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President to GAWU membership ….
Strike if you must, but let’s do it by the book
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE 19th Guyana Agriculture and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) Delegates Congress opened yesterday with President Bharrat Jagdeo re-affirming the government’s support in ensuring the survival, development and expansion of the sugar industry.
Addressing the gathering, which included Prime Minister, Mr Samuel Hinds, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Mr. Donald Ramotar, other government ministers and senior officials, GAWU President Mr. Komal Chand, other trade unionists, overseas guests, delegates and observers at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Greater Georgetown, the President contended that workers too have a role to play in the survival and development of the industry.
Mr. Jagdeo said his administration has been, and will always be the workers’ ally as characterised by its proud tradition of being a champion of workers rights, but noted that “wild cat” strikes will do the industry no good, particularly at this juncture when there is so much going on in the world where economic issues were concerned.
“By all means, strike if you want to; I am not saying don’t strike, but go through the established grievance process. Let us have this done, because we are trying to save this industry too, and we are showing the commitment by the money we put into it,” he told the gathering.
He said that though it is true there was mismanagement of the industry, which was compounded by weather-related problems and Booker Tate not performing in many areas, the fact that there has been a 36 per cent price-cut on sugar and poor attendance among workers should not be ignored.
Pointing to the government’s unwavering faith in the industry and by association its workers in spite of the many setbacks, the President said: “What is also true, is that the government has spent US$200M on the Skeldon factory to build one of the most modern factories in the world; the biggest investment ever made in this country, and another US$12M on the Enmore Packaging plant.”
After the applause, which the foregoing observation had engendered, subsided, he said the government’s willingness to plough such huge sums of money into sugar was representative of its promise to engender prosperity into the industry, which is unlike what obtains in some countries which have decided to close their operations.
“There is a commitment,” he stressed, “and it is not rhetoric; it’s US$212M [and] it represents a commitment on the part of the government.”
Noting that that money could have been better spent elsewhere, and that workers need to put their shoulders to the wheel if the industry is to prosper, the President said:
“I am prepared to say: ‘Give the workers the industry, and if you make money, you get all of the profit… You get all the money you can make; you get every single bit of profit; you pay your own wages and increase them by 200 per cent … If you make a big profit, you give every worker a billion dollars or a million dollars.’ I am prepared to do that.
“But you know why you would not agree with that… You would not agree with that because right now, the industry is making a huge loss.
“We can always talk about [wage] increase, but we have to face the reality of the industry, and we want to save it for all of us, so that sugar contributes to our economy… and the life of all the workers and the people who rely on the industry.”
But for this to happen, he said, everyone in the industry will have to pull their weight, secure in the knowledge that though we may be going through a rough patch now, better days will come.
GAWU’s Komal Chand acknowledged the government’s support for the industry but said more still needs to be done to better the welfare of workers.
This aside, he said that Guyana has made significant progress over the past three years, namely in the construction of the Guyana National Stadium for the staging of Cricket World Cup in 2007 and the completion of the Berbice and Takatu River bridges among other successes.
He however lamented the fact that there is still a division in the trade union movement and stressed that the Guyana Trade Union’s Congress (GTUC) is yet to heed the call of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) for a unified movement.
Mr Ramotar, in his presentation, lauded GAWU’s achievements in the struggle for workers rights and better working conditions, and noted that its vibrant advocacy in this regard over the years has seen it now representing workers in many other areas of work.
He said the PPP enjoys a fruitful and special relationship with GAWU in the struggle for workers rights and working conditions and has ratified more International Labour Organisations (ILO) Conventions than any other country in the region.
This achievement along with the many legislations passed in the National Assembly to protect workers, he said, were testimony of the government’s unwavering support for the people of the working class.
He said the challenges of 36 per cent price cuts on sugar which will come into full effect in October this year cannot be ignored as the industry stands to lose some $9B in revenue per annum.
He reiterated that in order for the industry to overcome the concomitant challenges, the government has embarked on a strategy to minimise costs and maximise production in the industry.
He said that on the whole, the government has intensified its fight to root out corruption at the various levels of society, and that such things should be relegated to the past.
He too called for the unification of the trade union movement as this would be in the best interest of workers.
During the opening ceremony, which lasted more than three hours, fraternal messages were read from several local and overseas labour movements, notably Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Jamaica and the USA.
These messages called for successful Congress deliberations, greater attention to agriculture and agriculture production and support for President’s Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
The contribution of former Presidents of the nation, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his wife, Mrs. Janet Jagan to GAWU and their struggles for workers rights and working conditions were also recognised.
Senior lecturer at the prestigious Institute of Social Studies (ISS)which is based in the Hague, Holland, Dr. Freek Schiphorst delivered the feature address at the occasion themed ‘Advancing Social Development Through Greater Workers’ Democracy’.
The business session of the Congress will be convened tomorrow and Tuesday at the JC Chandisingh Secondary School at Port Mourant, Berbice.
D&I works coming along nicely in Region Three
-farmers pleased with the progress
-many returning to abandoned farmlands
By Tajeram Mohabir
Smooth flow: A section of a canal cleared by the NDIA at Kendal Section, aback Ruby. (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)
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A TEAM of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday paid a visit to Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Island) to assess the progress being made with work on several key drainage and irrigation (D&I) structures there.
Heading the delegation was Agriculture Minister, Mr Robert Persaud, and the purpose of the exercise was to make good on a promise to deliver quality service to farmers by adapting an inclusive approach.
He was accompanied by National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Lionel Wordsworth; Senior Engineer within the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU), Mr. Fredrick Flatts; and Project Consultant, Mr. Ravi Narine. Other members of the delegation included Region Three Chairman, Mr. Julius Faeber, and Vergenogen/Naamryck Water Users Association (WUA) Chairman, Mr. Hemraj Rajnauth.
The projects at reference are subdivided into Lots One and Two, with the former consisting of the Vergenoegen/Bonasika and Den Amstel/Fellowship areas, and the latter of Vreed-en-Hoop/La Jalousie. Together they form part of a $1.2B programme funded by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the government.
Other areas benefiting from the programme are the Golden Grove/Victoria areas in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), referred to as Lot Three, with Lot Four referring to the Crabwood Creek area in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) .
The inspection exercise was also in response to a number of queries raised by the local daily, the Kaieteur News, at press briefings and in articles, for specific information on these projects, and the representatives of that entity not only had the opportunity of having all its uncertainties clarified but were also provided with a map of the locations at reference.
Other members of the media were also given copies of the said document during the course of the five-hour tour of the ‘Lot One’ aspect of the project aback the village of Ruby on the West Demerara and other areas within it.
Worthy investment
Mr Rajnauth, who spoke on behalf of the farmers in ‘Lot One’, said words were not enough to express their gratitude to the Government for undertaking the $385M investments in their neighbourhood, since prior to this development, they’d had to contend with rotting wooden D&I structures which were of no use to them.
Agriculture Minister, Mr Robert Persaud, centre, along with D&I and regional officials inspect the approach to this bridge at Kendal Section. (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)
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He said that with the current investment, most farmers are returning to those lands that were once abandoned, and that this was largely due to the availability of improved access to water and drainage. He had one gripe however, which was the deplorable state of the dams whenever it rains, which makes it difficult for the farmers to access their farms during the rainy season.
Mr Flatts, who as we said before is a senior engineer with ASDU, told reporters that the projects are on target, thanks to good weather and, he too acknowledged that there are some problems with the access roads to farms and rice fields during the rainy season.
He said Mr Narine, the consultant assigned to the ‘Lot One’ phase of the project, has been asked to redesign the ‘Parika Back’ access road, which is virtually impassable during the heavy rains, and that this exercise is expected to be completed by month-end. He was quick to point out, however, that this little development was not in the initial programme, but was implemented at the request of the farmers.
Narine’s firm is responsible for the technical supervision of ‘Lot One’, which is of 20 months duration.
Inclusive approach
Supervision of the project is done by both the project contractor and the WUA, and during their fortnightly meetings with stakeholders, whatever is to be done, including adjustments to the initial plans, is agreed to at these discussions.
Mr Narine, who was formerly the CEO of the NDIA, explained that within the contract sum, there is provision for some variations to accommodate these changes.
The aim, he said, is to ensure stakeholders’ satisfaction with the work being done, since the contract allows them to share their views.
Work in progress: A construction worker in action on a head regulator at Ruby. (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)
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“Any payment that is going to be made on a structure, there is an inspection sheet that is done by the consultant, contractor and the WUA. And only when the three sign off to that inspection sheet, the payment can be pursued,” he told reporters.
To date, work on ‘Lot One’ is some 23 per cent complete, and Narine said that with the current dry period, efforts are being made to get in as much work as possible.
He is hoping to complete 50 per cent of the project by yearend, and stressed that attempts are currently being made to complete structures in the remote areas before the arrival of the rainy season, so as to ensure easy access during this period. One of the requirements of the project contractor, he said, is to restore those access dams used during the project to the undisturbed state they were in before the initiative commenced.
Wider initiative
Minister Persaud noted that a similar D&I initiative to the ones in Lots One and Two and worth $390.5M is due to come on stream shortly in the Canals Polder.
During his visit to Region Three, the minister also examined major earthen works being executed by the NDIA in ‘Lot One’ to free-up the waterways in the communities there, thereby facilitating better drainage and irrigation in those areas.
He pointed out that said areas had been neglected for decades, but that since the commencement of D&I works there in the last few months, farmers have resumed cultivation.
D&I talk: Agriculture Minister, Mr Robert Persaud, left, listens attentively to a point being made by Region Three Chairman, Mr. Julius Faeber. (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)
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He said the objective of the inspection exercise was to have a firsthand look at the works being undertaken, and to ensure that the project is carefully monitored.
The initiative is being overseen by Narine’s SRKN Consulting Firm, representatives from the IDB, the ministry’s engineers and farmers.
Minister Persaud said he was pleased at the pace at which the work was progressing and that it is his expectation that the project will be completed earlier than anticipated.
He said he and his officers will be meeting with farmers from time to time to listen to their concerns, as they are part and parcel of the process to oversee the successful execution of the project. He said that farmers in some areas have made some positive contributions and suggestions to improve the initiative.
“At the end of the day, we want the project to be successful; we want the investment that we are making to bear the type of fruits that we want them to, and for the farmers at the end of the day to have better farming conditions,” the minister said.
These and other D&I investments and infrastructural developments, he underlined, are geared towards making a reality the government’s vision of building a modern agricultural sector that is the bread basket and model nation of the Caribbean.
Gov’t mulling ferry design contract
- Good Hope stelling to be handed over shortly
By Wendella Davidson
GOVERNMENT officials are currently studying the design contract for the construction of two Roll-On Roll Off (Ro-Ro) ferries to be constructed by the Chinese government under a bilateral technical cooperation agreement programme.
This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett when asked recently for an update on the ferry project, which was inked at a cost of approximately $RMB63M or US$8M.
She expects that once the green light is given on the design contract, the focus will be on having the vessels constructed.
Initially, it was intended that the project should be completed in China, but a change in plans saw that responsibility being shifted to Guyana in order to help develop its shipbuilding capacity and cut costs.
The project aims to boost the ferry services in Berbice and Essequibo, and will also provide assistance to other aspects of river transport.
Meanwhile, a modern ferry stelling, which was constructed at Good Hope on the Essequibo Coast, by local contractor, BK International Inc. under the government’s Community Services Enhancement Programme (CSEP), is to be handed over soon, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn told the Chronicle recently.
The project is awaiting a final inspection, and once that is done and the green light is given, the contractor will hand it over to the government.
Officials say the new wharf, which extends some 400 feet into the Essequibo River, will be able to accommodate the mooring of two ferry vessels simultaneously. The stelling’s new location, as opposed to the current one at Adventure, is anticipated to significantly cutback on the time it currently takes the ferry to travel from Parika, on the eastern bank of the Essequibo River, to mainland Essequibo, on the other side of the river.
Farmers on the Essequibo Coast and in the Pomeroon River area, who are presently at a disadvantage getting their perishable goods marketed in a timely fashion to the city, as well as other mainstream businessmen are waiting with bated breath for the wharf to be put into operation.
The wharf is built on a reinforced concrete frame supported on land by 50 timber piles, while the portion which extends into the Essequibo River is supported by reinforced pre-cast concrete piles. The decking consists of varied sizes of pre-cast concrete slabs which are sealed and covered. There is also a metal protective handrail along the perimeter.
A floating bridge and a pontoon are also in place to allow for the mooring of the vessels.
Some 365 piles were utilised on the project, of which over 200 were to be driven into the sea, using the seaward side of the facility for access.
An administrative building and an asphalted car park completes the project.
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Learning can be so much fun
-even when school’s out
By Vanessa Narine
This volunteer explains to the children the finer points of craft making. (Photo by Sonell Nelson)
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FRIENDSHIPS, fun and facts are said to go hand-in-hand under most circumstances, and educators are hoping that this axiom will hold true for those children participating in specially-designed programmes over the August holidays.
Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Mr. Mohandatt Goolsarran, couldn’t help but concur with this concept as he too is of the opinion that the trio at reference is a constant variable in experimental learning.
“Children’s time at school,” he said, “is mostly spent on engaging in academics, but during the August holidays, they get to practise their theories through experimental learning. There, the children make friends, have fun, and retain important facts,” he said.
Besides noting that getting involved in holiday programmes is essential because they consolidate learning from the past school term while preparing children for the new term, Mr Goolsarran said that holiday programmes teach children how to live and handle relationships, hence the term ‘Friendships’, and help them to apply their knowledge in creative ways, which takes care of the ‘Fun and Facts’ aspect of the concept.
Having said this, it is common knowledge that there is a learning loss during the August holidays, or rather over any extended vacation period for that matter. This was corroborated by research, which has confirmed that both high and low achievers do tend to lose some amount of skills over the holiday months.
Research has also shown that for high achievers, getting involved in educational sessions during the holidays help them to keep their previously learned skills, while learning new or more challenging or advanced ones prepare them better for the upcoming year.
Similarly, for low achievers, the holiday lessons have been found to help with perfecting previously learned skills, and elaborating on that material is extremely important, as they gain more confidence, which ultimately leads to improved performance at the next grade level.
Here in Guyana, it has been found that while other countries have their definition of ‘summer camps’ around their vacation time, we have simple means of stimulating the minds of our youth.
Guyanese children are engaged in various activities where friendships can blossom and where they have fun with learning.
These activities range from:
* The popular Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) that churches organise;
* Activities that other faith-based bodies oversee;
* Extra lessons that are held by teachers trying to get a head-start on a packed syllabus for the new school year; and
* Literary and reading lessons conducted by educators with spare time on their hands, among others.
Mrs. Glynis Accra, house mother at the Joshua House Children’s Centre, says that the majority of the children under her care were involved in holiday programmes.
“Some have lessons, workshops and computer classes along with other things, but they are keeping busy,” she said, adding that to her mind, it is imperative for the children “to stay on top on things,” since a good education would help them have a brighter future.
However, while preparing for a brighter future is often the driving force behind parents, guardians and teachers getting their children involved in some sort of holiday programme, it does help for the process is fun.
A case in point is the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s annual taxidermy programme at the Guyana National Museum which targets children aged eight to 12.
In any case, during the different activities and programmes, two essential aspects that are promoted, more often than not, is literacy and reading.
Literacy and reading have been underscored by several educators as fundamentals, since children who do not read over the holidays tend to lose their literacy skills, while children who do read during the said period do actually see an improvement in their reading ability.
One educator, Mrs. Walterine McLeod, in underscoring this point, said one of the boons to the whole learning process was the informality of the holiday programmes which is what helps foster the friendship- fun- facts scenario.
“The less formal atmosphere, “ she said, “contributes to their learning, and teachers are better able to work with the weaknesses and strengths that the children have.”
McLeod organises a literacy and reading programme at her residence each year, in an effort to reach out to the children in her neighbourhood.
Learning loss during the holiday period can accumulate over the years and significantly contribute to the achievement gap, so programmes like McLeod’s help mitigate this defect.
According to an independent research done by the Iowa State Library, children who read voraciously (which approximates to one million words a year) add at least a thousand words to their vocabulary.
Overall, whether it is called a holiday programme or summer school or, still yet, by another name, the activities during the holiday that combine academics and experimental learning serve to add many good things to a child’s life.
Ken Corsbie is back!
-and he’s in one helluva ‘mango’ mood
VETERAN Guyanese entertainer, Ken Corsbie, will be the guest of GEMS Theatre Productions over the next few days as he prepares to extol the virtues of mangoes in a skit titled ‘This Mango Sweet’ in three live performances, beginning on Friday at the Theatre Guild here in the city.
‘This Mango Sweet’ is a potpourri of personal stories of growing up and living in Guyana and the Caribbean, memories of family, and arriving and (mal)adjusting in America, and Ken, who’s an educator, journalist, storyteller, poetry performer, stand-up comedian, theatre designer and director all rolled into one, will be sharing the Theatre Guild stage with the likes of Ron Robinson and Francis Quamina Farrier, both veterans like himself in the theatre field, as well as Camo Williams.
On the following day, which is Saturday, the action moves to the Lichas Hall, where Lindeners will see Ken sharing the stage with the popular and equally entertaining Henry Rodney and Kirk ‘Chow-Pow’ Jardine beginning at 20:00h.
Then next Sunday, from 17:00 h, he will be in Berbice to liven things up there at the Berbice High School from 17:00h, again with the help of Henry Rodney and ‘Chow Pow’ and Rajan Tiwarie. Part proceeds from this show will go towards the St. Vincent de Paul Friendly Society.
But before all that, a workshop is slated for the Girl Guides Pavilion on Wednesday from 10:00h to noon for students of the GEMS Youth Theatre Workshop.
According to GEMS, Ken, who studied stage, lighting design and directing in England, started out as an actor in amateur theatre in Guyana way back in the early 50s, and worked his way up the ladder to become artistic director at The Theatre Guild.
He was at one time a radio producer/announcer and liaison officer for the then fledgling Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) which job took him all across the Caribbean, and producer/performer of a two and then four-person theatre group (DEM-TWO & ALL AH WE) during the 1970s, with Marc Matthews, Henry Muttoo, and John Agard.
He migrated to Barbados in the 80s, and for the next 17 years worked throughout the island chain, from Guyana to Belize, as a solo entertainer, educator, journalist, storyteller, poetry performer, stand up comedian, theatre designer and director.
Today, he continues to perform in the Caribbean and North America, where he runs workshops, designs, directs, and tells stories at festivals, cafes, schools, universities, libraries, after dinners, anniversaries, conferences, and special events.
He is a recipient of the Arrow of Achievement (AA) from the Guyana Government, the Cacique Award from the Trinidad & Tobago Drama Association, several for stage design and directing, and a special award from the Long Island Traditions organization in the USA where he now resides.
Tickets for the Theatre Guild performance cost $2,500 (auditorium) and $2000 (balcony) and are on sale at the Playhouse, Nigel’s Supermarket and Margarita Gift Shop.
Ticket for the Lichas Hall show are $1000, and are on sale at Lifetime Gift Shop or any member of the Lichas Drama Group, while tickets for the New Amsterdam leg of the tour are $1,000, and are on sale at the Little Rock sub-office on Main Street, in New Amsterdam, and at Dave’s TV, Shauna Beauty Salon and Wattsan’s catering in Lad Lane, all in New Amsterdam.
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A FUTURE WITH SUGAR
Come Saturday, the ceremonial commissioning of the Skeldon Sugar Complex and Co-generation Facility is likely to be the most significant tryst with the destiny of Guyana's sugar industry so far conceived.
Indeed, to a large extent, by the earning of foreign exchange and moving into value-added products with spin-off industries, Skeldon can be pivotal to the future of Guyana's vital agricultural sector, which remains a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings.
Many of the next generation inhabiting coastal Guyana may well look back at Saturday's event as a decisive moment, for much more than the 17, 000 workers directly employed by GUYSUCO, and be aware that it is the industry that contributes some US$120 million annually, earned from exports of raw sugar to Europe.
Plus, of course, the range of health care and recreation facilities made available to hundreds of rural communities throughout the country.
But to complete the industry's contribution to Guyana's economy, one must also add about 4,000 temporary workers, at least 3,000 cane farmers and approximately 20,000 Guyanese of all walks of life who are indirectly linked with the sugar industry, providing various services for and sharing the benefits including spin-off effects in training in trades, technical research skills, and the highly demanding business of sugar cultivation, processing, shipping and export for refining.
The Skeldon flagship
Such factors, as stated above, make it all the more essential that the Skeldon Complex become the flagship of a modernised, highly efficient sugar industry of the Caribbean, aiming to produce 320, 000 tonnes of raw sugar by 2012.
This was the goal clearly identified in the Sugar Modernisation Programme, as designed in 1998 in anticipation of developments likely to affect Guyana's preferential exports, as a consequence of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, plus pressures from the World Trade Organisation on the traditional colonial suppliers of raw material for British and other European industries.
There is no gainsaying that Guyana's vision in 1998 for a NEW sugar industry was deserving of much praise. But today, given the low production in 2007 and 2008 of merely 226, 482 and 226, 268 tonnes respectively, as disclosed by Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, it is difficult not to concede that immense challenges lie ahead for the industry over the next few years.
Management
The challenges include demonstration of a capacity for tough and sound business thinking, and a no-nonsense management approach. This could best be enabled with clear policy guidelines, and a Board capable of revealing a sustained interest in the industry's overall performance, consistent with changes at home and abroad.
It is an enormous challenge for the industry to have a total production increase by some 90, 000 tonnes in three short years. This means that it simply cannot be "business as usual" in policy initiatives and management responsibilities. Critical assessments must be made to ensure the highest possible performance and total rejection of nepotism, inefficiencies, and corrupt practices.
It was encouraging to learn of the ‘management shake-up’, and the appointment of a new Board. But among questions deserving of an informed response is whether there has been a comprehensive assessment of the high-costing management contract that was available to Booker-Tate while the industry was declining?
If such an assessment was carried out, then what pitfalls are to be avoided based on the findings? It seems inadequate to simply make reference to the end of the management contract that was awarded to Booker-Tate.
According to what's being said in some circles, the measures being pursued to achieve a positive ‘turn-around’ in the sugar industry include:
Acceleration and expansion of cane cultivation; ensuring equipment is in proper working order and available in a timely and required manner; contracting out for services; and the design of fields for mechanical harvesting.
The major task, of course, remains the delivery capacity to supply of the 1.2 million tonnes of cane for the Skeldon Factory to operate on an economically viable basis. This challenge cannot be met without a sufficiently attractive incentive programme to enable the formation of a sizeable cane farming body, or organisation, prepared to perform on sound business principles.
So much of Guyanese future is tied up with the future of sugar. Let it be a sweet experience.
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'BRAIN DRAIN' -- A CARICOM DILEMMA
- migration of doctors, nurses and teachers
Analysis by Rickey Singh
THE DISCLOSURE last week that large batches of foreign doctors and nurses will soon be arriving in Trinidad and Tobago to work in the country's medical sector underscores the challenge facing most, if not all, countries of the Caribbean Community of a serious shortage of such urgently required professionals.
Ironically, it is small and poor Cuba, still suffering from the enormous consequences of an almost half a century of United States' punishing economic blockade, that continues to maintain a high profile in assistance with medical personnel and facilities to Caribbean Community states.
It's not surprising, therefore, to know that the Cuban medical presence will be significant among the announced expected batch of 119 foreign doctors and some 450 nurses coming to work in various hospitals and clinics in Trinidad and Tobago, while the government moves ahead with its training programmes to ease the pressures for improved services.
Interestingly, the recruitment of foreign doctors and nurses and plans to expand training programmes in that twin-island state are taking place amid political claims of discrimination in the employment and promotion of locally qualified doctors.
It is a development said to be among contributing factors to the exodus of skilled personnel. Such allegations have met with firm official denials.
The reality is that for a variety of reasons, among them objective factors of higher pay and promises of better opportunities and living conditions, have made a success of organised enticements by North America and Europe in the ongoing brain drain that afflicts poor and developing nations like our region in virtually every category.
According to data revealed by CARICOM's Assistant Secretary General, Dr Edward Greene, this region has over the past eleven years lost some 50,000 doctors, nurses and teachers who have migrated to North America, Britain and other foreign countries.
Dr Greene, who shoulders responsibility for Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, in referring to research findings of 2006, has disclosed that accompanying the severe loss in the exodus of professionals was also the drain on the public purse for money invested in training nurses and teachers in particular, with migrated nurses alone accounting for approximately US$2.02 million.
Big question
Question is how to effectively plug this mass migration of nurses, doctors, teachers and other skilled nationals of our Community who are enticed into migrating. The problem has clearly been aggravated by the prevailing global financial and economic crisis that's further eroding social and economic gains achieved when the challenges were not as severe.
It is not enough, however, to learn of the ‘concerns’ of governments, agencies and institutions over the exodus of skilled nationals from EVERY member country of our Community -- some much more affected than others. We need to learn of specific policies and programmes being pursued at a regional level to arrest this predicament.
What, for instance, is the regional plan to attract the return home of skills lost to the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom that could be proportionately allocated to member states of the Community, taking into consideration the preferences and/or family connections of the migrants to be interested into helping check the brain drain now further impoverishing CARICOM states?
Those who are cynical about CARICOM's commitment to deal with this problem -- and we can do with less cynicism at this time -- want to know if our 15-member Community has done any research to ascertain the various skills located among the West Indian Diasporas, starting with the USA and Canada?
As far as I can recollect, CARICOM, now in its 37th year, functions without a Regional Skills Data Bank and, consequently, remains in the difficult position to tap potential available skills at home and in the Diasporas for projects in the health, education and other development sectors.
Some experienced professionals feel that new approaches in the conduct of scheduled national census could prove useful in identifying available skills that could contribute to the compilation of a regional data bank for mobilising human resources to curb the brain drain that benefits the rich and deepens the region's agony over the loss of needed professionals.
However finally determined, such a project will take time to get off the ground. What appears urgent, in the thinking of some regional technocrats and government officials, is for CARICOM to embark on an emergency programme to recruit doctors, nurses and teachers, plus other skills in very short supply.
Funding for this project could be sought from either the World Bank and/or the Inter-American Development Bank. It is a matter that could also be discussed at the forthcoming summit later this year between President Barack Obama and CARICOM Heads of Government, in the context of plans by the region to arrest the brain drain that's contributing to our poverty.
After all, as the CARICOM Secretariat's Edward Greene had alerted us over two years ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources itself is expecting a shortfall of approximately 800,000 of its nursing needs by 2020 (not to mention for teachers as well). It will, therefore, want to be on watch for skilled foreign recruits.
President Jagdeo: 10 Years of Leadership
By Dr Randy Persaud
ANYONE who puts aside the impulse of indulging in personal-attack-journalism for just a day will recognise that President Bharrat Jagdeo has made an enormous contribution to the development of this country. It is quite obvious that this is asking too much of the shock journalists and paid detractors, but thankfully, most Guyanese remain open-minded. Balanced political discourse, therefore, is still very much possible.
This is not a dissertation on President Jagdeo. That will come in time, and like most great leaders, history will absolve him. For now, the task is simply to point to some basic facts about the President’s record. Let us examine some of the notable accomplishments over the past decade.
Firstly, President Jagdeo came to office at a time when opposition forces for all practical purposes had successfully hounded Janet Jagan out of office. The trick of valorised ethnic politics was employed with deadly effect against Mrs. Jagan. The young President stepped up to the plate, unafraid of the enormous challenges that lay before him. In the face of considerable uncertainty, he took the oath of office and set about the task of governing this nation that a small bunch of political operatives have sworn to destroy. We should never forget that the same bunch now singing ‘We shall overcome’ were indeed the ones who pelted Jimmy Carter and attacked the Elections Commission building just a few years before Jagdeo became President.
Secondly, President Jagdeo has had to navigate through some of the most extraordinary security conditions in the history of the Caribbean. No leader, I repeat, no leader in the history of the Caribbean has ever faced the concatenation of security challenges this President has had to deal with. An unusual configuration of development produced massive insecurity in the country. These include, but are not restricted to: (1) A step level increase in small-arms and light-weapons proliferation in the region. The problem was also compounded because of Guyana’s vast unprotected borders, and the fact that we are next to Brazil, one of the largest small-arms proliferators in the world; (2) the effect of Plan Colombia had the effect of sealing off much of the traditional drug smuggling routes. The drug cartels had to shift away from the Panamanian region of Darien all the way through Northern Santander because a fairly tight security perimeter was established. Guyana became one small-state target, and the cartels found willing partners in this vast, forested country, something that the President would have to contend with from day one; (3) the merchants of ethnic politics decided that if they pushed Janet Jagan out of office through a politics of racialisation, why not try it with President Jagdeo. It proved to be a much steeper climb, not least because the Guyanese people liked the young President. We know what happened after that. For those of you who do not, I urge you to read the writings of my friend, Frederick Kissoon. Kissoon has thoroughly documented developments in Buxton and what happened after the jail break.
The point should not be lost here. President Jagdeo, very early in his tenure, faced a determined enemy that knew no limits. These challenges to the security of Guyana would make governing any other country in the Caribbean, perhaps with the exception of Haiti (and Grenada for a short period), child’s play.
Thirdly, since Jagdeo’s tenure, Guyana had continued to make steady economic progress, and this, despite the enormous challenges facing not only the rest of the Caribbean, but even the economic superpowers of the world. Dr Prem Misir and Marissa Lowden have already provided hard statistics about economic development in Guyana. Detractors nonetheless say that you can do anything with stats. So, instead, let us just look around.
You see a modernised airport; the Berbice Bridge; a much improved Demerara River Bridge (that does not float away in pieces); a magnificent stadium situated next to a fine hotel; large housing schemes where thousands of people are laying the foundations of long-term economic security; sports facilities sprouting up all across the country; the completion of the four-lane divided highway on the East Bank; more and more street lights -- Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika is now on track, something I never thought I would see in my lifetime; traffic lights; great developments in health care, including complicated surgeries that few Guyanese ever thought would happen in Guyana in their lifetime; spanking new medical facilities in places like Linden, Diamond, Leonora, New Amsterdam; an all-weather road from Georgetown to Lethem; significant developments in sea defence and agricultural infrastructure -- including an ultra-modern sugar factory at Skeldon; measurable improvements in the lives of Amerindians who live in the interior regions. And this is just what you can see with the naked eye.
Fourthly, President Jagdeo has developed a far-reaching vision about economic and social development based on a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Many commentators have attempted to knock this strategy down, but they are missing the point. They want empirical evidence of the success of the strategy, although the institutional capacities at the level of world order have not yet been put in place. Visionary leadership means having the courage to advance new ideas. President Jagdeo has gone beyond that. He has offered a new PARADIGM. The critics are rather more like old Aristotle and his followers, who, for nearly a thousand years, insisted that the earth is at the centre of the universe. You may recall Copernicus had to recant because the normal science of the day placed religious ideology ahead of science. Copernicus was eventually vindicated. Copenhagen is not the last stop in the world. The President has been rightfully recognised all over the world for his bold vision of simultaneously dealing with climate change and economic development.
Development is first and foremost about the Guyanese people. It is not just about macro-economic fundamentals, or about bridges and stadiums. The President himself will tell you about the sanctity of a people first, human security oriented development. This is why nothing moves him more than when he sees young people from all across this land moving ahead. This came through just recently, when the President addressed one hundred and twenty-two students graduating from overseas institutions at the National Cultural Centre. The students were urged to be bold in vision; to put aside the daily clatter and din of partisan politics; to serve with distinction, knowing that their efforts will not only advance their own careers, but also the greater good of this country. He called on them to serve, knowing that their efforts will help heal the sick, educate the children, support the elderly, nurture the infirm, build the roads and bridges, increase our food production and, above all, give our children the hope to keep on striving.
This President recognises that, indeed, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
No single article can do justice to the accomplishments of President Jagdeo. It must also be noted that the President himself has set an ambitious set of goals for himself and his administration. He is not content to sit around and worry about his legacy. Rather, he goes to work every day, working late into the night to deliver to this country. He is of the conviction that leadership goes beyond big declarations and grand ideological narratives. He is convinced that leadership is not about speeches, squares, and monuments. Rather, leadership is, above all, about vision and hard work.
The President is hard at work as I write this article. His work is not yet fully done. And of course, he has years more to go.
Finding the balance
By Linda Hutchinson
TRINIDAD and Tobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning recently confessed that governing the country with its diverse races and religions was no easy feat.
He is correct in saying that it's difficult to govern a plural society, but a major part of that blame has to be shouldered by past administrations and by the current government for their failure to implement a policy of integrating diversity and pursuing equality of all its people.
Years ago, following the appointment of some of his ministers, Mr. Manning declared nonplussed that he was looking for Indians to serve in his administration and had left a few positions open.
Naturally, many people saw it as tokenism. But the statement said a whole lot more from a leader who governs a country where 40 per cent of its population are descendants of former slaves, and about 40.3 per cent whose fore-parents were Indentured labourers from India.
The balance of the population is made up of middle eastern, whites, Chinese and mixed races.
Racial, and to some extent, political and religious discrimination continues to be a problem in Trinidad and Tobago, although all groups continue to co-exist peacefully with one another, and are economically interdependent.
Even the United States, perhaps the most pluralistic society in the world, continues to deal with its own ethnic and racial differences, as we all saw when black Harvard University professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., was arrested in his own home last month by police for disorderly conduct.
Many saw the incident, which led to Gates arrest, as another example of racial profiling and President Barack Obama initially chastised the police officer who arrested the eminent professor.
The trio later simmered down over some beers at the White House.
The issue of race discrimination surfaced in the public domain in Trinidad about three weeks ago when opposition parliamentarian, Dr Tim Gopiesingh, using a highly exaggerated phrase, claimed that ethnic cleansing was taking place at the Port of Spain General Hospital where Indo-Trinidadian doctors were losing their jobs.
Some of the doctors Dr Gopiesingh identified as being victims of the ethnic cleansing came forward to explain that they had in fact resigned to go into the more lucrative private practice, or opted not to renew their contracts for one reason or the other.
Dr Gopiesingh's ill-coined statement led to some sober debate but it also opened up a spew of ethnic hate talk.
One just had to listen to some of the call-in radio talk programmes to hear contributions from the public degenerating into incendiary language of ‘we’ and ‘them’.
Some radio commentators, who failed to manage the debate responsibly, reminded me of how broadcasters used radio during the Rwandan genocide in inciting mass killing by mobilising Hutus, who wiped away an estimated half a million Tutsis in the mid 90s.
There is clearly need for responsible debate on the issue, but the challenge, however, is ensuring that it does not descend into creating hostility and animosity, and deepening the divide between the two dominant races. Its purpose should be how to create a harmonious balance between them.
Indo-Trinidadians have always claimed discrimination, since the country became an independent nation in 1962.
Ruled by the Afro-backed People's National Movement (PNM), persons of Indian ethnicity complained that it was often very hard to get employment in the Public Service. Even up to the current day, the Public Service continues to be highly dominated by one major group.
It is for this reason, according to the Indo-Trinidadians, that they saved up their hard-earned money, mainly from working in the agriculture sector, to send their children to universities to become doctors, lawyers, economists and other professionals.
They have said, too, that as long as the PNM -- which ruled and continues to rule the twin-island State since 1956 -- with the exception of two five-year terms in the Opposition, discrimination against them will continue, especially if there is no real move towards bridging the divide.
It also does not help to cement the relationship between the PNM and persons of Indian descent when Mr. Manning continues to ignore invitations to attend Indian Arrival Day celebrations.
Mr. Manning said he has a problem with the word Indian in the Arrival Day name of the holiday. So this year, as he has done in previous years, he absented himself from the celebrations and instead attended a sports day hosted by his political party.
In contrast, Mr. Manning invited a professor of world history with a special interest in charting the lives of persons in the African Diaspora, and bearing his own name, as a special guest of the annual National Association for the Empowerment of African People (NAEAP) dinner, a main function on the eve of the Emancipation Day holiday.
Mr. and Mrs. Manning also took part in the Kamboule procession through the streets of the capital the following day, dressed in the attire of the celebrations.
In previous years, he has invited African leaders to the country to celebrate in the Emancipation Day festivities. He hasn't done the same for the Indo group though, Indian organisations have complained.
Afro-Trinidadians also seem to have their own problems with their Indian counterparts, accusing them of controlling businesses and being greedy for profits.
When the Indo-backed United National Congress (UNC) got into office, some of their over-exuberant supporters were reportedly chanting: "It's we time now," which many Afros today believe meant "Indian time now," especially as the country got its first prime minister of Indian ancestry, Basdeo Panday.
This is a rough and raw picture of Trinidad and Tobago's race relations today.
Although the race issue continues to simmer and, at various points, boil heatedly in the public domain, no one is looking at what solutions there might be for dealing with discrimination and fostering a harmonious balance between the two races.
In 1993, Prime Minister Patrick Manning commissioned a report from the UWI's Centre for Ethnic Studies on race relations in the country, which, not surprisingly, found widespread complaints and evidence of racial discrimination in both the public and private sectors in the country.
Up to 2009, recommendations made in the report to reduce the suspicion and tension between the two dominant races in the country, have not been implemented.
Years later, after the study on race relations, former media magnate, Ken Gordon and other prominent individuals in the private sphere launched the Principles of Fairness, which were signed by most major organisations in the country.
One of the main points in the Principles of Fairness is the recognition that the problem of racial discrimination does exist in both the private and public sectors, and calls for "certain fundamental principles of fairness" to arrest this degeneration of race relations in the society.
Sadly, the Principles of Fairness have faded into oblivion while the people behind it have gone totally silent.
The national challenge for this country lies in how the races can live comfortably with their diversity, negotiating their differences, achieving cultural convergence, and how the merits of pluralism can be used positively to bring about a prosperous and forward-looking society.
But for a society to be cohesive, it must be inclusive, with no groups, however minor they are, left behind.
It's no easy task, but there must be a beginning towards how we can achieve such a society. Until then, the simmering continues.
Election’ in Afghanistan
By Gwynne Dyer
“THEY have the watches, but we have the time,” say the Taliban commanders in Afghanistan, and it’s perfectly true. The election on 20 August is not going to change that.
The foreign forces – U.S., Canadian and European -- are well-trained, well-equipped troops who can inflict casualties on amateur Taliban fighters at a ratio of ten-to-one or worse. But the Taliban have an endless flow of fresh fighters, and much popular support among the Pashtuns of the south and south-east. Not to mention all the time in the world.
The Taliban were and are almost exclusively Pashtuns, so it was really the Pashtuns, forty per cent of the population and traditionally Afghanistan’s dominant ethnic group, who were driven from power by the U.S. invasion in 2001. They are fighting foreign, non-Muslim invaders, and the government, the foreigners put in is corrupt, incompetent and mostly non-Pashtun. Why wouldn’t the Taliban have support among the Pashtuns?
Afghanistan’s president, Hamid Karzai, is a Pashtun, because the United States understood that it needed a Pashtun figurehead. The regime’s most powerful people, however, are non-Pashtun warlords from the various ethnic minorities of the north and centre: Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras.
Now we are asked to believe that an election will restore confidence in the government. It is nonsense: This election has no more relevance than the ones that the United States used to stage in Vietnam. Colonel David Haight, commanding the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division in Logar and Wardak provinces near Kabul, was helpfully indiscreet about it in a recent interview.
“I think that apathy is going to turn into some anger when the administration doesn’t change, and I don’t think that anybody believes that Karzai is going to lose,” Haight told an embedded reporter from the Guardian. “There is going to be frustration from people who realise there is not going to be a change. The bottom line is they are going to be thinking: ‘Four more years of this crap?’”
Unless bribery, blackmail and threats no longer work in Afghanistan, Karzai is going to win. He isn’t even bothering to run a conventional campaign: He bailed out of a televised debate with the other presidential candidates at the last moment, and leaves it to them to hold election rallies in provincial towns. He has made his deals with the warlords and the traditional ethnic and tribal power-brokers, and is counting on them to deliver victory.
Karzai and the United States are shackled to the warlords, because those were the allies that the U.S. recruited to fight the Taliban on the ground when it invaded Afghanistan in 2001. The Taliban, being exclusively Pashtun, never controlled all of the country; Tajik, Hazara and Uzbek militias continued to hold out all across the north. So the U.S. made deals with their leaders, showered them with weapons and money, and helped them into power instead.
It made good sense militarily, but it meant that the non-Pashtun warlords would dominate the post-Taliban government. They don’t live in the hills any more, but in the wealthy Kabul neighbourhood of Sherpar. Two of them, Mohammad Qasim Fahim, a key Tajik warlord, and Karim Khalili, a Hazara warlord, are Karzai’s choices as vice-presidents.
The West’s government in Kabul is not going to get any better. It cannot, given its origins. There will be “four more years of crap,” and by the end of that, the American, Canadian and European voters, whose governments sent their troops to Afghanistan, will be ready to bring them home. What will happen then?
Nothing particularly dramatic. Afghanistan was invaded in revenge for 9/11, but the U.S. could have played it differently from the start. Right after 9/11, a thousand-strong shura (congress) of Muslim clerics in Kabul declared its sympathy with the dead Americans and voted to expel Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda from the country.
The Taliban regime had just made a lucrative deal with the United States to eradicate poppy-growing in the country, and most of the younger Taliban commanders wanted to maintain the deal and expel the Arab crazies. Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, barely managed to overrule them, and if the United States had spread some serious money around, it could easily have gone the other way.
Washington wasn’t interested in that outcome because after 9/11, the American public wanted blood. Understandable enough, but invading Afghanistan is ALWAYS a bad idea (although it is always temptingly easy). Once the invaders have left, however, the Afghans never follow them home. It won’t happen this time either.
Western rhetoric insists that the hills of Afghanistan are directly connected to the streets of Manhattan, London and Toronto. But no Afghan, not even any member of the Taliban, was involved in the planning or execution of 9/11, nor in the later, lesser attacks elsewhere in the West. Nor would the Taliban sweep back into power if all Western troops left Afghanistan tomorrow; the other players are still in the game.
Everybody who dies in this conflict is dying for nothing, because it will not change what happens when the foreign troops finally go home. As they eventually will.
(Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journalist)
Construction corner…
Applying for permission to build
By Wendella Davidson
THERE are certain procedures that MUST be adhered to when seeking to build your own home.
With you the new homeowner in mind, the Planning and Settlement Development Department of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) has made available, for a small fee, a Developer’s Manual which deals with procedures as part of the CHPA’s new development facilitation and compliance practice.
The manual is the first of a two-part document dealing with the development permission process and proposed development standards for Guyana, and is intended to convey information to the public on the procedures involved in planning permit requirements for all types of development, as well as the process of evaluating and deciding on development application.
As promised last week, today’s focus is on the various Types of Applications you need to submit when thinking about doing any sort of construction.
All applicants are required to follow the appropriate application procedures to obtain planning permission from the Central Housing and Planning Authority.
There are two main types of applications for planning permission:
1. Outline planning application (Approval in principle)
2. Full planning application (Full approval)
Outline Planning Application for Planning Permission (Approval in Principle)
Prior to submitting a detailed application to gain full planning permission, an interested party may submit an outline application, for which approval, in principle, may be granted. That permission may be granted conditionally or unconditionally, or may be refused.
In general, the determination of an Outline Application For Planning Permission informs an applicant as to whether or not the type of development proposed is consistent with existing land use policy, and provides overall site development standards applicable to the particular site.
Prior submission of an outline application for planning permission reduces the risk of unnecessary cost due to abortive work in the preparation of building plans/drawings for the proposed development, which may not be approved.
Once outline-planning permission has been granted, the applicant will need to submit a Full Planning Application. Outline planning permission does not authorise the commencement of development. Development may not begin until full planning permission is granted.
It must be noted that an outline planning permission is valid for only one year, and during that time, the applicant is expected to apply for full planning permission. Failure to submit a full planning application before the one-year period expires will result in the outline permit becoming invalid.
Requirements for Outline Planning Application
1. Copy of completed outline application form (Form can be purchased from the CHPA) at a cost of G$200.
2. Two (2) copies of site location plan (See heading 3.4 ‘Architectural Drawings’ for information on scale)
3. Proof of Ownership or rights to develop property (building and/or land).
4. Processing fee of G$5,000 (See Appendix 1).
5. Any additional information which may be required by the CHPA, such as survey plan that relates to the parcel of land to be developed.
6. Covering letter indicating the intended use of the building/land to be developed.
For land subdivision, the following additional information is required:
1. Two (2) copies of design sketch showing lot sizes, layout of roads, drains and the general network, and community support facilities where possible.
2. Planning scheme for land subdivision of 10 or more lots.
Full Planning Application for Planning Permission (Full Approval)
A full planning application requires the submission of detailed proposals to actually commence development. It is granted in the following circumstances:-
1. If the applicant wishes to carry out building operations, that is, erecting, altering or extending a building, together with other works incidental to the building works.
2. If the applicant wishes to change the use of the land or building(s), or part of a building.
Requirements for Full Planning Application – Building Operations:
Applications for full planning permission must be made through the respective Local Authority.
Applicants must submit the following documentation when submitting full application for building operations:
1. The completed building application form, which is collected from the respective Local Authority;
2. Three (3) copies of building plans, including a plan of the site, floor plans, and two elevations (1 front and 1 side). These drawings should clearly show the following:
a. The external dimensions of existing and/or proposed buildings;
b. The precise location of all existing buildings, including the identification of buildings to be demolished or any additions to be made; and
c. The existing and proposed building setback distances.
3. A detailed site location sketch/plan of the land to which the application relates, giving sufficient detail to enable the site to be positively identified in the field;
4. Legal evidence showing proof of ownership; and
5. Any additional information which may be required by the Authority to make a proper determination on the application.
The Local Authority collects the processing fees for the application, and retains 10 per cent of it, except for the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown, where 50 per cent is retained. The Local Authorities process the application, and refer it to CHPA with recommendation(s).
Requirements for Full Planning Application – Change of Use
A full planning permission is required if an applicant wishes to change the use of the land or building(s) or part of a building.
An application for change of use of land or building must be made directly to CHPA on the prescribed application form, which can be purchased at a cost of G$200 at the Central Housing and Planning Authority Headquarters.
For areas outside of Georgetown, the application must be accompanied by a No Objection Letter from the respective Local Authority.
Applicants must submit the following documentation when submitting full application for change of use:
1. A completed application form from the CHPA;
2. Legal evidence showing proof of ownership;
3. A covering letter describing the intended use of building(s) or land to be developed;
4. Two copies of architectural drawings, which include floor plans and elevations (1 front and 1 side);
5. Site plan showing the proposed change for each building(s) or parcel of land;
6. A detailed site location sketch/plan of the land to which the application relates, giving sufficient detail to enable the site to be positively identified in the field; and
7. Any additional information, which may be required by the Authority to make a proper determination on the application.
For major commercial, tourism and industrial development, similar information must be submitted as required for an application for building operations.
Required processing fees for change of use
1. For minor development, except offices, liquor establishments and industrial undertaking $5,000.00
2. For major development, including offices, liquor establishments and industrial undertakings $15,000.00
(Source: Developer’s Manual)
That’s all for today until next week, when we bring you more tips on how to get cracking on building that house you’ve always dreamt of owning.
As always, we’d like to encourage that if you have any queries, complaints or suggestions pertaining to homeownership or construction in general, to feel free to write us at: gcletters@yahoo.com or lindford2004@yahoo.com
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Ram true to form
CHARTERED Accountant Christopher Ram, to the surprise of no one, was true to form, trying to embellish his non-partisan credentials by attempting to `chair’ a large gathering of 25 persons at a so-called civil society meeting at City Hall this week.
He lost all claims to being non-partisan by being a co-author of the manifesto of the People’s National Congress Reform for the 2006 general elections. He has not disavowed his connections with that party and cannot pretend he is a member of civil society which by definition and practice is supposed to be above partisan politics.
This means that the work done by his accounting firm now has to be seen in a new light, since he may be able to alter his assessments based on his political affiliations.
One wonders what will now happen with his firm’s affiliation with the Ernst and Young company?
If Ram felt so strongly about justice as he claimed at the `civil society’ forum at City Hall, he would not have prevented the some 3,000 small depositors of the Globe Trust and Investment Company Limited (GTICL) from getting their money back when it was being liquidated in 2002.
After the Government of Guyana sought liquidation of Globe Trust, Ram, representing the directors in the court case, blocked liquidating the firm, thereby frustrating payments to the depositors.
So how can he now pretend he is a fighter for justice?
Troy Tyrell
SO CONFUSED
MR. SASENARINE Singh seems to be mired in confusion in his letter in the Kaieteur News edition of August 13 headed `Where is Guyana’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt?’
First off, Todd Morgan is alive and well and living in Guyana.
But Singh, who probably fancies himself a potential Franklin Delano Roosevelt, chooses to stay in Manchester in the United Kingdom instead of being in his homeland where he can best make his contributions to national development.
And he has sunk into incoherent babbling.
First, he attacked Guyana’s draft Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as a pipe dream, claiming it’s only good as a theoretical document for university students.
Now he’s saying a top team should be assembled to lobby developed countries to make it fly. If he claims it’s no good, how can any top team help to make it fly?
He has also shifted gears – from attacking the LCDS he has drifted to political excursions.
Mr. Singh should really make up his mind about what’s on his mind and engage in meaningful discussions.
Why is he making a comparison between the LCDS and the National Development Strategy (NDS)? The NDS has not been dumped.
And what is his alternative to the LCDS if it fails? He has not made any.
He returns to his claim that the LCDS is all about “personal aggrandizement” and “selling one personality”, referring to President Bharrat Jagdeo’s efforts in lobbying the Guyana model.
The President has been in the forefront of the lobbying efforts by virtue of his office and the recent North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) poll testified to how very popular he is among Guyanese. He is so popular that although the current Guyana Constitution precludes him for running for a third term as President, voters overwhelmingly prefer him to continue as head of government.
Mr. Singh’s reference to the PPP and the PNC is befuddling.
The LCDS is not about political parties – it’s a draft strategy that is visionary and projected to unfold in the long term long after President Jagdeo would have left office.
Mr. Singh talks about “my people” losing opportunity after opportunity.
So why does he not seize the opportunity and articulate his position on a better road ahead?
He really should get a grip on reality.
TODD MORGAN
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Floodlights XI lift Ansa McAl Trophy
THE youthful Carib Boys of beverage `giant’ Ansa McAl proved to be worthy competitors when they gave Floodlights XI a scare last Friday night at the GCC ground.
Over 440 runs were scored in a 25 overs-per-innings softball match.
Carib boys batted first and piled on 220 runs for the loss of nine wickets with captain Shawn McKay top-scoring with 67, while Looknan Mohammed and Troy Cadogan contributed 47 and 27 respectively. Rahaman Khan, Pethamber Maharaj and Armogan Gopaul took three wickets each bowling for Floodlights XI.
When Floodlights Xi batted, they reached 225 for 8 in the 24th over with man-of-the-match Armogan Gopaul making 48 runs and Mark Harold 70 not out and with Steve Narine 36 not out took their team to victory.
Looknan Mohammed was Carib Boys’ best bowler with three for 40 off five overs.
This match was sponsored by Ansa McAl Trading Co. Ltd and their captain Shawn McKay hopes they can do this again soon. He is confident of victory the next time the two teams meet.
Bolt, Gay still on course in fierce Berlin sprint
BERLIN, Germany CMC – Super sprinters Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay were fashionably different in yesterday’s quarter-finals as they remained on course for their intriguing collision in the men’s 100-metre final at the 12th IAAF World Championship.
Jamaican Olympic champion Bolt jogged to a second-place finish in 10.03 seconds behind Antiguan Daniel Bailey (10.02) in his quarter-final Heat 5, after American Gay, the reigning world champion, extended himself more in breezing 9.98 seconds to win Heat 4.
The pair continued to look solid for their eagerly awaited clash in today’s final while Bailey and Jamaica’s former world record holder Asafa Powell also delivered auspicious quarter-final performances.
Powell was the quickest of the round with a 9.95 clocking in his heat.
Caribbean athletes were also prominent in the women’s 400 and men’s 400-metre hurdles preliminaries.
Bolt and Bailey, training partners at the Kingston-based Racers Track Club, toyed with their opponents and both wore huge smiles over the last 20 metres and looked superb as they eased home unchallenged in Heat 5.
American Monzavous Edwards finished third in 10.15 seconds and Churandy Martina, of the Netherlands Antilles, was eliminated with a fourth place finish in 10.19 seconds.
Gay fought off Jamaican Michael Frater (10.09) in Heat 4 with Barbadian Andrew Hinds (10.23) eliminated in fourth place.
Powell, running in lane one, outgunned his rivals in Heat 3 with a solid early race burst and eased home in his quick 9.95 seconds, defeating American Darvis Patton (10.05) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Marc Burns (10.12).
Powell had a slight scare in the morning with a third place finish in the first round in 10.38.
He was just a shade away from elimination but said following his evening session run that he was complacent in his morning run.
“I think I underestimated my opponents in the morning. I was just running too easily,” he said.
Britain’s Dwain Chambers (10.04) won the first quarter-final heat ahead of T&T’s Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson (10.08) and Michael Rodgers gave the Americans a second quarter-final triumph, clocking 10.01 to capture Heat 2.
Among the quarter-final casualties were Kittitian ex-world champion Kim Collins (10.20), Guyana’s Adam Harris (10.39), Bahamian Adrian Griffith (10.28), and T&T’s Emmanuel Callender (10.27).
Earlier in the first-round heats, Bolt, who won three gold medals – 100, 200 and sprint relay -- at the Beijing Olympics last year, had exerted just enough energy he needed in his opener, clocking 10.20 to beat Zambia’s Gerald Phiri (10.30).
Gay (10.16) defeated Collins (10.28) in his heat during the first-round which saw Bahamian Derrick Atkins being a huge casualty.
Atkins, the silver medallist behind Gay at the Osaka World Championship two years ago, was fifth in his heat in 10.44 and failed to advance.
In the women’s 400-metre preliminaries, American Sanya Richards, a beaten favourite in Beijing last year, clocked 51.06 seconds to win Heat 5 ahead of Britain’s Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu (51.30).
The Jamaica-born Richards, aiming for her first major global title, was the second fastest winner of the round. Only Russian Antonina Krivoshapka (51.03) went faster.
Jamaicans Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams easily advanced.
Williams-Mills, the Osaka bronze medallist, won Heat 2 in 51.55 seconds.
“I am very pleased. I went through an easy round and did not put too much pressure on me,” Williams-Mills said.
Williams, the Olympic silver medallist in Beijing, clocked 51.23 for second to Botswana’s Amantle Montsho (50.65) in Heat 3.
Other Caribbean qualifiers included Guyana’s former Commonwealth Games champion Aliann Pompey (51.38), Kittitian Tiandra Ponteen (51.98), Vincentian Kineke Alexander (52.44), and Jamaican Christine Day (53.13).
Bahamian Christine Amertil was disqualified in Heat 4.
Veteran Jamaican Danny McFarlane and the outstanding T&T CARIFTA champion Jehue Gordon were among six Caribbean athletes advancing in the men’s 400-metre hurdles during the evening session.
The 37-year-old McFarlane, a silver medallist at the Athens Olympics, clocked 48.65 for second in Heat 3 to the evening’s fastest winner, T&T-born American Kerron Clement (48.39).
Gordon, who captured the CARIFTA Games 400/110m hurdles double in St Lucia four months ago, set a national record 48.66 for third behind Clement and McFarlane, while pushing former world champion Felix Sanchez (48.76) back into fourth spot.
Sanchez advanced as one of the fastest losers.
Jamaican Isa Phillips, the world’s third fastest man over the distance so far this year, won his heat in 48.99.
“It went as planned, we got out comfortably,” Phillips said.
“It was good to be comfortable so I could still reserve (some energy) for the next two rounds,” Phillips added.
Other Caribbean runners advancing were Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson (49.27) and Cuban Omar Cisneros (49.27).
Trecia Smith, the 2005 World Championship gold medallist, is the only Caribbean entry to advance in the women’s triple jump final.
She posted 14.21 metres in Group B qualifying but her Jamaican team-mate Kimberly Williams was eliminated in spite of a 14.08m personal best in Group A.
Grenada’s Patricia Sylvester (13.22m) was also eliminated.
China’s Limei Xie (14.62m), and the Cubans Mabel Gay (14.53m) and defending champion Yargelis Savigne (14.53) were the leading qualifiers.
The meet’s first gold medal went to Russian Valeriy Borchin, who won the women’s 20-kilometre walk in one hour, 18 minutes, 41 seconds.
Kenya’s Linet Chepkwemoi clocked a season’s best 30:51.24 to land the women’s 10 000-metre title over the Ethiopian pair of Meselech Melkamu (30:51.34) and Wude Ayalew (30:51.95) and American Christian Cantwell won the men’s shot put gold at a world-leading 22.03 metres.
Milerock edge Mahdia 1-0 to win Village Day tourney
MILEROCK of Linden edged Mahdia 1-0 to win the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport-sponsored Village Day football tournament on Friday at the Mahdia Playfield.
Owen Williams netted the winning goal in the 12th minute.
According to reports, the match was keenly contested with neither of the two teams showing any dominance.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steve Ninvalle, said the final was an exciting one and at the end of the day, no one team was the winner. Instead, both teams played competitively and at the end, the two teams were able to establish bonds of friendship that would last a lifetime.
Milerock recently received a quantity of football gear from Mahdia businessman, Roger Hinds, who promised to assist the club in the future.
Ninvalle is reported to have said also that the Government of Guyana, through his ministry, is seeking to place emphasis on sport development in the hinterland communities.
He said, come Wednesday, an inter-block football tournament will get under way in Linden while next weekend an inter-block volleyball tournament will be held in Lethem.
Mabaruma is also identified for an inter-block volleyball tournament later in the month.
Federer and Nadal crash out of Montreal Masters
MONTREAL, Canada (Reuters) - Roger Federer suffered a stunning collapse and Rafael Nadal's creaky knees weren't strong enough to carry him into the semi-finals as the world's top two players crashed out of the Montreal Masters on Friday.
With the world's eight top-ranked players featuring in the quarter-finals of an ATP Tour event for the first time since official rankings began in 1973, ticket-holders looked forward to a spectacular day of tennis at Stade Uniprix and were not disappointed.
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's dramatic 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 comeback win over Swiss world number one Federer set the pace before towering Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro ended Nadal's Montreal title defence with a clinical 7-6, 6-1 win.
Apart from losing the match and the championship, the Spaniard may yet lose his world number two ranking tomorrow if Briton Andy Murray, who cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final victory over Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, can reach today’s final.
With Federer playing his first tournament since lifting a record 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon, and Nadal back in action after being sidelined for more than two months with knee tendinitis, there was already little hope the two could renew their great rivalry on the Canadian hardcourts.
Seventh-ranked Tsonga ended any chance of a dream final early in the day, coming back from 5-1 down in the third set to hand the Swiss one of his most stunning defeats.
After winning five consecutive games to force the set to a tie-break, the big-hitting Frenchman triumphed 7-3 in the decider to snap a 21-match winning streak for Federer and leave the capacity centre court crowd stunned.
"It happens in tennis, it's never over until it's over and it showed today," Federer told reporters.
"I think I should have won the first and he completely lost his game for an hour there.
'That's what Jo does. He doesn't make a return for three hours, then he puts in a few and then all of a sudden he's back in the match.
"I never should have allowed it but it did happen."
Third seed Murray awaits Tsonga in the semi-finals, the Scotsman needing just 82 minutes under a broiling Canadian sun to dismiss eighth-ranked Russian Davydenko.
Playing his first event since falling to Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Murray has quickly shaken off his vacation rust to reach the semi-finals without dropping a set and surrendering his serve only once.
A battling Nadal fought Del Potro through a marathon first set that took 78 minutes to complete and ended with the Argentine coming back from 5-2 down in the tie-break to win 7-5.
The drained Spaniard offered little resistance in a one-sided second set as Del Potro moved on to face Roddick, who booked his spot in the final four with a 6-4, 7-6 win over fourth seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
Uncapped Trott to replace Bopara
LONDON, England (BBC) - England are set to take a major gamble in the crucial fifth Ashes Test by replacing Ravi Bopara with the uncapped Jonathan Trott, BBC Sport understands.
Ian Bell, whose place has also been under threat, is set to keep his place and move up the order to number three.
Mark Ramprakash and Rob Key had been touted for call-ups for The Oval.
But Trott has now been left out of the England Lions team to face Australia, adding to the speculation that he will win a Test start against the tourists.
England, who must win the fifth Test to regain the Ashes, are set to officially announce their squad today after a week of intense debate about the make-up of the squad.
The 28-year-old Trott was included in the 14-man squad for the fourth Test at Headingley, but was released to play for Warwickshire.
With 1 013 runs in the County championship this season at an average of 92.09, Trott is a player in a rich vein of form - but the decision to throw him in for a Test debut in the high-pressure environment of a decisive Ashes clash is a big gamble for the selectors.
The South Africa-born batsman served a timely reminder of his ability with a century for Warwickshire against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, while Bell made 126 to help his case to retain his place.
Yorkshire's Joe Sayers has taken Trott's place in the second-string Lions side against Australia in a two-day match at Canterbury starting yesterday.
Bopara's place has been in severe jeopardy, with just 105 runs from his seven innings in the series.
He showed his fighting spirit and ability with an unbeaten 52 for Essex against Middlesex on Friday, but it appears to have been insufficient evidence for the England selectors.
Nevertheless, England coach Andy Flower has backed the 24-year-old - who had been in fine form against the West Indies earlier in the year - to come through his difficult spell.
"Every batsman has been through a run of low scores and he hasn't managed to really get in and show what he is made of in this series," said Flower.
Murray climbs to number two in Montreal
MONTREAL, Canada (Reuters) - Andy Murray tamed battling Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 7-6 to reach the Montreal Masters final yesterday and replace Spain's Rafael Nadal as world number two.
Murray will play the winner of the semi-final between fifth seed American Andy Roddick and Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro with a chance to become the first Briton to lift the Canadian title in 128 years.
The 22-year-old Briton, however, will head into today's final having achieved a major career milestone, becoming the highest ranked British man since the official ATP Tour world rankings began in 1973.
Murray's rise to number two ended the monopoly Nadal and Roger Federer have had on the top two spots since July 2005.
"For five years it's been Rafa and Roger one and two," Murray told reporters. "So it's such a tough thing to do because Roger and Rafa I think are the best two, maybe of all-time. So it's pretty special to get in between them."
Playing his first event since losing to Roddick in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Murray has quickly discovered his hardcourt form in Montreal, reaching the final without dropping a set and only broken twice.
While he did spend two weeks in Miami, Murray's stay in steamy South Florida more resembled Navy training than lazing on the beach, putting in a fortnight of gruelling work to prepare for the hardcourt season and a push for the number two ranking.
Murray also made it clear that he had earned the number two ranking and did not have it gifted to him by an injured Nadal, who until this week had sat on the sidelines since the French Open nursing tendinitis in both knees.
"Obviously in terms of rankings that's the biggest step that I've made so far," said Murray. "I played consistently well this year and obviously Rafa had an injury but it was just really Wimbledon that he missed.
"I also took quite a big break after Wimbledon, so bar winning a slam, I've done enough to justify being two and getting closer to hopefully one day becoming number one."
Murray might have expected to have found Federer standing across the net on blistering hot Saturday but faced the imposing Tsonga, who staged a spectacular rally to fight back from 1-5 in the third set and hand the Swiss a shock quarter-final defeat.
The seventh seed was again in fighting mood.
After Murray took the initiative with an early break to go up 3-1, Tsonga broke back at 5-4 but a feisty Murray immediately hit back with another break to claim the opening set.
With neither player able to stamp his authority in the second, the set came down to a thrilling back-and-forth tiebreak with Murray finally prevailing 10-8, when Tsonga slammed a return of serve into the net.
Lavine’s ton fails to save Barbados as Jamaica record 14-run victory
By Calvin Roberts
NOT even a chanceless ton from Barbados and West Indies middle order batter and woman-of-the-match Pamela Lavine (113) was enough to prevent defending champions Jamaica from completing a 14-run first round victory in their West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Women’s limited overs tournament at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground yesterday.
Losing the toss and asked to take first strike by their opponents, Jamaica after a slow start managed to score 206-6 from their 50 overs, to which Barbados replied with 192 from 45.2 overs, despite Lavine’s innings.
Barbados saw their reply off to a disastrous start, losing skipper Danielle Small off the fifth ball of their innings, lbw to Peta-Gaye Hanson without scoring, but Lavine had other ideas in mind, hitting Karla Cohen for successive boundaries in the third over of the innings.
Lavine followed it up with two aggressively timed drives off Hanson.
Lavine reached her half-century and the second of the match from 42 deliveries, decorated with four fours as Barbados moved to 74-1 in the 14th over.
The Jamaicans struck soon after, removing Ellis lbw to Henry for 20.
Lavine and fellow West Indies middle order batter Deandra Dottin (21) added 40 from 6.4 overs. But Dottin was subsequently caught by Henry at point off the bowling of Roshana Outar for 21.
Charlene Taitt was then bowled by Shanel Daly for seven, but Barbados were still in the driver’s seat, comfortably placed on 150-4 in the 30th over.
Lavine reached her century, the first of this year’s tournament with a gentle push past mid off from the first delivery of the 35th over bowled by Outar.
Barbados lost two quick wickets following Lavine’s century, as Daly had Shaquane Quintyne (2) adjudged lbw whilst Cohen gleefully accepted a return catch from Monique Best, who also made two, to leave Barbados on 171-6 in the 40th over.
A tired-looking Lavine, who was on 107 while wickets fell around her, enabled Cohen to complete a double strike in the over when she offered Patrice Cuffe-Parchment a simple catch at mid off from the 106th delivery she faced, to depart for 109.
It was all over bar the shouting for Barbados five overs later when Watts (2-25) removed Selman (4) and last batter Tiffany Thorpe (0) off the first two deliveries of the 46th over, to complete the victory for Jamaica. She also had Cohen and Daley among the wickets.
Earlier in the day, the Jamaican opening pair of skipper Nathan-Dawes and Morgan struggled against the new ball attack of Danielle Small and Shakeira Selman, with Nathan-Dawes, who looked more vulnerable than Morgan, being given a life by Tiffany Thorpe at first slip.
But the Barbadians did not suffer much from that missed opportunity, as Nathan-Dawes was adjudged lbw to Small in the following over without scoring.
Chedean Nation, who carried her bat through the 48th over, for a top score of 65, joined Morgan and together they survived a partnership of 112. Morgan made 49 which was decorated with five fours.
Unfortunately for both Morgan and Jamaica, the former was smartly run-out by Quintyne in the 41st over.
The Jamaicans then lost four quick wickets for 52 runs from 7.3 overs, including Nation who was caught by Small off the bowling of Lavine (2-43).
In the other first round match played at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground in Queenstown, St Lucia made light work of Dominica, as they registered a comfortable five-wicket victory on a good batting wicket.
St Lucia won the toss and invited their opponents to take first strike before bowling them out for a paltry 83 from 31.3 overs, with extras top-scoring with 26, Anrika Andrew (13) and Bertina Berkett (10) being the lone batters to get into double figures.
Phillipa Thomas (3-10) and the veteran Verna Felicien (2-17) along with Swayline Williams, Rayline and Naralie Cooper, who took a wicket each, did the damage with the ball for St Lucia, who scored 87-5 in reply to complete the win.
Action will continue today with host Guyana taking on Trinidad and Tobago at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, while Grenada and St Vincent will do battle at GCC in their first round encounters.
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Summer Sizzle BVI 2009…
Roger Gary creations send temperatures soaring
NEW YORK-based Guyanese designer Roger Gary was among participants this year in the fashion extravaganza, the main draw of the annual SUMMER SIZZLE BVI, held on the island of Tortola from July 23 to 26.
Now in its third year, the fashion show was held on Saturday, July 25 at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall in down-town Tortola, and according to reports, the venue could have easily been mistaken for the Bryant Park tents in New York City as guests were treated to an evening of high fashion, courtesy of a coterie of internationally acclaimed designers and models, many of them hailing from the Caribbean.
Gary opened the star-studded show with his signature Aqua Couture swimsuit collection, which featured accessories ranging from exquisite jewellery, to evening gloves, furs, floor length sarongs and cutting- edge footwear by Bakers of New York.
Gary’s energetic presentation reportedly set the tone for an evening of elegant fashion drama. (Photos courtesy of Roger Gary)
GFW takes to the streets of Georgetown
-turns heads at every turn
Models of GFW video shoot: From left ar: Melessa Payne,Vivian Dash, Yolanda Kerr, Samantha Cox, and Analeah Jones
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GUYANA Fashion Weekend (GFW) took a somewhat different slant this year as the GFW committee, with models and camera crew in tow, took to the streets of Georgetown, causing quite a stir in the process.
The centre of distraction was Melessa Payne going through her paces, running up and down the steps at the historical St. George’s Cathedral Church, which caused a group of tourists to stop and enquire what in blue blazes was going on.
This only served to galvanize Melessa further, as she promptly hopped onto a donkey cart, that very traditional and ingenious mode of transport, and was carried through the streets of the city, much to the amazement and amusement of passers-by, who gathered in groups to watch the spectacle as it unfolded before their very eyes.
With the historic Stabroek Market as backdrop at one point, Melessa, otherwise known as ‘The Face of GFW’, sashayed her way through the vegetables section of the market to loud applause, approval and cooperation from vendors and shoppers alike.
The shoot began at around sunrise at the Georgetown Seawall, using the popular Celina’s Atlantic Resort as backdrop for two of the group’s stable of male models, namely Orlando Henry and Antonio Beckles.
Shooting was also done at the home of GFW 2009, the PRINCESS Hotel Guyana International, the lobby of which was set ablaze by Guyana Model Search models Yolanda Kerr, Samantha Cox and Analeah Jones in Olympia Small-Sonoram’s creations, as Michael Younge, last year GMS winner, who was bedecked in a Mariska’s Design creation, became the conversation piece of guests of the hotel.
The jewellery of De Abreu’s Creations were best carried off by the vivacious Vivian Dash.
Husband obtains ‘decree nisi’ by tricking wife
IN 1968, husband Alexander Daniels, by means of a trick on his wife, obtained a decree nisi in an undefended divorce suit.
By this trick, the wife, Babra Daniels, did not defend or attend the divorce proceedings and continued cohabitation until October 18, when she learnt that the Court had granted her husband a decree Nisi for the dissolution of their marriage.
Accordingly, she instituted a summons to set aside the decree nisi.
But High Court judge, Justice Victor Crane, who heard the application, dismissed the action on the grounds that the applicant had taken the wrong course and ought to have taken her information to the Attorney General for action.
More particularly, the wife stated that a few days before June 12, 1967, the date when the citation and petition were served, he had persuaded her to resume cohabitation, and after the petition had been served, he had instructed her to inform her lawyer that they had resolved their differences. She did so and about July 9, 1967, the conjugal state was resumed and sexual relations recommenced. It was not until October 18 that she learnt that decree nisi had been pronounced, and she accordingly took out a summons to set it aside.
Justice Crane held (i) that there was no distinction between the application to set aside a decree nisi and one calling upon a petitioner to show cause why the decree should not be made absolute.
(ii) that under Section 12 (1) of the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance, Chapter 166, the respondent was not a person entitled to apply to show cause, and, therefore, she could not apply to have the decree set aside;
(iii) that her proper course of action was to give the information at her disposal to the Attorney General, as the Queen’s Proctor, for him to take such action as he considered appropriate.
The summons to set aside the decree nisi was dismissed.
Senior Counsel, Mr. Rex Mc Kay, appeared for the appellant, while Mr. Bernard De Santos, SC, represented the respondent.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Crane said that on October 2, 1967, the husband obtained a decree nisi of dissolution against the wife in an undefended suit. The wife, though duly served with the citation and petition, did not appear to defend.
According to the judge: “This is the wife’s application by way of summons for the following orders: That the decree nisi be set aside; that she be at liberty to file an entry of appearance and an answer to the petition; that she be granted her costs and such further or other relief as may be just.
“The main ground on which her application rests, as revealed in her affidavit in support, is that there was condonation following on which there was a resumption of cohabitation. This was brought about, she says, by a ruse on her husband’s part in the following manner: She had been persuaded by him a few days before June 21, 1967, the date the citation and petition were served on her, to resume cohabitation with him at 147 Garnett Street, Kitty, and instructed by him to inform her lawyer not to proceed any further and to discontinue proceedings as differences between them had been resolved.
“Accordingly, on or about July 9, 1967 the conjugal state was resumed and sexual relations recommenced. This state of affairs continued until October 18, 1967, when she left him, having heard that a decree nisi had been pronounced against her on October 2, 1967 in proceedings which he had led he to believe were abandoned. She is now desirous of entering an appearance and filing an answer and, in the circumstances, prays that the decree nisi be set aside.
“The husband strongly denies there was a resumption of cohabitation as alleged, or that he ever instructed his wife not to proceed further in defence of the petition, although he admits his wife did return to the matrimonial home, he however insists that she performed no matrimonial chores nor slept in the same room with him when she returned. He brands the allegations contained in the affidavit in support as false and malicious, and designed to embarrass and cause him unnecessary expense. In paras. 8 and 9 of the affidavit in reply, he avers that this summons is misconceived both as to jurisdiction and for reasons of non-compliance with procedural requirements of Chapter 166 and the related rules,” Justice Crane declared, adding:
“Having given this matter some thought, I must perforce agree that the objections raised by the husband are weighty, and must prevail; and that I have no jurisdiction to entertain this application.”
Agreeing with the objection by counsel for the petitioner that the correct procedure had not been observed, Justice Crane said: “What clearly ought to have been done by the applicant in this matter was for her to have given the information of what she has sworn to in her affidavit to the Attorney General; he is the Queen’s Proctor in matrimonial cases, and it should have been left to him to take such proceedings under Section 12 (4) of the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance, Chapter 166 as he thought fit, bearing in mind, as the extract from Halsbury’s Laws of England shows , that the real object of the interim period of six weeks is for the Attorney General to make enquiries into the petitioner’s case.”
He declared that for the above reasons, “I must rule that it is now too late for the wife to enter an appearance and file an answer. These proceedings are misconceived and the orders sought are consequently refused. Summons dismissed.”
Funeral for Bougainville leader
A state funeral has been held in Papua New Guinea for the first president of the autonomous region of Bougainville, Joseph Kabui.
Mourners packed the cathedral in Port Moresby to honour Mr Kabui, 54, who died on Saturday of a heart attack.
Regional leaders have paid tribute to the late president, who helped end years of conflict in Bougainville.
Separatist groups battled PNG government troops there until a UN-brokered settlement in 2001.
Autonomy deal
Bougainville is an island off the eastern tip of PNG.
In 1989 a dispute between local people and a mining company over alleged environmental damage escalated into a brutal war of independence.
Separatist rebels fought PNG soldiers and foreign mercenaries for almost a decade. Thousands of people are thought to have died.
Under a UN-brokered deal signed in August 2001, the two sides agreed that Bougainville should have greater self-government and eventually a referendum on independence, within 10 to 15 years.
Mr Kabui, a former separatist leader, became president in the first elections to be held on the island in June 2005.
In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said that Mr Kabui had played a "key role in restoring Bougainville to peace following the bitter conflict on the island".
"He played a central part in reconciliation between the rival groups on Bougainville and in peace negotiations with the government of Papua New Guinea," his statement said.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, described Mr Kabui as a "skilled mediator and peacemaker who had a genuine interest in the future of his people".
Lawmaker John Tabinaman has been named as acting president until polls are held, PNG daily The National said.
Model Search winners pick up prizes
WINNERS of this year’s Guyana Model Search and Designer/Stylist Portfolio, which saw Jamaine Victor and Yohlanda Kerr dethrone Michael Younge and Shenelly Kendall to take the coveted Top Model slots, picked up their prizes at a simple ceremony last Monday at the Sidewalk Café.
Among those perks were pieces of jewellery from some of the top names in the business, cell-phones, items of clothing, and of course, a chance to represent Guyana at a number of Fashion Weekend events around the Caribbean in the year ahead.
Here, the creative Ronella Woseley (left), who earned the judges nod in the Designer Portfolio leg of the contest, receives her prize from Guyana Fashion Weekend CEO, Ms Sonia Noel. (Photo courtesy of Mariska’s Designs)
ENJOYING BARBADOS' CROP OVER FESTIVAL
By Norman Faria
I WAS looking forward once again to Barbados' Crop Over Festival, traditionally held at the end of July, and I wasn't disappointed.
The Barbados government, which basically organises and partially funds the event through the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) with the cooperation of the private sector, did a really good job and all came off well.
As the many Guyanese who have come to the island to experience the festivities will attest, the climax is, of course, Grand Kadooment, when costume bands parade into the capital, Bridgetown, from the National Stadium about five miles away.
This year, 21 bands, comprising about 20,000 revelers, participated with themes including environmental issues and health and heritage subjects. Some were big: The Power X 4 for example, had 1500 revelers.
The first band left the Stadium at 09h00, and the last arrived at the Spring Garden Highway destination at 17h50. Lots of excitement for those watching along the route. Of course, the women had on the mandatory two-piece costume, some rather skimpy indeed. Most of the revelers had their little container with a personal brew. "It is water; don't you believe me?" some of them told the skeptical interviewer on the government-owned TV station, CBC-TV, which broadcast most of the march.
The top ‘Road March’ tunes this year were Edwin Yearwood's ‘Middle of the Road’; Mikey's ‘In Dat’; and Nathalee's ‘This Is What We Do’. Some Guyanese were telling me they felt Nathalee (real name Nathalee Bynoe) got “unfaired” by the judges, and I would agree. I heard her song along with others on the radio, but it wasn't until I saw her perform in person at the Prime Minister Thompson's Crop Over reception at his official residence, that I knew she really had a hit.
There are several big events in the two Crop Over weekends. These are aside from the several calpyso tents, only one of which I could check out this year (The Bacchannal Tent, where Guyanese Nalini Sukhram, aka ‘GT Girl’, was performing). All are popular with the Bajan and visitor public. The Pic-o-de-Crop Calypso Monarch this year was won again by ‘Red Plastic Bag (real name Stedson Wiltshire)’.The Party Monarch competition was eventually won by long time tryer, ‘TC (Terencia Coward)’.
I didn't get to see the Cohobblopot show, a variety thing with singers, including Machel Montano from Trinidad. That show was this year held at the newly-refurbished Kensington Cricket Oval and focused on a ‘Tribute to Alison Hinds’, Barbados' Soca Queen who regularly visits Guyana.
I did go down to the Bridgetown Market Street Fair on the Saturday to check out the action. I grounded once again with some of the Guyanese-born craftspeople showing their work for sale. Among them was the hardworking Arnold Bishop who specializes in leather-craft. He brings all his leather from Guyana
Crop Over actually starts in May, with the opening of the tents and the ceremonial turning over of the last of the cut canes. Prizes are given to the men and women who cut the most cane during the season. There is only one cane harvesting season in Barbados, and the canes are not burnt like in Guyana.
The festival had its origins in the late 1600s (some reports say it started in the 1780s) to ‘celebrate (for the slaves, it meant the end of a part of their hard, unrewarded work)’ the end of the sugar harvest. It was stopped in the 1940s but revived in 1974 .
The festival coincides with the anniversary celebrations of the July 26, 1937 ‘riots’, which were actually a labour rebellion led by a Trinidad-born man named Clement Payne, who is today one of Barbados' National heroes. And of course, there is Emancipation Day, which is on the Monday before the big climatic events. There were also the laying of flowers and speechmaking at the Emancipation Monument (commonly called the Bussa Monument after a slave revolt leader and another of the island's national heroes) which I attended. There was some discussion in the press about the overshadowing of these more serious anniversary celebrations by the festivities.
I was further deeply honoured to have been invited by the organisers to lay flowers and say a few words on behalf of the government and people of Guyana at the monument for Clement Payne and the heroes of the July 26, 1937 revolt in Bridgetown, which is a public holiday in the island (as in Cuba, to celebrate the attack on the Moncada Barracks there). A Barbados Government MP, Hon. Patrick Todd, represented the Barbados government, while Hon Cynthia Forde represented the Barbados Labour Party Opposition at the Payne and heroes ceremony.
As with the Guyana government and Masharamani in Guyana, the Barbados government sees the Crop Over festival in both historical and present generation terms: There is a need to remember the past but also to take care of the present. Economically, it is one of the bigger such ‘Carnival-type’ festivals in the Caribbean, though not as large or well known as the one in Trinidad. Barbados' Minister of Tourism, Hon. Richard Sealey, said at a post-Festival news conference attended by visiting journalists, that he was pleased with the coverage the island was getting abroad. He also said the island's economy benefitted from the many thousands of Barbadians who come ‘home’ this time of the year to participate in the festivities.
There were fears that because of the international economic downturn, which has affected Barbados' main economic sector, tourism, Crop Over 2009 would be downsized compared to last year. According to organisers, some of the bands were indeed smaller this year but, all in all, it appeared to be another successful Festival. Barbadian middle and working class levels still have some money. Many came out with expensive costumes. Remember, the per capita earnings in the island is near US$10,000 a year.
At the risk of upsetting those gloom and doomers who unfairly criticise the ongoing progress and development in Guyana despite the challenges, I had a good time at the Festival, though reflecting seriously when necessary and sensitively with regard to Barbados' historical events.
(Norman Faria is Guyana's honorary consul in Barbados <nfaria@caribsurf.com>)
Maggie’s struggle with Type 2 Diabetes
By Bridget Lewis
MILLIONS of people have diabetes and don’t even know it! Some know it, but wouldn’t accept it! While others may not even know that the ranking cause of death is changing, and diabetes is becoming an increasingly significant cause of death! Statistics have supported this. However, it has been proven that with proper care, this disease can be managed and diabetics can lead a full and active life, if they learn how to take care of themselves.
According to the American Association of Diabetes Educators, when you eat, some of your food is broken down into glucose (a kind of sugar). Glucose travels in your blood to all your body’s cells. Insulin, made by your pancreas, helps glucose move from your blood into your cells. Glucose helps your cells produce the energy you need for healthy living.
Now, glucose from food makes your blood glucose level go up. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by helping glucose move from your bloodstream into your cells. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make any insulin, enough insulin, or prevents the insulin you do produce from working properly. In the case of Type 2 Diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin.
Research has shown that scientists don’t really know what causes diabetes. They say that one possible cause could be that people with diabetes may be missing a certain gene that protects against diabetes (genes are the blueprints for your body’s design). But they do know that certain things increase the chances of them getting it.
The most common risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes are overweight, high blood pressure, lifestyle habits, or a family history of diabetes. Studies have shown that these risk factors are in no way exhaustive. Some common symptoms are tiredness, thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, hunger, sudden weight loss, sexual problems, wounds that won’t heal, vaginal infections, numbness, and tingling in the hands or feet.
Some years ago, Maggie took her mother to the doctor. While there, she decided to have a checkup as well, and discovered that her blood glucose level was 1.25mg dl. At that time, she weighed 140 pounds. The doctor considered that situation worth monitoring, and immediately had put her on medication. I listened attentively while she recounted her story:
“When the news that I was diabetic hit me, I was devastated. I immediately went into a state of denial. ‘Me! A diabetic! I eat well (or so she thought); I exercise and sleep early; how can this be!’” Yes. These statements are quite familiar. Many, like Maggie, have lived in that state for years.
“After the effects of the first shock had worn off,” she said, “I visited a number of other doctors, trying to reverse that diagnosis. Some doctors said I was borderline. Some encouraged me to exercise; one even went as far as to encourage me to take a teaspoon of carilla juice every morning along with exercise. One doctor in Washington said: ‘You are getting there.’ And one in Guyana put me on a diet which prescribed rice for dinner, when I had stopped eating rice in the evening a long time ago. But there were also those diagnoses that suggested that I didn’t have it (like that of the nutritionist, who suggested that I needed sex) which scared me most.
“Like many other persons,” Maggie continued, “I was not sick; I would get hungry and thirsty occasionally, urine often, and a tingling sensation in my toes at times. Admittedly, I was always eating and drinking a lot. I ate biscuits, pastries and cakes, chocolate tea with ‘loud’ milk and sugar. Even though the tea was sweet, I never ended breakfast without adding jam or something sweet. And my favourite was a pop tart with a cup of tea at mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Lunch was always special, with dessert and all, and dinner could not be overdone.
“In the course of carrying out my duties, I travelled a lot. Staying at the various hotels, I would eat whatever I wanted, because I had a variety of dishes from which to choose. I look back now with disgust at the time when I would eat eggs and sausage, cheese and jam all at once; take seconds, and still stash some for later, knowing that lunch would soon be served. I was also guilty of eating the biggest ‘Big Mack’ burger, and the largest ‘Cadbury’ whole-nut chocolate, which I would grab whenever I was intransit in Trinidad.”
Maggie said that her daughter told her that she was eating too much, but she was not ready for that disclosure, and couldn’t understand what she was saying either. She thought eating a lot meant that she was healthy. She had to have her cereal, yoghurt, tea bread, meat, with dessert being a must, to balance off.
She recalled the time when she woke up at 2:00pm to prepare a lesson she was to share with her colleagues at prayer meeting. She went to work as usual that morning, and had worked at her computer until lunchtime, and then left for church. As she opened the Bible, the words danced before her eyes. She couldn’t see to read. She declared: “Had it not been for the fact that I had prepared my lesson well, and able to speak ‘off my head’, I would have been very embarrassed.”
Diabetes was silently creeping up on her, as were its friends and associates: The high blood pressure; the rising numbers in the LDL cholesterol, and the triglycerides. She had to contend with the dimness of the eyes, and quickly learnt to wear glasses.
Type 2 Diabetes is a progressive disease, which can be managed with diet, exercise and pills. Some folks believe that they can control it with exercise alone, but once the disease has progressed, you will have to employ some medical therapy by taking Metformin, Diamicron MR, or some other medication, as prescribed by a health care professional. It is to be noted also that pills don’t always remain effective over time; that some people may need to take insulin too. This mystery, as I understand it, is to defeat diabetes with a passion, and to keep the insulin and glucose in balance. As indicated earlier, untreated diabetes also affects the functions of the heart, eyes, and may cause a domino effect by affecting other organs within the body.
Maggie struggled for over ten years, trying to understand this disease. She continued: “I figured that if I did not eat carbohydrates, I would have no problem with diabetes, because the pancreas would not have much work to do. I even skipped meals. But I learnt very quickly that that didn’t work. The body roamed and stripped itself of structural proteins to convert its fat into glucose, leaving me dry and gaunt. Then I thought, perhaps if I used blood cleansing medicines, the sugar would not linger in my blood, and then I would be rid of the disease for all times. Over and over, I started a course of herbal cleansing, but never completed them because I couldn’t afford it. I even prayed for a miracle, and told myself that I was healed, and all was well.
“Whenever I was abroad, it became very difficult for me to keep track of my glucose intake, and the numbers would escalate. And, as if the diabetes was lonely, it took along with it for the ride high blood pressure and high cholesterol. One day, the doctor took me into his office. He told me that I am a diabetic, and that I should accept my fate. Simply take my medication; keep the disease under control; and learn to live with it. I sat there frozen, as I listened to the truth once more.”
Maggie related how the advice went along with the exercise, portion size, carb counting, exchange lists, and abstaining from certain fruits, foods, and drinks. And how she began to create mental images of a deck of cards she used to play with when she was younger. A poker chip, a hockey puck, four dices and a light bulb. The 1 oz of this; ¼ cup of that; and medium size, half-a-banana and small orange. She envisioned that certain types of foods would have been difficult for her to digest. But, as she said, she had left the doctor’s office that day with one resolution: “I will accept the fact.”
According to the June 15, 2009 edition of ‘Science Daily’, diabetics are encouraged to have regular exercise and weight training to reduce their cardiovascular risk. And according to an American Heart Association scientific statement published recently, it is recommended that people with Type 2 Diabetes should do at least two-and-a-half hours per week of moderate-intensity or 1½ hours per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercises, plus some weight training. But the Nutritionist at Providence Hospital in Washington has posited that the following factors be taken into consideration. For example, the number of persons involved, their age group, their ability to achieve the desired intensity, and the extent to which exercise will significantly lower blood glucose levels, rising cholesterol, triglycerides and indeed cardiovascular risk.
Diabetics are encouraged to diet. But despite Maggie’s resolve, the confusion soars. She once heard that she could eat everything, but in small quantities. Then she heard that she couldn’t eat that half banana and raisins she had become accustomed to having with her cereal at breakfast; or the small orange upon waking up in the morning, as these have the tendency to raise glucose levels rapidly. Then her optician told her that ground provisions contribute to the dimness of the eyes. She was also told by one doctor to use an aspirin a day, and subsequently heard the news that two was the dosage. More recently, she was advised not to use any. And there appeared to be some difficulty deciding whether it was whole wheat or whole grains for bread or cereal. In light of those conflicting disclosures, whose report do you think she should believe?
In the various books, the Old Testament and New Testament sets out specific guidelines about foods suited to our general well-being. Genesis 43:11 speaks of nuts; Numbers 11:5 speaks about fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic, and 13: 23 of grapes, pomegranates and figs. Deuteronomy 32:14 suggests honey and oil from the rocks, the curd of cows and the fat of lambs. Ruth 2:14 advises bread, vinegar and roasted grain. Surprisingly, Kings: 19:21 and 4:23 was all about meat. The New Testament even speaks about fish, locusts and wild honey. In those days, the people who ate all these foods lived longer and healthier. Is there a problem with the foods we eat today?
Maggie told me just recently that when she visited her clinic, the medex advised her to cut her meals in half, using the other half later in the day when she felt hungry. The idea was for her to eat smaller meals. She also said that it works, because her glucose monitored readings suggest that her glucose levels are now controlled at any time of day or night. She vows to continue to take her ‘meds’ until the doctor says otherwise, but confessed that she will always continue to be baffled over the unpredictability of the illness.
I have spoken with a number of diabetics in Guyana, who, like Maggie, lack the proper knowledge. They struggle with their condition. They are confused and do not understand how the disease operates. None of them even know that there is a Diabetic Association in Guyana and that help is available.
Just recently, Elsie explained to me her confusion. She has even resorted to skipping meals, hoping that that would be the solution to her problem. She says she goes to clinic, takes insulin on clinic days, and her tablets between visits. Yet her blood glucose level remains at 300 mg/dl. Another woman told me that she lost her legs because she could not afford to purchase medication, the foods considered proper, and the strips for her glucose testing machine, which was a gift.
And Steve, who works with a good friend of mine, continues to eat large meals, and loves Chinese dishes. His blood glucose level is 400 mg/dl.
Maggie is grateful to the doctor who has made such an impact in her live. By his early detection, diagnosis and prescription so many years ago, he has enabled her to keep the disease under control. The advice of the Medex, i.e., to test early, to take the prescribed medication, eat smaller portions of food evenly distributed throughout the day, exercise, and avoid stress cannot be overstated.
Her advice to diabetics today is to laugh. “Laughter is a great stress buster; a sense of humour will lighten your spirits and make what is considered life’s insecurities more manageable!”
HIV/AIDS Summer Refresher
Dear Readers,
WE AT the HIV/AIDS Mailbox sincerely hope that our thousands of children and young adults at home on vacation from school are enjoying their August holidays, and utilizing the time at their disposal beneficially.
A study group during an HIV/AIDS Workshop for youth at the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd Sports Club.
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We know that many of you would have benefitted from Summer School and Vacation Bible School Programmes currently being held throughout the country, and we urge you, wherever possible to attend and make good use of these.
Many Summer School Programmes are known to incorporate education of HIV/AIDS, which we consider very useful.
For those of you who have not been able to benefit from such programmes, today the HIV/AIDS Mailbox brings you, in collaboration with the US National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases (NIAID), a Refresher Course on some of the basic issues on which we touched over the past months.
We urge you to read these very carefully and commit them to memory, since such knowledge, along with the resolute application of the ‘assertiveness skills’ on which we briefed you over the last three weeks, can place you in a good position to make wise and informed choices when confronted with situations bordering on HIV/AIDS.
NIAID is the leading US government institute for HIV/AIDS research, and is committed to conducting the research necessary to successfully end the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Shirla
What are some HIV risk factors?
A study group during an HIV/AIDS Workshop for youth at the Guyana National Newspapers Ltd Sports Club.
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HIV is found in the blood, semen or vaginal fluid of someone who is infected with the virus. You may be at increased risk of becoming infected with HIV if you:
• Engage in anal, vaginal or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners or anonymous partners without the use of a condom.
• Inject drugs or steroids where needles/syringes are shared.
• Have a sexually transmitted infection, such as syphilis, genital herpes, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, bacterial vaginosis, or trichomoniasis.
• Have been diagnosed with hepatitis, tuberculosis or malaria.
• Exchange sex for drugs or money.
• Are exposed to the virus as a fetus or infant before or during birth or through breastfeeding from a mother infected with HIV.
• Engage in unprotected sex with someone who has any of the risk factors listed above.
Some quick facts about HIV transmission
• HIV cannot survive for very long outside of the body.
• HIV cannot be transmitted through routine daily activities, such as using a toilet seat, sharing food utensils, or drinking glasses, shaking hands, or through kissing.
• The virus can only be transmitted from person to person, not through animals or insect bites.
• People infected with HIV who are taking antiretroviral therapy can still infect others through unprotected sex and needle-sharing.
Complications and side effects of ARVs
Antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs can, in rare cases, cause serious medical complications, including metabolic changes such as abnormal fat distribution, abnormal lipid and glucose metabolism, and bone loss. Monitoring for these complications and side effects is the responsibility of patients and their healthcare providers.
NIAID supports research aimed at understanding antiretroviral drug-related complications and other side effects, as well as strategies to reduce patient exposure to potentially toxic drug regimens, such as different drug dosing schedules or combinations, and comparing early versus delayed treatment. NIAID is striving to develop simpler, less toxic, and more effective antiretroviral drug regimens.
Adherence and drug resistance
People infected with HIV who take antiretroviral treatments sometimes find it difficult to adhere to their drug regimens. This can be caused by the complexity of having to take several drugs each day or the unpleasant side effects that may result from some medications, such as nausea and vomiting. However, when patients fail to take their medications, HIV has an opportunity to create more variations of itself, including strains that are resistant to antiretroviral drugs. Therefore, it is important for people to continue taking their medications as prescribed by their physician.
On interruption of drug supplies
[World Bank Report 2009] Even short term interruptions of drug supplies could threaten patients’ health, cutting the returns to the investments in treatment. The number of ART interruptions of more than two days, and duration of interruptions increase the risk of treatment failure. Up to 50 per cent of patients whose treatment is interrupted for 15 days may subsequently need a different regimen. If treatment interruptions become frequent for many individuals currently on ART, the risk of transmission of drug-resistant HIV will increase.
Hope you’ve been able to find this column interesting. Keep on reading, and if you’ve any questions, email us at: waronhiv@yahoo.com or you may drop in or mail your letters to:
HIV/AIDS Mailbox Guyana Chronicle Lama Avenue Bel Air Park Georgetown
Tales from way back when…
(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)
Three coins in the fountain
AT THE Rio Cinema, formerly Capital Cinema, Albouystown
Tonight at 8:45pm; tomorrow at 5 & 8:45pm.
The love story behind the love song that’s sweeping the nation. The man Dorothy wants is too clever; the man Jean wants is too poor; the man Hassie wants is too rich. What happens when three American girls do what the Romans do….You will know when you see: ‘3 Coins in the Fountain’ in colour, and the wonder and magic of CINEMASCOPE on our 30-foot giant curve screen.
(Guiana Graphic: January 8, 1956)
Radio: Up the Demerara River
AT 7:30 o’clock on Monday evening next (January 9,1965), listeners will be taken on a short radio visit ‘Up The Demerara River’ in a broadcast intended to reflect some aspects of life along the sixty-odd mile section of the river, which is navigable by ocean- going vessels.
The programme will spotlight the ‘steamer terminus’ of Wismar (which, as far back as the 1760s, was mentioned as being a sugar estate), the old ‘District Headquarters’ of Christianburg (where in the late 1880s the Scottish family of Pattersons operated the only sawmill in the colony ever worked by a water wheel), and the bauxite town of Mackenzie where the first bauxite centre in these parts was established in 1916.
‘Up the Demerara’ will be illustrated with suitable folk music, and will also bring to the microphone many personalities of the District, including a boatman, a village story teller, a sportsman, a school teacher, and a worker in the bauxite mines.
(Guiana Graphic: January 8, 1956)
Road blamed
THE RUGGED condition of the road was blamed by a taxi driver for the defective condition of his car.
The driver, Moon ‘Lil-Boy’ of Mahaica, pleaded guilty to eight charges of driving a defective vehicle.
The Police said that among the eight defects on Lil-Boy’s car were worn kingpins and bushings. Both hand and footbrakes were also found to be useless.
The examining officer penned in his report this note: “Driving a vehicle in this condition is more dangerous than walking with a loaded gun.”
Lil-Boy had been driving his car along the Bel Air Public Road when he was stopped by a traffic cop who felt that something was amiss.
Lil-Boy’s lawyer, Mr Kenneth George, told Magistrate Harold Bollers that the bad condition of the East Coast Demerara road had contributed in large measure to the condition of Lil-Boy’s car.
Magistrate Bollers however felt that the car was in bad condition. He imposed a fine of $25.
(Guiana Graphic: January 8, 1956)
Lad dies after train accident
SEWDIN, an 18-year-old paralytic of Non Pareil Estate, died on Saturday night at the Public Hospital Georgetown after an accident at the railway crossing at Non Pareil.
It was reported that Sewdin was standing at the Crossing when he came into contact with the 6:30pm East Coast train.
He was conveyed to the hospital with injuries to the body, and died about an hour after.
(Guiana Graphic: January 9, 1956)
Country news from Rose Hall…
One loan after another, but DC has a few queries
ROSE HALL is seeking a loan of $25,000 to develop the Swamp and Reef Sections.
The District Commissioner, however, points out that the Local Authority will soon face repaying a large loan to pay for the drainage pump to be put down, and the maintenance.
The District Commissioner, consequently, will be grateful to the Authority for answers to the following questions:
Has the Local Authority considered that increases in rates and taxes will have to meet both loans for the drainage pump and maintenance, and now the $25,000 now applied for?
Does the Local Authority feel that proprietors will not be too burdened with annual repayments for both loans?
Will development of Swamp and Reef Sections bring additional revenue? If so, how much, and how soon?
A special meeting will be called to discuss these questions. The District Commissioner will be present.
All these matters were decided at the first statutory meeting of the new Village Council, held on Tuesday last.
Presiding was the Chairman, Mr HP Benn.
Others present were Messrs Mattai; GT Trim; BA Branco; O Baichan; and Miss O Alexander (Councillors); and Messrs Ganga Persaud; Deputy Chairman, Harilall; and F Lewis, overseer.
(Guiana Graphic: January 10, 1956)
What price love…
Disfigured by him, she still begs for him
A MAN who slashed his reputed wife five times with a razor, stood at the dock in the Assizes yesterday while the young woman pleaded with Justice Miller: “Do, Sir! Have mercy on him!”
The woman, Leena Cottle, was scarred, for life, on the chest and hand, yet when the judge enquired again what she meant, she replied: “I hope, Sir, that you will not press him too hard.”
Her reputed husband, Walter Morris, a 32-year-old tailor, had pleaded guilty to a charge of Wounding With Intent.
Morris and Cottle had lived together for three years as man and wife. But two days before the slashing, she left him.
She had taken her little daughter, aged four years, of which he was not the father to school at St Angela’s RC in Thomas Street on the morning of November 1 last when Morris came up.
Prosecutor, Mr GAS Van Sertima said that probably because she left him, Morris that morning walked up to Leena, and before slashing her, said: “I got you here.” That, Mr Van Sertima said, showed premeditation.
But Morris said that it was nothing of the sort; there was heated talk.
Justice Miller, however, wanted to know why he had to walk with a razor, a lethal weapon like that.
Morris said he was going to work that morning and took the razor to sharpen it.
Not satisfied with the answer, His Lordship asked: “Why you went to that school, and in the presence of the small girls, created such terror?”
Morris: “Please, Sir, I am asking for mercy. We are still living together up to now.”
Because of the plea by Leena, and the fact that Morris had no previous conviction, His Lordship said he would give the matter some consideration.
Morris was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
As he was taken from the dock to begin his sentence, Leena stood looking sadly at him.
(Guiana Graphic: January 11, 1956)
Stop or pay
MAGISTRATE Harold Bollers has increased the penalty for not stopping at major roads in the City.
Yesterday morning, the Magistrate imposed fines totaling more than $75 on cyclists who did not observe the major road rule.
His maximum fine was on Herman Thomas, of 69 Fifth Street, Alberttown, for careless riding.
He was fined an additional $7.50 for not stopping at the major road at Third Street.
A girl who pleaded guilty to a major road breach was fined $10.00.
Towards the end of last year, Mr Bollers announced his intention of stepping up fines on cyclists for the offence of not stopping at major roads.
He commenced doing so from yesterday.
(Guiana Graphic: January 12, 1956)
Behind the wheels
By The Walking Man
I never imagined it was so tough
This driving business is rather rough.
Beside the driver I calmly sat
And tried to form a friendly chat.
The things I saw I hate to repeat
How people scampered about the street.
Frightened kids, crazy jaywalkers, wild cyclists.
‘twas a nightmare of thrilling turns and twists…..
(Guiana Graphic: January 10, 1956)
‘Walking Man’ becomes a sad man
MAGISTRATE Bollers yesterday imposed a fine of seven dollars and fifty cents on ‘The Walking Man’, BG’s popular humorist.
‘Walking Man’ was certainly in no humor. He left the Court a sad man.
(Guiana Graphic: January 12, 1956)
Not As A Stranger
-4 million read this story
‘NOT AS A STRANGER’, which opens tomorrow at the Plaza Cinema through United Artistes release, is a screen adaptation of one of the best selling novels of all times.
Morton Thompson’s 948-page book dealing with the loves, the aspirations, the heartaches and the triumphs of a doctor, has been read by an estimated four million people, and is still selling at a tremendous rate.
Stanley Kramer, who produced ‘Not As A Stranger’, also makes his debut as a director.
The stars of the picture are Olivia de Havilland, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra, Gloria Grahame, Broderick Crawford and Charles Brickford.
The large featured cast is headed by Myron McCormick, Lon Chaney, Jesse White, Harry Morgan, Lee Marvin, Whit Bissell and Mae Clarke.
Lucas Marsh, the dedicated bedeviled doctor hero of ‘Not As A Stranger’, is played by Bob Mitchum, who, currently a freelance after being under contract for ten years, is taking advantage of his new freedom to pick and choose only those parts he wishes to play.
“But,” he says, grinning, “I didn’t choose the Lucas Marsh part. Like every other leading man in Hollywood, I went chasing after it.”
(Guiana Graphic: January 12, 1956)
Why should it happen to me
WHEN YOU curse your luck; when you think life has done you down,remember this story from Ottawa. It was sent by Reuters last night.
The son of Lieut. ‘Curly’ Moysihan, a Fire Brigade Officer, was knocked down and killed by a car.
So, the family went to live in a secluded part of Ottawa.
Yesterday, Lieut Moysihan attended another funeral -- that of a niece.
While he was away, fire broke out at home, and his wife and three daughters were burnt to death.
(Guiana Graphic: January 13, 1956)
Clifford Stanley can be reached on any of the above at cswcb@yahoo.com or 592-657-2043.
The National Library Centenary (Part II)…
My Bones and My Flute
Enjoying some of the services the library has to offer |
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FOR AN educational (and recreational) institution like the National Library to remain relevant in a volatile society for 100 years calls into play innovation, industry and dedication on the part of all stakeholders, particularly the Committee of the National Library and the staff -- two bodies in charge of executing the mandate of the library.
The mandate of the National Library is “to satisfy, both nationally and internationally, the informational and recreational needs of the library’s users through the collection, organisation, dissemination and preservation of information in printed and other formats.”
One of the novel ways implemented by the library to celebrate its centenary is the current broadcast on local radio of Edgar Mittelholzer’s ‘My Bones and My Flute’. The year 2009 marks the birth centenary of Guyana’s most prolific novelist. The nexus is obvious.
Edgar Mittelholzer was born in December 1909 in the town of New Amsterdam, Berbice, British Guiana. At the time of his death by suicide in May 1965, he had published 25 books, including 23 novels; some short stories, and a few poems. He is better known for his monumental work, ‘The Kaywana Trilogy’, which is a reconstruction of Guyana’s history from the early 17th Century to the mid-20th Century. His first published novel, ‘Corentyne Thunder’ [1941], and a ghost/detective story (perhaps a first for the Caribbean), ‘My Bones and My Flute’ [1955].
‘My Bones and My Flute’ is set in Berbice, up the Berbice River, deep in the jungle of Guyana. There, a young artist, Woodsley, accompanying the Nevinson family, encounters the curse of a Dutch plantation and slave owner, Jan Pieter Voorman, whose bones are buried in that area, when they touched a manuscript he left behind. The curse is manifested in the eerie sound of a phantom flute. In ‘My Bones and My Flute’, Mittelholzer once again revisits the subject of the Berbice Slave Rebellion [1763].
The National Library was opened to the public in September 1909, offering lending, reference and reading room services. In 1909, there were 57,000 books and 1,500 members.
A 2007 survey records registered borrowers at over 100, 000, and a book stock of just under 400, 000. There were many innovations during the institution’s 100 years of service to the nation. An early and useful improvement was when, in the year 1940, the open access system was introduced in preference to the closed access system. A recent and modern addition was an Internet department, enhancing literacy, yet not defeating the function of reading books.
The radio serialising of ‘My Bones and My Flute’ was engineered and produced by James Sidney for the now defunct Radio Demerara. The current airing on NCN Radio of this serial, comprising of several episodes, is at 18h45 each week, from Monday to Friday.
By celebrating the birth centenary of Edgar Mittelholzer, the National Library in this its centenary year is demonstrating its willingness to be innovative in carrying out its mandate, and staying relevant in this ever-changing society.
To respond to this author, call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com
What’s Happening:
• The Guyana Annual magazine is inviting entries to its eight literary competitions namely: Open Story and Open Poetry, Youth Story and Youth Poetry, The Henry Josiah Story-Writing for Children, The Rajkumari Singh Poetry-Writing for Children, Martin Carter Essay (Under-13), Egbert Martin Poetry (Under-13) and to its art and photography competitions.
• Be a part of the centenary celebrations of the National Library; see press for details. Make a tangible contribution by submitting relevant photo and recollections for possible publication in the Centenary Souvenir Magazine.
• Coming Soon: Janus Creative Clinic on poetry, short fiction, drama and feature journalism. For more information contact Ruel Johnson@ ruel.johnson@gmail.com
Kross Kolor goes revolutionary for 10th anniversary
-jumpstarts celebrations with 30 new releases
The Kross Kolor Family: From left (back row) are: Jermaine ‘the Phoenix’ McBean; Tennicia; B52; Nancy ‘Zara’ Osborne; ‘BonesMan’; ‘Ossie O’; ‘Big Red’; and Vanilla. Seated from left are: Jovinski; Adrian Dutchin; Rajesh Dubraj; and Jumo.
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