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Guyana, Caricom mull new tariffs after Brexit P5

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

Issue No. 3213

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

PRICE

Justice La Bennett touted as next GECOM Chair

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Land CoI

P2 Public consultations to begin in June …NTC will not participate

Page 3

...retired Judge enjoys favoured candidate status – PNC source Berbice men in custody P5 for rape of 12-year-old

Consumer P13 Alert: DOST Patent Barley contaminated

Estate closure

Rose Hall residents, sugar workers unite in massive Page protest 13 United we stand! Residents and sugar workers took to the streets of Rose Hall, Berbice on Tuesday in a high-spirited protest to register their concerns about Government's and GuySuCo's decision to proceed with the closure of the Rose Hall Sugar Estate by this year-end

Pharma procurement scandal widens

Govt splits more contracts to avoid public tendering

Soldier on P16 remand for murder dismissed from Army

Page 7

ExxonMobil still to make final investment Page decision 11

…awaits approval of commercial licences

‘Economic mission’ trips

Govt has duty to provide info on spending – TIGI

Mayors’ conference to discuss key issues affecting municipal development P17 Page 9

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news

wednesDAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Land CoI

Public consultations to begin in June …NTC will not participate

A

s the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) continues to wait on a response to its request to meet with President David Granger, the controversial Land Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is all set to begin public hearings in June, officially starting its work.

On Tuesday, when Guyana Times contacted the Commission’s Secretariat, an employee said a tentative date of June 7 was set for the start of all public hearings. The hearings would be conducted at the Commission’s Secretariat at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) office. However, the Commissioners are urging persons to visit the Hadfield Street office at any

time providing they have information to aid the working of the Commission.

NTC Vice Chairman Lenox Shuman said the body was not going to cooperate with the Commission.

“So far, we have approximately 90 per cent of all the villages and their Toshaos in agreement with the position we have taken,” he said.

“We are expecting full support from the others and we are reaching out to them to know their position and determine our next step,” he added.

Shuman told this publication that the NTC would not be attending the hearing in a participatory or observatory capacity. “If we go there to observe, then it will seem as though we are par-

President David Granger

ticipating, so we will stay away altogether,” he said.

The CoI was established in March of 2017 by President Granger to examine and make recommendations to resolve all issues and uncertainties surround-

ing the claims of Amerindian land titling; the individual, joint or communal ownership of lands acquired by freed Africans and any matters relating to land titling in Guyana. The Commission is being chaired by Reverend George Chuck-A-Sang and includes David James, Carol Khan-James, Professor Rudolph James, Lennox Caleb, Paulette Henry, and Belinda Persaud.

However, the NTC has condemned the CoI since its establishment, noting that Amerindian land issues were much more complex and as such, called on the Administration to have it revoked.

Opposition Member of Parliament and former Amerindian Affairs

Vice Chairman of the NTC, Lenox Shuman

Minister, Pauline Sukhai tabled a motion at the May 8 sitting of the National Assembly calling for the revocation of the CoI. Sukhai’s motion stated that the terms of reference of the CoI were 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. It

added that in so doing the Government denied the NTC, Amerindian communities and Amerindian Non-Governmental Organisations the right to be informed and consulted as to the rationale for and the objectives of the Commission.

The motion, therefore, called for an immediate revocation of the CoI. The final report of the Commission is expected to be handed over to the President on or before November 1, unless an extension is granted.

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

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, May 17 – 09:00h-10:30h and Thursday, May 18 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, May 17 – 08:00h-09:30h and Thursday, May 18 – 09:05h-10:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 08:23h and 21:06h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.23 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:56h and 14:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.97 metre and 0.87 metre.

saturDAY, May 13, 2017

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wednesDAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Justice La Bennett touted as next GECOM Chair

...retired Judge enjoys favoured candidate status – PNC source

D

espite Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s supply of two lists of eligible and independent candidates for the post of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, President David Granger will evidently bypass the latest and second list, to appoint a wild card candidate of his own choosing.

According to information from sources close to the People’s National Congress (PNC), Granger’s choice for the post has always been retired Justice Claudette La Bennett and, as was feared by several commentators, the rejection of Jagdeo's nominees was predictable.

If the President goes ahead as was indicated, it will not be the first time that La Bennett has been appointed to a post in debatable circumstances by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

In 2015, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s announcement of her appointment to the chairmanship of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) was greeted by an outcry from the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

According to FITUG Executive Member Komal Chand, there had been a lack of consultations with the unions before her appointment. Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) General Secretary Lincoln Lewis had similar concerns about her appointment.

Jagdeo, as Opposition Leader, has a constitutional responsibility to nominate a list of candidates for the GECOM chairmanship.

It is a responsibility he has so far discharged meticulously, having supplied

that persons should have a general character of honesty, integrity, faithfulness and diligence in the discharge of their duty as Chairman of GECOM. Jagdeo’s second list had thus featured retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy, retired Justice William Ramlall, Attorney and former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond Allicock, Attorney Kashir Khan, Attorney Nadia Sagar and Captain Gerald Gouveia.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

two lists of nominees to the President.

President Granger had rejected Jagdeo’s first list of nominees, prompting a public discourse on his idiosyncratic interpretation of the Constitution of Guyana regarding the criteria to be fulfilled in the appointment of a GECOM Chairman. Ideally, he had said, the candidate should be qualified to be a judge of the High Court or an attorney for a minimum of seven years. He was insistent that the disjunctive "or" was of no consequence and the constitutional clause meant in effect “the nominee must be an ex-judge or one qualified to be a judge".

After stinging criticism, the President altered his criteria somewhat.

Candidates, according to the President’s new criteria, must be able to discharge his/her functions neutrally, between the two opposing parties, as he or she would have done in court between two opposing litigants.

Additionally, the person must be able to discharge the functions without fear or favour, without allowing any person or organisation to influence him or her to compromise his or her neutrality.

The President also said

President David Granger

Justice Claudette La Bennett

In a statement after submitting his second list, Jagdeo had highlighted that the names submitted were in accordance with the President’s requirements of the candidates having a legal background and of a neutral stance.

It was only at a recent press conference that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had cause to de-

bunk allegations in sections of the media that the President had a right to appoint a Chairman of his choosing if the Opposition Leader’s list did not meet his satisfaction. It is possible these reports were based on information similar to that recently supplied to the Guyana Times.

Meanwhile, businessman Marcel Gaskin has moved to the High Court to challenge the constitutionality of President David Granger’s reasoning behind his rejection of the Opposition Leader’s first list of six nominees for the post.

Gaskin is the brother of Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who is also the sonin-law of the President.

The businessman wants the court to determine whether Jagdeo’s list of nominees was indeed not “fit and proper” as declared

by President Granger.

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wednesDAY, may 17, 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

Health sector in a mess

T

he administration of the health services in Guyana is currently in a mess. This has led to accusations of widespread corruption resulting in patients’ lives and health being placed in danger in the hospitals and health centres. No one seems to be in control, and this has opened the floodgates for any and every one to pose as a drug supplier, including sawmills and a computer store. To make matters worse, the Government staff are spending billions of dollars without any tendering or other restraints.

The administrative structures of the health services are fairly good and workable, but they are not being worked by those employed to do so. Many believe that the employees are allowed to do their own thing, and it is widely suspected that they are receiving kickbacks and bribes.

For example, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, who is a fairly new minister, in unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar employees, had to answer questions in Parliament.

Based on her answers provided, it was clear that the staff misled her, since she had to depend on them for information and data. Since the information she was fed was incorrect, or even outrageous, it was the Minister who was embarrassed.

For example, the Minister announced to Parliament that NEW GPC had supplied ‘nearly expired’ drugs to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). When the delivery notes and invoices were examined, it was found that there was no truth in this. It was clear that the Minister’s staff had supplied her with such erroneous information.

Just as embarrassing to the Minister was when she was informed that the NEW GPC did not deliver $381 million of pharmaceuticals ordered. There was no order of $381 million and the written evidence showed only $146 million ordered; and the NEW GPC supplied it. NEW GPC made it a point to mention that all orders of earlier years were 100 per cent supplied, so that they could not try to fool her that it was the earlier years they were referring to.

The Government has a tender procedure whereby orders must be tendered for and those tendering must be reputable suppliers with proper cold storage facilities, etc. This tendering procedure was established to protect Government and prevent public funds from being siphoned away. This tender procedure was generally ignored by the officers of the GPHC and the regions. And the drugs were bought from a number of individuals. Such drugs bought without tender amounted to nearly $2 billion.

Government servants have almost always said that the reason for their spending such large sums, in almost all the budgets, is to procure emergency supplies. If it was indeed true that there was need for emergency supplies from the very beginning of the year, then it is clear that the Minister and her team have little idea of management. And this could be proved when one looks at the spending of the GPHC during the first eight weeks of the year; they had already spent a huge percentage of the year’s budget for drugs.

Before we move off from actual examples of misspending in the health sector, the cause celebre of the recent ANSA McAL deal must be mentioned. The health sector awarded Trinidadian-owned ANSA McAL a highly controversial deal of $605 million for drugs that reportedly could have been bought locally for less than half that sum (around $300 million); and all the drugs ordered could have been obtained immediately from local sources. In essence, Guyana found itself poorer by over $300 million. In Trinidad, no Guyanese could tender for or be awarded such a contract. And to make the situation even more ridiculous, the Minister said ANSA McAL gave the Hospital four refrigerators, which were long required and which presumably was a ‘sweetener’. Here again, this reflected the ineptitude of the hospital administration in not buying the necessary refrigerators when they were needed years ago.

There are many other examples of Government’s funds being fritted way or siphoned off in the health sector, and these are reason enough for the President to immediately instruct that a thorough inquiry be carried out. This can aid in efforts to free the sector of corrupt and inefficient employees, save the Public Health Minister from being further embarrassed, and members of the public dismissing the entire health sector as being the ‘hotbed’ of corruption.

This situation is providing the Opposition with a ‘field day’ as the health sector continues to shoot its Government in the foot and cause it to further lose what little credibility it has.

Isabel Fortes, 65, an Indigenous woman from the Karipuna tribe, prepares manioc flour on the banks of the Oiapoque River, Brazil (Reuters)

Critical contents in ‘secret’ agreement to exploit Guyana’s oilfields will remain sealed Dear Editor, In a May 13 letter which appeared in the news media, Economics students of the University of Guyana requested clarification from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) as to whether a feasibility study was done for a proposed onshore facility at Crab Island in the Berbice River to determine its viability to service offshore oil fields now being developed off Guyana’s north coast. Additionally, they sought answers to several broader concerns such as to how the oil revenue will be determined and shared, training and employment of Guyanese and the purchase of goods and services locally.

Answers to many, if not all, of the questions raised by the students should have been found in the agreement made between the Government of Guyana/ MNR and ExxonMobil.

However, in a letter of May 14, the MNR responded to the students’ queries with vague answers and stonewalled on the request which was made to make available the terms and conditions of the agreement with the dubious excuse that the contents could not be released publicly on advice it had received. The MNR

further stated that it would not make any fundamental changes to the agreement, which was made under the PPP/C Government and it would respect the terms therein, whatever they are.

The Senior Director of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL) also responded to the students’ letter and cautiously stated that a critical component of the work of ExxonMobil is to engage with the public to answer questions on local content, benefits, jobs and other topics.

However, releasing confidential information on the agreement made with the Government was not one of them. Therefore, EEPGL was unable to release the terms and conditions under which it is exploring and developing the oilfields off Guyana’s north coast.

Hence, responses by the MNR and ExxonMobil suggest that the students will not get answers to their questions anytime soon as critical contents in the ‘secret’ agreement to exploit Guyana’s oilfields will remain sealed.

ExxonMobil stated that it expects to start pumping crude oil from Guyana’s oilfields by year 2020. The crude will be stored temporarily in floating contain-

ers then loaded onto tankers for world markets. The natural petroleum gas produced will be flared and/ or pumped back with other materials into the oil-bearing sandstone to force trapped oil to the surface. ExxonMobil has made no commitment to building onshore facilities to refine crude oil or to liquefy gas for domestic use and/or export.

Nevertheless, the MNR seemed to have ‘jumped the gun’ and paid for a feasibility study to be carried out for onshore facilities the objectives for which are yet to be disclosed.

Guyana does not have the finances nor a trained and skilled workforce to develop any facility to service the oil industry. The Government’s efforts with respect to the sugar industry, construction of the Palmyra Monument and the Kato School clearly bear this out. The APNU/ AFC Government should concentrate its efforts preparing plans as to how it intends to spend its share of the oil revenue. Plans should be focused on creating jobs by developing the country’s infrastructure, improving education and training in needed skills at every level and providing good health care. The MNR has no experience in

developing any aspect of an oil industry. This should be left to investors who could be attracted with good incentives such as land, a trained workforce, excellent infrastructure and the opportunity to make shared profits. Any onshore facility to service the offshore rigs should, therefore, be provided by ExxonMobil as it has the finances and knowhow to build such a facility to meet their needs.

It is doubtful that in its agreement with the Government, ExxonMobil would have made commitments on local contents for its operations and secured jobs for Guyanese. The oil industry is renowned for its globe-trotting workers which no doubt will be recruited quickly as needed, since it would take years to train Guyanese for the skills required to develop the oilfields.

Initially, there may be a handful of low-paying jobs available to Guyanese, but the high-paying ones will be difficult to fill because Guyanese do not presently have the relevant skills. It seems, therefore, that the UG students will have to be onlookers for a long time to come.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

wednesDAY, May 17, 2017

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News

Guyana, Caricom mull Berbice men in custody new tariffs after Brexit for rape of 12-year-old

G

uyana is seeking a “transitional arrangement” for itself and the Caribbean Region as the United Kingdom (UK) begins the two-year process to leave the European Union (EU).

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge recently said this was raised by President David Granger when he made a State visit to the UK in late April.

“That transition has implications for those who supply the United Kingdom with products such as sugar, in Guyana, and for those who purchase United Kingdom goods which also applies to Guyana,” Minister Greenidge explained.

Those implications referred to by the Minister are tariffs and new regulations,

which will differ from what are currently being offered by the EU. Establishing a transitional arrangement will facilitate “a soft landing as a result of these changes” for Guyana and the Caribbean as a whole, Minister Greenidge noted.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) is also mulling the implications of Britain leaving the EU. Like Guyana, Caricom too has to reassess trade arrangements with the UK. At the opening of the 44th regular meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on May 10, Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque noted that

Brexit would have an impact on the Region’s external trade relationships.

Britain and the EU are major trade partners of Caricom. At COTED’s recent meeting, a decision had to be made to ensure Caricom’s market access to the UK continued after the Brexit process had been complete.

“This is important given that the UK market absorbs approximately 22 per cent of our overall exports to the European Union,” Ambassador LaRocque pointed out. Britain voted to leave the EU last June in a referendum that was popularly referred to as Brexit. At the end of March, Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, officially triggered the process for leaving the EU.

T

hree men are now in Police custody in New Amsterdam, Berbice for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.

The girl was reportedly raped by her stepfather, a 46-year-old cane cutter; her 18-year-old stepbrother and her 22-year-old cousin.

Guyana Times was told that the child was assaulted repeatedly between November 2016 and March 2017.

Reports are the matter was only reported to the Police on May 15, 2017.

This publication was informed that the incident occurred for the first time when the victim visited her

stepbrother’s home.

His house is located in the same yard in which she resides with her mother, stepfather and two siblings.

On the day in question, the girl went to her stepbrother’s home to assist with chores as she customarily does.

It was there that she was allegedly held down by her stepbrother and cousin and raped. Following that incident, the men continued to abuse the girl regularly.

The 12-year-old reportedly confided to her aunt what was transpiring and the matter was then report-

ed to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA).

After carrying out a thorough investigation into the reports made, the CCPA then reported the matter to the Police.

A visit was paid to the victim’s home and she was escorted to the hospital where it was determined that she was indeed being sexually molested.

It was at the hospital that the girl reportedly told Police and doctors that her stepfather also sexually assaulted her. The Police have now launched an investigation into the matter, and the three men are expected to be charged.

A case of the blind leading the visually impaired Dear Editor, The continued failed developmental policies of the successive Governments of Guyana persist and reverberate across the Caribbean and indeed the world. Headlining this week in Barbados and even drawing front page coverage in the leading newspaper (The Barbados Nation), is the newly touted law that Magistrates and Judges should arbitrarily and systematically remand Caricom nationals (meaning Guyanese citizens), to prison, even before their cases are heard. The law will also require that the defendants be refused bail.

Just last week, a Guyanese national, Teri Alicia Forde, was placed before the District A Magistrates’ Court in Barbados, to answer to a charge of ‘disturbance of the peace’. Forde pleaded guilty to the charge and was immediately remanded to the Dodds Prison, for what is otherwise

a bailable offence. Her attorney, Arthur Holder, begged the court to place her on bail.

This kind of ‘eye-pass’ is foisted upon Guyanese living abroad, because our successive Governments have failed the Guyanese people. These foreign courts are taking advantage of Guyanese because they know that many Guyanese would rather live in disrepute and squalor in another man’s country, than suffer the poverty-stricken hell they have to endure in their own. Imagine that with a population of less than one million in a country that possesses the kind of natural wealth we have, our daughters and sons are made to flee their beloved homeland, in search of a better life.

Many of the folks leaving Guyana remain in those countries illegally, selling their bodies and consciences, just to make a living. After 50 years of independence, none of the governing administrations have

been able to put any kind of developmental policies in place to reduce the rate at which Guyanese flee this country.

None of the other Caribbean territories possess the kind of natural resources that we possess, yet all of them offer a better, safer, more acceptable living standard than we do. Why is that?

How is it that we have remained so blighted for so many years? It is as if our leaders are docile and inept. We elect one successive government after the next, and none seem to have the wherewithal to cast a vision that will invite us to rally around them. Where is the strategic plan for the country?

Where is the legislative agenda for sustained growth and development? What is the endgame? Where is the accountability? It is as if we are just limping along. Our politicians seem more interested in securing the good life for themselves and their families, so

that on their departure from Government, they would be set for life.

Pull any Guyanese aside and ask them: What is the plan of the new government to improve your personal wellbeing? They would be unable to tell you. And it is not as if this is only true of this Granger-led Administration. Pull another Guyanese aside and ask them: If the PPP wins the next election, what will they do to improve your personal well-being? They will not be able to answer you either. As a nation we are just drifting along.

Our leaders seem unable to inspire us to greatness. We follow them mostly, because they look like us. Or we vote for them only if we are able to benefit in some crookish or ethni-

cally biased way, when they are in power.

And if I sound somewhat indignant, it is because I am! I love my country and I am appalled at the racial and political ideological underpinnings which drive our electoral process. When the PPP is ‘in’, those who support them condone even their most murderous and vile behaviours. When the PNC is ‘in’, those who support them are willing to turn a blind eye to their misdeeds and selfish behaviours. And all the while, our academicians and those who are able to flee are bailing out of the country, leaving only the desperate, destitute, a few patriotic folks and a bunch of career politicians who know that they will always get a pass because it is a case of

the blind leading the visually impaired.

Meanwhile, the Guyanaborn Teri Alicia Fordes are left to rot in foreign prisons, all because most of their elected leaders are more concerned with their fat-cat salaries and positioning themselves and their families for their retirement. The country continues to be mismanaged while our politicians use the race card and some nonsensical political ideologies to position themselves in power.

Ms Forde, on behalf of the independent thinking Guyanese – who are still working towards a real change in Guyana – I am sorry.

Truly, Pastor WP Jeffrey

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wednesdAY, may 17, 2017

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BY ALONNA FRIEDMAN

O

ur current culture is all about immediacy: we text, Tweet, post on Facebook. We know everything that everyone else has accomplished. It’s easy to see how this trickles down to our children. Your two-yearold stays dry through the night?

What will you challenge her with next? Your tween got one of two slots for the organic goat cheese making internship this summer? Add it to the college resume!

But does the constant goal-reaching mean you are a “Pressure Parent”?

Pressure Parents have been in the news a lot recently with moms and dads assaulting and verbally attacking their children’ coaches and even opposing players. One father in Massachusetts bit off part of a basketball coach’s ear to express his anger. Obviously, these parents were too invested, but making the headlines isn’t the only sign that you’re coming on too strong where your child’s success is involved.

Setting high expectations for children isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But how lofty these goals are has to depend on how your child is responding to them. “Parents want children to succeed and do well but when they get overly involved and pressure children they lose sight of the negative impact it has on a child,” says Robi Ludwig, PsyD, Care.com parenting expert. That negative impact can be anything from children having nightmares, developing an OCD, pulling out their own hair, turning to drugs, seeking out underachieving friends

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

signs you’re a highpressure parent or putting added pressure on themselves to please parents.

“The key is to be your child’s biggest fan and nurturer,” says Boston-based psychotherapist Karen Ruskin, PsyD author of The 9 Key Techniques for Raising Respectful Children Who Make Responsible Choices. “Act as a ‘supporter’ rather than a ‘pusher’.”

While you’re certainly not going to stand by idly if your daughter is flunking Maths, you also can’t ignore her when she’s putting more effort into

stress than they can handle.

Our experts have pinpointed the signs that you’re applying so much pressure on your children that one of you might pop. Here are some strategies Drs Ludwig and Ruskin suggest to better communicate with your child: When you’re getting upset.

Do you feel anxious, mad or depressed when your child fails to meet your expectations in school or a sport? To put all of your energy into ensuring your child succeeds leaves no

her art final then necessary.

“The perfect balance is to be empathetic, compassionate and helpful when your child is being too hard on themselves, while also asserting just the right amount of pressure as the cheering squad to help your children be the best version of themselves,” says Dr Ruskin.

time to take care of your own emotional needs. Frankly, it’s unbalanced, says Dr Ludwig.

The fix: Reclaim your favourite pastimes and passions. You’ll always give your all to your family but you deserve as much attention.

“Part of being a good parent is being a good role model and showing your child that you partake in things you love doing,” says Dr Ludwig.” You can also show them how you work hard to achieve and how good it makes you feel about yourself.”

This doesn’t mean you can’t take an active role in helping your child with his education.

Schedule time for yourself

Signs and strategies Do you put too much pressure on your children?

Whether it was how you were raised, you’re feeling they just need an extra push, or you want them to achieve things you weren’t able to, it’s important to provide encouragement without causing them more

around when your son needs your help the most. “Sit with your child while she’s doing homework and ask her to share with you what she is learning,” says Dr. Ruskin. “Show her your interest rather than being her ‘boss’ and looking down upon her and ordering her what to do.” This way you are helping them learn to learn. “When you help her to learn along with giving them positive feedback for her accomplishments she will develop a strong school work ethic.”

When you’re fighting with your spouse. There are in numerous subjects a husband and wife can argue about – dirty socks in the corner, a late payment on the AMEX bill or the nosy mother-in-law. But when the tiffs too often turn into battles over your child’s success, it’s unhealthy for everyone. The high-pressure parent will blame his or her spouse for not putting enough pressure on the children to get better grades. “If your child is above average in school, participates in activities and has friends but you still think it is not enough, you have highpressure parent issues,” says Dr Ruskin.

The fix: Think teamwork.

It’s natural to fight about the children but you need to be on the same page to be effective parents. First take some time to reconnect as a couple.

That means no talk about children, window treatments or exterminators. Then reexamine what you both want for your children and how you can help them do their best without everyone in the house feeling anxious. (www.care.

com)

To be continued

Parenting stress: Why it matters, and what we can do to get relief

By Gwen Dewar, Phd

D

o children bring happiness or strife? That's what S Katherine Nelson and her colleagues wanted to know. They'd seen conflicting research on the subject, surveys that came to opposite conclusions, and they were pretty sure they knew why.

It must depend on stress – the negative emotions, relationship tensions, sleep troubles, and financial pressures that parents experience. So they took a deeper look, reviewing nearly one hundred published studies, and what they learned was this: Parents are happier than their childless counterparts when the burden is relatively light. They are happier with their children have easy temperaments, and when their children don't have behaviour problems or medical conditions. They are happier when they have high levels of social support, and they are happier in their later years, when the children have grown up and left the nest (Nelson et al 2014; Nelson et al 2013).

But otherwise it's a wash, or else parents tend to feel worse. And what determines the worse? Any one of these conditions: * Having at least one child with a difficult temperament * Having at least one child with medical, emotional, or behaviour problems * Having only low levels of social support * Being a single parent * Having a young child It's hardly a surprising checklist. And as every burdened parent knows, the trouble tends to snowball. Stress is contagious.

For instance, we know that infants can "catch" stress from their parents. In an experiment where researchers deliberately stressed mothers – by having them deliver a speech to a disapproving, critical audience – the stress spread to babies too. Once reunited with their mothers, babies began to mirror their mothers' distressed heart rhythms. They also became more inhibited around strangers (Waters et al 2014).

Such research is consistent with other studies that show a link between adult stress in the home and infant physiology. When babies grow up listening to frequent, angry arguments – including spats overheard while they sleep – they're likely to experience higher spikes of the stress hormone cortisol and increased activity brain regions linked with the processing of distressing emotions (Towe-Goodman et al 2012; Graham et al 2013).

It isn't hard to imagine how such reactions could amplify a parent's stress. In the heat of the moment, your parenting stress triggers a negative reaction in the baby, which stresses you even more. But what about the long-term?

Experiments on nonhuman animals suggest that chronic exposure can change the way a baby develops.

Pressure a mother rat – by making her think a hostile male lurks nearby – and her babies will grow more slowly, eventually becoming adults prone to anxiety and stress-related disease (Nephew and Bridges 2011; Moles et al 2008).

Overtax a mother monkey – by putting her on an erratic foraging schedule – and her babies will show less interest in play and exploration. As adults, they will be less social, and they may end up with smaller brain volume in several regions of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (Meyer and Hamil 2014).

Developmental research on humans is observational, not experimental, so when we find links between parenting stress and long-term outcomes, we're less certain about causation. Did the parent's stress cause problems in the child? Is the parent stressed-out because her child has problems? Or is there a third factor, something that causes trouble for both family members?

It's hard to know, but given what we've learned from animal experiments, we've got reason to think that parenting stress can be a cause as well as an effect. And in studies where researchers tracked the development of human children over time, they found that parental stress preceded child behaviour problems. Children tended to act up after their parents began to experience intense stress (Neece and Baker 2008; Baker et al 2003; Thomason et al 2014). (parentingscience.com) TO BE CONTINUED

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wednesDAY, may 17, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Pharma procurement scandal widens

Govt splits more contracts to avoid public tendering G

overnment has been disingenuously cheating the bidding system, this time by splitting pharmaceuticals contracts below the stipulated limit to bypass the transparent process of public tendering in order to award contracts to favoured suppliers.

Records show that some $4.4 billion has been collectively awarded for the purchase of drugs without public tendering by handing out multiple contracts valued less than the limit to preferred suppliers.

In some cases, suppliers have received more than 10 lesser contracts in just one day in an attempt to avoid the public tendering system. Guyana Times has been shown documentation which illustrated how the contracts were split. Notably, another major Trinidadian company is in the mist of this new scheme to avoid public tendering. The Trinidadian company received up to 11 contracts from the Government on March 22, 2016 which collectively were valued some $2.3 million. The same firm also benefited from five contracts on April 14, 2016 which were worth a total of $1.7 million.

Additionally, the same company also received five additional contracts valuing some $630,000 on May 10, 2016.

The trend persisted throughout the entire year and other companies, both local and international, including those with known

connections to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration benefited.

This practice flies in the face of the Procurement Act, which stipulates that “a procuring entity shall not split or cause to split contracts or divide or cause to divide its procurement into separate contracts

where the sole purpose for doing so is to avoid the application of any provision of this Act or any regulations made thereunder.”

Commenting on the issue during his press conference on Monday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo exclaimed that this was the first time in the country’s history that such a situation

has been occurring.

Jagdeo noted that between January 2016 and February 2017, some $4.8 billion was spent on the purchase of drugs and medical supplies, but less than $400 million went to public tender.

The scandal in pharmaceuticals procurement first broke when the Public Health Ministry came

under fire for awarding a $605 million drug contract without public tendering to ANSA McAL – a Trinidadian firm, ostensibly because of an "emergency". The prices for the drugs supplied were at least twice the market rates.

That company then donated what is now called the "Pharma Arch", which was recently erected on the Rupert Craig Highway – at a cost of $20 million.

Jagdeo reminded that the APNU/AFC had vigorously accused the previous Administration of sole-sourcing drugs by avoiding the public tendering system.

But the former President noted that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration had implemented the prequalification system that was modelled after international standards such as those of the World Health Organisation (WHO); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Such a mechanism ensures that quality drugs were steadily available for mass public consumption at competitive world market prices, the absence of which would invariably lead to shortages of drugs, since there were no direct established supply chains with companies that are prequalified to deliver the requisite drugs needed.

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wednesDAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Time compression…

T

…by Government he PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition spent millions of taxpayers’ dollars producing a 16-page insert in the Chronic “celebrating” their two-year stint at the helm of the ship of state, Guyana. It’s like the Captain of the Titanic celebrating the 115th anniversary of hitting that iceberg in the North Atlantic!! But at least the Titanic’s captain had the grace to go down with his ship, didn’t he?

But here in Guyana, even though the Government deliberately ignored all the warnings by the business community, the Opposition and independent analyst that they’ve been steering the Guyanese economy directly into the iceberg called “recession”, it fell on deaf ears.

And the Guyanese economy’s in a free fall headed to the bottom of the whirlpool of economic debris. And these jokers have the chutzpah to “celebrate”!!

What’s to celebrate? From where this Eyewitness sits, their only achievement is offering another proof of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity - in the social world. At its heart that now venerable theory is very simple: as things move faster, for outside observers, time slows down.

What the PNC-led APNU-AFC Government has done is to move so fast in destroying within two years the economy the PPP rebuilt in 23 years. Guyanese are convinced the PNC’s been ruling for 23 years!! That’s how long they feel they’ve been suffering!! Twenty-three years have been compressed into two years!! Roll over Einstein!! Meet the PNC! But your Eyewitness can now see some method to the madness from official quarters. The Shill wasn’t only deflecting criticisms of a “do nothing” government, he was also trumpeting their “success”!! But he, at least, was pithy, even as he was pitiful!! This latest output of the Chronic was so prolix, your Eyewitness was seriously challenged to plough through them. They’re so much garbage a fella can rummage through!!

So, what was the insert all about. They started out by reprinting Prezzie’s “Swearing-in” address, where he proclaimed “A year of renewal”. The only thing’s “renewed” is the despair from the PNC’s first stint at the helm under Burnham. This was followed by PM Nagamootoo taking 2000 words to announce a “new paradigm” in “a new democracy”. He certainly knows what he’s talking about. In this “new paradigm”, all the terms of the Accord defining the “new democracy” giving him more powers were broken by the PNC. But the PM’s not only mute – he insists everything is “OK”!!

But the biggest joke of all was the article on Basil Williams announcing his “top priority”: “Restoring the ‘rule of law’!! While your Eyewitness isn’t any spring chicken, on reading that he immediately began “ROTFLMAO”!!

Rolling on the floor, laughing my ‘a55’ off!! …in money laundering They say you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

But then you gotta make sure the “gift horse” isn’t a “Trojan Horse”, don’t you?? This thought flashed into your Eyewitness’ mind when he read of the donation of $4 billion drugs by a US NGO – Guyana Medical Relief Council – to the tune of US$20 million!! Now this is real money – greenbacks – not Guyana’s monopoly-money. The Bank of Guyana recently claimed they stabilised THE ENTIRE GUYANESE ECONOMY by pumping the same amount into the banks!!

Some raised concerns these drugs might be expired or “almost”- expired – and will soon be dumped. Some worried the drugs might have nothing to do with the specific ailments that trouble Guyanese – like diabetes.

But your Eyewitness is worried the US just warned Guyana was still on their radar for laundering money.

Isn’t this what getting a US tax-write-off for US$20 million of expired drugs, is?? Let’s follow the money, SOCU or FBI!! …at D’Urban Park We just heard, from one military personnel, Bess, to another, Nicolett, that D’Urban Park’s about to be “spruced up” for Independence 50+1.

But wasn’t it only a year ago $1.3 billion was spent to “fix it up” for Jubilee?

Ahh...how time (and money) flies when the scandals come fast and furious!!

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

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wednesDAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Economic mission trips

Govt has duty to provide info on spending – TIGI

A

fter it was first revealed that President David Granger used a chartered plane to fly to The Bahamas on a State visit, a senior Government official was reported in sections of the media to have promised details on the chartered flight would be provided.

That was late last month.

More than two weeks later, Government has yet to release to the public details of how much of taxpayers’ money was expended on the trip. And, according to Transparency Institute Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) Head, Dr Trevor Thomas, if questions are raised about the spending of taxpayers’ monies, the Government has a responsibility to respond to them.

“We shouldn’t have questions about this. And if there are questions raised, then the answers should be forthcoming,” Dr Thomas said during a recent interview. “I don’t think that is a private matter or a security matter or anything like that, so I wouldn’t agree with keeping things like that a secret.”

Dr Thomas said if there was a reason that the President or the Government did not want to come clean on the costs, then that would have to be an exceptionally good reason. But he added that as it

was a State visit, he did not see a reason for not providing the details.

“If there are questions about the spending I don’t see why the answers shouldn’t be forthcoming.

Once you are using taxpayers money, you should be accountable for it and you should be willing to answer the questions. So, I would find that a problem, if the answers are not forthcoming.”

TIGI has not been the only entity, along with individuals, calling for full disclosure. The parliamentary Opposition has also questioned the expenditure. And explanations from Government officials that the chartered plane was the most feasible option appear to not even scratch the surface, as the Opposition wants specifics.

Not a private matter

According to Opposition parliamentarian and former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill, a President’s trip overseas on behalf of the State is certainly not a private matter. As such, details should be made available to taxpayers.

The Government, he noted, in the interest of transparency and accountability to the people of Guyana should release all the de-

report, it was related that the President visited and toured several industrial sites in Freeport, Bahamas, including the Grand

Bahama Shipyard, where he said the visit to that country has been a learning lesson for Guyana for its future growth and development.

Man remanded for trafficking ganja at Stabroek Square President David Granger upon arriving in The Bahamas

tails. According to Edghill, “when the President travels, (it) is not a private matter.

He is representing the State of Guyana.”

“He is being funded by the State and the citizens of the State must at all times be fully aware of what it is costing the State for the President to represent the State,” Edghill said in an interview with this publication. Edghill had also been adamant that the State should officially make known what tangible benefits Guyana gained from the trip. “The President must be able to show the country what benefits would have accrued to Guyana in the short to medium term as a result of this expenditure and spending,” Edghill said.

The President had ar-

rived in The Bahamas on March 2, as part of a threeday State visit which has been dubbed an ‘economic mission’. According to a report in a Bahamian newspaper, the President was expected to pay a courtesy call on the Governor General and then meet with the Guyanese Diaspora.

But reports are the chartered plane and the trip altogether cost Guyanese taxpayers some $18 million, as the President was accompanied by an entourage, which included Ministers and other personnel for whom accommodation was provided.

There has been no word on whether any bilateral trade agreements, prospective or otherwise, were secured in Guyana’s interest.

In a Government news

A

reputed pickpocket of Kitty, Georgetown, was on Tuesday morning charged and remanded to prison for allegedly trafficking in 25 grams of cannabis (ganja).

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan was 26-year-old Travis Alexander, who, on May 12, 2017 at the Stabroek Square, Georgetown, allegedly had in his possession 25 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him

by the Magistrate and was remanded to prison as Prosecutor Alwyn Moore objected to bail. Moore related that the accused had reportedly robbed someone in the area and he was apprehended by Police after an alarm was raised.

A search conducted on his person revealed in his left pants pocket, a black plastic bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.

Alexander was then cautioned, arrested, and charged with the offence. He is expected to return to court on May 25, 2017.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, may 17, 2017

News

Vlissengen Road shooting

Judge admits accused’s caution statement – defence disputes authenticity

A

t Tuesday’s session into the Travis McDougal High Court case, trial Judge Justice Navindra Singh admitted into evidence, the Police caution statement in which the accused chronicled events surrounding the shooting death of a businessman.

The statement being ruled “admissible” ended a voir dire (trial within a trial) which saw witnesses testifying in the absence of the jury.

McDougal is accused of killing 43-year-old dredge owner Ashok Raghu outside the Botanical Gardens on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown in August 2014, in the alleged execution of a robbery with an accomplice. At Tuesday’s trial, Police Superintendent Michael Kingston who was attached to the Brickdam Police Station that year, read out the caution statement that McDougal allegedly gave Police.

The jury heard that McDougal knew his accomplice, Jermaine Otto, called “Fungus”, from the time they attended Lodge Secondary School together. Otto was said to have asked the accused to drop him in Kitty, Georgetown, since McDougal had a driver’s licence.

According to McDougal’s recounting of the night’s events, when the two were on the motorcycle and had reached the traffic light at Regent and Vlissengen Roads, Otto got off of the motorcycle and proceeded to a car.

“All I hear is shots,” the accused allegedly stated, further adding that he later heard that the man died and his wife was shot. Otto contacted him and reportedly said: “I hope my name ain’t get call.”

Superintendent Kingston further testified that McDougal signed the caution statement six times, add-

Accused: Travis McDougal is on trial for murder

ing that the accused was not handcuffed when he had done so. The Police witness further told the court that the accomplice, Jermaine Otto, was subsequently arrested after intelligence was passed on to investigative ranks.

Under cross-examination by McDougal’s defence attorney, Nigel Hughes, Superintendent Kingston was asked if a confrontation should

have been held between Otto and McDougal. Kingston stated he was not aware if this was done. Hughes suggested that Kingston took McDougal upstairs alone to interrogate him but the Police witness scoffed at these suggestions.

However, as the cross-examination continued, Superintendent Kingston could not name nor give the ranks of the few other officers who were present at the time he took the accused in for questioning. Nevertheless, the Police witness maintained that McDougal was not tortured in his presence, whether by electric shock or by other methods. Later in the trial, Inspector of Police, Devon Lowe, who was also attached to Brickdam, testified to the investigations which he carried out.

It was in July 2015 that McDougal was committed to stand trial for murder, along with porkknocker Jermaine Otto. However, McDougal stands before Judge and jury alone as Otto was one of the prisoners that perished in the deadly Camp Street Prison fire, following riots in March 2016. McDougal, of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, and his accomplice were both accused of killing Raghu on August 18, 2014, during the furtherance of a robbery of $4 million, committed on the now deceased man and his wife, Shyrazadi. It was on Friday last that State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh testified that Raghu died from a perforated lung due to a gunshot. It is believed at the time of the robbery, that one of the men had grabbed a haversack containing $4 million, but Raghu’s wife held onto the haversack and was shot in the thigh. The State’s case is being led by Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy with assistance from fellow Prosecutor Siand Dhurjohn. The trial continues before Justice Navindra Singh at the Demerara High Court.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

“Extractive Sector”

Dear Diary, This is Trotty again. I know I only wrote to you this morning but this job to run the “Extractive Sector” is very stressful. It’s almost as stressful as dealing with Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat. I thought when I rigged the Vreed-en-Hoop election and dumped those two losers, I’d be on easy street. They were whining all the time because they thought they’d be given some real power!! Little did they know the Nassau Accord trumped the Coming Bug Accord!!

It was so much easier when I was in charge of “Governance”. First of all, half the fun was knowing the job had been promised to Nagga Man!! All I had to do was pass on Prezzie’s orders to Ministers like Rum Jhaat. But Har Min wanted to be the Big Man In Cabinet (BMIC) and said you can’t have two Man Crab in one hole. Have you seen him Dear Diary?

That is one, mean looking Man Crab!! I wasn’t about to argue with him.

So they sent me to “Extractive Sector”. They asked me if I had experience in that area, Dear Diary…and of course I said, “Yes!” Look how much I had extracted from businessmen during the campaign, when I told them about making “political investments”. That was like the gift that kept on giving, Dear Diary, because now I can give them dividends in my new job – which I discovered had to do with digging minerals and stuff from beneath the soil.

But I don’t have time to scratch my bald head, Dear Diary. First they sent me to Paris to handle COP 21. I was happy because I thought I was going to deal with policing matters, and taking that away from Rum Jhaat! But then I found out it had to do with climate change? What the heck Climate had to do with “Extractive Sector”?? Nobody wanted to make “political investments” in that.

But now that X-on found oil, I have to accept “political Investments” all day long. It’s not easy to keep track to give dividends, Dear Diary.

wednesDAY, may 17, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

ExxonMobil still to make Linden fatal accident final investment decision Driver released … awaits approval of commercial licences

S

everal months after major oil discoveries were confirmed offshore Guyana, US-based ExxonMobil is still awaiting approval of their licences from local regulatory agencies to prepare for drilling.

This disclosure was made by outgoing Country Manager for ExxonMobil, Jeff Simon, who told members of the local media on Tuesday that the company is yet to make a Final Investment Decision (FID).

According to Simon, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is being reviewed, while the production licence has to be granted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

While explaining that the company has been engaged in discussion with the authorities regarding the approval of these licences, Simon said Government in reviewing the application for the permits has sought additional information from ExxonMobil.

“I think they have engaged some additional help and those parties have come back to us for a lot of additional information so it is still being analysed,” he said on Tuesday.

In highlighting the enormousness of the investment that has to be made before the actual drilling commences, the country manager explained that there is need for some level of certainty that must be exercised on the part of the Government of Guyana in granting the licences and approvals.

Outgoing Country Manager Jeff Simon explaining ExxonMobil’s operations which will take place offshore

Simon said not only has ExxonMobil been engaged in a number of preparations, but its partners have also made steps to get prepared, explaining that once the FID is approved, the company would spend about US$5 billion before beginning production.

Government has secured the services of overseas experts to review the applications submitted by ExxonMobil.

Since 2015, ExxonMobil has announced three oil finds in Guyana’s offshore area. The most recent discovery came in April, 2017, when the com-

pany found 25 meters of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs at its Snoek well in the Stabroek block.

The company has also hit oil at Stabroek’s Payara and Liza fields. The latter is estimated to contain up to 1.4 billion barrels of light oil. According to the company, by the mid-2020s daily output from Stabroek could reach 450,000 barrels.

At present, tenders are out for local suppliers and contractors that are able to support a number of projects for the company’s operation.

pending investigation

T

he driver involved in the fatal accident at Amelia’s Ward, Linden, which claimed the life of 59-year-old Michael Simon, also called “Mikey”, of Amelia’s Ward a little over a week ago has since been released on station bail.

Guyana Times was reliably informed by a senior Police rank that 35-yearold Clint Henry, of 22 Toucan Drive, Amelia’s Ward, was released some time ago pending completion of investigations, following which legal advice would be sought into the matter.

Simon was killed on the evening of May 5, after he was struck down by a Toyota MRS car bearing registration number PVV 9182, which was driven by Henry. The now deceased man was said to be of unsound mind and would usually do odd jobs around the Linden community, where he was well-known.

The accident took place only a short distance away from the Amelia’s Ward

Police outpost. According to Police, at the time of the accident, the car was proceeding east along the Amelia’s Ward Public Road when Simon, who was a pedestrian, proceeded to cross the said road from the northern direction towards the south, about 10 feet before the oncoming vehicle.

The driver is said to have applied brakes to avoid a collision; however, the front left side of the car hit the deceased.

Simon sustained serious injuries and was shortly after rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, who was later present at the scene of the accident, has since renewed his calls for the Public Infrastructure Ministry to place street lights along the section of the highway from Millie’s Hideout, since he noted that the area was extremely dark at nights.

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wednesDAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Draft broadcast law

Forcing broadcasters to air 1 hour of PSAs “dangerous” – Ramotar …can lead to curtailing of freedom of expression

T

he new measures in the draft broadcast legislation which now compel local broadcasters to air one hour of free Public Service Announcements (PSAs) each day have been described as a “dangerous” precedent in the Government’s policies towards private media.

Former President Donald Ramotar, who had served as Minister of Information during his term in office, on Tuesday said that including a clause forcing private broadcasters to devote stipulated time for free PSAs was an unnecessary and potentially oppressive move.

“I would say that this is a dangerous sign, a dangerous development because the Government has huge media outlets already,” Ramotar said. “It’s not that they (Government) don’t have media outlets. And this measure is totally unnecessary for them to take.”

Ramotar expressed wor-

ry that the measure can, in the long run, be used to curtail free speech. The former President’s concern comes against the backdrop of a provision in the legislation for broadcasters who “arbitrarily refused” to broadcast a PSA without filing a complaint to be deemed by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) to be in breach of their licence.

Under the Broadcasting Act, the GNBA has the power to suspend or revoke any broadcasting licences, providing the licensee was given a reasonable opportunity to defend itself. That is, the law states, unless facilitating such a defence is impractical.

“It is a worrying sign of Government trying to control and the first step in Government trying to control the dissemination of ideas. It is a sign of their tendency of trying to control free speech and it’s getting more and more pronounced since they

Former President Donald Ramotar

got into Government,” the former President expressed.

There have been questions about who the Government is consulting with to come up with the legislation. The GNBA is the regulatory body for broadcasters. It has already submitted its advice to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is the cur-

rent Minister of Information, in relation to the legislation.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA), which is considered the foremost representative body of media workers in Guyana, was not consulted about the broadcast legislation being formulated. The Association had thus expressed concern about this.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo had said that the new regulations would be taken to the National Assembly. He had also stated that the regulations would guide the operations of the Authority and the decisions it would make regarding broadcasters.

According to reports in the State media, the new draft legislation being prepared would see broadcast agencies being mandated to broadcast public service programmes for a total of up to one hour daily.

Broadcast agencies will be airing these free programmes at no cost and as requested by

the Government between the hours of 06:00h and 22:00h.

It is also stated that the GNBA reserves the right to direct a broadcasting agency to broadcast emergency notices or disaster warnings for any length of time, and regularly during peak or prime advertising periods, depending on the nature of the emergency and having regard to public safety.

According to the draft legislation, a broadcaster has the right to file a complaint with the GNBA within 24 hours of being asked to broadcast a programme free of cost if, in the agency’s judgment, it is not considered a public service broadcast.

The GNBA, according to the draft provisos, “shall investigate and determine a complaint, and issue a ruling that the programme can be reasonably considered a public service broadcast programme, and direct the broadcasting agency to air the programme free of cost”.

Further, the broadcast-

er can “be granted an interim order to broadcast the announcement as a public service broadcast programme; and where the programme is not so considered, as provided in Section 9 (a) above, the GNBA can order payment of regular programme cost for broadcasting the said programme.”

But there is also a warning: provision is made for sanctions to be levied on any broadcaster the GNBA finds to have “arbitrarily refused” to broadcast a public service broadcast programme without lodging a complaint. The GNBA can, after deliberation, deem that broadcaster is in breach of his/her licence.

GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers did defend the provision when questioned by Guyana Times. According to Sobers, there was no reason to suggest that when deliberating on these complaints, the GNBA would make judgements with a predisposition to favour the Government.

Kaneville man on trial for 2015 fatal stabbing

R

yan Van Lange, of 69 First Street, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD), has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he murdered his cousin-in-law, Jason Ramatar on May 31, 2015.

A 12-member mixed jury was on Monday empanelled to hear the case in which eight witnesses are expected to testify.

The State contends that the accused and the victim were present at his wife’s birthday party the day before the night in question.

Hours later, in the wee hours of May 31, 2015, Van Lange killed Ramatar by way of stabbing with a knife.

A post-mortem revealed that he died from shock and haemorrhage due to four incised wounds. The knife penetrated his jugular artery and lung. The young man, who was 24 years of age at the time of his demise, was a father and his wife was pregnant with another child.

The defence, led by Attorney Mark Conway, however claims that it was an intruder who committed the act and Van Lange never knew Ramatar.

Prosecutors Tuanna Hardy and Siand Dhurjon are presenting the State’s

Deceased: Jason Ramatar

case. A police witness is expected to testify on Thursday after which the trial will resume on May 29, following a short break.

According to reports that surfaced at the time of the supposed break-in attempt, the electricity was deliberately disconnected as wires were cut. The Police, however, suggested that the accused and the now deceased man had argued over purchasing more alcohol. It was after this that a scuffle allegedly ensued, and Van Lange armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed the now deceased man several times.

Ramatar succumbed to his injuries, after he had been rushed to the Diamond hospital, EBD.

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wednesDAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Estate closure

Rose Hall residents, sugar workers unite in massive protest

T

housands gathered to participate in a march on Tuesday morning to register their concerns about Government and the Guyana Sugar Corporation's (GuySuCo's) decision to proceed with closure of the Rose Hall Sugar Estate by this year-end.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) which represents the interests of the 2400 sugar workers who stand to be directly affected by the closure of this estate, said the demonstration saw the sugar workers being joined by housewives, business persons, students and pensioners who took part in a spirited march which began in the vicinity of the Rose Hall Estate and headed to the Sheet Anchor Turn, before returning to the estate; a distance of about four miles.

Despite the rain, protesters carried a number of placards which read; “Upturn the decision to close Rose Hall Estate”, “We would be sunk into poverty after closure”, “APNU/AFC Govt betray sugar workers”, and “Closure of RH Estate is a political act”.

As workers continue to

protest against Government’s decision to close the Estate, more persons and groups which are likely to be affected by the impending closure are joining forces with the workers.

The workers on Tuesday were backed by their two unions – GAWU and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE).

Employees from the Rose Hall, Albion and Enmore estates were joined by hire car operators, members of the business sector, civil society, politicians, social organisations, women and children and they marched from Rose Hall to Cumberland in East Canje and back to Rose Hall, covering a distance of four miles before they were addressed by union representatives and other speakers.

The Rose Hall Estate employs approximately 2400 workers and even at an average of a family of four, about 10,000 persons or 1.4 per cent of the country’s population will be directly affected and impacted by a closure of the estate.

GAWU in a statement said work in the sugar es-

Consumer Alert: DOST Patent Barley contaminated

T

he Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) has issued a Consumer Advisory against the use of DOST Patent Barley following discoveries of the product being adulterated. The product from Canada which was packed exclusively for a local distributor was flagged by the GA-FDD after it was found to be contaminated with wheaten flour.

Analysis conducted by the Food Chemistry laboratory of the GA-FDD determined the product to be adulterated and this was after weeks of meticulous investigation and collaboration among Inspectors and Analytical Scientific Officers.

The investigation was initiated as a result of concerns raised and complaints lodged at the monthly National Food Safety and Control Committee meeting.

The Department has since visited the premises of the distributor, Geetanjali Rai at Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, where on both occasions; the Inspectors were unable to gain access to the premises to continue their investigation. According to the GA-FDD advisory, Rai is now in violation of the Laws of Guyana, firstly the Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03, Section 25, Part 5, which states that “Any person who sells an article of food that is adulterated is guilty of an offence”. Also, Rai is faced with denied access to a premise to which the Act

DOST Patent Barley

applies in contravention to the Laws of Guyana Food and Drug Act Chapter 34:03 Part VI, Section 21, “Powers of Inspectors”.

Consumers are therefore advised not to purchase this particular brand of Patent Barley given the reports of contamination by the GA-FDD. Furthermore, the Department said it has widened the target to analyse similar products such as those that are also being imported from intra and extra regional countries. In addition, Environmental Health Officers within the regions will also be targeted as investigations on the other brands are to be submitted to the Department for analysis. The Department said it will continue to utilise the resources that are to their disposal to facilitate trade and most importantly to protect consumers against falsified and/or substandard food, drug, cosmetics and medical devices.

The massive gathering that participated in a march Tuesday morning

tate is the main avenue of employment, as has been the case for generations in that populous rural community.

The closure will leave a vacuum that will not only gravely impact workers but also force businesses and service providers to curtail or end operations, and thus making the bad situation even worse.

GAWU says it recognises that the estate is a major source of sustenance and its closure will be felt deeply and far and wide. “The people are rightly fearful that their tranquil communities would

be destroyed, families broken up and they will be increased incidences of crime and other social problems. They are urging the Administration to re-look at their plans which will clearly be a Governmentmade disaster,” the Union stated.

Meanwhile, Sookram Persaud of the Enmore Estate told the gathering that workers on the East Coast of Demerara are also concerned over what could potentially happen in Berbice.

“It would not be for the sugar workers alone, it would

be for the taxi drivers, it will be for the vendors, it would be for everybody in this country…, ” he lamented.

He pointed out that keeping the Rose Hall Estate open will bring benefits to not just one particular ethnic grouping but all Guyanese.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, without calling his name, GAWU’s General Secretary Seepaul Narine said: “This march is a message to ‘Judas’; the man (in Government) who has a biblical name and with a surname with many zeroes (noughts) and he share them out…. 2015, no increase for sugar workers so one of the ‘noughts’ gone. 2016 no increase, another ‘nought’ gone.

2017, so far, no increase, another ‘nought’ gone and then the final one is when he (the Government official) took away the API [Annual Incentive Premium].”

Narine said those who spoke of their connections to the sugar industry and prom-

ised that there will be no closure were not lying when they said they were so close to the sugar industry that sugar runs in their blood.

“Well the man is suffering from diabetes and therefore he must have sugar in his blood…. the Vice President who comes from the Corentyne is telling us that we have to close the estate; well let them know that the people of Berbice are saying that we are not going to take it. This is a journey that if it has to lead us to Georgetown, where they are sitting comfortably in their seats, we shall see them there. We shall march and we shall defend our interest.

We have to defend the people who depend on sugar,” Narine declared.

Narine told the close to three thousand in attendance that victory is in sight but it can only be achieved if they unite in their ongoing struggle. (Andrew Carmichael)

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wednesdAY, may 17, 2017

Regional

Mexican Journalists protest over Javier Valdez killing J P ournalists in Mexico have protested against the killing of one of their colleagues and called on the Government to take action. Award-winning journalist Javier Valdez was shot dead on Monday, close to the offices of the newspaper he had founded in his home state, Sinaloa.

He had spent his career investigating drug cartels and had been repeatedly threatened. He is one of several journalists who have been killed in Mexico this year.

In Mexico City on Tuesday, protesters wrote "They are killing us" and

Journalists commemorated the veteran crime writer who was shot dead on Monday

"No to silence" – a phrase used by Valdez – on the road next to the iconic Monument to Independence on the main thoroughfare, Paseo

de la Reforma.

Those who were there in person held images of Valdez, while others stuck in their office worked be-

low his projected image on a big screen. Judith Calderón Gómez, the head of journalists' lobby group Casa de los Derechos de Periodistas, told those present that prosecutions had only happened in 0.03 per cent of cases.

Mexican news outlets Animal Político and Tercera Vía are going on strike on Wednesday to protest against the murder, and the ongoing risks to reporters.

Last week, Mexico appointed a new prosecutor to investigate crimes against freedom of expression - including the killing of journalists. (Excerpt from BBC News)

T&T squatters in fiery protest

S

ome 15 squatters’ houses were demolished by a crew of Police and soldiers at Pine Avenue, Valencia, early Monday.

The houses, some reportedly valued at between TT$91,000 and TT$800,000, were torn down despite appeals from their owners, some of whom begged the crew to hold their hands.

Some homes were also destroyed in the absence of owners who had left for work.

In fact, the only homes spared were those in which mothers were caring for babies. Also untouched were properties belonging to members of the national security arm, including Police and soldiers.

However, after the crew was forced to stop the exercise by angry residents who formed a human barricade, they informed them they will be coming back to continue the exercise.

Residents are now calling for answers on who gave the

roadway and lighting them along with other debris along the Valencia Stretch, bringing all traffic to standstill around 13:15h. Some motorists were stuck in traffic for hours as Police and fire officers fought to clear the debris. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica’s PM activates national emergency systems as heavy rains pelt sections of the island

rime Minister Andrew Holness has instructed the activation of national emergency systems as heavy rainfall continues to affect sections of the island.

The emergency agencies include the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), as well as local representatives.

According to Holness, all the agencies should mobilize their resources to deal with the impact of the extraordinary rain event and to support residents who may need assistance in flooded areas.

He has also urged persons to be on high alert as the rain is expected to continue throughout the day. Extensive flooding has so far been reported in the central parishes of St Catherine, Clarendon and Manchester, the eastern parish of St Thomas and the Northern parish of St Ann. Meanwhile, following discussions with Holness, the acting Prime Minister, Dr Horace Chang will make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday on the emergency processes that have been acti-

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness

vated and the preliminary assessment of damage cause by the heavy rainfall.

The island remains under a Flash Flood Warning for low-lying and flood prone areas.

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM, Major Clive Davis, told Radio Jamaica that the Jamaica Constabulary Force rescued three of 15 persons trapped by rising water in a house on Tuesday morning. The Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard is also assisting in rescue efforts. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Former Bahamas PM resigns from party after defeat at polls

A Policeman tries to clear debris left by protesters along the Eastern Main Road, Valencia, near Pine Drive, on Monday, after protests by residents whose homes were demolished by the Land and Settlement Agency

instructions to demolish the houses and why they were not served with notices so they could have taken some kind of action. They called on Minister of Housing Randall Mitchell and Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley to intervene and be the caring Government they preached about during their election

campaign.

According to reports, around 17:00h, Police, soldiers and an excavator and driver arrived in the community and began the demolition process. Angered by the earlier demolition and lack on answers, residents later responded by felling trees, placing them across the

F

ormer Prime Minister Perry Christie has resigned as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) with immediate effect. Christie made the announcement late Monday in an address at a meeting of the Party’s National General Council (NGC).

The former prime minister who suffered an agonising defeat in last week’s General Election told mem-

bers of the party that he tried his best.

“As your leader I accept full responsibility for our party’s defeat; it is for me to bid you farewell as your leader. The time has come for me to move on. I wish to God that I could have helped more people… I tried my best.”

The former Prime Minister also reassured members that the PLP could

rise from the ashes and win again as it did in the elections of 1967 and 2002.

Christie, 73, entered politics as a senator in 1974 and in 1977 received the PLP’s nomination for the constituency of Centreville.

Since then he won eight consecutive elections until losing his seat by four votes in the May 10 general election. The PLP won four of the 39 seats. (Jamaica Observer)

Regional organisation benefits Hebe de Bonafini: Head of Argentina Mothers of Plaza de Mayo group indicted from climate information service course in China A

P

ANOS Caribbean is among the more than 30 representatives from organisations across the developing world, gathered in China this month for a training programme to boost their knowledge of climate information services.

The “Climate Change and Climate Information Service for Developing Countries” seminar got going on May 5 at Nanjing University for Information Science and Technology (NUIST), and will run until May 25.

So far, the seminar has taken participants through an introduction to climatology; the physical science

fundamentals of climate change; climate change impacts, adaptation and mitigation; as well as the monitoring, assessment and service of climatic resources.

Participants are comprised of development communications and media practitioners, engineers and meteorologists from Ethiopia, Grenada, Panama, and Malawi, among other countries, and represent organisations including the Caribbean Maritime Institute.

In addition to the other course content, they have been provided with a healthy dose of statistical

methods for short-term climatic diagnosis and prediction and will, in the coming days, look at the utilisation of climatic resources and the international cooperation on climate change.

The seminar is one of several being hosted at NUIST this year and which are to benefit more than 50 countries. Developing countries and in particular small-island developing states, such as those of the Caribbean, are especially vulnerable to climate change, given their small physical size, geographical location and challenged economies. (Excerpt from

Caribbean News Now)

Judge in Argentina has indicted the head of human rights organisation the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. Hebe de Bonafini, 88, has been charged with misusing public funds allocated to a social housing project.

The programme, created by former President Cristina Fernández, was managed

by Mrs De Bonafini’s foundation, a world-famous collective of mothers looking for children who disappeared during the dictatorship.

She maintains her innocence. As a close ally of the ex-President, she says the case against her is politically motivated and orchestrated by current President Mauricio Macri, who came into power in 2015.

“Thank you Macri for giving me the honour of being accused,” she said sarcastically on Monday. Prosecutors allege that about US$13 million (£10 million) of public funding in the Shared Dreams programme was diverted inappropriately.

Her former aide, Sergio Schoklender, will

Hebe de Bonafini denies the accusations

also be investigated, according to local media.

Mrs De Bonafini has previously refused to appear in court to give evidence.

The movement of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo is highly lauded in Argentina for its human rights work. It emerged when a military junta ruled the country (1976 -1983) and a group of women paraded around the central square in Buenos Aires to draw attention to their missing children. It’s a tradition they keep, every Thursday, to this day. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

wednesdAY, may 17, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

India: Doctors allow 10-year- Iran’s re-engagement with the world at stake in old rape victim to abort

A

panel of doctors has accepted a 10-yearold rape victim's plea for an abortion in the northern Indian state of Haryana.

Dr Ashok Chauhan told the BBC the termination would be carried out "anytime now".

The girl became pregnant about five months ago.

She alleges rape by her stepfather, who has been arrested. Indian law does not allow terminations after 20 weeks unless doctors confirm the woman's life is in danger. The decision to allow the child to abort was taken after a local court told doctors at the

Sexual abuse against children is rampant in India

Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in the town of Rohtak that it would accept their recommendation. India is home to the largest number of sexually abused children global-

ly. But there's a general reluctance to talk about the problem and it's rarely discussed in public.

Studies have shown that in large numbers of cases, like in the case of the

10-year-old rape victim in Rohtak, the abusers are known to the children and include care-givers like parents, relatives and teachers.

Contrary to the popular belief that only girls are abused, boys are equally at risk; and children from affluent families are just as much at risk as those from poor backgrounds.

Campaigners say sexual abuse of children goes unchecked because the victims are often afraid to report it to their parents or teachers, and also because parents themselves often hush it up, fearing family dishonour.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump defends ‘absolute right’ to share ‘facts’ with Russia U S President Donald Trump has defended his "absolute right" to discuss sensitive material on terrorism and airline safety at a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister.

US media reports said he had shared material that was passed on by a partner that had not given permission. The White House refused to comment on reports that Israel was the source.

Though not illegal, Trump's alleged gaffe is seen as a breach of trust by many in the intelligence community. Trump met Sergei Lavrov last week in the Oval Office, out of view of the US media.

Leading Republicans and Democrats have voiced concerns over what was said, with top Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer calling for the transcripts to be released

by the White House.

The US Senate Intelligence Committee has also asked for copies of any notes taken in the meeting.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo is due to brief the committee later.

Mr Trump tweeted: "As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline

flight safety.

"Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against [IS] and terrorism."

It is not clear if Trump was acknowledging having shared intelligence secrets with the Russian officials, thus contradicting White House statements, or whether he was simply trying to explain what had been discussed.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Friday’s presidential vote

Iranian Presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a campaign meeting at the Mosalla mosque in Tehran

I

ranians vote for President on Friday in a contest likely to determine whether Tehran's re-engagement with the world stalls or quickens, although whatever the outcome no change is expected to its revolutionary system of conservative clerical rule.

Seeking a second term, pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani, 68, remains the narrow favourite, but hard line rivals have hammered him over his failure to boost an economy weakened by decades of sanctions.

Many Iranians feel a 2015 agreement he championed with major powers to lift sanctions in return for curbing Iran's nuclear programme has failed to produce the jobs, growth and foreign investment he said would follow.

The normally mild-mannered cleric is trying to hold

on to office by firing up reformist voters who want less confrontation abroad and more social and economic freedom at home.

In recent days he has adopted robust rhetoric, pushing at the boundaries of what is permitted in Iran.

He has accused his conservative opponents of abusing human rights, misusing religious authority to gain power and representing the economic interests of the security forces.

Rouhani's strongest challenger is hard line cleric Ebrahim Raisi, 56, who says Iran does not need foreign help and promises a revival of the values of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

He is backed by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, the country's top security force, their affiliated volunteer Basij militia, hardline clerics and two influential clerical groups. (Excerpt from Yahoo!

News)

16 news

wednesdAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Soldier on remand for murder dismissed from Army

T

he Guyana Defence Force has dismissed Shaqeil Grant, a Private in the Army, with effect from May 1, 2017 after he was remanded on a murder charge.

The 20-year-old man was on Monday charged for the murder of Andre Alexander, also called “Bread Man”, who was shot dead during a robbery in C Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown just over a week ago.

Grant will make his next court appearance on June 8.

Alexander, of Lot 394 C Field, succumbed to a single gunshot wound to his chest which he sustained during the robbery at his place of business on May 5. It was reported that the now dead man, along with his wife, was at his bread stand when two men on a CG motorcycle rode up and ordered three loaves of bread, paying with a $5000 note.

Alexander was reportedly in the process of making change when the pillion rider whipped out a gun and demanded that the father of two hand over his cash. Alexander

Teen arrested for rape of 10-year-old boy

Ramsammy’s Ruminations APNU/AFC's unabated absurdities and perversions of truth

T

Shaqeil Grant

reportedly put up a fight and in retaliation, the suspect discharged two rounds, one of which struck the vendor to the chest. The men then relieved the man of an undisclosed sum of cash and escaped. They also took the bread. Residents rushed to the scene and found the man lying in a pool of blood. He was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

Days after the shooting incident, the Police, acting on information, went to Plum Park, Sophia where Grant was arrested. His accomplice is still on the run.

A

13-year-old boy was on Monday arrested for the rape of his 10-year-old neighbour in New Amsterdam, sometime between Friday and Sunday last.

This information was confirmed by Police B Division (Berbice) Commander Ian Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Guyana Times understands that the 10-year-old lad resides with his father in a home next door to where the 13-year-old lives with his mother. However, on the days that the 10-year-old’s father is required to work at nights, he would stay with the teen and his mother.

This newspaper was told that on the day in question, the teen’s mother had to leave the home to tend to work, and she reportedly left her son to watch over his neighbour. It was during this period that the teen allegedly sodomised the younger child.

This publication was also informed that a report was made on Monday, after the 10-year-old confided in his father about what had transpired. The 10-yearold reportedly underwent a medical examination which confirmed his claims.

Investigations are ongoing.

his past week provided further evidence that APNU/AFC is wrapped in unabated absurdities and perversions of facts as they deliberately try to kerfuffle people, rather than pursue sound development policies.

Three things this past week proved that APNU/AFC has no idea of how to move Guyana forward.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy In May 2015 when they took over, they needed to build on where we were as a country. Instead, through a combination of absurdities, lies, misrepresentations and misdirection, APNU/AFC has reversed direction and taken Guyana back to the stupidities and absurdities of the 1970s and 1980s when, as poverty mounted, the PNC Government celebrated with monuments and arches.

Last week, we witnessed behaviour from APNU/AFC that was baffling, outrageous, unfathomable, just plain bizarre.

There is a fetish obsession with arches which are far more important to David Granger and APNU/AFC (the newest form of the PNC) than are industries like sugar and rice and the employment and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese. According to reports, Granger stated that the $20 million arch on the East Coast Highway, near the University of Guyana, donated by ANSA McAL, signals the vibrancy of Caribbean economy, is a tribute of corporate investment in Guyana and that the arch epitomises the friendship between Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

How does the arch portray a vibrant economy? The arch is up, but sugar estates are closing, workers are being laid off, people and businesses are over-burdened with new taxes.

ANSA McAL was granted a gift of a $606 million sole-sourced contract for medicines that cost about $200 million. Do the Maths – ANSA McAL gained $400 million from inflated prices for medicines in return for investing $20 million in an arch. In the process, local suppliers were deliberately and corruptly sidelined. The arch now stands as a permanent reminder of corruption. But Granger sees it as a symbol of a vibrant economy. This is a good example of the absurdities we have descended into.

The arch will do nothing to reverse a sliding economy, loss of jobs, over-burdened taxes, increasing foreign debt, drop in foreign direct investment and spiralling crime. It is not just sad, it is depressing that the Head of State has to resort to a $20 million arch as an example of foreign direct investment and the vibrancy of the economy. The arch cannot be a substitute for closing sugar estates and it cannot be solace for rice farmers reeling from low paddy prices or increased financial burden for students at UG or lack of medicines in the health sector.

Meanwhile, his Attorney General is bragging of victory at the CCJ when, in fact, Guyana was ordered to pay a Trinidad beverage company billions of dollars as a refund for an environmental tax between 2011 and 2015. The AG lost another case in court and he now lies that we won. He also failed to inform people that there are other companies now in line to seek refunds from Guyana for the environmental tax. More importantly, they are not telling people that had APNU/AFC supported the PPP in 2011 to amend the law to reduce the environmental tax and for it to apply across the board for both foreign and locally produced beverages in bottles and plastic containers, Guyana would not have had to pay out billions to the Surinamese company and now to a Trinidad company and possibly to other Caribbean companies, including ANSA McAL. This past week in Parliament saw the Prime Minister blatantly and shamelessly lying that APNU/AFC never promised rice farmers $9000 per bag of paddy. I heard Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and Charandass, together with Turhane Doerga and Jinnah Rahman in Regions Two, Three, Five and Six on TV and at APNU/AFC public meetings promised $9000 per bag.

Thousands of rice farmers and others can attest to this fact.

Now that the rice farmers are getting prices as low as $1300 per bag of paddy, Nagamootoo is distancing himself from this promise. This is adding salt to the wound so cruelly inflicted on farmers. As if this lie is not enough, he also insists that Guyana has never had as much market for rice. The fact is that Guyana's rice market today is one less than it was in May 2015. The much-vaunted Mexico market that Nagamootoo promised is still in our dreams. The truth is that as scandals mount, the economy spiral downwards, thousands of workers laid off, APNU/AFC is caught in a quagmire of absurdities and perversions of the truth and facts. They believe that if they assume a bold, barefaced posture of misrepresentations and misdirection they could distract people from the malaise and downward spiral that Guyana is trapped in.

news

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wednesdAY, may 17, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mayors’ conference to discuss key issues Businessman, bus conductor charged for attempting to bribe Police affecting municipal development

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M

ayors from the nine municipalities across the country will be hosting a Municipal Conference, aimed at creating opportunities for networking and providing a forum for discourse on key issues affecting the towns’ development.

The conference is scheduled for May 19 and 20, and will be held under the theme “Positioning Municipalities as critical partners in National Development.”

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland said the conference was pivotal to advancing the agenda as envisioned

by President David Granger, of moving the municipalities towards becoming ‘capital towns’ under a green economy framework.

Holland was at the time addressing the media at the pre-event briefing at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday.

He was joined by Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall.

The conference has been months in the making, and Holland said the Mayors were united in their commitment to execute the event, with the aim of addressing the issues affecting the municipalities’ development.

“This weekend, the municipalities across Guyana will be exhibiting unity. We have worked hard over the past couple of months meeting together as mayors from various towns, and deliberating and discussing and planning the way forward for municipal development. It is with that oneness we bring to you the municipal conference 2017, bringing municipalities, and working together as we foster and push forward with one cohesive mindset,” Holland said.

The conference will incorporate an opening ceremony,

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland (left) and Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall addressing the conference’s pre-event

leadership presentation and elections for the resuscitation of the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM) at the Marriott Hotel on day one.

Holland explained that each Mayor is expected to present on strategic and important challenges hindering development in the nine towns. The topics expected to be covered include: promoting a green economy with agriculture (Anna Regina); leadership and management tools for local government (Corriverton); municipal development and a green economy (Bartica); the roles of municipalities (Georgetown); promoting municipal tourism (Lethem); Diaspora engagement and the twinning initiative (Mabaruma); advancing Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and strengthening the local economy (New Amsterdam) and effective legislation and implementation (Rose Hall).

Day two will comprise a plenary session (municipal workshop) at the Regency Hotel. There is also a municipal exhibition showcasing the products of the towns, including the music, arts and craft that will run for both days at the Regency Hotel, Avenue of the Republic.

Mayor Marshall said that

the municipality of Bartica was very grateful for the opportunity to be part of the conference. “As you are aware, we are just one year old and we need help to build our capacity to be able to deliver, and we are looking forward to better networking with our municipalities,” Marshall said.

“The evidence shows that our challenges are the same and the only way we can overcome the challenges is to come together and to work together to offset these challenges …networking and capacity would be key this weekend … this is the time and place for us to sit down together and work out our challenges and see how best we can move forward,” he further added.

The Mayors intend to move forward with the recommendations coming out of the conference and are even looking in the direction of them being taken to Parliament and becoming laws.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, Marshall explained that those elected to be part of the executive committee of GAM would be mandated to take those recommendations forward and to ensure that “the conference is not just a talk shop, but we have changes at the municipal level”.

prominent Sophia entrepreneur and his accomplice were on Tuesday afternoon brought before the court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a joint charge of attempting to bribe a Police Officer.

The charge read that Kemendra Ragubeer and Anil Persaud on May 12, 2017 at Brickdam Police Station corruptly uttered a sum of $500,000 to Police Constable Jerrol, as inducement to release Michael Ragubeer from custody.

The duo denied the charges, with both entering not guilty pleas.

The elder Ragubeer’s lawyer, Glen Hanoman maintained that his client was told to bring the said cash to the Police Station in order that his son may be released. Hanoman contended that his client was merely complying with instructions given, as “all he tried to do was to bail his son”.

The court heard that Ragubeer was a father of five, with a fixed place of abode in C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, while his co-accused was a 24-year-old bus conductor residing in B Field, Sophia.

Kemendra Ragubeer (right) and Anil Persaud (left)

Both men were released on $200,000 bail each after the prosecution made no objections.

This publication previously reported that Ragubeer’s son was one of two men arrested for allegedly disposing of an illegal .32 pistol, along with five live rounds of ammunition, on Tuesday last while riding a motorcycle at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

It was reported that around 09:30h on the day in question, ranks on patrol observed two men on

a CG motorcycle without a rear registration plate. As the ranks ordered the suspects to stop, the pillion rider whipped a firearm from his waist, tossed it onto the parapet and sped away. They were apprehended shortly thereafter.

The one of defendants’ father then contacted a police officer and allegedly offered him monies to release his son. A sting operation was put into effect, and the elder Ragubeer was arrested and taken into Police custody when he turned up with the cash.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, may 17, 2017

ARCHIE

A willingness to compromise will be your best route (March 21- to success. Getting involved April 19) in something you enjoy or feel passionate about will give you the oomph you need to push for excellence.

ARIES

Step up and make things TAURUS happen. Use any opportunity (April 20- you get to show off your skills May 20) and take on more responsibilities. Send out resumes or go for an interview or a business meeting.

dilbert

Flesh out your ideas and GEMINI (May 21- move forward quickly. Your June 20) innovative approach to life will lead to popularity and the chance to take on a new challenge. Romance is highlighted.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Someone will use charm to manipulate you if you aren’t careful. Don’t agree to anything before you have a chance to check out what’s entailed. Play it safe and avoid regret.

Work on your presentation skills, put your best foot forward and offer what you know will be well received.

Going against the grain will backfire and set you back.

An emotional situation VIRGO (Aug. 23- will arise with someone you Sept. 22) work with or are close to.

Do your best to honour your promises without being taken advantage of or put in a precarious position.

Take action and put enLIBRA ergy, muscle and creativity (Sept. 23Oct. 23) into fulfilling your dreams.

Personal and physical gains are within reach. Love and romance will improve your life.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Put more effort into your SCORPIO surroundings. If you aren’t (Oct. 24happy with where or how you Nov. 22) are living, it’s up to you to make the changes necessary to ease stress.

Traveling, forming partSAGITTARIUS nerships and gathering as (Nov. 23- much information as possible Dec. 21) will lead to good fortune. Your ability to see the big picture will give you the edge when competing with an opponent.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Use your intelligence to CAPRICORN gauge how much time and ef(Dec. 22- fort you should put into someJan. 19) thing that shows few benefits.

Follow your intuition and live within your means.

Emotions will surface and AQUARIUS are best channeled into some(Jan. 20thing that will lead to self-imFeb. 19) provement, a moneymaking opportunity or a positive change to a meaningful relationship. Love conquers all.

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

Do whatever it takes to PISCES make physical and personal (Feb. 20March 20) improvements without being too vocal about what you are trying to achieve. Avoiding interference is in your best interest.

wednesDAY, May 17, 2017

Captain Jason Holder defends Shannon Gabriel

“Change players’ selfimage and self-belief” F

or more than fifteen years, the West Indies cricket team has been trapped in a failure spiral in which they fail, expect to fail and fail again. Once the world’s champion cricket team and one of the best teams in the history of sport, they have been languishing at the bottom of the Test and One Day rankings for some time, not for lack of fitness or talent but poor self-belief, weak concentration, inadequate motivation and self-discipline and a negative self-image.

Once players get the basics right performance usually revolves around these things rather than around potential.

The players’ self-belief and self-image cause them to think, behave and perform like the players they imagine themselves to be. Their self-image is a subconscious picture they have of themselves – who they are, what they are and how good they are. And that picture is reflected in the way they think and talk to themselves.

Every player has a baseline self-image that determines how well he selects and uses his talent. It is like a sensor or thermostat that regulates performance.

Adjusting the level of that thermostat changes the quality of the player’s performance. If he raises the level by improving self-image and self-belief, performance usually improves. And if he lowers it, performance suffers.

When players have a good game and performance exceeds expectations and normal standards they go into the next game expecting to do well and repeat that performance. But their subconscious sensor detects a deviation from normal and self-corrects downward. Their mind might then say, “That’s not like you. You know you are not that good.

Correct yourself and get back to where you belong.” Performance will then go back to its normal level.

And when teams perform poorly, the players’ minds might

say, “C’mon, that’s not like you. You are better than this.” They might then self-correct upward, lift performance, and might even win a game, leaving everyone thinking, “Why don’t they play like that more often?”

Players with low self-image who are used to losing sometimes get into winning positions and then blow their chances by doing stupid things and making basic mistakes. And when they are asked why they lost they usually cannot give a good reason and often confess that they cannot make any sense of what happened. Consciously, it doesn’t make any sense to them, but subconsciously it makes perfectly good sense because their performance maintains and reinforces the limiting self-image in their mind.

In 2011, after losing two close Test matches against India that they could have won, Harsha Bogle, an Indian journalist wrote: “West Indies played their role of the challenger quite well but you always knew it was a question of when, rather than if, they would fall away. West Indies need someone on the field to show them how to win, for at the moment they give the impression it is out of bounds. Sometimes when you fear (or expect) the inevitable, you invite it. There is much promise in this side but it is on a long downward spiral, and the new talent coming in will take the shape of the mould it is cast into. It is the mould, the air they breathe, and the acceptance of defeat that need to be demolished.”

Perhaps Roston Chase could fit the mould of the player who can show the other players how to fight and be competitive and eventually how to get back to winning ways.

Since 2011, the West Indies team has been unable to break out of that confining and losing mould because their internal sensor is aligned to a losing self-image.

But as soon as they readjust their sensor by enhancing self-image and self-belief their concen-

19

W

Dr Rudi Webster tration, self-discipline and self-motivation will automatically improve and they will break out of their failure spiral.

These are significant changes that Worrell and Lloyd were able to make in their champion teams; changes that were to a large measure responsible for their team’s success and world dominance.

The coaches, specialists and players in the West Indies team have not yet learned these lessons. The quality of a player’s performance at the highest level of sport usually revolves around his self-image as well as the depth of his self-discipline and self-motivation. There is more to performance that fitness and technique. These two things are extremely important but they should be the servants not the masters of the game.

The body depends on the brain for instructions and direction for every action that it takes.

Players and selectors are often obsessed with past averages and statistics but these averages only measure what players have learned and done, not what they can learn and become.

Players who base their worth solely on those figures and accept them as the truth about themselves will behave like the players they believe themselves to be.

As long as West Indies players hold on to negative self-beliefs, they will remain trapped in their failure spiral. To break free they must change self-image and self-beliefs, stop thinking about what they have been and start thinking about and imagining what they can become.

As Emile Coue, a French chemist once said, “Imagery might be the highest form of mental energy. Reason (and logic) can analyse and organise but only the imagination can create the future.”

est Indies captain Jason Holder has come to the defense of his teammate Shannon Gabriel whose moment of madness Sunday gave Pakistan their first series win in the West Indies in more than 50 years.

With West Indies seven balls away from saving the third and final Test in Dominica, number 11 Gabriel, who had batted sensibly for more than half hour with century-maker Roston Chase at the other end, swung mightily and was bowled by leg spinner Yasir Shah to hand the visitors victory.

But with the bowler taking harsh criticism for his ill-timed indiscretion, Captain Holder has leapt to the beleaguered player’s defence. “We’ve just got to give him encouragement. Up until then, he was doing an outstanding job, he’s done an outstanding job for us in this entire series,” Holder said.

“He’s bowled his heart out. He’s gotten a match-winning haul for us in Barbados. He bowled his heart out in Jamaica. He bowled his heart out here in Dominica.”

Holder argued that Gabriel has made a lot of progress in a short time and deserves better.

Shannon Gabriel

“A lot of people don’t know where Shannon came from. Shannon started cricket quite late and to see the progress he’s made. I’ve been able to be with him in the HPC (High Performance Centre) and coming into international cricket. Shannon has made tremendous strides.”

Injury added to insult as Sharapova retires in Rome, denting Wimbledon hopes

M

aria Sharapova was denied a Roland Garros wildcard on Tuesday and can no longer qualify directly for Wimbledon through her ranking.

On the day she was denied a place in the French Open, Maria Sharapova’s hopes of featuring at Wimbledon were dented as she was forced to retire in her second-round match against Mirjana LucicBaroni at the Internazionali d’Italia.

Sharapova took to the court less than an hour after it had been confirmed she will not receive a wildcard for Roland Garros, following her return from a 15-month doping ban.

A run to the semi-finals this week would have seen the Russian earn a direct place in the Wimbledon main draw through her world ranking.

However, Sharapova was forced to call a halt to proceedings due to an apparent thigh problem when leading 2-1 in the deciding set against Lucic-Baroni. As a result, she will now need to come through Wimbledon qualifying or be handed a wildcard to make the tournament proper.

“I apologise for having to withdraw from my match today with a left thigh injury,”

Maria Sharapova was denied a wildcard entry

said the 30-year-old.

“I will be getting all the necessary examinations to make sure it is not serious.

I want to thank the tournament for giving me the opportunity to play in this special event again.”

Sharapova came from a set down to beat LucicBaroni in Madrid nine days ago and initially looked set to repeat the trick in Rome - where she has tasted success on three occasions in the last six years.

After an abysmal start that saw her broken to love in the first game, Sharapova saw the first set slip from her grasp as her aggressive opponent racked up 15 winners.

Lucic-Baroni’s level dipped thereafter, though, and consecutive double

faults from the veteran gave Sharapova an advantage that she retained throughout set two.

More errant serving from Lucic-Baroni helped Sharapova claim a break at the start of the decider, but the former world number one was then forced to take a medical timeout at deuce in the next game and duly emerged with her left thigh heavily strapped and movement clearly compromised.

Although she was able to hold for a 2-0 lead and somehow threatened to earn another break, it was no surprise to see Sharapova retire at the next change of ends.

Lucic-Baroni, the world number 22, will now face top seed Angelique Kerber or Anett Kontaveit in round three.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, may 17, 2017

Mumbai Indians v Rising Pune Supergiant, IPL Qualifier 1…

Dhoni, Sundar vault Pune into the final M S Dhoni cleared the ropes five times in a swashbuckling knock and will play in his seventh IPL final on Sunday.

MS Dhoni proved he is still a man for the big occasion and Washington Sundar also sparkled as Rising Pune Supergiant beat Mumbai Indians by 20 runs to reach t h e

Indian Premier League final.

Dhoni has had his critics during the tournament, but the former India captain will play in a record seventh IPL final after bludgeoning a brutal unbeaten 40 off only 26 balls to get Pune up to 162-4.

Ajinkya Rahane and Manoj Tiwary made half-centuries and Dhoni produced

some late fireworks, hitting five sixes, before Sundar claimed outstanding figures of 3-16 as Mumbai were only able to muster 142-9 at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.

Parthiv Patel got a Mumbai side which finished the regular season top of the table off to a flyer in their run chase, but his 52 from 40 balls was in vain.

Pune can now put their feet up before the final in Hyderabad on May 21, while Mumbai will be their opponents if they defeat either Sunrisers Hyderabad or Kolkata Knight Riders in a second qualifier on Friday.

Rahul Tripathi went without scoring when he was cleaned up by the fifth ball of the match from Mitchell McClenaghan and Lasith Malinga struck a huge blow in the next over by getting rid of Steve Smith.

Pune were 9-2 when Tiwary arrived at the crease, but Rahane (56 from 43) provided some impetus by taking McClenaghan for back-toback boundaries.

Rahane went soon af-

ter passing 50 following a stand of 80, but Tiwary hit a McClenaghan beamer to the boundary to bring up his half-century and hit the next ball down the ground for six before Dhoni cleared the ropes twice in a penultimate over which yielded 26 runs.

There were another two sixes from Dhoni in the last over from Jasprit Bumrah and Tiwary was run out off the final ball in a dramatic end to the innings after making 58 from only 48 deliveries.

Patel got Mumbai off to a great start with three sixes early in their reply, but Lendl Simmons was run out at the non-striker’s end after Shardul Thakur got a hand on a miss-timed stroke from his opening partner.

Sundar put Pune firmly on top by removing Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu in the sixth over, the teenager also striking a major blow by getting Kieron Pollard cheaply to put Mumbai in the mire on 51-4.

Patel lacked support and any chance of a Mumbai victory was all but over when he holed out to Thakur, who fin-

ished with figures of 3-37 as Pune marched into what will

be Dhoni’s milestone final.

(Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

Rising Pune Supergiant innings (20 overs maximum) AM Rahane lbw b KV Sharma 56 RA Tripathi b McClenaghan 0 SPD Smith* c HH Pandya b Malinga 1 MK Tiwary run out (Bumrah) 58 MS Dhoni† not out 40 Extras (lb 2, w 4, nb 1) 7 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 162 Did not bat: DT Christian, Washington Sundar, LH Ferguson, A Zampa, SN Thakur, JD Unadkat Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Tripathi, 0.6 ov), 2-9 (Smith, 1.5 ov), 3-89 (Rahane, 12.4 ov), 4-162 (Tiwary, 19.6 ov) Bowling; MJ McClenaghan 4-046-1 (1nb, 4w), SL Malinga 3-014-1, JJ Bumrah 4-0-33-0, KV Sharma 4-0-30-1, KH Pandya 4-0-22-0, HH Pandya 1-0-150 Mumbai Indians innings (target: 163 runs from 20 overs) LMP Simmons run out (Thakur) 5 PA Patel† c Christian b Thakur 52 RG Sharma* lbw

1 b Washington Sundar AT Rayudu c Smith b Washington Sundar 0 KA Pollard c Smith 7 b Washington Sundar HH Pandya c Christian b Ferguson 14 KH Pandya c Christian b Thakur 15 MJ McClenaghan c Unadkat b Thakur 12 KV Sharma c †Dhoni b Unadkat 4 JJ Bumrah not out 16 SL Malinga not out 7 Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 142 Fall of wicket: 1-35 (Simmons, 4.3 ov), 2-41 (RG Sharma, 5.1 ov), 3-41 (Rayudu, 5.4 ov), 4-51 (Pollard, 7.6 ov), 5-75 (HH Pandya, 11.1 ov), 6-101 (KH Pandya, 14.3 ov), 7-103 (Patel, 14.6 ov), 8-111 (KV Sharma, 16.6 ov), 9-134 (McClenaghan, 19.3 ov) Bowling: JD Unadkat 4-0-241, Washington Sundar 4-016-3, LH Ferguson 3-0-211 (5w), SN Thakur 4-0-37-3 (1w), A Zampa 1-0-9-0, DT Christian 4-0-33-0 (1w)

India heading to the West Indies Sunset+Vine named Host

Broadcast Producer for Hero CPL S

In head-to-head ODIs clash since 1979 West Indies have won 60; India 53; one tied game and two no-results

S

T JOHN’S, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have now finalised the schedule for India’s four-week tour of the Caribbean that include five One-Day-Internationals (ODI) and one Twenty20 International (IT20) match from Tuesday, June 20 to Monday, July 10.

The series is scheduled to start in the twin-island of Trinidad and Tobago and end in Jamaica.

The series will begin with two ODIs at the Queen’s Park Oval, followed by two ODIs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and will end with one ODI and an IT20 at

Sabina Park in Jamaica.

CEO of WICB, Johnny Grave said, “we are all looking forward to hosting the Indian Cricket Team so soon after Afghanistan’s inaugural tour of the Caribbean.

The five-match ODI series gives our young side the opportunity of playing one of the world’s best 50over sides, and we hope for a competitive series as we strive for automatic qualification for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.” Acting Secretary, BCCI, Amitabh Choudray, says “when both these teams meet, we can always expect exciting cricket, and as always we hope to maintain that for this series.”

Schedule; Friday, June

23 1st ODI Queen’s Park Oval, Sunday, June 25 2nd ODI Queen’s Park Oval, Friday, June 30 3rd ODI Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Sunday, July 2 4th ODI Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Thursday, July 6 5th ODI Sabina Park, Sunday, July 9 T20I Sabina Park Since 1979, West Indies and India have played 116 ODIs, West Indies have won 60; India 53; one tied game and two no-results.

In IT20s since 2009; both have played seven matches with West Indies winning 4; India 2 and one ended with no result. The teams last met in August 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, where the 2nd of two Twenty20 matches was abandoned due to rain.

unset+Vine, the UKbased TV sports production and media company which is part of the Tinopolis Group, has secured the host broadcast production contract for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2017 which takes place between 4th August and 9th September 2017.

As well as producing the World Feed for the sixteam franchised competition - a total of 34 matches taking place across seven countries - Sunset+Vine will also be responsible for all pre and post-match programming, plus a weekly magazine show which will be a mix of match highlights, behind the scenes footage and features. The company will also prioritize digital content with live stream coverage and a team of digital content producers producing a wealth of unique and bespoke supplementary content for social media and digital platforms worldwide.

The win comes on the back of a hugely successful period for Cricket for Sunset+Vine, which over the past year has included deals for the ICC’s Live Events Production Services 2016-2019 (which includes the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy taking place in England); the ICC’s Non-Live Programming 2016-2019; the Pakistan Super League 2016-2017 and well as significant programming contracts for BT Sport, Channel Five and the MCC.

The "Biggest-party-in-sport" is hoping expand its television audience due some exciting on-field action

Sunset+Vine’s set up for the host production of World Feed will comprise of more than 20 cameras including 2 Super Motion and 1 Ultra Motion camera system. In addition, there will be an array of graphic enhancements, statistics and value adds to showcase T20 cricket in the best possible light.

The Executive Producer will be Huw Bevan.

“The Hero Caribbean Premier League is a cricketing property with a unique energy and style. We are delighted to be working with them to showcase the very best T20 action as well as capturing the spirt of the competition for a global audience,” Jeff Foulser, chairman of Sunset+Vine.

“Whether you watch on television, digitally or via social media, we will bring our production finesse, creative innovation and world-class production capabilities to bring the players, teams and characters to life across the globe.”

Pete Russell, Chief

Operations Officer of the Hero CPL, added: “Sunset+Vine is one of the leading producers of outstanding sports content and we are delighted to team up with them for the fifth edition of the biggest party in sport.

“The Hero CPL is a tournament like no other, combining the very best of Caribbean culture with world-class cricket, and we are committed to showcasing the beauty of the Caribbean to a growing global audience.

Last year in the region of 150 million fans tuned into watch the Hero CPL, and we expect those numbers to grow once more as some of the biggest stars descend on our seven regions which this year includes once again Lauderhill, Florida.

“With fans tuning in across the world, we look forward to working closely with Sunset+Vine to deliver a top-class tournament for fans and viewers both across the Caribbean and beyond.”

(Sportsmax)

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Types of Check (Cont’d)

B

Perpetual Check: y checking the opponent’s King at e8 and h5 repetitively, the white Queen draws a game that had already lost.

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Checking an opponent’s King might force it to move Jessica Clementson out of check and losing his castling option.

Neither King can directly check the opposing King himself, but a King can make a move which exposes the other King to a discovered check.

The Laws of Chess won’t allow any player to make a move which puts his own King in check.

In casual games, a checking player can say “check” when making a checking move, but is not required and it is no longer done in formal games.

There are three ways to get out of check: 1. Capture: Almost always your best option to get your King out of check and into safety is to capture the enemy piece that is attacking your King!

2. Block: The other pieces must prevent their King from being captured, and so they can often be seen stepping into the line of fire themselves 3. Move: Sometimes just one square is far enough to escape getting captured though.

If none of the above options are possible then checkmate has occured.

The are a few popular Checkmates that everyone should know.

1. Back Rank Mate 2. Smothered Mate 3. Fools Mate : A twomove checkmate known as the Fool’s Mate, is the quickest possible checkmate in the game of Chess. The moves are: 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4# 4. Scholars Mate : The Scholar’s Mate is a checkmate quite common among beginners. White can mate in only four moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6? 4. Qxf7# From the Arabic language, Schach Matt (the King is dead), is the origin of our “Checkmate”.

Even that a King is never actually captured in a game of Chess, a player who is checkmated loses the game because said player has no legal moves.

If either white or black King is under attack, but the threat can be met, then the King is said to be in check, but is not a checkmate.

The game ends as soon as the King is checkmated.

Most players resign a game before being mated. It is bad etiquette not to resign in a hopeless situation.

When a King Has Nowhere To Go, BUT is NOT in Check – He is Stalemated!

When a player whose turn it is to move has no legal moves by any of his/her pieces, but is not in check – A stalemate has occurred, and the game is a draw (tie, with each player receiving ½ a point) Phases of Chess There are three phases of every chess game: 1. The Opening 2. The Middlegame 3. The Endgame Phase 1: The Beginning of Every Chess Game is Called the Opening The “Opening” is the beginning of a chess game, from the time when the very first move is played, until all the pieces are developed.

Next week we will continue on the Middlegame and Endgame.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, may 17, 2017

Government support crucial in hosting CPL finals ‒ O’Donohoe ‒ Guyana an economically viable option

By Akeem Greene

S

ince the inception of the exciting Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Guyanese fans have been longing for the event to have its finals played at the National Stadium, Providence.

For such a momentous occasion to occur, the support of the government becomes vital, this is according to the league’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Damien O’Donohoe.

The CEO, in speaking to Guyana Times Sport during an exclusive interview on Tuesday, revealed that there was a diverse interest by various countries to host this year’s finals, but they were seeking to keep it in the Caribbean.

“The interest always lies around the finals and we have a number of countries interested in the finals and at the end of

the day it is a Caribbean product and we absolutely want to see the finals in the Caribbean,” he explained.

He further stated, “We have a board to answer to and we have to try and balance the book so government support on the finals deal is really important.”

The league enters its fifth year and two countries (Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts and Nevis) have hosted the finals.

Last year, Guyanese fans were tantalised over the prospects of hosting the finals after some sections of the media reported that the event would be held here which proved opposite.

O’Donohoe contended that the unique nature of the league has attracted international interest.

“There is a lot of international interest; people see how fast the league has grown in a short time and they

want to see the number one Twenty20 product since it has everything but also the party aspect that it brings makes it unique.”

Likewise, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pete Russell disclosed that they are in the closing stages of selecting a finals venue.

“We are in the last rows of making a decision on that, it is never an easy decision, we have to be working closely with governments to make sure the checks and balances are to there to make sure they get a return on their investment,” Russell explained.

He added, “We are really close, it is the usual suspects that are part of the mix.”

The officials explained that for a country to host the finals, they would go through a tender process, but the league does not place a specific cost to countries,

rather it is more an economic study, seeing what the finals can bring to a country.

They further revealed that “it is not just the highest bidder; it is the country we best believe is suited to host games of this nature”.

In this regard, the question was raised if Guyana was an economically viable option to host the finals.

Russell responded, “ Certainly, from a fan base at the stadium and in terms of facilities, etc. Of course, at some point, we are very hopeful to have the finals in Guyana. We are very happy to have El Dorado as our big partner and at some point that is the dream and we will continue to have conversations.”

According to a 2016 report on the tournament, “the Guyanese economy reaped a US$15,447,309 windfall

Chief Operating Officer Pete Russell

Chief Executive Officer Damien O’Donohoe

from the staging of its four pool matches, with the total contribution from the Hero CPL amounting to US$1,200,408.

The overall visitor spend for the 2016 runners up was fractionally down by 4% to $2,306,392; however, there were gains for the Guyana Tourism Authority whose shirt sponsorship deal has almost trebled its media value since 2014, from US$2,123,005 to US$5,978,951 in 2016”.

It added, “Hosting CPLT20

in Guyana created 349 local jobs and filled 2295 hotel room nights. With a combined TV audience in excess of 120 million for the four Guyana Amazon Warriors’ home matches, in all 50,304 fans attended matches at Providence Stadium during the 2016 season.”

The league is scheduled to run from August 4 to September 9 with the Guyana Amazon Warriors having four home matches from August 17 -22.

Everest Under-17s clinch victory against Cold Fusion A fter going down to Zeelugt’s Cold Fusion in their tape ball encounter recently, Everest Cricket Club turned the table on their opponents in a feature Under-17 35-over clash, played last Saturday at their Camp Road, Georgetown venue.

In a game that fluctuated throughout its duration, Everest triumphed by a mere seven runs in a thrilling affair. Set a challenging 131 for victory after the home team were limited to 130 all out in 31 overs, Cold Fusion were restricted to 123 all out in 33.3 overs.

For Everest, Aaron Beharry led the way with a top score of 23 with extras playing a big role with 36, including a whopping 31 wides. The bowling honours were shared by P. Binand (3 for 8 off three overs), Kapildeo Charandeen (3 for 16 in three overs ), Aaron Mohabir (2 for 10 in four and Andre Seepersaud (2 for 26 off seven).

Seepersaud completed a fine all-round performance with a top score of 39 and received solid support from D. George who stroked 21. The rest of the batting however floundered to the bowling of Mohamed Jameer who captured four for 19 in 5.3 overs while there were two wickets each for Andre Tilku, Renaldo Mohamed and Vishal Persaud. Jameer was named man-of-thematch for his brilliant bowling performance.

The winning trophy which was handed over to Everest’s skipper Vishal Persaud was donated by Prem Raghubir of Royal Woodworking Establishment.

Opportunity was also taken to hand over

Everest’s skipper Vishal Persaud collects the winning trophy from sponsor Saheed Mohamed

cricket gears and uniforms to the recently formed Cold Fusion players with Manniram Shew handing over a set of the uniforms to the club’s President Bhudnarine Persaud on behalf of Narchand “Archie” Mohan, owner and president of Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club (HACC) of Toronto, Canada.

Saheed Mohamed of Everest also presented two helmets and a pair of batting gloves.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, may 17, 2017

23

Singh describes Potential curling team West Indies for 2022 Winter Olympics performance as "fantastic"

By Delvon McEwan

R

eturning home from a substandard debut series at the international level, West Indies middle-order batsman Vishual "Cheesy" Singh described the team’s performance as fantastic, noting it was quite an inexperienced unit in age and amount of matches played among them, probably the most inexperienced in the world.

In a telephone interview with this publication, the petite left-handed batsman spoke about his time in the middle as well as the team’s performance and what could be expected in the future.

The highlight of the series for the Guyana Jaguars’ player was the display throughout the series despite their challenges.

“I think we did fantastic, to be honest….probably the youngest team; experience wise, age wise. We showed a lot of fight, especially to go into the final match against a team that was number one just a few months back.”

According to Singh, it is quite clear his debut series did not go the way he wanted but it is certainly not the end of him as he plans to bounce back with better results. Nevertheless, he acknowledges there are areas that need correction and will be in contact with the West Indies batting coach Toby Radford and A-team coach Grame West to ensure he remedies his flaws.

The home side lost the Q Mobile series to Pakistan 2-1 as Singh contributed a mere 63 runs from six innings at an unsatisfactory average of 10.50 with a best score of 32, figures he himself would not want to remember, unless he finishes a successful career which started horribly.

The Caribbean side’s

next assignment is in England for the summer where they would play a three-match Test series prior to the T20I and One Day Internationals. Singh has vast experience in England playing for Sandwich Town in the Kent League for several years.

While there (for the 2010 season) he scored 1077

because if the bowlers are going to be consistent then there is little or no room for lapse in concentration for the batsmen.

Unfortunately, the Pakistani bowlers triumphed over Singh, who scored a responsible unbeaten century (135) for the WICB XI against the tourists prior to the Test series,.

(L-R) Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux, GOA President KA Juman Yassin, Rayad Husain and Chad McMullan

By Michelangelo Jacobus

Playing Test cricket was a boyhood dream of the talented batsman

runs breaking the 20-yearold Kent League record of 1012 runs set by former Australian Test batsman Justin Langer.

However, his chances of making the trip to England are left up to the selectors as he agreed when questioned about the reality of playing there in August-September.

“My chances are surely up to the selectors, I will leave that up to the selectors and like I said I will continue to focus on what I need to do to improve as a cricketer to be able to play in any part of the world.”

The 28-year-old said he needs to look at areas to make some adjustments, so he sees himself having to work harder, probably even harder than before to be productive.

Consistency at the international level is a key factor, especially with one’s focus

Notwithstanding his horrific outing in the time middle, Singh described his exposure at the highest level as a dream come through.

“Living a childhood dream and everything I have been living for since I started playing the sport.”

There were criticism of the pitches being more suitable to playing surfaces in Asia that are lower and on the slower side and though the fast bowlers got the best of Singh, he said facing up to the spinners was very challenging on the type of surfaces that were offered.

He is hopeful of West Indies performances in England, stating they will fare well because examining the recent series, the young unit performed well in conditions that suited Pakistan and there could be improvement in England.

H

istory was created on Tuesday morning at the Giftland Mall when Rayad Husain, General Secretary of the Guyana Curling Federation (GCF) introduced the sport for the first time in the Caribbean and South America via a portable curling ring, to the media in the presence of the President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) KA Juman Yassin and other partners.

Husain, who has been a professional curler for over 20 years, noted that the Federation was established to provide athletes in and out of Guyana, with opportunities to represent the country in international competitions sanctioned by the World Curling Federation.

Future plans of the federation, according to Husain, include the send-

ing of a curling team to the Olympic Winter Games possibly in 2022 at Beijing.

The GCF was granted a Conditional Membership status from the World Curling Federation at its yearly Congress in 2016.

This means that GCF now has access to various development programmes designed to promote and develop the sport to in Guyana.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times Sport, Husain pointed out that the GCF currently has two competitive athletes, one being Husain himself while the other is his sister Farzana. They are based in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, and will be looking to compete in the mixed doubles event at the Winter Olympics South Korea in 2018.

However this is dependent on if after a one-year period, the GCF is successful in their application for

Provisional Membership status, which would allow the athletes to compete in international events.

Curling is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area which is segmented into four concentric circles. It is related to bowls, boules and shuffleboard.

Two teams, each with four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called rocks, across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a circular target marked on the ice. Each team has eight stones.

The purpose is to accumulate the highest score for a game; points are scored for the stones resting closest to the centre of the house at the conclusion of each end, which is completed when both teams have thrown all of their stones.

A game usually consists of eight or ten ends.

Independence Track & Field meet set for May 27-28 ‒ to be used as warm-up by SA Juniors

T

he Annual Independence Track and Field meet is scheduled for May 2728 and bodes to be better than the inaugural version in 2016. This is according to President of the Guyana Overseas-Based Sports Association, David Thomas.

Thomas, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, noted that in honour of Guyana’s Jubilee Independence celebrations, the overseas based organization held a Jubilee Track and Field Meet in May of 2016.

He pointed out that then Public Health Minister; Dr George Norton was so impressed that he invited the Association to return on a yearly basis to pull off the Track and Field meet.

The organizer highlighted that the meet will come in handy as a sort of warm-up for the athletes that are currently preparing for the South American U-20 Championships.

The athletes, 65 in total, will be participating in the South American U-20 games just a week later on June 3 and 4.

President of the Guyana Overseas-Based Sports Association, David Thomas

This year’s meet, which will be held at the National Track and Field Facility at Leonora, will include events for the “Peewee” group, ages 6-8, while all other regular events are retained. Teams from schools across Guyana and various athletic

clubs will participate for top honours.

The meet is slated to begin at 10:00h on both days while the 10K and 5K races will be held on Sunday, May 28.

Medals and trophies will be given to winners, while bicycles will also be handed out. Cash prizes will go out to winners in the open categories, the amounts are yet to be set.

Sponsors for the event include Banks DIH, the Athletics association of Guyana (AAG), Sybil’s restaurant of New York and a number of individuals who will sponsor various track events at the meet.

Last year’s event saw Natrena Hooper take the women’s 100m win in a time of 11.4s to finish the race ahead of Aniquah Powley who clocked 11.7s. Third in the race was Police’s Kezia Bess with 12.1s.

Hooper then followed that up by emphatically winning

the

200m event.

Meanwhile on the men’s side, GDF’s Rupert Perry blazed his way to a 10.1s finish in the 100m, where he finished ahead of clubmate Akeem Stewart (10.30s) while third place went to Police’s Kevin Abbensetts in 10.4s.

In the men’s 400m, Police Arinze Chance clinched the firstplace position, ahead of Kareem Purch and Wayne Harlequin. Chance took victory in a time of 48.9s, just before Purch’s 49s finish while it took Harlequin 49.3s to make it to the finish line in time for third.

However in the women’s 400m, Hooper was upstaged by CARIFTA Games bronze medallist Andrea Foster.

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Government support crucial in hosting CPL finals ‒ O'Donohoe Pg 23

‒ Guyana an economically viable option The Guyanese fans could be in for another wait to witness the gala finals at the National Stadium, Providence

Potential curling team for 2022 Winter Olympics Pg 23

Pg 23

Singh describes West Indies

performance as "fantastic" Media operatives trying their hand at curling for the first time at the Giftland Mall on Tuesday

After not being a part of the runs during his maiden Test series, Singh is planning on working overtime to improve his technique

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