Guyana Times Daily

11% revenue increase projected for City Hall P2

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Issue No. 2824

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

“Harmon’s powers not too burdensome” – Granger tells AFC

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P9 Another prison riot averted at Camp Street

Page 17

Nigel Hughes resigns as AFC Chairman

Sole-sourced medical $135M contract given to fly-by-night company Page 7

Page 5

...last such contract I will defend – Health Minister Golden Jubilee celebrations

DDL launches limited edition 50 Year Old rum

Deadly prison riot

Firemen were threatened – CoI hears

P12

Road carnage

Guyana P11 records 34 road deaths for 2016 – 1359 persons killed in accidents for the past 10 years

Page 5

Holder flies to Costa Rica to discuss P13 support for agriculture

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo presents the first of 600 bottles of the limited edition of the 50 year old El Dorado Rum Grand Special Reserve to President David Granger at its ceremonial launching for the 50th Independence Anniversary

Revoke appointment of other ‘Ministerial Advisers’ – Tiwari tells President ...Granger says Tiwari does not determine his policy

Page 3

Albion man killed by bandits

Page 12

– wife severely beaten

Chopping to death of Mahaica farmer

Murderer gets life in prison

P8

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tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

11% revenue increase Drug shortage, late distribution projected for City Hall plaguing Berbice River

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ity Treasurer Ron McCalmon has projected an 11 per cent increase in City Hall’s revenue for this year.

According to a press statement, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has foreseen a significant jump in its revenue this year and has credited this achievement to the new revenue collection mechanisms being put in place and the existing money sources the municipality is now better able to tap into.

During the orientation session of the newly-appointed Georgetown Councillors last week, McCalmon gave an overview of his department while acquainting Councillors with the Municipality’s various sources of revenue.

“We expect our revenue to increase by 11 per cent this year,” he told the Councillors before outlining various areas where the municipality intended to strengthen its revenue collection. For instance, McCalmon said there were 150 properties currently registered with the municipality that have changed their status from residential property to commercial, but were paying the same meagre rates.

“Some of these people [owners] are paying $2000 annually, $1000 and even $800 for these properties,” McCalmon said, with affir-

medical facilities

BY UTAMU BELLE

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City Hall, Georgetown

mation from some seasoned Councillors who nodded and clapped, acknowledging the truth of the information.

The City Treasurer also spoke on the valuation and re-evaluation of properties to determine the actual sums owed to the municipality.

He noted that better car and bus park management, land leases, revenue from new and rehabilitated vending spaces, and revenue collection from container operators, among other measures would also increase the Council’s fees.

In relation to containers, the department intends to convene a special team to identify those persons offloading containers within the city during the night to

avoid paying the due sums to the Council.

After pointing to several other existing revenue earners, the Treasurer said his department was responsible for all of the Council’s revenue and expenditure, including those of other departments.

McCalmon urged the Councillors to work towards strengthening the M&CC’s financial abilities with strong policies.

Despite the projected increase, the Treasurer is of the view that more can be done to increase the Council’s revenue especially with the number of projects and services that are intended to synchronise to return the Garden City to a green city.

he large number of issues affecting Kwakwani Hospital, as well as Ituni Health Centre, both in Berbice River, were highlighted when Vice Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Alroy Adolph presented his statutory monthly report to the RDC. Alroy indicated that the problems, which range from shortage and late distribution of drugs to the absence of an X-Ray technician, among other things, are said to have a distressing impact on the smooth functioning of the health institutions.

At the Kwakwani Hospital he said, the issues continue, despite a recent visit from Health Minister Dr George Norton. The Kwakwani Hospital receives its drug supplies from the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) which is considered a ‘sister hospital’.

“What we found out is that there were lots of shortage of drugs at the hospital.

When there’s a shortage of drugs now and they report it to the LHC, they would send one… when that’s finished, then they would send another. We also discovered that the chest clinic and the medic working in one office and we condemned that… We also discovered that some of the beds were bad, and a few other things”, Adolph stat-

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

ed.

He noted also that there is presently a shortage of cooks at the hospital.

The issues, according to Adolph was brought to the attention of LHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Farouk Riyasat who was instructed to put corrective systems in place, however, he noted that there has since been no improvement as recommended by the Health Minister.

Meanwhile, over at the Ituni Health Centre, where Adolph disclosed he along with an RDC Councillor and leaders from Kwakwani recently visited, the situation is also similar. The health worker has complained of working without an active

telephone line since last year. As such, in cases of emergency, calls would have to be made via her cell phone at her own expense! Adolph further related.

“The Health Centre don’t have fans. I reported this to the Chairman… and also water. They would get water like every 4 days. It would run for half an hour, then stop, then until next four days, the members of the community reported that”, Adolph said.

In response, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said the Council will write the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company concerning the telephone issue; however he indicated that based on talks, the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) in Linden is refuting what residents are saying about the water situation.

“I’m hoping that in this new week I can have GWI go to Ituni and ascertain… the fans will be delivered to the agency next week (this week), two fans will be sent…,” Morian said.

The Regional Chairman also disclosed that while the RDC is not solely responsible for health in the Region, the Regional Plan of Action had provided for a new hospital to be built in Kwakwani next year, however, until such time, steps needed to be taken to keep the people comfortable.

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tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 12 – 08:30h-10:00h and Wednesday, April 13 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 12 – 07:30h-09:00h and Wednesday, April 13 – 08:25h- 09:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Revoke appointment of other ‘Ministerial Advisers’ – Tiwari tells President

...Granger says Tiwari does not determine his policy

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers accompanied by thunder will prevail throughout the day, with cloudy conditions in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions and thundery showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:54h and 20:31h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.36 metres respectively.

L

ocal businessman Brian Tiwari has broken his silence and came out swinging at President David Granger and sections of the print media, including his cousin, publisher of the tabloid Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, over his appointment as Ministerial Adviser on Business Development to Minister of State Joseph

Low Tide: 13:59h reaching a minimum height of 0.68 metre.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS 02 12 16 21 22 27 01 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Monday, April 11, 2016 Daily Millions

08 18 10 15

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fell into the trap with its editorial of April 4,, 2016 repeated the lies being peddled

by Chronicle and Kaieteur News.

“As it relates to this issue and others, the Kaieteur News and the Guyana Chronicle have practiced gutter journalism and have taken the posture of the purveyors of fascist propaganda,” Tiwari said.

China trip

Tiwari clarified that his

President David Granger

Brian Tiwari

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is that a political struggle is underway between various elements in high places and the Tiwari so called appointment is being used by many to achieve their objectives. We strongly believe that when politicians are at war, they must avoid dragging in innocent parties, unrelated to their apparent power struggles,” the statement added.

The businessman also took to task the state-owned Guyana Chronicle and the

BY EDWARD LAYNE

Harmon, which was widely reported in the local press after Kaieteur News reported that the appointment of Tiwari was to advise the Minister of Business and not just Harmon.

Tiwari, Managing Director of construction conglomerate BK International, in a strongly worded statement said based on his business acumen, Harmon’s decision to appoint him was legitimate. Implicitly addressing charges that Tiwari was “opportunistic” the statement asserted Tiwari’s “relationship with Harmon predated APNU, general elections and his appointment as minister”.

Revoke similar appointments He added he was providing his services pro bono and reminded that several

ministers, including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo have made similar appointments, however, those appointments did not attract any “sustained campaign and public outcry.”

“Maybe in the interest of fairness the President should revoke all of those too and for the very reason given when he acted impulsively in revoking the appointment at a time when Minister Harmon was out of the country. It may well be that in quieter time the President may have an opportunity to reflect upon the propriety of impulsive decision making,” the businessman said.

Policy

Meanwhile, President David Granger told media operatives on Monday evening that he will not be responding to the businessman.

"I won't respond to Mr Tiwari and Mr Tiwari does not determine my policy."

Internal power struggle

Tiwari believes that the fact Harmon is “rightfully perceived as quiet, powerful and influential… is what has provoked the struggle for power, for influence, for turf.”

“The truth of the matter

Publisher of Kaieteur News Glenn Lall

privately-owned Stabroek News and the tabloid-like Kaieteur News.

Tiwari believes that Kaieteur News focusing much attention on his appointment is part of a personal vendetta of its publisher Lall against Tiwari.

It said Kaieteur News and Guyana Chronicle have been waging their campaign of fabrications uninterruptedly, while Stabroek News

trip to China for private business, which happened to coincide with Minister Harmon’s official visit to the emerging economic super power.

“We acknowledge that they travelled together, but not withstanding this reality, each had his own business to transact. We find absolutely nothing wrong with that,” the statement said. turn to page 9

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guyana-times.com

tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Beautiful Guyana OH BEAUTIFUL GUYANA Oh my lovely native land More dear to me than all the world Thy sun-washed, sun-kissed strand Or down upon the borders Looking out upon the deep The great Atlantic Blown into a fury or asleep At morn, at noon – or better In the crimson sunset’s glow I love thee, Oh I love thee.

T

his year is our “Jubilee Year” - fiftieth year since we achieved independence from Britain. There are many who, with good reason, may say we should be further along the road to prosperity than we are now. But there is nothing we can do about the past, save facing it honestly to discern whether there are still forces from that past lingering in the present, making it so much more difficult to achieve the dream that all Guyana share: to make our beautiful native land reach that pinnacle of glory we know it can.

And we can start by literally making those hamlets, villages and towns of Guyana where we live as beautiful as the original pristine parts we glorify in the national song above.

The new government has kicked off the effort by expending much capital - human and material - to transform our national capital back into a town of which we can all be proud. At independence in 1966, even though its downtown area had been razed by fires set by foreign agents, Georgetown was still the “Garden City” of the Caribbean.

Its canal-bisected streets and tropical flora provided the perfect canvass on which the jalousied wooden houses were painted in the colours of the rainbow. Only the Bank of Guyana building, built in 1965, “spoiled” the placid ambiance of the tropical wonderland that was Georgetown.

In the countryside - augmented in the previous decade by the largest housing development in the Caribbean on our sugar plantations with 12,000 homes built - the villages competed each year for the “Best Village” competition.

Citizens had pride of ownership of their surroundings and of the communities with which they identified.

Unfortunately, in the following decades, the city, along with the rest of the communities across the country, deteriorated as the economy floundered to place Guyana by 1989 only above Haiti in the Western Hemisphere by most development standards. What was worse than the physical deterioration, however, was the psychological one in the inner landscape of the minds of the populace. It would seem that citizens stopped caring about the appearance of their surroundings as they scavenged for survival.

After 1992, the economic decline was gradually reversed but to a large extent, the psychological decline did not follow suit - or at least to the same extent. While Guyana’s housing stock increased by over 30,000 units, and we acquired at least six new towns and countless new villages along with enormously enlarged others, we seemed to have not regained that joie de vivre - zest for life - expressed in our surroundings. Yes there are bigger houses; but while the individual ones may be well adorned, we have neglected the collective public space that connects us as a people.

We have just completed the first Local Government Elections in 23 years, supposedly to return autonomy to the local levels. In addition to funding the cleanup of Georgetown, the government has just announced a $5 million grant to Linden: $3 million to construct a float for the Independence parade in Georgetown on May 26 and $2 million for cleaning the town. What we would like to suggest is for the government to allocate $5 million to each of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and the Towns across the land.

The funds should be used to initiate a movement to make all of Guyana’s public spaces beautiful as they once were like Georgetown. The regions and towns and even villages can be encouraged to create their own floats in civic pride in this beautiful land. This should not have to be sponsored by the state.

Newly elected Mayor of the Capital City, Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green inspects the Guard of Honour at a parade held on Monday

Dr Hinds cannot speak on Guyana’s multiracial society Dear Editor, I refer to Hinds sight column by Dr David Hinds titled “Many Peoples, One Nation, One Destiny: Identity, The state media and our cricket identity”.

Firstly let me say that Dr David Hinds of the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) seems not qualified to speak nor write on our Guyanese oneness in our plural society and our Guyanese identity.

Dr Hinds says in his column: “The instinct of one-

ness has always been there, but the instinct that flows from our diversity is there also. We have not done a good job at marrying the two; in many regards, we have set the two against each other.

For me, this has been one of our great independence failures”!

Dr Hinds is absolutely correct because he is part of the problem and not the solution when he tried to publicly accuse James Singh (an IndoGuyanese) of the Guyana

Forestry Commission (GFC) of being bribed as a result of his silence on BaiShanLin with the intention of the Government removing him from office.

This is clearly a case of promoting ethnic division in Guyana by Dr Hinds and I do appeal to the Granger Administration to ignore such hostile publications in sections of the media and focus on the task of nationbuilding.

Further, Dr Hinds knows

nothing about Guyana’s Forestry sector and the information he gets from his fellow party members in the sector is riddled with inaccuracies and misinformation.

As a so-called intellectual, it is my view therefore that Dr Hinds lacks the qualifications to promote and speak on Guyanese and identity in Guyana’s multiracial society.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Cameron should apologise

Dear Editor, Seeing the West Indies Women Cricket Team beating the Australian Women Team in the T20 Finals was exhilarating and when the West Indies Men defeated India in the finals, I was transported to a wonderful state of ecstasy.

Unfortunately I was brought back to reality when I heard the comments of Captain Sammy when he castigated the West Indies Cricket Board in saying among other things that the team was disrespected by the Board and that as a result of poor administrative arrangements by the Board, the new manager had to rush off away from the team.

The comments by Sammy in front of the whole world and in the midst of our victory were unfortunate and it does tell the sad story of the deep rift between the team and the Board. As a sports administrator I cringed when I heard the comments

and asked myself what could have driven a successful captain in the halo of victory to denigrate his Board to whom he has to answer!

The president of the Board Dave Cameron and perhaps other members had been in India and I am sure that he had attended the matches that were played by the West Indies. The reports emanating were after the West Indies qualified for the finals and before Sammy spoke, Dave Cameron or the Board had not sent any congratulations to the team. It seems that Dave Cameron despite being in India and attending the matches was not in contact with the captain or the team. This fact that no congratulations had been sent or contact with the team has not been denied by Cameron or the Board.

I really cannot imagine this as regardless what problems or rift that may have divided the two sides, the victory was a path to which

dialogue could have begun.

Words of congratulations should have been sent both

by Cameron and the Board.

As president of the Guyana Olympic Association, I make it my duty and honour to always have a team meeting before the Games begin in order to give words of encouragement and support to the team. There is no excuse why a president should not do so and in my books, Cameron was wrong and he should apologise for this lapse.

I will also fault Sammy for his outburst as this was not the occasion for it and it threw a bad light on us all. What is important now is for good sense to prevail and the Board and the players must sit down and talk.

To me, this is such a simple matter and pride wherever it is must be cast aside.

The governments of Caricom want the Board to be disbanded and its wings clipped but this also is a po-

sition that must be re-examined for it is not practical and will not happen.

Dialogue is now so much necessary and more so with the cricket fraternity in Guyana.

There is a host of matters pending in the Courts and we need to get rid of them. The Minister of Sports should commence, difficult as it may be, to initiate talks between the factions. I would suggest that one of the first steps is to get the parties to agree on their respective constitutions so that there could be elections. Please let us try to clean the slate and begin afresh so that we can concentrate on the development of cricket and not in winning in the Courts.

KA Juman-Yassin Attorney President of the Guyana Olympic Association

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tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Golden jubilee celebrations

DDL launches limited edition 50 Year Old rum – on sale for $580,000

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s Guyana prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary, a special edition of the Eldorado Rum was unveiled at the launch of the “Eldorado Anniversary Edition” at the Demerara Distillers Limited Diamond Complex, Plantation Diamond, East Bank Demerara on Monday.

In celebration of this event, stakeholders, members of the Diplomatic corp., ministers of the government along with the President, David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo were all present.

Addressing the gathering the Head of State spoke of the historical significance that was imbedded into Guyanese culture of sugar cane being harvested by the colonial mothers of this nation and transforming the cane into a brewed substance known as rum.

The president noted that the economic responsibility that is placed on the rum industry in Guyana, adding that of the six major exports of Guyana, the rum industry

been specially aged in oak casks for up to half a century. Its special release marks Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, and is the El Dorado toast to 50 years of an independent nation hood. World’s oldest rum at the launch of the Eldorado Anniversary Edition.

This quality, however, is created by specialists who dedicated years into mastering their trade to produce such an outstanding product. These masters include Shaun Caleb, Master distiller and Sharon Sue-Hang, Master Blender.

Sue-hang took the gath-

The special blend of El Dorado 50 Years Old

generates an astronomical, 30 per cent of the total revenue earnings on export.

He pointed out that the foreign market “speaks great volume” of the quality of rum that is produced in Guyana, pointing to international surveys which have concluded on the high

demand for El Dorado products in markets such as the United States, Canada and even Spain.

Demerara Distillers Limited has been perfecting the craft of fine rums for over three centuries. This anniversary Special Edition is a blend of rums that has

Nigel Hughes resigns as AFC Chariman

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ttorney Nigel Hughes has resigned from his post as Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC) after it released a cutting statement, calling for the powers of State Minister Joseph Harmon to be reduced.

During an interview with Guyana Times on Monday evening, Hughes confirmed that he had indeed submitted his resignation to the party’s leadership.

He said he will be releasing a statement today, explaining the reasons for his

Nigel Hughes

resignation.

Hughes has been with the AFC since July 2011 and was elected as chairman on August 4, 2012.

Hughes’ wife, Cathy Hughes, currently serves as Public Telecommunications Minister within the A Partnership for National Unity/AFC coalition government.

Meanwhile, contacted for a comment on the matter, AFC General Secretary David Patterson repeatedly told this newspaper to carry whatever it wants.

ering through a tasting exercise of this remarkable rum demonstrating some of the skills of quality testing.

Only 600 of this special blend are up for sale at an astonishing $500,000 plus VAT. The bottle has an 18-karat gold signature seal.

Speaking to the gathering, Komal Samaroo, Chairman of DDL revealed the company’s intention to allocate $100,000 from the sale of each bottle to DDL’s Foundation to give less fortunate children with potential the chance to have an education and a fruitful life.

The attending congre-

gation was all treated to a master performance of one of Guyana’s recognized singers Dave Martin. As he sang his songs, Martins shared tales of his journey he had took along the years of his musical career including ideas that lead to the creation of some of the most patriotic Guyanese songs ever written.

DDL is one of Guyana’s largest industries providing employment for thousands of workers at the same time producing household products through their retail outlets across the nation.

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tuesDAY, april 12, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation (Continued)

By Jeffrey Bernstein, PhD

Now let’s look more at the deleterious impact of yelling on children. In the fall of 2013, the journal, Child Development published research findings stating that yelling at your children can be just as bad as spanking and could cause behaviour problems and emotional development issues. According to the study, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor determined that severe verbal discipline from parents is particularly destructive to tweens and teens. Adolescents whose parents had been using yelling as a discipline method were more likely to have behavioural issues and to act out (including with vandalism and violence). The effects of frequent verbal discipline and insults were comparable to those of physical discipline (like spanking and hitting) over the course of the two-year study.

This topic has long been explored by child psychologists. A study published back in 2003 in the Journal of Marriage and Family found that in families where there’re 25 or more yelling incidents in 12 months, children can end up with lowered self-esteem, an increase in aggression toward others, and higher rates of depression. From what I have seen in my psychology practice, yelling increases anxiety in children as well.

Considering how often parents can lose their temper, these findings are good reason to stop yelling, particularly doing it in a condescending manner.

In addition to keeping that Calm, Firm, and NonControlling mindset I described previously, here are three more powerful, effective tips from my book, 10 Days to a Less Defiant Child, to help you avoid the yelling trap with your child or teen.

Be an active listener

If you are in a conflict, draw your child out to see how he genuinely feels.

Avoid being overly judgmental, which leaves your child feeling criticised and will cause him to become defensive. One o f my clients, K e n , shared with me how he found it helpful to say to his 12-year-old son, Troy: “Please h e l p me und e r stand w h y y o u s e e m upset.”

J u s t t h a t simple statement helped Ken remember to lis-

ten to rather than lecture his son. Even if Troy did not give Ken an immediate answer, Ken realised that by asking this question he left the door open for Troy to share this thoughts and feelings later on. This question also helped prevent Ken from going into what Troy referred to as “lecture mode”.

Use understanding to slow yourself down

Listening as described above helps you to dig deeper and understand what’s really going on with your defiant child. This is perhaps the best antidote to yelling.

While understanding alone may not stop you from yelling, it will help. Try to analyse what it is that you’d like your child to change, and then rationally explain it to him.

For example, in the case of a

messy bedroom, ask yourself what is okay and what you’d like him to stop doing. Kayla, the mother of 31-year-old Gordon, realised that she could live with some clothes on the floor but not with two-week-old potato chips in the corner. As another example, is it possible that your son refused to get ready for school because he has a test he is not ready for? Or is your daughter scared of being rejected by her new group of friends and is taking it out on you? Stay mindful that understanding what is going on with your child will help slow you down emotionally. The more you slow down, the less emotionally reactive you will be, and the less likely you are to yell.

Don’t take it all so personally

In his book The Four Agreements, Miguel Ruiz writes, “Don’t take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you…”

This is valuable wisdom to keep in mind. If you stop and think about it, most of the time you yell at your defiant child, it’s because you are taking her behaviours too personally. Realise that your defiant child, even if trying to provoke you, is really behaving in this manner because of his or her own struggles, not yours.

Remembering this will help you not get so frustrated and your risk of yelling will be much lower. (Excerpt from psychologytoday)

By Darlene Beaulieu

D

o you ever wonder what happened to your sweet, affectionate, “glad to be part of this family” younger child? Did your child enter adolescence with a sudden cloud of distance, brooding, sullen behaviour, and a desperate need to be as far away from your family as possible?

Though it’s one of the more heartbreaking aspects of parenting, raising a child means living through the

loss of personal involvement and influence we may have enjoyed in their younger years.

The teen years are marked by explorations of autonomy, independence, and identity outside the fam-

ily system: Children might want to spend more time in their rooms. They’re going to think their friends understand them a lot more than their parents do. They’re going to push parents away. It can feel pretty horrible.

It’s important to realise that this change is not personal or unique to your child – this is the way your adolescent is learning how to be an adult. Though it can be a painful part of parenting, your child’s individuation is a good and healthy thing.

As uncomfortable as it might be as a parent, your child’s distance from you is actually right on track: the teen years mark their transition into the adult world.

Hopefully, they’ll take the skills you’ve helped them to learn into their lives as young adults.

Remember though – just because your child is stepping away from the relationship he had with you when he was younger doesn’t mean he’s allowed to be disrespectful, nor break the rules of the household.

Having healthy boundaries means allowing, even encouraging, independence while holding your child to the rules and expectations of your home.

When living with the developmental needs of a teenager gets to you, remind yourself that your child’s needs for time with her friends, and time alone, are developmentally appropriate. Stay firm and clear in your expectations and boundaries, while doing your best to support her development as an individual. And be sure to take care of yourself – there is a very real grief in leaving their younger childhood behind.

This is not an easy part of parenting, for sure. But giving our children space to find out who they are, within a safe and respectful environment, helps them become healthy, well-adjusted adults. (Empoweringparents.com)

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tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Sole-sourced medical $135M contract given to fly-by-night company ... last such contract I will defend – Health Minister

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ollowing the pronouncements made by the Alliance for Change (AFC), Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman that government gave its no-objections in awarding, via sole sourcing, a $135 million contract for medical equipment to Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc, his A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) counterpart Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, now affirms he will not be supporting any more procurement contracts that will be sole-sourced.

The AFC/APNU coalition government came under heavy criticism for promulgating the established procurement procedure that they vehemently condemned under the previous administration.

Trotman had revealed through the press that Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc (CMSI), was awarded the $135 million contract to sole source medical equipment such as Biohit Pipette Tips and Devices; Nova Express Test Strips; two sets of Beckman Coulter Reagents and Becton Dickenson Syringes, needles and tubes.

In defending the need for the entity to sole source the supplies, Trotman posited that sole sourcing is done when there is the possibility that tendering for supplies would inevitably cause delays which could be detrimental to patients who are in need of critical drugs to be supplied.

He said further: “The process of going out to tender – the time would cause delay in delivery and of course, the downside of that is people’s lives would be affected.

So in an effort to avoid any complaint or any loss of life or injury to person as a result to the absence of critical drugs and equipment, we thought it best to approve this particular sourcing.”

However medical sources opined that it was very unlikely the medical laboratory equipment was needed so urgently to “save lives” since they would have been used to conduct routine tests.

According to Dr Norton, the swiftness at which they

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton

could acquire the medical equipment is why they opted to go the sole sourcing route, but “it is something we are making every effort to get away from, I can assure you. I thought by now we would be rid of sole sourcing, it still exists, but that is the last sole sourcing that I would defend at Cabinet. I wrote to all those in the process of procurement for the Ministry and said to them in no uncertain terms that I will defer any Cabinet paper seeking approval for sole sourcing.”

Company’s credibility

Guyana Times understands from a well-placed source that the company, CMSI, which was given the sole sourcing contract is a financier of one of the political parties in the coalition government. This has to be taken against the backdrop of recent pronouncements made in AFC quarters that campaign contributors are “investors who expect returns” on their investments, the source highlighted.

Last November the company which just has an address at Parika with no sign of employees or business activity won its first sole sourced contract to supply $35.1M of HIV rapid test kits for the ministry of public health. The HIV tests kits were simply bought over the internet and shopped into the country.

In fact, Minister Norton in addressing the observations made about the credibility of the company to de-

liver such large contracts said: “I must tell you that my Cabinet colleagues, they argued strongly against that particular company, because people wanted to know why is it that this company only formed in 2013, have a large proportion of contracts. I don’t know anything about this company, where it was formed and so on except for the fact that they were recommended by NPTAB [National Procurement and Tender Administration Board].”

The AFC/APNU government was very critical of the composition and structure of the NPTAB when they were in Opposition, in fact, AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan had said that “the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board is compromised, given that all of the members are appointed by the Ministry of Finance and are subject to directives from that Ministry.”

“Now that they are in government, it seems they have adopted this ‘compromising’ stance” said the source.

The Finance Minister, Winston Jordon, had said that a number of reforms to NPTAB were to be addressed but could not disclose what those reforms were going to be and when they would be accomplished.

However, since the change of government, NPTAB changed the composition of its board.

According to the reliable source, contrary to what the government is saying, the tenders for contracts are being deliberately delayed, either by NPTAB or higher, so as to facilitate sole sourcing for companies that are aligned to this new administration.

The source said further, that confidential information, such as bidding prices, of companies that are vying for contracts are being leaked to “the select chosen companies” so that they can outbid or in some cases know whether to split the contracts so that they could come in at the lowest competitive bidding price.

Just recently, Guyana Times published an article where a director on the

The Hydronie, Parika, East Bank Essequibo address of Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc

Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) accused the government of corruption, citing that they “secretly” awarded a $420M fertiliser contract to a foreign company HDM Labs, whose principal it was outlined, was a campaign financier of the AFC during the 2015 electi ons.

The contract it seems is now dead since HDM Labs, based on the information supplied, does not have the capital necessary to execute the contract.

Guyana Times source highlighted that there is a

“worrying pattern” that is developing which shows that this government, in delivering on its “investors who expect returns on their investment” policy are allowing their “investors”, who might not be “credible” in a particular field of business, the opportunity to supply contracts. This the source said will have “deleterious consequences,” especially with the quality and standard of the commodity being imported and the impact such transactions will have on the economy.

“If these contracts are

given to foreign principals, even though there are local manufactures that can supply the same services, then the local manufacturers will suffer losses, eventually leading to them restructuring, which would equate to jobs losses as opposed to job creation had the monies expanded for the contracts been utilised in the local economy”, said the source.

Attempts to contact CMSI which is located at Hydronie, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, for a response proved futile.

8 news

tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS Chopping to death of Mahaica farmer

Eyew tness

Murderer gets life in prison Power – no chance of parole until 2041

By Ahreefa Bacchus

D

hupaul Singh, called “Tailor Man”, of Helena Number Two, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, who was on trial before Justice JoAnn Barlow and a mixed 12-member jury for murdering a Mahaica farmer, was on Monday sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole until 2041.

The trial commenced last Wednesday and both the prosecution and defence closed their cases on Friday.

On Monday, after almost two hours of deliberation, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict of guilty. After the verdict was delivered, the Judge handed down the life sentence, telling the defendant that he had no chance of parole until he had served 25 years in prison.

The charge had alleged that on September 2, 2014, at Helena Number Two, the defendant murdered Balkissoon, also known as “Balkay”. The accused was represented by Attorney Madan Kissoon, while the State was represented by

Murdered: Balkissoon, also known as “Balkay”

Attorneys Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin.

During the Preliminary Inquiry at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, it was revealed that Singh, a known drug addict, reportedly confessed to chopping the 52-year-old farmer of Lot 107 Helena Number Two on his neck. The man succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident.

Investigators thought that it was premeditated murder, since earlier in the day, the farmer warned the suspect to leave his premises. Singh reportedly left but staked

out the man’s farm.

Balkissoon later reportedly left for lunch and it was while he was on his way back to the farm, he was attacked and killed. Moments before the chopping incident, the suspect was also chased from another farm. On Thursday, two Police witnesses gave their testimonies at the High Court, and the key witness testified to seeing the entire incident. Satesh Ramdhani, a friend of the victim’s son, related that on the day of the incident, he was on the farm where the chopping incident took place. He gave a detailed account of what transpired. Additionally, the dead man’s sons, Ravi and Hemchand Balkissoon, gave testimony along with three Police Witnesses.

On Friday, the defence presented and closed their case. The defendant, in his statement to the court claimed self-defence, saying “He fire a chop on me and I fire one back on he”.

Defence Attorney Kissoon, in his closing address to the jury, pointed out several inconsistencies in witnesses’ testimonies. He suggest-

ed that the dead man’s sons and the eyewitness corroborated their stories so as to exact revenge on the defendant. He also stated that his client acted in self-defence after he was attacked

by Balkissoon. However, Prosecutor Dhurjon refuted this, saying that the Defence Counsel was pointing out these alleged inconsistencies to distract the jury from the heart of the matter, that is, Singh brutally murdered Balkissoon. He highlighted the defendant’s statement where he said he and Balkissoon never had any disputes or altercations, but on that day he was acting in self-defence after the now dead man attacked him.

Alleged Police Rape

False allegation charges dismissed

A

Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice resident was on Monday freed of a charge of falsely accusing a Police officer of rape.

Stephan Philips, 28, initially appeared before Magistrate Annet Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for making false allegations.

The man had previously denied the charge, which stated that on October 22 at Brickdam Police Station, he gave to Officer Marilyn Rodney false information alleging that he had been raped

by Police Constable Shawn Beharry.

Police Prosecutor Adduni Innis in the interim told the court that the defendant was known to Police and was before the Providence Magistrate’s Court charged for breaking and entering when he made allegations that he was raped by a Police rank.

The Prosecutor revealed an investigation was launched and it was revealed that the defendant fabricated the story. Prosecutor Innis said that advice was sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions as to the way forward and it was recommended that Philips be charged for the offence.

Meanwhile, the Officer against whom the accusation was made told the court that as a result of the false allegation, his name had been tarnished and he had been placed under close arrest for six days.

However, after the investigations revealed the truth, officer Beharry was freed of all charges.

The Magistrate dismissed the matter on Monday due to issues over the defendant’s attendance.

hungry...

O

...AFC

ld people do warn: “all smart fly does end up in cow backside”. And when these smart flies get entangled with the stuff in that orifice, it’s hell no hell to get out! Well it looks like the AFC and its “smart flies” are up to their neck in “entanglement” with what one of their fervent supporters described as “miasmic substances”.

From the moment the spoils were divided up between APNU and AFC after the elections, this Eyewitness - and most AFC supporters - pointed out that notwithstanding what was in the Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC got “Larwah”.

“Absolutely not!” screamed PRIME Minister Nagamootoo... everything was shared fair and square and everyone - and he and party boss Ramjattan - were happy.

But the Committee hurriedly cobbled together to “look into” the accusations of “bad faith” by APNU - headed by the then President of the Guyana Bar Association - was a tip-off somebody was lying through their teeth. However, as nothing came out of the “inquiry” and the AFC maintained they were satisfied with the status quo, what were outsiders to do? It’s like the abused wife refusing to testify against the abusive husband - there’s nothing the judge can do.

Cynics felt the duty-free SUV, air conditioning and refurbishing of PM’s mansion in Georgetown and 50% bump in salary, might’ve muzzled Nagamootoo. But who’s to say? Then came Prezzie’s announcement of how Executive Power in terms of “line responsibility” was divided between Ministry of the Presidency and his Cabinet. All Nagamootoo got was Chronicle and NCN - and to sit next to Prezzie at Cabinet meetings and LOOK important.

Now the office of the Prime Minister used to be a very powerful office - and your Eyewitness isn’t even going back to the days of Hamilton Green and Desmond Hoyte.

He’s thinking about Sam Hinds with his energy portfolio.

But Nagamootoo immediately got his shill to shrilly shout, “Nagamootoo is powerful!! Nagamootoo is powerful!!!”

In addition to the Chronic and sitting next to Prezzie, he boasted as to how “Governance” was now taken back from Trotman and given to Nagamootoo.

The Guyanese populace are still waiting on what power this conferred to Nagamootoo. But Nagamootoo maintained stoutly as to how he was “full of power”.

The latest statement coming out of an “AFC retreat”, however, suggests Nagamootoo was full of something, all right - but not power! Nagamootoo and company are now whinging Harmon from Ministry of the Presidency is “too powerful”.

Wasn’t this what your Eyewitness said when he pointed out Nagamootoo’d been STRIPPED of all power? Go figure!

Nagamootoo should know elementary politics 101 declare: “Power must reside somewhere”. But it’s not with the fly in the cow’s backside!

...Cameron

Two Camerons have been in the news recently - and not for reasons they should be proud of. The one in England, David - who happens to be their PM and whose father left him with money in a Tax haven even as he’d exhorted his people to pay taxes - finally ate humble pie and confessed.

It’s good for the soul - and good for politics when you have an indefensible record.

On the other hand, the one in the West Indies, Dave who happens to be President of WICB and has alienated his players so profoundly they were willing to walk away from a tour of India - has decided to tough it out. This is a fella who evidently believes players still have to doff their hats and look at the ground when in his presence - just because HE’s head of the Board!

But interestingly Cameron evoked Castro’s revolutionary, “History will absolve me” tag line after his first attempt to overthrow the dictator Batista.

History will vindicate the players of the WI, who’ve made all of us so proud! Never Cameron.

...and Codes of Conduct

The AFC’s demanding passage of the long promised Code of Conduct. Well, if Trotman announced the draft when he was in charge of “governance” - now with Nagamootoo isn’t it the AFC’s responsibility?

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

news

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tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

‘Unlawful’ appointment of Mayor, NDC Chairs

PPP questions GECOM’s inaction

Another prison riot averted at Camp Street

T

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic on Monday condemned what it said was inertia being displayed by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in the face of the gridlock which obtains in the town of Mabaruma and five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

In these local authority areas, the governing A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and the PPP/C gained equal number of seats, leading to deadlock after attempts were made to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor in Mabaruma and Chairmen of the five NDCs. In spite of this, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkhan applied Section 13 (4) of the Municipal and District Council’s Act Chapter 28:01 which states, “where

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkhan

at an election two or more Councillors secure an equal number of votes the Minister shall direct which of those Councillors shall perform the functions of the office of Mayor; and that Councillor shall assume and perform those functions until such time as the Mayor or Deputy Mayor as the case may be is able to act.”

But, PPP/C executive Zulfikar Mustapha subsequently challenged the decision in the High Court, arguing that the minis-

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

ter ignored Section 13 (6) which provides that the Town Clerk shall appoint a date for the election of a Mayor by the people. This date shall not be later than December 28 of the same year - the next step after the council fails to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Justice Diana Insanally subsequently quashed the appointment of a Mayor for Mabaruma as well as the appointments of chairmen of the five NDCs. However GECOM is still to make its position known on the issue.

The PPP/C is maintaining that the law on this issue is clear and it mandates that an election by the people in each of the local authority area is the next mandatory step prescribed by law.

It added it is GECOM that the constitution has vested with the sole and exclusive mandate to conduct these impending elections.

“It is equally clear that the Local Government Elections of 2016 are not yet lawfully concluded and will only be concluded when these matters are resolved in the manner provided for by the law. Therefore, GECOM’s inaction in these circumstances constitutes a gross and reprehensible abdication of its constitu-

tional mandate and statutory duty,” the PPP/C said.

It also called attention to the International Community, the observers of the 2016 Local Government Elections, and “all those who clamoured

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

for these elections to be held are noting the subversion of the will of the electorate and the derailing of the democratic process that are taking place by the actions of Minister Bulkan and the inaction of GECOM.” The government has already declared that it will be challenging the court decision to quash the appointment of the mayor and the chairpersons of the five NDCs when the matter comes up later this month.

Revoke appointment of other...

The statement said that BK International and Tiwari are ‘good corporate citizens’, and supporters of the present government, who in the interest of Guyana’s development, have every right to do so.

“BK International will continue to support the Government as it has recently done in the matter of Durban Park development. All Guyanese, all businessmen and all companies have a right to contribute to public projects if they so wish. This is not a crime. This is not corruption. It is called patriotism,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the construction conglomerate as-

R

Fire Service and Police outside the Camp Street Prision on Monday

serted that it will continue to firmly support any efforts of the government to counter and/or stamp out corrupt practices which have in the past adversely affected its own operations and threatened its existence.

“If there is evidence of our involvement otherwise, we charge that it be provided openly and publically and honestly,” the statement said.

The appointment of Tiwari back in January 2016 which was made public last month has since attracted widespread criticisms from many quarters.

Harmon and the government were labelled “corrupt” by local transparency watch-

from page 3

dog Transparency Institute Guyana Incorporated (TIGI), a label which was quickly refuted by President Granger.

Since taking to office, Minister Harmon has been one of the most proactive and competent ministers within the APNU/AFC administration and has been a target of many, including the Kaieteur News’ vendetta because of his association with businessman Brian Tiwari, the cousin Lall, publisher of that newspaper.

It is also believed that campaign against Minister Harmon was also orchestrated by members of the AFC, the smaller party in the APNU/AFC coalition.

anks of the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Fire Service were called in to assist in what appears to be a standoff between prison officers and prisoners at the Camp Street Prison on Monday.

While information remains sketchy about the incident, Operations Officer of the Guyana Fire Service Compton Sparman, when contacted told Guyana Times firefighters responded to a report of a standoff between prison officials and inmates within the confines of Camp Street Penitentiary.

He however noted that

by the time they arrived at the location, the situation was under control. He noted that any calls that come from the prison is treated with priority since the recent unrest that claimed the lives of 17 prisoners.

Seventeen prisoners were burnt to death on March 3, 2016 after inmates at prison set several fires in protest of the conditions of prison cells. One day after, the prisoners broke down a wooden wall of the prison, again calling for immediate attention.

This prompted the intervention of Public Security Minister Khemraj

Ramjattan along with State Minister Joseph Harmon to meet with a group of aggrieved prisoners. After the meeting the prisoners halted their protests due the ministers promise to address some of the concerns raised.

However, this unrest has led to the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to determine if the death of the 17 prisoners were due to neglect by the prison officials on duty at the time. So far, at least five inmates have testified, giving their account of what took place on that fateful day.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, april 12, 2016

News

Region 10 TV Station Saga

Councillor urges PM to meet with ordinary citizens – claims some leaders in Linden trying to cause “problems”

BY UTAMU BELLE

A

s the saga surrounding the return of the television station to Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) continues, Councillor within the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Gordon Callendar is adamant that there are some leaders within the community who are trying to stir up trouble with regards to the issue.

While he said he did not wish to reveal who those leaders were, Callendar said the relevant authorities should consult with the ordinary citizens of Linden to see how they feel about the situation.

During an interview with this newspaper Callendar explained that he played a major part in organising the Linden “struggle” in 2012, following which an agreement was signed to facilitate the return of the station, among other things.

He said at the time, people like Aubrey Norton, Rupert Roopnaraine, Sharma Solomon and others were in discussions with the then administration in an effort to facilitate such.

“Coming out of those discussions, we started to negotiate for our TV station to be returned back to Linden.

Within a certain amount of

Councillor Gordon Callendar

days we were to get back our TV station but they keep pushing it. They then come up with the agreement, which was signed…

Now there are some persons in Region 10, who I think are looking for problems, who had nothing to do with the protest, who was calling us hooligans and thugs, because they are in the driving seat now… some of these people who have influence… they want to do what they want to us… Let the citizens decide who they want to be a part of the administration of the Linden TV station,” Callendar said.

Acting on advice of Prime Minister (PM) Moses Nagamootoo, who holds the communications portfolio, the Region 10 Broadcasting Inc (RBI), through its secretary Sharma Solomon is

currently in the process of having the once five-member board expanded to facilitate a wide cross-section of the Regional stakeholdership.

However, Solomon was recently accused by some leaders in Linden of not following directives of the PM, and some stakeholders are yet to name their representatives.

Solomon, a former chairman to the Region, had indicated his intention of moving the process forward by April 8, to facilitate the handing over of the television station licence by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), which is also awaiting the names.

Chairman of the GNBA Leonard Craig had stated that by law, the Regional Democratic Council cannot own a television station, hence the formation of the RBI. Callendar urged the authorities to take a closer look at the situation and visit and further consult with key players within the Region to get to the bottom of the issue and set the record straight.

He said the ordinary people of Linden need someone to speak to and look into the affairs of the television station since some of the “key players” have ulterior mo-

tives. He claimed too that those in support of Solomon and the RBI are being sidelined by some key players in Linden.

“Mr Nagamootoo did not meet with the right people… he must meet with the ordinary citizens in Region 10. They’re marginalising Linden people, especially people who were mixing with Sharma Solomon. It is showing blatantly, and now it’s worse that the TV station is coming into play. We want to meet with him, because those people who are representatives… because they have access, they’re doing what they feel like to Region 10,” Callendar contended.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian, Councillor Sandra Adams, Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland were among those who recently criticised the way in which Solomon and the board conducted operations following the stakeholders’ meeting with the PM in Linden.

Holland had said he was disappointed since the letter which urged the Town Council to name its representative was only received on the evening that the newly elected Council was sworn-in. He also slammed comments, which he noted was made by Solomon recently in a section of the press.

“It says we have been slow in responding, slothful, and I take that as an insult to the new members of the Town Council… My position on this is simple, I object to the authors of the article, blaming the Council via press instead of actually trying to furnish us by pushing us to name a representative… by right, if you’ve served your time… it doesn’t mean that you own this thing… Everyone played a role in this struggle, not just these board members… I’m calling for a retraction of this,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Solomon indicated that the PM left that stakeholder meeting identifying the main bone of contention, which was the expansion of the board.

“The board… took that into consideration and immediately held our meeting… and we agreed to facilitate and have that bone of contention dealt with and settled by including all those members who were at the stakeholders’ meeting to identify a rep to sit on the Board,” he told the media recently.

Solomon also stated that the unnecessary “in-fighting” in Linden is hindering the progress of the television station.

Carnival of Corruption amid preparation for 50 years of what?

T

here is little doubt that a new government needs time to adjust to the realities of good governance. To this thought, I agree, especially in light of the fact that many government ministers do not have the much needed skills and experience to perform or to carry out their assigned responsibilities effectively and efficiently.

Many of them were not expected to be at the helm but years of out-migration have left a vacuum that can be only filled by loyalists rather that by leading lights. We have therefore come to rely on their goodwill and good manners for good leadership. I am sympathetic to this approach Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine towards leadership insofar as there are progressive signs of development.

That said, the public is growing impatient with the failure of the current regime to deliver on campaign promises. We know now that manipulative pledges for change were made in an attempt to bamboozle the public for votes. It worked but for the past ten months we have seen a water-thin majority in government struggling to deliver at the most basic level.

The entire nation is at a standstill while ministers are all over the place with little or no internal coordination. The consequence is that there are limited responses from the government on controversial issues and the public is at a loss as to what is going on. Is this incompetence or a lack of transparency?

What is known, however, is that there are growing reckless behaviour and rancorous statements from our government ministers. Every day, every week, every month, there have been some bizarre behaviour from our leaders which have parachuted the nation into a state of depression, despair and distrust, even with die-hard supporters of the current regime.

If you do not believe me, revisit the results of the popular votes from the last Local Government Elections as well as headlines in the local newspapers.

Did you have the time to listen to Raphael Trotman’s 15-minute speech at Bartica? I did and I can say it sounds like this: full of rhetoric, desperation and outcry intermixed with religious fanaticism for Barticans to stay with the current regime no matter what.

Trotman also mentioned what can be described as a Granger-Trotman meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas, but on quickly recollecting his thoughts he suspended the discussion and rambled on to something else. There is something fishy here folks but we will never know, let me repeat, never know.

For the month of April so far, there are two events from our ministers that reveal not only corruption and malfeasance but a total lack of regard for the public and for humanity.

Actually, one event is an insult to humanity, that is, the reckless statement made by Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence in an attempt to shield an APNU/AFC candidate accused of child molestation as a family matter.

How more insensitive and cruel can this person be toward the protection of our children? Her brazen statement smacks at the core of child care and protection. What are her values?

How and what processes and methods were used to evaluate and elevate her to one of the most sensitive administrative positions in government.

In any state in the US, she would have been gone a long time. See you later, sister. But, as I have always said, anything goes in Guyana. I truly believe that Guyana can be one of the most dangerous places in the world.

Worse still is that the late and former psychologist and Minister of Public Service in the PNC administration Faith Harding would have been disappointed that her life-time of efforts to protect the innocent went needlessly in vain.

Harding was a rarity in the PNC administration. She had a soul. She was decent. Harding would have told Minister Lawrence this: Sweetheart, step down, it is the right thing to do.

The other April event is the Harmon-Tiwari fiasco. Anytime I write about Minister Joe Harmon I laugh. He never ceases to surprise. Whenever he says something on some serious issues in public he is most likely to retract it.

His recent declaration that employing and rewarding party supporters and donors is fine is ridiculous. I may have to call my colleague the mighty chalk dust, Professor Hollis Liverpool, to sing a calypso on Joe Harmon.

Satire apart, the President remains cool, calm and collective, but his inaction on his ministers’ cryptic behaviour is, oh well, you guess it. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu)

tuesDay, APRIL 12, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

Road carnage

Guyana records 34 road deaths for 2016 – 1359 persons killed in accidents over the past 10 years

T

he traffic department of the Guyana Police Force has recorded 34 road fatalities for the year so far when compared to 30 fatalities from 21 accidents in 2015. Out of the 34 fatalities, three were children.

According to acting traffic officer Boodnarine Persaud, speeding and use of alcohol continued to be the main cause of accidents while other causes include inattentiveness by pedestrians and pedal cyclists, lack of care at intersections, among other factors.

Pedestrians and motorcyclists represented the largest categories of those

killed during 2016, 10 and 8 respectively.

“Motorcyclists continue to use the road recklessly without thinking about their own safety or that of other road users,” Persaud stated.

Most of the accidents involving motorcyclists, he added, have resulted from speeding and the use of alcohol but in some cases, the riders and pillions were not fitted with safety helmets.

“The two recent accidents involving motorcyclists, have seen a 19-yearold speeding along Grove Public Road, without a helmet, lost control of his vehicle, fell down and skidded

into a parked motorcar thus resulted in his death, and on the Essequibo Coast a 21-one-year-old motorcyclist was speeding along Aurora Public Road, lost control and drove off the road, killing his 17-year-old pillion. The motorcycle was not registered and the cyclist was unlicensed.”

On the other hand, the traffic chief stated that pedal cyclists also continue to use the road in a careless manner, while making reference to the use of alcohol topped with riding without lights, brakes, reflectors, and bells.

The Traffic Department

over the years has conducted enforcement exercises against unlighted cycles resulting in several being seized since the perpetrators find it difficult to pay the fines imposed on them.

However, this exercise will now be considered a priority and zero tolerance approach commenced on Monday evening with the intention of correcting the situation.

In an effort to ease accidents, the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department has embarked on a series of road safety awareness programmes which include drivers’ seminars, lecture to school children, distribution of flyers, exhibitions and radio and television programmes.

The enforcement exercises against lawless drivers continued with 7375 drivers prosecuted for speeding while 625 were prosecuted for driving under the influence of alcohol.

At a recent workshop hosted by the Consultant of the West Demerara Road Project, it was suggested that road safety should be included in the school curriculum.

“If this should come on board it will be one of the best thing to happen as it relates to traffic because those same children will grow up to become adults and drivers of tomorrow and will have a fair idea as to the safe usage of the road and will also understand the consequences in using the road carelessly. The Guyana Police Force Traffic Department will definitely support this idea and

Traffic Officer (ag) Superintendent Boodnarine Persaud

do their part in educating the public,” Persaud noted.

For the past 10 years, from January 1, 2006 there were 1159 fatal accidents on the roads of Guyana from which 1359 persons were killed.

Pedestrians, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists were the largest categories killed, 451, 216 and 191 respectively. Taking into consideration the statistics for the past ten years, the traffic officer is calling on all Guyanese to join in the fight against road lawlessness; and practice road safety.

12 news

tuesDay, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Albion man killed Deadly prison riot Firemen were threatened by bandits

– wife severely beaten

– CoI hears

n Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, resident was shot dead while his wife was injured after they were attacked by two armed men Sunday evening.

Gowchand Budhu, 58, of Lot 636 Topu Village, Corentyne, was shot at least four times about his body and pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Mourant Hospital.

His wife, Parbatie Budhu, 54, who was physically assaulted was treated at the Anamayah Memorial Hospital and discharged.

According to police at about 20:50h on Sunday, Parbatie Budhu was about to enter her home when she was confronted by two men armed.

She was taken into the home where she was assaulted but her husband intervened and was shot which probably caused the perpetrators to hurriedly escape, leaving empty handed.

The now dead security guard attached to the Alboin Front Primary School and his wife lived alone. When Guyana Times visited the woman in hospital Monday, she recalled that she went to the bathroom to take a shower and it was while she was heading back into the house that the two men confronted her. As they held her at gunpoint, they took her into the kitchen and instructed her to call her husband who had already retired to bed.

he night before the deadly prison blaze which claimed the lives of 17 inmates, firemen were the recipients of insults and “missiles” while they attempted to battle fires set by inmates. These were the words of Officer in Charge of Operations at the Guyana Fire Service, Compton Sparman who described the March 3 events as “traumatic”.

In relating his account of events to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Camp Street Prison riot, Sparman explained that his team was observing all Standard Operating Procedures to contain the blazes even as bricks were hurled at many of his firemen. He also posited that for the first time he felt scared in his near 34 years of experience.

“They were throwing bricks at us and threatening us … being a resident of Albouystown they were saying I know you…and when I get out, I will deal with you,” he stressed. “[We] felt threatened, but were given assurances by the prison authorities that they would ensure that security be maintained,” he further noted.

“If the cells were breached, we would have been the targets simply because we were the ones extinguishing the fires,” Sparman told the CoI when questioned about threats to personal security.

The Fire Officer also rejected previous claims that

A

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

Dead: Gowchand Budhu

Injured: Parbatie Budhu

The man who reportedly suspected something was amiss, had armed himself with his licensed shotgun and proceeded down the stairs. The woman noted that she was beaten unconscious.

She said she could not recall what transpired. “When I catch mehself, I see meh husband lying next to me in a pool of blood.”

It is believed the men shot Budhu before he could have used his firearm.

A neighbour Chandraday Mangar recalled hearing at least four gunshots but not before hearing strange sounds as if someone was held captive. At the time she thought the couple might have had an argument but the sound of the gunshots made her realise it was a robbery.

It was due to fright that no neighbour ventured out to lend assistance but contacted police who arrived on

the scene some 15 minutes later.

The dead man’s son-inlaw Arnold Dewlal said he rushed to the house immediately after he got the news.

As he arrived, he saw his father-in-law’s body on the ground with the shotgun next to him. “It still had two cartridges in the ejection port”, he recalled. His mother-in-law on the other hand was covered in mud and was bleeding from the head.

It is believed that the men who entered the house were covered in mud since they might have crossed a canal to gain access to the house. They were reportedly wearing underwear and masks. The police recovered a mask a short distance from the home. They have also taken possession of the dead man’s shotgun and revolver.

Budhu leaves to mourn his wife and a daughter.

Officer in Charge of Operation at the Guyana Fire Service, Compton Sparman taking the stand on Monday

the water supply went out for a short time. Sparman revealed that at one point prisoners were using mattresses to prevent water from entering the facility. When questioned further over the Fire Service’s operations on the night, the Fire Officer emphasised that firemen could not barge in to rescue inmates as the Prison Service gave orders on the movement of prisoners.

Sparman related to the Commission that Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels stated that the prisoners “didn’t want to come out” as they started the deadly blaze the next morning.

When questioned further by the Attorney representing the Joint Services, Eusi Anderson, the Fire Officer admitted that he didn’t actually see the prisoners who were “screaming”, but he had repeatedly heard “a banging on the door”.

In somewhat of a contrast to some of the accounts supplied by inmates who testified, the Fire Officer suggested that it would have been

difficult for prison officers to free the inmates, since the metal bars of the prison cells would’ve expanded with the heat from the fire, thereby inhibiting entry.

Commissioners also heard that many of the responding officers who witnessed the dead bodies have been undergoing counselling to overcome the problems associated with their consequent disturbed sleeping patterns. At this point, Sparman recalled what he saw in a much lowered tone.

He explained that the scenes of the riot were filled with “confusion and chaos” and noted the discoloured skin of many of the dead inmates.

The Fire Officer surmised the cause of the fires and its associated causalities.

“The fires were no doubt maliciously set, all three days because of the grievances [of the inmates],” he noted.

As the CoI continues, Joint Service officers will testify throughout the week.

News

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tuesDay, APRIL 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Peace Corps volunteers sworn-in

– to serve in health and education sectors

serve in seven of the 10 Administrative Regions in Guyana over the next two years.

Speaking at the ceremony, US Ambassador Perry Holloway pointed out that the newly sworn-in volunteers will be representing the very best of the United States by displaying the true sense of volunteerism

Government is working hard to forge a closer and more productive partnership with the Government of Guyana and the people of Guyana to help build a more prosperous, secured, democratic, and healthy Guyana,” Holloway stated.

Holloway added that Peace Corps forms an important part of the US mis-

all administrations of the US Government.

The trainees before becoming volunteers are required to undergo a rigorous 10 week-training in safety, languages, community health, amongst others. During their time with their host families in Guyana they are required to learn to cook as well as

Public Health Minister Dr George Norton (4th from left) along with US Ambassador Perry Holloway (3rd from right) flanked by the volunteers

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

T

wenty-nine Peace Corps Volunteers were on Monday

sworn-in by Ambassador Perry Holloway at a simple ceremony held in Region Two (Pomeroon/

Supenaam). The trainees, who will provide voluntary services in the health and education sectors, will

Holder flies to Costa Rica to discuss support for agriculture

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nhanced agricultural cooperation is in the making between the Governments of Guyana and Costa Rica.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on Monday departed for Costa Rica on official Government business to discuss agricultural priorities of the two countries.

According to the statement issued by the Agriculture Ministry, some areas up for discussion are the systematic, participatory, and organised approach to dealing with agriculture in the Region; support for the development of mediumand long-term objectives, enabling each country to achieve its development goals and to look at the international vision for dealing with global phenomena related to agriculture and rural life.

There will also be discussions on the InterAmerican Institute

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Country Strategy 20142018.

The objective of the visit is to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, strengthen agriculture’s contribution to the development of territories and the well-being of the rural population, and im-

prove agricultural capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Holder is accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Nigel Cumberbatch and General Manager of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Ida Sealey-Adams.

Fisherman slapped with murder charge

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fisherman on Monday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a murder charge.

Michael Ridley called “Nice Guy”, 36, of Lot 82 Garnett Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer the charge.

According to Police Prosecutor Deneiro Jones, on November 23, 2015 at Albouystown he murdered

Troy Brutus.

Reports are that Brutus, 37, of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was allegedly killed after he reportedly attacked Ridley with a cutlass and a knife.

According to reports, Ridley managed to take away the knife from Brutus and allegedly stabbed him about his body. Brutus was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

It is alleged that the

duo fought over a woman. Reports indicate that Brutus had a relationship with the woman at the centre of the dispute, but then they broke up and the suspect and the woman started a relationship.

But she alleged that Brutus had suggested that the relationship between him and the woman had never ended.

Ridley was remanded to prison and the case will continue on April 28, 2016.

A section of the Peace Corps volunteers who will be serving various regions in Guyana

as well as be opened to many adventures.

Holloway noted that in addition to the scenic beauty, Guyana is a developing country that faces many challenges including poverty, ethnic division, crime and HIV epidemic. According to the Ambassador, the United States has a strong interest in working in partnership with Guyana to support national efforts and help eliminate the vary challenges.

“The United States

sion in Guyana and was first welcome in 1966. He noted that after 1966, there was a gap and the Corps returned in 1995 to work as community based supporters in the health and education sectors. Some 800 volunteers have since visited Guyana.

Meanwhile Peace Corps Country director, Linda Arbogast, in giving an overview of the project said the Peace Corps mission started under John F Kenney and has continued under

adapt to the changing environment.

Attending the ceremony also was Health Minister Dr George Norton who told those gathered that the ministry is honoured to partner with the US embassy in accepting the volunteers in the public health system. On a yearly basis Dr Norton said, the Health Ministry accepts some 34 volunteers who are usually attached to various health centres in the hinterland and coastal regions.

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tuesDay, april 12, 2016

News

Brazil awaits outcome of key step Cabinet Secretary's responsibilities should be towards Rousseff impeachment handed to retired public servant – Nagamootoo

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T

hough the political party to which he belongs wants the powers of State Minister Joseph Harmon to be reduced, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says he has no indictment against him.

Speaking to the media on Monday Nagamootoo explained that it is not a matter of personalities but rather an issue of government functions.

“I am talking about responsibilities, how to defuse and share responsibilities so that it may not be too cumbersome on one person to handle and juggle many portfolios… and make for the work of Office [of the President] easier and one can concentrate on a specific limited area of functions,” he stated.

Moreover, Nagamootoo declared that he believes Harmon is “honest” and that he has nothing against him.

“This has nothing to do with an indictment of anyone, in particular Minister Harmon. I subscribe to the view also that he is an honest person. I have worked with him. I have nothing about his integrity,” he stated.

Furthermore, Nagamootoo expressed that the role being performed by Harmon should in fact be taken up by a retired public servant.

“The position of the Secretary to Cabinet have always been a position held by a public servant, at most a retired public servant because that is a highly specialised position with specialised duties,” he said, noting that such an individual would possess the desired traits of confidentiality.

“Ideally if you want to think of someone who can hold that position, I would say that I would be a traditionalist, go back to what could

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo happen before the “Luncheon transition” was made, to lump everything in one person,” he stated.

On Sunday following a leadership retreat, the AFC issued a statement, noting that the party believes Minister of State Joseph Harmon has too much power.

In a statement issued on behalf of the party by Press Secretary of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Imran Khan, the AFC said the continuing revelations arising out of the appointment of the Advisor on Business Development, and the issues surrounding it, have their roots in the “concentration of the powers of the office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency and the effective Head of Presidential Secretariat in a single person”.

“The responsibilities of each of the above portfolios are substantial and of critical importance to the smooth operations of the Government and would benefit from separate appointments,” the AFC said in the statement.

The party said it has mandated its leadership in Cabinet to have these issues raised and addressed as a matter of national importance.

Barbados PM responds to no-confidence motion, Moody’s downgrade

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rime Minister Freundel Stuart has verbally hit back at Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley ahead of a planned no-confidence motion.

He is accusing her of trying to clean house in the guise of filing the action against his Government in the House of Assembly.

Mottley has said that the decision was in response to persistent crises caused by poor governance, including the most recent downgrade by international credit rating firm Moody’s Investors Service.

But Stuart told a Democratic Labour Party constituency meeting Sunday night that the Opposition Leader was merely putting up a smokescreen.

He suggested that she has resorted to this plan because

her time as Chairman of the Barbados Labour Party was almost at an end due to a term limit stipulation in the Party’s constitution.

“Since she cannot stand for re-election, because they have term limits in that regard, she is not going to be Chairman of the Party when the Party goes into general elections. She fears that whoever takes over the Party in October this year may reverse much of what she has already done,” he suggested.

“What they are saying is ‘we don’t have to win the next election. Ms Mottley is still a relatively young woman, she can wait so let us clean out the cupboards of the Barbados Labour Party, [remove] all those people who don’t support her and rebuild the party in her image’.”(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

razil is awaiting the outcome of a congressional committee vote – a key step in the process to impeach President Dilma Rousseff.

The 65-member committee will decide whether to recommend impeachment over allegations she manipulated Government accounts to hide a growing deficit.

Police in Brazil are preparing for protests in the capital, Brasilia.

A two-metre-high (6.5ft) metal barricade is being built to keep anti- and pro-government protesters apart.

The committee began its deliberations about 11:00 local time, O Globo reported.

Attorney General Jose Eduardo Cordozo, speak-

The local media suggests the committee’s vote could be close

ing for the President at a bad-tempered meeting, condemned the “flawed” process.

“It is absurd to dismiss a President who has not committed crimes, nor stolen a penny. And such a process without crime or fraud would be a coup,” he said.

But the committee’s rap-

porteur, Jovair Arantes, who last week said there were grounds for the impeachment process to continue, on Monday defended that decision, saying it had been backed by lawyers, economists and the media.

The committee’s vote is largely symbolic, as no matter what the outcome of it

is, the full Lower House of Congress will vote on the impeachment later this week or at the beginning of next.

But analysts say it will serve as an indicator of how key members of the Lower House feel about impeaching the President, and the media suggests the committee’s vote could be close.

Brazilian media are reporting that more than 100 members of the 513-strong lower house are still undecided.

If Rousseff, who strongly denies the allegations against her, can get 172 members to oppose the impeachment, the proceedings will be shelved.

If, however, 342 vote in favour of the impeachment, the matter will go to the Senate. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaican, Dominican, BVI cops accused of stealing drugs, money from criminals

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hree Police Officers in the British Virgin Islands – one from Jamaica, one from Dominica and the other a local – have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, accused of stealing drugs and money from criminals they apprehended and using the ill-gotten gains to purchase vehicles and houses.

BVI national Simon

Power, Jamaican Shawn Henry and Dominican Pamphill Prevost, who took the lead in major drug and money laundering cases, are facing 19 charges for offences allegedly committed between January 2012 and April 2014. They are: three counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, nine counts of theft, four counts of possessing or using the proceeds of crimi-

nal conduct, two counts of drug possession with intent to supply, and one count of transferring proceeds of criminal conduct.

A fourth officer, Michael Isles, who was involved in the illegal activities at a later stage and was suspended form the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) along with the other three last year, has turned state witness in the

case. He is not facing any charges.

According to the Prosecutor, Queen’s Counsel Christopher Sallon who was brought in from the United Kingdom, the three officers who were part of the Proactive Unit of the RVIPF, would use Police intelligence to intercept criminals and then take some of the drugs and money seized. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Editor in “Panama Papers” says published in the public interest

T

he editor of the German newspaper that broke the “Panama Papers” story said on Monday he did not know exactly where his team’s source got the information, but defended his decision to publish on the basis of the public interest.

Wolfgang Krach, CoEditor-In-Chief of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, said a source who introduced themselves as “John Doe” contacted the paper a year ago and with an offer of encrypted internal documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Sueddeutsche, realising the sheer number of documents to be scrutinised, began working with a consortium of other media organisations before publishing the “Panama Papers” story that has shone a light on the financial schemes of the world’s elite.

“We don’t know how this source came upon the information,” Krach told Reuters by telephone from his office in Munich. “Mossack Fonseca say themselves ‘we were hacked’ – I don’t know if that is the case. I can’t confirm that.”

Wolfgang Krach

The head of Mossack Fonseca has denied any

wrongdoing, and said his firm has fallen victim to “an international campaign against privacy”.

Suddeutsche Zeitung has said it received a cache of 11.5 million leaked documents from the law firm’s database.

The documents cover a period over almost 40 years, from 1977 until last December, and purport to show that some companies domiciled in tax havens were being used for suspected money laundering, arms and drug deals and tax evasion.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Cubans embrace English language as Cold War enmity fades

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ilberto Gonzalez learned Russian at a school in Havana at the height of the Cold War when the Soviet Union was Cuba’s closest ally, but 30 years later he’s rusty and remembers little more than, ‘da’, and ‘nyet’.

Now, as relations thaw with the United States, Gonzalez wants his children to learn English to grasp opportunities arising from

Cuba’s new closeness to the old enemy. He has ordered them to sign up at a private English school in the city.

“It doesn’t matter that it’s expensive, but it is what can open doors now what we are starting a new era,” said Gonzalez, a 45-year-old civil engineer who has changed jobs and now works as a taxi driver, earning more.

Teaching English has become a minor boom indus-

try in Havana, with dozens of schools opening in private homes in the wake of President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama’s December 2014 agreement to normalize relations.

English has been the most popular second language for many years in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. But the detente has added new impe-

tus and learning the language has won support from the Communist leadership.

“We have to speak English. If you can speak two or three languages, all the better, but English is essential,” said José Ramón Machado Ventura, Number 2 in the Communist Party and one of the original leaders of the revolution that defeated a pro-American government in 1959. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

tuesDAY, april 12, 2016

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15

Around the world

Yemen truce “first step 5 held as death toll from in return to peace” India temple fire rises

I

ndian Police said they have arrested five people after a fireworks display at a temple sparked a fire that killed at least 108 people in one of the worst accidents ever seen at a religious festival.

Thousands of people were gathered at the temple at Kollam in the southern state of Kerala on Sunday for the pyrotechnic show to mark the start of the Hindu year when sparks ignited a cache of fireworks stored on the grounds.

Police Officer Anantha

Previous efforts to stop the fighting in Yemen – which has left more than 6000 dead and forced more than two million people from their homes – have collapsed amid mutual recriminations

T

he United Nations special envoy has called the ceasefire in Yemen “a first step in Yemen’s return to peace”, as the truce in place since Sunday midnight seems to be mostly holding.

Forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the Shia Houthi rebels who drove his Government out of the capital, and the Arabled coalition that intervened in Yemen last year all pledged to honour the truce after it took effect.

“This is critical, urgent and much needed. Yemen cannot afford the loss of

more lives,” Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, said in a statement on Monday.

Previous efforts to stop the fighting in Yemen – which has left more than 6000 dead and forced more than two million people from their homes – have collapsed amid mutual recriminations.

Sporadic clashes and exchange of gunfire, however, were reported in other parts of the country, including the besieged city of Taiz where one person was killed and five wounded in

shelling.

Residents of Taiz, which has been under the control of rebels for over a year, blamed the Houthis for the overnight random shelling.

Ahmed urged all parties to work to ensure that the cessation of hostilities is “fully respected”.

He added that preparations were under way for Kuwait peace talks scheduled to be held on April 18, which are to focus on key issues such as withdrawal of militias and armed groups, handover of heavy weapons and resumption of an allinclusive political dialogue.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Top UK politicians open up on tax

C

hancellor George Osborne and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have become the latest senior British politicians to publish details of their tax returns.

Osborne paid £72,210 in tax in 2014-5 on £198,738 in earnings, comprising his official salary, rental income and share dividends from his family firm.

The Labour leader paid £18,912 in tax on his MP’s salary and declared £1850 of other taxable income.

It came as Prime Minister David Cameron defended the right to “make money lawfully”.

Facing MPs for the first time since the row over his family’s tax affairs, the Prime Minister said “artificially reducing tax” should not be confused with legitimate enterprise and wealth creation schemes.

The series of personal disclosures – which also included an updated tax statement from Mayor of London Boris Johnson – came after Downing Street said “potential prime ministers” and chancellors should be expected to publish their tax returns in future.

Speaking in the Commons, Corbyn suggested the Government was “inca-

pable of taking global action against tax dodging”, claiming there was “one rule for the rich and one for the rest”.

But Cameron questioned how long it had taken for the Leader of the Opposition to publish his own tax return.

The Labour leader had to ask Revenue and Customs for a copy amid reports he did not keep one of his own.

In his statement, Cameron – who published a summary of his tax returns on Sunday – addressed what he said were “deeply hurtful and profoundly untrue” allegations about his late father’s offshore investment fund. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Krishnan said the five taken into custody on Monday were employees of a fireworks manufacturer who ran the show at the Puttingal Devi temple.

The district administration said it had not given permission for the fireworks display following complaints of noise and pollution.

The head of the manufacturing company was injured, one of 380 people who were in hospitals across the state with burns as well as injuries caused by flying concrete and debris.

Police had not been able to reach members of the temple management, Krishnan said.

Al Jazeera’s Divya Gopalan, reporting from Delhi, said daily celebrations were being held in the country to mark the Hindu festival.

“Some of the celebrations take place without the authorities’ permission and without taking into consideration safety measures, which is what happened [on Sunday],” she said. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

UN lifts secrecy in race for next chief, but backroom deal may still prevail

I

n a departure from 70 years of secrecy, candidates for United Nations Secretary General will this week make campaignstyle pitches to the General Assembly as it hopes to influence the private Security Council poll that picks the winner.

The search for a successor to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon – a former South Korean Foreign Minister who steps down at the end of the 2016 after two five-year terms – has also sparked a push by more than a quarter of UN states for the organisation’s first female leader.

While the 15-member Security Council will formally recommend a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for election as the eighth UN

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Secretary General later this year, the General Assembly vote has long been seen as a rubber stamp.

The Council’s veto powers, the United States, Russia, Britain, China and France, must agree on the nominee. That effectively makes the five veto-power

countries kingmakers –- or queenmakers.

After changes instituted by the General Assembly last year, the list of candidates is for the first time public with nomination letters and candidate resumes posted online. (www.un.org/ pga/70/sg/) (Excerpt from Reuters)

Canadian Attawapiskat First Nation’s suicide emergency

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n indigenous community in northern Canada has declared a state of emergency after 11 people attempted to take their own lives in one day.

The Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario saw 28 suicide attempts in March and more than 100 since last September, Canadian media

said, with one person reported to have died.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the news “heartbreaking”. Canada’s 1.4 million indigenous people have high levels of poverty.

Bruce Shisheesh, the chief of the Attawapiskat

Ontario’s minister of health to deliver more emergency workers to the area.

The First Nations government was sending a crisis response unit to the community following the declaration on Saturday, Canadian media said.

Charlie Angus, the lo-

President Obama: Libya aftermath “worst mistake” of presidency

U

S President Barack Obama has said failing to prepare for the aftermath of the ousting of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was the worst mistake of his presidency.

Obama was answering a series of questions on the highs and lows of his time in office on Fox News.

He said, however, that intervening in Libya had been “the right thing to do”.

The US and other countries carried out strikes designed to protect civilians during the 2011 uprising.

Libya tumbled into chaos after the US and others intervened to protect civilians

But after the former Libyan leader was killed, Libya plunged into chaos with militias taking over and

two rival Parliaments and Governments forming.

So-called Islamic State (IS) gained a foothold, and Libya became a major departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe.

A UN-backed national unity government arrived in the capital Tripoli earlier this month, but is waiting to take charge.

The leader of the faction ruling western Libya has threatened to prosecute any of his Ministers who co-operate with the UN-backed Administration, contradicting an earlier announcement

the Ministers would stand down.

It is not the first time President Obama has expressed regret over Libya.

He told the Atlantic magazine last month the operation went as well as he had hoped, but Libya was now “a mess”.

In that interview, he also criticised France and the UK, in particular saying British Prime Minister David Cameron became “distracted” after the intervention.

It was a rare rebuke for a close ally and one which BBC correspondents at the time said angered Downing Street.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence held a hunger strike in 2013 over living standards

First Nation community, said 11 people attempted to take their own lives on Saturday, prompting him to declare a state of emergency.

He tweeted that the regional Weeneebayko Health Authority was flying in a crisis team, mental health nurses and social workers, and that he was waiting for

cal MP, said: “This is a systemic crisis affecting the communities.”

“There’s just not been a serious response from any level of government until now,” he said.

“We’ll continue to work to improve living conditions for all Indigenous peoples,” Prime Minister Trudeau said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 NEWS

tuesDAY, april 12, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Unicomer Inc inaugurates 4 fined for DUI first health fair and expo

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n observance of Occupational Safety and Health Month 2016, Unicomer Guyana Inc commonly known as Courts, on Monday inaugurated its first health fair and expo in front of its Main Street office.

Hosted with the intent of disseminating information to the public on safer health practices, the expo featured a number of booths from varying health organisations.

This newly introduced initiative is one of the company’s strategies of giving back to Guyanese in a different way than its usual retailing business.

Country Manager of Unicomer Guyana, Clyde de Hass during his remarks at the opening said this is just the company exhibiting its social responsibility to the community by means of spreading awareness of healthier living.

He said that for two days the health fair and expo will serve as an easier way of educating persons on healthy practices, and hopefully this information will continue to spread throughout the country.

Present at the expo was newly elected Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Sherod Duncan, who lauded the initiative by the company which adds to the already long list of other activities that the company over the years have been embarking on.

Duncan said over the years the company has been able to move to higher heights, but in all, giving back to the communities continue to be high on its agenda as it fulfils its corporate

Shuromon Maynard

Neil Joseph

Junior Minister of Health Dr Karen Cummings and Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, examine a booth at the health fair and expo

responsibility.

Since its existence the deputy mayor said, Courts has been able to effectively work towards promoting a healthier city through its many cleanup campaigns which shows its dedication to the country’s development.

For this reason, Duncan pledged the Mayor and City Council’s support for initiatives such as these which benefit the general public.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings also congratulated the company on its first health fair which she outlined will serve a significant purpose for the Guyanese populace.

She said this initiative would aid the ministry in achieving its goal of having a Guyana which is filled with healthy persons, who in turn will be more productive.

Cummings said the aim of government is to reduce the risk

factors that contribute to unhealthy living, and with more initiatives like these Guyana will be on its way to reaping tangible benefits.

She therefore encouraged other companies to emulate Unicomer and join the body of persons who want to see their country develop in every possible way.

The minister said government and more specifically the Ministry of Public Health is ready to work with any company to combat diseases, viruses and any other medical illness that plague the country’s population.

The speakers urged all Guyanese to take full advantage of what the fair is offering since it is only on for two days.

Booths at the expo will be engaging the public in discussions on how they can care for their health, as well as offering free tests for those visiting.

A

Ramesh Persaud nother four men were charged and placed before the courts for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol after they were found to be above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption.

Drepaul Itwaroo, of Adelphi, East Canje, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on January 16 while driving motor vehicle HC 2351 on the Fort Canje Public Road, Berbice.

Itwaroo was subsequently charged and appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on January 18 when he pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $7500.

On January 24, Ramesh Persaud of Chesney Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was stopped and tested while driving motor vehicle PPP 43 on the Rose Hall Public Road, East Canje, Berbice. He too was charged and placed before the Albion Magistrate’s Court several days after. He pleaded guilty to the DUI offence and as such, a $7 500 fine was imposed on him.

Shuromon Maynard, of Clifton Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was also

Drepaul Itwaroo sentenced to pay a fine of $7500, after he was found to be above the legal limit of alcohol consumption.

According to reports, he was driving motor vehicle HB 478 on the Clifton Access Road, Corentyne, Berbice on January 23 when the Police conducted a breathalyser test on him.

Consequently, he was charged and appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty to the DUI offence.

Finally, Neil Joseph, of Betsy Ground, East Canje, Berbice, was fined $7500 after he pleaded guilty to a DUI offence.

The charge stated that on January 23, the man was driving motor vehicle HB 6597 on the Fort Canje Public Road, Berbice when he was stopped and tested by the Police.

Joseph was subsequently found to be above the legal limit; hence, he was charged and two days later, appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Recreational Parks for Leguan, Wakenaam at Wakenaam: the opening of a Play Park at Maria Johanna and the commissioning of a Unity Square at Sans Souci.

The release also stat-

ceive major sponsorship from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry among others”, according to Jaikaran.

“Government has now begun supporting the Regions and communities in the restoration of all playgrounds and parks.

This is part of the effort to create a green economy and to promote social cohesion and encourage inRegion Three REO Denis Jaikaran

T

Budding cricketer Mahendra Dinban, 20

A sport ground in Wakenaam

he Regional Administration of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) has commenced cleaning projects to improve recreational grounds and parks on the islands of Leguan and Wakenaam.

It was said that these initiatives would be completed in time for the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

According to a release by the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Monday, recreational grounds at Maria Johanna and Sans Souci in Wakenaam and several areas in Leguan will be commissioned in May. Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikaran told the media on May 21 a number of events would be held in this region. “In Leguan, we

are going to have three fun days at different venues – one would be at Richmond Hill, one at Success and one at Clairmont and all these activities are going to be the launch of programmes, grounds and other events in Region Three, more particularly the island of Leguan.”

Jaikaran further related that on May 22, there will be two major activities that will take place

ed that other activities planned for Jubilee celebrations in the region included an interfaith service, a cultural diversity day, and flag-raising ceremony.

The Region’s Department of Health would also be organising a Jubilee Health Fair on May 21 at the Vreeden-Hoop Bus Park. The fair will extend across the Region and will “re-

Religious leader and sports advocate Tameshwar Persaud

volvement in sports,” the release added.

When Guyana Times visited Wakenaam some weeks ago, religious leader and sports advocate

Tameshwar Persaud related that much more could be done to improve sports and recreational facilities on the island.

With the recent challenges surrounding the rice industry, many young men on both Wakenaam and Leguan have been without employment and several residents related that many have turned to alcohol. Residents on both islands told this newspaper that recreational facilities were vital to ensuring that young people could find meaningful activities to occupy their time.

news

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tuesDay, april 12, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

“Harmon’s powers West Bank supermarket robbed not too burdensome” T – Granger tells AFC

By Devina Samaroo

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resident David Granger has completely disregarded calls made by the Alliance For Change (AFC) for the powers entrusted to Minister of State Joseph Harmon to be reduced, noting that his duties and responsibilities are not at all too burdensome.

The AFC, the smaller partner in the A Partnership for National Unity/AFC coalition Government, believes that too much authority has been given to Minister Harmon.

In this regard, the party called for Harmon’s powers to be trimmed. The AFC had explained that the concentration of the powers of the office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency and the effective Head of the Presidential Secretariat in a single person is a matter of concern and that in fact, the powers should be separated.

Responding to these demands, President Granger appeared to be in full sup-

President David Granger

port of the duties and responsibilities assigned to Minister Harmon.

“I don’t think that they are so burdensome that he cannot take all three responsibilities. I am standing by the duties which were assigned to him last May and this is what we have been working with for the last 11 months and this is what was explained to the Cabinet retreat in January,” the President said.

He also posited that he was surprised that the AFC

now seemed to find fault in the distribution of duties and responsibilities among Cabinet members.

“We had a retreat of the Cabinet earlier this year and we put out a very clear statement on the responsibilities of all 14 Ministers and the Ministry of the Presidency.

So there is a book and it is stated, and nobody made any objections to the duties which were assigned to the Minister of State then and it would be surprising that after two months, people feel that the duties are being misused or they need to be trimmed,” he explained.

Notwithstanding his firm position in defence of Minister Harmon, the President said the matter would be extensively discussed when Cabinet meets today.

“I have to wait to find out from our colleagues what they actually mean, but as far as I am concerned, there is no overburdening of the Ministry and I don’t see what powers they need to be reduced,” he stated.

Trade unions demand reestablishment of Labour Ministry

T

en months after government’s decision to subvert the Labour Ministry into a department within the Social Protection Ministry, two of Guyana’s prominent trade unions are disgruntled by the decision and has demanded the reestablishment of the ministry.

At a joint press conference Monday, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana (FITUG) voiced their concerns on the matter.

As the unions are preparing for its May Day Rally, they are reiterating calls for government to rescind its decision to have the ministry reduced to a mere department of labour.

As a result of the decision, the unions are complaining that workers do not have an equitable chance of their rights being adequately represented since there seems to be a disjointed ministry for this purpose.

General Secretary of GTUC Lincoln Lewis cited that this is the first time in the country’s history that the Ministry of Labour had been ‘pushed out’ even at a time where Guyana is said to be advancing.

Lewis underlined the

General Secretary of GTUC Lincoln Lewis

core value of having a labour ministry and its relation to building a country that is sustainable and geared towards development.

With the ministry eliminated from government, he said this shows there is no emphasis being placed on workers and more so a representation for their rights.

Lewis believes the government had “twisted” the system, since the Ministry of Protection should have been an element of the Ministry of Labour and not the other way around.

Since there is no labour ministry, Lewis said there is less engagement with the labour movement and as such there is a reduced

chance of having consultations and discussions to address issues within the sector.

He stressed that when union issues arise, there is no particular ministry that one can turn to, neither a minister was chosen to independently represent the public servants.

After taking to office in May 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change government reconfigured, created, and renamed a number of ministries.

The unions appealed to government to review its decision and work in favour of public servants to have the deserved attention placed on a ministry to address their affairs.

he owner of R Tularam and Sons Supermarket is now counting his losses after bandits broke into his premises in the wee hours of Monday morning carting off with a large sum of cash and other valuables.

Rebenaut Tularam of Lot 10 Malgre Tout, West Bank Demerara (WBD), told Guyana Times that at around 01:00h, he awoke to startling noise but upon inspection saw nothing out of place and went back to bed.

He disclosed that at around 04:30h he was awakened by his security

guard who told him that there was a hole in the side of the fence.

He said the family went downstairs to the shocking scene. He explained that the supermarket was ransacked and that numerous items were missing.

Tularam stated that his personal office was broken into and important documents along with all of his finances were stolen.

“I cannot say definitively what was missing from the supermarket because it is very big but I do know that a lot was taken” the distraught businessman explained.

According to the angered businessman, he called the La Grange Police Station along with the Leonora Police Station and the closer Vreed-enHoop Police Station but was given the royal runaround.

“They just kept on ignoring my reports and I was even told that there was no patrol available because the wheel of the vehicle was punctured”.

The businessman said the police eventually showed up at his premises at about 07:00h.

The matter is currently under investigation.

Travelling exhibition to address child abuse launched

By Kizzy Coleman

I

n an effort to bring more awareness to the struggles of children who have been sexually abused, UNICEF, in collaboration with the European Union, the Social Protection and Public Security Ministries, the Guyana Police Force and local NGOs, has set up a travelling exhibition which will display the artwork of sexually abused children.

According to statistics, more than 670 cases of child sexual abuse were reported to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA); as such, the organisations joined hands to reinforce the message that sexual abuse is unacceptable.

The objective of the exhibition is to highlight

Artwork of an abused child at the launch of the exhibition

ate in such cases. We will ensure that they get some special training in this regard,” he disclosed.

In delivering her remarks, UNICEF representative Marilyn Flatt explained that the paintings

Another painting done by a sexually abused child

through the child’s eye the pain, hurt, anger and shame that they live with each day.

Police Stations across the country will be used to showcase some of the artwork of the travelling exhibition.

Speaking at the exhibition launch, Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine reiterated the importance that the Police must give to any movement that seeks to protect children.

He noted that children were the leaders of the future and the leaders of tomorrow and, as such, the Police Force is committed to giving children the necessary treatment, responses and attention that are available in the justice system.

“Already we have started a process of enhancing the way our investigators oper-

all displayed the marks that sexual abuse had left on our children. She added that violence in all of its forms should be prevented.

She noted that in Guyana, an average of 2000 cases of neglect and abuse are reported every year.

“Children often remain silent because it is difficult to talk about abuse, they are too afraid and are not sure where to turn to. Children need to know that they need to speak up and not to be afraid and to speak up when they are touched inappropriately,” she explained.

She further noted that education on this issue was essential currently in Guyana.

“We can prevent and protect children from suffering, abuse and violence beginning in early childhood through parenting educa-

tion and changing attitudes and beliefs that encourage violence and discrimination at an early age. Educating families, caregivers and parents on their child’s early development increase the likelihood that they will use positive disciplining methods and thus reduce the risk of violence within the home.”

Delivering the feature address, First Lady Sandra Granger stated that it gave her no pleasure to speak at the launching of a travelling exhibition for abused children as it was a sad reflection of how “we as a society continue to fail our children particularly in addressing sexual violence against them”.

She noted the danger of the Internet in contributing to children being abused.

“Increasingly, the Internet and mobile phone also put children at risk of social violence as some adults look to the Internet to pursue sexual relationships with children. There is also an increase in the number circulation of images showing child abuse.”

In 2014, UNICEF estimated that 1 in 10 girls under the age of 20 that is about 120 million girl children were subjected to sexual intercourse at some point in their life. This, the First Lady noted, is very sad to hear.

Mrs Granger hopes that the travelling exhibition can reach all the administrative regions in Guyana which will show that law enforcement is becoming attuned to its responsibility to protect and serve all.

18

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tuesday, April 12, 2016

ARCHIE

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tuesDAY, aPRIL 12, 2016

19

Sarwan backs WI to improve across all formats – “We have the talent…no doubt about it”

Ramnaresh Sarwan

By Akeem Greene

F

ormer West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan believes the region has the requisite talent pool to help stem the decline of West Indies cricket, but highlighted that there needs to be a proper structure to harness the talents.

“We have talent, no doubt about it. When you look at Carlos Braithwaite, Jason Holder, and young Kraigg Braithwaite, there is talent but it is not a matter of talent, but it’s having the right structure in place where you could groom the persons to come through,” Sarwan told this publication.

West Indies are currently ranked eighth on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test table, ninth in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and second in Twenty20 Internationals.

Based on performances, especially those in the longer formats, there has undoubtedly been a horrific decline and Sarwan believes that investing in youth and facilities is vital to a turnaround in fortunes.

“What are we going to do with the Under-15s and the Under-19s after they finish playing that age group? Are you just going to throw them into first class cricket?” the 35-year-

old queried.

He added, “Obviously not all of them would be able to make the West Indies team, but you would hope everyone would be able to compete at a high standard and the only way you can allow that to occur you have to put facilities in place to help them develop.”

In the past, pundits of the sport alluded to the fact that current stars like Virat Kholi, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, all played age group cricket with players like Denesh Ramdin and Assad Fudadin, but the foreign players have significantly improved their level of play, as compared to the West Indians.

Sarwan, who averages over 40 in both the 181 ODIs and 87 Test matches he has played, gave the example of Root’s improvement.

“When I went England for my county stint I was able to meet Joe Root, who was at that time 20 or 21… and you could recognise talent, but if you heard the amount of work and preparation he had to go throw to meet to that stage,” Sarwan revealed.

The elegant middle-order batsman went on to state that “it’s a phase you

have to go through to develop your players because natural talent will not always do it.”

A High Performance Centre was instituted in 2010 at the UWI Campus, Cave Hill, Barbados, and it was a glorious initiative as players 23 years and under

The HPC had served the region well in producing a number of well-established Test players; however, it would no longer function as it did by enrolling a set of players on a year-round basis.

Rather, the HPC will now serve to provide the

The Brathwaites – Kraigg and Carlos – have been identified by Sarwan as bright prospects for the future

were put through an intensive training regimen.

Last year, it was reported that emphasis will shift from the Barbados-based High Performance Centre (HPC) and onto the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) for the development of regional players.

“finishing touches to elite players” coming out of the regional competitions.

When quizzed on the lack of facilities in the region, Sarwan said, “We don’t even have a proper academy in the Caribbean; we have got something in Barbados which was able to produce young [Jason] Holder and a couple oth-

er players, but we need facilities throughout the Caribbean because not everyone will be able to go to Barbados so you have to put in every single country.”

Simmons key In March 2015, Trinidadian and former coach of Ireland, Phil Simmons, was appointed Head Coach of the West Indies.

However, in September of the same year, he was suspended from duty when he voice concerns over the selection process concerning some of the senior players.

Speaking about the impact the coach has had on the team, Sarwan said, “I have known Mr Simmons for a very long time, he is one of the most genuine persons and I can assure you, he has West Indies cricket at heart; I know he has been given quite a hard time and also he faces a lot of criticisms, not so much from the public, but internally.”

He further stated, “Simmons has West Indies cricket at heart and I know once he gets the support he is going to try and transform it just like he did with Ireland.” (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

“Max” Persaud wins Heineken golf tournament P

armanand “Max” Persaud was the star as the country’s top golfers gathered at the Lusignan Golf Club on Sunday for the Heineken golf tournament.

Persaud finished the day with a net score of 68 and a gross of 87. Azar Shaw, who also had a 68 net score, was second with a gross 83.

Bryan Hackett’s gross of 89 and net 69 saw him finishing third, while pre-tournament favourite Avinash Persaud, despite finishing with the day’s best gross of 75, failed to make it into the top three.

Brian Glasford was nearestto-the-pin, while Richard Hanif shot the longest drive (315 yards) when the curtains came down on a day.

Robert Hiscock, Heineken

Parmanand “Max” Persaud (centre) and Heineken Brand Manager Robert Hiscock (left of Persaud) along with other top performers at Sunday’s event

Brand Manager, said that Ansa McAl Trading was more than please to host the tournament again this year and is looking forward to an even bigger event in 2017.

Hiscock applaud the Lusignan Golf Club for having what he described as Guyana’s best kept sporting facility, which he said was a testimony to the club’s seriousness about the sport.

Oncar Ramroop, President of the club, thanked Ansa McAl Trading for continuing its support.

According to Ramroop, with the club celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, plans are in place to host the President’s Cup Golf tournament, which will coincide with Guyana’s Jubilee Celebrations.

20

guyana-times.com

tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

Nandy Park crowned Cheddi MoE to host 1st Relay Jagan memorial T20 champs Festival on Friday at Leonora

A

s preparations for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations are underway, the Physical Education Department of the Unit of Allied Arts, Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana is gearing up to host the Golden Jubilee Relay Festival at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, on Friday.

The Golden Jubilee Relay Festival is similar to other festivals or fairs held locally, regionally and internationally for high schools and other educational institutions. Similar events include the Barbados Relay Fair held annually in January and the Trinidad and Tobago Schools Relay Festival held annually in February.

Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Physical Education Department, Unit of Allied Arts-Ministry of Education, said this particular Festival will provide team-based athletic events for both Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions locally.

“It is important that clubs are not allowed to participate in these festivals so that student-athletes are allowed more recognition and exposure,” he said.

Fraser believes that ulti-

mately, this Relay Festival can be a catalyst for the development of rounded athletes who are more likely to acquire scholarships.

According to Fraser, the age categories and events will challenge schools to provide teams from the lower, middle and upper school. Therefore, the winner of this Golden Jubilee Relay Festival should be the school with the most balanced athletic programme.

The Golden Jubilee Relay Festival will be governed by the relay rules of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) Competition Rules 20162017. It is expected that the Golden Jubilee Relay Festival will attract Secondary Schools (one from each District). Schools must register their teams through their relevant Regional Education Department.

Additionally, Tertiary Institutions, i.e. Technical Institutes, Training Centres and Universities may register directly at the Unit of Allied Arts.

Among the events will be Male and Female Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 age groups competing in the 4x100, 4x200 and medley races, while there will be Male and Female Under-17 Classic Pentathlon (Long

Jump; Javelin; 200m; Discus; 1,500m). There will also be Open Male and Female 4x100 and medley races.

Overall vision

The Relay Festival fits into the Ministry of Education’s overall vision for the re-introduction of sports in schools and continuous teacher training programmes with Primary and Secondary Schools nationally. In the last five years training has been executed with Secondary School teachers in Cricket, Football, Rugby, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Track and Field and Basketball.

This year two more workshops in Rugby and Table Tennis will be held.

In December 2015, a CSEC Teachers Course in Track and Field was executed in conjunction with the Athletics Association of Guyana. Teachers were provided with the requisite skills and knowledge to implement a Track and Field programme in schools.

This event will provide an opportunity for teachers to evaluate their progress and to provide student-athletes with a unique sporting experience using the best facilities available – the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Former Director of Sport Neil Kumar (standing fourth left) with members of the victorious Nandy Park team

T

he annual Cheddi Jagan memorial T20 tournament concluded on Sunday with Nandy Park defeating Good Hope Golden Star Youth and Sports Club by six wickets in the final.

Batting first Good Hope limped to 109-8 before Nandy Park replied with 111-4 in 14 overs to lift the title.

Playing at the Farm ground, Good Hope found the going tough against some good bowling. Adrian Persaud and Asif Mohamed featured in a third wicket stand of 46 after Good Hope were reduced to 102.

Persaud survived some nervous moments before slamming three fours and one six in scoring 28, while Mohamed struck four fours before he was dismissed for 24. Incisive

Kings XI Punjab v Gujarat Lions, IPL 2016, Mohali…

Finch, Bravo lift Lions to victorious start

A

aron Finch and Dwayne Bravo helped Gujarat Lions ease into the tournament with a thumping win against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. Barring the first over, Lions were in total control in chase of 162; they won with 14 balls to spare on the back of Finch’s 47-ball 74.

Brendon McCullum, fresh off a whirlwind ton in his final Test, was stumped by Wriddhiman Saha, who was standing up to the stumps, in the first over of the chase.

Sandeep Sharma, who anticipated a forward shimmy, bowled a superb outswinger to leave McCullum stranded.

Finch and Suresh Raina then took the attack to the pacers by capitalising on loose deliveries to drive the chase.

While Raina holed out to mid-on in the sixth over, Finch peppered the boundary with deft touch and exemplary placement, particularly behind square on the off side. He hit 12 boundaries.

It needed a moment of brilliance from the Pardeep Sahu, the leg-spinner, to dismiss him. Finch was drawn forward, but was beaten in the air and off the pitch as Saha completed his second stumping. The rest of the chase was a mere formality as Dinesh Karthik accrued his runs with sweeps and punchy strokes to finish 41 not out.

Earlier, Kings XI were given an ideal start by their openers - M Vijay and Manan Vohra - who saw off the swinging new ball before get-

SCOREBOARD Kings XI Punjab innings (20 overs maximum) M Vijay b Jadeja 42 M Vohra c †Karthik b Jadeja 38 DA Miller* b Bravo 15 GJ Maxwell b Bravo 2 WP Saha† c Jadeja b Bravo 20 MP Stoinis c Finch b Bravo 33 AR Patel not out 4 MG Johnson not out 0 Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-4) 7 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 161 Fall of wickets: 1-78 (Vohra, 8.2 ov), 2-91 (Vijay, 10.4 ov), 3-101 (Maxwell, 11.4 ov), 4-102 (Miller, 11.6 ov), 5-157 (Saha, 19.3 ov), 6-157 (Stoinis, 19.4 ov) Bowling: P Kumar 4-0-25-0, PJ Sangwan 2-0-21-0, JP Faulkner 4-0-39-0 (2-w), S Ladda 2-021-0, RA Jadeja 4-0-30-2 (1w), DJ Bravo 4-0-22-4 (1-w)

Gujarat Lions innings (target: 162 runs from 20 overs) AJ Finch st †Saha b Sahu 74 BB McCullum st †Saha b Sandeep Sharma 0 SK Raina* c Johnson b Stoinis 20 KD Karthik† not out 41 RA Jadeja run out (Johnson) 8 Ishan Kishan c Sharma b Johnson 11 DJ Bravo not out 2 Extras (lb 3, w 3) 6 Total (5 wickets; 17.4 overs) 162 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (McCullum, 0.6 ov), 2-52 (Raina, 5.3 ov), 3-117 (Finch, 11.5 ov), 4-133 (Jadeja, 14.3 ov), 5-151 (Ishan Kishan, 16.5 ov) Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 3-021-1, MG Johnson 4-0-35-1 (2w), MM Sharma 2.4-0-24-0, MP Stoinis 2-0-27-1, AR Patel 2-017-0 (1-w), P Sahu 4-0-35-1

bowling from former national Under-19 all-rounder Rakesh Gangaram and off-spinner Seeraj Bhimsain restricted the scoring with only Randolph Raj the other batsman reaching double figures with 15.

Gangaram and Bhimsain claimed two wickets each, while Patrick Khan, Rohan Sarjoo and Navindra Pooran had one each.

Defending such a small total was always going to be a tedious task on the small ground, but left-arm spinner Delroy Williams provided Good Hope with the breakthrough when he trapped the in-from Mukesh Dass leg before for four with the score on eight.

Leg-spinner Adrian Persaud then bowled Sanjeev Datadin and Rickford Samaroo, both without scoring, leaving Nandy Park at 203, and an upset looming large.

However, opener Patrick Khan and Seon Wills repaired the early damaged with a fourth wicket partnership of 51 with sensible batting on a pitch that offered much assistance to the spinners. While Wills was content to rotate the strike, Khan who was named Man-of-the-Match was brutal on anything wayward.

He smashed three fours and two sixes before he was

leg before to medium-pacer Andy Lall for 35. Any hopes on a Good Hope win quickly vanished as Gangaram belted two fours and two maximums in an unbeaten 24; Wills remained not out on 12 as Nandy Park finished on 111-4 in 14 overs.

Persaud had 2-11, while Lall took 2-24 and Williams 1-11.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, former Director of Sport Neil Kumar congratulated the winners and thanked the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association for hosting the final. Organiser Seeraj Bhimsain expressed gratitude to the sponsors and teams.

Meanwhile, Combined Herstelling defeated the newly formed Good Hope Youth and Sports Club by 33 runs in an earlier encounter. Batting first, Combined Herstelling scored 151 all out in 19.1 overs. Jagdesh Bishu scored 36, Pernell London and Roman Daniels got 32 each and Ricky Debidyal 14. Adrian Persaud claimed 3-16 and Seeraj Bhimsain 3-17. Good Hope were bowled out for 118 in 19.1 overs in reply. Alvin Persaud made 26, Mark Forde 18, Bhimsain 17 and Adrian Persaud 14. Buddan Baksh, Ricky Sargeant snared three wickets each while Delroy Williams had two.

BCB/NYBG 1-day, 2-innings, U-19 cricket…

PMCC take 1st innings honours in drawn encounter

Aaron Finch led the run chase with a 47-ball 74

ting stuck into their work. A blend of crisp drives and flicks earned the pair a fifty-run stand within the Powerplay.

The spread field did not impede Vohra, as he manufactured boundaries courtesy swift footwork off the spinners.

However, the momentum shifted rapidly when Ravindra Jadeja struck twice in consecutive overs to remove the openers. Dwayne Bravo undid Glenn Maxwell and David Miller in the space of three balls. The one that got Miller - the slow, dipping yorker - made Bravo the first bowler to pick up 300 T20 wickets.

Suddenly, debutant Marcus Stoinis and

Wriddhiman Saha were left to rebuild a rollicking start.

The pair were forced to use the large Mohali pockets to find their runs, but struggled. Much of that was down to the efficiency of the Lions bowlers, who executed their yorkers and slower balls well.

Bravo took two more wickets off consecutive slower balls in the last over, and could have had his best T20 bowling figures had Sarabjit Ladda not spilled a skier off the last ball.

Just two boundaries and 36 runs were scored off the last five overs as Kings XI mustered 161. Lions then rode momentum to consign Kings XI to their ninth loss in 10 matches. (Cricinfo)

Nickolas Seenarine

T

he Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) continued their unbeaten streak with a first innings victory against Guysuco Training Centre on Sunday in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/New York Business Group (NYBG) two innings Under-19 competition.

Winning the toss and batting first, GuySuCo Training Centre were all out for 96 runs in 24 overs. Jomaul Butts and Kadeen Samuels

were the only two batsmen to reach double figures with 45 and 17 respectively.

Bowling for the PMCC, Nickolas Seenarine, Berbice Under-19 pacer, took four wickets for nine runs in his six-over spell, while his other Berbice Under 19 partner, Vivekanand Jagjit, took 2-14. Jamar Lancaster took 2-17, while Kevin Latiff and Sudesh Ghamandi took one wicket each.

Replying to the target set by the GuySuCo Training Centre, the PMCC mustered 165 in 27 overs with Daniel Samaroo leading the way with 55 off 47 deliveries. Totaram Rajaram provided valuable support, and hit a fluent 40 decorated with four boundaries.

In the second innings, the GuySuCo Training Centre only managed to gain a lead of 48 runs and PMCC reached 32-2 before play was called off at 17:00h. The PMCC took the points for winning the first innings of the match.

21

sports

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Agricola Red Triangle beat Craig in final

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EBFA President Franklin Wilson (stooping) presents the winner’s trophy to members of the Agricola Red Triangle team

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he inaugural Ralph Green sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 competition culminated on Saturday last at the Grove Playfield with Agricola Red Triangle, led by the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and joint highest goalscorer, Floyd Boyce, taking his team to championship honours.

Boyce netted the lone goal of the match in the 21st minute to sink the hopes of Craig Primary in a match that saw Craig taking the early attack to Agricola and enjoying the majority of possession.

The third place playoff between Grove Hi Tech and Friendship All Stars saw

was played in the Agricola half when numerous chances went a begging for Craig; goalkeeper Adam Wilson standing tall between the uprights.

However, as the game progressed in the second half, Boyce and his boys became more and more confident as they made many raids in the Craig final third.

Agricola’s persistence finally brought the desired results when Boyce eased into the box to head home the championship goal in the 21st minute.

Craig, who had hammered Friendship 5-0 in their semi-final match one week earlier, could not replicate that form, as Agricola romping to a memorable

ute of regulation time after the ball was handled in the area by Friendship.

The winner’s trophy was presented to the youngest player of the Agricola team, five-year-old Keziah Anthony December by EBFA President Franklin Wilson on behalf of sponsor, Ralph Green, who is based in the United States of America.

Wilson, in remarks at the presentation, thanked the teams for participating stating that they are all winners.

He expressed gratitude to Ralph Green on behalf of the association for committing to sponsor the tournament on an annual basis. Special recognition was made of the lone female to

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The lads from Craig Primary had to settle for second best

the home team with just one minute to full time hitting in the winning goal; their captain Tyrese Jones, who also ended as the joint highest goalscorer with Boyce performing the honours of scoring the winner from the penalty spot when the match seemed destined for extra time.

Agricola, despite giving up size advantage to the Craig team, played with hearts of a lion to sink the obviously disappointed Craig Primary School lads.

Almost the entire first half

victory which they will savour for some time to come.

They are also the reigning Under-13 champions.

The third place match was also a close affair with both Friendship and Grove playing freely. It was Shavi Atkinson, the tournament’s Most Promising Player who took on Grove, but could not get past Grove’s captain and the competition’s joint highest goalscorer, Tyrese Jones.

It was Jones who eventually separated the two teams from the penalty spot in the 29th and penultimate min-

participate in the competition, 10-year-old Kera Yaw, of Friendship All Stars.

The top four teams were presented with medals, while each player from the six participating teams were presented with Certificates of Participation.

Jones and Boyce were the highest goalscorers with three each, while Boyce was the MVP, Adam Wilson best goalkeeper, Atkinson most promising player and Joshua Moore the most improved player.

22 Central Shotokan Karate-do Association holds successful exam

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

President to deliver feature remarks at RHTY&SC awards – Mahadeo and Campbelle are top cricketers of the year

From left (back row): Brittney and Emily Bettencourt. Seated from left are Motilall Mattdain, Sensei Eric Hing, Master Frank Woon-A-Tai, Sensei Aubrey Bettencourt and Michael Hing with the 27students

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he Central Shotokan Karate-do Association on Saturday successfully held its examinations under the watchful eyes of Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai and instructor Eric Hing at the Georgetown Cricket Club’s Pavillion.

The students, 27 in total, were graded beginning with 10th kyu (white belt) and concluding with 3rd kyu (1st brown belt).

The white belts, who were graded for their yellow belts (10th kyu-8th kyu), were Abhinav Boodhoo, Jeremiah Low, Latalya Norton, Talesh Sukhram, Tristen Sukhram, and Mia Ritchie (who skipped from white to orange-7th kyu).

Those who moved from white with yellow stripe to orange (9th kyu–7th kyu) were Keron Prescod, Sagara Dindyal and Zane Baldeo.

The yellow belts who were graded for orange (7th kyu6th kyu) were Akwone Caesar Che Talbot, Daniel Cameron, Reilon Smith and Savitha Singh.

Aniyah Couchman, Ayden Doris, Dwayne Tim, Kyle Couchman, Mordecai Rutherford and Shane Sargeant moved from orange to green belts (7th kyu – 6th kyu), while Darius Rodney and Sadiah Bradford moved from green to blue belts (6th kyu -5th kyu).

Moving from blue to purple belts (5th kyu – 4th kyu) were: Cayla Richards and Ruel Norton; purple to brown belt (4th kyu – 3rd kyu) was Mekhai Ritchie; and brown belts moving up a level (3rd kyu – 2nd kyu) were Daniel Hing and Jayz Halley.

The association would like to express special thanks to all the parents, family and friends who supported and gave assistance during the examinations. “We look forward to your continuous support,” the association said in a release.

Meanwhile, during the course of the week Master Frank Woon-A-Tai will be conducting instructors seminars at the Guyana Karate College and the YMCA dojos

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster (right) receives Nalico’s donation from a representative of the company

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Orange belt students performing the yoko-geri keage (side snap kick) during Kihon (basic) techniques

for all instructors who are IKD (International Karate Daigaku) members.

The Central Shotokan Karate-do Association would like to invite corporate Guyana to become a sponsor for the upcoming tournament to be held in May. The association is also inviting

persons to register and become a member as the acceptance age is from three years old.

Further information on the association can be had by calling 609-6870 or emailing: enriching@live.com. The association can also be found on Facebook.

lans for the successful hosting of the 26th annual awards ceremony of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) are well on stream with several major sponsors coming on board.

Club Patron President David Granger has confirmed his participation as the guest speaker, while veteran cricketer Khemraj Mahadeo and West Indies female player Shemaine Campbelle have been confirmed as the Male and Female Cricketer-of-theYear respectively.

The award ceremony would be held at the St Francis Community

GNRA/A&N Sarjoo Cambio Practical Pistol Shoot…

Richards, DeGroot top rivals at Timehri Ranges

Limited (Nalico), donated a cartoon of 25 trophies, while Impressions, National Milling Company, Ricks and Sari Agro Industries, National Sports Commission, Shameer Baksh, Karen Raphael, Bakewell, Woodpecker Sports, Jumbo Jet, New GPC Inc., Joseph Lewis, Mings Products Limited, The Gift Centre, John Lewis Styles, Paul Persaud, Bounty Farm Limited, Royal Jewel House, Dr Phillip DaSilva have all made contributions.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, who is heading the Planning Committee for the award ceremony, stated that all plans are in place and expressed gratitude to all the donors for their continued confidence in the organisation.

This year’s ceremony would be a smaller one when compared to the last 15 years as management has taken a decision to greatly reduce the prize package from $2.5 million to about $1 million. This is to allow the club to invest more into its Cricket Development Programme for youths be-

President David Granger

G

Representatives of A&N Sarjoo Cambio pose with the top performers of Sunday’s event

ordon Richards and Douglas DeGroot emerged as the respective Senior and Junior top shots when the A&N Sarjoo Cambio sponsored Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Practical Pistol Shoot was contested on Sunday at the Timehri Ranges.

Competing against 14 of the best senior shooters in the GNRA, Richards emerged as the best with

a total hit factor of 5.20, which relegated Mohamed Qualander to the second place with a total hit factor of 4.87.

Rajiv Latchana placed third (4.83), Ryan McKinnon fourth (4.08) and Dr Johan DaSilva fifth with 3.97.

DeGroot, with a total hit factor of 2.17, was the best junior shooter from a field of 10. Joseph Lewis (2.14), Totoram Bishundat (1.46), Gordon Pearson (1.41) and

Stefan Dundas (1.02) occupied the second to fifth places in the competition that saw all the competitors testing their trigger skills in two stages of fast-paced shooting for overall points.

Representatives of A&N Sarjoo Cambio were on hand to present the trophies to the top five in each category.

They expressed gratitude to the GNRA for allowing them the opportunity to sponsor the event and have commit-

ted to further sponsorship.

Dale Hing, the GNRA Small Bore captain, conveyed the association’s gratitude to the A&N Sarjoo Cambio for their partnership whilst congratulating all the shooters for braving the heat to showcase their skills.

Hing has informed that the next event, a .22 competition, is set for the Guyana Police Force Tactical Service Unit Range on April 23.

Developers head office and would entail the honouring of over 40 cricketers and club officials. The club would also be honouring outstanding teachers form the Lower Corentyne district, retired teachers from Regions Five and Six and five role model police officers under its Tribute to Heroes programme.

The club would also be paying tribute to its immediate past Patron, Beverly Harper, by awarding her the RHTY&SC’s highest award – The Dolphin Award of Excellence- while donations would be made to several schools.

Meanwhile, the club’s plans for the hosting of the award ceremony this Sunday received major boosts from several donors.

Insurance company, North American Life Insurance Company

Shemaine Campbelle

tween the ages of eight to 15 years and its Berbice-wide ‘Say No to Drugs, Suicide and Crime’ programme.

The club during the programme would also be announcing plans for an ambitious countywide Traffic Education Campaign that would take school children and drivers in an effort to reduce the death rate on the roads.

guyana-times.com

tuesday, APRIL 12, 2016

23

Guptill confirmed as Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain – Franchise owner hails New Zealander’s “dynamic personality” – Coach hopeful skipper can “drive us to success”

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uyana Amazon Warriors have stepped up their preparations for the forthcoming HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season by confirming New Zealand star batsman Martin Guptill as their captain.

Guptill, 29, is the franchise’s marquee player and is currently ranked third in the ICC World T20 batting rankings. The Aucklander enjoys a career average of 34.73 and strike rate of 131.44 from 61 games to date for the Black Caps.

A mainstay in the New Zealand top order across all three formats, he recently featured in his fifth ICC World T20 event in India and was a key figure as his nation reached the semi-finals, scoring 140 runs in four games at an impressive strike rate of 157.30.

This will be Guptill’s fourth season in the CPL overall, and third with the Warriors, having also previously featured for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2015.

In 28 CPL games to date he averages 35.7, including seven half-centuries, with a highest score of 90.

Roger Harper

Commenting on his selection, Martin Guptill said: “It is a huge thrill and a great honour for me to be selected as Guyana Amazon Warriors captain for the forthcoming CPL season.

Guyana is a cricket-rich nation and has produced many outstanding West Indies cricketers, not least Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Colin Croft, Lance Gibbs, Carl Hooper and the great Sir Clive Lloyd, amongst many others. I am conscious of Guyana’s heritage and standing in the Caribbean, and proud to lead the team

into battle this year.

“I am really excited about working with a talented crop of emerging local and international talent and we will be working hard to try and be consistent and go one step further and clinch the title which has eluded the Warriors on two occasions. Of course this summer we will also be travelling to Central Broward Stadium in Florida which is a really positive development for CPL as we move into mainland USA. Speaking to some of the players already, there’s already a lot of excitement about this step.

“I would like to thank the owners and coach Roger Harper for inviting me back and we are all focused on giving our wonderful supporters many happy memories later this summer. Providence Stadium is a ground that I have fond memories of playing in and I know that we can count on some big numbers for our games there again this summer.”

Reflecting on the ICC World T20 2016, he added: “I would firstly like to congratulate the West Indies

Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop

team and management on regaining the World T20 in such dramatic fashion last weekend. Their performances were outstanding throughout the competition and it was a real team effort.

“Personally speaking, New Zealand were disappointed to lose in the semifinals to England, but we can take a lot of positives and look to build for the next few years as we have a good group of promising New Zealand cricketers coming through. With my team mates Brendon

McCullum and Colin Munro signed up, it will be a great tournament for the fans as some of the biggest names in world cricket arrive in the Caribbean.

“West Indies cricket is on a real high. And with the Women’s and Under-19 teams also enjoying international success, I have no doubt that the feel-good factor will continue into the best-ever CPL this summer and beyond.”

Dr Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop, franchise owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, said: “I am delighted to welcome a worldclass player of the calibre of Martin Guptill back to the team, having been a member of the Guyana Amazon Warriors family for the 2013 and 2014 editions of CPL. Martin’s dynamic personality, coupled with his high level of discipline and work ethic, will certainly be instrumental as a role model to the other team members, especially the younger players on the team. We wish him well and believe that he will be an inspirational figure for the team, on and off the field.”

Warriors Coach Roger

Martin Guptill

Harper added: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Martin on being named captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for CPL 2016. I have no doubt that Martin will lead from the front and his professionalism and passion for the game will spread throughout the team and drive us to success. I am excited about working with him as captain.”

To see Guyana Amazon Warriors in action live at #CPL16, purchase your tickets on www.cplt20.com today. (www.cplt20.com)

GCB/Hand-in-Hand Inter-County tournament bowls off Wednesday Essequibo: Keemo Paul (Captain), Sachin Persaud (Vice-captain), Akinie Adams, Looknauth Chinkoo, Siddiq Mohamed, Leslie Allen, Nathan Persaud, Jonathan Fernandes, Travay Wolfe, Dwayne Thomas, Satesh Lachanana, Mark Williams, Reaz Khan, and Miguel Jones. The Manager is Nandkishure Andrews and the Coach is Forbes Daniels.

Selected Under-17:

25, and the first round will see Demerara clashing with Essequibo at Wales, and Berbice taking on the select Under-17 at Enterprise. The second round will be played on April 27 with Berbice will entertaining Demerara at Wales and Essequibo facing the select Under-17 at Everest.

In the third round, which will be contested on April 29, Demerara will take on the select Under-17 at GCC

Keemo Paul

Adrian Sukwah

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Handin-Hand Under-19, Inter-County three-day tournament will bowl off on Wednesday at the Wales and Enterprise grounds.

The match at Wales will see the select national Under-17 team playing Demerara, while Berbice will face Essequibo at Enterprise.

In the second round, which starts on April 17, Demerara will challenge Berbice at Everest and the select XI will take on Essequibo at DCC. The third and final round will commence on April 21 with Essequibo facing Demerara at GCC ground, Bourda, while Berbice will battle the select Under-17 at Wales The 50-over version will then commence on April

Ronaldo Renee, Raymond Perez, Sherfane Rutherford, Vishwanauth Ramlakhan, Malcolm Hubbard, Ramnarine Chatura, Kelvin Shewpersaud, Romain Muniram, Darshan Persaud, Ershad Ali, Samuel McKenzie, Keshram Shabodan, and Gavin Boodwah. The Coach is Clive Grimmond and the Manager is Omar Hussain.

Berbice: Brandon Prashad (Captain), Adrian Sukwah (Vice-captain), Sasenarine Sookhoo, Trevon Ceasar, Joshua Harrichand, Ritesh Omroa, Matthew Hardial, Randy Wade, Joel Seitaram, Vevekanand Jagit, Asif Ally, Nickolas Seenarine, Raymond Vankenic, and Sylus Tyndall. The Manager is Julian Cambridge and the Coach is Delbert Hicks.

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Sherfane Rutherford

ground, Bourda, and Berbice will play Essequibo at DCC. The top two teams will then clash in the final on May 1 at GCC ground, Bourda. Below are the four squads.

Demerara: Travis Persaud (Captain), Ronaldo Alimohamed (Vice-captain),

Bhaskar Yadram

Bhaskar Yadram (Captain), Kelvin Sinclair (Vicecaptain), Joshua Persaud, Ashmead Nedd, Kurt Lovell, Rayon Venture, Javed Karim, Sagar Hathiramani, Steve Deonarine, Collin Barlow, Joshua Jones, Kelvin Umroa, Tameshwar Motiram, Kevlon Anderson, Alphius Bookie, Joel Fortune and Sachin Singh.

The Manager is Nazeer Mohamned and the Coach is Garvin Nedd.

tuesDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

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

Guptill confirmed as Guyana Amazon Warriors Captain

Pg 23

Martin Guptill is back for a third stint with the Guyana Amazon Warriors

MoE to host 1st Relay Festival on Friday at Leonora Pg 20

– Franchise owner hails New Zealander’s “dynamic personality” – Coach hopeful skipper can “drive us to success” The National Track and Field Centre at Leonora will host Friday’s event

GCB honours its Finch, Bravo champion cricketers lift Lions to Kings XI Punjab v Gujarat Lions, IPL 2016, Mohali…

Pg 20

victorious start

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Monday evening honoured its champion cricketers at a gala dinner at the Pegasus Hotel. The function was aimed at recognising the efforts of the Guyana Jaguars, the senior national men’s team that won the WICB Professional Cricket League Four-day title for a second time in succession, Guyana players on the West Indies Under-19 that won the Youth World Cup in February and Guyana players on the West Indies Female team that copped the World T20 title earlier this month. Full details on the function in Wednesday’s edition.

Dwayne Bravo picked up four wickets

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