Binder1

Budget Day is now Nov 28

P7

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wife, husband hack each other to death guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3042

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Troops on the streets will not dispel P2 public’s safety fears – Rohee

Page 9

Surujbally to leave helm of GECOM

ECD man shot, relieved of motorcycle

Page 2

$80 vat included

Page 12

Serial robber slapped with 6 counts of armed P8 robbery Preparations in full swing for PPP’s Congress P9

Stop it! TIGI calls for end to politicising of crime P7

3 nabbed after highspeed Police chase

Page 7

One of the suspects nabbed by Police after the high-speed chase

Police launch Christmas security plan Page 3

– increase foot, vehicle patrols for city

Friends jailed for wounding P11 man …claim victim did not uphold his end of a deal

2 news

tuesDAY, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Surujbally to leave helm of GECOM C

hairman of the Guyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) Dr Steve Surujbally has indicated his intentions to demit office before the end of the year.

Deputy GECOM Chairman Dr Vishnu Persaud confirmed to Guyana Times that his senior recently indicated to the Commission his intentions to leave the organisation but cautioned that an indication is not a definitive resignation.

Dr Surujbally currently on vacation is expected to demit office on November 30.

The GECOM Chair already wrote to the government about his desire to resign and had recommended a raft of measures of reform.

He had told the media that he has been expressing his desire to demit office

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

since 2006.

Dr Surujbally has been at the helm of GECOM since 2001.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has called for the resignation of Surujbally in wake of their strong belief that he supervised a rigged electoral process last year. During a press conference on Monday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee expressed

concerns that since proceeding on leave, meetings of GECOM have not been held to deal with substantive issues save for one meeting to address administrative matters relating to the on-going continuous registration.

“Letters have been written by members of GECOM to Dr Surujbally requesting the convening of GECOM meetings to discuss matters of strategic impor-

tance to the work of the Commission,” he stated.

When asked, Rohee said he was not in a position to disclose if the Party has deliberated on its nominees for the imminent vacant position of GECOM Chairman.

Nonetheless, PPP/ C-nominated GECOM Commissioners have already indicated their readiness to submit nominees for a new Chairman to President David Granger.

Observer missions of the Commonwealth, Carter Centre and Organisation of American States have long urged that a new mechanism be developed to select and appoint the commission from a list of non-political persons.GECOM is the entity that is responsible for the administration and conduct of elections in Guyana. (Devina Samaroo)

Troops on the streets will not dispel public’s safety fears – Rohee

G

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

overnment’s latest tactic to deploy the army on a mission to address the crime situation and a “potential domestic security threat” will not dispel the growing fears of Guyanese over their safety and security.

This is according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee, who believes Guyanese will never feel safe again unless they begin to see concrete evidence that law enforcement is controlling the crime con-

gling to recall that while the APNU was in the Opposition, it knew exactly what had to be done to address the crime situation in our country. But now that it is in the Government, it is at its wits’ end not knowing what to do to quell the surge in crime,” he stated.

In a statement on Friday, Government said it would be deploying the army to conduct exercises in conjunction with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to address the crime situation and a potential domes-

Joint Services officers during routine operations

tagion ravaging the country.

During a press conference on Monday, Rohee once again lambasted the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration for failing to put an end to the crime wave.

“The Granger Administration is clearly overwhelmed by the crime situation, which has spiralled out of control, forcing them to admit by their very actions, that they have failed the people on this front. The continuous bombardment of speeches, lectures and pontifications and lamentations by Government spokespersons will not solve the problem,” he stated, expressing some pleasure, however, that the Government has finally “woken up from its slumber”.

The former Home Affairs Minister, who was highly criticised by APNU and the AFC for his management of the sector, reminded the very persons that they had boasted of having the solutions to significantly reduce crime in the country.

“It is indeed mind-bog-

tic security threat, but did not elaborate on these operations.

However, Rohee believes that these efforts by the Administration will not dispel the fears of Guyanese.

“Messrs Granger’s and Ramjattan’s attempts to allay the growing fears and anxieties of Guyanese over their safety and security will not succeed by telling them that they have ‘nothing to worry about’, nor ‘to be alarmed’, nor to ‘be patient’. Nor will Guyanese be assured that they will not be robbed in their homes, place of work or on the streets by ‘putting troops in targeted areas to allay their fears and to help arrest the crime situation’,” he said.

Rohee contended that “all of this will fall on deaf ears unless the people begin to see tangible and sustainable results from efforts by law enforcement to bring the crime situation under control”.

The good life, which the APNU/AFC coalition says Guyanese are entitled to will not be realised with the “constant loss of life, limb and/or property”, Rohee pointed out.

news

3

tuesDAY, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 15 –05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, November 16 –05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 15 –16:35h-18:05h and Wednesday, November 16 –05:30h-07:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light to heavy rain showers will prevail throughout the day, while cloudy skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South to East North-easterly ranging from 0.68 metre to 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 04:44h and 16:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.84 metres and 2.98 metres.

Low Tide: 10:33h and 23:00h reaching minimum heights of 0.40 metre and 0.25 metre.

saturday, november 12, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

05 06 13 20 23 25 17 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Monday, November 14, 2016

Daily Millions

07 09 14 16 23 LUCKY 3 4

4

3

8

Afternoon Draw

Draw De Line 05 08 12 13 14

2

9

Evening Draw

15 18

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

Police launch Christmas security plan – increase foot, vehicle patrols for city

W

ith the Christmas season almost here, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday laid out what it said was its security plan for the period between November 15 and January 15, 2017.

The security plan entails strategies to be taken by the Force that will counter any plans by criminal elements to take away the joy and peace of the Christmas season.

Not only will officers in A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) be doing their best to prevent the possible rise in crime during this period, but steps will also be taken by the Traffic Department to monitor traffic flow, which is bound to build up during this time.

A Division Commander Clifton Hicken said there would be an increase in foot and vehicle patrols around the city, particularly at hot spots such as banks, hotels, night spots and other business places.

The Division will also continue what has been described as social crime prevention, which has seen many recent successes, and will coordinate with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to target other hotspots.

Patrols

“What is important to note is that foot patrols will be working between 07:00h and 13:00h and 12:00h to 19:00h each day so we will have an in-

ing the youths; it has been decentralised to all divisions. We’ve been growing in terms of capacity. We started out with Impact Albouystown, and now we have 15 youth groups. But not just the youth groups, we have brought back trust because the parents of those groups give us in excess of 1000 children and have trusted the Police to send their children out, and this is very

Security officers at the launch of the Christmas security plan

flux of Police. Motorcycles and vehicle patrols will be on a 24-hour basis from the 22nd to the 25th of (December), and days that follow,” he said, adding that during the period, section commanders will have the responsibility of ensuring that their ranks are posted on time, given directions to ensure no misconduct and have their meals so that they could focus on duty.

“Markets will be targeted, suspected drug houses will be targeted,” he told the media at the launch.

Hicken said it was very necessary for A Division to coordinate with D Division (West Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) since the Harbour Bridge, and particularly the Demerara River, separates the two.

Also C Division (East Coast Demerara) requires partnership, as the Force places special focus on Dennis Street, Sophia. He

said much could be accomplished by the partnership approach and networking during this period.

Partnerships

A Division has also been partnering with the City Constabulary, Hicken reported, to ensure that incidents of crime are minimised in the markets as well. Constables have also been helpful in apprehending persons who have been soliciting passengers.

In addition, the Commander said the City would again be divided into various sectors, with senior officers heading each division.

Speaking on the inroads made by the Division in addressing the crime situation, Hicken spoke of many partnerships with community and faith-based organisations to meet particularly the youth in selected areas.

“We have been engag-

A Division Commander Clifton Hicken

important since dealing with the children has given the Police Force a much greater and effective avenue to get its information out,” the Commander said.

He said the open door policy which the Force has was also sending a clear message to the public that it was part of civil society and they must work together.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 15, 2016

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

Editorial

Education and diabetes

A

s World Diabetes Day 2016 was observed today under the theme “Eyes on Diabetes”, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings had announced that a week of activities was planned, with special focus on eye care for patients with diabetes.

She also announced that the Public Health Ministry was working closely with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to observe World Diabetes Day and to bring awareness about the disease. Moreover, emphasis will be placed on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis.

While awareness is integral to tackling the disease, longterm education is the primary medium to ensuring the success of any planned programme or initiative.

Diabetes education is the cornerstone of diabetes management, because diabetes requires day-to-day knowledge of nutrition, exercise, monitoring, and medication.

Diabetes is unlike other diseases, such as cholesterol and hypertension, where medication alone can oftentimes successfully treat it. There are a lot of other components to diabetes, such as: the diabetes disease process, nutritional management, physical activity, medications, glucose monitoring, and psychosocial adjustment.

Diabetes education will make society more aware of the disease, what it takes to treat it, and it will give those afflicted the power to control it. Education allows individuals to better incorporate the necessary changes into their lives and make the necessary strides to improve their lifestyle.

Indeed, a collaborative effort is needed; education and self-management training should be done with a team.

In the group setting, persons may feel more comfortable because people have the same concerns, they can share their experiences and frustrations, and hear answers to questions they may not have considered. Indeed, everyone’s lifestyle is different; therefore, physicians should ensure that diabetes’ self-management goals should not only be individualised, but also measurable and achievable.

Diabetes education is an ongoing process that should be part of any long-term health care plan to manage the disease.

Diabetes education will, in turn, give patients and sufferers the power to control the disease rather than let it control them.

Another crucial component is access to appropriate healthcare services for which the Ministry should be commended. The annual event is coordinated by the International Diabetes Federation.

The Public Health Ministry and the GPHC have been collaborating with the World Diabetes Foundation, University of Toronto and Orbis International in the establishment of the Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy Programme.

The Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy Programme will introduce for the first time in Guyana easy access for all diabetics to have their eyes screened for diabetic eye complications. Usually, diabetics begin to have changes in their eyes and are not aware of these changes. The only method of detecting these changes in the past was an annual eye examination by an ophthalmologist.

The GPHC will now be introducing a modern method of detecting eye complications. That is to have digital retinal photos taken of the inside of the eye. These photos will then be read by highly trained eye-care professionals who will then grade the stage of retinopathy.

This programme is also being developed to offer laser treatment to patients. Over the past two years, this project has been developed and put into place at the GPHC’s Eye Clinic and is being led by the Head of the Ophthalmology Department, Dr Shailendra Sugrim.

The main donor is the World Diabetes Foundation, which helped to procure expensive retinal cameras, ophthalmological examination instruments and, also for the first time in the public system, a retinal laser to treat patients who have severe diabetic eye complications. The fight against the disease should be a collaborative effort and one that is approached from various angles to get optimum results.

Patrons at the 11th Annual Rockstone Fish Festival on Sunday learning the art of roasting fish in Linden, Region 10 at the picturesque community of Rockstone (Utamu Belle photo)

TIGI exposed a disposition to ignore historical facts

Dear Editor, The Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) released a statement on the current crime situation and local responses to the situation – and in doing so TIGI exposed a disposition to ignore historical facts and the multiplicity of views that have been expressed on the matter by recognised local activists.

TIGI contends that, “To put crime into perspective, we need to view trends over long periods. Show trends over, say the last ten or twenty years, disaggregating the data in various ways to provide more meaningful overviews. TIGI would be more than happy to lend a hand if necessary… this will bring the needed transparency to the murky and untrustworthy crime statistics.”

Statistics, in the absence of context, unfortunately, will not support the development and implementation of crime prevention plans.

It was Eusi Kwayana, who noted in his book ‘The Morning After’, that the crime wave, which marked parts of the last two decades, represented “a criminal political movement.” His book, not only documented criminal activities, but also brought into focus some “known masterminds” who

were integrally involved and who had precursory knowledge of the arming of youths in Buxton. The book also detailed public statements made by political leaders like former President Desmond Hoyte and he drew the nexus between crime and actions that capitalized on the racialpolitical divide in Guyana. It was Kwayana who recorded for posterity the fact that it was Hoyte who expressed the PNCR’s full solidarity with gun-wielding during those periods.

According to TIGI, “No government of Guyana has been able to stop crime in the last twenty years, hence, no contemporary Guyanese politician or political party can sincerely lay claim to the solution to crime.”

The organisation again ignores facts, specifically that it was the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government that guided Guyana through a period of violent crimes, secured international support and were the stewards under which normalcy was restored to this country.

A major crime fighting tool, currently being implemented by the APNU/ AFC Government, is the PPP/C negotiated InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Citizen Security Strengthening Programme

(CSSP).

While TIGI has determined the culpability of the political Opposition “given the satire and rhetoric” via comments made, the organisation in the same breath acknowledges that Guyanese “are terrified by the apparent resurgence of robberies of businesses and home invasions given the attendant propensity for brutality and murder” across the nation. As a representative of thousands of average Guyanese, the PPP/C not only stands proud of its record of bringing the country back from the grip of criminals, but will also continue voice concerns on issues affecting our people and advocate for the Government to deliver on the crime solutions it so touted before taking office.

On TIGI’s specific points of violent crimes, the prevailing circumstances during which crimes were committed over the last two decades and the declining crime rates under the PPP/C administration, attest to the efforts of the former PPP/C administration.

With reference to TIGI’s claims of white collar crimes such as corruption, over 40 plus forensic audits commissioned by APNU/AFC have turned up no evidence that could be used to advanced

court proceedings.

The Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has repeated on multiple occasions that if persons, part of the former PPP/C administration, are guilty of offences they must face the music.

That said, it must be noted that TIGI had deemed the actions of Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, and by extension the Government, as reflective of corruption – on the matter relative to BaiShanLin. And on this occasion, a meeting was sought with Minister Harmon to secure his explanation.

On the multiple occasions that TIGI has been critical of the former PPP/C administration, there was no offer for a meeting with then Government officials to secure an explanation or ensure that contextual pronouncements were made in the past.

Indeed, much has been printed in the dailies in recent months about the level of violent crimes, and the problem at hand demands an acknowledgement of the problem, clear guidelines on what has worked and solidly formulated policies moving forward – a undertaking that must see stakeholder involvement.

Regards, Todd A Morgan

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 15, 2016

5

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

Issues at Skeldon are not difficult to address Dear Editor, I refer to the article “US$200M Skeldon Factory falling to pieces - GuySuCo” and wish to make the following comments: 1. As a follow-up on the closure of Wales, GuySuCo is now building a case to sell Skeldon for a few dollars or simply end sugar in Skeldon.

The company is using the findings of an audit by an “international firm” to justify or give credence to its decision as it tries to sell its divestment proposal to the public.

2. It is astonishing to learn of a proposal to sell Skeldon at a time when performance has been improving steadily since it was commissioned.

Additionally, Skeldon is delivering its best performances at a time when the chairman is saying that the factory is on a verge of collapse. Certainly, the present performance and the chairman’s assessment

The condition of equipment at Skeldon, as described by auditors, is as a result of a limited maintenance programme in place. The auditors alluded to the fact that lack of spares prevented crucial repairs in certain aspects.

5. On the issues pointed out in the audit, the following should be noted: * Insulation missing on plant’s diffuser: This is probably a case where the insulation material on the diffuser body was removed to conduct routine repair works and was never replaced by the factory’s maintenance team. Is this justification to sell an entire factory? * Frequency converter on boiler feeder motors missing: This is a unit that control motor speeds. These units are easily replaceable. Is this justification to sell an entire factory? * Conveyor feeder junction

tures, variations in temperature and variation in quality of fuel. Undue stresses will cause material and equipment failures. If a steady state of boilers through continuous operations is not maintained, frequency of failures will be greater. The obvious result is the need to have a massive routine maintenance programme. * Oil burners were demolished and pose a fire hazard: Oil burners are equipment that burn alternative fuel (heavy fuel oil) in furnaces to maintain steam production when bagasse fuel is unavailable. Depending on burner usage and maintenance, burners have a life span. If usage is high and maintenance is low, burners will deteriorate quickly. This is more than likely the situation with these units at Skeldon. Typically, factories replace burners as required.

Year

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Skeldon Sugar Production (t)

24304

33237

29410

33309

25380

35890

39158

% Contribution to Industry

10

15

12

15

14

17

17

do not corroborate. See table below for Skeldon’s individual performance and its contribution to industry production.

3. In GuySuCo’s 2015 annual report, the company boasted that Skeldon achieved its highest cane crushing rate of 260 t/hr and highest sugar recovery of 75.24 per cent since its commission. Why sell a plant when it is beginning to give better performances?

In fact, how can a factory that is falling apart deliver such performances?

4. Any sugar factory in operating mode will have deteriorating equipment and must therefore have a robust maintenance programme.

box and connection in bad condition: There is indication that these components are not routinely maintained by operating staff. Should we sell a factory because of this? * Exhaust gas leakages occur due to wrong furnace pressure: Furnace pressure is a condition that is managed by air being forced into and air that is extracted from furnaces. Therefore, any leak in the system affects furnace pressure. If a furnace is not sealed properly, or air heaters have leaks, furnace pressure will fluctuate. The boiler station in any factory often goes through significant stresses due to very high tempera-

* Insulators for boilers pose a health risk: If insulation is removed to conduct maintenance and repair works and not properly replaced or secured, it will pose a health risk. This a simple factory management issue.

Should we sell a factory because of this? * Boiler platform corroded: Where steel is allowed to be exposed to high temperatures and moisture, corrosion will occur. Insulation and prevention of moisture contact is key to controlling corrosion. * Furnace wall tube needs replacement and superheat tubes were damaged: It will not take much to damage boil-

er tubes. Poor quality boiler water, erratic operations and high ash in cane are major factors that contribute to tube damage. The issue of tube damage at Skeldon is more than likely caused by operations and not by design or quality.

The chairman claims that the factory was badly designed and poorly constructed. He needs to talk with his

current CEO of GuySuCo, Errol Hanoman, since he was the Regional Director for the company that designed and managed the construction of Skeldon.

The issues highlighted at Skeldon are in no way difficult to be addressed. The chairman seems to be focused on the effect of problems rather than addressing causes or maybe there is just a lack of

“know-how” of what to do, hence position to sell.

GuySuCo needs to reveal to the public, the name of the “international firm” that conducted the audit at Skeldon and its relationship with power generation in Guyana.

Yours sincerely, Fredrick Yuvraj

Is this Government serious about curbing crime?

Dear Editor, Is this Government serious about curbing the crime epidemic that is sweeping the country? Again, I am asking the question, is this Government really serious about getting to the root of crime and curbing it? And the answer is I really do not think so. The reasons for me saying so are multi-faceted but I shall seek to address just a few.

In the first place, the present administration cannot see and would not accept their gross mistake in the release of criminals back into society and the disastrous effect it might have. They would not accept this fact. And this is the selfsame reason why we are reeling from the after-effects of that backward move.

Secondly, never has there been a president and a party that are so wrapped-up into the body politic of being “overly concerned” about criminals like this one. Take the prime example of the criminal who was shot and killed by a licensed firearm holder.

That shooting solicited an immediate response from the President himself, who said that his administration is going to review the licences of legal firearm owners, with the view to not renewing some of them.

Further to that statement, the Government could have given an accurate figure of how many licensed firearm holders are in this country.

Now, you have an accurate figure of licensed firearm holders and my question is, do they have an accurate figure of those that are illegal?

When armed robberies are committed on a daily basis in many cases two and three firearms are reportedly seen in the hands of the criminals - what message do you think you are sending to the criminal fraternity out there?

My last point of debate is why was the no-nonsense Judge, Navindra Singh, removed from the criminal court and placed in a civil court?

The most recent “massive” crackdown on crime and criminals is more like a “political

gimmick” to me, rather than anything substantial. If this government is dead serious about crime, they would work the crime strategy plan already decided upon and documented. This was a plan drafted and put in print by the joint effort of the previous Government and the then opposition.

It is now left to the government of the day to put into place that proper and effective plan and bring crime under control.

Sincerely, Neil Adams

6

tuesday, november 15, 2016

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation The long legacy of childhood verbal abuse – words uttered by parents damage in ways more literal than not

By Peg Streep

I

didn’t know that the way my mother talked to me wasn’t the way other mothers talked to their daughters. I was an only child, and her constant criticism and putting me down made me feel terrible about myself but it also made me redouble my efforts to please her. More than anything, I wanted my mother to be happy with me. I was probably thirty before I realised there was nothing normal about how she talked to me. Not that the recognition helped because I still wanted her to be happy with me. At fifty, I’m still trying to recover. – Aileen The impact of verbal aggression and abuse tends to be discounted and marginalised in our culture; there seems to be some unspoken communal agreement that “They’re only words” and that “Sticks and stones may break my bones/But words shall never harm me.” Of course, science couldn’t be more categorical in its disagreement, especially when it comes to children, their developing brains, and the lasting effects of verbal abuse.

What science knows

I knew that hitting was bad. As for verbal abuse, I never thought it was ‘normal’ or ‘abnormal’ per se –it didn’t even register that what was

going on was abusive. I think my survival mechanism was repressing, being oblivious on purpose. I just knew that I was never allowed to be angry. I knew something was wrong, but I never thought to talk about it with a teacher. I read a lot of books with people who were heroes because I wanted to be like them. – Joelle, 39 First and foremost, if science knows anything, it’s that “Bad is stronger than good” as Roy Baumeister and others noted in the title of their seminal article.

Humans are hardwired to pay more and faster attention to potentially dangerous or negative possibilities for evolutionary reasons that are pretty clear; we store that information in a part of the brain that makes it much more accessible. Registering the potentially dangerous and keeping it alive and well in memory was key to the survival of early humans, and our contemporary brains are no different. That applies to words as well: We respond more deeply and quickly to criticism than to praise, for example, and will remember the deflating or wounding remark with much more exactness than the compliment.

That applies to children and adults, by the way.

Seen from that point of view, it’s not surprising – especially if you know that we

process negative and positive events through two different systems – that there’s no “offset” if you have one loving parent who uses his or her words with care and one who is verbally aggressive and abusive. That’s what Ann Polcari and her team studied, wondering if affectionate behaviour by one parent could somehow mitigate or buffer a child from the damage inflicted by a verbally aggressive parent. The answer? A categorical “no”. Even more salient is the finding that if the parent who was verbally abusive then demonstrated affection behaviour, the effect of the abuse wasn’t ameliorated. Bad is stronger than good.

These findings run counter to the way we prefer to think about the negative things in life. We like the notion of the good balancing out the bad and it comes as a shock to most of us that there’s no scientific basis for that optimistic assumption at all. In fact, many studies – including those of John Gottman on positive and negative exchanges between spouses – put the ratio at 5:1, meaning it takes five good things or exchanges to begin to lessen the impact of one bad one. That doesn’t include blotting out the memory of the negative event, by the way. Those memories are tenacious.

A study of some 2000 adults in their sixties showed that when it came to telling their life stories, painful events are recalled quite differently even when there’s been a long interval of time since they occurred, with the exception of childhood trauma. The researchers concluded that older adults perceived

positive events as central to their lives largely because of cultural norms, but that negative events were perceived as central or a turning point because of coping skills and emotional distress.

Verbal abuse changes the developing brain

This is a literal statement, not a metaphor about psychological development.

That’s what the work of Martin A Teicher and his colleagues showed. The human brain is highly adaptable and the evolutionary goal is for the child to adapt to whatever environment he or she is in so as not to be in a constant state of stress. Born into a safe, attentive, and attuned environment, the child’s brain develops normally; born into one which is either unsupportive or downright hostile, the brain does not. Studies show that various parts of the brain are affected, among them the corpus callosum (the conduit for transferring motor, sensory, and cognitive information between the brain’s two hemispheres), the hippocampus (part of the limbic system that regulates emotion), and the frontal cortex (controls thought and decision making). Yes, this information is genuinely terrifying but appears to be beyond dispute. A study by Akemi Tomado and others points to literal structural change in the grey matter of the brain in the presence of verbal abuse without proving causation.

Thanks to MRI imaging, the question of whether verbal abuses changes how the brain function is no longer theoretical. Verbal abuse does leave behind a specific legacy.

The close connection between physical and emotional pain

It’s pretty clear that humans have long intuited there is a connection because it’s reflected in our language: our hearts hurt or are broken, we are emotionally bruised or beaten up, or are cut to the quick. Once again, science shows that the connection is more literal than metaphorical.

Studies show that the circuitry for physical and emotional pain are one and the same; an experiment by Naomi L Eisenberger showed that social rejection activated the same neural circuitry as physical pain. In an even more expansive way, Ethan Kross and his colleagues demonstrated the complexity of the connection in an experiment that used MRI scanning to see what areas of the brain lit up when individuals who’d recently experienced being left by a lover viewed a photograph of their lost loves and when a noxious amount of heat was applied to the forearm. Guess what? The same neural circuitry was involved. Yes, social rejection hurts – literally. Verbal abuse is social rejection expressed in language.

The psychological impact

The maternal verbal abuse and gaslighting started early in this 28-year-old’s life but really escalated as she became more independent. This is how she thinks it shaped her: “I’m very critical of myself and overly sensitive. I have a very poor, almost dysmorphic self-image even though I’ve accomplished a great deal. I over-analyse other people’s intentions in anticipation of rejection.

I’m not overly social and can be very negative. I wonder if I seek out depressed feelings—I like melancholy songs or stories. …One of my greatest fears and motivators is not being enough for someone I care about.”

To translate her words into textbook terms: she suffers from rejection sensitivity, low self-esteem, has an anxious/preoccupied style of attachment, and is prone to rumination and perhaps depression. And all of that co-exists with high achievement in the world. She’s hardly alone, and it’s pretty hard to overstate the damage verbal abuse in childhood inflicts. If you want to get a sense of how it affects a person’s life, self-image, and thought processes, imagine skipping a stone over water and then watching the ripple effect and you’ve grasped how it works. There’s the direct effect of the verbal abuse in the moment, of course, which inflicts deep emotional pain. In most cases, this is an established pattern of repetitive behaviour, not a one-shot, so in addition to the cycle of pain, the child also develops coping mechanisms, many of them maladapfrom psychologytoday.com) tive. (Excerpt to be continued

7 Budget Day is Stop it! TIGI calls for end to politicising of crime now Nov 28 news

tuesday, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

F

inance Minister Winston Jordan will present the country’s estimates and expenditure for 2017 on November 28, 2016, a week earlier than was previously announced.

Earlier this year, Government had announced that Budget 2017 would have been presented on December 9. However, Speaker Dr Barton Scotland in “Parliament Corner” – a column published in the dailies – announced that the Budget will now be presented on November 28.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira said on Monday that her Party was consulted on the change; in fact, it was herself and Government Chief Whip Amna Ally who met and agreed on the change.

According to Teixeira, the date was brought forward as it was found that

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

leaving the presentation on December 5 meant that the actual debates could run into Christmas Eve. The PPP/C had late last month said it did not support the passage of an early budget, noting that the dynamics of the situation limits its scrutiny of Government’s performance.

The PPP/C is contending that it will not get to exam-

ine and compare the actual expenditure for 2016, since the 2017 Budget will be presented and debated while the 2016 Budget is still being implemented.

Former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill explained that the books for the fiscal year close on December 31; therefore, if the Budget is presented before that date, then figures on the various Ministries and agencies’ performance would not be available for comparison during the budget debates.

Edghill maintained that there was no haste for an early budget presentation, noting historically, the country’s budget was presented in the first quarter of the fiscal year. He noted too that there were already mechanisms in place for the interim spending of the Government, which is 1/12 of the previous budget, until the new budget is presented and passed.

Amputee charged for damaging property …wife begs for him to be remanded

A

n amputee was on Monday granted bail when he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty charged with damage to property.

Peter Thomas, 52, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on November 11, 2016, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged household items valued $1.5 million belonging to Rita Howard.

The man’s explanation to the court was that his actions were not deliberate.

He explained that on the day in question, he was unbalanced, as he only has one leg, and accidently

Peter Thomas

pushed the cabinet to the floor thus damaging the items.

He was granted bail in the sum of $25,000 and will return to court on November 28, 2016.

However, upon hearing that the defendant was granted bail, Howard pleaded with the Magistrate to change her decision.

According to Howard, she is very afraid of the defendant as he is very abusive and threatens the life of her and that of her daughter.

The magistrate then advised the VC to file for a restraining order.

I

n light of President David Granger’s tirade that the mounting crime situation is organised with the intention of embarrassing his Government, the Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) has called for a cessation in the politicising of crime.

“Crime should be handled by the Police and not politicians. Make the topic of crime politically neutral.

No government of Guyana has been able to stop crime in the last 20 years; hence, no contemporary Guyanese politician or political party can sincerely lay claim to the solution to crime,” TIGI said in a statement on Monday.

The organisation suggested that the political leaders should cooperate to tackle this problem and agree on a moratorium in order to consolidate all available resources in the fight.

Recently, Granger said the spiralling crime situation was part of an organised effort to embarrass his Administration.

TIGI said the President’s stance on the issue was disappointing since “crime is crime regardless of who is involved and everyone involved should be handled as criminals”.

It stated further that his statement not only failed to assuage public fear, but may do greater damage by inciting partisan discord among citizens even as they continue

President David Granger (right) met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at the Ministry of the Presidency

to be affected by the violent crimes. “We hope that this is not a precursor to disproportionate or burdensome measures to create an aura of addressing crime,” TIGI said, adding that the Opposition was also guilty given the lampoon and rhetoric it continues to flog.

TIGI stated that the politicising of crime was conflict-ridden and a feed on the wrong class of emotions within the population. “No level of crime is tolerable and crime is too consequential for such blasé treatment,” it pointed out, underscoring that the use of crime for political advantage was inconsistent with the political leaders’ responsibilities to the people and at odds with collaboration.

“It is, therefore, not surprising that over time, the Government has been fixated on making comparisons of crime rates to baselines that are often meaningless and which offer no comfort, while the troubling theory that it is within the interest of the Opposition to see

crime spiral out of control is kept alive,” TIGI said.

The organisation also stated that there was confusion in calculating crime statistics and it cringed at the “realisation that the story sometimes matters more than the problem”.

Furthermore, a general thread through these articles, perhaps with a few exceptions, is fuelling of the political cleavage.

TIGI lamented that at a time when there should be a war on crime, it was offensive that the top echelons of the Police Force were bickering rather than spending every moment advancing citizens’ security. “This should not be tolerated. This development is dereliction of duty insofar as it reroutes attention and especially disrupts the functioning of the Force.

Furthermore, it is likely to undermine public confidence in the Police leaving them force as an attractive option to obtain results.

TIGI calls on the leaders to end this situation swiftly,” the Transparency Institute said.

8

News

tuesday, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Serial robber slapped with 6 counts of armed robbery A

fter one week of creating havoc on East Coast Demerara (ECD), the alleged perpetrator on Monday had to answer to six counts of armed robbery when he appeared before Magistrate Zameena Ally-Seepaul at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.

Uriel Mentore, 26, of Lot 86 Nelson Street, MochaArchadia, East Bank Demerara, was not required to plead to the indictable charges when they were read to him.

The Prosecution stated that between October 9 and November 11, 2016, he robbed several businesses, carting off in excess of $3.3 million in cash and valuables.

Mentore was arrested on Thursday evening when he and an accomplice reportedly robbed Viscom Electronics at Mon Repos Public Road, ECD. His accomplice escaped.

He was charged with committing a series of armed robberies at vari-

ous businesses, including: Shivo’s Supermarket at Nonpareil, ECD, on October 19; Wisdom Supermarket, Vryheid’s Lust, ECD, on November 3; R Prashad’s Service Station, Mon Repos Railway Embankment, ECD, on November 5; the attempted robbery at Daily’s

Supermarket at Park Street, Enterprise, ECD, on November 4; the attempted robbery at Shell Gas Station at Ogle, ECD, on November 9; and the latest committed on Viscom Electronics.

Mentore was remanded to prison and will return to court on December 15.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Fiona Smith, 24, of 8 Paradise, ECD, was charged with receiving stolen articles, property of Viscom Electronics.

She pleaded not guilty and was placed on $35,000 bail. She will return to court on December 7.

A motorcycle and two full-faced protective helmets allegedly used during the crimes were seized by the Police as they continue their hunt for the accomplice.

Fruit of the poisoned...

I

...Broadcasting CoI n the law of evidence, there's the rule of "The Fruit of the Poisoned Tree", which simply points out that if a tree's been poisoned, it stands to reason the fruit from that tree will also be poisoned. Applied to law, you'd appreciate if the evidence was obtained illegally, it taints whatever conclusion was drawn from it...and is thrown out by the court.

In Guyana, we're in the throes of an analogous matter. A month or so ago, Major General Joe Singh was appointed as a one-man CoI into a contretemps in the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority Board. After a year and a half of highly publicised outbursts by APNU's Tony Vieira of the GNBA Board supporting demands by the Muckraker KN that the radio licences granted by the Jagdeo Administration be cancelled and given to entities like them, he was finally publicly upbraided by the Chairman of the Board, Lennox Craig, from the AFC. Craig simply insisted that due process must be followed in whatever process to be used to review the issuance of the radio licences. And this is what Vieira couldn't stand. He was livid and exclaimed that he was part of the "plantocracy"!! How dare Craig speak his mind? Did he HAVE a mind? Vieira insisted that Craig, as Chairman of the GNBA Board, was in no way possessed of more authority than he, an ordinary board member!!

Craig bore all of this very stoically.

The straw that broke the phlegmatic Craig's back was when Vieira and another Board member intervened on their own to remove a cable licence from an operator on the Essequibo Coast and give it to another member of the "plantocracy"! Craig intervened. Well...who told him to do that!! All hell broke loose when Craig wanted to look into the matter. He was banished to China – literally – through an offer of a scholarship and Prezzie appointed his old squaddie Joe to be a CoI to investigate the fracas between Craig, Vieira and sidekick.

One letter writer to the Muckraker immediately pointed out that Joe Singh had a pretty chummy relationship with one of the parties under investigation.

And we arrive at the fruit of the poisoned tree. Could Singh fail to be influenced by his relationship?

Well, the Report's out...and only the Muckraker got a copy! And – surprise! surprise! Not a squeak about the case of strong-arming the cable operator on the Coast! But waxes lyrically about how Craig didn't want to rescind the "illegal" radio licences issued by the PPP. Imagine that!

Who cares for due process? Or Craig? ...crime atmosphere The Transparency International (TIGI) outfit finally woke up to the poisoning of the atmosphere in the rising crime spree that has transfixed the country. But there really was no opacity in the position of the Government that required transparency. Prezzie bluntly claimed that "persons were committing crimes to show the Police and Government are weak". Earlier he'd compared the present crime rates to those from the "troubles"! And never mentioned that that spike was caused by gunmen in Buxton who claimed they were linked to the PNC. And had declared war against the PPP and their supporters.

But in making the criticism, TIGI made its usual "false equivalency" arguments to blame the PPP – then, when they were in fact under attack and now – when they are merely requesting more vigorous action by the Government. Which is what in the end TIGI is saying.

They advised that the Government in general and Security Minister in particular, abandon the placebo of statistics.

And get real with the antidote to the very crime poison. ...fornication Seems the “Pope” who was caught in flagrante delicto in a ménage à trois has ceased denial. He asked his congregation for "forgiveness". And forgave those who trespassed, stole and released the tape.

That's right. They knew not what they did!

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

news

9

tuesday, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wife, husband hack each other to death P

Preparations in full swing for PPP’s Congress

A

rocky relationship ended bloody on Sunday evening after a wife stabbed her reputed husband about his body and he in retaliation hacked her to death.

Dead are Kurt Reynolds, 37, of Silverballi Street, Meadow Brook, Georgetown, and Selima “Shelly” Norton, 45, of New Providence Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

According to reports, the couple operated a grocery shop at Ekereku Top, Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

This

newspaper was told that an argument ensued after the couple accused each other of infidelity on the night of the stabbing.

Guyana Times understands that Norton and Reynolds were engaged in a heated argument, during which Norton collected a knife from the kitchen and dealt the man several blows to his body.

However, the man managed to relieve Norton of the knife and in turn stabbed her several times to the chest, abdomen and arm. After stabbing each other, they both

collapsed. This publication understands that persons in the area rushed to the scene where they saw the couple lying in pools of blood. The blood stained double bladed knife was recovered at the scene.

Norton died almost immediately, while Reynolds died sometime after he related to the Police what had transpired.

When contacted Divisional Commander Ravindradat Budhram confirmed the incident, while noting it is a clearcut case and not much investigation

can be done.

He also confirmed that after the matter was reported, Police responded and were given an account of what transpired. Persons in the area also told Police of the rocky relation that the two shared.

When the media visited Reynolds’ home, his daughter from a previous relationship said she was not in a position to give any information of the incident. The bodies are presently at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home awaiting post-mortems. (Bhisham Mohamed)

3 arrested after high-speed Police chase

One of the suspects being escorted by Police

upon recognising the Police, the occupants of the motor car drove away and the ranks gave chase.

After driving through several streets in Georgetown,

The car in a ditch

A

fter almost an hour of chasing a suspicious car with fake registration plates, the Police took three men, including an ex-Guyana Police Force (GPF) officer, into custody on Monday morning.

During interrogations, two of the men gave their identities as Eloy Livan, 28, of Lot 47 Richards

Town, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara and Devon Chase, 30, of Hill Street, Albouystown. The third suspect refused to cooperate with the Police.

Reports are Police ranks observed a heavily tinted motor car with a suspected fake number plate on Regent Street, Georgetown and approached it. However,

The real registration number was covered by a fake registration number

the driver of the tinted vehicle lost control and ended up in a ditch.

The Police have since recovered a 9mm pistol and 10 live rounds of ammunition. Police are trying to ascertain the owner of the vehicle, and will also conduct a ballistic test on the gun to determine if it was used to commit any crimes.

reparations have intensified as the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) ramps up its activities for one of the most important events on its calendar this year, the Party’s Congress.

PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha, during a press conference on Monday at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, highlighted that the Congress would provide for a comprehensive overview of the Party’s performance since the last Congress and outline a strategic direction in keeping with the Party’s Programme and Guyana’s present social, political and economic situation.

He said the delegates and observers would examine the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s stewardship so far, initiate discussions and make recommendations to the Party on the way forward.

Mustapha also said that emphasis would be placed on strengthening the Party’s structure and unity, as the PPP seeks to provide sound, consistent, steady and reliable leadership, and to continue to work towards improving the quality of lives of all Guyanese.

Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the Central Congress Committee, said the body was meeting weekly as the momentum intensified, and reported regularly to the Executive Committee of the Party.

He noted too that people on the ground were in full preparation for this upcom-

PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha

ing event.

“At the level of the Party, groups across the country are in the process of preparing motions and resolutions, initiating fundraising activities, identifying delegates, observers and nominees to contest the elections to the Central Committee of the Party. All logistical arrangements are well on stream. At the local level, our comrades are well advanced in their preparation and the mood of the people in Essequibo is very high as they prepare to host the PPP for our 31st Congress,” he expressed.

According to the Executive Secretary, the highlight of the Congress will be the Central Committee’s Report to be presented by the Party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee, the address by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and elections to the Central Committee of the PPP. Congress will be hosted at the Cotton Field Secondary School in Essequibo from December 17 to 19, under the theme “Strengthen the Party, Defend Democracy, Onward to Victory”.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 15, 2016

News

Another man critical after fatal WBD accident C larence Beaton, 39, of Brusche Dam, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) is in critical condition, while Jermaine Gray of Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD), is listed as stable after the two-vehicle collision along the WBD that killed another ECD resident, Macessia Henry.

Henry, 41, of Lot 18 Vigilance North, ECD, took his last breath on Sunday evening following the accident on the Schoonord Access Road, WBD. Claudette Henry, mother of the dead man, told Guyana Times that her son was at her house on Sunday afternoon, but left soon after to assist Beaton, who was working on his fence.

“He come by me and ask for some food, so I gave him and after he was finish eating I ask him to put a plant

The car in which Henry met his demise

in the earth which I had in a bucket… when he finish, he went to help Clarence,” she added. He did not return, but about 02:00h on Monday, she received a call informing her of the devastating news. She visited the mortuary about 08:30h and identified the body.

The father of six, she explained, might have been invited to attend a birthday

party by Beaton. The grieving mother said that her son was a very jovial individual. He leaves to mourn his mother, siblings and six children.

According to reports, Beaton was driving his motor vehicle bearing registration number PSS 7212 out of the Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, WBD, when he lost control of his

vehicle and crashed into another car, which was travelling in the opposite direction.

Guyana Times understands that the occupants of the car driven by Beaton were at a birthday celebration in Parfaite Harmonie and were heading home to the East Coast of Demerara when the accident occurred.

Several Guinness bottles and food boxes were seen in the car, leading Police to suspect that the driver might have been driving under the influence.

Following the collision, three persons were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Two of those were treated and sent away, while Gray was admitted. Beaton was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains a patient.

Who is Janey Tetary?

I

am not ashamed to say that I do not have much savings in the bank or even under the mattress, but I am willing to bet whatever I have on the following statement that only a handful of Guyanese probably know who Janey Tetary is. Of course, my intention here is not to test the nerves or insult readers, but to investigate why this person is a mystery to the Guyanese public.

My statement speaks to a larger concern of historical inquiry, which in order to answer, will require an exploration of delving into historical knowledge, into the depth of historical exposure and into the degree of historical grounding in and outside of the Guyanese classroom.

Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine I attended Skeldon Line Path Government Secondary School in Upper Corentyne, a few miles from Molesen Creek in the 1970s.

Physically, the school was shaped like the letter ‘L’ with a parallel internal corridor that made traversing the two storey building manageable. Psychologically, the school was located somewhat close to the Corentyne River so students and staff could benefit from the constant flow of tropical breeze to facilitate a pleasant learning environment.

I have no qualms about this setting and I am still impressed by the structure. What I am more concerned about is the substance of instructions in this setting. In my final year at this school, I was taught History by a man named Denny Brijbasse. He was a tough but talented teacher. I still believe he did the best he could during a time when Guyana’s educational system and standard was reeling from hopelessness, much less providing any meaningful support for a decent education to the younger generation. I was a victim of these circumstances. What happened to Brijbasse and teachers like himself, as well as students that came under their sway was a national irreparable sin. The teachers were given syllabi that mirrored their colonial masters to command and control the classroom in post-independence Guyana. The teachers were commodified to carry out the colonial pattern of education. In the process, they suffered from the freedom of individuation and didacticism in their instructive paradigm. The students were sponges to this dictum, while the teachers were reduced to helpmates and hospices, rather than motivators of history.

If my memory serves me correct since I have more years behind instead of in front of me, I do not think then and now that anything was taught about Indian history. I certainly remember that there was not a single question on the GCE examination on Indian history. This is why I posed the above question to share parallel sadness in our educational system. If there is any personal solace or hypallage to this historical episode, it is that I understand that the CXC examination council has recommended my book Indo-Caribbean Indenture: Resistance and Accommodation for students to use. It is better late than never.

Janey Tetary was an Indian female indentured servant, along with her 10-year-old son, who signed contracts in India to labour overseas. She and her son arrived in Suriname in 1880, seven years after indentureship began in that colony. She was indentured to Plantation Zorg en hoop in Suriname. She eventually rose up against her overlords and led a rebellion in which she was shot and killed by the colonial Police before her contract ended. To say that she was a rebel would be an understatement and a travesty of injustice. She was a single parent, a traveller, leader, fighter, a visionary, etc, everything the plantocracy despised among the labouring class.

You may want to argue that this is Suriname’s history, but I argue equally that it is an undisputed thought that many have written on Indian resistance and have never mentioned her name.

How to address this omission will require a lot of sympathy from me which I do not have right now. I do have the energy, however, to say that Janey Tetary’s life, her narrative, should be moved from mystery to the mainstream of Caribbean history and Indian people. For me, her life story has opened new doors of enquiry into the female experience and existence during indenture and beyond. I have always asked this question: Are we to believe that of the 500,000 Indians that were brought from India to labour in the Caribbean there were no female leaders or heroines among them? Were among the immigrant labour group only “he-roes” and not “she-roes”?

In a global atmosphere where many are still dealing with a post-election shock in which a woman lost to a loose cannon, my young daughter Priya, has always asked me this: “Daddy, are there heroines among Indian women?” I can now partially answer that question without scratching my head too hard.

(Send comments to: lomarsh.roopnarine@jsusm.edu)

news

11

tuesday, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Friends jailed for Bartica Massacre trial More relatives of victims testify wounding man …claim he did not uphold his end of a deal

T

wo men were on Monday jailed for 24 months each after pleading guilty to a wounding charge.

Aaron Paul, 24, of Aishalton, Lethem, Region Nine and Imran Peters, 21, of Amana, Essequibo River, appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

They admitted to the court that on November 11, 2016, at Pricemill Backdam, Potaro River, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Carlos DeSantos so as to maim, disfigure or cause actual bodily harm.

The Prosecution revealed on the day in question the two men made arrangement with the victim to be taken up the Potaro River. However, upon their return, they went to the home of the victim and beat him with a piece of wood.

As a result of the beating, he was first rushed to the Madhia Hospital but later transferred to the Georgetown

Aaron Paul and Imran Peters

Public Hospital.

A report of the incident was made to the Madhia Police Station and the two men were arrested and charged with the offence.

However, Paul told the Court that he and the other defendant made an arrangement with the victim which he did not uphold.

He explained that they were told by DeSantos that a round trip to the Potaro River would cost them $7000 which

they paid. However, when DeSantos dropped them at their destination, he left them there.

Upon their return, they approached the man’s home and demanded their money which DeSantos refused to comply with. As such, he was beaten.

The Magistrate told the men that even though this was their first offence, they have to be penalised so she handed down her sentence.

‘Medical’ marijuana lands man in court

A

man, who claimed that the marijuana found in his possession was for medical purposes, was on Monday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Ruel Chapman, 37, of 23 D’Urban Street, Lodge,

Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of narcotics when it was read to him by Magistrate Faith McGusty.

The charge alleged that on November 2, 2016, at D’Urban Street he had in his possession 14 grams of cannabis.

His attorney told the Court that the defendant had a stroke earlier in the year and was using the cannabis for medical purposes.

Bail was granted at $50,000 and he will return to court on November 30, 2016.

A

s the Bartica massacre trial continues, more relatives of the murdered victims took the stand at the Demerara High Court on Monday.

Relatives of drink distribution boat operators, Ashraf Khan, Baldeo ‘Guptie’ Singh and Deonarine Singh called Papso and relatives of deceased Bartica policemen Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne all testified of identifying the bodies of their relatives as well as witnessing the post-mortem examinations (PME).

First to take the stand was Arif Khan who testified that his now dead brother Ashraf, called ‘Bolo’ had been working on a boat that transported products for Banks DIH company from Parika to Bartica, Wakenaam and other riverine areas. Khan told the court that he witnessed wounds on his sibling’s body at the PME, conducted by Pathologist Nehaul Singh.

Khan added that whilst at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) mortuary, he also recognised the body of another relative, Abdool Yaseen who had worked with Ashraf, who was buried February 20, 2008.

Pancham Singh, nephew of murdered Baldeo ‘Guptie’ Singh, and Toolsie Persaud, brother-in-law of Deonarine Singh called Papso, both testified that their rela-

Murder accused: Mark “Durant” Royden, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams and Roger Simon

tives were also boat operators. The 12-member mixed jury heard that Deonarine served as captain of a vessel which transported ‘dry goods’ for Bodhoo’s General Store while Baldeo transported ‘drinks’ to Bartica.

Meanwhile, the mother of slain Policeman Shane Fredericks testified that she was the one who identified her son’s body. Norma Fredericks recalled that she received a call from Eve Leary, Police Headquarters, stating that she should “come down to identify the body” at GPHC. Her son was buried February 22, 2008.

Amrita Thomas, cousin of Ron Osborne, the other slain officer, testified that the late Dr Fox asked that a family member identify Osborne’s body and she volunteered. The woman noted

that on February 24 of that year, her cousin’s body was transported to Kamarang for burial.

These testimonies come days after similar testimonies from the relatives of Irving Ferreira, Abdool Yasseen and Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir, who identified the bodies of their loved ones. The three standing trial for the February 17, 2008, massacre are Mark Royden called “Durant”, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams and Roger Simon. Two other accused: Celbert Reece and Michael Caesar both pled guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and will know their fate next month.

The matter, being heard before Justice Roxane George, continues at the High Court today from 09:00h.

12 news

TUESDay, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese entrepreneur to meet President Obama in Peru

W

hen Abigale Loncke applied for the 2016 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) in the United States, she never expected that she would be competing against 250 young entrepreneurs for the best business pitch in Washington, DC neither did she plan on travelling to Peru to meet US President Barack Obama for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

Loncke is the founder of Community Health Care, an agency which offers home care service for elderly persons, the sick, disabled, and children. The agency also gives back to the society by providing training for women, who are in need of employment and a second chance at life. Locke’s team would integrate these women into society, teach them life skills and offer them jobs within the company.

She was one of the four Guyanese selected to represent the nation at the YLAI. The initiative brought together 250 young leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States for an exchange programme that involves internship and skills-building workshops. The YLAI is

Abigale Loncke

the brainchild of President Obama, who committed to empowering young people around the world by ensuring that they have the network and skills to fight global challenges.

The programme began on October 5 in Texas and ended with a summit in Washington, DC in early November.

Over the six weeks, participants exchanged experiences in start-ups, small businesses, Non-Governmental Organisations, and similar entities in cities throughout the United States and in partnership with community groups and American universities.

The 250 participants further developed their busi-

ness plans through an entrepreneurship curriculum and workshops. They were trained and mentored by the Chambers of Business Commerce in the US and by influential business persons.

After a successful business pitch in Alabama, Loncke was selected to attend the APEC Summit to meet the President, making her the first young entrepreneur to win the first half of the YLAI in the US. She stated that although, she did not win the best business pitch prize in Washington, DC, the experience was enough to last a lifetime.

“I am glad that I was representing Guyana. I carried my flag with me all the way…and even though I

didn’t win the Washington prize, I’m grateful for the experience and the knowledge I have gained from some of the best entrepreneurs in the world,” she told Guyana Times in a recent interview.

Loncke said she was amazed that she was selected with a few of the other finalists to attend the summit in Peru with Obama. “I never expected this. We were told because of his schedule and the US elections, he was unable to meet with the YLAI entrepreneurs and so a few were selected to meet with him in Peru,” she added.

She will leave Guyana on Wednesday for Peru for the summit and will meet with Obama on Saturday at a town hall meeting. The APEC summit will commence on November 17 and end November 19.

ECD man shot, relieved of motorcycle

A

Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara man was on Sunday evening shot and relieved of his motorcycle and $3000 by two armed men at B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that at about 21:50h, the injured man had just left his girlfriend’s home in B Field when he was confronted by two men, one armed with a handgun.

He reportedly resisted but in retaliation the perpetrators discharged a round hitting him to his left foot. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and sent away. The matter was reported but no arrests were made nor his motorcycle recovered.

Police are continuing investigations.

Essequibo trio slapped with B&E charge

T

hree Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Essuquibo Islands/ West Demerara) men on Monday appeared in court.

Mark McKenzie, 33, Deon Dwarka, 24, and Akim Spellen, 21, of Henrietta Village, Essequibo Coast, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Charity Magistrate’s Court charged with breaking and entering

and larceny. It is alleged that the men committed the offence between November 9 and 10 on the home of Norma Hercules.

The court was told that the men stole one flatscreen television valued $200,000 and one camera monitor valued $20,000.

The Prosecution contended that the trio admitted to the offence after thor-

ough investigations by the Police.

In court Monday, McKenzie and Dwarka pled not guilty to the charge and were remanded to prison.

Spellen on the other hand pled guilty.

A probation report was ordered by the magistrate before sentencing.

The case will continue on December 6.

news

13

tuesday, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Remembrance Day observances

11th Rockstone Fish Festival

Patrons treated to Region 2 Chairman calls exotic side of nature for unity, peace

T

he Rockstone Tourism Association (RTA) over the weekend teamed up with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tourism Department of the Business Ministry to present the 11th annual Rockstone Fish Festival in the remote Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ at Berbice) community.

While some ventured for the sampling of various fish delicacies, others undoubtedly went for the adventure associated with the exotic, naturist side of

Participants during one of the activities at the Fish Festival

the picturesque community of Rockstone. The fish festival held over two days -

These two gentlemen showcase part of the catch of the 2016 Rockstone Fish Festival

Saturday and Sunday - attracted many people from across the country, who went to explore as well as be entertained.

Saturday saw the hosting of the annual camping event, nature walks along the trail and numerous fish cooking activities, while on Sunday the Rockstone landing hosted the customary opening ceremony when patrons were also treated to river tours around Gluck Island, boat trips to Sand beach, nature walks, in addition to fish catching, cooking, scaling, roasting, and deboning competitions, among other activities.

A minifashion display also added a touch of culture on Sunday.

This newspaper caught up with Sharon Peters, a craftswoman from Leguan, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), who noted that she had travelled to the community for the first time to display and sell her craft. turn to page 16

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt taking the march past salute in observance of Remembrance Day

R

egion Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt has called on all Guyanese to live in peace, love and harmony at this year’s Remembrance Day observance held Sunday on the lawns of Anna Regina Town Council.

During his address to the military, residents and the general public, Ramdatt said that the war is still on and it has not ended, pointing out that many persons are still oppressed from those wars.

He explained that this year’s remembrance observances are being celebrated in the year Guyana celebrated its 50th Independence, noting that even as this happened persons need to re-

flect on the achievements as well as celebrate the many struggles of our ancestors and prepare to move forward unitedly.

He therefore called on Essequibians to develop civic responsibilities and to preserve what the country has achieved over the years.

“We must demonstrate that sense of patriotism and reflect on the struggle of our ancestors for their sacrifices and triumph,” adding that while struggles occurred in the battlefield there are persons who fought for a better Guyana.

With that he called for every Guyanese to be treated with dignity and respect, and called on leaders to ded-

icate their energies to eradicate disunity so that peace, love and unity can prevail.

Ramdatt said that he salute the veterans who fought during World Wars I and II. Before the start of the programme, the chairman took the salute from the disciplinary forces. Present besides him at the parade was Region Two Commander Khali Parashram and Head of Fire Service Clive Mc Donald.

Wreaths were laid at the cenotaph by the Regional Chairman, representatives from the Regional Democratic Coucil and the armed forces. (Indrawattie Natram)

14

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, NOVEMber 15, 2016

Regional

Maduro rules out IMF and Jamaica agree on new 3-year programme early election T V enezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ruled out holding early elections amid calls from Opposition groups for him to step down.

Speaking on his television programme, Maduro said: “Nobody should get obsessed with electoral processes that are not in the Constitution.”

His comment comes a day after the Government and Opposition groups agreed on a road map to resolve Venezuela’s political and economic crisis.

Maduro’s term ends in early 2019.

The Opposition blames Maduro and his Government for the dire state of Venezuela’s economy.

The country is suffering from sky-high inflation and there are shortages of many basic goods, including medical supplies.

More than three-quarters of Venezuelans are unhappy with Maduro’s leadership, according to a recent poll.

But an attempt by the

The Opposition blames President Nicolás Maduro for the dire state of Venezuela’s economy

Opposition to organise a referendum to oust Maduro from office has stalled after the electoral council said that courts in several states had reported fraud in the campaign’s preliminary petition.

The move caused outrage among Opposition groups which then began to call for early elections as an alternative way to remove Maduro from his post.

But speaking on his weekly television programme on Sunday, the

President asked: “An electoral way out? Way out to where?”

Negotiators for the Opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) and the Government met on Friday for two days of Vatican-backed talks on how to end the political and economic crisis.

They released a joint statement in which they pledged to “live together in peace” and laid out a road map on how to defuse the situation. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Lifeline for Trinidad & Tobago service station owners?

N

ewly-appointed Energy Minister Franklin Khan is assuring petroleum dealers that concerns about low profit margins on the sale of fuel are being reviewed.

He has admitted that “there may be some substance” to the complaints of the dealers and as such, both the Ministries of Energy and Finance will soon meet on the matter.

“I don’t want to adjudicate on it prematurely, but it has been given the consideration that it requires,” Khan told reporters.

Last month, some petroleum dealers stopped accepting debit and credit card payments in an effort to cut costs. They argued that despite the increased costs of running their business and hikes in the price of fuel, their profit margins have remained the same since 2005.

Last month, some T&T petroleum dealers stopped accepting debit and credit card payments in an effort to cut costs

Khan said: “I have a couple reports on my desk which I need to study, but I am quite familiar with the industry because I served as Chairman of NP [National Petroleum] in 2000 to 2001.

They have articulated their case and . . . I think there may be some substance to what they are saying. But between the Minister of Finance and the Ministry

of Energy, we are reviewing with a very objective mind their call for an increased margin.”

“We will meet on it shortly . . . We will be data-driven in the decision. We are not acting in a manner that is not driven by the hard data.

And if you have a case we will consider the case, within the general confines of the economic climate,” he added.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Mexico: Abducted priest found alive in Veracruz state

A

priest abducted in the Mexican state of Veracruz has been found alive after three days, but with signs of torture, Church officials say.

The disappearance of Fr Jose Luis Sanchez Ruiz had sparked two days of unrest in the town of Catemaco.

He is the third Roman Catholic priest abducted in the eastern Mexican state since September. The other two were found shot dead by a roadside.

Clerics said Fr Sanchez Ruiz had been targeted because he fought corruption.

“He had received threats in recent days because he is a defender of human rights,” said Fr Aaron Reyes, a spokesman for the diocese.

“He has criticised the system of corruption and the crime problem in Catemaco.”

Bishop Fidencio Lopez said Fr Sanchez Ruiz “had been dumped, with notable signs of torture’’ at an undisclosed location.

About 30 priests have been killed in Mexico in the last decade, most of them in areas heavily affected by drug violence.

In addition to the two

priests killed in Veracruz in September, another was found dead after disappearing in the state of Michoacan.

Mexico’s Catholic Media Centre says the country is the most dangerous in the world to be a priest.

At least 15 priests have been murdered in the country since President Enrique Pena Nieto took office in 2012.

Veracruz and Michoacan have been plagued by years of violence from drug cartels and other organised crime.

(BBC News)

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a three-year Stand-By Arrangement for Jamaica geared towards raising living standards and boosting employment.

The US$1.64 billion will replace the existing Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which was scheduled to expire in March 2017.

The Fund said approximately US$411.9 million will be made immediately available and the remainder will be provided in six tranches upon completion of semi-annual programme reviews.

According to the IMF, Jamaican authorities have indicated they do not intend to draw down on the new SBA, but will treat it as “insurance against unforeseen adverse external economic shocks”.

In announcing the new deal, IMF Deputy

IMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, Tao Zhang

Managing Director and Acting Chair, Tao Zhang commended the country for achieving key targets under the EFF. “Macroeconomic stability has been entrenched, evidenced by low inflation, the build-up of foreign currency reserves, and a decline in the current account deficit. Fiscal discipline and proactive debt man-

agement have helped place public debt on a downward trajectory,” he said.

He, however, warned that lingering challenges included low growth, poverty, unemployment and crime.

The Washington-based financial body noted growth had only reached 0.8 per cent over the three-year EFF, but improved to 1.4 per cent for the first quarter of this year, supported by gains in agriculture, manufacturing, electricity generation and tourism.

“Growth in FY2016/17 is expected to reach 1.7 per cent in FY16/17. Business confidence is strong and Jamaica’s international bonds are trading close to the average rate of other emerging markets.

Unemployment is still high at 13.7 per cent in April 2016, which partly reflects an increase in labour force participation,” the IMF said. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Argentina plans to cull 100,000 beavers in Tierra del Fuego

T

he authorities in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego are planning to cull 100,000 beavers.

Beavers, an invasive exotic species, were introduced to the area in 1946 to offer locals work in the fur trade.

With no natural predators, the beavers have reproduced rapidly and are a threat to the native forest, environmentalists say.

The plan is to eradicate the North American beaver completely from the archipelago, local officials say.

According to the officials, the beaver situation is “totally out of control” in Tierra del Fuego, where the rodents have destroyed an area double the size of the city of Buenos Aires.

Adrian Schiavini, who heads the National Strategy

North American beavers were introduced to Tierra del Fuego in the 1940s

for Invasive Exotic Species, told Argentine radio that “humane traps” would be used to cull the animals “quickly and effectively”.

Schiavini said the species had caused huge damage to Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of Argentina, by building dams in its unique river system.

Biologists say that whereas some North American trees can grow back after

being damaged by beavers, South American trees tend to die off after being gnawed by the rodents.

The dams they build moreover create bogs in which many native trees are unable to grow. Dams built by beavers can reach a length of 100m (328ft).

Schiavini said the plan was to bring in experts in beaver hunting from North America. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Business leaders optimistic about plans for Sandals resort in Tobago

B

usiness leaders in Trinidad and Tobago have reacted with interest to news that Sandals Resorts International is moving to establish both a Sandals and Beaches resort in Tobago.

At a function on the weekend, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Adam Stewart sought to assure members of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce and by extension the entire country, that Sandals adds value to every community where it exists.

“Contrary to the myth – Sandals Resorts does not

wall our guests off from the destination.

“We celebrate the destination. Our group of Caribbean resorts – which host nearly a million customers annually, took over 400,000 guests outside of our resorts on local tours and excursions last year.”

Stewart made the address at the annual ‘Champions of Business’ Awards Ceremony hosted by Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce.

Speaking specifically to what might be achieved in Tobago alone he added, “right here is where Carnival, steel pan, lim-

bo, and calypso were born.

Carnival will be celebrated every week at our hotel and we’ll be exposing an audience of vacationers hungry for something new.”

“Altogether, the economic footprint of a resort the size we propose for Tobago, when you take into account payroll, taxes, local services and more, would be in the region of US$80 million annually. In the construction phase alone we anticipate to employ between 2500 and 3000 persons. Beyond that there will be some 1800 sustainable jobs for persons employed by the resort itself.”

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

tuesday, November 15, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

2016 “very likely” to be world’s warmest year T

his year, 2016 looks poised to be the warmest year on record globally, according to preliminary data.

With data from just the first nine months, scientists are 90 per cent certain that 2016 will pass the mark set by 2015.

Temperatures from January to September were 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

The body says temperatures should remain high enough for the rest of the year to break the previous record.

El Niño has had an impact, but the most signifi-

High temperatures can lead to devastating droughts

cant factor driving temperatures up continues to be CO2 emissions.

The provisional statement on the status of the global climate in 2016 has been released early this

year to help inform negotiators meeting in Morocco, who are trying to push forward with the Paris Climate Agreement.

The document says the year to September was 0.88

above the average for the period 1961-90, which the WMO uses at its baseline.

The whole of 2015, which broke the previous record by a significant amount, was 0.77 above the 1961-90 average.

While there are still a couple of months to go this year, a preliminary analysis of the October data indicates that 2016 is very much on track to surpass the 2015 level, which in turn broke the previous high mark set in 2014.

“Another year. Another record. The high temperatures we saw in 2015 are set to be beaten in 2016,” said WMO Secretary General Petteri Taalas. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Giant shield for Chernobyl reactor

W

ork has begun at Chernobyl in Ukraine to move a giant shield over the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident.

The concrete and steel arch will eventually cover the remains of the reactor which lost its roof in a catastrophic explosion in 1986.

The blast sent a plume of radioactive material into the air, triggering a public health emergency across Europe.

The shield is designed to prevent further radioactive material leaking out over the next century.

It measures 275 metres (900 feet) wide and 108 metres (354 feet) tall and has cost US$1.6 billion to construct.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which is leading the project, describes the arch as the largest moveable land-based structure ever built.

It began moving on Monday using a system of hydraulic jacks and will take about five days to be put in its final position.

Work will then begin to safely dismantle the reactor, which has been sealed inside a so-called sarcophagus, and to secure the huge amount of radioactive material still inside.

Experts fear that if parts of the reactor collapse inside the sarcophagus, further radioactive material could be

released.

The shield, known as the New Safe Confinement, had to be built away from the scene of the accident as the radiation immediately above the reactor is still too intense.

Ukraine’s Ecology Minister, Ostap Semerak said the start of the operation to cover the reactor was “the beginning of the end of a 30-year long fight with the consequences of the 1986 accident”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Kashmir clash: 7 troops killed

Pakistani army chief Raheel Sharif (fourth from left) led funeral prayers for the soldiers

S

even Pakistani soldiers have been killed

by Indian shelling in disputed Kashmir, the Pakistani military says.

The troops died in “unprovoked” firing overnight in the Bhimber sector on the Line of Control (LoC). India

blamed Pakistan for starting the clash.

It is thought to be the Pakistani military’s biggest single loss of life in Kashmir since a 2003 truce.

Tensions have flared over the long-running dispute, since an Indian army base

was attacked in September.

Both India and Pakistan accuse each other of violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement.

Both sides have reported civilians and a number of soldiers being killed or injured in recent weeks, during which time the LoC has seen intense exchanges of fire.

Hundreds of civilians in villages along the LoC have been evacuated.

The territorial dispute between India and Pakistan over Muslim-majority Kashmir has been running for decades.

Both nuclear-armed states claim the territory in its entirety, but control only parts of it. Two of the three wars fought between

the two sides since independence have been over Kashmir.

After the September 18 army base attack on the Indian-administered side, the Indian military said it had carried out “surgical strikes” against suspected militants along the LoC. Pakistan called the strikes an “illusion” and denied Indian claims it was behind the militant attack.

A subsequent BBC investigation found that while India did not airdrop commandos to hit militant camps or conduct ground assaults deep into Pakistani-administered territory, troops did cross the LoC a significant distance to hit border posts and then pulled back. (Excerpt from BBC News)

President Xi tells Trump US and China must cooperate

C

hinese President Xi Jinping has told US President-elect Donald Trump that cooperation is the “only correct choice” for relations, State media say.

The pair spoke as a Chinese State newspaper warned that the US could face retaliatory measures if new duties were placed on Chinese goods.

15

Trump targeted China repeatedly on the campaign trail, pledging to put 45 per cent tariffs on all its exports to the US. He also vowed to label it a currency manipulator on his first day in office.

In their phone call, “the leaders established a clear sense of mutual respect for one another”, Trump’s presidential transition of-

fice said in a statement.

“President-elect Trump stated that he believes the two leaders will have one of the strongest relationships for both countries moving forward,” it said.

Xi was quoted by China’s CCTV as saying that there is “huge potential” in cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.

The two men agreed to meet in person soon, CCTV said.

The conversation came after the nationalistic Global Times newspaper, often cited as reflecting the views of the Communist Party, warned that China would take a “tit-for-tat approach” if Trump imposed the tariff. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Russian Police find evidence of fraud during parliamentary election

Head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova (centre) speaks at a session of the commission dedicated to violations during the recent parliamentary election in Moscow, Russia (Reuters)

R

ussian Police have said they found evidence of fraud at a polling station where Reuters reporters saw irregularities during a September 18 parliamentary election that was won by a party loyal to the Kremlin.

A Police unit in the region of Mordovia wrote in a letter to Reuters that it had investigated and found signs of criminal fraud at polling station No 591. It said it had handed over the case to the Investigative Committee, the state body which decides whether to bring criminal charges.

“As a result of a check, it was established that there is an indication of a crime defined by Chapter 142.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (falsification of election re-

sults),” it said.

Russia is sensitive to allegations of electoral fraud.

While the recent election passed off quietly, the previous parliamentary and presidential votes in 2011 and 2012 led to the biggest and most sustained demonstrations since President Vladimir Putin took office at the turn of the millennium.

The police letter was the first official acknowledgement fraud may have taken place. Election officials had said last month the Reuters findings were unproven.

On voting day, Reuters sent reporters to a sample of 11 polling stations across central and western Russia.

They witnessed counting discrepancies, multiple voting, ballot stuffing and other irregularities. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Controversial Trump strategist Bannon defended

U

Reince Priebus (left) said Stephen Bannon was “a force for good”

S President-elect Donald Trump’s new chief-of-staff has defended the choice of rightwing media man Stephen Bannon as chief strategist, calling him a “force for good”.

A number of critics have denounced Bannon as supporting white supremacism.

But Reince Priebus said this was “not the Steve Bannon that I know”, adding he was a “very, very smart person”.

The appointment of Priebus is seen as an attempt by Trump to improve links to the Republican establishment.

Trump himself said he fought the election as the “ultimate outsider”, and it would fall to Priebus, the current Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), to act as a conduit both to the party and to Congress.

One of Priebus’s first tasks was to defend the appointment of Bannon, who had stepped aside from his role as chief executive of the Breitbart News Network – a combative conservative site with an anti-establishment agenda – to act as Trump’s election campaign chief.

Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, said of Bannon: “It is easy to see why the KKK views Trump as their champion when Trump appoints one of the foremost peddlers of White Supremacist themes and rhetoric as his top aide.”

Priebus urged people to “look at the person, get to know the person”, saying Bannon “was a force for good on the campaign. I haven’t seen any of these things that people are crying out about.

It’s a good team, it works”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

tuesDay, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPF records success in major cases − calls on public to be more supportive

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) said it has made some significant inroads in solving several major cases so far for this year, and has also called on the general public to give its support as it sought to reduce the high incidence of crime.

On Monday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said the successes, notwithstanding the challenges, had been many and could not have been possible without the commitment, patience and dedication of every member of the Force.

He noted that the Force was able to solve the murder of British teen Dominic Bernard, who was killed and his body dumped in a Corentyne, Berbice village in March of this year. That case, he said, began as a missing person case, but evolved into murder. He said accurate and timely intelligence enabled Police to arrest both prime suspects and others who were implicated in the crime.

Another case that was solved was the triple murder on the Corentyne in July. According to the Crime Chief, the break-

through in that case was as a result of patience and commitment by investigators, who were able to nab all four suspects.

Investigators were also able to crack the case of what was first treated as a missing person’s case – the murder of Simone Hackett back in April. Her reputed husband and a taxi driver were charged with her murder.

Blanhum spoke too of the murder of Professor Perry Mars in May. He said Police were able to solve the crime in a matter of 12 hours – discover-

UG graduation 2016

Police Force praises ranks

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has praised two of its members, who successfully completed their studies at the University of Guyana (UG). At the University’s 50th Convocation on Saturday last, two senior officers graduated with executive Masters in Public Administration (MPA) – Superintendent Mahendra Singh and Superintendent Khalid Mandall.

According to the GPF, Superintendent Singh joined the Guyana Police Force as a Presidential Guard, but graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management (2005-2009) followed by his post-graduate studies in strategic management (2010-2011) and was promoted to his current rank of Superintendent in 2012. Singh now serves as Head of Staff and Personal

Superintendent Khalid Mandall

Superintendent Mahendra Singh

Assistant to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

Superintendent Mandall, who is stationed at the Presidential Guard section, in charge of the uniformed section, already possesses two diplomas – one in Project Management and the second in Public

Management. The two ranks began their studies in 2014.

More than 1600 students graduated at this year’s exercise and over 8000 students are currently enrolled in programmes across various faculties at UG.

Patrons treated to exotic...

The event was also graced by visitors on board a helicopter which settled at the edge of the bank of the river for a few minutes, much to the amusement of those present.

As customary, the fish festival saw intense competitions with winners being awarded trophies. While two participants were disqualified at this year’s event, attendees were thrilled by the variety of fishes caught which competed in various categories.

The largest catfish (23 inches) was caught by Sharan Ramishwar while Sarwan Kumar caught the largest pariah (11 inches).

The two also teamed up and won the prize for the heaviest catch (18lbs) and the biggest lukanani (13 inches).

Meanwhile, Hugh Johnson was awarded for the largest catch and the biggest arowana. Others were also awarded in sever-

al other categories.

Though the turnout to the festival was not a grand one, those present, including families, took the time to indulge and relax in the entertaining atmosphere.

Speaking at the opening event, GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh noted that there is a very high interest in the Rockstone Fish Festival, which is known to be attended by a wide cross-section of people.

In this vein he stressed the need for more effective planning, pointing out that the festival has a lot of potential. Haralsingh said events such as these are what people need in Guyana.

He added that the Ministry of Business, the Department of Tourism and the GTA were very pleased to collaborate with the community of Rockstone to host the event. Haralsingh said that while GTA has shown support with the organisa-

ing some juveniles committed the act.

Police were also able to solve the case of the disappearance of Babita Sarjou, who went missing several years ago. Her husband and his accomplice were arrested for her murder this year.

Among the other successes was the solving of a cold case some 17 years old.

Speaking at the Police Christmas plan launch on Monday, Blanhum said the Force still needed the support of the public and stakeholders, in order to maintain law and order and ensure the security of the people.

“We continue to recognise that there is a trust deficit among Police and the amount of trust they place in members of the public. We will continue to seek to build and improve the trust among members of the public,” the Crime

FROM PAGE 13

tion of the event since 11 years ago, it could be better organized. He also stated that had it not been for the motor racing championships held the same day, there would have been a larger turnout. Nevertheless, Haralsingh noted that GTA will continue to work alongside the Rockstone community with the promotion of the annual festival, which is notably the only fish festival in Guyana: “We will continue to work with Rockstone because this is a very unique event: It’s the only fish festival in Guyana and this can grow to be much larger.”

Such activities Haralsingh added are what brings and drives the demand for tourism. He encouraged the RTA to conduct activities more than once a year as a means of encouraging domestic tourism.

As a means of promoting the fish festival, Haralsingh said more collaboration is

needed in addition to focusing more on the promotion of fish.

With the observance of Tourism Awareness Month, Haralsingh also encouraged Guyanese to leave their homes and visit somewhere else.

GTA Tourism events officer Ronald Smith also implored Guyanese to take time out of their busy schedules and explore the natural side of Guyana by visiting communities such as Rockstone. He said attendance at events such as the fish festival is about creating lasting moments.

“Each one of these communities have something that is unique - you can take a boat ride up the Essequibo River...Rockstone is a great camping ground. You can go fishing...then there’s the creek,” he encouraged.

Chief promised. He pointed out that the Force has charged several ranks for corruption.

Blanhum also spoke of the other challenges being experienced, including the inability to extract CCTV footage from crime scenes as well as the poor quality of some footage, and witnesses failing to attend ID parades. In an effort to tackle the latter, divisional commanders were being asked to visit the victims and persuade them to attend the parades. That strategy has been garnering some success, Blanhum said.

Meanwhile, in addressing concerns that licensed gun owners may be renting their weapons to criminals, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said there has not been any evidence collected to link licensed firearms to crime scenes.

However, Police have been investigating that possibil-

ity in several cases based on information.

“I don’t recall that evidence has been collected to prove that, in any of the cases. There are a few ongoing investigations where the line of enquiry suggests that. There is a current murder investigation where that is one of the lines of enquiry by the detectives,” Persaud told media operatives at the event.

In a video released by the Ministry of the Presidency, over the weekend, Persaud had said that certain security services that are inherent to business entities were being used for unlawful purposes.

“Right now, we have a murder investigation going on and one of the lines of enquiry is that a licensed firearm holder, (who) has a number of firearms for a security company, is renting those guns to persons who are not licensed and who are not authorised to carry them. And one such incident resulted in the death of a person – a murder – that we are investigating,” Persaud stated.

According to the Commissioner, the Police have been hearing about this unlawful practice in many other cases. He noted too that the Police Commissioner has the authority under the Private Security Act to conduct audits at the entities in light of such allegations.

However, the Top Cop recognised that more resources would be needed so that Police could conduct these audits more frequently and spontaneously to obtain evidence of what is happening.

Payless launches Christmas promotion

P

ayless Variety Store on Monday launched its grand Christmas Promotion, which will see customers winning big for the Christmas season.

Millions of dollars will be up for grabs at both the Wellington Street, Georgetown and Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop branches.

With any purchase, customers will become eligible to win five main prizes and five consolation prizes on the day of the drawing in December.

The store’s spokesperson, Rajan Tiwari, told the media that “the first prize will be one complete bed set inclusive of a mattress, bed and a television; one washing machine; one television; one 20-piece dinner set, with many other prizes to be

won.”

On the final drawing date, one all-expenses paid ticket to New York City will be given away to a lucky customer, compliments of Fly Jamaica.

To be eligible to win, customers are asked to fill out a coupon with their name, address and contact information and drop it into boxes located storewide after any purchase.

Meanwhile, in a surprising turn of events, members of the media were also given a chance to win prizes at the launching. Sports journalist Avenash Ramzan walked away with one Samsung smart television.

Patrons are encouraged to maximise their shopping at the Payless Variety Store this Christmas.

news

17

tuesday, november 15, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

2nd women’s Self Reliance Special needs teachers Workshop commences in Linden require continuous training – Education Minister S ome 40 Linden women will over the course of this week benefit from a Self Reliance Workshop and Success in Business Workshop organised by First Lady Sandra Granger. The workshop opened on Monday at the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) where the First Lady addressed the attendees.

The workshop funded by the Social Protection Ministry, is the second in the community and is set to wrap-up on Friday. In her address to the women, the First Lady expressed gratitude to the Ministry for the initiative and praised the support given at the Regional level. She noted that women have become empowered and equipped with knowledge on how to effectively manage a business. The First Lady added that it creates a positive fusion with community and family life.

“The ladies can empower themselves and teach the basics of how they can run a business and through that confidence in themselves, they will be able to tell about market, to be able to pack-

S

First Lady Sandra Granger (centre) is flanked by (from left, seated) Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady; Wayne Barrow, facilitator at Interweave Solutions Incorporated; Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland; Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian; Sandra Adams, Assistant National Director of Community Development Councils and Yohann Pooran, facilitator at Interweave. The participants are pictured standing

age, to plan and how to set themselves, to be marketable,” she said.

The First Lady made a pledge to have the initiative reach those regions that did not benefit from the initiative by December or early next year.

Following the workshop, participants are expected to embark on a community enhancement project.

Upon completion of the workshop participants will receive a certificate recognised by the Ministry of

Business and microinstitutions.

Women who participated in the previous workshop last year had embarked on a potable water initiative in the Christiansburg community.

Also in attendance at Monday’s opening were Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Deputy Director of Community Development Councils Sandra Adams.

Efforts on stream to increase cassava yield

T

he National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is currently exploring the option of increased usage of bio-stimulants which will help to increase cassava yields.

The use of bio-stimulants is being promoted based on research and tests carried out. These show an increase in the quantity of cassava harvested. NAREI has already moved towards implementing the use of chemical bio-stimulants.

Research scientist with responsibility for the cassava production programme, Premdat Beecham told the Government Information Agency (GINA): “One of the works that we’re doing is the utilisation of improved farming technologies, that’s the utilisation of irrigation systems, fertilisation systems and the use of bio-stimulants for crop production.

Based on results obtained, that would be preliminary results, would have proven that the use of bio-stimulants has increased crop production more than 45 per cent and this is an encouraging sign, especially for farmers.” NAREI’s programme is

aimed at multiplying new and improved varieties of the cassava crop for distribution to farmers across the country. The Institute is expected to introduce three new varieties of the root crop shortly.

For some time, a number of pilot projects had been executed in various parts of Regions Three (West DemeraraEssequibo Islands) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica) in the process of expanding production. It has been recognised that there is a demand for cassava in the form of flour and efforts are being made to produce this type.

Additionally, farmers can benefit locally by supplying chip factories with cassava for chip production in the near future. This will be in keeping with the Agriculture Ministry’s campaign to “Eat what you grow and grow what you eat”. Based on a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report, the Caribbean region and its people can benefit from improved economics and health status as a result of increased cassava production.

“We have quite a lot of products we can get from

cassava especially; we had worked with FAO in terms of the utilisation of the cassava for bread-making, and we did some tests with 20 and 30 per cent of the grated cassava in bread and it came out very successful,” Beecham reported.

The Government of Guyana is working with other member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to diversify their local produce. This would eventually reduce the Region’s food import bill which currently stands at over US$4 billion annually.

Guyana’s farmers can contribute to regional food security by increasing agricultural output with the exploration of cassava production, and the extensive use of bio-stimulants. A biostimulant used for agricultural purposes usually is made of compounds and micro-organisms which can be applied to the soil of plants or the plants themselves to improve vigour, yield, and quality. Bio-stimulants foster a plant’s growth and development throughout its cycle, from seedling to the stage of maturity.

“I know that the Government is focusing a lot on agriculture, especially with agriculture development, and what we are trying to do is do a lot more value addition, and that is one of the components of cassava production where we are lacking, and we need to improve on value addition,” the research scientist explained.

pecial Needs Schools must be equipped with physical, educational and sufficient human resources to enable small group teaching and individualised programmes. This is the view of Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

The minister also said that special needs teachers need to be able to benefit from continuous guidance and oversight provided by specialists. The minister was at the time delivering remarks at a special ceremony held at the Diamond Special Needs School in recognition of a grant from ExxonMobil to equip the school’s teachers for the delivery of special education.

The minister said that the ministry also recognises that upgrading the knowledge and skills of Special Needs teachers is crucial to addressing the needs of children with specific disabilities. With this in mind, he explained that the ministry has begun negotiations with the Step by Step Foundation for children with autism.

“The foundation and the school it runs can provide excellent theoretical and practical training opportunities for the ministry’s teachers,” the minister said. Minister

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Roopnaraine said that the ministry needs to provide such training for selected teachers across Guyana, “so that children with autism in all regions can benefit from excellent educational opportunities.”

The Education Ministry has made a good start in addressing the needs of children with specific disabilities, but in addition to teacher training, Minister Roopnarine said that there are a number of other issues that the ministry still needs to address.

“We need to improve public awareness, and reduce the stigma associated

with the physical, mental and behavioural challenges of our special needs children.”

The ministry also needs to address the difficulties that these children face using public transport and in finding suitable employment opportunities, he said.

The grant from ExxonMobil not only provides for a training course for the teachers, but also funds disability-friendly physical works, including pantry and washrooms at the Diamond Special Needs School.

The ceremony marked the completion of the physical works and the commencement of training. The latter is being facilitated and certified by the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) of the University of Guyana.

Guyana’s Constitution requires that all children should have access to appropriate educational facilities, but because of the absence of appropriate physical facilities and trained teachers to handle special needs, and the individual challenges of special needs children, inclusivity is not always appropriate, hence the need for schools like the Diamond Special Needs School.

Guyana on right track with public data collection – Dr Rist

G

uyana is ranked second in the Caribbean as it relates to the commencement of data collection, and results-based measurement. This is according to the Co-Director of the International Programme for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) of the Finance Ministry, Dr Ray Rist.

Dr Rist said that Guyana was ahead of most Caribbean countries, with Trinidad and Tobago at number one. He pointed out that the Health and Education Ministries were starting to demonstrate the competence to collect data and analyse it.

“We have had some good data and analysis for the health performance issues, and some of the education performance issues, and you can’t make these decisions unless you have this data,” Dr Rist noted.

It was explained that IPDET is currently collecting data on book distribution in Guyana, which was not going well a few years ago, as well as on the ability of Guyana to distribute drugs for hospitals and clinics around the country.

“Guyana is being better served by the book dis-

Participants of the Finance Ministry’s Monitoring and Evaluation Training Workshop

tribution group and by the drug distribution group and that can’t be said for a lot of other countries down in the Caribbean, you guys are getting it right,” Dr Rist pointed out to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Finance Ministry is currently undertaking a Monitoring and Evaluation Training Workshop. The workshop, which ends on Friday, is being hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC).

Some of the areas that are to be covered during the workshop include: designing and building results-based monitoring and evaluation systems, understanding the evaluation context, and the programme theory of change, selecting and constructing

data collection instruments, and planning for and conducting data analysis.

When asked how important this workshop is for Guyana, Dr Rist said that it would train persons to be able to answer the ‘what question’ – whether Government programmes are effective.

Dr Rist said that the intent was to improve good public management, “because if you are going to manage well, you have to have good data”. He pointed out that the key thing was to make sure the approach was systematic, logical and collected the correct data, noting that when Government collects data, in the long term it will be in a better position to say which projects should be funded.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 15, 2016

ARCHIE

It’s a good day to take action and get things done.

(March 21- Work independently if it will April 19) deter others from slowing you down. A short trip or meeting will give you something to think about.

ARIES

A change at work shouldn’t TAURUS disrupt your productivi(April 20- ty. Hunker down and finish May 20) whatever you are responsible for. It’s what you accomplish that will secure your position.

Romance is encouraged.

dilbert

If you make plans that GEMINI will challenge you mentally, (May 21June 20) physically and emotionally, you will attract interesting people. Listen and try to help others, but don’t get taken for granted.

Secret matters are best kept that way. Someone will (June 21- try to disclose information July 22) that will be harmful to your plans. Don’t overspend when trying to impress others.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Bringing about change that you believe is necessary will encourage new friendships and a better understanding of gratitude. If you speak on behalf of those who cannot, you’ll become a hero.

You need to pay more atVIRGO tention to what’s going on at (Aug. 23Sept. 22) your home and within your important relationships. Go out of your way to keep the peace and put others at ease.

Calvin and Hobbes

Changes at home will enLIBRA courage greater cash flow.

(Sept. 23Check out your vocational opOct. 23) tions and pick up information that will help you improve your earning potential. Physical activity will ease stress.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

You have to show strength SCORPIO and courage if you want to get (Oct. 24ahead. Don’t let anyone take Nov. 22) control or coax you to overspend. Do your own thing and avoid discord.

Partnerships are best SAGITTARIUS dealt with openly. Don’t be (Nov. 23- afraid to share your feelings Dec. 21) and to let others know where you stand and what your intentions are. Don’t give in to emotional manipulation

YESTERDAY'S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You must keep things in CAPRICORN perspective.

It will be easy (Dec. 22to miscalculate, leaving you Jan. 19) at odds in any given situation involving others. Selfimprovement is your best bet.

You should take an enerAQUARIUS getic approach to your life, (Jan. 20responsibilities and personFeb. 19) al and professional goals.

The more you do, the more you will get in return. Greet change with enthusiasm.

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 Giving false information or (Feb. 20- divulging personal secrets will March 20) put you in a vulnerable position.

Protect yourself against being misinterpreted or emotionally manipulated by an adversary. Concentrate on creative ideas, personal growth and financial gains.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test, Hobart, 4th day

Abbott, Rabada bowl SA to series victory

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

19

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, tri-series, Harare

Sri Lanka steamroll Zimbabwe on green track

Zimbabwe’s top-order collapse began when Brian Chari nicked Suranga Lakmal to second slip© Associated Press

S

Kyle Abbott celebrates a wicket

T

ake a bow, Kyle Abbott. Take a bow, Kagiso Rabada. Take a bow, Faf du Plessis and the entire South Africa squad.

A month ago, this team arrived in Australia without its captain and best batsman, AB de Villiers, who is at home injured. They lost their best bowler, Dale Steyn, to a serious injury barely a day into the campaign. And yet they have not only beaten Australia in the series, they have crushed them. Humiliated them.

When this series schedule was announced, South Africa were worried that it might be decided by a pink-ball, day-night Test in Adelaide. They need not have feared. In Hobart, they have destroyed Australia by an innings and 80 runs to follow their hefty victory in Perth, and thus have secured a third consecutive series win in Australia.

This was a total annihilation, Australia failing even to take the Test to lunch on day four - with a whole day having been lost to rain.

Australia faced only 558 deliveries in this Test, their fourth-lowest tally in a home Test loss, and their lowest

since Don Bradman’s debut match in 1928. In the first innings they collapsed for 85; at stumps on day three it seemed like they might have found some fight, having reached 2 for 121. But they were about to fold again.

From the moment Usman Khawaja edged Abbott behind for 64, Australia lost 8 for 32 in less than 20 overs.

Warner and Khawaja were watchful during a 79run partnership, though they were often tested by Philander, Abbott and Kagiso Rabada. Balls seamed and swung, whizzed past edges or narrowly missed the stumps. But for 21 overs the pair survived, even when Warner’s edge off Abbott flew towards third slip, where Dean Elgar ducked under the flying ball, perhaps having lost sight of it, to the astonishment of the rest of the cordon.

Abbott eventually had his man when Warner was tucked up by a shortish delivery at his ribs, and tried to work it behind square on the leg side. The ball bounced off Warner’s hip and then ricocheted off his elbow and back into the stumps. But if Warner felt he was unlucky,

SCOREBOARD Australia 1st Innings 85 South Africa 1st innings 326 Australia 2nd innings (Overnight score 121/2) JA Burns c †de Kock b Abbott 0 DA Warner b Abbott 45 UT Khawaja c †de Kock b Abbott 64 SPD Smith* c †de Kock b Rabada 31 AC Voges c Duminy b Abbott 2 CJ Ferguson c Elgar b Rabada 1 PM Nevill† c Duminy b Rabada 6 JM Mennie lbw b Rabada 0 MA Starc c †de Kock b Abbott 0 JR Hazlewood not out 6

NM Lyon c Philander b Abbott 4 Extras (lb-1, nb-1) 2 Total (all out; 60.1 overs) 161 Fall of wickets 1-0 (Burns, 0.4 ov), 2-79 (Warner, 22.6 ov), 3-129 (Khawaja, 40.6 ov), 4-135 (Voges, 46.1 ov), 5-140 (Ferguson, 49.1 ov), 6-150 (Nevill, 53.4 ov), 7-150 (Mennie, 53.6 ov), 8-151 (Smith, 55.4 ov), 9-151 (Starc, 58.3 ov), 10-161 (Lyon, 60.1 ov) Bowling: KJ Abbott 23.1-3-77-6, VD Philander 16-6-31-0 (nb-1), JP Duminy 1-0-8-0, K Rabada 17-5-34-4, Maharaj 3-0-10-0

Abbott had at least had reward for South Africa’s plan to tuck Warner up in that region.

Khawaja, who was particularly strong through the cover and point regions, brought up his half-century from his 91st delivery and for the first time in the match, an Australian had reason to raise his bat. There had been a nervous moment early in Khawaja’s innings when Warner pushed to point and took off for a single, and Khawaja gave up on making his ground as Temba Bavuma threw - and missed.

De Kock’s poise during this series has been notable, as has Bavuma’s patience and ability to halt any momentum Australia’s bowlers might have thought they were getting. Here, Bavuma occupied the crease for 204 deliveries, more than the 197 balls that comprised Australia’s entire first innings. Bavuma was calm at the crease and struck eight fours on his way to 74, before extra bounce and a leading edge to the off side belatedly gave Joe Mennie his maiden Test wicket.

Once Bavuma departed the end came relatively quickly. Hazlewood had Keshav Maharaj bowled for 1, Abbott lbw for 3, and then finished the innings with Philander caught behind for 32. South Africa had been dismissed for 326, a total that might not hint at domination of the match. But the story of this game was Australia’s 85 on the first day, and an enormous task remained ahead of them to undo the damage caused by that collapse. (ESPNCricinfo)

ent in to bat on a green and slightly damp Harare surface, Zimbabwe lasted only 41.3 overs, leaving Sri Lanka a target of 155 that they chased down breezily courtesy Dhananjaya de Silva’s unbeaten 78. Easy on the eye and ruthless on anything short or on his pads, de Silva scored his second ODI halfcentury, and put on 56 for the first wicket with Kusal Perera and 84 for the second with Niroshan Dickwella to steer Sri Lanka home with 153 balls remaining.

De Silva was the recepient of one off the first ball of the chase, when he nicked Tinashe Panyangara to wicketkeeper Peter Moor only to be reprieved by a no-ball call. The pressure was off Sri Lanka thereafter, with Zimbabwe’s bowlers sending down a steady stream of loose balls, usually erring on the short side.

Perera and Dickwella were both out to pulls, but the shot was also highly productive, bringing Sri Lanka 38 runs off 14 balls, including seven of their fours and the one six of their innings, hit

by Kusal Mendis off Graeme

Cremer’s legspin.

Peter Moor fell for 47, while Cremer, who moved the total past 150 with some help from Donald Tiripano

Niroshan Dickwella played a controlled knock of 41

and Tinashe Panyangara, was left stranded on 31.

Making his ODI debut, allrounder Asela Gunaratne finished as Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler, picking up three lower-order wickets

SCOREBOARD Zimbabwe innings (50 overs maximum) BB Chari c Mendis b Lakmal 7 CJ Chibhabha lbw b Pradeep 18 CR Ervine c Mendis b Lakmal 0 Sikandar Raza c Pathirana b Kulasekara 1 SC Williams st †Dickwella b Pathirana 9 PJ Moor† lbw b Kulasekara 47 E Chigumbura c †Dickwella b Pradeep 1 AG Cremer* not out 31 DT Tiripano c Kulasekara b Gunaratne 19 CT Mumba lbw b Gunaratne 1 T Panyangara c Jayasuriya b Gunaratne 12 Extras (lb-2, w-6) 8 Total (all out; 41.3 overs; 192 mins) 154 Fall of wickets 1-13 (Chari, 3.2 ov), 2-13 (Ervine, 3.4 ov), 3-14 (Sikandar Raza, 4.2 ov), 4-29 (Williams, 10.6 ov), 5-46 (Chibhabha, 15.4 ov), 6-50 (Chigumbura, 17.1 ov), 7-105 (Moor, 27.4 ov), 8-136 (Tiripano, 37.6 ov), 9-139 (Mumba, 39.2 ov), 10154 (Panyangara, 41.3 ov)

with his medium-paced offcutters.

Nuwan Pradeep, the third seamer, struck the next two blows, straighten-

Bowling: KMDN Kulasekara 8-223-2(w-1), RAS Lakmal 7-0-192, SS Pathirana 10-0-44-1 (w1), N Pradeep 7-1-21-2 (w-3), DSNFG Jayasuriya 3-0-24-0, DAS Gunaratne 6.3-1-21-3 (w-1) Sri Lanka innings (target: 155 runs from 50 overs) DM de Silva not out 78 MDKJ Perera c Sikandar Raza b Chibhabha 21 N Dickwella† c Mumba b Panyangara 41 BKG Mendis not out 12 Extras (lb-2, nb-1) 3 Total (2 wickets; 24.3 overs) 155 Did not bat: WU Tharanga*, DSNFG Jayasuriya, DAS Gunaratne, SS Pathirana, KMDN Kulasekara, RAS Lakmal, N Pradeep Fall of wickets 1-56 (Perera, 10.2 ov), 2-140 (Dickwella, 22.2 ov) Bowling: T Panyangara 7.30-37-1 (nb-1), CT Mumba 4-0-31-0, DT Tiripano 3-017-0, CJ Chibhabha 2-0-181, Sikandar Raza 3-0-250, AG Cremer 5-0-25-0

ing one just enough to get Chamu Chibhabha lbw playing across the line, and then, in his next over, moving it a little further to get a leaden-footed Elton Chigumbura caught behind. Zimbabwe had lost six wickets in just 17.1 overs.

Tiripano showed impressive technique for a No. 9 in moving to 19 before going for an ill-advised hoick off Gunaratne that picked out long-on. Gunaratne then spun an offcutter like a fast offbreak to pin his fellow debutant Carl Mumba lbw, before Panyangara, slog-sweeping merrily, hit a four and a six before he was the last man out, miscuing another attempted slog.

Watching from the other end, Cremer wouldn’t have been too pleased with that shot, or indeed the one Tiripano played to get out. He had batted sensibly and looked in barely any trouble, and would have hoped someone stuck around long enough with him to take Zimbabwe as close to the 50-over mark as possible. (ESPnzNCricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

Andy Murray begins life as number one with win

Ronaldo nets 2 in Portugal victory

A

ndy Murray began life as the world number one with a convincing victory over Croatia’s Marin Cilic at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The Briton, who replaced Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the top of the rankings last week, won 6-3 6-2 at the 02 Arena for his 20th win in a row.

Murray and Djokovic are vying for the year-end number one spot.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori beat Swiss Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-3 in Monday’s other John McEnroe Group match.

The evening session saw Murray step onto court as the world number one for the first time - and he delivered the result that most of the 17,000 spectators wanted.

“A big thank you for all of the support, it was an incredible atmosphere today,” Murray said as the crowd saluted him. “I really appreciate it.”

Both men misfired from the baseline in the early stages, with Murray making two winners to 14 unforced errors in the first set, but it was a similar story across the net.

The Scot, 29, took his chances when they came, breaking twice and coming through despite four double faults.

There were more signs of the form that has brought Murray such success this

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 68 international goals

Andy Murray

year as the second set unfolded.

After saving an early break point with an ace, the Wimbledon champion broke at 2-2 thanks to two mighty forehand winners, and again at 4-2 with another heavy cross-court forehand.

Murray goes on to face Nishikori, live on BBC Two and Radio 5 live sports extra, on Wednesday at 14:00 GMT. While Murray and Novak Djokovic battle for the year-end number one spot, Japan’s Nishikori took a significant step towards replacing Wawrinka as the world number three with a surprisingly easy win.

“That’s my goal for this week,” said fifth seed Nishikori, 26.

“Try to win a lot of matches and reach number four or number three. I see the opportunity to go up the rank-

ing.”

Wawrinka, 31, was playing with strapping on his left knee and struggled to make any impression on the return, despite Nishikori making just 47% of first serves.

The Swiss, who beat Nishikori on the way to winning the US Open in September, leaked 31 errors over the course of 67 minutes.

Two break of serve allowed Nishikori to take the first set with a sharp volley after 29 minutes, and a lunging forehand return in game five provided the decisive break in the second.

Asked if he had been struggling physically, Wawrinka said: “I was feeling better on the court, so I thought I could play at a better level today.

“I was expecting a good match. Didn’t happen today.” (BBCSPORT)

R

eal Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and missed a penalty as Portugal defeated Latvia in a World Cup Group B qualifier.

The 31-year-old opened the scoring from the spot but missed another penalty

after the break when his effort came off both post and keeper Andris Vanins.

Arturs Zjuzins equalised with a low strike before William Carvalho headed the Portuguese back in front.

Ronaldo’s volley made it

3-1 and Bruno Alves headed in a late fourth.

Portugal now have nine points but remain in second behind leaders Switzerland, who moved to 12 points with a 2-0 win over Faroe Islands.

(Sportsmax)

10-man Reggae Boyz top Suriname

Gold Cup spots go up for grabs January 2017 T

Reggae Boyz enter the semi-finals of the Caribbean Cup

en-man Jamaica secured a spot in the semi-final of the Caribbean Cup following a hard-fought 1-0 over Suriname at the National Stadium on Sunday.

By virtue of the win the

defending champions also secured qualification to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Striker Corey Burke gave the Reggae Boyz the lead in the 16th minute, but the team would have its work cut out when it went down a

man short before half-time.

Minnesota defender Damion Lowe was given his marching orders in the 33rd minute, but the home team still managed to hold on for the win.(Sportsmax)

The Gold Cup is our World Cup ― French Guiana skipper

F

The playoffs for fifth in the CFU Caribbean Cup will take place on January 4, 6 and 8 next year

T

he three best second place teams from the respective groups - Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Haiti - have qualified for the fifth place CFU playoff.

Trinidad and Tobago will take on Suriname on January 4, Suriname play Haiti on January 6 while Haiti will tackle Trinidad and Tobago on January 8.

On the weekend, the four group winners - Jamaica, French Guiana, Curacao and Martinique – qualified for the semi-finals of the Scotiabank CFU Caribbean Cup set for June 22-25, 2017. The teams have also qualified for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup set for July 7-26, 2017.

Last week Wednesday, French Guiana defeated

Haiti 5-2 to win the group while on Sunday Haiti defeated St. Kitts and Nevis 2-0 in extra time to conclude Group 2 action. Jamaica topped Group 1 after defeating Suriname 1-0.

The winner of the CFU playoff will play off for the 5th CONCACAF Gold Cup Spot with the fifthplace team from the Central American Football Union.

(Sportsmax)

rench Guiana captain Donovan Leon says that qualification to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup is his country’s greatest-ever footballing achievement.

Last Wednesday, the French Guianese defeated host Haiti, 5-2, in the 2016/17 Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup. The third-round result guaranteed them the Group 2 crown, a place in the competition’s semifinals and a first-ever ticket to the Gold Cup. “This moment is one that I and our country will never forget,” said Leon, a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper, who is on the books of French second-division side Brest.

“Beating the best of the Caribbean and qualifying for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup is huge for us.

After that 1-0 win over St. Kitts & Nevis, we knew we were one win away from history, so we give it one m o r e push

and it paid off for us. After missing out on 2015 after losing to Honduras, we really wanted to make 2017 count for us.”

Two years ago, French Guiana was on the preci-

pice of qualifying for the Gold Cup after finishing fifth in the Caribbean Cup to earn a two-match playoff with Honduras for the last berth. It won the first leg 3-1 at home, before falling 3-0 on the road to drop a 4-3 aggregate decision.

There was no such drama this time around and, since French Guiana is not a FIFA member, the Gold Cup will be its largest competitive stage. “Yes, we still have the semifinals to play in the Caribbean Cup, but the Gold Cup is our World Cup,” Leon finished. “It is our chance to show to the region and to the world that we are a competitive team and we hope we can continue the good form like we have done in 2016. I am very excited and looking forward to a busy 2017.”(Sportsmax)

21

YELLOW PAGES GCA/ NBS 2nd Division

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 | WWW.GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

LAND FOR SALE

Complete package, key cutting machine plus 1000 blank keys:.Price: $450,000. Vers Realty: To Rent Office Space & Store Front, 17 Brickdam & Smyth Street, Stabroek, Georgetown Guyana. Tel: 223-1217 Or 600-5759

Land for Sale. 1.5 Acres WBD. Close to Plantation Walk, Vreed-En-Hoop.

Call: 658-0115

CAR RENTALS

Formerly Globe Cinema, Corner lot, Church and Waterloo Street Size 125 ft x 133 ft Tel: 610-2234

Need a car to rent? Then call 611-1018 for the best cars at great prices.

Progressive Auto Rental: Cars from $4000 and up. Tel: 219-3900, 643-5122

DENTISTRY Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

DRIVING SCHOOL Shalom Enterprise Driving School 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. You can obtain an International Drivers Permit Covering 131 Countries. Tel: 2273869, 644-7052, 659-3381

Land at La Grange Public Road, Size 4 Acre, could be used for commercial or housing scheme. Tel: 625-1514

Transported Land for Sale at Logwood Enmore, ECD. Contact Tel: (592)-6225824 or (592)-671-5395.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATION SERVICES: polygraph testing, cheating spouse, background checks, criminal investigations, private investigations, security survey – risk analysis, due diligence, bodyguard service, security consultancy, any other worldwide services. Contact Central Advisory Service – email: internationallpi1@yahoo.com. Tel : 592-630-4041

EDUCATION

PROPERTY FOR SALE

REGISTER - learn to play drums, guitar, keyboard and train your voice NOW OR in the Summer. Call 225-1151/ 657-8404

House and land available for sale.

Contact Pacific Development Inc. Tel:- 223-6035/227-8274

Learn to Play Music at Foundation7 : Call NOW: 225-1151/6578404

House Lot, Diamond New Scheme between 2nd & 3rd Ave. Contact: 638-1529

FOR SALE Powerline Battery Water/wholesale.

1 litre and 0.5 litre sizes. Tel: 6803863 Clean Garden Earth. Also excavating, grading and leveling done. Call 627-9977 Road to Belwasa and A Dip at the Sangam, Indentureship Novels at Austin’s Book Store and Lachmansingh Drug Store. Tel: 2265053.

FLOWERS Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

IMMIGRATION Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates.

Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105.

Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED BY IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT. PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATIONS (PERMANENT/VISITOR) FOR USA, CANADA, UK, CHINA, INDIA, ETC. SABITA’S IMMIGRATION SERVICES. TEL: 225-6496/662-6045

KEY CUTTING Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown.

Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 621-3249.

We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks. Get your extra key today.

OPTICIAN Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

HEALTH Healthworld Clinic – Providing professional psychological therapy for all mental and behavioral health problems. Call (592)-690-1824 MondaysSaturdays 9am-3pm. Email; healthworldhc@gmail.com

Eccles: $27M Neg. Enterprise Sec C: $20M Neg. Mon Repos: $30M Neg. South Ruimveldt Park: $20M Neg. Broad Street: $80M Neg. Charlotte Street between Camp & Alexander: $55M Neg. Providence (land): $6.5M Neg. Parfaite Harmonie (land): $4.5M Neg. Contact: 691-1521 GOOD HOPE AND OGLE. CONTACT: 673-5546, 222-3066, 682-7257, 6790987 House for sale leonora market housing scheme, west coast demerara. 2 Floor, 3 bedroom, 2 shower, 2 kitchen, yard, double garage, tel: Amar 225-3737, 651-7078

SPORTS

337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

Ifa Temple – Are you having serious problems and urgently need spiritual help? Call 621-0552 now. Email: anew-life@live.com

SPIRITUAL HEALING: REMOVE BLOCKAGE , VOODOO, HEXCURSE, BLACK MAGIC, SPELL, BUSINESS, UPLIFTMENT, PREGNANCY, LOVE & MARRIAGE PROBLEMS, CLEARANCE ETC. Contact: 612-1975, 683-5228

TAXI SERVICES GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 225-7878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

VEHICLES FOR SALE FOR SALE 1 FLAT TRAY NISSAN PICK UP. VERY GOOD CONDITION. CALL: 662-3997 OR 610-4897 1 TOYOTA IPSUM (7-SEATER) IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION WITH MUSIC (5800 W): CONTACT 653-1003 JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRA-CAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

Everest power to semis Sophia, MYO, GDF record victories

E

verest Cricket Club trounced Sophia to advance to the semifinals of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ New Building Society 40 overs second division tournament.

Played on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club ground at Carifesta Avenue, Everest scored a convincing win by 152 runs to move on to the next round.

The host won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 282-8 off their allotted 40 overs. Saheed Mohamed

scored the weekend’s second century, 131 while receiving support from Khemraj Ramdeen 47 and Randy Danraj 21. Bowling for the visitors, Trenton Liverpool collected 4-61 to lead the way.

Sophia in return was routed for 130 with G

SERVICES House plans & estimates, weeding of grass and spraying done within 48hrs. Call: 216-0671; 622-0267; 692-8464 Repairs and Spares, Air Conditioning, Car AC, Washers, Stoves. Call Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206

Kefa Naughton

Vackecy Barrow

Saheed Mohamed

ONE CHURCH BUILDING NOT IN USE AND ONE TWO STOREY BUILDING AT THE BACK OF 180 CHARLOTTE STREET BOURDA. (L 120 X 30 ) NEGOTIABLE, VACANT POSSESSION. TEL 624-7341 / 226-5183/2276817

scored 197 all out in 28.3 overs. Irfan Ali struck 67; Kishan Persaud made 45 and D. Thomas 15. Spinner Ryan Shun grabbed 5-37 while Dwayne Dick took 4-25.

WANTED

GNIC were dismissed for 149 in 23.3 overs in reply. R. Murriel scored 30, Mark Nicholson 25, Shun and Dick 19 each. Shafeek Ishmeal bagged 4-20 and Thomas 4-30.

At GDF, the host gained a walk over form Third Class.

Meanwhile, on Saturday three teams recorded victories. Sophia, Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were those victors on a contrasting day.

At Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) ground, Sophia hammered Third Class by a mammoth margin of 269 runs. Taking first strike, Sophia amassed 3446 with Vackecy Barrow (121)

Wanted One Gasoline Mechanic to work on the ECD. Contact #: 623-0318 WANTED 1 COSMETOLOGIST. APPLY IN PERSON, SHARON’S BUILDING – CHARLOTTE AND KING STREETS. SALES GIRLS WITH EXPERIENCE PLEASE BRING WRITTEN APPLICATION AND CV TO TRISTAR ELECTRICAL, BRASSONIC Bldg. (MAIN ENTRANCE 42 WATER ST. G/Town. 231-7101

223-7230-1 (Ext: 35) NOW!

TO LET 3-Bedroom apartment at 482 Herstelling, EBD. Contact: 265-3307 or Whatsapp: 1-917-502-4302 2 Bedroom Furnished Apartment, close to the University of Guyana, Teachers’ Training College and Texila American University. $55,000 (Utilities Included) Contact:- 6859127

SPIRITUALITY Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to business. Call: 612-6417, 687-5653 Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc.

Call 223-6834/600-7719.

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 602-8997 HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081, 322-5738, 3225788, 337-4510, 337-4259, 337-3070,

223-7230-1 (Ext: 35)

.Thompson 44 being their only significant scorer while Saheed Mohamed completed a fine all-round game as he ended with bowling figures of 5-22 from eight productive overs. Javed rasheed was once again in the wicket column with 3-12 from eight economical overs and Bhaskar Yadram 2-30 also was in the wicket column with two wickets.

At MYO, the home team scored their second win of the weekend defeating GNIC by 45 runs. MYO

hitting his way to a commanding century which i n c l u d ed 13 fours and two sixes. There were also

aggressive batting from Trenthon Liverpool made 49, Mario Parsram 48 and Glenford Stephen 40.

Adrian Persaud took two wickets for Third Class,

Javed Rasheed

who were dismissed for a paltry 75 in 12 overs in reply. Persaud got 26 and Ryan Ragunandan 16; medium pacer Dwayne Peters grabbed 7-11.

At the MYO ground, the host surpassed MSC by one wicket in a nail biter. In a game reduced to 34 overs due to a late start, MSC batted first and compiled 240 all out in 33.5 overs thanks to Kefa Naughton, who batted his way to 63. He received s u p p o r t from Ahmad D u d s o n 39, Marcus Watkins 35 and Shaquille Moseley 28; Anthony King g r a b b e d 3-16, Timur Mohamed 3-48 and Richard Latif 2-44.

MYO responded with 241-9 in 36 overs.

Zulfikar Ali stroked 96 not out while Chien Gittens got 25. Moseley claimed 3-36 and Mark Cumberbatch 3-62. At Camp Ayangana ground, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) overcame Diplomats by nine wickets. Diplomats made 83 all out, batting first while GDF replied with 841.

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

WICB/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament

― Blackwood comes up short with fighting 96

D

efending champions, Guyana Jaguars began their 2016 campaign of the Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament with a crushing win over the Jamaica Scorpions at Providence on Monday.

The 181-run victory was achieved in fading light despite a defiant 96 from Test batsman Jermaine

The Providence outfield took a lot of rain but was able to produce a result late on the final day

Blackwood and Chadwick Walton curbed their attacking instincts to resist the attacking Jaguars for 30 overs in a fighting 54-run partnership.

In the third over of the day, a fired up Keon Joseph breached the defence of Griffith with a quick ball that knocked out the middle and off stumps after a cau-

The winning moment! Leon Johnson (centre) leads his team victory in fading light

Blackwood and a thunderstorm that kept the players indoors for over three hours.

The Jaguars had visions of an early day after the Scorpions who began the final day on 9 for 2 chasing an improbable 329 to win, lost opener Trevon Griffith, night watchman Jason Dawes and middle order batsman Andre McCarthy to be reduced to 38 for 5 early in the first session. However, international players Jermaine

tious start by the Scorpions.

It was evident that the plan was to bat out the day for a draw but left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie enduced a lofted drive from Dawes for Joseph to take a super catch running around at long off.

Andre McCarthy joined Blackwood and the pair soaked up a lot of deliveries and time before the Jaguars’ most successful bowler of the match, Permaul got the breakthrough.

Walton joined forces with

Scorpions’ resistance continued and frustration began to step in to the Jaguars camp.

Captain Leon Johnson rotated the bowlers in search for the break through which eventually came in the 63rd over of the Scorpions innings when Motie struck in his first over of a new spell after being switched to the northern end. Walton hit one four in his partnership of 54 with Blackwood in thirty overs either side of the rain interruption.

Time was running out and the Jaguars needed the breakthrough to go for the outright win while the Scorpions were looking for a draw but Derval Green, Damion Jacobs and Nikita Miller were not dogged enough in offering resistance and assistance to Blackwood who was exploring thoughts of a fifth First Class century.

In fading light and in the final hour of the match, Blackwood was scoring freely off of the spinners and hit some telling blows to get closer to triple figures and Johnson made the off the field after a hard fought bold move to ring Joseph from the northern end with the second new ball with spectators at the ground three overs in the match rewere hoping for a prompt re- maining and the last pair sumption however, play was at the crease. The first ball held up for 3 hours and 15 Blackwood played to deep extra cover and did not take minutes.

Kudos must be given to the single to expose numthe ground staff at the na- ber 11 Marquino Mindley to tional stadium for their the strike. Mindley also was brisk effort in getting the comfortable to the spinners action to resume 20 min- and was proving to be the utes after the shower ended. perfect partner in the situaWhile the players were in- tion. However, all the hard doors, an early tea was tak- work went down the drain when Joseph bowled a short en as well.

Upon the resumption, ball on the line of middle in brilliant sunshine the stump and Blackwood edged Blackwood and they were doing a great job of blocking for just over seven overs before a sharp shower send the players off at 47 for 5 at approximately 10:55h and an early lunch was taken.

Blackwood, who got off the mark when he edged Joseph through the slips was on 17 and Walton was on a patient 6. The players and few

Diamond Mineral Water Road Race to close cycling season

T

he curtains will come down on the 2016 cycling season with the 17th Annual Diamond Mineral Water Cycle Road Race.

The race will pedal off at 7:30h on Sunday November 20, from the Ocean View Hotel, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, rather than in Region three (Wales-Parika) as was the case last year.

It is expected that the cyclists will head east with the veterans, mountain bikers and ladies turning back at the Mahaica Bridge, while the open and junior riders will go to the Half Way Tree, Mahaicony and turn back to complete the 55-mile distance at the point of origin.

With a lot of the leading riders calling it quits on the season prior to this race, there will still be grueling competition in each category, including the rivalry of Team Gillette Evolution and Team Cocos.

Last year, National cyclist and Team Gillette Evolution’s , Orville Hinds capped a dominant year on the saddle by winning the race in a brisk one hour, 59 minutes and 24 seconds.

Hinds is currently ranked as the top rider in the Open Category with a total of 196 points. He is trailed by Michael Anthony and Raul Leal.

Hinds leads the 20 cyclists including Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams also of Team Gillette Evolution and Chris

Griffith (Team Alanis) unto the podium while his other club mate, Akeem Wilkinson and Team Alanis’ Paul Choo-Wee-Nam and Paul DeNobrega filled out the top six.

In the Juniors’ division, Chris Griffith, Andrew Hicks and Nigel Duguid Jr. finished first to third respectively while in the Veterans class Talim Shaw stole the show with Jaikarran Sukhai coming in second and Shameer Baksh third. In the Mountain Bike category Sherwin Forde dominated as Wayne Nurse copped second and Michael Holder completed the top three.

to Bramble to spark wild celebrations as the resistance ended with the visitors folding for 147 with two overs and four balls remaining. The victory is without a doubt a morale booster for the defending champions who will now continue their campaign on the road.

For the match, the Jaguars got 17.8 points with 12 for the victory, 2 batting bonus points, 3 bowling bonus points and 0.8 fast bowling bonus points while the Scorpions leave with 4.8 points, 3 for bowling, 1 for batting and 0.8 from the fast bowlers.

The Jaguars will now travel to St. Kitts to meet the Leeward Jermaine Blackwood hits out Islands Hurricanes during his patient 96 against at Warner Park the defending champions at from Friday.

The Providence Hurricanes drew their the Wndwards Volcanoes heavy scoring opening encounter against the Pride. who lost their opening The Scorpions will go match to the Red Force inhome where they will host side three days.

SCOREBOARD Guyana Jaguars 1st Innings 298 Jamaica Scorpions 1st Innings 208 Guyana Jaguars 2nd Innings 238/4 dec Jamaica Scorpions 2nd Innings (Target 329) J Campbell b Joseph 1 T Griffith b Joseph 13 D Thomas LBW b Permaul 3 J Dawes c Joseph b Motie 3 J Blackwood c wpkr Bramble b Joseph 96 A McCarthy LBW b Permaul 2 C Walton LBW b Motie 13

D Green LBW b Permaul 0 D Jacobs c wkpr Bramble b Motie 10 N Miller LBW b Motie 4 M Mindley Not Out 0 Extras (nb-2) 2 Total (All Out, 85.2 overs) 147 FOW: 1-2, 2-8, 3-19, 4-32, 5-38, 6-92, 7-93, 8-119, 9-133, 10-147 E Hooper 10-3-18-0 (nb-1), K Joseph 9.2-3-18-3, V Permaul 29-10-63-3, R Reifer 7-4-130 (nb-1), G Motie 30-15-35-4 Player of the Match: Veeramsammy Permaul

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

Head Coach’s prediction on par

23

Should Jimmy Adams be the next West Indies Director of Cricket?― asked Dr Rudi Webster

...“Joseph has matured” – Crandon Dr Rudi Webster omeone recently told me that Jimmy Adams, a former West Indies captain, might be returning to West Indies cricket as coach of the West Indies team. If that’s true and Jimmy is in fact contemplating that move, I would beg him to immediately scrub the idea from his mind.

Soon after assuming his duties as coach he would find himself at odds with the Director of Cricket and the leadership of the WICB and like Ottis Gibson and Phil Simmons would be fired within a period of two or three years, if that long. Jimmy can be a great asset to West Indies cricket, not as the coach of the West Indies team, but as the Director of West Indies cricket.

Performance is not only influenced by our history, past experiences and track record but also by our needs, goals and vision of the future. In the appointment of foreign coaches and cricket experts we place too much emphasis on the experts’ promises, goals and strategies and too little on their history, experiences and track record - we do not do a thorough due-diligence. Consequently, we are bamboozled by the experts’ clever interviews and power point presentations.

These things are important but strategic plans by themselves can only take the team or organization so far. Plans and goal charts do not accomplish performance. It is people who breathe life into the team or organization’s vision, plans and mission. It is competent, welltrained, highly disciplined and highly motivated people who are the key to the organization’s

S

Esuan Crandon

Keon Joseph

W

inning has become a norm for the Guyana Jaguars and it seems as though for the past three years the pair of coach Esuan Crandon and skipper Leon Johnson have found the chemistry to inspire the Jaguars and dismantle all opposition they face in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/ Professional Cricket League (PCL) four day tournament.

Like they did yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, where they comfortably defeated a new look Jamaica Scorpions by 181 runs in their opening clash of the tournament. And have been doing for the past two season where they won successive titles and lost only one out of a total of 21 matches. A remarkable feat.

Nevertheless the outcome of the first match was no surprise but was more like an obvious for the Jaguars as was predicted prior to the start of the season by Crandon, who was optimistic that his team would start well.

They dominated most of the four days thus the win was imminent. Their bowling department, like it has been within the last three years, was once again outstanding. The spinners, Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh Motie with the stability of newcomer Eon Hooper led the way, collecting 16 of the 20 wickets.

Similarly the batting which has been led by Johnson in recent times along with the emergence of Rajendra Chandrika and Vishual Singh was intact, although t h e

batsmen fell short in the first innings.

Apart from the bowling and batting department Johnson’s leadership has a major impact on the team, especially with him being an exemplary leader.

However, the biggest encouragement from the Jaguars victory should be the evolution of Keon Joseph, who bowled with immaculate control and hostility as he claimed four wickets in the match, three of which were bowled.

His performance prompted the coach to say he has matured somewhat and he will be a big asset to the team, not just as its leading fast bowler but when they have to play on faster pitches as well as gathering fast bowling points for his team.

The reigning champions next assignment is in St. Kitts against the new look and fairly stronger Leeward Hurricanes and Crandon believes, Joseph could have an even better match at Warner Park where the pitch is faster than the one at Providence and offer a lot to the faster bowlers.

Speaking on his team’s performance in the first match, the former first class player, said he is elated that it went the way he predicted and it is a matter of consistency that could take them to their goal, which is to complete the three peat.

He also stated that the transformation of the Jaguars in the last three years came on the basis of hard work, dedication and respect for the game.

Crandon and Johnson in their capacities have found the formula and are a part of that formula for the Jaguars’ success.

success. How important then are the people skills of our cricket leaders? A US army general once said that the greatest leader in the world could never win a campaign unless he understood and motivated the men he had to lead. This is so true.

To get an inkling of how the foreign cricket expert might relate to West Indies players and coaches we should take a close look at his history, past experiences and track record, as well as his motivational profile - the things that make him tick.

What do we know of our cricket director’s past?

Did the WICB check out his international coaching record?

Did the board find out why he only stayed with Bangladesh and Middlesex County Club for just a few months? Did the board check out his relationships with the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan team members? Did the board find out if he understood and adapted to the culture of the players from Bangladesh and Pakistan? Did the board do a psychological evaluation? If so, what was his motivational profile? Was it dominated by his need for power and control?

This is important because if this is the case his interpersonal and people skills will be poor and his leadership style will take on a strong flavour of autocracy.

The cricket director had some success in South Africa in domestic cricket. But what do we know about his relationship with white players and players of colour? How did he interact with players of colour and how did they interact with

Jimmy Adams

him. The answers to some of these questions could be enlightening.

Vince Lombardi an American football coach once said: “Coaches and sports directors who can outline plays on a blackboard are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their players and motivate.” Where on WICB list of most important priorities is the motivation of the players?

The leadership of the WICB appears to be trapped in a mindset that stifles and kills the spirit of its players. Its latest attempt to motivate its best batsman, Darren Bravo, whose best days lie ahead of him, by giving him a C instead of a B contract, is a good example of this. Sometimes when people fail or make mistakes it is better to reward than punish, especially if they have talent and ability. The board’s naïve attempt to motivate Darren reminds me of the following story. There was an old man who lived in a run-down part of town and every afternoon some children would beat their

drums and make a tremendous amount of noise in front of his house. This annoyed the old man who devised a clever plan to deal with them. He told them that he would pay them twenty dollars each time they performed for him. The children returned the next afternoon and performed with gusto. The old man paid them.

Next day the old man told them that he only had 15 dollars but would add on the five dollars to their next payment. The children were disappointed but returned the next afternoon.

The old man then told them that he only had five dollars and promised to make up the deficit on next day. The children became very angry and left. The old man outsmarted them and they never returned. How well did the old man’s plan kill their spirit? Is the WICB doing the same thing to Darren Bravo?

The WICB must do two things to revive West Indies cricket. First, it must change its structure and leadership.

Second, it must replace the current director of cricket with someone like Jimmy Adams. Will these changes happen? Probably not since the president and vice-president are likely to be re-elected because of the strong support and blind obedience of their fellow directors, and because of the unwillingness of CARICOM prime ministers to speak with one voice and the institution’s weakness and its failure to act as a cohesive body to save West Indies cricket. In the meantime, the chaos and madness in West Indies cricket will continue and the autocracy of the board will flourish.

BCB/Tenelec Inc 50 Overs 1st Division

Chattergoon among the runs on comeback trail H alf Centuries by Sewnarine Chattergoon and five wicket haul from Balchand Baldeo spearhead Albion Cricket Club to double wins.

Two fine half centuries from former West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon on his come back trail and a five wicket haul from former national youth all rounder Balchand Baldeo lead Albion Cricket Club to wins over Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets and Port Mourant over the weekend in the TENELEC Inc First Division Fifty Over Cricket Competition organised by the Berbice Cricket Board and for teams in Berbice.

At Area “H” on Saturday, the host won the toss and inserted Albion CC who struggled initially but recovered to reach a respectable 191 for 9 in their reduced 44 overs due to early morning

Sewnarine Chattergoon

Balchan Baldeo

shower. In his come back game, Chattergoon scored a crucial 62. He got support from former national youth player Sharaz Ramcharran 45 and West Indies leg spinner Devendra Bishoo 27.

Extras was a healthy 26.

Bowling for RHT Gizmos and Gadgets, former national youth pacer Clinton Pestano took 2 for 30 off 7 overs.

In reply, the host was

shot out for a disappointing 114 runs in 27 overs to lose by 77 runs. Pestano topscored with 45. He got little support from former West Indies one day player Royston Crandon with 20. Offspinner Balchand Baldeo spun web around the batsmen taking 5 for 25 off 7 overs. Bishoo supported with a miserly spell of 2 for 7 off 7 overs and Ramcharran

2 for 21 off 5 overs.

Over at Port Mourant ground on Sunday, Albion batted first and again had a poor start before recovering to make 208 for 9 off their allotted 50 overs. Chattergoon once again lead the recovery with a patient 65 with 6x4 and 1x6. He got support from David Latchaya 35, former Guyana youth player Verapen Permaul 32 and Ramcharran 23. Bowling for the host, national middle order batsman Chanderpaul Hemraj took 2 for 15, Dimitri Cameron 2 for 21 and Kellon Carmichael 2 for 48.

In reply, Port Mourant struggled throughout their innings ending on 150 all out in 50 overs to lose by 58 runs. Samuel Kistasammy top scored with a fighting 50 with 5 fours. Bowling for Albion CC, the consistent Baldeo took 2 for 19 off 10 overs, and Latchaya 2 for 34 off 10 overs.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

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

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WICB/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament

Jaguars flatten Scorpions on rain-hit day ― Blackwood comes up short with fighting 96 Pg 22

Veerasammy Permaul (second from right) and the rest of the Guyana Jaguars bellow a successful appeal against Jamaica Scorpions’ Derval Green on the final day at Providence

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.