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SETTING THE MOOD FOR CARIFESTA X
- at launch of new GT&T directory
By Priya Nauth
THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company, Thursday evening launched its 2008 Directory at the Georgetown Club, highlighting the Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts X (CARIFESTA X), which will be hosted in Guyana from August 22-31.

CHIEF Executive Officer of GT&T, Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh, at right, hands over a copy of the 2008 Telephone Directory to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony. (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

Chief Executive Officer of GT&T, Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh, said that the logo speaks about ‘one Caribbean and one Purpose’ and ‘our culture and our life’.

Noting the importance of CARIFESTA, he emphasised that “…one cannot help but be motivated in more than one way to identify with such an occasion”.

He observed that the directory is more than just a reference document; it is an information tool and highlights various aspects of life in Guyana.

Singh said GT&T will like to see the directory not only as an information tool but as a focus or vision of where we are headed.

The CEO said in contributing to CARIFESTA, GT&T has also committed to assisting in the enhancement and beautification programme of various areas in the city and as a memento, a pre-paid card with the CARIFESTA logo on the back will be issued.

He noted too that the company is working with community based agencies to assist artistes who wish to take part in CARIFESTA activities.

Project Coordinator (Telephone Directory) Guyenterprise, Ms. Lisa Insanally, said the directory is the 15th edition, with the first coming out in 1992, and getting bigger each year.

Ms. Insanally said the production process of the directory is six months and the composition of accurate information is tedious and takes a lot of research and time.

She said that GT&T continues to work with the Guyana Tourism Authority to provide necessary information for visitors and the new issue has a feature on birding, a new and popular tourist activity here.

Insanally said the original theme for the directory was Bridges, with the Berbice and Takatu Bridges currently under construction; but the decision to focus on CARIFESTA X was taken when it was announced that it would be held in Guyana this year.

An important part of the directory centres on CARIFESTA X, with information on events and for persons who are desirous of participating.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, also reiterated that the directory is not only used to access numbers, but has become an important tool for information on our history, geography and many other things.

Congratulating GT&T, he noted that last year the company had given the Ministry space in the directory to highlight Cricket World Cup 2007, and now CARIFESTA X.

“I think this is the first time we have CARIFESTA highlighted in a directory… in the way this one has been done,” he observed.

CNS channel 6 gets four months suspension for License infringements
THE television License of CNS Channel 6, owned and operated by Mr. Chandra Narine Sharma, has been suspended for a period of four months, beginning midnight last night.

Sharma’s License was suspended after his television station was found to have committed serious infringements of the conditions of the Licence by broadcasting on four occasions, including three rebroadcasts, of content that advocated the killing of Guyanese Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The threat on the life of the President was made by a ‘caller’ on the controversial live call-in programme on CNS channel 6 – ‘The Voice of the People’.

Below is a statement issued late last night by the Government Information Agency (GINA) outlining the reasons for the suspension:

“On February 26, 2008 and March 10, 2008, the Licensee of CNS Television Channel 6 Licence No. 332V/12/OT/2001 (“the Licensee”), was written to by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) concerning alleged infringements of the conditions of the Licence on February 21, February 22 and February 23, 2008.

The ACB’s letter of February 26, 2008 cited infringements by the Licensee (Sharma) of the Licence Conditions by broadcasting content on the “Voice of the People” programme aired on February 21, 2008, that was an incitement to crime, was offensive to public feeling, was offensive to good taste, was presented without due accuracy and attempted to trivialise serious statements made by the Head of State. In particular, the ACB noted the following offending content:-

“Caller: The President was out of the country. As soon as he got back, he knew exactly who did the massacre at Bartica

Host: How do you know he knew?

Caller: He made that statement yesterday on the air....The very people who did the act at Lusignan did that there. How can he prove that? What evidence does he have to prove that?”

“Caller: ...and the next thing, Mr. Sharma, Jagdeo have some expire Ministers walking with him and them giving up a lot of new fire as far as I am concerned. Because look at these killings and nobody can’t give account about these people’s lives and Jagdeo going to take a high risk job by going and tell people to calm down; he’s going to bury the dead bodies. If anything is going to happen to my family, I am going to kill Jagdeo.”

The ACB further required the Licensee to indicate within three days of the date of the Letter, his position in respect of the infringements.

The Licensee responded to the ACB on February 28, 2008, expressing regret about the content of the “Voice of the People” Programme aired on February 21, 2008 and indicating that he did reprimand that caller for “making such irresponsible statements on the air”.

The Licensee also indicated that he is in the process of installing a delay failure on the telephone used for live broadcasts that should prevent future occurrences. The Licensee also apologised for the “unfortunate incident”.

The ACB then wrote to the Licensee on February 29, 2008, accepting his apology and indicated that no further action will be taken in respect of the ACB’s letter of February 26, 2008.

Then on March 10, 2008, the ACB wrote to the Licensee citing the Licensee for infringements of the Licence conditions by re-broadcasting on February 22 and February 23, 2008, the very same programme first aired on February 21, 2008, ” with the offending words intact”.

The ACB further noted that each rebroadcast was a new infringement and that though the first broadcast was a spontaneous infringement, the Licensee could have edited out the offending words before the rebroadcasts were aired. Again the ACB required the licensee to indicate his position in respect of these infringements.

The Licensee responded on March 28, 2008, stating that the programme in question was not re-aired after the ACB’s first letter of February 26, 2008 and that when it was re-aired on the occasions prior to the ACB’s February 26 letter, it was done without the knowledge of the Licensee by the “person who books programmes”.

The Licensee expressed regret about the rebroadcasts and indicated that he would put in place measures to ensure that such an occurrence was not repeated.

On April 2, 2008 the ACB forwarded to President Bharrat Jagdeo, as the Minister responsible for communications, copies of the letters sent to the Licensee and the responses from the Licence.

The ACB was set up in 2001 as an Advisory Committee pursuant to the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations made on November 17, 2001, under the Post and Telegraph Act, Cap 47:01 (“the Act”).

The functions of the ACB are to advise the Minister on compliance by Licensee with the terms and condition of licences and to recommend to the Minister appropriate action which may be taken including revocation of a licence where a Licensee is in breach of the terms and conditions of the Licence.

The role of the ACB is merely advisory. The Minister is the sole authority vested with power to decide whether a Licensee has breached the terms and conditions of their Licence and/or the provisions of the Act or the Regulations and whether any sanctions may be imposed therefore.

The Act provides that the Minister may suspend or cancel the Licence for such breaches.

In view of the statutory authority and responsibility vested in the Minister, Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat/Secretary to the Cabinet, wrote to the Licensee on April 8, 2008, on behalf of the Minister indicating that the Minister was of the opinion that the Licensee’s written responses to the ACB concerning the infringements cited by the ACB were not adequate.

Further, the letter noted that the Minister is of the opinion that the infringements were sufficiently grave to warrant cancellation or suspension of the Licence. The letter also reminded the Licensee that the Act and the regulations provided for the suspension or cancellation of the Licence for breach or infringement of the conditions of the Licence.

The Licensee was invited to meet with Dr. Luncheon, on behalf of the Minister on Thursday, April 10, 2008 concerning the alleged infringements and to show cause why the Licence should not be cancelled or suspended. The Licensee was also invited to bring his legal or other representative to the hearing.

Prior to the hearing, twenty minutes before the time of the scheduled hearing, the licensee approached the court for, and obtained an order prohibiting Dr. Luncheon from conducting the hearing on the basis that he had no authority to conduct the hearing.

In view of the court order, President Jagdeo issued a letter similarly worded as the April 8, 2008 letter from Dr. Luncheon and invited the Licensee to attend a hearing on Friday, 11 April 2008 at 3:00 p.m.

The Licensee attended the hearing with his legal counsel and others. The Licensee requested that the President, acting as Minister of Communications recuse himself form the hearing as he is an interested party.

The Licensee further indicated that he had approached the court earlier in the day for an order to prevent the President as Minister of Communications form hearing the matter.

The Licensee indicated that such an order was not granted prior to the hearing and that the matter was scheduled to be considered by the court next week.

The Licensee clearly sought to prevent hearing of the matter in every case, both through the Minister’s delegate and by the Minister himself.

The President as Minister, in company of the Attorney-General, heard the Licensee on the charges of alleged infringements and allowed full opportunity to the Licensee to show cause why the Licence should not be cancelled or suspended.

The Licensee acknowledged at the hearing that the broadcasts infringed the conditions of the licence and the law.

The Licensee was found to have failed to provide satisfactory explanation as to why the offending broadcasts continued to be aired on CNS Channel 6, even after the licensee recognised that the content of the programme infringed the conditions of the Licence.

The licensee was accordingly found to have committed serious infringements of the conditions of the Licence by broadcasting on four occasions, including three rebroadcasts, of content that advocated the killing of the Head of State and Government.

The broadcasts clearly constituted extremely grave offences. Under no circumstances could the Minister allow a Licensee to use the airwaves, without sanction, to advocate the killing of any citizen, moreso a Head of State and Government.

The Minister therefore decided that the licence would be suspended for four months with effect from midnight April 11, 2008.”

Hinckson remanded again
EX-GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Oliver Hinckson, mired in allegations of sedition and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, was yesterday further remanded to prison when he made another appearance before Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys.

The 64-year-old Army veteran of 167 Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, was given his next Court date as April 17.

The charges against him said, last January 31, he advocated terrorism and made a seditious speech to the public and news media, the purpose of which was to solicit hatred and contempt and promote public disorder.

Yesterday, one of Hinckson’s lawyers, Mr. Gregory Gaskin, continued to apply for bail for his client, urging the Magistrate to allow the Law to help him make the decision.

Gaskin submitted various authorities from which he quoted, giving the Magistrate a copy of each, while he implored him to consider the granting of bail.

The lawyer further told the Magistrate that he did not have before him any reasonable suspicion that Hinckson will commit a crime if he is released on bail.

Gaskin asked the Magistrate for Hinckson to be able to address the Court and this request was granted.

Hinckson said he has four weeks to go before the date of his next examination. He said if he misses the lectures before this date, he would not be in a position to write his exams and will have to wait another year until he is able to do so.

“I am the only prisoner out of 1,200 others who have not been given an opportunity to write my exams. After Mr. Erskine said yes to my request, someone from one of the Government Ministries sent to inform the prison authorities that I could not go,” Hinckson said.

But Police Inspector Robert Tyndall, prosecuting, said he was maintaining his position with regard to bail because Hinckson is a “repeat offender” and it was while he was on bail for the serious offences of unlawful possession of a gun and ammunition that he was charged with the new offences.

Tyndall said these offences, if Hinckson is proven guilty, carry mandatory imprisonment.

The Magistrate then announced that he was not inclined to grant bail because the reason he initially refused bail was because Hinckson had the firearm matters pending.

He said until such time as the proceedings in the High Court subside, he will not grant Hinckson his pre-trial freedom.

The cases in which Hinckson and other ex-soldier James Gibson are jointly charged with illegal possession of a gun and ammunition were also called yesterday and continued in Gibson’s absence.

On last March 31, Magistrate Gilhuys had announced that he was recalling the warrant previously issued for Gibson and proceeding ‘ex-parte’.

Detective Inspector Carlton Charles, stationed at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, was called yesterday by Prosecutor Tyndall to give evidence.

These matters were also adjourned to April 17.

Particulars of the offence surrounding the joint charge said, on June 6, 2006, in a house on Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, the defendants had a .38 pistol, 12 rounds of matching ammunition and twenty-six 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, without licences for them.

Woodbine hotel manager murdered
THE bloody and battered body of well-known Woodbine Hotel Manager Rawle Grimes was discovered early yesterday morning lying next to his car in Le Repentir Cemetery, Georgetown.

His sister, Marcie Grimes, told the Guyana Chronicle she

Murdered Rawle Grimes

learnt of her brother’s death via a telephone call from a relative.

When she reached the scene, the police had already cordoned if off and she was unable to view the body.

The young woman said her brother was murdered in the most gruesome manner, according to people who saw the body and told her about it.

She was told that he was bleeding from the nose and mouth, and his shirt was stuffed in his mouth.

Marcie Grimes added that her brother’s head was bashed in and he was lying in a pool of blood just near the middle gate in the cemetery.

The body was discovered by passers-by on their way to work, and by the time the Police arrived, a large crowd had gathered for a glimpse of the man they all knew.

Some shouted loudly, while his relatives erupted in loud wails of grief.

The 29-year-old left home as usual for work on Thursday night. He returned to his 468 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown home shortly after 1:30 h and left to go out, his brother, Teddy Grimes, said.

The car he drove was parked next to his body and was taken away by the police when his body was removed by undertakers.

At the man’s home yesterday, relatives could not contain their grief as they held the pictures of their loved one.

PI in Lusignan massacre commences
THE Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder charge against 19-year-old James Hyles, nicknamed ‘Sally’, who had been charged with the murders of the 11 Lusignan massacre victims, started yesterday.

Hyles yesterday made another appearance at Vigilance Court, on the East Coast of Demerara, before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs, who adjourned the case to April 25, and Police Inspector Edmond Cooper, prosecuting, indicated that he was ready to proceed with his first witness.

He then called Police Constable Kelon Fraser, stationed at Vigilance Police Station, who began giving evidence.

The witness was then cross-examined by one of Hyles’ lawyers, Mr. Mark Waldron, and re-examination was declined by Prosecutor Cooper.

While the officer was giving his testimony, Hyles could have been seen smiling broadly and shaking his head at certain statements made in the witness box.

He appeared neatly dressed in a white shirt and black jeans and was very composed throughout the hearing, supported by a number of his relatives in the Courtroom.

On the last occasion, when Hyles appeared in Court, Prosecutor Cooper confirmed that he would be the Prosecutor, but he applied for an adjournment as he said the file was still with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), awaiting further advice.

Hyles, a mini-bus conductor, of 70 Friendship, on East Coast Demerara, is accused of unlawfully killing Clarence Thomas, 48, Vanessa Thomas, 12, Ron Thomas, 11, Mohandai Gourdat, 32, Seegopaul Harilall, 10, Seegobind Harilall, four, Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, Seecharran Rooplall, 56, Raywattie Ramsingh, 11, Shazam Mohamed, 22, as well as Shalem Baksh, 52, last January 26, at Track ‘A’ Lusignan.

UK well-wishers donate 500 pounds to CJRC
THE Cheddi Jagan Research Centre yesterday received a timely donation of 500 sterling which was raised through the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cricket Competition in the United Kingdom.

Founder member of the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cricket Competition, Ms. Patsy Downey, presents the donation to Administrator of the Centre Mr. Mohammed Sattaur, while organiser of the event Mr. Faiyaz Alli (left) and Deputy Archivist/ Librarian of the Centre, Mr. Premchand Dass looks on. (Photo by Carl Croker)

The donation will go towards the purchase of a photocopying machine for the Centre.

Organisers of the event Mr. Faiyaz Alli and Ms. Patsy Downey, who made the presentation, stated that the competition is an annual event which seeks to bring the Diaspora together to invest in the people of Guyana and keep the legacy of Dr. Jagan alive.

Administrator of the centre, Mr. Mohammed Sattaur, who received the donation said that it is welcomed, noting that the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cricket Competition is one of the organisations in the Diaspora that has been contributing regularly to the centre.

He further noted that while the centre is self sufficient in terms of the capital equipment, such contributions from the organisation along with other organisations from Canada and the United States (US) go a long way towards ensuring the Centre’s viability.

WPO calls for reflection on progress and challenges
THE Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) is calling on Guyanese to see today’s observance of International Women’s Day as a time of reflection and commitment – “reflection on our achievements and challenges, and making a commitment to become an active part of the process for continued transformation, peace and social progress in Guyana.”

The WPO said in a statement that today is a day to draw attention to and raise awareness of the struggles for women’s rights and equality, and also to celebrate the achievements that have been gained to date.

“Many have used this platform to demonstrate their desire for improved living and working conditions and overall democracy transformations, as well as for international solidarity, peace and social progress,” the WPO stated.

The organisation said that since its inception, it has commemorated March 8 as a day to specifically focus on the plight and achievements of Guyanese women.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan, late leader and co-founder of the PPP, and Janet Jagan, President of the WPO and also co- founder of the Party, realized that there could not be democracy and development without the full and equal participation of women in every aspect of life – political, economic, social and cultural, the WPO stated.

The organisation said this paradigm has since guided and inspired the WPO “to work for the betterment of our people, and specifically our Guyanese women and children,” while still conscious of the struggles and challenges of sister organizations across the globe and to whom we extend our unconditional support and solidarity.

The WPO said the recent massacres of Lusignan and Bartica have brought to the fore many new challenges including the need to protect at all costs women and children from further tragedies of this nature.

The healing of the family survivors and overcoming the psychological trauma will probably be a lifelong process, the WPO stated, noting that it would like the grieving families and friends to know that its entire membership stand by them in this most trying time.

The organization said it also wholeheartedly supports the initiatives of the Ministry of Human Services in providing counselling and other forms of assistance to those affected.

The WPO took note of the advancement of Guyanese women over the years.

According to 2002 statistics, over 50% of the Guyanese workforce are women; females made up of 65% of UG graduates in 2002; and 46% and 43 % of judges and magistrates respectively are women. Many more examples could be cited, including women holding high level positions in the legislature, judiciary and the executive arms of Government, the WPO noted.

Nevertheless, the organisation said many challenges remain. It said the large percentage of female-headed households is alarming and brings to the fore many economic and social issues.

So also are the issues of violence against women and the spread of HIV/AIDS, the WPO noted.

While the Government programmes such as the national consultation “Stamp it out” and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat are doing commendable work, “it is imperative that all Guyanese join in to rid our society from the scourge of disease and violence.”

PNCR saddened over illiteracy within the army
THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said it views with a degree of sadness, reports which have appeared in the media that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), in its recent recruiting exercise, discovered that there was a high degree of illiteracy among those who sought to gain entrance to this leading national institution.

However, the party said the army has announced, to its credit, that it will be conducting remedial classes for unsuccessful applicants, with the specific intention of increasing their aptitude to pass examinations.

“While the Party applauds this measure, it must register its concern at the apparent decline in the intellectual capacity of the GDF. It is well known that, in the 70’s and the 80’s, the GDF was one of the national institutions which produced officers of the highest intellectual caliber,” the PNCR urged.

According to the party, the GDF is already beginning to face some of the major security challenges of the 21st Century.

“It is, therefore, in the interest of the current Administration, and the rest of the nation, that measures be put in place to improve the quality of its human resources, so that the GDF can maintain the intellectual and other capabilities necessary for it to play its role of ensuring the security of the nation, both internally and externally. Among the needed measures is the increase of the number of scholarships available to the GDF. In addition, there is also the need for an increase in the number of specially targeted internal training programmes, the party asserted.

The PNCR said it recognises that ultimately, the problems facing the GDF are in a wider sense those of our society, claiming that it is now recognised that illiteracy has been increasing in Guyana.

“This phenomenon is clearly having an adverse impact on the quality of human resources entering the GDF. It, therefore, seems logical and necessary that, while the Administration must undertake major programmes for upgrading the human resources within the GDF, it must, at the same time, aggressively confront the national problem of illiteracy in the wider society, the PNCR charged.

The PNCR also noted that the GDF plans to implement a Community Youth Empowerment Programme, in the depressed communities, that would seek to empower young people and provide them with a technical and vocational education. The PNCR believes that such a programme is a good idea. The Party is, however, of the view that, had the Guyana National Service not been hastily abandoned, the GDF would not have found it necessary to seek to implement such a programme.

PPP accuses PNCR of stirring racism
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has expressed its concern at what it said appears to be a deliberate attempt by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to stir racism in the country.

In a release yesterday, the party said that without enquiring from any authority at the Georgetown Public Hospital or the Ministry of Health, the PNCR at a press conference highlighted an accusation of racism made by a patient at the institution.

The party has been advised that the investigation by the hospital authorities found the charges to be baseless, it stated.

The unsubstantiated allegation could have been overlooked had it not been one in a series of irresponsible statements by that party in recent times, it said.

When made by the PNCR, allegations of racial practices are used to bolster the party’s campaign that there are discrimination and marginalisation in Guyana and while loud in words it is never forthcoming with facts, but instead the party hides behind what it describes as perceptions, the release said.

“The groundless accusations only feed the so-called perceptions by the PNCR and its opposition media,” the party observed.

The PNCR and their supporters in the media have been working hard to undermine the confidence of our institutions and have attacked the parliament, judiciary and the security forces, it noted.

The PPP said it seems that they have now turned their attention towards our major hospital and our selfless medical personnel at a time when there is universal acknowledgement of the high quality of medical care in Guyana.

The PPP is calling on the PNCR to change course and instead work towards peace, unity and ethnic harmony in our country and a new course should aim at closing the gap of racial and political suspicions.

It is also calling on civil society to urge the PNCR to halt their attempts to inflame racial sentiments and desist from levelling unfounded charges.

Republic Bank donates to Theatre Guild
IN response to a public appeal for further assistance from the Trustees of the Theatre Guild Rehabilitation, for the completion of the restorative works, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited gave another half of a million dollars to the project.

The Bank’s support for this project goes back to October 2007 when it announced its commitment to the venture at the launch of its community outreach initiative, the Power to Make a Difference.

Through the Power to Help and Care, the Bank then donated two million dollars on November 2, 2007.

Mr. John Alves, Executive Director of Republic Bank and Senior Manager of Credit, presents the cheques to Ms. Katherine highes, one of the representatives of the Trustees of the Theatre Guild, at the Theatre Guild Playhouse recently.

Guyanese, St. Lucians cop Demerara Mutual’s top awards
GUYANESE Charles Clarke and St. Lucian, Sabina Charles, yesterday carted off the top awards at Demerara Mutual Group of Companies’ Annual Sales Award Ceremony held at the Society’s Commercial Building, 63 Robb Street, Lacytown.

Guyanese Charles Clarke displays his awards following the Demerara Mutual Awards Ceremony yesterday. (Adrian Narine photos)

The successful duo, along with Guyanese Norman Bovell and St. Lucians – Tanja Browne and Carina James-Son received the Chairman’s DIAMOND AWARD for exemplary performance in 2007.

Mr. Clarke and Ms. Charles also won the CEO’s Challenge trophies and several top producer awards.

The Awards Ceremony featured presentation of the Chairman’s Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, the Chief Executive Officer’s Challenge Awards and the Century Award. Cash and Trophies were presented as well, to the top producers for the entire Group of Companies – for Fire Insurance sales; Motor Insurance sales, for the Eighty Plus and Fifty Plus Clubs.

The Demerara Mutual Sales Award Ceremony is an annual event for rewarding the top Sales Agents in the specific categories.

A proud moment for the top sales’ persons.

Demerara Mutual was founded in 1891 – 117 years ago. It was the first locally owned Life Assurance Society in then British Guiana. Today, DM has expanded appreciably into a viable financial institution, operating in Guyana and several Caribbean territories, producing an increasingly wider range of Insurance coverage and services, Management said.

Demerara Mutual operates branches in Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and St. Lucia.

Weeds management project progressing
EFFORTS are continuing to find biological means to control aquatic weeds in Guyana under a programme being facilitated by Government, with support from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

The two-year programme launched earlier this year seeks to investigate the management and feasibility of using aquatic weeds from drainage and irrigation channels as a potential source for biogas and animal feed production, and for commercial purposes.

It is being coordinated by the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), with support from the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control Board (PTCCB), the Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Among the activities being carried out by the international experts involved in the project is the collection of samples of weeds, while the possibility of using insects to control the weed is being explored.

The weed management programme was initiated by President Bharrat Jagdeo, and is considered important as weed control would ensure efficient water management and a reduced maintenance cost for drainage and irrigation canals.

Clearing of weeds, especially antelope grass, from main drains, waterways and rivers such as the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks, requires significant expenditure annually. This clearing ensures efficient drainage, particularly during the rainy season.

The use of manatees feeding on the weeds has in the past been one of a number of biological control methods used in Guyana. This method has been widely suggested in the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

Street theatre!

A section of America Street yesterday was transformed into dancing spectacle as a group of youngsters ventured into a dancing competition, compliments of music which emanated from one of the nearby buildings.

This Cullen Bess-Nelson photo shows the large gathering which was attracted, immersed into the gyrations of one of the youngsters.

Carifesta
MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said that Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (CARIFESTA) is escalating from being just a Caribbean event with a team from Indonesia coming to participate in this historic event from August 22-31.

Speaking at the launching of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company launching of the 2008 Telephone Directory, he said that the delegation will comprise of 25 persons.

Also, he said additionally a team from Morocco is expected.

“People around world want to join us in expressing not only our creativity but their creativity”, he noted.

He said this shows that culture is not just about one region in the world but the world as a whole.

The Minister said countries in Africa and also China have also expressed interest in coming.

He said currently more than 19 sub-committee comprising of over 250 persons are involved in CARIFESTA X preparations.

“Alot of people have nostalgia about what happen in 1972 …they remember the things that happen and they want it to be like that …but from what I am seeing, it is going to be even bigger,” he declared.

He observed that in the first CARIFESTA about 500 children took part of the opening ceremony and this year, they plan to have 1000 children.

Dr. Anthony said between 1500-2000 artistes are expected to come to this country to participate in this occasion.

“It will be a cultural experience across the spectrum,” he declared.

Guyana Classics
He disclosed that to commemorate our rich body of literature, a special project called the ‘Guyana classics’ will be launched during CARIFESTA, to bring back our rich literary traditions.

“I don’t think many people realise the depth of our rich literary heritage we have,’” he pointed out.

It will bring forth books that this generation of Guyanese has perhaps never seen including history books and a host of other things, he noted.

He observed that we are known as the English speaking country in the Region but have a rich body of languages including the various Amerindian languages.

“This is part of who we are as Guyanese… this is part of our linguistic heritage,” he proclaimed.

The Minister observed that many countries can boost of such rich linguistic heritage as us.

Amerindian village
Another component of CARIFESTA he said will be the Amerindian village at the Sophia Exhibition Site which will showcase various architecture of the different Amerindian tribes.

He noted that various tribes have different building styles and diverse aspect of their life being portray in the buildings.

Symposia
He said too that another important component of this event is the symposia which will focus on culture in an academic and practical way.

It will cover our cultural history, past and where we are as a Caribbean people in terms of our culture and where we are headed.

Dr. Anthony said it is important to discuss what can be done to carve our place in the world as it relates to culture.