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Issue No. 3174

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

…as Party throws support behind Toshaos Council Page 7

Miner beaten to death over missing gold

Page 13

Grenade found at school was a “training Page device” 8 – Crime Chief

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VC calls in P7 Police to probe theft at UG

US-based Guyanese shot dead

P11

VAT on private tuition

Govt to meet with parents, private school operators P9

Experiencing forest animals

GPA condemns Bulkan’s P11 “attempt to drive fear” into State media

Premature baby’s death P10 The Iwokrama International Centre continues to reach out to special needs groups in Guyana in an effort to ensure that all Guyanese are informed about its programmes of rainforest and biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Last Friday, Tropical Forest Ecologist and Iwokrama Director of Resource Management and Training, Dr Raquel Thomas together with Daisy Payne (a British volunteer with Iwokrama) held a ground-breaking interactive session with the students of the Ministry of Education’s Unit for the visually impaired

East Demerara Jagdeo concerned cane planters about current still without Page 2 work breaches of Page

Constitutional reform

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Constitution

…workers’ request to meet with Agri Minister unanswered

Family discredits doctor’s claim baby was aborted

…presented clinic card to media

$956M fraud

Bank P9 manager turns self in to Police

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news

wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

East Demerara cane planters still without work …workers’ request to meet with Agri Minister unanswered

Some of the affected cane planters at the press conference

C

ane planters attached to the East Demerara (Enmore Estate) have said they will not bend to the demands of the Guyana Sugar Cooperation (GuySuCo) to become cane harvesters, and is requesting pay for the four weeks they have been without a job.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), during a press con-

ference on Tuesday, informed the media that it would continue to support the 75 affected workers.

GAWU’s General Secretary, Seepaul Narine, who was joined by several of these workers, at the Union’s headquarters, stated that cane-cutting assignments were not among the usual tasks, which the planters were given whenever they

were not required to plant canes.

Seepaul said that a delegation from the Union met with members of GuySuCo’s Industrial Relations Department and the estate management on March 24, 2017. It was agreed then that the planters would be offered alternative work in the areas of the factory, rat baiting, infield weeding, and canal

cleaning.

“Contrary to the undertaking, the workers, on their arrival to work on March 27, 2017, were advised by the management of the estate that only cane-cutting tasks would be provided to them. In addition to this violation of an understanding agreed upon in a matter of days, the workers are calling on GuySuCo to give them the required payment for the days GuySuCo has denied them work opportunities,” Seepaul explained.

The Union’s General Secretary strongly believes that the planters are being given a “raw deal” and described GuySuCo’s move as unlawful and unsympathetic.

“The Corporation’s adamant stance that they must cut canes, which for them is difficult due to several factors, is reminiscent of the dark past in the sugar industry. The workers have related to our Union that they have their families to take care of and the Corporation’s stance is surely going to contribute

Cane planter Brian Norville explaining to the media how GuySuCo’s decision has affected him and his family

to an already trying situation in the home for ends to meet,” Seepaul said.

The Union noted that workers were also perturbed that a request by GAWU to meet with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder to discuss their concerns remained unanswered.

During a meeting with Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott on March 27, GAWU was told to discuss the issue with Minister Holder.

But weeks have passed since GAWU wrote Holder and the Union was yet to receive a re-

sponse or invitation.

One of the cane planters, Brian Norville, explained how he was affected by the decision taken by GuySuCo. He said four weeks without work was troubling, as he was the breadwinner for his family.

Norville used the opportunity to call on President David Granger and Minister Holder to treat the issue with some urgency, so that they could return to work soon.

“We are living in a society where we expected the Government of the day should be concerned about its fellow citizen…To know the Minister not even showing his face or even pay us any attention while our family is starving,” Norville complained.

GAWU noted that the cessation of cane planting, which GuySuCo said was temporary, pointed to the estate’s possible closure.

The Union is also of the view that the Government’s proposals to close Enmore and Rose Hall Estates and to sell Skeldon Estate were becoming more and more a reality.

GuySuCo is facing major financial issues and has been engaged in major restructuring.

Rights group speaks out against sacking of Linden’s Town Clerk

– condemns Minister’s actions, calls for Local Govt Commission

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ommunities Minister Ronald Bulkan’s recent sacking of Linden Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen without notice and reasonable justification, after she led a group of women in a vociferous complaint against the Mayor, raises a number of questions.

It also brings to light a glimpse of the undermining of women’s empowerment by authoritative figures.

Former Linden Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen

The Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), championing the cause of women’s rights for over 60 years, is condemning in the strongest possible terms the actions taken by the Minister.

“The WPO rejects this callous, insensitive and anti-women’s actions and denounces it. This kind of behaviour has no place in society in this enlightened age,” the women’s arm of the People’s Progressive Party

(PPP) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The women’s rights group is questioning why the Minister did not launch an investigation into the women’s complaints of bullyism and intimidation against the Mayor.

“Are women to suffer in silence under this Government?

Since the Town Clerk was the person who headed the Administration and delivered the letters, she became the victim. It can, therefore, be surmised that the Minister’s actions and subsequent statements to the media (the Town Clerk did not understand her role) was meant to ‘teach her and all other women in the local government system a lesson’ and get them to toe the line or go?”

The organisation noted that the local government system comprised a significant number of women and condemned all attempts to weaken women’s empowerment that progressive forces worked tirelessly over the years to achieve.

In light of this event, the WPO noted that the need for the Local Government Commission to be established was becoming clearer.

“Its absence allowed the Minister to assume the authority that has caused women to be disadvantaged,” the WPO said.

Although all elements are in place, Government is yet to swear in the Commissioners so the Local Government Commission can function. turn to page 17

news

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wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 5 – 12:30h-14:00h and Thursday, April 6 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 5 – 11:40h-13:10h and Thursday, April 6 – 12:55h-14:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning sunny intervals are expected to give way to light rain showers that will last throughout the day. Sunny weather is expected in the late afternoon, followed by clear skies in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North Easterly to East North-easterly between 4.91 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 11:57h reaching a maximum height of 2.19 metres.

Low Tide: 05:24h and 18:11h reaching minimum heights of 1.13 metres and 0.98 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, April 1, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

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FREE TICKET

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 06 08 10 20 24 LUCKY 3 1 1 7 Afternoon Draw

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Constitutional reform

Jagdeo concerned about current breaches of Constitution A s talks about constitutional reform return to the front burner, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said he is currently more concerned about the ongoing breaches of the present Constitution by the Government.

On the heels of a constitutional reform symposium organised by the Carter Centre with support from the UK, the former President also expressed concerns about the role of the international community as well as the process by which the current Administration is seeking to bring about constitutional reform.

Jagdeo told media operatives that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) remains committed and open to the concept of improving the Constitution however he had grave reservations about a number of issues.

“We’re still a bit confused as to which external agency the Government has requested to work with them on the whole process of constitutional reform (and) we have grave concerns about the process about constitutional reform,” the Opposition Leader noted.

He explained that Government has treated the matter as a task of the Executive, excluding the majority of stakeholders, including political and civil society representatives.

Moreover, Jagdeo said the Administration is still to make pellucid what exactly it wishes to reform.

However, he said the burning question should be what can be done to ensure there is respect for the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Constitution.

“Why should we be pursuing a new round of constitutional reform when the Government does not even respect the things we have agreed to in the past?” he reasoned.

Jagdeo said, for the past few months, there has been nothing but blatant disrespect and bypass of the Constitution by officials of the Government, accusing even the President David Granger.

Jagdeo said matters range from the snubbing of the Constitution about the appointment of a Guyana Elections Commission Chairman, the bypassing of the Director of Public Prosecution’s Office to facilitate the operations of State Assets Recovery Unity and Special Organised Crime Unit, the Carvil Duncan issue, among others.

According to the Opposition Leader, the issue of respect for the Constitution should perhaps be first addressed before the matter of reform is given any serious attention.

Meanwhile, during the fo-

rum which was held at the Education Lecture Theatre of the University of Guyana, there were calls for reforms to the electoral system, more accountability on campaign financing, among others.

Constitutional reform had featured prominently in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition’s pre-elections manifesto, but no Government Minister was present during the forum.

Many believe that its promise has turned into a paradigmatic example of foot-dragging.

The only hint of the status of the constitutional reform process was the establishment of a “Steering Committee for Constitutional Reform” (SCCR) in September 2015, which held extensive hearings and took submissions from the populace at large. These were summarised and submitted to Prime Minister Moses

Nagamootoo in April 2016.

He, in turn, submitted the Report to Cabinet, which had a “Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill” drafted, then further “deliberated” on it. The Report then seemed to have disappeared into a black hole.

Then in November last, Nagamootoo requested $80 million for wider consultations on the matter.

In February 2018, Guyanese learnt that a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mission was in Guyana at the request of Prime Minister to “(i) assess the political environment in Guyana and the legal and institutional framework governing the constitutional reform process; (ii) review past reform processes; (iii) evaluate the interest, capacity and roles of the various civil and political stakeholders in engaging in the constitutional reform process; and (iv) assess the potential role of UNDP-UNDPA in assisting this process and resources required.”

Reports indicate that the UNDP team came, met, and then departed without their assessment being made public, or the public being consulted.

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wednesDAY, april 5, 2017

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

Domestic violence has many victims

D

omestic violence has been described as “… behaviour which causes one partner in a relationship to be afraid of the other. Domestic violence can take the form of physical or sexual abuse and forced social isolation away from friends and family members.” However, domestic violence has many victims besides spousal partners.

The laws of Guyana prescribe one’s rights regarding this issue, which are laid out in the Domestic Violence Act (1996) as “recognised under the law and law enforcement agencies, such as the courts,” and stipulates that the Guyana Police Force must help to enforce the rights of, and offer protection to, any man, woman, or child who may be experiencing domestic violence.

Some signs of domestic violence are described as persistent verbal abuse such as quarelling and cursing (one can add to that derogating one’s character and making unjustifiable insulting remarks about one’s self and one’s loved ones); threatening the person with physical violence (threatening to hit the person with hands or objects) as well as actually hitting the person; damaging the property of a person (such as breaking a person’s cellphone, tearing or burning a person’s clothing, among other things); following a person from place to place, even though that person does not want to be followed; hiding clothing or property used by the person (for example, hiding a person’s cellphone, their clothing, their identification card, their passport, and even their money); making persistent and/or unwelcome contact with the person (such as calling the person on their cellphone or home phone many times per day, watching the person’s house, waiting for the person to leave work or place of study, following the person from home or work, even though that person does not want to be followed or watched); and using abusive language to a person, or behaving towards a person in such a way that could result in that person being ill-treated. For example, cursing and quarrelling with a person in front of others, and then encouraging others to do the same.

An initiative by the former Administration to deal with the scourge of domestic violence suggested actions one should take to protect oneself (and possibly others) from domestic violence, and to provide a descriptive analysis of a Protection Order. One of the suggestions made is to make a report to the nearest Police station, and therein lies a conundrum.

Those whom are supposed “To Protect and Serve” most often have provided the catalyst for a tragedy to occur by their attitude, attention – or lack thereof, and plain don’t-give-a-damn behaviour when a complainant drums up the requisite courage (most often with great difficulty) and lodges a complaint.

Many victims of continuous abuse are killed because of the complacency of a few members of the Police Force who refuse to investigate complaints and lay charges, or take the actions necessary to protect the victim from further abuse.

Guyanese have stopped being our brother’s (and sister’s) keepers because, in many communities, neighbours witnessing a continuum of, and escalating instances of abuse refuse to become involved. They prefer to enjoy the enfolding tragedy, even adding to it with malicious rumour-mongering and strife-making, because the titillation of feuds and wars within families find a corresponding resonance in the dark nuances resident in every soul, and the average person refuses to rise above their more decadent equivalencies to achieve a higher plane of thoughts and actions, enough to maybe intercede – and probably save, a family from ultimate destruction. And one wonders what part the church bodies and religious leaders play in melding communities into units cohesive enough to fashion strategies for interventions within families and the general society in efforts to divert energies into more productive and peaceful approaches to conflict resolution – even to the point of empowerment.

The acceleration in violence-prone conflicts within families and societies is spiralling out of control, to the extent where many lives have been lost, with many more dislocated, and there seems to be no end in sight.

Unless there is a holistic, proactive approach, where all stakeholders in the nation are made aware that this cause and this fight is a national one, every effort made – valiant and committed as they may be, will prove woefully inadequate, because domestic violence is a national tradition entrenched in the Guyanese psyche.

Persons within communities most often do not think it is their business to report instances of abuse, and many women and children have suffered violations, and even been murdered, when a timely intervention could have saved someone’s life.

Evil can only perpetuate if good people think it is not their business; so unless we return to the era when each of us was our sister’s or brother’s keepers there will be many more victims who would suffer even more tragic outcomes to their lives.

West Indies off-spinner Ashley Nurse (centre) pays keen attention as trainer Ronald Rogers assists fast bowler Alzaari Joseph to loosen up ahead of practice at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence (Dexter Ceres photo)

Response to Frederick Kissoon Dear Editor, The Hindus for Selfless Service (HSS) denounces the vicious and unwarranted attack on Swami Aksharananda in the above mentioned column. As is his habit, he questions the credentials of the revered Swami” and calls him a “priest”. This not a matter of Frederick Kissoon’s ignorance but a continued calculated, transparent but cowardly attempt to engage in an ad hominem attack, since he implies that Swamiji is somehow inflating his qualifications. If Swamiji had elected to be a “priest”, and

the proper term is “pandit” or even more technically “purohit”, he would have been addressed as Dr Odai Pal Singh.

Unlike some who claimed to be holders of PhD’s and call themselves “Doctor”, Swamiji’s doctorate was earned at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, one of the premier universities in the US. This was what he renounced in addition to the desire for material possessions, progeny and fame, when he was initiated into the order of Sanyasis (Monks) in India.

Since his return to Guyana

as a Swami in 1994, no one can point a finger at him for not observing the strictures of the Dasnami Order of Sanyasis founded by Adi Shankaracharya more than a millennia ago.

On the allegations that Swamiji engaged in race baiting interventions in the press, the one instance he chose to illustrate his claim exposes Kissoon’s mendacity. Where is the “racist” content of Swamiji calling for an “ethnic impact statement” on the dismissals when the APNU Manifesto promises such statements?

On Swamiji’s denunciation

of the hate-filled fulminations of Pastor Anderson in Central High School he offered concrete examples.

Could Kissoon point to such examples in any of Swamiji’s writing?

We call upon the publishers of the Kaieteur News to exercise more care in what they allow their paper to publish, especially when it defames such a reputable figure in the largest religious segment in Guyana’s multi-religious society.

Sincerely, Vishal Seeraj HSS (Guyana)

Objecting to another political appointment Dear Editor, On my recent visit to North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) residents, teachers and students condemned the decision taken by the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock, to install Astell Collins as Director of Bina Hill Institute (BHI) in North Rupununi.

The Minister had usurped the position of the designated principal and had instead appointed a less qualified and inexperienced teacher, who is an active coalition member.

The designated principal has since alluded to his working up to this term’s end. He also condemned the clandestine way of operation at BHI which has shown a bad example that one does not have to obtain a university degree and experience to hold the prestigious position of principal.

The student body remains resolute not to submit to this imposition, which has consequential implications that could prove to be detrimental and an inhibiting factor to the quality and requisite standards pertaining to their education.

An Indigenous student attached to the institute (name provided) volunteered the information that a letter was submitted to the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Minister on behalf of the students of BHI outlining the deficiencies and difficulties presented by the current imbroglio, especially given the fact that there were no prior consultation/s held with the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) and the Indigenous communities before the decision was made to install Astell Collins. The position for Director was not advertised, as is required by

law – both nationally and the statutes of the NGO. The student related that the institute is an NGO but it is apparent that it has now been appropriated by the coalition Government and become a politically-governed institution.

Since Collins assumed office as Director of BHI, he has made many changes that are completely unacceptable to the student body.

Students lament that the institute has become semi-militarised, similar to what obtained in the National Service under the People’s National Congress regime. Up to the time of the students speaking to me, the student body had not received a response from the subject Minister, who unilaterally and dictatorially created the contretemps that the students contend are very distressing and are detrimentally impacting their studies.

This current impasse in another hinterland community, where the Government and its agents act with impunity against the welfare of hinterland-dwellers, willfully ignoring the wishes and needs of the Indigenous peoples, is additional proof that there is absolute contempt by government and its functionaries for Guyana’s First People.

The complete absence of consultative processes and non-compliance of FPIC conventions by the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry/ Government of Guyana is a display of absolute arrogance and lawlessness on the part of Government and its representative/functionaries as it pertains to the rights and welfare of the first peoples of Guyana.

Sincerely, Alister Charlie, MP Region Nine

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Student’s take on the Parish Peak area to remain 14% VAT imposition off limits to mining for now

Dear Editor, I am writing in relation to the decision by Government to impose a 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education fees for students all across Guyana.

It should be noted that I am one of many students currently pursuing advanced level studies at School of the Nations. It is not a surprise that we are unhappy with this tax infliction on something that is clearly a human right and by no means a commodity. With this, our other significant concerns being; the lack of consultation by Government with us, the lack of transparency on the issue and the immediacy with which this has been approved.

I submit that obtaining a well-rounded education gives you a competitive edge over the crowd. It’s a positive lifestyle change that requires massive effort and a desire my peers and I have been pursuant of since secondary school. This aspiration is now being marred by uncertainty and put in jeopardy because of this 14 per cent tax imposition on private education. I think this whole 14 per cent ordeal is a bad idea and can only see very limited positives unfolding from it. For instance, there will be a discriminatory increase in class divide as people with less financial footing realise that their chances of attaining their academic pursuits are now being greatly diminished and, for others, completely crushed.

Having more money than others doesn’t make you more of a human being than another, nor does it give you extra rights. Riches therefore shouldn’t automatically grant you the right to an education and an exciting career. Most of the rich will now have less of an appreciation for a diversity of people from all echelons of society and the less affluent will have to take up part-time jobs or seek loans in order to “buy” their education. With this in mind, this tax venture seems to be a very slip-

pery slope.

Moreover, qualifications gained from; and the attendance of private institutions will become a status symbol, an expression of money rather than one of unwavering commitment, hard work and perseverance. The wealthier will acquire the more glamorous qualifications in subjects such as law, medicine and the arts, whilst those who grapple with the difficulties of accumulating the full fees for their education may be left with less illustrious honours. This taxation will then result in a poor attendance at vocational courses available only at private institutions and therefore exacerbates the present economic strain on our country. We will witness a decline in the types of jobs that stimulate our country’s economy and the numbers of workers that are fundamental for the blossoming of society, like teachers and doctors, will plummet.

Furthermore, one must understand that the purpose of education is to refine society, through the pursuit of learning and understanding. In Guyana, most of the internationally recognised qualifications, like Cambridge Advanced Levels, are provided by private institutions at a cost that is far lower than the same courses offered by our Caribbean neighbours, making education here attractive to regional students. The incurrence of a 14 per cent VAT on private education will now equate Guyana’s education fees with those of it’s Caribbean counterparts. This means that Caribbean students will have no need to leave their home countries to attend our institutions, resulting in a limitation of cross border ideas. For me, the significance of achieving an education is not only about obtaining a degree or zooming down a rewarding career path; but meeting new people, from different backgrounds and different cultures, to enrich one’s humanity. This tax addition

will sharply reduce the diversity of people in our educational institutions and further add to the class divide, depreciating the value of the higher education experience.

It’s worth noting that when the Constitution was established for the Republic of Guyana, it specifically defined and demarcated the responsibility and realms of our own Government, along with spelling out our own young peoples’ rights.

The first set of young citizens rights, secured to ourselves and to our posterity according to our law is the, “Acknowledgement of the aspirations of our young people who, in their own words; have declared that the future of Guyana belongs to its young people. Who aspire to live in a safe society which respects their dignity, protects their rights, recognises their potential, listens to their voices, provides opportunities...”, emblazoned on the pages, right there in the Preamble of our Constitution. All of this means we are gifted with liberty; for the fact that our Government is established to serve us, not the other way round, and our Government has never been given authority to suddenly, impose limitations on our liberty or on the liberty of our future generations.

Liberty means freedom, not subservience.

Yours faithfully, Randy Indarjeet Student

Dear Editor, The Natural Resources Ministry has observed that the Berbice Mining Syndicate has been speaking in the media about lack of access to the Parish Peak area.

At a meeting between the Ministry and various mining syndicates held on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, this matter was raised with the Natural Resources Minister Raphael G.C. Trotman M.P. The Minister at that meeting informed the head of the Berbice Mining Syndicate that there are environmental and forest certification considerations that have to be assessed before any decision can be made about accessing the area for mining purposes. The Minister informed that in the interim the area will remain off-limits.

The syndicates were all reminded that not all lands applied for or in which interest is shown can or will be allocated and that the President has appointed a Lands Commission to review and make recommendations on the use of interior lands. This syndicate like all others will be accommodated to the best of Government's ability and must abide by the guidelines and rules agreed at the meeting held.

The area in question is a Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Reserved Area, one of which had been held by Goldstone Resources Ltd in 1999.

A Biodiversity Assessment Team (BAT) Survey in 2014 had determined that the area is im-

portant for biodiversity as the Upper Berbice River region comprises pristine lowland forests containing diverse and abundant wildlife.

The Report has recommended stringent monitoring by the relevant regulatory agencies including the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and GGMC; along with local residents and relevant communities to ensure compliance with Guyana’s regulations and laws and to prevent overharvesting and the removal of protected/prohibited species.

It has also been recommended that local stakeholders must be incorporated in decision-making, management, and monitoring of the area since they have the best local knowledge and that the use of the main access road must be monitored. Measures must also be taken to prohibit unauthorised activities and regulate wildlife harvesting according to the 2013 Guyana Wildlife Management and Conservation regulations.

In light of the above, the Natural Resources Ministry

must reiterate that engagements with the various stakeholders, including the Land Commission engagements, must continue before further decisions can be taken.

Sincerely, N Johann Earle Public Affairs and Communications Officer Natural Resources Ministry

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Change your painful habits with a mindful review of your day

BY TONI BERNHARD, JD

I

t’s one thing to wake up in the morning and set the intention to be aware throughout the day of your thoughts, emotions, speech, and actions. It’s quite another to be able to do it. Most of us tend to get lost in stories about the past and the future, without being aware of what we’re thinking or feeling. And most of us speak and act at times without being aware of whether we’re about to help or harm ourselves or others.

“Mindfulness” is the skill of being aware of our present moment experience. To help me develop my mindfulness skills, I’ve been using a technique in which I take a few minutes at the end of the day to reflect on how I fared at being aware of the present moment, specifically my thoughts, emotions, words, and actions. (This practice is adapted from a section in the book, The Mind Illuminated, by John Yates.)

The purpose of pausing at day’s end for a mindful review is not to grade ourselves, but to learn. The review is a mindfulness practice in itself. The more we become aware of the ways in which our thoughts, emotions, speech, and actions have not served us or others well, the more likely we’ll be able to change our behaviour in the future. I base this on a simple principle I learned from the Buddha: “Whatever a person frequently thinks and ponders upon, that becomes the inclination of his mind.”

The key word is “inclination.” Each time we respond to something with anger, our inclination to respond with anger is strengthened. In other words, we’re more likely to respond with anger in the future.

Conversely, each time we respond with kindness and care, our inclination to respond that way in the future is strengthened. At day’s end, assessing how mindful we were helps us see where we need to work on responding more skilfully to our experience.

Conducting a mindful review To begin a mindful review of your day, think about a couple of your responses that stand out as not having been caring or helpful to yourself or others. Then think about a couple of your responses that were skilful, caring, and helpful. You could bring to mind something you said or did (your speech and actions) or your mental response to a situation (your thoughts and emotions). Any of these are fruitful subjects for review.

As you recall each incident, think about how aware you were at the time of what you were thinking, feeling, saying, or doing – and how that mindfulness or lack thereof affected how you felt in the minutes and hours that followed.

I’ll give an example of when I acted unskilfully and an example of when I acted skilfully. With each one, I’ll describe how conducting a mindful review at the end of the day was helpful to me. (If I were out and about more, I’d have examples of my speech and action that involved other people…but these examples will do.)

An example of an unskilful response A few months ago, one of my doctors asked me to use my medical provider’s online message system to check in with her in a week to report on how I was doing on a new medication.

At the one-week point, I logged into the website so I could “message” her that, although I was experiencing some side-effects, so far, they were manageable. I carefully composed my message, editing it over and over so that I stayed within the allotted character limit. Then I clicked “Send.” The site crashed and I lost everything I’d written.

Suicide in Guyana O

I logged in again and went through the same steps. This time, though, after composing my message, I copied and pasted it into a Word Document in case the site crashed again. I clicked “Send” and, although the site didn’t crash, the Send button froze in the clicked position, not sending anything. I logged out and logged back in at least a dozen times to try again, but always got the same result.

Finally, in a fit of anger and frustration, I gave up.

That evening, when I began a mindful review of my day, this incident immediately popped into my mind . I asked myself how mindful I’d been of my mental reactions during this time. The answer was: not at all. I’d been blindly reactive the entire time. It was only when I gave up the task that I became aware that I’d been angry and frustrated since the site first crash – a good 30 minutes before I stopped trying to make it work.

I realised that the anger and frustration had led me to generate exaggerated and stressful stories, such as “Doing this is a huge waste of my time,” and “This is interfering with everything I planned to do this morning.” These stories just made me feel worse. Even after I gave up trying to send the message, the anger lingered for a couple of hours in the form of a very bad mood.

As I was doing this mindful review, I realised there’d been alternatives to the way I’d reacted. I simply wasn’t aware of them at the time because I never stopped what I was doing to try and become mindful of what was happening. I could have paused and mindfully paid attention to a few in- and out-breaths and then noted: “I’m angry and frustrated, and I can feel it affecting my body in a harmful way. Maybe there’s a more skilful way to handle this.”

If I had paused in this way, I could have seen those alternatives.

For one thing, this was not an urgent message, so I could have put the task aside for a while – even for the rest of the day. (The next day, the “Send” button worked fine.) Or, if I’d wanted to continue trying to send the message, I could have change my attitude about it, seeing as an adventure that might or might not work. (Psychologytoday.com) TO BE CONTINUED

ur small country of Guyana, although number one in many of our hearts, doesn’t top very many lists; we aren’t the largest in size or population, we aren’t the most visited, we aren’t the richest, but yet, we are number one in suicides per hundred thousand.

Suicide in Guyana is spoken about every time one makes the headlines, but rarely after. You hear about how sad it is, and sometimes, unfortunately, you hear how stupid the person was to take their life over something so minor.

People say that the deceased needed someone to “talk/beat some sense into them”. Their struggles are trivialised and sometimes even made the butt of jokes. The atmosphere this creates for someone who is contemplating suicide is a harsh and unwelcoming one. Mocking someone’s suicide tells another suicidal person that it is not safe to speak to you about his or her problems, because you will find them equally as stupid.

About two years ago, a Ashley Anthony youth group called the Red Ribbon Guyana launched a social media campaign about suicide prevention. The campaign was aimed towards young people, and encouraged them to write about the reasons why they loved their life, to talk about the struggles they faced, and to encourage those going through a hard time to reach out. I found the results to be so raw, and touching, that I’m going to include a few excerpts.

One young man, Rajendra Deonarine, wrote that he used to struggle with finding something to love about life, “Many days I wondered why I try, I’m such a failure and such an outcast and I would do whatever I could to make sure no one would feel that way, to make sure the people around me were smiling, were laughing and happy. I was bullied and teased and laughed at; you get told that you are not supposed to have big problems in your life, because you are young. But I have found what I love about my life: I love knowing that I can overcome my problems; I love knowing there are people whose life I can impact and make brighter.

I love seeing people unite and smile and laugh and even struggle together. As cheesy as it sounds, I wish to one day be a hero to someone.”

Most of the pieces spoke about loving life in its entirety; the good and the bad, and every single post emphasised that there are people that you can reach out to and talk to, and that if you are suicidal, speaking to someone is extremely important. Sometimes, it is easy to let our internal dialogue get carried away. We judge ourselves harder than we judge others; we blame ourselves for things that aren’t our fault, and we can overemphasise what we perceive to be our flaws. If we don’t speak to someone else and tell them how we are feeling, then we won’t have a voice of reason to tell us we’re being too hard on ourselves, that the situation can get better, or that they’re there to help with whatever hardship we might be facing. Of course, not all suicides can be prevented by simply talking to a friend. Some people are clinically depressed and need professional medical help. But, we have to create a space where people aren’t ashamed to admit that they need help. We have to be able to remove the stigma associated with mental illnesses. As Sonia Ghir puts it, “Depression is the unseen, unheard silent killer. It’s the pain that’s too much to cope with, too hard to deal with and so misunderstood. You can’t escape it no matter how hard you try, because it follows you around like a black shadow that’s on the inside, eating you.

It’s important to know you aren’t alone. Talking about suicide is the first step to prevention. When we take the stigma away, we can then begin learning and understand how we can help ourselves and others who are thinking of suicide.” If you are suicidal, please reach out. If you are concerned that someone is depressed, and possibly suicidal, take the initiative and reach out to him or her. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Finally, always remember as Kadesh Daniels wrote, “Love is difficult.

When you love someone, you love them in the good and the bad. You love them at their worst and their best. You love them in the face of their ugly as well as their beautiful. Why can’t we apply that to life?”

All of the posts from the I love life campaign can be read on the Red Ribbon Guyana’s Facebook Page, The Red Ribbon – Guyana.

Guyana Inter Agency Suicide Prevention Helpline Telephone numbers (+592) 223-0001, 223-0009, 600-7896, 6234444, Email: guyagency@yahoo.com, BBM PINS: 2BE55649, 2BE56020 Twitter: guyanaagency; WhatsApp: +592-6007896, 592-623-4444 Facebook: Guyana Interagency Suicide Prevention Help Line

7 Scrap land VC calls in Police to titling CoI – PPP probe theft at UG news

wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

… as Party throws support behind Toshaos Council

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has thrown its support behind the National Toshaos Council, which remains opposed to Government establishing a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into matters related to land and titling.

According to the Party, the President’s “unilateral” decision was taken without consultations with the NTC. It noted that the NTC is the sole legitimate representative of the Amerindian people and communities of Guyana and is recognised in the Constitution.

“The President’s statement that the decision was announced at the NTC Conference last year exposes the Government’s lack of understanding or their total disregard for Free Prior and Informed Consent,” the Party said.

According to the Party, the fact that the Terms of Reference of the CoI were only published in the Official Gazette on March 11, 2017, the day after six of the seven members of the Commission of Inquiry were sworn in is instructive.

With this in mind, the Party stated that the

President David Granger addressing the Commissioners of the land CoI

Government surreptitiously denied the NTC, Amerindian communities and Amerindian non-governmental organisations, “of the right to be informed and consulted as to the objectives of this Commission of Inquiry.”

“The PPP also supports the NTC’s statement calling on the President to repeal his decision to hold such an inquiry. The NTC statement followed a similar statement by the four Amerindian non-governmental organisations which were published on March 11th, 2017.”

Pointing to this, the Party stated that the major bodies that represent the Amerindian people and

communities of Guyana “categorically and jointly made their opposition to the Commission of Inquiry known.”

“Just as noteworthy is that the President and the Government denied every other Guyanese of being so informed as to the sweeping scope of this Commission which includes “any other matters relative to land titling in Guyana”.

According to the PPP, such an expansive mandate is dangerous and will undermine the legitimacy of Amerindian land rights. The Party said that it would lead to the dispossession of Amerindian land titles and future land titling.

TURN TO PAGE 13

T

he Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been called in to probe allegations of theft at the University of Guyana’s Information and Communication Technology department.

UG’s Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith said on Tuesday that he has asked the Police Force to launch an investigation into the operations of the Centre for Information Technology (CIT), following the levelling of serious allegations of theft of equipment and misconduct of staff members.

According to a release coming out of the VC’s office, the Manager of the Centre and several employees have been sent on leave as an interim measure to allow the investigation to proceed without disruption of evidence, and to preserve a safe, orderly, and professional work environment. The release said a temporary manager has been identified to oversee the operations of the Centre during the conduct of the investigation.

In meeting with the rel-

University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus

evant CIT staff and CID officials on Tuesday, Vice Chancellor Griffith voiced his commitment to having the appropriate action taken by the Police after the investigation ends.

Additionally, the Public Telecommunication Ministry has been asked to conduct a forensic audit of the CIT operations at the Turkeyen and Berbice campuses and the four centres of the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education located at Anna Regina, Georgetown, Linden and New Amsterdam. The audit begins today.

The Vice Chancellor also briefed the Presidents of the two university unions and the students’ society, as well as relevant university leaders on the development. He also wishes to assure the university community that the Centre’s service to students and staff will be normal while the CID conducts its comprehensive investigation and the Public Telecommunications Ministry undertakes an institution-wide audit of the CIT, which has been plagued with multiple challenges for some time.

8 news

wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Grenade found at school was a “training device” – Crime Chief

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) has confirmed that the grenade that was found in the possession of a Grade Five pupil of the Timehri Primary School was a training device that is predominantly used by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

In an invited comment, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that the device is not harmful but the mere fact it was in the possession of a pupil raises some concerns while praising the teacher for being vigilant.

He nevertheless confirmed that the parents and an uncle of the child were questioned in connection with the incident.

However, this newspaper was told that the child’s uncle is a Sergeant attached to

Timehri Primary School

the Guyana Defence Force and might have unknowing taken home the device after training at Camp Stephenson, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The Sergeant’s son saw the device in his father’s bag and as such took it,

this newspaper was told. In turn, he handed it over to his cousin, who is a pupil at the Timehri Primary School.

This publication understands that the military base at Timehri has been called in following the discovery of the device. This

prompted an investigation.

The device was discovered after the child was seen playing with it during school session on Monday. The teacher from the inception thought that it was a “real” grenade but after consulting with the head teacher, she was told that it was a toy.

She nevertheless, took the devise to another teacher who has family members in the Army and she confirmed that it was a “real” grenade after an inspection.

At this point in time, the Police were summoned.

Classes at the school were abruptly disrupted and the child’s parents were called in. The discovery of the device did not go down well with the parents who up to Tuesday were still curious and showed some signs of concerns.

Respect…

T

…for outcome not negotiator

he APNU/AFC coalition managed to squeak into office on the 11 per cent votes the AFC brought in from Berbice at the 2015 elections. Many of those voters were weaned away from the PPP because the AFC – in the form of Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan – promised they’d champion ‘constitutional reform”. Not just ANY old reform – but most specifically reform that would bring the PPP into the Government.

In fact, they pointed to the promise in the APNU/ AFC Manifesto to change the constitutional rules on the Executive to declare the party with the largest number of votes would secure the presidency. BUT the leader of the party with the second largest number of votes becomes the Prime Minister with augmented powers. This, they insisted, meant power sharing with the PPP. But as soon as they snucked into office, NOT A SQUEAK was heard about this promise. Instead, President Granger announced they now had a multiracial national unity coalition in Guyana! He appointed Moses Nagamootoo as Prime Minister and PROMISED to buttress his powers and most significantly! Yep…the PPP securing not even 5000 votes less than the combined Opposition – was out in the cold. What of the unity promise that had been made to the international community – including President Carter?

Well, Prezzie had an answer to that! Nagamootoo – who never got any power – was to lead a “negotiating” team with the PPP. One wasn’t sure what exactly he was going to negotiate in light of the already-announced National Unity! Wouldn’t any new talks be like gilding the lily?? Or conversely, mamaguying the PPP? Well, not surprisingly, the PPP balked. But in the opinion of your Eyewitness, they fell for Prezzie’s rather transparent ploy when they rejected Nagamootoo rather than the premise of the “negotiations”.

Prezzie obviously knew about the bad blood between Nagamootoo and the PPP and was just pressing their buttons by selecting their bête noir. So, now it’s the PPP who’re seen as holding up “unity talks”, since Nagamootoo has once again insisted he’s not stepping down now that there are new calls for constitutional reform and power sharing. From where this Eyewitness stands, the PNC – forget about all the window dressing in APNU – isn’t interested in sharing power with the PPP. But the PPP has to change tack on linking Nagamootoo with power sharing. They should place the PNC on the back foot by announcing – as Jagan did in 1977 and 1985 – their proposals for taking the country forward.

The international community has their desire for the political logjam to be broken. The PPP can offer them one way out. Win-win, no?

…for real money

When your Eyewitness reads about these fellas getting into trouble with matters related to the gold business, he can’t help being impressed with the numbers thrown around. Imagine a “small dealer” running a scam involving almost a BILLION dollars!!

Man…that’s US$5 million!! And Guyana’s a country where a government worker earns just US$300 a month.

Right there, you have a recipe for corruption. Just as with drug smugglers in Miami driving around with a trunkful of cash in case they’re stopped by cops, these fellas in gold dealing can do that – and then some! Without the risk of being decapitated by some irate Colombian looking for their stake! So we face the existential and omnipresent risk of our Bureaucrats – including our Ministers – being bought out.

So “what is to be done?” – as Lenin would’ve asked in another context. For starters, the Government should have a more nuanced understanding of “access maintenance and access control”.

Maybe Professor Thomas can advise Prezzie. The concept is Marxist!

…for MIGs

With our main threat on our densely forested western border, your Eyewitness wonders of what help will be the trucks and excavators the Chinese just delivered to the GDF. Wouldn’t a MIG or two been better?

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

news

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wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VAT on private tuition

$956M fraud

Govt to meet with parents, private school operators

Bank manager turns self in to Police T

– after weeks of widespread condemnation

The last protest against the VAT on education was outside the Education Ministry

T

he concerns and protests against the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education tuition fees have prompted a concessionary reaction from the Government.

Following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, a decision was taken for a team of Government Ministers to meet with parents and operators of private schools on Friday, April 7, 2017 at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).

According to a release, the Government is inviting all relevant stakeholders to attend the consultation to ensure a frank and open discussion.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine also gave a commitment that “we are prepared to hear what the concerns are and see how best we can address them”.

Since its application, Government’s 14 per cent tax on private education has received widespread condemnation. There have been protests, the venues for which have alternated between the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Education Ministry.

A large group of protesters on Wednesday last picketed the Education Ministry, calling for the removal of the tax measure.

“No VAT on education, education should be free!” That was the song being sung by the protesters who came out in large numbers to picket in front of the Ministry.

The protesters who came from various private educational institutions, along with parents, all reiterated yet again their stance that VAT on education must be removed.

Attorney Christopher Ram, who was also on the protest line, said Guyanese have never had such an imposition on expenditure for education. He said the VAT on education was not understandable.

“It has never been the case in Guyana; in 1929, Income Tax was introduced in Guyana and we have never had a tax on expenditure for education in this country, never in the country’s history and so I just cannot understand it. This is bad and it should be removed.”

He added that although the matter was one that

would be hard to fight in court, it should be looked at by creative lawyers.

Another protester, Cheteram Ramdihal, said it was unfair for any policy implemented to be a burden.

“I think that it is very unfair to us as parents, for the Minister, and the Government by extension, to come up with a policy where it falls as a burden for the parents, for private schools failing to pay their taxes. I would hope that the Minister revises his policy and comes up with a policy to ensure that the private school honours their commitment and not to come with a policy where the parents are being burdened,” the man said.

Other protesters also voiced their dissatisfaction; one protester who is an aeronautical engineer said Government did not have an aeronautical school nor could the university sustain one so why should a private one be taxed.

However, a few who opposed the protest and were in support of the tax on education also voiced their opinions, stating that “the VAT is not a problem”.

anzy Powell, the Branch Manager of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited in Bartica who was named in the $956 million fraud allegedly committed on the institution by Saddiqi Rasul has turned herself in to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters accompanied by her lawyer.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, when contacted, told Guyana Times that immediately after Powell turned herself in to the Police, she was taken into custody and was assisting with investigations.

Powell reportedly colluded with Rasul to change cheques to the sum of $956 million before clearing them with Citizens Bank – the bank from where the cheques originated.

It is believed that the woman did not follow protocol stipulated by the Bank’s policy before clearing the cheques.

This concern was raised by Rasul’s legal representative on Monday, while making a successful application for bail for his client. His client was released on $3 million bail and was scheduled to return to court on April 21.

Rasul, of Prashad Nagar and of First Avenue Bartica, who is the owner of SSS Minerals Trading Inc, allegedly deposited six cheques between March 21 and 24, 2017.

The cheques were in the sum of $290 million, $96 million, $138 million, $89 million, $298 million and $45 million.

The incident became public on Thursday last and within a few hours, Rasul turned himself in to the CID headquarters in the company of his lawyer.

Following his arrest, the Police swooped down on several of the man’s properties in Bartica and Georgetown, along with his offices in Kitty, Georgetown; Bartica and Charity, Essequibo Coast, but came up emp-

Accused: Saddiqi Rasul

ty-handed. In addition, several of his close associates were arrested and questioned, including his close ally, Hari Roopnarine.

Rasul is believed to have conned several gold dealers of hundreds of millions of dollars. He presently has several lawsuits hanging over his head from clients whose money he took to purchase gold, but instead fraudulently converted it to his own use. A few years ago, he collected close to $200 million from gold dealers to purchase gold, but this purchase never materialised.

Rasul was also implicated in the multimillion-dollar fraud committed on Mohamed and Sons. His cousin was charged and granted $15 million bail. Rasul was reportedly the mastermind in that fraud.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, april 5, 2017

News

Premature baby’s death

Family discredits doctor’s claim baby was aborted … presented clinic card to media

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ollowing a post which has been circulating on social media of a premature newborn being neglected at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, the doctor attached to the case is now claiming that it was an abortion. However the relatives of the baby are holding out that negligence led to the child’s death.

Over the weekend, several pictures and a video were posted to Facebook, highlighting an incident of a premature baby being left to die on the premise that her organs were too underdeveloped for her to be viable.

The post continued to be broadcast over the Internet, enraging social media users who are in dismay over the then unconfirmed incident.

On Tuesday, Guyana Times made several attempts to clarify the claims by the doctor but this publication was told that the relevant hospital officials to comment on the issue were unavailable.

When this publication visited the West Demerara Regional Hospital on Tuesday, the relevant authorities were not present to put forth a statement on this matter. Other efforts to contact the officials were in vain as they were said to be unavailable.

However, the newspaper managed a brief telephone conversation with the doctor present at the delivery, who pointed out that enough care was taken for an abortion, thereby indicating it was a termination of pregnancy rather than a delivery. When asked to clarify his statements, the doctor disconnected the call.

However, this newspaper on Tuesday visited family of the deceased newborn, during which they shared the details of what transpired at the hospital, holding out that it was never a case of an abortion.

The 19-year-old mother, Vishawanie Persaud, indicated that she was made aware of the pregnancy just two weeks prior to the incident.

On the day of the incident, she visited the West Demerara Regional Hospital in pain during which the baby was delivered at a gestation of five months,

The small man will be the real man

The family of the premature newborn, who died at the West Demerara Regional Hospital

two weeks due to an infection as she was told. Persaud recalled that upon the birth of her baby, she was told the newborn was alive but would not survive given her underdeveloped organs. The mother explained that they were about to discard of her child when she noticed her moving and pleaded for medical care to be administered, which she was denied.

Persaud went on to say that the infant was functioning similarly to a full-term baby, which includes the moving, crying and passing of bodily waste. After requests to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital were denied, the medical operators finally agreed to administer oxygen to the newborn. Persaud told this newspaper that it was hours after the baby’s birth that the newborn was hooked up to the oxygen supply and otherwise was still being neglected.

After being advised to leave, the parents returned the following morning to the baby who was still alive.

The relatives indicated that the oxygen supply however was continuously being tampered with by a porter, who claimed to be an “all-rounder,” subsequently resulting in the death of the child.

The family told this newspaper that the doctor attached to the case was never seen after the delivery. However, they relayed their en-

counter with several others doctors; one of whom was heard in a confrontation via the video posted, with the family for tending to the newborn.

Another doctor on the other hand, informed the family of a case of the survival of a baby being born around the same stage of development and thus encouraged the parents to have their child transferred to a private medical institution. Unfortunately, the baby succumbed before a transfer was made possible.

“We beg a lot to save that baby… the baby was alive. But the porter who turn up the oxygen, they have to do something to that person because she was alive. She ain die by herself; the oxygen that he turned up made that baby die,” relayed the grieving grandmother, as she pleaded for justice.

The family was already aware of the hospital’s claims of an abortion and presented a clinic card as proof to discredit the theory.

After the post was made public, former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy released a statement calling for an immediate probe into the matter. Even with that, it is still unclear if an investigation has been launched or if Government and medical officials are aware of the incident.

Calls to Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence for a comment on the issue went unanswered.

S

atiricus couldn’t wait to get to the Back Street Bar. He’d just ploughed through this long letter from someone who had to’ve been in the know, who advised Guyana “should return to Burnham’s development model”. Satiricus was a bit fuzzy – as he was on most things – and wanted to hear what Hari and Bungi had to say. They were the fellas who knew what went down back in the day.

“Listen, fellas,” said Satiricus excitedly as he sidled into his seat at the table where Hari and Bungi were already ensconced. “You read that letter about Burnham having all the answers to our problems?”

“Yes!” they both answered in unison as they passed him the beer the waitress just dropped off.

“Well?” he asked impatiently. “You know we’re in deep doo doo. What do you think of Burnham’s plans?”

“Sato, me boy,” said Hari expansively. “Burnham was full of a lot of plans – among other things! – but I guess you want to talk becoming self-sufficient in food?”

“An’ how de small man guh be de real man, na?” laughed Bungi.

“Well, yes,” replied Satiricus.

“Leh me start fuss,” said Bungi. “Budday! Wha mek yuh t’ink dem yout’ man wan’ fuh wuk pan de lan’ fuh produce food?”

“Well, yes, I do!” replied Satiricus. “They will make money!”

“Sato, ole fr’en’,” asked Bungi. “Abee cyan get cane cutta in all dem estate! An’ dem seh abee a get de hig’es pay in Guyana! Wha’ mek dem guh plant food?”

“But in addition to that,” said Hari. “Isn’t rice food? But the small rice farmer hasn’t become the real man yet!”

“So what is the answer?” asked Satiricus in disappointment.

“Budday, de Pee an See gat fuh stap counting business people money,” advised Bungi. “Wid all dem tax dem clap pan abee, nobady can buy anyt’ing and nobady can grow anyt’ing!”

“In other words, Sato,” said Hari. “The small man will only become the real man when he’s allowed to become a rich man!!”

wednesDAY, april 5, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

News

GPA condemns Bulkan’s “attempt to drive fear” into State media

P

resident David Granger is being called upon to ensure that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the rest of his Cabinet get the memo that they should not interfere in the affairs of the State media.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) said it was startled by the daring move of Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan to pen a public letter upbraiding the editorial team of the Stateowned Guyana Chronicle and attempting to dictate the editorial direction of the newspaper.

“His missive, which appeared only in the Guyana Chronicle, can only be interpreted as an attempt to drive fear into the editors and reporters of that newspaper with the sole aim of securing censorship and self-censorship,” the GPA said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Press Association further suggested that Minister Bulkan would do well to be accessible to the media and account for the Communities Ministry’s programmes and policies rather than “resort to cloak and dagger approach” to drive fear into the State media operatives about his story preferences.

Furthermore, the GPA used the opportunity to express its strong disagreement with the continued role of the Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, as Chairman of the Board

11

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited – the publishers of the Guyana Chronicle.

The Association also disclosed with worry that a senior Government Minister continued to dictate coverage of his office to the Editor-inChief and often has stories sent for his approval once they have to do with his office or the People’s National Congress (PNC), the main party in the governing coalition.

Additionally, the GPA also condemned the weekly meetings of the Prime Minister with senior executives of the State media, noting that they were being used as a tool to dictate editorial content and to silence or trivialise Opposition views.

Moreover, the GPA is urging media workers to continue to carry out their work in a professional and ethical man-

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

ner, and to uphold the virtues of this important profession.

Bulkan, in a passionate letter to the editor published in the State newspaper on April 3, condemned the newspaper for not giving enough prominence to the article on the swearing-in of Mayors and Deputy Mayors.

“Your front page is dominated by the headline: “More Oil” and was followed by a full-page story on page three. I wish to suggest that your emphasis and message are totally misplaced,” the Minister penned in his missive.

Bulkan also expressed concern that the article on Mayors was “relegated” to page eight while the oil story was featured on page three.

“I suggest, therefore, that your public duty would have been better served by switching the aforementioned articles,” Bulkan stated.

US-based Guyanese shot dead

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Guyanese man, who worked at a Chili’s restaurant in Miami Gardens, Florida, was shot dead following an argument with a colleague who contacted her boyfriend to intervene.

Dead is 36-year-old Lester Reid.

Reports are the now dead man was shot least twice by his colleague’s boyfriend at the restaurant. During the argument with Reid, the woman reportedly called her boyfriend, who entered the restaurant and opened fire, fatally striking Reid.

The shooter then left the restaurant and went into hiding. Paramedics transported Reid to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

Reid moved to the United States several years ago and worked as a cook at the restaurant.

The shooter, Arturo Exum, 31, turned him-

Dead: Lester Reid

self in to Miami Gardens Police on Tuesday morning. He is reportedly on a three-year probation after pleading no contest to charges of felony battery and felony domestic strangling in 2015.

According to his arrest paperwork, he was angry over debit card use and strangled his live-in fiancée until she was unable to breathe and passed out.

After she awoke, he pointed a .380 Ruger handgun at her, and said he was go-

Shooter: Arturo Exum

ing to kill her.

The woman’s oldest daughter was in the home when this occurred. The ex-fiancée had three previous temporary restraining orders against Exum, who had been charged, but not prosecuted in three previous domestic violence incidents against the same woman.

The most recent of those incidents included a charge of aggravated battery against a pregnant woman.

12 News Board of new State-owned power company installed wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

– expected to cut operational costs, improve efficiency

E

ight of the nine members comprising the Board of Directors of the Power Producer and Distributors Inc (PPDI) were installed on Tuesday at the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

With this move, the company now has a board to provide oversight as it takes over operations of over a dozen engines for power supply to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). The company is expected to reduce operational costs for electricity generation.

The Board comprises the Chairman, Mark Bender; Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Fraser; the Secretary, Ronald Burch-Smith and the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Geoffrey Vaughn.

The other members are Attorney-at-Law Stephen Fraser, Verlyn Klass, Amanza Walton-Desir and Harryram Parmesar.

The vacancy for a ninth member is yet to be filled and according to Public Infrastructure Minister

Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson standing with the new Board members of PPDI. From left are: Harryram Parmesar; Stephen Fraser; CEO Aaron Fraser; Chairman Mark Bender; Minister Patterson; Verlyn Klass; Minister Ferguson; Amanza WaltonDesir; MPI Permanent Secretary, Geoffrey Vaughn; and Secretary Ronald Burch-Smith

David Patterson, this vacancy has been left for someone who has to be nominated by the parliamentary Opposition.

PPDI is to replace Wärtsilä, a company from Finland, which, for two decades, has maintained over a dozen engines for GPL. The new Government had announced last year that it would not renew Wärtsilä’s contract. PPDI was only in-

corporated as a company in December of 2016.

Minister Patterson was, however, optimistic that working with PPDI would reduce operating costs, stating that there were projections of a 20 to 24 per cent reduction. According to Patterson, capacity was also a key consideration and he stressed that the company would continue to be fully manned by a Guyanese

workforce.

He stated that the workers had, over the years, demonstrated increased competency, such as the completion of challenging maintenance activities and major overhauls in significant less time than Wärtsilä.

“Additionally, the retention of generated profits will facilitate the investment in people and new equipment as we prepare for future opportunities,” Minister Patterson said.

According to PPDI’s CEO, there will be a significant difference in the rate.

He said that other things such as improving operational efficiency and labour would also play a part in the

reduced price structure for PPDI. “Going forward, Wärtsilä (was) proposing a rate of US$20.1 per megawatt of power, while PPDI will have a rate of US$16 per megawatt. So, that’s $3.70 saving per megawatt and if you multiply that by production of 620,000 megawatts per year, you have savings in the vicinity of US$2 million per year,” Fraser explained.

Meanwhile, Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson noted the wealth of experience and knowledge of the Board members. She urged them to use these qualities to complement the Government’s vision of a

green economy.

“With your experience and ideas, I hope you will be able to enhance and meet the vision of the greening of Guyana by 2025,” she said.

In response, Board Chairman Bender said that satisfactory electricity supply was a key component of development. He pledged his commitment and dedication to his duty, while employing best practices.

The newly-installed Board is expected to meet shortly to discuss significant plans and chart a course for PPDI. There has been a spate of power outages, which were expected to be rectified when GPL operated on its submarine cable which connects the Vreed-en-Hoop power station with its Kingston facility. The cable was damaged last year, disrupting an already unstable power supply.

For the year 2017, there were over 100 complaints to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) about utility companies, including GPL. The cost to GPL to supply fuel for the generators is estimated to be millions of US dollars. GPL has also had to grapple with power being lost to theft and technical problems with its sub-stations and hardware.

News

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wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Miner beaten to death over missing gold

A

Corentyne miner was on Saturday found dead in a mining camp at Armu Falls Top, Cuyuni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), with multiple marks of violence about his body.

The dead man has been identified as Phillip Cort, 56, of Queen Street, Courtland, Corentyne, Berbice.

Based on reports, the now dead man had an argument with another man over some missing gold.

The argument quickly turned into an altercation during which Cort was severely beaten and left to die. The man’s body was found by colleagues who went to the mining camp to gather tools to commence a day’s work.

The main suspect, a 35-year-old man from the bauxite mining town of Linden, was subsequently arrested. He is assisting with investigations.

Desiree Cort, a sister of the dead man, told Guyana Times that she received the devastating news on Sunday evening.

“I have a cousin who has a dredge nearby and she was in Georgetown,

but her husband called her on Sunday and told her that Phillip was beaten to death,” the sister stated.

She noted that after receiving the message, her cousin contacted family members at Fyrish Village in Corentyne.

Without hesitation, the man’s nieces and nephews travelled up to Bartica where they made arrangements for the body to be transported to Georgetown. The grieving sister said that the body was now at the Memorial Garden’s Mortuary and a post-mortem examination was planned for today. She explained that her brother lived in the interior and she last saw him about three years ago. Still in shock that he was no more, she reminisced on the good times the siblings shared.

“Only five of us (13 siblings) are alive,” the woman said.

Her brother, she noted, did not have any children, but he was a loving individual who took care of his siblings’ children.

He is expected to be buried over the weekend in Fyrish.

Scrap land titling...

FROM PAGE 7

The Party noted that the membership of the Commission of Inquiry is also questionable; According to the Party, “it is devoid of the legitimate representation of the NTC and devoid of expertise to address such complex, profound and controversial constitutional, legal, historical and cartographical matters.”

The PPP made it clear that it supported the NTC’s position that if the Government wants to “address individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans” this should be addressed separately from Amerindian land titling.

“The latter has been adequately addressed in the Amerindian Act of 2006 which provides a robust framework and clearly defined process for Amerindian land titling which is supported by the Constitution and international law.”

“The fact that under this statute, almost 100 Amerindian communities have been able to acquire communal titles absolute and forever, representing over 14 per cent of Guyana’s land mass, speaks to the success of this legal framework,” the Party said.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced that the CoI would seek to resolve all the issues and uncertainties surrounding the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by free Africans and Amerindian land titling claims.

But the NTC on March 28 argued that the two issues are unique and need to be addressed separately.

“While we support reparations and repatriation of African Lands and addressing that issue with a great degree of urgency, the Indigenous Lands issue cannot and should not be viewed in the same light, nor can it be addressed under the same framework,” the body emphasised.

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

The Head of State told reporters that the statement was “inaccurate”, stating that “the proposal to establish a body was announced by me in August last year at the National Toshaos Council meeting.”

President Granger also alluded to the fact that Attorney David James, a former Legal Adviser to the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) is a Commissioner, to support his claims of consultation.

But even the APA has come out criticising Government’s land CoI. Other organisations including the Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples, The Amerindian Action Movement, South Central Peoples Development Association, and the National Amerindian Development Foundation, have all protested the merging of the two issues under one blanket.

Region 10 TV station Board still to elect Chairman

T

he Board of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Broadcasting Incorporated (RBI) was unsuccessful in its recent move to elect a chairman and secretary, owing to the absence of relevant documentation.

The newly-constituted Board, which is expected to make progress towards the return of the Linden Television Station to the community, met on Friday last. Member of Parliament Jermaine Figuiera, who was present at the meeting, has, however, deemed it an unsuccessful one, noting that its original purpose had not been fulfilled. He explained that Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Sharma Solomon did not follow through with furnishing the relevant documentation necessary for moving forward.

"We did not go ahead, because Sharma had committed to providing all the Directors with copies of articles of association of the Board. So, we thought it not fitting to go ahead with an election and we're not previewed to the information on the articles of association. We can't make an important decision of that magnitude without any information," the MP said.

He added that the document would give guidance on how the Directors must operate, and Solomon had been mandated to make it available.

"So, we believe it would not have been prudent for us to make important decisions with respect to us electing a chairman and company secretary without prior knowledge of what the article of association speaks to...The Directors

Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Sharma Solomon

believed it would not have been prudent for us to proceed," Figuiera said.

He noted that while there had been several meetings with regard to the Linden Television Station, at a meeting with Prime Minister Moses

Nagamootoo at the Office of the President last week, Solomon was asked to provide the document. He noted that Solomon, who was expected to do so at Friday's meeting, arrived late, and without the document and also did not provide any plausible answers when the question was raised as to why the document was not presented.

"He provided excuses that we didn't find satisfactory," Figuiera said.

He further noted that another meeting would be held when the documentation was provided.

The concept of a community-owned and operated television station formed part of an agreement, which was signed between the Region 10 Administration and the previous Government in 2012.

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wednesdAY, april 5, 2017

News

Regional Education Ministers meet for Human Resource Development Strategy G

uyana was host to Education Ministers from across the Caribbean who met to examine a Human Resource Development strategy, aimed at strengthening the region’s requirements for its 21st century economy and society.

The ministers, joined by senior education officials and other regional education stakeholders at the 32nd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), examined the Caricom Human Resource Development 2030 Strategy and Action Plan ahead of its submission to the Heads of Government in July later this year.

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque, addressing the opening ceremony, said the 2030 Strategy had a number of proposals for action. Among them were hot-button issues such as male participation in education; skills required for 21st century demands; the use of technology within the learning environment, and capitalising on the Region’s innate creative skill to ensure it becomes a medium for personal and regional development. He

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque meeting with regional education officials last Friday

stressed the critical importance of moving Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics from concepts to real practical outcomes of the educational experience for life skills.

“The importance of getting this Strategy right cannot be overstated. The preparation of our young minds to confront the challenges and accept the opportunities, in the ever-evolving global environment is one of our primary tasks,” the Secretary General told the education officials.

The draft Strategy is the work of a Caricom Human Resource Development Commission, mandated by Caricom Heads, and com-

prising leading experts in education and training, along with representatives of the Region’s Private Sector; labour; health; Information Technology and Communication (ICT) and youth bodies. It is chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister of St Kitts-Nevis, Shawn Richards.

“The quality and depth of our human capital is what will drive our development and propel the Community towards the sustainable, viable and prosperous society that we seek. It can be our bulwark against the ills that are threatening to upset our social order,” the Secretary General added.

COHSOD Chairman St Clair Prince, who is also the Education Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, spoke to the importance of a strong focus on social values.

“Decent jobs for all and a future-focused highly skilled workforce are not the only prospects we have for a Caricom Region by 2030,” he noted.

He continued, “the Region recognises that as member states, individually and collectively, aspire towards building modern developed societies by investing in HRD [Human Resource Development], equal attention must be

placed on values-based education by concentrating on the development of morality, ethics and spiritual consciousness in what is being learned at all levels of the system.”

Former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and current Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Nigel Harris cautioned that the challenge for the draft HRD strategy may be “to get the buy-in, enthusiasm, financial resources and sustained interest of the many countries involved”. He, however, emphasised the need to reach the many undeserved communities, which he said

account for many of the adverse outcomes affecting the society.

“A critical element of success of this strategic paper will depend on our Governments emphasising the need to mobilise the interest and enthusiasm of deprived communities, which lack the stable family structures, the economic and other support factors necessary for the full intellectual and emotional growth of their young people,” he said.

The work on the Human Resource Development Strategy is receiving financial and technical support from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Corentyne man being investigated for alleged rape of stepdaughters

S

hortly after being released on bail for chopping his reputed wife, a Corentyne man is now being investigated for reports made by the woman’s children that he sexually molested them.

Based on reports received, the children of the woman, aged 19 and 13, told their mother that her reputed husband of three years was sexually abusing them.

Reports are that the woman’s elder child was the one targeted by the man ini-

tially, but after she left the country in August 2016, he allegedly began to prey on the younger girl. It was the 13-year-old who reportedly informed her mother that she had been molested by the man on four occasions, and that he had threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

The mother also received confirmation of the molestation accusation from her elder child. Upon learning of this, the mother confronted the children’s stepfather who retaliated by chopping

her, forcing her to seek medical treatment. This incident landed the man before the court. He was granted $100,000 bail on the assault charge and the court ordered him to remove from the home he shared with his reputed wife and her two children.

The woman reported the allegations of rape made by her children to the police, and a police source confirmed to this media house that the man was presently being investigated.

(Ramona Luthi)

wednesDAY, april 5, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Prison Service launching public education programme …in effort to end stigma against ex-prisoners

– the Ninth Manifestation of Devi Durga

D

evi Siddhidatri is the ninth manifestation of Shakti and is greatly worshipped among Nav Durga. On the final day of Navratri pooja, worshippers and devotees of Durga wonderfully pay homage to Goddess Siddhidatri.

This Goddess is revered to offer all types of Siddhi (perfection) to her devotees and thus glorified with name ‘Siddhidatri’.

She is represented with four arms sitting on lotus flower. Her arms hold Gada (bludgeon), Chakra, Shankh (scallop shell) and lotus flower. Her appearance glows in red saree. Her procession is lion but she is more often seen sitting in a lotus flower. Worshipping goddess Siddhidatri on the ninth and final day of Navratri bestows all Siddhis to worshippers and successfully completes their Navratri Pooja. It is believed that Goddess Siddhidatri provides direction and energy to planet Ketu. Hence planet Ketu is governed by her.

It is mentioned in Vedic scriptures that Lord Shiva obtained all Siddhis by blessings of Siddhidatri that made his half Devi and glorified him with name ‘Ardha Narishwar’. On the ninth day of Navratri Pooja, Kanya Poojan is also performed with grand

Siddhi, human beings observe enhancement in their charisma. And this is only possible if one pays heartily adherence toward Goddess

Siddhi-datri. Ninth day of Navratri Pooja is especially dedicated to Devi Siddhidatri. Worshippers can accomplishe any kind of desire by just worshipping Devi Siddhidatri on the auspicious final day of Navratri. Her glory is boundless. She is said to be very generous for all mankind and animals on earth.

Devi Siddhidatri is truly one of the most glorious aspects of Navdurga.

Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu, Maa Siddhidatri Rupena Sansthita, N a m a s t a s y a i Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namaha Meaning: The Goddess who is omnipresent as the divine Goddess Siddhidatri, I now to Her again and again.

Rama Navami

touch. Little girls are offered homage and feed with blessed meals. Each day of Navratri has a significant importance, but ninth day is the most prominent, as this is the final and concluding day of Durga Pooja.

All human beings should revere Goddess Siddhidatri to achieve absolute perfection. Siddhi makes the person highly eminent and glorified. After obtaining

This ninth day of Navaratri is also the day that Bhagawan Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama.

Lord Rama avatara was to free to free Mother Earth of the evils (adharma) that had crept in specifically the destruction of Ravana. When He took the human form, the Devatas not wanting to be separated from him followed him as monkeys (Vanaras).

Lord Rama took birth at the stroke of noon, with the sun at its zenith. He was

well accomplished, handsome and endowed with royal marks. His glory and prowess were unlimited.

He was peerless on earth, free from malice, gentle, just, protector of all His people. Above all He was the most excellent of warriors and a just ruler.

Devotees would observe a whole-day fast on the festival of Ram Navami.

Many of the devotees go for a fast on satvik (pure) food i.e. holy food without salt and other adulterated materials. However many of them also observe a wa-

terless fast. Some would pay their respects at the altar of the new born gently rocking His cradle and showing the light of the Aarti to the greatest of all babes. At homes and temples devotees will recite verses from the Ramayana and conduct pujas to this Supreme Avatar.

One who approaches Sri Rama with love and worshipfulness becomes large-hearted, pure in spirit, good-natured and dispassionate in thought, word and deed.

Lord Rama was the best of men with a sterling character. He was the very image of love. He was an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal friend and an ideal king. He can be taken to embody all the highest ideals of man. He led the ideal life of a householder to teach the tenets of righteousness to humanity. He ruled His people so well that it came to be known as Ram-Rajya, which meant the rule of righteousness, the rule which bestows happiness and prosperity on all. A final note from the Hindus for Selfless Service- Guyana (HSS): let Sri Rama be your ideal. Ideals are remembered and adored for the purpose of adopting them in your own life.

Jai Shri Ram!

A

cting Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels said that the Guyana Prison Service would soon be launching a public education programme to help remove the stigma attached to ex-prisoners. This was disclosed during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Samuels said the move was prompted by the discrimination that ex-prisoners experience when seeking jobs. The programme will be launched via a television series in which inmates will be given the opportunity to share with the public the training opportunities they are exposed to while in confinement.

“We will be utilising the inmates to allow them to sensitise members of the public why they should not find themselves committing offences that would lead them to come to prison,” Samuels explained.

The acting Director

Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels

(ag)

pointed out that many times what people know about prison life was what they would have heard from uninformed persons or what they would have seen on television via movies. He is of the opinion that once the general public is better educated about what goes on inside the prisons, ex-prisoners would be allowed to contribute meaningfully to society, without being stig-

matised.

Samuels said that persons in prison were exposed to both literacy and skills training. Some of the skills training include masonry, carpentry, joinery, electrical installation and landscaping.

While there is still some percentage of recidivism, Samuels stated that “our records will show that several persons who would have entered prison and having being exposed to rehabilitative training, they have not returned to prison”.

The programme will not only educate the public, but also create awareness and some level of guidance to potential offenders, so they can learn from the experiences of prisoners, Samuels noted. The acting Director stressed that the main mandate of the Guyana Prison Service was to ensure prisoners were rehabilitated and properly reintegrated into society upon release.

16 News

wednesDAY, april 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Liliendaal bridge

Work doubled up to ensure early completion – MPI PS

…major works scheduled for other ECD embankment bridges

W

ork on the Liliendaal bridge along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) is likely to be completed by June, 2017.

The expedited timeframe is possible because the contractor, H Nauth and Son’s Construction has been asked to double the pace of work.

This is according to Ministry of Public

The depression in the bridge structure, which in part necessitated the repairs

Public Infrastructure Ministry Permanent Secretary, Geoffrey Vaughn

Infrastructure (MPI) Permanent Secretary, Geoffrey Vaughn, when asked on Tuesday about the project’s progress. The ongoing works have caused a diversion of traffic from the Railway Embankment to the Rupert Craig Highway and vice versa, usually at the University of Guyana access road.

“So far, works on Liliendaal Bridge are moving apace,” Vaughn said.

“We’re hoping that we should wrap up before the time span reaches in July.

So, we will finish, let’s say (by) June.”

“We have the contractor trying to double up in terms of works being done on those bridges. So, once all goes well, the expected completion time, based on the contractor’s work programme, is expected to be early June.”

Design

The work on the bridge is estimated to cost $89 million. It was initiated after two inspection teams, which included Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) and MPI personnel, visited the structure and made recommendations.

The teams had recom-

mended that the bridge be urgently closed to traffic based upon findings, which showed that one of the panel systems on the northern rail demonstrated signs of imminent failure. According to reports, one of the panels in the structure was detached, rendering the system structurally unstable.

It was also reported that a section of the northern carriageway of the bridge also experienced serviceability problems demonstrated by excessive deflection.

Another inspection was later carried out by the MPI team, which confirmed the original assessment. Works had been scheduled to start on the bridge on March 6, 2017, but the construction was pushed up given the urgency.

According to Vaughn, the bridge will be made from re-

inforced concrete, which is concrete with steel embedded in the material. He stated that for the Liliendaal bridge and other projects, the Ministry would be using more updated designs.

Vaughn also said that there would be other upcoming projects all along the East Coast.

“So, we are changing out a few of them. For this year, we will have the Liliendaal bridge being done, then we move on to the bridges at Plaisance, and we keep going down, to try to change out almost all the bridges along the Railway Embankment.”

In 2015, the bridge had been closed to carry out work to reinforce the structure. That project had cost an estimated $12 million.

3 gold miners remanded for wounding ‘friend’

T

hree gold miners from the Mazaruni region of Guyana’s interior were on Monday afternoon refused bail and remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, after they were charged with seriously wounding another man who they claimed in open court was ‘a friend’.

The unfortunate incident has left the trio’s alleged acquaintance with broken ribs and a back injury.

Luncheon Felix, 42; Riley John, 22, and Calvin Scott, 27, pleaded not guilty to a charge which read that, on March 31, 2017, at Mowasi Backdam in the PotaroSiparuni District, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded the Virtual Complainant (VC), Ornes Fredericks with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution objected to bail considering the current state of the injured Fredericks, who has been disfigured.

Bail was refused and the men were placed on remand.

They are expected to make their next court appearance on April 17, at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Courts.

Ramsammy’s Ruminations APNU/AFC scuttling the Norwegian agreement – no payment since May 2015

A

fter earning about US$200 million from the Norway Agreement when the PPP was in Government, Guyana has not received any more funding from Norway since May 2015. Yet since APNU/AFC came into office in May 2015, it has been on a spending spree that includes spending of the US$200 million from the Norway Fund. Without Dr Leslie Ramsammy replenishment from Norway, the US$200 million will soon be exhausted and no money will be available to continue the many development initiatives that were part of the Norway Agreement and the push to use carbon credits to advance prosperity for all Guyanese.

The Amerindian Land Titling programme, which has been a major project funded thorough the Norway funds, has stagnated while the Norway funds are being squandered in the APNU/AFC spending frenzy. Norway funds targeting Amerindian land titling have been diverted to other areas. As the US$200 million in the Norway carbon credit fund become exhausted, one of the casualties is Amerindian land titling which is now seriously threatened. While it is wasting money by setting up a Land Commission of Inquiry (LCoI) with sinister plans to downgrade Amerindian land rights, APNU/AFC has made little to no progress in Amerindian land titling since May 2015. The Norway Agreement, in fact, was utilised by the PPP as a source of funding to promote Amerindian land rights in contrast to APNU/AFC’s Land Commission of Inquiry, which is designed to elevate “ancestral” land rights, downgrading Amerindian land rights.

The Amerindian Development Fund, which seeks to help eliminate poverty and promote an improved standard of living in Amerindian communities, is threatened with suspension and discontinuance if there is a failure to replenish the Norway carbon credit fund. The Amerindian Development Fund is critical in improving the village economy in the hinterland.

But programmes like the hinterland electrification programme to bring power to people, especially through the solar panel programme, have already come to a dramatic halt. Without replenishment of the Norway fund, this critical programme is threatened with extinction. Already social welfare programmes like the laptop computer and internet hub initiatives have been scuttled and non-replenishment of the Norway fund will mean the death of these programmes.

The $4.5 billion sole-sourced GPL contract with a Chinese company is one of the many corrupt transactions, which are part of the spending frenzy of APNU/AFC. Yet little effort has been made to remove the confusion surrounding the status of the Amaila Hydroelectricity Project, one of the premier infrastructure development projects to be funded by the Norway Agreement. It is intended to help Guyana reduce and eliminate our dependency on fossil fuels. But in the eyes of APNU/AFC, Amaila is too deep-rooted in the PPP footprints and worse, the Jagdeo footprints. The fact that this project is beneficial to Guyana and all its industries and all its people is collateral damage as APNU/AFC seeks to slam the doors shut on Amaila.

With the scuttling of the Amaila Hydroelectricity Project, APNU/AFC gave clear signals that its talk of a green economy is a smokescreen to weaken Guyana’s carbon footprint and carbon credit equity. Guyana’s commitment at the Paris Climate Change Agreement in November 2015 to significantly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and derive 90 per cent of its energy from clean fuel by 2030 cannot be achieved without Amaila.

Norway has indicated that Amaila is the best way to achieve a fossil fuel-free energy architecture. APNU/AFC’s stubborn refusal to embrace Amaila, therefore, jeopardises the Norwegian Agreement and in the process has caused an interruption of carbon credit funding. In fact, not only has replenishment of the US$200 million been interrupted, but APNU/AFC’s recklessness is aborting Guyana’s chances of earning more than US$250 million annually in carbon credits.

APNU/AFC has been downright ambivalent in its approach to the Norway Carbon Credit Agreement. APNU/AFC’s commitment to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) has been lukewarm, if not a posture of outright rejection.

Instead of embracing the LCDS and consolidating our pathway towards a carbon credit payment of US$250 million annually, APNU/AFC seems more interested in erasing the PPP footprints from this innovative and global best practice, one that earned Bharrat Jagdeo the UN global award of Champion of the Earth.

The consequence is that the Norway Government has not paid Guyana any money for carbon credits since the PPP Government demitted office. Now the US$200 million already earned is being exhausted and there is nothing being done to assure replenishment in the near future. APNU/AFC is abrogating its responsibility to the Guyanese people.

news

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wednesDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Agro-processors being trained in value chain analysis Region 8 residents eye commercial opportunities

Toshao of Chenapau, Edward McGarrel

R

esidents of Chenapau, Karisparu, and Paramakatoi, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) are asking for a much closer collaboration with the Kaieteur National Park, to assist with the development of their villages.

The Kaieteur National Park is home to the famous Kaieteur Falls, the highest sheer drop and one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. The Park is the most visited attraction in Guyana, with approximately 6000 visitors annually.

Chenapau is the closest community to the Park.

Toshao of Chenapau, Edward McGarrel, said the residents of the community are concerned that they are not getting the full benefits from the Park, which has been seeing an influx of tourists over the past years.

McGarrel raised this is-

sue during a recent ministerial outreach in Kato. Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton and Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valarie GarridoLowe, were part of the outreach team.

The Toshao said that residents want to establish a benab in the Park to sell their craft and other produce. “… not just Chenapau, it will be open to the entire region because Kaieteur is not just about Chenapau, it’s about the Patamona nation of the region so with us building this benab we will make contact with all other communities so that they can bring in their crafts and so that everybody can at least get something,” McGarrel explained.

Minister Garrido-Lowe told the residents to send their proposal to the Ministry and they (the Ministers) will make representation on their behalf.

The Kaieteur National Park is a protected area managed under the Protected Areas Commission. The Amerindian Act of 2006 allows the Indigenous peoples within the area to have rights over lands in and around the Park.

Additionally, the Kaieteur National Park Amendment Act of 2000 allows the Indigenous people to enjoy the right to fish, hunt and promote sustainable forest and wild life management.

T

he Food and A g r i c u l t u r e Organisation (FAO), in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, is hosting a four-day workshop to build the capacity of persons working at the processing level of consumable agriculture.

The workshop will focus on value chain analysis and developing agricultural exports.

National FAO consultant Kelvin Craig told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that attention would be paid to the process that agricultural produce goes through to meet the consumer.

“The value chain approach is a tool that we use to analyse what is happening with commodities, it could be crops or livestock. In this

Some of the participants at the workshop

particular case, we are focusing on crops; what is happening to those commodities from the time it leaves the farm to the time it gets to the consumer,” Craig said.

A value chain is a set of linked activities that work to add value to a product. It consists of actors and actions that improve a product while

Rights group speaks...

The WPO is also calling for an independent probe to be launched in order to determine the veracity of the allegations made against the Mayor towards female employees of the Linden Town Council.

The WPO also called on the Women and Gender Equality Commission to use its constitutional mandate to determine the true state of treatment meted out to women in the workplace and to mount educational programmes with the view of eliminating such behaviour.

“The WPO also calls on all women everywhere, regardless of affiliation, to reject bullyism, intimidation and abuse from bosses and superiors in their work places and to stand in solidarity with those who dare to speak up.

All organisations that represent women and advocates for women’s rights should denounce Minister Bulkan’s actions as it relates to the revocation of Ms Jonellor Bowen’s appointment,” the WPO urged.

Following months of being on administrative leave,

linking commodity producers to processors and markets.

This allows for quality pricing and the export of quality agricultural products.

Craig explained that while traditional channels are mostly used for trade in commodities, other channels are evolving. He said the quality of consumable agri-

culture goods and pricing are key elements to developing agriculture for export.

The consultant added, “In the past, most of us, may be 90 per cent of the population or more (are) used to getting fruits and vegetables from the municipal markets; that is still very much so, but at the same time we have a number of supermarkets and a number of the younger people, both men and women, (who) prefer not to go to the municipal market.”

Participants will be trained to calculate production and marketing costs, assessing markets and conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis for products.

The capacity building workshop is being facilitated by consultants of the FAO.

from page 2

Bowen had resumed duties within the municipality on March 1. Councillors of the municipality had passed a no-confidence motion against her on July 27, 2016 and she was sent on administrative leave in October, following a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into alleged wrongdoings within the Council.

However, the CoI cleared her of any wrongdoing and was subsequently reinstated.

This newspaper understands that the decision to reinstate Bowen did not find favour with some Councillors

of the municipality.

Minister Bulkan, however, has since described Bowen as an “equivalent of a Carol Sooba”, who was “sent” by former Minister Norman Whittaker and “her time has run out”.

The Minister said he gave Bowen an opportunity to redeem herself by reinstating her, but she did not justify the faith which he placed in her to seek to rehabilitate herself. Instead, the Minister noted that Bowen sought to intensify her actions and her uncooperative conduct.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, April 5, 2017

ARCHIE

Keep an open mind and learn all you can. The infor(March 21- mation you pick up will enApril 19) courage you to make smart, well-thought-out changes instead of acting on impulse.

ARIES

Don’t fold under emotional TAURUS pressure or manipulation. You (April 20- must watch for signs of excess May 20) or inconsistency when working with others. Good fortune will come from you using common sense.

dilbert

Don’t divulge personal inGEMINI formation.

Someone will try (May 21to make you look bad. Rely on June 20) experience to keep from making certain mistakes when dealing with business and personal partnerships.

Be cautious if someone from your past contacts you.

(June 21- Ulterior motives are present, July 22) regardless of the compliments and kindness offered you.

Don’t offer to pay for others or make a donation.

CANCER

Peanuts

Controversy will lead to LEO an argument. Have your facts (July 23and figures ready, or you may Aug. 22) end up having to rethink your plans. Going over your budget will not be acceptable.

Calvin and Hobbes

Someone’s personal informaVIRGO tion will be withheld from you.

(Aug. 23Don’t feel the need to make a deSept. 22)

cision regarding religion, philosophy or your personal beliefs in order to fit in. A day trip or retreat will offer clarity.

Attending a reunion or LIBRA joining forces with someone (Sept. 23you have worked with in the Oct. 23) past should be carried out carefully. Don’t compromise your current position in order to help out a friend.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Participate in events, reSCORPIO treats and courses that en(Oct. 24gage you. Doing something Nov. 22) special with a loved one will bring you closer together. A lifestyle change will have good results.

Do something that will SAGITTARIUS challenge you, but not cost (Nov. 23- you emotionally, mentally or Dec. 21) financially. An impulsive but frugal move will put you in a good position.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

If you look at your past, CAPRICORN you’ll discover something (Dec. 22that will help solve a probJan. 19) lem you are facing. Don’t argue with someone; walk away and do your own thing.

Take action if you think AQUARIUS someone has been tamper(Jan. 20ing with your money or posFeb. 19) sessions or meddling in pending legal matters. If you stay one step ahead, you will avoid loss.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Use your intelligence to PISCES (Feb. 20- wade your way through fiMarch 20) nancial or medical problems.

It’s your responsibility to see matters through to the end.

Don’t rely on anyone but yourself.

WEDNesDAY, aPRIL 5, 2017

MoPH/Milo/Petra U-18 Schools’ Football…

Riveting semi-finals kick off today

— Chase Academy, Sir Leon’s poised to be thriller

T

he exciting 5th edition of the Ministry of Public Health, Milo Petra Organised Schools under-18 Football has reached the semi- final stage and will see some tantalizing football this evening at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

In the first semi-final from 17:00h Masters Academy will clash with Morgan’s Learning Centre followed by two-time defending champions Chase Academy against Sir Leon’s Lesson from 19:00h.

Both matches have the potential of producing serious fireworks but one would have to give Chase and Morgan’s the favorites tag to reach the final.

Morgan’s Learning Centre will be relying on the services of Leon Richardson,

Osafo Mattheson, Alistair Frank, Carl Griffith, Orin Moore and Daniel Nedd to bolster their chances of moving on while the duo of Akeem Giddings and Calvin Peters have shown the ability to be genuine threats on the ball going forward for Masters Academy.

Meanwhile, for Chase Academy, their list of marque players runs long but a lot will be dependent on the performances of captain Jeremy Garrett, along with Job Caesar, Kelsey Benjamin and Nicholas Mc Arthur to put to their team closer to a three-peat.

Sir Leon’s Adrian Aaron is the event’s top goal scorer with 13 goals while teammates Meshach Barratt, Omari James and Tyrese Forde have scored six, three and two goals each.

Each of their services will be required to outscore the powerful Chase’s unit.

Teams are battling for the $500,000 first prize on offer, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will pocket $300,000;

I

t was duly noted Tuesday that Phil Mickelson is the same age Jack Nicklaus was when he won his last green jacket in 1986.

Twenty-four times Phil Mickelson has teed it up at the Masters, and when he does it a 25th time, at age 46, on Thursday, it will still be a thrill.

“For a golfer who plays golf for a living, who loves the game, I can’t think of a place that you would want to win at and be a part of the history more than Augusta National, because you get to come back every year, to be a part of this tournament,” he said Tuesday.

And yet merely being part of the event isn’t what Mickelson is about. He’s in it to win it.

The world number 18 has played eight events in 2017, finishing in the top 20 in half of them. In two of

$200,000 and $100,000 respectively – money that will go towards a school project.

The tournament is sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health under the Theme “Stop the Violence.”

Over 35 Chairman Neville Beaton and Assistant Organising Secretary Robby Kissoonlall hand out the first two hampers while other members look on

be placed on the elderly, single parent households and persons who suffer from natural disasters (flood, fires). Only residents from Guyana’s smallest township would benefit under this particular programme as the RHTY&SC feels that it is time for organisations in other areas to get involved in assisting their own.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed the hard work and contribution of the eight cricket teams and the Over 35 Section and hailed them as the cornerstone of the RHTY&SC success story over the last twen-

Mickelson aims to win in his 25th Masters, aged 46

Four teams will produce their best today as they battle for a spot in the grand final

RHTY&SC embark on assisting less fortunate T

eams from Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S has joined hands with the over35 section of the club to launch another major programme directed to less fortunate families living in Rose Hall Town.

The teams – Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermiade, Metro Females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under 21 and First Division and the Over 35 Group makes up the majority of RHTY&SC Membership and are mandated to successfully complete 200 activities in 2017 as part of the Club’s aim to complete 500 programmes/ activities during the year under the sub-headings of sports, culture, education, charity, religious, community development, social, awards/honours, coaching, women’s affair, anti-suicide, anti-drugs, anti-crime among others.

Under the new programme which was launched last week Wednesday, several less fortunate families would be assisted with food hampers and other necessary items to make their lives much easier each month.

The programme would be organised under the theme “No Matter How Poor You Are, There Is Always Someone Poorer Than You” and special emphasis would

19

ty-seven years. The long standing Secretary/CEO disclosed that the club strongly believes in developing all rounded individuals who understands the importance of assisting the elderly and less fortunate. Club members themselves donate most of the necessary food items for the hampers while Sterling Products, Food for the Poor and Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd provides the remainder.

The Club has established a Committee to identify the families that would benefit under the outreach charity programme and to make sure that the programme is

administered according to the ground rules set by the Management.

Vice President Mark Papannah, Over 35 Chairman Neville Beaton, Organising Secretary Keith Hicks, Asst. Organising Secretary Ravindranauth Kissoonlall and Executive Member Elizabeth Brusch are responsible for the programme.

Persons living in Rose Hall Town who are interested in benefitting under the Charity Programme can visit the Club office at the Area ‘H’ Ground during working hours or call 337-4562.

Phil Mickelson

his past three starts, he finished in the top 10, though he is coming off a T55 at the Houston Open last weekend.

That’s roughly where he finished at Augusta in 2016 (T58), when he missed the cut for the second time in three years and only the third time in 24 appearances.

But sandwiched between those flops he finished tied for second behind Jordan Spieth in 2015.

“I’ve had some good and some bad,” Mickelson acknowledged, “and I look to always try to find it as we go down Magnolia Lane.”

If he finds it, then he feels as if he still can compete with the game’s long-hitting youngsters despite the fact that he ranks 77th in driving distance these days. He makes up for it by being ranked number two on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green as well as number 17 in strokes gained putting.

It’s that kind of place, Augusta National. You can be a bit wild off the tee, but you move up — or down — the leaderboard based on how you handle yourself on and around the course’s tricky greens.

“Even though you might miss it big, if you’re in the right spot, you can take advantage of your short game and salvage a lot of pars, and I hope to rely on that knowledge and skill to keep myself in it heading into the weekend where players less experienced with the golf course will possibly miss it in the wrong spots and shoot themselves out,” he said.

The voice of a veteran who knows his game or a man unwilling to face up to the toll time takes on his game?

Maybe a bit of both. The key for Lefty clearly will be surviving to the weekend, which will require keeping up with the kids and dealing with a threatening forecast.

He goes off at 10:45am local time Thursday with Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain and Si-woo Kim of South Korea.

It was duly noted Tuesday that Mickelson is the same age Jack Nicklaus was when he won his last green jacket in 1986, and Mickelson isn’t about to give up before that first butterfly-filled drive off number one on Thursday.

“I’ve worked really hard to get my game back to the level that I expect and the level that I ’ v e strived for,” he said of remaining competitive against players 20 years his junior. “If I can play anywhere close to the way I played at the British Open last year and The Ryder Cup, I should be able to give myself a good opportunity for Sunday.”

(Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, april 4, 2017

VIVO IPL 2017

Defending champs open against depleted RCB – Captains pledge allegiance to MCC’s spirit of cricket

Defending champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad begin as favourites over injury hit Royal Challengers Bangalore

T

he eight captains of the 2017 VIVO IPL got together in Hyderabad for a formal meet and greet with the IPL match officials. Together they discussed different aspects of the game and the tournament that will be played over the course of the next 47 days.

IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla joined everyone over teleconference and addressed certain issues and doubts if there were any during the course of the meeting.

Later, all eight captains of their respective IPL teams pledged their allegiance to the Marylebone Cricket Club's (MCC) Spirit of Cricket campaign by signing the spirit of cricket bat. The skippers, one after another, trooped onto the stage as their names were called by former Indian skipper Ravi Shastri, who conducted this part of the event.

It was then time for the captains to pose for the camera for a group photograph. They were at their jovial and whackiest best and were completely in their elements in front of the camera. Suresh Raina, captain of the Gujarat Lions later took a selfie with the rest of the captains.

The teams pledged to play hard, but play fair and well within the spirit of the game. During its first edition in April, 2008, the IPL had pledged its allegiance to the MCC's Spirit of Cricket campaign, and it

has been reaffirming it every year.

Meanwhile, this year’s season will begin the way it ended last year when 2016's runners-up and regular favourites RCB will be without their two best batsmen, who were also their first two choices as captain. Virat Kohli was ruled out of the initial stages of the tournament because of the shoulder injury he suffered during the Ranchi Test against Australia, and AB de Villiers was sidelined by a back problem but is expected to be fit for RCB's second game.

They are also without their first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul, who played the Tests against Australia despite carrying a shoulder injury, for the entire IPL season, while middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan injured his leg during practice and is likely to be unavailable for the whole tournament as well.

The defending champions Sunrisers are without Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who is playing in Sri Lanka until April 8, but have no other injury concerns at the moment.

Overall, head to head Sunrisers have won five matches to RCB’s four while last year the champions won two matches to the opponent’s one. Here are some overall Stats that matter in this explosive opener; - The average first-innings

IPL score in Hyderabad since 2014 is 158, and 12 out of 15 matches in that period have been won by the team chasing. Overall, Sunrisers have won seven and lost eight games at home.

David Warner has scored - 716 runs at home for Sunrisers Hyderabad at an average of 60 and strike rate of 163. In 2016, when he led Sunrisers to the title, Warner made 324 runs at home at an average of 54 and strike rate of 160.

- Warner scores at more than ten runs per over against Shane Watson (26 runs off 15 balls, one dismissal) and Yuzvendra Chahal (90 off 51, one dismissal) in the IPL. When batting for Sunrisers, Warner has scored 448 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 168 against RCB. - Chris Gayle has scored only 77 runs in four IPL innings in Hyderabad. However, he has scored 94 runs off 63 balls from Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the IPL, 33 off 23 from Ashish Nehra, 19 off 8 from Ben Cutting and 23 off 8 from Moises Henriques. All four of those bowlers have dismissed Gayle once in the IPL. - No batsman in the Sunrisers squad has faced fast bowler Tymal Mills in T20 cricket before. Ditto for the Royal Challengers batsman facing legspinner Rashid Khan. Since

ECD teachers successfully complete cricket workshop

T

Daniel Richmond (extreme right) with teachers at the cricket workshop

he National Sport Commission (NSC) through the Ministry of Education held a threeday workshop for Primary school teachers in the lower East Coast Demerara ward at Mahaica Jonestown Cricket Club Ground.

The event which occurred last Tuesday to Thursday was organized by cricket coach, scorer and umpire Daniel Richmond.

The teachers went through several basic introductory lessons to enhance their knowledge of the sport.

What they have learnt will be used as guidelines to better assist them in their coaching techniques to their pupils.

Areas of batting, bowling and fielding as well as discipline were the main focus during the workshop which was attended by a score of

teachers.

It is the second such known drive in recent times by the NSC to get teachers equipped with the basic knowledge of the game.

Approximately two weeks ago, coach Latchman Yadram also conducted a similar programme in region two. Richmond’s next workshop is slated for Linden followed by another in Essequibo.

January 2015, Mills has the best economy (7.25 per over) in T20s during the end overs (16 to 20).

- Bhuvneshwar has bowled nearly a hundred overs in the Powerplay for Sunrisers. His economy in those overs is only 6.11.

Nehra's is 7.39, for 112 deliver-

80 balls in five innings in the recent Big Bash League. Sunrisers Hyderabad probable; David Warner (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Moises Henriques, Yuvraj Singh, Deepak Hooda, Naman Ojha (wk), Ben Cutting/Chris Jordan, Bipul Sharma, Rashid Khan,

The eight VIVO IPL Captains with the winning trophy during a ‘meet and greet’ in Hyderabad

ies in the Powerplay. Their corresponding figures in the death overs are 8.85 and 8.66.

- Watson scored 171 runs off 123 balls in nine innings in his most recent T20 gig - the Pakistan Super League. Travis Head, who could play for RCB on Wednesday, made only 76 runs off

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra Royal Challengers Bangalore probable; Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Travis Head, Shane Watson (capt), Kedar Jadhav (wk), Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Pawan Negi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Tymal Mills, Aniket Choudhary/Harshal Patel

GMR&SC President backs Guyana to regain CMRC

F

ollowing last Sunday’s Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) National Race of Champions, President Ramez Mohamed is confident that team Guyana possesses the ability to regain the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) after falling short in 2016.

After holding the championship for three consecutive years, 2013, 2014 and 2015 the Guyanese, had a horrid time in 2016 due mainly to the lack of a large enough touring party and to the numerous mechanical problems that followed those that made the trips.

“It was good, it was a good turn out by the competitors, I think we will do good this year, we got it this year, most of the cars came out and they are using this local event as a tester,” Mohamed contended.

The president also stated that at least eight motor cars and four bikes should be making the trip to Jamaica for the opening leg on May 21.

Last year, Trinidad and Tobago, who lost the title in 2015 by eight points to Guyana, recorded a whopping 1481.5 points, outscoring the second placed Barbados team by 793 points.

Barbados’ tally at the end of the four rounds was 688.5 while Guyana finished in third on 648.5; Jamaica (492) Cayman Islands (60) and CAMS/USA rounded-off the points standings.

However, in the two-wheel category, Guyana soared to the top of the table accumulating 647 points with Trinidad being their closest challenge on 169 points.

On the individual side, Barbadian Mark Thompson was adjudged the best driver in Group two, accumulating 177 points while Trinidadians Marc Gill (141) and Luke Bhola trailed in second and third respectively;

GMR&SC President Ramez Mohamed

Guyana’s Shan Seejatan was in fourth with 107 points. In Group three, Trinidadian Paul Vieira soared above the rest with 225 points while local boy Danny Persaud (120) clocked second place ahead of Ronald Worthman (105) and Nazim Gafoor (87).

In the main attraction group, Barbadian Mark Maloney scored 173.5 points to win the group four (2WD) ahead of Trinidadian Franklyn Boodhram (147) and Jamaica’s Peter Rae (108); Persaud (60 points) in sixth and Mohan Rangasammy (51 points) in seventh were also some local drivers who placed respectably.

In the group four (4WD) Jamaica’s Doug Gore and his Audi TTR gave him his third title as was able to score 163 points dethroning Guyana’s Kristian Jeffrey.

For the Super stock (600cc) Matthew Vieira led the table with 178 points to win his first CMRC title while 2015 champion Elliot Vieira finished in second 147 points and Stephen Vieira, who led the championship for the early rounds finished in third.

YELLOW PAGES

sports

wednesday, april 5, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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Andrew King’s Mazda RX-7 made a grand return to the South Dakota Circuit on Sunday and should now be fully competing in this year’s Caribbean Championships (Marceano Narine Photo)

Dakota Circuit, Timehri and was quick to admit that current group four sensation, Kristian Jeffrey’s dominance will be hard to combat.

King is currently 58 years old while the twotime (2014 & 2015) group four champion driver in the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), Jeffrey is 27, however, over the past three to four years, the young driver has dominated the Caribbean and local circuits and is now shifting focus to the radical series.

King on the other hand has

time away from the sport mainly due to illness and now that he has returned he has set his sights on regaining the number one spot.

“Kristian is going to take some taking down, it is not going to be easy but I will keep working on it hopefully before the end of the year, I should be able to pick up a couple of wins,’ the driver stated.

King in speaking of

it a job in progress,” the group driver explained.

He added, “The more power you get in the car is more the need for brakes etc; we will be ready for the Caribbean Championship, we are adapting to the car but it won’t happen overnight.”

The car has been with the driver for close to 20 years and he has no plans on separating that bond since it is not only personal affection but it gives many young techni- cians a chance to

learn more of their skill.

“Don’t think it is wise to change the car, the design and type of car is still capable of winning races, part of it also is that many mechanics and engineers get lots of experience working with these cars; drivers get all the glory but the technicians help keep the game together,” King disclosed.

King will be hard at work in attempt to fully participate in this year’s CMRC which begin on May 21 with the first leg at the Jamwest Circuit in Jamaica.

22

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, april 5, 2017

unday’s National Race of Champions organized by the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) gave drivers a chance to test their machines at the South Dakota Circuit ahead of the opening leg of this year’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) on May 21 at the Jamwest Circuit, Jamaica.

Kristian Jeffrey who dominated the Group four races, winning all three 10-lap events said that he is looking

Drivers, riders looking forward to CMRC season — Jeffrey committed to Guyana’s title hunt

forward to the season but that his interest will be split between his radical driving.

Later this month, the 27 year old driver is set to go to England for a radical which means that he will not be able to participate in all of the four legs of this year’s CMRC. T h e

two-time group four champion stated, “ the season that I have clashes with the local meet and the Caribbean meets, I might be able to do two of the rounds, I will be glad to help Guyana win even though I won’t be able to win

the individual title.”

Sunday was the first time, the driver hit the circuit in his Mitsubishi Evolution and felt overjoyed to be back racing with his favourite car.

“Out of all the machines I drive, this is my baby; we have not touched the car since last November since I was going to focus more on the radical but it went w e l l t o day

[Sunday]” Jeffrey stated.

Kevin Persaud, who obliterated any competition present in the motor bike races in the absence of the usual Vieiras (Elliot, Matthew and Stephen) hopes that the rivalry can be renewed when they meet in Jamaica.

“Winning again feels great, it is sad they [the Vierias] didn’t not come, I like riding with them, hopefully we meet, since we are all preparing for Jamaica,” Persaud disclosed.

Group three driver Nazim Gafoor is pleased with his outing, registering a second and third place. Gafoor 2016 Caribbean season was quite commendable, being one of the top

performers.

He disclosed, “This meet was to test and see how far we are for CMRC; we need a lot more power than those other guys, I have just a very simple set up not much horse power but I still manage to keep up with them.”

Meanwhile, Kassim Hossain who came from Canada to compete at the event in his Honda Civic, told this publication that “I like supporting my local Guyanese club, it is fun coming down here, give the fans a show, Guyana’s hospitality is second to none in the world and I would encourage more person to come and participate in Guyana .

Kevin Persaud’s ominous form creates an intriguing battle for the Superstock riders as he could possible spring an upset

CBJ memorial 10/10 softball is this Sunday at Lusignan I

n commemoration of the 20th death anniversary of Former president of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan, the Lusignan, East Coast Demerara central People’s Progressive Party (PPP) group will be hosting a 10 overs a-side softball cricket tournament which is set for this Sunday at the Lusignan Community Center Ground, ECD. The organisers of the tournament are urging teams to come on board in the Male Open and over40 categories with registration fee per team set at just $5,000 for either category.

The action is expected to get underway from 09:00h with the first of six sensational matches. Prizes for the top performers include trophies.

Additionally, the organizers will be providing balls, score sheets, water as well as lunch for each player of the 11 a-side teams.

As is customary with the event, executives and representatives from the PPP will be there to witness the action and assist with the presentation of prizes.

Cheddi Jagan was a Guyanese politician who was first elected Chief Minister in 1953 and later Premier of British Guiana from 1961 to 1964, prior to independence. He later served as President of Guyana from 1992 until his death in 1997. He is widely regarded in Guyana as the “Father of the Nation”.

Teams willing to be part of the exciting competition may do so by making contact with event coordinator, Seeraj Bhimsain on telephone number 647-2840.

Experience beats enthusiasm in SJH anniversary hockey The Past Students (red uniform) played the friendly match against the current students winning 4-1

By Romario Samaroo

I

n recognition of St. Joseph High’s (SJH) 120th year anniversary, a host of activities during the Easter term were orchestrated, one of which was a hockey contest between past and present students at the educational facility.

Played on the patio at the school’s Woolford Avenue location on Tuesday, the past students team which comprised of Old Fort Hockey Club players that once attended the school, including the current coach of the school’s team John Abrams defeated the youngsters 4-1 of which Abrams scored three goals in the 10 minute lash out.

While the grand finale saw the past students winning, during the lunch interval, a series of match-

es got underway with what is commonly known as ‘one goal knock out’ as three teams participated, i.e. the past students, Under-18 and U-14 teams, both of whom made their Guyana Hockey Board tournament debut this year.

The competition was of the highest caliber with the entire school body getting behind the current students team as they have produced some astonishing plays to score and send the audience in an uproar, all in good spirits.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport Abrams highlighted the family-like relationship the students, both past and present have and this activity encompassed the camaraderie between the students especially since it is the 120th anniversary

celebrations.

“For the 120th anniversary we formed and former students’ team that is affiliated with the Old Fort Hockey Club that trains here in the school so we just brought some of the guys to come and have a match against the current students’ teams that are taking part in the Under 18 and Under 14 competitions.”

Abrams went on to add that the games were very thrilling as the entire school body was involved.

“As you saw the game was very exciting game and of course the children were cheering for the present school team but we don’t mind, it’s St. Joseph anyway,” The coach said.

Noting the fact that the school had attracted some bad publicity in recent

times, Abrams indicated that this idea was all part of a plan to have the students occupied in more positive activities.

The Old Fort player explained the progress the school has made into adopting into the competitive scene of hockey.

“This wasn’t really a tournament but just part of the 120th celebration of St. Joseph as a school and me, as a former student believe in giving back so myself and few others started playing hockey right here.

Christopher Low-Koan beagn working with the students about two months ago and the reception was good and the students are very fond of the game so we entered them into tournaments where they performed well,” Abrams said.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, april 5, 2017

23

West Indies vs Pakistan, Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile ODI Series

West Indies must play smart to win

A

fter touching down in Guyana on Monday, West Indies went through their first practice session yesterday at the Providence Stadium ahead of their opening clash in the Q Mobile One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan here.

There is not much time left before the first ball bowls off at 9:30 on Friday, nevertheless, coach of the Regional side, Stuart Law is optimistic of his team’s chances in the three match series, stating that they

Stuart Law

will have to put their thinking caps on and play smart instead of applying brute

force.

“Form is one thing but determination and the way

these boys go about they cricket, we understand it’s not going to be easy, Pakistan is a quality unit.

So we have to try hard, put on our thinking caps, play smart rather than use brute force. The condition here might not suit the brute force style of play but once we get a look at the centre wicket we could then go about accordingly working out strategies…”

However, it is not going to be as easy for the lads from the Caribbean, who have been facing difficult

CWI/ Regional Women’s Super50 2017…

World Cup prep continues in St Vincent T

he West Indies selection panel will continue its search later this month in St. Vincent

most competitive unit possible can be assembled to make a serious assault on the World title.

gional tournament as an opportunity to get into the selection frame. No one is ever guaranteed a spot in any

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas are the defending champions

for players to fortify the West Indies Women’s squad heading to the ICC Women’s World Cup to be staged from June 24 to July 23 in England.

The WICB Regional Women’s Super50 Tournament will take place this year between April 16 and May 1, giving the region’s best female players a final opportunity to showcase their talent in the hope of making the Windies Women’s team.

Stafanie Taylor’s side earned automatic qualification to the Women’s World Cup following their fourth place finish in the ICC Women’s Championship – a tournament contested between the top eight sides in the World over the last two years.

During the upcoming regional tournament, the selection panel will have an eye open for any player that could help to ensure that the

“Having reached the Final of the last ICC Women’s World Cup and following up by winning the World T20 title, a lot is expected of our women’s team at this year’s World Cup in England, so we’ve got to have the right combination of players that will give us a strong side that will be tough to beat,” said Josina Luke, the WICB project officer for women’s cricket.

“The success of our women’s team over the last few years should hopefully burn on the inside of the players during the regional tournament, inspire all of them and make them hungry to be a part of another successful campaign on the World stage, when they see the excitement and benefits that were generated, especially after our team won the World T20 title.

“They should all be eager to play well and the players should see this upcoming re-

squad, so it’s about the players putting in the hard work as they prepare for the tournament over the new few weeks and doing it on the field when the time comes.”

Trinidad & Tobago Women are the defending champions, and on the opening day of this year’s tournament, Thursday, April 20, they will face regional sporting arch-rivals Barbados Women at Sion Hill, at the same time that traditionally-strong Jamaica Women meet Leeward Islands Women at the rural venue of Park Hill and hosts Windward Islands Women battle Guyana Women at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.

Each of the teams will play the other once in a round-robin competition featuring five rounds, with the two teams accumulating the most points qualifying for the Final to determine the tournament winner on April 30 at Arnos Vale.

Match Schedule Thursday, April 20

Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago – Sion Hill Leeward Islands vs Jamaica – Park Hill Windward Islands vs Guyana – Arnos Vale Sports Complex Saturday, April 22 Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – Park Hill Trinidad & Tobago vs Guyana – Sion Hill Jamaica vs Barbados – Arnos Vale Sports Complex Monday, April 24 Guyana vs Barbados – Park Hill Jamaica vs Windward Islands – Sion Hill Leeward Island vs Trinidad & Tobago – Arnos Vale Sports Complex Wednesday, April 26 Guyana vs Leeward Islands – Sion Hill Barbados vs Windward Islands – Arnos Vale Sports Complex Trinidad & Tobago vs Jamaica – Park Hill Friday, April 28 Windward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago – Arnos Vale Sports Complex Barbados vs Leeward Islands – Sion Hill Guyana vs Jamaica – Park Hill Sunday, April 30 The Final – Arnos Vale Sports Complex

times in all formats against their well-oiled opponents.

Law also said the touring side is a quality unit and he expects them to be competitive but since it is not a vast difference between their T20 and ODI squads, once the West Indies bowlers made inroads then it could be perilous for the Pakistanis.

The last time these two teams met in an ODI series it was in the UAE where Fit again West Indies fast bowler Shannon West Indies Gabriel leads the warm-up session at suffered a Providence (Dexter Ceres photo) whitewash, losteams will play on Sunday ing 3-0. It could be redemption time for the April 9 and Tuesday April 11 also at the National hosts.

And though it is a differ- Stadium at Providence.

Tickets are on sale daient format, the Caribbean ly at the Guyana Cricket side will have to improve Board’s (GCB) Regent Road on their performance in the Bourda office at the followT20 series that ended 1-3 on Sunday in Trinidad, if they ing prices; $4,000 for Red are to prove their work and and Green Stand, $3,000 for enjoy revenge against the Orange Stand and $2,000 for the Mound. Parking tickvisiting Pakistanis.

After Friday’s match, the ets are also on sale at $1,000 per day.

Brave sky flies high at KMTC T hrilling horse racing action in the ancient county of Berbice unfolded on Sunday at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne in the Raj Ramchartar Construction Enterprise Horse Race and Duck Curry competition.

With several races carded for the day of fun under the sun, Brave Sky, out of the Nand Persaud racing stables raced to victory in the featured E1 and Lower 2000m sprint race. In doing so, Brave Sky stole the thunder from her stable mate, Golden Blue Echo who had to settle for second to see the stable take home $450,000 first prize along with trophies.

In the H1 and Lower race, it was Super Gold and Isn’t she charming locked in a dead heat as the first and second place prize was combined and evenly divided between the two horses while Cat Massiah copped the third position.

In the I and Lower event, it was all fun and thrills as Party Time rode off with the $160,000 first prize ahead of Ms Olympia, Mary Ann and

Amazon Warrior in second to fourth places in that order.

Also in the K and Lower race, Plane Land Safely se-

cured the victory for a cash prize of $120,000 while confusion settled for second, She’s in Control (third) and Blondie (fourth).

King Stanley took the $100,000 first prize in the three year old maiden race while Miss Anjalie took home second place for a prize of $50,000.

Meanwhile, in the L Non Earners, Royal Prince took to the top of the group with a dominant performance that earned him $80,000 while Street Silent got second, Royal Progressive third and Red Weasel, fourth.

In the L non winners, it was Blondie romping to a $100,000 prize as Party Done secured second and Blue Lightning securing third place.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

West Indies vs Pakistan Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile ODI Series Pg 23

West Indies must play smart to win West Indies in a huddle prior to practice at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Tuesday (Dexter Ceres photo)

Drivers, riders looking forward to CMRC season

Pg 22

— Kristian Jeffrey committed to Guyana’s title hunt While Jeffrey will not be participating in all four legs of the Caribbean championship, he can still bring valuable points for Guyana

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