Archives for July 24, 2016
When will this cruelty stop!
Dear Editor,
The Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation and the Suriname Fisherfolk Organisation have been the most affected by these pirate attacks.
Two months ago four fishermen from the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Co-op in Berbice were thrown overboard to die by pirates from the same Berbice area. One body was found and he was given a decent funeral; the other three bodies were not found. The loved ones and relatives of these men could not even do a proper funeral for them.
When the relatives of one of the men was asked if they had received any assistance from the NIS to which he had been making contributions, they said NIS required a death certificate. His body was not found so there is no death certificate.
Editor, fisherfolk from Guyana and Suriname are the only ones that are robbed, beaten and killed by pirates; it does not happen in other Caricom countries.
We do not know what to do or who to ask for help.
Many promises are made but nothing much is done.
On Monday 18 July a fisherman in Suriname was tied to a car battery and thrown overboard by pirates. When will this madness and cruelty stop?
Yours sincerely,
Pamashwar Jainarine
Go Green!
Satiricus was concerned. He was concerned about the health of our planet since all those developed countries kept pouring putrid pollution into its atmosphere which is its lungs. He was therefore pleased as punch when Pressie donated another million or so acres of our forest towards cleaning Mother Earth’s lungs.
But he was more pleased with the Georgetown Municipal Elections. Not at the cleanup that preceded it – but with the results that maintained the tradition of a “Green Mayor” at the top. As a man in the newspaper business, Satiricus was keenly aware of the importance of symbolism and was perturbed no one paid any heed to this crucial detail.
“Cappo, my friend,” intoned Satiricus to his friend with whom he was quaffing some beers at the Back Street Bar, “it is God’s work that we have another “Green” as Mayor.”
“Wha’ mek yuh she suh?” asked Cappo idly. He was used to Satiricus’ utterances issued out of the blue.
“To make sure our Garden City returns to its green glory,” said Satiricus sanctimoniously. “And our Green Mayor and Green Georgetown can both be symbols of our Green economy,”
“Yes, maan. Me see how de Green Mayah ah bring in Green Parkin’ Meetah fuh put all ova de towng,” said Cappo with a smirk. “De towng guh look prappa nice an’ green!”
“I never thought of it like that,” confessed Satiricus. “I was just looking at the Parking Meters to bring in money to keep the city green.”
“Dat too!” laughed Cappo. “De ‘Merican money de Mayah collect green, yuh know! Me cousin in New Yark she dem a call dem money “green backs”!”
Satiricus looked closely at Cappo. He suspected sometimes Cappo was pulling his leg. “It’s the City that will collect 20% of the greenbacks,” he finally said.
“OK…OK…Me ‘gree dat de Green Mayah serious ‘bout dis Green Economy bizness,” said Cappo as he took a long swig of beer. “Really?” asked Satiricus with a pleased smile.
“Yes, Sato,” confessed Cappo with a twinkle in his eye. “Yuh na see how she mek de Deputy DumbCan ride wan bicycle? He nah pollute de air now!!”
“But he adds to global warming when he carries on all the time criticising the Green Mayor!” agreed Satiricus as he clinked his beer bottle with Cappo’s.
“Leh abee drink to dat!” Cappo said with a laugh.
GBTI 40-miler set for today in Berbice
Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Corriverton Branch, will stage its 9th annual 40-mile cycle road race today on the Corentyne.
The race peddles off from the bank’s Corriverton Branch to Adventure Village and returns to the point of origin.
The event will be contested in three categories; open, juvenile and female. The first riders to cross the finish line will receive prizes while the four juveniles will also be awarded for their efforts. Three trophies and cash incentives will also be up for grabs in the female category. The female category will have a new winner as last year’s winner Marcia Dick will not be competing due to pregnancy. However, Romelo Crawford is expected to receive strong challenges as he attempts to defend the coveted title as ‘The man to ride away with GBTI’s money.’ Today’s race promises keen completion as winners in the Open and Juvenile categories defend their titles against among others, Jeban Crawford who took second prize last year and Zaman Khan; the current National Juvenile Champion.