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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3100

Friday, January 20, 2017

Attack on Chancellor despicable, unwarranted – Nandlall Page 3

Bandit escapes East Coast with $1.2M in NDC midday robbery

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$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: GECOM chairmanship

Govt, Opposition legal minds P9 to determine constitutional requirement – Granger EGCI programme not assisting to draft any laws P11 – MNR

Page 2

Page 2

– taxi driver shot

robbed

President Granger pledges support to Rehabilitation Centre Page 16

Cleaners cry foul over Govt’s promise of “a better life” P12 – Union issues 2-week ultimatum

Corentyne robberies

Police have P7 breakthrough, helmets found at suspect’s house

President David Granger pledges support to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre during the facility’s 50th anniversary celebrations. In photo, the Head of State joins First Lady Sandra Granger and Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence along with the executive members and staff of the Rehabilitation Centre

Parking meters burden

No meter in front of senior Govt official’s …citizens to start premises paying from Monday

Skeldon Estate takeover

Page 10

No secret deal, all parties informed Page – Trotman 7

…Jagdeo says Opposition informed after secret MoU signed

Dataram gets additional 4 years, reputed wife freed P8

2 news

friDAY, January 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bandit escapes with $1.2M in midday robbery – taxi driver shot

Police cordoned off the area after the bandits executed the robbery outside Jailing Auto Store on Oronoque Street

A

taxi driver was on Thursday afternoon shot during an armed robbery at Oronoque and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown.

Guyana Times understands that around 12:30h, the man dropped off a woman, Elda Belle, who was just about to make a pay-

ment at the Jailing Auto Store before a lone gunman pulled up on the western side of Oronoque Street and grabbed the bag t she was carrying, which contained some $1.2 million in cash.

When this publication arrived on the scene, the visibly shaken woman was speaking with Police inves-

tigators, giving an account of what had just transpired. This publication has learnt that the driver, reportedly a Cuban, was shot in the leg during the ordeal which lasted several minutes. According to reports, a Queensway security vehicle transported the man to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical attention.

Eyewitnesses informed this newspaper that after

shooting the man, the gunman then got into the passenger seat of a dark blue Toyota 212 getaway car.

Police quickly rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area.

An eyewitness told media operatives how the events unfolded.

“I observed a guy came out the car with a gun. I went for cover because I’m unarmed and I heard shots fired – I thought they were entering Jailing, [but] they

The woman speaking with Police moments after she was robbed

were not, so when the shots fired, a guy came in here and didn’t speak English, came in here and blood was coming down his leg and when I looked up I saw a guy go back and he had a bag with him. He jumped in the (Toyota) 212 and sped away,” the eyewitness recounted.

Guyana Times understands that two .32 spent shells were recovered from the scene as Police continue their investigations. (Shemuel Fanfair)

East Coast NDC robbed

T

hree armed bandits tied up and robbed three security guards attached to a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office on the East Coast of Demerara, after breaking into the entity in the wee hours of Thursday.

According to one of the security guards, Seeraj Beemsingh, at approximately 12:45h, he noticed a white 212 motor car on the road in front of the Mon Repos- La Reconnaisance NDC, while he was conducting his routine checks.

“What happen is the car left, so while I was doing my routine checks and so forth, everything seemed to be okay and I came back to my location and about 10 minutes after, I heard the dog barking. I see the dog look at the southern direction, and I just came out back to make a second check and I confront two of the bandits,” Beemsingh recalled.

He told this publication that one man held a gun in his hand, and instructed

Investigators after the NDC robbery

him not to scream. The second bandit was reportedly armed with a crowbar, while the third emerged from behind a tractor. The second and third bandits, according to Beemsingh, had kerchiefs over their faces, while the one with the gun was unmasked.

The security guard related that his attackers were of East Indian descent, and he provided a description to Guyana Times. “[The one with the gun] lil fair and he weighs about 135lbs and he was about 5’4”,

and the next two of them – they was 5’7”, 5’8” and thin,” he said.

Beemsingh further related that the perpetrators tied his legs and hands, and then enquired as to how many other guards were on duty. He stated that the men then informed him that they came for “some money inside the office”. “’Don’t scream’, they cuss up and thing and so, they bond my hands at the back and tie my feet and said don’t scream, don’t say a word, put

your face down at the bottom,” the security guard related, noting that the bandit with the gun stayed with him, while the other two scanned the premises and brought two other security guards to be tied up as well.

The man recalled that shortly after, he heard the men breaking into the NDC. However, they reportedly came back to the three security guards empty handed and they were overheard saying “the girl wired them and tell them that they have $16 million and they ain’t get nothing from there. No money at all.”

In what appeared to be an effort to leave with something of value, the three bandits took the brush cutter which was on the premises, and proceeded to rob the security guards of $1500 in cash, two cellular phones, and a bag of medication. They then fled in the same vehicle they arrived in. The Police were contacted and they responded promptly. Investigations are ongoing.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, January 20 – 11:30h-13:00h and Saturday, January 21 – 12:30h-14:00h.

Attack on Chancellor despicable, unwarranted – Nandlall “The Particulars of Offence do not disclose an offence.

Based on the foregoing analysis, even if what is alleged in the Particulars of Offence is proved there can be no resulting conviction since no crim-

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Berbice – Friday, January 20 – 10:25h-11:55h and Saturday, January 21 – 11:45h-13:15h.

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

“The Attorney General merely appeared in the matter for the Magistrate. He was never a party. How could an appeal be filed in the name of the Attorney General?

It cannot get more elementary than that.”

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day while partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging from 23 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

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Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 10:12h and 22:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.17 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:40h and 16:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.98 metre and 1.01 metres respectively.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

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even his own officer.

“It is the responsibility of the Attorney General to inspect and approve every legal document prepared in the AG Chambers before they are filed, irrespective of who

ormer Attorney General Anil Nandlall has lashed out at his successor, Attorney General, Basil Williams, describing his attack on acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh as despicable and unwarranted.

Nandlall’s comments comes on the heels of Williams’s criticisms against the actions of his Deputy Solicitor-General Prithima Kissoon and acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, following a ruling on Wednesday, dismissing a State-sponsored appeal against a High Court decision which quashed a racial incitement charge against Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The private criminal charge was brought against Jagdeo by political activist and social commentator, Christopher Ram, back in May 2015.

However, Jagdeo subsequently moved to the High Court to challenge what he deemed an unlawful and politically inspired charge against him following the delivery of his historic and frank speech at a memorial service to honour People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Founder and late President, Dr Cheddi Jagan, on March 8, 2015 at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant.

In the High Court ruling, the presiding Judge found that Magistrate Charlyn Artiga, in front of whom the charge was heard at the Whim Magistrate’s Court, had no jurisdiction to hear the private criminal charge brought against the Opposition Leader because it is legally defective and invalid and any attempt for her to so do, would amount to an abuse of court.

inal offence is disclosed,” the Judge ruled.

This decision was then appealed and ruled on by the Chancellor on Wednesday.

In his judgment, Justice Singh found that the Deputy Solicitor-General Prithima Kissoon, who filed the appeal on behalf of Attorney General Williams, conceding that the AG was not a proper party to the matter; hence there was sufficient evidence to dismiss the case.

Kissoon was required to file an affidavit in response to Bacchus’s contention against the Attorney General being named in the matter along with adding Magistrate Artiga’s name to the appeal but this was not done; hence the Chancellor’s ruling.

Williams was reported in the state’s newspaper saying, “(Kissoon) filed the appeal and her concession is unknown to me; she did not consult the Attorney General and she has absented herself for the month by submitting medical certificate after medical certificate; the Judge ruled that the appeal is a nullity…and in favour of Jagdeo.”

The AG also called the Chancellor’s dismissal of the appeal a “vain attempt” to free the Opposition, indicating his intention to approach the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) noting that the case is appealable.

However, his predecessor, former AG Anil Nandlall, penned his amusement at what he calls a desperate attempt by Williams to shift from himself blame and responsibility for the Appeal Court’s dismissal of a “frivolous and vexatious” appeal case. Nandlall posited that rather than accepting the responsibility for filing an appeal on behalf of the wrong party, his successor is blaming the Chancellor and

drafted it. The buck stops with the Attorney General. In this instance, the error made was most elementary. The Attorney General was never a party to the proceedings in the High Court. The parties were Bharrat Jagdeo and Magistrate Charlyn Artiga.

The Attorney General merely appeared in the matter for

Attorney General Basil Williams the Magistrate. He was never a party. How could an appeal be filed in the name of the Attorney General? It cannot get more elementary than that,” the former AG pointed out.

Nandlall recounted seeing the Notice of Appeal which was filed over a year ago and immediately advised the Leader of the Opposition that the wrong party had appealed and that the case will be dismissed. He had also presented Jagdeo with reference of another case, where the Court of Appeal threw out an appeal on identical grounds.

The unanimous judgment in that case was handed down by Chancellor Desiree Bernard. The name of the case is Attorney General vs Jardim (2003) 67 WIR, 100.

“In his interview with

Acting Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh the Chronicle, the Attorney General failed to disclose that during the hearing of the appeal, he appeared before the Court of Appeal and was granted leave to review the submissions made by the Deputy Solicitor-General in which she correctly conceded that the wrong party has appealed the matter.

Further, the Attorney General did not say that he was granted leave to make additional submissions if he wished to do so. I do not know whether he reviewed the Deputy Solicitor-General’s submissions but my information is that he did not place any additional submissions before the court as he was offered to do. Therefore, the impression which the Attorney General conveyed in the Chronicle that he was unaware of this matter is absolutely incorrect. The record of the court will bear me out if examined,” Nandlall asserted.

In these circumstances, the former AG opined that any other ruling from the Appeal Court would have been perverse. To this end, Nandlall remarked that William’s attack on the Judiciary and in particular, Chancellor Carl Singh, is “unwarranted and despicable”.

“Attacking judges who rules against him and attributing ulterior, undesirable and even racist motives has been his modus operandi for a long time. Recently, referring to a particular judge, he has been saying, openly: “we put she deh, she gafuh rule fuh we,” Nandlall noted.

This, he went on to highlight, is simply deplorable, adding that it is nothing short of an insult and an attack on the integrity and independence of our judges.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, January 20, 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

Support the CCPA

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illions of children across the globe are not fully protected. Many of them deal with violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, exclusion and/ or discrimination every day. Such violations limit their chances of surviving, growing, developing and pursuing their dreams. We have seen a recent upsurge in the reports of child rape and other forms of abuse. The issue is that in most of these cases, relatives and guardians have reported that the acts have been perpetuated for some time. Many claimed to have knowledge of the alleged abuse only after the perpetrators have been nabbed. This is indefensible.

One of the major concerns is the fact that, only after investigations have been launched into alleged acts of abuse, then it is revealed that a number of persons knew the child or children were at risk but did nothing to get help for the victims. This is out of order and an infringement of the Child Protection Laws. In Guyana, the agency tasked with this responsibility of protecting children from abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitationis the Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA) which, over the years, has sought to lead the way in protecting the nation’s vulnerable and at-risk children.

According to the Child Protection Act, if you know of a child being abused and do nothing about it you are liable. To avert this occurrence, the CPA will be looking to establish community watch groups. Just as in the case of domestic violence, persons are being encouraged to speak out against such atrocities.

The Social Protection Ministry has revealed that child abuse reports in the country, at the end of October 2016, were at 3294 cases with neglect followed by sexual abuse as the leading forms of abuse; the final statistics for 2016 is still being tallied; however, these are startling figures.

Inadequate parenting has been identified as a main contributory factor to child abuse and youth problems.

The plan, according to the CCPA, is for the introduction of more capacity building and in-home services for parents.

For this year, the Agency has planned a series of other initiatives which includes the provision of increased support and services for families to improve parenting role and to keep out of home care for children at a minimum, the fostering of community partnerships to keep children safe, and engaging in a higher level of public awareness to the plight of children who suffer abuse and to the work of the Agency, among other initiatives.

For any of these initiatives to be successful, there must be greater collaboration. In fact, the Agency has called for strengthened relationships with NGOs and other organisations. They have also emphasised that everyone who comes in contact with children have a role to play in identifying children at risk, communicating these concerns and working collectively towards prompt corrective actions. Whatever the strategy, it is imperative that all stakeholders give their fullest support towards these and other initiatives.

Child protection is a national issue and everyone must be involved if we are to be successful in building a comprehensive child protection system.

Further, the Government also needs to ensure that the CCPA and other supporting agencies are equipped with the appropriate tools to carry out their mandate.

They should also strive to ensure that there is adequate funding, and that the highest level of training is available in the field of childcare protection in Guyana.

There is too much at risk for our nation’s children if stakeholders, communities and individuals do not act.

All children have the right to protection. They have the right to survive, to be safe, to belong, to be heard, to receive adequate care and to grow up in a protective environment.

South Sudanese wheelchair basketball players train in the capital, Juba (BBC News)

Crabs in a barrel

Dear Editor, I find very disheartening that Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader of the Alliance for Change, who has condemned a third term for Opposition Leader Barra Jagdeo see it fit that it’s justifiable that a third term for himself is a non- issue.

I was part of the National Executive Committee from the years 2006 to 2011 when the AFC’s constitution had the rotation principle for the leadership; however ,that

was amended paving a way for other leaders to contest for the leadership, making the AFC more democratic so the current AFC constitution provides that anyone can contest the leadership once they are one-year financial members, but nothing is stated about any third term with it being understood that the limit is two terms.

The Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan refused to do

the honourable thing by not running for any third term.

I find that to be very dishonest, because in the past, before the constitution was amended from the rotation principle, it provided for two terms; however, I now see a misuse of conscience and so at our National Conference, Region Five delegates will not support the unprincipled Khemraj Ramjattan for any third term. No way.

This very Leader always stated that what made the

AFC different was that we don’t have “crab in the barrel mentality”, but now I see a third term will only bring disunity and confusion within the AFC because anyone can be elected for a third term and continue to become dictator for life and that would be constitutionally correct, according to Mr Ramjattan.

Yours truly, Pradeep Bachan Region 5 AFC Activist

Law school a positive step

Dear Editor, The recent announcement by the Government of Guyana that it has entered into a joint partnership agreement to establish the JOF Haynes Law School is a welcome initiative for the growth of legal education in Guyana and the Caribbean.

The study of law is an academic field that has always attracted a large number of students with dreams of having a legal education.

Students in the Caribbean can acquire their LLB from a total of five institutions (the three UWI branches, UG and the University of London external programme).

With hundreds of LLB graduates applying annually, the three law schools managed by the Council of Legal Education were clearly unable to cope with the volume of applicants and hence resorted to a discriminatory quota and entrance examination system which resulted in the exclusion of ambitious and hardworking law degree holders from completing the final two years of

practical training that would permit them to become practising attorneys in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

The JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas (JHLSA) will allow local, Caribbean and international LLB/JD holders to fulfil dreams and aspiration manifested in childhood to become attorneys.

The sceptics, both in and outside the legal profession, are already trying to push the ‘too many lawyers’ narrative. A society should never complain about having an educated population, whether lawyers, teachers, engineers or accountants as the modern and global world that we live in is driven by the intellectual creativity of our educated citizens.

Governments allocate large sums of monies in their annual budgets for education to ensure that they have the best human capital to enhance growth and development in a competitive global environment.

I would like to know if the naysayers would apply that reasoning when ad-

dressing the issue of traffic congestion in Georgetown.

The US has well over 200 law schools with an annual intake of about a hundred thousand students, but you never hear elements of that society complaining, as the value of the legal profession in upholding the democratic values and commercial success of that country is well established.

The legal market will be able to absorb and utilise the skills of present and future lawyers as the study of law allows for diversity and specialisation in practice (human rights law, environmental law, intellectual property law and cyber law) along with other numerous areas of interest. A fairly large number of the graduates will move outside of Guyana in seeking the best option for professional growth and remuneration.

Individuals in the legal profession who push the argument that a large influx of lawyers is bad for the legal market are trying to keep the status quo of reducing

the profession to the ‘chosen few’, which goes against the grain of what the AG Mr Basil Williams, SC, and by extension the APNU/AFC Administration is seeking to accomplish in ensuring that the legitimate expectations LLB holders have of becoming qualified attorneys are met.

The current cost of tuition for two years at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad is $5,400,000.

Local students desirous of going to the twin-island republic still have to budget for travelling and living expenses which at a conservative estimate will be about $2,000,000 Once, the administrators of the JHLSA sets a reasonable tuition fee along with high-quality delivery of Council of Legal Education curriculum, the institution will succeed financially in its business model and academically in providing for the legal needs of students in and beyond Guyana.

Yours respectfully, Michael Baird

guyanatimesgy.com

Friday, January 20, 2017

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

The importance of parental Planning for the anticipated oil windfall support in education Dear Editor, It is the commencement of a new school term and I would like to discuss the significant role parents play in fostering a well-rounded child. It is widely recognised that if pupils are to maximise their potential from schooling, they will need the complete support of their parents. The parents referred to here are biological, adopted or guardians. The home and the family are regarded as the child’s first teacher; as such, their attitudes, values and customs will have a direct impact on the child’s behaviour.

Parents know their children intimately, and are expected to perform some form of training that will make them successful adults with desirable behaviours.

As parents, we have expectations of our children; similarly, each child has basic expectations of his/her parents. One of the most important responsibilities of parents is to provide an education for his/her child. In moulding a child, certain basic needs must be met which will foster positive behaviour. What parents do and don't do, say and don't say, provide children with the experiences that they interpret into beliefs. Those beliefs, in turn, then determine their behaviour and emotions and, ultimately, their lives, for better or for worse. We cannot deny that proud feeling and sense of satisfaction we enjoy when our children are commended for their good behaviour and academic achievements.

This can be directly associated to Abraham Maslow’s theory on the hierarchy of needs, which contends that as humans meet basic

needs, they seek to satisfy successively higher needs that occupy a set hierarchy.

The essential point for parents and educators is that, from Maslow's perspective, no learning will take place unless the students’ basic needs are met. Children must feel safe, a sense of belonging and most of all, they must be loved.

It is imperative for us to understand that the only way a child will reach the stage of self-actualisation is if all the other basic needs are met. It is, therefore, prudent for parents to provide the basic needs and foundation for their children, so that they can achieve and enjoy success in life.

From my interaction and experience with learners and parents, it is absolutely clear that parents who exhibit positive attitudes towards education, encourage their children to attend school regularly and provide the basic needs will foster an optimistic attitude towards learning. Children whose parents are involved in their formal education have many advantages. They have better grades, test scores, longterm academic achievement, attitudes and behaviour than those with uninterested parents.

I encourage parents to view the education of their children as a partnership among the child, parents, teachers and the community. Let us endeavour to establish the home and school as institutions which have comparable goals and expectations in terms of achievement and expected behaviour. This will allow for a consistence in the child’s behavioural pattern, both at home and school.

Parents should be involved in school activities such as PTA meetings, sports, cultural events, graduation, tours and other such functions which will make their children feel wanted and love. If precedence is not given to your child’s education, it will be difficult for him/her as individuals to attain his/her full potential and at the same time to have a positive attitude towards learning.

Parents, I urge us to invest in this precious gift that will last a lifetime – EDUCATION. Be inspired by this famous quote from Nelson Mandela and let us start this process of change within our respective homes; “ Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world .”

Yours faithfully, Chandroutie Persaud

Dear Editor, It has been reported in the news that a partnership of oil companies ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC have discovered oil and gas estimated by experts at over four billion barrels off Guyana's northern coast in a field called Liza.

Another field, Payara, was also found and exploration is on-going to better assess its resource potential.

The Minister of Natural Resources (MoNR) has stated that oil/gas is anticipated to flow to on-shore terminal facilities by 2020 but this is unlikely to happen before about 2023, for several reasons.

The world is presently awash with oil being marketed at depressed global prices per barrel. Therefore, the financial rewards are presently slim for the oil companies to quickly recoup their investment and hence they will be cautious to make large capital outlays to start production and build expensive export facilities such as pipelines, storage tanks,

berthing terminals and other infrastructures at this juncture of their find, unless the MoNR has in his possession an approved timetable for development of the resource from the oil companies. In the absence of such assurance, the oil consortium will no doubt continue their exploration and assessment while preparing detail plans, mobilising materiel, equipment and personnel to get the infrastructures in place for the first shipment of oil to global markets. This will initially be a slow process but could be speeded up when the consortium decides that the price for oil is favourable for them to do so.

In the interval, Minister Trotman should start getting the Petroleum Directorate established and functioning with policies and legislation in place to govern the new sector.

In doing so he should make every effort to build consensus with the Opposition to prevent contentious situations developing as was the case with

Amaila Falls Hydropower Development. This will also prevent any new administration from raising problematic issues for the oil companies should the APNU/AFC Government fail to get the mandate of Guyanese at the next general elections.

Oil has brought wealth, corruption, impoverishment and armed conflict in many countries such as Nigeria, Angola and Brazil. It has led oligarchies and their lackeys to loot their way to untold riches with very little of the new found wealth benefiting the people. Therefore the APNU/AFC Government should lay the framework and implement policies to prevent improper diversion and squandering of the riches expected from the oil/gas resources of Guyana and develop ways and means for its people to benefit from the intended oil windfall.

Yours faithfully, Charles Sohan

Roles must be clearly defined

Dear Editor, As the journey of our Township continues, I'm reminded of a familiar statement “Relationships are only as good as the persons in them". If there is a bad marital relationship, then it’s a reflection of the persons in the marriage. Always remember, one can only do what he knows. For this reason, as the saying goes, "if you know better, then do better".

In a few months, it will be one year since Bartica was inaugurated as a town. The lessons learnt are valuable, the opportunities gained are remarkable, while the progress made is evident.

However, in the words of

our international designer, Sonia Noel, "There is more beyond the runway"— A desire, hope, faith and passion for better, stronger relationships.

In my New Year’s message to our staff, Councillors, regional officials and well-wishers, I could not have over emphasised the importance of relationships in achieving our goals in making Bartica a model town. No one individual or group can achieve our objectives unilaterally.

The business community, religious organisations, schools, institutions and non-governmental organisations must define their roles as we progress as a town.

The occasional character assassination, politicking and unfounded accusations must be denounced by all. While I must agree that it's a reflection of democracy (freedom of expression), one must also agree that democracy is best admired when it's clothed with responsible behaviour.

Egos, personalities and self-interest must take a back seat to "service, success and succession".

Further, the roles and responsibilities of the Regional Democratic Council and the Mayor and Town Council must also be clearly defined.

This relationship, I believe, is the motor to all other relationships.

In the end, we the leaders must understand that everything rises and falls on leadership.

We the leaders will be remembered for either building history or destroying same.

As Mayor, I am committed to building history. I am committed to creating a legacy of strong relationships, relationships which are built on the pillars of democracy – that is, inclusive consultation and participation. After all, relationships are only as good as the persons in it.

Respectfully, Gifford Marshall Mayor of Bartica

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Foundation

Parenting Questions and Answers

Difficult to discipline I

’m not sure if I am on the right path; I’m not even sure where to begin. I am having trouble with my 10-year-old son. He is becoming more difficult to discipline. I have tried grounding him and talking to him. Nothing his father or I say to him fazes him.

All their lives, both of my children have had everything they have ever wanted, and I am trying to make them understand that there is value to having things.

However, my son does not appreciate anything and thinks that he can do and get whatever he wants at any time.

He also has a social problem at school, and I have tried seeking guidance from the school, but they were no help. He is about to enter middle school, and I don’t know what to do.

Today, when I told him he had to earn something he wants, he said he thinks it’s OK to take it from his sister and he shows no remorse. What can I do? I am very afraid of where this is leading. - Concerned parent Parenting is a tough job, and we sometimes recognise that we have done things along the way that lead to even more difficulty as our children grow and develop. It is counterproductive to look back and blame ourselves. It is productive to look back and learn from our mistakes and make changes in our own behaviours.

guyanatimesgy.com

Children who are given everything without having to earn it often feel as though things are owed to them. They appreciate very few things, and they appreciate the people who provide these things even less.

It sounds as though you have reached a point of realisation that things must change.

If you can, sit down and establish clear expectations for behaviours. This includes using social skills as well as chores

around the house. Also, plan in advance what can be earned when the child meets expectations and what the consequences are when he fails to meet the expectations.

Start by teaching him some basic social skills:

Follow instructions Look at the person who is speaking to him Say OK to show under-

standing Perform the task immediately and let the other person know when the task is finished Accept consequences Accept a “no” answer Ask permission Describe these skills step by step to the child, and give him good reasons for performing the tasks the way you are describing.

Then, have the child practise.

Let your children know that things must change and it may be uncomfortable for a while, but you are going to stick to it.

When your son is grounded make sure there are no privileges available to him that he enjoys, such as telephone, TV, DVD, iPod, computer, etc...

During the time he is grounded make sure he has things to do, extra chores, learning and practising social skills, helping his parents. He will have to com-

plete these assignments to regain his privileges.

Do not let your son talk you out of sticking to your plan and your consequences. In the situation you described, he didn’t accept consequences, and he took other’s property without permission.

These are both negative behaviours and should be confronted by teaching him more acceptable alternatives and negative consequences for engaging in them.

Boys Town has a parenting program called Common Sense Parenting that teaches the very techniques described above, and more. Parenting education can offer additional strategies and techniques when what you are doing isn’t working. A book by the same name can be purchased at local bookstores or at www.boystownpress. org. If you feel your son has gotten to the point that he needs to be assessed by a counsellor or therapist, then find one in your area. It is good that you are recognising that his behaviours are getting in the way of his success in the social settings that life will present him with. Time is of the essence. (parenting.org)

Techniques to shape children’s behaviour

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argaining with your child doesn’t compromise your authority; it strengthens it. Children respect parents who are willing to listen to them. Until they leave home, children must accept your authority— that’s not negotiable; but that doesn’t mean you can’t listen to their side of things.

Negotiating is a win-win situation in trying to shape children’s behaviour that benefits b o t h parents a n d children.

are the next morning when you stay up late. You fall asleep at school,” Father reminded her.”But that was last year, dad. I’m older now,” Margo countered.”Yes, I guess you are. Let’s try this,” Father suggested. “On school nights you must be in bed at nine o’clock and you can read in bed until 9:30.

On nights when you don’t have school the next day you can stay up until ten o’clock.”

The child thought this w a s acceptable, and her reas o n ing was

Parents show that t h e y are approachable and open to another’s v i e w point –a quality children become more sensitive about as they approach adolescence. In teen years you will find that negotiating becomes your main behaviour management tool, because adolescents like to be treated as intellectual equals and expect you to respect their viewpoint. If used wisely, negotiating improves communication between parent and child. A stubborn insistence on having your own way has the opposite effect.

“I just can’t talk to my dad,” said Jessica, a teenager whose father’s attitude was, “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up.”

Even the wishes of a seven or eight-year-old should be open to negotiation. This is a warm-up time to help you sharpen your negotiating skills for the years ahead.

“Why do I have to go to bed at 9 o’clock?” argued tenyear-old Margo.”What time do you think is a good bedtime for you?” asked Father Negotiator.”Ten o’clock,” Margo suggested.”That extra hour means a lot to you doesn’t it? What would you do during that extra hour?””I could read,” Margo pleaded.”Remember how tired you

v a l i dated.

The fat h e r achieved his goal being sure his child got enough sleep. He knew that after five minutes of reading in bed she would probably fall asleep, which she did.

As this volley went back and forth, the father was earning points with his child. The child was getting the message that “I can talk to my dad. He is reasonable, and he really does care about what’s good for me. My father listens, and he has some wise things to say.” Sometimes let your child take the lead. Use a well-known negotiating tool: Meet the child where he is, and then bring him to where you want him to be.

For example, you want your child to sit and read a book with you, but he’s intent on wrestling as evidenced by his grabbing your arm and showing signs that he wants physical play. Let him spend a bit of energy rough-housing on the floor. Tire him out enough so that he can then sit still and read the book. This is not giving into the child or letting the child be in control, it’s simply being a smart negotiator. It’s a way to bring your child back to your agenda after a short excursion that satisfies the needs of his agenda.(Excerpt from askdrsears.com)

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friDAY, January 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Skeldon Estate takeover

No secret deal, all parties informed – Trotman …Jagdeo says Opposition informed after secret MoU signed

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overnment has denied any secrecy in a deal struck with a Trinidadian company for a possible takeover of the lucrative Skeldon Estate, a state entity under the management of the cash-strapped and heavily-indebted Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

At the post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman pointed out that it was just a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study.

“There is nothing here to sign the assets away, but it is just meant to conduct a study… There is no such thing as a secret deal… (and) so the mischief about a takeover and all that is just what it is – a mischief, false and should not be repeated and peddled,” the Minister noted.

He went on to quote the document which states that, “The parties agree that this MoU constitutes a strategic liaison the company and GOInvest intended to formulate and facilitate the development of a feasibility study for an integrated sugarcane processing facility for GuySuCo’s assets and related assets in Skeldon, Guyana.”

According to Trotman, while the document has no confidentiality clause, Government is not aware that when it is entering into an MoU that it has to have members of the Opposition alongside to witness.

Guyana Times broke the story on Tuesday that Trinidadian company D Rampersad and Company Limited (DRCL) was likely to rake in major benefits from the Guyana Government, including favourable tax incentives for the development of an integrated sugarcane processing facility at the Skeldon Sugar Estate, after the MoU was inked in December for the undertaking of a feasibil-

the owner of Auto Fashion Store on Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Auto Fashion Store also has no experience in the agricultural sector.

The MoU seen by Guyana Times outlines that the company will be conducting a feasibility study, which is proposed to commence on April 3.

DRCL is slated to benefit tremendously if its project proposal is approved by the current coalition Administration.

According to the MoU, some expectations in the

The US$200 million Skeldon Sugar Factory

ity study.

However, Trotman said that the Opposition, GuySuCo and the relevant unions representing sugar workers were also informed about the MoU. This was also disclosed by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, when contacted on the matter earlier this week.

“There was a meeting when we met with the Opposition and the unions … to try to get them on board for the way forward for GuySuCo. At that meeting, the question of the MoU came up and it was provided to the Opposition to look at.

The Opposition is well aware of it, because it was given to them by the Government.

So, I don’t know what is the secret deal; they have the MoU,” Holder explained.

But Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in his criticism of the agreement pointed out that Government entered into this deal without any consultations with stakeholders beforehand.

“They claim that this is without prejudice to privatisation. But if you have a secret Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with someone to assess the entity, then you are already giving one person an advantage over any person who may be interested if you decide to

privatise. So they are busy working these quiet deals and one day we may wake up and find that one of the prized estates in Guyana is gone to a group that knows nothing about sugar or is on middle land without any public valuation of the land, no public tendering, but has acquired a deal by the Government,” he told media operatives on Wednesday.

The Skeldon Sugar Factory, which is located on the Estate, alone is worth US$200 million, so the total value of the Estate would amount to billions. Jagdeo contended that this was one of the many actions of the Government which he considered “totally reprehensible”.

“You do not speak with the parliamentary Opposition.

You know, just recently, they called us in December, after everything else and told us they want to talk to us about it, but the secret MoU was already signed, now the story is in the news,” he outlined. The MoU was signed on December 8, 2016.

The Trinidadian company reportedly has no experience with any agricultural enterprise, and provides engineering services to the automotive and oil industries in T&T. Notable, as well, is the fact that witness to the signing was Noel Rupie Shewjattan,

event a definitive agreement is entered into would include access to key infrastructure, favourable combination of tax incentives, and land for sugarcane cultivation and infrastructure.

The company is also set to receive reasonable approval cycles, guarantees on minimum product take-off by the Government with respect to electric power and fuel ethanol, guaranteed pricing formulae and power export provisions.

Corentyne robberies

Police have breakthrough, helmets found at suspect’s house

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olice in Berbice have had a breakthrough in cases of the two Corentyne robberies which occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

In both the Spready’s and the Kildonan robberies, the Police have been able to identify the suspects.

On Thursday, Police went to a home at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant where one of the suspects allegedly resides and were able to find two helmets, hidden in the back of the yard.

According to information, shortly before that, two men travelling in a black wagon stopped a few houses away and approached a teenager and sent him into the house.

The teenager returned with a

One of the suspects lives in this house

parcel and handed it over.

Moments after, Police arrived and took the teenager in for questioning. They also went into the yard where two helmets were discovered hidden between some bushes in

the backyard.

According to residents, they observed that activities at the Babu Jaan house seemed to coincide with some high-profile Corentyne robberies. turn to page 15

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friDAY, January 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Dataram gets additional 4 years, reputed wife released

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elf-confessed drug lord Barry Dataram was on Thursday jailed for four more years and fined $60,000 after he changed a not-guilty plea on a possession of ammunition charge to guilty, while his reputed wife, Anjanie Boodnarine was freed.

Dataram, 58, of 13 Vriesland, West Bank Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman and changed his plea to guilty.

The charge stated that on April 16, 2015 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), he was found to be in possession of 180 .233 rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

As such, Magistrate Latchman ruled that Dataram would be jailed for 48 additional months, to run concurrently with his previous sentence.

Boodnarine, However, 21, of 79 Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara was freed of all charges.

In September of 2016, ar-

Self-confessed drug lord Barry Dataram

rest warrants were issued for the drug lord and his reputed wife who had fled the country ahead of a court ruling.

However, after he disappeared, Magistrate Latchman found Dataram guilty in absentia for having 129.23kg of cocaine in his possession on April 16, 2015.

Boodnarine, along with Dataram’s friends Trevor

His reputed wife, Anjanie Boodnarine

Gouveia and Komal Charran, who were also before the court for the same offence, were all freed.

Dataram and Boodnarine were later apprehended in Suriname and escorted back to Guyana.

Upon their extradition, Dataram and Boodnarine appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan,

and Dataram admitted that between April 15, 2013 and October 15, at Camp Street, Georgetown, he conspired with other persons to forge a Republic of Guyana Passport, in favour of himself, to show that the document was issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office.

He confessed that on September 20, at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, he departed Guyana without presenting himself to an immigration officer.

The Chief Magistrate sentenced Dataram to two years on the first charge and 12 months each on the second and third charges to run concurrently with his then fiveyear sentence.

Dataram had begged for leniency telling the court that he escaped because he did not believe that he was getting a fair trial.

Boodnarine was before the court charged with forgery and illegally leaving Guyana.

Babita Sarjou’s PI

Sister takes the stand

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unita Sarjou, the sister of Babita Sarjou and the last person to interact with her on the day of her disappearance, on Wednesday took the stand before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to give her testimony.

The woman, who was 15 years old at the time, related her recollection of that day.

She was being questioned by Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers after which she was cross-examined by Peter Hughes, the defence counsel of the number one accused, Anand Narine.

The younger Sarjou recollected being in the room

with her sister and watching as she prepared for the evening’s occasion – a motorcade.

She described to the court in detail what Sarjou was wearing when she left that evening.

Sunita was called to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on the day of the discovery of her sister’s remains to identify the garment found buried with her body.

In her testimony, she also disclosed that prior to her sister’s marriage to the number one accused, she knew him for over seven years.

Murdered: Babita Sarjou

Currently, Narine and number two accused Darrel

Ponton are before the court charged with the murder of Sarjou.

The victim, in November of 2010, left her home to view a Diwali motorcade; however, she failed to return.

Sarjou’s whereabouts remained a mystery for several years, but her family never gave up on getting an explanation for her disappearance. In March of last year, the woman’s remains were found in her estranged husband’s Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown backyard.

The remains were positively identified by her mother and sister.

Exit strategy…

T

…from untenable position?

hey say “politics is war by other means’. But with what’s going down in our dear, old Guyana, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two. The verbal salvos are fired with such ferocity; they might as well be cannonballs! Take the latest episode in the “GECOM LIST” battle. After rejecting the Opposition Leader’s list, Prezzie promised the Opposition Leader to provide the requested explanation as to what wasn’t kosher about the six names.

But now up comes the Chronic with a banner headline on what they claim is Prezzie’s latest riposte to the Opposition Leader: “Speak to my AG!” Now if these aren’t fighting words, what is? The “Opposition Leader” is a constitutional office. His party received barely less than 5000 votes than the President’s. Isn’t that enough to earn some respect?

Back in the day, to comply with the constitutional requirement to “consult” with the then “Minority Leader”, Burnham would ring up Jagan, say something innocuous like, “Hey Cheddi, How you doing?” or such like, hang up and smirk to whoever was around - “There I just consulted with Jagan!!” But here it is, Prezzie doesn’t even bother to call Jagdeo when he’d personally promised to see him! But instead, if the Chronic’s to be believed – hands him over to an underling. Like we’ve been saying – “knock got knock back – and we can only wonder at Jagdeo’s ultimate response.

Don’t you bother, dear reader, with the official line that “my legal guy will meet your legal guy.” That’s just scoring political points for taking the “high road”. After all these two legal worthies have been sparring in the press for weeks on the issue. An irresistible force (Nandlall) meeting an object made immovable by his principal’s obduracy (Williams)!! They can’t settle a matter that’s gone this far…This is a matter for their principals.

Williams has already been pushed against the wall and forced to concede his principal has misinterpreted the pertinent article. An eminent former jurist from the CCJ has also done the same. What can Williams do?

Embarrass his principal? So how do we get a ceasefire in this war – or at least a de-escalation – before things get out of hand? Jagdeo’s already suggested recourse to the CCJ to pronounce on Prezzie’s idiosyncratic interpretation that only a Judge can be chair of GECOM. The CCJ route at least allows Prezzie a graceful exit from his quite untenable position. He can ask for another list. He can reject all the names.

But what he can’t do is interpret the Constitution and not have the courts decide whether he does or does not have a point.

…stymied?

Two years ago, David Cameron was still PM of Britain and flying high. Brexit hadn’t yet dropped on him like a ton of Newcastle coal!! Faced with calls from Caricom for reparations for the damage they’d done to Caribbean people of African origin with the horrors of the Atlantic Passage and the chattel, he flew into the Caribbean – touching down first in Jamaica.

There he refused to even apologise for Britain’s actions much less agree to reparations even though several Jamaican officials – including PM Portia Miller took him to task.

In what has to be a sop to his conscience, he offered a US$450 million loan for infrastructure, including US$75 million for Guyana. But he didn’t know where to stop and – get this – offered half of the cost of a prison for Jamaica! Given the Jamaican reputation for “plain speaking is not bad manners”, it’s surprising Cameron wasn’t thrown out of the island.

But they just decided to tell Britain, “no thanks” on the prison offer. Britain may now need it more than Jamaica!

…or stalking horse?

If the T&T company really wanted lands for ethanol and rum, why not take up all the abandoned Caroni infrastructure right in their backyard?

Your Eyewitness thinks they’re a stalking horse for a company closer home!!

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

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friday, January 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GECOM chairmanship

Govt, Opposition legal minds to determine constitutional requirement – Granger

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resident David Granger is of the view that the impending meeting between representatives of Government and the Opposition will provide legal clarification on the constitutional requirements for the appointment of a Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

During the taping of this week’s “The Public Interest” programme on Thursday, the Head of State pointed out that having legal minds from the two sides examine and interpret the Constitution was the quickest route to bring a “swift” conclusion to the issue, which he noted has been going on for too long.

“At this point in time, I feel it’s purely constitutional, it’s purely legal and I think the shortest course, the best course, would be for legal minds to engage the issue.

So, I don’t feel a non-lawyer like myself should engage a non-lawyer like the Leader of the Opposition, because there may be further misunderstanding,” the President posited.

In light of the ongoing public disagreement over the requirements for the appointment of a GECOM Chairman between the Head of State and the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, the latter on Wednesday evening accepted an invitation from the former to have a representative meet with Attorney General Basil Williams on the matter.

The invitation was extended when the Head of State finally wrote Jagdeo in response to a request (by the Opposition Leader) for clarification on his (Granger’s) interpretation of the Constitution of Guyana regarding the appointment of a Chairperson of the elections body.

In his letter to Jagdeo, the President proposed that a meeting be held between the Attorney General and a person of the Leader of the Opposition’s choice “in order

However, Granger’s interpretation seems to reflect the old 1980 Constitution, commonly known as the “Burnham Constitution”, which limits the pool of persons to be appointed to GECOM’s helm to only judges or those eligible to be judges. This version of the Constitution also gives the President the power to unilaterally appoint a GECOM Chairman.

AG Williams and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan had both sig-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

to avoid further misinterpretation or misunderstanding of this important constitutional matter”.

However, a statement from the Opposition Leader’s office on Wednesday evening outlined that while Jagdeo was disappointed that the President did not provide the clarification sought, he would nevertheless accede to the request and send a representative to the meeting with the Attorney General.

“It is our hope that this engagement will provide the requisite clarity and will move the process closer to an early resolution,” the statement from the Opposition said. However, at the post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman told reporters that a date was yet to be set for that meeting. “…We have not received any indication as to when (Jagdeo) or he and his delegation or his delegation will attend to that meeting,” Trotman related.

The controversy of the different interpretations of the Opposition Leader and the Government on Article 161 (2) of the Guyana Constitution on the appointment of a new GECOM Chairman, stemmed from the President rejecting the initial list of six nominees submitted by Jagdeo to head GECOM. The relevant section of

President David Granger

the Constitution states, “The Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”

The Opposition’s understanding conforms to the updated Constitution, which incorporates the Carter Formula to have a democratic process for the appointment of a chairman. The Carter Formula is designed and intended to achieve consensus between Government and the Opposition regarding the appointment of GECOM’s Chairman.

GECOM’s composition was also designed to achieve a certain degree of equilibrium, hence three nominees from the governing party and three from the Opposition, with the Chairman holding a balance of power with a casting vote.

nalled Government’s intention to activate a clause in the Constitution to allow the President to unilaterally appoint a GECOM Chair.

But the Head of State reiterated on Thursday that he would not end the process until both parties were satisfied with the way forward. “…I would like to choose someone who is acceptable to both sides and who the general public is satisfied with,” he posited, dismissing speculation that he already had a candidate in

mind to take up the helm of the elections body.

“I don’t have a candidate in mind. I have a qualification in mind. I want someone who satisfies the constitutional requirement. That is all I want,” he stated.

To this end, President Granger is confident that dialogue between the Attorney General and legal representatives from the Opposition could expedite the resolution of this matter.

Region 9 rocked by assault allegations from high-ranking official

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rouble is brewing in the Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo) capital town of Lethem, as a high-ranking municipal official has filed a Police report against a regional official, alleging sexual assault.

When contacted Thursday, F Division ((Lethem and other Interior Locations) Commander Ravindradat Budhram confirmed that a report was indeed made and Police had conducted an investigation into the incident.

According to Budhram, a file was compiled and has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on instituting charges against the accused.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Empowered Peoples Action Network (GEPAN) released a statement condemning the attack. In its missive, GEPAN said it had been solicited to petition on behalf of the Virtual Complainant, as a civil actor.

According to GEPAN, the victim suffered the assault while carrying out her official duties. The advocacy group alleged that it was during a work mission trip, when she was forced to share a room with the suspect, that she was physically assaulted.

The town of Lethem

According to the group, the official has written to President David Granger, requesting his intervention.

GEPAN also stated that the victim has suffered “psychological and emotional abuse and break down” owing to the incident.

The group went on to reveal that the official has been forced to compromise her career and her home life has suffered. Meanwhile, at least two wings of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) have since come out in solidarity with the alleged victim. These groups – the Women's Progressive Organisation and Progressive Youth Organisation of Region Nine, expressed admiration for the boldness of the Virtual Complainant in coming forward.

“We admire the boldness of (name withheld), who came out and stood firm and strong for her rights; as such, we stand in solidarity with (name withheld) as she seeks justice, since the allegations levelled against (name withheld) is a criminal one.”

The two groups, who issued the statement jointly, called on “every sober minded Guyanese” to condemn the actions of (name withheld) on young women and be an advocate for justice. They also called on the authorities to take immediate disciplinary action against the official and to allow the law to take its course. Efforts to make contact with Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and recently-installed Social Protection Minister Amna Ally were futile.

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friday, January 20, 2017

News

Parking meters burden

No parking meter in front of senior Govt official’s premises …citizens to start paying from Monday

No parking meters have been installed in front of this building

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s citizens prepare to start paying for parking in Georgetown on Monday, some senior Government-affiliated officials may not have to feel the brunt of this burden. One example is on North Road on the southern side of the St George’s Cathedral.

An Alliance For Change (AFC) businessman in the neighbourhood has complained bitterly about the section in the vicinity of the St George’s Cathedral which is allegedly owned by a Director of Guyana Goldfields Inc, who is connected with Government officials – and which does not have parking meters.

The installation of the controversial parking meters began in December 2016.

However, prior to this, a meeting was held with representatives of the parking meter contractors, Smart City Solutions (SSC).

At that meeting on November 4, 2016, it was disclosed that during the first phase, the project will occupy 3237 spaces in Georgetown, utilising 157 parking meters on many streets in Georgetown, namely on Quamina Street, Water Street, Hadfield Street, Camp Street, Church Street, North Road, Robb Street, Regent Street, Charlotte Street, South Road, Croal

Street, Brickdam, Avenue of the Republic, Wellington Street and King Street.

However, when contacted on Thursday, the contracting company’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kit Nascimento stated that parking meters would not be placed at the area mentioned, as they [SCS] “have exercised their judgment that [they] will be putting parking meters there some other time”. He was at the time responding to questions as to why some sections of North Road were furnished with meters and others were not.

Additionally, as this publication continued to probe, Smart City Solutions’ PRO stated that no explanation was owed to the media.

“We don’t owe an explanation to the media as to why we place parking meters at one place and not another,” he asserted.

The fact that parking meters were not erected in the vicinity of the building come to light after the recent outcry against SCS for installing meters in front of at least two city schools.

Two parking meters

were installed in front of The Bishops’ High School, while one was installed in front of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. The Guyana Teachers Union immediately condemned the decision, noting that this would only bring more hardship to teachers already affected by low salaries.

since agreed to meet with representatives from the affected bodies. The parking project has been mired in controversy since its introduction to the public early last year.

Citizens as well as other significant stakeholders, including the Private Sector, rejected the idea.

Parking meters have been installed along certain sections of North Road

The National Disability Commission had also complained about the placement of the meters, noting that their presence in the middle of parapets were hazardous to disabled persons.

Smart City Solutions has

However, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King had contended that parking meters were urgently needed to regulate traffic in the city.

On Monday, January 23,

2017, citizens of Guyana will be obligated to pay $50 for every 15 minutes of parking in Georgetown. Those not adhering to this obligation would have their vehicle wheels and tyres clamped by wardens, using a device, making them immobile.

Persons would then have to pay a staggering $8000 fine to clear their vehicle. Failure to pay that fine would result in the vehicle being impounded.

Nascimento had said that the parking meters would be operational from 07:00h to 19:00h (7am to 7pm) Monday to Saturday. Any time before 07:00h in the morning and after 19:00h in the evening would be free, he declared, noting that parking would also be free on Sundays.

It was explained in earlier press conferences and interviews that through this initiative, the city will benefit from 20 per cent of the gross earnings on a yearly basis.

The parking meter contract, which was signed between the Mayor and City Council and Smart City Solutions, will last for 20 years, with the option to renew.

friday, January 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

EGCI programme not assisting to draft any laws – MNR … profit-sharing agreement review abandoned for 1999 50/50 model – Trotman

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he Natural Resources Ministry has debunked reports that the United States Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) programme is not playing any role in crafting regulations for Guyana’s burgeoning oil industry.

Rather, the Ministry noted that the Commonwealth Secretariat would be playing a primary role in preparing legislation for the oil and gas sector. This is according a statement and follows an article appearing in The Huffington Post headlined ‘Conflict; Tillerson would write the rules for Exxon’s major oil find in Guyana’.

“The opportunity is taken to indicate that while the EGCI has been lending support to Guyana for the past six years in the area of capacity building to manage eventual oil and gas revenues, it is in no way writing oil and gas laws or regulations for this country,” the ministry stated in a release.

The Ministry did acknowledge that collaboration between Guyana and the EGCI programme commenced in 2010, thus predating the Natural Resources Ministry and the current coalition

Administration.

“Indeed, the Government of Guyana has had many engagements with the officials of the United States’ Department of State as part of the capacity building initiative. However, the EGCI programme has only been partially implemented through a series of scoping studies that were conducted in 2016.”

“The EGCI can be a useful programme once implemented and is but one in a raft of assistance measures that Guyana is receiving to bolster and in some cases build capacity in oil and gas governance.”

At a press conference on Thursday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman was also asked about reports in the Huffington Post article, which suggest that ExxonMobil would get 6065 per cent of the profits.

He denied this and stated that the 1999 profit sharing scale of 50-50 per cent would be used.

ExxonMobil had entered into an agreement with the Guyana Government in 1999, where the 50-50 scale was determined. With regards to the profit sharing agreement, Government was reported to have been reviewing. Trotman said

Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

Minister

that Government had abandoned this review in favour of the 1999 model.

Conflict

The article had speculated about the conflicts of interest Rex Tillerson, the former Chief Executive Officer of ExxonMobil, would grapple with if he became Secretary of State. Tillerson resigned from Exxon last year when he was nominated by US Presidentelect Donald Trump. He is currently in the throes of the Senate confirmation process. According to the Huffington Post article, the EGCI programme is currently helping the Guyanese Government

write profit-sharing agreements, environmental regulations, and “develop a strong rule of law to counterbalance corporate power.” The article went on to state that “there is righteous critique of this from people who say the main outcome of such a programme would be to help Exxon profit from Guyana’s resources under the patina of rule of law… While that critique may have been valid while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, it will be an inarguable fact if Rex Tillerson assumes the Secretaryship.”

The article was written

by Jesse Coleman, who the publication listed as a researcher and writer for Greenpeace USA follow-

Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson

ing fracking, the oil and gas industry, and corporate power in politics.

The Extractive Industries Transparency

Initiative (EITI) has also been in Guyana to offer advice on regulating the sector. The group is a global organisation with over 50 member countries. It promotes transparency, accountability and good governance in countries with extractive industries.

In addition, former Trinidad and Tobago Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine has been encouraging Guyana’s Government to take into consideration certain policies, as preparations are made to manage the industry.

The public lectures Ramnarine spoke at were hosted by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA), a newly formed organisation.

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friDAY, January 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cleaners cry foul over Govt’s promise of “a better life” − union issues 2-week ultimatum

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leaners from public schools across the country said they have had enough of the failed promises of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, which after almost two years in office, has kept them stagnated and on the bread line.

About 20 workers representing the hundreds at public schools across the country turned up at the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) on Thursday. Their cries were many. They said Government has failed to keep the promise made on the campaign trail to work for them and their families.

The cleaners, some of whom are working for as low as $15,000 per month said they have had it with the promises and are seeking swift actions to alleviate their unbearable living and working conditions.

Vanessa Simon from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) has been working for over nine years at a public school in the region.

A single mother of six and with a recently increased salary to $37,000, her life has not been seeing any

Girmitiya family

She too had been working for $15,000 and has had only two increases over the years, the last bringing her salary to $37,000.

“Imagine, for that 16 years, I was paying NIS, you know how much money I would have gotten in NIS? I have five kids and I have to send them to school.

The present Government, they went on the picket line with us for this same thing, holding up placard and now they in office and doing the same thing,” she

Vanessa Simon

improvement.

“They gave us a circular which says that we are supposed to work six hours a day, but we work for more than six hours. You have to go in for 08:00h in the morning, one hour lunch break. During the school hours you cannot clean the school or the classrooms.

When school dismisses at 02:45h, then you clean and whenever you are finished then you go home.

When she began working at the school nine years ago, she was paid just over $15,000.

Another worker, Miriam Fordyce, has been working at the Hopetown Nursery School for some 16 years.

W

Miriam Fordyce

Audrey McCalmon

said.

According to Fordyce, there are things that are

unacceptable that are happening to the sweeper/ cleaners. “Maternity leave, we don’t get that, and if you sick, you have to send somebody. No leave, no leave you don’t get”, the visibly frustrated Fordyce said.

The situation in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) is very much the same. Audrey McCalmon who works at the Mackenzie Primary School said sweeper /cleaners there are forced to fetch water if there is none readily available to get their work done. She said the school is in a deplorable state. Added to that, the workers are not given a pay slip which would reflect the payment of National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

“When the children mess their skin, we the auxiliary staff have to tidy (them) and that is real unfair because the teachers are not doing it. We have to wash blinds, auditorium, all the schools supposed to have a handyman, but I can’t say if we really have a handyman, because he is just like us”. She said the workers are forced to do the work of the handyman as well.

The Guyana Public Service Union said it has already reached out to President David Granger who related that Finance Minister Winston Jordan has been directed to address the situation.

However, nothing has been forthcoming. The Union has again promised that actions will be taken and gives the administration two weeks to respond.

The Union is seeking the implementation of a Cabinet decision taken back in December 2013, regarding the regularisation in the recruitment and improvement of conditions of sweeper/cleaners employed to provide cleaning services in state run schools.

hile I am enamoured neither of travel nor mega gatherings, in the case of the some Indian Diaspora events, I rouse myself to participate every decade or so. They do allow renewal of acquaintances and keeping tabs on life-trajectories. My first was the “East Indian Diaspora Conference” at Columbia University in 1988, which commemorated the 150th anniversary of Indian Indentureship in the West Indies. Up to then I had been plodding away in corporate America, and as the Indian Guyanese community grew in Queens, becoming involved in religious and social activities there.

The Conference brought together Indians from across the Caribbean in general, and academics Ravi Dev in particular. I discovered academics were more political than politicians. Maybe it was that struggle to get tenure? The Indians from Jamaica and some of the small islands – especially Martinique and Guadaloupe – were a revelation and brought home both the facticity of our adaptation and retentions of our originating culture, in our new circumstances. Lifelong friendships were born.

The following year, I became an organiser of the First Global Conference of People of Indian Origin, through an Indian Guyanese from Queens who had connected to the Indians who had migrated directly from India. Before that the twain had never met. That experience brought home the distance we had travelled culturally and religiously since our forefathers had left India in the previous century.

But there were still commonalities. It was at one of the joint meetings that a Pandita from Trinidad and myself insisted we were “People of Indian Origin” and not “Non-Resident Indians”.

The Conference itself at the Sheraton in Mid-Manhattan – and the “Political Participation Panel” I co-chaired, corroborated my initial reaction that the PIO’s from the “indentured” countries and the NRI’s marched to different drummers. We organised a break-out session with leaders from Fiji, Trinidad and Guyana, who, not so coincidentally had all been removed from office. All were to be returned to office within the next decade. My biggest takeaway was an impromptu “mauj” session at my home in New Jersey, when Bollywood filmi songs and dhall/rice and bhagee bridged across all differences!

Lifelong friendships were sparked and I learnt a new word from the Indian Fijians – Girmitita, people of the agreement (the indentureship contract) .

Returning to Guyana and deciding to remain after the 1992 elections, I worked with youths in the Hindu community.

In 1993, I attended the 100th Commemoration of Swami Vivekananda’s attendance at the World Congress of Religions in Chicago. The Commemoration was held at the Washington Sheraton and drew thousands of delegates from India and the Diaspora. Vivekanand was respected by all. One Narendra Modi of Gujrat with whom I shared a panel, was just another face. More lifelong friendships were sparked.

I went to India in 1997, and spent 21 intense days in Bangalore discussing and analysing Hinduism and its relevance and applicability in a world that had been conscripted by modernity with hundreds of individuals from India and the Diaspora. The differences and commonalities in religious practices between the Girmitiyas and the Indians were again highlighted. On this trip, I practically circumambulated India.

More lifelong friends.

Out of contacts made at the 1993 event, the World Hindu Conference was held in Trinidad in 2000 and brought together several old friends once again on the same platform. Narendra Modi was there, came over and stayed at the Tower Hotel and asked to see a symbol of our sacrifice here. I took him to the Enmore Martyr Monument. With our sacrifices, he said we had made Guyana our “Punya Bhumi” or Sacred Land, while India was our “Matri Bhumi” or “Mother Land”.

After a trip to Europe in 1991 with some NRI GOPIO Executives, I decided my field of activity from theirs was different and moved on. When in 2003, the BJP Indian Government initiated the annual “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas” (Overseas Indian Day), I never attended even though I had met several of those who were now in Government, back in 1997. The event was too much like a Mela – too may photo-ops and awards and not enough discussion and debate on Girmitiya issues.

Until the PBD 2017, organised by Narendra Modi.

news

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friDAY, janUARy 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

US Embassy donates President maintains need for other forms of energy law books to judiciary Amaila Falls report

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hutting down the most recent report coming out on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), President David Granger on Thursday maintained that there was still need for the examination of other forms of sustainable energy.

The Head of State was speaking to Journalists on his weekly televised programme, “The Public Interest”. He said Government has examined the project from every point of view.

“We have asked for questions, but we also realised that since the project had been conceived, would other forms of generating sustainable energy instead of depending on one single project, we can have several projects because Guyana has other sites from which hydroelectricity could be generated,” According to President Granger, rather than depending on Amaila, the administration can look at “a dozen sites”, since the project was “very expensive”.

The Head of State said he did not think that the expectation that the cost of electricity would be brought would even be fulfilled. According to him, other forms of energy are being examined. “We are also looking at solar energy in places like the Rupununi and the Berbice Savannahs. These are huge grasslands with very high levels of sunlight. We are looking at wind along the coast and we feel that these other forms of energy should be put first and this is the advice we give

to Norway that we not be pin down to a single project.”

The President said Norway was being asked to look at a menu of measures for generating green energy. He is positive that an agreement can be reached.

The independent assessment of the AFHP revealed

Generation & Transmission System” of 2014, and reiterated and embraced by Government in “Guyana’s Power Generation System Study” of June 2016.

Importantly, the independent assessment team noted that by restructuring the current financial model, the risk for Guyana’s economy can be

An artist’s impression of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

that the only realistic path for Guyana moving towards an emission-free electricity sector was developing its hydropower potential and the fastest way forward was to maintain the AFHP. The report, which was compiled by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway contracted by the Government of Norway, detailed an “objective and facts-based” assessment of the Project on the agreement of the two Governments, and was released in late December.

According to the report, the first necessary step for revitalising the Project is a decision by the Government to maintain the AFHP as the priority project in the transition to a green generation regime, as recommended in the “Initial Study on System Expansion of the

reduced. “The annual payments from GPL may possibly be reduced by 20 per cent, which are significantly lower than the current fuel costs paid

by GPL for its oil-fuelled generation. The risk to Guyana’s economic stability would be at the same level with other projects generating the same amount of energy, as the investment would be of a similar magnitude,” the team concluded.

In their opinion, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) tenders from 2008 are outdated and need to be replaced by a new EPC tender process, noting that before that, certain technical features of the Project should be reviewed and the EPC tender documents updated.

According to the report seen by Guyana Times, to get

on with these activities, the GoG will need continued support by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), or a similar institution, and the Guyana Light and Power will need technical and management support by a highly-qualified engineering company with extensive experience in the international hydropower industry. “We may suggest that the cost for buying out Sithe Global from the project company and expenses for services by an engineering company engaged for support until a new main sponsor is established are covered from a portion of the US$80 million deposit in IDB for later being turned into equity contribution from GoG to the project company,” the report noted.

In the report, it was estimated that three years would be required from a decision being taken to resume project preparation for the AFHP until Financial Close and Notice to Commence to the EPC Contractor. “From this point in time, we estimate another 3.5 years for construction until start of commercial operation of Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.”

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nited States Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway on Thursday morning presented over 56 law books valued at more than US$25,000 to the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh.

The donation complements the US Embassy’s ongoing project ‘Strengthening the Criminal Justice System in Guyana’ which was launched in September 2016. The initiative is being funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement within the US Department of State.

The US Government holds dear the right of citizens’ access to justice and respect for the rule of law. This gift of law books to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal allows for those working in the criminal justice system, and ordinary citizens alike, the ability to research and better understand the law.

In presenting the law books, Ambassador Holloway said, “We hope this donation also provides greater access to information for members of the judiciary, law students, the law enforcement community, and members of the public who seek clarification on legal matters and are unable to afford the services of an attorney-at-law.”

Chancellor Singh expressed his sincere gratitude for the donation on behalf of the Court of Appeals, Prosecutors, Judges, and others who work in the judicial sector. He stressed that laws are the basis for a democratic society and that if people do not have the means to access the laws then democracy is ill-served.

The Government of the United States of America will continue to support Guyana, and its judicial entities, to increase their effectiveness and proficiency as they too seek to ensure access to justice for all.

14 news

friDAY, janurary 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Establishment of oil refinery

Govt turns to US consultant for feasibility study I

n light of successive oil finds offshore Guyana and plans to commence production in three years’ time, Government is expected to plug as much as $10 million into a feasibility study to determine whether investing in an oil refinery is a viable economic option.

To this end, Government has retained the services of US consultant Pedro Haas to conduct the high-level feasibility assessment. This was an-

and its associated industries.

We focus on identifying value in the production, refinement, transportation and consumption of tradable commodities and anticipating opportunities in the supply chain where they may be under or over-valued,” the company’s website details.

Meanwhile, the Natural Resources Minister further revealed to reporters that this move to hire a consultant was premised by “multiple” appli-

of drilling operations here, US oil giant ExxonMobil has so far discovered more than two billion barrels of oil in three separate reservoirs located some 123 miles offshore Guyana. The first discovery of oil in commercial quantities was made in May 2015 and the third and latest find in October last year.

With these discoveries, ExxonMobil has already announced plans to start oil production by 2020.

nounced by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman at the post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.

According to the Minister, Haas was secured through the New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group established

by United Kingdom think thank Chatham House, which has been assisting Guyana in preparations for oil and gas production.

Trotman noted that while discussions were still ongoing with the firm to which Haas is attached on the finer details of the engagement, the consultant was nevertheless expected to provide an initial desk review within four weeks.

Haas is the Director of Advisory Services at Hartree Partners LP, a company involved in providing advisory services on upstream, downstream training and regulatory subjects in the oil and gas industry.

“Hartree Partners LP is a global merchant commodities firm specialising in energy

cations for the establishment of one or several oil refineries in Guyana from both local and foreign (with local associations), companies to his ministry, the Business Ministry and President David Granger himself.

“We believe that we should not rely on our own judgement or knowledge, or lack therefore, on these issues,” the Minister noted.

Trotman continued that the study would be looking at areas of demand, availability, prices and the forecast of the economic landscape. This, he added, will determine some of Government’s decision-making.

“We, therefore, sought through the auspices of the Chatham House Group, the identification of a suitable person to do a test review, in the first instance, for Government and if it is that the study tells us this is feasible then I believe we will delve further,” he posited.

Since the commencement

With the country now on the verge of becoming an oil-producing State, the Natural Resources Ministry has embarked on setting up a special department within the Ministry.

According to a statement from Minister Trotman on Tuesday last, Government is working to have a Petroleum Directorate established within the first quarter of 2017, following guidelines of international models which separates policy development from regulation monitoring.

The statement outlined that this was very important, since Guyana needed to start preparing and putting measures in place before 2020, when oil production is expected to commence.

Some $200 million has been allocated in the 2017 National Budget for petroleum management, with the monies to be spent on the rental of a building to house the directorate and procurement of equipment and furnishings. The

Natural Resources Minister was hoping to secure a building by the end of this month and begin hiring personnel to staff the directorate.

The initial staffing for the directorate includes: a director and deputy director of petroleum, Attorneys-at-law, an economist, local content and corporate social responsibility officer, and two geo-scientists.

Asked on Thursday wheth-

er the one-week application period, which closes today, as advertised by the Ministry was sufficient, Trotman explained that the period was sufficient since a stack of applications were received for posts within the Directorate even before approval was granted for its establishment or advertisements were published.

“We have a sizable stack

of applications that have come in from Guyanese and foreigners, and that stack has been growing larger. We did, however, feel that notwithstanding a heap of applications that we should still go with a public advertisement so that the process is transparent and other persons who may not indicated an interest may be given an opportunity to do so,” he stated. CONTINUE ON PAGE 15

friday, January 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News Riverstown Public Road dangerous …in need of repairs, streetlights – residents

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otorists and residents traversing the Riverstown Public Road in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are calling on the public works and roads department of the Region Two Administration to urgently conduct repairs on the community’s public road, which serves as the main access road.

Drivers utilising the road explained that it was littered with several pot-

holes, which could cause serious harm to motorists and cyclists.

The road, they pointed out, has three very potentially dangerous holes which could lead to an accident if road users were not careful. What is even more dangerous is the fact that the stretch of road has no streetlights and drivers would not be able to see the holes in the roadway.

A primary school is located in the area. The res-

idents are, therefore, calling on the Region Two Administration to urgently rectify the condition of the road before further erosion intensifies the danger, which is compounded by the treacherous turn in the road.

They are also urging the authorities to install street lights in the area. Several persons had lost their lives in the past in the area as a result of accidents.

A section of the Riverstown Public Road

Police have breakthrough... Govt turns

According to one resident who asked not to be identified, there is usually a hive of activity at the very house which Police visited on Thursday at Babu Jaan, before and after a robbery is committed on the Corentyne. Residents report that on Monday, the man was seen repairing his motorbike in the yard.

On Tuesday, at about 15:00h, a lone gunman went into Spready’s Supermarket located at Port Mourant, Corentyne. The man, who appeared to be in the building for other business, went to the MoneyGram money trans-

FROM PAGE 7

fer outlet and robbed the attendant of the money which was being counting. He then jumped over the counter and opened two drawers and emptied the cash into a black bag he was carrying at the time.

He left with $800,000.

He and his accomplice, who was waiting in the vicinity, left on a motorbike. The two then abandoned the bike and fled on foot after the motorbike broke down.

Police later recovered the bike. Meanwhile, Police have arrested one suspect in the Kildonan robbery, which also occurred on Tuesday. Three

men went to the home of Nirmala Devi Persaud, 50, a vendor who operates a vegetable stall from her Lot 17 Kildonan Village home. Two of the men were masked, while the other carried a gun.

The woman was duct taped and beaten, and forced to hand over her purse which contained $80. They also took a pair of earings she was wearing at the time. The fleeing men entered a waiting car which has since been identified. The Police are looking for three other men in connection with this incident.

Meanwhile, in another incident on the Corentyne, armed

bandits on Wednesday evening attempted to break into Lot 13 Alness Village home, where 72-year-old Lalta Mohabir lives alone.

According to reports, Mohabir heard persons trying the break into his home and left. One of the windows to the upper flat was broken and the 72-year-old jumped over the veranda, injuring himself in the process. The bandits fled into a neighbour’s yard after Mohabir jumped. Mohabir was treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital and sent away.

Police are investigation the incident.

to US...

FROM PAGE 14

The Minister added that there has been an excellent response for the 14 positions, with countless applications received, since the advertisement. However, he added that those early applicants also had to reapply within this advertising period.

Moreover, Trotman sought to clarify that the Director of the Petroleum Directorate, who would

have to report to the Permanent Secretary of the Natural Resources Ministry, ought not to be mistaken with a petroleum regulatory commission.

He explained that Government was currently crafting the legislation for the establishment of such a regulatory agency that would be functioning in a semi-autonomous environment.

16 news President Granger pledges support to Rehabilitation Centre P friDAY, January 20, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

resident David Granger on Thursday pledged more of Government’s support towards the work of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, as he noted that every child, despite their individual challenge, physical or otherwise, can become masters in their field of choice, once they are empowered and given the opportunity to do so.

The Head of State, who was at the time delivering the feature address at an observance to mark the Centre’s 50th anniversary, said every child has the ability to contribute to the nation’s development once the barriers to their successes are removed and the opportunities necessary for their development are offered and supported.

“It is my view that the Centre embodies the spirit and desire to prove that Guyanese, if they are given equal opportunity, could not only make a better nation but we could have better households, better families and better lives for all of our citizens. If we give each Guyanese child the opportunity to access education, if we give every child the opportunity to be employed, if we give every child the opportunity to be empowered and raise his or her voice, this could be a much happier place. If given the opportunity, they can master any field of academia,” the President said.

According to a release from

the Ministry of the Presidency, the President also noted that the State has responsibility to its citizens and as such, his Government will not shirk its duty but will ensure that the necessary systems are in place to support and sustain opportunities, which will ensure that every Guyanese child has the opportunity to pursue his or her development.

“My visit here is all about opportunities… The State cannot close its eyes to its responsibility. In terms of education, we would continue to support this Centre to enable children with challenges to equip themselves with the quality of education that will take them to the level of employment. We will have centres where they can use their brains, have tools and help them to produce and be prosperous. We will also go a step further to ensure that those children are empowered fully. We have to empower them to raise their voices to demand that there are changes to our infrastructure to our ministries and schools, public institutions so that they can be accommodated. There will be more state funds coming to support this institution,” the President committed.

The Head of State noted that growing up in an era before independence where equality was absent for Guyanese people, it is his wish as the leader of the country, to ensure that the citizens, partic-

First Lady Sandra Granger cuts the 50th anniversary cake with a student of the Centre, much to his delight

ularly the children and youth have a better society in which they can thrive and grow.

Further, he praised the Centre for the work which it has been doing for the last 50 years, as he noted that it has provided hundreds of persons with a new reason for living and given them a new lease on life.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Randy Storm, Chairman of the Board of Directors, delivering brief remarks, said that it is important that the children of the Centre and all others across the country be given the necessary opportunities to become the best that they can be. He noted that their challenges do not disqualify them from learning or reaching for greatness.

Hyacinth Massay,

Rehabilitation Officer of the Centre, detailing the history of the organization, said that the

Centre and its caretakers have indeed come a long way, providing much needed services to the Guyanese public. As it is, she noted, the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre provides rehabilitation services for over 100 children and 30 adults annually while its daycare service provides care for up to 35 children and nine residents.

Another component of the facility, the Harold B Davis School has 45 students enrolled.

During the ceremony, Dr William Abu Crow, Country Representative of the World Health Organisation/Pan American Health Organisation delivered books and audiology equipment to assist in the delivery of services at the Centre.

The Centre was originally

established in January 1967, by the public Health Ministry to provide rehabilitative services for those children who had suffered residual paralysis following the 1960 and 1964 poliomyelitis epidemics. The institution has since then developed a comprehensive programme for rehabilitation for children with various types of physical and other developmental disabilities. It currently offers services such as physiotherapy, special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling and educational services for parents of children in rehabilitation programmes and provisions for orthotic and prosthetic appliances for the physically disabled in Guyana.

Bartica Massacre trial

Cousin claims accused was with him during attack − as defence calls its first witness

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n a dramatic and shocking departure from the general tenor of the trial and the account of other witnesses, Sheldon Williams, the cousin of murder accused Mark Royden Williams, has testified that the alleged gang-member was with him on the night of the February 17, 2008 massacre at Bartica.

The court heard that this was the first time in almost nine years that the man has made such a disclosure that his cousin was with him at his Cummings Lodge, Georgetown home.

Dennis Williams and Roger Simon are the other accused standing trial at the Demerara High Court for the deadly attack.

Mark Royden Williams’ surprise alibi comes as the defence is now calling witnesses, two days after the prosecution rested its case. Taking the witness box on Thursday morning, Sheldon Williams testified amid bouts of hyperventilation as he was being questioned.

Led by Mark Williams’ defence attorney, Roger Yearwood, Sheldon told the court that on the night of the Bartica attack he was in bed lying down, when his cousin, Mark touched him and said something. The witness, who is a taxi driver and former Policeman, explained that he turned on the television and saw the report. The jury, however, heard that the man went back to sleep as he was in “a lot of pain”.

More jarringly, Sheldon recounted that some time in June 2008, he was in a room at his home in Cummings Lodge praying when he looked out to his verandah and saw Police surrounding his yard.

His cousin, Mark was there at the time. Sheldon noted that he was taken to Sparendaam Police Station, but did not know what happened to Mark at that point.

The witness told the court that he was charged with harbouring a wanted person, but the charges were lat-

Mark Royden Williams, Dennis Williams and Roger Simon are the three standing accused for 2008 Bartica attack

er dismissed. The jury also heard that the ex-Policeman, who served in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from 1995-2004 until his dismissal, had known murdered Policemen Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constable Shane Fredericks, who were like ‘a brother and father to him’, respectively. Upon questioning by Attorney Yearwood, the witness claimed that he did not testify to cover up for his cousin, Mark. Under cross-examination by State Prosecutor Stacey Goodings, Sheldon stated that he heard that his cousin was selling “guinip” in Manchester Village, Berbice, but that he was visiting them in Georgetown at the time of the Bartica attack. The witness also admitted that he never visited his cousin while he was at Berbice.

The prosecution sought to establish a number of discrepancies and credibility issues in Sheldon’s testimony. The witness was unsure whether or not he was arrested in June or February 2008. The man later noted that he did not think that it was important to inform the Police that Mark was with him when the Bartica attack had occurred. The jury heard that he never testified in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) at the Magistrates’ Court.

“I was scared for my life… from then till now,” Sheldon testified. Presiding Judge, Justice Roxane George, SC, then interjected: “Scared of what?”

“I was a cop, I lost a lot of squaddies,” the witness re-

sponded in a moment of brief Sheldon hyperventilation. also admitted that “lying” led to his dismissal from the Police Force after he submitted three weeks of sick leave when he was never sick.

When asked by Prosecutor Goodings, Williams could not provide the regulation numbers for the murdered police ranks whom he claimed to have known like a brother and a father. When the prosecution suggested that the witness’s entire story was not true, he maintained that he never told Police about his cousin being with him because he was “scared for his life”.

Aside from the three standing trial, two others, the other accused Clebert Reece and Michael Caesar, pleaded guilty to manslaughter late last year, and were sentenced to 420 and 1080 years in prison respectively. Additionally, Reece and fellow gang member Dwane Williams had identified Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams as being part of the gang that carried out massacres at Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek.

It was while residents were watching a game of 20/20 cricket on that fateful night that gunmen stormed the Essequibo community and slaughtered three Policemen and nine civilians.

Meanwhile, Justice George has overruled submissions made by Attorneys Shaphier Hussain and Peter Hugh, the defence counsels of Mark Royden Williams’ co-defendants. The trial continues next week.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, january 20, 2017

Neval Bissambhar

Veekash Sahadeo

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ore than 105 songs were submitted for screening for this year’s Pick 2 Chutney Soca Monarch and it has come down to 33 of the best entries.

The organisers, Southex Trade Shows and Promotions Limited, announced a few days ago the list of the 33 top singers who will be competing in the semi-final on January 28 at the LIV Nightlife, South Trunk Road, La Romaine, Trinidad and Tobago.

Although there is a lack of Guyanese participation in this year’s competition, some of the names selected to perform at the

semi are well known to Guyanese and have their fan base her in Guyana.

From the semi-final round, only nine contestants will be selected to compete against the reigning Chutney Soca Monarch, Kris “KI” Persad at the grand final, scheduled for February 11 at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

Nevertheless, KI will make a special guest appearance at the semi-final on January 28.

Those who will compete in the semi-final are Shivan R and Slammer Cutter, Rawythee Ramroop, Jason Peru, Heeralal Rampartap, Vishan Mohammed, Anthony Batson,

Amit Sooknanan, O’Neil Bhajman, Veekash Sahadeo, Michael Ramroop, Xavier Pouchet, Jesh Ramnanan, Hemlatha Dindial, Reshma Ramlal, Drupatee Persad and Asha Kamachee.

In addition, Jadel, Robin Jagdip, Imran Beharry, Aaron Duncan, Nishard Mayrhoo, Lalchan Babwah, Neval Bissambhar, Adesh Samaroo, Ravi B, Orlando Octave, Rick Ramoutar, Saleem Beharry, Rikki Jai, Rooplal G, Omadath Maharaj, Aaron Jewansingh and Sally Sagram will be competing with the hope of making it into the finals.

Sally Sagram

Drupatee Persad

Adesh Samaroo

Ravi B Reshma Ramlal

Rikki Jai

Nishard Mayrhoo

KI

Saleem Beharry

E

set for January 28

mpire Media Inc is once again set to host one of the biggest clashes on local shores with five of Guyana’s deadliest DJs and Selectors.

The event dubbed “Armageddon” will be held on January 28, at the Sports Hall tarmac, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, and will see Deejays Antzman, Magnum, Dellon along with Selectors Charlie, Face, Clive and Hot Rass compete for $500,000, a trophy and bragging rights.

January 28 promises to be a night of musical slaughtering, when the Deejays and Selectors meet head to head. It’s kill or be killed!

It is no secret that the entertainment/ dancehall industry has been dying for an event such as this one; something that was proven with the large attendance at the Art of War DJ Competition. Armageddon will serve to further reignite the fire of this art form in Guyana, with the hope of including regionally and internationally acclaimed sound systems and DJ’s in the near future.

There will be four rounds in the competition: Round one is called “Good

over Evil – God Bless Round” and will cater for 10 minutes for deejays to work their boards. In the end, one person will be eliminated.

Round two is called “Release the Beast – Anything goes”. Again, deejays will have 10 minutes to perform and at the end, one person will be eliminated.

Round three is referred to as “Crossing over – Hip Hop/Rap” and the Final Round is called “Last day – Singer Artiste/Vocal Artiste Only * Tune for Tune”.

The Armageddon sound clash will be judged by the fans while the rules will be enforced by the host or emcee. The crowd will be asked to judge by show of hands. Not by voice or noise. The emcee for the event is Malcolm Ferreira.

Notorious International Sound will provide the early juggling. Tickets for the event costs $1500 but if you purchase two, the buyer will get one complimentary.

Tickets will be available in the week of the event and can be uplifted at Nigel Supermarket Depot, White Castle Fish Shop and Korner Kick Restaurant and Bar. Gates open at 19:00h and the Clash begins at 21:00h.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, january 20, 2017

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ix zestful young ladies will take to the stage of the National Cultural Centre on February 19, to compete for the title of Miss Mash Queen Guyana 2017. This pageant has returned after a decade hiatus and Simpli Royal is making sure it returns with a bang. Registration for suitable delegates between the ages 17-30 ended and it has come down to the final six. The delegates are Ashanti Jasper, Aquaila Rupan, Keleisha Kelly, Younette Stepheny, Romichelle Brumell and Gabriella Chapman. These beauties were revealed to the public on Sunday last at the Umana Yana, in Georgetown. On pageant night, the delegates will participate in the opening fanfare and introduction, talent piece, swimwear competition, evening gown display and an onstage interview. Tickets for the pageant cost $3000, $2000 and $1000 and are available at the National Cultural Centre.

Delegate # 1 – Ashanti Jasper Twenty-nine-year-old Ashanti Jasper hails from New Amsterdam and is a third-year student at the University of Guyana, pursing a degree in social work after which she intends to read for her masters. She is aspiring to become a licensed social worker and loves to dance and interact with children.

Delegate # 2 – Keleisha Kelly Twenty-year-old Keleisha Kelly resides in East Ruimveldt, Georgetown and is presently employed at the Guyana Elections Commission. She is passionate about eradicating self destructive behaviour among females.

She is a volunteer at the Communicable Disease Department of the Public Health Ministry. She loves reading, writing and eating junk food.

Delegate # 3 – Younette Stepheny Eighteen-year-old Younette Stepheny is Surinamese by birth but has Guyanese parentage.

She is the fourth of five children and enjoys singing, travelling to new places, loves the outdoors and food. She plans to attend the University of Guyana and hopes one day to become a Counsellor for children. Her favourite quote is “The strongest action for a woman to take is to love herself, be herself and shine among others who never thought she could”.

Delegate # 4 – Gabriella Chapman Twenty-two-year-old Gabriella Chapman is currently a University of Guyana student who hails from the mining community of Bartica, in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

She describes herself as determined and vigorous. She comes from a family of five. She loves mingling with children, has a passion for dancing, modelling and singing. She wishes one day to become a Agricultural Science teacher.

Delegate # 5 – Romichelle Brumell Twenty-year-old Romichelle Brumell is a volunteer at the Red Cross Society and at the Youth Friendly Services at the Public Health Ministry. She has a passion for hockey, volleyball and basketball and lives to sing. She is a student at the ER Burrows School of Arts and aspires to become an art therapist. She also hopes one day to own a non-governmental organisation that deal with children and their challenges.

Delegate # 6 – Aquaila Rupan Twenty-year-old Aquaila Rupan is filled with zest and describes herself as being humble, charismatic and diligent. She is presently employed as a receptionist at a health institution in Georgetown. She enjoys acting, poetry and listening to music.

D Tanya Delseon

elegates vying for the title of Miss Region Three Culture 2017 are undergoing rigorous training that will see the pageant being promoted and executed with high standards. The pageant is still open to persons who might be interested in pageantry and to date, at least nine talented young women are in the race. They are Tonia Harris, Anicia Williams, Marcia Clarke, Sonia Cummings, Tanya Delseon, Kasherell Tiffany Payne, Withney Loshanna Robertson, Latanya Pearce and Odella Fowler.

The pageant is held with the aim of empowering young women to realise their potential through a competitive, yet collaborative effort, but more importantly, to become goodwill ambassadors and be role models in society.

In addition, the pageant is expected to encourage individual growth, personal platforms and community involvement.

The show is billed for April 1, in the parking lot of the Leonora Synthetic Track, and is being directed by founder of the new committee, Troylyn Aaron-Wallace and Damon Wallace, with assistance by Colvin Andrews who is also a trainer.

The girls are undoubtedly in good hands as former beauty queen Melessya Payne, who has a wealth of knowledge from pageantry, is the make-up artiste. There is no doubt as well that Payne will motivate the delegates as they get ready for competition mode.

The delegates will be participating in several activities leading up to the pageant. As a matter of fact, the delegates were already on a Miss Photogenic Competition on NBTV. Thus far, several businesses have indicated their interest in being a part of the event. These include Obrey James Photo Studio, Limitless Kreations, Big Yard Auto Sales, Pieces and Things and Expression Designs.

Withney Loshanna Robertson

Marcia Clarke

Anicia Williams

Tonia Harris Odella Fowler kasherell Payne Latanya Pearce

Sonia Cummings

friDAY, january 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

19

to air TV drama series

T

elevision Guyana Inc (Channel 28) at 20:00h this evening, will commence airing Season one of the biographical drama television series, “The Crown” while “Shooter” will commence on Monday, January 23, also at 20:00h.

“The Crown” which is created by Peter Morgan, is described

as a biographical story about the early reign of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Reception to the series was overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising cast performances, direction, writing, cinematography, production values, and relatively accurate historical accounts of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

“The Crown” traces the life of the Queen from her wedding in 1947 to present day. It is expected to span 60 episodes over six seasons, the first season depicting events up to 1955, with Claire Foy playing the Queen in the early part of her reign.

Other cast members include John Lithgow as Winston Churchill; Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret; Matt Smith as Prince Phillip, the Queen’s husband; and Jared Harris as King George VI, Elizabeth’s father.

“Shooter “ is an American

television drama series based on the novel Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter and the 2007 film of the same name. It stars Ryan Phillippe in the lead role of Bob Lee Swagger, an expert marksman living in exile who is coaxed back into action after learning of a plot to kill the President.

The series was originally set to premiere on July 19, 2016 but was postponed a week to July 26, due to the July 7 Dallas shootings. Following the Baton Rouge Police Officer shootings on July 17, the series was pulled from USA’s summer schedule entirely. Omar Epps plays Isaac Johnson, a Secret Service Agent who is also a former Force Recon Marine Captain while Cynthia AddaiRobinson plays Nadine Memphis, an FBI agent investigating Swagger.

T

he stage is set for one of the most exciting showcases of the nation’s youth in costumes, dramatic presentations, calypso, dance and masquerade as well as choir singing competitions nationwide.

Under the stewardship of the Education Ministry’s Unit of Allied Arts, headed by Convener Desiree Wyles–Ogle, the regional competitions should get started in all 11 educational districts before January month-end.

The competitions are to be contested at the nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

On January 23, Region Two will host its Calypso and Dramatic Poetry competitions at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

All educational district competitions are scheduled to be completed before February 9. Thereafter, thousands of children are scheduled to compete to gain a spot to represent their educational district at the national level in Georgetown.

The main venue for the national finals is the National Cultural Centre and should feature some 2000 children participating competitively, starting with the Dance and Masquerade categories, followed by Calypso and Dramatic Poetry.

P

Meanwhile, the Children’s Road Parade is set for February 11 along the regular route – starting at Parade Ground, in Georgetown, heading East into Middle Street, North into Camp Street, East into Lamaha Street, North into Albert Street and culminate in the National Park.

Generally, the children’s competitions will be focused on the 2017 theme, “Celebration with Dignity, Liberty and Greater Unity”, but will make allowance for the overarching theme of spreading the national narrative of Guyana as an emerging green state.

The Region One (Barima-Waini) Children’s Mashramani competition is carded for January 28 starting at 10:00h and will feature dramatic poetry, calypso, dance, and choir presentation and physical display at the Santa Rosa Secondary School.

In Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), the Anna Regina Ground is set to come alive with children’s Mashramani competitive action featuring dramatic poetry and calypso, dance and masquerade, costume/physical display and jump rope.

Win a car at

at the Guyana National Stadium

atrons can win a car at “De After-Mash Fete” slated for Saturday, February 25 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, with an exciting line-up of Guyanese artistes.

Reigning Carib Soca Monarch, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo with his many hits including the allnew “Stir The Pot” will definitely please the crowd.

In addition, Shelly G, Terry Gajraj, Adrian Dutchin and Fiona Singh will be returning from the USA to join their fellow Guyanese artistes on stage for an amazing show.

Popular soca princess, Vanilla, has joined the line-up with Trevon Vibes, Kady Kish, Young Bill Rogers, Chutney Monarch 2016 Winner Bunty Singh and his talented five-year-old old son Krish.

Representing Linden are Lil Colwin and Davy Marley who both have great music videos on YouTube.

Guyana’s hottest singer from Black Bush Polder, Mystic, known for his “Coolie Boy” song and many other reggae hits such as “Love Song,” “Think I’m in Love,” “Country Boy” and the all new soca hit “Buffiana” will be there as well.

Tickets cost $500 and one lucky person will walk away with a fully-loaded Toyota IST car via the ticket stub drawing.

All tickets purchased will have three items to fill in – name, cellphone number and address. These stubs will be torn off on entry to the venue for the grand drawing to be made on the stage.

Patrons can grab a taste of their favourite flavour of Igloo ice cream when they purchase tickets from Monday.

Ticket locations include the all new Igloo Outlet (Providence), Avon DVD Club (Uitvlugt), Patsy’s Food Court (Soesdyke), Flambouyant Supermarket (Eccles), Budget Supermarket (Sheriff Street), Andrew’s Supermarket (Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt), Tularam Supermarket (Malgre Tout, WBD), Blue DVD Shop (Belle West, Canal Number Two), Fagu’s (Parika), Chicken and Burger Delight (Vreed-En-Hoop), S&S Supermarket (Lusignan), Lenny’s Icecream Parlour (Mon Repos) and Essential Pharmacy (G3 Building, Diamond). Avon DVD Club (Uitvlugt) will also be giving away a DVD with every ticket purchased along with the Igloo Ice Cream. Also, Westsiderz Entertainment will give away CD or DVD with every ticket purchased.

20

friDAY, january 20, 2017

Yuvraj, Dhoni script India’s series clinching win B

rilliant centuries from Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni gave India a series-clinching 15run win over England in a thrilling second one-day international.

India were reduced to 25-3 in Cuttack before Yuvraj, who struck 150, and Dhoni (134) shared a stand of 256.

They helped India to 381-6, the third-highest total made against England.

Eoin Morgan blasted an 80-ball hundred, Jason Roy, Joe Root and Moeen Ali all made half-centuries, but England ended 366-8 to go 2-0 down with one to play.

That in itself was England's fifth-highest total and their second of 350 or more in as many games, but they still have not won a series in this country since 1984-85 and have lost 21 of their past 25 ODIs against India in India.

The tourists looked well set to alter that record when Chris Woakes took three wickets in his first three overs, including the prolific Virat Kohli, but Yuvraj and Dhoni destroyed an England attack that had no control of length.

An unlikely chase was not out of the question on an ideal batting surface, only for India's spinners to run through the England top order, with the late hitting of Morgan not enough in the face of the home attack's greater nous.

Before returning for the first match, Yuvraj was out of the India ODI side for more than three years, dropped at the end of a 2013 when he averaged only 19.71

with the bat.

Recalled after some excellent domestic form, he made his first ODI century for six years and his highest score, dismantling the England bowling with stylish drives and brutal pulls.

England were right to initially probe the lefthander's historical weakness against the short ball, but too slow to change a plan that did not work.

Time and again short deliveries were dismissed to the leg-side fence, even after Yuvraj had registered his 14th ODI ton with Jake Ball the most persistent offender.

Yuvraj successfully overturned a caught-behind decision on 145 and a double century seemed possible until he edged the excellent Woakes, comfortably the pick of England's bowlers, to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Dhoni relinquished the white-ball captaincy to Kohli before this series but once again proved his worth alongside the equally experienced Yuvraj - both 35 and with 580 caps between them.

Usually at his best at the end of the innings, Dhoni dealt with the inconvenience of having to arrive in the fifth over by batting until the 48th, initially as a foil for Yuvraj.

He was dropped on 43, a tough chance to a retreating Ball off a leading edge, and only really accelerated as he neared a century, announcing his intention with a huge six over long-on off Woakes.

England were not fazed by what would have been their highest successful run

chase in ODIs, with Root and Roy sharing a stand of 100 that kept the tourists ahead of the curve.

However, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, England's tormentor during their 4-0 Test series defeat, had Root sky a sweep, bowled Ben Stokes and had Buttler stumped down the leg side, while spin partner Ravindra Jadeja found turn to bowl Roy. Still England pressed on, captain Morgan returning to form with sixes over longon and long-off, and Moeen's leg-side scoring bringing him a 40-ball half-century.

When Moeen dragged on to his stumps off

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, it looked to be a fatal blow to England's chances, but Morgan kept them alive in a fifty partnership with Plunkett that came in only 24 balls.

The Irishman reached his ninth ODI ton only to be run out by bowler Jasprit Bumrah when backing up too far, taking England's hopes with him as he departed.

Falling short by 15 in a game of 747 runs, England will reflect on a bowling effort that was too expensive and top-order batting that failed to capitalise on a strong position.

(BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD India innings (50 overs maximum) KL Rahul c Stokes b Woakes 5 S Dhawan b Woakes 11 V Kohli* c Stokes b Woakes 8 Yuvraj Singhc †Buttler b Woak es 150 MS Dhoni†c Willey b Plunkett 134 KM Jadhav c Ball b Plunkett 22 HH Pandya not out 19 RA Jadeja not out 16 Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-9, nb-1) 16 Total (6 wickets; 50 overs)381 Did not bat R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, B Kumar Fall of wickets 1-14 (Rahul, 2.1 ov), 2-22 (Kohli, 2.6 ov), 3-25 (Dhawan, 4.4 ov), 4-281 (Yuvraj Singh, 42.6 ov), 5-323 (Jadhav, 45.6 ov), 6-358 (Dhoni, 47.6 ov) Bowling CR Woakes 10-360-4, DJ Willey 5-0-32-0 (w1), JT Ball 10-0-80-0 (w-2), LE Plunkett 10-1-91-2 (nb-1, w-4), BA Stokes 9-0-79-0 (w1), MM Ali 6-0-33-0 (w-1) England innings (target:

382 runs from 50 overs) JJ Royb Jadeja 82 AD Hales c †Dhoni b Bumrah 14 JE Root c Kohli b Ashwin54 EJG Morgan*run out (Bumrah) 102 1 BA Stokes b Ashwin JC Buttler†st †Dhoni b Ashwin 10 MM Ali b Kumar 55 CR Woakesb Bumrah 5 LE Plunkettnot out 26 DJ Willey not out 5 Extras (lb-7, w-4, nb-1) 12 Total (8 wickets; 50 overs)366 Did not bat JT Ball Fall of wickets 1-28 (Hales, 3.5 ov), 2-128 (Root, 19.5 ov), 3-170 (Roy, 26.1 ov), 4-173 (Stokes, 27.2 ov), 5-206 (Buttler, 31.2 ov), 6-299 (Ali, 43.3 ov), 7-304 (Woakes, 44.2 ov), 8-354 (Morgan, 48.3 ov) Bowling B Kumar 10-1-63-1, JJ Bumrah 9-0-81-2 (nb-1, w-1), RA Jadeja 10-0-45-1, HH Pandya 6-0-60-0, R Ashwin 10-0-65-3 (w-2), KM Jadhav 5-0-45-0 (w-1)

Hamilton supports new teammate Bottas L

ewis Hamilton has backed Mercedes replacing Nico Rosberg with Valtteri Bottas, says team boss Toto Wolff.

Mercedes signed the Finn this week after agreeing a deal to buy him out of his Williams contract to replace Rosberg, who retired after winning last year's world title.

Wolff said: "Lewis said he thought Valtteri was a nice guy.

"One of the guys he actually got along with well in Formula 1 and he felt he was

a good option."

Wolff, who was talking to Finnish commentator Oskari Saari for a podcast, said he believed there might be less tension between Hamilton and the 27-year-old Finn than there was between the triple world champion and Rosberg.

"I think that works well," he added. "It was OK already between Nico and Lewis, but there was the luggage of the past... Now it is a completely new relationship and there is no animosity.

"There will be moments

Lewis Hamilton and new teammate, Valtteri Bottas sharing a light moment

where it is going to be difficult, but I think that how the personalities are for the team

it's going to be a good situation and one that is maybe a bit easier to handle than the

past. But I could be wrong."

BBC Sport revealed on Monday that Bottas had signed a one-year contract, with options to extend it into subsequent seasons.

Wolff said that was because a number of leading drivers' contracts were up for renewal at the end of the 2017 season - including multiple world champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and McLaren - and Mercedes wanted to keep their options open.

"We wouldn't have chosen

Valtteri if we thought that he was not good enough to continue with the team," said Wolff.

"But, as a matter of fact, the market is very dynamic at the moment. Next year options open - young drivers, Sebastian, Fernando, Valtteri, many of them. So it is about understanding that and Valtteri does.

"Equally we have great faith and confidence in him that he can stay with us for a long time, but now we need to see how the season goes."

(BBC Sport)

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named in West Indies Under-19 Super50 squad

T

he West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Thursday announced the West Indies Under-19 squad to participate in the upcoming Regional Super 50 Tournament.

The 14-member squad includes five players who were part of the team which won the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh last year.

These are allrounders Shamar Springer and Keemo Paul; middle-order batsman Kirstan

next year. Springer, Paul and McCoy will not be eligible for that tournament, but have be selected as part of their continued development and monitoring.

Head Coach Graeme West outlined the details behind the team’s preparations.

“We have a really fantastic group of players selected for this tournament and we believe they will do very well. We had a camp in Grenada before Christmas, which went really well. We

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Bhaskar Yadram Kallicharan; wicket-keeper/batsman Emmanuel Stewart; and left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy. The West Indies Under19s are participating in this tournament as part of their preparation for the ICC Under-19 World Cup, to be played in New Zealand

will have another camp here in Antigua in the build-up to this event, which should get us in the right frame of mind as we play against older and more experienced opposition,” West said.

“On the team, we have included three ‘over-aged’ players – Springer, Paul

Keemo Paul and McCoy – to add a bit of strength especially to the seam bowling department.

They are three quality bowlers, and they can bat as well, and we believe will serve West Indies cricket very well in the future.”

The West Indies Under19s will play in Zone A which is based in Antigua.

They will play alongside defending champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, Windward Islands Volcanoes, Kent Spitfire and host team Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Full squad; Te-Shawn Alleyne, Alick Athanaze, Joshua Bishop, Shian Brathwaite, Kirstan Kallicharan, Mikyle Louis, Obed McCoy, Matthew Patrick, Keemo Paul, Jeavor Royal, Javier Spencer, Shamar Springer, Emmanuel Stewart and Bhaskar Yadram.

Team Management; Graeme West (Head Coach), Tony Gray (Assistant Coach), Dwain Gill (Team Manager), Khevyn Williams (Physiotherapist), Dinesh Mahabir (Analyst) and Zephyrinus Nicholas (Trainer).

Defending Australian Open champion knocked out

D

efending champion Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat by world number 117 Denis Istomin in the second round of the Australian Open.

The six-time winner struggled for rhythm and lost 7-6 (10-8) 5-7 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in four hours and 48 minutes.

It is the first time Djokovic, 29, has lost in the second round of a Grand Slam since 2008 at Wimbledon.

The result leaves world number one Andy Murray as favourite to win his first Australian Open title in Melbourne.

Briton Murray, who has already reached round three, has lost five finals in the past seven years in Melbourne, four of them to Djokovic.

It is only the second time in seven years that Djokovic has lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 - his defeat by Juan Martin del Potro, ranked 145th, at the Rio Olympics in 2016 being the other occasion.

“He deserved to win. No doubt, he was a better player in the clutch moments,” said Djokovic.

“Many things came together for him today and he’s a well-deserved winner.

There’s not much I could do.”

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, january 20, 2017

WICB Regional Super50...

Army Major running against “We have to play Hutson for AAG top spot aggressive cricket” – Bramble T

By Akeem Greene

C

ome January 24 at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, Guyana Jaguars will begin the hunt to regain the Regional 50over title after a drought of close to 12 years. In order to achieve this feat, glove man Anthony Bramble is of the view that the team must play aggressive cricket.

was not enough to get the team over the line in the semi-final against eventual champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

In one of the team’s practice matches, the Berbician who struck a whirlwind 67ball 95, is upbeat about replicating similar performances when the tournament opens.

“It’s a good feeling, I have

Anthony Bramble’s last List A innings brought him 54 runs and he is looking to continue in the same form in this year’s tournament

“We have had our issues getting over the line in big games but we have our plans and goals for this tournament, so we have to play aggressive cricket and win the big games” Bramble confidently stated.

At the last Super50, Bramble carried the Jaguars’ attack, scoring his maiden List A half-century in explosive fashion but it

been scoring runs for myself and most importantly, the team which makes me feel a bit confident and I want to transfer that into the Super50,” the right-handed batsman said.

Having played 21 List A matches, averaging 23.76 runs per innings, the 26 year-old says that his role in the batting department is not limited to that of a

“pinch-hitter” since he can adapt to any role the team may require.

He explained, “I know my role in the team as wicketkeeper/batsman and I know at times I will be called up to score runs in important situations and when that arises I want to go out and do it well in the tournament.”

He added, “Whenever needed, I can go up or down the order, whatever the captain and team need, I think I can do the job.”

With 13 catches and 6 stumpings in the first half of the 2016/2017 Regional 4-day season, the Albion Cricket Club player wants his form behind the stump to keep improving.

“My wicket-keeping is going good so far, there are still some areas that I can top up on so I take all my chances behind the stump” he disclosed.

Bramble and his teammates are set to depart Guyana on Saturday and will hope that they can book a spot in the February 18 final in Antigua.

Jaguars are grouped along slide Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners and ICC Americas and will be based in Barbados for their eight preliminary matches where each team plays the others in their group twice.

he Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) Annual General Meeting is scheduled for this Sunday and incumbent president, Aubrey Hutson is being challenged by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Shen Fung for the position he has held since 2013.

While Hutson is optimistic of his chances of regaining the top spot, he has also welcomed the opposition and once reelected he will be aiming of take athletics in Guyana to another level.

Prior to the news of Fung throwing his hat into the ring, Hutson related to Guyana Times Sport that he has the best interest of the AAG at heart.

Despite the fact that both candidates are balanced in their merits that could potentially see them assuming office, only one can be declared the winner following voting at the National Resource Centre.

From the perspective of the current president, he believes that the position at the helm of the AAG must be someone who “is genuine, has knowledge of the sport and has been around.”

To his merit, Hutson has been the president for the Running Brave Athletic Club for four years prior to election to office of president of the AAG. Based on his introduction into the helm of the

AAG President Aubrey Hutson

AAG, Hutson said he found it not as difficult because of the knowledge and experience of the late Shanomae Blackmore who allowed a smooth transition but still challenging.

Hutson has made it clear that “it is not facilities, but rather the athletes being able to capitalize on the resources and produce great performances is what should be the measurement of the success of a president.”

Among some of the performances Hutson pointed out that were impactful was the 400m record by Jason Shaw set in 2014 as well as four Olympic A standard qualifying athletes.

The AAG president stated that he “expects to be returning as the President of the AAG based on what the clubs are saying unanimously but is hopeful that the clubs do elect a good team so

when they sit at the table to discuss how to take athletics further they will have the interest of the AAG at heart and not personal gain.”

If re-elected, Hutson highlighted that he will be working along with the coaches, as he has already been doing, to see how best the athletic performances can be enhanced. To date, Hutson has so far gotten the full support of the coaches, even in areas such as Berbice.

While Hutson is of the view that the ultimate goal is to medal at the 2020 Olympics, 2017-2018 will be a crucial in finding the potential that the AAG will be looking to nurture to the Olympics.

The elections will take place at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue when the AGM commences from 10:30h.

The nominees for other office posts are as follows: Vice President-Colin Ming, Godfrey Washington, Cheryl Hermonstine, Hector Edwards, Colin Boyce, Lyndon Wilson and Mark Scott. Treasurer -Simone Gaskin, Latoya Archer, Kwabina Griffith, Nial Stanton and Silus Brummell.

Assistant Treasurer, Nial Stanton, Carlotta Abrams, Carla Roberts, Elton Bollers, Raymond Daw Committee Members- Five persons from each of the nine clubs.

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, january 20, 2017

Banks DIH embraces Limacol football tournament T

he 2nd annual Petra organised Limacol Round-robin knockout football tournament has received a significant boost as beverage giant Banks DIH has given its support in a significant manner The partnership with the organisers sees GT Beer being deemed the official drink of the championships.

Speaking at a simple ceremony on Thursday at the company’s Thirst Park location, Public Relations Officer Troy Peters explained that their continued support to the Petra Organisation allows for football to be played across Guyana and since the company is having football played on this magnitude

any event of such nature will always be supported.

Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca was most grateful for the support of the company and thanked it for adhering to its social responsibility for sports.

Mendonca further stated that his organisation is commited to seeing the development of football in the country as it started with the youth level and now is focusing on ensuring senior players get the opportunity to play more consistent football.

The kick-off date is set for January 23 at the Georgetown Football Club, (GFC), Bourda where Police

Round One Fixtures Date

Time

Match

Ground

23-Jan-2017

18:30hrs

Police Force FC v Mahaica Determinators

GFC

20:30 hrs

Riddim Squad v Camptown FC GFC

18:30 hrs

Western Tigers v New Amsterdam

GFC

20:30 hrs

Santos FC v Ann’s Grove

GFC

18:30 hrs

Uitvlugt v Eagles United

Leonora

20:30 hrs

Pouderoyen v Den Amstel

Leonora

18:30 hrs

Milerock v Northern Rangers

MSC

20:30 hrs

Winners Connection v Grove Hi Tec

MSC

26-Jan-2017

27-Jan-2017 28-Jan-2017

(GFC) Georgetown Football Club, (MSC) McKenzie Sports Club, Leonora Stadium

Force FC will play Mahaica Determinators from 18:30h followed by Riddim Squad and Camptown from 20:30h.

The group of death seems to be Group A which comprises defending champions Milerock, top Linden side Winners Connection, East Bank champions Grove Hi Tech and Northern Rangers.

Group B comprises Western Tigers, Uitvulgt, Eagles United and New Amsterdam United; Group C: Santos FC, Pouderoyen, Den Amstel and Ann’s Gove United and Group D: Police Force FC, Riddim Squad, Campton FC and Mahaica Determinators The top teams will complete for a $500,000 first place prize while second to fourth will receive $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.

23

categories to be contested as GTTA season opens

Some intense rivalries can be expected this weekend at the Sports Hall

T

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will kick start its 2017 calendar of activities with a Doubles, Novices and Fundamental Challenge competition scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue. The categories to be contested includes: Novices Open Challenge Boys and Girls, Senior Doubles Open, Junior Doubles Open, Pre Cadet Doubles Open, Mixed Doubles, Junior Fundamental Challenge Open, Junior Fundamental Challenge Open and Pre Cadet Fundamental Challenge Open.

The Fundamental challenge will follow a format where players can select a partner whom they will team with to compete in knockout competition against other pairs drawn, engaging in One (1)

minute forehand rally, one (1) Minute backhand rally one (1) minute pushes with the pair with the highest collective total/ aggregate of completed rallies advancing to the next round through the finals to determine the winner. Trophies and Medals and other prizes will be awarded to the top two finishers in the doubles and fundamental challenge and to the top three players in the novice’s category.

With an emphasis on

ensuring that much more domestic competitions across the length and breadth of Guyana is played and aimed at keeping the players actively training to improve their technical and tactical and marketing sport among other benefits, the association has map out an active domestic calendar which will see competitions occurring every month. The tournament is geared to kick start the year’s activities with a softer competition as a lead to the intense and bigger competitions with an emphasis on orienting our players to the critical importance of the fundamental aspects of the game in a competitive and fun way. Players may register with national table tennis coach and General Secretary Linden Johnson or any member of the GTTA. The GTTA officials have stated that the schedule is subjected to change based on the amount of entries.

Provisional Schedule: • Novices Boys and Girls Challenge Singles - January 21 from 09:00 to 15:00h • Pre Cadet Doubles Open - January 21 from 11:00 to 15:00h • Junior Doubles Open - January 21 from 14:00 to 17:30h • Mixed Doubles - January 21 from 15:00 to 17:30h • Senior Fundamental Challenge Open - January 21 from 15:00 to 17:30h • Senior Doubles Open - January 22 from 10:00 to 14:30h • Junior Fundamental Challenge Open January 22 from 10:00 to 14:30h • Pre Cadet Fundamental January 22 from 10:00 to 14:30h

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Banks DIH embraces Limacol football tournament Pg 23

From left: PRO Troy Peters, Petra Organisation’s Mark Alleyne, Petra’s Co-Director Troy Mendonca, GT Beer Brand Manager Jeoff Clement, and Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stuart at the presentation on Thursday

WICB Regional Super50...

Pg 22

“We have to play aggressive cricket” – Bramble Anthony Bramble working on his glove work during a net session at the National Stadium, Providence

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