October 18, 2016

Archives for August 22, 2016

Ministers in Parliament undermine accountability – US report

… MPs forced to “toe the party line”, not answerable to voters

The presence of Ministers in the National Assembly can serve to undermine established checks and balances; Members of Parliament (MPs) are not answerable to the voters and must ‘tow the party line’.
The blistering findings are contained in a report funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Guyana.

Georgetown, Guyana

The report which was recently completed for review by USAID or the United States Government has found too that in Guyana’s politics and affairs, “the National Assembly itself does not play an effective oversight role.” The report also highlighted that there is now evident fractures in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) government.
The Tetra Tech ARD group contracted to prepare the report, found that since MPs are “answerable to their parties and not to voters, given the use of party lists for elections, MPs toe the party line.”
The report pointed to the fact that in Guyana’s political system, Ministers of Government are also required to be MPs, “further reducing the separation of powers and undermining checks and balances…Thus, the Assembly is often referred to as a rubber stamp.”
Pointing to the deep-seated political divisions that exists on the local landscape, the USAID report said, “an effective opposition veto of government legislation as well as the president’s non-assent to opposition-initiated legislation during the 2011–2014 Assembly created a political impasse that was not surmountable through negotiations and compromise, and which was what led to the early dissolution of the Assembly and elections in 2015.”
The report has documented that now the coalition has a one-seat majority in the Assembly, the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is claiming that the government is flouting parliamentary rules.
It points to the introduction of legislation by Government and voting in the same session, making it impossible for the Opposition to review the bill and to have a meaningful debate.

Fractures
The report did find that, “Broadly speaking, the 2015 election results suggest to many observers an opportunity for change… The APNU+AFC ran in the 2015 elections as a coalition, on a reform agenda that includes constitutional reform.”
The USAID report cautions however, “The extent of the intended reforms varies depending on whom is asked; according to senior party officials, everything is on the table, including the electoral system and parliament.”
It said the coalition is a multi-party, multi-ethnic group, which may signify another shift in Guyanese politics away from ethnicity towards more issue-based politics, “however, fractures in the coalition are evident.”

Bandit shot by accomplice after robbing Berbice family

A bandit was accidently shot and killed by his accomplice while making their escape after robbing an East Bank Berbice family during the wee hours of Sunday.
The dead bandit has been identified as Odan Lallbeharry called “Stew”, 45, of New Forest, East Canje, Berbice.
According to reports, “Stew” was among five armed men who invaded and robbed the Edinburg Village home of shop owner Nankumar Datt and it was while they were escaping that he was shot and left behind by his accomplices.
“During (the robbery) one of the suspects received gunshot injuries in the process of exiting the premises and was later pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital,” a Police report said.

The bandits gained entry to the premises by climbing onto a shed and forcing their way through a bedroom window

The bandits gained entry to the premises by climbing onto a shed and forcing their way through a bedroom window

According to the Police, the incident occurred sometime around 01:30h.
Datt’s eldest daughter, Kelly, related the ordeal to Guyana Times on Sunday when she explained that she was awoken by the sound of persons walking on the zinc shed attached to their two-storey house and shortly after her father shouted that bandits were coming, they should run.
“But when he shouts that, the bandits hear and so they hurry and break the window to my sister’s room and come in the house. She was trying to open the room door to get out but she was having a hard time so they catch and start beating her,” the traumatised Kelly related.
The 21-year-old said that she was then confronted by two men and tried to prevent them from getting to her father, who escaped to seek help. Their mother was in hiding at the time.
She said that the men began shouting for her father by his call-name “Ball Head” and after they were unable to locate him, they began beating her and her 19-year-old sister. At time there were five men in total, all of whom were masked, she stated.
“They beat us bad… they were hitting us with a cutlass; then they told us to put on the lights, and asked for money,” the young woman recalled.
She went on to say that three of them remained upstairs with her sister while two of them forced her downstairs into the shop, where she handed over some money, while they picked up a quantity of phone cards.
“They bring down my sister and continue to beat her and after some time took us back upstairs and asked for more money. So I tell them they have to search the place but then my mother came out and give them the money ($100,000) because they start beating me and my sister again,” she recounted.
Kelly further told this newspaper that the men also took away her mother’s gold bracelet and some artificial jewellery that she and her sister were wearing, before escaping.
“They told us not to move from the upstairs so they stay right there and then we hear two gunshots in the downstairs and we get scared because we thought was my father get shoot,” she stated.
The young woman said that they remained upstairs for a few minutes until they heard noises from neighbours and came downstairs. She noted that when they came down and got outside, they saw a man lying outside on the bridge, while her father was with the neighbours who were gathering around. The Police then arrived at the scene.
In a subsequent statement, the Police said that they arrived on the scene at about 02:00, and found the injured bandit on the businessman’s bridge, clad in dark clothing and a pair of construction gloves.
The Police added that the suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries.
Police say they managed to extract some vital information from the bandit before he succumbed.
That information led to the arrest of two individuals who are currently in custody assisting with the investigations.

Adamantium named top gold producer

…as miners, GGMC face off ahead of week-long festivities

Adamantium Holdings has been named the top gold producer of 2015 when the Natural Resources Ministry in concert with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) held an award ceremony at the Guyana Pegasus on Sunday to kick off the week-long festivities of Mining Week 2016.
Adamantium declared 13,399 ounces of gold for 2015 making the company the top local producer for the year.
The mining company had been prominent in the news this past week when it was discovered that both Adamantium and Atlantic Fuels Inc shared several close connections including Directors – one such being Managing Director of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI,) Dr Richard Van West-Charles.
The two companies also share the same Kingston, Georgetown address, with Atlantic Fuels Inc securing an import/wholesale licence for fuel to supply, in part, the mining operations.

Ronaldo Alphonso of Adamantium Holdings receives the award from Business Minister Domonic Gaskin for the top gold producer of 2015 (Photo: Marceano Narine)

Ronaldo Alphonso of Adamantium Holdings receives the award from Business Minister Domonic Gaskin for the top gold producer of 2015 (Photo: Marceano Narine)

Other top awardees recognised on Sunday evening included Mohamed’s Enterprises, which was the top gold dealer.
Bosai and RUSAL—both bauxite mining companies—were also awarded for their stellar performances in that extractive sector, while Toolsie Persaud was recognised as the country’s top quarrying entity .
Guyana Goldfields was recognised for its safety track record at its Aurora Mines.
Other special awardees included industry pioneers Edward Shields, Dick Manning and Cyrilda De Jesus.
Special awards were also handed out to media representatives who would have been providing coverage for the sector, including Clifford Stanley of the Guyana Chronicle, Gaulbert Sutherland of Stabroek News and Jarryl Bryan of Kaieteur News.

Face-off
The pleasantries, smiles and recognition were preceded however by a ‘laying down of the gauntlet’ by both industry representatives and GGMC Commissioner (ag), Newell Dennison.
There were calls for greater inclusion and drastic changes to be implemented, not just in the extractive fields but in the relationship between the two bodies.
Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) President Ulrica Primus, in her brief remarks to the gathering, said, “Mining is a machine driven by numerous parts; if we only seek to re-organise, enforce and take a firmer stance on just miners, we are only addressing half of the problems.”
She submits that in order to create realistic changes, “the input and respect for every player is needed”.
Her sentiments were echoed by Andron Alphonso, who, speaking on behalf of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), said he was looking for a greater level of commitment on the part of the GGMC not just in its enforcement measures, but along the lines of actually assisting miners.
He spoke of the need for the introduction of greater support services to the mining sector, such as extension services used in the agriculture sector. Mining, he said, needs similar assistance.

800,000 ounces possible
Alphonso spoke too of the impending ban on the use of mercury in the mining industry and the impact it could have on an ill-prepared sector.
He opined that with the impending ban, efforts at improving recovery techniques needed to be stepped up ten-fold.
He spoke to the fact that techniques currently employed in the sector only saw a 20 to 30 per cent recovery rate for gold.
Better technology, he said, can more than double this. The GGDMA Vice President suggested that while Guyana saw record gold declarations last year, if better recovery techniques were used, gold declaration could have possibly eclipsed 800,000 ounces as against the 400,000 plus ounces that were declared in 2015.
The GGDMA Vice President observed too that while there were high hopes and expectations in the industry, these could only become a reality through continued collaboration.
Rome was not built in a day, he recalled, and added that building a world-class mining sector locally would take time.

Mammoth contribution
Turning his attention to the Mining Week activities, Alphonso used the opportunity to encourage all and sundry to participate.
He suggested that the time be used to garner an unbiased knowledge of the industry, since it would have been portrayed negatively in recent times.
Gold production, spearheaded mainly by the work of small miners, must be applauded for its mammoth contribution to the economy, according to Alphonso.
Acting GGMC Commissioner Dennison sought to impress on the mining representatives the importance of safety and the need for a paradigm shift in the recovery methods employed.
Extracting minerals with the application of appropriate techniques and technology, obviating the use of mercury is of utmost importance, according to Dennison.
He said those in the industry should consider these changes inevitable since the industry will soon demand more mechanical and chemical collecting methods.
Dennison also sought to assure miners that while the GGMC was looking to embrace bringing educational awareness to the sector, it would not let up on its role as an enforcement body.
He spoke too to the importance of practising on-site safety at mining operations, saying that there needed to be an attitudinal change where common sense and common decency were common goals for the broader development of the industry.
This, he said, requires serious commitment to partnership and collaboration “first with each other as citizens” and with institutions like the GGMC, which, according to Dennison, is “here to serve and guide”.

Incentives/penalties
Espousing the importance of safety and more efficient mining practices, he spoke about the impact of mining on the environment and the role of those who would have caused the damage—miners.
He spoke to the unwillingness on the part of some miners to reclaim mined-out areas since some find the exercise too costly or their operations would have been illegal, among a host of other reasons.
Dennison said regardless of the excuses, this was an issue that had to be confronted head on both by the mining community and the GGMC. He noted that incentives or penalties were available tools in order to achieve the objective.
He used the opportunity to also lament some of the shortcomings of the GGMC itself and pointed to its human resource and other operational constraints.
Dennison said while not wanting to make excuses for the GGMC, half of the entity’s staff has about five years’ service with the regulatory body and advocated training as the first approach towards remedying the situation.

Restored standards
Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, in his brief contribution to mark the commencement of the annual activity, reminded of Government’s commitment to restoring the standards that it has set for the industry.
He too shared his views on the importance of safety. Trotman also used the occasion to announce that in future there will be a greater presence by the GGMC and officials from the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency and other related agencies at several of the larger mining operations locally.
Trotman was among a slew of Government representatives at the forum led by Head of State, David Granger, Vice President Carl Greenidge and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin. The Private Sector was also represented through Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairperson Eddie Boyer.

Ali scolds Jordan over “fairy-tale” excuses

Sinking economy

The Mid-Year Report presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan last week confirmed our worst fears. The economy is decelerating with all the key sectors displaying signs of extreme distress and compounding the situation is the fact that Government wants Guyanese to believe in a fairy tale – that the El Niño phenomenon was responsible for the dismal economic performance.
This is according to Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali. In his analysis of the 2016 Mid-Year Report, the former Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister said: “It is not too late for the Government to reverse the economic collapse.”
Ali, in his assessment, said in order for Government to turn things around, it had to start by accepting the economy was in “reverse gear”, then craft an appropriate economic plan that would place the country back on a positive growth trajectory.

Public Accounts Committee Chair, PPP/C MP Irfaan Al

Public Accounts Committee Chair, PPP/C MP Irfaan Al

“We must remember that the first step to solving a problem is to accept it exists. Hiding our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich will not help. It will only create more false hope in the short term,” Ali advised.
Ali, an economist by training, has since observed that in addition to the stagnant economic growth rate, “even more depressing is the fact the local economy decelerated for a second year in succession, amidst the recovery of international commodity prices and the Golden Jubilee celebration that was expected to resuscitate or breathe new life into a slowly dying economy.”
He has surmised that the poor performance of the economy may be attributed to notable contractions in key sectors that were masked by the increased production reported by the large mining companies, namely Guyana Goldfields Inc and Troy Resources.
“For the first time in our recent history, the entire economy is carried by one sector… not so long ago, our economy benefited from growth in multiple sectors, including agriculture, services and manufacturing which helped us to weather the stormy external environment,” Ali pointed out.
Taking a jab at Government and its resort to blaming weather for the poor economic performance, Ali recalled that Guyana was able to survive the global economic and financial crises and managed to record positive growth, when economies in the Caribbean and the rest of the world were collapsing.
“This year El Niño alone disrupted the entire economy… almost every sector was adversely affected by El Niño, according to the Minister of Finance in his half-year report,” a sarcastic Ali remarked.
He suggested that while the poor performance of several industries may be attributed to the uncertainty created from the review/renegotiation by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government of concessions granted to foreign investors, “the Minister would like us to accept his fairytale story that El Niño was responsible”.
Ali is of the opinion that without a doubt things were “dry” in the country, “We have a drought with respect to ideas from the Government to move the country forward economically.”
He reminded too of the growing criticism emanating from the Opposition camp that to date the Government was yet to present a

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

comprehensive economic plan for Guyana.

‘Disciplining’ of son lands father in court

A father of three on Friday appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court charged with unlawfully wounding one of his sons.
Terrence Hopkinson, 51, of Lot 67 Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on August 5, 2016, at Uitvlugt, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Trevor Hopkinson with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution contended that on the day of the incident, both the defendant and the virtual complainant (VC) the son, were involved in a heated argument.
Reports are that the defendant picked up a piece of wood and dealt the VC several blows about his body. The VC reportedly fell after which the defendant continued to hit him until several persons came to his assistance.
He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was admitted.
The matter was reported to the Leonora Police Station and the defendant was arrested and charged.
Hopkinson told the Magistrate that his son was being unruly and as such he had to “discipline” him.
However, Magistrate Lambert explained to the defendant that there is a difference between discipline and abuse.
Hopkinson was granted bail in the sum of $40,000 and is scheduled to make a next court appearance on September 16, 2016.

Rose Hall Town Week attracts more sponsors

The township of Rose Hall between September 14-25 would be a hub of activities as Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and its eight cricket teams host the 2016 Town Week celebration.

Dyal Jagdeo of J’s Printery hands over copies of Logos to Mark Papannah of RHTY&SC, MS

Dyal Jagdeo of J’s Printery hands over copies of Logos to Mark Papannah of RHTY&SC, MS

Mayor Vijay Ramoo hands over souvenirs to Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

Mayor Vijay Ramoo hands over souvenirs to Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

The Township would be celebrating its 46th anniversary after been granted the status of township on the 20th of September, 1970. The activities planned for the two weeks programme includes a Day of Sports, Launching of a Booklet on the history of the township, Career and Business Fair, Educational Competitions, Rose Hall Town Cuisine Competition, Opening of a Family Recreational Park, Medical Outreach Programme, Launching of a Television Documentary, a Massive March Past consisting of 700-1000 marchers and Grand Opening Ceremony.
Several more sponsors over the last week came on board to assist the RHTYSC and the cricket teams to organise the best town week celebration in the history of Guyana. The Office of the President would be contributing 100 Guyana flags to decorate the township while Club Patron, H.E President David Granger has contributed a special message for the 40 pages booklet on the township’s history.
J’s Printery of New Amsterdam donated a quantity of large full coloured logos of the 46th anniversary while Matadeen’s Western Union and Metro Office Supplies has contributed a thousand promotional leaflets, that would be shared out at the Berbice Expo.
Mayor of the Town, Vijay Ramoo also handed over a large supply of anniversary shirt clips, cups and pens to the organisers. Other donors coming on board were the Anamayah Memorial who is sponsoring the Basketball Competition, the National Communication Networks who is contributing air time to promote the event, Bobby and Son Boutique is sponsoring of several Rose Hall Town flags while H.C. Alphonso and Sons is contributing 10 tons of white sand towards the construction of the Family Recreation Park.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) also visited the township on Wednesday last and would be producing a Television Documentary which would be launched during the opening ceremony. Popular Rose Hall Town Businessman Poonai Bhirooj and Imran Hamid have also pledged to sponsor special events with Bhirooj standing the cost of lighting up the Independence Arch Square while Hamid would be sponsoring the Essay Competition for Secondary School students.
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to the sponsors for coming on board to assist the RHTYSC Cricket teams to make the 2016 anniversary celebration a memorable one for every resident of Guyana’s smallest township.
Foster stated that all plans are falling into place and disclosed that several major sponsors would be unveiled shortly. The long serving Secretary/CEO stated that this is one of the most challenging programme that the cricket teams are undertaking due to the fact that that the admission fee for all the events are free and as such, sponsorship would have to be obtained to cover every angle.
Sponsors already on board includes Goodwood Racing Service, Demerara Bank, Republic Bank, Office of the Prime Minister, Hand in Hand Insurance, Ministry of Social Protection, The Guyana Tourism Authority, Kings Jewellery World, F+H Printery, Impression Printery, Digital Edge, Scotia Bank and the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division.

Pepsi Under-19 Cricket Team assist Angoy’s Avenue and Bush Lot Cricket Clubs

The young cricketers of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S Pepsi Under 19 Team on Wednesday last assisted their counterparts of the Angoy Avenue Cricket Club of New Amsterdam and the Bush Lot Cricket Club of West Coast Berbice.
The team donated a pair of batting pad, wicket keeping pad, wicket keeping gloves and a basketball to the Angoy Avenue Cricket Club while the West Berbice Club received four trophies for the presentation ceremony of their annual cricket academy.
Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC, Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony stated that the RHTYSC on an annual basis makes it a priority to assist other sports clubs in Berbice to fulfil their mandates. He proudly stated that Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation is the only one who assists competitors to improve themselves as it was important to assist every youth to fulfil their potentials.

RHTY&SC’s Anil Ramnarine hands over trophies to R Saywack of Bush Lot CC

RHTY&SC’s Anil Ramnarine hands over trophies to R Saywack of Bush Lot CC

Assistant Secretary/CEO Franklyn Ross hands over the donation to Angoy's Avenue Cricket Club

Assistant Secretary/CEO Franklyn Ross hands over the donation to Angoy’s Avenue Cricket Club

To date the RHTYSC has assisted a total of 39 sports Clubs, NGO’s, Churches and Schools in 2016 with over $1.2M worth of trophies and educational materials. The Pepsi Under 19 team which consists of national junior cricketers Brandon Prashad, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Slyus Tyndall and Plaffina Millington, Foster stated that the team was proud to assist the two Clubs and urged the members of the Bush Lot and Angoy Avenue teams to always strive for excellence and to use the donation for its intended purpose.
Foster expressed profound disappointment at the state of Berbice Cricket which is currently in turmoil due to a Court injunction and he issued an appeal for everyone to work together to return the county to its former glory. Foster recalled that when he resigned as Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee in 2014 after completing over 1500 programmes/activities over a seven years period, Berbice Cricket was at its strongest level but in a short two years span has fallen apart due to matters unrelated to cricket.
The experienced sports administrator who in 2011 became the First Club Official to win the prestigious National Sports Personality Award, stated that unless something is done by those in charge of Berbice Cricket, it would die a painful and swift death. The RHTYSC, M.S he stated would continue to play its part and issued an emotional appeal to other major cricket Clubs in Berbice to assist less fortunate cricket clubs so that Berbice Cricket can improve.
Representatives of both Clubs expressed gratitude to the RHTYSC, M.S and its Pepsi Under 19 team for the assistance. President of the Bush Lot Club Mr. Robbie Saywack stated that the RHTYSC, M.S has been the inspiration between his Club’s mission to assist youths that the Bush Lot Cricket Club was using the National Awardee as a role model to emulate.

Guyana complete 3-peat by defeating Windwards

WICB Regional Under-19

The Travis Persaud led Guyana Under-19 team will go down in history as they completed the  three-peat yesterday after defeating the Windward Island by five wickets in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19.
Guyana’s most establish player and vice-captain Keemo Paul and one of the youngest member of the team Bhaskar Yadram was at the helm of their historical moment. Paul was the spearhead of the bowling attack with three wickets while Yadram top scored.

Keemo Paul

Keemo Paul

Bhaskar Yadram

Bhaskar Yadram

Batting first the home team Windwards were restricted to 142 all out in 42.2 overs with only Johnel Eugene (42) and Emmanuel Stewart (22) making it past 20.
Paul (3-16) and Looknauth Chinkoo (3-32 from 10 overs) led the destruction for Guyana while all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford impressed with two wickets. Kheshram Seyhodam was once again effective with an economy rate of 3.2 as he grabbed one wicket from his quota of 10 overs while Malcolm Hubbard also grabbed one wicket.
The Guyanese bowlers stifled the Windwards’ batsmen and from a position of 59-5 they never recovered.
In reply the winners lost their first wicket with the score on 33 but it was really easy sailing for them as they batted responsibly and executed well to win by five wickets. Yadram top scored with 41 not out while receiving support from Rutherford 21, Raymond Perez 24, Paul 20, Joshua Persaud 13 and Renaldo Ali-Mohamed four not out.
Alick Anthanaze and Jonathan Taylor snared two wickets apiece while Rasheed Fredericks claimed one victim.
The win meant Guyana added to their 2014 title at home and 2015 title in Jamaica. The team has also lived up to expectation and has done its country proud as most cricket lovers and pundits had high expectation prior to the event.

Raksha Bandhan observed by Guyanese Diaspora

Dear Editor,
Raksha Bandhan, the festival of brotherly love and protection, was observed last Thursday (a holiday in India) in the Indo-Guyanese diaspora in their homes, but being a work day, it was observed on Sunday in Mandirs around the US.
Although a Hindu festival, Raakhi, as it is popularly called by Indo-Caribbean immigrants, takes on a secular tone with non-Hindus and non-Indians partaking in the ritual ceremonies. The term raakhi brother is often used for those non-blood males who received a rakhi.
In India, the festival is celebrated by people of all faiths. In the Indian diaspora, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains, and Sikhs participate in the celebrations.
In the United Arab Emirates, for example, Hindus and non-Hindus celebrated Raksha Bandhan at the Indian Consulate. And in Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname, non-Indians (including Freddie Kissoon) also observed Raakhi.
Raksha Bandhan has become a kind of non-secular festival filled with love. It is a festival in which brothers or males renew a bond as well as their commitment to protect their sisters or females.
Raksha means protection. The females tie a sacred thread on the wrist of males and they in turn offer her a gift and commit to protect her against dangers and help her to succeed in life.
This bond of protection is very important and has relevance in a place like Guyana where there is so much hatred for people based on their race especially those who don’t support the ruling dispensation – it is alleged that non-supporters are victimised on account of their race and political affiliation.
One should also not forget that Indo-Guyanese females have been the subject of much physical attack (rape, etc during ethnic violence) and domestic abuse. Atrocities against all women of all ethnicities have been growing, and thus, this Indian festival has much relevance in Guyana, making the bond of protection most apt especially at this time in our country’s history when government is terminating the employment of so many Indians and Amerindians, making life difficult for females.
For Raakhi, among  Indians, sisters or females tie a “rakhi” or holy thread (which have taken on ostentatious forms in recent years), symbolising prayers for well-being and protection, on the wrist of their brothers (males), apply tilak, and give them sweets; the brothers present a gift to their sisters.
In India, every female (away from parental home) practically journeyed back to spend some quality time with their siblings, tying Rakhi on the wrists of their brothers with a promise of protection in return and exchanging gifts. Raakhi is celebrated with fervour in the Hindu community worldwide.
In India, several females tied raakhi on my wrist in communities I visited; I observed many a raakhi in India, Trinidad, Guyana, and Fiji where the observance is very much the same everywhere.
In India, constituents tied raakhi on politicians and females also tied raakhi on soldiers serving the nation in unfriendly terrain on the border to Pakistan and in Kashmir.
Raakhi exists in all colours and shapes, with some even made from real gold – quite a change from when it was a simple thread.
Raksha Bandhan became very popular in India by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore in the nationalist struggle against British colonial rule. It took on patriotic symbol to get young boys and girls involved in the freedom movement.
Raksha Bandhan was also very popular in Bollywood where actresses tied raakhi on co-stars or those close to them. The beautiful Deepika Padukone, for example, tied raakhi on her bodyguard. Some also did so on Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and other celebrities.
In NY, at the mandirs, females tied colourful Raakhi and performed aartie on males.
Traditional meals were served.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

Christianburg: Touted as being Linden’s first community

The ancient community of Christianburg is prided as being the first settlement in Linden, situated in the captivating Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) area, with a rich history dating back to the early 1800s.
Even before Linden, which now incorporates Wismar and Mackenzie got its name, there was Christianburg, and earlier settlers were said to be Dutch who initially settled down the Demerara River in a little community which they referred to as Arague.

A view of the Katapulli creek

A view of the Katapulli creek

The church

The church

The old courthouse that was destroyed by fire

The old courthouse that was destroyed by fire

The waterwheel

The waterwheel

The area now known as Christianburg was also said to be a vast sugar plantation nestled on the left bank of the Demerara River, now also referred to as the West Side. The picturesque area of Christianburg is officially known as the community’s first village, which was established during the Dutch inhabitancy.
But the area was first referred to as Stabroek, until then Governor Christian Finnette settled there along with his wife, Burg. The area was actually renamed ‘Christianburg’ by Finnette who coined his first name along with that of his wife’s.
There is much history and earlier beginnings in Christianburg, known by many today as the home of the famous waterwheel. In fact, Scottish Engineer John Dagleish Patterson, who had been invited to Guyana to establish and develop living quarters by the English, also settled at Christianburg back in 1803.
Tasked with providing lumber for the construction of the huts and buildings, Patterson is said to have acquired the services of the earlier Dutch settlers, Amerindians and even slaves to work alongside his logging establishment.
The difficulty of transporting logs in those days eventually led to Patterson’s establishment of the first sawmill at Christianburg, with the powerhouse being the waterwheel which generated hydro power from the nearby Katapulli Creek.
These new developments had followed in the year 1855. In addition to generating power for the sawmill, the waterwheel was also a useful means of generating much needed electricity to the nearby huts and buildings under Patterson’s close-knit establishment.
Patterson’s large house had also been constructed in proximity to the Demerara River, on that section of the river bank which would later be called Wismar. Years later the house which had become a popular landmark had also served as the Christianburg Magistrate,s Court, which was destroyed only a few years ago by fire.
Being the first community to develop in the area, Christianburg was later referred to as a Seat of Government, containing a Police Headquarters, district emissary and dispensary. The Wismar area was later developed alongside Christianburg, followed by Mackenzie on the opposite shore.
Christianburg today
The Christianburg community today is very much alive with its rich history and remains a close-knit family-oriented area.
A visit to the area would reveal that names of earlier settlers such as DeClou, Allicock and D’Anjou are still in existence. It is reportedly home to numerous centenarians, one such being Agatha Campbell, also known as “Mother Gathie” who lives at Stewart Path, Christianburg. Today, Mother Gathie stands strong at 104 years.
Also to date, the famous waterwheel, although no longer in operation, remains one of the earliest landmarks in the Linden community. The Katapulli Creek is also one of the most pristine sites in the Christianburg community. As a matter of fact, as any Lindener would know, it is hard to talk about Christianburg without mentioning or sparing a thought of the Katapulli Creek.
D’Anjou Alley, an area named after one of the earlier settlers, also to date remains. The quiet community now sports a recreational ground, health centre, cemetery, nursery and primary schools, with a few scattered family-oriented businesses. It also has an active Community Development Council (CDC). Gully like alleys are also a prominent feature of the community.
On a sunny day, Christianburg with a majestic view of the Demerara River is the perfect spot for bird watching or quiet relaxation.
As other communities later came on stream, including Mackenzie on the eastern shore of the Demerara River, Christianburg is known as the one which initially set the pace for numerous others to follow.