatic entry, an issue that the previous Government had made representation for at the level of the Heads of Caricom meeting, last year.

Despite the previous Government’s saying that it had made representation, Minister Williams said that he could not find in the Attorney General Chambers, a file that spoke to an updated position on the issue. In light of this, the Minister said that he had to write to the Council of Legal Education for an update.

He explained that in responding, the Council noted that there was an agreement in 2013, that in 2014, they would take the 25 students automatically. “There was no mention in that email of 2015; what they spoke about is that there is an ongoing negotiation in relation to the collaborative agreement among UWI, UG and the Council of Legal Education, and suggested that a new proposal by the University of Guyana was what was stalling any consensus being arrived at.”

territorial integrity”. “The Commonwealth remains steadfast in its support for the Government and people of Guyana,” the Secretary General concluded.

Only last week, former Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Shridath Ramphal warned the Guyana Government and the nation as a whole not to ignore the threats being made by Venezuela, noting that they are real, present and should definitely not be ignored, not even by ordinary Guyanese.

In late May, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree which purported to ratify maritime sovereignty over waters within a 200-mile range, including the entire Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast as well as part of Suriname’s maritime territory.

Patterson promises no mass relocation for Timehri squatters

Public

Infrastructure

Minister David Patterson has promised residents of Timehri North, the area which the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion will encompass, that they would no longer be required to relocate as was requested by the former Government.

Addressing Members of the House during the third sitting of the 11th Parliament on Friday, Patterson related that the Government in continuing with the plans for expansion would ensure that residents were not inconvenienced to facilitate such development.

He added, however, that should the need arise for the relocation of persons, no more than 15 households would be affected and land would be provided in suitable and convenient areas for the families.

“On behalf of the Government, I’d like to inform the residents of Timehri that the airport expansion will be done without mass relocation as was threatened by the previous administration. In fact, no more than 15 houses may need to be relocated and if this happens, suitable land will be found plus assistance will be provided for this relocation,” the Minister said. It was only on Wednesday that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had disclosed to media operatives that the Government has approved the expansion of the CJIA although more funds were needed to complete the project to international standards. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), now the coalition Government, had been harshly critical of the CJIA expansion project on the basis that no feasibility study had been conducted and a new terminal building was unnecessary when they were on the Opposition benches. Harmon said that that conclusion was based on recent visits by high-level Chinese officials, including Wang Xiaofeng, General Manager of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), Americas Division. Minister Harmon also pointed out that although the project was tardy, it would not suffer termination.

Hughes promises revamp of Tourism Ministry

By Jillicia Pinder

ourism Minister

TCathy Hughes told Guyana Times International on Friday that she planned to completely revamp the tourism industry during her tenure and acknowledged some groundwork was laid by the previous Administration which would make her task much easier.

During an interview with this publication, Minister Hughes explained that she has exciting plans that relate to the fundamentals of building the

for the most part, operated by the Private Sector which has provided the country with a range of resorts and hotels and restaurants. She added that places such as Region Nine – the Rupununi to be exact – facilitated community-based tourism and the Ministry would like to be able to build on these places and their products and raise their quality, to provide something better for their customers.

Special consideration

The Tourism Minister added that there were a couple of issues in the sec-

mentioned that there would be an examination of the taxes placed on aviation gas because operators explained it was one of the major reasons their prices were high, given that the taxes they have to pay for providing the service would have to be passed on to the consumer. Hughes stated that at the end of the day, she really would just like to develop a quality tourism product where people can visit Guyana and enjoy what the country has to offer.

New location

The Tourism Minister believes it is very fortunate that the new home of the Tourism Ministry is the beautiful Colgrain House on Camp Street. The previous home of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce was a building on South Road. After the new Government took over, it decided that tourism needed to become a sector on its own and much emphasis and help was needed.

Hughes mentioned that she wanted a location that would be reflective of the

tourism industry by promoting it, as at the end of the day, there are still many places with people who are not aware of where Guyana is located and what it has to offer. She states that the Ministry plans to establish and implement an international marketing plan that will completely change persons’ evaluation of Guyana’s tourism industry.

She shared that she was happy that most of the groundwork and research have already been done over the last 10 years or so by the previous Administration, and added that it was just a matter of finding the requisite funding and starting to implement the programme, which went hand in hand with the importance of raising standards and making sure that as a country, Guyana provided quality service to consumers.

Hughes mentioned that Guyana’s tourism product was mostly owned and

tor that needed to be looked at, as they impinged on how successful the plans of the Ministry would be, and those mainly are in the area of access to Guyana. She stated that Guyana was still a very expensive destination to get to and the tourism industry was a very competitive market. She noted that people needed to be able to fly to Guyana and experience our product at a reasonable price. Hence, the Ministry is looking to get more airlines into the country, to drive prices down through competition.

Hughes stated that as it relates to the local aviation industry, the criticism has always been that it was very expensive to travel to places such as Iwokrama or Kaieteur Falls; therefore, if a tourist was visiting and did not have those12 hours to drive to Iwokrama, or the three days to travel over land to Kaieteur Falls, it posed a problem.

Minister Hughes also

“I will not beg for a job” – Solomon

Days after Government’s Chief Whip and Executive Member of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Amna Ally declared that Sharma Solomon would not return as the Chairman for Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), Solomon has responded, declaring that while no offer has been made to him, he would not beg the Government for a job.

While he could not be reached for a comment via phone, amid calls for an explanation on his position, Solomon took to his Facebook page on Sunday, stating that whether in that position or not, he would not back down from facing the challenges affecting those living in the mining town of Linden.

“May I make this point very clear: I, Sharma Solomon, shall not beg for any job and no offer was made to me by the Administration. I wish to advise the political grasshopper that my commitment is to a cause of ridding Guyana of public officials whose sole intention it is to deny the citizens their right to the national patrimony. It is because of this greed the steam power plant is no more that caused the Government in 2012 to want to increase electricity charges on an already economically-disadvantaged people,” he said.

Ally, who spoke to Guyana Times

country’s tourism product and heritage, and thought that Colgrain House with its colonial architecture would be the perfect fit. The Minister explained that though her department has not taken the entire building, in a few months time, it should have access to the entire building, after which the consumer affairs department and the tourism development officers will be moved to the new site.

Colgrain House was built in the 19th Century. Thomas Edwards Jones of Riverside Wharf Company was one of the owners of the building at that time. In October 1909, he sold it to La Penitence Estates. The building was sold several times and was acquired by Bookers Holdings in 1951. It was called ‘Booker House’ during this period. Subsequently, it was sold to the Federal Republic of Germany. Then the Government of Guyana purchased the building in 1975.

International on Saturday afternoon, said that a list of candidates was submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and Solomon’s name was not there. As such, she noted that his name could not and was not extracted. Ally further intimated to this publication that it was impossible for everyone who worked for the party to be given a position since that list submitted had comprised more than 95 persons.

Reports are that former parliamentarian Renis Morian has been tipped for the position of Chairman. Questioned on the criteria used to select candidates for the regional post, Ally told this newspaper that as it stood, she could not comment on that and the question would have to be posed to President David Granger, the leader of APNU who made the decision. Since reports began emanating that the Regional Chairman would be re-

placed, residents of the mining town of Linden have launched a protest calling for the decision to be reviewed since they were of the belief that he had really worked for them and the town. However, some sections of the media had reported that Solomon has been in discussions with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon for another position – a claim Solomon said was completely inaccurate and without merit. “Just to set the record straight, Mr Joe Harmon and I met on Friday, June 19th. Our discussion had absolutely nothing to do with me, the Regional Chairman position or any possible employment for me or any other person. The meeting was merely light banter. My understanding of politics in this case is the principals are the citizens of the Region … Sharma Solomon is not prepared to subject the people of Region 10 to any form of humiliation where they will have to beg a few persons in Georgetown for me to return as Regional Chairman,” he said.

“I respect the confidentiality of the discussion between Mr Harmon and I. Some have applied their own interpretation in the absence of being present and understanding the content and spirit of the discussion. This is something I have no control over,” the former Regional Chairman further stated.

Guyana Govt asks for UK’s...

ing round of applause.

Looking to see Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn told media operatives just after the ceremony on Monday that the SSRAP is a long historical agreement which came to fruition in 2007 and which was cancelled in 2009, because the then Government had thought that it “did not meet the requirements that they wanted”.

He related that Guyana’s Government has asked his Government to resuscitate the agreement. “What we are actually doing is looking to see if the agreement as it was nine years ago is still relevant and if it needs updating. Then how do we go about meeting the requirements of Government in terms of updating the original

plan?” he said. Asked how soon the plan could “swing into action”, Quinn said he could not say, but much work needed to be done including finding the person or team that had carried out the original assessment, then seeking to ascertain if they were available to do another such assessment of the programme. He could not say too if the money was still available from the previous project. And while funding will be provided for this new project, he could not say on what basis this will be done.

20/20 vision

Meanwhile, Granger told the gathering that he has laid out his plans for what he called the “2020 vision” for the life of the 11th Parliament.

“This will take us from now until 2020, when, without prorogation and without dissolution, Parliament should come to its natural end.” He said his mission over the next five years was to implement those plans with the support of all sectors of society. He restated that the business community remained an integral part of development and that many of the plans he has for the next five years would not be accomplished without the help of the PSC. The Head of State said he wanted to see improved infrastructure across Guyana, noting that all of the natural resources Guyana possessed could not be developed without proper infrastructure. High on Government’s agenda, Granger stressed, was security, not only for the Private Sector and its members, but for all Guyanese.

Patterson promises no mass relocation for Timehri...

According to Harmon, Patterson related that the original budgeted amount of US$150 million cannot suffice to complete the project in a way that will satisfy international standards for modern airports accommodating large aircraft. This conclusion was reached, since it was discovered by the investigating unit that “several areas were not covered in the original project document”.

Category One status

In the meantime, Patterson has announced that the Administration was as-

siduously working with all the relevant aviation authorities to put Guyana on track in achieving Category One status. “Coupled with the airport expansion, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is helping us to ensure that during our first term, our country will attain Category One status. To ensure that this is accomplished, we will be upgrading our personnel and equipment and implement all the necessary systems to achieve this goal,” Patterson told the House.

Cops pursuing new leads in Nandy Park fatal shooting

One week after the gunning down of Travis Rudder at his Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara home, Police are continuing their search for the three main suspects, two of whom are acquitted murder accused.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times International that the Police are still doing some work with respect to the investigation, while confirming that investigators have searched areas frequently visited by the three men who are wanted for the murder of Rudder and the attempted murder of Rudder’s ‘child mother’, Mawanza Gill and his 18-month-old son, Travic Rudder.

The Police have several leads which they will continue to pursue in the hope of apprehending the suspects.

Guyana Times International was reliably informed that Gill was recovering in the female ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital, but was fearful for her life and that of her son who has also been removed from the Intensive Care Unit of the medical facility.

He is reportedly re-

cuperating in the paediatric ward where his condition is being monitored. Hospital sources confirmed that the child was recovering nicely and was now being called a miracle baby.

Rudder, 26, of Lot 130 Lindley’s Avenue, Nandy Park, was gunned down two Sundays ago after several gunmen opened fire on him and his family while they were asleep.

The perpetrators reportedly used a wheelbarrow to elevate themselves and fired the 9mm pistols with extended magazines through a bedroom window.

After the shooting, the men drove off in a white car after which Gill started to shout for help. After a few min-

utes, a neighbour ran to her rescue, but given her injuries, he was unable to move her but took the baby and sped off to the Georgetown Public Hospital where the baby underwent emergency surgery. Gill was later collected by an ambulance and taken to the medical facility where she was admitted.

In November 2007, the now dead man and his close associate Sivon

robbed Nicola Barkley of one Motorola cellphone valued Gy$32,000 and Gy$17,000 in cash.

Warner were accused of murdering Demerara Oxygen Company Limited (DOCOL) employee Ivor Cordis. Rudder was also accused of attempting to murder ex-Policeman Toney Williams on November 19, 2007. It was also alleged that on May 15 in the same year, while armed with a gun, he

Earlier, in March of that year, Rudder allegedly shot his then girlfriend, Donnis King at her parents’ home at Bagotstown, EBD, during an argument. It was reported that the couple had an altercation, during which she expressed a desire to end the relationship. She was shot in the abdomen. After two months in the hospital, King succumbed to her injuries in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital. Only recently, Rudder was implicated in the attempted robbery of Neezam Khan of Grove, EBD, which left one man dead and one injured.

Violation of Cummingsburg Accord: Coalition in danger of falling apart – Ramkarran

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran has hinted at a possible breakup of the A Partnership for National Unity- Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government due to the several violations of the Cummingsburg Accord and alleged internal pressure on President David Granger from his party People’s National Congress Reform.

This is even as the APNU and the AFC appear anxious to amend the Cummingsburg Accord allegedly on the grounds that the reality of political office has clashed with the Accord’s constitutionality.

“There is no doubt that President Granger is facing enormous pressures from within his own party. All the signs are there. But he has to lead from the front. He cannot succumb to the political culture of dominance spawned by a history of ethnic politics, which the coalition has promised to destroy by the very Accord that it now seeks to defang because it disallows the perpetuation of the culture,” Ramkarran penned on his blog- Conversation Tree.

According to Ramkarran, the violation of the Cummingsburg Accord, which brought the parties together has been blatantly disrespected and if it is not addressed quickly and appropriately, the parties can expect to lose the

support of its electorates, particularly the AFC.

“Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has not been given the responsibilities of chairing the Cabinet or of exercising responsibility for domestic affairs. The contents of Minister Joseph Harmon’s regular engagements with the press suggest that domestic affairs reside with him and/or the President. In excusing the failure to observe the terms of the Accord, both President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo indicate that there is no dispute arising from the failure to implement the Accord. They pointed to potential violation of the Constitution if the terms of the Accord are fully implemented,” he said.

According to the February 14th Accord, the President shall, among other things, delegate the responsibilities of domestic national affairs and the chairing of Cabinet to the Prime Minister. Other responsibilities delegated to the Prime Minister should have included recommending ministerial appointments and providing the organisational structures of Ministries for the approval of the President; appointment of heads of agencies and non-constitutional commissions, with the required and agreed democratic mechanisms of consultation, and domestic security (Home Affairs). The parties had also agreed that Cabinet positions would be allocated on a 60/40 basis between APNU and the

AFC, respectively.

President Granger when asked to comment on the violation of the accord had expressed that the coalition was presently working on a review of the document. He admitted that to persist with some of the stipulations of the Accord will be unconstitutional and as such, he will be awaiting the constitutional reform so that the agreement can be followed. “To the extent that some things are in collision with the Constitution they will await constitutional change… we cannot be expected to do unconstitutional things,” Granger told reporters.

When questioned on the matter Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had nonchalantly said that he was not bothered or in any way affected by President Granger reneging on that agreement and chairing the proceedings of the Cabinet. Nagamootoo had further stated that the Accord was not worth more than the country and, as such, those were minor things. “We have an active President and we have to make this Accord work; make this coalition work; and for me the things that are minor irritancies I won’t elevate to any importance,” he had said. Bad omen

However, Ramkarran noted that the explanation which has been put forth by the President that the Constitution will have

to be amended in order for the Cummingsburg Accord to be followed is inaccurate. He further added that the fact that the AFC seemed to be tolerating the digress would only seem like a bad omen. “There is and would be no violation of the Constitution if the terms of the Accord are implemented. Various articles of the Constitution allow the President to appoint others to execute his responsibilities. The President can delegate the purely nominal function of chairing the Cabinet while he is present. The Prime Minister can take charge of domestic affairs in an advisory capacity to the President. The flimsy excuse of constitutional violation is an attempt at a power play by APNU. Supported by a surprisingly subservient AFC, it is not a good sign… Five years from now there would be no coalition victory without the AFC, if the AFC loses its identity and individuality in the governance structure and operations, an individuality which it would never be able to retrieve as a political party with a distinct voice and appeal,” Ramkarran pointed out. This view was later supported by prominent social commentator, Ramon Gaskin, who told this publication that it would indeed appear that all was not well in the new govern

ment’s camp. Gaskin said that

continued on page 25

Guyana Goldfields starts production at Aurora mine

After 19 years of investment, the Guyana Goldfields Inc is set to begin the production of gold at its Aurora mine location in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The company, on Friday, announced that the commissioning phase of its operations is currently on schedule and it anticipates completion by the end of the upcoming six-week period with official commercial gold production in September. The commissioning phase includes the dry and wet commissioning of various aspects of the gold milling process.

The company said that this new development will see “massive benefits in royalties to Guyana’s Government…, tremendous transfer of skills, technology and science to Guyana… sustainable benefits to small business from procurement and communities benefiting from Corporate Social Responsibility partnerships”.

It stated that after 19 years of exploration involving the latest of technologies and over a US$300 million investment, it is finally realising its corporate mission of “Building a First Class Mine; Caring for the Environment; Building Communities and; Creating Opportunities”.

“The journey to commercial production started 19 years ago when the Guyana

Goldfields Inc began exploration of the mineral potential in Guyana. Many areas were explored without much success. However, in 2003 the company started a vigorous exploration programme, which included extensive diamond drilling in the Cuyuni area resulting in the discovery of the Rory Knoll Deposit at the Cuyuni Aurora Project Site,” the company expressed in a release.

It said that during the exploration phase, the company employed some 150 Guyanese workers. It also said that so far, for the period January 2014- June 2015, Aurora Gold Mines Project (AGM) and the Gurvan Saihan Joint Venture (GSJV) has contributed to over Gy$1.2 billion PAYE (Pay As You Earn) and some Gy$226 million NIS (National Insurance Scheme). The benefits to Guyana’s economy, the company said, have been tremendous, noting that it is expected to continue throughout the life of the mine.

The benefits include “Mining Royalty” of eight per cent on gold sales at a price of gold over US1000 per ounce, 30 per cent corporate income tax at a projected value of US$509 million, payroll taxes at a projected value of US$67 million and excise tax on petroleum with a projected value of US$43 million.

In 2008 the International Finance Corporation (IFC)

took an equity role in Guyana Goldfields. Consistent with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy role to protect the environment, Guyana Goldfields was able to benefit from the rigid standards imposed by the IFC such that, today, the Aurora Mine is one of the most modern mines both environmentally and technically. In addition, the latest in management techniques and computer tools are in use, the company said. It said one of the greatest barriers of building the mine was the lack of local skills in Guyana to create a first class environmentally sustainable mine with the main intent of being able to ensure that the most up to date technology was utilised in the destruc-

tion of the cyanide that is used in the recovery of gold. This resulted in an international tendering process which ultimately yielded a joint venture.

Together the joint venture partners, GSJV, a registered Guyanese company and the AGM subsidiary of the Guyana Goldfields Inc embarked on the building of the mine. At the peak of the construction phase, both companies maintained a temporary work force of almost 1200 employees and other local contractors, which included experienced and skilled workers totaling some 400 Peruvian engineers, technicians, and skill sets not available in Guyana for the particular construction.

During this construction

phase, all employees with GSJV and AGM enjoyed very satisfactory conditions of employment including attractive and competitive wages and salaries including various insurance benefits for themselves and their families, in addition to regular bonuses. The mine has been the hive of activities over the last 18 months. Thousands of Guyanese workers and their Peruvian and Australian counterparts worked around the clock to meet very strict schedules. Guyanese workers were exposed to the latest technology and a significant number of them received training. With the completion of the construction phase, there will be gradual reduction of the construction workforce to facilitate the transition from mine construction to mine operation, which is expected to become fully effective in July 2015.

In anticipation, the company said it looks forward to bringing the appropriate benefits to the people of Guyana combined with its ever developing Corporate Social Responsibility Programme which includes grants to over 30 community groups, a women’s procurement programme, community outreach programmes, artisanal miners medical emergency assistance and many other support/assistance programmes.

Jordan distorting facts for political gains - PPP/C

Former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said that figures released on Guyana’s domestic and external debts are grossly exaggerated and slammed new Finance Minister, Winston Jordan for allegedly misleading the country. He also called on the minister to retract the statement and also apologise to the nation.

In a letter to the editor of this newspaper (see page 4) Dr Singh said Appendix VI to the national Budget Speech for 2014 reported that Guyana’s external debt stock stood at US$1.247 billion at the end of December 2013, and provided a detailed disaggregation by creditor.

Secondly, he said Appendix F1 to the MidYear Report for 2014 reported that the external debt stock stood at US$1.227 billion at the end of June 2014, and provided a similar level of disaggregation.

Thirdly, Table 7-III of the Statistical Annexe to the Bank of Guyana Annual Report for 2014 reported that Guyana’s stock of external public debt amounted to US$1.217 billion at the end of December 2014, disaggregated by creditor type.

“All three of the aforementioned documents have been freely available in the public domain since their respective issuance, including on the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Guyana websites, where they could still be sourced when I last checked earlier today.”

Dr Singh Singh has called on the Minister to make publicly avail-

Granger and Maduro set to meet in Barbados

- Guyana demands withdrawal of decree

Gable disaggregated details on the US$1.6 billion that he reported to the National Assembly last Friday as Guyana’s external debt stock.

“Alternatively, he might wish to consider issuing an appropriate correction, including in the National Assembly where his statement was originally made. He might also wish to consider examining more closely the accuracy of other aspects of what he is reported to have said in the same article and address them similarly,”

Dr Singh advocated.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Friday Minister Jordan disclosed that as it now stands, Guyana was highly indebted, even carrying a deficit or more than Gy$60 billion. “Guyana’s external debt is US$1.6 billion, and we were recipients of generous debt writeoffs from both bilateral and multilateral agents that have put us in a category where we have to pay careful attention to what we borrow, how we borrow, and what we borrow for,” Jordan intoned.

Continuing, Jordan told the House that

there was a large magnitude of work which must be done, including the crafting of a National Economic Policy, achieving stable macro economic growth and ensuring infrastructural growth. Further, he added that the National Procurement and Tender Board administration will soon see a major shake-up since it was pertinent to have a professional, competent and unbiased Board in place.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement the PPP/C said in one of the very first interviews Jordan gave after being appointed Minister he was at pains to emphasise that he is not a politician but instead he is a professional. “Whether he saw himself in that way or not, the fact is that he has within one month metamorphosed not only into a politician but a politician of the worst kind, one that is intent on distorting and misrepresenting facts for narrow political interest. The party said that the US$1.6B debt announced by Jordan is nothing but an untruth.

Violation of Cummingsburg Accord: Coalition in danger...

the excuse put forward on the violation of the Cummingsburg Accord was not to be accepted since the Constitution makes clear provisions for such. “Nothing prevents him from doing so. If he wants to delegate it and give it to Nagamootoo, he can and will do so,” Gaskin opined.

He said that it was his belief that such a clause in the agreement was agreed upon only because the APNU wanted the deal to ensure there was a victory and a new government in place. In

the meantime however, Ramkarran has pointed out that in any event, APNU and AFC are not free to amend the Accord since they are only but two parties to the Accord and any changes can result in a drop of confidence in the electorate.

“The electorate is the third party. It contains the basic terms of their post elections collaboration on the basis of which the electorate supported the coalition. The electorate understood that the AFC would have a distinct, decisive and visible management role

in the affairs of governance through the Prime Minister. If the parties now wish to unilaterally tamper with this and consign the AFC, even with its unwise consent, to a vague and amorphous, consultative position, the parties should not be surprised if bitter fruits are harvested five years down the road from the same electorate, their third partner, that they have deceived. If that happens, this is where it would have all begun,” he explicitly stated.

uyana’s President David Granger has confirmed that he has been invited to meet with his Venezuelan counterpart, President Nicolas Maduro on the outskirts of the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting currently taking place in Barbados.

Speaking to an online news agency in Bridgetown, President Granger said “I am prepared to meet” but he made it clear that the recent decree by Venezuela claiming Guyana’s oil rich waters “must be withdrawn”.

“I am aware that an invitation has been extended to President Maduro and I am prepared to speak with him when he does come”, President Granger said.

When asked specifically about the message he intends to convey to the Venezuelan President, Mr. Granger said “my message is that the decree 1787 should be withdrawn. That has been very painful to us and the fact is that the decree not only appropriates a part of our sea space but it also calls on the Armed Forces of Venezuela to enforce that decree. So it is a major threat to regional peace and security and that will be by message to him”.

The Venezuelan President is expected to arrive in Barbados on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Guyana President has also indicated that he wants CARICOM to offer more than just the usual “one paragraph statement” on the issue with Venezuela.

The President said CARICOM must understand how the decree threatens regional integration and must therefore condemn the decree outrightly.

Venezuela has been attempting to downplay the significance of the decree over the past weeks as the international community has been steadily criticizing it for the move. Guyana has already held talks with the United Nations, The Commonwealth and the U.S Government on the issue.

Venezuela is laying claim to a section of Guyana’s territorial waters which includes oil resources that are currently being explored by American company, ExxonMobil. (Excerpts taken from Newssource)

NEW GPC INC outperforms all competitors in pharma supply

The NEW GPC INC has examined the Auditor General’s Report (AGR) for the year 2013, which was finally presented to Parliament after the hiatus due the prorogation of that institution and the ensuing 2015 General and Regional Elections.

It offers the following clarifications, as it has done in previous years, in an effort that the public may better understand how its tax dollars are spent on pharmaceuticals for the health sector.

The NEW GPC welcomes the AGR, as it eliminates a number of citations from previous years (such a lack of docu-

mentation) which should not have been mentioned since they were actually lapses in the audit process.

Bank Guarantees

However, to the Corporation’s chagrin once again the issue of Banking Guarantees (BG’s) was once again invoked without looking at the overall context of NEW GPC’s performance. As we noted last year, Bank Guarantees are not meant to be valid for the original sum throughout the life of the contract.

Firstly, not all of the items on the original contract might be manufactured immedi-

ately since the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) take in or receive goods based on their own predetermined consumption pattern and that means deliveries are staggered throughout the year.

Secondly, staggering or phased delivery is also important and specifically sought when items carry short shelf life. So, for example, if an item has less than a year’s shelf life, such as diagnostic test kits, it is counterproductive to deliver all of it in one batch unless it can be utilised within that limited time-

frame

Thirdly, when the pharmaceutical deliveries are made, the risk is obviously decreasing and hence a Bank Guarantee can be, and is, often renewed for a lesser, declining balance. This is standard business practice.

Bank Guarantees for stocks that were already delivered or are on hand and cannot be taken in due to space and other limitations at the MoH.

The NEW GPC has never defaulted on any of its contracts to the MoH and GPHC.

In reference to pur-

the major contract for Gy$871.169 million of which Gy$716.290 million was paid.

The Gy$500 million was thus obviously more than adequate to protect the contract since at the end, according to the Auditor General’s Report, there is only

But with the added emphasis on Bank Guarantees these days, the NEW GPC sometimes has to provide

chases by the GPHC, the report stated that there were Banking Guarantees to the tune of Gy$500 million against

Gy$2.982 million (0.003 per cent of the contract) of supplies to be delivered. It meant that at

Jagdeo to return as Opposition Leader

By Michael younge

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo will become Guyana’s next Opposition Leader and Chief Parliamentary Spokesperson for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the 11th Parliament.

Jagdeo is seen as the most suitable candidate to lead the Party at this historical conjuncture for its upcoming stint in the Opposition after it was narrowly defeated by the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change coalition on May 11 at the polls.

The PPP/C has filed an elections petition in the High Court to question the declaration of the election result by the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission.

Speaking with the Guyana Times International during an exclusive interview last Thursday, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

said that the Party had embarked on what he described as “wide ranging discussions” and consultations across the country and within its membership. “We have had robust and healthy discussions as a result of those consultations at the level of the leadership of the party because now that we are in the Opposition, it behooves us to put these appointments to rest,” Rohee remarked. Asked whether he felt

Jagdeo was bad for the PPP/C given the school of thought which suggests that the reason the party lost the 2015 elections was because of Jagdeo’s posture on the campaign trail and legacy while in office, Rohee responded in the negative. “I reject that outrightly. I believe Mr Jagdeo is more of a positive than a negative within the Party and outside of the Party and in the country as a whole,” he said quickly.

NEW GPC INC outperforms...

no time there was need for the full amount of the contract to be guaranteed.

With references to the purchases for the MoH, the Gy$2.3 billion contract was covered with Banking Guarantees of Gy$2.5 billion, which also covered freight.

So while there was more than adequate coverage in Banking Guarantees, the AGR still complains that these guarantees did not extend beyond March 2014.

What is interesting, however, is that of the nine other suppliers, including International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), responsible for Gy$423 million purchases, there was only a single Banking Guarantee of Gy$71 million. More alarmingly, Gy$192 million (or 45 per cent) of the items were not delivered by these other suppliers.

The NEW GPC understands that contracts, particularly the larger orders, sometimes overlap from a consumption point of view into the following financial year and, hence, it is not unusual that some items are not collected by the MoH at the end of the fiscal year.

However, the amount of undelivered pharmaceuticals to both the GPHC and the MoH is excessive as was raised by the AGR. It raises the vexed question of delivery of items already purchased by the Corporation but not requested to be shipped to the institutions.

Because NEW GPC has a large air conditioned warehouse this is in effect being used for storage for the customers’ pharmaceuticals sometimes even after their contracted delivery date. This results in drugs becoming expired, for which the NEW GPC

is routinely blamed by the media.

The AGR refers to the NEW GPC warehouse as the “Ruimveldt offsite”, which is ironic since the year before the Government at great expense had constructed a warehouse at Diamond and no pharmaceuticals were to be left at NEW GPC’s warehouse. At that time, the NEW GPC had called for all of the Government’s pharmaceuticals to be removed from its facilities since these were being stored at absolutely no cost. At present, the NEW GPC has become the “Ruimveldt offsite” for the MoH.

Officials at NEW GPC said they hope that with the new dispensation, that the above issues would be addressed and that also the Auditor General’s Office would at long last conduct a “value for money” audit of purchases from the Corporation.

Influence vs control

In fact, the General Secretary mounted a strong defence of Jagdeo’s contributions to the PPP/C as both an Executive, former President and grassroots strategist.

“I have been to every single rally and a number of grand public meetings during the campaign and I have seen how the crowd has reacted to him. I have seen how the crowd has reacted to Mr Ramotar, our Presidential

Candidate. And I have seen how the crowd has reacted to many other candidates depending on the area where the meetings and rallies were held…,” Rohee advised. He then concluded flatly, “Jagdeo is overwhelmingly more of an asset than a liability and I reject completely the view by the anti-Jagdeoites that he controls the PPP/C.”

Rohee held the view that Jagdeo would have to

be a very “powerful man” to be able to control and direct without question the entire PPP/C machinery and all of its members across the country. “So when you talking about control, I would make a distinction between control and influence…He has influence in the policies and decision making processes in the Party just like every other member, Executive and the Central Committee”, he noted.

According to Rohee, who was appointed General Secretary back in 2013 following the PPP/C’s 30th Congress, Jagdeo sits there in these two bodies (Central and Executive Committees) and makes his contributions like everybody else and depending on the logic of arguments, force of arguments, the scientific strength/basis of the analysis put forward, “comrades draw their own conclusions and decide whose view they support and whose view they do not support,” he argued.

Elisa Hamilton still hopeful for fulfillment of scholarship promise

The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations top student for 2014, Elisa Hamilton, was promised a scholarship to a university of her choice by the previous administration. Though no one from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has contacted her about the offer, she still remains hopeful of attending her dream school.

The young lady had earlier expressed interest in attending Yale University in the United States, when the previous Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, announced that “the top two CSEC and CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination) students will be offered scholarships to any school of their choice”.

However, the same administration then sent Hamilton a letter, through the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, stating that the scholarship was only valid in China, Cuba and Guyana. The letter also said that the scholarships are only in the fields of Dentistry, Engineering and Mechanics.

Upon receipt of the letter the young lady

was disappointed and mentioned that it was “a breach of the promise made” by the former President, Donald Ramotar. Hamilton, who had attained 19 Grade Ones and a Grade Two, still hopes to attend Yale University to further her education in the field of Medicine.

Additionally, it was revealed that due to the absence of the Appropriation Act, the previous Government was unable to fulfil its obligations as it relates to the scholarships .The new Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, said that he will examine the programme and make recommendations as to improving the Scholarship Programme.

The new Government said that “because of our emphasis on young people and the fact that a commitment was given to the awardees, we will honour that promise and make it up to them in 2015”.

In a telephone interview, Hamilton said that the Government has not yet made any contact with her but she is currently weighing her options as it relates to furthering her education. This particular programme has been under public criticism for a number of years; between 2012 and 2014 two out of the four participants took up the offer because of the issue regarding the universities offered.

By SureSh V. KandaSwamy

If you are looking for a one of a kind travel experience in Guyana, Almond Beach should definitely be on your travel agenda.

Almond Beach

The coastline along north-west Guyana in Region One is dotted with beaches made of shells. The broken down and pulverized shells look almost like sand. While many beaches are inaccessible, one of the accessible beaches, and a destination for visitors, is Almond Beach.

Almond Beach is often also referred to simply as Shell Beach. It is about six km from Waini River mouth, close to the Venezuela border, and stretches for about four km. Due to forces of nature, many of the beaches undergo a cycle of erosion and shell accumulation. The shells at Almond Beach have been around for about 25 years now but are showing signs of erosion at the beach.

Almond Beach is now part of the Shell Beach Protected Area.

Shell Beach Protected Area, along with the famous Kaieteur National Park, where the world famous Kaieteur Falls is located, and Kanuku Mountains is managed by the Protected Areas Commission.

Guyana’s oth-

the Waini River mouth along the Atlantic coast in Region One. Inland, it is bound by the rivers Moruca, BaraBara, Biara, Baramanni, and Waini.

The protected area covers approx 123,055 ha. It is considered exceptional because of its extensive mangrove forests, the longest remaining stretch in Guyana, and the four species

ly local residents, in collaboration with the PAC and the WWF Guyana, monitor and record marine turtle sightings on Almond Beach.

The Green Turtles start arriving mid-February, and Leatherbacks in late March or April. The Olive Ridley and Hawksbill are rare, but are known to arrive in small numbers late in the season: June,

to experience the entire turtle nesting process. It can take an hour or two from the time a turtle crawls ashore to the time it leaves for the ocean. It is well worth

of endangered marine turtles that nest from February to August each year.

These include the Leatherback, Green Turtle, Hawksbill, and Olive Ridley. The area is also important for birds such as the scarlet ibis, which roost within and nearby the protected area.

Almond Beach is a small Amerindian community with about seven

July and August. The Leatherback is the largest of the turtles, with the Green Turtle coming to a close second. The Olive Ridley is the smallest of the four.

Many visitors make their way to Almond Beach just for the turtle watching experience. It is a unique experience. It requires patience, a fair bit of walking mostly at night, and some luck. Turtles show up at their

er protected area, the Iwokrama Forest Reserve, is run by the Iwokrama International Centre, which is governed by an International Board of Trustees. Together they form Guyana’s National Protected Areas System.

Shell Beach Protected Area extends for 120 km from the Moruca river mouth to

families living along the beach. They earn their living through fishing, picking and selling coconuts, and working on the marine turtle monitoring project.

Turtle watching Each year from February to July or August, rangers from the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS), who are main-

convenience. Some days they arrive in numbers and other days they decide to stay out at sea.

There is, however, a high likelihood visitors will see turtles during their visit to Almond Beach. It is rare to see them during the day but it occurs occasionally. Peak season for turtles is May and June.

One needs patience

the wait though.

The turtle crawls ashore, finds a place it thinks is a good spot to lay eggs, and digs a lit-

tle pit in the shells using its front flippers to rest its body. It then uses its back flippers to dig a hole the length of its flipper, lays its eggs, which can number about a 100, and covers its nest with shells. Finally, it uses its front and rear flippers alternately to move shells around to camouflage the nest. Once satisfied, it makes its way back to the ocean.

Turtles take a long time to achieve sexual maturity. Leatherbacks take between 9 and 15 years; Green Turtles 25 to 40 years, Hawksbill 15 to 30 years, and Olive Ridley about 7 to 15 years. To nest, adult marine turtles are known to come back to the general vicinity of the beach at which they were born. Instinctively they know where to go. Incredible!

Given that they leave as hatchlings from a

beach and return after a decade or more to the same beach is difficult to imagine. If a new turtle is seen on the beach, often determined by a lack of a tag, you know it has been out at sea for a very long time and it has survived against all odds. Only one in a thousand survives to adulthood.

This long maturity period is also the reason conservation efforts must be an on-going effort. The PAC, WWF Guianas, and GMTCS are working to ensure turtles are protected now and for future generations.

Turtle Etiquette

Once at Almond Beach, you can accompany the rangers on their nightly patrol. Patrols generally take place between 8pm and 12pm and 12 midnight and 3am. The timing is de-

US$200 million invested in renewable energy projects in Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Julian Robinson says US$200 million has been invested in various renewable energy initiatives that will come on stream by the end of next year.

Among the projects are the US$45 million expansion of the Wigton Windfarm in Manchester and the recent signing of a US$47 million financing agreement with WRB Enterprises and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) for development of a 20 megawatt solar plant in York Town, Clarendon.

And Robinson says the government’s focus on renewable energy solutions is well placed.

“Reliable energy sources have revealed that alternative energy technologies, such as wind, solar, and electrical storage, continued to gain ground in 2014, with solar, in particular, capturing almost 50 per cent of all global investments in clean energy, which grew to over $310 billion in 2014,” he said.

Wigton Windfarm is the largest wind energy facility in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean, providing more than 100 million kilowatt hours of electricity to the grid on an annual basis.

“When the new 24-

mega watts generating plant comes on stream in early 2016, it will increase renewable energy input to the grid by two per cent,” Robinson pointed out.

As for the development of the 20-megawatt solar plant in York Town, Clarendon, the minister said when that facility is completed, it will be one of the largest

solar projects constructed in the Caribbean.

“It is of strategic national importance to Jamaica and is one of three successfully selected proposals from among 24 other projects . . . to provide a total of 115MW of renewable energy to the Jamaican power grid,” he noted.

Robinson said there are also prospects for hydro power development, following the completion of feasibility studies late last year, which identified 26 MW in hydro potential from six local rivers.

“The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) will be carrying out an aggressive marketing drive to attract investment to exploit

these commercial opportunities while increasing Jamaica’s renewable energy supply,” he said.

The minister said that those projects, among others, were being pursued to increase renewable power generation to about 20 per cent by 2030 and reduce the importation of oil, which last year amounted to US$2 billion.

“To achieve this objective we have sought to involve both private and public sector entities in the development of our renewable energy resources. Our strategy is bearing fruit as we see local and overseas companies as well as government corporations investing in renewables,” he said.

Jack Warner hires top British lawyer to fight his extradition

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Corruption accused Jack Warner has hired a top British lawyer to help him fight his extradition to the United States.

British media is reporting that Edward Fitzgerald Q.C confirmed he has been retained by the former FIFA vicepresident as he prepares

for battle with the US.

The 61-year-old Queen’s Counsel has represented Trinidad and Tobago businessman Steve Ferguson, who was indicted in 2006 in Florida for alleged corrupt practices regarding the Piarco International Airport in the twin-island republic but has successfully resisted extradition.

Also among Fitzgerald’s past clients are controversial Muslim cleric Abu Hamza, accused murderers and Irish Republican Army (IRA) prisoners.

Fitzgerald has been called to the Bar in a number of Caribbean jurisdictions, including Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Grenada and St. Vincent and the

Grenadines.

According to the Huffington Post, he is renowned for defending some of the most despised people in society. Explaining why he does so, the barrister told The Guardian in 2007 that “everyone is entitled to a fair trial”.

“It would be terrible if we stopped defending people because they’re unpopular. The legal process is an attempt to

civilize our emotions of revenge. Anything that’s against lynch law seems to me to be a good thing,” Fitzgerald said.

On May 27, Warner was slapped with eight charges related to alleged corruption while he was FIFA vice-president and president of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) – including taking a

US$10 million bribe to vote for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup – after a United States investigation into the world football governing body.

A total of 14 current and former FIFA executives and sports marketing executives were named in the 47-count indictment.

Warner is currently on bail, awaiting an extradition hearing. Despite a newspaper report to the contrary earlier this week, the United States has reported that no final extradition request has been made as yet.

The US has 60 days from the date of the provisional arrest warrant, on which Warner was taken to court in Trinidad, to produce evidence to begin formal extradition proceedings. (Caribbean 360)

St. Lucia NGO says Caribbean could cash in on same-sex tourism

Asenior official of a St. Lucia human rights non-governmental organization says the United States’ Supreme Court decision to allow gay marriages across the country could very well open up a new tourism market for the Caribbean if the region takes advantage of the opportunity.

Secretary of United and Strong Inc Jessica St. Rose told the media that the move could create opportunities for tourism-driven countries to explore same-sex tourism.

She told St. Lucia News Online that the Caribbean should move to make gay marriage

legal, making it more appealing for same-sex couples.

The secretary of the NGO which represents marginalized groups in the island, with a focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, argued that the region could cash in by encouraging samesex couples to visit the Caribbean for their honeymoons and family vacations.

“I don’t know when the Caribbean will move to that decision to make same sex marriage legal but with the United States doing it a lot can happen,” she told the St. Lucia Times, adding that St. Lucia, in par-

ticular, does not have many industries to fall back on.

“Bananas are going downhill and tourism is what is holding us up, so if it happens I think tourism officials should grab at the opportunity to welcome those couples and not just be a heterosexual destination, but welcome same-sex couples in the region.”

St. Rose also pointed out it made sense to take advantage of the opportunities since “we cannot prevent same sex persons who are married from coming to the Caribbean” and some hotels on the island were already welcoming same-sex couples.

Using martial arts to encourage self esteem

One great way to encourage children to get more physical exercise is to let them take martial arts classes designed for them. Martial arts not only impart invaluable physical skills, such as self-defence, which may help children if they find themselves in a risky situation, but also help to develop self-esteem.

Martial arts encourage children to be physically healthy, agile, disciplined and it builds concentration. If your child is not so suited for team sports, martial arts provide a great way for them to get some exercise, meet other children and learn valuable skills that will stay with them for life.

With the concept of ‘goal attainment’ (via the belt system) at the heart of martial arts, the sport provides a useful way for children to focus on moving ‘up the ranks’ and the sense of satisfaction and self-fulfilment this brings, building a child's self-esteem and confidence along the way.

Martial arts is not just about physical prowess - the sport is also about training the mind and spirit so children learn skills they can take into other areas of their life, too, such as better concentration and reasoning skills, vital for academic success.

The disciplined, carefully-supervised environment of the ‘Dojo’ (martial arts training school), combined with an emphasis on using the mind to overcome the opponent rather than unnecessary, brute force, reinforces positive behaviour and self-restraint.

The

arts

There are many types of martial arts out there - with new ones emerging all the time - but the most widely available and most suited to children include Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Kung

Fu, and Ju-Jitsu.

Literally meaning “empty hand”, Karate is one of the most traditional martial arts, in essence an unarmedcombat system, employing kicking, striking and defensive blocking with arms and legs. There is a

big emphasis on mental attitude and courtesy.

Involving lots of throwing moves, Judo is good for developing all round fitness, strength and balance, as well as posture and stamina. Meaning “gentle way” in Chinese, Judo today is widely practiced and adheres to a belt system - white belts are worn by novices and black by masters, with various different colour belts in between.

Emphasis in Taekwondo is placed on self-defence and development of self-control. Its guiding principles are a sort of doctrine of belief which followers of the sport must adhere to and try to implement into all areas of their day-to-day lives.

Kung Fu is perhaps one of the best-known martial arts, and literally means “achievement through great effort”. It encompasses a group of Chinese martial arts, all of which use a range of punches and kicks on specific pressure points on the opponent's body.

Ju-Jitsu loosely translated means “gentle art” and is applied to many schools of unarmed and hand-to-hand combat. With an emphasis very much on cultivating mind as well as body, it teaches ways to control one's anger and frustration and the use of force is only allowed in self-defence.

The Central Shotokan Karatedo Association

The Central Shotokan Karate-do Association, founded by Eric Hing, is one of the few Dojos in Guyana suitable for children. Hing, who has a

black belt and has represented Guyana at international Karate tournaments, has been teaching children the fundamentals of martial arts for more than eight years.

“Growing up, I had a lot of help from older students, and this inspired me to share my knowledge with the younger generation. I was very much interested in karate from a very small age. Everything for me came naturally because it was something I was passionate about, and this passion has helped me to have a successful martial arts career, enjoying every moment I get to share what I know with others, especially kids,”

Hing said in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Currently, Hing has about 20 children in training. Classes are held Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm to 6pm.

Hing pointed out that martial arts help build character, teaches selfdefence and discipline – some of the things he also learnt as a child.

“The children not only learn Karate all the time; they have games and get time out to play a bit. While they are taught Karate, they also are taught to have fun. Karate for them is exercise. Most importantly, what I try to instill

in them is to never take what they learn to start a fight outside the Dojo and that it should only be used for self-defence. I have seen how disciplined they have become, and this will help them when they get older – as it did for me,” Hing noted.

The Central Shotokan Karate-do Association will be having its ‘summer’ classes from July 7 to August 7 at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda Ground. For more information, call 696-6306 or 6745852. Or visit Central Shotokan Karate-do Association on Facebook. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Overcoming challenges to become the first female engineer with a prominent aviation company, Tesia Alexander is a determined woman.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Alexander said she did not want to be an engineer although she was always fascinated by airplanes.

“I actually wanted to become a doctor, but during my work study stint at the Georgetown Public Hospital I discovered that the sight of blood made me feel as though I was about to faint. My mom was the one who encouraged me after she read an article in the local newspapers about Bishops High School’s top student who stated that he was going to further his studies to become an aircraft engineer at the Art William & Harry Wendt Engineering school in Ogle. She suggested that we visit the school to find out what courses of studies they offered. She was aware of my love for airplanes and the fact I use to carry out minor repairs around our house,” Alexander recalled.

Alexander holds six CXC subjects and the Guyana Civil Aviation

Authority (GCAA) license “without type rating in Electrical and Radios categories”, and the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority license in Electrical, Radios and Instruments categories. She also holds LIAT airlines’ approval for the DASH-8 100 and 300 series aircraft and the ATR-42 and 72-600 series aircraft.

Looking back at her accomplishments,

Alexander disclosed it was not an easy road for her. Plagued by financial difficulties, Alexander’s path to her career as an engineer proved to be one of the biggest challenges in her life.

“There were many challenges. My biggest challenge came at the beginning when I was unable to pay for my studies at the engineering school. A relative who had promised to help me

told me that they were no longer in a position to do so. However, with the help of the then principal Mr. Floyd Scott and the chairman of the school board Mr. Chan-A-Sue, I was awarded full scholarship by the school,” she reminisced.

Although the scholarship was a significant help, Alexander still found it financially difficult to continue. She revealed that many days she was very close to missing school because of not having money to take the bus to school.

“But by the grace of God, I never missed a day as my family would pitch in when they could. All of this time we were living in Sophia, which did not have electricity as yet so all of my studying was done with the use of a lantern, which was how I also studied for my CXC exams,” Alexander recollected.

Among the dark clouds came a silver lining when Alexander secured a job during her second year of school at Air Services Limited. However, it was difficult for her to balance work and studies as she was preparing to sit her exams at GCAA. Her days off were spent travelling from Georgetown to GDF Air Corps in Timehri to study with a schoolmate who had completed his exams.

“I was able to overcome all of my challenges because of a few good men that I would like to think were placed at very strategic points of my life to encourage me on to the next level, when I felt like giving up or when I was not going to make it in a field. One of my instructors once told

me that in a male-dominated field, such as the one I’m in, I would have to be twice as qualified and work twice as hard to get the same respect as my male counterpart, and over the years I have proven that statement to be true,” Alexander pointed out.

Alexander proved her ability in a male-dominated field when she was named the first female engineer to be appointed by regional airline LIAT in its 53-year history.

“There were already two other women working in the engineers department when I got there so my challenges were not gender-based. I think it was more directed to the fact that I was younger than most of my male co-workers that I

gether again (her favourite part of the job) by following procedures as laid out in the aircraft and LIAT company manuals. Alexander is also responsible for ensuring her work environment is always safe.

She admitted she gets bored on slow days, but when it gets busy the days can be very long, so she has learnt to appreciate the slow days.

Alexander has proven to be a role model for many who have experienced similar challenges in their lives. She is especially a role model for youths.

was assigned to supervise after I was promoted to the position of an aircraft engineer,” she noted.

The aircraft engineer’s responsibilities include ensuring that at all times the aircraft is safe to fly by completing all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance work whether it is during “turn arounds” or heavy maintenance, which entails taking the aircraft apart and carry out very detailed inspections and putting it to-

“I would advise youths that with God all things are possible. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. Your current position or situations will not determine how far you will go in this life. It is how hard you push; determination is the key to success. Even when you feel like giving up, I beg you please don’t. It is also very important to find someone to draw strength, but the reality is that sometimes they are not always going to be there and then it is up to you to draw strength from within,” she encouraged. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

The importance of reflection

By Anu Dev

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest” – Confucius

I’ve been home a month now and there is evidence that my automatic compulsion to repress any thought of Medical School is waning. Fickle mind!! I’ve been thinking about this course called PECH (Professionalism, Ethics and Communication in Health), which we have to take in addition to our medical courses.

The line is that it’s all a part of training us to become “well-rounded doctors” – not just some jaded automatons treating diseases instead of treating the actual human patient.

And although I sometimes (most of the time) rant and complain about the added work we have to do for this course, I actually do appreciate the importance of such a course. I think anyone who’s ever stepped into a hospital has had at least a few instances where they’ve had to deal with a medical professional who really wasn’t very professional at all.

Whether most of us students are absorbing the things we’ve covered in this course and will actually apply them when we become doctors remains to be seen. But at least so far, there are a few takeaways that have already proved useful.

First of all, there’s the notion of integrating work and action with the acquiring of knowledge itself – all within an ethical framework. I come from a tradition that insists that information isn’t knowledge when one hears it or even cogitates upon it and integrates it with other ideas.

It becomes “knowledge” when it is put into action. And “in-forms” you. So PECH was not entirely a novel experiment.

In our first semester, a big portion of our assignments for PECH was to write a series of reflective essays. We were supposed to select news articles, videos or even TV shows, reflect on what feelings they evoked and then write down our thoughts on the matter.

And it wasn’t that bad, except for the part where our tutors kept telling us that we needed to dig deeper and pour out more of our feelings into these essays and it all felt like impromptu (and unwanted) psychiatric sessions. Kind of an extended Woody Allen movie.

But at least the course forced us to take the time to reflect on the things around us. In this current time when the Internet is so accessible and there’s so much information accessible, so much information just filters through, doesn’t stick and we don’t think much about all of this new information.

At the time, a piece of new information might cause you to think, “Oh. That’s interesting.” You’d pause for a moment, and then you’d keep scrolling and move onto something new and probably forget about that other thing. We don’t really process and internalise much of this information.

Of course, much of it isn’t really worth retaining. And this is where your ethical values come in handy: so that you have a framework – in addition to the purely “medical” or “scientific” rules to evaluate information. I don’t think there’s a prize out there for remembering all of the details of celebrity marriages. How do you ever keep up with the Kardashians??

But some of it, you should at least try to think about how the issue might impact on you, on your life and on the people around you. It’s nice to step out of your personal bubble and take a genuine interest in the things you read, hear or see, instead of letting them pass you by.

So slow down a bit in your incessant scrolling through information. Take some time to actually read though an article and pass it through your ethical screen before commenting, instead of forming an opinion off of just a headline.

By Dmitri Allicock

The cautious introduction of steam propulsion to vessels in British Guiana, brought the golden age of sailing ships and the reliance on the wind currents to an end in the 1800s, and launched an era of both commercial and passenger steamships in early Guyana.

The steamer service in Guyana dates back to the early 19th century when the colonial government contracted a few privately owned steamers to provide transportation for commuters and for shipping produce.

The first official documentation of a steamer service can be traced to the establishment of a local steamer navigation company, which appears to have been founded in 1825. This company commenced operations in 1826 with the Cambria, an immigrant ship.

A few years later, the colonial authorities, on August 24, 1828, established a steamer service across the Demerara River. In 1838, ten years later, operations were expanded as the steamer, Royal Victoria, commenced operations in Georgetown, Essequibo and Berbice.

The transportation route was soon extended to the island of Leguan when Lady Flora Hastings was contracted on August 12, 1841.

Hugh Sproston

In 1840, Hugh Sproston arrived in Demerara to manage the interests of a London ship owner with whom he had worked when he was only 15 years old. Five years later he established his own business, originally as a merchant.

However, the pressing need for a regular steamer service caught his attention, and a few years later he established Sprostons Limited.

Born in Gibraltar, in 1819, Hugh Sproston became an export merchant and ship owner based in London. His ships were named Berbice, built 1859; Georgetown, 1873; Lady Longden, 1876; Princess, 1876; Guiana, 1879; Charlestown, 1880; Sproston Wood, 1881; Cuyuni, 1883.

Sproston Wood was the name of the house where the Sprostons of Wrenbury lived. Sproston was one of the most prominent personalities of the latter

half of 1800s in British Guiana. His shipping business became synonymous with the glory days of growth and the foundational development of Guyana.

During the early years of operating a steamer service, many of the flat-bottomed vessels were damaged and had to be repaired in the U.S.; no dry dock facilities existed in British Guiana for repairs and making vessels seaworthy.

At the request of Hugh Sproston, a team of British and American engineers surveyed several areas in Guyana,

capable of holding ships 200 feet long with an estimated weight of 800 tons. An area at Charlestown was selected but the early efforts left Sproston close to ruin, as the Cofferdam erected to protect the docks gave way, destroying everything. Nevertheless, Sproston persevered and on Oct 26, 1867, Governor Hincks and his wife declared Sprostons Dry Dock open. It was christened by Mrs. Hincks as she loosed a silken cord, to which a bottle of wine was attached, against the iron gates at the opening cer-

emony with the 1859 steamer Berbice decked out in flags.

During the 1870s and 1880s, Sproston did much to improve ferry services throughout Guyana. The year 1878 represents a watershed in the history of steamer operations in Guyana as Sproston operated a daily ferry service to Essequibo.

On Dec 11, 1878, The Sproston Creole, the first steamer built by Sproston’s dry dock in Guiana, commenced operations. Other steamers such as Amy (1886), Horatio (1886), and the

pendent on tide – usually an hour or so after high tide or an hour after low tide.

It is easy to get excited when seeing a turtle, start crowding, and clicking away with your cameras. The Leatherback and Green Turtles, the most common on the beach, are large and quite a sight. However, it is important to follow some important turtle watching etiquette, and follow the instructions of the rangers.

Generally, visitors are required to stay at least two meters away from the turtle, use red lights (turtles do not see the red light as well compared to the white light) when on the beach, and remain quiet. Visitors also should not use flash photography, obstruct arriving or departing turtles, disturb them when they are digging a nest, help hatchlings to the sea, trample on nests, or litter. It is also illegal to take or consume turtle eggs, or to cause harm, kill, or consume a turtle.

These rules are universal and are also applicable when anyone sees a marine turtle outside of the protected area, in a different region, or a

different country. Other Activities

There is not much else to do at Almond Beach. Being far away from larger communities, with no easy access, a lack of bars and shops, and spotty cell phone reception, mean you have to enjoy nature: learn to relax.

The fresh air, the tranquil view of the ocean, the undulating stretches of newly formed beaches, the relentless wind from the ocean, and the coconut and mangrove trees force you to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with the outdoors.

The shallow waters at low tide presents the opportunity for good swimming, the beach allows for lonely introspection, and the breezy afternoons are wonderful for a snooze in a hammock. Even the rain on the zinc roof sounds peaceful. At dusk, you can see large flocks of scarlet ibis fly west towards their roosting sites near the Waini River. There is no light pollution here. On a clear cloudless night, the stars pop out of the dark sky. It is a wonderful site for star gazing. With a good pair of binoculars,

thousands more not easily visible to the naked eye become visible.

Accommodation

The accommodations are fairly basic. A guest house with a view of the ocean provides for about seven people. If you add hammocks or extra beds

you need anything, it is advised that you bring it. You should remember to bring your personal medications and mosquito repellents. The mosquitoes can be deadly at dusk and dawn, particularly during the rainy season. There is

with a combination of buses, boats, and taxis that take you over the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Parika, across the Essequibo River, and through Supenaam and Anna Regina, Region Two, to Charity.

The journey from

on the porch, it can fit another four. There is solar power for lighting and charging of electronics. There is a rustic but comfortable toilet. Visitors share a thatched kitchen with rangers where cooked meals are provided. Meal time certainly has a communal feel to it.

There are no medical facilities or shops. If

no good cell phone coverage here. However, you can pick up signal from the Digicel tower located at Mabaruma. For this, you have to locate yourself at certain precise locations on the beach, at the ranger quarters, or the kitchen.

Getting to Almond Beach Travel in Guyana is not the easiest of things. But this difficulty and inaccessibility is one of the reasons Guyana continues to provide unique visitor experiences. There are two ways to get to Almond Beach.

Charity is by charter boat and takes you via the Pomeroon River to the Atlantic and back inland through the Moruca River. On the Moruca River on the way to Waini River, you pass Waramuri and Santa Rosa Mission villages and the savannahs, followed by an exhilarating ride through the 99 turns – a never ending twisting channel of water through mangroves, and Baramanni Lake.

It takes about an hour and half on the Waini to its mouth on the Atlantic

Landing. From here, your pre-arranged (if you have arranged it) boat will take you via the Aruka and Barima rivers, Mora Passage and the Waini River, then the Atlantic to Almond Beach.

The landing at Almond Beach itself is an experience. There is no wharf at Almond Beach. The boats just ride up to the beach, which is lined with wooden rollers by the community anticipating the boat’s arrival. Passengers then quickly get off the boat, sometimes while still in the water, which is then hauled up beyond the high tide line.

Romeo DeFreitas of the GMTCS and Almond Beach Community is often quoted by travellers as the person to contact if you want to take a trip to Almond Beach from Charity or be picked up at Kumaka Landing. He can be contacted on 592-686-8951. Visitors have arrived by chartering a boat from Kumaka Landing without pre-arranging as well. However, it helps to inform the Almond Beach community of your arrival and duration so that they can make arrangements for your stay.

Other adventure and tour companies, such as Wilderness Explorers and Evergreen Adventures,

One is to take a trip through the rivers and the other is by air.

The more adventurous option is to take the trip by rivers. It would be long, but you get to see so much of the coastland, the northwest landscape, and several Amerindian villages along the way.

It usually requires a boat charter with at least six people in order to share the cost of river travel. One can arrange for a boat to go from Charity in to Almond Beach. You often have to make your way to Charity by yourself from Georgetown

from Baramanni Lake, and then a further 20 minutes to get to the beach. The total duration can take eight hours from Georgetown to Almond Beach.

You can also reach Almond Beach from the Pomeroon River by following the Atlantic coast, but the water is considered to be rough requiring a certain navigation skill, and it can be very uncomfortable.

The second option is via air. Visitors can take Skywest or Air Services Limited flights from Ogle Airport in Georgetown to Mabaruma. A short taxi ride s you to Kumaka

in Georgetown are also known to make travel arrangements.

For more information on Shell Beach Protected Area or other protected areas, you can also contact the Protected Areas Commission at the National Park, Thomas Lands in Georgetown, or by calling 592-2271888. You can also follow the Protected Areas Commission on their Facebook page for latest information and happenings.

For more information on Almond Beach, visit www.sureshvk.com (Photos by Suresh V. Kandaswamy)

Roraima Scholarship Fund

The Roraima Scholarship Fund was started three years ago by a group of US-based Guyanese who want to give back to their home country.

Seon Batson, Alistair Waithe, Kayana Batson and Cherese James are the founders of the Fund. The team came together to help students in Guyana. Primary schools, high schools, CPCE, UG, GTI, and Critchlow Labour College will all benefit from the Fund.

ford it. The scholarship programme accepts any donation, from school supplies to clothing and food stuff, which will then be shipped to Guyana. We have already packed barrels to be shipped in August. Seon Batson will be in Guyana in August to give out awards. We will have an essay competition and will select winners based on grades and their application and then funds will be given out,” James explained.

team of humanitarians will have their second annual fund-raising, sponsored by popular Jamaica singer I-Octane, who is known to significantly help various charity initiatives.

as an ambassador and a great role model and is living up to her words in supporting her home country,” I-Octane declared.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Cherese James revealed that all its members attended the same church, and when Seon came up with the idea, they were all more than happy to get together to start the Fund.

kids want to go to school but cannot afford it. Right now we are only focused on orphanage children who want to further their education and cannot af-

“We realized a lot of

Steamers of British...

New Amsterdam (1887) bolstered ferry services in the country.

The areas navigated also increased. For instance, in 1881, ferry services were extended from the Demerara River to Lucky Spot and along the Berbice River from New Amsterdam to Coomacka.

Other steamers operated by Sproston under exclusive contract from the government included Eluza, Malali and the launches Gertie, Elfreda and Piranha. Steamers were divided into two sections: first and second class. Tickets for first class during the 1880s cost $2, while the second class cost 48 cents.

Railways and Steamers

In 1894, Sproston extended his interests to Christianburg, Upper Demerara, acquiring a portion of the Paterson’s lands, which had been bought by the government. Sprostons Company Ltd then constructed the Demerara Essequibo Railway in the years 1895-1897.

A loan of $200,000 dollars was given to Sprostons Company Ltd by the British government to be repaid in 20 years without interest. This light railway line was over 18 miles long, and ran westward from the Wismar Terminus to the Rockstone Terminus. It provided access through Guyana’s primeval forest to the upper Essequibo’s Potaro gold fields, balata (Bullet wood) trees and endless supply of hardwoods, with the first leg of the journey done by Demerara River Steamers from Georgetown.

Hugh Sprostons died on June 24, 1907, in Beattyville Lee Kentucky, U.S. He was 87 years old. The

Sprostons Company Ltd continued with success after his death.

By 1914 Sproston’s fleet consisted of some 15 ships, traversing the interior. They were classified as Class A1 ships, all built at Lloyds in London.

Sprostons’ decline

The First World War proved to be very profitable for Sproston’s as numerous ships were repaired at the dry dock. By 1923, however, the company began a slow downward spiral. Its interests were purchased by the Aluminium Company Limited based in Montreal Canada.

One hypothesis for the decline of Sproston’s may have been the establishment of the Transport and Harbours Department in 1919. The actions of the Harbour Board and the new regulations soon gave way to government asserting control of the transportation network that it had contracted to Sproston’s to operate. This was done under the guidance of the Colonial Steamer Services.

In 1922, the Colonial Steamer Service became the Government Steamer Service. It was later amalgamated with the Demerara Railway to form the Colonial Transportation Department and marked the end of that era of steamers in Guyana.

The age of steamers ends

Bigger and better steamers continued to dominate the British Guiana’s landscape of the first half of the 1900s. The legendary R. H. Carr ran the Georgetown to Upper Demerara route.

The R. H. Carr was built in 1927 in Saltney, a small town in Wales on the river Dee just south

from page 33

of Liverpool in the UK. Under steam power, she made her way across the Atlantic Ocean to British Guiana and was operated as a steamship before being converted to diesel in the 1950s by the then owner, Sprostons Ltd.

Tough and legendary ships and ferries such as the Oranjestaad, Lady Northcote, Powis, Canje Pheasant, Pomeroon, Barima, Lady Berbice, Mazaruni, Makouria, Torani and Lukanani connected the lives of Guyanese and transported cargo.

The age of steamers have now been replaced by diesel and gas engines of our time but the stories of our rich heritage were carried by those steamers on the many waters of Guyana.

The name of Guyana’s national bird, Canje Pheasant, was given to a 298 tons cargo/passenger steamship built by Sproston’s in 1956 and highlighted “in the news of 1958 that the people of British Guiana acclaimed Princess Margaret as the ‘Calypso Princess’ when she arrived in Georgetown, the capital of this ‘Land of Waters’, in a river steamer the Canje Pheasant. She had flown from Tobago. She landed at Atkinson Field, 25 miles from the city, soon after lunch. After a fanfare of trumpets she was greeted by the Governor, Sir Patrick Renison. Leading personalities of the colony presented to Her Highness included the Archbishop of the West Indies, Dr. A. J. Knight, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Minister of Trade and Commerce, and his wife Janet, the Minister of Labour, Health and housing”.

Such royalty and national symbolism were attached to one of the last steamers that ploughed the waters of Guyana.

Last year the team launched its first successful fund-raising event, which they intend on making an annual one.

On July 18, 2015, the

“If someone reaches out to me for help, and I can do so, why not? It’s making a difference in someone’s life and for the youths to better their education. Guyana has always shown me love and support and I wanted to show my good deeds back. I wish Roraima Scholarship Fund all the best. Cherese James is no stranger to us. She has been doing a great job

For more information on how you can help, visit Roraima

Quicker road travel across Guyana augmented with bridges of today has influenced the de-

cline of ferries or river travel. However, some of us who have experienced the age of the steamers know it was indeed a regal time that we simply cannot forget.

This week's Crossword

This week's Puzzle

Bombast…

…on crime

This crime business – and it is a business –has gotten out of hand. And National Security Minister Ramjattan seems completely lost at sea. His responses to the crisis are so jejune that they embarrass this Eyewitness to even repeat them. The Opposition’s Muckraker mouthpiece published Ramjattan’s speech to Parliament – and we can now understand why the PPPC absolutely refused to subject themselves to such banalities.

How could a grown man say – in tones reminiscent of Archimedes discovering the principle of flotation –that he found greed as a NOVEL connection between white collar crime and the regular street crime variant. So in all the millennia since we crawled out of the caves and started acquired property, greed wasn’t the motivating factor for filching the belongings of others?

Heck…even when we WERE in caves hunting and gathering and all that…why did Ramjattan think our forefathers were bopping their erstwhile comrades over the heads to grab their berries or whatever? So to fight crime, Ramjattan’s going to address the sin of greed?

Exactly how does he plan to do this?? Have the police force start preaching the word of the brotherhood of man? But even more eye-popping was after he repeated all the promises President Granger had made in his “throne speech” on improving security in the country – Ramjattan confessed he was “embarrassed” about the situation but like a “good soldier” he would give it a shot. He damn well should be “embarrassed” …but why did he take the job if he thought it was beyond his abilities? Just because the AFC negotiated for the Security Portfolio, it had to go to him? Good soldier? He can’t even walk straight much less keep his shoulders upright! In what had to’ve been a fit of bravado, Ramjattan boasted in street lingo that his experience “runs from suits to the streets”.

More expansively he expanded that he’d “been to some of the lavish hotels in the city and have been in the streets.”

Now this Eyewitness knows Ramjattan’s long been a habitué of the Pegasus – owned by his client and party contributor Badal. But “streets”??? Which streets?

He should know that he left the streets of #47 village ages ago – and even those don’t give him “street cred”. Now if he could say he grounded with the brothers in Tiger Bay or Agricola or Buxton, we might cut him some slack.

But the streets of Campbellville just don’t impress. So cut the crap Ramjattan. And look at Rohee’s 15 point plan for some pointers to fight this crime wave.

…on sugar

For years the Opposition’s been going after the PPPC for “mollycoddling” sugar. Of course, much stronger language was used. We’re not even going to rehash the threats to “close down” the industry…. but chalk that up to frustration. But now that they’re in office and in power (which as Cheddi pointed out – ain’t necessarily the same thing!!) we’re hearing a different tune.

But is it? While on one hand they’re talking about injecting funds to “bail out” the industry – in the big picture that’s merely a drop in the bucket if the industry’s going to be saved. But more ominously, when you look at the fellas they’ve picked to “Inquire” into the sugar crisis, you know the exercise’s “outcome determinative”.

The Commissioners are all from the “old days” – when fellas were paying bribes to the “overseers” and “drivers” to get “canecutter’s wuk”. Those days are looooong gone! And they ain’t coming back. So what are these stalwarts going to tell us?

We know the answer…and it was written into the terms of reference of the COI.

…on bananas

Someone questioned why Guyana’s shipping “rice” in exchange for oil in the PetroCaribe agreement with Venezuela. Why not “bananas” or “coconuts”? Maybe because Venezuela produces bananas and coconuts but not rice? Which they crave?

UN official says it will take years to eradicate cholera in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE,

Haiti: The outgoing United Nations official tasked with leading the response to the cholera outbreak in Haiti says while the disease is now under control, it will not be eradicated unless improving water and sanitation conditions is given higher priority by the Government and donors.

Some 16,000 new cases of cholera have been reported in Haiti so far this year.

“This is what we are trying to convey to donors and to the international community, so that they will contribute more towards the eradication of the largest epidemic in the Western Hemisphere.”

Currently, only about 20 per cent of the US$2.2 billion needed for the 10-year national plan to eliminate cholera is available.

Medrano, who has been responsible for strengthening overall coordination among UN entities and mobilizing a coherent and effective response by the international community, recalled that in the 1990s

“And in today’s world, in the 21st century, it’s not acceptable to have this huge number of cases of cholera,” Pedro Medrano Rojas said in an interview with the UN News Service, as he wrapped up his assignment as UN Senior Coordinator for the Response to Cholera in Haiti for the past two years. He added that any country with that high number of new cases of cholera would declare it an “emergency”.

there had been an outbreak of cholera in the Latin American region that started in Peru.

It had taken almost 10 years to eliminate

cholera at that time.

Comparing the water and sanitation infrastructure in the 20 countries in the region that were affected back then, where over

80 per cent of people had access to water and adequate sanitation, he noted that “Haiti has a third of that”. “So we need to do a robust investment

in water, sanitation and health, and this takes time,” he said.

“We have to be able to treat the cases, the emergency response, and we can control it and save lives. But what is really important is to have the infrastructure – in water and sanitation in particular – which has not been the priority of the international community for many decades.”

However, Medrano’s outgoing message was a positive one: “I am confident that this cholera epidemic will be eliminated. This is something, as I said before, [that] can be eliminated with the support of everybody, in particular the international community and Latin American countries. They could do more. And this would be my appeal to them.”

Cuba is first country to end mother-to-child HIV and syphilis transmission

HAVANA, Cuba: Cuba on Tuesday became the first country in the world to receive validation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that it has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

“Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO DirectorGeneral said on the heels of the announcement.

“This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexu-

ally transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation.”

Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé said the achievement was a celebration for Cuba and for children and families everywhere.

“It shows that end-

If both mother and child receive proper antiretroviral treatment, the risk of transmission falls to just one per cent.

ing the AIDS epidemic is possible and we expect Cuba to be the first of many countries coming forward to seek validation that they have ended their epidemics among children,” he said

The World Health Organisation/PanAmerican Health Organisation (WHO/ PAHO) has been working with partners in Cuba and other countries in the Americas since 2010 to implement a regional initiative to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

As part of the initiative, the country has worked to ensure early access to prenatal care, HIV and syphilis testing for both pregnant women and their partners, treatment for women who test positive and their babies, caesarean deliveries and substitution of breastfeeding.

These services are provided as part of an equitable, accessible and universal health system in which maternal and child health programs are integrated with programs for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

“Cuba’s success demonstrates that universal access and universal health coverage are feasible and indeed are the key to success, even against challenges as daunting as HIV,” said PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F. Etienne. “Cuba’s achievement today provides inspiration for other countries to advance towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis”.

Every year, globally, an estimated 1.4 million women living with HIV become pregnant. Untreated, they have a 15-45 per cent chance of transmitting the virus to their children during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding. However, that risk drops to just over one per cent if antiretroviral medicines are given to both mothers and children throughout the stages when infection can occur.

The number of children born annually with HIV has almost halved since 2009 – down from 400,000 in 2009 to 240,000 in 2013. But intensified, efforts will be required to reach the global target of less than

40,000 new child infections per year by 2015.

Nearly one million pregnant women worldwide are infected with syphilis annually. This can result in early fetal loss and stillbirth, neonatal death, low-birthweight infants and serious neonatal infections. However, simple, cost-effective screening and treatment options during pregnancy, such as penicillin, can eliminate most of these complications.

There have been major efforts in recent years to ensure that women get the treatment they need to keep themselves well and their children free from HIV and syphilis and a number of countries are now poised to eliminate mother-tochild transmission of both diseases.

Between 2009 and 2013, the proportion of pregnant women living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries receiving effective antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of the virus to their children doubled. This means that globally, 7 out of 10 pregnant women living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries receive effective antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of the virus to their children.

Among the 22 countries which account for 90 per cent of new HIV infections, 8 have already reduced new HIV infections among children by over 50 per cent since 2009, based on 2013 data, and another four are close to this mark.

When the early Guianese artists - mostly landscape painters who pursued the Romantic and Impressionist styles of the late 19th century to early 20th century - embarked on the trail of pioneering art in Guiana, the major art hubs in the world had already begun to embrace the emergence of new styles of art.

However, Guyana’s art, nurtured in its infancy by colonial artists in British Guiana in the 1930s, has retained a figurative character throughout its history.

Cubism to Optical Art and a host of other approaches.

Some of these can be seen among the main preoccupations of many of our artists. Carl Anderson, for example, is also engaged in Optical Art. Other artists, such as Terence Roberts and Derrick Callendar, are consciously abstract artists who see themselves as part of an Avantgarde, which rejects the tenets that historically underpinned European visual art.

For the viewers of abstract art, what exists in the natural world becomes non-existent to thought, and what you see depicted is almost a complete denial of reality. The work continues an array of form, shape, colour, texture, line and even the process of art creation.

To learn more about abstract art, Castellani House, located on Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue, currently has on exhibition an array of abstract art done by veteran Guyanese artists who have been produc-

ing work in an abstract vein since the late 1950s.

The exhibition, aptly titled “Abstract Art”, is open for public viewing until July 18, 2015. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00 hours to 17:00 hours, and Saturday from 14:00 hours to 18:00 hours. The gallery is closed on Sundays and holidays. Admission is free. (Text by Alim

Even a quick look at our art will show how interested our artists are in concretely depicting the life around them.

We see in paintings, for example, where it reaches a high point in the photo-realistic images of Carl Anderson. In sculpture, Winslow Craig amazes us with his life-like depiction of animal and human bodies and the other objects that he carves. Bernadette Persaud’s lush paintings of the Botanical Gardens and the paintings of countless scenes of Guyana by other artists depict the country’s flora.

Nevertheless, this is not to say that Guyanese artists are pictographic realists. A closer look shows a healthy current of works, some of which are not figurative; some in which figuration is part of a larger non-figurative style, and some in which figures, objects and so on, are restyled in different ways.

“Abstract art” is often used to describe such work in which the representation of visual reality is not a principal aim. This term can cover a range of art styles and art movements, from semi-abstract to fullblown abstract works, from freeform work to geometric compositions, from Impressionism and

‘Doing nothing is not an option’

Part II

By PetamBer Persaud

(Extract of an interview with Eric Huntley, Georgetown, Guyana, 2015. In the late 1960s, Eric Huntley cofounded the Bogle-L’ouverture Press with his wife Jessica who died Oct 13, 2013. “Groundings with my brothers” by Walter Rodney became its first publication.)

PP You have moved from place to place, from country to country; from Guyana to the UK and back to Guyana in your four score and six years. Congratulations on reaching that milestone.

EH Thank you.

PP In those four score and six years you have achieved a number of firsts, and in my book, your achievements should not go unnoticed. What is intriguing about your life is found in the title of this book, “Doing Nothing is Not an Option”; this is like a philosophy, and it would be enlightening to find out whence cometh this philosophy.

EH It is like making a cake. People have been making cakes before recipes. We [Jessica and Eric Huntley] have made the

cake without the recipe. We have been confronted with certain situations, which needed our attention. Other people have done the same thing; I don’t think it is a strange occurrence – we didn’t think about the consequences then. Now people are more concerned about payments of bills, mortgage payments, lots of obligations and other responsibilities. We did not take any of those things into consideration. If we did, nothing would have been done.

PP Still searching for that point of departure. Let’s go to your formative days in Guyana – your involvement in trade unionism, in the socio-political movement of this country.

EH I don’t think

there was anything noticeable in our childhood days. Both Jessica and I, we had ordinary childhood days – she grew up on the East Coast of Demerara [Kitty Village] and then in Howes Street [Charlestown] and I in Bent Street, near the Wai-Wai Yard, Bourda, and then we ended up in New Amsterdam [Berbice] in our later days. But looking back now, maybe the ingredients came from our parents – the value they placed on education; not being allowed to play too much, get your book and read, and religion of course, being on your best behaviour, being respectful. There wasn’t any one reason….

PP They all came together to make that cake.

EH They all came together and allowed us to do a lot of crazy things… which had positive outcomes.

PP Crazy things like?

EH Like that time in Rosignol, as a postman, I picketed the Princess of Athlone, the Queen’s cousin who was here, with a poster saying… Now, looking back, it was crazy.

PP What was the

positive coming out of that action?

EH I was saying to the people that this person was not deserving of our veneration – she was one of the exploitation class, and is not deserving of our respect.

PP Another crazy thing before we move on?

EH At Rosignol Post Office again, I think it was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, I took down her photograph

the thinking then.

PP So there was opposition since then? How did you [both of you] overcome, conquer that?

EH Love. Love conquers all.

PP Was that a motif in your life – love and caring for other?

EH Not consciously, but by becoming aware that people are not well off and if we lend them a helping hand, they would be able to live a

her where she was living and she replied Kitty, which turned out to be not true,...anyhow I accompanied her to Howes Street. And the rest, as they say, is history.

PP Still on attraction. What really attracted you to her?

EH Initially, it was a strong mind, a strong personality, which was something to twin with – I wanted someone with those qualities to help

from the wall of the post office. But the postmaster at that time was like a father figure to me and he condescendingly rebuked me without reporting the matter.

PP Still on crazy things – was it a crazy thing for you to be joined in marriage to Jessica?

EH In my days and under the circumstances, it was. My father was a prison warden living in the good section of Bent Street, and when he heard that Jessica was from Charlestown, he said that that was not the sort of company I ought to keep. That was

better life. It was not a conscious decision but subconsciously it was making us more aware of the needs of people. You see, in our family there were teachers and social workers so….

PP Theme work –together you and Jessica made a wonderful theme with significant achievements.What attracted you to Jessica?

EH That is a very good question because when I first saw her, I saw her from the back so it couldn’t have been the beauty of face. Maybe it was a spiritual connection initially. I asked

me along the passage of time. So we worked well together, very supportive of each other and learning from each other.

PP Your first project together?

EH We published a journal for the Post Office Union when I was in Buxton. We bought a Gestetner machine from Bookers….which was later seized by the British troops that raided our house….(TO BE CONTINUED)

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

Kurupukari Crossing is a picturesque and significant pontoon crossing on the Essequibo River, along the Mabura to Lethem route. Those travelling on the pontoon in the evening can enjoy the warmth of a beautiful orange sunset.

Kurupukari Crossing leads to a world of adventure, starting with the Kurupukari Falls. There, Amerindian petroglyphs, which have been in existence for centuries, display the rich ancient heritage of Guyana’s indigenous people.

The crossing, completed in 1992, is located adjacent to the Linden-Lethem road. At the crossing on the left bank, or the western bank of the Essequibo River, is Fair View village.

Although most often a practical route, the crossing offers captivating views of its surroundings, and is a gateway to adventurous journeys into the Guyana rainforests. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Propelled by his determination to help children, Dennis Charran, owner of ComfortSleep, has always invested his resources to help improve society.

About eight years ago, Charran started a feeding programme, which continues today, helping various schools across the country.

“I am always involved in charity work. Helping the less fortu-

nate children in Guyana gives me so much joy and pleasure. Also, the report from teachers who tell me that because of the feeding programme the attendance at school has improved tremendously and students are doing well academically,touches me and gives me the drive to continue this initiative,” Charran expressed in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine

The owner of ComfortSleep said that his company is not just existing “just to do business”, but is focused on “caring for society” through his various charity projects.

“ComfortSleep wants people to know that they are indirectly helping to keep the feeding programme going by simply buying ComfortSleep mattresses/products.By your continued support you are making a posi-

tive change in the life of a child in need,” he noted.

Every month, ComfortSleep provides groceries for the Ruimveldt Children’s Home. It also donates to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, providing groceries, disposable diapersand other essential items. St. John Bosco Orphanage, Joshua House, St. Ann’s and Diamond Special Needs School

are just a few organisations that benefit from ComfortSleep’s charity initiatives.

“Every Christmas there is a huge party for all the kids in the feeding programme.There are lots of gifts, food, party bags for each child. Santa is always present to hand out gifts and to mingle with the children.In Berbice, the siblings of all the kids in the feeding programme are invited to the Christmas party as well. I made the decision to invite the siblings because some of the kids would not eat the food or use the drink because they have a little brother or sister at home who they wantto take the goodies to share,”

Charran said.

For Christmas 2014, Charran hosted the party for all the children in the feeding programme at Fun City, Princess Hotel. Children came from Berbice and the West Bank to enjoy a movie, play games, spend time with Santa and receive gifts.

“Seeing the happy faces gives me joy and has inspired me to keep on giving back. That is why my advice to corporate Guyana is to give whatever help you can to someone in need,whether it is big or small. God has blessed you with so much, so why not share with someone in need,” he urged. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Major-Gener -

al Sir James Carmichael Smyth, (born Feb 22, 1779 in London) became governor of British Guiana on June 15, 1833 until his sudden March 4, 1838 death on the colony, attributed to “brain fever”.

After being made governor of the Bahamas in May 1829, he is recognised for fighting to abolish the flogging of female slaves. When he became aware of a case involv-

he did however see the successful passing into law of the Abolition Bill while overseeing the apprenticeship systemthough the latter yielded mixed results.

According to the “Oxford Dictionary of National Biography”, Smyth so closely supervised every department of government that, as he himself observed, he could sleep satisfied that no person could be punished without his knowledge and sanction.

ing several female runaways who were ordered flogged, Smyth suspended the Justice and Chief Magistrate from the Bahamian Council for sentencing and ordering the flogging.

Governor Smyth also advocated for the religious rights of the blacks on the island, but his proposals were rejected by the white Bahamian assembly.

Smyth repeatedly clashed with whites there regarding his empathy for the enslaved on the island. Some say partly because of this he was transferred to British Guiana to oversee the transition from slavery to emancipation there.

In British Guiana, Smyth unsuccessfully fought for greater improvement of slave conditions. Despite much white planter hostilities,

ever, to acquiesce to the white planters demand to invoke martial law on the confused slave populace.

His fervour and dedication would win him much praise from the slaves on the colony and from authorities in England.

James Carmichael Smyth was the first son of famous and successful Scottish physician, James Carmichael Smyth, who was also Fellow of the Royal Society anda Fellow of the Royal College ofPhysicians.

The junior Carmichael Smyth was educated at Charterhouse School in London and the Royal Military Academy, and served as an engineer officer in South Africa and Holland.

He served the famous British commander, the

On May 28,

married Harriet,

and only child, James Robert Carmichael, the second baronet, dropped the additional name of Smyth by the mid-1800s, which had been assumed by his grandfather.

The Bahamas National Archives notes that Smyth, in his fight against the inhuman slavery system, should be considered “an early local hero”.

Carmichael Primary, established in 1969, according to the Bahamas Weekly, was given its name in honour of Governor Carmichael Smyth. It was renamed in March 2015 to honour native Bahamian educator Sybil Strachan.

In Guyana, Smyth Street in the Werk en Rust ward of Georgetown was named in honour of Governor Carmichael Smyth. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

In her book "New Negroes from Africa": Slave Trade Abolition and Free African Settlement.”Rosanne Marion Adderle states that Smyth also advocated the importation of free African labour in 1834 into British Guiana.

When confusion and disorder prevailed in August 1834 among the slaves regarding the date of their emancipation, it was left to Carmichael Smyth to go to various plantations to explain the Emancipation Act to them.

Smyth, as governor of the colony during the Damon-led protest of Aug 9, 1838, ordered imprisonment of some protestors; others were flogged or sent to a penal colony, while Damon, considered the leader of the protests, was handed the death sentence.

Smyth refused how-

Terry Gajraj to grace GEM’s next cover

In a recent release, GEM - Guyana’s premier lifestyle magazine announced that Chutney Star - the iconic Terry Gajraj will be featured on the cover of their next edition. Terry can be seen looking elegantly dressed in a black suit, white shirt and tie as he portrays a 1960’s classic look. The photo was taken exclusively for the magazine by motographyphotos.com.

Terry, who has been in the entertainment business for a number of decades, really hit it off with fans around the world with his 1992 hit “Guyana Babboo.” Since then,

he and his repertoire of hits from various genres of music have grown tremendously.

In the exclusive interview seen only in GEM, the magazine asks the incomparable Terry: “You have performed in front of thousands of fans over the years, and people see a singer that obviously knows his craft well and who is enjoying himself, but how do you see yourself?”

Terry’s response: “LOL, I still see myself as a country boy from the village of Fyrish who still loves everything I did as a kid. I cherish the simple way of life, fishing, riding a cy-

cle, cricket, my Guyanese food and my Guyanese girls lol...”

In another question from the extensive interview, GEM asked Terry: “ What is the secret to your longevity?”, and he replied: “LOVE! You have to give love to receive love. I love my music and I love the fans I sing for. They make me happy and for that I always tell them “there is no me without you.” If you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life. I feel blessed, grateful and humbled.”

The full interview including pictures from his performance at an event last May in

Atlanta, Georgia can be seen in the next edition of GEM.

GEM which was launched in 2004 continues to be Guyana’s most inclusive / exclusive lifestyle magazine for both locals and visitors. This highly glossy publication is very popular in the Guyanese Diaspora also, as its many fans overseas clamber to read about who’s who and the latest trends at home.

Issue 68 along with other exciting features and pictures will hit the newsstand shortly at select gas stations, boutiques, bookstores, restaurants and supermarkets.

EA Govt determined to erode democracy

very day, we see another assault on good governance and weakening the fabric of a democratic society in our country. It is a matter of concern and one that brings enormous dismay for a people who have worked hard to earn a free and democratic country.

The Guyanese people endured and fought a brutal dictatorship for almost three decades, ending it in October 1992. Now after more than 20 years of building a fledgling democracy and gaining the benefits of economic and social growth, we begin to see an erosion of the rights and freedom that our people are entitled to.

The latest assault on our democracy and integrity is revealed by the announcement that we will advertise for the posts of Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary. These are not vacant positions, since each of the positions has been filled by two distinguished Guyanese who have earned the respect of people in Guyana and

abroad.

Each of them has acted in their positions for at least ten years. In effect, the announcement that there would be advertisement for these posts essentially represents dismissal notices for both Chief Justice Ian Chang and Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh.

The announcement that the APNU+AFC government intends to seek applicants from abroad is a clear signal that the new government is keen on bringing two people who presently live abroad.

They have perhaps already decided on the candidates and the announcement that there will be an international advertisement to fill the two positions is merely a ruse to cover up another scheme intended to provide “jobs for the boys”.

Guyana is one of few Caricom countries that have not had to depend on recruiting judges for important judicial appointments from outside of Guyana.

Moreover, Guyana is

one of the countries that have often and continuously provided other Caricom countries with Guyanese judges that have occupied the most senior judicial appointments in those countries.

It is, therefore, insulting to Guyanese judges who have practiced in Guyana for most of their lives to be told that the APNU+AFC government is not convinced we have suitably qualified judges in Guyana who are suited for appointments to the posts of Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary. Some would say that the previous PPP/C Government is equally guilty because they kept these two distinguished Guyanese jurists acting in the most important judicial positions for more than a decade.

The argument is that if the PPP/C Government was so convinced that these two gentlemen were suited for their positions they should have confirmed the appointments. While the argument seems cogent, it is entirely wrong be-

cause the confirmation of the appointments of Mr Chang and Mr Singh could only have been made with the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.

This presents another problem with the process outlined by the APNU+AFC Government. The only reason they continued for so long to act as the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Chief Justice respectively is that their confirmation is a constitutional process.

According to Guyana’s constitution the Chief Justice and the Chancellor are appointed by the President only after reaching agreement with the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Granger, as then Leader of the Opposition, refused to grant his permission for the confirmation of both Mr Singh and Mr Chang.

Prior to December 2011, Mr Corbin as then Leader of the Opposition also refused to agree to the appointments.

These positions,

therefore, continued to be acting appointments by the then Presidents, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, both of whom have consistently argued for the confirmation of Mr Singh and Mr Chang based on merit.

What are the plans of the APNU+AFC Government after they would have advertised the positions? Are they going to ignore the Constitution which demands that the President must consult and reach agreement with the Leader of the Opposition for these appointments?

Already due process is being ignored as the APNU+AFC Government roles out its brand of witch hunting. Many people have been denied due process as they are sent home through termination or pressured into resigning from their positions in the public service and in public authorities.

Now a new law has been passed that gives police and other officers the right to seize money and property amounting

to more than Gy$10M. The APNU+AFC Government has promised there would be no whimsical seizure. But who will monitor the behavior of Police and custom officers 24 hours 7 days per week? It would be up to the businessman or citizen to prove that he or she legitimately accumulated that wealth. In the end, the government has created a platform to hold Guyanese citizens at ransom.

These are only a sampling of the wielding of power by a Government that is no stranger to stifling the democratic aspirations of a people. The APNU+AFC Government has its roots firmly embedded in the DNA and footprints of the PNC.

The people now in Government have a long history of having been nurtured and matured in the belly of the PNC beast. Guyana’s democracy is under siege.

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

Barbados AG wants cooperation in handling citizens who fight with ISIS

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados:

Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite wants to see Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries cooperating to determine how to deal with their citizens who return home after fighting with radical Muslim group ISIS.

He said while terrorist fighters and those transiting the region are also of concern, governments should address the issue of citizens going to support ISIS in Syria and other countries.

“We have to reach a regional position on how to treat such individuals . . . because of the type of ideology and knowledge that they have [which] we don’t want to be fed to our general populace,” Brathwaite suggested at the opening of a threeday Customs and Border Protection Border Security Professional Exchange conference on

Tuesday.

He later told reporters that the matter was a source of concern but “it is not something that can be dealt with individually”.

There have been reports of citizens of the region’s countries, particularly Trinidad and Tobago, going off to fight alongside the jihadist group.

Meantime, Brathwaite said that with increases in criminal offences being recorded across the region,

particularly involving the use of firearms, Caribbean governments need to pay closer attention to the crime and security agenda agreed to by the Heads of Government two years ago.

“We have the strategy, we have the organs that are supposed to implement the strategy, but it is my opinion that we are not giving the organs the wherewithal to implement it,” he said as he addressed the conference opening.

Brathwaite stressed that regional governments have a responsibility to ensure that the vehicles used to implement the crime and security strategies in the region were given the necessary resources, without totally relying on the United States or other international partners.

He pointed to the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) that provides governments with advanced passenger information for every flight in and out of the region via the air and sea ports. And he encouraged those countries which have not yet signed on – Montserrat, Haiti, Belize, Suriname and The Bahamas – to do so, as having all member states on board was vital. Brathwaite also urged regional governments to use available resources to track guns coming into the region.

Jamaicans, Vincentian caught in massive drug bust in Antigua

Law enforcement officials in Antigua and Barbuda have nabbed three non-nationals in an operation that also netted over 230 pounds of cannabis and more than 49 kilos of cocaine.

cannabis find

The cannabis which was found in crocus bags, has an estimated street value of over EC$2.3 million (US$851,851) while the wholesale value of the sealed packages of cocaine is over EC$1.7 million (US$629,629). The suspected smugglers – two Jamaican men and a Vincentian

man – are now facing drug charges.

According to local media reports, the Jamaicans have been in Antigua for a while and the Vincentian recently travelled to the island. They were held early Tuesday morning when personnel from the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy conducted an operation in the rural Mount Joy community.

Reparations high on agenda at next Caricom confab

Caricom Heads of Government are poised to continue talks on initiatives to be taken to push the reparations agenda forward when they meet for the 36th regular meeting next week in Barbados.

Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who also chairs the reparations subcommittee, said talks were moving apace and progress was being made for reparations for native genocide and slavery, noting that there was a consensus across the Region that every leader must go in that direction.

In April, Caribbean leaders had gathered with other countries around the world for the International Conference

on Reparations in the United States. That confab reportedly yielded much success particularly because they were able to establish a Global Reparations Committee and along with the decision by the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2015-2024 as the Decade for People of African Descent.

In January 2014, Caricom issued a 10-point programme for “Reparatory Justice” which framed its reparations demands as a “development strategy”. The Transatlantic slave trade brought over 10 million captured Africans to work as chattel slaves in sugar and cotton plantations through-

out the Caribbean and the Americas. It was the largest forced migration in human history. Today, Caricom nations have a population of 16 million, and the Diaspora in the United States, Canada and Europe is about four to five million people.

The Barbados leader, via a Caribbean news outfit, said the heads viewed it as necessary to have talks with former slave trading countries – England, France and Holland.

“This is not diplomacy of protest; it is diplomacy of engagement because most of those countries are now our friends and who better to discuss issues like this with than friends,” he is quoted as saying.

Victimless crime…

…in politics?

When Ralph Ramkarran decides to take sides on a topical issue, you know “things na regulah!” And you can’t get more “topical” that figuring out what’s going on in the ongoing “rape of the AFC”.

The biggest question, of course, is whether it’s “rape” when the purported victim goes along with the “violation”, so to speak.

The whole episode is reminiscent of the “Rape of the Sabine” women by the founders of Rome. The word “rape” comes from the Latin “raptio” which could also mean “abduction” – which is what the Romans claimed is all they did.

They subsequently “persuaded” the Sabine women to go along with the penetrative acts associated with the modern meaning of “rape”. From what can be discerned, AFC leaders in the coalition have been “persuaded” to acquiesce with the violations of the Cummingsburg Accord.

As Ramkarran points out, the major violations were committed on his old comrade from the PPP/C Ex-Co Moses Nagamootoo.

Promised to chair the Cabinet meetings and be in charge of all “domestic affairs” excepting National Security, he’s gotten what former President Ramotar colourfully described as “Larwah”. Which, when you come to think about it, is pretty much what the Sabine women got in the end!

So we have PM Nagamootoo’s most significant “domestic act” in the last month to be checking out the Multiplex Cinemas at the about-to-be-opened Giftland Mall. The pic with him with his arm around his better half in the cinema looked quite “domestic”. And then again, movies purvey “information” and he is Minister of Information, no? The other AFC’s big wig, Ramjattan did get the National Security portfolio. But “citizenship” has already been hived off…and enquiring minds want to know whether his inaction is due to him having no real power.

Raphael Trotman, of course, has come out the winner big time, with “governance” and “natural resources”. But was he really AFC after being made Speaker in 2011? How come Chairman Nigel Hughes is out in the cold?

But back to Ramkarran’s insight as an old “contracts” lawyer. He points out that while the leaders in the AFC might be even revelling with their rape and that of the Cummingsburg Accord, they’re not the only party affected and with an interest.

There are the supporters of the AFC who provided the eight per cent to put the coalition ahead by a whisker.

And Ramkarran feels THEY aren’t going to take kindly to be shafted – so to speak. After all, THEY weren’t “persuaded” with titles, offices, fleet of cars, houses and outriders.

Ramkarran hints that payback can be a bitch! …not at UG

The Prime Minister reiterated that such discussions were necessary so there could be a sharing of views on both sides, so as to see where the scope for any sort of agreement and consensus exist. He said, however, that it should not be argued that those countries had not contributed to the Region in significant ways.

“The European Union, through its series of development funds, has been contributing significantly to countries in the Caribbean. The British has its own aid packages for these countries. But, we are saying you can do better and that a lot of what you need to do needs to be more targeted…” he stressed.

Once again, UG – supposedly our “premier tertiary institution of higher learning” – is caught in a nasty stream of invectives by the Head of the “professional teaching staff”. A Dr Melissa Ifill, the President of the “UG Senior Staff Association”, took it upon herself to issue a vicious attack in the public realm on the Vice Chancellor of UG.

This is just a repeat of the performance of her predecessor, which led absolutely nowhere, but in bringing down the reputation of UG to the level of a fish market.

Hey! Everybody knows that UG has challenges. But so does every university in the free world. The very nature of the institution’s being questioned. While it may be all well and good for Guyana to shoot for “universal tertiary” education, can Ifill take stock as why this has posed a problem to even the US?

Clue: It’s why “Adjunct” Professors like David Hinds – earning peanuts with no benefits – now dominate teaching in US Universities.

Anyhow, the new Education Minister says the VC’s ain’t going nowhere. So there, fisher folks! … not cussing

Sase “Thunderbolt” Singh’s now signing his letters with an “MSc Finance” appended. Looking for a lil wuk, eh? Don’t forget how you cussed out Granger. He hasn’t!! Victimless crime…

Audit reports

Satiricus was so in awe of bookkeepers. Satiricus had attempted to squeeze through college but he didn’t make it. The little grey cells just couldn’t handle all that knowledge.

But every now and then a tidbit would pop into his head. Like whenever he thought about those fellas called bookkeepers who entered numbers in books all day long, He’d remember Pythagoras. The old Greek genius had pronounced: “All is numbers” and even “God is a number”.

Then how could a duffer like Satiricus not fall at the feet of bookkeepers who were more familiar with numbers than with their own wives.

So when Satiricus heard that two old bookkeepers, Lalloo Ram and Ghoul Sarran had been chosen to check out the numbers the PPCEE government had left behind in their books, he breathed a sigh of relief. They were not just bookkeepers…these men had advanced to the practice of “audoting”.

Audoting numbers the way Lalloo Ram and Ghoul Sarran did was a very arcane science like tassology. Satiricus’ wife practiced tassology, but called it “reading tea leaves”.

Tassology always gave you a good answer. You just had to brew the tea leaves in a cup and drain it away. In Satiricus household, it was usually drained into his mouth. His wife would then look at the pattern of the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup.

If, for instance, she saw a “snake” – the woman had a wonderful imagination – that meant “hate”. “House” meant “success”.

Audoting numbers like Ram and Sarran was also like Haruspex. But this couldn’t be practiced in Guyana because folks here ate the “guts” of chickens or sheep or whatever – which practitioners of Haruspex were supposed to “read” or interpret.

Satiricus particularly would have liked the reading of sheep’s “livers”, since he assumed he could always eat them once the divination was complete. He liked sheep liver.

But Satiricus was a bit confused. Well, more than a bit confused to tell the truth. But then numbers always confused him. He was an avid follower of audoting by the two bookers because they had newspapers columns and blogs.

For years now they had been audoting the PPCEE government…and published their findings in the said newspapers and blogs.

Satiricus always wondered how they could do those audots when they never had access to the Government’s books. But then he figured these bookkeepers were so expert in audoting that they didn’t need to see the books to find that “corruption”, “waste” and “theft” was rampant.

Imagine what would happen now they could actually see the numbers!!! Oooooh! Satiricus literally tingled. But then a thought struck Satiricus.

Sometimes his wife was horribly wrong with her “tea leaf reading”. She once told a woman that her husband had five outside children. After murdering the man, the woman found out he’d had a vasectomy when he was a boy!

Would Lalloo Ram and Ghoul Sarran ever fess up that they were wrong about the PPCEE?

The importance of a Will

What is a Will?

In simple terms, a Will is a document, usually, in which a person gives specific instructions as to how and to whom, his or her assets and belongings (collectively called his estate), are to be distributed after that person has died. That is correct, a Will does not come alive until the person who it belongs to has died.

A Will is, arguably, one of the most, if not the most, important legal document one will ever create, because it becomes a person's voice when that person is no longer alive. Therefore, one should have a Will prepared only by an attorney, not a notary public or CPA or accountant.

I went to a tax specialist recently and he explained to me that he "do Wills for people." He laughed and pointed to a sign on the wall in his office, with prices. A person such as this will use a form and simply insert one's information, have it notarized before witnesses, and sell it for a few hundred dollars. Imagine a person's entire life's worth is reduced to this. It should be avoided at all cost, by seeking an attorney to draft a Will.

There are too many items and issues which one can or ought to write about in discussing a need to draft a Will. It will require numerous articles. This article will only address some, with others to be addressed in future articles.

Why draft a Will?

Does one need to have plenty assets in order to have a Will? No. Every person in New York State is considered to have an estate (just a legal word to mean all of the belongings of a person who died) when he or she dies, and if the assets or properties in that estate are not properly distributed, they go to the State, after any outstanding debt is paid. Everything has value, even a pair of shoes and the clothes one was wears at the time of death.

Of course, the primary reason to have a Will is simply to direct, properly, the distribution or allocation of a person's assets when one is no longer alive to tell us who gets what. It cannot be executed until one has passed. It has to be processed in a court; and this is done by a person who is selected by the owner (or sometimes done by a court) of the estate or assets, who is called an executor, to take care of one's estate when one has died.

Such a person will "probate" the Will. Probate is a legal term which means a Will is to be processed in a court, so as to ensure that the intent of the person who passed, gets carried out as he or she wanted. In short, a court will ensure the correct persons get whatever they ought to get, as stated in a Will. The court will make sure

that a Will probated is not a fake Will or one with forged signatures, amongst other issues.

It is important that a person's assets and properties and belongings pass to the right persons as the testator, or the person who had the Will done, wanted. Oftentimes, a property such as a house ends up in the wrong hands, so to speak. Sometimes a house is passed to the chosen person or beneficiary, but then it is quickly transferred to a second person who would never have received it, had the original owner or testator been alive.

Many of us know of parents who pass property to a child who is married, and then that house quickly ends up being also owned by that child's spouse (i.e., husband or wife), and suddenly, there is a divorce and half of the value has to be given to this new person who the testator never intended to get anything. A Will can prevent this from happening,

if it is done properly.

In drafting a Will, one can avoid tax issues or tax payments when giving properties to others. This is another reason for seeking an attorney to draft a Will. An attorney will know if there are any changes in the law that may affect a person's wishes in the future, if that person's assets are not addressed in or with the proper legal language in a Will.

Said another way, it is important how a Will is drafted; a word used incorrectly can have devastating effects years later. It is not unusual to find a person's name in a Will, who believes he or she will get a gift, but finds out later that such gift will pass on to someone else because of how the Will was drafted. This article does not constitute legal advice; if anyone wants to have a Will drafted, they should seek an attorney. This writer and attorney may be reached via email at rrampert@yahoo.com.

Channing Tatum is the most handsome man: Matt Bomer

Actor Matt Bomer feels his “Magic Mike XXL” Channing Tatum is the most desirable and handsome man on the planet.

Tatum, 35, earlier said he finds Bomer’s eyes beautiful, saying he “gets lost” in them.

“I don’t know what they are made of outside of dreams and rainbows and amazingness,” Tatum joked.

Asked about his reaction to the compliment, Bomer, 37, said Tatum’s generosity didn’t end with mere compliments.

“I mean, obviously, I blushed,” Bomer said.

“Knowing Channing, and what a kind soul he is, I guess when you’re the most handsome man on the planet – and probably the most desired

man on the planet – you have the security to give those kinds of compliments. It was great. It made my day, of course! I and the rest of the world feel the same way about him.” (Indian Express)

Jada Pinkett Smith ‘more playful’ with husband Will Smith

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith says starring in the upcoming comedydrama film “Magic Mike XXL” has taught her to be more “playful” with her husband Will Smith.

He’s a silly man all day long. He’s the guy who hides behind the door and jumps out. He’s that guy. All day. He’s just a big freaking kid. I always play the role of like, ‘OK, you be the kid. OK, that’s cute,” Jada said.

“I don’t want to be defined by my sexuality” - Amber

Heard

Actress Amber Heard said she does not need to “deny” her sexuality to be herself.

The “Magic Mike XXL” actress, who described the difficulty of coming out as bisexual in Hollywood, said hiding the truth about sexuality is “wrong,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“I don’t want to have to deny my sexuality in order to be me. But I don’t want to have to be defined by it.”

“I’m fundamentally opposed to trying to edit myself to be palatable or popular. I fight, but I shouldn’t have to,” she said.

Heard, 29, who married “Pirates of the Caribbean” star Johnny Depp earlier this year, said her sexuality or anything about her as a person should have no bearing on her talent as an actress.

“I’m not a better actress than I was yesterday, and my personal life should have no effect on that,” she said. (Indian Express)

David McIntosh ‘feels sorry’ for Kelly Brook’s new man

feel sorry for Jeremy because he looks like a decent lad… “I think she’s more focused on herself and her career. I think she’s incapable of having a normal relationship.”

“It really taught me how to be more playful with my husband…

The 43-year-old star said being on the set of the stripper movie taught her to match Smith’s funny personality in their marriage, reported Femalefirst.

Mother of two kids, Jaden, 16, and Willow, 14, “The Nutty Professor” actress said she has learnt to participate with her husband’s playfulness.

“Since ‘Magic Mike XXL’ I’ve learnt to enjoy that playfulness in him much more and participate in it versus, like, tolerate it,” she said. (Indian Express)

Orlando Bloom smitten with Brazilian actress Luisa Moraes

‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star

Orlando Bloom was spotted getting cozy with a beautiful brunette, who has been identified as Brazilian actress Luisa Moraes.

The good-looking pair were spotted at their dinner date at Zooma Sushi in Malibu, California, reported E! Online.

During their meal, the two enjoyed sushi,

some sake and cocktail drinks, but more noticeably, they seemed to enjoy each other the most.

The 28-year-old model and actress looks familiar, as she has appeared in guest roles on “Chuck” and “Rules of Engagement”.

Bloom has kept his romantic life private following his split from exwife Miranda Kerr in 2013. (Indian Express)

Paris Hilton wants to sue people behind plane crash prank

Socialite Paris Hilton reportedly plans to sue the pranksters for emotional distress caused by the plane crash prank.

Hilton, 34, was “totally freaked out” over the prank and the “Stars Are Blind” singer apparently had no

idea that it was a prank, reported Ace Showbiz.

The hotel heiress reportedly has called her attorney to find out the people responsible for the prank and those who put her on the plane. However, she doesn’t believe that anyone in her entourage was involved in the stunt.

A video of Hilton screaming and crying as she was led to believe her charter plane was crashing in Dubai has been circulating on the internet in recent days.

In the clip, Paris is heard screaming “What is happening? Is this normal?” when she first realises there is something ‘wrong’ and then later screams “No. Can’t we just land?” (Indian Express)

David McIntosh says he “feels sorry” for Kelly Brook’s new boyfriend Jeremy Parisi because he thinks his ex-fiancee is “incapable of having a normal relationship”.

The former “Gladiator” star and the

“One Big Happy” beauty called off their engagement last year and McIntosh has warned Brook’s new flame, reported Daily Mirror.

When asked about her new relationship, he said, “It doesn’t really bother me now, but I

The 29-year-old star, who is currently in a relationship with Juliet Bakos, said he was not ever “physically super attracted” to Brook.

“I didn’t think she was the sexiest woman in the world. It was more about who she was. She was hot but I wasn’t physically super attracted to her.” (Indian Express)

Comedian Jack Carter dies at 93

Funnyman Jack Carter, who was a familiar presence on 50s and 60s variety shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “Laugh-In”, has died of respiratory failure. He was 93.

The “Shameless” star passed away on June 28, at his home in Beverly Hills, said The Hollywood Reporter.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Roxanne, sons Michael

Carter and Chase Carter, daughter Wendy Carter and grandchil-

Lupita Nyong’o on mission to save elephants

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has returned to her native Kenya to lead a new campaign aimed at halting the ongoing slaughter of elephants for their ivory tusks.

The “12 Years a Slave” star has been appointed a global elephant ambassador for conservation organisation WildAid, and she has taken a trip back to her homeland to call for an end to big game poaching, reported BBC online.

“It was my first time

to really have an intimate experience with elephants. What struck me was how big they are, how quiet they are. It was really a breathtaking experience… I really do intend for my children to have that same experience.”

“I am proud of my Kenyan heritage, and part of that heritage is the incredible wildlife haven that is in our care. Poaching steals from us all,” she said.

Nyong’o, 32, said she wanted to encourage people all over the world to learn more about these

dren Jake and Ava. During a long career that began shortly after World War II and ranged from Broadway through the early days of television to, most recently, appearances on Showtime’s “Shameless”, Carter served as a TV host, took on both comedic and dramatic roles, frequently showed up as a game show panelist and also directed. (Indian Express)

“incredible animals”.

“I ask the world to end the current elephant poaching crisis by being ‘Ivory Free’. It is time to ban sales of ivory worldwide and to consign the tragedy of the ivory trade to history.” (Indian Express)

After fashionista’s role, Ridhima Sud eyes some action

Her debut film ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ saw her essay the role of a chic and fashionable girl, but Ridhima Sud, who is happy to have received compliments from industry seniors like Javed Akhtar and Karan Johar, says she would now like to be part of an action entertainer.

“I would love to physically challenge myself and do an action film in the future. But for now, perhaps a more desi role,” Ridhima told IANS when asked about her Bollywood plans.

‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ had a plethora of established actors including Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Rahul Bose and Zarina Wahab.

“It was a dream. It was everything one could ask for in their first film. I was apprehensive about being overwhelmed by the scale of things, but that was short lived,” she said.

The film received a positive response at large, but Ridhima was especially overjoyous with some special compliments.

“Javed Akhtar’s compliment about

my work is something I will cherish forever. He had the nicest, most kind words to say about my performance… also, Karan Johar and Alia Bhatt complimented me,” said Ridhima, who is the first person from her family to foray into acting.

She is also in awe of some female actresses in Bollywood. “My inspirations are Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut because they’re game changers… Anushka (Sharma) for being the youngest producer in town (Anushka stepped into production with ‘NH10′)… And Tabu, for her brand of acting and international body of work,” she said.

(Indian Express)

Fragility of existence haunts us each moment: Amitabh Bachchan

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, upset over the demise of a friend, says uncertainty of life stares at each person’s face with each step of life. The 72-year-old expounded his views about death on his official blog.

“I lost my friend today! We live, now for me, at a time when we do not make friends but lose them. The eventuality of life looms large each passing day. Each day we reminisce those past days and its serenity and its foreboding and its extension of what lies in the future…after a certain age, those feelings begin to disappear…the human begins to gather himself or herself in

preparation for the end…we cannot be away from it for too long…it catches up,” Big B shared on his blog.

The “Piku” star also noted that the ignorance towards the truth of mortality is shattered by a reality check.

“Time begins to sound the end at the moment of our birth. We know where we shall eventually go from day one, yet we persevere and struggle to keep that moment as far away as possible… the fragility of existence haunts us each breathing moment…we know… yet we carry on regardless.”

“This is good…we cannot live in the fear of eventual mortality…that is a given…but comes a time in our lives when there is a need to prepare for it, no matter how optimistic on our length of life we may be, there is the unknown power which guides us, cajoles us, demands from us, dictates to us,” he shared.

On professional front, the actor is geared up to don a superhero’s avatar in an animated TV series “Astra Force” and is looking forward to release of “Wazir” this year. (Indian Express)

“I worked hard for this attention and I enjoy it” - Arjun Kapoor

Arjun Kapoor says he enjoys being in the limelight as he has worked hard to get fame and recognition as an actor.

Arjun, 30, who is the son of producer-director Boney Kapoor and his former wife Mona, says he enjoys the attention that comes with being a celebrity.

“I have worked hard for this attention and if I will get afraid of it then what’s the point. People, who say ‘I don’t like the attention’, are liars. In our profession, we work hard to get love and acclaim and if you start saying that you don’t like it, it doesn’t make sense,” Arjun told PTI.

The “Tevar” actor, who enjoys a great fan following, said he loves connecting with his admirers.

“I know how to deal with it. Some people can’t deal with it and that might be the reason why they don’t enjoy it. It is unfair for me to comment on anyone else, but I love this attention and like connecting with fans,” he said Arjun, however, agrees that he now thinks twice before making a public appearance.

“The world has not changed for me. It’s just that now I have to think a bit more before going out,” he said.

The actor, who has done six movies in his three-year-old career, was on a small break after his last box-office outing “Tevar” released in January.

He will soon start working on “Shamitabh” director R Balki’s film.

“My next is R Balki’s film opposite Kareena (Kapoor Khan). I will start the work on the project by the end of this month. It’s an urban romantic film and I am very thrilled to team up with Balki and Kareena. They are the two people I always wanted to work with,” said the “Gunday” actor. (Indian Express)

Sunny Leone says not bothered by baseless comments

Bollywood actress Sunny Leone says she is not bothered by the alleged “baseless comments” made by Rakhi Sawant and Celina Jaitley about her.

“They are useless and baseless comments. It is unprofessional. You would never see an actor or actress speaking bad in the way they have. So it’s their problem, I don’t care about it,” Sunny Leone told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday evening.

“I am here to do good work and I will focus on doing that,” Sunny Leone said.

Rakhi Sawant had taken a dig against Sunny Leone, telling the star to return to where she came from, while Celina Jaitly had accused the actress and her husband Daniel Webber for trashing her house which they had rented.

The former adult star made her Bollywood debut with “Jism 2″ after which she featured in “Ragini MMS 2″ and did special songs in several films.

When asked about the level of acceptance towards her now that she is working with A-list actors, Sunny

Shahid Kapoor’s

Leone said, “As far as the acceptance goes I have acceptance from my fans… from this channel MTV, being in films, which is important. When it comes to doing film with A-listers… that we will see in the future,” Sunny said.

The actress is back to hosting the eight season of “Spilts Villa”. This time, the makers have roped in hostactor Rannvijay.

“I had lot of fun… it was nice doing this season. It was a completely different experience as Rannvijay’s personality is loud, funny, he is energetic. It is infectious. It is easy to work with him,” Sunny Leone said. (Indian Express)

bride-to-be

Mira Rajput: All you need to know about her

If there’s anybody who the Sunny Leone starrer song ‘Mere Saiyaan Superstar’ really suits is the bride-tobe Mira Rajput. Shahid Kapoor, far from his image of being in relationship with almost all his co-stars, has gone for an arranged marriage, a move that has broken many a heart.

Mira Rajput, a Delhibased 23-year-old girl, is said to be a perfect match for the ‘Haider’ star. Here’s all what you need to know about the beau-

tiful soon-to-be-bride:

1. Mira Rajput is an English (Hons) student. She recently completed her graduation from the renowned Lady Shri Ram (LSR) college, Delhi University. Few pictures from her farewell ceremony were all over the social media few months ago.

2. Shahid Kapoor and his father Pankaj, as well as Mira’s family, are ardent followers of Radha Soami Satsang Beas. That’s where the two families became

friends. Shahid met Mira a few times and decided that she was the right girl for him.

3. Mira was gifted a Rs 23-lakh worth custom made ring on their engagement. Shahid also bought a new sea-facing apartment recently, which the couple has been doing up together.

4. Reportedly, Mira has worked for the United Nations as an intern.

5. According to a report in BollywoodHungama. com, what Shahid likes most about Mira is that she isn’t awed by his stardom and is very grounded.

6. Mira Rajput is not an avid cine-goer and hence, hasn’t even watched many of Shahid’s movies.

7. Mira calls her husband-to-be Shadoo. (Indian Express)

Worldwide rights of Akshay Kumar’s ‘Namastey England’ sold for Rs. 75 crores

It was reported some time ago that Vipul Shah would be seen collaborating with Akshay Kumar for the sequel to the popular film ‘Namastey London’, titled ‘Namastey England’. While a sequel had always been on the cards, we hear that the makers of the film have already locked a deal for the film’s worldwide distribution.

In fact it is learnt that a leading music company has acquired the worldwide distribution rights of the film for a whopping Rs. 75 crores. If the buzz is to be believed then the said deal has already been sealed, however minor aspects of the

deal are yet to be worked on.

‘Namastey England’ that will have Akshay Kumar producing it as well as playing the lead is said to be a completely new love story with a twist. From what we hear, this film is inspired

by a true love story and will once again be based in Punjab and London. As for the shoot of the film, ‘Namastey England’ is slated to go on floors in January 2016 and will be released in the second half of the year. (Indian Express)

Hero CPL: Gayle leads Tallawahs to victory over Patriots

Yet another undefeated half century from Chris Gayle saw the Appleton Estate Jamaica Tallawahs to victory over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Hero Caribbean Premier League on Tuesday in St Kitts.

Chris Lynn also made a fifty for the Jamaican side as they got to their target with five balls to spare. Gayle won the game with a boundary as he finished on 72 not out after his side had been set 161 to win. While the Patriots also had two innings of over fifty from Martin Guptill and Marlon Samuels, the total they set was not enough to challenge Gayle’s men.

Having won the toss and elected to bat the Patriots began their innings with a bang as the usually economical Krishmar Santokie struggled with his line in the first over, straying down the leg side allowing Evin Lewis to hit him for back to back boundaries. He got his revenge very quickly when he completely deceived Lewis with a slower ball that trapped the batsman LBW.

After that early breakthrough the

Tallawahs struggled to find the same cutting edge on a Basseterre pitch that allowed batsmen to hit through the line with ease with the new ball. Martin Guptill found the surface especially to his liking in the first six overs as the Patriots made it to 49-1 off the Powerplay overs, their best effort to date.

Guptill put together an excellent partnership of 76 with Tonito Willett who was playing his first

game of this year’s tournament. Willett had made it to 25 with some excellent boundaries when he charged Daniel Vettori only to be caught at long on.

Some tight bowling from the Tallawahs slowed the scoring rate for the Patriots as Guptill lost his way in the second half of the innings. He did not hit a boundary for 27 balls, scoring 20 runs in that time, all of them singles. He broke the

three innings. If the Patriots were to stand a chance they needed the Tallawah’s skipper out early.

Unfortunately for the Patriots they could not find a way to dismiss Gayle. Instead his opening partner was the first wicket. Chadwick

Walton played a whippy pull shot that he hit straight to Samuels at mid-wicket to depart for 10. Sheldon Cottrell was the bowler so we once again got to see him salute the batsman as he departed.

shackles with a big six off Jerome Taylor that brought up his half century in 47 deliveries. He fell attempting another six off Santokie which he toe-ended into the hands of Nikita Miller.

Marlon Samuels did not have the same problem in finding the rope as he struck four boundaries and two sixes on his way to 50 off 31 balls as he once again put together an excellent innings for his side. He was not without luck as he edged the ball past his stumps or the keeper on a number of occasions.

Santokie finished with 4-37 off his four overs as the leading wicket taker in CPL history did what he has done so often in the competition.

In his previous innings Gayle scored an undefeated 90 off just 36 balls, and that followed a spell in English county cricket where he made 328 runs in

If was a sedate opening from Gayle, but Lynn got out of the blocks very quickly as he hit three fours and a six in the first five balls he faced. Gayle was happy to give the strike to his Australian partner, satisfied with playing the anchor role.

The Tallawahs had wickets in hand but the run rate was rising when Gayle finally came to life with a 106-metre six off Afridi, the largest Hero Maximum in this year’s CPL. Lynn wasn’t to be out done as he hit three sixes in three balls to move to his half century off 31 deliveries.

Lynn could not see his side home, in the very next over he chopped the ball on to his stumps off Carlos Brathwaite. While Lynn will be bitterly disappointed his stand with Gayle of 85 runs off 61 balls was a winning one.

Victory looked certain, however there was some drama before the Tallawahs reached their target. Mahela Jayawardene was out when he gloved a catch to the keeper when he attempted to sweep a Sohail Tanvir slower ball.

Gayle could have gone on 49 when he skied a ball from Afridi but Orlando Peters could not take the catch. While Gayle continued to struggle to time the ball with the same ferocity as he managed in St Lucia he did enough to keep his side in this game.

Andre Russell, the player of the tournament at this season’s IPL, was there at the end as the Jamaican side ended up winning the match with relative ease. (CPL Release)

FIFA chief Blatter says not corrupt, expects to “go to heaven one day”

BERLIN: Sepp Blatter, President of the world soccer governing body FIFA that is embroiled in corruption investigations, has told a German magazine he has a clean conscience and believes he will “go to heaven one day”.

U.S. prosecutors have not accused Blatter, 79, of any wrongdoing, but his stewardship of FIFA is under scrutiny, sources familiar with investigations in the United States and Switzerland have said.

Blatter announced on June 2 he would step down as FIFA president after an election that is

FIFa President Sepp Blatter

likely to take place late this year or early next year.

“I have a clean conscience,” the Swiss told German magazine Bunte in an interview published yesterday.

“Whoever calls me corrupt will have to prove it, but nobody can prove

that because I am not corrupt.”

A U.S.-based lawyer said on Tuesday Blatter would not travel to Canada for Sunday’s final of the women’s World Cup for personal reasons. Reuters was unable to determine the specific reasons why Blatter had decided not to attend the final in Vancouver.

Some lawyers with experience in international criminal cases have said Blatter would be ill-advised to travel after an indictment announced on May 27 by U.S. prosecutors against nine current and former FIFA officials and five sports marketing businessmen.

Lady Jags begin Olympic Qualifier preparation

Under the guidance of Technical Director Claude Bolton and Head Coach Mark Rodrigues, Guyana’s senior national women’s football team, the Lady Jags, were hosted in Canada as part of initial preparations for the upcoming Women’s Olympic Qualifiers.

Guyana are drawn in Group Four of the Caribbean Zone of the 2015 Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, which will be hosted in St Kitts and Nevis from August 21 to 25, playing against the hosts and Cuba.

Having seen success against both countries in 2010, Guyana will now look to replicate that performance on August 21 when they face St Kitts, and on August 25

against Cuba.

Group One will be hosted by Puerto Rico and fields Aruba, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Grenada. Group Two features St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Cayman Islands and hosts Trinidad and Tobago.

The Group Three games will be played in Suriname and the teams in this group are the Dominican Republic, Dominica and Jamaica.

While the tournament has an age limit of Under-23 for men born on or after January 1, 1993, there is no age ceiling for the Women’s Qualifiers. Three teams will advance from the female category into the CONCACAF Women’s Summer Olympic Tournament for 2016.

Classy Tridents back to winning ways

The Barbados Tridents got back to winning ways in the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League thanks to a clinical bowling and fielding display against the St Lucia Zouks in St Kitts.

The Tridents made 148-8 from their 20 overs, perhaps slightly belowpar, but they were mag-

nificent in the field, and once they had removed Andre Fletcher for 52 there was only ever going to be one winner as they reduced Darren Sammy’s side to 133-9.

According to Rodrigues, “This is a short-term plan … TD Bolton has made quite clear that we must be innovative, calculating, and fiscally responsible as we venture into a competition that many are thinking we cannot possibly be ready for.”

The Guyana Football

Federation (GFF) Next Generation Project highlights that one of the facets of football that must be a priority in the development plan is women’s football, and as such, the Federation has already held two women’s awareness sessions and participated in the CONCACAF Women’s

Football Day with a 3-on3 tournament.

There are also plans for a Women’s Football Conference that will be the prelude to a Women’s Development League to kick off later in 2015.

Rodrigues added, “This squad, in this competition, can be the impetus for all young women in Guyana to get out and realise the dream of playing football and playing for Guyana. That is what we want to be the legacy of this squad’s participation in this competition.”

The camp culminated with a competitive 1-1 result versus the undefeated Ontario League One side Durham FC, which the Lady Jags took away with a penalty shootout victory.

Coach Rodrigues

said, “I was pleasantly surprised; although, fitness levels are nowhere close to where they will need to be, collectively we were a far better squad than I was expecting at this early stage. It was very promising and encouraging to give simple guidelines and responsibilities and have a majority of players adapt and execute.”

The Head Coach was also excited to inform that four of the highest calibre players available for selection will be joining the selection process in Guyana during the camp planned for midJuly in which players will be taken through the rigours of a full camp that is hoping to include an international friendly.

The 2014 champions were keen to put their defeat at the hands of new boys the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots behind them, but they made a sluggish start after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Dwayne Smiththe man who usually gets them off to such a good start - particularly out-ofsorts.

Zouks’ pacemen Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Fidel Edwards all bowled with good speed and accuracy –Gabriel’s first three overs saw him go for 0-5, such was his hold over the batsmen.

Smith and Dilshan Munaweera both got out in the 20s, but it was Shoaib Malik who rescued the champions as wickets continued to fall

throughout the innings, the Pakistan great keeping his cool superbly to hit 51 from 34 balls before he was out in the final over.

Edwards went for 1-25 from his four and Gabriel finished with 0-18, while captain Sammy (2-28), Roach (2-37) and Nathan McCullum (1-38) – making his first appearance after replacing Eddie Leie – all impressed with the ball too.

The Zouks were soon in trouble in their reply as Johnson Charles uncharacteristically got out early and Kevin Pietersen was crazily run out after a mix-up with Fletcher.

National ruggers off to Canada for Pan Am Games

Guyana’s national Seven’s Men’s rugby squad departed Guyana on Wednesday, hunting glory in the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, later this month.

The players will be involved in a mini warm-up tournament on Saturday at Appleby’s College, where they will play three games. The participating teams will be Guyana, Uruguay, Ontario and

C-International, which is a Pro-American team.

The Guyana squad reads: Richard Staglon, Peabo Hamilton, Lancelot Adonis, Rickford Cummings, Claudius Butts, Ronald Mayers, Patrick King, Akeem Fraser, Ryan Gonsalves, Dwayne Schroeder, Phibian Joseph and Avery Corbin. The officials are Terrence Grant, Theodore Henry and Philip Browne.

Pakistan, Canada and Japan get Hero CPL boost

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is delighted to announce a partnership with LIVESPORT. TV, which will allow fans in Pakistan, Canada and Japan to stream the tournament live online. Fans can watch the remaining 24 matches of CPL 2015 for just US$7.99.

LIVESPORT.TV, the home of official streaming of premium sports from around the world, is a network of online sports channels, featuring all the top sports competitions from around the world. Fans can watch the matches at www.cricket.livesport.tv, or through the LIVESPORT app on their LG, Toshiba or Samsung Smart TV.

This announcement is great news for

Pakistani fans, who will be able to watch their heroes, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Misbah Ul Haq, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal in action

at the Biggest Party in Sport. Canadians can follow the fortunes of their young star Nikhil Dutta, who claimed the wicket of Kevin Pietersen on his debut for the St Kitts

and Nevis Patriots. Damien O’Donohoe, CEO, Hero Caribbean Premier League, said: “We’re thrilled to have secured this deal with LIVESPORT.TV. It’s

great news for our fans in Pakistan, who are hugely passionate about the CPL, and the fact that there’s demand from viewers in Canada and Japan shows just

Hero Motocorp Leaderboard

how much the tournament is growing.”

Hero CPL 2015 began on June 20, with global superstars including Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis and Shahid Afridi joining the Caribbean’s finest cricketers, like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo, and exciting up-and-coming local talent.

The tournament has already provided plenty of excitement, with packed crowds, an unrivalled party atmosphere, two last-ball thrillers, and a sensational 90* from just 36 balls from the ‘World Boss’ Gayle.

The competition features 33 matches in all, with the final, at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, taking place on Sunday July 26. (www.cplt20.com)

Another fAst one

Asafa Powell emojis for Thumbkandi app

Kingston, Jamaica:

Jamaican sprint sensation Asafa Powell has partnered with Thumbkandi, the newest interactive messaging app, to launch the first emoji collection to feature an international pro runner.

Powell, who has clocked the most sub-10 100m runs in the history of the sport, copped another win this season on Friday last. The sprinter reclaimed his national 100m title at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association's (JAAA) National Senior Championships in Kingston, securing his spot on the team to the upcoming World Championships in Beijing.

The Thumbkandi 'Asafa Powell' sticker collection launched on July 1 and features various 'emot-

icons' featuring the star in action both on and off the track.

Powell is not the first industry star Thumbkandi has partnered with, and joins a growing collection of celebrities including Slightly Stoopid, Club America and YouTube sensation Lindy Tsang.

"This was really exciting to work on," Powell said about the creation of his Thumbkandi emojis.

"I was involved in designing the emojis and working with Thumbkandi, and their innovative team has been nothing but great and the best part about these emojis is that I feel they really reflect my life on and off the track," he continued.

For his part, CEO of Thumbkandi John Litz said that his company is "happy to provide music and sports fans with innovative and intimate ways to engage and connect with their favourite artistes and athletes in the messaging space".

With more than 100,000 installs, Thumbkandi is quickly catching on. Based in San Francisco, Thumbkandi is available for both iOS and Android devices in more than 150 countries.

(Jamaica Observer)

Shabazz unfazed by defeats

– “When my contract is up, they will see my back”

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Despite a tough past few months, Head Coach of the Guyana national football set-up, Jamaal Shabazz, remains unfazed by his detractors, noting that “when my contract is up, they will see my back”.

Shabazz, who previously served as Technical Director of Guyana’s football on two occasions, only this year commenced a third stint, this time as Head Coach of the senior national men’s team, the Golden Jaguars, and the national Under-23 men’s team.

Both teams have been on the negative side of the results with the Golden Jaguars being booted from the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers earlier this month, and the Under-23s failing to get past Group Two of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the Olympic Qualifiers last weekend.

In the senior team’s World Cup qualifiers, the Golden Jaguars drew both home and away games with St Vincent and the Grenadines (2-2 away and 4-4 home),

missing out on qualification on the away goals rule.

In the Under-23 Olympic Qualifiers, the young national ball weavers suffered 2-0 losses at the hands of Cuba and hosts Antigua and Barbuda, but salvaged some pride in a bottom-of-the-table clash against Aruba, winning 5-0. “But, trust me, I am stronger than to be moved by a string of results that did not go our way and preparation that can be described as far from adequate. The dream of wanting to move from zero to hero must be tempered by the reality of how far we have come after two and a half years of dormancy. If you put 200 in the bank and you push your card to withdraw 500, you will get a slip stating this cannot happen. Football is no different,” Shabazz reasoned.

Shabazz was at the time speaking to www.gffonline. com, when he mentioned that the Guyana Football Federation’s Normalisation Committee, headed by businessman Clinton

Urling, must be commended for initiating the process of having the national teams up and running.

“The foundation is being laid and the seeds are being planted. With Allah’s help and more work collectively, we shall see the fruits of our labour in two years,” Shabazz reckoned.

He added, “Failure is relative to where you are, where you started and what realistically were your objectives and possibilities. We did not achieve our objective to advance so we failed to do that. But maybe advancing would have given us a false sense of comfort that things are properly in place for our football development. We advanced in 2011 and look at where we ended up after that. So is it about hype and illusions or building a programme that could have proper facilities for training?”

Being booted from both the World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers has inevitably brought Shabazz’s job into focus, something the Trinidadian said he was not at all concerned about.

“The people who want me to resign are within their rights, but they are the same people who did not want me to return. They see my spirit to bring people together as a threat to their negative agenda to steal the football and suppress individuals or groups who see things differently,” Shabazz told the website.

He added, “I have been through highs and lows in my life, ups and downs, and this period is yet another test for my character, the faith in my Lord and the belief in me giving my best for my country. Yes, my country. When my contract is up, they will see my back. In the meantime, dem ah go tired fuh see meh face. I am not a mouse; I am a jaguar. And a jaguar for life – Roarrrrrrrr.”

Americans beat Germany to reach World Cup final

The United States reached the final of the women’s soccer World Cup for the second time in a row on Tuesday, taking advantage of a dubious penalty to beat top-ranked Germany 2-0 in a hugely enjoyable game.

Captain Carli Lloyd converted her spot kick in the 69th minute after the Romanian referee ruled that Annike Krahn had obstructed Alex Morgan. Replays showed the offence clearly took

place outside the box.

Substitute Kelley O’Hara flicked the ball home from close range in the 84th minute to seal a merited victory in front of a passionate Montreal crowd of more than 51,000, most of them Americans.

The United States –who lost in the 2011 final to Japan – will meet the winners of the Japan and England semi-final in Vancouver this Sunday.

The Americans rode

their luck in the 63rd minute when Germany’s Celia Sasic missed a spot kick of her own.

U.S. defender Julie Johnston was adjudged to have dragged down Alexandra Popp but escaped with just a yellow card.

Germany, who had to play 30 minutes of extra time in their quarter final against France last Friday, were sluggish from the start and rarely threatened the inventive fleet-footed Americans.

Forbes to jump at any chance to break

Kingston, Jamaica: Damar Forbes has no intention of backing down from remarks he made two years ago that he will break the Jamaican senior men's long jump record of 8.62m set 18 years ago in 1997 by James Beckford.

Despite a personal best of 8.25m set at the National Stadium in 2013, Forbes, who was born in St Ann but raised in Georgia and attended Louisiana State University, says he thinks he could take the mark this season.

"I am still going after it, I am not going to back down and hopefully if not before the World Championships, then at World Championships because that's my aim right now," he said after

winning a fourth straight title at the JAAA Senior Trials last weekend.

Forbes, who is set to compete at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris this Saturday, failed to get past the 8.00m mark at the Trials, winning with 7.98m, but said he was ok with that.

"I was just working on the runway as I have been fouling a lot at meets this season," he pointed out. "My runway (execution) has been inconsistent but I got it together here."

With that out of the way, he says he can concentrate on other parts of the event. "I felt really good here (Trials), but unfortunately I could not get the 8.00m jump because I have been focusing so much on the run-

Farah says he is 100 percent clean

According to a Reuters report, Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah said Tuesday he was “100 per cent clean” and would leave his long-time coach Alberto Salazar if it was proved the American was guilty of violating any doping rules.

The 32-year-old Farah told Sky Sports News he had dedicated “half his life” to his sport and had never taken any kind of performance-enhancing drug in his career.

Farah, the hero of the London Olympics where he won a 5,000 and 10,000 gold double, has been under the spotlight since Salazar was accused of a systematic breach of the rules in a BBC documentary earlier this month.

Asked if he had ever used testosterone, EPO or human growth hormone, drugs to treat a thyroid problem or performance enhancing drugs he replied: “No never.”

“I was shocked, I couldn’t believe what I saw,” he replied when asked about his reaction to the allegations made against Salazar, the

record

way... but I have World Championships to worry about and many more meets to go to."

Forbes, who will be participating in his third World Championships, told reporters he had been consistently over the 8.00m mark all year, so missing it at Trials is not a big deal.

"I have gone over 8.00m almost every meet that I have been to, so I am just going to chart this up as a win, fourth time Jamaican champion, I think that's a good thing and I am going to take it as a plus... I won and 7.98m is not a bad jump and there is more to come."

After placing eighth two years ago at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Forbes has a taste for success and says he does not rule out a podium finish at this year's renewal in Beijing, China.

"I have been working through meets so far and have not really tapered down for any meets," he explained.

"I am lifting heavy, just waiting for the chance to go out there and do what I can do, the runway felt really good here (in Jamaica) and once I got that right I am not worried," Forbes said. (Jamaica Observer)

head of the Nike Oregon project.

“When I saw it, I wanted some answers. I spoke to Alberto and he gave me some answers. He told me these were just allegations and he would prove it.”

He continued: “I work so hard for what I do and to achieve what I have. It has taken me half my life. For people to think I’ve taken a short cut — it’s not right. It’s not fair.

“The picture that has been painted of me is not right. I’m 100 per cent clean. I love what I do and want to continue winning medals.

“I want people to know I am 100 per cent clean and I am not on any drugs. The only medication I am on is for asthma which I have had since I was a child.”

The BBC programme Panorama, in association with American website ProPublica, made a series of allegations including that Salazar had given Olympic 10,000 meters silver medalist Galen Rupp the banned anabolic steroid testosterone.

Salazar issued a lengthy and detailed denial of the allegations last week.

Farah was not accused of any wrongdoing in the BBC documentary but has been tarred by association.

But he told Sky: “If it is proven that he has crossed the line, then I am out, I would not work with Alberto, trust me on this. I work every day and put my body on the line. I go through hell.

(Reuters)

Jones says T&T will be motivated for Gold Cup campaign

PORT OF SPAIN,

Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's skipper Kenwyne Jones expects his players to be fully motivated for their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign, following a productive training camp here over the last week.

The Soca Warriors were scheduled to leave the island on Wednesday for Fort Lauderdale, where they will undergo a six-day training camp, as they put the finishing touches on their preparation for the July 7-26 tournament in the United States.

Jones, gearing up for his third Gold Cup campaign, said a tournament of this magnitude was enough to inspire

T&T to be at their best.

"We have to be very motivated. It's going to be my third Gold Cup and for quite a few players it will be their first Gold Cup. They have a chance to show what they have and be on a world stage where they can better themselves professionally," said the 30-yearold, who plays for Cardiff City in England's second tier.

"Apart from the World Cup and World Cup qualifiers, I don't think there are any more tournaments that should need more motivation than this one.

"As a unit, especially after the last three results we had, I think we are trying to put the team work right first and

then go forward into the tournament because we had a pretty decent tournament last time."

T&T face a difficult campaign in Group C of the Gold Cup, which gets going on July 9, as they will do battle against Guatemala, Cuba and Mexico.

Their lead-up to the tournament was a bumpy one, suffering three losses in friendly internationals. They went down 0-1 to Panama in March, also lost 0-1 to Curacao last month before being thrashed 3-0 by Jordan two weeks ago.

Jones described the recent results as a "wake up call", and said the players had responded well during the recent camp.

"We came together and worked hard. We had some tough days but it's something that we needed. After the last two games, we needed that as a wakeup call within ourselves," he said.

"After the difficulties, we had to come together and dig deep as a unit, management staff and players, to try and get the best preparation possible."

(CMC)