Sunday Times

LOOK INSIDE !

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2870 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

May 29, 2016

PRICE

1 dead, 3 missing in piracy attacks Page 3

Dead: Hemchand Sookdeo

Missing: Dochan Sukra

1 dead in Port Mourant accident

Missing: Dhanpaul Rampaul

Survived Captain: Seepersaud Persaud

Waitress shot during attempted robbery

Page 8

Page 7

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

5 homeless as fire ravages Amelia’s P2 Ward home

Sir Shridath Ramphal P6 launches new book for 50th anniversary

Govt seeks to revive P12 reintegration of teen moms programme

The Jubilee “walkout” P14 through neutral lens

…visitor complains of poor seating arrangements

Miss World Guyana 2016 Nuriyyih Gerrard is flanked by first runner-up Treasure James (right), second runner-up Najuma Nelson (left) and the other delegates at Parc Rayne, Rahaman's Park on Friday evening

Govt unappreciative of rural culture – Bishop Edghill Page 9

… says rural appreciation needed to foster national unity

More prisoners to be released Page 5 soon – President ... non-voilent mothers favoured

E-Governance forensic audit

P16 Poor management, inexperienced contractors led to project woes

– millions owed to contractors

2 news 5 homeless as fire ravages Amelia’s Ward home SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Mahaicony backlands flooding

Dam almost sealed – MMA Chairman

By Shemuel Fanfair

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he near two months of periodic flooding that has plagued the farmers and residents of communities near Branch Road, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, will likely end as corrective works to seal sections of a breached dam along the Perth Canal in the backlands are almost complete. This is according to Chairman of the Mahaica/Mahaicony/AbaryAgricultural Developmental Authority (MMA-ADA), Aubrey Charles who in an interview with Guyana Times said workmen were working to seal the two ma-

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sult of new breaches along the dam.

These developments have been welcomed by those in the area and it was noted that these corrective works will bring some relief to the farmers who made repeated calls for the breaches to be rectified. Guyana Times was told that because the area was wet, this contributed to some of the challenges workmen had experienced in transporting the hymac to the affected area to rehabilitate the dam.

Rice farmer Deonarine Sesnarine said on Saturday that the flood waters on farmlands have decreased and he is thankful that re-

What remains of the gutted house

n Amelia’s Ward, Linden family of five is now mourning their loss after their upper flat wooden home went up in flames shortly after mid-day on Saturday.

Owner of the home Cedric James said the fire started in the hallway after a fouryear-old child reportedly lit a mattress, which had been placed there at the time.

According to the man, the family were cleaning their Lot 34 Self Help Housing Scheme home and his daughter placed her mattress in the hallway.

James said he was in the bathroom when he learned that the house was engulfed in flames. The family was able to escape with only the clothes on their backs.

James’s wife and one of

his daughters reportedly escaped by jumping through a window and were treated briefly at the Linden Hospital Complex.

According to James, he barely managed to remove his car, parked underneath the house by breaking one of its windows as the house quickly went up in flames.

He noted that quick thinking caused him to remove a gas bottle from inside the house. The family estimates their losses in the millions as nothing from the fully furnished house was saved.

Scores of family members and churchgoers turned up at the scene to offer support to the grieving family.

James, who was very composed, said he was thankful that there was no loss

of life. He said the Linden Fire Station responded in a “fairly ok” time but firefighters who tried their best were unable to save the already engulfed home.

“Everything got burned, all our documents, my money, them children books, the washing machine, everything… all these things is just material things. Once nothing ain’t happen to nobody, I’m alright,” he said sadly.

When this newspaper arrived at the scene, family could be seen combing through the rubble for valuables, including jewellery. They indicated that the search turned up nothing.

An optimistic James said he is looking forward to rebuilding his home with the help of family and friends.

Some of the affected farmers in Branch Road, Mahaicony

jor breaches on Saturday.

“The last report I received is that the two breaches are almost sealed,” the MMA Chairman noted.

He also related that the operators attached to the MMA will also assess other sections of the ‘quick dam’ on the Perth Canal to ensure that the level of any “low sections” is raised so as to prevent water from the Mahaicony River from spilling over and causing additional flooding. Charles also told this newspaper that after these works are complete, any additional flooding would be as a re-

habilitation of the dam is almost complete. It was only Friday that this newspaper reported that the unfilled breeches caused some amount of flooding to reoccur.

According to reports received by this publication on Thursday, whenever there is high tide, persons who reside along Company Dam, New Providence in Mahaicony are inundated.

One resident of Company Dam told Guyana Times that his yard normally floods and he has not been able to replant any of his subsistent crops which per-

MMA Chairman Aubrey Charles

ished when the flood waters first inundated the area almost two months ago. He explained that when the tides come in, the lands become inundated and when it goes out, the water would eventually recede but puddles would remain.

On May 20, the MMA had undertaken initiatives to ensure the rehabilitation of works to repair two major breaches along the Perth Canal after this newspaper reported on the plight of farmers in the area.

The MMA General Manager had said that the spring tide overflow caused soil erosions which facilitated the widen of the breaches, occasioning the heavy levels of flooding.

The dam at the Perth Canal was rehabilitated about seven months ago when the dry weather, caused by El Niño had prevailed, but it collapsed shortly after. Farmers were of the view that if the MMA and regional officials had heeded their appeals, the dam would have been repaired before the May/June rains came.

They lamented the fact that they have suffered losses as they had the expensive undertaking of pumping water out of their fields.

NEWS

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SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, May 29 – 10:30h-12:00h and Monday, May 30 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, May 29 – 09:45h-11:15h and Monday, May 30 – 11:05h-12:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.

WEATHER TODAY Thundery rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the morning while heavy rain showers can be expected in the afternoon. Cloudy skies with the possibility of light rain showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly between 2.68 metres per second and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:04h and 22:49h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.34 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:34h and 16:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.93 metre and 0.88 metre respectively.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

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1 dead, 3 missing in piracy attacks – Captain thrown overboard; 5 arrested

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fisherman is now dead and three others are missing following attacks on three boats by pirates on the Corentyne River on Friday evening.

Dead is Hemchand Sookdeo, 45, also called “Dread” of Number 55 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). His lifeless body was pulled from the muddy waters tangled in a fisherman’s seine on Saturday afternoon.

Those missing are Dochan Sukra, 54, also called “Butcher” of Number 55 Village; Dhanpaul Rampaul of Number 67 Village; and “Boyo” (only name given).

The Captain of one of the boats – Seepersaud Persaud, 43, of Corriverton – in which four fishermen were travelling, was rescued after being tossed into the Corentyne River.

Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam told Guyana Times that the Police have since locate a boat suspected to that belonging to the pirates at a koker at Number 65 Village and have since arrested five men.

Meanwhile, the crew members of two other fishing vessels, which were also attacked on Friday night were said to be safe. Up to press time, they could come ashore since the tide was low.

Reports indicate that the pirates attacked the vessels and in the process threw gasoline on the five crew members, threatening set them ablaze.

The surviving captain told Guyana Times that there were five pirates but only three of them were masked. The men, he said, all carried cutlasses.

According to him, the men approached his vessel and demanded that they hand over their catch. According to the Captain, he and his

Dead: Hemchand Sookdeo

crew were forced into the pirates’ boat, which was anchored at the time.

“When we deh ah drive to shore, they tie up two of me workman and they tell me fug throw over me wuk man an after me nah go throw them, he shove me over.”

Recounting the ordeal, Persaud said he swam for three hours and reached another fishing boat and was rescued. He said that after he was rescued, the Number 66 Fishermen’s Co-op was contacted and a rescue boat was sent out for him.

The attack on Persaud’s boat took place about five miles near Suriname waters.

The boat which is valued

Missing: Dochan Sukra

Survived Captain: Seepersaud Persaud

fisherman’s wife, Basmattie Sookdeo, said the father of four had previously been working on his sister’s boat

The detained boat Sharda SK

at $6 million and powered by two 48 horsepower engines is still missing. The catch was valued at $120,000.

Persaud, who has been in the fishing business for more than 15 years, said it was not the first time he was attacked by pirates. “I get attack plenty times but they never throw awe overboard before.”

Meanwhile, the dead

but left and was making his first trip with Persaud. He left on Thursday and was expected to return on Sunday.

She said that her husband has been a fisherman since the age of 15.

According to his son, Tej Sookdeo, fishing was all his father could do. “All his life he is a fisherman. I know is a dangerous work and I always expect that something

Missing: Dhanpaul Rampaul

could happen,” he told this publication.

Meanwhile, it was the third trip for Rampaul, whose main occupation is a cane harvester. The missing man’s wife told Guyana Times that because on some out of crop periods and no work available in the rice industry, Rampaul previously made two trips at sea in smaller vessels into waters that are not considered dangerous. This was his first deep water fishing trip.

Meanwhile, Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

“While ranks were investigating, they received additional information which gave a description of the boat involved and the amount of persons who were involved in the attack. As a result of that, we went to Number 65 foreshore where we saw a similar boat fitting the description. We arrested five persons who are in custody at this moment. Those persons are in custody and the boat is detained. We will be focusing to see whether we can restore the stolen articles which we know up to now is two 48 outboard engines. Based on that, we will conduct other raids to see if we can get information leading to the recovery of those engines,” Amsterdam explained told this newspaper.

Investigations are ongoing.

More prisoners to be released soon – President – non-violent mothers favoured

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espite much uneasiness about the pardoning of another set of convicted persons, Government has nonetheless advanced the programme and another batch of prisoners is expected to be released soon.

In a brief interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, President Granger said that the release of the prisoners will be announced soon but noted that it will be mostly, if not entirely, women.

He explained that in addition to the same criteria used last year, short con-

President David Granger

viction period was also taken into account when selecting those to be released this time round.

“In broad terms, we are looking for person with non-violent offences and with relatively short terms of imprisonment and women who are mothers. So it is unlikely that we will have males so,” the Head of State noted.

Moreover, the President said that the names of those prisoners who were selecting to be released will be made public soon, “next week perhaps”. turn to page 5

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

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guyana-times.com

SunDAY, may 29, 2016

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Our Central Bank

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uring the weeklong celebrations of the 50th Jubilee Celebrations of our Independence from Britain, there has been a commendable focus on several institutions of independence - the constitution, and Presidency - but especially the symbols of modern “nationhood”: the flag, motto, National bird, animal, etc.

But there is one institution that has received almost no mention even though it is one of the linchpins of Guyana’s independence: the Bank of Guyana (BoG).

As with the army, it was formed in the year before independence because, just as the former was essential to guarding our physical sovereignty, the BoG was key to securing our economic security. On October 16, 1965, it was launched under the Ordinance that defined its goal: “Within the context of the economic policy of the Government, the Bank shall be guided in all its actions by the objectives of fostering monetary stability and promoting credit and exchange conditions conducive to the growth of the economy of Guyana.”

Specifically it was now mandated to: “have the sole right to issue and redeem notes and coins; act as banker to the commercial banks; act as fiscal agent and trustee of a banker to the Government and; administer payment agreements entered into by the Government.”

Most Guyanese today would not remember that at independence we stopped using bills and coins that had previously been issued by the British Caribbean Currency Board (BCCB) and used by other Caribbean territories.

This money that is issued by our government is not backed by the possession of any physical asset such as gold as was done up to 1970 by the USA. It simply is used by citizens as money because the government so decrees and its value relative to the currencies of other countries is supposed to rise and fall with supply and demand for it just as with rice and sugar.

This means, if for instance, the US (or countries that use US dollars) does not want to buy goods from us for which it has to use Guyana dollars, the demand for the latter will fall and reflected in its higher conversion rate for US dollars.

During the 1970s as our economy collapsed the government kept on printing Guyana’s currency bills and we had a classic case of “too many dollars chasing too few goods” which results in the value of the currency dropping (inflation) - as does the conversion rate with other currencies (currency depreciation).

The PNC government had to introduce currency to maintain an artificial conversion of G$2.50 to US$1. All such transactions had to pass through the BoG. The Government under President Desmond Hoyte began systematically devaluing the Guyana dollar vis a vis the US’s dollar to $4.86 in 1986 and eventually to $45 in 1990. By 1991 Hoyte removed currency controls and Cambios joined the BoG and other banks in currency conversions. The real value of the Guyana dollar (based on supply and demand) settled down to G$125 to US$1. In the following twenty years it depreciated further to hover around $200.

Reacting to the disaster in allowing the government unbridled power to print money, and the evolving liberalised international financial environment, new regulations were passed to define the tasks of the BoG. The latest statement is: “Its primary purpose is to formulate and implement monetary policy so as to achieve and maintain price stability. The other major purpose is to foster a sound, progressive and efficient financial system. In the discharge of its functions the Bank strives to: Promote a sustained and non-inflationary growth of the economy; maintain the integrity and value of the Guyana dollar and secure the credibility of the financial system, including payments arrangements, through supervision and oversight.”

Of recent, however, questions have been raised in jurisdictions similar to Guyana, whether Central Banks should not follow the US, where their “Fed” is also mandated to also facilitate “full employment” through its monetary policy.

A design featuring decorative turtles is projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House

(Reuters)

Contrast in request for ballot recounts in US and Guyana Dear Editor, There is a sharp contrast in election officials’ response to a request for a ballot recount in the United States and Guyana. In the state of Kentucky, Senator Bernie Sanders requested a recount of the ballots in Democratic presidential primary held on May 17 in his contest against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the party’s Presidential nomination.

The final unofficial result had Clinton winning the contest by 1911 votes.

Sanders immediately asked for a recount of all the state’s ballots and it was granted right away in all of the polling places.

There have been requests for recounts in other states’ Democratic and Republican primaries which were held as part of the process of choosing the party’s nominee for the general elections on November 8. These requests were routinely granted in the interest of fair play and to quell ru-

mours of fraud. At times, it took over a week to declare official results because of the closeness of some contests.

In Kentucky, the recount took over a week with Clinton winning by about the same margin as was initially unofficially declared.

The response of election officials in the US to requests for ballot recount differs with a similar request for a recount of ballots in Guyana in the May 2015 general elections.

The PPP requested a recount in the ballots in one region where the unofficial count had the PPP losing by one vote with some 50 so called “spoilt” votes almost all of which, it was reported, was overwhelmingly in favour of the PPP. The acting US Ambassador (Charge) is reported to have said he was opposed to a recount.

It could not be understood why the US Ambassador was opposed to a recounting of ballots since it is

customary practice and the law in America for recounts when requested even if the margin is huge.

Gecom reversed its position on the PPP request for a recount after having initially consented to one.

In my doctoral studies of comparative politics, in elections around the globe (particularly US, Canada, UK), when outcomes are close, it is the general rule that recounts are automatically done even if not requested.

In Kentucky, as in all elections (local, state, national), there was an automatic recount because of the razor thin margin of Clinton’s victory.

Sanders then requested a final recount since the outcome was so close and it was granted; no expense was spared for the recount.

In India in elections earlier this year, there were recounts when the outcome involved a difference of thousands of ballots in several seats.

In Guyana, the difference was one ballot and Gecom refused to undertake a recount. The national difference was some 5000 votes and Gecom refused the recount. There should have been a recount of ballots in Guyana, especially that there were so many controversies and irregularities relating to the election.

The Ambassador of US, High Commissioners Canada, UK and other democratic countries should have pressured Gecom to have a final recount of the ballots.

If Gecom had nothing to hide it would have carried out a recount.

Separately, it cannot be understood why the court in Guyana is unable to address the election petition regarding irregularities when other countries dispose of election petitions within weeks.

Guyana’s petition us going past a year.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

National awards disappointment

Dear Editor, I would like to extend my congratulations to all those persons who were bestowed National Awards on the Flag Raising occasion on the eve of our 50th Independence Celebrations.

It is always good for a nation to acknowledge and honor

citizens who have contributed to the development of the country. Unfortunately I have to express my utter disappointment in the omission to have at least honored one person who would have contributed to the development of sports.

There are many deserv-

ing persons who over the decades have served sports well in the spheres of the actual sports or in administration or both and for there to have been this woeful omission is most unfortunate. Are persons in sports only good for photo opportunities?

Say what you what about

former Director of Sports Neil Kumar, he ensured that in every National Award there was at least one sporting personality honored. I trust that this omission will not re-occur!’

Sincerely, KA Juman-Yassin

NEWS

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SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Wales Estate closure

Vendors suffer losses as spending decreases

− 106 sugar workers still jobless

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he uncertainty and fear associated with the imminent closure of the Wales Estate has led persons in the surrounding environs to reduce their spending in local business places. This is according to vendors of a small market in Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD) who related that they too have been encountering hardships since the closure was announced earlier this year.

When Guyana Times visited the area on Saturday morning, business appeared to be slow while some of the vendors had already left.

“Some people hear bout de estate closing and they reduce buying but whatever little you get, you thankful for,” a vendor who identified herself only as “Angel” expressed.

“People spending less money and workers get lay off,” another vendor told this publication. These comments come in light of the recent reports of workers being laid off after they gave notice to the Guyana Sugar

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Corporation (GuySuCo) for them to be paid severance packages.

One of the other fears abound is that the educational attainment of children in the community will be hindered as parents will not have money to send their offspring to school. At vigils recently held under the theme ‘Save Wales Estate’, it was noted that children stand to suffer greatly, especially with the rising costs of text books and other expens-

More prisoners to be...

As part of the country’s 49th Independence Day celebration last year, the Guyanese Head of State announced that he will be pardoning some 60 “petty” criminals in their late teens to mid 20s, however only 40 of them were released in June. The missing 20 were presumably found unsuitable for various undetermined reasons and remain incarcerated. Additionally, a group of mothers who were convicted on non-violent crime were also released in December.

The criteria include prisoners who are facing short sentences; those who are incarcerated for petty, non-violent offences; and those prisoners between the ages of 18 and 24. This pardoned gesture applies to both female and male inmates.

Following the release,

persons were also calling for the identities of these convicts to be publicised but Government explained that this would have hindered the reintegration process of these young people back into society.

Nonetheless, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told this newspaper earlier this month that he will be inclined to release the names of those pardoned prisoners if it is requested. “Of course if asked, we will released the names of all those who will be pardoned. It is an obligation in the name transparency that the Minister released all the names of those who are on parole and pardoned,” he pointed out.

The Minister’s comment was made in light of one of the pardoned beneficiaries from last year, 19-year-

es associated with assignments and schools projects.

Meanwhile, GuySuCo is maintaining that it is restrained from paying some 106 workers their desired severance packages due to a High Court interim injunction granted in favour of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

However, at the court hearing regarding the matter on Tuesday, the Sugar Corporation was unable to defend its position as lawyers for the GuySuCo were missing in action.

While the Sugar Corporation refuses to give the 106 workers employment, the Union said “nothing in the injunction” bars GuySuCo from giving workers severance payments.

In late March, the 106 workers attached to Wales gave GuySuCo their one month’s notice of their intention to receive severance and they were promised

that they would be paid by May 6. However, as the injunction was filed, the Sugar Corporation opted not to pay the severance packages.

Government later announced that the Wales Sugar Estate is to be converted to into factory that will process dairy products and fruit juices, among other products.

However, Finance Minister Winston Jordan in a press briefing cautioned that any plans for diversification must be realistic, stating “Diversification of sugar was attempted in the 1970s but we have to do more than attempt, we have to be realistic.”

Meanwhile, the Government through its relevant agencies is yet to make known the direct measures that will be implemented to facilitate the conversion of Wales Estate as wells as what would be done to ensure that farmers and workmen are trained to operate the relevant staff in the new and diverse sectors.

from page 3

old Kelvin Bates, being charged for a series a robbery on the Corentyne. He faced several charges ranging from robbery under arms, larceny from persons and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition that occurred earlier this month. According to court documents, he was reportedly on bail for another armed robbery when he committed these offences.

Ramjattan had conceded that Government erred in selecting Bates as a candidate to be pardoned but noted that they were given the opinion that he was of very good character whilst in the prison hence he was released.

But on the weekly televised programme – The Public Interest, President Granger told Guyana Times that it is impossible for the State to guarantee

that the pardoned beneficiaries will not relapse into criminal behaviour.

Moreover, he went onto say that the Pardoned Prisoner Initiative cannot be judge based on one individual, highlighting the success of the other 39. He went onto say that criteria used to select the pardon beneficiaries are strict hence only 11 of the 20 females were released in December and only 40 of 60 in May last year. This, he explained, supports the fact that tight rules are applied when selecting the pardon beneficiaries.

Kara Kara tollbooth to be gazetted

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The Kara Kara tollbooth at Mackenzie, Linden

he return of the Kara Kara tollbooth at Mackenzie, Linden is set to once again take shape, following the intervention of recently elected Mayor of the Town Council Carwyn Holland to have it gazetted.

The tollbooth, which falls under the management of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), has been the centre of controversy in the past, more so when it was ordered closed by former Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker after claims that it was operating “illegally”.

At the time, former Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman Orrin Gordon had stated that the municipality was in a financial crisis and had moved to have the tollbooth put back in place after years of being out of operation.

However, the move was short lived. After taking up office recently, Mayor Holland had expressed interest in having the tollbooth up and running once again, in an effort to secure much needed reve-

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland

nue for the “cash strapped” Municipality. On Monday he reported that systems have been put in place to facilitate its re-instatement.

"I must report to you that after years we have the return of the toll booth.

This week it was passed at an emergency meeting of the Council. It's going to be gazetted in a few days and we're going to be moving forward", Holland stated, during an address at the launch of the bauxite Centennial activities in Linden on Monday.

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SunDAY, may 29, 2016

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Foundation Hindu Dharma does not consist in struggles and attempts to believe a certain doctrine or dogma, but in realizing not in believing, but in being and becoming. – Swami Vivekananda

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Anu Dev

his will be my concluding article on feminism and will look at Hindu Dharma from that perspective. Earlier, I attempted to show how the concept of “feminism” evolved in the developed countries of the world among mainly white, middle class women. But even in those societies, “feminism” has evolved after critiques from females whose concerns were excluded from the discourse.

For example, the African-American legal scholar Kimberlè Crenshaw introduced the term “intersectionality” to capture the reality that individuals may be oppressed along more than one line of identity. We face vulnerabilities at the “intersections” of race, sex, religion, class, gender, etc.

In Guyana, for instance, while all females may face certain barriers because of their gender (eg, promotion is easier for men) a Hindu female

guyana-times.com

who chooses something as innocuous as, say, wearing a visible marker such as the vermillion “sindoor” in her hair to signal she is married, is doubly debarred since westernised bosses consider her “backward”. Muslim women wearing the Hijab also face this double disability.

In Guyana, Hindu women have to take time to understand their own “religion” and discover whether it makes sense for them rather than automatically discarding it because “they” say so. Firstly, we have to understand that what we practice is Hindu Dharma, a “way of life” that is constantly evolving to face the challenges arising from different times, places and circumstances.

In Dharma, the fundamental principles are constant but all of us, including females, have to apply them to the concrete circumstances of our lives in Guyana.

The “religions” practiced in the west commonly have a founder and a “book” in which “truth” was delivered by God and so cannot be questioned but must be accepted “on faith”.

Hindu Dharma takes the position, as expressed by Swami Vivekananda above that once we follow one of

the many paths (“sadanas”) we will apprehend or realise - and not necessarily comprehend - “truth”. This principle of multiple paths to truth is unalterable for Hindus, and therefore Hindus cannot be “fundamentalists”.

Even on feminism!

Hindu Dharma, unlike western feminism, which takes for granted the Liberal proposition that the “individual” is the centre of life, places society in that position. Ironically, “western” sciences inform them there is no “individual” outside of “society”.

The baby removed from society becomes a feral animal. Another principle of Hindu Dharma posits differences as the basis of life and each “intersection” of our multiple identities has its own dharma: daughter, student, Guyanese, mother, etc.

Take the principle of the “goals” of life. For a Hindu, these are four in number - desires of the physical body (kaama), psychological desires of the mind (artha), good actions (karma) and liberation (moksha).

Hinduism concedes that all humans - men and women - have physical desires, for sex, food, etc that are physiological in nature. These must be satisfied - but within

the bounds of Dharma, to sustain the social order. As females with the power of procreation, we have a special responsibility to socialise the entire family to imbibe Dharmic values.

Then there are the psychological desires for status, power and wealth.

We must satisfy these but not allow greed to overtake their accumulation and leave the rest of society oppressed.

Ultimately, this will adversely affect our own happiness.

The actions we take in this world inevitably have effects (karma) on our lives. But if we follow the path that is in consonance without nature, we will achieve liberation or moksha.

So where is God in all of this for the Hindu female?

Well, not alienated for us as a “male”. The ultimate force behind all creation and universes (Brahman) is beyond human comprehension. We therefore get to choose, if we so desire, to stipulate God as “female” - as in my case as Mother Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge.

Female, in Hindu Dharma, symbolises “power” - Shakti.

This is the principle on which we Hindu females in Guyana can build our own “intersectional” freedom.

Sir Shridath Ramphal launches new book for 50th anniversary

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enowned Guyaneseborn international diplomat and former Foreign Service Minister Sir Shridath Ramphal on Thursday launched a new book, in honour of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

The book, titled Guyana in the World: The First of the First Fifty Years and The Predatory Challenge was launched at Georgetown Club in the presence of President David Granger and Ministers of Government.

As Guyana celebrates its 50th Independence Anniversary, Ramphal expressed delight to impart his knowledge. According to him, “Fifty years is a generation and more and many Guyanese have grown up not knowing of Guyana in the great new world we have entered. That is why I was pleased when the Foreign Ministry asked me to reflect on those early years in the world we have entered which was the very essence of Independence.”

Ramphal noted his purpose is to expose anew the baseless character challenges and bring home to Guyanese the serious nature of the dangers we face: “Some of those latter challenges are so fierce today that I have dwelt on them at some length, rather specially the challenge from Venezuela.”

Speaking at the launching Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge referred to Ramphal as an “Indestructible author”.

He commended Ramphal for the great piece he has written, saying: “It gives me great pleasure to

launch this book for our 50th celebration.”

Ramphal recalled the late Joel Benjamin’s many researches which had played a major role in assisting him to complete his book. “His researches many years ago have not only helped me as I wrote about the challenges Guyana faces, but will continue to be of great assistance to us in the years ahead. In this 50th Anniversary year I am proud to recall the lifetime research of this dedicated Guyanese – so much a model of what we should all aspire to be.”

Guyanese writer, poet, novelist and playwright Dr Ian McDonald present at the launching remarked that Ramphal’s writing is natural to him as breathing. He noted Ramphal is the ideal candidate for the author of the book since he was the main architect along with Linden Forbes Samson Burnham in Guyana gaining Independence.

According to Ramphal: “I hope Guyana in the world reaches many in Guyana and beyond – especially a younger generation to whom I dedicate it.”

Ramphal rose from humble origins to become a key adviser to Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Leaders from every continent engaged with him as the longest-serving Secretary-General of the Commonwealth (19751990) and as the only person who served on all the Independent International Commissions that grappled with the world’s major issues.

news

7

sunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Outdated laws governing Waitress shot during scrap metal trade – audit attempted robbery … revenue leakage suspected

T

he laws governing the scrap metal trade need to be completely revamped, according to recommendations emanating from the forensic audit report into the operations.

The report was officially released on the Finance Ministry’s website and cited a number of irregularities and uncertainties surrounding the trade, including the fact that the laws governing the operations are severely outdated.

The unit has its origin in the Old Metal Dealers Act Cap. 91:08 first promulgated in 1900. Supervisory responsibility for the unit was transferred from the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) by virtue of the 2012 Cabinet Paper dated January 31, 2012.

The CHPA is conferred with specific statutory powers and duties which do not include the regulation of the business of dealers in Old Metals, as described in the long?title of the Old Metal Dealers Act 91:08.

The report has recommended there be widespread consultation with key stakeholders before any concrete decisions are taken on the way forward in relation to the operations.

The document pointed out too that interim measures must be put in place since the trade is currently at a stand-

Scrap Metal

still and exports are temporarily banned.

Last year, scrap metal dealers pleaded with the government to quickly resume the trade, noting that the closure of their businesses has definitely reduced their earnings, thus denying them a comfortable living.

The audit, which was conducted by Ram & McRae Accounting Firm, found that there is no consistent policy towards the trade, with government opening and closing the trade at will.

It noted too that there seems a total lack of coordination between and among the four agencies involved: the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Business, the Scrap Metal Unit, and the Guyana Revenue Authority.

The report said it is unclear why responsibility for the trade was transferred to CHPA and why no Export Duty is paid under the Customs Act.

It suspected that there is a high probability of revenue leakage but because of the inadequate reporting, any estimate is merely speculative.

Prior to the official release, Guyana Times published articles on the contents of the report after soliciting a leaked copy.

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali had explained that the Unit was transferred for better management given that both sectors had one Minister, and the Scrap Metal Unit and the Enforcement Unit of CHPA were both viewed as having the capacity that can be interdependent in order to police the system.

“You may recall that one time there was tremendous vandalism of property, even phone lines and so on as it related to the scrap metal trade, so an enforcement arm became necessary for the Scrap Metal Unit,” Ali pointed out, noting that instead of establishing another enforcement

arm, a decision was made to bring it over to the Housing Ministry for more integration.

Furthermore, the then head of the Scrap Metal Trade Unit Taslim Baksh had argued that the findings in the report are not justified.

Meanwhile, the report also cited instances of illegal trade: “Inspectors and enforcers would visit unlicensed yards but we were informed that they do not observe the transfer of metals to licensed yards.”

Former Junior Communities Minister with responsibility for Housing Keith Scott had stated that anyone found to be not guilty of illegal trading, they would be allowed to resume their operations, while the others would be dealt with accordingly.

A

waitress is now nursing a gunshot injury to her chin at the Georgetown Public Hospital after she was shot by a lone gunman who attempted to rob an East Coast Demerara Chinese Restaurant.

The injured woman was identified as Onica Luke, 16, of Vryheid’s Lust, ECD and an employee of Lucky Star Restaurant in Better Hope, ECD. According to information, at about 22:45h on Friday, the waitress was at the counter of the restaurant when the gunman entered and ordered a food.

As he was paying the young lady, he held onto her hands through the grilled counter, whipped out the gun and demand-

ed cash. The brave young waitress reportedly put up a fight but the bandit discharged a round hitting her to the chin.

After he realizing the waitress had collapsed, he quickly escaped. The young lady was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was admitted.

Hospital sources told Guyana Times that the young lady is in a stable but serious condition.

It was explained that the waitress is suffering from severe shock due to the bullet being fired at close range. She remains traumatized and is slipping in and out of consciousness.

The Police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

8

news

SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

1 dead in Port Mourant accident Eyew tness A

Rose Hall man is now dead after he reportedly crashed into a horse before losing control of his motorcycle at Port Mourant, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Dead is Michael Anthony Leitch, 28, of Lot

55 Beharry Street, Rose Hall Town, Berbice.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the father of one had borrowed his friend’s motorcycle on Thursday evening to go to purchase food a short distance from where he lives. This newspaper was

told however that Leitch reportedly made a stop at a popular hangout bar in the area known as “Wash Bay” where he met up with friends and was allegedly seen imbedding.

Reports indicate that a woman identified as “Soldier”, who had been among the group of friends, requested Leitch to take her on a “ride”. It was during the joy ride that he met his demise.

The now dead man was reportedly speeding when he collided with the horse.

His female companion was pitched a few feet away from the point of collision but escaped with minor injuries.

Leitch was then taken to the Port Mourant Hospital moments after the accident where he was pronounced dead on arrival. According to the dead man’s mother, Sandra

Dancing around...

A ...the Cold War

Dead: Michael Anthony Leitch

Bascom, her son suffered severe injuries.

“When I see my son, his head was beat in, his chest part was short, one of his hands twist up and behind his head was dented in,” the emotional traumatised woman related.

s we wind down our 50th Independence celebrations, one of the (many) things that struck your humble Eyewitness were the gaps in the accounts of how we “won” independence. Fifty years is a long time to get our story straight than the fairy tales spun back in 1966. After all, after 30 years so many classified files - albeit heavily redacted - have been released under the US and British Freedom of Information Acts. But somehow everyone even our historian President - managed to dance around them.

This isn’t a matter of digging up old sores... in fact one of the largest sores is alive; full of pus and could burst any day now. Your Eyewitness, of course, is talking about the Venezuelan Border Controversy and the US’ successful moves to remove Cheddi Jagan and the PPP from office.

There’s no shame in admitting the US used several of those who’ve been honoured for “fighting for independence” to accomplish their “regime change”. It matters not that those ensconsced in power might’ve been “opportunistic” - power is ALWAYS opportunistic.

The choices were stark - in the Manichean struggle between Russia and the US, both sides believed THEY were the Forces of light and the other were the forces of darkness. We had to pick sides and Burnham picked the winning side. It’s as simple as that... there’s no need for folks to get their bucktas into knots when this is discussed openly.

The US did whatever was necessary to get out Jagan, who convinced them he was a “commie fellow traveller”.

The efforts weren’t confined to Kennedy deploying the CIA and flying over specifically to get Macmillan to sign along the dotted line in 1963. He also flew over to meet the US’ close ally - the President of Venezuela Betancourt at the end of 1961, to tie down a “plan B”.

Betancourt, like all his right-wing predecessors and successors were heavily anti-communists and worried a PPP communist government would help the Cubantrained MIR guerrillas operating in their East.

Sir Shridath Ramphal - a man in the know from those days - just came out with a government-funded booklet wherein he purports to discuss Venezuela’s “baseless” claim. He perorated at its launching - “The Venezuela claim upon us is a calumny born of greed, nurtured by falsity and fable and maintained by political demagoguery. It combines greed, lies and xenophobia into a toxic brew; but it is a brew stirred not by the ordinary people of Venezuela… but by the classes and forces, cliques and cabals in Venezuela who pursue their own ends.”

Wow! Can we hope he’ll (gasp!) talk about the Americans’ role?

...but still provoking

You never really know people, do you? Your Eyewitness was pushed into this philosophical frame of mind as he tried to digest the latest effusion form Finance Minister Winston Jordan. When Pressie announced his Cabinet last year, he’d figured the former Budget Director would be a professional who’d stick to crunching the numbers rather than the other contender Mr Greenidge who might’ve been more political.

But Mr Jordan quickly took to the cut and thrust of politics from the moment he presented his first (half) budget. Even gratuitously took on the Opposition Leader. One could only figure he’d been nursing a whole lotta grudges from when he was a peon in the PPP’s finance back room!

Anyhow, he just came out with a statement as to why the Public Servants weren’t going to get any “significant” raise even this year. Claims the money had to be used to bail out sugar workers. Now why would he do that, if not to stir up trouble?

Weren’t billions also used to subsidise electricity in Linden?

...the protocols

In the case of the snub inflicted to the Opposition Leader and the PPP MPs, why hasn’t there been an explanation as to who were all those folks in the VIP stand?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

news

9

SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Govt unappreciative ICU at Diamond Hospital to be relocated of rural culture – Bishop Edghill … says rural appreciation needed to foster national unity

I

Diamond Diagnostic Centre

Panellists Bishop Juan Edghill, Ravi Dev and Dr David Hinds

F

ormer Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Bishop Juan Edghill has accused government of being unappreciative of the rural cultures and lifestyles, a detriment in the push for national unity to prevail.

During a discussion forum called “The Factor”, which will be aired tonight on Television Guyana (TVG) Channel 28 at 20:00h, Edghill among other political luminaries explored the notion of national unity and social cohesion; what it means to the layman; the role of politicians in achieving this status, and the significance of such a movement in this jubilee year.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration has campaigned lustily on the need to promote national unity amongst Guyanese, and still continue to place much emphasis on this ideology.

However critics contend that government has only been giving lip service to reaching such an achievement.

Adding to those assertions, Edghill posited that the divisions in Guyana do not exist solely on the margins of racial groupings.

In fact, he declared that disunity borders on the class level rather than the ethnic level: “I have accused this present administration of being urban, upper middle class, judo Christian elites who don’t appreciate the culture of the rice farmer, the sugar worker, the man in Buxton who goes with his hook and fish, the Rasta man who has his own lifestyle… If you are an urban elite and you have no appreciation for rural folks in this country, you are not a candidate that could bring about

unity in this country,” he explained.

The other panelists included Ravi Dev and Dr David Hinds, who joined Edghill in exploring exactly what is meant by national unity.

The three commenters agreed that one needs to examine the layperson’s perspective when s/he refers to the notion of “national unity” before a game plan can be crafted to achieve it.

“We have to now question the premises and disentangle the various strands of what different people talk about when they mean unity… Does unity just mean unanimity, does it mean to be identical… These are all questions we need to ask,” Dev stated.

Hinds also expressed: “We need to revisit the whole notion of unity, national unity, and ethnic unity, whether it means the same thing or we inflated them or so forth.”

However, Edghill highlighted that, based on his engagements, people look forward to having one main goal when they speak about national unity.

“If you don’t have unity, you have division…

Di vision, two visions…

The attempts of establishing national unity for the Guyanese that I have consulted with over the many years on the grassroots level, they are not talking about us having uniformity or sharing one identity…

What they are looking for, and I subscribe to that at a personal level, and it is for us as a people to sit around a table called the Guyanese family in its plurality and say this is a common vision we have for Guyana,” he explained.

He further explained that the problems in Guyana are not necessarily because of disagreements

between the ethnic groupings: “Guyanese of East Indian extraction who have grown up in a predominantly Afro-Guyanese village, their perception and views of Afro-Guyanese is totally different from an East Indian who grew up in an East Indian society…You say something bad about an Afro-Guyanese to an East Indian Guyanese who grew up in that society, you could get into a very serious argument because their outlook of that community of people is totally different,” Edghill explained.

Broadening the discussions, Dev pointed out that, “for individuals to be descending from people who slaved for this country to be put in a situation where they have no hope of seeing themselves reflected in those who are governing the society, based on the system we have of electing those who lead, it has to create a sense of dissonance.”

Hinds added that there appears to be a fear to step out of the lip service and sloganeering of “one people”.

“So if you begin to talk about the specificity of our identity, the Guyanese people respond to that to say that but you are so in division… these are the very people who guard their identity but they are also invested in this notion of one people at a certain level and they feel that if you don’t express that one people then you are betraying some kind of national vision or so forth,” he posited, noting that this demeanour is not healthy if Guyanese are to achieve national unity.

Overall, it was agreed that national unity cannot happen overnight and it requires the genuine efforts of all.

n an effort to rectify the current issues plaguing the Diamond Diagnostic Centre (DDC), on the East Bank Demerara, plans are afoot to relocate the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the facility.

The administrators of DDC on Friday during discussions with Public Health Minister Dr George Norton and Minister Dr Karen Cummings, made a proposal to have the ICU moved.

According to the administrators, there is currently another location aback the hospital to treat tuberculosis (TB) patients and that is the area they propose be used to house the ICU. Medical Superintendent

of DDC Micheal Pereira, explained that the hospital currently has qualified medical professionals to operate in that capacity when the ICU is relocated.

He noted that more staff will be needed to function at the unit if the move is to be made, but added that the move will greatly benefit those seeking medical attention at the institution.

Pereira further explained that there are sufficient beds and medical equipment available if the proposal is approved.

According to the administrators, the space is much bigger and will be able to house more patients which will in turn take the load off

Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

When asked where the tuberculosis unit will be transferred to, it was proposed that it be transferred to where the ICU is currently located.

This they said, is due to the fact that the hospital treats a limited number of patients with the disease on a daily basis.

Listening to the proposal, Minister Norton said it made sense and after further discussions expressed willingness to have the proposal see reality.

However, a specific date has not been set for the relocation to be carried out.

10

sunDAY, may 29, 2016

guyana-times.com

News

Power outages plague West Coast Demerara residents – Regional Chairman calling for intervention

T

he Regional Chairman of Region Three (Essequibo Island-West Demerara) Julius Faerber is calling for an intervention by the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) in reducing the number of power outages that have been occurring in the region.

According to the Chairman, he has been receiving numerous calls from residents of the region who have divulged that they are being affected greatly by the constant power outages.

According of the reports Faerber received, the power outages are affecting the public water system. “As soon as the blackouts come on, the water also stops coming so that means that they have to do without the water.”

He said that some residents who still have access to water during the outages say that the water would not be potable.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the region for the last

for a comment but was unsuccessful in doing so.

week alone, has experienced approximately nine power outages.

Speaking with a few residents, this publication was told that not only are the outages affecting the water system but it is damaging their electrical appliances.

Avril Samuels, a resident of the Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD) related that her television “blow” during one of the outage.

“I just saw the light starting to blink and I thought it was a power shortage so I was about to turn the TV off but before

I could, I saw a red flash and I smelt smoke…is blow the TV blow because of the blackout,” the woman explained.

Leslyn Thompson of Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD, said she is highly annoyed as she is a business woman and the constant outages have been contributing to some of her goods being spoilt.

“I does sell chicken and I lost a lot because the blackouts are coming on so much and the meat not getting to freeze,” she explained.

This publication tried to get in contact with GPL

Region Two Meanwhile, GPL has issued a notice in the daily newspaper advising residents of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) that there will be load shedding in the region.

According to the power company, the base load generators at Anna Regina, are in immediate need of remedial works and as such, the company will be rationing electricity in the region.

The notice stated that Three Friends to La Union will have no power today from 18:00 to 20:h, while on Monday, May 30, Bounty Hall to Charity will be off the grid from 18:00h to 22:00h.

Again on Tuesday, May 31, Three Friends to La Union will have no electricity from 18:00h to 20:00h and on Wednesday, June 1, Bounty Hall to Charity will be off the grid from 18:00h to 22:00h.

OLPF Project was “grossly” overstaffed – forensic audit T he Forensic Audit conducted on the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project found that millions of dollars was wasted on the payment of salaries as the project was “grossly” overstaffed.

The audit, conducted by Ram and McRae, highlighted that there was as many as 16 departments and an average of 133 employees during the years 2012 to 2014 and no proper explanation by management for the over staffing situation.

“The Project Manager (Margo Boyce) was unable to offer any justification for the apparently high number of departments and employees, particularly since distributions were not carried out on a continuous basis and the procedures leading to distributions were relatively straightforward. We therefore consider the existence of the follow departments and retention of the employees therein unjustifiable,” the report stated.

According to the auditor, the Registry Department had an average number of three individuals, who were employed from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014, earning a total gross salary of $360,000 per month,

The One Laptop Per Family Project Headquarters in Forshaw Street

which amounted to $8.6 million for the period of their employment. It was pointed out that while these persons were responsible for ensuring applications, recipients’ contracts and signature sheets were filed in an orderly manner and in accordance with the department’s Standard Operating Procedures, the specified documents for the years 2011 to 2013 were not filed in an appropriate manner.

The Public Relations Department too had an average number of three employees which existed between the periods of May 2012, to March 2013. The report stated that the average gross salary amounted

to $310,000 per month, being an average cost of $3.4 million for the period the department existed. The auditors opined that it would have been more economical to outsource the public relations aspect of the project to eliminate the fixed labour cost.

Moreover, the Quality Assurance Department had two employees from April 2012 to December 2014; however in January 2015, an additional eight persons were hired as Quality Assurance Officers which raised the department’s salary expenses by over $1 million per month. “The Project Manager was unable to provide any reason for the addi-

tional appointments at that stage of the Project,” the auditors outlined.

As it relates to the Accounts Department, five persons were employed during the period April 2012, to December 2014 and again no satisfactory reasons could have been provided for such a large department to perform such basic tasks which could have been performed by one individual. Salaries for the accounting employees amounted to $460,000 per month, being a total of $15 million for the approximate two-year period.

On the other hand, the Documentation Department had eight employees at a cost of $710,000 per month. “In

True Blue Guyanese

S

atiricus is a true blue Guyanese. His navel string is buried in Guyana. He drinks black creek water whenever he gets a chance. So of course he had to be at the Independence Float Parade. His cousin Georgie from New York was visiting for the Jubilee Bash and was at the Stabroek Square for the Independence Day Parade.

Satiricus and Cappo had accompanied him and had gone for a snack.

“De New Yawk man look like ‘e prappa vex,” said Cappo sarcastically as they espied Georgie. The three had all grown up in the same village and they felt Georgie was now putting on airs.

“But guys, when you left to buy the Salara, you promised to come back “just now”l” Georgie whined at the sweating Satiricus and Cappo. They were holding a brown paper bag with some soggy Salara . “Isn’t that so?

Isn’t that so?”

“Bai Georgie, ah na only last year yuh lef fuh New Yark?” pointed out Cappo. “Like yuh fo’get wha “jus’ now” mean ya-suh in Guyana.”

“All I know is “just now” mean almost right away,” said Georgie with a glare.

“Cuz...this Guyana, Cappo didn’t say we coming back “just now”.” said Satiricus placatingly. “He said “jus’ now”. And in your motherland of Guyana “jus’ now” could be anytime between one minute and one week!”

“So when this Float will depart for Jubilee Stadium?” queried Georgie. “We’ve already been here two hours.”

Cappo looked at Georgie right in the face. “Depart??

Jus’ now!” he smiled.

Georgie rolled his eyes. “So tell me guys. How come the Stabroek Market is so clean? What happen to all the vendors? They used to lend so much character to the place.”

Cappo looked at him carefully, “Bai, na you bin get raab right near dat big clack!?”

“And you screamed “Wha’ alyu Mudda suh-an-suh ah do??!!! Gie me back me gol’ chain?” pointed out Satiricus.

“I forget about that,” replied Georgie, a bit sheepishly.

“But it did remind me of Times Square.”

“Me na su’prise,” said Cappo quickly, “Me hear you bin get raab da side too!”

Georgie was now quite flustered. “Ah when dis blasted float gon tek aff?? Alyu tek you raas an’ pass me, na? Gi’e me de blasted Salara!” our opinion, the work of the Documentation Department and that of the Registration Department overlapped. It does not appear to us an economic proposition to have the employees of one department sorting documents and the employees of another department filing the same documents,” the auditors found.

They further pointed out that the Verification Department was by far the largest department, with an average of 44 staff members, and as much as 66 Verification Officers during the period December 2011 to December 2014. Each Verification Officer was paid a monthly basic salary of $80,000 plus a non-taxable travel allowance of $30,000 per month, totalling to an average of $4.8 million per month in salaries for that department.

The auditor believes

that a cost-effective decision would have been to pay Verification Officers for days work or per recipient visit.

Nevertheless, in November 2014, it was announced that Cabinet had decided to downsize the Project. During the initial phase, 38 employees were released as of December 31, 2014; however, prior to the downsizing, the OLPF Project maintained an average of 113 employees during the year 2014. The auditors noted that the decision to downsize resulted in closure of the Linden, Essequibo and Berbice offices.

According to an analysis by the Project Manager, the reduction in employment cost and administrative expenses as a result for the downsizing were to the tune of $58,426,369 (35 per cent) and $1,326,267 (three per cent) respectively. turn to page 14

guyana-times.com

SunDAY, may 29, 2016

11

News

Kitty Market rehabilitation at standstill D

espite promises that the rehabilitation of the Kitty Market will be completed by the end of this month, vendors have complained that over the past week construction works have halted.

According to vendors, although they have been temporarily relocated to areas outside the market, they are required to pay their daily rents of $600 and monthly rent of $9000 to keep their spots within the market.

However, vendors have expressed frustration to this newspaper as work has halted and there are uncertain about when they will be back in the market.

The vendors complained that since reconstruction began, the workers have been prolonging

the job, arriving late and often seen idling.

“Since the work start, they aint doing nothing much. They start working till late in the afternoon, come in them own time. I does be here for 9am and they does come later than me. They moving along slowly. But they taking they time cause is more money they making if the work take long,” said a fruit vendor, who was relocated to the pavement oblique to the market.

Another vendor told this publication that the workers have stopped working and when enquires are made they are told that the money provided for the restoration works had been exhausted.

The merchants highlighted that though they have not been utiliz-

ing their space in the incomplete market, they are still required to pay monthly and in some cases, daily fees, pointing out that when the market restoration process had begun, they were indeed grateful but that is because they were promised their space in the market before Guyana’s 50th Independence Day. “We still have to pay we rent, you know. The market did start build and we de glad but they tell we one thing, and another thing happen. The market aint done yet. They didn’t keep they promise. But we still gotta pay we money,” said a peeved merchant.

Meanwhile this publication’s efforts to contact Town Clerk Royston Clerk and Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis, proved futile.

The incomplete Kitty Market

Minister admits Pathologist shortage at public hospitals P ublic Health Minister, Dr George Norton has admitted that there is indeed a shortage of pathologists in the public health sector in Guyana.

During an interview with Guyana Times, Dr Norton confirmed that the health sector is in dire need of Pathologists as it is running low on these professionals.

According to the Minister, the scarcity of such professionals is solely based on the lack of formal post graduate programmes where these persons can be trained in the mentioned field of work.

Dr Norton said that a number of persons within the medical field have shown their interest in taking up pathology as a permanent occupation but this is usually not accomplished since Guyana lacks the adequacies that are required for training in the sector.

In this case, he cited, it is not a case of there being a limited number of persons who want to take up pathology but rather the inefficient resources to undertake training in the area of

available in Guyana.

He disclosed that a number of countries including Cuba, Mexico, Brazil and China have offered to facilitate the students to undergo training, and the Ministry is currently contemplating the proposal.

Under the previous Administration, the shortage of these specialists had

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

work.

Since the post graduate programme is not offered in Guyana, the Minister said medical personnel in the field are required to undergo training overseas, which has a hefty cost attached to it. The finances that are attached to this programme training; however, are not subsidised by the Government.

“These overseas training are generally sponsored by companies and private organisations since post graduate programmes in pa-

thology are not offered in Guyana,” he informed.

With the conditions surrounding the field of medical work as it relates to financing and moving overseas to facilitate training, Dr Norton highlighted that the shortage situation is high on the agenda of the Public Health Ministry. He added that much thought is being given to how these specialist doctors’ can be trained in Guyana by means of a post graduate programme which would significantly increase the number of pathologists

persisted and the Ministry then had declared an emergency state of the pathology sector.

However, during that time, the indicated cause had been a deficient of individuals who were passionate about taking up the career option.

The Ministry had noted this while urging persons

to indicate their interest in pathology after which the Government would work to make scholarships available for them so they can be a part of the post graduate training programme.

Younger persons were specifically targeted since in that time, there were two pathologists who were both above the age of retirement.

12 news

SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Mayor of Mabaruma can Meteor sighting in Canal No. 1 perform duties − AG leaves residents awestruck …despite court order to quash appointment

I

n light of the court order which quashed the appointment of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the township of Mabaruma, concerns were raised over the fact that the Mayor was still carrying out mayoral duties at Mabaruma.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams disclosed that there is nothing preventing the Mayor from performing duties.

According to Williams, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mabaruma could continue their functions de facto, that is “unless and until the court rules”.

He said they were sworn in and as such they should carry out their duties: “You must remember that the Mayor was sworn in by the President, in other words, the Mayor has already then embarked upon office.”

Williams further explained that until an election is held to resolve the tie which forced Communities Minster Ronald Bulkan to intervene in selecting a Mayor for Mabaruma, the Mayor will continue to carry out his duties.

“When there is a tie, that is where we divide, under the Municipal and Councils District Act when there is an equality of votes or tie, there is a provision saying that there should be an election to resolve that tie until then the Mayor should continue his functions”, Williams explained.

According to Williams, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall omitted the

Attorney General Basil Williams

fact in his court appeal, that it is the duty of Minister Bulkan to elect one of the two persons contesting for the position of Mayor to act until the election is re-held.

“Mr Nandlall when he pleaded in the court, omitted or concealed from the court the most important provision which is Section 13:07 which says that elections could only be held under the Local Authorities Election Acts, the provisions of that act is applicable to electing two persons, one of two persons contesting for the position of Mayor” said Williams.

This “important fact” William’s said, was omitted

by Nandlall because he recognized the implications of that provision.

Meanwhile, Williams had pointed out that Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has no role in electing a Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The role of GECOM is to conduct elections, he noted, whether General

and Regional or Local Government. In the case of the latter, it is done pursuant to the provisions of the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act Chapter 28:03.

GECOM’s remit is limited to the election of councillors in both systems, Municipality and Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

When the Local Government Elections was completed, GECOM’s remit also was at an end upon the issuance of a Certificate of Election to the Councillors, Williams said.

After Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan named Smith as the Mayor of Mabaruma, where the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) gained equal number of seats, the PPP/C moved to the High Court to challenge the Minister’s action which violated the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01 Section 13(6) of the Municipal and District Councils Act which states that, “on account of equality of votes, the Town Clerk shall appoint a date not later than December 28 in the same year for the election of the Mayor from the tied Candidates by the voters whose names appear on the register of voters, for the time being in force, for the city.”

Justice Diana Insanally heard the matter and nullified Bulkan’s appointment.

By: Devina Samaroo

A

strange sphere of light flashed in the early morning sky, startling a group of men on their way to work.

Is it an unidentified flying object? A Meteor? An extraterrestrial visitor?

Residents from Canal Number One and nearby villages, who were outside on Wednesday around 04:30h might have witnessed the glowing ball of fire blazing through the lightening sky.

Kishal Bessoondiyar, 27, one of the dazed observers, was quick to post photos of the intergalactic object to Facebook under the caption “UFO seen right in Canal Number One”.

The album soon went viral, with over 400 shares and individuals from all across Guyana expressing bewilderment over the sighting.

Many believed the peculiar glow to be a UFO, judging from the online comments.

Others believed the image

The peculiar light streaking across the early morning sky

was photoshopped or sourced from another country while others pronounced it a comet.

During an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday, Bessoondiyar said he was definitely taken aback when he spotted the illumination in the sky. “It was a tiny glow moving at a regular pace and then it started to go faster and it got bigger. You started to see the smoke trails getting thicker and then it disappeared,” he related.

He said the experience lasted roughly two minutes.

“It was an amazing sight,” he exclaimed.

After doing some research, Bessoondiyar posted a video of a similar object spotted over the Miami Airport in Florida in September last.

Onlookers initially thought it to be a UFO, however news agencies reported that it was actually a rocket launch.

According to CBS Miami, the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station around the same time the object was spotted.

Govt seeks to revive reintegration of teen moms programme

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he Education Ministry in a move to have teenage mothers reintegrated into the school system has begun advertising for interested persons to indicate such interest.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam said that advertisements have commenced in order to gather candidates and a consultant to begin the process of reintegration into the school system.

According to the CEO, it is expected that the process of reintegration is initiated soon since “there is a consultancy that is about to commence that is going to ad-

dress that.”

Earlier in 2016, it was recognised by the Education Minister to have school aged mothers reintegrated into the learning system, in their mission to overcome the difficulties and introduce new means to enhance the education system. This call was endorsed by First Lady Sandra Granger and other entities, including Women Across Differences (WAD).

At that time, it was highlighted by Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine that to have this implementation would result in the creation of “better all rounded citizens” and “a better society.” When

school aged girls do not return to school after giving birth, he pointed out, creates an overburden of the welfare system and could possibly leave space for exploitation of women, thus increasing the illiteracy rate.

The programme to reintegrate teenage mothers into the school system was launched on April 15, 2008.

The programme was launched under the theme “Assisting to Achieve Quality Education through Reintegration” and had started in 2007 but was officially launched in 2008.

The initiative is in keeping with the millennium development goals and targets youths.

news

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SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

But is it democracy?

W

e are a democracy, we are told. We go through the process of free, fair and transparent elections which is supposed to translate into good governance that reflects the will of the people. This, says the developed world, is the best possible way.

However, I recently witnessed an election at a committee level that left me asking the question: But is it democracy?

A representative for a state body had to be elected so the stakeholders, Indianand African-Guyanese, met in a room to vote. They were mostly educated professionals. Before the vote was taken, they all chatted with each other and there was a genuine air of camaraderie among them.

Then came the vote. You Ryhaan Shah need not have bothered.

You could have done the “ethnic arithmetic” as President David Granger called it and decided the outcome. The votes were cast along racial lines. There was no crossover, no deviation, and had there been international observers there, they would have pronounced the elections free, fair and transparent, ie, democratic.

Directly after the announcement of the winner, everyone fell back into chatting with each other. They had participated in the democratic process and they accepted the outcome.

However, it is obvious that the camaraderie displayed is a thin veil that lies just above the surface of the race divide.

It’s no surprise that it comes apart on occasion to spill over into political/ethnic violence.

Was democracy ever intended to legitimize racial voting patterns? The system was developed in homogenous societies with minority groups where it works fairly well.

These countries now insist that it is the best way and it is exported to the world as a one-size-fits-all solution when it hardly helps our situation, for instance.

Democratic voting norms and a Westminster style of government actually work to widen our political divide by providing a legitimate façade for race-based voting.

Here, democracy means that the largest ethnic minority, Indians, most likely wins unless, as happened last May, there is a coalition that allows the next largest ethnic bloc, Africans, to get enough crossover votes for a majority.

Elections are never about issues and because there can only be one winner in a race-based battle, it is not surprising that ethnic unity is all that matters in the political fight.

African-Guyanese justify the political skulduggery of the 1960s against Premier Cheddi Jagan that brought Forbes Burnham to power and, even today, excuse Burnham’s electoral rigging as being necessary to holding that power.

In the race/political struggle, the Indian supporters of the PPP continue to face physical and cultural violence and Jagan himself, perhaps unwittingly, aided and abetted the idea of Indian invisibility when he gave credence to the view, as far back as the 1960s, that Indians needed to subsume their identity for the national good. This fitted well with his belief in Marxist ideology which placed class rather than race as the most contentious social and political issue.

In this, Jagan was, ironically, acting as an ethnic leader.

He could only have addressed such terms of nationhood to his supporters. It was Burnham who could have asked the same of his, Africans. And he never did. In fact, as the kabaka, Burnham appeared before them as their African king.

He was always a proud African whereas Jagan continued to take the line of dismissing his Indianess as unimportant in favour of his utopian view of the world as classless and raceless.

What has happened since to the Indian psyche is at best confusion and, at worst, shame and self-hatred. Even today, it is the self-hating Indian, the ones that dismiss their Indian identity, who finds social and political acceptance. Their apologetic stand about their ethnic identity plays well to the African-Guyanese struggle for political power, and the appeasement policy of the PPP towards African-Guyanese is based on that self-same apologetic stance.

It is clear that democracy as it works in homogenous societies cannot work here. It cannot be transposed whole onto our situation where two major race groups are contesting for a win that would always allow one to be dominant over the other. Cosmetic accommodations of cohesion, as decided by whichever race group is in power, can never address the deep-seated fears that have arisen on both sides of the divide.

After 50 years of independence, we should be matured enough to want to create a style of governance that gives equitable representation to every ethnic group. This is the only accommodation that will deliver a fair and just political system that will work for Guyana.

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to shah@guyanatimesgy.com

Communications giants deliver on jubilee mega concerts

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50th

TT & DIGICEL had one thing in common for Guyana’s Independence anni-

giants helped to create lasting impression in the minds of music lovers by hosting megaconcerts on Thursday

Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann during their performance at the Guyana National Stadium at GTT Independent Night concert

versary celebrations as they both hosted back-toback megaconcerts at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The telecommunications

and Friday nights respectively as part of their contribution to Guyana's Jubilee celebrations.

In the GTT camp Thursday night was Sean Kingston who headlined the

Independence Night Concert and who also did his debut performance in Guyana.

Other artistes performing on stage included Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann and Asylum Vikings Band, Vershon, Ravi B, along with Guyanese ar-

live performances by oldschool artistes including Wayne Wonder, Spragga Benz, King Yellow Man and Chaka Demus X Pliers.

In addition, Guyana’s young musical talents such as Poonam Singh, Dublin,

King Yellow man heating up the crowd on Friday night at the ANSA McAL concert

tistes Natural Black, Jumo and Jackie Jaxx.

On the other hand, DIGICEL co-sponsored an ANSA McAL event titled ‘Back to the Future’ with

Remar, Gadinelli and Juke Ross also performed at the event. Both shows experienced heavy downpours but were nevertheless hailed by Guyanese partyholics.

14

SunDAY, may 29, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

News

The Jubilee “walkout” Younge’s Take through neutral lens The Jubilee bluff … visitor complains of poor seating arrangements L A public debate has erupted over the “walkout” executed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentary Opposition at the momentous 50th Independence Anniversary Flag Raising ceremony over the infamous unavailability of seats, and it appears that there were other special invitees who were greeted with the same catastrophe.

According to a viral post on social media, the momentous night was marred with confusion as ushers were running around helter-skelter, trying to locate available seats to place special invited guests as they arrived for the ceremony.

After experiencing over 20 minutes of this turmoil, the PPP/C Members of Parliament disappointed-

that the situation was only resolved following a confrontation.

“Confused at our apparent relegation, we milled around unsure of how to proceed, but certain that we weren’t going to go where we were being herded off to like cattle. A standoff at the OK Corral was brewing.

Thankfully, it was circumvented by the intervention of the Colonel. We re-joined the rest of our party, and settled in to witness a significant and historic moment in our beloved Guyana’s nationhood,” the post read.

However, Gittens and company were completely dumbfounded over the choice of attire by those who were allowed to be seated in the “VIP area”.

“Get-ups and they can only really be described as

on the tarmac for the entire ceremony. Dr Vibert Cambridge, a recipient, also had no assigned seat. He was eventually given a seat meant for someone else,” she related in her observation.

According to Gittens, the blooper of the night came when the Opposition Members were left standing among the crowd because there was no reserved seating—for the Opposition.

“There is just no excuse whatsoever for that misstep.

I’ve heard all sorts of explanations. Those range from the ridiculous to the sublime. Excuses included the Opposition wasn’t interested in the events; to it’s a learning curve (we had 50 years to get it right); to the minister was set up by a man (name given) who said that seats were reserved for the

were made of the ushers as to whether they had had a rehearsal, I was told no, there was only a briefing that morning. Further, we weren’t given any programmes on arrival, and when we enquired of an usher, we were blithely informed that there were only 30 for the government ministers. About 45 minutes later, programmes magically appeared.”

The Guyanese who returned to take part in her homeland’s jubilee celebrations also said she was far from impressed at the performances that night.

“Simply put, there was no wow factor or substance befitting such an occasion. The dancing children, as well as the military and police marching bands put their best feet forward. However,

A section of the crowd at the flag raising ceremony

ly left the celebrations, and some immediately took to social media to vent annoyance.

Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry in her public apology insinuated that the PPP/C Members ought to be blamed for the outcome of the situation, insisting that though other spectators were giving up their seats, the Opposition seemed firm in wanting to leave.

While some social media users are arguing that the PPP/C behaved rather petty, others are asserting that the organisers must take responsibility for the calamitous seating arrangements.

Weighing in on the trending deliberations, a Canadian-based Guyanese identified as Yolande Anne Gittens on Facebook, shared her perspective on what occurred during the ceremony.

Gittens explained that she belonged to a party of nine with the exact VIP tickets however, Minister Henry, who took up the mantle to oversee the entrances, directed only four of the group to proceed up the stairs and then instructed an usher to escort the remainder to the bleachers.

Gittens expressed that her colleagues were naturally confused, pointing out

such, ranged from shorts, armless vests and sneakers to a backless fuchsia top with the entire back of a black and white polka dot bra fully exposed. We will not discuss the malodorous smells emitting from some of them. There were rubber slippers, and sneakers a plenty. There was a young man who appeared to be of unsound mind pacing back and forth. This was mentioned to an usher in order for her to get security, unfortunately this did not change anything,” she lamented.

From there, Gittens reported that things went rapidly downhill with chaos reigning over the seating arrangements for other special invitees.

“An usher came with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, and was worrying about where she was going to seat him.

Eventually, he was seated in the area reserved for the Joint Services. What was even more appalling was the fact that no seating appeared to have been reserved for recipients of National Awards.

One such person received a pass for her vehicle and was able to park in the stadium, but when she was ushered to the bleachers, there were no seats.

She was forced to stand

opposition; to clerks in her office illegally printed tickets. In this vein, reports are that 1500 tickets were distributed and there were only 500 seats. Excuses aside, as the person responsible for the event, don’t you personally ensure that for that section at least everything is as it should be? I hold no brief for the PPP, but the lack of seating is wholly unacceptable,” Gittens unreservedly expressed.

She continued, “So too were former heads of the Guyana Defence Force randomly seated in different areas. When enquires

there was no imagination put into the programme.

This was the perfect opportunity to showcase Guyana from then to now. So much more could’ve been done. I dare say that the Bishops’ High School culture day held earlier, had a more organised, entertaining, and better thought out show. So much more could’ve been done,” her post further stated.

In closing, the disappointed spectator posited that the buck stops at Minister Henry, and in this regard, she said a sincere apology is warranted.

ike most Guyanese, I was elated to learn that the main Opposition, the People's Progressive Party had decided to accept the Government's invitation to participate in the main event to mark Guyana's 50th independence anniversary.

This move signalled the Party's political maturity and unwavering commitment to country. It also was indicative of the PPP's decision to Michael Younge support the Government whenever it was doing positive things that could promote social cohesion, national unity and inclusivity.

The Party's acceptance of the invitation to be part of such a patriotic, historic and momentous event also opened a myriad of opportunities between the two sides to build trust, mutual respect and better relations.

I must admit that I was not truly convinced that their attendance would be without drama or conflict, given the nature of the politics that defines our land, coupled with the Government's continued disrespect and lack of tolerance for certain personalities in the Executive of the PPP. I knew something would have either being orchestrated or done to embarrass or shame the Party so that a few diehard anti-PPP politicians and businessmen could have a good laugh at home and abroad.

I am also confident that the PPP MPs who turned up to the event were also aware of this and on guard from the time of their arrival at the event.

As history would have it, drama unfolded when most of the Party's MPs discovered that their seats had not been reserved and there was no proper arrangement or accommodation made for them.

Also, the explanation offered by the Chief organiser Minister Nicolette Henry for the lack of accommodation is unacceptable, dishonest in certain respects and politically savage.

Whether the PPP MPs were late, absent or used the wrong entrance: their seats should have been reserved. A simple count of invitations issued and seats available would prove that the first exceeded the latter. No one should have been asked to give up their seats.

It was also reasonable for the organiser to expect that the MPs would have wanted to be seated as a group. This is not rocket science.

The MPs had every right to walk out after standing for so long. They had a right to move as a group and in solidarity with each other. How come others were properly accommodated but not those MPs. The entire incident could have been avoided and the event would have been without incident or political consequence.

The Government missed a good opportunity to treat the Opposition properly and with due respect.

The Minister ought to send the Opposition a personal apology as the incident will no doubt impact their response to other invitations from the Government.

Her first attempt at apologising was insincere and not genuine. There must be no double standards moving forward because the entire social cohesion process depends on mutual respect and good non parliamentary relations.

The good of national unity does not find delight when its partners in Opposition are disrespected or excluded.

OLPF Project was “grossly”...

from page 10

On the other hand, the auditors also examined the top management of the OLPF Project and found that the qualifications of Project Manager Margo Boyce were not sufficient for the level of responsibility and the skill requirements for the position.

On October 1, 2011, Boyce signed an agreement with Office of the President to perform the duties of Monitoring and Evaluation

Consultant, for which she was responsible for the implementation of the delivery of goods and services for the One Laptop Per Family and development of the Community Service component for Project.

She had a basic monthly salary of $400,000 but this was increased the following month to $590,360 with no documented reason. Then on August 15, 2012, Boyce was appointed Project Manager at a basic salary

of $700,000 per month until July 31, 2015, the effective date of her resignation.

In addition, the report also mentioned the appointments of Deputy Project Manager Azariah Asim, and the Project’s Warehouse Manager, Abdalla Hamilton, both of whom were sons of former Government Member of Parliament Joseph Hamilton.

They highlighted that the employment of the two

might have been influenced by that fact, since they did not possess the necessary qualification(s) or relevant experience to operate within their respective posts.

According to the auditor, while the lower level positions were advertised, political considerations may have influenced the appointment of the more senior staff, including the two sons of the former Government parliamentarian.

15 Hugo Chávez Homeless Shelter gets “thumbs up” for its services T news

SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

By: Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal

Juvenile justice system

S

hould justice be punitive or rehabilitative? Should the system come down hard and incarcerate anyone who commits a crime regardless of severity or circumstance, or should we look to move forward in a way that focuses on rehabilitating and reeducating perpetrators? Even more importantly, how should the system differ for children or young people?

Worldwide studies show that a high percentage of young offenders go on to reoffend and that the types of people they come into contact with during their incarceration often serve to support a network of continued criminal activity leading to a longer career of crime. Some therefore argue that to imprison young offenders keeps them more firmly on a path of delinquency and that alternative measures may serve better to encourage them to become more responsible citizens.

Children’s Rights Bills are in place in an effort to protect all children. Is it fair to make them forfeit those rights because they make mistakes when all too often the reasons and causes behind those mistakes are societal failures? Of course there are numerous violent, evil crimes being committed by both young and old, that warrant tough consequences, but law enforcement needs to recognise when heavy sentences are appropriate and when alternative approaches would better suit a child, society and the system. Do you keep pumping funds and resources into a system that sees high instances of reoffending and little or no moral adjustments in attitudes, or do you try another route?

Guyana’s juvenile justice system has long been in need of change and thankfully is in the process of reform. UNICEF has made many recommendations that lean towards more rehabilitative programmes than to a harsher punitive system.

Progressively, ministers are receiving up-to-date training and applying their developing knowledge to the draft bills of reform of the system.

The focus is definitely on the rights of children and areas under consideration are: age of responsibility, the decriminalisation of minor delinquent acts, duration and facilities of incarceration, and preventive measures.

The danger is that to move from one extreme to another in a short amount of time can bring a set of problems of its own. There is the risk that failure to punish crime and the shift of responsibility from children who may well be fully aware of their actions, and be responsible for them, will allow abuses of the system.

Young people are already vulnerable to older criminals recruiting and exploiting them. Older criminals may take advantage of the lenient consequences children will encounter if they are caught by encouraging children to take bigger risks and become further embroiled in criminal activity.

Balance, as usual, should be the objective. Yes, there has to be an ultimate goal that assimilates itself with a global vision, but a realistic, achievable phase that has real impact on those most in need should be the initial plan of action.

A system that is capable of judging individual cases guided by sound legislation and that reflects the rights of the child while perusing safe outcomes for society. One that is multilayered in its approach so punishment, correction or support fits the crime. Promoting a culture where prevention comes from a holistic perspective based on researched youth work, training professionals, educating caregivers and utilising schools will aid reform incalculably.

The mind-set of many front-line professionals needs shifting before new legislation can have any chance of being successfully implemented. There are many considerations to overcome before people can be expected to accept a new concept and way of viewing youth justice.

Understanding that crime can be the result of many different issues and following a new model that may seem too tolerant and indulgent, will be a huge stumbling block for many within the justice system. However, if people at the top lead by example; continually working towards reform, and other countries’ support and guidance remain, then Guyana has a chance to develop a more humane and restorative system with which to deal with Juvenile Justice.

he Hugo Chávez Homeless Shelter, located at Onverwagt Village, West Coast Berbice, has received a “thumbs up” for helping homeless persons to be reunited with their families.

The multimillion-dollar shelter, a gift from late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, has as its objective, assisting in the social and physical welfare of persons who may have found themselves out of a home.

The centre, which has separate dorms for males and females; a kitchen; recreational, medical, training, dining facilities and conference rooms, has the capacity to hold 200 males and 100 females and sits on 7.30 acres of land. Some of the land has been set aside for residents to engage in agriculture. Counselling is also offered at the centre.

Consultant of the shelter Carol Joseph speaking withGuyana Times disclosed that many residents at the

shelter are of sound mind but would have encountered disputes with their families that caused them to choose the streets over their homes.

“What we do at the shelter here is to contact their families and work on a solution upon their behalf so they can return to their families” said Joseph.

According to Joseph:

ROJECT 6/50, which was launched in April by the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA), has completed its third leg by hosting a Fashion Illustration Workshop and Exhibition in collaboration with Clinton Duncan at Theatre Guild.

The workshop was a new experience for participants who were taught to understand the difference between sketching and illustrating. “It was definitely a fulfilling experience. As they say, teaching is the best way to learn and that was the case at the

been around for nearly 500 years, adding that there has been a need to translate an idea or image into a fashion illustration.

“Not only do fashion illustrations show a representation or design of a garment, it also serves as a form of art. Fashion illustration shows the presence of hand and is said to be a visual luxury. The workshop sought to teach the basic elements of shape, proportion and form to the students.”

The exhibition saw 50 beautiful illustrations in celebration of Guyana’s 50th anniversa-

One of the dorms at the Hugo Chávez Homeless Shelter, Onverwagt Village, West Coast Berbice

“When they leave here, we do not forget about them but we do a continuous followup on them. So far, all of the persons we have integrated with their families are doing well and keeping up their end of the bargain.”

Enterprising residents of the shelter have engaged themselves in several agricultural activities.

Even though the shelter has the capacity for housing approximately 300 residents, it has never reached half of its capacity. The current population is 55 residents.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Protection in collaboration with Project Restore Guyana (PRG) has been working to clear the pavements of homeless people.

Lennox Lee, speaking with Guyana Times, disclosed that PRG is working to remove homeless people and place them in various shelters: “They were collected and taken to the hospital and then placed in shelters.

Some are still in the hospital but as soon as they are well they will be placed in shelters.”

Lee noted the removal of the vagrants is not a temporary action but will be a continuous activity to keep the streets cleared and place the people in better conditions.

PROJECT 6/50 completes 3 components P

Some of the pieces showcased during the exhibition

Clinton Duncan and Sonia Noel looking at some of the illustrations

workshop,” stated Clinton Duncan.

He pointed out that fashion illustration has

ry of Independence. There were a variety of fashion and beauty concepts by Mwanza Glenn, Keisha

Edwards, Clinton Pearson, Randy Madray and Sonia Noel.

Noel, founder of SNFCA said the illustrations will be on sale and will make great gifts for friends.

Meanwhile, the PROJECT 6/50 saw 50 hampers distributed to single-mothers and 50 fabric painted pieces by David Rose School for Special Needs.

Person can purchase

these pieces from the school.

The SNFCA will soon be distributing US$50 to 50 underprivileged children for school supplies, US$50 to 50 seniors from 50 churches and pairing 50 mentors with 50 mentees.

Persons desirous of being part of PROJECT 6/50 can contact the Sonia Noel Foundation for the creative arts FB page or snffca@ gmail.com

16 news

SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

E-Governance audit

Anna’s

Poor management, inexperienced contractors contribute to project woes It’s not only ... millions owed to contractors for E-Gov project – forensic audit

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am and McRae, the auditing firm that conducted the forensic audit on the controversial E-Governance Project believes that poor management and inexperienced contractors were contributory factors to the many problems the project faced.

According to the report released by the Finance Ministry on Friday, the auditors held discussions with a number of contractors who were responsible for the installation of the fibre optic cable and numerous matters with regard to the failure and possible recovery of the cables and E-Gov Project were raised.

“It is therefore our opinion that the primarily reason for the Project’s failure was due to poor management and supervision, along with execution of the works by inexperienced contractors…

Consequently, the fibre optic cables were not properly installed and were damaged…

It is a matter of accepted fact that cables were installed at less than the agreed depth of 1.5 metres,” the auditors stated, while adding that they saw no evidence of the issue of incorrect depth installation being flagged by the contractor nor the technical advisor of the project.

Weak inadequate systems

Moreover, other findings from the auditors’ review include weak or inadequate systems and procedures to govern the project, and account for its finances, significant non-compliance with the Procurement Act and inadequate hiring practices.

Additionally, the auditors outlined that the financial systems of the E-Governance Project were generally inadequate. Due to the nature of the project, those charged with governance were not legally obligated to prepare and publicise financial statements on a periodic basis.

“The review revealed a number of issues, primarily in the areas of planning, management and supervision of contractors, payments to contractors above the contract amount and the lack of proper internal controls and maintenance of adequate financial systems.

In our view, the failure of the E-Government DWDM Project was primarily due to the fact that no research and analysis was conducted prior to the implementation of the project. There was no project document detailing the technical specification with regard to the installation of the fibre optic cables,” the report outlined.

Nevertheless, though a

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

majority of contractors believe the cables can be salvaged, Ram and McRae has advised that the government evaluate the works required to achieve the possible recovery.

“There is considerable uncertainty surrounding the state of the work done on the Fibre Optic Cable Project, there medial work and issues arising out of a contract signed by the previous Administration intended to fix the problems. These matters require immediate and high level attention by the Cabinet under whom the Project falls,” the report stated.

In this regard, Ram and McRae recommended that the entire E-Governance should design and imple-

ment an organisational chart and mission statement.

Furthermore, the auditors believe it is important for the Project Manager to possess strong managerial skills in addition to technical competence.

“We believe Mr Alexei Ramotar (Project Manager) failed to properly manage the DWDM Project,” the report stated.

The project was administered by persons in and contracted by the Office of the President and it contained two distinct components. The first was the E-Governance Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) Project, which involved the laying of a fibre optic cable from Lethem to Georgetown; and the second aspect was the E-Governance (LTE) Project, which is a joint venture between the Government of Guyana and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd (China) for the construction of LTE sites and laying of fibre optic cables along the coast.

The project costs were estimated at US$5 million and US$32 million for the two components respectively.

Outstanding payments

According to the auditor’s report, following meetings with the contractors it was suggested that there may be outstanding payments of unspecified sums payable for works completed.

“We estimated that… the outstanding amounts would range between $35 million and $50 million,” the auditors stated.

It was pointed out that funding for the E-Governance (LTE) Project was provided by the EXIM Bank of China and payments were made directly from the bank to the contractor. However, as of May 25, 2015, Huawei had completed over 90 per cent of the project costing US$30.4 million of the total contract sum of US$32 million.

Nevertheless, the auditor stated that government was required to undertake, provide and finance certain elements of work in connection with the Huawei project.

It was also observed by the auditors that aspects of the DWDM Project were sub-contracted to nine major suppliers and in several cases the appropriate tender procedures prescribed by the Procurement Act were not followed: “We were also unable to determine the current status of each aspect based on the documentation available to us,” the accountancy firm stated. continues on page 17

the IDB

I

n a recent publication, President of The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG), Peter Persaud, questioned the commitment of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to Guyana’s indigenous peoples, due to the bureaucracy involved in unblocking sums long due under the Forest Carbon Protection Facility (FCPF).

The matter raised by Mr Persaud on the nonAnna Correia prioritization of indigenous rights is a sentiment not quite unfamiliar to many who had to work with international organisations on Amerindian development.

One of the character traits of these organisations is a troubling lack of understanding for dynamics of development in Amerindian communities, cobbled with limited adaptability to realities on the ground. In this last instance, one may interpret a semblance of unwillingness to demonstrate flexibility for these realities which go hand in hand with the context of rarity of resources in the Hinterland.

Staff of international organisations are more often than not, unacquainted with the Amerindian Act no. 6 – 2006, and are subsequently challenged by their own incapacity to understand the guiding principles of major issues such as Amerindian land titling.

Past observations have also revealed that staff of international organisations, including local, are generally unfamiliar with Amerindian cultures, and when faced with the Amerindian way of life, demonstrate little adaptability and concern for the difficulties faced by Amerindians.

The UN’s compulsory international financial safeguards and standards are reflective of this anomaly. For instance, the organisation excludes consideration for the fact that it is practically impossible for over two/thirds of Amerindian Village Councils to conduct financial transactions which, in practically every case, requires their possession of a bank account. Under the government funded Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project to which the UNDP is a partner, this situation has been recurrent, and generated varying degrees of frustration from the government implementing partner, as well as the Village Councils which for some, waited months before payments were unblocked. There is one instance where over a dozen Amerindians were left unpaid up to when the project was interrupted in June 2015, after having waited for seven months. Whether the payments were made under the Allicock administration remains uncertain.

While international financial standards are necessary to ensure transparency and accountability when disbursing Government of Guyana funds, it is equally important to accept that Amerindian beneficiaries are often unable to produce receipts for transactions which require reimbursements, particularly in the case of travel expenses involving means such as ATVs. The nature of service providers and geographical location combined, render paper traces difficult. Seeking refunds for beneficiaries then becomes tedious and lengthy, involving multiple back and forth with the international organisation, and failure to effectuate timely payments if any at all. Paper bureaucracy in these organisations is outrageously time consuming and unresponsive to on-the-ground emergency situations.

Interestingly, most international partners to government funded development projects, receive significant financial compensation to cover operational and administrative charges.

These include the typically high salaries, daily subsistence allowances and other financial benefits for contracted staff. Mr Persaud’s reference to the posh working conditions and salaries of those at the IDB’s Guyana office is therefore not without reason.

Similarly, the UN practices high DSAs which vary per region, ranging from $17,000 to $37,000 per night in Region Two, per person. Under the first phase of the ALT Project, DSAs were removed and field expenses for each team member were grouped to cut costs, given that overall project funds were already insufficient to complete the project.

The partnering UNDP had resisted the change, settling for not less than 20% of DSAs for its staff. Under the ADF, less than US$7M were allocated to address Community Development Plans for over 100 villages. Yet, resistance was again shown when it came to slashing costs for UNDP staff who participated on field trips.

This begs the question as to whether international organisations are more concerned about indigenous development or their own comfort.

Apparently, under the Allicock administration, DSAs have been reinstated.

The presence of international organisations might be necessary to help guide us along the path of development Guyana has undertaken. However, we must acknowledge that their relevance, as well as their survival, depends on the situation of underdevelopment (based on established international criteria) and poverty of our people.

Interestingly, the birth of new actors emerging from SouthSouth cooperation might enhance the quality of actors in the years ahead. In the meanwhile, the Government of Guyana must maintain the upper hand in ensuring that international organisations respect their commitments in a timely and costefficient manner.

Send questions & comments to sundayarrow@gmail.com

news

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SunDAY, may 29, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

First Lady hosts luncheon Diamond residents for adolescent mom’s faced with more programme beneficiaries water woes

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First Lady Sandra Granger, donors, volunteers and beneficiaries from the Women Across Differences programme for adolescent mothers at the Georgetown Club

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irst Lady, Sandra Granger, joined representatives from Women Across Differences (WAD), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, volunteers and beneficiaries of the WAD’s Mothers for Change programme for adolescent mothers for a special luncheon at the Georgetown Club.

The First Lady, who is the Patron of WAD organised the luncheon with support from two of her friends, Joan King and Nancy Taylor. In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency, she said that this was a good opportunity to get to know the young adolescent mothers, who are part of the WAD programme. “[We] wanted to do some-

thing nice for them… to have a relaxing lunch where we could get to know them a bit more. So this is just an informal gathering of ladies, mostly, where we would just sit down together, chat, find out a bit more about each other,” Mrs Granger said.

The First Lady noted that Republic Bank and the UNFPA have been assisting the programme for quite some time and as such they were invited to participate.

However, she also pointed out that “There are many more volunteers, who support WAD but we just gathered up a few people while my friends were here so that they could get together, meet them and have an enjoyable time together.”

Clonel Samuels-Boston, Coordinator of WAD, in an invited comment, said WAD started its programme for

teenage mothers in 2008 and has since worked closely with the UNFPA. She noted that Republic Bank threw its support behind WAD after one of its teen mothers, at a UNFPA World Population Day forum, told her story, engaging the bank’s attention.

“So they began a programme with us… this is the first year and we are so grateful. It is a very good programme…it has been identified as a best practice in the Region and also internationally as it is very comprehensive,” Ms. SamuelsBoston said.

UNFPA Country Representative, Patrice La Fleur, said her office chose to support WAD “because of its mandate for girls and women’s empowerment”. It has provided technical and financial support and other

Alleged thief remanded

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n alleged thief was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’ Court charged for breaking and entering.

It is alleged that Lames Limazon broke into a Lot 803 DeCroot Emkluna Uitvlugt, West Coast

Demerara home.

Reports are the 27-yearold man of Zeelugt Housing Scheme loaded items from the home into a minibus and were heading to Zeelught when Police ranks on routine stopped the bus.

Limazon was questioned about the items but failed

to give a proper explanation and as such he was arrested.

The stolen items included pine doors, toilet sets, bathroom doors, grills, ceiling lights and tiles worth some $700,000 belonging to Colin Hodge who was not on the premises at the time of the incident. from page 16

Poor management, inexperienced...

These nine contractors are: Corning Cable Systems (provision of fibre optic cables); Huawei (provision of equipment, software and training); Fibre Optic Solutions (provision of supervisory services); Ivor Allen (constructing of repeater stations); Cummings Electrical Company Limited (electrical installation at repeater stations, extension of fences and construction of bases security charges); Mekdeci Machiner and Construction (installation

of fibre optic cable at Lots 1, 2 and 3); Dax Construction Services (installation of fibre optic cable at Lot 4 and extension of Lot 4) Dynamic Engineering Company (installation of fibre optic cable at Lot 5, and recovering and reinstallation), and lastly G Bovell Construction Services (installation of fibre optic cable).

Ram and McRae explained that during discussions with Ramotar, prior to him being sent on leave, they were advised

that the DWDM Project was abandoned in 2013.

However, it was noted that Ramotar made no reference to the March 2015 agreement between the Government of Guyana and Dax Contracting Services Limited for the rehabilitation of the cable and related structures.

The auditors noted that there was a press report that that agreement has been cancelled but during an interview, the contractor disputed this.

opportunities for the teenage mothers who themselves formed the Mothers for Change group.

Republic Bank, was represented at the meeting

by Manager - Marketing and Communications, Ms. Michelle Johnson. She said that in 2015 the bank forged a four-year partnership with WAD via its ‘Power to Make a Difference’ social investment initiative.

“Their exemplary focus and their impact on the lives of teen mothers is well aligned with Republic Bank’s quest to bring the Power to Succeed to vulnerable youth,” she said.

lthough the main water well at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was recently rehabilitated following a long period of water issues, residents of Little Diamond Squatting Area are yet again faced with more water woes.

Over the past month residents have not received any water through their pipelines.

This is the case despite calls and visits to the nation’s water supplier, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), who had allegedly amazingly informed residents it is unable to locate the cause of the shortage as everything seems intact.

According to the enraged residents who spoke with Guyana Times Saturday, the area has been without potable water for the past month and they feel nothing is being done by the authorities to have this addressed.

One resident, Arvin Narine, told this publication he has had to obtain water by other means. He believes the utility company has turned a deaf ear on the residents’ concerns.

He reported that only Tuesday, officials from GWI visited the area and when the issue was brought up again, they reportedly re-

sponded that “there is nothing that we can do.”

Visits were reportedly made and the water main was assessed, but engineers trying to locate the problem had been unsuccessful in detecting the fault. Residents said there was no further investigation after that instance.

“We have our children to send to school and work to go, so we need the GWI to come and visit the area so they would address our problem as soon as possible,” a resident implored.

John Gonsalves, another resident, related that the team from GWI visited the area but after hours of trying to locate the fault, they came up empty handed and left. He said he is at a loss as to how GWI engineers – engineers mind you – cannot find the fault.

Gonsalves further added that he and his family are greatly inconvenienced since, like other residents, they too have to turn to alternative sources of getting water for domestic purposes.

The residents are appealing to the company to purposefully visit the community and investigate why water is not being supplied as paid for.

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guyana-times.com

SunDAY, may 29, 2016

Around the world

China Wanda City theme park opens in a battle with Disney C

hina’s richest man has opened a massive entertainment complex to compete with US giant Disney. “Wanda City”, in south-eastern city Nanchang, features rides, shopping centres and an aquarium, and cost more than US$3 billion (just over £2 billion).

Its owner, Wang Jianlin, said he wanted to move away from western imports and to establish a global brand based on Chinese culture. Disney is planning to open its own theme park in Shanghai next month.

The new entertainment complex includes an US$800 million China-themed park filled with twirling “porcelain teacup rides” and bam-

The new theme park promotes Chinese culture in its attractions

boo forests, as well as a huge indoor shopping mall, and what is claimed to be the world’s largest ocean park.

Wang’s Wanda proper-

Clash in Guinea over opening of new mosque injures 59 people

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t least 59 people were injured in Guinea when youths frustrated they were being kept out of the opening of a new mosque in the town of Timbo clashed with Police, a hospital director and witnesses said on Saturday.

Security officials stopped ordinary people from entering the mosque to allow local dignitaries to pass but youths became angry and threw stones and attempted to rush in, witnesses said. Police responded with teargas and beat back the youths.

“There was a huge clash between the Police and the young people and clouds of tear gas. I saw old women pushed over by the surging crowd. It was serious,” said

Latif Haidera, a witness.

Mamadou Kouyate, the Director of the regional hospital at Mamou, said 59 people were treated at his hospital alone following the incident on Friday in Timbo, which is about 260 km (163 miles) northeast of the capital Conakry.

About 85 per cent of Guinea’s population follows Sunni Islam and Timbo is a center of Islamic learning and the capital of the Foutah branch of Islam in Guinea.

The town is also a stronghold of the political opposition to President Alpha Conde, though witnesses said the clash was not directly connected to national politics. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ty group has also invested heavily in the film and cinema business. It has indicated it wants to fend off Disney in the Chinese mar-

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hile’s President Michelle Bachelet voluntarily testified earlier this week with the national prosecutor’s office as part of a probe into alleged tax crimes by her daughterin-law Natalia Compagnon, the Government said late on Friday.

While Bachelet has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the case has been one of a number of high-profile money-in-politics scandals to come to light over the last year, sowing discontent among Chileans and dragging the President’s popularity to all-time lows.

Interior Minister Jorge

Burgos disclosed on Friday that he informed Bachelet that he had received a request from the prosecutor’s office for the President to voluntarily testify in the probe.

“I’m available to testify immediately,” Bachelet said, according to Burgos.

A Chilean court in January officially pegged Compagnon as a criminal suspect, as investigators look into allegations that she issued false tax declarations, misrepresented her income, and issued fraudulent invoices relating to a real estate concern she halfowns. (Reuters)

People march along Alcala Street to protest against Venezuelan President Maduro in Madrid

es and a collapsing socialist economic model. President Nicolás Maduro is locked in a standoff with Congress after the Opposition won a sweeping legislative majority last year.

Government-backed newspaper Ciudad Caracas described the encounter as an “exploratory meeting for the start of dialogue,” adding that the meeting included ex-leaders of Spain, Panama and The Dominican Republic. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

BBC News)

Venezuelan Government ‘holds talks’ with Opposition

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group of former Presidents has held secret meetings in The Dominican Republic with Venezuelan officials and Government opponents in an attempt to mediate the South American nation’s political standoff, an Opposition Leader has confirmed.

Jesus Torrealba, Executive Secretary of the Opposition alliance, confirmed on Saturday that the meetings, which were initiated under the auspices of the Union of South American Nations, or UNASUR, took place.

But he said there was no face-to-face encounter, and instead the two sides exchanged messages through the ex-Presidents. The OPEC nation is suffering a severe recession due to low oil pric-

Anti-Islam protest descends into violence in Australia

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olice in Australia have used pepper spray to separate more than 300 angry protesters as antiIslam and anti-racism groups clashed in the streets of Melbourne, the country’s second biggest city.

Seven men were arrested in Coburg, a northern suburb of Melbourne on Saturday after anti-Islam protesters, some of whom were draped in the Australian flag, began fighting with their rivals.

TV Footage showed protesters using Australian flags to beat other demonstrators, before police moved in and used capsicum spray to stop the violence. In one incident, a member of the United Patriots Front (UPF), which organised Saturday’s antiIslam and anti-immigrant rally, fell to the ground was

ket and become a global entertainment brand.

In remarks at Saturday’s opening ceremony, Wang did not mention Disney by name, but said that after millennia of Chinese cultural domination, the country was lacking confidence in its own culture.

“We want to be a model for Chinese private enterprise, and we want to establish a global brand for Chinese firms,” he said.

Only a week ago he told China Central Television (CCTV) that “this craze for Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck is over, the period when we would blindly follow where Disney led has been gone for years.” (Excerpt from

Chile President Bachelet testifies in tax probe into daughter-in-law

Nobel Laureate Satyarthi says companies cannot flourish on child slavery

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ig corporations must do more to clean up their supply chains and ensure that there is no child labour involved in the products which they manufacture and sell, Nobel laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi said on Friday.

From cosmetics and clothes to shrimp and smartphones, the supply chain for most products is often complex with multiple

layers – whether in sourcing the raw materials or creating the final product – making it hard to identify exploitation.

Speaking at a conference on bonded labour in India, Satyarthi said a new antitrafficking law being drafted by the government would hopefully make it harder for corporations to use child labour in their supply chains.

“Every national or international corporate must ad-

here to national as well as international laws. Those who are working in India should know that they cannot continue to violate the laws of the land,” Satyarthi told journalists.

“We have laws in this country and we will have another clearer law on trafficking soon - so then there would be much more robust law and mechanisms to deal with that.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia ELN rebels free Spanish journalist Hernandez Mora A survey by the Western Sydney University found that Muslims in Australia experience racism three times the national average

kicked several times by two anti-racism activists.

When asked about the opposing groups, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the multicultural nature of Australian society was “one of our great achievements”.

“We are united, we have so much in common, and we

are stronger and more prosperous as a nation because of that diversity,” he told reporters. Attacks against Australia’s Muslim community have increased in recent years partly due to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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olombian rebels have released Spanish journalist Salud Hernandez Mora, who had been missing since last Saturday. She was handed over to a group of Roman Catholic Church mediators in the town of Ocana, in the northern region of Norte de Santander.

She was exhausted but in good health, said Catholic priest Ramon Torrado, one of the mediators. Hernandez

Mora said she had been kidnapped by members of the left-wing National Liberation Army, or ELN. “From the very beginning I was held against my will,” she said. There were moments of tension in the six days she spent in captivity, she said, “especially when we could hear the armed forces helicopters above us, looking for me”.

Hernandez Mora has lived in Colombia for near-

ly two decades, and has dual Spanish and Colombian nationality. She has reported extensively on Colombia’s rebel groups, working for Colombia’s El Tiempo and Spain’s El Mundo newspapers.

El Tiempo (in Spanish) said she had been investigating the eradication of coca crops when she went missing in the north-eastern region of Catatumbo. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

SunDAY, may 29, 2016

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UEFA Champions League 2015/16

Ronaldo settles dramatic shoot-out C – Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (AET, 5-3 pens)

ristiano Ronaldo scored the all important spot-kick after Juanfran crucially missed as Zinedine Zidane’s charges claimed their 11th European Cup at the San Siro on Saturday Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final for the second time in three years as they won a dramatic penalty shootout in Milan.

After 120 minutes of action ended in a 1-1 draw, Atletico’s Juanfran was the unfortunate man to miss, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to slot home the decisive spot-kick as Real

won 5-3 on penalties.

Real were much the better team in the first half and took the lead through Sergio Ramos, who got a faint touch on Gareth Bale’s header from close range to haunt Atletico again after his vital goal in his side’s 2014 victory.

Atleti came out fighting after the break, but Antoine Griezmann crashed a penalty against the crossbar as they looked set to fall to another painful defeat against their city rivals in club football’s biggest fixture.

But substitute Yannick Carrasco’s strike from inside the six-yard box with

11 minutes remaining sent the game to extratime, where neither side found a winner to prevent spot-kicks.But Atletico hearts were broken again as Ronaldo punished Juanfran’s crucial miss in the penalty shoot-out, with the Portuguese’s topless celebration and tears from the Colchoneros fans bringing back memories from their defeat in Lisbon.

Real’s victory means they are now 11-time European champions with Zinedine Zidane becoming the seventh man to win the tournament as both player and coach af-

Title clash a contest between RCB’s batting & SRH’s bowling

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he Indian Premier League will have a new champion. One of Royal Challengers Bangalore or Sunrisers Hyderabad, who will come up against each other in the Final of VIVO IPL 2016, will be crowned champions today.

Royal Challengers Bangalore are in the final, courtesy their win in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.

Their 4-wicket win was pretty much representative of how their season has panned out. Chasing 159, RCB were reduced to 68-6 and pretty much out of the contest, before AB de Villiers took control and drove his team over the finish line. RCB’s season has been pretty much similar; after the matches on May 8, they were down in the dumps – with just two wins in eight matches and sandwiched between Rising Pune Supergiants and Kings XI Punjab, two teams who eventually finished in the bottom two places. Then came the turnaround; RCB rose from the ashes, won five of their remaining six matches, finished second in the standings, and then won the Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Lions to charge to the Final.

Sunrisers Hyderabad were top of the table with three days remaining in the league stage of the competition. Two defeats in three days meant they slipped from the top and sneaked in to the playoffs as the third-placed team. SRH have found their bearings once again; they sent Kolkata Knight Riders packing, defeating the twotime champions by 22 runs in the Eliminator, before

David Warner’s solo effort against the Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 2 ensured a date with RCB in the Final.

On the basis of what one has seen so far in the tournament, RCB v SRH is a battle between the best batting line-up and the best bowling line-up. Which captain will lift the IPL trophy on Sunday evening? Will it be third time lucky for RCB, who also made it to the Final in 2009 and 2011? Or will Sunrisers Hyderabad clinch the trophy in their first-ever appearance in the Final?

For starters, one doesn’t have to look beyond the two captains. Virat Kohli has been in sensational form for RCB; he has had a season like no other batsman has had in a T20 competition. A record aggregate of 919 runs, four centuries, six half-centuries, an unbelievable average of 83.54 and all these runs accumulated at a strike-rate of 151.90.

For SRH, David Warner has led from the front; a powerful striker of the cricket ball and a match-winner, the left-hander has added a new element to his game. Earlier, one was accustomed to seeing Warner operate in one gear and go hammer-andtongs all the time. But in VIVO IPL 2016, he has applied better; the Australian has shown the intent to take the match to the end, and backs himself to complete the job – even if he has to do it single-handedly.

Add AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh into the mix, and you have an array of stars wait-

ing to explode.

Among the new-ball bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is the Purple Cap holder, and Sreenath Arvind are capable of exploiting whatever assistance there is in the pitch and in the air; the former has been deadly while bowling in the Powerplay overs – he has picked up 10 wickets in the 34 overs he has bowled in the first six overs and has an economy rate of 5.94. Arvind meanwhile, has had plenty of success while bowling on this ground in particular, and has provided his team the initial breakthrough in five of the eight matches he has played this season.

Among others, keep an eye on the death-overs-specialist Mustafizur Rahman in the SRH line-up, and on Shane Watson and Yuzvendra Chahal in the RCB line-up.

The head to head between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad is split down the centre; the two teams have so far met on eight occasions, and both teams have won four matches apiece. The story is no different in contests between the two teams this season; RCB defeated SRH by 45 runs in their season opener, while SRH returned the favour, winning their home fixture by 15 runs in Hyderabad.

In matches in Bengaluru though, RCB have been dominant, having defeated SRH thrice in four outings.

Virat Kohli is two sixes short of hitting 200 sixes in T20 cricket. He had a sixesper-inning ratio of 0.99 before this season; in VIVO IPL

2016, he he has hit 36 sixes and has a ratio of 2.40 sixes per match.

Royal Challengers Bangalore have the highest boundary percentage of all batting sides in VIVO IPL 2016 – 60.63%. Sunrisers Hyderabad meanwhile have the lowest boundary percentage among all bowling sides – 52.44%.

VIVO IPL 2016 has been the most batsmen-friendly season ever; the average runs per wicket this season stood at an all-time high of 28.34. In terms of overall scoring rate too, this season’s overall scoring rate of 8.28 is third overall.

RCB’s economy rate in the first seven matches in VIVO IPL 2016 stood at 9.44.

In the next 8 matches, their economy rate was a muchimproved 8.07.

David Warner has scored half-centuries in each of his last six matches against RCB; his scores read 61, 59, 57, 52*, 58 & 92. His strikerate in these six innings reads 165.50.

The Final will also be a special occasion for David Warner, for he will be playing his 100th IPL match. He will become the fourth overseas player to play 100 IPL matches after AB de Villiers, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard.

The winner of this contest will be crowned VIVO IPL 2016 champions; they will take home the IPL trophy as well as the winner’s purse of INR 15.0 Crore. The losers meanwhile will have to be content with the tag of being runner-up and purse of INR 10.0 Crore. (IPLT20)

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored the match-winning spot kick in Saturday’s Champions League final shootout

ter only five months at the helm.

Atletico, meanwhile, suffered their third heartbreaking defeat in a European Cup final, with Diego Simeone missing out on the opportunity to win every major honour available since taking charge of the club.

Real came close to taking an early lead when Bale fired in a free-kick that was turned towards goal by Karim Benzema a few yards out, but Jan Oblak made a crucial save with his legs.

The breakthrough did arrive in the 15th minute, though, with Toni Kroos’ free-kick flicked on by Bale before Ramos prodded his effort under Oblak from close range.

Despite Ramos appearing to have strayed narrowly offside, the goal stood to make him the first defender to score in two Champions League finals.

At the other end, Griezmann shot straight at Keylor Navas twice before sending another effort narrowly wide as he attempted to lift Atletico from what was a flat firsthalf performance. Simeone made a half-time change with Carrasco replacing Augusto Fernandez and Atletico were awarded a penalty within a minute of the restart when Griezmann fed Fernando Torres in the area and the striker drew a foul from Pepe. But Griezmann could only cannon his spotkick against the crossbar as Real survived.

A tearful Dani Carvajal

had to be withdrawn through injury for Zidane’s men, who continued to come under pressure with Stefan Savic somehow missing the target from six yards after Diego Godin and Griezmann had kept a corner alive.

But for all of Atletico’s improvement, they were not testing Navas and Real should have made sure of victory when Benzema was thwarted by Oblak after Luka Modric had impressively sent him through on goal.

They came even closer when the otherwise quiet Ronaldo was denied by Oblak twice in quick succession, with Bale’s attempt from the rebound cleared off the line by Savic.

And that missed opportunity proved costly as Atletico went up the other end and equalised, with Juanfran’s brilliant volleyed cross after Gabi’s chipped pass emphatically converted byCarrasco.

Ramos’ cynical challenge on Carrasco thwarted a stoppage-time Atletico breakaway to send the match to extratime, where Ronaldo completely misjudged a headed chance having been found by substitute Isco in the best opening.

The first seven penalties including Griezmann’s effort - were all scored, until Juanfran hit the foot of the post, allowing Ronaldo to seal European glory. (GOAL. com)

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guyana-times.com

sundAY, may 29, 2016

Cricket and Independence

Colin Croft, fearsome and deadly pace Full name: Colin Everton Hunte Croft Born: 15 Mar 1953, Lancaster Village, East Coast Demerara, Guyana

The West Indies team, including Guyanese Colin Croft (third from right) and Clive Lloyd (with spectacles), meet Queen Elizabeth before the second Test against England at Lords, on 19 June 1980

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ricket has played a pivotal role in the development of Guyana as a nation long before Independence in May 1966.

There are a many outstanding Guyanese cricketers whose contribution to the glorious game will never be forgotten. Today Guyana Times Sport puts the spotlight on the legendary Colin Croft.

Colin Croft, the fourth and last child Sylvia Celestine, attended Lancaster Primary School in Demerara, where he was a wicket-keeper in cricket and goalkeeper in soccer.

He developed a reputation as a fearsome fast bowler right from his early days of playing for his high school, Central High, in Georgetown. Hailing from the Unity-Lancaster area of

Mahaica District, his family took up residence in a Georgetown neighbourhood with a reputation for being tough. This must have had some influence on his cricketing career in later life.

After an uneventful beginning in regional schoolboy cricket in 1970 and 1971, Croft was thrown to the wolves in his first class debut for Guyana in 1972, in a famous encounter with Jamaica, against a batting line-up that included Lawrence Rowe and Maurice Foster. Though quite quick, the Jamaica batsmen scored heavily off the inexperienced fast bowler.

Later in 1972 Croft participated in a threemonth cricket training program with Warwickshire County, with help from fellow Guyanese Lance

Gibbs, who was playing for Warwickshire at the time.

In 1973 Croft became an Assistant Air Traffic Controller in Guyana and was absent from cricket until 1974, when he went to Trinidad on a navigation scholarship. He joined Paragon Sports Club, where his love for cricket was rekindled with such intensity that he was representing Guyana again in regional first class cricket, in 1975.

Consistent performances in regional cricket earned him a place in the President’s XI against Pakistan in St Lucia in 1977 and he seized his opportunity with both hands, taking 10 wickets in the match.

Along with ‘Big Bird’ Joel Garner, Colin Croft made his Test debut at Kensington Oval in

Batting: hand batsman

Right-

Bowling: arm fast

Right-

Teams: Guyana U19 (2in: 1970-1972); Demerara (FC: 19751981); Guyana (FC: 1972-1982); Guyana (ListA: 1976-1982); West Indies (Test: 1976/771981/82); West Indies (ODI: 1976/77-1981/82); Lancashire (FC: 19771982); Lancashire (ListA: 1977-1982); All teams School: Central High School, Georgetown Lancashire cap: 1982 Barbados, against Pakistan on 18 February 1977. Croft took 7 wickets but his second Test, at Queen’s Park Oval, brought even greater rewards. Bowling fast legcutters Croft took 8 wickets for 29 runs in Pakistan’s first innings - the best ever figures for a West Indies fast bowler. In addition, he caused Sadiq Mohammed to retire hurt on 0, after which wickets tumbled quickly.

Croft joined English county Lancashire soon af-

ter his Test debut but his Test career was interrupted briefly, from early 1978 to late 1979. During this time he represented World Series Cricket West Indies, which was formed by Australian TV tycoon Kerry Packer after a dispute with the Australian Cricket Board.

He formed a fearsome four-pronged attack with Garner, Holding and Roberts for the West Indies, who won the World Cup in 1979. From 1980 to 1982 Croft was rated the No 1 bowler in the world.

Occasionally his volatility and enthusiasm for the bouncer got him into trouble, most notably when he kept the local hospital busy while bowling for Guyana against the Australians in 1978, and again two winters later during an acrimonious tour of New Zealand, when he failed to veer out in his run and flattened the umpire Fred Goodall who had annoyed him.

In 1982 Croft joined a rebel West Indies XI tour of apartheid South Africa, in violation of an international ban. All the West Indies players who took part in the tour were banned for life from international cricket, which ended Croft’s cricket career for Guyana and the West Indies. That ban was effectively lifted in 1989, by both the WICB and the United Nations.

In a relatively brief Test career lasting just five years, Croft established a reputation as one of the most feared fast bowlers around,

with apparently no qualms about inflicting pain on batsmen.

In 1992 he returned to Trinidad with a Commercial Pilot’s License, Teacher’s Certificate, and Mechanical Engineering degree, and worked for Air Caribbean and Mustique Airways.

Starting in 1994, Croft has been a cricket commentator/analyst, covering West Indies tours and writing extensively for Cricinfo.

His first cricket assignment in England was In 1995. During the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup he provided analysis for the BBC’s Test Match Special radio coverage on all the Guyanabased matches. He continued his analyst’s role during the West Indies tour of England the same year.

In his private life, having been an Air Traffic Controller from 1973 to 1981 while playing for the West Indies, he obtained a Commercial Airline Pilot’s licence in the USA, with endorsements for the UK, and worked as a Commercial Pilot in the Caribbean. He also regularly appears as a studio guest on Sky Sports when West Indies are playing.

Croft taught maths at Commenius Moravian School in Guyana in 1971, and at Lambrook school in Winkfield Row, Berkshire, UK from 2007-2008 for one and a half terms. He never coached cricket at the school but frequently gave autographs to parents of pupils at the school.

England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Chester-le-Street, 2nd day

Sri Lanka fold again after Moeen’s unbeaten century

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owered by Moeen Ali’s career-best 155 and three wickets on recall for Chris Woakes, England put themselves in position to push for another innings victory as Sri Lanka produced an insipid display on the second day at Chester-le-Street. The visiting batting subsided to 90 for 8 in reply to England’s 498 for 9, the follow-on surely set to be enforced in the morning, although they at least avoided being sent back in during the evening session, which looked a possibility at one stage.

Moeen’s second Test century - his first also came against Sri Lanka, at Headingley in 2014 - allowed England to plunder 188 runs off 42 overs, of which Moeen provided 127, before Alastair Cook declared 40 minutes before tea. One down at the break was a passable start given what happened in Leeds, but things quickly unravelled in the final session, Woakes backing up the early incisions of James Anderson and Stuart Broad by quickly locating a challenging length with some late nip allied to eye-catching pace in the high 80s mph. Broad then returned in the final moments of the day to strike two more blows against the lower order.

Regardless of the defences that can be given to Sri Lanka about the challenges of the conditions and the rebuilding phase the side is going through it was woeful performance from them. The tone was set early when, in stark contrast to their excellent catching on the opening day, they spilled two crucial chances in the first session: Moeen was dropped on 36 and Woakes on 8 inside the first four overs of the day, and from then on Sri Lanka were listless in the field.

The second of those two chances, a regulation outside edge, was spilled by Dinesh Chandimal who was struggling with a thumb injury and at morning drinks was replaced by Kusal Mendis behind the stumps. It begged the question, given that Graham Ford had admitted the injury concern the night before, why the change hadn’t been made at the start of the day.

Given a total of 298 at Headingley overwhelmed the Sri Lankans, 498 must have looked a fearful number looming from the scoreboard even as the sun shone brightly during the evening session.

Mendis was again the best of an out-classed batting order, although Lahiru Thirimanne

showed some pluck to see out the day, but their desperate state was summed up by Angelo Mathews’ review when he was given caught behind (having declined to review last week when he would have been saved from his lbw dismissal).

Anderson picked up where he left off at Headingley when he found Dimuth Karunaratne’s leg stump in the third over when the left hander moved too far across to try and protect his outside edge.

Anderson’s first spell, split either side of tea as Cook’s declaration allowed his new-ball pair a breather, also included Chandimal whose forgettable day continued when he edged to first slip with hard hands.

Broad claimed Kaushal Silva when Jonny Bairstow took a sharp low catch which was referred to the TV umpire, Rod Tucker, although the on-field officials had given the soft signal as out.

Woakes, who had played confidently for his 39 after the early life, was given the ball ahead of Steven Finn and in his second over found Mathews’ outside edge. A bowler who has recently taken 9 for 36 probably does not need much of a confidence boost, but

Chris Woakes celebrates with team-mate Moeen Ali

when your Test average was upward of 60 removing the opposition’s best player is a perfect way to start.

He then added Mendis, exaggerated lift finding the splice of the bat, and Milinda Siriwardana who edged a delivery that kept down - a pair of dismissals which further highlighted why Cook was happy to bat first. Still, it was not a 67 for 6 surface. Thirimanne and Rangana Herath resisted until the penultimate over of the day when Herath sparred to gully. Shaminda Eranga was then taken on the rebound by Joe Root at second slip after James Vince had done well to palm up a fast nick above his head.

England resumed on 310

for 6, talking positively of 450 but probably willing to accept 400. By the time Cook declared, the last four wickets had added 271 runs with Moeen finishing with the fourth-highest score by an England No. 7. He received good support from the lower order, adding 92 for the seventh wicket with Woakes and 98 for the last two wickets combined, reaching three figures from 109 balls with a lofted drive down the ground.

His next fifty took just another 43 deliveries, as he cut loose with Finn and Anderson for company, with the 150 being raised by a crunching six over deep midwicket off Suranga Lakmal.

Although he made a halfcentury two Tests ago, against

South Africa at Centurion, it has been a largely lean time with the bat for Moeen since last year’s Ashes series where his brisk lower-order contributions were vital at Cardiff and Edgbaston. He has not made any secret that he would prefer to bat higher in the order and in the absence of Ben Stokes he has, temporarily at least, moved up a spot. While not a chanceless innings, he appeared more focused than when he is lumped down with the bowlers.

The only high point of the day for Sri Lanka was Herath’s 300th Test which finally came his way in his 28th over when Finn top-edged a slog sweep Herath was not going to leave the catching to any of his teammates. He became the third Sri Lankan bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan (light years ahead on 800 wickets) and Chaminda Vass (355) to cross the milestone. He was warmly applauded by the crowd and he raised the ball in acknowledgement, although a touch of reality soon dawned when No. 11 Anderson reverse swept him for four. The fact he had batted, and with more defiance than some, by the end of the day further summed up Sri Lanka’s plight. (ESPN Cricinfo)

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SPORTs

RIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies suffered their second straight warmup loss in preparation for next week’s start of the TriNations Series, when they went down to a Barbados Select XI by four wickets here Friday.

Similar to Wednesday’s first game, their batting struggled again and they could only muster 200 for nine from their 45 overs at 3Ws Oval of the UWI Cave Hill Campus.

Several batsmen got starts but failed to carry on as left-hander Jonathan Carter top-scored with 36, Marlon Samuels got 33 and opener Andre Fletcher, 31.

New-ball bowler Kyle Mayers led the Select XI with four for 47 from eight overs.

In reply, rookie Aaron Jones stroked an enterprising top score of 49 while Test batsman Shai Hope followed up his half-century in the first game with 48, as the

Select XI eased to victory in the 43rd over.

The two warm-up games formed part of the preparation camp for the June 3-26 tournament which also involves World champions, Australia, and South Africa.

And head coach Phil Simmons would have been disappointed to see his leading batsmen getting starts but failing to convert.

Johnson Charles struck two boundaries in the opening over before he was bowled by Mayers off the final ball for ten, paving the way for a 49-run, second wicket stand between Fletcher and Darren Bravo (21).

Both fell in the space of 28 balls with eight runs added at 68 for three before Carter anchored two key stands to steady the innings.

He put on 50 for the fourth wicket with Samuels who struck a four and a six off 51 balls and a further 41 for the fifth wicket with Denesh Ramdin whose 27

required 22 balls.

Sulieman Benn came at the end to belt three sixes in an unbeaten 18-ball 22.

Hope then gave the Select XI a solid start, putting on 49 for the first wicket with left-hander Omar Phillips (17) and 48 with Kyle Corbin who made 31 from 44 deliveries.

When the right-handed Hope perished via the run out route courtesy Bravo’s direct hit in the 26th over, the Select XI were 110 for three but Jones and Mayers erased any doubt about the outcome with an 80-run, fourth wicket stand.

Jones, a 21-year-old who played four games for Combined Campuses and Colleges during this year’s Regional Super50, faced 63 balls and struck a four and a six while Mayers hammered two fours and two sixes in a 37-ball knock.

Guest player, leftarm spinner Kristopher Ramsaran, was the best bowler with three for 43.

(Windies Cricket)

Grenada Prime Minister threatens resignation from CARICOM over cricket dispute

T

he ongoing row between the West Indies Cricket Board and the CARICOM Sub-committee on cricket governance looks set to have its first casualty.

According to chairman of the sub-committee, Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, he is likely to step down from the post because he was not prepared for his presence to stimy the success of West Indies cricket.

Mitchell had been at the forefront of a recommendation to dissolve the WICB, but has been met with staunch resistance from the entity.

“It would appear we did a poor job in communicating what has occurred so my view is that I need to step back. I have no ego to get

from this. I have one interest and the regional leaders, mostly so, have one interest: the success of West Indies cricket,” said Mitchell.

“I don’t know how long I will continue to chair the sub-committee because I feel so strongly about what is taking place and as leaders, we must have the fortitude to do what is right. We cannot play games with the future of our children and grandchildren; this is too much about the future of our children and grandchildren’s generations to come.”

Mitchell did say, however, that whether or not he was chair of the committee, his views on the state of West Indies cricket and the way forward would continue to be heard.

The impasse between CARICOM and the WICB stems from recommendations in the Barriteau Report, which holds, as one of its main recommendations, that the WICB be disbanded.

The WICB, which agreed to the commissioning of the report, authored

by University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Principal, Professor Eudine Barriteau, has however, rejected the recommendation.

The rejection, the WICB, led by President Dave Cameron, has said, is based on what it calls an investigation ‘limited in scope’.

Furthermore, the recommendation, the WICB contends, is ‘unnecessary and intrusive’. (SportsMax)

Brandford double leads Guyana to consolation victory

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A

Aroydy Brandford on the verge of scoring one of the winning goals.

roydy Brandford scored a double to lead Guyana to a 4-2 win over Puerto Rico on Saturday in the Pan American Junior Men’s Hockey championship in Toronto, Canada.

The first win of the Guyanese contingent ensured that Guyana finish in seventh spot in the

eight-nation tournament competition after suffering five consecutive defeats.

Brandford scored the final two goals in the 63rd and 65th minutes after the teams were locked 2-2. Andrew Stewart and Hilton Chester also scored for Guyana in the eighth and 51st minutes.

Puerto Rico’s goals

came off the sticks of Jesus Stewart-Hill in the fourth minute and Eddie Rios Fuentes in the 54th.

Guyana had previously lost 7-1 to Chile and Mexico and 8-0 to Canada in the group stage, before going down 12-0 to Argentina and 3-2 to Mexico in the playoffs.

22 DC Jammers defeat Guyana to host rifle shooting Colts All-Stars 80-70 2017 championships – Complete series sweep F T guyana-times.com

sundAY, may 29 , 2016

BY DARREN CARMICHAEL

he DC Jammers completed their four game Goodwill tour on Friday night against the Colts All-Stars in familiar fashion. An explosive second quarter blitz guided the DC Jammers to an 80-70 win over the Colts All-Stars, completing the series sweep against all Guyanese opponents.

Winston Robinson led all scorers with 33 points for the Jammers, 23 of which came in the first half while DC Jammers’ captain, Glen Stokes dropped in 15 points.

The Colts All-Stars were led by Nikolai Smith who scored 21 points.

Colts All-Stars Jermaine Slater going to work in the post

where the Jammers started putting distance be-

Semaj Inge going up for the ‘Alley-hoop’ from Glen Stokes

The opening minutes of the game was not a pretty sight as both sides looked out of sync committing multiple turnovers and missing wide lay ups. Jammers gained a little momentum late in the first quarter when high flyer Semaj Inge hammered home a break-away dunk give the Jammers a two point lead (13-11) with 2:45 remaining in the period.

The Guyanese side dominated the glass early, grabbing 3 offensive rebounds in just 45 seconds as the poor shooting quarter continued. Colts AllStars ended the first, trailing the Jammers 15-14.

The second quarter was

tween themselves and the Colts All-Stars, Winston Robinson’s exploded in the second period, the Jammers went on a 10-1 run in the opening minutes of the second, nailing three consecutive three pointers to lead 25-15 with 7:27 left in the half. The three point barrage continued when Robinson single handedly outscored the Colts AllStars in the second period opening an 18 point lead for the Jammers as they closed out the half leading 48-27. Robinson scored 23 points in the first half almost as much as the entire Colts All-Star team.

The Jammers would maintain their lead after 3 periods of play leading 62-

43 heading into the fourth.

As the fourth quarter went underway the Jammers switched things up, feeding the ball to Stephen Farley in the post capitalizing on the mismatch that presented itself. Farley scored the Jammers first 6 points of the quarter. However, the Guyanese side came fighting back after Nikolai Smith hit back to back three pointers cutting the lead to 10 (72-62) with 3:12remaining and a last chance at a comeback. The Colts All-Stars switched to a full court press at an attempt to force a turn over, nevertheless, Jammers’ Winston Robinson sealed the game with a three pointer to put the Jammers up 79-66 with 1:40 remaining, crushing all hopes of a comeback.

The DC Jammers would go on to win 80-70 and complete the series sweep.

The Washington D.C. based Jammers Goodwill four game series was a flawless one with the visitors brushing aside all opponents in their way. All games were played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with Pacesetters, Colts, Ravens and Colts AllStars the victims of the Americans onslaught.

Meanwhile in the first game of the evening President’s college defeated Marian Academy 77-60.

Horse racing returns to Georgetown Turf Club

T

he Georgetown Turf Club at Perseverance Mocha East Bank Demerara hosts a one day horse race meet in celebration of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

The six- race programme begins at 13:00 Hrs and includes the unclassified race for which 14 entrants have signaled their intensions of participation.

The feature race will be the “H” Class and lower for a top prize of $200,000 covering a distance of approximately one mile.

Additionally, the cart hors-

es will be in action to add to the excitement over six furlongs.

Some of the champion horses that have registered from the various horsing stables around the country are Red Jet, Quincy, Red Region, Little and Blue Lightening.

Turfites will pay $800 to enjoy the day’s events and will be eligible to win a return trip to any Fly Jamaica destination.

There will also be musical entertainment and fun rides for the children.

This race meet is be-

ing used to raise funds for the restoration of the Georgetown Turf Club which was established on 26th May, 2002 but has been dormant for the past six years.

Overseas visitors and turfites from out of Demerara are encouraged to show their support for the only turf track in the country and to join with Stag Beer, Modern Furniture Factory, Choke LBI Service Station, Jettoo Lumber Yard to assist with the redevelopment of the only Horse Course in Demerara.

ollowing the successful hosting of the 2016 edition of the West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Short Range championships at the Crabbs Rifle Range, Antigua and Barbuda from May 16-22, the Caribbean body’s flag was passed on to Guyana which will host the 2017 edition.

President of the Antigua and Barbuda Shooting Club which hosted this year’s West Indies championships, Thomas Greenaway handed over the WIFBSC Flag to Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Fullbore Captain, Mahendra Persaud at the awards ceremony for this year’s competition which took at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Saturday last.

In accepting the flag, Persaud told the gathering of fellow shooters and special invitees that it is a distinct pleasure for the GuyanaNRA to be hosting again from October 15-22, 2017 having last hosted in 2012.

“Hosting this time around however would be extra special as it coincides

with our 150th anniversary as an association. We are the oldest national rifle association in the world outside that of Great Britain.

We look forward to seeing all of you in Guyana next year for what will be, I can assure you, an unforgettable time.”

Persaud, who guided Guyana to a come from behind and successful defense of the WIFBSC Short Range Championship further informed that they are expecting well over 100 shooters from the Caribbean and further afield including England and Canada to be in Guyana next year.

Competitors next year will be battling at both the short (300, 500, 600 yards) and long range (900, 1000 yards) in what is anticipated to be fierce competition.

Guyana will be putting both the short and long range championships on the line and will be looking to recapture the Individual title which was taken by Jamaica this year in Antigua.

Persaud said that preparations have already commenced for the 2017 edition and they will leave no

Lennox Braithwaite, Guyana's top marksman will be looking to maintain his dominance next year in Guyana

stone unturned in making 150th truly memorable on and off the range.

“We will be working assiduously towards running an efficient competition next year with eth over 100 shooters we are anticipating that will be here along with their families in some instances. This will be a good opportunity to further showcase Guyana and we will be making approaches to the Government and private sector to get on board and partner with us for this special occasion.”

Tri-nation tickets going fast – Providence will be ready for first International game in 3 years

Cricket will return to the National Stadium at Providence in close to three years when the 2016 Trination series bowls-off on June 3.

I

t has been a week since tickets for the first three matches of the Tri-Nation ODI series at Providence which runs from June 3-7 went on sale at the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) office at Bourda and the Guyana National Stadium on the East Bank and tickets are going like hot Jubilee bakes.

International cricket returns to Guyana for the first time in over three years since West Indies beat Pakistan by 37 runs at Providence in the second ODI of a five-match series and Head Curator Wazim Habib says the ground should in top shape by the time the series starts.

On Friday June 3 West Indies face number three ranked South Africa, before facing five-time World Cup Champions and number one ranked Australia on Sunday June 5. Australia battle South Africa on Tuesday June 7. All the games are Day/Night encounters and commence at 13:00hrs. Gates open at

11:00hrs.

The Stadium at Providence was constructed for the 2007 cricket World Cup and has hosted two Tests and 13 ODIs. Preparations for next month’s ODIs are ongoing.

Australia, South Africa and host West Indies have all included three spinners in their teams in anticipation of the slow nature of not only the Providence pitch but also those throughout the region.

Although South Africa have played three ODIs in Guyana including the very first one at Providence in the 2007 World Cup when they beat Sri Lanka by a runs despite four wickets in four balls from Lasith Malinga, they have never played West Indies in an ODI in Guyana.

Australia’s last ODI in Guyana was 17 years ago in 1999 when Steve Waugh made an unbeaten 72 in a game which ended in controversial tie when the crowd invaded the Bourda ground.

The anticipation and excite-

ment levels are expected to rise during the final week leading up to what should the pulsating matches and capacity crowds.

The venue which can accommodate 15,000, has seen work being done in the Green Stands and also to replace the seats in a section of the Orange Stands.

Tickets cost $2,000 for the Party Stand which will take over the entire Grass Mound with music and drink bars. The Orange stand cost $3,000 while the Red & Green Stands cost $4,000. Car passes cost $1,000 and there are no reserved tickets. Ticket holders will be seated on a ‘first come first served’ basics.

The International cricket games are a Jubilee bonus and visitors here for Guyana’s 50th Anniversary celebrations could extended their stay to see the matches. Tickets are also being sold on-line those who buy tickets overseas will be given a bar code and the tickets presented to them in Guyana.

guyana-times.com

sundAY, may 29 , 2016

23

Fans trilled at Champions League final

By Akeem Greene

A

NSA McAL under its Heineken brand allowed hundreds of

was in the most auspicious manner, the penalty kick that Real Madrid forward, Christiano Ronaldo took that sealed the win for the Spanish team.

Heineken Brand Manager Robert Hiscock “The turnout is phenomenal, it so many persons in here; this is the biggest event we ever had, this is the most people I have ever seen show up just to watch the game”.

the topsy turvy nature of the match.

The match which ended 1-1 after extra time, saw Real Madrid winning 5-3 on penalties to give the La Liga team their twelfth title in League’s history.

One Real Madrid “diehard” fan who gave his name as Paul said “I love Real Madrid until death, I always expected to win, and it was most fitting that the class of Christiano Ronaldo scored the goal.”

Another fan by the name of John Rajkumar explained that “I’m only supporting Atleico Madrid because my favourite team Barcelona got knocked out and as anybody would know, once you are a Barca fan, you are never a Real Madrid supporter; they [ Atletico Madrid] played well, I’m a bit sad they lost but it was really exciting.”

Heineken Brand Manager Robert Hiscock spoke to this publication

Goal! Fans celebrate one of the goals being scored (Marcenao Narine Photos)

Some of the fans enjoying the theatrics of the match.

Fans engaged in a game of foosball.

Guyanese who packed the 7O4 Complex on Lamaha and Albert Streets, to have

The goal brought joyous celebrations to the local fans who flocked the com-

and explained that the turnout was enormous and that the atmosphere was

Some patrons engaged in a skill test

Golden Jaguars and Slingerz FC striker Vernon Mills (centre) and his crew as part of the finals viewing party

one of the most trilling and memorable Champions League, as they watched the final of the UEFA Champions League match between arch rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

The final nail in the coffin for the Atletico Madrid

plex for the gala event but many others seemed to be left in a solemn as state as they clearly were in support of the losing team.

When Guyana Times Sport spoke to several of the energetic fans who were watching the match, they voiced their views on

phenomenal.”

The event which was views by several sports personalities from across Guyana saw several patrons also receiving tokens from the company for their attendance while a similar undertaking is expected for future tournaments.

Some fans focused on the action on the big screen

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyana-times.com

UEFA Champions League 2015/16 Page 19

Ronaldo settles dramatic shoot-out – Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (AET, 5-3 pens)

Real Madrid are UEFA Champions League Champions 2016

Guyana to host rifle shooting 2017 championships Page 22

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Title clash a contest between RCB's batting & SRH's bowling Which captain will lift the IPL trophy? Will it be third time lucky for RCB, who also made it to the Final in 2009 and 2011? Or will Sunrisers Hyderabad clinch the trophy in their first-ever appearance in the Final?

Mahendra Persaud accepts the WIFBSC Flag from Thomas Greenaway at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda

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