THE concept of Police Operation Youth Clubs came to fruition on March 24, 1977, during the tenure of then Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Fraser, DSS, DSM, CPM.The concept was that it was a way of channelling the youths in productive and developmental activities that may lead them away from crime, and at the same time assist in improving the Force’s image and fostering better police-community relations.
Through the Youth Clubs, it was expected that there would be the building of positive attitudes towards the Police Force and other responsible community officials and organisations, and the promotion of a favourable disposition between the police and the public.
The Force’s Operation Youth Clubs was coordinated by a Management Committee that included police ranks and civilians, and representatives from the then Department of Youth.
Youth Clubs were established in the Police Divisions, with the Alberttown Youth Club being the largest and most vibrant. It was founded by Mr. Edmund Calder, now deceased, who was a national footballer, and had a great interest in the development of youths.

CALDER’S HALL
A section of the Alberttown Police Station building was allocated for the use of the club, and this was later named “Calder’s Hall” in memory of Edmund Calder.
Following Calder’s death, then Sergeant 10735 George Vyphius, who has since retired at the rank of Assistant Commissioner, took responsibility for the Alberttown Youth Club, and was later appointed to the Management Committee as Coordinator and Secretary.
Through the commitment and positive approach of Sergeant Vyphuis, the Force’s Youth Club initiative expanded, and on February 1, 1987, the Police Majorettes, which was an all-female, uniformed group, evolved.
Though it never materialised, the aim was to have a Youth Club established in every station district alongside the Community Policing Groups.
During the tenure of Commissioner Laurie Lewis, DSS, DSM, the concept behind the Police Operation Youth Clubs was enhanced, and became an important aspect of the police community “outreach”, which is complemented by the Police Scouts.
During 2010, it was decided by the Force Administration to establish a specific Youth and Scout Office at Police Headquarters. At the time, the Police Force was under the command of the late Commissioner Henry Greene, DSS, DSM, who was very enthusiastic about the development of youths in the society.

ENHANCED FOCUS

With the launching of the Police Force’s Social Crime Prevention Programme in 2014, through the initiative of Commissioner of Police Mr. Seelall Persaud, DSM, there has been enhanced focus and interaction with youths in the communities, as the programme is aimed at empowering the youths to develop skills and moral values in order that they may become productive and meaningful contributors to society, while improving police community relations.
Police Youth Clubs are coordinated in the Police Divisions by Officers who have been appointed as Community Relations Officers, with the Divisional Commander having the overall responsibility.
The Force’s Social Crime Prevention Programme has seen a significant increase in activities and interaction involving the police and youths through vocational skills training and lifeskills in the various communities in the Police Divisions.
In addition to community outreach meetings, these activities include skills training, educational lectures, information technology, tours, youth camps, sports, craftwork, youth exhibitions, spiritual teaching, and First Aid.
The Police Force has been receiving considerable support with the implementation of its Social Crime Prevention Programme from governmental and non-governmental agencies, and the business community.
Noteworthy is that in ‘A’ Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara), through its Impact Albouystown Project, a number of youths have been trained in cosmetology, sewing, leather craft, welding and fabrication, information technology and block-making, with some of them now being gainfully employed.
In ‘D’ Division (West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo), under its Creating Positive Environment through Safer Communities and Partnerships Programme (C-PETS), a number of youths have been placed on apprenticeship attachments with contractors in the Division in skill areas such as welding, masonry, and the servicing of motor vehicles; and over 180 young men and women have completed a six-week programme, and are presently pursuing a one-year diploma programme at the Leonora Technical Training Centre in skills such as welding, carpentry, auto mechanics, office administration, information technology, plumbing, and electrical installation’
Presently, a total of 73 Police Youth Clubs have been established in the Policing Divisions, comprising 13 in ‘A’ Division, 20 in ‘B’ Division (Berbice), six in ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara), six in ‘D’ Division, 13 in ‘E’ Division (Linden/Kwakwani), seven in ‘F’ Division (Interior Locations), and eight in ‘G’ Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands).

PRIME MINISTER Moses Nagamootoo on Wednesday received two of Guyana’s newly accredited Ambassadors, who paid him a courtesy call.They are Ambassador (designate) to the People’s Republic of China Bayney Karran and Riyad Insanally, Ambassador (designate) to the United States of America.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo congratulated the new envoys whom he has known for many years and expressed confidence that they would excel at their new posts.

Both Ambassadors have wide-ranging diplomatic experiences, with Dr Insanally joining Guyana’s Foreign Service in 1990 and Mr Karran becoming an Ambassador since 1996.

AS THE city sanitation and management programmes continue, a 24 hour ultimatum has been given to another group of persons breaching city rules and regulations, the council said in a release.Persons illegally occupying public spaces on the western side of Mandela Avenue with makeshift structures and East Ruimveldt market vendors, who have also constructed illegal structures, taking up extra space in the process, have been asked to desist from their various activities.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) announced Thursday, that they have noticed extensions of vendors operating spaces. Town Clerk, Royston King said that, “The Council is concerned about vendors illegally increasing selling points, virtually repeating what is being restricted in the city centre.”

King said that several notices have been served on the vendors, but they continue to illegally expand. Notice has also been given to persons squatting along Mandela Avenue. These persons have constructed shacks and stored items on these properties. The Council has noted that there are plans to utilise the facility and thus, offered 24 hours for persons to remove their items and relinquish the city’s property. A 24-hour timeframe was also given to vendors to remove their illegal structures ahead of the Council’s visit to the location.

A technical team attached to the Municipality’s Engineer’s Department also carried out a removal exercise earlier today that saw the flattening of the so-called ‘dread shop’, located west of Parliament Building.

The Town Clerk’s office had given earlier notice to the structure’s operators, while making specific reference to what was described as “unsavoury” activities taking place there, particularly on Friday nights. Operations at this facility was also said to be in direct breach of city public health laws. All other illegal structures around the city are also being eyed for removal.

The City Council reminded the public that the city is under a transition phase and reiterated calls for the co-operation of all stakeholders. It was said that all citizens must be able to enjoy and access the city’s facilities, hence the ongoing exercises that include the relocation of roadside vendors.

“While the law is clear on what is and what is not permitted in and on public spaces, the Council is adamant about mechanisms to ease the transition process for vendors. Though this is not an obligation of the Council and requires separate financing, they have noted that the well-being of the city, depends on the well-being of citizens. “All Guyanese deserve to have a city equal to the best in world,” the Town Clerk charged.

King said that the Council has an agenda to make Georgetown the “cleanest and greenest” in the Caribbean, and this will be achieved, “regardless (of) the difficulties”.

TOP officials of the Indian High Commission here and the Guyana Government on Thursday examined the architectural designs for the US$1M ICT centre to be constructed by the Indian Government here.Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes, Advisor on E-Governance, Floyd Levi and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E Shri Venkatachalam Mahalingam on Thursday examined designs for the centre to be called Centre of Excellence.

Late last month Harmon had signed a US$1 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Government for the establishment of centre.

The centre will provide training for public sector ICT professionals to ensure the availability of a highly skilled ICT workforce, equipped with the requisite expertise to meet the increasingly complex demands of the public and private sectors.

Minister Harmon had said that the MoU caters for the creation and operation of an ICT Centre of Excellence, which will be based at the National Data Management Building at the University of Guyana Complex.

During the first two years of the project, training of trainers will be completed, following which the facility will be handed over to the Government of Guyana. “The parties will cooperate in the identification of required areas of training, the establishment of a centre for training in ICT with two classrooms of 25 students each, the provision of academic materials to train up to 500 students per year for two years, among others,” Minister Harmon said.

The minister expressed thanks on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, noting that the project will go a long way in the development of the human resources of the country. Minister Harmon said he expects that the centre will be opened within the next three to six months.

In the meantime, India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Mahalingam, in brief comments, said that the Centre provides an opportunity for the development of the country and the people of Guyana, which his Government was pleased to facilitate.

“We have been waiting for this for a long time and finally it happened. This is only the first step. There are a lot of things that we need to do. We need to correspond with each other. We need to make the facilities available on your end… I am sure that this is going to be a real good opportunity for Guyanese to have training on various aspects of IT Management and we look forward to working together,” Mr. Mahalingam said.

The construction of the centre was announced by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at the BRICS Summit in 2014, in Brasilia regarding the establishment of Information Technology (IT) Centres in the region. Modi had indicated then that Guyana would be the first country in which they would establish an IT Centre. During his speech at the BRICS Summit back in July 2014 Modi had noted that almost 250 students from South America, have been taking courses in India every year under its International Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. “I however believe that this is not enough. We intend to substantially increase the same. To share India`s expertise in Information Technology, we will establish Centres of Excellence in Information Technology, in South American countries,” Modi announced at the summit.

He said then that India also offers to expand cooperation, in areas like Tele-medicine, Tele-education and e-Governance. “We extend our Space capabilities, for weather forecasting, resource mapping and disaster management.”

The Caribbean Development Bank is projecting a 4% growth for Guyana this year on the strength of expected strong performance in the mining sector, but the Bank is concerned about jobless youths across the region, which it said is the among highest in the world. In its 2015 annual report the CDB said that many of its Borrowing Members Countries (BMCs) for which 2015 labour force data is available, continued to experience double-digit unemployment rates.

The report said that there was no unemployment data for Guyana, but it mentioned that in St. Lucia, despite recent economic progress and several targeted government programmes, unemployment fell only marginally to 24.1%. There was a decline in joblessness in Jamaica, in line with the economic recovery; and also in Belize, thanks to increased activity in agriculture and construction.

In The Bahamas, the 2015 average unemployment rate was also lower than in 2014, although this masks the 2,000 layoffs from the mega resort. Trinidad and Tobago reported a reduction in joblessness in the first half of the year, but the figure rose in the second half, as the economy slowed. An increase was projected in Suriname, due to job losses in mining and agriculture. Other members reporting unemployment rates were Turks and Caicos Island at 11%, significantly down from 17% in 2012; and Grenada at 30.4%.

Inflation declined throughout the Region, with a few exceptions – The Bahamas, due to the introduction of a value added tax (VAT) in January; Haiti, as a result of drought and devaluation; and Suriname, due to devaluation and the negative impact of heavy rainfall on crop production. Elsewhere, the effects of lower global commodity prices, especially crude oil, were reflected in more moderate domestic price rises.

Meanwhile, the CDB said that given the substantial downside risks, it is currently projecting growth in all of its BMCs in 2016, with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. Average regional growth is expected to be about 0.5%. Not including Trinidad and Tobago, expected average growth is 1.8%.

Trinidad and Tobago is the BMC most exposed to pervading global trends; and therefore, low petroleum industry production and product prices are expected to continue. As well as restricting future economic growth, the government’s revenue receipts will be affected, in turn impacting the country’s future public sector investment, the CDB predicted. Therefore, the economy is expected to contract by about 2%.

Accordingly, low commodity prices will also affect Suriname, which is likely to face a period of fiscal consolidation, which could constrain domestic demand; and also slow credit growth. CDB estimates that the economy will decline by 1%. Growth is expected to be 4% in Guyana as gold production is ramped up at the two new mines. Public investment should also increase.

The Bank said that the Caribbean economy experienced a difficult year in 2015, exacerbated by challenges in the world economy.
Global economic growth fell from 3.4% in 2014 to 3.1% in 2015. The main reason was the slowdown in China, which along with other developments, kept commodity prices low, impacting exporters of those products. The forecast for the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK) and Canada was revised downward during the year. Being small open economies, Caribbean countries were not immune from these effects. Commodity producing countries experienced sharp declines, while tourism reliant economies enjoyed a relatively good year.

In addition to economic vulnerability, resulting from its heavy dependence on overseas markets in 2015, the Region’s susceptibility to environmental events was also demonstrated. Natural disasters in Dominica and The Bahamas set back economic growth and weather occurrences, particularly drought, affected agricultural production.

THIRTEEN (13) Berbicians benefited from specialised surgeries at the New Amsterdam Hospital, yesterday as the 11th Chinese Medical Brigade visited and conducted a series of operations.The presence of the Chinese Medical Brigade in Guyana is viewed by both China and Guyana as helping to deepen the two countries’ bilateral relations that date back to June 27, 1972. Under the leadership of Dr. Wang Yongxiang, the nine-member team successfully completed one spinal, five eye (cataract), three gynaecological and four general surgeries. The spinal surgery was one of the more significant, since this type is not common at the hospital.

Dr. Yongxiang told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that, “(since) 2014, our team comes here, and I have performed nearly 100 spine surgeries in GPHC, but in New Amsterdam Hospital they rarely perform spine surgeries.”

The visiting medical team comprised general, orthopaedic, and plastic surgeons, radiologist, pathologist, internal medical specialist, general medical officers and gynaecologists. This 11th brigade has been serving Guyana for the past two years and will be returning to China on Thursday. The 16-member delegation has been conducting outreaches in different hospitals.

Additionally, the medical brigade also donated a quantity of medical supplies, including cardiac and infant monitors, surgical instruments and protective gloves, clothing and other items to residents of Angoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam.

Guyanese have been benefitting over the years since the advent of the Chinese medical brigade, bringing specialised skills to the health sector. Local health care professionals have also benefitted from training. (GINA)

THE collective heritage of Mankind that persists in our memory and asserts itself continuously into our references is inhabited by men who were courageous enough to challenge the idolatry of the day, and chip away the plaster that covers the truth about the idols we thought were real.Ivan Van Sertima belongs to that heritage of courage to challenge the idols, with a legacy to us of scholarship across human variations.
Thus, he proceeded with a priesthood of other scholars to resurface with new and ignored information to tear down the pseudo-intellectual facade of racist mythology and paint a true landscape of the African presence on Earth.
The very first time I heard of Van Sertima was the day Dudley Charles began explaining to me about this exciting book he’d bought at the Universal Bookstore that outlined the arrival of Africans in the New World before Christopher Columbus.
After work that day, I hurried down to the bookstore, whose owner, Ovid Holder, was a good friend. I browsed through the book, ‘They came before Columbus’. But I was short on cash, so I didn’t buy it then. But I did recall J.A. Rogers mentioning about the Olmec of Mexico. But this book was much more; and I had to get a copy. Ivan Van Sertima would never leave my mind again.
The collection of books that involves Dr. Van Sertima envelopes a volume of historical and anthropological information necessary to counter the tons of volumes of picture books, novels, movies, TV shows and Internet images that still follow the trend that excludes African humanity from its extensive interactions with other variations of humanity.

WHY’S THAT

It must be understood why that came to be. The racist need to academically and spiritually reduce Africa to an agreed level of inferiority was spawned by the leaning on the African for forced support through slavery as a means to master tropical colonies; to keep severed any bonds of kinship that could connect the peasantry of Europe with this new human chattel.
Religion had to be twisted to demonise the African. Ethiopia, Kush, Egypt, Elam, Cartage… The cradles of civilisation had to be taken from the African man so as to appease the questioning conscience of their own humanity.
New idols were commissioned; the African noses of ancient statues were broken off, and European writers who endeavoured to be truthful were not celebrated. The academic and philosophical path that culminated with Adolf Hitler was launched long before he was born.
There were others before Van Sertima who had lifted the torch of truth. He and his colleagues were not hesitant to celebrate Chancellor Williams, Theophile Obenga, Von Wuthenau, and Cheikh Anta Diop among others. Their contributions proceeded to unmask, through scholarship and indelible evidence, the vast onslaught of pseudo-academia that had nurtured a popular culture ‘stock imagery’ of ethnic falsifications perpetrated through the visual arts, games and movies, and also by reputable academic publications such as National Geographic.

STRICTLY BUSINESS
Most of them, however, argue that what they do is more business than documentary, and that the paying audience is the misguided, indoctrinated non-Afro population.
The debate on the African presence in the Americas that ‘They came Before Columbus’ and ‘African presence in early America’ stimulated posed tremendous probabilities against the old order.
Professor Van Sertima was invited by UNESCO to join the International Commission for a new History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of Mankind. He was honoured for his work in this field, that also incorporates the publishing of “The Golden Age of the Moors”, “Blacks in Science”, “Egypt, Child of Africa”, “African Presence in Early Asia”, “Black Women in Antiquity” and other titles. He was also asked by the Swedish Academy to nominate candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature from 1976-1980.
The books, tapes and DVDs that envelope Dr. Van Sertima and his colleagues present a corps of current research material that creative persons in the arts and education can rely on to fill the vacuum in the context of certain historical lessons on Africans in and out of Africa.
Scenarios from Cambodia, to India to Moorish Europe can be explored; the potential for a vast, popular literature is open to the creative writer and artist, should he dare to explore. The world today has the space for creative honesty.
Recently, two movies, ‘Noah’ and ‘Gods of Egypt’, but the latter mostly, dabbled with the same pre-Hitler world view, but were given the “thumbs down” by Hollywood.
That institution has moved a long way from David Wark Griffith of “Birth of a Nation” fame, whose incredible talent did not prevent him from glorifying the KKK in his 1915 epic.
Ivan Van Sertima’s contribution deserves more than a chair at UG; it deserves the creative community taking its themes into the minds of the future.

Dear Editor,

I WRITE in response to the recent PPP press conference of Monday last conducted by Mr. Clement Rohee. Mr. Editor, Rohee’s flippancy is astonishing.The average Guyanese must be shocked by his recent statements in the local media that the PPP’s best explanation for not launching an investigation into Satyadeow Sawh’s murder was that “we didn’t get to it.” He stated that no government “gets” to everything in its manifesto. This argument is a logical fallacy: reductio ad absurdum!

Was investigating the countless murders that paralysed our nation for the first decade of this century just another manifesto promise? Someone in the PPP hierarchy must see the brazenness of this position. This was your own minister! Is “let the chips fall where they may” the PPP’s position on matters as imperative to national security and leadership as this? One hopes not!

I would point the finger at the honourable Mr. Rohee with greater seriousness for his pussyfooting around the absence of an inquiry, but a simple check of the archives has shown me an entirely new layer of surprise: Rohee was not even the Minister of Home Affairs in April 2006, it was Ms. Teixeira. It seems that Rohee does not even know the range of his time in office – no wonder he can’t recollect why there was no inquiry.
Two wrongs don’t make a right, and the coalition’s failure to move faster on an inquiry into Sawh’s murder, and the terror of that era in Guyana’s history, cannot be tolerated for much longer. However, at least it was a manifesto promise of the coalition. Getting to the bottom of things is taking far too long, and Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan should avoid walking in Rohee’s footsteps. On a final note, I return to Mr. Rohee; why do the local media tolerate such absurd answers to serious questions? Surely our press can do better than to find satisfaction from an answer as hollow as his. Democracy is in the media’s care, and if it is not monitored properly, it will become warped.
Yours in astonishment,
Basdeo Ramdhan

The Government of Guyana is closely monitoring the situation in neighbouring Venezuela following reports of a possible refugee crisis.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge told the Ministry of the Presidency that there is no reason for undue alarm, noting that while authorities do not foresee any massive cross-border movements in the immediate future, Guyana will, on the basis of an assessment of the way things are, take appropriate actions if the need arises.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

“The Cabinet and Government have been alerted to these events that are unfolding but we are not of the view that you are going to get a massive flood of people… However, as a responsible Government, we are getting an assessment from our own authorities and from those in a position to advise,” the Minister was quoted as saying in a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.

The government has already noted that Guyana is obligated to accept Guyanese who wish to return home. The Minister explained that there is always movement across all of Guyana’s borders, which would dip and peak at varying periods but noted that, “from what know of Venezuela’s capabilities we believe that movement of people across the border are not likely to be of any magnitude that Venezuela’s authorities cannot handle, at least in relation to Guyana’s borders.”

When asked about any regional mechanisms that are in place to address this issue should it escalate, the Minister said that the Region has taken note of what is going on but the wider region captured by Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Organisation of American States (OAS), have not examined the situation with a view to intervene in the sense of putting in place any sort of arrangements because such actions does not seem necessary at this point.

Over the last three years, the Venezuelan economy has been on a downturn, which the political Opposition contends is the result of the poor policies implemented by the Nicolas Maduro-led Administration.

Earlier this month, over a million citizens signed a petition demanding a referendum to remove the President, who last Friday declared a 60-days state of emergency in the Bolivarian Republic.

The newly constructed and erected $20M 50^th Independence Anniversary Arch located at Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was unveiled on Friday morning by the Government of Guyana and Banks DIH limited following a ceremony.

The simple but significant unveiling ceremony saw President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger, Ministers of Government, the Diplomatic Corps, the business community and scores of school children attending.

President Granger, while delivering the keynote address, said the arch is of great significance to Guyana, its people and its history. He said while the arch serves as a landmark for the entrance to the city’s southernmost boundary, it will not only separate the city from the outskirts but “separate the past from the future.”

President David Granger greets Chairman of Banks DIH, Clifford Reis, while others look on.

The arch he said defines identity, denotes victory and is a beacon of prosperity for rural citizens. The President outlined the history of Guyana with specific reference to the city of Georgetown and said “Georgetown is set to become a safe city once again” where citizens can feel free to take a stroll with their families.

“Safety and security are essential,” said the President, who noted that never again must Georgetown be referred to as the “garbage city”.

“The city is undergoing changes…the garden city will never be known as the garbage city again,” he said.

He noted that Georgetown is becoming a clean, green city and efforts are being made to rid cases of malaria, zika and chikungunya to name a few.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said the unveiling of the 50^th Independence Anniversary Arch is significant as not every nation is fortunate to celebrate such a milestone. He said the aim was to re-install the original independence arch but unfortunately the remains of that arch disappeared.

He said despite the fact that it is not the original site for the arch; it represents the values, perseverance, hard work and a bright future for Guyanese.

Minister Patterson disclosed that a second arch is being proposed for the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), which will represent the northern boundary. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce have been approached for financing, he said.

Chairman of Banks DIH Limited, Clifford Reis said the unveiling of the arch represents another noteworthy event since Guyana attained its Independence in 1966. He said symbols of nationhood are important and since the erection of the first arch at La Penitence.

“Banks DIH took a big brother approach” to ensure that such an important symbol be maintained, the Chairman noted. He dubbed the 50^th Independence Anniversary as a “new beginning; a new horizon” and he hopes that the symbol will serve as a beacon of hope.

Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for culture, Nicolette Henry lauded the assistance provided by Banks DIH and noted that the country will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Banks DIH Limited received assistance from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure who contacted VSH United to assist with the engineering and fabrication of the new arch. The arch was designed by Vaniar Gutierrez of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. Errol Cush Contracting Services was responsible for the laying of the foundation and the erection of the structure.

THE decomposed body of 74-year-old Henry Ramlakhan Gobin was found in a crouched position in the lower flat of his two-storey house at Brehaspat Street, Number Two Village, East Canje, Berbice on Friday.His nephew, Paul Gobin, related that he had last seen his father’s brother two weeks ago, when he had visited his uncle’s home and was told that the elderly man was going out and was consequently unable to entertain him.

The house in which the body of Henry Ramlakhan Gobin was found

The younger Gobin and other relatives responded on Friday afternoon to a telephone call which resulted in them visiting the home of the now deceased former headmaster. They forcefully entered the upper flat of the wooden house after calls went unanswered; and when a relative descended an inner stairway to the lower flat, Henry Gobin’s badly decomposed body was discovered on the floor in a slouched position.

“He probably fell off the bed. His skull was exposed, so were his teeth, while body fluids flowed from the body. The stench was high,” the relative said.

Neighbours acknowledged that they had not seen the retired school teacher for about two weeks. They acknowledged that they had since been receiving an obnoxious odour in the environment, but had presumed it was emanating from nearby pig pens.

When this newspaper visited the scene on Saturday morning, relatives were taking away the dead man’s personal belongings, which included his television set, pension books, clothing and curtains, among other articles; they having decided to divide the articles among themselves. The relatives, all males, described the now deceased as a “non-mixer”, “non- drinker”, and “non-smoker”, who was “always by himself”.

“He always minding his own business; nothing or nobody interested him. He lived alone and he died alone. He has no children. An older sister lived and died the same way,” one relative related.

THOUSANDS, including children and the elderly, were fed Sunday at Gafoor’s Houston Complex even as the company rebuilds from the fire which consumed 40 per cent of its business at the complex.The occasion was in observance of the birth anniversary of corporate mogul Sattaur Gafoor, Executive Chairman of Gafsons Industries, who celebrated his 76th birth anniversary on Sunday.
“Traditionally on my birthday, I usually get together with the less fortunate and poor people from the homes and provide something for them, some people would have friends and have a big party. But rather than doing that I try to remember those who are deprived and help as much as I can,” the noted philanthropist said.

One of the sections filled with people hosted by Sattaur Gafoor on Sunday to mark his 76th birth anniversary

Many of the persons were shuttled with Gafsons transportation from orphanages and homes for the elderly as part of the feeding programme. They received meals and beverages at the rear section of the business complex which was not gutted by the May 9, 2016 inferno. Some 530 workers were affected in the aftermath of the fire.
Although at present space is a vital factor for business, Gafoor said air- conditioning units and a generator were placed in an unaffected section of the complex from where employees are now operating, while 25 per cent of staff has been absorbed in the various Gafoor’s branches throughout the country.
He said the section that was gutted will have to be extracted and rebuilt.
DOING REASONABLY WELL
“It’s been a very trying time, but with the support of my staff we are doing reasonably well. I would say we have 65 per cent of our business already on stream and up and running, except for 20 employees who have not yet been allocated because of their skill sets and the equipment they operate, they have already been paid 75 per cent of their salaries,” he explained.
Much of Gafoor’s working day is spent seeking to enhance the professional development of his staff. Many of them are university graduates, but Gafoor knows what he wants out of his employees and he believes he is the fittest person to provide that guidance.
The executive chairman has the sturdy appearance of a man who is used to the peaks and troughs of business. Gafsons has been in business for over six decades.

FIRST Lady Mrs Sandra Granger was on Saturday awarded for the contributions she has made in improving the lives of the most vulnerable sections of the Guyanese population.The Guyana Action Committee (GAC) presented her with an award at the GAC’s fundraising gala held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. The proceeds from that fundraising event will go towards the Burnham Educational Scholarship Trust (BEST).

The First Lady, in brief remarks, said the GAC and her office are working towards common goals, particularly in relation to helping the vulnerable, especially women and children.

She said, “The GAC and I believe in education as a means of advancement…. Because of this, we focus on ensuring that our young children and adolescents in particular are given the means to become educated and therefore (become) able contributors to the growth and development of our beautiful Guyana.”

President of the GAC, Errol Lewis, in his remarks, called for greater unity among Guyanese, both locally and in the diaspora.

“If we are to advance our purpose and our cause utilising the rich potential we possess, our nation must be educated enough to understand that we cannot continue to ostracise anyone, moreso our youths…. We must never again allow bigotry and hatred to define us as a people…,” he said.

Apart from the First Lady, five other individuals were honoured. They are educator and activist Mr Stanton Lambert; Deputy Principal of President’s College, Ms Yvonette Chichester; educator Mr Wilfred Success; computer specialist Ms Marva Wiltshire-Gordon; and businessman and social activist Mr James Bovell Jr.

The GAC also awarded several youths for outstanding performances in the field of sport. They are cricketers Kemo Paul, Shemaine Campbelle, Shimron Hetmyer, Tevin Imlach, and Tremayne Smartt.

The GAC is a non-profit organisation established in New York in 2011. Its mission is to engage in projects and discussions aimed at providing means for cultural, economic and social change for Guyanese here in Guyana and in the diaspora. (Ministry of the Presidency)

A FAMILY of 12 is now homeless after a five-year-old playing with matches caused a wooden structure on concrete posts to go up in flames Friday afternoon.Before firefighters reached the Lot 43, Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara home it had been already gutted after the fire started at 14:10hrs.
One of the occupants of the house, Winston Braithwaite, said seven children and five adults shared the house and at the time of the fire only an 81-year-old visually-impaired woman was at home with the five-year-old at the time. The child found a box of matches and the rest is history.
Joseph Magaram, who also resided in the house, said he learnt that the cause of the fire was the result of a nursery school child playing with matches.
He explained that his 81-year-old mother who was home at the time is near- sighted and made the discovery after noticing the smoke.
“When I come home I was told by neighbours that my kids were not at home and the house burn down. People tried to help with the fire already burnt up the place; someone had to bring out my mom because she was panicking,” he said. He said all valuables and documents went up in flames. The occupants would welcome any assistance from anyone or agency that can assist with them getting back on their feet.

By Sherah Alleyne
TEACHERS, children and parents of the Municipal Day Care Services and four private day care services took to the streets of Georgetown in high spirits on Friday, in celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee.Dressed in brightly hued tee-shirts and headdresses of the colours of the national flag, the entourage moved off from the Middle Street entrance of the Promenade Gardens and headed west into

Some of the little revellers who were out on Friday (Photos by Delano Williams)

Main Street. And in spite of the occasional showers, the revelry would continue as the children, jumping and waving excitedly as they followed the lead of their teachers, headed east along Church Street and turned north into Carmichael Street, on their way back to the Promenade Gardens.

Paulette Bollers, Director of the Municipal Day Care Services, said the children’s participation in this event is significant in that it helps sensitise them on the importance of Guyana’s independence.

“This is history, and we want our children to be aware (of) and (be) a part of this important celebration,” she said.

The Georgetown Municipality has five day care centres under its charge. Those centres are located at Industrial Site, South Road, Festival City, Charlestown and East Ruimveldt.

By Alva Solomon

AT exactly 10:45hrs yesterday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo flicked the switch to turn on Radio Lethem 95.1FM. He also made the first broadcast, his action bringing to fruition a project designed to connect the Rupununi and other hinterland communities to the Coastland.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo waves a cloth which he removed after unveiling the plaque to officially commission Radio Lethem. At right and left respectively are Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and the Prime Minister’s daughter

The project is one of two that were announced earlier this year during the 2016 National Budget, with Radio Mabaruma in the North West District set to be on the airwaves before the end of June.

Radio Lethem is supported with content by the National Communications Network (NCN), and provides radio coverage to communities in Central Lethem, 20-30 miles from the radio station. The station is being voluntarily manned by 20 youths from the area, and they would be presenting home-grown programmes in the months to come.

Addressing the packed-to-capacity audience yesterday, which included Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock; Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan; and Minister of Tourism, with responsibility for Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes; the Prime Minister spoke about the historic nature of the event. Most of all, he spoke about the pivotal role people like veteran broadcaster Dr Rovin Deodat played in the development of community radio and radio in general in Guyana.

Not only was Dr Deodat pivotal in commissioning of the country’s first FM (frequency modulation) radio station, 98.1 Hot FM, but he also played a key role in crafting of a broadcasting policy for the country back in the early 90s.

According to the Prime Minister, who was then Minister of Information under the previous administration, it was recognised at the time that broadcasting was the principal vehicle for uniting the Guyanese populace.

“Because if you cannot spread the word of unity, you cannot achieve the objective of unity,” he said, adding:
“And the only way you can spread the word is to be able to communicate with all the communities of Guyana — from the coast, to the hinterland, to border areas, to the riverine areas, to the hills…”

He mentioned, in passing, Radio Paiwomak, another radio station which broadcasts in the Rupununi from the Bina Hill Institute at Kwatamang.

“We must allow our Indigenous people to communicate. There are nine tribes, and they need to communicate with themselves initially in their own languages, and that was the rationale for Radio Paiwomak,” he said.

The Prime Minister revealed that there are plans for establishment of a radio station at the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus. Recalling that not only was the Government of the day able to access funding for a transmitter, but a studio was even set-up at the Turkeyen Campus, he said the project unfortunately simply died.

As he recalled: “It was never born; maybe still-born…. The studio was built, and after I left office, no one followed up.”

But all is not lost, he said. “As the country prepares to become a gas and oil state, we’ve come to realise that we would have to produce a new set of intelligence of a new generation.” He added that environmental engineers and safety and mechanical technicians are among the skilled personnel who would have knowledge to share with the country, using radio as the preferred means of communication.

“So we need the university to communicate with the rest of Guyana what it is doing there,” he said.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo stands with young trainee broadcasters who will be trained to man programmes on Radio Lethem. Project Coordinator Dr Rovin Deodat is at right

During the course of the commissioning, Dr Deodat was recognized for holding the first training course for persons of Amerindian descent through a loan from UNESCO. That course led to the “discovery” of broadcaster Michella Abraham-Ali.

Dr Deodat told the audience that the ceremony yesterday was a testament to the durability of those who worked on the lead-up to Radio Lethem’s launch, including technical staff of NCN.

He said that, months ago, he and the Prime Minister discussed the programmes and ideas for radio, those being 50% from the regions and other content from NCN. He said that, for the moment, NCN will be relaying to Radio Lethem; but as time progresses, local programmes will be added to the airwaves.

In studio during an on-air discussion after the commissioning ceremony, Minister Allicock noted that communication has been lacking in the country. “We promised that we will bring the country together,” he added.

Minister Hughes noted that communities should be able to fashion their own stories. Accordingly, she expressed appreciation to those persons who volunteered to work at the station, as she noted their pivotal roles in the development of the region.

Hughes also pledged to donate some 15 laptops to the team of trainees who will broadcast the programmes of Radio Lethem.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has commended the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force on its efforts in solving several crimes, including cold cases.

The PPP has also recommended that Crime Chief, Wendel Blanhum be promoted immediately from Senior Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner of Police.

“The Crime Chief must at all times be of the rank of an Assistant Commissioner”, the Party said in a statement today.

According to the PPP, the Crime Chief must be able to act independent of instructions or directives of a non-professional nature. Recently, a number of high profile cases which were unsolved for several years, were pursued by the police and the alleged perpetrators have been placed before the courts.

The list includes the 2012 triple murder of Anna Catherina liquor store owner Jennifer Persaud and her two young sons. Barber, Abishai Caesar, 31, appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool late last month and was charged for the gruesome crime.

On Sunday, police dug-up a shallow grave at Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville and unearthed the remains of a person suspected of being 28 year-old Babita Sarjou who disappeared without a trace on the eve of Diwali in November 2010.

Her husband Anand Narine, who was long suspected of playing a role in the woman’s disappearance, and an accomplice are expected to face charges in relation to the woman’s death. Blanhum told reporters that the woman’s disappearance is now being treated as a homicide.

The European Union, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Blossom, a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Friday May 20, 2016 launched the Travelling Exhibition in Region 10, at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre and Exhibition Hall in Mackenzie, Linden.

The paintings on display

According to a release from the EU, the exhibition of drawings prepared by sexually abused children has been moving across the country.  It was first launched in April in Region 4 by First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger and in early May was launched in Region 6 at the Whim Police Station. It is the intention to have the Travelling Exhibition taken across all Regions of Guyana.

It was noted that Mr Derek Lambe, Chargé d’affaires a.i, of the EU Delegation in Guyana, speaking at the opening ceremony in Region 10 said that, ”the Travelling Exhibition aims to show through the eyes of the aggrieved child, the injury, injustice and lifelong scars that remain after sexual abuse.”

Mr Lambe also said that some scientists argue that there are clear links between sexual abuse and permanent changes in the brain, which can result in psychiatric problems.  The problems  range from panic attacks to posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies and even aggression, impulsiveness, delinquency, hyperactivity, and substance abuse, and that these can show up at any stage of the abused child’s life – in childhood, adolescence and even in adulthood.

The EU Chargé d’affaires a.i. closed by appealing to all present and to all Guyanese to join efforts to rid Guyana of child sexual abuse.  He said that child sexual abuse threatens the country’s greatest asset and the sustainable development that Guyana seeks.

The Travelling Exhibition is open to the public and all are invited to view the images painted by the children who participated in creative and art therapy facilitated by volunteer Ms. Sigrid Sandker.

The Exhibition is another of the many undertakings by the EU and UNICEF to curb the growing number of cases of child sexual Abuse in Guyana.  The EU and UNICEF are both in the vanguard of promoting the eradication of child sexual abuse.

President David Granger on Monday met with Ms. Kelly Hyles, the 17-year-old Guyanese girl, who was accepted into 21 colleges across the United States of America, including eight Ivy League universities.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that Ms. Hyles was accompanied to the Ministry of the Presidency by her mother, Ms. Anetta Earl, her aunt, Mrs. Shaundelle Inniss-Munroe, her uncle, Mr. Kenneth Earl and social activist, Mr. Mark Benschop.

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon also attended the meeting. According to the release, the President congratulated the young scholar, referring to her as a product of the Guyanese society and a citizen of whom the nation is proud.

“Everything I do, everything the Cabinet and the Government does is so that our young people can have a bright future… This country can only be developed [with] intelligent and educated persons like you. We are happy and encouraged by your achievements,” President Granger said.

Ms. Hyles and her mother arrived in Guyana on Sunday evening to be part of the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations. In fact, she will celebrate her 18th birthday on Independence Day.

She was accepted to some of the most distinguished colleges in the US including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania but has decided on Harvard, where she will be pursuing studies in either Bio-Chemistry or Neuroscience.

Bank of Guyana (BoG) Governor Dr Gobin Ganga on Monday disclosed that the one dollar and five dollar coins might soon be out of circulation.

Though he could not disclose when the coins would be out of circulation, he said an assessment has to be done before the decision is made.

“We are currently looking at the feasibility of eliminating the one dollar coin of which obviously it has lived its life already; there is no more need for that and we are looking at the five-dollar,” he told reporters on Monday during a press conference hosted by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan.

Dr Ganga noted that though the non-circulation of the coins is imminent, it has to be carefully studied.

“We have to be very careful because we do have the decimal system that people have to be educated about,” he said. Currently, Guyana has one dollar coins, five dollar coins and 10 dollar coins in circulation in addition to $20, $100, $500, $1000 and $5000 notes being circulated.

Earlier this month, the BoG unveiled a commemorative $50 note in observance of the country’s 50^th Independence Anniversary.