In the case of logging, the waterways are being used to transport the logs and these have fallen to critical levels that is now proving difficult for vessels. wreaked havoc in the Region One and with sources of drinking water literally drying up, Government is rushing down a special team today in an attempt to come up with solutions.

Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, and other agricultural officials inspect an affected cassava farm in Region One yesterday.

Not only are the 15,000-plus residents walking miles, in some cases for drinking water, but crops are under severe threat and there are now worries of a possible food shortage in the area.
Yesterday, a technical team from the Ministry of Agriculture along with regional officials of the Barima/Waini area heard that residents are now facing
There is also not enough water to conduct alluvial mining operations many miners have simply curtailed their work in the hope that rains come soon.
At the meeting in Moruca, the despondent faces of the resident told the story all too clearly. According to Mavis Edwards, of Seven Miles Branch Road, Karaburi, an outlying village, she has to walk almost a mile every day to reach the creek for water as her pond has dried up.
Her children, who have to paddle five miles to school every day, have been forced to attend school for only two days. Water shortage at the community school in her area has placed a feeding programme in jeopardy.
According to Edwards, her children are suffering from diarrhoea because of the quality of drinking water.
Accompanying Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, to Region One yesterday were Deputy Permanent Secretary of Administration, George Jervis; Director of National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth; and regional officials.
According to Dr Homenauth, in collaboration with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, passion fruit plants seedlings, cassava sticks and other assistance are being given to the region. The official pointed out that it is part of Government’s strategy to not only tackle the current situation but also to plan for the future,
Residents complained of non-functioning wells and pumps; they spoke of crops such as bora and cassava struggling since irrigation water sources are dry or are too far away to be feasible.
Acoushi ants infestations and a disease attacking plantains and banana have also posed another serious challenge.
At the Moruca Hostel and Hospital, there is barely enough water to cover operations.
Minister Persaud said that a team of officials from the Ministry of Housing and Water will be rushing to the area in an effort to address the drinking water problem.
He ordered the regional officials to utilize tractors there and promised tanks and pumps for the area within days.
The Minister acknowledged the problem of food supplies in the area and noted that it would cost more than half of a million dollars in cash to hire a plane to take food there. The food shortage possibility is one that would be worrying Government.
The issue of storing food was being addressed by agricultural officials.
Trucks are charging almost $300,000 to take supplies into the area-this does not include the cost of the supplies.
Two mechanical cassava mills and graters, to the tune of over $1M was handed over to the region along with an excavator worth $14M to conduct emergency works.
The Minister also urged the residents to start planning to diversify to other crops including spices like turmeric, black pepper and nutmeg which are more resilient to the severe weather conditions.
According to Persaud, with 15 tonnes of turmeric being imported annually, there is a market for this spice.
At Kumaka Landing, the story was the same. While there is limited water being pumped daily, there hilly terrain and low pressure have resulted in many resident not getting water for irrigation and drinking. Wells are not working and the Minister, following complaints of the residents, warned regional and government officials to ensure that they carry out their functions.
Residents called for help in planting materials like yam and ginger and were advised to examine the possibility of long term crops like citrus, coconut and avocado.

She has blazed a trail through uncharted territory and virgin soil, defying the odds in her drive to improve the standing of all women. Decades, characterized by unremitting perseverance and staunch resilience in consumer advocacy has taken its toll on her strong but aging shoulders yet the fiery ambition within her breast, ignited more than three decades ago, refuses to abandon a mission initiated out of necessity and pursued through concern for the well-being of ‘consumers but more importantly, her fellow women.

Ms. Cox at the Caribbean Consumers Committee (CCC) Conference in 1972

Today, one would have thought that after such tireless work the message would have been firmly entrenched in the minds of her detractors who in turn would have put the necessary ramifications in place to solidify women’s viability and importance, not only in the working sector but also as worthwhile human beings.
This is not to be and despite significant and somewhat positive shifts of the arc, the situation, in her mind, remains unfavourably balanced and despite being in her nineties, Eileen Cox’s desire to retire from consumer advocacy has been stalled, nay deferred, as she valiantly attempts to entrench the message in the minds of her critics and foster positive action in place of useless rhetoric.
Born on January 19, 1918, to Walter Messiah Cox and Mariam Ruth Cox, Eileen nurtured a fair-minded perspective of the sexes. She firmly believes that a person, irrespective of gender affiliation, reserves the right to upward mobility, provided the person proves to be efficient in the specified capacity. Unfortunately, during her pioneer years as a consumer advocate, this was not the case.
“Women’s mobility in the public sector was stifled because of the ill-conceived notion that they were inferior to their male counterparts,” she remembers.
This type of misplaced ideology irked Ms. Cox to the extent that she vowed to do something about it, if only to equalise the landscape and open the door for an equitable balance among the sexes. At that time she held an administrative portfolio in the Public Service Union (PSU).
She immediately set about finding the source of the problem.
“In those days most men believed that a woman’s place was in the kitchen among the pots and pans,” she reminisces. This ideology, though somewhat misplaced was widely accepted not only among the men, but some women, who were content to accept the adverse gender roles plastered on them by their male counterparts.

Eileen Cox

Ms. Cox remembers the limp rationale extended by the male folks for their stances.
“They would say to women of my ilk, ‘why are you so anxious for such changes; we love you just as you are.”
Maybe, it was not so much the men’s stances that irked Ms Cox so much more than some of her colleagues’ passive acceptance of these ideologies.
“Women possessed the academic acumen to cross the established gender barriers,” she posits. Sadly, these women were only allowed to occupy administrative positions up to that of a records clerk. She also said that in most cases, some of these women were even more qualified than their male counterparts.
Armed with the resolute belief that all humans ought to receive the relevant opportunities to realize their full potential, Ms. Cox decided to meet her male disbelievers head on. Her first move was to extricate herself from the debilitating environment that propagated such unfair sentiments.
“I decided to relinquish my position at the PSU because men were not prepared to accept the viability of women in the work environment. Therefore, they were not open to the notion of equality of the sexes,” advanced Ms. Cox.
Consequently, she took her campaign to the other women in the workplace soliciting support for what she envisioned was a just cause. She was sorely disappointed by their reaction. “They wanted to be a part of the struggle but were reluctant because they were afraid of victimisation and the loss of their jobs,” she revealed.
Then something happened that caused Ms. Cox much concern. Women started borrowing money from men that were well off. The problem with that was that the lenders demanded unrealistic interest rates. In their dismal, impoverished state, many of the women had no other alternative but to conform to the unreasonable repayment structures.
“The average salary was in the vicinity of thirty dollars per month and most women found it difficult culminating social unions in marriage based on the archaic laws at that time. “If a woman employed in the Public Sector decided to get married she was required by law to leave her job which relegated her to the status of a housewife.”
This law did not apply to the Private Sector nevertheless, it was a debilitating arrangement. Ms. Cox intimated that she was an ardent subscriber to a magazine that advocated the concept of women’s equality and offered techniques in achievement of these goals.
“Articles in the magazines instructed ways in which a woman could become liberated,” said Ms. Cox.
She decided to advocate the concept of unity among women as a means of eradicating the unfortunate imbalances among the sexes. Her efforts were stymied after the executives of the PSU ruled that any such movement would be vigorously discouraged. The PSU bosses declared that any such movement would be deemed anti-government and would have attracted swift sanctions.
Such ploys were very effective because many of the women were scared to buck the wheel. Then something happened that changed the dynamics.
“The wife of the founder leader, Viola (Burnham) convened a meeting and formed an all-women’s group that aimed to empower women,” intimated Ms. Cox. The late first lady subsequently formed an association that dealt specifically with consumer issues and ways in which women could become empowered.
The involvement of Ms Burnham, who wielded much power by dint of her status as First Lady, quelled the fears of the women and they decided to join the movement. This happened in 1971 and was the first consumer association to be formed. Ms Cox’s advocacy and vibrancy made her an automatic candidate for the position of President of the inaugural body. Her mandate was simple — educate and represent the consumer’s interest to government and industry. In order to effectively address this mandate, Ms Cox decided to liaise with the International Organisation of Consumer Union in England.
In 1971 she took her advocacy one step further when she submitted articles that appeared in the daily Graphic newspapers. She also took the message to the airwaves on a five-minute programme aired on the then Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). “This programme provided the means of educating consumers on wise shopping choices.”
Ms. Cox feels that too many business persons are becoming engaged in unscrupulous activities. These include the importation of inferior products which are passed over to the consumers as authentic stuff.
“This is a major bugbear and the Guyana Bureau of Standards does attempt to rope in business persons of such ilk, but with a paucity of adequate staff, many of these products slip into the marketplace,” Ms. Cox bemoaned. She lauded the efforts of the Jamaican consumer authorities, who she said, conduct minute checks to ensure that inferior or substandard products are kept out of the local market.
There are risk factors in almost every activity and being a consumer advocate heightens such risks and dangers. Ms. Cox is aware that there will be people affected by her advocacy.
“Haven’t you ever nurtured fear that someone may attempt to do you harm for your vociferous advocacy and inflexible stance on these matters?” I asked her.
That 92-year-old woman who appeared unable to harm a fly looked me straight in the eye and pronounced, “I am fearless; I have no relatives who would be victimised because of what I say or do; I criticize whomever, whenever it is prudent to do so.”
She further intimated that irrespective of whosoever may transgress the laws, she fearlessly speaks out against it. “I have criticised the police for excesses; I have stuck my neck out for defenceless consumers and I nurture no fear,” she boasted.
Ms Cox recited a recent episode where weekend revelers would congregate on the seawall, disturbing the peace with excessively loud music. “The neighbours sought my intervention and I lodged a complaint with the police. They wasted little time in providing relief,” Ms. Cox stated.
But what exactly drives Ms Cox to the extremes in proffering assistance to her fellow human beings? “My love for people,” she reveals, “I don’t talk down to people, irrespective of their status or standing, I talk with them.”
And what are her views on education?
“Diplomas and Degrees are merely prerequisites for attaining certain positions in the work force. If I attain a Bachelor of Science or any other fancy qualification, I would still have to obey some official or the other. For me, there’s more to life than the acquisition of academic excellence. Staunch inter-personal relationships provide solid relations and should not be sacrificed on the altar of academic qualifications,” advocated Ms. Cox.
Her favourite person is fellow consumer rights activist Patrick ‘Pat’ Dial, who, despite acute academic prowess, has not lost touch with the common folk. “He’s an intellectual but is capable of connecting with common folks without offending,” said Ms Cox.
Her parting shot to consumers was pointed and very instructive, “You have the power to change your fortunes,” she said. To strengthen her point she used a practical analogy, “If you place several sticks together it is much harder to break than if it were one stick,” she said while strengthening the unity concept.
At 92 not out, Ms Cox has every wish of raising her bat to the crowd after she would have scored that coveted century. But is that her desire?
“I would very much love to cross that hurdle, but not in Guyana,” she pronounced. She noted my lifted eyebrows and ventured an explanation.
“The VAT (Value Added Tax) might be the intermediary force between the coveted century and whether I lose my wicket,” she stated matter-of-factly.

Guyana Justice of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths to Affidavits Association held its annual general meeting yesterday at City Hall where elections were held to appoint a new President and executives.
A transparent election was conducted and votes were clearly counted by everyone present at the meeting.
The previous President, Hermon Bholaisingh was re-elected unopposed, while the Vice President is Pandit Chrishna Persaud. The General Secretary is Baldeo Jadunauth; Assistant General Secretary, Ashok Kumar; Treasurer Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar; Assistant Treasurer, Chandrika Tewarie; and Public Relation Officer (PRO) Phillip Matthews.

Sitting from left is the JP President Hermon Bholaisingh, Vice President Pandit Chrishna Persaud, General Secretary Baldeo Jadunauth, Treasurer Mrs.Deolatchmee Ramotar and at extreme right PRO Phillip Matthews, with other executives.

According to Justice Prem Persaud, the highest standards should be maintained while one holds the office of Justice of Peace (JP), and persons who are appointed should be of high integrity within their community.
He added that each JP should be known in the community and the address gazetted, to allow persons to be acquainted with such persons in order to be more accessible within the community.
According to Deputy Mayor, Robert Williams, the JPs would be an integral part in the upcoming Local Government Elections since Georgetown alone would have fifteen candidates for the PR depending on how many parties contest.
He congratulated the JP association for being in the forefront of trying to initiate changes in regulations governing their operations, in addition to dedicating their services to the people of Guyana.
President Hermon Bholaisingh, in his address to the gathering, quoted the legendary Bob Marley in one of his songs “War”. ‘War, war, war in the east war, in the west’.
“The message was clear that day and is the same today. Man does not have control over himself and his affairs. The message is not the use of guns, it is about the evil and oppression of people.
“The message stresses the peaceful coexistence of people in their predisposition for well being of the human race there is no place for exploitation, daily people yearn for freedom from political and economic situation.”
The President said the JP association has an important role in promoting peace and foster unity among the races, while people should be God fearing and develop strong and moral values.
He added that the JP association has to be in support of many Judicial and social reform being undertaken to make justice accessible even to those who cannot afford. The JP association is willing to work with other associations in the interest of peace and development of all people.
“You cannot walk the wrong road and reach the right destination, we cannot attain worthy objectives by unworthy means.”
“When the rights of one free man are taken away the rights of all free men are threatened.”
The Vice President, Pandit Chrishna Persaud said, JPs have civic responsibilities from the day they take the oath of office, and should promote social cohesion.
Members of the JP association agreed that a code of conduct should be recommended and implemented for JPs, a revision of the laws that govern the JPs since some laws do not coincide with the present day training for JPs and a special effort on behalf of JPs to attend monthly meetings.
(Rabindra Rooplall)

By Oscar Ramjeet

It seems as if at least three persons will vie for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) nominee for next year’s presidential race for the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
They are: General Secretary of the party, Donald Ramotar; Clement Rohee, who has been in the movement since he was a teenager; and Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, who is currently the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Oscar Ramjeet

I feel that Ramkarran, who is the son of founder member, and treasurer of the PPP, Ram Karran, is the best choice and he should be the next president of the Republic of Guyana.
The well known city attorney grew up in politics and was in the trenches with his father in the early sixties.
He joined the PPP as a teenager and sold the party’s organ “Thunder” as a child in 1957. He took over his father’s route as the senior Ram Karran entered government. He travelled with his father throughout Guyana on political campaigns before he journeyed to the United Kingdom to read law, where he was engaged in the free and fair elections and democracy campaign and took part with other foreign students on issues like apartheid in South Africa, and the Vietnam War.
On his return to Guyana, Ramkarran was involved in defending party members. He was elected to the Central Committee of the PPP in 1974 and in 1975 in the Executive Commttee. He became Chairman for the Constitutional reform Commission in 1999 and Speaker in 2001, a position he still holds.
Ramkarran has an impeccable character; he is extremely intelligent and can rub shoulders with world leaders.
The president of Guyana, Bharat Jagdeo, is not eligible to run for office, since the Constitution was amended a few years ago restricting the presidency to serve only two terms in office.
Guyana’s general elections are conducted on a proportional representation (PR) system, where the electorate votes for a party and not a candidate, and the leader of the party selects the representatives on the basis of percentage of votes cast.
The PR system was introduced in 1964 by the British to keep Cheddi Jagan, the founder of the PPP, out of office because of his association with Cuba’s Fidel Castro and his leftish tendencies.
Ramkarran will get stiff opposition for the party’s nominee from Ramotar, who succeeded the founder of the party and father of the nation Cheddi Jagan in March 1997 as General Secretary.
Ramotar, besides being the party’s General Secretary, has also been a member of the Central and Executive Committee, and is popular in the rural areas.
It is rumoured that two others are interested in entering the race. They are Moses Nagamootoo, backbencher, who has been active in the party since he was a teenager, and Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud.
Unlike the past two general elections, there is no automatic presidential candidate, since the incumbent is not eligible for re-election due to a constitutional term limit, having served two terms.
There is no doubt that the PPPC will return to power not because it has performed well in the past, but because the two opposition parties, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are not strong enough to win the next general elections.
The PNCR is much weaker today than it was at the last general elections because of internal squabbles and the AFC only has support in Georgetown and is almost unknown in the rural areas.

One of the self portraits Katie Spotz took during her 2,500-mile transatlantic row.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, yesterday, Spotz may reach her destination in Guyana this weekend, having changed course from Cayenne, French Guiana.
However, there were reports late yesterday that she had landed on the Berbice shore.
While adding approximately 400 miles to her journey and extending it by an estimated five to seven days, this route offered a better chance to reach land unassisted.
It seems, however, as if the last leg is proving the most challenging, according to Spotz’s latest post on her blog.
On nearing the coast of South America, things changed very quickly.
“Although it wasn’t a storm, there were several forces in opposition: strong winds and a strong current making for some powerful waves as I reached the continental shelf. The understanding between me and the ocean changed too. Waves seemed to spike up unexpectedly with great force. Every moment outside was spent harnessed to the boat and I frequently questioned whether it would capsize. Everything inside the boat was tied down nicely, including myself by strapping myself in when sleeping. All “capsize ready.”
According to Spotz, her one-day mileage speed has nearly tripled from average, an example of the strength of the forces of nature pushing her boat.
At 56W, the current has slowed, “although landing seems to be one of the biggest dangers and difficulties. But there’s only one way to find out, so let the rowing continue.”
Spotz has also surpassed her recently-upped fundraising target of $60,000 (it was originally $50,000) for the Blue Planet Run Foundation, a charitable organisation that funds safe-drinking water projects around the world, reaching $61,713.30 as of today.

Sewerage in the drain at the entrance of one Tucville house

One perturbed resident of I17928 Tucville related his horror story of having to abandon his house for some two years because repeated calls to the relevant authorities proved futile.
“We have made several complains to the GWI maintenance department…We are still plagued with this situation.”
It was explained that there is a rupture in the sewerage main below the surface of the earth and the contents seep through the soil into the drain.
Waste oil has been the alternative resorted to by the residents and this seems to be working, given the fact that the relevant authorities seem not to be interested in resolving the dilemma.
The waste oil is poured in the drain to cover the sewerage and helps to quell the stench.

The late Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr Desrey Clementine Fox, nee Caesar

According to Baksh, her passion for the promotion of aesthetic education, cultural activities, music, dance, drama as it relates to education led her to take steps to re-activate the National Schools Choir and Steel Orchestra.
She developed the plans and the programme to roll it out across the school system and “I wish to pledge that her work in this area will not be in vain and that I will ensure it is completed as a tribute to her contribution.”
He alluded to the fact that Minister Fox believed that education is not only about pursuing academic learning but also about moulding the minds of the children of Guyana by instilling values of nationalism, tolerance, integrity, respect and self-fulfillment.
“The qualities of the late Minister which would be remembered most are her concerns for the plight of others, the caring and considerate ways of dealing with ordinary folks and their children and the representation of their cases… Guyana has lost an eminent daughter whose imprint will forever be felt in the countless lives she would have touched…She will be missed dearly.”
George Norton of the People’s National Congress Reform told the House that Indigenous people no longer have to look to role models such as Rigoberta Manchus or Evo Morales in that the late Minister can be “just as good or an even more suitable and inspiration to them.”
He drew reference to the fact that excelling academically whilst coming from an indigenous community is quite a task in that there are limited opportunities. To excel was to defy the odds.
She was an accomplished academic, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Guyana, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Anthropology from Kent University in the United Kingdom, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics from Rice University, Texas, USA.
Before her appointment as Minister, Dr. Fox served as curator of the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, as Head of the Amerindian Research Unit at the University of Guyana (UG) and lecturer in Linguistics and Amerindian studies.
She also taught special courses at the Universities of Oregon and Rice and was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships.
Dr. Fox, through her extensive research, measurably enriched public knowledge of the lives of the local indigenous peoples.
The focus of her research was cross-cultural on a wide range of Amerindian issues and situations in Guyana such as their pre-history, present history, spirituality, demography, geography, rites and rituals, kinship networks, language, music and general aspects of their way of life.
Dr. Fox, just before her passing, had translated extracts from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) into the Akawaio language to make it more comprehensible to older folks.

The 2009 to 2010 Global Competitiveness report has found that the most problematic factor for doing business in Guyana is the tax rate which ranks 118 out of the 133 countries surveyed.
This was followed closely by crime and corruption.
The other factors identified in the latest report include poor work ethics in public service, access to financing, inadequately educated workforce, tax regulations, and inefficient government bureaucracy among others.
Guyana did generally perform better in the latest report ranking 104 out of 133 countries in the annual report released by the World Economic Forum.
Last year, the country had placed 115 out of 134 countries while in the 2007-2008 report it recorded a ranking of 126 out of 131.
The local banking system has been credited among some of the best in the world ranking 46 out of the 133 countries surveyed.
On the issue of the public’s trust in local politicians, favoritism of decisions of government officials, the independence of the judiciary and the reliability of police services, the country scored relatively poor.
On the second pillar of competitiveness, namely infrastructure Guyana ranked 92.
The quality of port and air transport infrastructure as well as electricity supply also did not fare well in the report.
The best ranking Guyana received was on expenditure on education where the country placed third among the 133 countries.
The GCI listing is based on individual countries’ performance which is measured using 12 pillars as well as looking at the impact on business related issues such as crime, corruption, taxation, bureaucracy, inflation and stability among others.
The top ten ranked countries according to the report are Switzerland, the United States of America, Singapore, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Canada and the Netherlands.

The Labour Department of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, in its quest to improve on the services it provides to the people and make available opportunities for job seekers, conducted three Job Fairs in Region Six as part of its outreach programme to provide access to training and employment opportunities.
The workshops were held between March 13 and 16.
The exercise, which was led by Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, follows similar activities that were held in Regions Three, Four and Seven during 2009.
The fairs which were established at three locations including Fact Building, Corriverton; Spready’s Supermarket, Port Mourant; and Danzie Shoe Store, New Amsterdam; provided residents, especially job seekers, with the opportunity to access training, employment opportunities and counselling and testing for HIV and AIDS.
The general public, employers and workers were also given a chance to learn about the Ministry’s Labour Laws, especially as they pertain to overtime, holidays with pay, safety and health protocols and child labour.
The various departments of the Ministry including the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRNM), Labour Occupational Safety and Health and HIV/AIDS were engaged in this aspect.
Minister Nadir, in a comment during the exercise, said that the initiative started in 2009 where the Ministry’s Labour Department had taken its services to the public.
He noted that taking the Ministry’s services to the people allows for greater response than with the use of public advertisements.
“If you got a half of a million dollar advertising campaigns in the media we don’t get that kind of response and more particularly for us it allows our service to be easily accessible to people,” the Minister explained.
The Labour Minister pointed out that thus far the exercise has received overwhelming response from citizens and the use of local television programmes will further reinforce the works that the Ministry is undertaking.
Minister Nadir noted that during a survey which was recently conducted on the services offered by government agencies, especially as it relates to training, findings have shown that many persons are unaware of the services being offered.

Some of the participants at the job fair

“It reinforces the position that we have taken to go out to people and promote more of the services… in fact in the age group we have targeted for youth employment it says close to 65 percent of the people is young people who these programmes should reach but they don’t know about them…we are heartened that Berbicians in particular…have been actively coming out to register for jobs, training, getting tested and to generally pick up information of the services that are available by the labour portfolio,” Minister Nadir stated.
This year, he said that the Ministry will seek to train 2,500 people of which 2000 will be trained under the NTPYE programme and 500 under the single parents programme. The Ministry is expected to achieve these targets this year, the Minister said. He is also urging Non-Governmental, Youth and Faith based Organisations to encourage persons to take advantage of the Ministry’s services that are available.
“We are again opening an invitation to NGOs, Youth, Faith based organisations and any civil organisation…if you have similar programme…get in touch with us and let us see how we can complement each other with the services that we provide to the people,” the Minister urged.
Meanwhile, Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, BIT, Alana Brassington, while providing an update about the training opportunities available through the Ministry, highlighted that the BIT Board will be celebrating this year its 100th anniversary. She said that BIT consists of training programmes including a two-year apprenticeship programme, the National Training Project for Youth, Empowerment (NTYPE), as well as the single parent training programme.
Brassington said that the NTYPE programme caters for youths between the ages of 15 to 25 years who have not completed high school while the apprenticeship programme exposed youths to a variety of skills during their attachments to work places for a period of six months and are paid a stipend.
The single parent training programme on the other hand caters for single parents who are registered on the Ministry’s database.
She said that single parents who have registered on the database can follow up with the Ministry to reiterate their commitment to continue the programme which will begin in a month’s time.
Rajpaul Jaggai, a resident of East Bank Berbice, who visited the fair to access services, lauded the initiative since it gives young people especially early school leavers and persons who are unemployed an opportunity to have a job and improve themselves.
During an invited comment, Jaggai said, “It gives young people a chance to enroll and train to be somebody and to be employed with companies. This is something good the Ministry is doing by bringing the service to Berbice and giving Berbicians an opportunity which I think they didn’t have quite a while back for young people and also people who are seeking employment.”
Elvina Shivlochan, a single parent and resident of Berbice who also visited the site to seek employment, praised the Ministry for such a programme and said that she will be encouraging other single mothers to access the service. (GINA)

It is a common occurrence in many communities across Guyana to walk or drive past a business that was recently closed after operating only for a few months, then to see another one pop up in the same spot a short time later. This cycle is then repeated yet again.

It is a fact that small and medium sized enterprises are the backbone of the local economy, but another less touted fact is that the number of start-ups that just disappear into thin air is disproportionately high.

There are large numbers of unregistered small businesses, corner shops and stands. The reasons for not registering a business can vary but many times the entrepreneurs do not want to cut into their profit margins with the necessary payments that are part and parcel of being a registered commercial entity.

They are not charged business tariffs for the utilities they use nor do they pay landed or import taxes at the commercial rates required of them.

In a recent interview, Mr. Chandradat Chintamani, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), was asked about these disappearing businesses.

He noted that first of all there is need for better controls in place to recognise the presence of new businesses and to enforce the registration requirements on them in an effort to ensure that they contribute their fair share to the taxes of the country in accordance with their status as business entities.

He added that there are occasions when a business would start up and operate for a short time under a given name, only to ‘close down’ and reopen under a new name, carrying on the same business activities; simply as a means of evading the taxes due.

Over the past few years however, the new Value Added Tax/Tax Payer Identification (VAT/TIN) regulations have added some measure of accountability to the system in terms of doing business with the Government.

It is now impossible to receive imports without a TIN number and reclaiming VAT is not possible if an entity is not duly registered with all the necessary paperwork to prove their legitimate status.

But although these measures should in principle make operating an unregistered business harder, there are still Guyanese who manage to find their way around without having to pay the necessary taxes.

However, as they make the move into legitimacy, a number of these businesses fold under the pressures of the taxes and duties they have to pay, coupled with overhead operating costs and the market forces that govern their profit lines. They fold and leave unpaid loans with the lending agencies dedicated to furthering the cause of small businesses in the country.

According to Mr. Chintamani, the issue of taxes perhaps being too high for entrepreneurs now entering the business sector and for businesses already in existence is being addressed by the government in the tax review that is currently underway.

He noted that although it has been ongoing for some time there is a good possibility that in the next 12 to 14 months there may actually be a comprehensive answer as to what the ideal taxes might be for Guyana, especially when compared to the other nations of the Caribbean.

When or even if, these new taxes would be implemented was another matter entirely.

According to a senior member of a private accounting firm, other contributory factors to the failure of businesses, both large and small are inadequate resources and funding as well as mismanagement, which are all valid concerns.

Many Guyanese may not feel that they qualify for funding to start a business, and may be unable to keep up with the interest rates on the repayment of a bank loan – provided they even qualify for one or any number of other financially oriented reasons.

Mismanagement is also an issue, especially since most small business owners may not have the wherewithal to engage in the necessary training or pick up the skills needed to run a business.

Quincy Ovid Richardson leaves the field after his entertaining 69 yesterday.

Lack of medical personnel mars GCA 2-Day U-19 trial

By Sean Devers
In sultry conditions on a slow track, National under-17 opener Quincy Ovid-Richardson stroked a shot-filled 69 to highlight the opening day of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) two-day under-19 Inter Association cricket trial match at the DCC ground yesterday.
Ovid-Richardson, a pugnacious little right-hander from GNIC, cut and pulled with authority during his 80-ball innings which was decorated with 11 fours and added 84 for the first wicket with left-hander Mohan Ramdeen who made 32 with 5 fours from 48 balls as Delon Fernandes’ X1 reached 250-9 by the close replying to the paltry 97 made by Dexter Solomon’s X1.
The dreadlocked Jaron Bryon stroked a confident unbeaten 45 on his home ground and added 52 with Malteenoes Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Esau who played an array of shots in a cameo 36 before he edged his club mate; national under-19 pacer Seon Daniels to the Keeper just before the close.
A top score of 43 with 8 fours from 51 balls by Omesh Danram rallied Solomon’s X1 from 41-8 to their eventual total before he was last out as he cut off-spinner Ricardo Devers to point.
Clevon Hyman (17), opener Stephon Sampson (12) and Skipper Solomon (10) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures in a very disappointing batting exhibition as inept shot selection contributed to Solomon’s X1 double digit total.
Left-arm spinner Raj Nanan, who took a hat-trick in last year’s under-19 Inter County tournament, took 3-6 while left-arm pacer Andre Stoll, one of two national under-19 players in the trials, had 2-4 and pacer Neil Barry Junior 2-15.
Devers (1-16) and Dino Choo-Wee-Nam (1-27) were the other wicket takers for Fernandes’ X1 on a day in which ordinary cricket at this level and the lack of medical personnel at the venue when Sampson was struck on his face while fielding and was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state, marred the match.
Spinners Christopher Surat (3-22), Raphael Singh (2-26) shared five scalps between them while former West Indies under-15 player Amir Khan, left-arm spinner Trevon France and leg-spinner Danram have one each so far for Solomon’s X1.
Stoll, who only bowled four overs yesterday, bowled Shameer Fazal (5) and Surat (1) to leave Solomon’s X1 on 9-2 while Nanan, who bowled with good control, had Sampson LBW at 35-3.
Kwame Crosse (3) drove Barry to cover, Hyman was run out, Carlos LaRose (2) hit Barry to mid-off and Dayanand Roopnarine (1) was bowled by Nanan who also removed Charwayne McPherson for a duck as their team crashed to 41-8.
Solomon and Danram offered some resistance before Choo-Wee-Nam sent back Solomon who struggled to get the ball away before Devers, who like Choo-Wee-Nam, struggled with his control yesterday, finished off the innings.
Pacer Kevin Ogle and off-spinner Shaquille Williams were the other bowlers used as Solomon’s X1 were bowled out in just 37 overs although the fielding from both teams was very disappointing.
Ovid-Richardson dominated the opening stand and a bullet-like hook off Daniels for four brought the small crowd to life while Ramdeen also played some handsome drives before he seemed to lose concentration and was caught and bowled by Khan.
Ovid-Richardson missed a slog-sweep at Raphael Singh and was leg before at 111-3 while Alex Ramalho missed a big drive at Singh and was bowled 3 runs later.
Surat had Hemraj leg before and bowled Fernandes for a duck while Damram had Jason Bishop who batted solidly for 25, caught behind as the middle order failed to build on the good start.
Bryon will hope for support from Williams (1*) today to stake a claim for selection and it is understood that the Georgetown squad will be named today.
It is also expected that medical personnel will be on duty today since a medically unqualified cricket coach and a concerned spectator were among those who offered on-the-field attention to an injured Sampson yesterday before he was eventually taken to the hospital.

By Edison Jefford
In numerology, three is the number of resurrection, and in reality, Courts Pacesetters will have a third opportunity against a team that blew them out twice before when they come up against Ravens in a colossal feature battle tonight.
The game between the two unbeaten teams in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Open League will most likely decide who takes the number one place after the completion of the tournament.
No doubt this is the biggest game of the League. It is one that fans and sport enthusiasts are expected to turn out in their numbers to see since both teams have always brought a huge following to the renowned Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Pacesetters had suffered heavy losses to Ravens last November and in January this year, and promised to bounce back stronger. Ravens have coasted to easy wins in the League thus far while Pacesetters was forced to work harder.
A gritty win against Bounty Colts Thursday night after they were double-figures down in final minutes of the game would serve as an immense confidence-booster to Pacesetters tonight against one of the best offensive teams in the country.
From appearances, Pacesetters have regrouped with Kurt Elias and Horace Hodges taking control of the ‘big man’ posts with much potency. Naylon Loncke and Stephon Gillis have also been consistent for the team in the League.
However, their fitness will be heavily tested against a top fast-break team. Ravens’ strength has always been their guards with Darcel Harris, who recently returned from playing in Trinidad and Tobago, leading a quality group.
Ravens will use Rodwell Fortune, Ryan Stephney and Stephon Henry in a dangerous running offensive attack. The trio, together with Harris, forms part of the demolition of major defensive setups. It will be no different tonight.
Kaieteur Sport understands that Pacesetters have sorted out its work ethic with a fitness coach coming in to work with its players. The come-from-behind triumph against Colts proved that the team is much fitter than before.
In addition to Elias and Hodges, national forward, Royston Siland will have his work cut out against the likes of Ravens’ Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts, Rudy James and Ryan Gullen. Senior Pacesetter, Clement Brusche will help Siland.
This game has the making of a classic since the covenant of formality exists. This is not a promotion event. This is an official game under the aegis of the GABA with a loss for either side effectively separating the top two teams.
Ravens have placed themselves on a higher offensive plane, literally taking apart most, if not all, of the teams that were tossed at them in the recent past. The club’s confidence is constructed on the belief that they are the best in Guyana.
What is the formula for the destruction of confidence? There is none except winning. Courts Pacesetters will come out looking to win against a team that have made them their whipping boys. It will be a Herculean task for Courts.
The bottom line is that tonight’s game between Ravens and Pacesetters is more than just another game in the League. Tonight’s duel is personal. At least the players will approach it in that manner to decide the best team in the City.

President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Peter Abdool receives the sponsorship package from Digicel representative, Shonette Moore.

The second edition of the Pro/Am boxing card gets underway in the ancient County, Berbice on Saturday March 20 and according to President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, the promoters have been given the green light and all systems are in place for an action packed night.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Abdool had intimated that while the GBBC has been informed of the intention of the Berbice promoters, they were still to approach the Board with their plans and projections. He had further said that co-promoter Orlan Rogers was expected in Georgetown from his Berbice base to tie up arrangements for the card. Rogers has since traveled to Georgetown and from all reports, has satisfied the criteria for the staging of the bout.
The Berbice promotion follows the inaugural Pro/Am boxing card staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) last month end as local bantamweight boxer and co-promoter, Rogers, in association with Sanjay’s Jewelry, a business enterprise in the New Amsterdam Municipal Market, stages the 11-fight card slated for the Rose Hall Estate Community Centre ground.
Among the eleven bouts are three professional and 8 amateurs comprising Gladwin Dorway who launches his professional career against Mark Murray in a catchweight affair. Quinda Rogers then opposes Mandessa Moses while Shawn Pyle and Clifton Barker battle in a junior/welterweight scrap. Lindener, Avlon Scotland is also expected to be on show in her second professional bout. All of the professional fights would be over 4 rounds.
The amateur bouts have not been decided as yet as the promoters are awaiting approval from the executives of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) for the names of those to comprise the card. However, several amateurs from the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym have been short-listed for possible selection. They were advised to intensify training. Those boxers are Richard Williamson, Jamal Eastman, Joel Williamson and Marley Ross   President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, lauded the initiative saying that boxing would eventually be the beneficiary.