Guyana Times Daily - November 24, 2015

First Lady urges caregivers P12 to exercise patience

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2687

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

PRICE

GECOM’s ‘same day verification’ of voters can lead to fraud – PPP/C Page 3

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GBTI launches Education P16 Savings Plan

2 more nabbed La Penitence vendor at CJIA with ambushed, shot cocaine pellets and robbed in stomach Baramita students benefit from study tour

As crime spirals out of control

Page 7

$80 vat included

Page 11

Page 12

Another P2 Guyanese busted with cocaine in stomach at JFK Aracari Resort owner to be charged P2 for labour violations Festival City executionstyle killing

P8 Mason charged for murder

– claims he was forced to sign confession

US citizen jailed ex P2 parte for drug trafficking – flees jurisdiction

First visit to Georgetown: The students of Baramita Primary, Region One, having breakfast with PAHO/WHO Guyana Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow on Monday during their first visit to the city

API 2015 in limbo

Sugar Page 9 industry crippled as more workers down tools

Guyana joins Sparta/Windsor Castle rice lands global efforts under water to abolish death penalty Page 10

Page 17

– sluice, pump non-operational

P11 Govt addressing changes to teacher evaluation process

2 news

tuesday, november 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Another Guyanese Aracari Resort owner to be busted with cocaine charged for labour violations in stomach at JFK C

L

ess than a week after a Guyanese hairdresser was busted at the JFK International Airport with a quantity of cocaine pellets in her stomach, a sales girl of Norton Street was on Saturday last intercepted while she was attempting to smuggle the illicit substance in a similar fashion.

She was identified as Shellon Beckles, 33, a sales girl who works at her family’s lumberyard on Norton Street, Georgetown. She reportedly left Guyana on Saturday evening and upon her arrival at the JFK International Airport, she reportedly complained of feeling dizzy.

Based on recent occurrences, the woman was questioned by Customs and Border patrols after which

an X-ray was done which proved that she was carrying pellets suspected to be filled with cocaine in her stomach.

She was taken to a medical facility where she has started to excrete the cocaine pellets. The Guyana Times understands that she has already excreted 45. She is expected to be charged shortly.

Only last week, 26-yearold Shureen Giddings was charged for unlawfully importing cocaine into the United States.

It was reported that Giddings was busted on November 9 after arriving on a flight from Guyana.

According to court documents, Giddings was subjected to a Customs and Border Protection examination.

The court documents revealed that during the examination, Giddings appeared nervous, prompting the officers to conduct a ‘patdown’. Later, after extensive questioning, she admitted swallowing the cocaine pellets and told the agents that she could no longer hold them and requested to use the bathroom, the court documents revealed.

At the airport, she excreted 17 pellets. The documents revealed that law enforcement agents then escorted her to a medical facility at the airport for an X-ray examination and it was there that it was discovered that she had more pellets in her stomach. A total of 105 pellets were expelled from her body, carrying a total weight of just over three pounds.

ontroversy continues to brews between Junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes and Aracari Resort owner Sase Shewnarain over the alleged labour violations at the vacation hangout area.

The Aracari Resort, located at Versailles, West Bank Demerara was recently slapped with a lawsuit for several breaches of the labour laws by the Labour Department.

While Minister Broomes is maintaining the resort was fully investigated to her satisfaction and the lawsuit is in accordance with the findings; the Aracari owner is contending otherwise.

According to reports, Shewnarain is claiming the Minister failed to take all the facts into consideration during the investigations.

On the other hand,

The Aracari Resort

Broomes indicated that an investigation was launched into the resort after several workers’ complaints were received against the business entity.

She alleges that during the investigations, there were instances where the businessman’s attitude proved unhelpful.

“Up to this time and despite written communication from this Ministry to Mr Shewnarain dated July 13th, 2015, and subsequent requests by telephone inviting him to a meeting to discuss the issue he has failed to put in an appear-

ance,” the Minister stated.

She added that it was only after her specific intervention that the Aracari owner sent a representative rather than attend the discussions himself.

Meanwhile, five charges were brought against Shewnarain. These are: failure to pay sum in lieu of employees’ terminations, failure to provide adequate notice before termination, failure to grant leave with pay, failure to pay overtime, and failure to present requested records.

He is expected to attend court soon.

US citizen jailed ex parte for drug trafficking – flees jurisdiction

A

n American citizen was on Monday sentenced to 60 months in prison after being found guilty of a narcotics trafficking charge by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Patricia Dalrymple, 23, whose local address was given as Lot 214 Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, was on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on April 20, 2015 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, she had 937 grams of cocaine in her possession for the purpose of trafficking.

On her first appearance in Court, it was revealed that on the day in question the woman was an outgoing passenger on Caribbean Airlines flight BW526, destined for the John F Kennedy Airport, New York.

While she was attempting to board the flight, ranks of the Narcotics branch of the Guyana Police Force conducted a search of her luggage and unearthed the cocaine in plastic bags at the bottom of her suitcase. She was informed of the offence, arrested and charged.

During the trial her lawyer Paul Fung-A-Fat made a successful High Court bail application and

Patricia Dalrymple

the woman was released on $1.8 million bail.

The Court could not seize her passport as it was property of the United States, and the day after being released on bail she allegedly fled the jurisdiction.

The trial continued in her absence, and on Monday Magistrate Latchman handed down the sentence in her absence. Latchman stated that the Prosecutor, Kerry Bostwick, had provided sufficient evidence and proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. As such, she sentenced the woman to pay a fine of $2,529,000 along with 60 months in prison.

3 GECOM’s ‘same day verification’ of voters can lead to fraud – PPP/C news

tuesday, november 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 24 – 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, November 25 – 14:30h-16:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 24 – 14:50h-16:20h and Wednesday, November 25 – 15:35h-17:05h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery showers are expected in the morning hours, with heavy rainfall in the afternoon giving way to thundery showers once more in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 15:14h reaching a maximum height of 2.82 metres.

Low Tide: 08:47h and 21:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.54 metre and 0.38 metre respectively.

By Kristen Macklingam

T

he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is objecting once more to the ‘same day verification’ process by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) with regard to newly-registered voters for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).

According to PPP/C Member of Parliament (MP) Zulfikar Mustapha, such verifications will prove to be challenging and will make it possible for fraudulent actions to take place during the local elections.

During a media briefing on Monday, he stated that the present process of GECOM “leaves room” for an individual to register in a specific area with an address, which is not

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his/her own, so as to be allowed to vote in that particular constituency.

If this occurs then the

be conducted at least one or two days after the registering of individuals so as to ensure that the integrity of the voters’ list is secured and to prevent fraudulent acts from taking place.

Meanwhile, GECOM is said to be currently engaging in its Claims and Objections period which is scheduled to end on December 13, 2015.

According to information received from the Elections Commission, the last figure for persons who are to be newly registered in the country stands at 558 (applications received) while 103 applications are for transfers.

There are presently 192 applications for changes and corrections to existing information. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Cash-strapped Linden Town Council woes continue he cash-strapped Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) continues to be plagued with issues that have negatively affected its functioning.

During an interview with Guyana Times on Monday, Linden Town Clerk Jenella Bowen disclosed that after years of economic challenges, the administration is “still uncomfortable in the position it’s in”.

Presently, the Communities Ministry has responsibility for municipalities across the country, including the LM&TC, known to suffer through its inability to garner sufficient revenues to properly execute its functions over the years.

Bowen said there is still need for more to be done to enhance the activities of the council which will eventually lead to an increase in cash flow.

Acting Town Clerk Tessa Ragbeer, who acted eminently during the recent leave

by Bowen, also echoed similar sentiments regarding the council’s economic situation on Monday.

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PPP/C MP Zulfikar Mustapha

‘same day verifications’ would not cater for this and would miss it entirely thus affecting the fair electoral process that is supposed to be executed in the country.

“A person can borrow someone’s address and then go there and relax. So when GECOM visits they believe that the address given is a true one…this could change the results of the elections,” Mustapha explained.

He posited that with the Claims process ongoing and the Objections period scheduled to commence in the last six days before the closing date, there will most likely be challenges if the verifications are not done correctly and in a proper manner.

As such, the PPP/C is proposing that these verifications

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Staff underpaid

According to the Acting

Town Clerk, it is the hope of the municipality to pay staff at the minimum wage level, however given the current financial situation it is difficult to do so.

“We are looking to have the municipal staff’s salary raised to minimum wage because it’s not yet there. We’re hoping to do so as well as look at salary scale and pay according to designation...we still have issues with NIS (National Insurance Scheme).

There is a lot of unpaid NIS and it’s presently a soar issue with them. We’re trying to deal with the current (payments) and then see how we can deal with the rest of the arrears”, she said.

Property valuation and re-valuation

Ragbeer said there is need for new properties to be evaluated and older ones to be reevaluated. In areas such as Amelia’s Ward, Wisroc and Block 22 which contain new housing, she noted that some properties have not been evaluated. She pointed out that in many instances home own-

ers do not pay any taxes as a result. Several letters regarding the issue have been addressed to the Ministry of Communities, she noted.

“Basically we are hoping for a breakthrough in revenue collection”, Bowen outlined.

Coupled with that, properties continue to be valuated at the level of the 1960s.

Solid waste management

Insufficient vehicles and equipment to carry out the function of solid waste management continues to pose problems for the municipality, Ragbeer related.

She said revenue collected is mainly put towards payment of wages and salaries and operational costs, however the issue of solid waste management remains due to insufficient funding. She said for this year, the municipality received a subvention of $11.2 million.

Bowen noted too that equipment to do the job is presently a challenge: “As a community we need to work closer together as it relates to the issue of garbage and dumping it on empty lots.”

With the upcoming

Christmas season, Bowen said an increase in waste is expected throughout the community and urges involvement of the community in keeping close ties with the municipality so they can work collectively in spite of the numerous challenges.

Other issues

Ragbeer said issues with vendors at the Wismar Municipal Market are also cause for concern as there are a number which need to be addressed.

Bowen also noted that those issues continue to affect vendors due to lack of sufficient funding by the municipality.

She stated that the issues have been outlined to the Communities Ministry and it is hoped they can be addressed in a timely manner in moving forward.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 24, 2015

Views Editor(ag): Michael Younge Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Canecutters’ sons T

wo of Guyana’s daily newspapers made it a point to highlight the two top graduating students from UG this year – from both Campuses – were the sons of “canecutters”. It was astonishing that more than 180 years after the abolition of slavery and 98 years after the abolition of indentured labour – both being institutions to “cut cane”the thought of a “canecutter’s son” topping his graduating class at university can make headline news.

And this after our national poet Martin Carter reminded us in a poem all Guyanese who passed through public school system would have learnt “by heart”: “I (meaning all of us) come from the Nigger Yard”. To imply that “canecutters’ sons and daughters cannot excel is to imply that after all these years, we are still stuck with “the scorn” for ourselves that Carter described so powerfully. And to be surprised by their achievement is to imply just that.

Guyana was founded as a colony by the Dutch who had fled Brazil, to produce sugar for an eager European market – but at prices that could only be achieved through slave labour.

And though, as Eric Williams argued, that labour produced the wealth on which the industrial revolution was built and which gave the Europeans an advantage they enjoy to this day, the individuals providing the labour were dehumanised and equated into animals.

Maybe it was not surprising that, to use the felicitous phrase coined by Marx a decade later, the freed labour became “alienated” from the land and the honour to coax from it, life’s sustenance. The scorn was transferred to the land so when indentured labour replaced the slave, he too was cathected with assumptions of a lesser humanity and this is what appears to have survived to this day. Ironically, in Guyanese of all persuasions.

Today it may surprise some to learn that one out of three canecutters is of African heritage and perchance one may see this as a sign of progress. A lessening of the self-hating scorn in the wider society, even though one member of the culturati – a pretender to even Carter’s mantle – has used “canecutter” as a trope for all that is backward and uncivilised. As the ultimate put down, he made reference to “some Canecutopian official or their ignorant spawn” for committing some faux pas or other.

And it is why, one of the canecutting fathers of the valedictorian could recount how he took his son to the cane fields and made sure the lad would look beyond the cane fields.

Not for the honest labour; not for the salary that is perhaps more than a graduate earns nowadays, but for respect never given to the canecutter after all these years. The story can be starkly summarised by juxtaposing the millions canecutters are supposed to earn versus the refusal of the 40 per cent of unemployed youths to accept that job. It is reminiscent of the challenge the African-American comedian Chris Rock threw out to the whites in his audience to a deafening silence: “Which one of you would exchange your place with me – a Black millionaire.

Today, sugar has fallen on hard times and it is conveniently forgotten that during the dark days of the seventies and eighties as the economy imploded from mismanagement, the sugar levy - extracted like blood from stone - kept the entire nation afloat. An even greater ingratitude is exhibited by expecting so little from the sons of canecutters.

But there is the denouement predicted by Carter: I come from the nigger yard of yesterday leaping from the oppressors’ hate and the scorn of myself; from the agony of the dark hut in the shadow and the hurt of things; from the long days of cruelty and the long nights of pain down to the wide streets of to-morrow, of the next day leaping I come, who cannot see will hear.

Members of a traditional masquerade band as they perform at the launching of Mashramani 2016 under the theme; ‘Celebration of diversity, unity and sovereignty’

Does Minister Roopnaraine condone insults levelled against people by his adviser?

Dear Editor, I recently addressed a letter to the media, originally captioned: “Is the media protecting Ruel Johnson?”

With regards to Johnson’s response published on November 23, 2015 in the Kaieteur News, I wish to point out his presumptuousness in insinuating that I am a fictitious writer. And secondly his cowardice in not sending it to the paper that had the guts to publish my letter.

Perhaps Johnson’s ego forces him to think that his contribution to society is of such importance to the public that it warrants an attack from the largest political party in this country.

Subsequently, it appears that it hasn’t even occurred to him that there are over 200, 000 PPP supporters who like myself, remain names and faces unknown to the politicians, but entrusted with a voice. No, Ruel Johnson doesn’t even think the PPP supporters capable of speaking out against a wrong committed against them. This is because his disturbing obsession and paranoia results from a longstanding fixation on the PPP. The poor response from the advisor is first manifested by his deliberate refusal to answer to the allegations leveled against him. Instead he indulges in a poor justifi-

cation for his grave insult to the people who he was appointed to serve. Johnson claims that my letter appeared in the media following his condemnation of several issues regarding the PPP which he felt he needed to intervene on, by citing names such as Dharamlall, Teixeira and Jagdeo.

However, again, he is being presumptuous in his failed attempt to justify his actions. My letter, a letter written by Stacy Cheong, speaking on behalf of Stacy Cheong, was urged by a post on his public Facebook profile which he issued as a result of a PPP decision regarding GECOM. Johnson said: “if you support the PPP at this time, I have to automatically assume that you are a complete racist, an idiot or an outright turd.

I will be civil to you but I have absolutely no respect for you”.

These are the words of a Cultural Policy Advisor, living off of taxpayer dollars, including those of 49% of Guyana’s electorate.

However, Johnson diverts from this point of contention by launching another attack against the people and their leaders. He even tries to valorize his contribution as Cultural Policy Advisor through criticizing the performance of the previous administration. While these tactics might satisfy his fol-

lowers, they do not respond to the problematic I raised.

But perhaps, it is not Johnson who should answer to the people, but Education Minister Rupert Roopnarine, who by his silence condones the attitude of his Cultural Policy Advisor. Minister Roopnarine’s demarche is a slap in the face to all the people with whom he fought relentlessly to fight against oppression and discrimination under the Burnham regime (one of whom Johnson labels “Gail Rwanda"). Has Minister Roopnarine forgotten the values of freedom, such as freedom to vote for a political party without being discriminated against by the State? If he hasn’t, then why is his Cultural Policy Advisor allowed to discriminate against the PPP supporters in spite of his position as a public officer?

According to articles 9 and 149 of the Constitution, Ruel Johnson has breached his obligations as a public officer to the people and has discriminated against them due to their political opinion. As he himself mentioned in his letter, he is not a politician and therefore, in his office as advisor, he should not be allowed to engage in a political battle.

If so is his desire, then he should pursue it within the confines of a private environment. He should abstain

from referring to our leaders as “excrement” therefore establishing that we, the PPP supporters are incapable of electing better leaders.

His deportment is most divisive for two reasons, the first being that he discriminates based on political persuasion, but also, based on the fact that too many of his remarks are imbibed by racism.

Finally, Johnson cannot establish a cultural policy which is inclusive of Guyana’s diversities simply because of his political bias and his poor contribution to Carifesta XII. Despite his desperate justification of his engagement, the outcome remains scant, and this year’s representation of Guyana’s multiculturalism was one of the poorest witnessed in a very long time.

There was absolutely nothing to applaud.

The supporters of the PPP await a response from Minister Roopnarine on how he intends to deal with the boisterous, insulting, discriminating, virulent and vulgar attitude of his Cultural Policy Advisor.

Should he continue to condone it, then he simply proves that he also believes us to be “idiots, racists and turds”.

Sincerely, Stacy Cheong

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 24, 2015

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Hughes must What is the AFC’s identity? now follow suit

Dear Editor, Minister of Tourism and APNU/AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Cathy Hughes applauded PPP/C MP Indra Chandarpal “for publicly calling out a former (PPP/C) minister for disrespecting a woman and pointed out that the incident had highlighted the social and political victimisation that discourages women from becoming involved in politics”.

The AFC Tourism Minister’s applause to the PPP/C MP was made on Friday at a UN Women’s consultation on women’s participation in politics in the Parliament Chamber, Public Buildings, as reported in SN November 23, 2015.

The AFC Minister must

likewise now practise what she preaches and condemn the threat of violence and other insults directed by her own AFC MP Charandass Persaud to Dr Vindhya Persaud MP, who heads the Dharmic Sabha.

Until the coalition’s double standards can be corrected it will remain most unsettling. It would seem that what is noble is only forthcoming from the Chandarpal PPP/C types. Are those APNU-AFC MPs lesser?

Change has indeed come to Guyana but back to the basics where things work is becoming most preferable.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

Dear Editor: The AFC leader said that the party will keep its AFC identity and will not merge into a one-party organ with the APNU. But what is the AFC’s identity?

The AFC came into being to introduce a new political culture based on democratic reform. It renounced that duty when it lost its moorings earlier this year in February.

I recalled when the party’s leader was expelled from the PPP and came to New York for support. Thereafter, in a rigid PPP enclave referred to as “Little Guyana”, persons likely to be called “Indian supremacists” among other derogatory terms by one AFC columnist, fashionable cornerstones of polit-

ical analysis in Guyana, gave important support to the AFC. Years later in 2011, I recalled sitting in a law office, while the AFC leader made his appeal to the most influential Guyanese New York attorney in Queens. In short, these socalled supremacists placed their trust and treasure in the AFC to promote this idea of a new political culture shaped by democratic reforms.

In February, that trust broke and the treasure spilled, a tiny window of opportunity for democratic reform was dashed to bits.

Having acquired remarkable and rapid progress in a political culture made cancerous by the PPP and PNC, it succumbed to the idea that Guyana needed

20th anniversary of Help & Shelter Dear Editor, November 25, 2015 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – will mark Help & Shelter’s 20th anniversary.

Our mission when we began providing services to the victims of violence is as relevant now as it was then: to contribute to bringing about a society where attitudes to the use of violence and practices of violence have been transformed.

Over the past two decades, we have provided counselling services to thousands of victims of violence (including 367 women and 78 men between 1 January and 31 October 2015), the vast majority of them women and girl victims of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse, have provided a place of safety for hundreds of female victims of violence and their children, and have reached tens of thousands of people through our public education work.

But violence against women remains “a pandemic of global proportions. Unlike an illness, however, perpetrators and even entire societies choose to commit violence—and can choose to stop. Violence is not inevitable. It can be prevented” (http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/ end-violence-againstwomen).

Hence prevention is the theme Day of International for the Elimination of

Violence against Women and of the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign’s 16 days call for action.

As UN Women say, “prevention strategies should be holistic, with multiple interventions undertaken in parallel in order to have long-lasting and permanent effects.

Many sectors, actors and stakeholders need to be engaged. More evidence is emerging on what interventions work to prevent violence—from community mobilization to change social norms, to comprehensive school interventions targeting staff and pupils, to economic empowerment and income supplements coupled with gender equality training”.

If prevention strategies are to be effective, they must be adequately and sustainably resourced.

Throughout our existence, the right words have largely been spoken by those in power but the resources to convert words into action have been sadly lacking.

For example, implementation of the 1998 National Policy on Domestic Violence was sketchy at best and the multisectoral Domestic Violence Oversight Committee (the body tasked with overseeing and monitoring implementation of the policy) has not been convened for years.

And the Task Force for the Prevention of Sexual Violence which is supposed to promote imple-

mentation of the Sexual Offences Act, has not met more than a handful of times.

We call on the government to urgently convene the committee and the task force to continue their work for the elimination and reduction of escalating domestic and sexual violence in Guyana.

How many more women will be killed, maimed and traumatised and have to leave their homes and take their children to a place of safety through no fault of their own, and by how many more millions of dollars does the cost to individuals, families, businesses, communities and the country have to escalate before effective and preventive strategies are implemented and sustained?

How long before one/ third of our women do not have their fundamental human rights violated?

Every day that passes without concerted action being taken is one day too long.

We at Help & Shelter hope to be able to continue to work towards the realisation of our mission and take this opportunity to again thank all those who have assisted us in any way over the past 20 years.

We desperately need continuing support as we begin our third decade of work against violence against women.

Yours faithfully, Gaitrie Shivsankar Danuta Radzik

Denise Dias Isha Husain-Singh Linda Hustler-Gray Niveta Shivjatan Josephine Whitehead For Help & Shelter

to replace a corrupt regime instead of a corrupt political culture.

It became obsessed with this idea. It is the PPP and the PNC, with all of their flawed trappings, that have initiated both the cause for and the eventual completion of the AFC’s demise. Well, the AFC of old. Battle won, war lost.

Coalition regime in and democracy out.

No one knows precisely what the AFC is today.

Allegedly, some in the PNC used to refer to the AFC as a kind of new League of Coloured People. One suggestion today is: PNC stooge.

My friend, Mr Charles Sugrim, an AFC point person here in Queens and one of the original and dedicated foot soldiers, tried strenuously to justify the appointment of the President’s son-in-law as an AFC Minister. Who can argue against such ethics?

The AFC is now tied to all sorts of unthinkable acts, from a contract with unconstitutional terms, to public urination on campaign paraphernalia, to election-related ar-

son of one PPP supporter’s home, to public misrepresentation about its manifesto, to fielding a Prime Minister who says that the Chronicle is the property of the Government of the day and not the people of the republic. The list goes on.

Worse, what else but a PNC stooge would dare say to the aforesaid republic that it has no money in its treasury to honour one of its great academics in Dr Walter Rodney? Who has received political mileage now if not the PNC? Another possible suggestion is that today’s AFC is just another party trapped in race politics. After all, one of the explanations for its entering into a coalition was the fear that some of the party’s African leaders would leave the AFC. African leadership in and democratic reform out.

It is not surprising that there is now single-party rhetoric in the air. What is next: a call for the AFC’s leader to step down?

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

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Foundation

Be a happier parent – 10 tips D

oes being a parent feel a lot harder than you think it should be? Would you like to have more fun as a parent?

Parenting can be hard work. Many parents feel that they have lost control and their life is spent running around after their children.

This can leave them feeling worn down and unhappy.

Does that sound like you?

This article helps you to redress the balance. It puts you back in charge of your life, so that you have greater control over what you do and when you do it. Read the article and become a happier, more relaxed parent.

Here are 10 tips to help you become a happier parent.

better in the areas you want to improve in. But you don’t have to be perfect. If you can accept this then you will look at your role as a parent in a different way.

Your children don’t have to be perfect

Were you the perfect child? No? I thought not. I certainly wasn’t.

In the same way you don’t have to be the perfect parent, your child doesn’t have to be the perfect child.

If you have a friend or family member who always tells you how great their child is, take it

bounce back immediately.

Sometimes they will get frustrated and can be difficult to live with. That can be hard going at times, but cut them a bit of slack and life usually gets easier.

You don’t have to solve all your children’s problems

Are you a parent who jumps in ready to save the day, at the first sign of trouble? There is no need to do this. It may even harm your child in the long term. Sure if something major occurs

You don’t have to be perfect

Do you think you should be the perfect parent?

Perhaps you have a vision in your mind of how the prefect parent should be. Or maybe you know somebody who makes parenting look a doddle.

In reality, the perfect parent doesn’t exist. If you talked to someone you see as the perfect parent you would find they are not perfect at all.

They are probably muddling through the best they can, just like the rest of us.

There is no manual. All children are different. What works in one family doesn’t work in another. So give yourself a break.

It’s true some people are better at parenting than others. If you feel you have weaknesses, work on them by all means. You can get

with a pinch o f s a l t .

Don’t be fooled. It may be that their child excels at one or two things. Occasionally there might be a child in your social circle who is good at lots of things. So what?

There is no need to compare or judge your child by their standards. Appreciate the talents your own child has.

Children have a tremendous amount of ground to cover. Things go wrong in their life. Don’t expect too much. They don’t always

you are going to step in and be there for your child.

But a lot of minor issues are best left for your child to resolve.

If you jump in at the first sign of trouble, when is your child going to learn how to solve problems? Developing those skills is part of growing up.

Micro-managing your child’s life is time-consuming. It also suggests to them that you don’t have the confidence in them to resolve their own issues.

Part of being a parent is

being a good guide to your child. Be a good guide by all means, but let them get on with living their life.

Share the load with other parents

Whenever you can, set up reciprocal arrangements with other parents. This can include picking up each other’s children from school, lift shares to activities and looking after each other’s children from time to time. All of this frees up time for you.

There are other advantages too. For a start you are likely to build friendships with other mums and dads.

It gives your children opportunities to improve friendships. It also means you get to know more about who your child is hanging around with.

Watch out for parents who take advantage of these relationships. Anyone who expects you to become an unpaid child minder should be eased out.

Slow down and do less

Stop and think. Have you been sucked into a routine where you are always rushing around?

Your child doesn’t need to do every after-school club and activity. While it is good for them to join in and learn

new skills, what impact does this have on you? If you find being here, there and everywhere stressful (and most people do) slow down and cut out some activities.

It is much better for your child if by doing less you are happier and have more energy. There is also danger that if your child has entertainment constantly laid on then they will not develop the ability to entertain themselves.

Get organised

Being more organised can make a significant difference to your happiness. If you go out to work or used to, you probably had some sort of plan of what you had to do during the day. This meant you knew what needed to be done and when you had to do it.

Write down what you plan to do during the day and the week. Estimate the time

tasks take and write that down too. When you have completed a task, tick it off and write down the amount of time it took in reality.

One of the biggest factors in reducing happiness is when you don’t get as much done as you think you should. If a task takes longer than you thought it would, don’t give yourself a hard time. It simply shows your estimation skills are a work in progress.

Planning helps you to learn how much time tasks really take. Knowing this can reduce frustration when tasks overrun. You can also judge more easily if certain tasks are really worth the effort.

After planning for a month or so you should have a much better idea of how much you can fit in to your day. (Excerpt from parenting.co.uk) to be continued

Parenting tips: Improving teenage behaviour Teenagers know when they have messed up

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hen a teenager messes up, perhaps by being constantly late for school or failing at school they already know they have a problem.

Sometimes the easiest thing to do is criticise and try to make your teenager feel guilty about how their behaviour makes you feel.

Instead of using this method look for other ways to motivate your child to resolve the problem.

One of the first steps is to get a better understanding of why the problem is occurring. If you can get your teenager to sit down and talk about a specific problem they are facing then you are off to a good start.

Working together gets the best results

To get the results you want it is a case of working together by offering support and assistance. This is more likely to lead to seeing the improvements you would like to see than creating a guilt trip.

Your teenager is almost certainly to feel guilty about the problems they face without you prompting them to do so. As adults when we do something we know we shouldn’t, we usually feel bad about it. It doesn’t help if someone comes along and makes us feel worse about it. You are more likely to respond positively to someone giving you support and guidance. Teenagers work in the same way.

Improving your relationship with your teenager

An added bonus is if your teenager thinks you have been supportive and helped them get though the problem they are far more likely to turn to you in the future.

So as well as solving the immediate issue this technique can also help to improve communications between you and your teenager. (parenting.co.uk)

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tuesday, november 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Walter Rodney CoI

Opposition urges Govt not to delay release of report

La Penitence vendor ambushed, shot and robbed

– says Guyanese eager to know findings

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

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ith just five days remaining before the report is completed on the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is warning the APNU/AFC government not to “unnecessarily” delay the public release of this anxiously-awaited report.

General Secretary of the PPP/C Clement Rohee on Monday during a media briefing stated that his Party along with thousands of Guyanese in and out of the country are looking forward to the details and findings of this report.

“The PPP looks forward with great anticipation to the release of the report to the public and urges the de facto granger coalition administration not to unnecessarily delay the release of the report to the Guyanese public. Any undue delay in releasing the report of the public will be viewed with deep suspicion and will only add to the already pent-up resentment on the part of thousands in Guyana and abroad who have condemned and opposed the de facto granger administration’s prema-

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

ture shutting down of the CoI,” Rohee posited.

He reminded that the final sitting of the CoI took place on July 29, 2015 after deliberating over a 16-month period beginning February 2014, and that the CoI’s life came to an abrupt end with it being given up to Nov 30, 2015 to complete and submit its report to the “Granger led de facto government.”

“The three commissioners have criticised the premature ending of the inquiry on the grounds that such an abrupt ending will definitely rob the commission of a comprehensive thorough and fair outcome,” Rohee noted.

As such, responding to questions from reporters concerning his Party’s position taken to refuse releas-

ing facts on investigations of fraud at the National Communications Network (NCN) he stated that “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Meanwhile, the Walter Rodney CoI has until November 30 to complete and submit its report with the rest of the nation counting the days until the findings are made public as to what led to his assassination and more.

It must be reminded that both the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) political parties were represented through the Commission’s 60+days of hearing.

Also, it is of note that the WPA saw it fit to coalesce with the PNC and are currently parties within the APNU alliance of the new coalition government.

Dr Rodney was leader of the WPA at the time of his death, during which PNC founder Forbes Burnham was Guyana’s Prime Minister.

After the May 11 General and Regional Elections, the coalition government stated that it had uncovered what it deemed “excessive spending,” and cited this as justification for discontinuation of the Rodney CoI. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

The injured businessman about to be taken to the hospital

A

fruit vendor, who operates at the La Penitence Market in Georgetown, was shot three times in front of his home Monday evening by two masked gunmen who escaped with an undisclosed sum of money.

Bheerkumar Ramrattan called ‘Django’, 46, of Lot 20 Hogg Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was attacked by the two gunmen as he made his way into his yard.

According to reports, the vendor returned home from market and as he made his way home, located through an alleyway, two men dis-

embarked a car and discharged several rounds, hitting Ramrattan to his leg.

The vendor reportedly ran and collapsed in his house. The bandits relieved the man of a bag with cash.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, the injured man was lying on the ground while his leg was strapped with pieces of cloth. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Anita Arjune, the businessman’s partner told Guyana Times she left Ramrattan at the market and went home early.

“We de sitting under

the house and all we heard was pow pow pow and then the gate fly open… we see Django running in and the two man behind he. He run and fall down in the house”, the woman stated.

She said after the gunmen collected the bag with the cash, they ran out of the yard, boarded the car and sped away.

Persons in the neighbourhood were tightlipped, claiming they did not get a chance to see the car’s registration plates.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident.

8 NEWS

tuesday, november 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Festival City execution-style killing

Mason charged with murder – claims he was forced to sign confession

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North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, mason was on Monday charged with the executionstyle murder of Festival City resident Christopher Mulligan.

However, when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore he claimed he was forced to admit to the crime since the police tortured him.

Rickford Jones of Lot 3093 North Ruimveldt is accused of murdering Christopher Mulligan, called “Chrissy” and “Taps” on November 18 at Festival City, North Ruimveldt.

Mulligan of Bogey Peck Street, Festival City, was

Murder accused, Rickford Jones

shot once to his right palm and to his right buttocks.

According to reports, at about 17:00h on November

18, the father of one was sitting on the front steps of his home when two men rode up on a motorcycle, entered his yard and opened fire on him.

Guyana Times understands that four gunshots were heard but only two hit Mulligan. The men rode away after the shooting.

The injured man was picked up by relatives and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital but succumbed while undergoing surgery.

In court on Monday Attorney Kezia Williams, representing the 24-yearold accused, said her client was tortured by police.

The lawyer accused ranks of the Criminal Investigations

Department of using a Taser to force her client into confession, adding that following the episode he was examined by a doctor.

However she could not produce a medical certificate to prove her allegations.

Police Prosecutor Steven Telford refuted the allegations and produced a medical certificate which showed the accused was examined by a medical practitioner and had no injuries.

Nevertheless Magistrate Azore ordered that an investigation be launched into Jones’ claims. The man was remanded to prison and the case will continue on December 8.

4 charged for trafficking in narcotics with possession of narcotics.

The accused Quincy Boyce, 35, of Lot 112 East La Penitence, Georgetown; hairdresser Alicia Smith, 32, same address as Boyce;

narcotics trafficking allegation when they appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

It is alleged that on November 20 at Freeman Street, East La Penitence they were found in possession of 2.468 kilograms of

Alleged drug trafficker, Alicia Smith

Alleged drug trafficker, Shakeel Leon

our persons were on Monday remanded to prison when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged

George Hope, 21, of Lot 107 East La Penitence, and Shakeel Leon, 17, of Lot 91 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown all denied the

F

Alleged drug trafficker, Quincy Boyce

Alleged drug trafficker, George Hope

cannabis sativa for the purpose of trafficking.

Leon denied an additional charge which stated that on the same day he was found in possession of 5.6 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

According to the Prosecutor, on the day in question at 16:20h ranks from the narcotics branch went to Lot 112 Freeman Street house.

The four accused reportedly saw the ranks approaching and Smith and Leon attempted to escape by hiding in a nearby house. They were apprehended. After apprehending the men, Leon was searched and a white transparent bag containing what was suspected to be cannabis was found in his pocket.

A search was conducted at the house and three different parcels containing small, transparent Ziploc bags filled with the suspected substance were found.

The four persons were arrested and charged for the offence.

Bail was denied for the four and the case will continue on December 8.

Eyew tness What’s the plan…

I

…on the economy

f there’s anyone wondering what’s the cause of the doldrums our country’s been steered into, the only answer is, “It’s the economy, stupid!” Becoming a household phrase from the Clinton years in the US, it expresses the “no-brainer” answer that even the smallest child would come up with if asked the question.

Now if it’s one thing the economists tell us – even with the “quantitative” wonks winning all the Nobel Prizes recently – is, at its most fundamental level (and we’re talking about real, live people here, folks!) the economy depends on how consumers “feel” about it. The politicians could be going on like gang busters, but once people - actuated by “animal spirits”, according to the economist who gave us the tools that brought us out of the Great Depression – believe things “na regula”, they then stop spending.

And the effects cascade into a reinforcing death spiral.

The point is though, folks don’t just wake up and “have a feeling” that things are tanking. They hear, they see, they make decisions about what’s going on in the real world around them. More times than most, the collective wisdom of the people is spot on. In the latest world depression that started in 2008, none of the “qualtitative” economists with all their numbers and equations – predicted the stuff was going to hit the fan. But the people knew.

They knew because they were losing their jobs (it didn’t matter whether through outsourcing or whatever) and they couldn’t even keep up the payments of their cheap housing, car or student loans. So they stopped spending.

And the businesses got the message – and they stopped spending. And before you knew it… the Masters of Wall St who’d been making money hand over fist, stopped spending and lending.

And only then the politicians got it!! And started taking action. But by then it was too late, no? And that’s where we are in Guyana presently. The people know the economy’s gone bust. Ask cane cutters, rice farmers, bauxite workers, goldfield miners …and the businessmen – and they’ll tell you that. But unlike the politicians in the US, our local version still are preaching “happy days are here again”!!

They still ain’t got it.

And why? Just because they have formed a new government!! They forget that they don’t go out there and even plant a root of cassava to get the economy going.

All they can do is to initiate policies to try to reverse the cascade. That is…like offering massive stimulus to increase spending and production by the business community (like with the US government’s) …to start the “virtuous cycle”.

Eight years late, the US is still struggling - and our politicians are still in denial!

…on the LGE?

OK…we have the date – March 18, 2016. And we have the contestants. The PPP are recruiting 50 per cent “outside” candidates – they say. The PPP however, has never been known for bringing in outsiders into their inner circle. They may say what they want about their “Civic” component at the Central Government level… but who believe they ever had any real power.

If the PPP’s serious about showing the electorate they’re changing with the times, their “civic” candidates at the LGE will be a good beginning. But the clincher will be how seriously they’re taken in the next 4 years till 2020.

If the PPP blows this one then they’ll be opening up the stable gates for the APNU/AFC. Those worthies have just declared they’re going “as one” into the LGE – one day after Ramjhattan swore his AFC ain’t never going to be absorbed into APNU. He’d also said they going separately into LGE!!

Now they’ll really be dead meat!

…on rice

Let’s be positive and see if there are any sprouts in the economy. Rice? How about that deal with Mexico for paddy? Farmers want to know if they should buy fertilisers, pesticides or even plough the land.

Like right NOW. We hope they aren’t holding their breaths.

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

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tuesday, november 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

API 2015 in limbo

Sugar industry crippled as more workers down tools

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

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housands of sugar workers throughout the sugar belt have officially taken strike action at four out of five estates, currently in the grinding process.

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand told Guyana Times on Monday workers attached to Skeldon and Rose Hall, Berbice estates have joined in solidarity with other sugar workers to strike.

He explained that the only estate fully operational is the Albion Sugar Estate, Berbice.

According to Chand, while workers at Enmore and La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara and Blairmont, West Bank Berbice estates commenced strike on Saturday and Sunday respectively, the other sugar workers began striking on Monday.

At this point in time he stated, it is unclear as to how long these workers intend to strike for, but that GAWU is trying its best to engage the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to come to a settlement on the Annual Production Incentive (API) for 2015.

The position taken by the sugar company over the 2015 API is what incensed the workers across the country and prompted them to strike, he said.

Meanwhile GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine had told

GAWU President Komal Chand

Guyana Times on Sunday that the workers who went on strike have resorted to this form of action as a result of disappointment with the corporation’s stance in relation to what it is offering workers as API for this year: “Following the meeting between GAWU and GuySuCo on Friday where the 2015 API for sugar workers was discussed, the workers’ representatives in the GAWU delegation went back to the Estates and notified them.

The workers who have gone on strike are dissatisfied with GuySuCo and what it is offering. We have seen the reaction from those at the East Demerara estates and now at Blairmont but at this point I can’t say if the others at the rest of the estates will be going on strike as well.”

Although the union and corporation met twice last week to discuss and settle the API for 2015,

Teen ordered to perform community service for drug possession

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n 18-year-old mother of one was on Monday sentenced to perform three months of community service after she pleaded guilty to a possession of narcotics charge.

Nicola Smith, a shopkeeper of Wismar, Linden, pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that on November 21 at Mazaruni, she was found in possession of four grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Her lawyer, Peter Hugh requested leniency

for his client, stating that she was 18 years old and had a young child. He also related the fact that it was her first offence and the amount listed was below that which required a mandatory prison sentence. The Magistrate took into consideration the mitigating factors and sentenced the woman to three months of community service. Smith was also fined $5000. She is to perform her community service at the Wismar Police Station.

their discussions ended in limbo.

On Friday last the union and sugar entity met but could not agree on the API. This publication understands GAWU has proposed five-and-a-half days API while GuySuCo has offered two-and-a-half days.

Chand had earlier told Guyana Times the sugar corporation has once more “reinstated” its position on the counter-proposal GuySuCo put forward to the Union. The sugar entity was not showing any signs of budging: “They have not reconsidered what they are offering GAWU for the API.

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine

The fact that they haven’t removed from their initial position means that the representatives who

were there at the meeting will have to go back to the various estates and inform the workers of what GuySuCo is offering…

After this then we at the union will be able to say what the way forward is.”

He sought to explain that while GAWU and GuySuCo have not yet come to a ‘conclusion’ on this matter, the position taken and maintained by the sugar company has ‘incensed’ the union’s delegation at the second meeting.

Added to that Chand posited, even though no decision has been made about the 2015 API, the corporation has signalled

its intension to unilaterally pay in March 2016.

“GuySuCo has said that whatever they have to pay they will pay it next year March. This is highly unusual for them to pay the API for this year until next year. Usually the API for the workers is paid at the end of the last crop of the year,” the GAWU President told Guyana Times.

This position taken by GuySuCo on the 2015 API comes against the backdrop of the sugar company being unable to negotiate with the union on its salary/wage increases. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy. com)

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 24, 2015

News

Sparta/Windsor Castle rice lands under water – sluice, pump non-operational

By Indrawattie Natram

H

undreds of acres of rice lands are inundated with kneehigh water in Sparta and Windsor Castle, Region Two and farmers are calling on the Agriculture Ministry for prompt intervention.

This newspaper was told the rising water level is as a result of non-functional sluices and pumps in the area.

The nonfunctiuoning pump and sluice are resulting in over-topping in many rice lands and drainage trenches. Farmers explained that if the rain continues, then along with poor drainage residential lands as well will be under water.

Frustrated farmers are calling for an excavator to be sent to the area to assist in clearing the Hampton Court silted up channel, which will help greatly to drain the excess water.

Presently the Hampton Court channel is silted up which is preventing the easy flow of water to the Atlantic.

On Monday, a large num-

Did Guyana become independent in 1966, 1992 or 2015?

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Some rice farmers venting their concerns with Region Two Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah

ber of farmers flocked the Regional Vice Chairman, Nandranie Coonjah’s office to vent their frustrations.

Rice farmers explained that their rice crop is eight days old and due to the excess water in their fields the seedlings are floating.

They have requested that the Lima pump be transferred to the Hampton Court sluice to bring immediate relief there. According to farmer Ramesh Lall, the water will destroy the cur-

rent rice crop and farmers cannot afford to pump water from their field.

“We didn’t get proper payments for we paddy, we trying to go back the crop with the lil money we get and now this making it wost for farmers. We need help”, Lall lamented.

Another farmer Vikash Singh, who cultivates 40 acres of rice lands, called on the government to immediately intervene and assist rice farmer’s plight. Singh

said currently farmers’ lands are under water and all the investments made are “going down the drain.”

Puran Mohabir and Deonarine both cultivate 10 acres each. They have called for the sluice at Hampton Court to become operational as well as the channel to be cleared. Both farmers fear that should rain continue the entire Sparta and Windsor Castle will be flooded.

Meanwhile following the visit by rice farmers at her office, Coonjah visted the backdam with rice farmers to have a first-hand look at what the farmers are complaining about.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Coonjah, who has responsibility of Drainage and Irrigation in Region Two said the Region is lacking resources to adequately deal with the issue.

She explained that the Region has nine pumps and only two are operational.

She however noted that she will make the necessary recommendations to bring some relief to the affected farmers.

hat nation-states around the globe celebrate independence is as common as breathing air.

The United States and many Caribbean countries are prime examples. Independence has a strong historical significance to nation-states like Guyana because of centuries of colonial domination. It represents as well as reminds of the arduous struggle for freedom to dictate and determine one’s course.

Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine Guyana is fortunate to have emancipated itself from colonial rule without costly struggles like war, and is even more fortunate to have experienced no internal fragmentation, although one cannot dismiss the failed Rupununi secession movement.

Some regions of the world are still fighting and reeling from violence for independence through arms struggle and secession.

What nation-states do with their independence is another matter altogether. Above all, independence is an opportunity to build bridges, not barriers, at home and abroad. It is an opportunity to be placed amongst the family of nations as a sovereign state, which arguably is a rightful place to be.

Independence is also an opportunity to pull one’s own strings, to be a master of one’s own destiny, to analyze how far one has come, and where one is going as a nation-state.

What has happened in Guyana challenges the basic notion of independence and drives me to ask the question: Did Guyana become independent in 1966, 1992 or 2015? Guyana did not become independent in 1966 since that year exudes the theory rather than the practice of independence. During the twenty-eight years of PNC rule, Guyana was politically corrupt, economically bankrupt, socially polarized along racial and ethnic lines and environmentally blighted. The country was jerked down to its knees by self-centred policies that essentially transformed it from a bread basket to a begging bowl and from an importer to an exporter of people, including the best and brightest.

Ineptitude coupled with bizarre promiscuous socialist policies supported by rigged elections and dependent development through the maladroit economic recovery programme moved Guyana in 1966 from a position of promise to a powerless state in 1992 - a wasted opportunity of independence.

The year 1992 brought a sigh of relief for some sections of Guyana, not all, since PNC supporters still voted for one of the most brutal regimes in the Caribbean. Nonetheless, Guyana experienced its first free and fair general election.

Hopes were high for a different and better Guyana under a new administration, despite how indebted the country was.

Cheddi Jagan brought Guyana back to the open market, stamped out some corruption, garnered international support for investment, and reduced the national debt, among other factors. But Guyana crumbled after his death in the late 1990s.

The squabble and scramble for leadership among the party’s long-serving die-hard loyalists and rookies crippled the direction and focus of the administration. Infighting did not only lead to disillusion, departure and defection but also to stoicism, cronyism, favouritism, corruption and enrichment for those at the helm at the expense of the masses.

The PPP, by the end of the first decade of this century, had lost touch with the realities of the people. That the 2011 general election results catapulted the administration into a minority government was a clear message that PPP control on the levers of power was up. To stay in power, the option was to engage in serious reforms. Quite the opposite happened as the administration became more insular and complacent, relying on its ethnic support base, relying on the ideology of Eastern bloc countries, and sidelining the ABC countries and the opposition to stay in power. It was a serious mistake that cost them the 2015 general election. Having said all this, my conclusion is that Guyana did not achieve independence in 1992.

Now, the year 2015 witnessed a change of government from the PPP to the APNU/AFC coalition. However, in its short span in office that the regime handed huge salary increases to the boys, that there is a mismatch between Ministers’ capabilities and the offices they occupy, that the Amerindian community is uncomfortable with government actions and policies, that there is a blot on rural happiness with regard to the uncertain future of large-scale agriculture, and that some ministers are donating back their salary increases, are hardly laughing matters. They are nerve-racking.

National joke aside, this regime has performed poorly when compared to the first six months the PNC (1966) and the PPP (1992) were in office. Chief among them is that regime has been power drunk, and may be a victim of its own “success” and has never really prepared itself for the challenges ahead other than removing the PPP from power. The regime has become inherently refractory. So when did Guyana become independent? Never!

tuesday, november 24, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

2 more nabbed at Govt addressing changes to teacher evaluation process CJIA with cocaine C pellets in stomach

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wo men were over the weekend nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) with a quantity of cocaine pellets in their stomachs as they were about to depart for their respective destinations.

One of the men, Guyana Times understands, is a St Lucian, who was travelling to London while the other is a Guyanese destined for New York.

Both men have been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital under Police guard. They have since excreted several pellets of cocaine. The exact weights have not been confirmed. From reports gathered, the bust was made by members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). Both men are expected to be charged shortly.

A source close to the investigation told this newspaper that the Guyanese man who was busted is a close friend of the recently busted hairdresser, Shureen Giddings, who was also nabbed with cocaine pellets in her stomach at the John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

in New York.

The hairdresser and the man are also allegedly connected to Shellon Beckles, who was also nabbed at the JFK with cocaine in her stomach, the source said.

This newspaper understands that law enforcement in Guyana is of the opinion that the cocaine mules might be linked to a local supplier.

The source told Guyana Times that the Police were working closely with the US authorities to effect an arrest. Only a few days ago, Dwayne Adams, of Lot 38 Will Street, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Hubert Smith, of Lot 3464 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, were nabbed in a hotel room attempting to swallow several cocaine pellets. They were subsequently charged.

Also only last week, Andree Willy and Chermisa Wheeler, both of St Lucia, were arrested while trying to smuggle cocaine in their vaginas. They were nabbed at the CJIA. Both CANU and the foreign authorities have launched investigations.

hanges in the process of evaluating teachers and the teaching of Mathematics using technology are among the outcomes that will soon unfold, as the Guyana Secondary School Improvement Programme (GSSIP) is integrated into the school system.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Chief Education Officer Olato Sam observed that “the secondary school project really is going to take on a key role, in transforming Mathematics and secondary education, and moving us a couple of steps forward.”

He noted the project will provide the opportunity for the integration of a school management information system in the local education system that would enable the Education Ministry at any time, to have a direct technological link with schools. This, he pointed out, would allow for information that is constantly flowing, and as well, for the Ministry to have a base, from which it can make solid planning and policy decisions.

Sam also explained that the Ministry expects to set some standards for Mathematics instruction from the pilot, and this would be replicated for all of the subjects. In this initial pilot, he noted, however, the focus is on utilising tablets in school

Forestry concession system seriously flawed – APA

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he Amerindian People’s Association (APA) on Monday launched two reports which highlighted findings of how forestry-related activities and the supporting governance system affect indigenous communities.

One report came out of a round of two workshops carried out in Regions 1 and 2 under a European Union funded project in relation to the Guyana-EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT VPA).

The second report is a summary of proceedings of a seminar on essential elements for a legality definition and legality assurance system in the Guyana-EU FLEGT VPA held in Georgetown in February 2015, for which both contained concerns and recommendations.

At the launching of the two reports held in the conference centre at Regency Hotel on Monday, members of the APA stated that the lands and forests of many indigenous communities in Guyana have been under pressure for a number of years and continue to be so from the activities of large-scale mining and logging concessions awarded by state agencies.

The two reports share the thoughts of indigenous leaders, who pointed out that, among other things, the current system for the allocation of concessions is seriously flawed, leading to the granting of concessions without community knowledge or agreement, thereby jeopardis-

A section of the gathering present at the launch of the two reports Monday

ing community resource use and land ownership in some instances.

Such a situation is further facilitated by a national legal framework that does not fully respect the internationally protected rights of communities to their customary lands and resources, the reports highlighted.

The two reports summarised and presented the concerns and recommendations of indigenous peoples coming out of a series of community workshops on the FLEGT VPA held in Regions 1 and 2 during 2014 and 2015, and a Legality Seminar for a wider cross section of representatives from government, civil society, indigenous communities and legal experts.

APA noted that the current governance structure and other systems could be improved and strengthened to ensure long-standing land conflicts do not escalate and

that communities do not suffer negatively from a system that is meant to improve the conditions of forest stakeholders. Key in this regard is the issue of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) and legislative protections.

President of the APA Sharon Atkinson said the lack of legal requirements to obtain free, prior and informed consent from communities regarding activities on all customary land is slowly strangling indigenous peoples.

As Guyana prepares for the fourth round of negotiations with the European Union on the VPA in Brussels in November/December, it is hoped these recommendations will be given due attention to ensure land tenure security given the dependence and connection of indigenous communities to the forests and their lands, Atkinson noted.

Chief Education Officer Olato Sam

to ensure that the children have at their fingertips the latest technology and techniques for Mathematics instructions, and the teachers

can use these seamlessly to enhance their instructional approaches.

According to Sam, the pilot also allows for merging the local professional standards with an effective appraisal system for secondary level teachers. He explained that it would help, not only in enhancing the evaluation process, but also in bringing it more in line with contemporary practices, both regionally and internationally.

The GSSIP is being tested and implemented under a US$10 million loan agreement from the World Bank.

The objective of the project is to facilitate more students being exposed to secondary school Mathematics teachers who have benefited from continuous professional development nationwide and, to increase the number of students

in secondary schools with improved learning conditions in targeted regions.

According to the midyear 2015 report under the project, a diagnostic assessment of Mathematics teachers was completed, the results of which were currently being used to prepare new modules that will guide the training of teachers and improve their knowledge while enhancing the methodology used to deliver the Mathematics curriculum. As part of a pilot programme, in the first half of the year, 100 maths teachers from Regions Three, Four, Seven and Nine were trained in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy and software use. This has enabled the teachers to incorporate technology in preparing their curriculum.

12 news Baramita students benefit from study tour tuesday, november 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Bank of Guyana employee showing students some of the historical displays at the bank

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wenty-three students from Baramita, Region One, many of whom are preparing for the National Grade Six examinations, are participating in fun and educational activities in Georgetown.

The students arrived on Sunday, and were greeted by representatives of the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry and Pan-American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO). The tour is designed to boost the children’s self-esteem, and increase their knowledge, skills and attitude in relation to social and economic

issues in Guyana.

On Monday, the students met with President David Granger and Education Minister Rupert Roopnaraine. They also visited the National Communications Network (NCN), Botanical Gardens, National Library, and the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The students are accompanied by three parents and two teachers. Jennifer Williams, Senior Mistress of Baramita Primary noted that the aim is to allow the students opportunity to become more aware of their country, other than where

they live.

Williams explained that the children are very excited to visit the capital City because for most of them it is the first time.

Meanwhile, Community Liaison Officer, Virgil Ferreira said he is excited to be accompanying the students because a lot of negative things have been coming out of Baramita, and “we are trying to rebuild.” He said the youths in Baramita need attention, and this is just one of many initiatives to be organised to target them.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the students are expected to visit a number of schools around Georgetown, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Parliament Building, National Museum, and monuments, among other public places.

The students will also participate in a workshop session, where they will be educated on self-awareness and self-esteem, personal hygiene, how to stay healthy, and suicide prevention.

They will be returning to their village on Thursday.

First Lady urges caregivers to exercise patience

Some of the participants of the elderly care workshop, which opened on Monday at the Palms Geriatric Institution

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irst Lady Sandra Granger on Monday urged caregivers to exercise patience and care when caring for the elderly.

She was at the time speaking at the launch of a fiveday “Care of the Elderly” training programme. The programme entails training of professionals with a passion for caring for the elderly at the Recreation Centre of the Palms Geriatric Institution in Georgetown.

Addressing the participants, First Lady Granger urged them to take advantage of the sessions, relating that it is an important aspect in preparing them for a

new function that is becoming even more relevant in today’s society.

The First Lady emphasised the importance of practitioners in that field having a love for caring for the elderly, since it is only then they would be able to function effectively.

“My first charge to you is to like what you are doing, because if you don’t enjoy interacting with seniors, it’s going to be a job and not something that you are going to enjoy,” she posited.

She highlighted that caring for the elderly is sometimes challenging and difficult, however she urged

them to exercise patience at all times.

The First Lady also applauded participants, all of whom are women, as she related that while they are all caregivers in their own right, it is noteworthy that they have decided to seek training.

In closing, she encouraged them to continue along the path as they seek to become specialists in their field. The First Lady also reminded participants that their journey as caregivers should be a learning experience as elderly persons more often than not have a wealth of knowledge.

The programme is being facilitated by social workers Hazel Burnette and Ismay Griffith. Griffith was among a group of Guyanese living in Brooklyn, New York, who met with the First Lady during a recent visit and had promised to render her service to Guyanese.

During the sessions, participants will be educated about the duties of a caregiver, responsibilities of a caregiver, communication with the elderly, mental health, and how to address illnesses that come with aging. They will also receive firsthand experience and training in different wards at the Palms.

news

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tuesday, november 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Cove and John Ashram hosts Bhandara in memory of Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj

By Indrawattie Natram

C

H

undreds of persons converged at the Guyana Sevashram Sangha on Sunday, at Cove and John Ashram, East Coast Demerara to join with the Ashram in their Bhandara service in memory of the late Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj.

The moving service began with hawan followed by bhajans, chants, parvachans and reflection by a number of persons including Bramchumaries, Swamis and pandits.

The memorial service was specially set aside to reflect and commemorate the life and work of the first Guyanese Swami. Feeding was done at the end of the service where brahamins and pandits were given gifts.

They were honoured by administrator of the Cove and John Ashram Swami Shiva Shankaranandji.

Such commemoration happens in India whenever a Swami or a spiritual lead-

Swami paying homage to Vidyanandaji Maharaj

Administrator Swami Shankaranandji, the work of Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj is immeasurable and can never be forgotten.

He described him as a true role model that has set the perfect example for others to emulate.

References were also made to verses of the Bhagvagita during the service.

“We are remembering a great and noble soul, Swami

A section of the gathering at the memorial service

er dies as such the Ashram continued the tradition.

Swami Aksharanandaji Maharaj in reflecting on the life of the spiritual leader said Swami Vidyanandaji will always be remembered for his “brilliance, passion and talent.” His innovative work as a spiritual leader, he added, has inspired and influenced a large section of society locally and in the Diaspora: “he was a true icon; many persons will truly miss this noble soul”.

According to

CCJ President pays courtesy call on President Granger

Vidyanandaji was very influential, those who came in contact with him would know what I am saying. His advices were always appropriate and correct, he will always be remembered as a leader who fought for cultural elevation in Guyana” Swami Shankar said.

Renowned Guyanese Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj, 79, who was the spiritual leader and Director of the Guyana and United States Bharat Sevashram Sangha, passed away peace-

fully in his sleep at Long Shore, USA, October 28 last.

He was a famous historian, theologian and strong believer in his spirituality.

He fashioned his lifestyle after Swami Purnanand who came to Guyana from India decades ago with the sole intention of opening a school.

Similar services will be held in New York and Canada.

aribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President, Sir Dennis Byron on Monday paid a courtesy call on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

In a brief comment after the meeting, Sir Byron said it was a protocol requirement for him, as Head of the CCJ, to visit countries that have acceded to the Court’s appellate jurisdiction, when those countries have elected a new Head of State.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a number of issues concerning the Caribbean Region and CCJ in particular.

Sir Byron, a Kittitian by birth, is the second person to be appointed to the Office of President of

President David Granger greeting Sir Dennis Byron just before the meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency

the CCJ. He was sworn in September 2011.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and

was appointed a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council in 2004.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 24, 2015

Regional

Suriname devalues currency as gold and oil prices drop

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or the second time in four years, Suriname has devalued its currency – this time by more than 20 per cent, following a drop in the oil and gold prices.

Suriname’s economy is dominated by gold, oil and alumina exports.

The Central Bank has said it will devalue the official exchange rate to 4.00 Suriname dollars to the US dollar. It was previously 3.50 to the US dollar.

The bank said that the country’s financial reserves had declined to US$370 million from US$1 billion in December 2012.

“Suriname is momen-

Back in January 2011, the local currency was devalued by 16.4 per cent

tarily experiencing a genuine commodity shock,” the Central Bank said in a statement announcing the devaluation.

Back in January 2011, the local currency was de-

valued by 16.4 per cent and Government announced tax raises on alcohol, tobacco, gasoline and basic services as it sought to offset the impact of payments of overdue public worker salaries. (Excerpt

Tax breaks, trailer homes for Bahamians displaced by Hurricane Joaquin

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overnment is providing trailer homes as temporary shelter for some of the Bahamians who were displaced after Hurricane Joaquin ripped through the Central and Southeast Bahamas last month. And it’s also offering tax exemptions on goods for recovery and rebuilding.

The first batch of the temporary housing has been assigned to Crooked Island and Acklins Island, which were severely affected by the Category 4 hurricane.

The trailers are outfitted with living quarters, bathroom, kitchen, television, and air conditioning units.

First Assistant Secretary of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Chrystal Glinton said the residents would be housed in the trailer homes until their own homes could be repaired or replaced during the reconstruction phase.

Efforts to provide relief and aid to residents of the storm-hit islands also included the Minister of Finance and Planning’s declaration of an Exigency Order that allows for tax exemptions on goods imported for recovery and rebuilding for those living in Acklins Island, Cat Island, Crooked Island,

Exuma, Inagua, Long Cay, Long Island, Mayaguana, Rum Cay, Ragged Island, Samana Cay, San Salvador, “who suffered hardship or loss as a result of Hurricane Joaquin”.

The Finance Minister has also waived Landing Fees, Departure Tax for noncommercial flights bringing in relief goods, and Customs Processing fees on imports in those islands.

The list of approved duty-free goods are: building materials; plumbing fixtures and materials; household furniture, furnishing and appliances; generators; and motor vehicles. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360.com)

Argentina’s President-elect Dominican Republic issues warrants Macri lays out new course from Caribbean360.com)

over fugitive French pilots

A

Judge in the Dominican Republic has issued arrest warrants for three Frenchmen accused of helping two French pilots flee drug convictions.

One of the three, Aymeric Chauprade, is an independent right-wing member of the European Parliament.

The pilots were arrested in 2013 preparing to take off in a plane carrying 26 suitcases of cocaine.

They were sentenced to 20 years, but during the appeal process fled to the French Antilles and then on

to France.

Announcing the warrants for Chauprade and fellow French nationals Christophe Naudin and Pierre Malinowski, Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito alleged the trio had helped organise the escape from the Dominican Republic of pilots Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos.

The pilots were convicted in Santo Domingo in August in the so-called “Air Cocaine” drug-trafficking case.

They had been arrested in March 2013 at the resort of Punta Cana on a private-

ly hired jet carrying 680 kilograms (1500lb) of cocaine.

French media earlier said the pilots had worked previously for the French navy and had been helped by former intelligence agents.

The French Government said it had nothing to do with their escape.

The pilots say they are innocent and have vowed to clear their name.

They were arrested earlier this month in Lyon, but legal experts say an extradition is unlikely. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Political history in Barbados as Opposition party expels sitting MP

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rgentine Presidentelect Mauricio Macri said he would correct errors made by the outgoing Administration, such as currency controls.

Macri won Sunday’s run-off election by a narrow margin over Daniel Scioli, who was backed by outgoing President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

He said one of the key problems was the lack of accurate information about the state of Argentina’s economy.

Macri campaigned on a promise of change for Argentina.

Speaking in his first news conference after winning the election, Macri said that “currency controls are a mistake, not providing information and statistics and not having an independent Central Bank are things we’re going to correct”.

Independent analysts have been critical of official inflation figures since 2011, when the Government

Mauricio Macri beat Daniel Scioli in the run-off to become Argentina’s next president

changed the way it made its calculations.

Some accused the Government of President Fernandez of trying to mask the real numbers by changing its methodology.

Macri said that between now and his inauguration on December 10, his team would try to ascertain “the real state of Argentina’s economy”.

“We don’t have an independent Central Bank,” he

said before asking Central Bank officials to step down so that he can put in place a team he trusts.

Macri, who won with 51.4 per cent of the vote over Scioli’s 48.6 per cent, called on Argentines to unite behind a common agenda which he said would focus on eradicating poverty and combating drug trafficking.

“We have the chance to build the Argentina we all want,” he said. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Venezuela military pilots flew drugs to Haiti for trafficking into US, reports say Dr Maria Agard (right) after emerging from the meeting with her Attorney Hal Gollop QC (Photo: Barbados TODAY)

I

n an unprecedented move, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has expelled one of its members, a sitting Member of Parliament, over what it says was inappropriate conduct and her failure to be a team player.

Opposition Leader Mia Mottley announced at a press conference Sunday night that Christ Church West MP Dr Maria Agard was no longer a member of the BLP. The disclosure followed Agard’s appearance before the party’s National Council.

Agard had been summoned to appear before

the panel Sunday evening on nine charges related to “breaches of discipline”, following a four-year battle with the executive of her own branch that recently played out in the traditional and social media.

She attended the hearing with a legal representative Hal Gollop QC, but they both walked out less than an hour later.

Mottley said the decision to expel Agard was not an easy one, but it had to be taken as a matter of principle.

“These charges, contrary to those who would seek to trivialise them, are

fundamental. At the very heart of it, they go to the respect for the authority of organs of the party, that are critical to its functioning as a mass-based political organisation – in other words, the failure of Dr. Agard to recognise the legitimacy of a democratically elected branch of this party – her own branch,” she said.

But Gollop described the tribunal as “unfair” and charged that the same people who brought the charges against his client were also sitting on the disciplinary panel. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360.com)

T

he latest developments in the drug trafficking case involving relatives of Venezuela’s First Lady Cilia Flores indicate that the Venezuelan military is involved in transporting cocaine to Haiti for transhipment into the US. According to the District Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, a Cessna Citation 500 aircraft carrying more than 800 kg (1700 lbs) of cocaine took off from a terminal reserved for government officials at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas on November 8.

Francisco Flores, 29,

and Efraín Campos, 30, the nephews of First Lady Cilia Flores, and both allegedly carrying Venezuelan diplomatic passports, were among four passengers and two pilots on the Haiti-bound Citation 500.

According to the flight log, the plane was co-piloted by Pablo Urbano Perez, a military official, and Pedro Miguel Rodriguez, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Venezuelan Air Force.

Flores and Campos were arrested on arrival in Haiti on charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States. They are being held without bail in New

York after a federal grand jury handed up an indictment. They have both pleaded not guilty.

The flight log shows the other two passengers were Marco Uzcategui and Jesfran Moreno, who along with the co-pilots are believed to be back in Caracas.

US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents searched the jet and allowed it to return to Venezuela, since US authorities did not have time to produce official charges against the four, despite their apparent involvement in the scheme, according to ABC News. (Excerpt from Caribbean360.com)

tuesday, november 24, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

Paris attacks: Belgium charges Refugees go on hunger strike at Greece-Macedonia border fourth suspect with role

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elgian Police have charged a fourth suspect with terrorism offences related in the deadly attacks on Paris, the Federal Prosecutor has said.

The unnamed man was one of 16 people arrested in raids on Sunday. The rest have been released without charge.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said he would maintain the highest security threat level in Brussels, warning of an imminent threat.

But authorities plan to reopen schools and the metro on Wednesday.

The coordinated assaults in Paris – claimed by the so-

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said he would maintain the highest security threat level in Brussels

called Islamic State (IS) – left 130 people dead.

A statement from the Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the man had been charged with “participating in activities of a terrorist group and with [a] terrorist attack”.

Of a further five people arrested on Monday morning, two have been released while “further enquiries” are under way regarding the others, the prosecutor said.

Mohammed Amri, 27, and Hamza Attou, 20, have already been charged with aiding Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam, who remains at large. A third, unnamed suspect has also been charged. (BBC News)

China finds itself pulled deeper into Syria crisis

T

he violence swirling out from Syria in recent weeks is pressuring China to step off the sidelines and take a more active role in international efforts to stem the conflict.

The execution of a Chinese captive announced by the Islamic State group Wednesday — the first such killing — showed China is not beyond the reach of a

group that has claimed responsibility for recent attacks in Beirut, Paris and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Moreover, Russia’s decision to launch airstrikes to support the Syrian Government has left China increasingly alone in opposing military intervention in a civil war that has fuelled the Islamic State group’s rise.

“It appears that events are dragging China further into the Syrian crisis,” said Michael Clarke, an associate professor at the Australian National University’s National Security College.

“The killing of a Chinese national will certainly inject a new variable into Beijing’s calculations about its position on the conflict.” (Excerpt from Seattle Times)

India helicopter crash kills seven in Kashmir

A

t least seven people have been killed in a helicopter crash in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The helicopter was carrying pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine, considered one of India’s holiest temples.

The helicopter caught fire soon after taking off and services have been suspended in the area, Police say.

“Seven people – six pilgrims and the lady pilot – died in the crash. We are investigating,” Police Inspector General Danish Rana told AFP. Television footage showed charred wreckage strewn over a field.

The helicopter caught fire soon after taking off

Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the town of Katra each year, climbing for miles to worship a Hindu goddess at the Vaishno Devi cave shrine, which is 37 miles (60

kilometres) north-east of the city of Jammu.

Helicopter services are popular among pilgrims who want to avoid the strenuous hike. (BBC News)

Allergan shareholders will receive 11.3 shares in the new company for each of their Allergan shares.

Pfizer shareholders will receive one share for each of their Pfizer shares.

Both Pfizer and Allergan shares were down 2.1 per cent in early trading in New York following the announcement.

The merged business will be called Pfizer Plc. The companies said they expected the

deal to be completed in the second half of 2016, subject to regulatory approval in the US and in Europe.

Pfizer said it expected the merger would see US$2billion in savings in the first three years of combined operation.

Pfizer boss Ian Read will be chief executive and Chairman of the merged company, with Allergan boss Brent Saunders becoming President and Chief Operating Officer. (Excerpt from BBC

Pfizer seals US$160B Allergan deal to create drugs giant

U

S drugs giant Pfizer has sealed a deal to buy Botox-maker Allergan for US$160 billion in what is the biggest pharmaceuticals deal in history.

The takeover could allow Pfizer to escape relatively high US corporate tax rates by moving its headquarters to Allergan’s headquarters in Dublin.

The merged firm will be the world’s biggest drug maker by sales.

News)

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group of refugees stranded at the Greece-Macedonia border have launched a hunger strike in protest of a filtering system by some Balkans countries which began days ago, rejecting those classed as “economic migrants”.

The hunger strikers at the Idomeni border crossing are among thousands of asylum seekers now trapped at borders.

Images have been posted on social media showing several refugees, reportedly in-

cluding Iranians and Kurds, sewing each other’s lips shut with nylon and a needle.

Amid a sit-in attended by fellow asylum seekers, they protested measures enacted on November 17 by four Balkan Governments led by Slovenia, which blocked refugees that could not prove citizenship from Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq.

The rejection by Slovenia, Macedonia, Croatia and Serbia triggered a build-up of refugees at Balkan borders, including some from

the priority nations but without papers.

“At this moment the worst situation is at the Idomeni border crossing in Greece, where at least 2000 Iranians, Moroccans and other nationals are stranded after the border was closed for everyone except Syrian, Afghan and Iraqi refugees,” Zagreb-based Milena Zajovic, spokesperson for the Are You Syrious group aimed at keeping refugees informed, told Al Jazeera.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Siberia’s melting permafrost fuels climate change

O

ver the past year, a number of giant, mysterious holes have emerged in Siberia, some as deep as 200 metres.

Scientists say the craters may be emerging because the frozen ground, or “permafrost”, that covers much of Siberia has been thawing due to climate change, allowing methane gases trapped underground to build up and explode.

Permafrost is ground that is permanently frozen, where the ground temperature has remained below zero degrees Celsius for at least two years. It covers about a quarter of the northern hemisphere’s land surface.

When permafrost thaws, microbes digest the plant and animal remains that were locked in the permafrost and release greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.

The phenomenon is a self-feeding cycle, explained Sarah Chadburn, from the University of Exeter.

Frost mound in Reindalen, Svalbard formed as permafrost confines groundwater, which is pushed on the surface under hydrostatic pressure and freezes [Alfred Wegener Institute/Jaroslav Obu]

“Permafrost soils contain vast amounts of carbon, nearly twice as much as is currently in the atmosphere. As the permafrost thaws in a warming climate, the soil decomposes and releases carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane. These are greenhouse gases, and they warm the Earth even more.

This leads to more permafrost thawing, more carbon release, and so the cycle continues,” Chadburn said.

At the recent Arctic Circle

Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland, Max Holmes from the US-based Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC) said in a presentation that the Siberian sinkholes “are an additional indication that vast changes are under way in the Arctic”.

Despite scientists’ concern that thawing permafrost could exacerbate global warming, most climate models do not include the warming aspect of permafrost emissions. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Pope set for Africa visit amid high expectations

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ll signs are that Pope Francis will receive a rock-star welcome as he prepares for his first visit to Africa.

Millions of people across Central and East Africa are already talking about the “historic visit” to the continent, and hundreds of thousands more are expected to turn out to catch a glimpse of the pontiff when he arrives in Kenya, the first stop in his three-country tour.

Francis is scheduled to travel to Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR) – a travel itinerary that has raised eyebrows but also endeared him to the region.

Father Anthony Gichure, a theologian and Catholic Church expert based in Nairobi, told Al Jazeera the

Pope Francis

timing of Francis’ trip was important considering the high level of corruption and repeated violent attacks in the country.

“By coming [here] he can suggest to us ways and approaches to tackle these problems in a human way,” Father Gichure said.

“I think he will talk about relations between Muslims and Christians – that terrorists can be from any religion. ... I think he will encourage us to avoid consumerism and materialism that encourages corruption.”

The Pope will be particularly welcome to Kenya because he has displayed, during his papacy, a capacity to look beyond Europe and embrace the concerns of people around the world.

In a visit expected to focus on social inequality, religious tolerance and coexistence at a time of rising political instability and extremism in the region, organisers have been quick to assert that they have pulled out all the stops in ensuring nothing untoward takes place. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16 news

tuesday, November 24, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

GBTI launches Education Remove immigration checks for internal travel Savings Plan – former PSC Chairman T

he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry launched its Education Savings Plan on Monday aimed at helping parents accumulate funds, and take advantage of the institution’s highest saving interest rates offered, over a six-year period.

Speaking at the launching at the bank’s recreational facility in Bel Air, Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine stated that he fully endorses this initiative and encourage parents to strongly consider this as an option to fund their child’s education. This, he said, will ensure children are given a competitive chance at a good life.

He added that there are limits to sustainable direct government investment in education - even with maximum levels of accountability on expenditure, there will be inevitable gaps. This is particularly true for students seeking to access cuttingedge academic programmes at the tertiary level, whether locally or abroad.

“This is where the burden of provision falls upon the parent and their ability to manage their finances. It is not that a culture of sacrifice does not exist when it comes to the education of our children. Only recently we’ve seen the examples of Sachin Rambarran, this year’s University of Guyana valedictorian, and Sasenarine Tomby, best graduating student at the University’s Berbice Campus - both sons of humble cane cutters who worked hard, saved their money, and sacrificed their own wellbeing so that their child could afford the sort of academic opportunity that they could not” the Minister said.

He said it is time persons moved beyond the tradition of scrimping and saving in increments, and evolve from that noble practice to wisdom of strategic investment

F

ormer Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ramesh Persaud is calling on the relevant authorities to review and remove the policy allowing for the need of immigration checks for travel within the borders of Guyana.

In a letter addressed to Citizenship Minister Winston Felix and copied to Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes and State Minister Joseph Harmon, the businessman expressed grave concerns regarding the requirement to register with immigration officers or the police when commuting within the borders of Guyana.

“I am not aware that as a citizen there were restrictions to internal travel in this regard,” he stated.

Persaud believes that as a citizen of Guyana, it is his right to move freely within his country and to adhere to this existing policy would be an outright violation to his right.

in education.

According to the minister people have a culture of investing for what they see as: “needful things, almost all of which are concrete or in some way directly functional, but are yet to develop a culture of strategic investment in the future education of children in the sort of way that has become established practice in other parts of the world.”

With this context, the Education Minister applauded GBTI’s Education Savings Plan and congratulated the bank on the bold step of putting this innovative programme in place.

“I see that as a direct contribution towards the human resource development that we will need to assure this country’s sustainable growth in the years ahead.

It is a gauntlet thrown out to other financial institutions to consider that every bank should seek in some capacity to function as a development bank, as a partner in strategic sustainable development, and there is no sector more instrumental in engendering development than the education sector”.

The Education Savings Plan matures on the 18th birthday of the beneficiary.

At maturity the proceeds of the plan can be transferred to regular savings account in the beneficiary’s name pending the arrangements for post-secondary studies. If the funds are to be issued to an educational institution at maturity date, the bank will waive the cost of the manager’s cheque, foreign draft or SWIFT transfer. (jpinder@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Argentine video competition submission deadline extended

T

he deadline for the submission of videos on the exciting Argentine video competition has been extended to December 3, 2015.

This is according to the Argentine Embassy in Guyana.

The video competition, which was recently launched, encourages persons from the academic community to participate by producing and submitting short videos pertaining to the topic MALVINAS: A REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CAUSE” to commemorate the strong support of the Latin American and Caribbean countries 50 years after the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2065

(XX).

The video must not be more than 60 seconds and can be in the language of the candidate’s choice. Under the title: “MALVINAS: A REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CAUSE”, where participants express themselves on the topic.

The video does not have to contain any particular formalities or specific academic message. It can be brief, simple, informal, informative and experiential. It can also be recorded in any format and through any device, including mobile phones, as long as the message is clear and express favourable support for Argentina.

The video can be submitted using one of the fol-

lowing host sites: YouTube, Facebook, Dropbox, Google drive, WeTransfer.

Candidates must submit the link to the Embassy of Argentina in Guyana at eguya@mrecic.gov.ar, along with personal details including name, date of birth, identification number, nationality, country of residence, address and educational institution.

Candidates must be 18 years of age and a Guyanese national, with a valid passport and can include students, professors, alumni and researchers.

Interested persons can contact the Argentine Embassy directly for any information and to make their official submission.

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix

Former PSC Chairman Ramesh Persaud

“I see no reason why the valuable time of immigration and police personnel have to be dedicated to this unnecessary humbug for local travel.

I am confident that if the information is needed for any national security purposes, it can be gleaned from the manifest of each one of the carriers. I can understand having to present a photo ID to the agent for check in or possibly security personnel before boarding an aircraft,

but I do not see the need for the immigration intervention upon arrival or departure of any port used for travel within the boundaries of Guyana,” the former PSC chairman stated in the correspondence.

In this regard, Persaud is urging the Citizenship Ministry to review this policy and remove the need for immigration checks for travel within the borders of Guyana.

Patterson meets Dutch team for ‘holistic’ approach to local drainage issues

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson along with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder during the meeting with the Dutch Risk Reduction Team and local engineers

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he administration will be taking a ‘holistic’ approach to the country’s drainage and irrigation systems with the aid of Government of The Netherlands, which will play a key role through the provision of consultancy services.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on Monday met the threemember team from the Government of The Netherlands’ Dutch Risk Reduction Team (DRRTeam).

The team, which arrived in Guyana on Sunday evening, will work in a consultancy capacity over the next few days.

The meeting was held at the Agriculture Ministry, with Minister Noel Holder also present, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

During remarks, Minister Patterson indicated that the partnership with the Netherlands would lend to a comprehensive approach to drainage and irrigation in Guyana.

Patterson recalled that

in July this year, Guyana recorded about eight inches of rainfall in less than 24 hours.

He added that while work would have been done in the past to address Guyana’s drainage issues, a more “comprehensive” approach was urgently needed.

Rob Steijn leader for the DRR-Team emphasised the importance of proper water management to a nation’s development. The visiting DRR-Team also consists of civil engineer Fokke Westebring and social scientist Judith Klostermann.

The meeting also saw the attendance of nearly two dozen local officials, including engineers from across the administrative regions.

Additionally, a presentation on Guyana’s drainage was made. During this presentation, both local and international participants shared information and posed relevant questions on the way forward.

Of significant importance to the visiting team were the highlighted causes of flooding in Guyana, which included an increase in impervious

areas; infilling of drains; reduction of maintenance; use of drains for refuse disposal; establishment of illegal housing on drainage reserves; relative rise in sea levels; and inadequacy of secondary and roadside drainage systems.

Also of significance was the recognition that flooding has increasingly worsened over the years, with the second highest amount of rainfall in decades being recorded in July 2015.

Meanwhile, the DRRTeam is scheduled to leave Guyana on Friday. Their visit will see them conducting a number of land visits as well as a flyover to get a better understanding of Guyana’s drainage system. The team will also be visiting some local agencies, including the Guyana Hydro meteorological Department.

At the conclusion of the visit, the team is expected to produce recommendations which will be used as part of a subsequent proposal from the Guyana Government for funding from an international agency, Klostermaan said.

17

news

tuesday, November 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana joins global B Division announces crime fighting plan efforts to abolish – admits to increase in crime in Rosignol death penalty A

lthough the death penalty remains enshrined in its laws, Guyana committed to join the worldwide efforts to abolish capital punishment, which is deemed inhumane and completely ineffective in deterring crime.

Guyana has not abolished the death penalty, but there is a moratorium on its use, despite the fact that criminals are still being sentenced to death.

Guyana last executed a death row prisoner in 1997.

More than 100 countries have already made significant strides in abolishing the death penalty, either by law or by practice.

According to statistics emanating from a report compiled by Amnesty International, 140 countries abolished the death penalty in 2014, by law or practice. This is sig-

nificant given that when the organisation started its campaign against the death penalty in 1997, only 16 countries had abolished this punishment for all crimes. Seven countries that carried out executions in 2013 did not do so in 2014 – Bangladesh, Botswana, Indonesia, India, Kuwait, Nigeria and South Sudan.

Despite this remarkable progress, there was a recorded 28 per cent increase in the number of executions in 2014 when compared to the figures in 2013. There were 2466 death sentences in 55 countries in 2014, with a total of 607 executions. This figure excludes China, which executed more persons than the rest of the world combined. The top five countries which still execute prisoners on death row are China, Iran, Saudi Arabia,

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman

Iraq and the USA. Additionally, seven other countries resumed executions – Belarus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

Inhumane On Monday, the Caribbean Regional

Conference on the abolition of the death penalty was opened in Guyana at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre where Governance Minister Raphael Trotman committed Guyana towards the abolishment of the death penalty.

Trotman highlighted that Guyana already took steps towards the abolishing of the death penalty by not practising this inhumane form of criminal punishment. The Minister noted that one person’s justice could be another person’s injustice; therefore, he pondered, “How do we decide and who gets to decide how justice should be administered?”

Two years ago, Guyana made a commitment to the United Nations to abolish the death penalty.

Attorney General Basil Williams had recently recommitted Guyana towards erasing capital pun-

ishment from its books.

Guyana’s laws state (without providing for alternatives) that an individual convicted of a capital offence “shall be liable to suffer death as a felon”.

In addition, legislation provides that murder and felony murder in the course of terrorism are “punishable by death”.

While this language is ambiguous, under Article 19 of the Criminal (Offences) Law, courts may not substitute punishments not specifically stated for death-eligible offences, so courts appear to have no discretion in sentencing.

Article 164 of the Criminal (Procedure) Law provides that when a person is convicted of an offence punishable by death, “the Court shall thereupon pronounce [the] sentence of death”.

The European Union and the United Kingdom are the world’s leading institutional actors in the fight against the death penalty and its action in this area represents a key priority of its external human rights policy.

The EU and the UK actively support the civil society organisations around the world campaigning for the abolition of capital punishment.

Meanwhile, the Conference, which continues today, will see various panellists discussing various aspects of the death penalty and its abolition in the Caribbean.

Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith addressing the media in the presence of senior Police officers

B

erbice is gearing up to keep criminal activity to a minimum during the Christmas season.

This is according to Divisional Commander of B Division - Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith. His comments came as he outlined the Division’s plans for the Christmas season as it relates to fighting crime.

Speaking with the media, Commander Griffith said special arrangements have been put in place for the festive season and more ranks have been placed on the road as from last Thursday. He said heavy emphasis will be placed on New Amsterdam, Rose Hall Town and Corriverton in Region Six, while in Region Five emphasis will be on Rosignol and Bush Lot. Divisional Detective Assistant Superintendent Luvovict Scotland is advising that persons should avoid making themselves targets for criminals.

“Avoid walking in isolated areas; areas that are not well lit. We all need to be each other’s keeper.”

Scotland added that with the ongoing modernisation programme currently taking place within the Guyana Police Force, several Police Stations are now equipped with a better crime fighting approach.

Meanwhile more than 25 ranks will be on patrol in Region Five with special emphasis on the villages of Rosignol and Bush Lot. “We will be patrolling the other villages and following up on suspicious activity throughout the Number Three Sub Division [IthicaAbary]. But at Rosignol we have noticed an increase in criminal activity. We will have patrols on foot in the vicinity of the bank and around the main shopping area,” Griffith said.

Acting Officer-incharge of Traffic in B Division Inspector Timothy Williams explained that special arrangements have been put in place for the season while noting the department has commenced a campaign against peddle cyclist with defective bicycles. He added that the campaign against persons

who drive under the influence of alcohol will continue. So far this year 428 persons in Berbice have appeared before the courts for driving under the influence of alcohol. This figure compares with 136 for the corresponding period last year.

Apart from foot and motorbike patrols, the Springlands Station will be boosted with three mobile patrol units, one at Number 51 Police Station and two at Whim. Officer in Charge of the Number Two Sub Division [Corentyne] Deputy Superintendant Linden Isles said at Rose Hall Town there have been some difficulties over the past few months: “There is always congestion there, for the last couple months we have been experiencing some difficulties with persons there committing minor crimes. We have a motorcycle patrol that will be patrolling from Albion straight onto Port Mourant. We have two mobile patrols; one will be going east and one will be going west coming out of the Whim Station.”

Litter sensitisation should be in all schools – RDC Councillor

R

egion 10 (Upper D e m e r a r a Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Member Gordon Calendar is supporting calls for litter sensitisation programmes to be featured in all schools across the Region.

He said the idea stemmed from an observation of how litter was discarded in and around schools in Region 10.

Calendar has also called on the Council and Department of Education to collaborate and play an active role in promoting such programmes and initiatives for schools in the Region.

“I would like to see the schoolchildren in and

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

around Region 10 be sensitised and educated in the proper way of garbage disposal. The plastic bags and plastic bottles, when you go into the schools you

see them thrown all over the place,” the Councillor said. “If we start within the schools and teaching the children how to dispose of these things, if we provide the necessary bins and garbage bags in the schools, we would get results.”

The Councillor has made it clear that if students were properly educated on the issue of garbage and the environment, it would assist in promoting the countrywide cleanup initiative.

“The fact of the matter is that some type of programme should be introduced in the schools whereby the children could be sensitised. Let us start from the school’s first and

then we will see how it can expand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian, in speaking on the issue of proper litter disposal in schools, outlined that such an initiative would be welcomed. He said while the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) has a responsibility for disposal of waste within schools, the idea of imparting knowledge to students should be one that was encouraged and supported.

“I love the whole business of the campaign for (proper) garbage disposal in schools. I think that we should do something comprehensive about garbage disposal,” Morian said.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 24, 2015

ARCHIE

Celebrate by hosting a gathering of friends and col(March 21- leagues for some light enApril 19) tertainment. Make sure you stick to your budget so that unnecessary expenses don’t leave you broke.

ARIES

- Overspending or overTAURUS indulging will take a toll on (April 20- your health. Loved ones will May 20) feel left out if you don’t include them in your plans.

Nurture important relationships.

dilbert

A partnership will go GEMINI (May 21- downhill if you are not honJune 20) est regarding your intentions.

You will be left taking the blame for someone else’s actions if you aren’t careful.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Someone you meet at a social event will have something to offer professionally or personally. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to call in favours from someone you have helped in the past.

Be truthful about what you LEO can and cannot do. Don’t em(July 23bellish your talents to others, Aug. 22) or your reputation will suffer.

Avoid gambling. Children will play a role in a decision you make.

Calvin and Hobbes

Lessen your anxiety by VIRGO tackling projects you can (Aug. 23work on by yourself. Trying Sept. 22) to get along with others will add to your stress.

You need a change, but LIBRA (Sept. 23- making some residential imOct. 23) provements could be costly if you don’t get estimates up front. Make sure you get everything in writing or your savings will be depleted.

SUDOKU

Standing on the sidelines SCORPIO will not get you ahead. If you (Oct. 24let everyone know that you Nov. 22) are willing to accept greater responsibility, offers will come your way. Love is highlighted.

A little romance will SAGITTARIUS brighten your day. It’s better (Nov. 23to spend your energy pleasDec. 21) ing others rather than letting life’s little annoyances lead to a dispute.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

CAPRICORN You should stop complain(Dec. 22- ing about your life and start Jan. 19) taking action. You will receive encouragement from an unexpected source if you decide to take a stand regarding some unexpected changes.

AQUARIUS Don’t let self-doubt stand in the way of your progress.

(Jan. 20It’s time to consider what you Feb. 19) hope to accomplish by year’s end and to put the finishing touches on any current projects.

A promotion is within PISCES (Feb. 20- reach. Be open to new employMarch 20) ment possibilities that are not in your current area of expertise. Your hard work and diligence will pay off.

tuesday, November 24, 2015

NBA Roundup

Warriors win against Nuggets ties NBA record for best start at 15-0

K

lay Thompson scored 21 points, and the Golden State Warriors tied the NBA record for best start, beating the Nuggets, 118-105, in Denver on Sunday night to move to 15-0.

Golden State matched the start of the 194849 Washington Capitols and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets. The Warriors can break the record Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors also surpassed the 1957-58 Boston Celtics for the best start by a defending champion.

Thompson hit a 3-pointer with 2 minutes 8 seconds remaining in the second quarter, and Golden State never trailed again. The reserves built a sizable lead and allowed Stephen Curry to rest the entire fourth quarter. Curry had 19 points, the first time this season he did not reach 20.

Darrell Arthur had 21 points for the Nuggets, who were without Kenneth Faried because of a sprained left ankle. Danilo Gallinari and Will Barton each had 19 points for Denver (6-8).

Harrison Barnes scored 7 of his 17 points in the third quarter to enable the Warriors to gain some separation. This was the way things went for the Warriors in the third: Festus Ezeli

missed a wide-open dunk, and it clanged straight to Curry, who drained a 3-pointer.

When the Warriors played in Denver last March, they rested Curry. That did not sit well with fans who were expecting to see Curry, a sharpshooting guard.

Resting was not an option this time. Not with the Warriors so close to an

scored all of his 21 points in the first half, and visiting Toronto held Blake Griffin and Chris Paul scoreless through the first 20-plus minutes of a victory over Los Angeles.

J. J. Redick scored 17 points for the Clippers, who have lost three straight and seven of nine after starting the season 4-0.

Pelicans 122, Suns 116

Anthony Davis capped a 32-point, 19-rebound performance with a tiebreaking 3-pointer in the final minute, and host New Orleans overcame Phoenix.

Ryan Anderson, who scored 30 in each of his previous two games, had 29 points for New Orleans. Eric Bledsoe scored 29 points for Phoenix, which lost despite hitting 17 3-pointers.

Klay Thompson

N.B.A. record.

“Whether or not we get it, it really doesn’t affect our ultimate goal of trying to win a championship,” said the interim coach Luke Walton, who picked up a technical in the third quarter. “It would be something nice to get along the way.”

Raptors 91, Clippers 80

DeMar DeRozan had 21 points, DeMarre Carroll

K

in Kazan, Russia. She earned nominations for two of her other winning races in Kazan.

She shared the relay performance of the year award with Franklin, Leah Smith and Katie McLaughlin for their victory in the 800 free relay in Kazan. Ledecky won a record five golds at the world meet.

“Relay awards are my absolute favorite,” a bubbly Franklin said.

Phelps won male athlete honors for the second straight year, even though he didn’t compete at worlds as part of his punishment from USA Swimming for a second drunken driving arrest in 2014. He swam at the U.S. national championships in Texas and won the 100 and 200 butterfly events with the world’s fastest times this year. He also won the 200 individual medley.

Phelps won the trophy over longtime rival Ryan Lochte and

S

underland claimed their first away win of the season as Jermain Defoe’s goal earned them victory at Crystal Palace.

The game seemed to be heading towards a draw, but in the 80th minute Defoe nicked the ball from the indecisive Scott Dann and poked in.

Prior to that, Sunderland had the best chances, defender Sebastian Coates going closest when his header was cleared off the line by Yohan Cabaye.

Sunderland keeper Costel Pantilimon superbly denied Cabaye after the goal.

The win moved the Black Cats up one place to 18th in the Premier League table on nine points, one behind north-east rivals Newcastle.

Palace remain 10th on 19 points.

who fired wide in the first half, chased down the Palace defender, pushed the ball past keeper Wayne Hennessey and slotted in.

It was his seventh goal of the season, and underlines his importance to the club despite recent reports suggesting he might leave in January.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce said: “He is a classy finisher. If you want somebody to chase down what looks a lost cause [it is him].

“Defoe not giving up is why the defender and the goalkeeper messed up.”

Excellent defence pays dividends for Allardyce Prior to the match both managers stated how Sunderland would set up at the back - Palace boss Alan Pardew said it would be five while Allardyce said he

would pick four.

It actually flitted from a 3-5-1-1 formation to a 5-31-1, although the graphic below seems to suggest Allardyce opted for an 8-1-1.

For a manager whose side conceded six goals against Everton in their last away outing, his conserva-

tism was understandable, especially against the potent and pacy attack of Palace.

The tactic worked. Palace had plenty of possession but their attacks - led by Wilfried Zaha and Bolasie often broke down around the area, and balls that found their way into the box were cut out by Sunderland’s three centre-backs.

However, the graphic does not tell the full story.

The Black Cats were dangerous on the counter-attack and looked far fitter than they did in the 6-2 loss at Goodison Park, catching Palace out on the break on several occasions.

If Steven Fletcher, Defoe or Patrick van Aanholt had provided more assured final touches, Sunderland would have been ahead in the first half.

Clean sheets the key for Black Cats boss This was only Sunderland’s second clean sheet in 15 games in all competitions this season, following the 3-0 win over Newcastle in October.

“It was a good solid defensive performance,” Allardyce said.

“Going five at the back was something that we thought about a lot. Palace have a real threat in Bolasie and Zaha and if we played wing-backs they would go tight and stop them working their magic.

“It is no coincidence - two clean sheets, two victories and a very, very valuable three points.

“We have been conceding on average three goals a game and that just has to stop.

“Hopefully the message is getting through to the players that we have to be resilient as a team, dig in and work hard out of possession.” (BBC Sport)

announced his fiancee is expecting a child next spring.

Wilimovsky, of nearby Malibu, was a double winner.

He earned male race of the year honors for his victory in the 10-kilometer open water event in Kazan and was named breakout performer. He has already qualified for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“This is awesome. I really didn’t think I was going to win,” Wilimovsky said after his first award. “It’s really cool.”

Bruce Gemmell, who guides Ledecky’s career, earned coach of the year honors for the third straight time.

“Katie is a special girl,” Gemmell said. “She’s a pretty good swimmer. She’s a better person.”

Ledecky has committed to swim for Stanford but has deferred her enrollment until after the Rio Games.

The perseverance award went to Allison Schmitt, who in May revealed her struggle with depression after the 2012 Olympics. Phelps and his fiancee, Nicole Johnson, stood to applaud their friend.

“I have only begun to scratch the surface of dealing with depression,” Schmitt said, tearing up as she spoke. “I have the goals to stop that stigma.

Mental illness is real. It’s an injury. If me speaking out saves just one life, then I know it was worth it.”

The winners were selected by a panel in combination with online fan voting. (ESPN)

Jermain Defoe escapes to score the game’s lone goal. (PA photo)

Times)

Ledecky, Phelps named top performers at Golden Goggles atie Ledecky won three trophies, including female athlete of the year, and Michael Phelps earned male athlete honors at the Golden Goggle awards, with which USA Swimming honored its top performers.

Ledecky, 18, beat open water swimmer Haley Anderson and Missy Franklin for female athlete honors Sunday night at the 12th annual gala in downtown Los Angeles. Ledecky also won the award the past two years.

She towered over presenter Victor Espinoza, who rode Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

“With Thanksgiving coming up, we all have a lot to be thankful for,” Ledecky said.

“We’re all pretty blessed.”

Ledecky won female race of the year for her 200-meter freestyle victory at last summer’s world championships

Sunderland grab win away from home

Thunder 117, Mavericks 114

Russell Westbrook had 31 points and 11 assists, and Oklahoma City rallied from a double-digit thirdquarter deficit to overtake visiting Dallas, ending the Mavericks’ six-game winning streak.

Serge Ibaka had 16 points, 9 rebounds and a key blocked shot for Oklahoma City, which was without the star forward Kevin Durant (injured hamstring) for the sixth straight game. (New York

open water swimmer Jordan Wilimovsky. Phelps accepted the award from his friend Bob Baffert, trainer of American

Patience a virtue for Black Cats The goal eventually came as a result of Yannick Bolasie losing control of the ball in midfield as he tried to perform another trick, and team-mate’s Dann’s ambling at the back.

The hard-working Defoe,

Michael Phelps

Pharoah.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to feel like me again,” a serious Phelps said from the podium. “For a couple years, I was checked out. I’d like to re-

19

ally thank the people who have stood by me through all the ups and downs. I look forward to big things next summer for all of us.”

Earlier in the week, Phelps

20

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, November 24, 2015

Cairns trial heads North Gtown are Swimming into closing stages GTU/MoE/Digicel 55th Annual Schools Athletic Championships

T

Champions yet Again

he Chris Cairns perjury trial could be close to a conclusion, with the jury expected to retire to consider its verdict tomorrow afternoon, once Justice Sweeney, the presiding judge, has completed his summing-up of the eightweek case.

“All going well, you will be deliberating tomorrow,” the judge told the jury during the second day of his conclusion, in which he completed his revisiting of the evidence of two of the three key witnesses, Lou Vincent and Eleanor Riley, Vincent’s

By Akeem Greene

A

result which was not a surprise to many sees North Georgetown/District 11 winning the Swimming championships of the 55th National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track & Field Championships which were held at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal by compiling a whopping 866 points.

North Georgetown held off some stiff competition from Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani (District 10) who accumulated 790 points as the Linden swimmers tested the cream of the crop of Guyana’s swimming team.

The District 11 and 10 teams were stride for stride throughout the day’s event up until the last event was finished; a clear winner had not been disclosed immediately.

The relays were primed with excitement as they split between the two dominant districts of the day. District 10 got the better of District 11 in the Girls open 200 free style open edging out the District 11 by one second on the unofficial timings.

The District 11 team had the likes of National Swimmers such Accalia Khan, Kristen Odle, Amy Grant as well as Anna Issacs but could not hold off a challenging District 10 team.

While many of the North Georgetown Swimmers bemoaned their performance due to lack of training, the Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani team seemed more eager and hungry for success. Many pundits of the

And they are off! Part of the action at the Aquatic Centre

sport attributed the success of the District 10 side due to their more rouged training in rivers. One of their star performers was certainly Nikita Fiedtkou who brought first in the Girls under-18 100m free style, a dominating performance in the girls under-18 50m Breaststroke which saw her beat her closest competitor by more than a body length.

Another stand out performer was North Georgetown’s Jamal Skeete who was simply unstoppable as he who won all three of his events in the boy’s under-18 category with some extremely dominating performances.

Skeete credited his performances to constant training but credited the District 10 swimmers as they made him work for his victories.

Another North Zone Swimmer who shinned was Nathon Hackett in the boy’s under 16 category; winning two of his three races after being disqualified for an in correct turn in the backstroke.

Amy Grant used her experience to walk away with three victories in the girl’s under 16 category.

Last year’s champion girl in the open category Kristen Odle of District 11 who did not perform to expectations noted that it was due to her lack of training but managed to place among the top three in her races. Accalia Khan also suffered the same fate as her teammate Odle.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones who was speaking at the opening encourage all participants to do their best as the sport

has enormous benefits for both the individual and the country.

The final point standings are as follows: North Georgetown/District 11, 866 points; Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani/District 10, 790; Bartica/District 7, 551; East Georgetwon/ District 12, 479; North West/ District 1, 452; Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon/District 2, 448; Rupununi/District 9, 432; South Georgetown/ District 13, 415; East Bank Demerara/District 14, 284 and East Coast Demerara/ District 4, 226 points to round off the top 10.

Today the crux of the championships begins as opening ceremony and much anticipated tracks events will run from 10:00h at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Sri Lanka frontrunner to host Ind-Pak series S ri Lanka is fast emerging as the likeliest venue to host a shortened bilateral series between Pakistan and India.

Sri Lanka Cricket has been sounded out by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and appear very keen to host the series.

Things have moved fast since BCCI president Shashank Manohar and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan met at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on Sunday afternoon to break the deadlock over where the series should be held. The BCCI has made no comment as yet on the meeting, and Manohar left Dubai this morning to return to India.

Shaharyar left too, and was meant to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on Monday, to brief him on the discussions in Dubai. But the meeting could not take place as Sharif was busy. “I could not

Sweeney told the jury.

Today, he added that the evidence of Ms Riley is the most important of the three, given that it is direct evidence taken from a night out with Cairns at the Manhattan Bar and Grill in Greater Manchester in 2008.

On that evening, Cairns was alleged to have allayed Riley’s fears about her thenhusband’s match-fixing by saying that “everyone did it in India, and they would not get caught”.

In his defence, both Cairns and his then-wife, Mel, had denied that any such con-

BCCI president Shashank Manohar

meet him as he was very occupied with various things, so I will communicate to him in writing all that transpired at the meeting,” Khan said.

He also pointed out that he would not be travelling back to Dubai on November 25, as originally planned, to meet ECB president Giles Clarke, who is acting as a mediator between PCB and BCCI.* Shaharyar and Najam Sethi, PCB’s head of executive committee, had come

out of the Dubai meeting sounding optimistic, but they did not divulge any details. Those were supposed to be provided by Clarke at a media briefing today in Dubai but it is understood that will not happen. The ICC also confirmed there was no media conference scheduled.

The biggest hurdle to the series was the venue: the BCCI had made it clear that it would not play Pakistan

anywhere else but in India.

Rejecting that offer, the PCB responded by saying the memorandum of understanding signed by both countries in 2014 clearly stated India would travel to the UAE. Then, last Friday, Shaharyar added that the final decision would be taken by the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The UAE has not been dropped as a venue, officially speaking, but Manohar’s opposition to play there remained. So holding the series in neutral ground like Sri Lanka was one of the proposals the PCB placed at the Dubai meeting. Also with South Africa’s tour of India finishing on December 7 and India travelling to Australia for a limited-overs series from January 12, both boards decided to modify the original schedule. The best possible option was playing three ODIs and two T20Is. In the ICC FTP Pakistan are

Chris Cairns could hear his fate today, in the eighth week of the trial. (AFP photo)

ex-wife.

During tomorrow’s session, he will take the jury through the evidence of Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, before assessing the joint charge of perverting the course of justice against Cairns and Andrew Fitch-Holland, his former attourney, and summing up the case for the defence.

Cairns denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, relating to his successful libel action against Lalit Modi in 2012, in which he stated that he had “never” cheated at cricket and would not contemplate doing so.

The charge of perjury requires the evidence of more than one key witness to be accepted as true. On Friday, Justice Sweeney advised the jury to treat the evidence of one of those three, Vincent, with care, given his self-confessed reputation as a liar.

“Provided you keep the warning clearly in mind, what you make of him in the end is entirely a matter for you and no-one else,” Justice

versation had taken place.

Riley had been “in drink”, in the words of Cairns’ lawyer, Orlando Pownall, QC, although she had insisted that her recall was accurate, adding that she would not have travelled all the way from New Zealand to lie in court.

Justice Sweeney also drew the jurors’ attention to two further pieces of evidence. Andrew Hall, the former South Africa bowler, had testified that Cairns had told him that he had been suspended from the Indian Cricket League following allegations of matchfixing. And Cairns had also appeared on an ICC list of players with the “allegation Mr Cairns arranged matchfixing”.

Neither of those allegations were “evidence of the truth”, said Justice Sweeney.

It was simply a fact of those matters existing.

If the jury is unable to return a verdict during Tuesday’s session, prior commitments mean that the court will not be reconvened until Friday. (Cricinfo)

listed to host India for a full tour comprising two Tests, five ODIs and two T20Is. According to an official privy to the details of the meeting, a final decision on the series would be made by November 27. He added that dates and stadiums haven’t been chalked out yet but indicated the matches would be played towards the latter part of December to avoid washouts.

A Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official said Khettarama and Pallekele were the likeliest venues to host the tour.

It has rained almost daily in both Colombo and Kandy this month, but the weather is expected to clear towards the end of December. The northeast monsoon typical-

ly tapers off quicker in these cities than in Hambantota or Dambulla.

There is a potential clash since Khettarama is scheduled to host domestic T20 matches on December 23rd and 30th, but those games may be moved elsewhere.

Pallekele’s schedule is wide open in the window for the Pakistan-India series.

Since Pakistan would play the host, the series would be broadcast by Ten Sports. No official from Ten was available for comment.

Although no definite plans have been made yet, the Sri Lankan official said SLC would expect significant compensation for the use of their stadiums. (Cricinfo)

sports

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21

Blatter, Platini face December ruling from ethics judges

F

IFA’s ethics judges said on Monday they were aiming to decide the fate of suspended president Sepp Blatter and the man who hopes to succeed him, Michel Platini, by the end of December, following an investigation into graft allegations.

The investigation into the 2 million Swiss franc payment from FIFA to UEFA president Platini in 2011 form part of a broader corruption scandal shaking the world football body.

The pair were provisionally banned for 90 days by FIFA on October 8, pending the full investigation by FIFA’s Ethics investigators which concluded on Friday.

The body could, if they deemed it suitable, impose a further ban on one or both.

Blatter also faces a Swiss criminal investigation over the matter.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee...has today opened formal adjudi-

Michel Platini

Sepp Blatter

catory proceedings against Joseph S. Blatter and Michel Platini based on the final reports submitted by the investigatory chamber,” said a statement from Eckert’s spokesman.

The payment was made in 2011 for work Platini had completed nine years earlier, the Swiss attorney-general’s office has said, adding Platini was considered “between a witness and an accused person”.

Both men have denied wrongdoing.

Blatter is due to stand

down as FIFA president after a vote to choose his successor at a special FIFA congress in Zurich on February 26.

Platini submitted his nomination papers to run in that election shortly before his suspension but his bid is on hold pending the outcome of his case.

The Frenchman has challenged his provisional ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and is also expected to appeal the final verdict with the Lausanne based body, which is sport’s

highest tribunal.

The Ethics investigators said on Friday that they had submitted their final reports on Blatter and Platini and requested unspecified sanctions against the pair.

Blatter’s lawyers issued a statement on Saturday saying he was confident of being cleared.

“President Blatter looks forward to having this matter decided impartially and based on the facts, and he is confident he will be vindicated when the facts are independently examined,” said a joint statement from Blatter’s Swiss lawyer Lorenz Erni and U.S. lawyer Richard Cullen.

FIFA became embroiled in the worst corruption scandal in its 111-year history in May when 14 football officials, including two FIFA vice-presidents, and sports marketing executives were indicted in the United States on corruption charges. Swiss authorities also instituted proceedings. (Reuters Sports)

Perez will not quit after ‘Clasico’ fiasco R

eal Madrid president Florentino Perez has rebuffed calls from angry fans for him to step down and backed coach Rafa Benitez after Saturday’s humiliating 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona in the La Liga ‘Clasico’.

Real’s drubbing by their arch rivals, which left them trailing Barca by six points, prompted supporters at the Bernabeu to chant for Perez to go and the construction magnate said on Monday he understood and respected their frustration.

However, he said there had been no discussion about holding new elections at a board meeting on Monday, at which it was decided that Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the end of last term, retained the club’s “full support and confidence”.

A clearly irritated Perez attacked the Spanish media for what he said were attempts to destabilise Real and added that an extremist fans’ group known as the

“Ultras Sur” had been behind the chants for him to resign and were trying to “intimidate” him.

“I can’t tell you what will happen in the future but what I can tell you is that we did not discuss the possibility of holding new elections for even one minute,” Perez told a news conference at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid.

“Rafa Benitez was chosen for his professionalism, for his achievements and for his experience and he has the proven ability to get the best out of this squad which has been in gradual decline since January,” he added.

“We understand the anger of our fans after Saturday’s result but we feel it is the moment to continue working with rigour, with calm and maximum intensity.

“Rafa Benitez has just started his work. Let us allow him to continue and the triumphs will surely come.”

Perez, in his second stint in charge of the club he has

Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez

President

transformed into the world’s richest by income, has been blamed for Real’s woes due to a perception he interferes in team selection.

Rather than give his coaches a free hand, he is believed to instruct them to deploy Real’s marquee signings instead of players who may be in better form or better suited to a particular match.

Perez denied he tells coaches what to do and said Benitez had “full powers”.

“Since I arrived in 2000 there have been a lot of

coaches and none have ever said that I have suggested anything to them,” he told reporters. “They have always had autonomy.”

The last time the fans turned against him in 2006, Perez quit abruptly and he will be desperate to win back their trust.

Benitez may survive for the time being but if results do not quickly improve he is likely to fall on his sword.

The former Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli manager, the 10th coach Perez has hired, could be replaced by former Real and France great Zinedine Zidane, who is currently in charge of the club’s B team, local media have reported.

Real’s next outing is Wednesday’s Champions League Group A match at Shakhtar Donetsk.

They are already assured of a place in the last 16 and will look to secure top spot with a win in Ukraine. (Reuters

Sports)

Chelsea confidence growing after dismal start – Mourinho

C

helsea are growing in confidence after a poor start to the season and optimistic for Champions League qualification ahead of Tuesday’s tie against last-placed Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, manager Jose Mourinho said.

The Blues beat Norwich 1-0 courtesy of a Diego Costa goal on Saturday to end a run of three straight Premier League defeats and climb to 15th in the table.

Chelsea are three points behind leaders Porto and two points clear of Dynamo Kiev, with Maccabi yet to record a win in Champions League Group G. “We did well against Norwich and we did well in previous matches when we lost. The players are getting their confidence back,” Mourinho told a news conference on Monday.

“We know we had bad results for a significant period of time and we need to

keep getting results for our happiness, our pride and obviously for Chelsea fans.”

Mourinho, 52, has been under pressure for most of this season and recently said the chances of Chelsea retaining their Premier League title was now “mission impossible”.

The Portuguese is comfortable with Chelsea’s Champions League progress, with only one defeat in four matches -- against Porto on Sept. 28.

“We haven’t qualified yet but we are OK, everything is in our hands. If we play like we have been doing we can win,” Mourinho added.

“It’s simple. If we lose, we are in trouble. If we draw, we can qualify in the last game. If we win, great chance to finish first.”

Chelsea’s final Champions League group match is a home fixture against Porto on Dec. 9.

(Reuters Sports)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, November 24, 2015

Southland International to Williams upsets Mckenzie energise Flex Night to win male title National Schools Championships

– Ignacio wins 2nd 10k title

Beverley Ignacio of Rupununi (left) along with Reckey Williams of North West pose after winning the 10k event.

By Treiston Joseph

T

he National Schools Championships got off to brilliant start on Monday morning with the 10k road race and as is usually the case, athletes from the hinterland regions dominated by crossing the finish line at the Children’s monument in the National park well ahead of their competitors.

The race got off to a blistering start with male favourite Matthew McKenzie taking the early lead to carry the pace.

McKenzie a regular feature in 10k’s in Guyana with credible finishes fell all the way to third with Reckey Williams of North West (District 1) running away easily with the event to score the upset win in a time of 35: 56.4s well ahead of all his competition.

Delroy Leitch of Corentyne (District 6) finished second in a time of 36:38.1s while Mckenzie of

North Georgetown (District 11) who was said to be having some knee problems finished in third in a time of 36:43.0s.

Finishing fourth with a time of 36:50.4s was Trolston Embrack of New Amsterdam (District 15) while Donte Forde of South Georgetown (District 13) rounded out the top five

with a time of 38:47.0s.

Meanwhile on the distaff side, Beverley Ignacio of Rupununi (District 9) copped her second female title having won the event in 2013.

Ignacio clocked 43:26.4s to win the event well ahead of Delicia Harper out of West Coast Berbice (District 5) with a time of 45:34.0s.

Niocy Anthony of Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10) was third in a time of 47:36.0s while Janella Peters of Essequibo Coast/Pomeroon (District 2) finished in fourth with a time of 49:02.1s.

Mariah McKenzie of North Georgetown (District 11) rounded out the top five females with a time of 50:03.0s.

The championships will continue today with the start of the track and field championships from 10:00h with the grand opening of the event.

S

o u t h l a n d International Inc, the distributor of the Blue Waters bottled water, Royce energy drinks and the owner of the Carlsberg brand in Guyana, is set to energise the Flex Night International 2015 event, having come on board as a sponsor.

Patrons at the Sunday, December 6 event will also have the chance to enjoy a wide range of Southland’s thirst-quenchers, both before the 18:00h show time and during the intermission.

Flex Night Inc said it was deeply grateful to Southland International Inc of Guyana for its commitment to the

event. Officials of the company also expressed their pleasure at being part of one of the biggest bodybuilding events in Guyana.

The competition usually attracts male and female bodybuilders from Guyana and the Caribbean, and brings the curtains down on the season.

GCB/BANKS DIH/DIGICEL NSSCL

Hughes’ 6-wicket haul fails to save East Ruimveldt Secondary

A

Reckey Williams celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the 10k event

National Schools’ Championships

Hooper, Bright, Roberts break jumping records

Shantoba Bright

Natricia Hooper

s action jumped off in the field events of the National Schools’ Championships, three records were broken in the jumps on Monday at the YMCA jumping pit.

Top athlete and South American Youth silver medallist Natricia Hooper of East Georgetown (District 12) broke her own record in the girls’ Under-18 triple jump with a leap of 12.05 metres.

Her previous mark was set in 2014 – 11.95 metres.

Hooper noted that she

was definitely happy with the feat and aimed to replicate her jumping performance on the track.

“It feels great to get the record. I didn’t think I would be faced with much competition but it was good to be out here with some of the girls, but I just really wanted to breeze through today, because I have three track events in the coming week and I’m looking to lift gold in all,” Hooper stated after her record-breaking win.

Upper Demerara/

A

From left: Southland International Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Irzad Zamal, Admin Coordinator Christina Abdoul, Flex Night Inc Managing Director Donald Sinclair, and Flex Night’s Director of Advertising, Onai Vasconcellos

Kwakwani (District 10) jumping queen Shantoba Bright also flew through the air to break a record in the girls’ Under-16 long jump.

Bright’s jump of 5.40 metres eclipsed that of the late Roxanna Rigby of New Amsterdam (District 15) who held the record since 2006 with a mark of 5.36 metres.

North Georgetown (District 11) athlete Deron Robert broke the boys’ Under-14 long jump record with a leap of 5.60 metres.

The previous mark was held

by Jason Bury of Bartica (District 7) – 5.54 metres.

The female Under-18 long jump was won by Avon Samuels of North Georgetown who recorded a leap of 4.86 metres to win the event.

Action in the championships will continue today from 09:30h, with the official opening of the event followed by the start of track events at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

mesmerising spell of spin bowling from Akil Hughes was not enough to save East Ruimveldt Secondary from defeat against Lodge High School, while Tucville Secondary defeated David Rose High School as the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL), sponsored by Banks DIH Limited’s Coca Cola Rainforest Water along with Digicel continued.

Playing at Thirst Park, Lodge High School won the toss and elected to bat first.

They were then dismissed for 155 in 16.5 overs. Top scoring for Lodge High School was Timothy Sealy with 46, which included six fours and two sixes.

Darren McAllister supported with 30, hitting one four and three sixes.

Bowling for East Ruimveldt Secondary, Hughes had a terrific spell, taking 6-29 off four overs. He was well

Akil Hughes captured 6-29 in a losing cause for East Ruimveldt Secondary

supported by Jonathan Vyphius, who had 2-6.

Chasing 156 for victory in 30 overs, East Ruimveldt Secondary fell for 124 in the 17th over with only Dookram Bamfield offering any resistance, scoring 48, including four fours and five massive sixes.

Doing the damage with the ball for Lodge High School was Hemar Smith, Ackeem Raymer and

Anthony Smith, all with three wickets.

In another game played at Thirst Park, Tucville Secondary defeated David Rose High School by five wickets. Batting first, David Rose High School was dismissed for 114 in 15 overs.

A. Glassman top scored with 51. Romeo Browne had a five-wicket haul.

Browne’s effort, along with Shemarieus Gaster’s three wickets, ensured that Tucville Secondary would not get too huge a target to chase.

In reply, Tucville Secondary got to their target of 115 for the loss of five wickets as Gaster and Romeo Browne returned with the bat to score 42 not out and 38. Gaster’s knock was decorated with five fours and three sixes, while Browne’s innings included two fours and four sixes. Bowling for David Rose High School, Trevon Compo took 2-21.

GTT Round Robin Knockout football tournament

Milerock, Victoria Kings grab big wins

A

ction continued on day seven of the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) Round Robin Knockout football tournament with Milerock and Victoria Kings grabbing huge wins on Sunday evening at the Victoria Community Centre ground.

Milerock started hot and simply could not be stopped as they pulled off a 5-nil drubbing of Golden Grove who simply could not play

any type of defence.

Clarence Higgins started the ball rolling for Milerock ith a goal in the third minute before scoring again in the 79th minute for a brace.

Denzil Fordyce also got into the action with a double in the 17th and 20th minutes while Jermaine Grandison scored his lone goal in the 74th minute of the game.

Meanwhile in the featured game of the evening,

Victoria Kings played well to please their hometown support with a 4-2 win against New Amsterdam.

Winston Pompey was in a scoring mood with brace in the fifth and 44th minutes while Aubrey Gibson and Alden Lawrence scored goals in the 17th and 29th minutes respectively.

Adrian Adams scored a double in the 22nd and 80th minutes for New Amsterdam in the loss.

tuesday, november 24, 2015

WICB PCL 4-Day Tournament

Guyana Jaguars make it 3 wins in a row against Barbados Pride

By Treiston Joseph

T

he Guyana Jaguars are on a roll, racking up their third straight win of the 2015/2016 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-Day Tournament, with a ninewicket win against the Barbados Pride on Monday at the National Stadium, Providence.

Barbados, who resumed play on the final day on 1663, lost their remaining seven wickets for 106 runs, with Gudakesh Motie picking up six second-innings victims for 79 runs to end the match with bowling figures of 9-98.

Motie’s bowling prowess coupled with Vishaul Singh’s

first innings ton was the foundation for Guyana to topple the Bajans who are usually relentless on Guyanese soil.

With Guyana needing just 40 runs for the win, Captain Leon Johnson’s nine-ball 20 runs not out set the run chase ablaze and he smashed a maximum to end the game emphatically.

Shimron Hetmyer (14) was trapped LBW to Sulieman Benn, but Assad Fudadin remained on nine not out with Johnson.

Guyana will now face their arch- rivals, the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad commencing on December 4. The team will also have a week off to regroup before round four.

SCOREBOARD Barbados Pride 2nd innings K Corbin c Hetymer b Motie 24 K Braithwaite lbw Permaul 15 J Carter c Singh b Johnson 89 S Brooks lbw b Jacobs 53 M Cummins c Fudadin b Motie 06 R Chase c Hetmyer b Jacobs 50 K Stoute c Hetmyer b Motie 06 Mario Rampersaud not out 16 A Nurse b Motie 02 S Benn b Motie 00 T best c Jacobs b Motie 03 Extras: (b-4, nb-1, lb-3) 8 Total: (for 10 wickets; 138 overs) 272

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-82, 3-166,4-174,5-222,6-223,7257,8-260,9-264,10-272 Bowling: Beaton (13-519-0), Jacobs (24-3-69-0), Permaul (27-11-45-1), Motie (16-3-26-1), Johnson (1-1-0-1) Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings S Hetmyer lbw b Benn 14 A Fudadin not out 09 L Johnson not out 20 Extras (none) Total: (for 1 wicket 7.4 overs) 43 Bowling: Cummins 1-0-10-0, Benn 3.4-0-31-1, Nurse 3-1-2-0

guyanatimesGY.com

23

Tradewind Tankers International volleyball

Demerara lift male trophy; Yelyco retain female title

By Avenash Ramzan

H

istory was created on Sunday evening when Demerara lifted the male trophy in the fifth annual Tradewind

In the male final, Demerara eked out a hardfought win over Yelyco, racking up scores of 25-18, 27-25. The win sparked wild celebrations among the home team supporters,

Demerara male team paid off in the end.

“Even though Trinidad brought an Under-19 national team, they still demonstrated a high level of play, but the team to beat

Guyana Volleyball Federation President John Flores addressing the teams at the closing ceremony on Sunday night

Tankers International volleyball tournament at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The momentous feat meant the trophy had been won by a Guyana team for the first time in the competition’s history. On the distaff side, Yelyco of Suriname comfortably retained their title with a victory over Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

as a team from Guyana had finally broken the shackles.

The female segment attracted just two teams, and the trend over the three days in terms of the results continued when Yelyco churned out a 25-19, 25-19 win over GDF. Media Liaison Ian Wills said the tournament brought out the best in the local male teams and the hard work put in by the

was Yelyco who came with a senior team,” Wills reflected. “The tournament highlighted the need to put in more ground work, especially in female and youth volleyball, because all the other teams were made up of primarily young players.”

Wills hailed Demerara’s win in the male segment, and despite suffering defeat after defeat in the fe-

male division, the GDF lasses gave a good account of themselves, he believes.

“Winning this tournament now puts a bounty on the head of the Demerara team, because teams will now return home with the vision of beating the defending champion next year,” Wills envisaged.

“Even though GDF females didn’t win any games against Yelyco females, there were instances where they demonstrated that they have the capability of playing at the same level as the Surinamese, if enough attention is given to them.”

On the individual side of the awards, Creston Rodney, Juan Valasquez and Wendell Austin won Best Spiker, Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player respectively.

They were truly sensational throughout the tournament, as they proved to be the pillars around which the Demerara team designed its victory, Wills concluded.

The competition was coordinated by the Guyana Volleyball Federation and sponsored exclusively by Tradewind Tankers, the shipping company for the Guyana Oil Company. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy. com)

DMW International Hockey Festival starts Thursday – 18 local and foreign teams to compete over 4 days

By Avenash Ramzan

P

lans are moving apace for the staging of the 11th annual Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival, which is set to start on Thursday and last for four days.

At a simple launch on Monday morning at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) pavilion, key players in the organising and funding of the event informed media operatives of the status quo with regard to the highly-anticipated competition.

The Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) recently completed its highly successful national indoor championship sponsored by GTT, and coordinator of the Diamond Mineral Water International Championship, Philip Fernandes, is expecting the momentum to roll over to the four-day international competition.

Fernandes shared his expectations for the hockey showpiece, which will close off the 2015 season in Guyana, noting that this year’s competition will once again feature some of the

top talents in the game.

“In the Men’s competition, through Revamp HQ from Toronto, we see the return of some of Canada’s

many former international players and are genuine contenders who have been improving each year.

Malvern Hockey Club and

Stars and possibly a fourth team will compete for top honours. In the Carib Veterans division, the local sides are Hikers, Old Fort

thankful to the Ministry of Sport for accommodating us once again and especially the hard work of our new Director of Sport,

Coordinator Philip Fernandes (second right) makes a point to the media on Monday in the presence of other stakeholders of the event (Avenash Ramzan photo)

to players, including representatives of the gold medal winning Canadian team from the last Pan American Cup held in Uruguay,” Fernandes divulged.

He added, “In addition to winning the MVP for this festival on multiple occasions, Canadian international Jonathon Roberts will spearhead Revamp in an effort to repeat their 2013 victory. The YMCA of Barbados will feature

Carib Hockey Club will lead the charge from Trinidad with their usual high brand of indoor hockey that has seen them to many national titles in Trinidad over the years.”

Clubs from Guyana set to challenge their overseas counterparts in the Men’s competition are Pepsi Hikers, GCC, Old Fort, Phoenix and Pumas. In the Ladies segment, GCC, Hikers, Old Fort Shooting

and GCC. Diamond Mineral Water and ANSA McAL’s Carib Beer are the two major sponsors of the competition, which will be played on the artificial turf at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

“The tournament will once again utilise the National Gymnasium, which has proven to have a surface very conducive to good indoor hockey. We are

Christopher Jones, for delivering on his promise to have the lights and the rest of the facility repaired,” Fernandes related.

Meanwhile, Larry Wills, the Brand Manager of Demerara Distillers Limited, the manufacturer of Diamond Mineral Water, expressed his company’s pleasure to once again be associated with the premier local hockey competition.

“From the beginning of

this festival we have seen strong competitiveness and great sportsmanship, as well as the fair conduct and refereeing of games.

We are also heartened that the tournament recognises equality in sport through the participation of both male and female teams,” Wills outlined.

He continued, “Diamond Mineral Water is also proud of its contributions towards the spectrum of sports and is committed towards the development and promotion of sports as a healthy form of entertainment.”

Cash and trophies will once again be awarded to the winners and runnersup of the three categories.

While the champions of the male and female segments will receive US$1000 each, the winner of the Veteran category will pocket half that amount.

A total of 18 teams will compete in the festival, and in order to have the highest possible standard of officiating, the GHB has once again invited Pan American Hockey Federation’s Umpires’ Manager, Susie Gomes, to perform this task. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

tuesday, November 24, 2015

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

WICB PCL 4-Day Tournament…

Guyana Jaguars make it 3 wins in a row against Barbados Pride Leon Johnson’s six ended the game emphatically for Guyana

Vishual Singh’s ton was instrumental in Guyana’s third straight win

Pg 23 Gudakesh Motie has been a standout performer so far for the Guyana Jaguars

GTU/MoE/Digicel 55th Annual Schools Athletic Championships

North Gtown wins Swimming Championships yet Again Pg 20

The victorious North Georgetown team celebrates their Championship success (photos by Akeem Greene)

Tradewind Tankers International volleyball…

Demerara lift male trophy; Yelyco retain female title Pg 23

Demerara’s top players! From left: Juan Valasquez, Wendell Austin and Creston Rodney

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The victorious Demerara players pose with their trophies on Sunday night