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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3206

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Closure of sugar estates

“We will suffer” – Enmore workers

…as GAWU questions decision to leave See stories on thousands in misery, hardship Pages 3&9

Row over ‘drugs’ leads to shooting, chopping Page 10

…2 hospitalised

Father arrested for killing son …says act was “unintentional” Page 2

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt yet to come clean on drug purchases P14 – PPP …says Ministers were evasive with answers

Dealers demand explanation over partial ban on used tyres P10 …propose solution for 2018

Sovereignty P13 belongs to the people, not State – NTC Vice Chair

Enhancing security CCJ orders Guyana to refund $$$ in environmental tax P17

In an effort to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors, the Guyana Police Force has increased security details in and around the city and major business districts.

On Tuesday, in an off beat moment photographer Carl Croker captured these heavily armed Police patrolling in the Stabroek Market area

NEW GPC refutes outrageous lie on pharma supply Page 2

Man nabbed after throwing contraband into Camp Street jail P9

Law books vendetta

Nandlall case stalled as SOCU appeals for Page “more time” 7

…prosecution not ready to proceed

MP requests full disclosure of blacklisted persons P17

2

news

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

NEW GPC refutes outrageous lie on pharma supply

T

he NEW GPC has refuted the new flurry of lies generated

by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence regarding the supply of drugs to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

In reference to a Stabroek News article published on May 9 captioned “$1.3B spent on drugs for GPHC in first two months of 2017”, NEW GPC said the statements attributed to Lawrence during her presentation in the National Assembly on May 8 were erroneous and false.

In fact, the NEW GPC is calling on the authorities to engage in more principled ways to defend the record of the health sector rather than seeking to tarnish the reputation of the most advanced pharmaceutical company in Guyana and the Caribbean.

According to a statement from the manufacturing firm, it has never, under any circumstances, delivered expired or “nearly expired” goods to the Georgetown Hospital or the Public Health Ministry.

With regard to the Georgetown Hospital contracts, the company said it was prepared to furnish copies of delivery notes and invoices to Parliament, which show the batch number and expiry date for each and every line item supplied.

“It should be noted that recording expiry dates and batch numbers on delivery documentation is standard practice for traceability of the products,” NEW GPC stated.

The company further explained that under the current delivery system, the NEW GPC was required to furnish a delivery notification showing all pending deliveries, including expiry dates and batch numbers, several days prior to actual delivery.

“This is to enable the Hospital staff to scrutinise same and plan for space

ly because of claimed “stocktaking”. They subsequently alleged that the time for delivery had elapsed when it was clearly not NEW GPC’s fault,” the company said.

The manufacturing firm said the Georgetown Hospital later accepted delivery on one of the same items it had earlier refused on a purchase order.

It further noted that all

NEW GPC INC’s Lot A1 Farm, East Bank Demerara head office

to accommodate delivered items, etc,” the firm explained.

Regarding the alleged “non-delivery” of $381 million in products, the NEW GPC said such an allegation was “outrageous”.

It explained that it received only $146,046,657 ($146 million) in contracts from the Hospital in 2016, so it was not mathematically possible for it to “under-deliver $381 million”.

The company expanded that from the $146,046,657 in contracts, $140,055,325 was delivered.

“The Hospital refused to take the outstanding balance of $$5,991,332 initial-

contracts for earlier years have been fulfilled 100 per cent.

Moreover, the company also highlighted that it has not received any business from its bids despite participating in several public tenders.

“The last public tender/bid was submitted on February 14, 2017 and nearly three months later it is still being “evaluated” by the Tender Board while the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has now revealed they have already spent $1.3 billion in procuring medical supplies,” it stated.

According to the com-

pany, “it is now obvious that the tender process is just a smokescreen and the Hospital has already frittered away its budget by secretly gifting G$1.3 billion in business to their preferred supplier, all neatly solesourced and contrary to the public tender procedures.”In relation to the Georgetown Hospital being out of insulin, the NEW GPC said it had the product in stock and had notified the Hospital, but yet it has not requested a quotation.

“Insulin is used by diabetic patients and it is such a critical cold chain item that it really should never be out of stock…This goes to show that the Hospital management is willing to risk the health and lives of patients just to justify its sole sourcing from a specific company,” the NEW GPC pointed out.

Furthermore, the company reiterated that it had supplied Soda Lime to another (private) hospital, which had no issues with the product, as was claimed by the Georgetown Hospital.

The NEW GPC said it has also tested the paracetamol tablets and found no issues as was reported by the Hospital directly to the certain media houses with a known bias against the company.

“NEW GPC is now clearly being targeted,” the company expressed.

Meanwhile, it also noted that it was still owed in excess of millions for various goods and services supplied to the Government.

Father arrested for killing son

…says act was “unintentional”

A

n 18-year-old construction worker succumbed to injuries sustained during a confrontation with his father, after he was reportedly struck to the head. Dead is Azeem Khan, called “Orlando”, of Lot 8 Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The young construction worker died on Friday while receiving medical care at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to reports, on Thursday last, the teenager and his 40-year-old father were involved in an argument during which the man dealt his son a blow to the head with a piece of wood causing him to collapse. The young man was subsequently rushed to the Hospital, where doctors were told he fell from a ladder.

Guyana Times visited the home of the now deceased only to discover that the relatives present had faint knowledge of what exactly transpired.

Nonetheless, they did indicate that the matter stemmed from an incident between the now dead teenager and his younger sister, but were tight-lipped about any further details.

However, this newspaper spoke with neighbours, who told Guyana Times that the 18-year-old had confronted his sister about the clothes she was wearing after which the father

Dead: Azeem Orlando Khan

stepped in and the matter escalated. The neighbour went on to say that the teenager was ordered to leave the yard and while on his way out, the confrontation ensured and the teen was hit to the head.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Monday revealed that the teenager died as a result of haemorrhaging caused by blunt trauma.

Both parents of the now dead teenager were taken into Police custody on Monday and during interrogation, the father confessed to hitting the teenager, claiming it was unintentional. Investigations are continuing.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, May 10 – a night retraction at 05:00h and a day retraction between 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, May 11 – 05:00h-06:30h.

Wednesday, May 10 – 16:15h-17:45h and Thursday, May 11 – 16:40h-18:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout most of the day, while light rain showers can be expected in the afternoon.

Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from Easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 04:02h and 16:24h reaching maximum heights of 2.66 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:59h and 22:10h reaching minimum heights of 0.54 metre and 0.63 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, May 6, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

02

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25 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 02 05 17 20

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LUCKY 3 9 3 1

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Afternoon Draw

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DRAW DE LINE

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Closure of sugar estates

“We will suffer” – Enmore workers

By Shemuel Fanfair

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

19 20 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

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wednesDAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

S

ugar workers attached to the soon-to-be-closed Enmore Estate have registered their distress for the financial challenges that they stand to face in the coming months.

On Tuesday, Guyana Times met with a group of community members at a small market at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who highlighted their wor-

noted the hardships his family would face. The harvester, who has been employed for 19 years, told Guyana Times that without a job, his son’s education may be held up if he could not find the means to support him. He also suggested that severance pay was a temporary benefit.

“If you say you will pay severance, how long will the severance last?” Sundar stressed.

“Tolly”, a greens and provisions vendor and mother of six, stressed that she was already facing challenges. She

“If you say you will pay severance, how long will the severance last?” Mayaram Sundar questioned ry over the entity’s closure. In fact, a few sellers in the area noted that community members have already begun to reduce their spending, which is having early far-reaching effects to them. This scenario mirrors that of Wales, West Bank Demerara last year when residents there had also reduced their purchasing of goods upon the announcement that the Wales Sugar Estate would shut down.

Speaking with this publication, Rampersaud Prashad, the Estate’s Field Secretary, noted that he built his home from his earnings as a cane cutter. He has worked with the Estate for 33 years.

“Everybody was sad, hearing about closure; everybody depend on sugar, from Ogle to Cane Grove. We have 2300 persons working at East Demerara Estate (Enmore).

When the Estate closes, where [can] people get jobs – families are going to break up; market people will not get sales; a lot of people at the Estate owe mortgage,” highlighted the Estate’s Field Secretary.

“This announcement which Agriculture Minister Noel Holder made is not a wise decision. I think he should pack up and go, and the President needs to intervene in this matter,” Prashad further stressed.

Fellow worker and father of two, Mayaram Sundar also

“Tolly” has four attending school

children

stated that four of her children were in school, with a daughter writing her CXC exam and a son writing his in 2018, months after the Estate will close.

“I have six children to maintain and [buying and selling greens] is the only thing I does do here. I got children going to school; books very expensive and passage for them to go to school, so I would like if the Estate could not close down,” she appealed.

“I got bills to pay and the things not selling, because the Estate closing…people stop buying, since Saturday the stand is there…if the estate close, the [workers] can’t buy, so we [wouldn’t] have no income to come from here…

[Minister Holder] shouldn’t close down the Estate ‘cause it’s a lot of workers who’re supporting we out here,” “Tolly” posited.”

Nandanie Deosurran, another vendor, called on the President to look into her plight, saying that the Estate should not be closed.

Speaking on behalf of

he questioned.

Much akin to the events leading up to the end of sugar operations at Wales last year, a number of activities have been planned to voice opposition against Enmore’s closure.

These include vigils, afternoon marches, and public meetings.

Closure

Rampersaud Prashad

young people in the community, a self-identified youth leader in Enterprise and a union secretary, Romel Putulall, also noted the hardships which would befall wide cross-sections of residents in various communities in the Estate’s environs.

“We got workers from Victoria, Bachelor’s Adventure; Golden Grove workers; Plaisance workers will be affected, BV workers and other Afro-Guyanese communities where workers are from, so if the Government and other people feel it’s victimising Indian people, it’s not that,” Putulall claimed.

“We need to oppose the closure of Enmore Estate; sugar has a future…I think President Granger, who some say is a good man…should look back at his Ministers and think about removing them, because they are the ones who will make him fall and right now in terms of sugar, Minister [Noel] Holder [should be removed],” expressed Putulall.

He also noted that many young persons who were not fortunate to garner an education were able to gain employment from the Estate.

“If you close the Estate, where would you put these young people who have no education and no other sort of job training,” he said He further highlighted that the majority of workers at the Estate were above the age of 45 and suggested that they would find great difficulty in altering the course of their employment.

“What would happen to the minibus men, the school sellers, DVD and greens sellers…every single thing will be affected in our community?”

The announcement of closure was made by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on Monday when he presented the white paper on the future of the industry to Parliament.

Romel Putulall

Holder told the National Assembly by the end of 2017, the Corporation will have three estates: Blairmont on the West Bank Berbice, AlbionRose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales estate in West Demerara. “…the Enmore Factory will be closed at the end of 2017 when all cane would be harvested. The East Coast Estates would be earmarked for diversification,” the Minister had stated.

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wednesDAY, may 10, 2017

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 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

The threat of NCDs

A

ccording to the World Health Organisation (WHO), of all the major health threats that have emerged over the years, “none has challenged the very foundations of public health so profoundly as the rise of chronic NonCommunicable Diseases”. Caused by poor lifestyle choices, such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity, NCDs have resulted in large numbers of young people dying. A significant number have also fallen ill and, therefore, cannot contribute to their families or the development of their communities in any way.

Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, once linked only to affluent societies, have affected, and continue to affect, every country in the world – with the poor suffering the most owing to the lack of proper medical care and access to drugs, etc.

At the turn of the century, chronic NCDs were not widely recognised as a barrier to development and were not included in the Millennium Development Goals. In terms of gaining attention and financial support, these diseases were overshadowed by the devastating epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and the large number of maternal and childhood deaths.

As stated by the WHO, much of its work in the earliest years of the decade involved collecting the data and making the arguments that would elevate NCDs on the global health and development agendas. On their part, countries – especially those with emerging economies – used the WHO STEPwise approach to gather standardised data on the true burden of these diseases. Those efforts culminated in 2011 when the United Nations General Assembly held a high-level meeting on NCDs and adopted a far-reaching Political Declaration. The Political Declaration acknowledged that the threat of NCDs constitutes one of the major challenges for development in the 21st Century, undermining social and economic progress throughout the world.

In 2013, the World Health Assembly adopted a comprehensive global monitoring framework for NCDs, with nine voluntary targets and 25 indicators. The Health Assembly also approved the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013–2020, which provided a roadmap and menu of options for taking coordinated and coherent action to attain the targets.

In Guyana, NCDs are taking a huge chunk of the budgetary allocation to the Public Health Ministry. According to official figures, currently, about 70 per cent of the Ministry’s budget is being spent on tackling NCDs. From all indications, the Chronic Disease Unit (CDU), which has been established to tackle NCDs, has been doing a commendable job so far; but, certainly, there is need for efforts to be stepped up in certain areas. For example, there can never be enough education and public affairs programmes geared at reminding persons of the need to make positive lifestyle choices such as eating healthy, exercising daily, avoiding abuse of alcohol, and staying away from tobacco use. There is still a great deal of ignorance in the public about NCDs and how persons can avoid being affected; hence, messages should be carefully designed to address same using the relevant channels.

Additionally, we have always stressed the need for more collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, including support from Private sector bodies, to tackle NCDs, since all of them are affected as a result of loss of labour force, etc. It could be recalled that the Public Health Ministry, late last year, had met with members of the Guyana Business Coalition on Health Awareness, and a Memorandum of Understanding was developed. The idea behind the initiative was to get the Private Sector more involved in the efforts, especially as they relate to funding critical programmes aimed at tackling NCDs. It was hoped that such funding will cover support groups, training, screening, and purchasing of gym materials to allow for more physical activities in workplaces, etc. The entities had also agreed to enforce no-smoking policies in their work environment. This was a good start and should be replicated among other agencies covering a range of areas aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles in every community.

Discussions surrounding NCDs should constantly be kept on the national development agenda where serious efforts are made at all levels to reduce the large numbers of persons suffering or facing death. We cannot afford to treat chronic NCDs lightly.

The European Union (EU) on Monday presented plaques to winners and participants of its TV Quiz Show called “The European Union” as part of activities in celebration of European Day 2017 held at the Georgetown Club Monday. Queen’s College was adjudged winners in the essay writing competition titled “The role of the European Union in the World”. Also in photo are participants from President’s College along with EU Ambassador Jernej Videtič and his wife, Ruta Drizyte-Videtič

“Cat out of the bag!” (Part 2)

Dear Editor, The Government has deliberately ignored the existence of the Amerindian Act and in particular, Section VI of the Amerindian Act. This section is dedicated to addressing granting of lands to Amerindian communities, those without land titles, and, also granting of extensions to those requesting additional lands. This is a very important section of the Act as it removed the need for any middle man (such as a Commission) from this process. It is the community/village that will interact directly with the Government and negotiate a mutually agreed settlement.

It places the responsibility on the Government, through the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister to act. It is the Minister with responsibility for Amerindian/Indigenous affairs that is given statutory responsibilities to protect their rights and is empowered to address land claims through the Amerindian Act. The present Minister, Fourth Vice President, Sydney Allicock, MP, can meet with each community applying right now or those which have already applied and negotiated, albeit in consultation with other State agencies, as done in the past.

If there are any controversies/ difficulties, these can be settled through the process laid out in the Amerindian Act. Any difficulties encountered from time to time have less to do with the Act itself and more to do with situations where land was previously given out for mining and forestry concessions; for example, which now conflict with a given community’s application for land.

In short, there is no need for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) or an Indigenous Lands Commission as the Act is adequate and has been used effectively and successfully

with regards to Amerindian land rights.

One may, therefore, conclude, that it is either that the President has no confidence in his Fourth Vice President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs to deal with the land issues before him, or the Minister’s authority has been taken away, or, the Minister has chosen to give up his authority.

In light of the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry on Lands, actions of the Government towards Amerindian land rights and rights since taking office, expose an objective which is sinister:* Within two months of taking office, the Government closed down the Amerindian Land Titling Unit at the Office of the President, and terminated all the staff, this was allowed to go on for almost a year. Consequentially, pending demarcations and surveying also ground to a halt. No wonder those communities which applied for land or extensions prior to the 2015 General and Regional Elections are deeply worried, moreso in the light of the Terms of Reference of the CoI. * Funds designated to support the Amerindian Community Development Plans and projects approved under the Norwegian Agreement have been stymied over the last 23 months in violation of the said Agreement. * In July 2015, the Government terminated 1972 Amerindian community service officers, the largest single termination of employees by the State since the early 1980s! * The Hinterland Household Solar Electrification Project which provided solar units to 13,170 households in Amerindian communities has also been halted, while 6000 of these

units purchased before the elections have been “redeployed” for use at the Ministry of the Presidency and State House. * The One Laptop Per Family has been dismantled and the allocation of laptops for one hundred ICT hubs in Amerindian communities has also fallen by the wayside. * The principal of “Free Prior and Informed Consent” enshrined in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been honoured in the breach repeatedly as is the case with the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry on Lands, and, the one-shot meeting recently held on proposed amendments to the Amerindian Act in the capital city instead of in the communities with their elected councils in the regions as was done with the Amerindian Act. With regards to the latter, one may rationally ask the Minister or any Cabinet member what are the amendments the Government wishes to make to the Amerindian Act. What are the deficiencies it wishes to correct? I am confident that other than renaming it the “Indigenous” Act, they will have nothing to contribute.

The Amerindian Act stands in the way of a grander design of the Government, and the Commission of Inquiry is its first manoeuvre.

The Parliamentary Opposition’s request to the Speaker for an Adjournment Motion on a Definite Matter of Urgent Public Importance to discuss the Commission and to call for its revocation on April 13, 2017 was considered “not urgent” although the Commission had already been appointed on March 10, 2017 with a deadline to report to the President by November, 2017. Again no surprise there, only one of four requests for

such adjournment motions have been allowed by the Speaker!

The Parliamentary Opposition submitted another motion again calling for the revocation of the Commission of Inquiry on April 25, 2017.

Alas, the motion was allowed by the Speaker but stripped of nine clauses and one be its resolved clause! It is listed on the Order paper in its amended version for the May 8 sitting.

If the Government’s intentions are not sinister, then why was this Commission set up in such a surreptitious manner? The Government could not be so obtuse or power drunk to think that Guyanese would not recognise that this is an issue of such complexity and so fraught with controversy that it would risk social cohesion and national unity?

I hold to my opinion that the Commission of Inquiry on Lands, defined by its Terms of Reference, is a sinister move.

I stand in solidarity with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, the National Toshaos Council and the Amerindian non-governmental organisations and communities in calling for the revocation of this Commission.

To be silent on this issue is allow the Government unfettered power to continue to reverse democratic gains made over the years, especially with regard to Amerindian land rights. Like those citizens who are making their voices heard on the parking meters in Georgetown, VAT on education goods and services, the closure of sugar estates, on the ban on used tyres, to name the most recent, we must also let our voices be heard in opposition to this Commission of Inquiry.

Yours sincerely, Gail Teixeira, MP, PPP/C Chief Whip

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Trampling on citizens’ rights Director of Sport rejects falsehoods Dear Editor, I write to express grave concerns about the rights of citizens of our country.

On Tuesday, May 9, I attended the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, accompanying my colleague Mohabir Anil Nandlall who is presently before the court.

At the hearing, the special prosecutor hired by the Government said to the court that no statements were available since the investigation was incomplete and statements are yet to be taken in the matter. He assured the court that this exercise will be completed sometime on May 26 and requested May 29 for continuation of the matter. This is what I heard in court myself.

A number of questions immediately came to mind and I would hope by way of this letter more informed Guyanese can enlighten me and other members of the public.

1. If there are no statements and the file is incomplete, on what basis was Nandlall charged?

2. If it is true that charges are to be based on evidence contained in statements on which the prosecution would rely by calling witnesses to testify at the appropriate time, am I wrong to conclude that the charge against Nandlall therefore has no basis in evidence?

3. Why wasn’t the case dismissed immediately after this information became available to the

court, Is this the way our citizens are treated every day in our courts and is this normal?

4. If this charge is not evidence-based, would it be wrong to conclude that it was instituted capriciously or was driven by some other consideration?

5. What role if any, the professional and independent offices of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police legal advisor played in recommending the charge against Nandlall in the absence of statements in this matter.

6. Would I be wrong to conclude like so many other Guyanese that in the face of the above unanswered questions that the charge against Nandlall has to do more with politics and political witch-hunting executed by the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change ( A P N U / A F C ) Government?

Editor, after leaving court I was able to access one of local dailies with the screaming headline, “Over 200 persons blacklisted from leaving Guyana – SOCU’’. As a citizen of Guyana I have acted to ensure that the fundamental and constitutional rights of Guyanese are upheld and not violated.

I have since written to the public authority, namely the Chief Immigration Officer (the Police

Commissioner) under the Access to Information Act of 2011 requesting the identity of these resident Guyanese who have been blacklisted.

This trampling on the rights of citizens must be rejected in all forms. In the face of such travesty of justice, silence is not an option. Article 144 of the Constitution of Guyana guarantees that a man is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.

I call upon all law enforcement and judicial authorities to uphold the Constitution and to resist political pressure and instructions in any form or fashion. Citizens should speak up and don’t wait for you to become the next victim. Let’s stop this madness now.

The APNU/ AFC Granger-led Administration through various ministers have made public statements about who would be charged and when, am I wrong to conclude that this was sending signals to the law enforcement and judicial arms of the State in very subtle forms?

One of the first signs of authoritarianism is when the coercive arms of the State are used to silence, intimidate and ultimately eliminate political opponents’. We know what happened in the past, we must never allow this to happen again. Stop the abuse now.

Sincerely, Bishop Juan Edghill, MP

Judge recusing self from case not fair Dear Editor, It is noted that the Government’s lawyer – no less a person than the Attorney General who is the legal representative of the Bar and of the nation – misbehaved in front of a Judge in court, and the Government (through the Prime Minister) has called on the presiding Judge to recuse himself from the case.

Just to get it right!

The Government (lawyer) misbehaved and the Government asked the Judge to excuse himself from hearing the case. Is that fair! Is that justice?

How about the Government’s lawyer recusing himself from the case?

Does not that seem more appropriate? Why is the Judge being punished and not the troublemaker? It is like rewarding the bully in a classroom after he beats up a few students. Only in Guyana! In a truly democratic another country like the US or Canada, the lawyer would be immediate-

ly suspended pending an investigation and hauled over hot coals – and could very well have his licence to

practice suspended.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, It is never my intention to discuss these issues in the public domain, unfortunately, the issue was placed in the public domain and therefore I must defend my good character.

I note an article appearing in the May 9, 2017, under the headline ‘National Sports Commission Director allegedly pays assistant $3M for doing nothing’. I wish to unequivocally state that this article is based on falsehoods and I reject any assertion or allegation of improper conduct on my part as Director of Sport.

At all times I have executed my duties with the highest level of integrity and within the law. Further, I have forged strong relationships between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and all national and other sporting bodies as I have worked assiduously to raise the profile of sports in Guyana. Mine is a tireless

and thankless task but one which I pursue with enthusiasm, zeal and a passion for the sector.

From my interactions with the various sporting organisations I have every reason to believe that I enjoy a high level of confidence and trust from the entire sporting fraternity. This has been achieved even as I have operated under severe internal constraints and with limited resources – the details of which I do not wish to disclose at this time. Nonetheless, my work in sports is on public record as is my achievements and performance in the sector.

I have every reason to believe that this article is part of a naked attack on my person, character and integrity which is politically motivated. Further, it is my view that the intellectual authors of this attack are steeped in envy of the achievements of the NSC and the consequent posi-

tive public attention which has followed. I do not believe that it is any coincidence that this attack has come mere weeks after the successful and critically acclaimed NSC Sports Awards at which the medallists of Guyana’s CARIFTA Team were awarded University of Guyana scholarships by the NSC. I am pleased to have read that an investigation is being conducted. I commit my full and unreserved cooperation with same as I am confident that I and my team at the NSC will be completely vindicated.

Further, I call for an independent investigation in uncovering the intellectual authors of the article and that those culpable have appropriate action taken against them by the relevant authorities.

Dear Editor, The revelations/allegations levelled against the Director of Sport for allegedly paying his Assistant $3 million for doing nothing are

damning.

The Director of Sport is still very much on the job and will be part of Guyana’s contingent to the Islamic Games being held in

Azerbaijan.

Oh, what web…

Sincerely, Christopher Jones Director of Sport

Still on the job a

tangled

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

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wednesdAY, may 10, 2017

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

– is it the teacher – or is it your kid?

How to find out why your child’s unhappy at school

By Stephanie Dolgoff

T

here was no single incident that made Kim Black realise that all was not sunshine and warm fuzzies between her son Harrison, then 7, and his second-grade teacher.

Rather, it was a constellation of things: Harrison insisting that “the teacher doesn’t like me”, that she yelled at him frequently in class, that she was picking on him in particular – as well as the dramatic change in her son’s disposition. “I’d had this happy-go-lucky child, and now he’s coming home crying every day as he gets off the bus,” says Black, a mom of four.

So before the end of

W

e know it’s important to get children to eat healthy foods, but what about getting them on board with healthy drinks? What children drink can greatly affect how many calories they consume and the amount of calcium (needed to build strong bones) their bodies get.

the first month of school, Black went to speak with Harrison’s teacher. “I said, ‘My son doesn’t feel like you like him,’?” recalls Black.

“She was very defensive, saying, ‘Of course I like him.

I like all the children.’?”

Black quickly explained that she wasn’t accusing the teacher of doing anything wrong, but that she was simply trying to make her aware that Harrison felt this way, and to understand why. The teacher insisted she had no idea. “I think that started us off on the wrong foot,” says Black, noting that things deteriorated from there and that she had “opened a can of worms”.

Harrison grew to dislike go-

Serve water and milk

ing to school, and his grades suffered. Ultimately he was moved to a different class, but not without much angst all around.

It’s hard to know what to think (or do) when your child comes home clearly upset, or with a specific beef like Harrison’s. “You hear things like, the teacher plays favourites, we all get punished if somebody’s bad, she’s impatient with me, or that he’s bored,” says Susan Etheredge, associate professor of education and child study at Smith College.

Some of the complaints can be about social issues – for instance, there’s a problem with another child and the teacher isn’t stepping in, says Etheredge, who adds that the beginning of the year is the peak time for all

these concerns.

Depending on your style and whether or not your child is particularly sensitive, it may be tempting to advise him (in age-appropriate language, of course) to grow a pair. More likely, however, a part of you will want to elbow your way into the classroom like Nancy Grace on steroids and fight for your kid.

Totally understandable – although more likely to get you branded as the cuckoo mom to be humoured than to resolve the problem. Instead, use our stepby-step guide to sorting out your child’s trouble with his teacher. You’ll find that he may soon be looking forward to school—or at least showing up and learning something. (Parenting.com)

For children of all ages, water and milk are the best choices, so let them flow. Besides having zero calories, water is a no-sugar thirst-quencher. And 1 cup of milk has 300 milligrams of calcium, so it’s a big contributor to a child’s daily needs.

Here’s how much calcium children need each day: toddlers (ages 1 to 3 years): 700 milligrams of calcium daily children (ages 4 to 8 years): 1000 milligrams older children (ages 9 to 18 years): 1,300 milligrams The current dietary guidelines for milk or equivalent dairy products or fortified soy beverages are: Children ages 2 to 3 should drink 2 cups (480 millilitres) every day.

Children 4 through 8 should have 2½ cups (600 millilitres) per day.

Children 9 and older should have 3 cups (720 millilitres) per day.

Choose fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) milk products most of the time.

When children drink too much juice, juice drinks, sports drinks, and soda, these beverages can crowd out the milk they need. Sugary drinks also can pile on the calories.

This chart shows the calories and sugar in different beverages:

to be continued

Put limits on juice

If your child likes juice, be sure to serve 100 per cent juice. Also follow these recommended limits: up to 6 months old: no juice 6-12 months old: no more than 2-4 ounces (120 millilitres) per day, always served in a cup 1-6 years old: 4-6 ounces (120-180 millilitres) of juice per day 7-18 years old: 8-12 ounces (240-360 millilitres) of juice per day

Say no to soft drinks

Soft drinks are commonly served to children, but they have no nutritional value and are high in sugar. Drinking soda and other sugared drinks can cause tooth decay.

Colas and other sodas often contain caffeine, which children don’t need. In addition, soft drinks may be taking the place of calcium-rich milk.

One study found that, on average, preschoolers drank less than the recommended 16 ounces of milk each day while drinking 8 ounces of soda and fruit drinks (not including 100 per cent fruit juice).

If soft drinks habits start when children are little, chances are they will drink increasing amounts as they get older. In older children and teens, drinking soft drinks has been linked to excessive weight gain and other problems.

That said, many children like soft drinks and will request them. As a rule, don’t serve it to babies, toddlers, or preschoolers. With older children, let them know it’s a once-in-a-while beverage. Don’t ban it entirely if your children like it now and then — that’s likely to make it more appealing and them more inclined to overdo it when they get the chance! (kidshealth)

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wednesDAY, may 10, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Law books vendetta

Nandlall case stalled as SOCU appeals for “more time” …prosecution not ready to proceed

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wo weeks after charging former Attorney General Anil Nandlall for converting to his own use and benefit, 14 Commonwealth Law Reports, valued at $2.3 million — which he allegedly unlawfully retained after demitting office in 2015, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) requested more time to present statements when they appeared before city Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Tuesday.

SOCU’s request caused quite a stir during the proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, as Nandlall’s attorneys, including Priya Manickchand, questioned the grounds on which the former AG was charged.

“The prosecution has said that they would like time to complete their investigations to present statements. That could not be right. The Constitution, under Article 144, guarantees that [if] Mr Nandlall is charged, he is entitled to those statements.

It couldn’t be right that

they charged Mr Nandlall and now they’re looking at his statement and they need until the 29th of this month to find those statements. Then on what basis was Mr Nandlall charged?”

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin questioned.

He contended that Nandlall’s constitutional rights were violated, as the prosecution failed to provide the witness statements which should have been reviewed before the charge was laid against the former AG. “What if those investigations that they are now conducting… [what if the] result disclosed that Mr Nandlall has not committed a criminal offence, then what happens then? He would have been charged for what reason? On what basis? We don’t know.

We’ve raised this concern with the Magistrate. We’ve told the Magistrate clearly that what they have done by not providing Mr Nandlall’s witness statements is a violation of his constitutional rights and they should have had these

Anil Nandlall leaving court on Tuesday

statements ready before they charged Mr Nandlall,” Datadin told the media.

Nandlall was called in to SOCU Headquarters on April 24, 2017 for questioning in relation to the Commonwealth Law Books. He later filed legal proceedings at the High Court against Attorney

General Basil Williams, to prove that the 14 law books were his property.

Following legal arguments, the acting Chief Justice, Roxane George granted the Conservatory Order, restraining officers of SOCU and the Guyana Police Force from seizing or detaining the said books.

Addressing members of the media, Nandlall stated that when he was appointed Attorney General, he had requested as part of his contract of service for the Government of Guyana to stand the expense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth Law Books.

He had subscribed to Lexis Nexis, the publishers of the law reports.

His contentions were corroborated publicly by then President Donald Ramotar.

Nonetheless, three days later (on April 27, 2017), Nandlall was whisked away from his law office

by SOCU officials to their Headquarters. As members of the media arrived at the office, they witnessed Nandlall being brought out

by SOCU officials, who indicated that they were taking him to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Nandlall was arraigned before Magistrate Azore on the charge of fraudulent conversion.

Defence Attorney Glen Hanoman successfully argued for self-bail on the

grounds that his client was a former Attorney General and Minister and, in 19 years of legal practice, had never had an incident.

Nandlall continues to maintain that the accusation laid against him by SOCU was instigated by his successor, AG Williams because he continues to criticise his performance.

The former Attorney General expressed conviction that he was being persecuted, and he said this was one of several attempts to embarrass and silence him and to break his spirit.

He insisted that the charge should not have even been filed, since he had already begun proceedings in the High Court.

“The Constitution is very clear: A magistrate ought to defer to the superiority of the High Court and the superior law of the land. Hopefully, at an appropriate stage, that application will be made and it will be dealt with,” he said.

The matter stands adjourned to May 29, 2017 before Magistrate Azore.

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wednesdAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Armed bandit’s killing

Businessman’s son refused to And then there hand over money – court hears was none…

T he High Court trial of businessman Lawrence Wayne, who allegedly shot and killed a bandit in August 2014, continued before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow on Tuesday. At the day’s proceedings, the 12-member jury heard the testimony of the man’s son, Akeem Ashton Wayne, who despite being a schoolboy, refused to hand over money to the two “tall” armed bandits, who infiltrated Wayne Beverage Paradise on Merriman Mall, in Georgetown.

The court heard that the lad would work at the business on school holidays and he was the cashier at the time of the invasion.

Wayne recalled that he had observed a car on Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, parked for about five to 10 minutes. The secondary school student further explained that two men armed with guns “collared” and “slapped” him, demand-

Lawrence Wayne

ing that he hand over a bag which they believed contained money. This, the witness noted, left him traumatised. The younger Wayne testified that he was not willing to surrender the bag and neither of the men was able to get it.

It was later suggested by Defence Counsel Stanley Moore representing Lawrence Wayne that the

men may have known what to look for. In fact, Akeem told the court that as the cashier, he received large amounts of money and that he normally stored the money in the bag before he handed it over.

Additionally, the court heard from a separate witness that the bandit who was shot and killed, Dexter Lindo, and other associates, would frequent a Light and Sixth Streets business place where they would consume alcoholic beverages. It was nearby at Light and Fifth Streets, Alberttown, where Lawrence chased Lindo and another accomplice, before the suspected bandit was shot to the abdomen after a confrontation.

According to facts of the case, Wayne who was a licensed firearm holder, had pursued the suspected bandits after a female stallholder had raised an alarm when the men entered the Wayne Beverage Paradise premises

on Merriman Mall.

He followed the bandits after they fled in their getaway car before accosting and shooting Lindo.

Though Lindo escaped, he was later admitted to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police recovered an unlicensed .32 Beretta Pistol with four matching rounds which was reportedly in the possession of the bandit.

In May 2015, the licenced firearm holder was nabbed at the then Ogle International Airport moments after returning from Barbados. He was remanded and formally arraigned for the bandit’s death. Wanye is also being represented by Attorney Maxwell McKay while the State’s case is being led by Prosecutor Shawnette Austin.

The trial continues before Justice Barlow at the Demerara High Court.

F

…sugar estates or Indians?

ans of Agatha Christie’s mysteries, would remember the best-seller, “And then there was none”. She was referring to the old, ditty “Ten little Indians” – originally, “Ten Little “N” word” but deemed “insensitive”! In the mystery, 10 persons on a desert island are killed one after the other – until finally, “there was none”.

Well, the Government finally issued its long-promised “White Paper” on its plans for sugar and – in addition to not being “white” or much of a “paper” (four pages makes a “paper”??) – contained absolutely no surprises.

As the then Leader of the PNC David Granger had said – sugar will soon be “none”! But they certainly made a song and dance about starting out with 238 plantations in 1829 and dwindling all the time to the present six – which will be three by the end of the year.

Made it seem as if the whittling away of plantations was the result of some cosmic force that’s pretty much irresistible!! Nobody to blame – especially the present Government and their hired guns like Error Hanoman, CEO and Clive Thomas, Chairman of GuySuCo!! But like your Eyewitness has been stressing – whenever anyone tries to justify something with numbers, look carefully and you’ll discover why folks talk wryly about “lies, damned lies and statistics”.

Sure, there were 100 less plantations in 1890 than in 1829, but could the government explain why the production of sugar had actually tripled by then from 25,000 tons to 75,000 tons?? And that the 18 sugar estates in 1967 produced over 350,000 tons?? The Government should admit that just like in certain areas of human endeavour, size isn’t everything. In sugar, the number of factories or estates isn’t everything. It’s how you use what you got to deliver the most sweetness (sugar) for the buck.

The Government’s entire argument for closing the plantations is a non-sequitur. They first of all rejected the advice of their CoI to make some cash injections to make the estates viable and THEN put them on the block for privatisation. Doesn’t THAT make sense?? They keep harping on labour costs – but while they would’ve been paying those workers in pieces of paper they print and call “dollars”, the sugar exported at whatever prices would’ve brought in hard foreign currency!

Then they say they have a plan for the workers? Ha!!

Leasing land to workers to plant god-knows-what crop’s a PLAN??

That’s dooming them to producing subsistence crops which doomed African Guyanese after slavery. And the descendants of Indentured Indians?? Soon they will be none.

…defending the Judiciary

After an interminable wait – during which a lot of folks were holding their breaths – in the faceoff between the Executive and the Judiciary over AG Basil Williams’ boorishness, the Judiciary blinked. It’s a day that’ll go down in infamy when Justice Franklin Holder recused himself from sitting on the bench to hear the plea for Justice from Carvil Duncan against Executive overreach.

Justice Holder’s succumbing to Executive bullyism goes against centuries of tradition of the Judiciary struggling to maintain the rule of law against an always threatening Executive. In fact, it was the dismissal of Edward Coke, the Chief Justice of England by Charles I – for suggesting the King was subject to the rule of law, rather than the other way round, which enshrined the independence of the Judiciary from Executive control.

Rather than falling on his sword as Justice Holder did, Coke wrote the “Institutes of Laws” and later “The Petition of Right” which Parliament used to oppose and eventually execute the King.

We hope the new Justice will hold the line till the execution of 2020.

…on Pharma contract

During Budget Debate 2016, Minister Cummings said NEW GPC was “out” and “a fair and open bidding process for all suppliers” was initiated.

So how does NEW GPC owe $300 million when they got no contract??

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

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wednesDAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man nabbed after GAWU questions Govt’s decision to throwing contraband leave thousands in misery, hardship into Camp Street jail Closure of sugar estates

…says decision “unwise”

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erming the Government’s decision to close more sugar estates as “ill-considered and a major blunder,” the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Tuesday called for the ‘White Paper’ on the sugar industry to be urgently debated in the National Assembly.

GAWU said in a state-

we have registered with the Government and have shared publicly as well,” referring to the ‘White Paper’ that was laid in the National Assembly on Monday.

The Union also condemned the Government’s proposal to close the Enmore and Rose Hall estates, and replace their operations with non-sugar ventures.

“As Wales’ experience

“As Wales’ experience has shown us… hundreds are left high and dry without a clue of what their tomorrow will bring.

We ask again how any Government can bring itself to condemn thousands of its people to such misery and hardship?”

– GAWU ment that the new policy, if implemented, could harm hundreds of workers and their families, arguing that consultations with those directly involved with the industry was not done in good faith and none of the recommendations were taken on board.

“Our Union calls on the Administration and the sugar company (GuySuCo) to undo all steps taken or halt those that are about to be taken in implementing the direction for the industry as outlined in the ‘state paper,’ the statement said.

GAWU also took umbrage with Government for not taking on board any of its recommendations that were presented in a 12-page paper, which was shared with them in February this year. The Union claims the suggestions offered the industry a good possibility to overcome its challenges and remain sustainable.

“The paper does very little to quell our strong and significant concerns about the plans for sugar which

has shown us nothing is being done in this direction but hundreds are left high and dry without a clue of what their tomorrow will bring. We ask again how any Government can bring itself to condemn thousands of its people to such misery and hardship?” However, while the Government has revealed plans to retain as many workers as possible following the closure of these estates, and the sellout of Skeldon Factory, the Union said Government must remain cognisant of the fact that GuySuCo is the country’s single largest employer.

“This is a fact that should

not be lost in the debates and discussions that will ensue. We wonder given an environment of reducing job opportunities and increasing unemployment how ‘prudent’ are the thoughts contained in the paper presented,” the statement added.

Holding Government to its word to demonstrate prudent management of public resources, GAWU said this recent policy decision taken in the sugar industry reflects an “imprudent decision.”

“We see the plans for sugar exacerbating the already trying social situation in our country. The problems that will be spawned from the ideas contained in the sugar paper will require large sums from the Treasury to address and remedy and seems to be most imprudent,” the Union said on Tuesday.

While admitting that there was a 14 per cent decline in land productivity and a 10 per cent decline in factory productivity, GAWU said it is “disheartening” that Government cannot come to grips with the challenges in the industry, claiming that the Administration lacks the will to make practical changes.

Meanwhile, GAWU also challenged Government’s statement, which said there was a decline in the industry’s workforce between 2006 and 2015.

The Union reminded

GAWU President Komal Chand

that the industry’s mechanisation programme was intended to address that issue and that significant sums have already been invested

by GuySuCo to convert its fields for mechanical operations.

GAWU said it not only wants the matter to be debated, but discussed among the workers and their representative organisations in the industry. The Union also affirmed its position to have affected workers receive their normal work or paid in lieu of work, in the event that Government moves ahead with its decision.

Camp Street Prision

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man who told Police he has no fixed place of abode will certainly find one at the Camp Street penitentiary after he was found throwing several contraband items into the compound of the Georgetown Prisons.

It was reported that around 21:30h on Monday, an alerted Police rank securing a section of the outer perimeter of the Georgetown Prison observed the 42-yearold labourer with a bulky bag.

The man was subsequently seen swiftly throwing the bag over the

north-eastern fence of the prison and attempted to flee the area. However, he was promptly arrested by the said officer, who immediately communicated what transpired.

Shortly after, Prison Officers retrieved the bag and found it to contain a number of prohibited items inclusive of ten packs of cigarettes, a cellular phone and 793 grams of cannabis.

The suspect was taken into police custody and is cooperating with investigators. He is likely to make an appearance in court sometime this week.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017

News

Dealers demand explanation over partial ban on used tyres … propose solution for 2018

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sed tyre dealers are calling on the Government to explain why there is only a partial ban on the product and has also suggested an alternative approach to guarantee safety on the roadways and a green economy.

As resistance continues against several Government policies, the attorney representing the Guyana Used Tyres Association (GUTA) observed that it is an unfair move for the Administration to ban the importation of just some categories of used tyres.

“If your concern is about used tyres, why only choose minibuses, SUVs, small pickups and cars. It seems to be an unfair situation. The approach is not very clear,” Jerome Khan argued during a press conference at his office on Brickdam.

GUTA consists of over 30 businesses and its mandate is to advocate against the ban on the importation of used tyres which took effect in April 2017.

The organisation believes that instead of imposing a

partial ban, Government should establish quality control standards for tyre importation as there are inferior qualities of new tyres. “In the absence of any kind of established criteria, it would be difficult for Government to justify the wholesale banning of certain categories of tyres… In the absence of any definitive type of standard such as thread wear or thread tyre depth, it would be very difficult for Government to justify that used tyres coming in this country ought not to come,” Khan explained.

Therefore, he recommended that Government introduce the requirements of thread wear or thread depth.

Khan made it clear that the organisation is not baselessly opposing the restriction nor does it want a confrontation with Government.

“We don’t want a confrontation with Government. The Association is here to raise the awareness and concerns of its members. I’m sure the Government would be concerned if 5000 persons hit the breadline. These people spent so much time, ener-

Row over ‘drugs’ leads to shooting, chopping … 2 hospitalised

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wo men are currently at the Georgetown Public Hospital receiving treatment for injuries inflicted by each other on Monday at the East La Penitence Bridge, Georgetown.

According to Police reports, 23-year-old Colin Daly, of Lot 23 East La Penitence, and 22-yearold Reon Jonas, of Phase One, Mandela Avenue, West Ruimveldt, had an ex-

change of words reportedly over “drugs”.

During the confrontation, Daly allegedly dealt Jonas several chops to his back and right hand. In retaliation, Jonas whipped out a handgun and discharged a round at Daly, hitting him in the right arm. Both men were taken to the Hospital, where they were admitted under Police guard. Their conditions have been listed as stable.

Jerome Khan

gy and money in developing this industry…(and) they are simply asking for a reengagement (with Government). We believe Government is sensible enough to know what’s going on in the economy and try to work with this particular Association,” he stated.

When prompted, Khan said the Association has not contemplated legal actions as their hope is to meet with Finance Minister Winston Jordan and convince him to make favourable amendments in the National Budget 2018.

Impacts Furthermore, the lawyer reiterated the concerns previously ventilated by stakeholders in the industry regarding the financial implications and the social impacts of such a ban.

“Starting with their households, if they don’t earn income, they can’t support their families,” he posited.

He further explained that businesses will have to find additional investment capital, source, connect and build relationships with new suppliers, rebrand, remarket – all activities which come with heavy expenses.

Not only are businesses already experiencing a decline in sales because of their inability to import new tyres but vehicle users are also feeling the squeeze.

A minibus driver, Mohamed Yusuf told reporters that it was already a challenge for him to purchase used tyres at $3000. He fears the day when new tyres alone will flood the market as he will be unable to make the purchase without cutting expenses from other critical areas of his budget.

Moreover, Khan explained that while some dealers may still have used tyres in stock, business would decline because of the unavailability of different types of tyres.

He urged Government to meet with the industry players in the interest of economic prosperity and social cohesion.

“This country cannot be in the system of banning things. We’ve gone through a past where items were banned all the time. We don’t wanna go back and banning items. We wanna go and work with communities including the business community and see where you can find solutions. In the absence of that kind of dialogue, it leads to conflict… you can’t operate like a bull in the china shop… we’re asking to meet and talk,” he stated.

GUTA has already staged several picketing exercises to get the Government to reverse the ban but to no avail.

They have even submitted a petition with over 100 signatures.

According to information supplied by the dealers, used tyres cost between $3000 and $5000, whereas new ones would be more than two times that price.

Jubilee shame Dear Diary, This is Nick-a-Let again. I jus’ don’t know what is going on nowadays. Here it is, I set up the Independence Bash for this year to be held at Stabroek Market Square. It was going to be bigger and better. I had already allocated $500 million to spruce up the Square for the flag-raising ceremony and everything. That’s quite a bargain from what it cost us on Jubilee Park last year, isn’t it, Dear Diary?

But some ignoramuses made a big fuss that the celebrations must be held at Jubilee Park! Can you believe it, Dear Diary?? Don’t they know anything about aesthetics? It’s a good thing I got my $3.6 million scholarship to study health and one of the subjects I had to do is the effect of aesthetics on health.

You ask, what all of this has to do with the Independence celebrations, Dear Diary?? We’ll, I’ll have you know that I head the Culture Ministry.

And culture has to do with aesthetics. Health is just a bonus!! And the aesthetics, of Jubilee Park is just so low class!! Can you imagine how wooden stands will look in my CV, after I finish my scholarship PhD? Schuups!!

Anyhow, after the fuss, I suggested we have the bash at Parade Ground. That would cost around $800 million but that would still be less than Jubilee Park. For all the military parades we MUST have we will have to prepare the ground – and build stands. This time I would have built metal stands unlike what that Patta Sin did at Jubilee Park.

Anyhow the great unwashed kept making noise, Dear Diary and now we have to go to Jubilee Park. The shame!! The shame!! I’m so upset I’m tempted not to go. But I tell you what, Dear Diary.

Once again, I won’t find seats for the PPP!!

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wednesDAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

12 news

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

M&CC rounds up all roadside Essequibo security guard died from gunshot cosmetologists, barbers

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eorgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green on Monday instructed Town Clerk Royston King to have all hairdressers, cosmetologists, nail technicians and barbers plying their trade along city streets rounded up and returned to the Merriman Mall.

“Unless they are willing to go rent their own stations wherever they want; then they must return to the Merriman Mall…if they are there, then they should be removed since their time have expired,” Chase Green instructed.

The Mayor’s instructions came after King informed her that cosmetologists and barbers were still lining the streets causing health hazards as well as congestion. He added that the beauticians were sup-

One of the barbershops at Merriman Mall

posed to return to the Mall following a grace period of 48 hours extended to them by the M&CC. However, Chase Green firmly stated that all beauticians and barbers should be returned to the Merriman Mall if they want to continue to ply

their trade. “There should be no one on the street and any constable, chief constable, admin officer whoever think they can have people on the street must be brought before the Council to be disciplined,” she warned.

The municipality’s

Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis, in a letter to the press, argued that the barbers’ and hairdressers’ actions were a “contravention of the Municipal and District Councils Act 28:01 to operate a roadside barbershop or hairdressing salon. Further, it is an unsafe health practice that can compromise the health of customers and service providers. It is also difficult for officers of the Council to monitor roving street barbershops.”

When this publication visited the Merriman Mall, it was observed that there were a few barbers and hairdressers plying their trade. However, there were still barbers and hairdressers plying their trade on the sidewalks of America and Longden Streets unbothered.

Region 2 gets new Deputy REO

A

Deputy REO Derrick Persaud

new Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) has been appointed in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to assist with the administrative work within the Region.

The current Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson, who serves as the clerk for the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), will be proceeding on annual leave and in the meantime, Derrick Persaud will be serving as the REO. Speaking at the statutory meeting for the month of May on Tuesday, Persaud called for cooperation from

Councillors during his time as REO. He informed the RDC that he served in Regions One and Seven previously and has a wealth of knowledge on administration.

Councillors from the RDC have been calling for a change in the way the Clerk of the RDC was addressing issues raised at the meeting. Government Councillor Naitram had spoken out numerous times that meeting after meeting, nothing meaningful was done to follow up development projects. Other Councillors had described Hopkinson’s leadership as “slow”.

wound – autopsy

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he autopsy conducted on the body of 29-year-old Shendal George confirmed that she died as a result of gunshot injuries she sustained.

The autopsy was conducted on Tuesday by Government pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh at the Suddie mortuary.

George, Special Constable #15117, was discovered on May 4 with a gunshot wound to her throat by a colleague. At the time of the discovery, she was lying in the washroom of the Caricom Rice Mills at Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The incident reportedly occurred between 17:00h and 17:45h on May 4.

According to reports, George was attached to the Caricom Rice Mills, as an armed guard working on a shift basis. On the day in question, she was working the 15:00h-23:00h shift, armed with a .32 service revolver and six live .32 rounds.

She was said to be on duty at the main front gate, along with another security guard, George Bisnauth.

According to Bisnauth, about 17:00h, George left the guard hut and went for a walk around the compound.

Reports are about 17:45h, her mother came

Dead: Shendal George

to the workplace and when Bisnauth left in search of her, he found her lying motionless on her back in the toilet area with a suspected gunshot wound to her throat.

The service revolver was about five inches from her right hand. It was checked and had five live rounds and a spent shell in the chamber.

Bisnauth then immediately raised an alarm, after which a report was immediately made to the Police.

Although family members have deemed her death as foul play, Police have confirmed that they are treating the matter as a suicide.

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wednesDAY, May 10, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Sovereignty belongs to the Former banking executive people, not State – NTC Ahmad Khan passes away Vice Chair A hmad Murtza Khan, who joined the Canadian-owned Barclays Bank in 1972 fresh out of high school and worked his way to the top of his profession, passed away on Monday after a brief illness. He was 62 years old.

At Barclays, he rose to become a supervisor and after it became the Governmentowned Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, he rose to the level of manager. He later moved over to the Indigenously founded Demerara Bank in the mid-

A

top official of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) has sought to correct recent assertions by African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Executive Eric Phillips that sovereignty belonged to the State and not to individual groups.

NTC Vice Chairman Lennox Shuman expressed his disagreement with that statement, during an interview with this publication on Tuesday. He noted that Guyanese, as the electorate, held sovereignty in their hands.

ACDA Executive Eric Phillips

“As it relates to sovereignty, sovereignty belongs in all the people of Guyana.

But while we must understand that while we say one people, one nation, one destiny, yes, we are one people as in a holistic one country.”

In expounding on land titling, he noted that the fact remained that Guyana still was composed of six races.

And within one race, the Indigenous people, there are nine divisions of people or groups. So, he urged that these considerations be taken into context.

“And when we look at the land issue and the estab-

Chairman of the National Toshaos' Council Joel Fredericks and Vice Chair Lennox Shuman on their way to Parliament on Monday

lishment of the Commission of Inquiry as we have seen, the CoI was actually one of the outputs of the Guyana-Norway agreements. And it doesn’t say the Administration that is current or past; it says the Government of Guyana.”

“Now what they want to do is use that commission to address something that is different or outside the mandate or intent of that commission. And what they are trying to do is lump it right in with (something else). And it is those two fundamental things that need to be separated in this whole issue.”

In a missive to the media, Phillips noted that fears of Amerindians losing their land was also a false claim, as the Amerindian Act of 2006 provides Amerindians with 13.8 per cent of land in Guyana.

Phillips said there were many more important reasons why the Land CoI was very critical to all Guyanese. He explained that sovereignty belonged to the State, and not to individual groups.

“Sovereignty belongs to the State and not to individual groups. If there

was an invasion onto or into Wai Wai lands, it is the Government of Guyana that would have to defend Guyana’s sovereignty,” Phillips had said.

Since the announcement of the CoI, the Opposition has thrown its support behind the NTC, which remains opposed to Government establishing the inquiry into matters related to land, including titling.

The NTC had called for the establishment of two separate entities to deal with the two different issues as it voiced its refusal to cooperate with the current lands CoI. It also complained of a “severe” lack of consultations on the matter – an assertion which President David Granger has denied.

Other organisations, including the Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples, The Amerindian Action Movement, South Central Peoples Development Association, and the National Amerindian Development Foundation, have all protested the merging of the two issues under one blanket CoI.

Ahmad Murtza Khan

1990’s and eventually was their General Manager. At the end of his banking career, he was the CEO; Director and Secretary of The New Building Society.

His 45-plus years’ professional career in effect was an encapsulation of the transition of Guyana’s banking system from a colonial one to that of an independent country.

He leaves to mourn his wife, two children, two grandchildren and hundreds of friends in and out of his profession who valued his lowkey demeanour.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, may 10, 2017

News

Govt yet to come clean on drug purchases – PPP … says Ministers were evasive with answers

T

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has expressed disappointment over Monday’s sitting and the fact that after bringing questions to the House on drug procurement, they are still left with more questions than answers.

During a press conference, Opposition Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill decried the answers given by the subject Ministers to the PPP’s questions. According to Edghill, the answers skirted some of the specifics he had sought.

“I had placed four questions to the House, particularly to deal with drugs and medical supplies. Three of those questions went to the Minister of Public Health (Volda Lawrence) and one went to the Minister of Communities (Ronald Bulkan).”

“The answers provided by both Ministers sought to obfuscate and hide information. Lots of the questions were not answered and even when answers were provided, the state of affairs as it relates to drugs and medical supplies were not clarified.”

Reports from the IFMAS, he said provides no information as it relates to the answers sought. “Because an IFMAS report will simply tell you on the free balance system of the Ministry of Finance (what) money was budgeted, spent and (how) much remains unallocated.”

According to Edghill, the party had asked questions like the name of each sup-

ies were unspent and returned to the Consolidated Fund and how much was returned.

The questions also sought to uncover the reasons for the underperformance in the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for the public health system.

But in its responses, the Government had admitted to not publicly tendering for close to two billion dollars

Opposition Member of Parliament Juan Edghill

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

plier, the date of the awards were given and for what amount. He said that these questions were not satisfactorily answered.

“We want to know if it’s January 13, February 22, April 9, which contractor and how much money was the award,” the former Junior Finance Minister stressed.

Some of the questions posed to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, included what the amount expended for drugs and medical supplies for her Ministry and specifically the Georgetown Public Hospital, between January 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017.

In addition, she had been asked what percentage of the 2016 budgetary allocations for drugs and medical supplies was expended by December 31, 2016. Edghill had also said that the Party wanted to know if any mon-

acknowledged not tendering for drugs since July 2016.

Within that time, Edghill said, some $2.7 billion has been expended on drugs and medical supplies.

The questions had been tabled by Edghill and PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira.

According to Teixeira, at a press conference back in March, she had stated that the Opposition was not satisfied with the answers given by the Public Health Minister on the recent emergency procurement for the GPHC. This is a reference to the attempt to award a $605 million drug procurement contract to Trinidad Company ANSA McCAL. There has been widespread condemnation for the move, which has resulted in unprecedented scrutiny for the Public Health Ministry and drug procurement in general.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

in medical supplies over the past year.

“But having had all the running around and fancy explanations, it is clear that the Ministry of Public Health, the Georgetown Public Hospital and the Ministry of Communities have expended, collectively, more than $4 billion of which no proper procurement process was used.”

He noted that in the answers given, the Ministry

White paper serves as prelude for closure of sugar industry – Ramsammy

T

he presentation of the white paper on the sugar industry in the National Assembly on Monday confirmed that the industry was being “maliciously downsized” as a prelude for closure.

This is according to former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who stated that the paper also confirmed what the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has been saying.

“It contradicts what the Government has been saying.

This is not re-engineering as Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) calls it. It is diver-

Some of the protestors who remained behind the barricades by the Magistrates' Courts on Monday

sification and it is not consolidating,” he opined.

Ramsammy told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the new policy provided no assurances nor any plans on how three sugar estates – Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt – would remain open.

“In fact, reading between the lines, the definite closure of three more sugar estates in 2017, added to Wales, which was closed in 2016, represent the beginning of a plan to close sugar,” he explained.

The former Minister also said that the downsizing and subsequent closure of sugar estates would lead to the loss of more than 15,000 jobs

the paper.”

Further, the former Agriculture Minister told this publication that Uitvlugt was being set up for closure, because Government has already said that Uitvlugt could not survive without Wales workers.

“Wales workers will not go to Uitvlugt. Transferring cane from Rose Hall will increase production cost at Albion and threaten Albion, providing them with an excuse to close Albion,” Ramsammy asserted.

“Albion, which presently boasts the lowest cost of sugar production and the most efficient in terms of cane to

sugar industry, and security. However, the President noted that for development and economic partnership to occur, Guyana needed to gain more access to the European markets for export services.

He also said that Guyana hoped for a “beyond 2020” partnership between the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (ACP) and the EU. “Guyana anticipates that the forthcoming negotiations on the post-Cotonou ACP-EU relations will produce an enhanced framework for development assistance, for economic relations, and for political cooperation,” Granger added.

Europe Day is annually observed on May 9. It is a celebration of peace and unity in Europe. This year, Europe also commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, which founded the European Economic Commission, which essentially laid the foundation for what is today the EU.

sugar ratio, will be transformed into a less efficient estate. It will be impossible to maintain Enmore/LBI cultivation, since transport to any factory will be prohibitive,” he pointed out.

The cost for maintaining the drainage and irrigation in the closed estate will become a cost that Government must take up, the Minister said, maintaining that the idea that GuySuCo will continue to maintain drainage and irrigation in closed estates was a “myth”.

“This is a cost that GuySuCo has borne and it is now being recognised that this was included in the cost of production. GuySuCo has always subsidised central government and local government in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six when it comes to maintaining drainage and irrigation,” he concluded.

On Monday, Government announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo

Guyana receives $5.5B from EU

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s Government plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Estates later this year, the final payment of some $5.5 billion – intended for diversifying and/or improving the sugar industry – has been received from the European Union (EU).

“We provide $2.4 billion to the Government to improve sea and river defences and made the final payment of $5.5 billion under the Sugar and Compliance Measure to help Guyana’ sugar industry improve its competitiveness and/or to diversify out of the sugar industry,” EU Ambassador Jernej Videtič said.

The EU representative was at the time addressing a gathering at the Europe Day reception, and signalled the bloc’s commitment to supporting the transition of Guyana into a green state. He added that the EU was committed to ensuring development in all fields occur, citing the recent signings of two import-

President David Granger and EU Ambassador Jernej Videtič share a toast at the EU Day celebrations

ant contracts that would provide protective services for people at risk of suicide and to help protect the rights of Indigenous communities.

He lauded the country’s visionary approach in dealing with international issues and expressed satisfaction at the level of similarities between the EU and Guyana. “While

we may have common values, there are some areas which we are not completely aligned [in] and I would encourage the Government of Guyana to abolish the death penalty, to strengthen the efforts to combat gender-based violence and Trafficking In Persons and to decriminalise same-sex relations,” he urged.

President David

Granger said Europe Day symbolised the quest for peace through economic cooperation and integration.

He added that Guyana welcomed Europe’s assistance in enhancing its capacity for climate change adaptation and risk reduction as identified by the European Development Fund (EDF).

“Guyana is on its way to becoming a green state; one in which economic prosperity will be balanced by environmental sustainability.

We look forward to Europe’s continued support in advancing green state development, one that is consistent with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,” the President said.

He lauded the strong partnership framework that the country has enjoyed with the EU and which has seen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, health, education, housing, sea and river defence infrastructural development, the

and the threat of poverty for 50,000 to 100,000 people.

He said the coalition Government and the senior management of GuySuCo were to be blamed for this.

In addressing the other issues raised in the white paper, Ramsammy said half of the paper was filled with interesting but irrelevant historical information, with a hefty portion of inaccuracies.

“Production data, even if historical, is meaningful only if it is accurate. The historical perspective, with its hefty portion of inaccuracies, and its listing of problems represent more than 75 per cent of

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

South Korea set to change policy Haiti sees decrease in on North as liberal wins election suspected cholera cases

M

oon Jae-in, a left-leaning liberal who favours engagement with North Korea, has won South Korea’s presidential election, raising hopes of a potential rapprochement with Pyongyang.

The former human rights lawyer won 41.4 per cent of the vote, according to an exit poll cited by the Yonhap news agency, placing him comfortably ahead of his nearest rivals, the centrist software entrepreneur Ahn Cheolsoo and the conservative hardliner Hong Joon-pyo, both of whom have conceded defeat.

South Koreans who backed Moon, 64, will be hoping the election result

Moon Jae-in captured the public mood by promising to tackle rising inequality and youth unemployment, and make a clean break from his scandal-hit predecessor

will mark a clean break from the corruption scandal surrounding his disgraced predecessor Park Geun-hye. Hours before polls closed, the national election commission forecast that turnout would

exceed 80 per cent – the highest since Kim Daejung was elected in 1997.

During a campaign in which Moon sought to add conservative voters to his liberal support base, the Democratic party candi-

date captured the public mood with vows to reform South Korea’s powerful chaebols – family-owned conglomerates – and tackle rising inequality and youth unemployment.

Moon has called for a more conciliatory approach to North Korea, after weeks of tensions over the regime’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.

Park, who narrowly beat Moon in 2012 to become South Korea’s first female President, was impeached last December and faces possible life imprisonment for alleged bribery, extortion and other charges involving her secret confidante, Choi Soon-sil. (Excerpt from The

T

he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) says the number of suspected cholera cases reported in this French-speaking Caribbean country, up to April 8, 2017, has decreased when compared to the same periods in 2015 and 2016.In its latest report, PAHO says to date 4871 suspected cholera cases have been reported in Haiti, including 69 deaths.

This represents a 60 and 61 per cent decrease compared to the 12,373 and 12,226 suspected cholera cases reported during the same period in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Additionally, the 69 deaths reported so far this year represents a 41 per cent and 50 per cent de-

Guardian)

crease when compared to the 116 and 139 deaths reported during the same period in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

All 10 departments in the country Haiti have reported suspected cholera cases this year. The five departments with the highest rates in descending order are: Centre, Ouest (which includes the capital city of Port-au-Prince), Nippes, Artibonite, and Nord.

Since the cholera outbreak began in October 2010, 800,665 cases have been reported, including 9480 deaths. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the cholera epidemic in Haiti continues to be the largest in the Western Hemisphere. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

China/South Korea: Tunnel Trump to send arms to coach crash kills 11 children Kurdish YPG in Syria

A picture taken with a smartphone showed the coach on fire in the tunnel

E

leven young children, mostly South Korean, were killed when a coach crashed in a tunnel in China’s eastern Shandong province. The driver of the coach was also killed and a teacher was seriously injured.

The children, aged between three and seven, were being driven to their kindergarten in the city of Weihai.

Pictures from the scene show the coach in flames and smoke pouring from the tunnel. The cause of the accident on Tuesday is being investigated.

The children all attended a kindergarten at the Zhongshi International School in Weihai, local authorities say. Ten of the children were South Korean although five of them were

dual Chinese nationals, South Korean consular officials say. The other child was a Chinese national.

South Korean Acting President Hwang Kyo-Ahn expressed “grave sadness” and ordered the foreign ministry to mobilise “all diplomatic resources” to keep families of the young victims informed of developments.

Deadly road accidents are common in China and there have been several tragedies in recent years involving schoolchildren: In 2014, 11 children died when a minibus carrying children home from a kindergarten in Hunan province crashed into a pond In 2011, 18 children and two adults were killed when an overloaded school bus collided with a coal truck in foggy conditions in Gansu province. (BBC News)

T

he United States on Tuesday announced it would supply weapons and military equipment to Kurdish fighters battling ISIL in Syria, despite intense opposition from NATO ally Turkey.

Dana W White, the Pentagon's chief spokeswoman, said in a written statement that US President Donald Trump had authorised the arms shipments on Monday.

She said Trump's approval gave the Pentagon the goahead to "equip Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] as necessary to ensure a clear victory" over ISIL in Raqqa, the armed group's self-declared capital in Syria.

The Kurdish elements of the SDF are from the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) and they have

The Pentagon says the YPG is “the only force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa in the near future”

been the main faction fighting ISIL, which stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and is also known as ISIS, on the ground in Syria.

The Pentagon statement said they are "the only force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa in the near future". But Turkey says YPG fighters are linked to Kurdistan Workers' Party

(PKK) separatists inside Turkey, who have waged an armed campaign since 1984 that has killed over 40,000 people.

There was no immediate reaction from Turkish officials, but the move is expected to anger Ankara which considers the Kurdish forces to be "terrorists". (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

AG agrees Mexico fireworks Antiguan with public call for sex explosion kills 14 offenders’ registry A M exican officials say 14 people have been killed after a store of fireworks exploded in a village in Puebla state.

At least five children are said to be among the dead.

More than 20 people were also reported injured.

The blast happened on Monday night in San Isidro Huilotepec as villagers were preparing for a Saint’s Day celebration next week. The authorities say a lit rocket was thrown into a building where the pyrotechnics were kept.

The entire structure, which local media says was an inhabited house, was destroyed by the blast.

In December, more than

The explosion completely destroyed the building where the fireworks were stored

30 people were killed in a huge fireworks explosion in a Tultepec, just outside Mexico City.

Tultepec is seen by many Mexicans as “the country’s capital of pyrotechnics”, and survivors spoke of “hellish

scenes” as fireworks took off in all directions, causing panic and destruction. (BBC

News)

ttorney General Steadroy Benjamin is on the same page with the public, concerning the implementation of a sex offenders’ registry in light of the numerous cases of sexual abuse and incest affecting young people.

The issue has come up for debate in recent days after a father was ordered jailed for 18 years for having sex with his daughter between the period when she was nine and 14 years. However, his name could not be published because the Sexual Offences Act states that no information that could identify the victim should be published.

Pundits have argued that if there’s a sexual offences registry, at least the public would

know who the offender is, even if the facts of his crime and victim are not known.

“I am in very strong favour of getting a registry established where sex offenders would be registered and not only that but to make the persons in the communities with the alleged [offenders] know there are sex offenders in the community,” Benjamin said.

Noting that the nation appears to be split on the setting up of a sex offenders’ registry, the attorney general said, “some people want the rights of the offenders to be infringed, others want the interest of communities to be protected”. The matter is expected to be discussed when Cabinet meets today. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

16 news

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fisherman robbed at sea …calling for stringent measures to avoid piracy

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ollowing a recent maritime attack at sea, a fisherman is calling on relevant authorities to implement stringent measures so as to safeguard those who seek a livelihood at sea.

Haresh Singh, a fisherman from Sparta village on the Essequibo Coast, was on Saturday afternoon robbed of his possessions during a routine fishing operation offshore the Essequibo Coast in the Atlantic Ocean.

According to Singh, pirates carted off more than $1.4 million in seine, which he had aboard his vessel at the time of the attack. The

fisherman explained that he had set his seine in the Dunkel area deep in the Atlantic Ocean and when he had returned to land, he noticed another boat taking off with his seine and catch.

Singh pointed out that this was not the first time he has had such an unfortunate experience, as on numerous occasions he was robbed while at work at sea.

The disgruntled fisherman indicated that despite several reports made to the Fisheries Officers within the Region, nothing was being done to address the matter.

He also noted that scores of

fishermen were promised better supervision of the waterways by Coastguard boats

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during a recent visit to the area, but to date they were still awaiting actions emanating from his promise.

Given his most recent loss, Singh is calling on the Prime Minister as well as the Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder to put measures in place to clamp down on acts of piracy and defend those depending on maritime activities for a living.

Moreover, he posited that intervention from those in

authority was particularly important, since fishermen were now scared to venture to sea since they were fearful for their life.

Singh even went on to say that fishing was his only source of income and as such, called on Minister Holder to launch an investigation.

This report of yet another act of piracy affecting Guyanese fishing operations comes just days after an outcry from residents on the West Coast of Demerara regarding the disruption to their livelihood as a result of similar attacks.

Ramsammy’s Ruminations May 8 further exposed the predatory behaviour of APNU/AFC

O

n Monday May 8, 2017, the A Partnership for national Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) fully exposed their predatory behaviour against their own citizens. Many of these citizens even voted for the APNU/AFC, thinking they were voting for the “good life”.

APNU/AFC thought they used their one-seat advantage in Dr Leslie Ramsammy Parliament; a one seat earned by leftover votes, to defeat various motions presented by the PPP on Monday night. But really they lost the hearts and minds of the vast majority of the Guyanese people. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) knew that APNU/AFC would use its oneseat advantage to defeat the motions, but it was important to further expose APNU/AFC’s predatory behaviour so that it becomes crystal clear.

On May 8, the arrogance and insensitivity of APNU/AFC was on full display, their disdain for the people at full throttle.

It was not just in Parliament, but the APNU/AFC machinery was on a full-out, stinking display of authoritarianism. While they celebrated on Monday night at the various watering holes, using taxpayers money, other parts of the APNU/AFC machinery were nauseating people with ludicrous, odious pronouncements. I am not going to comment here on the sad explanation provided on Monday for the no-tendered, no-advertised, single-sourced GPHC $606 million emergency medicine contract. I will also not comment at this time on the recues of Justice Holder who clearly buckled under pressure from the Attorney General and the Prime Minister. Surely, these examples provide an eerie feeling of what dictatorship feels like.

Authoritarianism was front and centre in Parliament on Monday, May 8. The Speaker was the hatchet man, torpedoing the PPP motion to rescind Value Added Tax (VAT) on education.

The AFC’s belated public statement that will ask for a review of VAT on education was merely political prop for their rapidly evaporating support base. They voted for VAT on education at Cabinet and in Parliament. But in the face of diminishing political support, they thought they would fool people. The debate in Parliament would have exposed them again. The Speaker stepped in to avoid a devilish situation for both APNU and AFC. On Monday in Parliament, the Agriculture Minister was at his feckless-best, deeming sugar insignificant to the Gross Domestic Product of Guyana and confirming what the President, the Prime Minister, Ramjattan, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and others have been denying – estates are being closed, sugar is being downsized and there is no commitment to ensure sugar remains a major industry in Guyana. He posited that GuySuCo ‘s high wage bill is unsustainable and is partly why sugar is being downsized, clearly casting blame on sugar workers. The “White Paper” was used to send a message to the protesting sugar workers who were in front of Parliament not to expect a wage increase for 2017, making it the third successive year of no wage increase and not to hold their breath for severance.

As clueless Holder spoke in the role of the messenger of doom, Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and Charandass who all promised during the election campaign that no sugar estate would be closed, sat silent, shameless.

As if “dissing” sugar was not enough, Holder dismissed the more than 600 per cent increases in drainage and irrigation, lease and rental fees for farmers as affordable. Clearly, Holder has no clue as to the hardships being faced by the farmers, the people who toil to feed and keep Guyana as one of the few foodsecured developing countries in the world. His colleague, the AG literally deemed farmers as scoundrels, beggars and thieves. The Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, lied that rice farmers never had the markets they now have. They argued that the increased charges were legal and that the hardships of the farmers are not important as they voted against the motion to rescind the increased fees. Only in dictatorships could such utter arrogance and dishonesty be possible.

In the meanwhile, they truncated the debate on the Land Commission that the Amerindians have opposed. In allowing only two speakers before they adjourned the Parliament, the Minister responsible for the welfare of Amerindians stood as a puppet insulting his sisters and brothers for going on a “frolic of their own” in expressing their fears that their legal land titling will be restricted by APNU/AFC. Essentially, the Amerindian people are being told to be silent and one of their own is APNU/AFC’s messenger of wrath.

To top it off, this Monday, the Finance Minister boosted that he collected $20.5 billion in January and February 2017, almost 25 per cent more than January and February 2016. This is no big achievement, not something to boast about when you increase taxes on everything, including water, electricity, health and education. Taxation to fund spending is a backward, regressive policy. Government is supposed to make people’s lives easier and better, not weigh them down with regressive, burdensome taxes, not to be predatory on citizens. Boasting about it is the distinction of dictators.

news

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wednesDAY, may 10, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

MP requests full disclosure 2 arrested for Sophia of blacklisted persons bread vendor’s murder

O

pposition Member of Parliament (MP), Bishop Juan Edghill wants full disclosure on the persons who have been blacklisted from leaving the country by the controversial Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

With much concern, Edghill wrote the Chief Immigrations Officer on May 9, 2017, acting under the provisions of the Access to Information Act of 2011, for details on the identity of the individuals who were reported as being blacklisted from departing the jurisdiction.

According to reports, SOCU has blacklisted over 200 individuals from leaving the country in light of its investigations stemming from some 19 forensic audit reports submitted by

Opposition MP, Bishop Juan Edghill

erations of SOCU – particularly its deviation from its mandate and its perceived political motives.

SOCU was established to probe organised crimes under the Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act but many are of the view that the entity is

SOCU Headquarters

Government.

Reports in another section of the media indicate a “Government source” disclosed that restrictions on travel were instituted to ensure persons who are fingered in acts of wrongdoings remain in the country to answer to the allegations.

Some of the high profile persons under the entity’s radar are former President Bharrat Jagdeo; former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall; former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon; among a slew of other former Government officials.

Time and again, the parliamentary Opposition has raised concerns about the op-

now tasked with conducting political witch-hunting exercises.

The most recent is its investigation and subsequent charges against Nandlall just days after the substantive Attorney General, Basil Williams threatened to have him arrested.

The question of SOCU’s new role came under scrutiny following the death of three persons, including two civilians and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank, after the Army officer was involved in high-speed chase against the family members of former MP, Charles Ramon Jr. Meanwhile, a legal mind explained to Guyana Times

that the blacklisting of those 200 persons was done “unconstitutionally”. It was explained that every Guyanese are guaranteed under the Constitution to leave the country unhindered.

“That right ought not to be interfered with lightly…

Clearly 200 persons have not been charged by SOCU. What that means is that there are dozens of persons who have been blacklisted based upon investigations and/or suspicions,” he stated.

According to the legal expert, in Guyana’s justice system suspicion, even at its highest, is not equal to guilt. To this end, he pointed out that to put persons on a blacklist and prevent them from leaving the country merely because they are under investigation or merely because they are suspected of being involved in some criminal offence is a violation of their constitutional right.

Furthermore, the legal mind went on to outline that when a person is charged with an indictable offence, it can be request that he or she be restricted from leaving the country but even then, the prosecutor must have sound evidence which suggests that the person is a flight risk.

“It is only when there is some evidence and reasonable evidence that the person is leaving the country having been charged with an indictable offence that a person can be restricted from leaving the country. I don’t know what evidence SOUC has but clearly the manner in which this is done is unconstitutional… because when a person is charged, remember, the Constitution also provides that a person is presumed to be innocent until he’s proven guilty. So the mere institution of a charge, at its highest, does not authorise the imposition of a restriction on persons from leaving the country,” the legal expert pointed out.

Miner remanded for Sand Hills fatal stabbing

M

ore than a year after he allegedly killed Richard Culpepper during a drunken brawl at Sand Hills in the Cuyuni- Mazaruni District, a 26-year-old miner of Haslington, East Coast Demerara was on Tuesday charged with the indictable offence of murder when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Jamar Ralph was hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan following his arrest on May 4. It is alleged that he unlawfully killed Culpepper at Sand Hills, Cuyuni River (Region Seven) on February 10, 2016.

According to reports, F Division (Interior Locations) Police apprehended the pork-knocker just last Thursday at Omai, in the Mahdia district (Region Eight). Reports reaching Guyana Times state that Culpepper of One Mile, Potaro, was imbibing alcohol in the company of several persons when an argument ensued between them, turning into a scuffle. The suspect reportedly plunged a knife into the now deceased man’s chest during the altercation, before fleeing into the backlands.

The matter continues on May 31 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Jamar Ralph

A

s investigations continue into the murder of Sophia, Greater Georgetown bread vendor Andre Alexander, Police in C Division (East Coast Demerara) have arrested two suspects.

This was confirmed by Divisional Commander Kevin Adonis.

“We have two persons in custody and they are being questioned in relation to the murder,” the Commander disclosed to Guyana Times on Tuesday.

Asked whether the men in custody are believed to be either or both of the suspects who attacked and killed the vendor last Friday evening, Adonis noted that he could not get into further details as the probe was ongoing.

Alexander, of Lot 394 Section 4, C Field, Sophia, was shot dead by two motor-

Dead: Andre Alexander

cycle bandits at C Field, after which they escaped with an undisclosed sum of money.

The father of two was reportedly shot once to the chest, and succumbed while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Reports received

revealed that the now dead man and his wife were in their shop when the two men approached on a motorcycle and requested three loaves of bread.

The pillion rider took out a $5000 bill to pay and while Alexander was in the process of making change, he whipped out a gun and demanded cash. Upon seeing this, the man’s wife, Beverly Alexander, ran towards their home, which is a stone’s throw away, and raised an alarm.

However, her husband refused to cooperate and the suspect grabbed the money he had in his hand and discharged several rounds in the process. One of the bullets reportedly struck the bread vendor to the chest.

Upon realising that the man was shot, the two young men escaped on the motorcycle.

CCJ orders Guyana to refund $$$ in environmental tax

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he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled that Guyana refund Trinidad-based beverage company, SM Jaleel (SMJ) and its subsidiary in Guyana, Environmental Tax imposed between 2011 and 2015 which can amount to millions of dollars.

CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron on Tuesday ruled that the taxes levied during this period are in violation of the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom) Single Market and Economy rules.

In handing down the ruling, Sir Dennis Byron stated that Guyana has been clearly unjustly “enriched” at the expense of SMJ and GBI (Guyana Beverages Inc), having collected an unlawful tax directly from them in clear breach of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Additionally, Guyana will also have to pay an aggregate sum paid by the company to the Government in Environmental Tax from March 7, 2011 to August 7, 2015 together with interest at four per cent per annum from the date of judgement.

According to Sir Byron, the Environmental Tax did not promote cross-border trade but tended to frustrate free movement of goods, distorted competition and discriminated against the companies which should have been protected as belonging to the Community.

Additionally, Guyana will have to pay 70 per cent of the cost of the court proceedings.

The company had sought to have a refund calculated from January 1, 2006 but a five-year limitation period for settlement of cases was pointed out in the ruling.

“The court holds that a five-year limitation period is appropriate and will protect States from stale claims in respect of which there would

be inherent difficulties in trying to produce documentary or oral evidence.

It will, above all, encourage claimants to file suit in a timely fashion,” Sir Byron said in handing down the

ruling.

Guyana’s legal team was headed by Attorney General Basil Williams, while SM Jaleel was represented by Attorney Hans Lim-A-Po of Suriname.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017

ARCHIE

Be creative when dealing with surprises. Taking the (March 21- time to do something special April 19) for a loved one will be appreciated. A unique relationship will evolve if you discuss your needs.

ARIES

Offer to help someone in TAURUS need and make a point to be (April 20- mindful of others. How you reMay 20) late to others will determine how successful you are and the progress you’ll make.

dilbert

Your emotions will play GEMINI tricks on you. Be careful not (May 21to react too quickly if someJune 20) one does something you deem suspicious. Gather evidence before you point fingers.

An unusual development with someone close to you (June 21- will require attention. Taking July 22) the lead and making a physical gesture will help keep the peace. Women and children will inspire you.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Don’t fight the impossible. You have more going your way than you realise.

Speak up and compromise to get what you want. Travel and communication are encouraged.

You’ll convince others to VIRGO see things your way. Attending (Aug. 23Sept. 22) a business meeting, scheduling an interview or taking a course that will add to your skills or knowledge will bring good results.

A money matter will fare far LIBRA better if you separate your feel(Sept. 23ings from the process. Investing Oct. 23) in your surroundings or something that will affect your living arrangements must be done with intelligence, not your emotions.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

SCORPIO Handle relationship issues (Oct. 24- swiftly. Be open to discussion Nov. 22) of what needs to be done to make things better. Offer suggestions and put your plans in motion.

Keep personal informaSAGITTARIUS tion a secret by protecting your (Nov. 23- passwords and keeping your Dec. 21) feelings, financial concerns or health issues to yourself.

Personal changes look promising, and romance is encouraged.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Your ideas may appear unCAPRICORN orthodox to some, but once de(Dec. 22- veloped, they will come across Jan. 19) as genius. Spend time working out the details in the privacy of your home. Domestic changes are encouraged.

Deal with matters conAQUARIUS cerning institutions and for(Jan. 20eign affairs diplomatically.

Feb. 19) You’ll have to use your ingenuity to come up with a plan that will not result in ramifications affecting others.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES An idea you have can be (Feb. 20- taken to the next level. Call in March 20) favors if it will help you move forward faster. An unexpected encounter will turn into a joint venture.

wednesDAY, May 10, 2017

T

he first ever Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA) A-Division Volleyball League is set to begin on May 21 and is expected to run into July.

The official launching took place last evening at the 704 Sports Bar. Top and emerging contenders will clash for a first prize of $150,000 and a trophy with runners up receiving $75,000 and $50,000 plus trophies respectively while the Female champions will receive $125,000 with runners up will receive $75,000 and $50,000 and trophies.

In his opening remarks, President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), John Flores, noted that it is a welcome sign that one of the sponsors of the tournament, Office of the Prime Minister (O.P.M) is showing an interest in volleyball. Flores took note of the fact that the tournament would not be limited

19

teams to compete in STAG sponsored inaugural DVA League to Georgetown, but would be played in various parts of the country.

He concluded by thank-

Meanwhile, Raymond Hall, speaking on behalf of O.P.M, noted that “they are quite pleased” to be a part

pects co-operation and social cohesion among the various teams taking part in the league.

The Guyana Volleyball Federation officials, players and sponsors at the launching of the inaugural A-Division Volleyball League

ing the various sponsors for coming on board this historic venture.

of the league, he continued that with volleyball being a team sport, the O.P.M ex-

He pointed out that the O.P.M is looking to the future with an eye on the 2020

Olympic Games bearing in mind that there is lots of potential in volleyball for Guyana to be represented; he promised that the O.P.M will be supporting GVF in any possible way to create the development of volleyball in Guyana.

Linden Henry, the Brand Manager for Stag, Ansa McCal also shared the same sentiment, noting that the Beverage giant is not looking at the sponsorship of the tournament at face value but rather is looking at it as a venture. He noted that while there has been a challenge in the past to bring out fans to games, Stag does not intend to have a “flat” tournament. He urged fans to come out and support the league while pledging that they will be giving out prizes to patrons.

President of the Demerara Volleyball Association, Trevor Williams, who is the brain behind the initiative, said;

“today is special because we have been trying to get volleyball organized throughout the year”. He expressed admiration at the brevity of all parties responsible for the decision taken to structure development in the sport.

Williams thanked the sponsors for setting the sport on an upward course and said that he hoped for consistency from the players in the league.

The Castrol Strikers’ male and female teams along with Van Guards (Females), Demerara U-19s (Male), Young Achievers (Males), St Cuthbert’s (Females), the Bartica Warriors and Linden Females will be competing in a league format from May 21. The Finals are expected to be played in Bartica sometime in July.

Matches will be played at venues in Linden, Bartica, West Coast Demerara and Georgetown.

Murray beats Copil

Stag Elite League...

Buxton aiming to surge ahead to reach 3rd round after clash against Monedderlust

W

B

ottom of the table Monedderlust FC will take on Buxton FC tonight as action continues in the Stag Elite League (Season 2).

This matchup (Match 18) was originally scheduled for April 2 but did not kick off due to logistical challenges experienced by one of the teams. The game starts at 18:30hrs tonight and will be played at the Tucville Ground.

Both teams are hunting a win to increase their standings in the league with Buxton United in fourth position with nine points while Monedderlust is at the bottom of the table with three points from one win.

Monedderlust has been aggressive in the opening minutes of games but tend to fade in the latter stages of their games and in the process gives up crucial goals to their opposition, this has sorely contributed to them being stuck at the bottom of the table.

Meanwhile, Buxton could move into third place with a win tonight which will put them in strong contention to cop a play-off spot as the league tapers down to its end.

Keen contest expected tonight between bottom of the table Monedderlust and fourth place Buxton United

Patrons attending games will be given a chance to win fabulous prizes at every game including family meals compliments of Church’s Chicken, Polo jerseys/caps compliments of Jialing, Impressions and the Guyana Football Federation, while cash vouchers and Gillette hampers are being given away compliments of Ansa Mcal.

The grand patron prize will be a JIALING 250cc motorcycle compliments of Automobile Power Products. Admission to each game remains at $500.

orld number one Andy Murray progressed to the third round of the Madrid Open with a straight-set victory over Romanian Marius Copil.

The 29-year-old Briton, who had a first-round bye, won 6-4 6-3.

Murray was not at his best early on but broke world number 104 Copil at 5-4 to take the first set and pounced again at 3-2 in the second.

He will face Croat Borna Coric or Frenchman PierreHugues Herbert in the last 16.

Following his victory, Murray told BBC Sport: “The last few weeks my serve hasn’t gone particularly well.

“Obviously when I was

coming back from my elbow injury that was the one thing that I wasn’t able to practise in my time off and that showed a bit in my matches.

“I was broken six times in one match, seven in another.

I wanted to come here, serve a little bit better and I did that today.

“Today was the start and I have to get better, but at least I gave myself the chance to play another match in a couple of days. It is a very, very important period of the year.”

It was a solid display from Murray against a potentially dangerous opponent as he

Andy Murray

prepares for the French Open, which starts on 28 May. Copil will move into the world’s top 100 next week, and the 6ft 4in Romanian was the more aggressive player in the first set.

It took Murray until the 10th game to break his serve, and he finally prevailed through attacking Copil’s shaky backhand.

The Briton looked far more focused in the second set as he wrapped up victory in one hour and 23 minutes - with just nine unforced errors and without facing a break point. (BBCSPORT)

GCB/Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company U-19

Familiar faces in powerful Berbice squad A fter several training sessions, the Berbice Cricket Board released its 14-member squad to compete in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board/Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company Under-19 cricket competitions, scheduled to start on May 17.

The full team reads: Adrian Sukwah, Steve Deonarine, Matthew Hardyal, Daniel Samaroo, Emmanuel Seecharran, Sylus Tyndall, Raymond Vanker ic, Deon Sinclair, Kevin

Kevin Sinclair

Sinclair, Sasenarine Sukhoo, Javid Karim, Karan Arjpaul, Keith Simpson and Veramootoo Senwasane.

The reserves players are: Ezekiel Kempadoo, Joshua Harrichand, Zameer Inshaan Nazeer, Antonio February, Trevon Caesar, Junior Williams and Kris Ramnarine.

The Ancient County side is strong contenders to win the title.

They will come up against defending champions Demerara, the National u-17 select and Essequibo.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017

Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders…

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Tewatia, Mohit keep Kings XI alive

Sunil Narine (18) was h e IPL first to fall with Knight playo f f Riders 39 runs into their chase is still alive chase, while Lynn stood following a vict o r y firm to rack up 84 from 52 for Kolkata Knight Riders deliveries opposite a rotatover Kings XI Punjab. ing cast of disappointing Chris Lynn’s 84 was not batting partners. enough to prevent Kolkata Gautam Gambhir (8), Knight Riders falling to a Robin Uthappa (0) and 14-run defeat at Kings XI Manish Pandey (18) all Punjab on Tuesday, keeping came and went before Lynn the IPL play-off chase alive was eventually run out two for the time being. balls into the 18th over.

Victory for Knight Colin de Grandhomme Riders would have locked in (11) and Woakes (8) were the competition’s top four, in the middle at the end, with Kings XI the only team but the visitors had been able to force left with too much to do and their way into must wait for their passage a play-off poto the play-offs.

(Sportsmax) sition.

However, Kings XI kept their hopes of knockout cricket alive, now sitting three points adrift of Sunrisers Hyderabad with two matches left to play one more than the current fourth-placed team.

Knight Riders need just one more point to be sure of qualification to the playoffs.

Kings XI set their visitors a challenging target thanks to notable contributions from Manan Vohra (25), Wriddhiman Saha (38) and Glenn Maxwell (44).

Chris Woakes (2-20) and Kuldeep Yadav (234) shared four wickets for Knight Riders and the team’s initial efforts at the crease were promising, after Kings XI had Chris Lynn on the go during his 52-ball 84 © BCCI racked up 167-6.

FIFA to investigate Pogba’s move to Manchester United

Rahul Tewatia removed Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa on his debut game for Kings XI Punjab © BCCI

SCOREBOARD

Kings XI Punjab innings (20 overs maximum) M Guptill lbw b Narine 12 M Vohra c †Uthappa b Yadav 25 S Marsh b Woakes 11 W Saha† st †Uthappa b 38 Kuldeep Yadav G Maxwell* c Woakes b Kuldeep Yadav 44 A Patel not out 8 Swapnil Singh b Woakes 2 15 R Tewatia not out Extras (b 2, lb 4, w 6) 12 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 167 Did not bat: MJ Henry, MM Sharma, Sandeep Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Vohra, 4.5 ov), 2-41 (Guptill, 5.5 ov), 3-56 (Marsh, 8.3 ov), 4-127 (Maxwell, 15.3 ov), 5-146 (Saha, 17.5 ov), 6-149 (Swapnil Singh, 18.2 ov) Bowling: U Yadav 3-0-261 (2w), C de Grandhomme 4-0-37-0 (2w), Narine 4-027-1, Woakes 4-0-20-2 (1w), Rajpoot 2-0-17-0, Kuldeep Yadav 3-0-34-2 (1w)

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 168 runs from 20 overs) S Narine b Sharma 18 C Lynn run out (Patel/†Saha) 84 G Gambhir*c Marsh b Tewatia 8 R Uthappa† c Patel b Tewatia 0 18 M Pandey c Patel b Henry C de Grandhomme not out 11 Y Pathan c Maxwell b Sharma 2 8 C Woakes not out 4 Extras (lb 2, w 2) Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 153 Did not bat: UT Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, AS Rajpoot Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Narine, 3.4 ov), 2-78 (Gambhir, 9.3 ov), 3-79 (Uthappa, 9.5 ov), 4-131 (Pandey, 17.1 ov), 5-132 (Lynn, 17.2 ov), 6-139 (Pathan, 18.1 ov) Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-031-0, Henry 3-0-31-1, M Sharma 3-0-24-2, Patel 4-0-28-0 , Tewatia 4-0-18-2 (1w), Swapnil Singh 2-0-19-0 (1w)

Pogba had world-record £89 million transfer from Juventus to Manchester United

F

IFA are investigating Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United after details of the transfer were leaked.

Paul Pogba’s world-record transfer to Manchester United will be investigated

by FIFA. Alleged details of Pogba’s £89million switch to Old Trafford from Juventus were leaked earlier this week.

Documents purportedly

relating to the France international’s move showed that his agent Mino Raiola stood to benefit to the tune of £41m off the deal.

A FIFA spokesperson told Omnisport: “We can confirm that FIFA TMS (Transfer Matching System) has been requesting information on this matter.

“We have no further comment at this stage.”

(Sportsmax)

Froome ‘rammed on

purpose’ by car in France

Alves leads Juventus charge into Champions League final

J

uventus secured simple passage to their second Champions League final in three years as a 2-1 win over Monaco secured a 4-1 aggregate win.

Dani Alves orchestrated another brilliant Juventus performance in this season’s Champions League as a 2-1 win over Monaco on home turf secured a 4-1 aggregate triumph and a place in the final.

Juventus’ half-decade dominance of Serie A is yet to translate into success on the continental stage, but the Bianconeri have never looked better placed to win a third European crown than Massimiliano Allegri’s current crop do.

Along with Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic, Alves is one of just three players in this squad to have won the big trophy and the Brazilian followed up two assists at Stade Louis II with another star turn, helping Mandzukic to the nerve-settling opener before blasting in before the break to allow 45 minutes of joyous celebrating and frantic seeking of hostelries in Cardiff.

Kylian Mbappe’s zip and zeal was rewarded with a second-half goal that rounds off a stunning debut season for the 18-year-old. Though Monaco’s brilliant babes will not share a European crown before they are sold off to the highest bidder, they are tantalisingly close to the Ligue 1 crown, and surely the likes of Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar and Mbappe will have greater tales to tell in this competition over the next decade.

But those prodigies and their wise old figurehead Radamel Falcao barely laid a glove on Juve over two legs and the determined, drilled - and occasionally dastardly - trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will

Dani Alves

relish a showpiece battles of ‘BBC’ line-ups, with Real Madrid - of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano - 3-0 up on neighbours Atletico in the other semi-final.

The Juve defence is still to be breached from open play in this season’s competition and, having played the underdog to Barcelona two years ago, Allegri’s stronger, slicker side may well head to the Welsh capital as favourites this time around.

Defiance rumbled down from the stands pre-match as the home fans bellowed ‘CHAMPIONS’ amid the prematch anthem and a ‘Time for Cardiff’ banner greeted the players out of the tunnel and a nervy opening was ridden out in typically stubborn fashion.

Gianluigi Buffon stretched out a tweaked back in the warm-up and flapped at an early cross before Mbappe beat him to a high ball and struck a post amid the raising of an offside flag and there were further signs of danger for Juve when

Khedira twanged a hamstring and had to be replaced by Claudio Marchisio.

But as the storm passed, Juventus thundered back into the contest, Kamil Glik and Danijel Subasic desperately denying Gonzalo Higuain and Mandzukic before the Croatian striker finally found a way through. As in the first leg, Alves found the key to unlock Monaco, his pin-perfect cross finding Mandzukic, who lashed high into the net after Subasic brilliantly denied his initial header. Juve smelled blood and Higuain was denied a goal by the assistant’s flag before Chiellini celebrated a geometrically thrilling goalline clearance as if he had scored - soon the stadium would do so again. Subasic denied Paulo Dybala one-on-one but was left flailing when he punched the resulting corner onto Alves’ right boot and the three-time Champions League winner returned with interest, smashing a laser-guided volley into the net.

Buffon was beginning to look unbeatable as he sprawled to deny Mbappe one-on-one but the teenager would have his goal soon after as he turned in from inches after Joao Moutinho got to the byline from a short corner.

Higuain was left enraged after collecting some war wounds from former Torino defender Glik as the visitors grew tetchy in the closing stages, but the Argentine will recover for another assault on a major final where he will look to improve on a desperate record with Argentina.

Poorer omens follow in Juve last beating Monaco at this stage of the Champions League before losing to Real Madrid in the 1998 final, but Allegri’s vintage are made of the stern stuff required to turn history on its head. (Sportsmax)

Chris Froome defended his Tour de France title by winning the 2016 race

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hree-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome claims he was “rammed” by a car driver while out training in southern France - but says he “wasn’t hurt”.

The Briton, who rides for Team Sky, posted a picture on Twitter of his damaged bike and reported the incident to local police.

“Just got rammed on purpose by an impatient driver who followed me onto the pavement!” the 31-year-old wrote.

“Thankfully I’m okay.

Bike totalled. Driver kept going!”

The picture Froome posted was geotagged from Beausoleil in France,

which is near his Monaco home.

Froome is not taking part in the current Giro d’Italia but is likely to race in June’s traditional weeklong Tour de France warmup event, the Criterium du Dauphine, which he has won three times.

This year’s Tour de France takes place from 1-23 July and Froome will be aiming to win the event for a fourth time and third in a row.

The incident follows the death of Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi after he was involved in a collision with a van during a training ride in April. (BBC)

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wednesdAY, may 10, 2017

ISG/EBDCA T20….

W

ith logistical deficiencies last Sunday at the Den Amstel Community where the tournament was set to kick off, tonight the organizers has committed to kick off the 3rd Edition of the Stag\ WDFA | Derrick Josiah Knockout Football tournament today with weather permitting.

The Tournament which will see the top eight clubs in the West Demerara Football Association participating.

The opening fixture Den Amstel FC will be home to Stewartville FC while the feature match will see FC Eagles facing Young Achievers FC; first match kicks-off at 18:00 hrs.

ISG representative hands over a sponsorship cheque worth $100,000 to Acting President of EBDCA, Rohan Sarjoo in the presence of other ISG and EBDCA representatives as well as members from participating teams and Eccles-Nandy Park NDC and GCB Territorial Development Officer Colin Stuart

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ast Bank Demerara will be laced with cricket action, from the suburb village of Ruimveldt to Laluni and continuing on to Linden.

This is only possible due to the kind compliments of Industrial Supply of Guyana Inc. (ISG) which is a subsidiary of Macorp.

The industrial supply entity collaborated with the East Bank of Demerara Cricket Association for this venture which promises to be a competitive one that will expose talent, especially from the East Bank and Upper Demerara.

The tournament was launched on Tuesday in the conference room of ISG located at Nandy Park. It will see all the registered clubs on the East Bank vying for top honours starting on

I

Saturday once the weather permits.

ISG Manager Natasha Ali said her entity is very pleased to be associated with this event because sports bring unity despite social indifference. “ISG is especially pleased to be a part of this sponsorship not only because it gives ISG mileage, but most importantly because sports bring everybody together regardless of one’s culture, religion or political background.”

In addition she said she is elated that the EBDCA could organize this event to keep the youths occupied doing something constructive.

Meanwhile Acting President of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association, Rohan Sarjoo, welcomed the sponsorship

stating it would put an ease on executives who had to stand the cost of tournaments for the past two years. “I’m proud to be here today and thanking ISG and Sterling Products for sponsoring this competition.

East Bank for the last two years, the burden, as everyone may know has been solely on the association.”

He said several national players came from the East Bank area thus he urged other businesses to hop onboard like ISG and Sterling Products.

Sarjoo also informed those gathered at the launch that the tournament will be used to select East Bank Franchise team for the Jaguars Franchise League.

The fixture will soon be released for the tournament.

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West Indies batting Coach Toby Radford

est Indies batting coach Toby Radford does not believe the team needs to make special plans to deal with mesmerizing Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah.

Shah has been the scourge of the Windies batsmen so far, particularly in the second innings where has claimed a total of 13

─ to be used for ground maintenance

n its latest drive to ensure cricket associations are well equipped with the necessary resources in their districts, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) through its structural development programme presented a Honda Brush Cutter to Rohan Sarjoo, Acting President of the East Bank Cricket Association yesterday in the conference room of Industrial Supply of Guyana Inc. As done in other critical locations across the country, the brush cutter was given for the intended purpose of maintaining training and playing facilities. In this case, the target location is the East Bank Cricket Association jurisdiction.

According to a press release that reached this pub-

GCB Territorial Development Officer Colin Stuart (right) hands over the brush cutter to representatives of EBDCA in the presence of cricketers from the East Bank District

FC Eagles coach Kerron Schmidt in a previous interview with Guyana Times Sport highlighted that his team will be looking for a win against Young Achievers Fc since his side is prepared and focus towards their objective.

However, this is not being accepted by Adio Wright the coach of Young Achievers FC indicated that it will be a really good match to witness.

FC Eagles has a great young group of players who has come through the ranks in senior football in the WDFA and has proven themselves not to be taken lightly.

wickets so far. The leg spinner’s 7 for 94 seemed to have put Pakistan in a commanding position in the second Test, after removing the last four batsmen for 30 runs. Radford believes, however, that the resilience shown in the second Test could be enough to see the team past the experience bowler in the final Test.

“He’s a world class performer and he’s probably taken wickets all around the world against every side. He utilizes the rough very well, they have left arm seamers that create rough so he obviously bowls into that a lot and I think we have to play him the way we did in Barbados,” Radford said.

“I thought Rolston Chase was exceptional I think Shai (Hope) the way he batted against him was brilliant, but again we have to knuckle down and do the same because I am sure he is going to get a lot of overs and we know that traditionally here (Dominica) it does get spin and bounce. I have no doubt he is going to put a few overs in and it’s just for us to combat that.” (Sportsmax)

lication yesterday evening, the President of the East Bank Cricket Association, Anand Kalladeen, who is also a member of the GCB executive, was very instrumental in formulating a strategic ground development plan.

The conceptualization of the brush cutter was derived from such a plan, where this valuable donation, is expected to be of tremendous benefit to the EBCA. “The GCB hopes that this contribution will assist the EBCA in delivering their duties and responsibilities in a more efficient manner, and that the players will be the main beneficiary of such a donation. The GCB notes, that the EBCA has plans to commence their 2017 T/20 from Saturday, 13

May 2017, ( a period in which rain is predicted), and as such, anxiously look forward for great reviews as to meaningful use of the brush cutter”, the release informed.

It further stated; “This timely and valuable contribution is a demonstration of the GCB’s continued effort to collaboratively organize, develop and promote cricket in Guyana, and the GCB feels privileged to work with Associations, Committees and Counties who places heavy emphasis on Guyana’s cricket development and promotion.”

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, may 10, 2017

Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile Cup Test Series …

23

Series at stake for inconsistent Windies & Pakistan

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o n v e n tional wisdom, and much of the second Test, suggested that Pakistan would have wrapped up the series by this Shannon Gabriel stage, and the mood around Misbah-ulHaq and Younis Khan's retirements would have reached peak crescendo.

However, Pakistan crumbled in a tame surrender in Bridgetown on the fifth day, and West Indies levelled the series. As such, it is a different narrative that grips Dominica: can Pakistan finally win a Test series in the Caribbean?

West Indies are basking in the glow of one of their sweetest wins in the recent past, coming back repeatedly to overpower, and ultimately blow away, a team many expected to be too strong for them. Shannon Gabriel ripped through Pakistan on the final day. Several West Indies batsmen also made contributions under pressure, and they have now won two of their last three Tests against Pakistan.

However, no one knows which West Indies side will turn up at Windsor Park. Pakistan will be well aware of that if they've finally recovered from the sucker-punch of what happened on the final day at the Kensington Oval. Mickey Arthur's side, however, largely dominat-

ed the second Test, and were just a cracked pitch and frayed nerves away from taking an unassailable lead.

After more than three years out of the Test side, Devendra Bishoo cannot complain about not being granted an extended run. What will concern West Indies is that the legspinner hasn't evolved much. Being sidelined in favour of Sunil Narine and Shane Shillingford wouldn't have helped, but a bowler of Bishoo's calibre should not look for justifications; he should look for wickets. With only five wickets at an average of 48.20 this series, Bishoo will be hungry to make amends.

With Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq walking out for a Test for the last time in their careers, that subplot is likely to be seared across the history of this Test for decades. With the spotlight on their contributions, class, and legacy, and the opposition possibly preparing guards of honour when they come out to bat, players with a flair for showmanship might find themselves distracted. Misbah and Younis aren't such players, but all eyes will be on them nonetheless.

Windsor Park is a young Test venue, having hosted only four games since its inauguration in 2009.

Spinners have been fairly prolific in those contests.

Rain is expected to play spoilsport, with showers forecast on four of the five days. However, weather patterns can be fleeting in the Caribbean.

West Indies' squad is unchanged from the side that guided them to the euphoria of the win in Bridgetown, and are unlikely to change that combination.

On the other hand, Pakistan made the brave call of giving Shadab Khan a debut in the second Test. With one wicket for 145 across two innings, the Shadab's debut wasn't as electric as his maiden outings in the limited-overs formats. Misbah might prefer to go back to his tried and tested formula, of three seamers and Yasir Shah.

The first ball is expected to bowl-off today 10:00 hrs.

GCUC hosting fundraiser at Blairmont on Sunday

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he Blairmont Cricket Club will be hosting its inaugural umpires’ cup fundraiser on Sunday at the Blairmont Community Development Centre Ground, in aid of the Guyana Cricket Umpire Council (GCUC).

The day’s event will comprise of 10/10 cricket, which feature D’ Edward Super Kings, Blairmont Blazers, Shieldstown Rangers, Young and the Restless, Bmont Titans and

No 48 Challengers.

There will be a domino competition, checkers and volleyball. Interested individuals for Domino and Volleyball can contact Shabeer Baksh on telephone numbers 628-6767 and 6275215 for more information.

Other attractions include-BBQ sales, tassa drumming, ice cream giveaway, live commentary and Cartoon Character walk around

The GCUC will be seeking to send six members including President Dhieranidranauth Somwaru and former international umpire Eddie Nicholls to an umpire convention in Jamaica from July 1-8.

Participants of the convention will come from Canada, USA, and the Caribbean cricket territories. The cost per person is estimated to be US$1680.

Yasir Shah

Woodpecker Junior Squash tournament serves off today W

Former international umpire Eddie Nicholls (left) and GCUC President Dhieranidranauth Somwaru

(Cricinfo) West Indies Squad: Jason H o l d e r (Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, M i g u e l Cummins, S h a n e Dowrich, S h a n n o n G a b r i e l , Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph Kieran Powell, and Vishaul Singh.

Pakistan Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk & vice-capt), Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad A s g h a r , Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.

ith logistical deficiencies last Sunday at the Den Amstel Community where the tournament was set to kick off, tonight the organizers has committed to kick off the 3rd Edition of the Stag\ WDFA | Derrick Josiah Knockout Football tournament today with weather permitting.

The Tournament which will see the top eight clubs in the West Demerara Football Association participating.

The opening fixture Den Amstel Many of the young squash players will want to make a name for themselves FC will be home ahead of the Caribbean Championships to Stewartville FC ing for a win against Young match to witness. while the feature match will Achievers Fc since his side FC Eagles has a great see FC Eagles facing Young is prepared and focus to- young group of players Achievers FC; first match wards their objective. who has come through the kicks-off at 18:00 hrs.

However, this is not ranks in senior football in FC Eagles coach Kerron being accepted by Adio the WDFA and has proven Schmidt in a previous in- Wright the coach of Young themselves not to be taken terview with Guyana Achievers FC indicated lightly.

Times Sport highlighted that it will be a really good that his team will be look-

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile Cup Test Series …

Pg 23

Series at stake for inconsistent Windies & Pakistan History beckons in the final of the Q Mobile Cup Test Series

ISG/ EBDCA T20….

Pg 22

“Top performers could earn spot on East Bank Franchise”─ Sarjoo EBDCA Acting President Rohan Sarjoo (second left) in the presence of ISG and EBDCA representatives as well as members from participating teams and Eccles-Nandy Park NDC and GCB Territorial Development Officer Colin Stuart

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