GuyanaTimes 14/03/2015

Housing, water sector at best in decades – Minister Ali Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2432

P12

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Cops warn WPA’s David Hinds against stirring violence Page 3

– President promises laws to curb media incitement

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Guyana/Venezuela border controversy:

Venezuela P2 must prove award is void – DG Harper

Opposition to challenge Seelall’s P7 appointment …claims leader wasn’t consulted

Eccles P7 businessman shot, robbed of millions A Night of Reflection on the life and works of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan was organised by the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) at Red House, Kingston, Georgetown on Friday. In this photo, PYO Chairman Irfaan Ali, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee, keynote speaker former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds stand in appreciation of a presentation by some PYO members (Marceano Narine photo)

Baby’s head cut during C-section at Suddie Hospital Granger to Rohee: “I Crum-Ewing am a game changer, was shot 5 not a danger” times – autopsy Page 8

Page 10

Page 15

...as "game changer" makes expansive promises

Tourist arrivals up by 7.1% – Ministry P9 APNU+AFC declares P12 support for transformational projects …but not pleased with Govt’s handling

2 News

saturday, march 14, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy:

Venezuela must prove award is void – DG Harper

By Devina Samaroo

I

n light of yet another strong reply from Venezuela regarding its claims to the mineralrich Essequibo, Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General and now People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper says Caracas needs to provide evidence to prove that the Arbitral Award of 1899 was flawed.

She explained that Venezuela refused to ac-

cept the boundaries that were established by the Arbitral Tribunal Award of 1899, claiming that the Award was “null and void”.

On that note, she asserted that Venezuela has to prove those claims.

“Our position is that

Venezuela has to prove its claim to saying that the Arbitral (Tribunal) Award is null and void. As far as the Government of Guyana is concerned, it does not have a controversy over its territory. It was settled,” Harper contended.

Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General Elisabeth Harper

Venezuela has proceeded as if its claim about the nullity of the awards is an accepted fact and has moved on to the substance of the award. Guyana has always rejected this approach.

The Arbitral Tribunal Award had settled the dispute and this was accepted by Venezuela by the laying down of the present boundaries by a joint boundary commission between the boundary commissions of Great Britain and Venezuela in 1905.

However, in leading up to Guyana’s Independence, Venezuela claimed that the Award was null and void without any evidence to support those claims. Harper noted that all Guyanese must take note of that piece of history. Furthermore, she explained that the Geneva Agreement of 1965 then put in place a mechanism for that controversy to be resolved through the United Nations Good Offices Process. On this note, Harper referred to the previous statements made by Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett about Guyana considering opting out of the process.

Rodrigues-Birkett had told this newspaper that Guyana was considering opting out, because the process has yielded no progress. Harper said there were other options under the Geneva Agreement that would allow the two countries to finally settle the issue.

“There are other options we are allowed to proceed on under the Geneva Agreement t hat would allow us to finally settle this controversy and allow us to not have our development hindered and our development prospects are being stymied by this controversy,” Harper told this publication. On that note, she disclosed that Guyana was currently working with the

United Nations to review the other options. One such option is recourse to the World Court.

Unacceptable Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo was revived earlier this month when it dispatched a letter to US oil company ExxonMobil warning it to desist from drilling for oil in the Stabroek Block area.

Guyana swiftly responded to Venezuela and also warned it not to impede on the developmental aspirations of this country.

Since then, the Bolivarian Republic has countered with a strong statement which it has also published in full in local newspapers stating that Guyana’s response was “unacceptable” and “unjust”. “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is surprised by the false accusation that Venezuela seeks or has sought to stymie the development of Guyana.”

F u r t h e r m o r e , Venezuela continued to claim the area, and called upon its supporters to defend the Venezuelan Government.

“The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ratifies the full exercise of its just claim to the Essequibo territory, including its coastline, and calls for national unity to all Venezuelans to defend the territorial integrity of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rashleigh Jackson told this newspaper recently that the move by the Venezuelan Government was nothing more than an “act of provocation and aggression”, primarily because the Venezuelan Government was fully aware of the facts. “I can’t see it any other way,” Jackson told the Guyana Times on Monday, pointing out that the move “must be dismissed outrightly”.

3 Cops warn WPA’s David Hinds against stirring violence news

saturday, March 14, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, March 14 – 11:00h-12:30h and Sunday, March 15 – 12:30h-14:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, March 14 – 10:25h-11:55h and Sunday, March 15 – 11:55h-13:25h

– President promises laws to curb media incitement

FERRY SCHEDULE Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings at 06:00h and 13:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light rain showers can be in the morning to mid afternoon, with partly cloudy skies expected in the later afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly between 4.91 metres and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:38h and 23:34h reaching maximum heights of 2.26 metres and 2.18 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:04h and 16:53h reaching minimum heights of 1.05 metres and 0.94 metre respectively.

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President Donald Ramotar

T

he Guyana Police Force has warned Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive, Dr David Hinds to desist from making statements that can incite racial violence here in the wake of a recent letter in which he invoked such sentiments.

In a statement, the Police Force responding to the letter which was published in the Stabroek News on Thursday, March 12, under the caption “There should be no Tit for Tat”, the Police said the gist of the article seems to give the perception that the killing of Courtney Crum-Ewing on March 10, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara was politically motivated by persons aligned to a political party other than the one to which Crum-Ewing belonged.

“The Guyana Police Force wishes to inform the public that on the basis of this article, the Assistant Commissioner (Law Enforcement), Leslie James contacted Mr David Hinds and asked him whether he has evidence of the perpetrators of the murder and he said that he had no such evidence.”

Police said the Assistant Commissioner then informed Hinds that there was, therefore, no logic on which his statement and call for ‘no tit for tat’ was based, and also told him that his statement has the potential to incite violence and warned him to desist from such behaviour. In a release made after the Police report,

Hinds confirmed receiving the call in Arizona where he resides and being questioned about his letter. He claimed that the Police did not discuss the import of his statement with him.

Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar has promised that his new Government would be seeking out every possible measure that would prevent media operatives from spewing racism and hate messages to the public. The Head of State, in an interview on Thursday, blasted sections of the media, whom, he said, were bent on dividing the country through racial incitement. He said should his Administration get back into office after the May 11 Regional and General Elections, it would be strengthening laws and considering every legal framework within the system to address the ongoing excessive abuse.

“I think we will need to look at what measures need to be put in place from a legal and moral point of view to try to prevent persons from distortion and lies and

WPA Executive Member, Dr David Hinds

deal with the abuses that have been taking place and the incitement of racism,” Ramotar told a group of journalists at the Office of the President.

The Head of State, who was at the time addressing the issue of racism, said that while the Constitution provided for freedom of expression, persons had no right to

abuse that privilege. “While you have a right, you don’t have a right to incite violence, you don’t have a right to preach racism, you don’t have a right to practise racism in this country. People don’t have that right,” the President stressed.

He said if someone tried to persistently create problems among the people of different descent in the country, then that person did not deserve to have that media outlet. “So we will be examining this and seeking out what are the best practices and see legally, what are the best practices other countries use to prevent this type of abuse and see if it could be implemented here and also study our situation to see what could be done here.”

According to him, the country back in the 1960s has had a swelling crisis over racism, recalling that there were even clashes within the Party.

“We had quite a bit of racial clashes during that time, but even in those circumstances our Party came out in the fight against racism. The Party had a minor split after the 1964 elections because there was a body of views of some people that the Party should continue to fight against the PNC regime that had taken the line of colonialism.”

He said Dr Jagan had, however, concluded by then

Non-racial policy

Meanwhile, the President told journalists that his Administration has always had a non-racial policy, and has been improving the economic and social conditions of all Guyanese.

According to him, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), since its formation under late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan, has always taken a position against the hostility racism evokes. He said the Party was founded as a national political body and has never had any policy which favoured one race at the expense of another. He said while the Party may be guilty of fighting a little more for Guyanese of Amerindian descent, it was his Administration’s overall policy to advance the cause of every citizen.

“The PPP/C was founded as a national party and has remained a national party. It never had any policy that favours one race at the expense of another. We do have a program to try to give some priority to the native Amerindian, because that community has been left back by colonialism and the last PNC [People’s National Congress] regime.”

Assistant Commissioner (Law Enforcement) Leslie James

that the independent struggle against racism had deteriorated into clashes, noting that if party executives had heeded the request of those divided, “we would have been much more difficult to bring back racial and national unity in our society”.

Weeks after leaving office in 1965, Dr Jagan had begun writing extensively on the issue of racism and its nasty effects. “He wrote an article to the PPP/C supporters, condemning racism completely and which he declared that anyone who practises racism it is not only an enemy of the country but the enemy of himself.” And in April of the same year, he again wrote an article against racism, now that is the Party I came from, the Party of which I have been the General Secretary of for some 16 years, that is the tradition and direction we have followed,” Ramotar said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, march 14, 2015

Views Above the clouds Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Solving CrumEwing’s murder

T

he murder of former Guyana Defence Force officer Courtney Crum-Ewing on Tuesday has generated all of the different reactions one can possibly imagine in a tense political atmosphere. It has been stated in this column how principled a man Crum-Ewing appeared to have been and his focused approach to his activism in ensuring the preservation of peace and the rule of law.

Those who seek to honour his death must therefore take this into consideration and not allow their base passions to get the better of them. The comments on social media and even in the letter columns of some of the local newspapers have been tinged with racist incitement and wild accusations, apportioning blame on persons.

These are serious times and it is in times like these we need leaders who can use their influence to dispel rumours and quell the storm of racial strife. To fan the flames and incite others to violence can only result in the destruction of our society.

However, amid the deep anguish at the lost of a “soldier”, all of us must again fix our minds to the prevailing gun violence that has gripped our country. Though there have been fewer incidences where high-powered weaponry has been used in the commission of crimes, Police statistics show that for almost one in every three robberies, firearm is the weapon of choice.

At the end of October 2014, robbery under arms overall soared by eight per cent in comparison to the same period in 2013. The statistics also indicate an increase of 13 per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; and a one per cent decrease in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.

For 2014 up to the reporting period, there were 674 reported robberies with the use of firearms while in 2013 there were 596 reported cases.

Crum-Ewing’s murder is also an occasion to reflect on how cold and dangerous our society has become. For four men to pull up in a car and snuff out the life of a man tells of the low premium some place on human lives.

President Donald Ramotar who is also Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces has already given clear and unambiguous orders to his charges: “Find the killers and if possible the intellectual authors”.

His charge was made at one of the most important forums for the Police- their annual officers’ conference.

Surely, his message must have resonated with all of the men and women who donned khaki at Eve Leary on Thursday the same way it captured thousands of citizens who watched the broadcast on state television and read the media reports.

The Police must now redouble their efforts to find Ewing’s killers; they must prove to a wary public that they are capable of solving high-profile murders and for once justify the receipt of billions in aid from the Treasury. Also significant during Mr Ramotar’s address was his proposal for the Force to reopen the mountain of cold cases that Guyanese are eager to bring closure, to much like assassination of Dr Walter Rodney.

This proposal is significant as Mr Crum-Ewing’ death if not properly investigated can end up like many others, including the assassination of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh and his family PNCR activist, Ronald Waddell and countless others.

And also the lawmen must be allowed to carry out their functions without interference. Talks of corruption and a compromised Police Force would not help at this time if we are ever going to get to the truth of this heinous act.

For all its limitations, if allowed to space and given the resources our lawmen can crack this case. Now with a properly functioning forensic laboratory – access to DNA technology in neighbouring countries and ballistic capabilities we should all anticipate some level of success in this investigation.

The Soyuz capsule with International Space Station (ISS) crew members, Barry Wilmore of the US, along with Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova of Russia, descends before landing in Kazakhstan (Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters)

Opposition believes Public Service is birthright of one section of society Dear Editor, Unfortunately, this is the season where much racist drivel will be peddled to further the political aspirations of some. From time immemorial, the public service in our country was occupied by one section of the population; there was a political motive for this.

Since 1992 the PPP/C Government has been trying all ends to ensure that the composition of the public service, the armed forces, etc, reflect the kaleidoscopic nature of our society.

An ugly situation has arose where the recently appointed Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud is on the receiving end of an attack which can only be described as prejudiced in nature.

Let us understand that Mr Persaud is a highly qualified consummate professional, perhaps more than some of his predecessors. His fault – he doesn’t belong to the group whose inherent birth right it is to occupy the office of the Commissioner of Police.

The first line of attack from the Leader of the Opposition is that he wasn’t consulted on Mr Persaud’s appointment by the Police Service Commission.

However, it is instructive to note that Commissioner

Persaud’s immediate predecessor was sworn-in in the absence of the Police Service Commission, yet the Leader of the Opposition gave no objection, although the Constitution states that such an appointment can only be done upon the recommendation from the chair of Police Service Commission.

The Leader of the Opposition then took Commissioner Persaud to task over the promotion of Narine Lall and Mohanram Dolai, the two ranks fingered in 2009 for the torture of a teenager who was being questioned by the Police in a murder case.

Again, it is instructive to note that the cases of the officers were dismissed and they were reinstated by Commissioner Persaud’s immediate predecessor who is of another ethnic group.

Further, the promotion of Lall was conducted by the Police Service Commission, a body where Mr Granger has a representative. Hence, the question arises what was the Opposition representative doing? And more tellingly, why wasn’t an objection made during the process?

For want of analytical exactitude, let us rewind a few years ago when the PNC’s

current shadow Minister of Home Affairs Winston Felix was the Commissioner of Police. During Mr Felix’s tenure, our country was brought to its knees as a result of politically authored criminal activity and a compromised Felix who refused to arrest the situation as was revealed in his conversation with Basil Williams.

His service in the Police Force ended in ignominy when the FBI confirmed his voice on a tape recording as being an accessory to planting drugs on a citizen of this country. Here, a standing Commissioner of Police caught on tape demonstrating a proclivity for illegality and not a single word of condemnation from the Opposition.

On the other hand, he was rewarded by being made their Shadow Minister of Home Affairs in Parliament. This is something we as a nation must ponder upon. Further Felix’s successor Henry Green had an allegation of rape hanging over his head while as Commissioner of Police.

Again the Opposition was muted.

From the preceding paragraphs, two things are apparent, as we approach elections.

The Opposition will stop at nothing in their unleashing

of racist bilge in our country.

This must be resisted by any means necessary.

And prophetically, the relevance of the speech made by Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at the funeral service of the late Reepu Deman Persaud: “There seems to be in the mean politics of Guyana, a resurgence in a hidden way of feelings against Indo-Guyanese.

“What is the message to people of East Indian origin?

“If you’re PPP/C or PNC, if you are Christian, Hindu or Muslim, if you’re a sugar worker or a professional, once you’re of Indian origin, you should keep your children home, don’t send them to school. The same colonial message! Because, if heaven forbids, they become qualified and they get a job and the PPP is in office, then it has not to be because of our merit but rather our race.”

In conclusion, I wish to proffer the following statement from Dr Jagan: “Racism is the greatest curse of our land … anyone who spreads racial propaganda must be severely dealt with. Such a person is an enemy to himself and his country.”

The Opposition will do well to take note.

Michael Tularam

Stop the speculation and let the Police do their job Dear Editor, I sympathise with the death of Courtney CrumEwing and especially the manner of his death.

Condolences to his grieving relatives. I hope the perpetrators will be caught and brought to justice.

However, letter writers and opposition supporters

are trying to link the PPP/C to this killing. This killing can be a drive by shooting by his enemies or business associates. So I am asking people to stop the speculation and let the Police do their job.

The Opposition wants political mileage out of this killing and is protesting in front of the Attorney General’s

office as if the Attorney General has knowledge of this killing. They are putting the Attorney General’s life at risk for their own selfish benefits.

Why didn’t the protestors picket the Police stations as they did in the past when there is a murder? Why select the AG’s office?

These protestors and the Opposition are not giving the Police a fair chance to solve this murder instead they made inaccurate pronouncements immediately after the murder.

I hope the Police solve this crime.

Balwant Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, march 14, 2015

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PPP/C needs to go on a Letter from Fidel to Maduro meet-the-people tour Dear Editor, All of the PPP/C programmes from a national perspective are based on inclusiveness. I have spent nine months in the land of many waters and traversed the three counties and witnessed development as far as the eyes can see.

There is so much construction that stones used in cement mix, a locally mined product, was unavailable for three months in the ancient county and this has been an ongoing problem with a shortage of this product.

Lumber is in short supply

and skilled work men are in constant demand as well.

The market stalls are over flowing with vegetables and fruits. Plantains are five for $100. Eggplants and tomatoes $50 a pound. Red fish 22 inches long for $300.

There is a proliferation of chicken farms, yet there is demand for more.

The average Joe can eat as much as he wants. This abundance of food, in fact, is leading to an obesity epidemic accompanied by diabetic complications. Instead of tightening the belts as used to be the call by the

PNC, the PPP/C is recommending loosening the belt with the extra cost and weight.

Anamayah Memorial Hospital was forced to install a dialysis machine to accommodate patients.

There is talk about liposuction therapy.

The great majority of the PPP/C leadership members are city slickers and the few country representatives find the country heat and dust to be suppressive after a few weeks of acclimatizing to GT central AC environment.

As a demonstration of

good faith, the leadership of the PPP/C should spend the next 10 days in Berbice on a meet the people tour. This process should continue in the rest of the country side and the final 10 days should be spent in Georgetown.

This is not so much an economic need issuem, but more of one neglecting the base. So in keeping with the President’s diet commitment, let’s give up the processed food in GT and go to the country side and eat what we reap.

Latchman Mohabir

What do Roopnarine and Nagamootoo have in common?

Dear Editor, Both men were heavily involved in their respective parties (WPA-PPP/C) and PCD. Both contributed to the demise of the PCD. Roopnarine gave wrong advice to his WPA and departed the PCD. Nagamootoo gave wrong advice to his party and destroyed what was left of the PCD after WPA left.

Neither men were the leaders, one followed Dr Walter Rodney and the other Dr Cheddi Jagan. After the death of their respective leaders, they were incapable of taking the mantle of their respective parties.

They both got cold feet. But that is the story of a leader.

Both men decided to follow another leader who is still to prove that he is the leader, David Granger.

Roopnarine insists that he is a Rodneyite and each year since 1980 he gives a speech on June 13 entitled,

“Rodney lives”.

Nagamootoo walks around with a photo of Cheddi and Janet and insists that he is a Jaganite.

He would like to be at Babu Jaan each year, but since 2011, but he is afraid to show his face. Of course, Granger makes it pellucidly clear that he is a Burnhamite. So, both Roopnarine and Nagamotoo are now Burnhamites.

They both were promised to be Prime Ministers as long as they can deliver Indian votes. Roopnarine failed and he was abruptly fired. He is now replaced by another Indo who has more bravado than Roopnarine.

He promised 12 Indian seats, that is about 60,000 Indian votes. Even the Afros in the leadership of AFC will vote PNC. There is no space on the ballot that will say AFC, so my guess is as good as anyone else.

Nagamootoo got Granger

Venezuela will not be alone Dear Editor, Cuba states its position with regard to the aggressive Executive Order issued by the President of the United States against the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which declares the country a threat to US national security Cuba has learnt of the arbitrary and aggressive Executive Order issued by the President of the United States against Venezuela, which declares the country a threat to its national security, in reprisal for the measures adopted

by Venezuela in defense of its sovereignty against the interventionist actions of the US Congress and governmental authorities.

How does Venezuela threaten the United States?

Thousands of kilometers away, without strategic weapons, and without employing resources nor officials to plot against US constitutional order, the statement is unbelievable, and lays bare the intentions of those who have come up with it.

However, such a state-

ment during a year in which legislative elections will be held in Venezuela reaffirms once again the interventionist nature of US foreign policy.

The severity of this executive measure has alerted the Governments of Latin America and the Caribbean who, in January 2014, at the Second CELAC Summit in Havana, declared the region a Zone of Peace, and these countries repudiate any act prejudicial to this, as they have accumulated enough experiences of imperial intervention throughout their history.

Cuba reiterates once again its unconditional support and that of our people for the legitimate Government of President Nicolás Maduro Moros and the heroic sister nation of Venezuela.

Nobody has the right to intervene in the internal affairs of a sovereign State or to declare it, without grounds, a threat to its national security. Just as Cuba was never alone, Venezuela will not be either.

Cuban Embassy

to agree to a set of non-constitutional and gentleman’s agreement. The British invented a gentlemen’s agreement to stab their opponents in the back. We all remember Duncan Sandys.

We also must remember Vincent Teeka.

Burnham made the mistake and let the cat out of the bag that he was thinking, remember only thinking, of making Vincent Teekah, Prime Minister.

He got a bullet in his belly and a grinding foot on his wound. That man is still on the team that will return to power if Granger wins.

Should Granger win the elections this man and others will never, never allow the likes of Nagamootoo to be Prime Minister. Or if he does, for some extraordinary and illogical reason, then he will implement a known Burnham practice.

You get a title whatever you want to call yourself, you

get an office, and a desk but nothing to do. Everybody passes by your door and do not even nod in your direction.

Nagamootoo, like Rupert Roopnarine, will speak to large Afro-Guyanese meetings during the elections and help consolidate those votes for Granger. Nagamootoo, like Roopnarine, will be a prima donna until the election is over on May 11.

Both Roopnarine and Nagamootoo were spin doctors for their parties. They both tell us nancy stories at every twist and turn. They actually listen to themselves and believe what they hear.

What is it about some of us humans? Some of us will do anything to be a Minister or powerless Prime Minister.

This election is as good as an Italian opera.

Mohamed Z Rahaman Laurel, MD, USA

Dear Editor, The historic leader of the Cuban Revolution sent a letter to the Venezuelan President in reference to his speech addressing US threats to his country: President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: I congratulate you on your bril-

liant and courageous speech against the brutal plans of the US Government.

Your words go down in history as proof that humanity can and must know the truth.

Fraternally, Fidel Castro Ruz

AFC’s race baiting is done openly

Dear Editor, I was very much amused to read an article in another section of the media which was an attempt to categorise Dr Jagdeo’s remarks as race baiting. Then this became more hilarious when I read Kissoon’s article.

I would like Mr Kissoon to analyse the statements made by the AFC leaders and executive members who have been making racist and derogatory statements in public on their programme, “Alliance on the Move” and he will find that there is no attempt by these presenters at masking their intentions, and there will be no need to make any assumptions.

He will come face to face with the monsters of race baiting and racial stereotyping. He will understand that the company that he is so proud of is just a figment of his imagination. I will just relate a few instances.

Every week, AFC’s Executive Members Ramayya, and Charrandass Persaud will make it the main thrust of their presen-

tations to lie and make deceitful statements and attributing these to PPP/C members and supporters, but since the coalition on Valentine’s Day, these persons have now embarked on inciting racial strife between Afro and IndoGuyanese.

This race baiting is not done in a covert manner, but is being done openly and blatantly with no regard for the consequences.

Moreover, when Ramjattan and Nagamootoo make their appearance, they will echo what these Executive Members have been saying.

Therefore, it would seem that this strategy has the blessings of the AFC and is not isolated to a couple of individuals who are just going through a verbal famine!

On January 24, the AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan referred to the Amerindian male as “buckman” instead of Amerindian and on January 29, he referred to Indians as “coolies”. This was followed by Ramayya on January 31 referring to Indians as “coolies”. turn to page 16

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News

Guyana calls on Venezuela to respect its territorial integrity T

he Government of Guyana in a strongly worded statement said Venezuela continued to pursue its “spurious” and “illegal claim” to Guyana’s territory, after the neighbouring country said its claim was just, and called on all Venezuelans to defend its territorial integrity in response to Guyana’s request that the country quit its sword rattling at ExxonMobil which has begun oil exploration activities off the Essequibo Coast.

Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo was revived earlier this month when it dispatched a letter to the US oil company warning it to desist from drilling for oil in the Stabroek Block area.

Guyana swiftly responded to Venezuela asking it not to impede on the developmental aspirations of this country. Since then, the Bolivarian Republic has countered with a strong statement, which it has also published in full in local newspapers, stating that Guyana’s response was “unacceptable” and “unjust”. “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is surprised by the false accusation that Venezuela seeks or has sought to stymie the development of Guyana.”

Below is the full text from the Government via the Foreign Affairs Ministry: The Government of Guyana is extremely perplexed by the fact that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, while declaring as false Guyana’s statement that Venezuela’s actions are aimed at stymieing Guyana’s development, that same Government seeks to publicise those very objections to Guyana’s development initiatives – by also utilising Guyana’s local media.

While the Communiqué which appeared [in the media] … on March 13, 2015 mentions the fact that leaders from both countries have underscored the “necessity of deepening cooperation” between Guyana and Venezuela, it fails to recognise that those efforts have in fact been defeated by Venezuela’s threats and actions against investors wishing to operate and those already operating in Guyana, including by the very Communiqué under reference.

The premise of Venezuela’s objections continues to be its spurious and illegal claim to Guyana’s territory. The land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was perma-

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett

nently and definitively delimited on October 3, 1899 pursuant to the Treaty of Washington of February 2, 1897. The view expressed in the Communiqué under reference that there is a territorial dispute “inherited from British colonialism” is therefore patently false.

As a sovereign State, empowered under international law to exercise sovereign rights over its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, the Republic of Guyana has full and unfettered authority to unilaterally explore – with or without partners – and exploit the living and non-living resources within its jurisdiction. Any act or objection to the exercise

of such jurisdiction is contrary to international law – both codified and customary international law.

While it is a fact that the delimitation of the maritime boundary between Guyana and Venezuela remains an outstanding matter, it is pellucid that there are maritime spaces that can legitimately belong to only one of the two States.

That is fully recognised under both customary and codified international law.

Venezuela’s vain effort to link its spurious and illegal claim to Guyana’s Essequibo to matters related to the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone of Guyana within the context of the Geneva Agreement of February 17,

1966 therefore has no legal basis. The fact is that the Geneva Agreement does not relate to a boundary or territorial dispute, but to a unilateral and unsubstantiated claim by Venezuela that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is null and void.

Guyana completely rejects this effort to conflate two separate matters within the context of the Geneva Agreement.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guyana earlier this year elaborated on the reasons why Guyana was in the process of reviewing the options under the Geneva Agreement for bringing the controversy initiated and maintained by Venezuela, to an end. It should suffice to repeat that the Good Offices Process has been in existence for over twenty-five years, but Venezuela has on many occasions taken actions and issued statements that are inimical to that process even while it was in full operation – this includes both military actions and strident statements by high officials of Venezuela.

Guyana rejects the subtle threat issued in the sixth paragraph of the Communiqué where it is stated that Venezuela “reserves the right to execute

all actions in the diplomatic field and in accordance with international law, that might be necessary to defend and safeguard the sovereignty and independence [of Venezuela]” over Essequibo.

The Government of the Republic of Guyana has had occasion to caution the Government of Venezuela that any such action will be in flagrant violation of the territorial integrity of Guyana, international law and will also constitute a material violation of the Geneva Agreement.

Finally, the Government of Guyana wishes to make it clear that investment approvals by it are done solely in the interest of the people of Guyana. Guyana therefore utterly rejects the insinuation that its investment operations are or could be inimical to the interests of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Guyana notes that this assertion is without foundation since the Venezuelan Government has also sought to derail other projects in Guyana that are being supported by a mutually friendly State that is fully a part of the “unity of Latin America” The Government of Guyana is convinced and assured that the people of Guyana, and indeed international investors and public opinion, will not be swayed by the falsities and fabrications in the Communiqué issued by the Venezuelan Government on March 13, 2015.

The Government of Guyana further calls on the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to be respectful of the 1897 Treaty, the Arbitral Award of 1899, the 1905 demarcation of the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela pursuant to the Arbitral Award and other formally ratified documents between our two countries, the principles of general international law and the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of its relations with the Republic of Guyana and its people.

The Government of Guyana remains committed to a diplomatic solution consistent with international law, however, the public pronouncements by Venezuela through various media agencies cannot go unanswered.

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saturday, march 14, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Opposition to challenge Seelall’s appointment …claims leader wasn’t consulted

Ramotar on Tuesday.

He took the Oath of Office at the Office of the President in the presence of his family, Government officials and senior ranks of the Police Force along with the heads

of the Disciplined Forces.

Article 211 of the Constitution states that the Commissioner of Police and every Deputy Commissioner of Police shall be appointed by the President act-

ing after meaningful consultations with the Leader of the Opposition and Chairperson of the Police Service Commission after the Chairperson has consulted with the other mem-

bers of the Commission.

Efforts to contact President Donald Ramotar and Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira for a comment on the issue proved futile.

Eccles businessman shot, robbed of millions

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Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

O

pposition Leader David Granger says that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) plans to challenge the confirmation of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud owing to the lack of consultation by President Donald Ramotar as directed by the Constitution.

Responding to questions posed by media operatives at the coalition’s weekly press conference on Friday with regard to the Top Cop’s confirmation, Granger noted that the party intended to challenge it. According to him, at no time were the constitutional requirements followed by the President, that is, to consult with the Opposition Leader first before having the confirmation done and as such, it was in

clear breach of the law.

“I did not have consultation with the President within the meaning of meaningful consultation under Article 211. I see he went off and purported to swear in the Acting Commissioner in the capacity of substantive commissioner. I don’t know how that could be done in defiance of Article 211 of the Constitution,” he said.

The Opposition Leader further went on to state that as far as that party was concerned, Persaud’s confirmation as the Commissioner of Police was null and void and would not be given any recognition. After acting for almost a year, Persaud was confirmed as the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force and was sworn in before President Donald

young businessman is now nursing a single gunshot wound following a robbery committed on him outside the Demerara Shipping Company Limited (DSCL) on Water Street, Georgetown. The incident occurred around 10:15h on Friday.

Intiaz Arakhan, 23, an auto dealer of Anaida Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was attacked as he was about to enter the DSCL. The young man was shot to his right ankle, but the bullet exited through his foot. He is recuperating at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital.

According to information released by the Police, Arakhan was held up by an armed man, who shot him in his right foot before relieving him of a haversack containing $2.5 million. The bandit subsequently escaped on a motor cycle.

The young man’s father, Musraf Khan Arakhan, told the Guyana Times that his eldest son had left home to run some errands. The man disclosed that he own an

Shot businessman Intiaz Arakhan

auto spare parts business, Reliable Spares, located at Industrial Site, Eccles, and his son usually assisted him.

Musraf explained that he was on his way to another city hospital for a routine check-up when he received the call about the shooting. The man related what he was told about the incident. “Apparent it was like

lunch hour, he was having a snack (at snackette opposite DSCL) and from the snack, he was walking across to the wharf… A Customs officer brought him to the hospital and according to what he said it was one guy on a motorcycle,” he stated.

His mother, Rita Arakhan, said that this was the first time such an incident has happened to the

family. She noted that the young man would usually have someone accompanying him whenever he goes to transact business but was alone on this occasion.

Meanwhile, this publication was made to understand when the bandit held the young businessman at gunpoint and tried to grab the bag, Arakhan held on.

The gunman then fired a shot at the young man before escaping with the bag that contained the substantial amount of money and several important documents.

“I was in the guard hut and I hear two gunshots.

When I come out, I look and I see a ... chap with good height, running with [a dark e bag] – with a gun in his hands,” one of the guards attached to the shipping company explained.

This newspaper was made to understand that the Police were given access to Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from the shipping business as they continue their investigations.

8 NEWS

saturday, march 14, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Baby’s head cut during C-section at Suddie Hospital

The deep cut on the baby’s head as a result of the accident

By Indrawattie Natram

A

teenage mother from Henrietta Village on the Essequibo Coast has to remain an extra month with her infant child at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), after her premature baby’s head was sliced by a medical practitioner during a Caesarean section.

The 16-year-old mother, Niaomi Gonsalves, related that on March 7, she was rushed to the operation theatre as an emergency case after she developed complications. She delivered a premature 33-week-old baby via the C-section surgery.

During that surgery, her baby’s head was cut accidentally, she related. The mother said she had no clue how the accident happened, but her child received stitches to his head even though he was a few hours old.

Gonsalves said she was scared, but followed doctors’ orders. The infant is presently hospitalised and his head carries six stitches.

When this newspaper visited the hospital, the six-dayold baby was in high spirits.

The mother said to date the baby was responding normally and she was praying

for his survival, “I am worried about the stitches to his head, will he live a normal life? I don’t know who mistake it is. It is my first child, I am hurt to see his head with stitches so young,” she related.

Gonsalves said although she was discharged, she has to remain with the baby.

When asked if the baby has developed any complications since the incident, the mother responded in the negative.

She said to date no medical personnel from the hospital has explained to her the circumstances under which her child was injured. The mother explained that from her understanding, doctors were attempting to save her life when the accident occurred. She explained that she was admitted on March 3 after suffering prolonged high pressure, relating that at one point, she lost consciousness and when she woke up, she was told she would be taken to the hospital.

However, despite medications, her blood pressure did not go down, hence the surgery. Family members are calling on the Suddie Public Hospital to launch an investigation into the matter.

Construction worker gets $150,000 bail for stealing phone

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26-year-old construction worker was granted $150,000 bail on Friday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for stealing a cellphone and a small amount of money.

The defendant, Cereste Rogers of 67 B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in Court One for stealing a cellphone valued $65,000 and $200 in cash from the Virtual Complainant (VC) Shayaz Samad.

Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant told the court that the defendant was walking in front of the VC with others when suddenly he turned around and placed

a knife to the VC’s stomach and took the cellphone out of the VC’s pocket along with the money.

Rogers told the court that he did not steal the cellphone or any money from the VC. He said that “is hustle (he) deh hustling” and working hard.

He told the court that there was a case of murder against him at the High Court that he was cleared of but otherwise he has never been convicted of any crime.

The murder he spoke of was that of 20-year-old Jermaine Anderson who was stabbed outside Demico House with a pair of scissors in May 2008.

Rogers was placed on $150,000 bail.

Grass cutter remanded for burning sister with rice mar

A

grass cutter who is also known to venture into the interior for work was remanded when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for throwing a pot of boiling rice on his sister.

The defendant, Daniel Younge was charged for unlawfully and maliciously wounding the Virtual Complainant (VC), Natasha Younge with the intention to cause bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant elaborated on the incident telling the court that the defendant and the VC had a misunderstanding on March 10 over the way the food should be cooked.

The defendant threatened the VC and she had reported the matter to the Police.

The Police went home with her that same day to arrest the accused but he was not at home.

The Prosecutor continued, stating that on the next day the defendant came back and found his sister washing, he took a boiling pot of rice that she had on the stove and threw it on her causing her to sustain third degree burns. The VC was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she is currently a patient. The defendant was later apprehended and charged for the offence.

Prosecutor Grant objected to bail. The defendant told the court that he has never been in trouble with the law before. He was remanded to prison and is to return on March 23.

Eyew tness The drums of war...

E

...on Crum-Ewing

ven though everyone who cares for Guyana has denounced the murderer of Courtney Crum-Ewing and called for “reason and good sense” to prevail, the Opposition has opportunistically - and predictably - seized the unfortunate incident to whip up hysteria in the country and abroad. They’ve dubbed the murder conclusively as “political” and laid it at the feet of the PPP/C. This is throwing gasoline on a wooden house already ablaze. Elections in Guyana since the 1960s have all without exception - been marked by tension and violence.

Because of our demographics, the violence always has the tendency to take on a racial tinge. And in case anyone has forgotten our own history, reports from other hot spots in the world show how volatile - and downright dangerous racial and ethnic hostilities can be.

What’s particularly disturbing here is the complete lack of responsibility shown by the Opposition leaders. While they have genuflected to the need for calm, they’ve not reigned in their party cadres from demonstrating in the streets and flooding social media with outrageous charges.

In a mail from by Colin Bascom, a known PNC supporter to Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, Joseph Harmon, David Hinds, Tacuma Ogunseye, Glenn Lall, and a hundred other Opposition figures, he writes: “Sincerest condolences go out to the relatives and loved ones on that true Guyanese hero Courtney CrumEwing assassinated by hired PPP thugs.

“What I really wanted to do was juxtapose the murder of innocent African Guyanese like Donna Herod and now Courtney Crum-Ewing with the obscene spectacle of African Guyanese women ‘back-balling’ with arch racist Jagdeo and his poodle ‘Donald Duck’. Thus posing a question also for the likes of Elizabeth Harper who has decided to drink soup from the ‘poisoned cup’.

“Guyanese are facing a stark choice....It is change either by the BULLET or the BALLOT.” Now you can’t get a more direct and racist call to arms than this, can you?? Your Eyewitness waited for one of the above-mentioned “leaders” to not even denounce this rabid rabble rousing - but perchance utter a word of caution. It’s a good thing he didn’t hold his breath - there was only encouragement!!

This Eyewitness joins with patriotic Guyanese to insist that the Opposition allow the Police to complete their investigation. The Opposition has absolutely no facts to support their conclusion - merely their compulsion to make hay from the sunshine taken away for one Guyanese family.

Crum-Ewing had demanded that his one-time classmate, the Attorney General, behave more professionally. We think he would demand the same standard of behaviour from those who’re now exploiting his name.

...from Glenn Lall

Former Attorney General Charles Ramson skewered Mohan Glenn Lall when he heard the latter’s Editor Adam Harris confess it was Lall who’d changed a headline in his Muckraker to malign his bête noir former President Jagdeo.

Jagdeo had spoken about the Opposition’s “whisper campaign” to “keep the coolie out” and Lall’d twisted this to have Jagdeo say, “PPP was a coolie party”!! Lall was willing to have Harris be blamed - as an old PNC stooge - for introducing race into politics. All Harris could mumble was Lall overriding him was “no big thing”. The things you gotta do for scraps from the master’s table!!

But Lall wasn’t finished with his racist incitement.

Following Crum-Ewing’s despicable murder, Lall rushed with all his staff to join protests in front of the Attorney General’s office. “No bullet can stop me!” his placard boasted.

Apart from he and the AG’s taped call cranking up Crum-Ewing into righteous indignation, did the tax deal Lall cut with the “authorities” not include the AG also??

...to be silenced

President Ramotar appears to’ve had it with the MuckrakerKN’s racial incitement and degrading the country. Even Crum-Ewing had denounced this. Prezzie’s gonna have media regulation on incitement when he’s reelected.

Loooong overdue!!

news

9

saturday, march 14, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Govt, UNDP hold workshop Tourist arrivals up by 7.1% – Ministry on best practices for T eco-tourism he Tourism Ministry is reporting a 7.1 per cent increase in arrivals between January and February this year when compared to the same period for 2014.

The current year-to-date (January to February) summary indicates that visitor arrivals increased by 7.1 per cent with a total of 27,904 visitors compared to 26,065 for the same period in 2014.

“It is clear that the country’s interest in tourism is very aggressive at this moment. This steady increase is testimony to the continued investment in the country’s Tourism Sector and the aggressive marketing strategies used,” acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali ex-

Participants of the workshop

T

he Tourism Ministry in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hosted a “Best Practices for Eco-tourism” Workshop, on Thursday, at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

During this one-day activity, UNDP’s Visiting Project Consultant, Angelica Kandzior presented her preliminary findings after interviews and meetings held in December 2014 with tourism stakeholders including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF); Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG); Conservation International (CI); the University of Guyana and Iwokrama.

The Government of Guyana and the UNDP have reached an agreement on a Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) for the period 2012-2016 and have signed an Annual Work Plan for the project. Under this Work Plan, a contract and consultancy was awarded to Kandzior to develop a final South- South Eco-tourism Compendium for Guyana.

According to Kandzior’s findings, Eco-tourism coexists with notions such as nature tourism, sustainable tourism, heritage and community-based tourism, hence the concept is not homogenous; stakeholders involved in Eco-tourism or related forms of tourism do not gather in specific um-

brella organisations; information on ventures cannot be found on a joint website; Eco-tourism ventures offer activities that go beyond the scope of conventional eco tourism; Eco-tourism and related forms seem to concentrate in Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) through Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); the marketing focus is primarily the United Kingdom and United States with potential for South America and European countries.

Kandzior’s research also revealed that local guides possessed good knowledge of their local environment, but this should be complemented with general information about the country and issues of significance (Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and Amerindian peoples, etc) Kandzior’s presentation touched on the Eco-tourism Approach in Guyana – highlighting the types of tourism in Guyana such as Adventure Tourism and Cultural Tourism; the use of the term Eco-tourism in various local documentation such as the Kanuku Mountains Protected Areas Management Plan, Tourism Development Strategy 20122016, National Biodiversity Strategy, and LCDS; c) use of eco-tourism definition from International Union for Conservation of Nature and the International Eco Tourism Society (TIES) as the most widely used definition and engaging partic-

ipants to define Guyana’s own version of Eco-tourism.

Addressing the audience, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director, Indranauth Haralsingh reiterated the Government’s commitment to working with the UNDP to implement the Eco-tourism strategy while encouraging the investment, development and marketing needed to achieve the vision for Guyana’s Eco-tourism.

He stated that it was only with “clear direction, appropriate funding and strong [Government of Guyana] GoG and Private Sector support” that this can be achieved.

“The future outlook for the Guyana Tourism industry is extremely positive.

Your active participation and contribution will assist in boosting Eco-tourism development in Guyana,” Haralsingh said.

The GTA Director acknowledged that the UNDP was an important and strategic development partner for Guyana and expressed profound gratitude for its continued support.

Following the official opening of the workshop, group sessions were held in which more than three dozen participants were divided into three groups to examine the current Eco-tourism offerings/products and the processes.

The list of Eco-tourism products/attractions/activities was highlighted and the impacts and uses were examined.

plained.

The United States remained at the top of the market with 36.4 per cent of the total tourist arrivals during the first two months of this year, while visitors from South America have increased and account for 16.2 per cent of the total market share.

Minister Ali was quick to point out that these figures are as a direct result of COPA and CONVIASA flying to Guyana.

He explained, “This is a testimony to the Government’s ability to improve airlift and to attract new airlines to the destination. In addition, our continued investments in trade shows, familiarisation trips, films and documentary

groups, travel writers and PR have contributed substantially to the development of the tourism sector.”

Minister Ali reaffirmed his view that the tourism sector was the backbone of the future economic growth and development of Guyana and also urged the Private Sector to take advantage of this influx of visitors and to devise strategies to lure the visitors to their restaurants, hotels, and resorts.

Over the last few months, several film and documentary crews have concluded filming in Guyana and several more are slated to arrive. The destination welcomed its first cruise ship visit for 2015 in January while several major events have already been staged.

Leguan man released on $125,000 bail for stealing food items

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36-year-old man who was brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face a charge of simple larceny was released on $125,000 bail on Friday.

The defendant Sarwan Raj of Enterprise Longwood, Leguan Island, Essequibo River, and was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for stealing $98,420 worth in items.

The defendant reportedly stole a quantity of beans, milk, beer, energy drinks, cigarettes, sweets and a host of other items from the Virtual Complainant (VC) Savita Sukhu on March 10.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that the VC operates a snackette on Leguan Island.

Sarwan Raj is accused of stealing $98,420 worth of items from a snackette

On the day of the robbery, the VC secured her snackette and left. The following day when she returned,

she noticed that the southern window was open and several items were missing.

She reported the matter to the Police which led to the arrest of the defendant, who was later charged.

The Prosecutor told the court that the defendant was identified as the thief through a bag that was in the store. He said that the VC was able to identify the bag and thus the assailant who was carrying it. Due to this, the Prosecutor said several of the items were recovered.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine Beharry placed the defendant on bail on the condition that he report to the Police Station on Leguan Island on Friday, March 20.

He was told to return to court on March 25.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURday, march 14, 2015

News

Crum-Ewing was shot 5 times – autopsy A Peg-Ass man post-mortem performed on the body of Courtney Crum-Ewing proved that he was shot five times on Tuesday evening at Third Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

The autopsy was done by local pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary and was witnessed by several family members, including the family’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes. According to reports received, three of the five bullets were to the head, while one was to the back of the neck and the other under one of his arms. Hughes stated that all of the bullets were fired from behind except the one that hit under his arm and exited his shoulder.

The bullet to the back of the man’s neck was fired at point-blank range and gunpowder residue was also found on the back of his shirt collar. The Guyana Times was told that two .38 warheads were removed from the dead man’s head. Hughes told this publication that the fam-

Courtney Crum-Ewing

ily has requested an independent ballistic expert examine the warheads to determine if they matched those the Police were looking for.

No new leads

In addition, the Attorney stated that photographs were taken during the autopsy and were sent to an overseas pathologist for further analysis.

The 40-year-old father of

three was gunned down while urging members of Diamond Housing Scheme to go out and cast their ballots on May 11. Crime Chief Leslie James on Thursday stated that the Police have found no new leads as the investigation intensifies into the shooting incident.

He disclosed that he could not say for sure how many persons are involved in the

shooting, since nothing useful was found on the surveillance footage that was obtained from residents nearby.

According to James, based on information gathered by the Police thus far, it is believed that a lone Toyota 212 motor car was used in the shooting.

President Donald Ramotar has called upon the Guyana Police Force to ensure that no stone was left unturned in finding the “killers” and if possible the “intellectual authors” of the execution of Crum-Ewing. Ramotar noted that the shooting incident must be condemned.

He further added that the country was in elections mode and citizens must be allowed the right to engage in campaign activities, stating that at no time, should any citizen be persecuted for endorsing a party or for participating in any campaign activity.

A number of political parties and agencies, including the Home Affairs Ministry, have condemned the murder and called for a thorough investigation into the execution-style killing. The now dead man grabbed attention some months ago after carrying out a one-man protest outside the Legal Affairs Ministry calling for the resignation of the Attorney General Anil Nandlall after the taped conversation between the Minister and Kaieteur News reporter Leonard Gildharie went viral.

tek de chicken feed money

O

ld people gotta sayin bout pot callin de kettle bottom black. That is a old sayin, but it does apply even up to today. Plus de good book talk bout tekkin de beam outta yuh own eye before yuh can see clear to tek out de mote outta some body else eye. Wid people like dem, de more dem look, de less dem see.

Nowadays it gotta lotta fair people wid black bottoms around de place. Plus it gotta lotta beams in people eyes.

Dr Bheri Bheri might as well send some more young people to Cuba to study how to mek blind people see.

Once dem come back, de Peg-Ass man who does Rob de people Bad gon be a life time patient. Rob is a man who does can’t see past he own eye. But Rob does see good enuff to stock up de chicken feed money fuh he self, Stony and de KFC. No wonder Guyana always gotta chicken problem. Is because de poor chickens dem not gettin enuff to eat.

And is Rob he self cause that. So people got to smuggle in thiefin chicken from Suriname, and last year chicken from de US. Yet Rob call another man a fraudster. This is de same Rob who couldn’ta find a dime to invest in de best hotel in Guyana, but who suddenly seh he got US$8 million to invest. And Rob can’t even find money to fix de Peg-Ass. De other problem is that he tell de whole country to collect de money from he lawyer, who happen to be Rum Jhaat. No wonder up to day yuh never see de money and yuh never hear back bout de money. Money is de only ting whah Rum Jhaat can mek disappear faster than a large.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

Ask dem Feathers people and ask dem KFC supporters who send money from New York and Canada and dem gon tell yuh how de money disappear. Just like de chicken feed money!

Con artist fined $120,000

O

n Friday, a 48-yearold man was fined $120,000 by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after continuously accruing credit and not paying his depts.

Fizal Mohamed from 236 Albert Street, Georgetown, was found guilty of three charges that were levied against him in 2014.

The first charge stated that Mohamed in-

curred $6000 in debt on December 17, 2014 when he used Mootoo Viren’s car to travel to New Market Street and refused to pay.

The second charge is similar, where the defendant ran up a bill of $14,500 on November 26, 2014 when he utilised the services of Abrahim Ramon to drop him to a location. The defendant upon reaching his destination refused to pay on that occasion as well.

In addition, Mohamed

was also found guilty for robbing Talik Singh on November 26, 2014 of one cellphone valued $5000, along with $25,000 in cash.

The case was prosecuted by Police Prosecutor, Constable Simone Payne.

The defendant asked for leniency after stating at the beginning of the trial that he was not guilty of the offences. Magistrate Azore stated that he will need to pay the fines or risk imprisonment.

Rosignol duo remanded for trafficking over 58 kilos of ganja

T

wo men from Rosignol were remanded when they were brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for moving 58.83 grams of marijuana in a car.

The men, Winston Douglas and Farad Ahmad, pleaded not guilty in Court One before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry after they were found with several bags of marijuana on March 12.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that the Police intercepted the

car bearing registration plate PJJ 8009. He continued by detailing that when the defendants saw the Police, they tried to escape by turning through another street. Nevertheless, the Police caught up with the car and proceeded to search the men. The Prosecutor stated that a bag was found on one of the men thus they were arrested. A more detailed search of the car revealed 31 bags of the substance were found.

According to the Prosecution’s reports, the

men when questioned by Police, stated that they were instructed to bring the cannabis to town. Douglas told the officer that he was told to give it to someone in town while Ahmad told the Police that the man who had told him to bring the cannabis to town said he will receive $35,000 for dropping off the merchandise. Who these men are were not stated in the report.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry remanded the men until March 16.

news

11

friday, march 13, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana has prospered economically despite Teenager on bail APNU+AFC obstacles – President Ramotar for stealing BMX

H

ead of State Donald Ramotar on Thursday said Guyana has been able to make significant strides in boosting its economic capacity despite the hiccups in the National Assembly, created by an anti-developmental Opposition.

The combined Opposition, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have been accused of using their one-seat majority to stymie almost every developmental project put forward in the National Assembly by Government.

But despite all this, Ramotar said, the country was still able to move forward, not only with his Administration’s perseverance, but with the contributions of investors in the country.

The Head of State was at the time speaking to Journalists at the Office of the President (OP) on matters of economic importance.

He said notwithstanding the non-support of the two political parties, there have been major investments in the country by local and international entrepreneurs which have all contributed to its social and economic stability.

The President said there are many investments the country could have had that would have brought about immense change to Guyana, but for the Opposition.

These include the Amaila Hydro Power Project, which he reiterated would not only bring down electricity rates, but could stimulate strong industrial and agri processing sectors, to enhance the wealth of all Guyanese.

“They have also prevented the progress of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. They are also attacking the Marriott Hotel and trying to discourage investors from investing in the hotel,” Ramotar noted.

He said it was important to the continuing progress

President Donald Ramotar

or success of the economy to be able to have more investments in the country that could create jobs and help bring in revenues.

“Over the years, we have been having very good investments. Two new gold mines are expected to begin before the end of the year and I also went to Kurubuka, Region 10, to open a new bauxite mine opened by Rusal. That has provided jobs for over 500 persons.”

Ramotar spoke of the current exploratory activity being carried out by American oil and gas company ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block off the Essequibo Coast, noting that “very soon we could see ourselves as an oil and gas producing country and be a part of the [Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries] OPEC nations”.

He continued that there remained many areas for investment and economic growth, pointing out that more money still needed to be pumped into the sugar industry to ensure its viability.

Level playing field

Responding to critics who have said that Government has been selective in its approach to investors here in Guyana, Ramotar said his Government has one level playing field for all investors and has not raised one above the others.

“There is no local inves-

tor that would bring an investment at the same size as a foreign investment that be discriminated against.

Why should we discriminate against them?” he asked.

He admitted, however, that most of the big investments coming into Guyana have been coming from international business persons. He rates the investment confidence in Guyana as very high, noting that many services are also expanding to rural communities with the establishment of banking facilities and fuel service stations.

“Banks are opening in Rosignol, the Corentyne, the Essequibo Coast, West Bank of Demerara and Parika which speaks about an expansion of investments projects by local and foreign persons throughout the length and breadth of the country.”

The Head of State touched also on the issue of Chinese investments here in Guyana, and the treatment meted out to them by the Opposition. He said there were no conditions or benefits that were given to Chinese investors that were not offered to other investors “whether they are from the United States, Canada or England. Whatever area, we give the same concession”, Ramotar said. He added that the attacks against the Chinese were unwarranted since they were very important developmental partners for many countries

Pregnant woman on self-bail for assaulting peace officer

A

pregnant woman was released on self-bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday for assaulting a Peace Officer, disorderly conduct and for resisting arrest.

Tenika Kennedy, a resident of 1313 Norton Street, Georgetown, was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Friday. She pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that on March 12 at about 13:10h, the defendant went into the Brickdam Police Station to enquire about a report that was made against her. She used threatening language towards

Tenika Kennedy

the officers and proceeded to verbally abuse them. The Prosecutor stated that when she was told to stop, she con-

tinued. When the officer tried to restrain her, she pushed the officer, who fell and sustained injuries.

Kennedy was came to court scantily dressed, was unwilling to speak or be questioned. The defendant was excused from the courtroom until she was willing to be a part of the hearing for the charges levied against her.

Upon reentering the courtroom, the defendant was more pliable as she answered the Magistrate’s questions. She was released on her own recognisance and placed on a bond to keep the peace.

The matter was transferred to Court 11 to be tried on March 24 at 13:00h.

within Latin America and the Caribbean. According to him, they bring in more capital than any other nationals.

“It looks like the Opposition is trying to do what it has been doing over the last three years to the Government by trying to discourage Chinese investment,” Ramotar said.

The President told Journalists that his Administration will be seeking to find new ideas for further investments and even tourism in the country.

He pointed to Government’s initial plan to develop a “health tourism” industry. According to him, government was seeking to allow Guyanese citizens in the Diaspora to return and access through the development of science and technology, affordable bypass surgeries, cancer treatment, dialysis and other health benefits. According to him, the establishment of the Specialty Hospital was also geared at realising this.

“They could come and benefit from our operations here and also that our country could make some money as well, so that we could continue to expand and build on the social sector... That is the general direction we were going,” Ramotar said.

Seon Dell

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teen was placed on $20,000 bail on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was brought to answer to the charge of stealing a BMX bicycle.

Seon Dell is accused of stealing the bicycle worth $21,000 from the Virtual Complainant (VC) Andrew Junior while he was in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail as the individual had told the Police that he lived in East La Penitence then told the court he lived in Cummings Lodge.

The defendant explained that he was unsure where his mother was staying at the time as they tend to move between homes in both locations. This was corroborated by his mother in Court 11 as she addressed Magistrate Annette Singh.

She told the court that her son is willing to compensate the VC for the loss of his bicycle as he never got it back. However, she stated that she did not have the money at the time and asked that the court grant her some time to accrue the money.

Magistrate Annette Singh granted this request, giving the defendant two weeks to give the VC $21,000 as compensation for his stolen bicycle. The defendant’s mother was told that Dell needed to report to court on March 27 to report on whether the VC was compensated, if an extension was necessary to compensate the VC or be ready for trial if no attempt at compensation has was made.

The bail granted by Magistrate SewnarineBeharry is in conjunction with the condition that the defendant report to the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost every Monday until the matter is finished.

12 news

saturday, march 14, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Housing, water sector at best in decades – Minister Ali

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he Housing and Water Ministry has made significant strides in the past decades in providing affordable shelter to low and moderate income families throughout the length and breadth of Guyana with the implementation of a modernised policy initiative.

Over the past 10 years, the Government has utilised in excess of $30 billion to facilitate capital works to develop new housing schemes and to rehabilitate the physical infrastructure of existing ones.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times via telephone, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali disclosed that in 2009, the Administration took a conscious decision to diversi-

fy its housing programmes from merely offering house lots to providing housing units through several initiatives such as core homes, young professionals scheme, and ‘turnkey’ homes, but, more importantly, more focus was placed on its hinterland projects.

In addition, he noted that the Government has amended the New Building Society Act and Income Tax Act in 2000, which caters for the expansion of the low income market. These legislation, Ali noted, provided the opportunity for Guyanese to borrow from the NBS and commercial banks to build their homes which ultimately saw growth in the existing mortgage portfolio.

“Interest rates trended

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali

down to as low as 4.25 per cent and opportunities were presented for low- income

persons to access loans at favourable terms; this created wealth for persons at the

lower end of the income pyramid,” Ali stated.

As a result of the new policies, over 50,000 residential house lots were distributed across the country between 2004 and 2014, which contributed to the whooping 112,761 lots distributed since 1993. Also, $23 billion was transferred in subsidy to low-income families in the form of land and infrastructure between 2000 and 2010.

“There was a rapid expansion in the total housing stock which increased by 28,456 between 2002 and 2012 and improvement in living conditions of Guyanese as reflected by the reduction of the poverty level… more so, 696.5km of roads, drainage and pipes were constructed

and rehabilitated during the period 2009-2014”.

The Minister also stated that 34,627 new residential plots were developed between 2009 and 2014 which benefitted approximately 122,938 individuals. More importantly, Ali reiterated that the Housing Ministry had a profit of $230.3 million between 2004 and 2014.

With such an excellent track record, he noted that the Government would continue to facilitate and grant access to all Guyanese to own their own homes in safe and sustainable communities with all the amenities and facilities that are consistent with life in a modern society thus reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of all Guyanese.

APNU+AFC declares support for transformational projects …but not pleased with Govt’s handling

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xecutive member of A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Joseph Harmon says the coalition plans to review the developmental projects piloted by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration in the event it wins the upcoming elections.

Speaking to the Guyana Times during an exclusive interview on Thursday, Harmon said: “We see hydro development as an important feature in the development of this country because if you are going to have development, you must have cheap electricity.”

Harmon was at the time referring to the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project, which his party had blocked during the 10th Parliament.

Other major transformational projects blocked by the Opposition were: the Specialty Hospital and the

APNU+AFC Executive Member Joseph Harmon

Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project.

Harmon said the Opposition had never said it had not believed in any of the projects, but rather it had not been satisfied with the manner in which the PPP/C had planned to carry

them out.

He explained that in the event the coalition got into Government, it planned to review these projects through local and foreign experts before determining a way forward. “We have said that we will review all of these projects; we have made a statement that this is good or that is bad. We have committed to review all of these projects and basically take them through the rigours of a thorough review by experts and people from Guyana and abroad.

Once we recognise the position with them, then we will determine a way forward,” Harmon pointed out.

Hydroelectricity

Speaking further on the Hydro Power Project, Harmon said the coalition had a bigger and more insightful vision of the project and saw it as having more potential than highlighted by the PPP/C. “We believe that we should have a hy-

droelectricity developmental authority which would not just deal with Amaila Falls, but deal with the entire Potaro Basin, which has a number of falls we can tap into. It is not just about one project,” Harmon confidently related.

He is of the belief that “hydro is as important to development just as wind is”. He added that the coalition believed there should be a holistic approach to the development of Guyana’s infrastructure.

Harmon also highlighted the importance of the airport expansion project, but shared the same sentiment on the process of carrying it out.

While the APNU+AFC sees the importance of the airport expansion project, it does not see the need for the “lavishness” highlighted by the PPP/C, Harmon pointed out.

“I don’t know the way in which we have gone about it is the correct way. While we are talking about an eightgate airport, we know that there are airports in the Caribbean that do not have

gates, if you go to Barbados and Dominican Republic you would see wonderful airports but no gates,” Harmon pointed out. He said the question of gates was really not a big issue, rather the question was how functional the airport would be and whether the facility would be able to cater to the comfort and needs of travellers.

Harmon steered clear of stating which of the projects the APNU+AFC held to higher importance and instead said: “We would not prioritise them in any particular way; we believe all of the projects will receive equal treatment. We will deal with them in a manner we see fit when we get into office.”

Back in 2013, the then combined Opposition voted down a motion to raise the debt ceiling on loans and also the Hydro-Electric Power Amendment Bill, both crucial to the advancement of the multibillion-dollar Amaila Falls hydro project. Following this move, a number of organisations in-

cluding the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) expressed concern.

As previously reported, the CIOG said: “As an organisation whose aim is to promote development in all its facets and to reduce poverty, the non-supporting of the Hydro-Electric Power Bill can have far-reaching negative effects on Guyana’s development.”

Subsequently, the Opposition voted down the entire transport section’s budgetary allocation of $5.6 billion for the Public Works Ministry. The Government had then outlined that projects such as the Ogle International Airport Expansion Project, the purchasing of key equipment for the CJIA and its expansion project along with repairs and maintenance to hinterland airstrips would be adversely affected. In 2014, the Opposition also voted against the $109 million budget allocation for the controversial Specialty Hospital Project proposed under the Health Ministry.

13 Sod turned for $236M GPHC Maternity Ward renovation I news

friday, march 13, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

n an effort to improve the services offered by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the Government of Guyana has approved some $236 million for the remodelling and extension of the maternity ward.

Since its establishment in 1998, adequate space has always been a challenge for the maternity ward.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the medical institution, Michael Khan, disclosed that many patients

from the Government will go towards the rehabilitation project, which is marked as the largest redevelopment of the maternity building. The aim is to create more bed space for the pre and post natal wards, with an additional 60 beds.

The remodelled ground floor will house training rooms, offices, a neonatal clinic and doctors’ on call rooms while the top floor will have two operating rooms, the birthing room and Neonatal Intensive

ral institution for high-risk pregnancy and emergency cases.

“Many of the women we serve come to us having received little or no prenatal care; some come without family or financial support, without even the basics required for childbirth and newborn care. Many travel tremendous distances; some, sadly, come too late, with life-threatening complications or after having appropriate care delayed for too long,” he stated.

Khan added that, as of recently, there has been an increase in the number of young women with highrisk pregnancies, including those caused by pre-existing chronic diseases.

He further underscored the success rate of the GPHC even under such challenging circumstances, noting that 6085 babies were successfully delivered in 2014.

Maternal mortality

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran addressing the crowd

were often forced to share beds.

“Every year, the hospital delivers more than 60 per cent of babies born in Guyana,” he noted.

Therefore, the funds

Care Unit (NICU).

The project commenced on February 16 and is expected to be completed by February 15, 2016.

According to the CEO, the GPHC is the only refer-

Mother of 2 remanded for ganja possession

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36-year-old-motherof two was remanded when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for being found with 16.57 kilograms of cannabis sativa in her home.

Nishelle Johnson who resides at Lot 6 Number 5 Village, West Coast of Demerara was brought to Court One to answer to the charge of drug possession on Friday.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru elaborated on the case for the court. He said that the Police acting on information went to the defendant’s home. He said a search of the house was carried out and a bag of cannabis was found in the kitchen.

He continued that the offence was told to the defendant. However, Johnson and her daughter told the Police Officers there that the bag had been given to them that same day by someone.

This, Prosecutor Mangru said, shows that the defendant had knowledge and control of the drugs. He urged the court to not grant bail.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Her lawyer, James Bond asked that bail be granted due to the special circum-

stances; that being that the bag was found in a kitchen that is used by the defendant and other family members. He said she had been given the bag to simply keep for someone (this persons was not named). Bond continued that there is a tape of the bag being placed in the kitchen and the defendant had no knowledge of it until she was told later of it being placed there. Thus neither she nor her daughter knew what was inside of it.

Attorney Bond also stated that the bag was not concealed in anyway. He told the court that there is absolutely nothing linking his client to the bag of illegal drugs, adding that the prosecution cannot prove that my client had knowledge of what was in the bag.

Thus he asked that the court grant “reasonable” bail for his client.

However, although the defence Attorney made a pretty strong argument for his client, bail was still not granted. Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry transferred the matter to the Magistrate’s Court in Berbice.

The defendant’s next Court date is March 19.

Khan also touched on the maternal mortality rate of the hospital. Last year, GPHC recorded 94 stillbirths. The CEO stated that the maternal mortality rate has been steadily declining, but “one maternal death is one too many”.

“The chance of a woman dying from a pregnancyrelated cause depends on a wide spectrum of factors: access to comprehensive emergency obstetric facili-

ties, including functionality of national referral system for high-risk and emergency cases; the availability of skilled human resources to attend delivery; the availability of necessary equipment and supplies; the quality of antenatal care and family planning services as well as postnatal care; and the ability of patients to fully understand and follow nurses’ and doctors’ instructions,” Khan elaborated.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran underscored the importance of the NICU. He disclosed that 48 per cent of the under five mortality rate was caused by neonatal deaths.

Ramsaran explained that neonatal patients are often born with complications that threaten their life.

“When they are that small, their lungs are not developed; they have to get special food, they can’t eat through their mouths, you feed them through their veins…” the Health Minister related.

In fact, the NICU has also been upgraded, vastly improving health outcomes for the patients.

Ethics and human touch

Dr Ramsaran also noted that, with the assistance of several organisations, including the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), the GPHC will soon

First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar turning the sod for the largest rehabilitation project of the maternity ward. Also in pic are Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran and GPHC CEO Michael Khan

be providing in-house training for the nurses within the maternity wing.

“Those are some of the small things that we’re doing,” Ramsaran pointing out, referencing the popular Guyanese proverb “one, one dutty does build dam”.

He explained that the exercise would aid in developing interpersonal skills so the nurses can exhibit kinder personas when caring for the patients.

“We need to look at the ethics and human touch … good delivery is not only through the building and equipment,” Dr Ramsaran

said.

On that note, he urged all the midwives to work to develop better attitudes towards patients.

In attendance at the ceremony were Prime Ministerial Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Elisabeth Harper; Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster; Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar.

The First Lady did the honours of turning the sod and unveiling the plaque for the rehabilitated areas.

14 news

saturDAY, mARCH 14, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Consumers urged to buy, eat healthy – As World Consumer Rights Day approaches

A section of the gathering at the seminar hosted to educate consumers on healthy diet choices

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ith World Consumer Rights Day to be observed on March 15, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Consumers’ Affairs Division has organised a seminar aimed at educating consumers on eating and buying healthy food.

Local Consumer Affairs bodies have joined with Consumers International (CI) to encourage persons to stray from unhealthy food diets. The seminar was held on Friday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Lilendaal, Greater Georgetown, under the theme “Helping Consumers Choose Healthy Diets”.

According to Consumer Affairs Officer, Kushana Archer, this year’s theme comes at a time when healthy foods are increasingly being undermined due to the availability, accessibility and affordability of processed food products that are high in fat, sugar and salt.

She noted that through events such as the seminar, Consumer Affairs agencies hope that the public will acquire the basic information needed to develop healthier food preparations and practices in order to ensure their safety.

Permanent Secretary of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, Derrick Cummings, pointed out that the foods that are being eaten today are not as healthy as those available years ago. “The type of eating that we are doing is really generating high percentage of killer diseases such diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney illness etc. and we are drinking more sodas and ar-

tificial juices, sweets, pastries,” he highlighted.

The PS added that with the country’s workforce increasing, persons are paying less attention to their health especially the food they eat. He also noted that with the increase presence of fast food outlets, consumers tend to opt for “junk foods”. On this note, he stated that local consumer rights bodies will be using this year’s theme to encourage consumers to eat healthy and thus reduced spending on unhealthy foods.

Cummings further underscored that the consumers are not fully aware of the laws in place to govern their rights and as such the Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry and other sister agencies will be working to correct this.

Nevertheless, he urged Guyanese to become familiar with the regulations and to recognize the impact that the law has already caused.

Additionally, Corporate Secretary of the Competition and Consumers Affairs Commission (CCAC), Alicia Primo, stated that such a topic is welcomed since the health risks are increasing with all the processed foods products and fast food outlets being available.

“The world and Guyana are facing a major health crisis. The market is flooded with foods high in sugar, fat and salt, and every consumer needs to know that they don’t have access to just food but healthy food choices,” she said.

Primo continued that the CCAC remains committed to improving the quality of life for consumers through the en-

forcement of the Consumers Affairs Act 2011. “We have come a far way with the level of redress moving from the only option of moral suasion to consumers now having guaranteed rights against the suppliers for any infringements of the act,” she stated.

The CCAC official noted that the organisation will continue its work particularly in enforcing the Act and sensitisation campaigns throughout Guyana.

“The Commission will like for all consumers, regardless of their circumstances, to be satisfied with products and services that they have access to and no consumers is taken advantage of,” she mentioned.

In addition, the agencies paid a tribute to the late Eileen Cox, who was an ardent Consumers Rights Advocate.

She committed a significant portion of her life advocating for the rights of Consumers in Guyana despite the many challenges she faced.

Some of the other activities planned for the 2015 observance of WCRD include radio and television programmes and a “cook for change competition”.

This year Consumers International (CI) is observing the worldwide event under the theme “Consumers Right to Healthy Food”. According to CI, unhealthy diet is linked to four of the ten major causes of deaths worldwide: overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and high cholesterol.

The International organisation pointed out that obesity alone is estimated to cost US$2 trillion per year.

PNC/R remembers former President Desmond Hoyte

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he Peoples’ National Congress Reform (PNC/R) has held its sixth annual commemorative lecture in honour of former President the late Hugh Desmond Hoyte.

The lecture which highlighted the Policies of the former President: Gender and Racial Inclusivity and Good Governance, was held at the Pegasus International Hotel, Savannah suites.

Supriya Singh-Bodden, Founder of the Guyana Foundation, who presented the lecture pointed to what may be one of the many causes of suicide in Guyana, during her lecture.

She stated that Guyana’s youths need an internal role model for inspiration.

As such, she said the lecture will be broadcast online with the hope that more young people will draw inspiration from the life of Hugh Desmond Hoyte, who she feels, is an exceptional statesman and gentleman who contributed significantly to Guyana’s development.

Bodden explained that through her foundation, she has found that Guyana’s young people are under more pressure now than they ever were. She added that the pressure faced by young people has resulted in the necessity to survive.

Hence, many Guyanese families are scattered.

This she said is a sad reality that tears the nurturing element that families gain through wholesome family life which is now reduced to “a dysfunctional set of arrangements in homes across Guyana.”

“Our youths have no strong role models in their lives, these circumstances and more send many of them spiraling towards the ugliness end, suicide,” Bodden said.

She stated that “youths now live in real time with access to the internet and while they communicate faster they have become a generation of onlookers, who look to the outside for inspiration to shape their minds. They look to a world of progress, prosperity and plenty, unfortunately the majority of them can never afford to participate in that world entirely.”

Bodden opined that through the internet youths find a temporary escape to ease their senses thus creating a surreal world.

“They live hoping that they too can live fulfilled lives,” Bodden said.

She added that the fact that Guyana has arrived at the juncture of recording the highest rate of suicide in the world would have devastated Guyana’s former President.

“He was a dedicated father who sadly lost both of his children in a horrific ac-

Former President the late Hugh Desmond Hoyte

cident. He saw the youths of Guyana as his own, he saw no colour and wanted to prepare the best ground that he can possibly prepare for the youth and women of Guyana to take their rightful places and develop our country in the process,” Bodden pointed out.

She added that the late Hoyte was an inspiration to many and “meeting him in the 1990’s changed my life” She said Hoyte believed in one culture, race and people and lauded his confined upbringing for his successes in gender and racial inclusivity, and good governance. “His character shaped his remarkable achievements in these three areas,” Bodden pointed out.

The former President was born in Georgetown on March 9, 1929 and attended that St Barnabas Anglican School and then to the Progress High School. He grew up in Charlotte Street and was the son of the late Alphonso and Gladys Maria Hoyte.

Bodden said “the values of decency, courtesy, tidiness, honour, truth and many other qualities were inculcated in him from a very early age and this had a lasting impact on the development of his character.”

Following studies in England, he returned to Guyana in 1960 when he started a private practice.

After practicing law for a number of years, between 1969 and 1984 he was elected to Parliament. He was Home Affairs Minister from 1969 to 1970, Finance Minister from 1970 to 1972, Works and Communications Minister from 1972 to 1974, and Economic Development Minister in 1974 to 1980.

In 1980, he became one of Guyana’s five Vice Presidents and following the death of former President LFS Burnham in 1985, Hoyte became President. At the time of Burnham’s death, the dialogue was being carried out for the formation of a Government of National Unity and Hoyte then expressed his desire to continue that dialogue.

saturday, march 14, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News Granger to Rohee: “I am a game changer not a danger” ...as “game changer” makes expansive promises

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sked to respond to the chants of "Granger is Danger!!!" by thousands of mostly Berbicians led by People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee at the Cheddi Jagan memorial event on Sunday at Babu Jaan, Granger said he did not represent danger but was rather change for the country.

He told media operatives at A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) weekly press conference that he was a "game changer", not a danger.

Rohee had told the mammoth crowd at Babu Jaan that they should not support the APNUAlliance For Change (AFC) coalition, because “David Granger was danger ”, as he was steeped in the tradition of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Burnham who had appointed him to head the army.

Rohee posited that the PPP/C was facing an analogous threat as it did in 1964, when the United Force (UF) coalesced with the PNC, now the major partner in APNU to oust the PPP/C and then kept itself in office for 28 years by rigging elections.

In a warning to the AFC and Moses Nagamootoo,

David Granger

who he dubbed a "neemakharam", he reminded all and sundry that the UF was subsequently ejected within three years by the PNC, which ruled on its own thereafter.

Granger, however, countered that “Granger is not a danger, Granger is a game changer” while promising that under a coalition Government, persons residing on the Corentyne would be able to see and experience real change, as that Government would ensure “a good life for all” .

He promised that when the APNU/AFC head up to the Corentyne, they would have their own message for the people, a message he said, which depicts the change his Government would bring, should the

coalition win the upcoming elections. One of the changes, he said, was stricter protection for all with special emphasis placed on reducing piracy, since this was an issue which plagued this particular area of the country.

“I will tell them that I will make the country safer from piracy which affects the Corentyne more seriously than the others.

I would make sure that the residents are safe from banditry,” Granger said.

The Opposition leader went on to promise that the APNU-AFC Government would ensure that a turnaround plan for the sugar and rice industries is drafted and implemented, so as to protect the lifeline of the sectors while sustaining the livelihood of those who are dependent on these.

“I would ensure that the sugar industry is reformed so that the poor worker turnout rate is turned around. I would engage the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the Corporation on a turnaround for the sugar industry to protect the jobs of the working people in that industry. I would ensure that rice farmers are promptly paid or if the millers cannot pay them promptly,

some form of stabilisation is established… to iron out the fluctuations.”

In an invited comment, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali pointed out, "In the 28 years of the PNC's first rule over Guyana, these two industries were brought to their knees by a sugar levy that sucked all the profits from that industry and an implicit tax of over 108 per cent on rice due to the low purchase price and high export price."

"They can promise the moon and the stars ... but the people should go by their track record".

As Granger continued his revelations, he said that in keeping with his party’s strong views on education in the country, his Government would ensure that all issues affecting the Berbice Tain Campus of the University of Guyana were rectified and would seek to provide job opportunities for every successful university graduate.

He noted that it is his strong belief that should the party take this message to the same people in the Corentyne, it would be able to win many of the PPP/C’s supporters to come on board the coalition.

“That’s my message.

Life will be better for the people of Corentyne.

City’s garbage collection to resume

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cting Town Clerk Carol Sooba has disclosed that the garbage collection operations within the city are expected to resume, with effect from Monday, March 16.

The city went approximately one month without any garbage collection services, leaving numerous communities without a proper means of disposing waste material.

During an interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, the Town Clerk (Ag) said the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown has finally awarded contracts to Puran Brothers and Cevon’s Waste Management to resume the garbage collection in Georgetown, much to the relief of residents of the city and its environs.

Puran Brothers was awarded the contract for Group seven which in-

Garbage collection to resume in the city

cludes West Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, Castello Housing Scheme, Independence Boulevard, West La Penitence, Jeeboo Land, North La Penitence, East La Penitence, Lamaha Springs and Lamaha Park.

Cevon’s Waste Management was award-

ed the contract for Group Eight which covers Albertown, Kingston, North Cummingsburg, South Cummingsburg, Eve Leary and Queenstown.

Non-payment Meanwhile, several contractors, including

Puran Brothers, have not been paid by the Council for their services since August 2014, which resulted in them ceasing all garbage collection.

But Sooba said the Council has finally taken a decision to pay the entity, prompting their resumption to work. It was reported that Puran Brothers, among other contractors, was not paid because their work was done without proper procedures in place.

It is alleged that Puran Brothers had been providing waste disposal services without the approval of the M&CC and without the benefit of a legally binding contract.

Nonetheless, Sooba said the Council has promised to pay the contractors in order to restore the good faith between the two bodies and allow for the smooth process of garbage collection in the city.

People are looking for a good life and we don’t regard Region Six as a PPP/C area…I have a good message for them,” he shared.

He disclosed that the party has remained confident that it would also be able to attract a good turnout in Berbice.

"Maybe when Granger

goes to the Corentyne, he will stop off at 63 Village at the "Ballot Box Martyrs Monument” and explain why he wrote that the soldiers who killed Bholanauth Parmanand and Jagan Ramessar behaved 'splendidly'," Minister Ali concluded.

“King Perai” receives support from Amerindian Affairs Ministry

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai handing over a cheque to Manoel “King Perai” Ferreira at the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, Thomas and Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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anoel “King Perai” Ferreira, who was crowned the 2015 adult Calypso Monarch, with his song “King Perai,” received $100,000 from the Amerindians Affairs Ministry, for being the first Amerindian to cop the title since 2002.

During a simple handing over ceremony at the Ministry’s Quamina and Thomas Streets Office on Friday, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, congratulated Ferreira for his outstanding performance during the calypso competition, which was held during the month of February, as part of the Mashramani celebrations.

Minister Sukhai said the Ministry was pleased to know that an indigenous person dominated this national competition, and it shows that Amerindians have great talent. “We are very proud that an indigenous competitor… indeed it is a great honour for us to ex-

press our congratulations to and appreciation for you, to participate in this very important national event, Mashramani, which comes from an Amerindian word,” Minister Sukhai told Ferreira.

Meanwhile, the delighted Calypso Monarch expressed gratitude to the Amerindian Affairs Ministry for the support, which he said will assist him in replicating his Compact Dics (CDs) that are in high demand.

Ferreira noted that he is currently preparing for “Clash of the Champions” in which he will be participating.

He said that he had entered the competition three times before, with the hope of winning, but was unsuccessful. However, this year he went stronger, and was thrilled, when he was crowned Calypso Monarch.

To other young talented Amerindians, Ferreira urged them not to give up on their dreams.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, march 14, 2015

In absence of evidence, many are drawing political inferences

Dear Editor, On March 10, a few moments apart, the lives of two of our citizens were brutally mowed down in chilling fashion as they were executed by gunmen, still at large.

Randy Persaud, 27, was gunned down in front of his home in Agricola. Courtney Crum-Ewing, 40, was shot to the head in Diamond while walking around the community urging residents to vote.

The execution of Courtney Crum-Ewing is also dangerously timed in a climate of electoral campaigning as we prepare for national elections on May 11. Many persons, in the absence of evidence, are already drawing political inferences.

At this time, to draw specific conclusions as to where culpability rests, I call on the Guyana Police Force to

act swiftly in its investigations to find and bring these killers before our courts.

The execution of Mr Crum-Ewing, under those circumstances, is a retrograde step for our nation and deserves the highest condemnation from all quarters. The murder of Randy Persaud, and so many others under similar circumstances, is no less important than the murder of Mr Crum-Ewing as it affects us all as a people who value, or are expected to value, the sanctity and dignity of life and indeed the human person.

In my public statement on November 11, 2014 following the prorogation of Parliament, I stated that Guyana is in uncharted territory and reconciliation and trust are crucial to the process of restoring and building the nation.

I also called on all Guyanese and their leaders to ensure that we navigate these uncertain times peacefully, honestly and respectfully. I wish to repeat and reinforce this call.

The constant call of God’s Spirit to us is to look at and register the stamp of immense worth that is placed on the whole of creation and, in a special way, on the human person. The Psalmist prays in Ps 139 (138) 13-14: “For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.”

God’s Spirit further calls us to celebrate this worth and dignity in ourselves and with one another.

I extend deepest sympathies, my prayers and the support of the Catholic Church to the grieving rela-

tives of the deceased.

I call on the political leaders of all parties to specifically condemn the barbaric killing of Mr Crum-Ewing and to actively promote messages of peace on the campaign trail and create an environment of security and nationhood in which citizens can exercise their democratic and constitutional right, and indeed duty, to elect a government of their choice.

As a start, I am requesting that all Catholics offer prayers for peace this Sunday. I appeal to all citizens to join in prayer with the Psalmist: “O search me, God, and know my heart.

O test me and know my thoughts. See that I (we) follow not the wrong path and lead me (us) in the path of life eternal”(Ps 139:23-24).

Bishop Francis Alleyne

PPP/C has always championed cause of multi-racial society

Dear Editor, Guyana has come a long way in terms of race relations. Gone are the days when race was used to divide us. As Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar reminded us, the PPP/C has always championed the cause of a multi-racial society in which there is political, cultural and ideological diversity.

The PPP/C has no interest in promoting racism in Guyana since it is the only political party with the largest multi-racial support. Both at its leadership and rank and file levels, it has always attracted men and women of honour and integrity from right across the ethnic and cultural spectrum.

Ideologically, it is more inclined to the left but this does not mean that there is

no room for the participation of other interest groups in the national development process. This was particularly evident during the post-1992 period when the PPP/C assumed the reins of political power after nearly three decades of PNC authoritarian rule.

By the turn of the 21st century, the world balance of power has shifted dramatically following the collapse of the world socialist system and the rise of new centre of powers.

The rigid bi-polar world of the 1970s and the 1980s have for all practical purposes given way to a new era of multilateral diplomacy with the emergence of new and powerful economic players led by China and to a lesser extent India.

Turn to page 18

Was Crum-Ewing written off as collateral AFC’s race baiting... damage by Opposition?

Dear Editor, Now that the popular one-man protestor has been killed, the Opposition vultures are quick to prey on this man’s demise to rally political support in the wake of an election.

Yet those same political ambulance-chasers, the likes of Nigel Hughes, Mark Benschop and Freddie Kissoon, clearly had the common sense of not joining him during his daily rants outside the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

The truth is Courtney Crum-Ewing did the Opposition’s dirty work, and who is now being portrayed by the media as an innocent altar boy. Apart from one columnist, no one seems to have the courage to call a spade a spade.

Crum-Ewing’s Facebook page is riddled with entries of threats and verbal attacks on members of the PPP/C Administration. He refers to himself as “a very angry, vengeful black Guyanese male,” and supporters of the PPP/C as “coolie people”.

But to really understand the twisted mind of CrumEwing, one only has to read from his own Facebook entries.

Like AFC activist Mark Ross and PNC-APNU’s Dorian Massay before him, Crum-Ewing’s known radical views could have been a problem for the new PNCAPNU-AFC coalition that hopes to heal a nation racially divided. Although he was doing their dirty work, it is clear that the opposition wanted to stay as far as possible from this timebomb.

Surely, the PNC-APNUAFC ringleaders now protesting and calling for justice in front of the AG’s office have failed him, but he gave them no choice.

After all, calling IndoGuyanese “coolie people” would not sit well with Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, for it makes it difficult for them to deliver the 11 per cent Indian votes promised to the PNC-APNU in May, and it is never good politics to have

an active fanatical member of the PNC-APNU-AFC threatening the President’s life.

This man was too dangerous to the health of the new coalition. He had to go.

And so, the question must be asked, “Was Courtney Crum-Ewing written off as collateral damage by the Opposition?

The PPP/C has absolutely nothing to gain by silencing this man. I can think of two others that are far worse than Crum-Ewing that are allowed to slander our President and members of his Cabinet with impunity, and they are very much alive today. I refer to none other than Mark Benschop and his pal Freddie Kissoon.

But as is evident now, the Opposition seems well positioned to take full advantage of Crum-Ewing’s assassination, almost as if they were expecting it. Nigel Hughes was one of the first on the scene, I hope he didn’t take away any surveillance tape like he did a few years ago from a crime scene at a

gas station in Buxton where a man was murdered.

Then without any evidence, this trained lawyer publicly labelled the shooting a “political assassination”, inferring of course that it was carried out by the PPP/C. And to inflame the anger of those who oppose the regime, the PNC-APNU-AFC organized a protest outside the AG’s office as if he was responsible for the death of Crum-Ewing. This act of provocation and incitement can only be seen as using a tragedy to drum up the PNC-APNU-AFC political base and to create a dangerously charged political climate leading up to May 11.

As President Ramotar instructed, I am confident that the killer/s of CrumEwing will be caught and brought to justice. But I can’t help but wonder if Hughes will offer his service pro bono should the criminals turn out to be members of his own party.

Harry Gill

APNU+AFC is a Burnhamite coalition Dear Editor, It was indeed a fact that at Babu Jaan on the Corentyne, Berbice, on the occasion of the annual memorial of Dr Cheddi Jagan on March 8, the farce calling itself the PNC/APNUAFC coalition received a solid knock-out punch by the PPP/C. I do not think that the coalition has regained full consciousness as yet as a result of the left and right hooks. But that is the coalition’s place for badly wanting to bring back Burnhamism in Guyana to

give the Guyanese people nightmares.

Now since David Granger is danger, the people of the Corentyne valiantly extinguished that danger when they remembered the atrocities committed by the illegal PNC regime prior to 1992.

But the shameless and barefaced new lieutenants of Granger AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo only for the sake of ‘pow-ah’ badly want to have the return of Burnhamism in Guyana, hence their coalition with the PNC/APNU. What a

dirty betrayal to their supporters!

So the PNC/APNU-AFC is now a Burnham coalition, which will be contesting the May 11 general and regional elections. As patriotic citizens, therefore, let us all say ‘no-no’ to the PNC/APNUAFC’s coalition on elections day.

I love the fiery speeches by President Donald Ramotar, former President Bharat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Prime Ministererial Candidate

Elizabeth Harper. They have all set the pace for the destruction of the PNC/ APNU-AFC coalition come elections day.

Finally, let me inform David and Moses that the good book states “a man shall not be established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous shall not be moved”.

Simply put the PPP/C shall not be moved and in this regard is heading towards a landslide on polling day.

Peter Persaud

Nagamootoo as well invoked the race card, saying on many occasions that the Indians are against the AfroGuyanese people. He even abused a little girl who asked him to address the President respectfully. He told her, “I am Moses and I believe in an eye for an eye”. What a blasphemer!

However, since the coalition, the AFC presenters on programme have upped the ante. Their race hate message has become more pronounced since the coalition and these incessant attacks on the Indians are now mainly perpetuated by Ramayya and Charrandass. They have now singled out the women and children as recipients for this race hate message.

They have attacked the Indians of Black Bush simply because these people rejected them; they attacked the PYO boys and girls because these youths have been trying to educate to people of Berbice on political and social issues; they have attacked the women in a most degrading manner.

Charrandass posed for a friendly photo with two PYO members and in the process obscenely gesticulated with his middle-finger and his brother said that the young PYO girls were selling pornography. Ramayya degraded the Indians women who delivered babies at the hospitals.

On March 7, Ramayya described the Indians as “coolies” throughout the programme and not once did he apologise for that racist remark. He even said, “Coolie look what you gat, instead of a PNC Government you gat a coalition”.

Ramayya then said that, the PPP/C was against the Guyana National Service because the PNC wanted to use it to create a “dougla race” in order to transform the Black people into a majority. Is this the truth or hearsay?

According to Mr Kissoon,

from page 5

there are a billion ways that you can effect a racist saying without composing the utterance yourself. Given the same line of reasoning, what will Mr Kissoon say about this and the many utterances by Ramjattan and Nagamootoo, who have said on numerous occasions that the PPP/ is a racist party, and have attributed many such utterances to the PPP/C leaders?

Mr Kissoon claimed that what Dr Jagdeo said at Babu Jaan was race baiting since this was the first time this statement has been said in public. Is this not the first time also that we are hearing about the story he related when he went with a male friend for a swim? Using the same reasoning then, we can assume that this new story is false and can be categorised as race baiting by Kissoon.

Kissoon needs to be consistent with his analyses and conclusions he draws from them since the subjective nature of his conclusions can only be deemed to be an attempt to cloud and distort the truth.

I do hope that Kissoon can get some of these programme tapes from Berbice and listen to them attentively. He will get a good lesson in race baiting politics. If he so desires, I could send him some tapes so that he could get a first-hand knowledge about the true nature of race baiting and ‘cussing down’.

What the APNU-AFC is calling ‘cussing down’ will pale into insignificance when these tapes are seen or listened to.

If Kissoon wants to be respected as an intellectual, then he needs to be more objective in his analysis and try to do more investigative work before he writes. Not everyone is that gullible!

Please ask your pals in the AFC to give you the tapes so that you can have access to real ‘hard core cuss down’.

Haseef Yusuf

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saturday, march 14, 2015

T

he seventh edition of the Miss Renaissance Pageant will be held on April 4 at the National Cultural Centre, where 12 mature women will be vying for the title.

The pageant serves as a catalyst to reeducate the public about the beauty, creativity, cultural awareness, and accomplishment of the matured Guyanese women aged 30

and older.

These women are expected to thrill the audience come pageant night. As is the norm, Guyana Times Entertainment will be featuring the delegates over the next few weeks.

Meet another two of the delegates in the Miss Renaissance Pageant 2015.

Contestant number 4 Name: Beverley Marlene Peters Age: 56 Children: 2 (ages 31 and 34) Profession: Financial Advisor Qualifications: General Life Certificate, Computer Studies; Pitman’s Intermediate, Elementary and Advanced English; Pitman’s Elementary Typewriting, Sewing Certificate Cultural presentation: Dramatic Poetry

Contestant number 10 Name: Vanessa Williams Age: 30 A budding Sociologist, this spritely young woman, describes herself as ambitious and hard working. A graduate of the University of Guyana where she obtained her

Bachelors of Science Degree in the Field of Sociology, Vanessa is currently employed as a Youth Coach with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment Project.

Vanessa loves to sing and can often be heard humming a tune or two. A soprano singer, she is well versed in Guyanese folk, classic and contemporary music.

She also enjoys craft, reading, modelling, travelling, cooking and interacting with different cultures.

This has led to her marrying a Belizean Born lawyer, and Poet. Vanessa is the proud mother of an adorable little girl, her name-sake “Vanessa Amie Rodriguez”, who gets the bulk of mommy’s attention when she isn’t volunteering at choir rehearsals or working.

Jumo Primo

T

he 2nd annual Hits and Jams Mash Awards, geared at honouring the top Mash acts each year, is being led by 2015 Carib Soca Monarch Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo with five nominations.

He is followed closely

by Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson with four nominations and Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts with three. The award show

is slated for Wednesday, March 18, at the Theatre Guild from 20:00h and it will be hosted by Feliz Robertson and Nuriyyih Gerrard, who are both nominated for Radio Personality of the Year.

The categories for the award show include Best Songwriter, Best Groovy Soca, Best Power Soca, Best Music Video, Best Newcomer, Song of the Season (SOS), 94.1 Personality of the year, Deejay of the Year, Best Chutney Song, Best Calypso Song, Best Producer and Radio Show of the Year.

The award show will see performances by Jumo Primo, Kwasi Ace, and Jackie Jaxx who was also nominated, among other artistes.

The award show is one of the many activities on the calendar of events to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of HJ 94.1 Radio.

The Hits and Jams Radio Station – Boom FM was officially launched on March 16, 2013.

A

fter seven successful years of the Kross Kolor Annual school show, the 2015 show promises to herald the biggest line-up ever.

With the likes of power houses Jumo, Vanilla, Charmaine Blackman Chineyman, Jovinski amd Tennicia Defreitas – all of whom have performed at the event before – this year’s lineup gets even stronger with the inclusion of Kwasi Ace, Jackie Jaxx, Lil Red, Granny Ivlaw, Heatwave dancers, the Reactors, Dance Fanatics, Avalanche, and Jewan KaNritya dancers.

The line-up will undoubtedly gear to present the children with a treat of a lifetime for only $500.

The Kross Kolor school show has always stuck with showcasing Guyana’s finest in a fun and safe environment and throughout its existence has been incident free and child safe. The show is scheduled to commence at 13:00h and will end at 16:30h, during which time performers will deliver performances that are modified for their young audience.

Each artiste will also be mandated to deliver a brief charge to the audience based on several topics dealing with various aspects of teenage life; for example, encouraging them to stay in school, say no to drugs, and similar topics that will encourage positive attitudes in our children.

This year, kross Kolor Records will be working along with the Unit of Allied Arts to present an education friendly show to a captive audience with the sole purpose of influencing lives in a positive way.

Several underpinning rules have governed the event over the years: no

alcohol will be sold or allowed in the venue; no metal or sharp objects allowed in the venue.

The mode of dress is black or blue jeans with white T-shirt or shirts with a badge or school uniform.

Security has always been a top priority at the event and this year is no different with private security and the Guyana Police Force in attendance. Parents can accompany their children for the same price of $500 (must be appropriately dressed). Teachers accompanying children are allowed in free.

The GT&T Kross Kolor School Show has had great support from the telephone giant, Igloo Ice Cream, and Colors without whom this event would not be possible.

The organising committee extends thanks to the artistes who have made their talents available for the entertainment of the children. Recognition should also be given to Director of Sport and the staff of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for always being there throughout the journey over the years.

Vanilla

Whom the Gods want to destroy, they PPP/C has always championed... first make insane!

from page 16

Dear Editor, The great herbalist and spiritualist Dr Veersammy Ramayya has done it again. On the eve on International Women’s Day, Ramayya found a novel means of attacking and belittling our women on the AFC’s Alliance on the Move programme.

Only the week before, he made disparaging remarks about our women hollering so loudly in the hospitals during child delivery so that people on the road could hear them. He said this to prove that Indian women are ungrateful to Afro-Guyanese nurses and that they should vote for APNU. Is this not a racist statement?

Then on March 7, in the same AFC programme, he said that women are love makers and that their husbands should give them job letters, which should describe their profession as that of a prostitute! This, he said, with regard to the banks requiring job letters from housewives.

Is this the morally correct example that a political leader should be using? I could recall Nagamootoo tell-

ing his grandson to “shut his so and so mouth”; Ramjattan telling people to “haul their ass”; and Charrandass Persaud obscenely sticking out his middle-finger.

But Ramayya and his boys are now creating havoc since the people in Berbice have not only rejected him, but have been lambasting them week after week after the Valentine’s Day wedding.

Then on that same programme Ramayya admitted that if APNU had gained power in the 2011 elections it would have been frightening for the Indians. He emphasized that if APNU should ever win by itself then, that is very frightening.

He claimed that by forming a coalition with APNU, the AFC has saved the Indians in this country.

This is not only racist but Ramayya is admitting that APNU is not good for Guyana.

Besides addressing the Indians in a very derogatory manner, Ramayya is admitting that the PNC was never good for this country. So his rea-

soning is this: since the AFC has coalesced with the PNC, the PNC is now good for this country. This man is a great intellectual indeed!

This man also claimed that the little PYO girls are moving in various areas urging Indians to remember the rice flour days and the white mouth days, and this is like selling “phonograpgh”. Can you guess what he means? Ramayya is a genius in malapropism!

Do Ramayya and the other AFC leaders believe that they could lie and deceive the people using the race card and ad hominem fallacies, and that the people will be so gullible to continue to accept them?

The AFC’s raison d’etre is gone.

The AFC is finished in Berbice and it is now a matter of time. Keep up the good work! Whom the Gods want to destroy, they first make insane!

The AFC leaders are being afflicted and the end is nigh!

Haseef Yusuf

These developments at home and abroad have resulted in a much more open and allembracing approach to national development which saw the private sector playing an increasing bigger role in the national development process.

Indeed, the private sector is seen now as the engine of growth with the state playing a more facilitating role in terms of providing the right balance between labour and capital.

One manifestation of this balancing act by the state is the increasing share of the national pie towards social sector development in general and human development in particular.

Indeed, the largest allocation of the national budget is allocated to the social sectors such as education, health, housing and water which is quite unlike what obtained under the PNC regime when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone con-

sumed more that education, health, housing and water combined.

In a situation of declining production and economic stagnation, all ethnic groups were made to suffer. Put in a different way, there is a direct correlation between low levels of economic performance and ethnic insecurity.

The rising tide of prosperity now enjoyed by all Guyanese regardless of race or colour is the best antidote against ethnic insecurity.

The PPP/C therefore has no interest whatsoever in fanning the flames of racism in our country. Indeed, as a party and party in Government it has always prided itself on the role it has played and still continues to play in bringing the various races and interest groups in the exciting task of nation-building.

Hydar Ally

saturday, march 14, 2015

GOA hosts lunch for Bermuda, Guyana basketball teams – GABF presents plaque to Bermuda

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Woods hopeful for Masters return

F

ormer world number one Tiger Woods is “hopeful” of a return for the Masters but will miss next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The 14-time major winner is taking an indefinite break from the game having described this year’s performances as “unacceptable for

In a statement on his official website, Woods said: “I spoke to Arnold today and told him that I will not play in his tournament this year. I’m sorry I won’t be in Orlando next week, but I know it will be a really successful event.

“I hope to be ready for the Masters, and I will con-

Tiger Woods

GOA President KA Juman Yassin hands over the GABF plaque to Bermuda Team Manager Greg Todd in the presence of GABF President Nigel Hinds and the players of both the Guyana and Bermuda national teams

T

he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) on Friday presented the national Bermuda basketball team with a plaque to show its appreciation for their tour of Guyana in the current three-game tournament being played at the

Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The handing over occurred at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) head office in Kingston, where the body hosted a lunch for both the Guyana and Bermuda national teams.

GOA President KA

Juman Yassin was pleased with the camaraderie being shown by the two teams while GABF President Nigel Hinds thanked Bermuda for willingly participating in the threegame series.

Bermuda Basketball Association (BBA)

President and team manager, Greg Todd thanked the GABF and the GOA for their hospitality as the two teams will engage in their final showdown tonight from 20:00h. Guyana currently leads the series 2-0.

(Treiston Joseph)

tournament play”.

“I’ve put in a lot of time and work on my game and I’m making strides,” said Woods, 39.

Woods added that he won’t return until he can “compete at the highest level”.

He has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, held in Orlando, Florida, eight times in his career.

tinue to work hard preparing for Augusta.”

Woods, 39, withdrew injured with back problems from last month’s event at Torrey Pines after just 12 holes, having missed the cut at the Phoenix Open the week before.

The Masters in Augusta, which Woods has won four times, begins on 9 April. (BBC

Sport)

Trophy Stall badminton Pistorius loses appeal on this weekend O

Petronella John of Trophy Stall and Gokarn Ramdhani of the GBA display some of the trophies that are up for grabs

T

he Guyana B a d m i n t o n Association (GBA) has teamed up with the benevolent sport agency Trophy Stall, to stage an age group singles tournament, set to commence today at the Queen’s College

Badminton Courts.

The action will serve off at 10:30h, and according to GBA President Gokarn Ramdhani, there will be rivalry in the boys and girls categories with the age groups being Under-11, 13, 15 and 19.

Ramdhani said the Association was extremely pleased that Trophy Stall Managing Director Ramesh Sunich came on board in supporting the sport. The age group tournament will be an annual tournament supported by Trophy Stall. Trophies will be given to the top three finishers in each division.

“The tournament, which will run for one week, already has 60 entries in the different ages and it is expected to be a very competitive and exciting tournament, especially as end-of-term exams will be over.

Players are asked to be on time and dressed in sportswear. All rules will be in effect,” Ramdhani concluded.

Among the top players expected to grace the tournament are the Ramdhani siblings Narayan and Priyanna, and Nicholas Ali.

scar Pistorius’s lawyers have failed to block an appeal by prosecutors against the South African Paralympian’s acquittal on murder charges.

He was cleared of murder last year but was sentenced to five years in jail for the lesser charge of culpable homicide.

Prosecutors are seeking a murder conviction after he shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

On Friday, the Johannesburg High Court rejected the application by the defence team to stop the prosecutors’ appeal.

After a short hearing, Judge Thokozile Masipa said procedure did not allow her to grant or refuse the application.

“In my view, to entertain this application will be tantamount to reviewing my own decision,” she said.

“For one thing there is really nothing new in the submissions by counsel for the applicant.”

Oscar Pistorius

The double amputee athlete was acquitted by Judge Masipa of both premeditated murder and the lesser murder charge of dolus eventualis, also known as common-law murder in September last year.

In South African law, this charge applies if the accused knew they might kill someone but still went ahead with their course of action.

Pistorius says he shot Ms Steenkamp accidental-

ly, after mistaking her for a burglar.

Prosecutors are pushing for the appeal because they believe that a full bench of judges in the Supreme Court of Appeal will agree with them that Judge Masipa misinterpreted the principles of dolus eventualis and will both convict him of murder and impose a longer sentence, says the BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg. (BBC Sport)

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Guptill, lower order A very English farewell as clinch thriller for NZ Afghanistan beaten lent platform, before Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson kept them going in the final ten overs. Tim Southee struck a six and a four in the penultimate over to complete the win.

Guptill struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 100-ball 105, and added 131 for the third wicket with the struggling Ross Taylor, who made 56 off 97 balls. Elliott and Anderson made 39 each on the back of each other, the latter’s contribution more immediate to the final equation, hitting three sixes and three fours in his 26-ball

blitz.

Shakib, the stand-in captain, bowled himself and Taijul Islam at the start of New Zealand’s chase. It was the first time two left-arm spinners had opened the bowling in an ODI. It worked almost immediately, with Shakib picking up McCullum and Williamson in the fifth over, but Guptill, who survived a close leg-before shout on 19, and Taylor held the innings together. Guptill’s last ODI hundred was against India in January 2014, so it was an important innings for the opener. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Martin Guptill made his first World Cup hundred

N

ew Zealand ended the group stage with a perfect six-out-ofsix record, but their bowlers were fully challenged for the first time in this World Cup as they sneaked a three-wicket win over Bangladesh. The win ended a five-year losing streak against Bangladesh, and it was was hard work all the way for the tournament favourites.

Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman made New Zealand count to 288, the biggest total they have conceded in this tournament so far, before Shakib Al Hasan’s four-wicket haul nearly derailed their chase.

But Martin Guptill’s sixth ODI hundred set an excel-

Bangladesh innings (50 overs maximum) Tamim Iqbal c Anderson b Boult 13 Imrul Kayes b Boult 2 Soumya Sarkar c Anderson b Vettori 51 Mahmudullah not out 128 Shakib Al Hasan* c †Ronchi b Anderson 23 Mushfiqur Rahim† c †Ronchi b Anderson 15 Sabbir Rahman c McCullum b Elliott 40 Nasir Hossain c Taylor b Elliott 11 \Rubel Hossain not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 Total (7 wickets; 50 overs; 216 mins) 288 Did not bat: Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-27, 3-117, 4-151, 5-182, 6-260, 7-287 New Zealand Bowling TG Southee 10-1-51-0, TA Boult 10-3-56-2, MJ McClenaghan 8-0-68-0, DL Vettori 10-0-42-1, CJ Anderson 10-0-43-2, GD Elliott 2-0-27-2 New Zealand innings (target: 289 runs from 50 overs)

MJ Guptill c Rubel Hossain b Shakib Al Hasan 105 BB McCullum* c Soumya Sarkar b Shakib Al Hasan 8 KS Williamson c Tamim Iqbal b Shakib Al Hasan 1 LRPL Taylor lbw b Nasir Hossain 56 GD Elliott c Taskin Ahmed b Rubel Hossain 39 CJ Anderson b Nasir Hossain 39 L Ronchi† c Nasir Hossain b Shakib Al Hasan 9 16 DL Vettori not out TG Southee not out 12 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 Total (7 wickets; 48.5 overs; 215 mins) 290 Did not: batTA Boult, MJ McClenaghan.

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-33, 3-164, 4-210, 5-219, 6-247, 7-269 Bangladesh Bowling: Shakib Al Hasan 8.5-1-554, Taijul Islam 10-0-58-0, Rubel Hossain 8-1-40-1, Taskin Ahmed 8-0-490, Soumya Sarkar 4-0-190, Sabbir Rahman 2-0-140, Mahmudullah 3-0-22-0, Nasir Hossain 5-0-32-2.

I

t was time for England to bid farewell to the World Cup and Sydney dutifully laid on a suitably hangdog English day, more downcast than overcast, and a match ravaged by rain. A revised target easily achieved; Afghanistan dispatched on a gloomy evening with nearly seven overs to spare in a run chase cut to 25 overs. What a way to go.

It could have been worse.

When rain intervened for a third time, and eventually curtailed Afghanistan’s innings at 111 for 7, England briefly faced the threat of an abandonment which would have brought with it their worst record in a World Cup: they have never before won fewer than two games.

At least they were spared that. They negotiated a revised target of 101 with nine wickets intact, the only casualty being Alex Hales, caught at the wicket for 37. Ian Bell constructed the unbeaten half-century many predicted he would and had the decency to forego a celebration.

Playing without fear is easier when you are out of the tournament and there is no fear to be had.

They made an entertaining trio, the Afghanistan pace bowlers, awash with physical threat: Shapoor Zadran, intimidating of frame, wild of hair, a left-armer with a runup so long you could plot it on Google Maps; Hamid Hassan, the fastest of them all, speeds in excess of 140kph, bearing red and green accessories in the shape of a thick headband and war paint on his cheeks; and Dawlat Zadran, more conventional and, on this occasion, less threatening.

Ian Bell raises his bat after getting to 50

They are worthy of respect, too. When the match commenced, during this World Cup, Afghanistan’s pace bowlers had taken more wickets, at lower cost and with a faster strike rate in comparison to

their England counterparts.

Hassan was the best of them and he was rewarded with the wicket of Hales, breaking an opening stand of 83 when he found a thin outside edge with one that held its line. But Afghanistan’s ground fielding was accident prone as they failed to cope with a damp outfield: Hales was dropped twice at backward point, the first time before he had scored, by Najib Zadran, Shapoor frustrated on each occasion, hands flung into a forest of hair.

Afghanistan has built an international team out of nothing because of an innate love for the game. England have the resources, but the nation - especially young people - has rarely been more disconnected with its traditional summer game. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Afghanistan innings (36.2 overs maximum) Javed Ahmadi c Root b Broad 7 Nawroz Mangal c Root b Anderson 4 Afsar Zazai† c †Buttler b 6 Jordan Nasir Jamal c †Buttler b Bopara 17 Samiullah Shenwari c Morgan b Jordan 7 Shafiqullah c Bopara b Tredwell 30 Mohammad Nabi* c Tredwell 16 b Bopara Najibullah Zadran not out 12 Hamid Hassan not out 0 Extras (lb 6, w 6) 12 Total (7 wickets; 36.2 overs; 111 148 mins) Did not bat: Dawlat Zadran,Shapoor Zadran.

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-20, 3-25, 4-34, 5-65, 6-93, 7-101.

England Bowling: JM Anderson 7-0-18-1, SCJ Broad 8-1-18-1, CJ Jordan 6.2-213-2, RS Bopara 8-1-31-2, JC Tredwell 7-0-25-1.

England innings (target: 101 runs from 25 overs) AD Hales c †Afsar Zazai b Hamid Hassan 37 IR Bell not out 52 JWA Taylor not out 8 Extras (lb 3, w 1) 4 Total (1 wicket; 18.1 overs; 81 mins) 101 Did not bat: JE Root, EJG Morgan*, JC Buttler†, RS Bopara, CJ Jordan, JC Tredwell, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson.

Fall of wickets: 1-83 Afghanistan Bowling: Shapoor Zadran 4-0-25-0, Dawlat Zadran 3-0-23-0, Hamid Hassan 5-0-171, Mohammad Nabi 4.1-0-14-0, Samiullah Shenwari 2-0-19-0.

Weather could hamper Windies chances in World Cup W

est Indies on Friday were keeping an anxious watch on the weather ahead of Sunday’s crucial fixture against United Arab Emirates in the ICC Cricket World Cup, as powerful Tropical Cyclone Pam trained its sights on New Zealand’s east coast.

The category five storm is the most powerful to hit the Pacific in three decades, and is expected to bring dangerously strong winds of up to 200 kilometres per hour accompanied by torrential rain.

“Hurricane force winds of this magnitude are going to cause a lot of damage,” said David Gibson, Vanuatu Meteorological Service director.

While Cyclone Pam is

not expected to make landfall before Monday, Napier – located on the east coast of North Island – could begin to feel its effects before with the forecast for Sunday showing cloudy weather and possible showers.

The centre of the weather system may not pass over New Zealand but parts of the country, including the north-east coast of North Island, could experience severe weather, meteorological offcials said.

This news will be troubling for West Indies who need to beat UAE at McLean Park on Sunday to stand any chance of remaining in contention for a quarter-final spot in the World Cup. They currently sit fifth in Group B on four points and a wash-out will see Pakistan

and Ireland – both on six points – through to the next round. Group leaders India, the reigning World champions, and South Africa, have already booked their spots.

Team manager Sir Richie Richardson said the Windies were keeping their fingers crossed for good weather.

“We have to play the game to give ourselves a chance, so we want sunshine. We need two points badly and we need it big,” the former West Indies captain said.

Should West Indies win, they are likely to progress at the expense of the loser of the Pakistan/Ireland game which also bowls off Sunday but at Adelaide Oval in Australia.

Sir Richie believes once

West Indies Cricket Team

West Indies reach the quarter-finals, their chances would be as good as any other team.

“We can beat anybody in this competition, but I’ve said at the start of the tournament that I hope we don’t peak too early. We still have

a sniff, but we need to back ourselves,” he stressed.

“We know that, given a chance, we can beat anybody. Once we get past this hurdle of UAE, then anything is possible.”

The UAE have lost all five of their games while

West Indies have won two of their five outings, including a shock four-wicket defeat to minnows Ireland in their opening game.

West Indies have also lost their last two games, to South Africa and India. (CMC)

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21 Maywether, Pacquiao to undergo drug testing sports

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Floyd Mayweather Jr (left) and Manny Pacquiao during their press briefing

F

loyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to participate in a US Anti-Doping Agency drug testing program ahead of their May 2 fight.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has confirmed that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will take part in drug testing before their May 2 megafight.

As part of the rules established under the World Anti-Doping Code, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List

and the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the fighters are subject to both blood and urine testing at any time.

Those samples will be tested for human growth hormone (HGH), erythropoietin (EPO) and utilising carbon isotope ratio (CIR).

“It’s a strong statement of the importance of clean and safe competition to have these two fighters voluntarily agree to have a WADAlevel anti-doping program implemented for this

fight,” USADA chief executive officer Travis T. Tygart said in a statement.

“We commend them for their stand for clean sport and the message it sends to all those who want to compete clean at the highest levels of all sport.”

What was not mentioned in the release from USADA is the four-year ban that comes along with a dirty test, which would be crippling to the 38-year-old Mayweather or 36-year-old Pacquiao.

Mayweather and Pacquiao have been at odds over testing in the past.

Mayweather first asked for USADA testing before his May 2010 fight with Shane Mosley after Pacquiao refused blood testing.

Shortly after, Mayweather accused Pacquiao of steroid use in the form of “power pellets”.Pacquiao sued Mayweather over the comments and eventually agreed on a $5million settlement.

This new agreement should put to rest any accusations. (Digicel Sportsmax)

NBA roundup…

Irving drops 57 to lift Cavs over Spurs in OT

K

yrie Irving had a career-high 57 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for a 128-125 overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a physical and emotional game Thursday night at San Antonio.

Irving had the most points in the NBA this season, topping his 55-point game against Cleveland on Jan. 28. He scored nine points in the final minute of regulation to force overtime.

Irving made a three-pointer in the face of heavy defense from Danny Green to pull Cleveland to 110-107 with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. After the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard missed two free throws with 4.3 seconds left, Irving made another threepointer — this time over Leonard — to tie it at 110.

Irving made all seven of his three-point attempts, was 20 for 32 from the field overall, and made 10 free throws without a miss.

LeBron James added 31 points in his first game at AT&T Center since being blown out in five games by San Antonio in the NBA Finals in his last games with the Miami Heat. Tony Parker had 31 points for the Spurs.

Indiana 109, Milwaukee 103 (OT): Rodney Stuckey scored 25 points and Luis Scola had 17 points and 15 rebounds to help the Pacers stay hot. Since the All-Star break, they are an NBA-best 9-1 and have pulled within 3 1/2 games of Milwaukee for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Down by two points in overtime, the Pacers used a 9-0 run to take a 105-98 lead.

George Hill sealed the victory with two free throws with 16 seconds left, stretching the lead to six. Hill and C.J. Miles each finished with 17 points.

“We took it as a playoff game. That’s the way we wanted to come in,” Miles said. “It was a big win for us. [Milwaukee’s] a team we’re chasing in the standings. We were just able to make some plays down the stretch.”

Michael Carter-Williams led the Bucks with 28 points.

Washington 107, Memphis 87: Facing a watered-down version of the second-best team in the Western Conference, John Wall

Kyrie Irving

finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Memphis sat three starters: Mike Conley, because of an injured right ankle; Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, resting on the second night of a back-to-back. Memphis also held out key reserve Tony Allen. The Wizards were without one starter, Nene, for what the team said were personal reasons.

The game got chippy late in the third quarter, when Washington’s Kevin Seraphin was called for a flagrant-two foul and ejected for knocking Jon Leuer to the court as the Grizzlies’ backup forward dunked. Earlier, Seraphin got tangled on the floor with Jarnell Stokes, which followed another bit of grabbing between Stokes and Washington’s Marcin Gortat.

Utah 109, Houston 91: Rudy Gobert had 19 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks and the Jazz won for the ninth time in 11 games. The Rockets didn’t have an answer for the 7-foot-1 Frenchman on either end of the floor. He had a double-double in the first quarter and 18 rebounds at halftime.

Teammate Gordon Hayward finished with 29 points, seven assists and four rebounds.

Rookie Rodney Hood put up a career high for the second consecutive game with 20 points. Corey Brewer led the Rockets with 25 points, and James Harden had 15. (The Los Angeles Times)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

saturday, march 14, 2015

WICB PCL 4-day tournament...

Bramble, Singh revive Guyana Jaguars – close Day 1 on 264-6 B y R ajiv B isnauth

A

gutsy unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 78 between wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble and middle-order batsman Vishual Singh rescued the Guyana Jaguars from a perilous position against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at the Guyana National Stadium on Friday. The hosts battled to 264-6 at the close of the opening day of their ninth-round match in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League Four-Day tournament.

Bramble was unbeaten on 51 and Singh was on 46, as the pair lifted the score after the Jaguars had slumped to 186-6 on the stroke of tea.

The tourists’ cause was helped by a wicket that was responsive midway through the day with legspinner Imran Khan (3-55) and Jason Mohammed (244), devastating the batting line-up.

Earlier, openers Rajendra Chandrika and Assad Fudadin put on 74 for the first wicket after the Guyana Jaguars won the toss and opted to

Vishual Singh

Rajendra Chandrika

Anthony Bramble

bat, making good headway against the visitors’ newball attack.

The right-handed Chandrika, who was given a reprieve on 15, impressed with an enterprising knock of 51. He took the attack to the Trinidadian bowlers, hitting nine fours in an innings that required just 69 deliveries.

He brought up his 50 off 64 balls, with an elegant straight drive boundary off Rayad Emrit.

Chandrika was growing in confidence when he played a loose shot and was taken at backward

square off Emrit.

Skipper Leon Johnson then added 18 with a sedate Fudadin, and by the interval, the Guyanese were 91 -1.

The pair took the hosts to 133 before Johnson squandered the advantage. Johnson’s wicket triggered a slide which saw five wickets tumble for 53 runs, Both Johnson and fellow left-hander Narsingh Deonarine fell in successive deliveries to leg-spinner Imran Khan, mid way through the second session.

Johnson made 49, with five boundaries and two sixes in 61 balls. The Trinidadians did not have to wait long before they celebrated another double strike. Jason Mohammed

removed the dogged Fudadin for 44 and veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul for two.

Fudadin hit five boundaries and a six in the 148 balls faced.

Next Christopher Barnwell was trapped leg before wicket to Khan for 14 on the stroke of the interval.

However, upon resumption both Singh and Bramble put on a solid batting display. They batted with equanimity and skill, to ensure the Jaguars closed without any further trouble.

Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton and Raymon Reifer were omitted from the Guyana Jaguars playing eleven.

Play resumes today at 10:00h and admission is free.

SCOREBOARD

GUYANA 1st Innings R Chandrika c Charles b Emrit 51 A Fudadin c & b Jason Mohammed 44 *L Johnson c Ottley b Imran Khan 49 N Deonarine lbw b Imran Khan 0 V Singh not out 46 S Chanderpaul lbw b Jason Mohammed 2 C Barnwell lbw b Imran Khan 14 +A Bramble not out 51 Extras (lb4, w1, nb2) 7 TOTAL (6 wkts, 90 overs) 264 To bat: V Permaul, D Bishoo, K Joseph.

Fall of wickets: 1-74, 2-138, 3-138, 4-165, 5-167, 6-186.

Bowling: Gabriel 14-2-600, Richards 13-3-31-0, Emrit 10-2-25-1, Y Ottley 9-1-390, Jason Mohammed 226-44-2, Imran Khan 21-455-3, K Ottley 1-0-5-0.

Fifa to target Russia’s racism problem ahead of 2018 World Cup

F

ifa aims to tackle racism in Russia ahead of the 2018 World Cup, says its antiracism chief Jeffrey Webb.

He said the governing body will work with Russian authorities, who have acknowledged they have a problem.

“Russia’s a big challenge,” said Webb. “They

are going to start addressing it. We are going to work with them.”

Earlier this week, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said he was concerned by the findings of a study into the scale of racism in Russia.

Webb, who is chairman of Fifa’s Anti-Racism and Discrimination Task

Force, says he wants to start by educating players and coaching staff.

“When you impact the club, you impact the stadium, you impact the community,” he added. “It has to start with coaches, players first in that dressing room - when that is there it spreads out.” (BBC Sport)

Jose Mourinho: Chelsea will win Premier League title

C

helsea will win the Premier League title this season, manager Jose Mourinho has predicted.

The Blues were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St-Germain in midweek but lead the top flight by five points with 11 games remaining.

Mourinho said: “The people who went out last Wednesday are the same who’ve been top of the

league since day one.

“They are the same people who won the Capital One Cup and the same people who are going to win the Premier League.”

Mourinho said that he held a meeting with his players to discuss their defeat, on away goals, in the last 16 of the Champions League and had now “closed the chapter”.

He added: “The only thing to speak about the Champions League is that

if we win the Premier League we are top seeds next season.

“We closed the chapter, but we still have the book to write. We have 11 more matches to finish the book.

“Let’s see if the last page of the book is with the Premier League trophy in our hands.”

Chelsea host Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

guyanatimesGY.com

saturday, march 14, 2015

23

Hinds to defend Mineral Water cycling title today F

resh off winning the Berbice leg of the Cheddi Jagan memorial road race on Sunday last, Linden’s Orville Hinds will look to continue his winning ways today when he defends the title he won last year in the main event of the annual Diamond Mineral Water 11-race programme.

The 10th staging of the event, sponsored

by Demerara Distillers Limited, will take place on the inner circuit of the National Park, with action set to pedal off at 09:00h.

The day’s activities will be headlined by the gruelling 35-lap School Boys and Invitational, which Hinds, who was at the time riding for United Bike Shop, won in a record time of one hour, 14 minutes, 45.38 seconds

Opposition Leader supports K&S tournament

APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger hands over his “Fair Play” trophy to Aubrey “Shanghai” Major and Kashif Muhammad on Friday

O

pposition Leader and Presidential Candidate for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, David Granger donated the ‘Fair Play’ trophy for the upcoming Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament set to start on March 20.

At the simple handingover ceremony on Friday, Granger, who is partnering with the Tournament for the first time in its 25 years of existence, noted that he be-

lieved that sports was crucial to the development of the nation.

Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey “Shanghai” Major collected the trophy on their organisation’s behalf and thanked Granger for his timely gesture.

The trophy, which is named the “David Granger Fair Player Award”, will be given to one of the 16 participating teams that exhibit good behaviour and sportsmanship during the tournament.

Canal Polder Youth T20 starts today

T

op talent from the West Bank of Demerara will showcase their skills from this weekend in the inaugural Canal Polder Youth T20 tournament, sponsored by Gaico Construction Inc. A total of 10 teams will contest the round-robin competition, which has a top prize of $200,000, while the losing finalist will pocket $150,000. As a form of encouragement to the teams, the sponsor will give $50,000 to each of the participating teams.

The Man of the Match in each game will also be recognised for his effort. One match will be played today to bowl off the competition, with action starting at 14:00h at the Cultural Cricket Club Ground in Canal Number Two. In

the opening game, McGill Sports Club A will take on All Youth A. On Sunday, four games are fixed for two venues, with action bowling off at 09:30h at both grounds.

At the Cultural Cricket Club Ground, Cultural Cricket Club B will play McGill B in the first game, followed by Cultural Cricket Club A playing All Youth B from 14:00h.

Over at the Independence Ground, Independence B will face Malvern in the opening match, while Independence A will collide with Rising Star from 14:00h.

The McGill Ground at Canal Number One is the other venue earmarked to host matches in the competition, which is being played with red balls and white clothing.

(01h: 14m: 45.38s).

Hinds, who now competes in a Team Evolution uniform, had blew out his competitors, with Warren McKay, Raynauth Jeffrey, Andre Abdool, Robin Persaud, and Stephen Fernandes rounding out the top six.

Hinds will face stiff competition from those same riders in his defence, along with the likes of Hamzah Eastman, Alanzo Greaves, Christopher Holder, and Michael Anthony among others.

Prior to the main event, Sherwin Sampson continued to rule the BMX 6-9 and 9-12 races, winning both comfortably. Jeremiah Harrison and Esau Jaisingh finished second and third respectively in the BMX 6-9, while Thuran Garbarran was the other entrant in the BMX 9-12.

Rawle Small and Adrian Sharma had won the BMX 12-14 and BMX Open respectively, while Christopher Griffith,

Flashback! Orville Hinds crosses the line to win last year’s race

Avish Ramkhellawan, and Toshawanna Doris were 1-2-3 in the 12-14 Boys and Girls.

The Juveniles race was won by Michael Anthony, with Andre Green in second and Alonzo Ambrose in third, while Ozia McUally was the first to the line ahead of Clyde Jacobs and Wayne Nurse in the

Mountain Bike race.

In the veteran races, Junior Niles won the Under-50, Linden Blackman copped top honours in the Over-50 and 74-year-old Anthony Fariah was the lone competitor in the Over60 category.

National coach and organiser of the event, Hassan Mohamed said on Monday

that the race would serve to give the riders another avenue to get fully prepared for the third and final leg of the Cheddi Jagan memorial road race in Essequibo on March 22.

Representatives of Demerara Distillers Limited will be on hand to witness the races and assist in the presentation of prizes.

saturday, march 14, 2015

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

Guyana-Bermuda 3-game basketball tournament...

Guyana win series with comprehensive performance

By Treiston Joseph

P

ace and defence allowed Guyana to win their second straight game in their three-match series against Bermuda on Thursday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

With Guyana pulling away for a 66-55 win, whether the local team win or lose the third game today, the series is already won.

Coach Darcel Harris is looking to have some of the younger players such as Linden’s Terron Welch and Plaisance’s Nikkoloi Smith suit up for the final game.

“This was a great win for us and it shows that our style of basketball can compete with some of the best in the Caribbean so what we really want to do on Saturday is to see how some of the younger guys play,” Harris stated.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s win was thanks in large to their defensive wizardry in the third period as they only allowed Bermuda to score five points in the 10-minute period, after the half ended with Bermuda leading 3029.

Guyana’s up-tempo style and ability to hit 3s as well as jumpers helped them pull away for the double-digit advantage that they never relinquished in the final stanza of the game.

Travis Burnett, as he did in the first game, led Guyana with a team-high 16 points, while Captain Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai made his presence felt after a quiet first game with 14 points and seven rebounds. Shelroy Thomas continued his form with 13 points.

Scoring for Bermuda was Jason Lowe with a gamehigh 21 points, while Captain Sullivan Phillips had 14 points and Dean Jones 11.

The final game between the two nations will be this evening from 20:00h at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Akeem Kanhai skies for a contested one-hand slam, but was fouled in the process

The successful Guyanese team after the series clinching win (Treiston Joseph photos)

Fernandes maintains Top 20 presence

S

easoned Guyanese squash player Nicolette Fernandes has maintained her presence in the Top 20 of the Women Squash Association (WSA), fol-

lowing the release of the March rankings.

The 31-year-old Fernandes is currently ranked number 20, one position shy of the career-best 19 she last achieved in July last year.

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time) Saturday: 41st Match, Pool B- UAE v West Indies, 18:00h Saturday: 42nd Match, Pool B- Ireland v Pakistan, 23:30h

Fernandes is the only player from the Caribbean and South American in the top 20, a clear indication of her status in this part of the globe.

The latest list by the WSA is dominated by England and Egypt, who have six and five players respectively in the Top 20. The number one spot though belongs to the indomitable Malaysian, Nicol David, who has been unmoved from that position since January 2006.

She has won the World Open title a record eight times in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, as well as the British Open title in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2014.

David currently has a whopping 3446 rating points, way ahead of Egypt’s Raneem El Welily in second spot on 2580.

Rounding off the Top Five, which has remained unchanged from last month, are England’s Laura Massaro, Egypt’s

Nour El Sherbini and England’s Alison Waters.

The rest of the Top 10 are: (6) France’s Camille Serme; (7) Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb; (8) Malaysia’s Low Wee Wern; (9) Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy; and (10) USA’s Amanda Sobhy. The only

change in the T o p 1 0

was a swapping of positions between Serme and El Tayeb.

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