Guyana Times, March 25, 2017

Giftland to provide alternative power source to UG P13

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

Issue No. 3163

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, March 25, 2017

PRICE

Opposition calls for probe into AG’s death threat allegations

WHAT'S INSIDE:

US embassies P15 told to enhance 'extreme vetting'

… as AG threatens to sue local media houses …denies making death threats to Judge Pages 3&7

Father dies, son injured after kerosene lamp explodes Page 2

$80 vat included

Ban on used types will leave thousands jobless – GUTA Page 16

Red House lease challenge

Court has jurisdiction to hear matter – P12 Judge …as AG’s submissions overruled

…as Association to protest in front of State House

Roraima kicks off 3-day Wedding Expo Page 13

Driver freed of causing death by dangerous driving charge P8

GGDMA P2 outraged at constraints to miners – reminds Govt sector has been steering economy

Police P10 investigating rape of 14-year-old

‘Magnificent Beginnings’, the theme for the 2017 edition of Wedding Expo, which opened on Friday at Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown. In photo are models in various bride and groom attire of the varying ethnic cultures in Guyana

IMF warns Govt over social impact on closing sugar industry Page 5

…says Govt continues to anticipate oil money to decrease debt

…confirms local economy is in trouble – PPP

Calls mounts for Yarde’s removal from GPSU’s P11 helm …as legal action looms

Councillor bemoans state of Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital P10 …as staff continue to work under deplorable conditions

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GGDMA outraged at constraints to miners Father dies, son – reminds Govt sector has been steering economy

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he Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has said it remains outraged at the treatment being meted out to local miners, particularly by the new tax regulations imposed, and has reminded that while there are other sectors failing, it is the contributions of the mining sector that have been keeping the country’s economy “afloat”.

According to the GGDMA in a Friday statement, after the 2017 National Budget was passed, it became burdened with several concerns regarding the new tax regulations, among which was the keeping of acceptable records. The body says that all of its operations are done in the interior locations, where receipts and bills are often not obtainable, especially from service providers. Thus the association is requesting that tributors be able to benefit from this threshold provision at the time that they are paid, where a provision can be made by the operation owner to deduct the 20 per cent Tributors’ tax after the person has earned in excess of the $60,000 on a monthly basis. This would allow the Tributors to immediately start benefiting from this provision.

Additionally, the

GGDMA is requesting that there be a reduction of the 40 per cent rate of tax on the chargeable income of miners.

In regard to the off-thetop payment of five per cent Royalty to the GGMC along with the two per cent upfront withholding tax, the GGDMA feels that a provision can be made for payments to be made at a lower tax rate for miners, and/ or alternatively a sliding scale against the US dollar off-the-top.

The GGDMA is also suggesting that the deadline for filing of returns be extended from April 30 to a convenient later date, given that many miners would need to make adjustments so as to comply with the new requirements.

The GGDMA said it continues to be frustrated by the manner in which the GGMC is conducting its business, and feels the GGMC needs to be modernised as soon as possi-

ble. Providing simple information requested from this agency seems to be an uphill task for the agency, the GGDMA has said.

“One would expect that, with all the royalty that is being collected, a modern information management system would be in place at this agency, (but) this is far from the case. Simple information requested, which in this information technology era could take minutes, sometimes takes hours (and) even days (to be supplied),” the GGDMA has said.

“One is left to ask the question: Is the current manner in which the GGMC (is) operating reflective of the fact that there is currently no board in operation at the GGMC? This seems to be the case, because ad hoc decisions are being made on PL Conversion, while there seems to be no proper management of mining affairs.

The GGDMA is equivalent-

ly concerned that there is no board in place at the Guyana Gold Board [GGB].

Issues such as refunds for “silver money” for last year remains a point of concern for the association,” the GGDMA said on Friday.

The body pointed to the poor condition of roads that miners traverse and noted that nothing is being done by the relevant Ministries to address the matter. “This has severely affected transportation and operations costs to our many miners, who now have to pay double the price for transporting fuel to their operations.

In addition, the Interior Road Projects hardly cater for the building and maintenance of bridges. The GGDMA also wishes to point out that, currently, most of the interior access roads have bridges that are in a deteriorating state”.

The GGDMA has also said that security concerns have been an ongoing issue for its members, where miners are being robbed due to the many illegal shops around mining camps.

The mining representative body says it is open to meet with the relevant authorities to address these and many other issues that are affecting its membership and the sector as a whole.

injured after kerosene lamp explodes

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man is now dead and his son hospitalised after a kerosene lamp exploded in their Warren Village, East Coast Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home.

Dead is Deodat (only name), called ‘Ziggy”, age 58, while his 16-year-old son, Mark Deodat, is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital suffering third degree burns.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday evening. Deodat was being treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital for his injuries but died on Thursday evening.

Guyana Times understands that the lamp was alight when Deodat attempted to refuel it. It the process it exploded, showering the man and his son, who was in close proximity, in the flammable liquid which ignited.

Neighbours heard screams and saw fire in the house at about 20:00h on Tuesday. The cane harvester’s wife quickly summoned her 21-year-old son; Mark Deodat, who was out

of the house and he reportedly gathered clothes and used it to extinguish the flames from his father and then his brother.

Neighbours assisted by throwing water on Deodat while his son jumped into a barrel containing water which was situated nearby.

The 16-year-old received burns to his upper body while his elder brother received minor burns in his attempt to save his father and younger brother.

The house was extensively damaged from the explosion.

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, March 25 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, March 26 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, March 25 – 14:45h-16:15h and Sunday, March 26 – 15:30h-17:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Early morning thundery rain showers are expected to give way to heavy and light rain showers throughout the day. Sunny weather is expected in the later afternoon, while partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tides: 02:44h and 15:02h reaching maximum heights of 2.43 metres and 2.54 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 08:36h and 20:59h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.62 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS N

05

09 15

22

23

25

02 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Friday, March 24, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 04 09 11 12

LUCKY 3 3 8 0

21 3

0

2

Evening Draw

Afternoon Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 03

05 10

14 16 17

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Opposition calls for probe into AG’s death threat allegations – says failure of President to ascertain truth would be an ominous sign

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ondemning the alleged actions of Attorney General Basil Williams in threatening a judge, the parliamentary Opposition PPP has called for President David Granger to launch an investigation into this allegation, and to accordingly take decisive action.

In a strongly worded statement to the press on Thursday, the PPP said “A failure by the President to act decisively in this matter would certainly send an ominous signal.” The release continued: “We condemn the (alleged) actions of the Attorney General in the strongest possible terms, and we call upon His Excellency the President to immediately launch an investigation into this matter with a view (to) removing the Attorney General from office.”

Alleging that it has received other reports of similar conduct engaged in by the Attorney General, the party noted that the nation “is now confronted with press reports that the Attorney General has (allegedly) threatened to kill a sitting judge in open court in a matter that has great political, constitutional and democratic significance.”

The PPP has said it “stands firm in solidarity with the Judiciary, and we will continue to struggle to ensure that the integrity, independence and dignity of our judges are protected and maintained.”

According to reports, Justice Franklin Holder walked off the bench on Thursday following an exchange he had had with the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams.

The legal proceedings

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

being heard in the High Court at the time were in regard to the conflicting stories submitted in affidavits

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and trade unionist Carvil Duncan -about the tribunal which was established to determine Duncan’s removal from several constitutional posts. A cross-examination to remove the confusion was ongoing at the time, but as the cross-examination was coming to an end, a frustrated Williams reportedly accused the Judge of not accurately recording the evidence, and Justice Holder took umbrage at the accusation.

A legal challenge has been filed by Duncan against the attempt to remove him from the Chairmanship of the Public Service Commission, membership of the Police Service Commission, and membership of the Judicial Service Commission.

However, a conflict of facts has arisen in the various affidavits filed. The Prime Minister’s affidavit contends that his office had served Duncan with a letter, dated 29th March 2016, which he claims

was received at the Public Service Commission on April 14, 2016. That letter calls upon Duncan to show cause, within fourteen (14) days, why he should not be removed from the aforesaid positions.

In their affidavits in response, Duncan and his Confidential Secretary swore that no such letter was ever received at the Public Service Commission.

They both contend that indeed a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office was received on April 14th 2017, but they say that that letter, addressed to Duncan, informed him of a

Attorney General Basil Williams

President David Granger

Public Service Conference which was to be held in London, England later that year.

At a press conference held the very next day after the courtroom incident, Williams denied all reports that he had threatened the Judge; and moreover, he has threatened to sue the Guyana Times and Kaieteur News for publishing this assertion, and Nandlall for asserting that he had threatened Justice Holder.

Reiterating that the threats were made, Nandlall has since challenged Williams to take the matter to court.

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saturDAY, march 25, 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

Plenty to wonder and ponder

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fter they were humiliated by England and suffered the indignity of a 3-0 whitewash at home, West Indies still have a lot to wonder and ponder.

In the One Day International Series, the inexperienced regional side was totally outplayed in all departments by the more experienced touring English team, and it resulted in humiliation for the boys in maroon by wide margins -- an indication of the continued decline of West Indies’ Cricket.

Even though Cricket West Indies and some players are on different sides owing to personal reasons, several seasoned cricketers would have made an impression because of their resounding ability in the abbreviated version of the beautiful game. One who comes to mind is the pugnacious Jamaican left-handed batsman Chris Gayle. His presence in the team would have been profound, and could have been a great asset for them on the big occasion against England.

Like the sensational Gayle, ebullient Trinidadian allrounder Dwayne Bravo was also badly missed, and he and the board are at odds owing to the similar indifference. These high-profile players prefer to be Freelance cricketers and ply their trade in the various domestic T20 leagues, having opted not to sign contracts with the regional board.

An ardent lover of West Indies Cricket would still wonder if these issues cannot be resolved, so that they might see their favourites exhibiting their trade in the prestigious maroon colours.

Undoubtedly, it is an annoyance not to see the muchvaunted players in action, especially with the side succumbing to an equally competing country like England.

There is an abundance of talented cricketers in the Caribbean, but they haven’t found a winning team or a winning formula, much to the dismay of the West Indian devotees.

Despite the unfamiliarity with the pitch at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and Barbuda, England were able to pile on an adequate 296 runs, and then their bowlers completed the job by dismissing the hosts for 256.

In the second and penultimate match at the same venue, the West Indians again disappointed their supporters, falling to a modest 225 while the visitors surpassed the target with little fuss.

With England already taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, their skipper Eion Morgan spoke enthusiastically at the postmatch presentation that they will continue to be ruthless, and a whitewash was on the horizon for the final encounter at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

West Indies, the former back-to-back World Champions in the 50-Over format and current World T20 Champions, were very mindful of the looming historic whitewash at home, and were desperate to win the final match and save face.

However, what will be will be, and more embarrassment and more humiliation awaited them as they squandered another advantage with familiar conditions in the Barbados capital.

England racked up a formidable 328 from their allotment of 50 overs, and the hosts replied meekly, folding for a measly 142.

We have wondered what may have caused such an inept batting performance from these professional cricketers, more so in familiar conditions at home.

What had transpired in this short series was a manifestation of West Indies’ participation in ICC bi-later series, and as they are preparing to confront a team that is similar in consistency or lack thereof, and in position in the rankings, one can only be optimistic for a much better performance against Pakistan from March 26.

The two countries will engage in four T20s, the format the Caribbean boys have been dominating and are hot favourites to win against the much-touted Pakistan, but the subsequent 50-Overs and Test series should cause fans to ponder whether the boys in maroon can create an impact there as well.

With the return of Kieron Pollard, a dashing, exhilarating T20 player, and few specialists, the combination gives these fans something to bash about.

When Pakistan and West Indies played each other in Dubai, Pakistan made a mess of them in the game’s shortest format, and they will, no doubt, want to jaunt high on that psychological advantage.

West Indies T20 lads have got to play their hearts out to stay high on the Rankings. They have plummeted to number 4 while the Pakistanis sit at number 6. Plenty action beckons.

Looking to get married? Here is one of many options in cake and table decor avaible on show at the Roriama Duke Lodge Wedding Expo which opened on Friday and runs until Sunday at Kingston, Georgetown

Why is Basil Williams still on the job?

Dear Editor, In the history of Guyana’s politics, many morbid stories have been told of the actions of the People’s National Congress (PNC) in and out of power, much to the horror of us all. Indeed, many stories of death and dying that could have been traced or aligned to the regime’s unenviable past, and may I say present. A prime example is the Dr Walter Rodney case which was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that this PNC party is nothing but evil. There are many more

of these horror stories I can relate but suffice to say what Basil Williams did recently tells the real mettle of who they really are. His ranting is a threat but judging from the horrific past of this party; no threat, I repeat, no threat, can be considered a slip of the tongue far less idle when coming from this source.

Guyana is waking up to the ghoulish bullying schemes of a desperate Attorney General and party all over again. It happened under the 28-year rule of the Burnhamite regime and

it is happening again right before our very eyes. If anyone in this country had any doubts as to who these people are, what took place here recently in an open court dispels any iota of doubt as to the real intent of these people. And that is clear, we will rule with fear, and ill-will. We will rule with an iron fist.

As diabolical and preposterous as Williams’ statement is, I am still dumbfounded as to the President’s lack of response to that? What is Granger’s reaction to his Attorney

General openly threatening a Judge? I am paying close attention to the President’s reaction to this latest tirade on law and order and public safety in our country.

I recall the Bheri Ramsaran matter when he issued an innocuous threat to activist Sherlina Nageer – that Minister was promptly fired by his President.

So, why is Basil Williams still on the job? What is President Granger doing with his Attorney General?

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Public Health Ministry AWOL Dear Editor, There is a serious leptospirosis outbreak in a West Demerara community and the Public Health Ministry is missing in action (absent without leave (AWOL)). In the last two weeks alone, 15 confirmed cases with one death have been recorded. There are dozens of suspected cases showing up still at the West Demerara Regional Hospital and many more suspected cases being seen at private institutions and private doctors’ offices. Among the confirmed cases, there is a family with six persons who have been diagnosed with leptospirosis. The West Demerara Hospital has no capacity at this time to test for leptospirosis and apparently the Georgetown Public Hospital is also unable to assist. Patients are sent to the Private Sector

for testing and treatment.

In the midst of this serious leptospirosis outbreak, the Public Health Ministry is not acting as if it is aware. From outside, it appears as if either the Public Health Ministry is unaware or it is impotent to act or it just does not care. There has been no public health awareness initiative to advise people in the affected area and nearby communities, no advisory to healthcare providers in the Public or Private Sectors, no effort to ensure a testing capacity is immediately restored, if it is no longer in place.

No effort has been put in place to ensure that healthcare providers are familiar with the standard treatment guideline and that there are adequate supplies of the relevant medicines.

Early diagnosis is critical to prevent serious medical

conditions and deaths and as part of this early diagnostic and treatment capacity, the availability of medicines and medical supplies at the local level is critical.

My information is that the Georgetown Public Hospital has no formal information from the Public Health Ministry that a leptospirosis outbreak is presently happening in a West Demerara community and, therefore, it should be on alert to deal with either increased referrals or more people independently showing up with leptospirosis.

When healthcare providers and health institutions like the Georgetown Public Hospital are aware of outbreaks, they are better prepared to handle these cases.

In the past, the Public Health Ministry and local healthcare providers

would have been visiting on a house-to-house basis, distributing awareness flyers, providing prophylaxis treatment as the Ministry intensifies efforts to stop the spread of this dangerous infection and to ensure the source is identified and eliminated or controlled.

As is happening frequently these days, the Public Health Ministry is AWOL. When it eventually acts, it’s after the fact.

Outbreaks do happen. The Public Health Ministry should never feel it will make them look bad if they make early announcements about outbreaks like these.

In fact, early advisories and early community actions are critical in controlling outbreaks, particularly outbreaks like leptospirosis.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

5 IMF warns Govt over social impact on closing sugar industry news

saturDAY, March 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…says Govt continues to anticipate oil money to decrease debt

…confirms local economy is in trouble – PPP

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he concluding statement, which details the preliminary findings of International Monetary Fund (IMF) after a visit to Guyana, was released Friday evening and in ‘IMF speak’ it validates the positions that have been articulated by the political Opposition for months now – including that the local economy is in trouble.

The IMF noted that Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was uneven, buoyed by the new gold mines, while the non-mining sector saw a contraction in growth. We have seen no plans by the Coalition Government to stimulate growth; rather increased burdens on major sectors with a slew of tax measures and other policies that constrict their potential for growth.

The IMF projects real economic growth of 3.5 per cent driven by an increase in public investment and a recovery in rice production. But the reality is that we are witnessing the continued deterioration of the rice sector’s performance.

Two weeks ago, one major rice operator, after 25 years, closed down his operations. We are also witnessing massive underperformance by the government, relative to public investment. The IMF itself noted that Guyana saw “lower than budgeted public investment” in 2016, which was a point that was made by the Opposition during the Budget 2017 debates.

Further, the IMF statement confirms that the Government slavishly followed the recommendations

[The following is a full statement by the People’s Progressive Party]

of CARTAC on extending the Value-Added Tax (VAT) regime to crucial sectors, without regard to the social impact on Guyanese. The

will decrease.

The IMF also noted the recent “increase in exchange rate flexibility” – while Government fails to

IMF noted that it welcomed the VAT “reform” that was advanced.

Additionally, the increased borrowing by the Coalition Government has also been a major point of concern, particularly over the last few months – with government inking multiple multi-billion dollar loan agreements – as many as five in one week, as we have seen recently. The IMF has said that the debt-toGDP ratio is projected to reach 61 per cent of GDP by 2019 and has recommended fiscal adjustments.

However, Government continues to „bank on oil money given that local authorities have informed the IMF that once oil production starts the debt to GDP ratio

acknowledge that there is a problem and advance measures to address the issue.

Meanwhile, the impact on Government policy on non-performing Loans (NPLs) was not missed by the IMF. Last year a similar warning about non-performing loans was issued by the IMF. Hundreds

of Guyanese, affected by government’s policies, including the burdensome taxes, are finding it difficult to repay their loans. And matters are made worse with local economic activity on the decline.

On the issue of the sugar sector, the IMF has reiterated our call for careful decisions to be made about the future of the industry.

The political Opposition has said repeatedly that the decisions taken so far have been political, given the absence of any socio-economic study. The IMF has warned the government to be “mindful of the large social impact” and the need, to protect those affected “by the process of change in the industry.

The Coalition Government must face reality. The local economy is slowly being “choked to death”. Guyanese are witnessing policies that hurt businesses and increas-

es hardships on average people. In the last year, there have been no major announcements regarding foreign direct investments in Guyana, nor any major job creation initiatives.

The Coalition

Government must act.

The staff team from the IMF, led by Marcos Chamon, visited Georgetown during March 6–17 to hold discussions for the 2017 Article IV Consultation.

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Foundation

(Continued from Friday)

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his is an example of a principle I discussed in my very first book that I call the ‘Principle of Opposite Behaviours’. One can understand it better by looking at the end result of the behaviour patterns. In the cases mentioned in Friday’s article, the end result (or as I call it, the net effect) is the same – poor self-image and lack of independence.

The use of any extreme or polarised parental behaviour can produce the same end result as parental behaviour at the exact opposite extreme.

Take drug abuse. A neglected teenager who starts to do something self-destructive like using drugs will continue to use drugs if the parents don’t seem to notice or seem to care. When such people grow up and have children, they may wish to be the “unparent.” They may want to communicate to the child that they will notice and will care – but they go to the extreme of, say, frequently tearing up the child’s room looking for drugs, and lecturing the child incessantly about the evils of drug use.

That sort of behaviour communicates to the child that the parents need to lecture, and need to keep looking for drugs despite any evidence that the child is using – because they need to find drugs so they can continue to indulge their need to lecture.

Far be it for a child to deprive the parent of a cherished role. So the child

starts to use drugs, and leaves evidence around for the parents to find.

A lot of folks who study drug abuse in human beings do not seem to understand this process. They keep looking for animal models to explain drug abuse, but so far have been unable to locate any rats that hide bottles.

Here are three core principles involved in the process by which extreme parental behaviour can backfire: 1. If a parent repeatedly criticises a child or a teenager about t h e

very same behaviours, the child will not only not stop them, but will continue or even dramatically increase them.

2. If a parent continually nags a child or teenager to do the same things, the child will not only refrain from do-

ing what the parent is ostensibly asking for, but will studiously avoid doing so – or even do the exact opposite.

3. If a parent continually tells children or teenagers they have some trait, or lack some trait, the children will compulsively act out the trait they have been told they have, and/or will compulsively avoid doing anything that suggests they actually have any trait they have been told they lack.

A related but somewhat different manifestation of the principle of opposite behaviours is seen in cases in which different generations of members of a particular family seem to alternate between extreme opposite behaviours, as can be seen on a genogram. In this case, one generation is induced by their parents’ ambivalence and mixed messages over some issue to rebel against the parents’ extreme behaviour.

As examples, a generation of alcoholics can produce a generation of teetotallers which in turn produces a generation of alcoholics. A generation of nose-to-the-grindstone working types can generate children who are hedonistic and irresponsible, who in turn generate children who are workaholics. Another variation of the latter is when a family produces one child who is a workaholic and another who is a complete slacker.

This effects of polarised or extreme parental behaviour is one of the primary mechanisms by which dysfunctional behaviour is transmitted from one generation to another. (www.psychologytoday.com)

- micromanaging children has unintended consequences n my post of January 13, 2013, about how children react to double messages from parents, I expressed the opinion that when someone in a family compulsively engages in repetitive behaviour, family members will invariably conclude that this behaviour is quite important to the perpetrator.

Keeping this idea in mind, in this post I am going to list several examples of frequently-seen problematic parenting practices, as well as the consequences to which such practices frequently lead. These practices may cause relatively mild problems, but often they cause major issues. Adult patients in psychotherapy have described the patterns to me over and over again as they discuss their parents’ behaviour over time.

on it!

However, it is important to keep in mind that when the parents do stop micromanaging initially, other difficult but solvable problems predictably ensue.

These are discussed in the last paragraph of this post.

In discussing any problematic parenting issues, there is always a rather devilish and perplexing conundrum that makes any such conversation fraught with peril. Many troublesome parenting behaviours are often driven by a parent’s covert sense of guilt – primarily concerning how much time they spend with their children – and if one discusses what they may be doing wrong, this adds to that sense of guilt. They therefore often become very defensive and, if anything, dig in their heels. Their problematic practices then get

These parental behaviours may seem to the children to indicate that the parents have certain expectations about how the children are supposed to turn out, and children will not want to disappoint the parents by defying these apparent expectations. This will happen in spite of the fact that the parents may verbally instruct the children not to act in the way the parents seem to need, or even criticize and/or severely punish them when they do.

The problems I list all have a common theme: ***parents trying to micromanage their children’s behaviour in one way or another***. Parents may protest: “I have to focus on my child’s troublesome behaviour because otherwise they won’t stop it.” They don’t realise that they have this exactly backwards: the child won’t stop the behaviour because the parent keeps focusing

even worse than before!

On the other hand, if they do not really understand what they are doing wrong, they also continue doing it. A real lose-lose proposition this.

The way out of this bind is to quit looking for someone to blame. Which would you rather do: find fault with people, or actually solve problems? It is near impossible to do both. To naysayers I say, “Grow up!”

Critics of course will also point to examples in which the types of parental behaviour described in the post do not or did not seem to be followed by the predicted negative consequences. As usual, I need to put in a disclaimer: The consequences of the parental behaviour I mention do not always result from every situation in which the parenting problem is seen. We’re just talking increased probabilities here! (www.psychologytoday.com)

BY DAVID M ALLEN, MD

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TO BE CONTINUED

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

AG threatens to sue local media houses …denies making death threats to judge

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ttorney General Basil Williams has refuted what he termed “disrespectful” reports that he had made death threats against Justice Franklin Holder on Thursday during a High Court case against Trade Unionist Carvil Duncan; and he has promised to seek redress in the courts.

Williams made this assertion during a press conference on Friday.

Referring to publication of the reports as an attack against Government, he has promised to sue local media houses Guyana Times and Kaieteur News, as well as former Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

“I think it is a disrespectful act and an attack against this Government!” Williams declared. “They will have to deal with the courts in this matter. I have been collecting all of those allegations that were false and spurious against me, and they must be reckoned with for exemplary damages; because I know how to deal with these newspapers,” the AG threatened. “I’ve spoken to several counsel, and they are in the process of preparing letters to these newspapers, and they would indicate to them that it is a libel -- a grievous libel -- against the Attorney General by way of his office.”

Relating what he said had transpired, Williams said his words were taken out of context. He related that, at the time, he had

that magistrate had incorrectly interpreted a statement he had made, and ever since that day, he has been careful with the words he uses in court.

the bench,” the Attorney General related.

Claiming that Nandlall had been disturbing the court throughout the proceedings, Williams inferred that Nandlall was “under the influence of something.”

The AG was adamant that nothing prevented the judge from leaving the bench, and that “the judge doesn’t have to give a date before he leaves the bench.”

The legal challenge was filed by Duncan against the attempt to remove him from the Chairmanship of the Public Service Commission, from being a member of the Police Service Commission, and from serving on the Judicial Service Commission.

A conflict of facts has since arisen in the various affidavits filed. The

(14) days, he should not be removed from the aforesaid positions.

Duncan and his Confidential Secretary, in their affidavits, swore that no such letter had ever been received at the Public Service Commission. They both contend that, indeed, a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office was received on April 14th, 2017; but that letter, addressed to Duncan, had informed him of a Public Service Conference which was to be held in London, England later that year.

In order to resolve this conflict in the affidavits, Justice Holder has ordered that persons who swore to the affidavits be crossed-examined. Attempts to make contact with Justice Holder were futile.

“And (I said), ‘Incidentally, that magistrate is dead now,’ and I moved on; and the judge and I continued addressing issues. Mr Nandlall then jumped in…and thereupon, that’s when the judge left

Prime Minister contends that his office had served Duncan with a letter dated 29, March 2016 -- which he claims was received at the Public Service Commission on April 14, 2016 -- calling upon Duncan to show cause why, within fourteen

Meanwhile Nandlall, in a press release on Friday, reiterated that Williams had made the statements previously attributed to him. “His reckless utterances to Justice Holder were

cross-examined Duncan’s confidential secretary and had afterwards had a discourse with Justice Holder, who was already leaving the bench.

“When the judge said that he was going to adjourn, I asked the judge if he could allow me one last question. My final question to her was if she (had) made (a) record of every mail she (had) received for Mr Duncan, and her answer was ‘No’.”

“I know how to deal with these newspapers” - AG Williams Williams said what he did was ask the judge, who had just adjourned, whether the witness’s last response to his cross-examination had been recorded by the court. “The judge, to my surprise, said, ‘Mr Williams, you are not in charge of my court’, and I said, ‘Not me, that could be said of Mr Nandlall, who has been trying to control your court’.

And he then said to me, ‘Mr Williams, I interpret that to mean that I deliberately did not record the yes answer that you said was given by the witness’.”

Williams claimed to have then related an anecdote to Justice Holder about a magistrate who had, in the past, made a similar allegation against him. He said that

Attorney General Basil Williams

Reiteration

Former AG Anil Nandlall

witnessed by at least two State Counsel of the AG’s Chambers; Carvil Duncan; Duncan’s Confidential Secretary; Diana Persaud; Rajendra Jaigobin; Attorneys-at-Law; members of the press; two Marshals of the High Court; my Personal Assistant, Shivun Hutson; and a few persons who are unknown to me. These persons were all in the Court”, Nandlall contends. “Yet, Mr Williams barefacedly denies that he (had) made the statements published by the press, which caused the Honourable Justice Holder to walk off the Bench, in disgust and possibly fear, without adjourning the matter.”

Noting that the Attorney General is threatening to go to Court, Nandlall has challenged him to do so. The former Attorney General has said that he has no doubt he would be vindicated.

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Driver freed of “causing death by dangerous driving” charge

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anex Powers, the driver who was accused of causing the death of former WBA Welterweight Champion Andrew “Six Head” Lewis following an accident on the East Bank Demerara Highway at New Hope on May 4, 2015, has been freed of the “causing death by dangerous driving” charge by Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Friday. The magistrate ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the charge, thus removing the proverbial Sword of Damocles that had been hanging over this driver’s head for almost two years.

The ruling was thrice de-

Manex Powers ferred by Magistrate Azore.

It was initially to be heard on February 2, but was put off to February 27, then again postponed to March 17, when the Magistrate announced that she was not ready to rule on the matter.

The Campbellville Housing Scheme resident, who was taken into Police custody after that fatal accident, had first been arraigned before the courts on May 6, 2015, when he was charged with the offence and remanded to prison by the then Chief Magistrate, Priya SewnarineBeharry. He was subsequently released on $250,000 bail.

According to reports, the former world champion boxer Lewis, 44 at the time, was riding a bicycle on the East Bank Demerara Highway on his way to visit a friend when he was struck down by the accused as he attempted to ride the bicycle across the road. Rushed to the Diamond

Diagnostic Centre, EBD, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Fallen hero

Lewis gained international recognition when he battled former world welterweight boxing champion James Paige for the title he held in 2001. He won the fight and became the first Guyanese to capture the WBC Welterweight title.

The icon Lewis will long be remembered by Guyanese for making his mark in the world of boxing. Indeed, he has, by this victory, engraved his name in the annals of Guyana’s great sporting heroes.

Criteria…

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…for GECOM’s chair o choose a new Dalai Lama for Tibetian Buddhists, Grand Lamas scour the land interviewing young boys to discern who might be the last Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. Now you know this can’t be easy…and it takes years. But at least they have some criteria – including which direction the smoke blew when the last Dalai Lama was cremated! You won’t be surprised, dear reader, to discover the process takes years.

Well, it’d appear we’re in a similar process of reading smoke signals to select the next chair of GECOM. After the PNC’d gamed the electoral system for two decades by having a Judge as the Elections Chair, President Carter, as the referee, had brokered a deal between the PPP and PNC to add “or any other fit and proper person” to being a Judge to select the Chair. Everything was hunky dory for another two decades until now.

Prezzie, who though “sober as a judge” but NOT a judge, had been nominated once by the PNC’s Hoyte, suddenly decided he only wanted judges to be proposed by the Opposition. Some unkindly persons suggested he wanted to return to the days when the PNC routinely rigged election with a Judge guarding the “sanctity of ballots”. But your Eyewitness didn’t think Prezzie would do that, would he?

Anyhow, after a painful period of the lawyers on both sides hurling explications and hermeneutical exegeses of esoteric words like “or”, “other” and “fit” (“persons” seemed to be uncontested!) Prezzie decided to issue the criteria for the GECOM Chair.

Some naïve (or battle weary) souls breathed a sigh of relief – but not your (jaded) Eyewitness. And he’s now vindicated.

Since the person proffered by the Opposition must be “not unacceptable to the President”, Prezzie appeared reasonable to at least signal “where he was coming from”. But he stated, “The individual must not be an activist of any form (gender, racial, religious, etc); that the person must have no political affiliation; and that the person should have the general characteristics of honesty, integrity, faithfulness, and diligence.”

Whew!! And here your Eyewitness though finding a Dalai Lama was tough!! “No activist of any stripe need apply!” Would a person like Prezzie who’s taken a firm stance for Reparations, justice for African Guyanese and their culture, etc, be rejected as an “African activist”? “NO political affiliation”? Does such a political unicorn exist in divided Guyana? Forget “honesty, integrity, and diligence”…how the heck does one ensure “faithfulness”??

But what the heck. Didn’t Caesar divorce his wife – not because she was unfaithful – but that even an accusation could be made against her?

In Guyana, GECOM’s Chair must be purer than Caesar’s wife. …for firing Town Clerk What’s going on here? Bulkan can beat up on Linden Town Clerk Jonellor Bowen by revoking her appointment – but not Royston King? Between Bowen and King, who’s been more “disruptive” and “disrespectful”? King was not only dissed the other City Councillors and the Deputy Mayor, but even Bulkan on several occasions.

Not to mention the Cabinet on the request to suspend the Parking Meter Contract. All Bowen did was to object to the high-handed attitude of the Linden Mayor… something others have also pointed out.

So, we wonder if it’s because Bowen is female? When a male like King makes his point forcefully, he’s showing “leadership” qualities. But when a female does the same, she’s being “disrespectful” and even “hysterical”! But it’s also clear Bowen doesn’t have the godfathers in the PNC like King does when even Bulkan can’t touch him.

But Bulkan has revealed why he and the Cabinet have refused to comply with the law and launch the Local Government Commission.

They can “do what dey want wid” Local Government!! …for curfew Ramjattan quite portentously announced as to how he was mulling bring down the curfew against bars opening, to 12 midnight.

Until Harmon bitch-slapped him something silly!!

Ouch!! Silly man thought he had authority!!

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

news

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Legal action looms against “wine sipping” celebrators – Jagdeo J

ust over a week after calling for a probe into the celebrations hosted by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, along with top officials of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and British Expert Sam Sittlington, after hauling in several former prominent Government officials for questioning, including former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has announced that actions will be taken against those officials who attended the event.

According to Jagdeo at a press conference on Thursday, “I’m not going to belabour the issue but this is not the end of the matter for us. We’re going to pursue this matter here and elsewhere because we believe, in such an issue, there has to be a full investigation.”

The former Head of State also questioned the propriety of a Government Minister meeting with the staff of an independent unit of the Police Force

as well a Foreign Advisor, whom Jagdeo said went beyond his advisor role and took on executive functions, to celebrate.

“I know a lot of legal actions would follow against many of these individuals but we are not content about just pursuing it through the courts about these breaches, and will be pursing it elsewhere and at some point in time, you will see how that is revealed,” the General Secretary stated.

Furthermore, Jagdeo noted that the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, is yet to respond to statements made by PPP member Anil Nandlall, who had claimed that the Diplomat was also at the celebratory event although he denied that any staff from the High Commission had attended.

“Nandlall wrote and said that he himself, Mr Quinn himself was there and we have not heard a response from Mr Quinn about that,” Jagdeo noted.

Minister Ramjattan had confirmed the celebratory event, telling Guyana

Times that they went to “have a glass of wine” to celebrate Dr Sittlington’s work here in Guyana, since he was leaving.

“The fact that I had some wine with Sam on Wednesday evening at Oasis was because I wanted to thank him for the great work he did at SOCU at his farewell function.

He left the next day. I certainly will plead his return to High Commissioner Mr Greg Quinn,” Ramjattan posited.

However, in a subsequent statement to clarify Dr Sittlington’s role at SOCU, Quinn pointed out that none of the High Commission’s staff were at the cafe on the Wednesday evening, as is believed.

But a rebuttal statement from Nandlall disclosed that his information reveals otherwise.

“I have consulted with my source who was present at Oasis Café on Wednesday, 10th of March, 2017, and who reiterates

that, His Excellency, Mr Quinn, himself and two other staff members of the British High Commission, were present at the establishment,” Nandlall claimed.

Earlier this month, SOCU had detained several former prominent Government officials, including former Prime Minister and President Samuel Hinds, former Ministers Priya Manickchand, Irfaan Ali, Clement Rohee, Robert Persaud and Jennifer Westford, among others in connection to their role in the Pradoville 2 scheme.

The reason these persons are being questioned is because they purchased property at the Sparendaam seawall area, commonly known as

“Pradoville 2”.

The current Administration contends the transaction is a criminal act because of the belief the properties were sold below market value.

However, the PPP had argued that subsidised housing has always been a part of the legacy of the People’s Progressive Party and that countless Guyanese have benefited from lands sold below market value.

In fact, Nandlall was quoted recently saying that, “Every single house lot in this country was distributed way below the market price; $50,000 for a land in Mon Repos, $200,000 in Eccles, is that the value of the house lot?

So let us not get carried away and become victims of the propaganda.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, march 25, 2017

News

Councillor bemoans state of Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital … as staff continue to work under deplorable conditions

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here has been a significant decline of healthcare delivery services in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), especially in the rural areas and those residents

significant burden on residents in terms of time and money.

Adams in an interview with Guyana Times said pregnant mothers as well as the elderly with chronic

A termite infested beam

living in the Charity and Pomeroon area have to travel long distances to access essential healthcare services, particularly specialist services.

As such, Chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee and People's Progressive Party Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Councillor, Arnold Adams, said due to the distance and lack of essential services at the Hospital, there is a

diseases are predominately affected since they are often forced to venture to the Suddie Public Hospital to access services. Currently, the hospital at Charity is in a deplorable condition and medical professionals are often forced to work in these conditions, thus exposing themselves to illness.

According to Adams, he is dissatisfied with the current situation and contin-

ues to advocate for a total transformation at the facility. Adams said he recently visited the institution and several departments were malfunctioning.

Some of the issues at the Hospital include the lack of a refrigerator to store vaccines, malfunctioning of air conditioning units, shortage of drugs, malfunctioning toilet facilities, lack of security guards, bat and termite infestations, the need for a water filtration system to be installed, several plumbing works to be fixed, laundry department’s lack of servicing, faulty doors, removal of the present kitchen, the need for additional staff and rehabilitation of the mortuary.

Adams said all the issues were reported to the Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson in writing by the Assistant Hospital Administrator at Charity Hospital, Omkar Persaud, and those letters were futile as the situation remain the same and residents are suffering.

The Councillor said staff at the institution are forced to use alternative ways to close doors due to lack

of door locks. He said the flooring for the health centre as well as the walls are in a sloppy state.

"The situation at Charity is getting worse, a lot of persons depend on the services, they travel from the Pomeroon just to be able to see a doctor and the place in a terrible condition, nurses and doctors have to work in a building that is inconducive, most department have faulty works, something need to

One of the many faulty doors at the hospital

be done the people are suffering." Adams said a team of RDC Councillors as well as Regional Health Officer Afarah Khan and other officials recently visited the facility and inspections were done in all departments.

He therefore commits to do meaningful follow-ups at both the Ministry and RDC level. The dental department as well as the mortuary at the hospital are closed. (Indrawattie Natram)

Brothers charged with stealing raw gold

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rothers Alex Fiedtkou, 23, and Leon Allen, 21, were on Friday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts on a charge of larceny, which stated that on March 20 at Waini Backdam, Region One (Barima-Waini), they stole from Zahir Khan 73 pennyweights of raw gold, valued at $803,000.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, the duo denied the charge when it was read to them.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones related to the court that, on the day in question, Police discovered the missing gold on the person of the

Alex Fiedtkou

Leon Allen

men during a search conducted.

Magistrate McLennan released the men on $100,000

bail each. The case will continue on April 4 at the Aquero Magistrate’s Court in the North-West District.

Police investigating rape of 14-year-old

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he Police are now on the hunt for two men who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl of Fort Wellington, Berbice on Tuesday last.

Based on reports received, the teenager met the two known males at a mall at Rosignol, West Coast Berbice, and later accompanied them to a shop at Cotton Tree. The teenager claimed that she was drugged and taken to

a section of the shop where the two men sexually assaulted her.

Although the incident allegedly occurred on Tuesday, the matter was reported to the Police on Thursday afternoon. After the matter was reported, the teenager was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where she was examined by a doctor.

Guyana Times understands that the teenag-

er left her mother’s home at about 21:45h to visit the mall where she was supposed to meet two other female friends but after waited for a while and they did not show up, she was approached by the two young men who invited her out for drinks.

The two suspects are still on the run as Police continue to investigate the incident.

saturDAY, march 25, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Day after death threat allegations Calls mount for Yarde’s removal from the GPSU helm Charges looming against …as legal action looms

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he rift between executives of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and certain members of its branches continues to widen, and the latter party has, as a collective,

side of the GPSU Head Office and calling on the incumbent president to step down. However, at a press conference held on Thursday, GPSU First Vice President, Mortimer

further pointed out that no one has refused to pay union dues, as is being alleged, but they merely object to the procedure being used to increase the dues and annual levy. They con-

Vocalists Karen Vansluytman and Jermain Hermanstyne along with members of various branches within the GPSU at the press conference on Friday

indicated that legal action “will soon” be taken to challenge Patrick Yarde’s longstanding appointment as president of the union.

Yarde has been serving in that capacity for more than 30 years, having consistently been re-elected to that post; and some union members are of the view that he is illegally occupying that position, and is “holding a lease” to that position.

In fact, several of those members have staged a protest action earlier in the week, standing out-

Livan, told reporters that the actions of those persons were being instigated by a group comprising of a few “disgruntled and misguided” members.

At a press conference held on Friday, those members contended that that statement represents an attempt -- organised by Yarde through the Vice President -- to attack those who have protested against him, since focus was placed on character assassination rather than addressing the issues at hand.

The concerned members

tend that until the Union’s accounts have been audited – an exercise last done to clear accounts up to 2003 -- they will not pay the $300 increase.

In fact, Michelle Layne, employee of the Bureau of Statistics and branch member of the Union, told reporters that after being informed of the new fees more than two years ago, members wrote the GPSU President asking that he justifies the increase, but this has, to date, not been done. turn to page 17

Nandlall for law books – AG

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s the firestorm created by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall contending that his successor, Basil Williams, threatened a judge in a courtroom continues, Williams has revealed that charges are looming against Nandlall.

The charges relate to the Commonwealth law books previously located at the Legal Affairs Ministry on Carmichael Street. An audit had been launched into the matter, though Nandlall has repeatedly said that the books were part of his service, an assertion backed up by former President Donald Ramotar.

But after a Thursday afternoon press conference, at which Williams had threatened lawsuits against two local media houses and Nandlall, Williams later said that charges were indeed also looming for the former AG. Williams claimed that Nandlall will be charged whether or not he is a critic of his performance as Attorney General.

“He (would) say that because he is attacking me, that I’m retaliating,” the Attorney General asserted on Thursday to media operatives. “Mr Nandlall has stolen Government property and he will be charged,

whether he attacks me now or never!”

Back in November 2015, the Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs Ministry, Indira Ananjit, was sent on 52 days leave after the law books, reportedly valued $2.5 million, were found missing. This caused an audit to be launched by the Auditor General’s office to locate the books.

Nandlall had claimed that on several occasions in the past; Williams, both in jest and seriousness, indicated “that if I continue to criticise him, publicly, he will make the issue of these books, public, obviously, in an attempt to embarrass me.”

He had continued that “unfazed by such infantile intimidation, on each occasion, I told him to proceed, since I will never compromise my duty to the people of Guyana to criticise and expose executive conduct which warrant criticisms and exposure.”

Back then, the former Attorney General had said that the disclosure by the Attorney General had come on the heels of his statement in the press in response to the legal position regarding the local authority organs where they have been tied seats.

This was after the Local Government Elections (LGE).

Entitlement

Nandlall has previously explained that when he was appointed Attorney General, he requested as part of his contract of service for the Government of Guyana to stand the expense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth Law Books. He had subscribed to Lexis Nexis, the publishers of the Law reports.

“I was subscribing to this particular law report over a decade before my appointment as Attorney General.

When I was offered the position, one of the conditions I asked for is for the Government of Guyana to continue to pay the subscription of these books, because I did not want to break the subscription,” Nandlall had pointed out.

Insisting that nothing was abnormal about the practice, the former AG had argued that it was done by other Government Ministries such as Finance and Health.

He had expressed awareness that for decades prior, the Government had paid for professional and technical publications, journals, periodicals, magazines.

This, he said, had been done for Ministers as well as professional and technical personnel.

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SATURDAY, march 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Red House lease challenge

Court has jurisdiction to hear matter – Judge

…as AG’s submissions overruled

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cting Chief Justice Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards, on Friday delivering her ruling in the matter filed by the Cheddi Jagan Research Inc against the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, overruled submissions made by Attorney General Basil Williams challenging the jurisdiction of the court over the Red House lease revocation, and said that while the President is immune from the proceedings, his actions are not.

According to former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, the Chief Justice, in her determination, noted that in any event, the issue must be properly dealt with after evidence has been taken.

After her ruling, the Court granted leave to the AG to file an affidavit in answer within seven days, and for the applicant to file an affidavit in reply, if necessary. The Court has further ordered the parties to lay over their submissions. The

is representing Government in this matter, while his predecessor, Anil Nandlall, is representing the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc, which is challenging the State’s decision to revoke the Red House lease.

The Attorney General had, in February, presented

arguments which supported his claim that the court has no jurisdiction over the case, since the lease was revoked

by President David Granger.

Williams had noted that no civil action could be brought against the Head of State if he executes the functions of his office under Article

182 of the Constitution.

Last year, President David Granger gave the occupants of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre 48 hours to vacate the premises, but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has described this directive as “unconscionable and vindictive”.

Ban on used tyres will leave thousands jobless – GUTA matter will again be heard later this month.

At a press conference held at the state-owned television channel NCN, the Attorney General reiterated his contention that the court has no jurisdiction over the President’s actions. “I am saying the court had no jurisdiction, but the court is saying they can’t believe the applicant and they would want to know more; but I believe (that) if you can’t believe the applicant, then that’s the end of the case,” the AG noted. He further stated that Government has the option to either appeal the matter or continue the matter.

Earlier this year, AG Williams had expressed that the Red House lease was invalid and could not be pleaded in any court of justice. He had argued that the case should be thrown out because the applicants had failed to make full and frank disclosures before the court.

But Nandlall, in refuting the AG’s contentions, had noted that the Minister’s arguments were premature at that stage, and Nandlall had also accused the AG of pressuring the Chief Justice by signifying on several occasions that the President has a special interest in the Red House proceedings.Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams

… as Association to protest in front of State House

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n light of the total ban on used tyres, which takes effect from April 1, the members of the Guyana Used Tyres Association (GUTA) will picket State House on Tuesday, with the aim of getting the attention of the President.

At a press conference at Georgetown Club on Friday, the Association reminded that motorcars, minibuses and other vehicle operators will have to purchase new tyres, which will drive up transportation cost. As such, the Association has called for more consultations with Government.

“The Guyana Used Tyres Association is not seeking a confrontation with any authority but rather a consultation with the authorities,” GUTA Public Relations Coordinator Nazim Hussein stressed.

He, along with the organisation’s Vice President Mustaak Mohamed, and Treasurer Abdool Hamid met with the media on Friday.

Notably, the used trye industry provides jobs for around 5000 persons and contributes in excess of $100 million in revenue.

Hussein also pointed out that new tyres generate

around “50 per cent less” revenue on a yearly basis.

Highlighting the claim that used tyres cause more road accidents, Hussein challenged the authorities to provide the statistics cited that show such a correlation. According to his contention, more accidents are caused by speeding, alcohol consumption and inattentiveness, especially by use of mobile phones while driving.

The group challenged the Finance Minister’s legal framework for implementing the ban.

“Presently, there is no minimum requirement for a tyre in law, in Guyana,” Hussein claimed.

It was further contended that the Bureau of Standards should employ technology to differentiate between “good used tyres” and “substandard new tyres”. The GUTA suggested that if the ban is instituted, there will be “significant increase of wear trye use” on the country’s roads, adding that the high cost of new tryes will force drivers to continue using their current tryes for longer periods. This, the group reasoned, will cause more road accidents.

President of the Minibus Association, Ian Andrews, feels that the

rising costs will be passed on to passengers and suggested some persons may want to smuggle tyres.

“Guyanese are very innovative persons and if we are not careful and persons cannot afford to buy those tryes but they need it, you can have a smuggling culture that is going to develop whether through the borders or by boats,” he reasoned.

Andrews further noted that if the maintenance, along with its associated costs increase, some bus operators may be forced to discontinue their operations, rendering them jobless.

During the National Budget 2016 presentation, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced Government’s intention to ban the importation of used tyres, in a noted effort to promote the “green economy” and protect the environment.

In April 2016, hundreds of concerned stakeholders had signed a petition to convince Government to rescind its decision to ban the importation of used tyres into the country but the measure was allowed to move forward.

Truck tryes and agriculture machinery tryes are exempt from the ban.

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Roraima kicks off Giftland to provide alternative 3-day Wedding Expo power source to UG

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uyanese of all walks of life are expected to flock to Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown for the 2017 edition of Wedding Expo, which officially opened on Friday and will culminate on Sunday. One of the main attractions will be a wedding ceremony. Speaking on this year’s theme, ‘Magnificent Beginnings’, representative Dellon Murray told Guyana Times on Friday that the March 24-26 event will be streamed live.

He further noted that today’s wedding between Akeem Peter and his bride, Kerron Boston will include live entertainment and their exchange of vows will be witnessed by all of Guyana. He encouraged all to come out and support the event.

“Wherever you are, every village of Guyana, needs to be at Wedding expo,” he stated.

Friday’s feature included a cultural extravaganza while today’s highlight will be the couple’s wedding. In addition, one the main sponsors of the event, GTT, through its marketing representative, Nadia De Abreu said the company is elated to be part of the three-day affair.

The event wraps up Sunday and next year’s expo will be held on a grander scale as it will be the tenth edition. The ninth annual Wedding Expo

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Akeem Peter and his bride Kerron Boston will say “I do” before all of Guyana today

is hosted by the Roraima Group of Companies and was first launched in 2009.

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally gave the key note address at Friday’s opening.

Products on display include dresses from various cultures, hena and afro-centric designs, jewellery and various décor designs.

Akeem Peter, who had proposed to his now fiancé, Kerron Boston, 49 times before she agreed to wed him, was earlier this year announced as the winner of Roraima Airways “Race to Altar” Wedding Expo com-

petition at the Duke Lodge Hotel. At today’s ceremony, the two will make their life-long commitment before friends, family and the public. The couple was awarded with a fully paid wedding package, among other gifts when they fought off several others to make it to the altar.

Roraima’s Chief Executive Officer, Captain Gerry Gouveia had stated in February that the event would have enabled the marketing of a number of small and medium-sized businesses in the wedding and entertainment sector.

t a promotional event hosted by the Giftland Mall on Friday, it was disclosed that, following its recently established partnership with UG, the Mall is exploring the possibility of providing power to the University of Guyana as an alternative source that would replace the ineffective service provided by the Guyana Power & Light (GPL) Limited at the Turkeyen Campus.

The frequent power outages and fluctuating electrical energy that feature on the campus disrupt the education process and damage sensitive equipment. As such, the two entities have announced their ongoing consultations to arrive at an agreement in which Giftland would supply energy through its privately existing source, to facilitate UG with a more stable alternative to the underserved situation that currently obtains.

The two parties have already applied to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who has the relevant jurisdiction over operations of the GPL, requesting that he would utilise the power conferred on him under Section 4 of the Electricity Sector Forum to grant permission to Giftland to supply power to the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus. Provided

that the established terms are agreed upon and approved by the Public Utilities Commission, Giftland would be able to sell electricity to the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus, thereby eliminating the campus’s reliance on GPL’s frequently fluctuating supply.

Business mogul Roy Beepat, proprietor of the Giftland complex, on Friday gave media operatives information regarding the application to the relevant Ministry and the terms agreed upon with the University. Beepat pointed out: “For the nation’s youths at UG, these blackouts can have a devastating effect on their education. It puts them behind, especially if they are on tight deadlines.” This, the businessman highlighted, was the motivation behind Giftland’s proposal to offer a supply of electricity to UG. Moreover, Beepat noted, several requests regarding collaboration have, in the past, been made to the University of Guyana, but collaboration materialised when Professor Ivelaw Griffith was appointed Vice Chancellor of the University.

The Giftland Chairman disclosed that when authorisation has been obtained from the Public Utilities Commission, negotiations can continue in regard to the rates, followed by implemen-

tation of this new undertaking. “This won’t actually affect GPL in any way, apart from taking some of the strain off the interconnections,” Beepat relayed.

The lone power agency will now be able to direct its resources to serving the growing demand in the Guyanese market, and subsequently correcting the glitches which have been occurring in its system for years.

The longstanding business entity assures that this is not a profitable venture, but is an avenue to fulfil its corporate social responsibility. As such, the profits from the sale of electricity to the University of Guyana would be redirected into the realisation of similarly beneficial projects at the institution.

The agreement between Giftland and UG promises a further strengthening of the collaboration, which may possibly see the construction of a dorm, development of sporting facilities, and provision of internship opportunities to students of the University.

This power supply agreement between Giftland and UG comes just one week after the launch of the VIP Business Card, which offers access and discounts to the University students in order that they might benefit from services offered at the business complex.

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017

Regional

Miroslava Breach third Mexican BVI explores postjournalist to be killed this month Brexit relationship with EU

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journalist has been shot dead in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, the third to be killed in the country this month. Miroslava Breach was shot eight times in her car outside her home in the state capital, Chihuahua.

One of her children was in the vehicle but was not hurt. Breach had reported on organised crime, drug-trafficking and corruption for a national newspaper, La Jornada, and a regional newspaper, Norte de Juarez.

Miroslava Breach reported on organised crime and corruption

The gunmen left a note saying: “For being a loud-

mouth.”

The

Committee

to

Protect Journalists condemned the attack.

“This wave of violence threatens citizens’ right to access vital information, and harms Mexico’s democracy by limiting public debate,” said a spokesman for the CPJ, Carlos Lauria.

He urged the Mexican government to put an end to the violence by bringing the perpetrators to justice. The CPJ says 38 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1992. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Authorities step up search for oil offshore Jamaica

T

he search for oil offshore southern Jamaica continues as a second series of exploration activities, specifically 2D seismic surveys, are expected to begin before the end of this week.

The exploration activities, which are being underatken by Tullow Oil – an independent oil and gas exploration and production company based

The Harrier Explorer will be the vessel used to carry out the 2D seismic surveys offshore Jamaica

in the United Kingdom – as part of a Production Sharing Agreement that it signed with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) in 2014, are forms of marine surveys conducted to identify sub-surface structures that may contain hydrocarbon (oil and gas) deposits.

The search is expected to cover a marine area of approximately 32,065 square kilometres of the Walter Morant area, comprising of 11 individual blocks.

In 2015, Tullow Oil conducted a series of exploration activities, including a bathymetric (sea floor) survey, soil sampling and an environmental survey, to assess priority habitats and species, fishing activity and seabed habitats in the area. Tullow Oil acquired 3,000 kilometres of 2D seismic data in the first quarter of last year and is now planning to acquire an additional 670 kilometres of 2D seismic data to further develop an understanding of the area.

The upcoming surveys will be conducted by seismic company Seabird Exploration, through the use of its specially outfitted vessel, the Harrier Explorer, and will focus on gathering data on an area between Blower Rock at Pedro Banks and the offshore seas south of Clarendon. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

T

he British Virgin Islands has engaged stakeholders in Brussels on an alternative relationship between the territory and the European Union (EU) after Brexit takes place, that is, the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU. On March 13, BVI EU representative, Benito Wheatley met, among others, Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries, Dr Patrick Ignatius Gomes, in Brussels.

The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States is an organisation created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. It comprises 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific states, with all of them, save Cuba, signatories to the Cotonou Agreement, also known as the “ACP-EC Partnership Agreement”, which binds them to the European Union. There

are 48 countries from SubSaharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific.

In their exchange, Wheatley expressed the BVI’s keen interest in establishing closer ties with the ACP in their future arrangements with the EU. Wheatley said Premier Dr Orlando Smith gave him the mandate to explore different options for the territory’s relationship with the EU, adding, “The ACP Group is the most logical alternative for the BVI because of our similar relationship with the EU and the territory’s position in the Caribbean where many ACP countries are located.”

The BVI’s EU representative also attended a CARIFORUM ambassadors meeting. CARIFORUM comprises the Caribbean ACP states that are signatories to the Georgetown Agreement.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Antiguan Govt bans meat products and chicken from Brazil

Antigua joins the ban on imports of Brazilian meat

A

com)

ntigua and Barbuda has followed the lead of its regional partners by instituting an outright ban on the importation of Brazilian meat products and chicken.

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda made the decision yesterday following news that Brazilian inspectors had been bribed to certify meat for export that was rotten or tainted with salmonella.

Information Minister Melford Nicholas said the Agriculture Ministry is taking the lead role on the prohibition. “The technicians will put in place, through the port of entries, the necessary conditions that will stipulate that we are restricting the imports from

(Source: globalgrind.

Brazil of those products,” Nicholas said.

The twin island state is the latest country to suspend imports from Brazil over allegations that companies have been selling unsafe produce for years.

Earlier this week, other Caribbean neighbours, namely St Lucia, Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago also announced a recall of corned beef, chicken nuggets and patties imported from Brazil.

Earlier this week, the Agriculture Ministry said that it was monitoring the events and keeping a close watch on the situation as it unfolded in the South American country. (Antigua

Observer)

saturDAY, march 25, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

US embassies told to enhance Donald Trump’s 'extreme vetting' US healthcare

U

S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has directedUS diplomatic missions to identify "populations warranting increased scrutiny" and toughen screening for visa applicants in those groups, according to diplomatic cables seen by Reuters.

He has also ordered a "mandatory social media check" for all applicants who have ever been present in territory controlled by the Islamic State, in what two formerUS officials said would be a broad, labor-intensive expansion of such screening. Social media screening is now done fairly rarely by consular officials, one of the former officials said.

Four cables, or memos, issued by Tillerson over the last two weeks provide insight into how theUS government is implementing what President Donald Trump has called "extreme vetting" of foreigners entering the United States, a major campaign promise. The cables also demonstrate the administrative and logistical hurdles the White House faces in executing its vision.

The memos, which have not been previously reported, provided instructions for implementing Trump's March 6 revised executive order temporarily barring visitors from six Muslimmajority countries and all refugees, as well as a simultaneous memorandum

A US Customs and Border Patrol officer interviews people entering the United States from Mexico at the border crossing in San Ysidro

mandating enhanced visa screening.

The flurry of cables toUS missions abroad issued strict new guidelines for vettingUS visa applicants, and then retracted some of them in response toUS court rulings that challenged central tenets of Trump's executive order.

The final cable seen by Reuters, issued on March 17, leaves in place an instruction to consular chiefs in each diplomatic mission, or post, to convene working groups of law enforcement and intelligence officials to "develop a list of criteria identifying sets of post applicant populations warranting increased scrutiny."

Applicants falling within one of

these identified population groups should be considered for higher-level security screening, according to the March 17 cable.

Those population groups would likely vary from country to country, according to sources familiar with the cables, as the March 17 memo does not explicitly provide for coordination between the embassies.

Trump has said enhanced screening of foreigners is necessary to protect the country against terrorist attacks.

Advocates and immigration lawyers said the guidance could lead to visa applicants being profiled on the basis of nationality or religion rather than because they pose an actual threat to the United States.

"Most posts already have populations that they look at for fraud and security issues," said Jay Gairson, a Seattle-based immigration attorney who has many clients from countries that would be affected by Trump's travel ban.

"What this language effectively does is give the consular posts permission to step away from the focused factors they have spent years developing and revising, and instead broaden the search to large groups based on gross factors such as nationality and religion." (Excerpt from Reuters)

Police investigate Indian MP who beat airline employee P

olice have launched an investigation after an Indian MP admitted beating an airline employee with a slipper. Ravindra Gaikwad said he “hit him 25 times with my sandal” for “arrogance” after failing to get a business class seat on an Air India flight.

Air India, which filed a complaint on Thursday, said Gaikwad was banned on all flights operated by

the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA).

As a result, Gaikwad had to return to his home city, Pune, by train. The MP lost his temper after being told he could not fly business class on the Pune to Delhi flight because it was an all-economy flight, reports said.

The altercation happened when the duty manager was called after the plane landed

in Delhi and the MP refused to get off. The MP, who continues to refuse to apologise to the 60-year-old man, told the media: “I am not a BJP MP. I am a Shiv Sena MP and will not tolerate any insult. Let the employee complain. I will complain to the Speaker and other authorities.”

The airline staff member told Asian News International that the MP

had broken his glasses in the attack. “When I told him what he was asking wasn’t possible, he became abusive and started using foul language,” he said. “God save our country if this is the culture and behaviour of our MPs.” Delhi Police said they had registered a preliminary case against Gaikwad on Friday.(Excerpt from BBC News)

bill withdrawn

President Trump said he believed the Democrats would “reach out when they’re ready”

U

S President Donald Trump has withdrawn his healthcare bill after it failed to gain enough support to pass in Congress.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said he and Trump agreed to pull the vote, after it became apparent it would not get the minimum of 215 Republican votes needed.

The last minute move was seen as a huge blow to Trump.

Repealing and replacing the programme known as Obamacare was one of his major election pledges.

Earlier on Friday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that the vote would go ahead at 15:30H (19:30 GMT).

Trump had reportedly warned Republicans that if they did not vote for his bill then they would be stuck with Barack Obama’s healthcare programme for good. However,

Mubarak was acquitted on March 2 from charges related to the 2011 uprising

est appeals court acquitted him of any involvement in the deaths of nearly 900 Egyptians during the January 25 to February 11,

2011 uprising.

He had been sentenced to life in 2012 but an appeals court dismissed the charges two years later.

The ouster of Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for 29 years, led to the country’s first free election but the winner, Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi, was overthrown in a military coup in 2013.

Army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has since waged a fierce crackdown on Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood with human rights groups claiming as many as 60,000 political prisoners currently languish in Egypt’s jails.

In contrast, Mubarakera figures are slowly being cleared of charges and a series of laws curtailing political freedoms have raised fears among activists that the old leadership is regaining influence.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

News)

Sunken South Korean ferry slowly emerges 3 years after disaster

Hosni Mubarak walks free after six-year detention A S ix years after his ouster, Egypt’s ex-President Hosni Mubarak has been released from detention after being cleared of inciting the killings of hundreds of protesters in 2011.

Mubarak, 88, on Friday left a military hospital in Cairo’s southern suburb of Maadi where he had been held in custody and went to his home in the upscale Heliopolis district under heavy security.

His lawyer, Farid elDeeb, told the Egyptian newspaper al-Masry alYoum that he celebrated his release with breakfast his wife Suzanne and their two sons, Alaa and Gamal.

Mubarak was cleared for release earlier this month after the country’s high-

multiple reports suggested that between 28 and 35 Republicans were opposed to his draft American Health Care Act. The vote was withdrawn shortly after 15:30, and the House is now in recess.

Republicans currently have a majority in both the House and the Senate.

However, some Republicans were unhappy that the bill cut health coverage too severely, while others felt the changes did not go far enough. The bill also appeared unpopular with the public - in one recent poll, just 17 per cent approved of it.

Speaking after the withdrawal, Mr Trump blamed the Democrats for not supporting the bill and predicted that Obamacare would “explode”.

He said the Republicans would probably focus on tax reform for now. (Excerpt from BBC

South Korean ferry that sank nearly three years ago, killing 304 people, most of them children on a school trip, slowly emerged from a gray sea on Thursday, a somber reminder of a tragedy that traumatized the country.

The ferry, the Sewol, was structurally unsound, overloaded and traveling too fast on a turn when it capsized and sank during a routine voyage off the southwest coast on April 16, 2014.

Bereaved families have been calling for the ship to be raised and for a more thorough investigation into the disaster. Officials also hope to find the last nine missing bodies.

Television pictures taken from the air early on Thursday showed the white 140-metre (460-foot) long

hull, coated in mud and sediment, breaking above the surface, flanked by winching barges.

“The work needs to be done very cautiously,” Lee Cheol-jo, an official at the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries, which is in charge of the operation, told a briefing.

A Chinese salvage company has fitted 33 beams beneath the hull with 66 hydraulic jacks inching the ship up.

Lee said the ferry would be raised as high as 13 meters (42 feet) above the sea and then moved onto a semi-submersible vessel.

That operation was expected to take until Friday and it would then be taken to a nearby port, but that could take up to 12 or 13 days, he said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16 News

saturDAY, march 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Linden Police urged to take advantage of new housing initiative

M

inister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson on Wednesday met with members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in Linden for a consultation aimed at assisting State employees through Government’s housing development initiative.

The Minister was also accompanied by representatives of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). During the consultation, held at the Mackenzie Police Station, several officers were given the opportunity to acquire their house lots, valued at $92,000 for half the price. Those who benefited were applicants in receipt of letters for their lands who were experiencing difficulties.

Sharpe-Patterson pointed to the new housing initiatives offered by Government via its 2017-2020 plan. She said while Government’s plan was to provide a housing unit to every Guyanese, the focus for this year was State employees, youths and moderate income earners. Officers were urged to make use of the du-

Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie SharpePatterson with an applicant who received her land at half price

plex home plans, which she noted, were new model designs, explaining further that Government was not in a position to give every individual land.

Construction of duplexes in Linden is expected to commence in approximately six weeks at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie. Wisroc has also been earmarked for the housing project, but the Minister explained that systems were yet to be put in place. She ex-

plained further that the final decision of accessing a housing unit lay within the bank, since applicants need to be qualified through the banking system. The cost per unit is expected to be between $5 million and $7 million. The Minister further explained that interested applicants would first have to apply through the Housing Ministry. Those in attendance were also educated on the designs for duplexes and town-

houses through a PowerPoint presentation.

“Our responsibility is to meet the needs of all Guyana citizens as it relates to housing,” Minister SharpePatterson explained.

She added, however, that the lack of necessary infrastructure has hindered persons from occupying house lots, but Government was moving in the direction of servicing house lots.

The Minister said Government was also working along with insurance companies so coverage could be provided in instances of fires.

However, she revealed that there were plans to ensure that the structures would be sound proof and fireproof materials would be utilised.

“Even if there’s fire on one side, that wall which is fire proof can actually prevent, so we’re looking at all that.”

“The State owns the land, but when you purchase, you purchase the apartment and

the land that surrounds your apartment. You will have a certificate of title that covers the building...,” she added.

But the response to the duplex and townhouse initiative was unfavourable, from those who were in receipt of letters for their house lot, as they indicated that they were not interested in the initiative. Others were interested if a subsidy would be provided for duplex homes.

Meanwhile, a Police Constable noted that she would not be able to access a $6 million loan from the bank based on her salary scale.

“I’m putting together a proposal...I’m quite aware of the fact of where the salary levels are and we want to, and this is the order from the President, that we provide for State employees. So, therefore at the end of the consultations, a proposal will be put (forward),” Minister SharpePatterson n noted.

She added that she has

already initiated discussions with senior personnel from the Finance Ministry.

“Because I’ve recognised that there has to be Government involvement, with the banks...because I’m asking if the banks can look at extending the repayment period, which will reduce your monthly instalments, or if the Government will be willing to negotiate with the banks to see if the interest rates can come down. I can’t give an answer at this time, as I said, it’s continued discussion... if this is the way forward for Government, then we have to be able to facilitate for the people that we’re providing the housing units for, but I can’t say what would be the outcome.”

The Minister said anyone who already had a house lot and was interested in purchasing the duplex or townhouse would have to first surrender the house lot, in all fairness.

Zara Cybersecurity Centre launched at Police College

T

he Zara Cybersecurity Centre was on Friday launched at the Felix Austin Police College, replacing the Computer Training Centre which previously existed. This institution was re-commissioned to provide the necessary training to both officers and civilians in the defence against cybercrimes.

The Cybersecurity Centre was the vision of the now Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, during his appointment in the capacity of Crime Chief. Persaud took the initiative to engage the Zara team in the refurbishing of the Computer Training Centre, to not only provide ranks with the much needed training to deal with cybercrimes, but also to deliver the tools and equipment to identify and eliminate technologically-based threats.

Members of the Zara team were present at the launch of Centre and all shared similar sentiments in the need for such facilities to address and combat cybercrimes, especially in a developing country such as Guyana. They pointed out that while technology may be advantageous; the worldwide web creates several avenues for criminal acts to be committed via the international medium. As such, the team implemented their third Zara labelled Cybersecurity Centre in Guyana with the hopes of it blooming similar to the desert flower from which the label derived.

Speaking at the opening was the acting Police Commissioner, David

The Zara Cybersecurity Centre

Ramnarine, who was well spirited in his confidence of the effectiveness this Centre will bring to the Force.

Ramnarine noted that advanced technology continues to present more frequent issues for the Government, citizens and consequently the Police Force. As such, he pointed out, “In the absence of cybercrime legislation, we have to continue to explore opportunities and build capacities to tackle cybercrime.” He went on to say, “This Centre will provide the capacity and capability to project the trots to deal with cyberthreats.”

The acting Commissioner further indicated the benefits which this fully equipped computer laboratory will afford. “The specialised training that will be received from this Centre will broaden the ranks understanding of the threats of cybercrime and provide them with an informed approach as we go about dealing with those threats,” posited Ramnarine.

The event on Friday featured a ribbon cutting cere-

mony after which special invitees and media operatives ventured in the newly refurbished and developed facility. The Zara Cybersecurity Centre at the Felix Austin Police College consists of a series of computer systems equipped with the necessary software for the preparation to eliminate cyberthreats.

The Zara team had already established operations in Guyana and is merely broadening and strengthening their foothold across the country.

Two similar Cybersecurity Centres are already in existence; one in Essequibo and the other in Berbice.

Collectively, those two centres were able to train 805 Police ranks thus far, along with over 1000 members of the regional communities.

This centre is now open to both the Police attached to the Felix Austin Training College and other ranks within the Force as well as civilians who are willing and interested in joining forces to combat cyberthreats and crimes.

news

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SATURDAY, march 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Baby Heart Foundation to expand services in Guyana amid success stories

T

he team of cardiologists and other medical professionals from the International Children’s Heart Foundation, more commonly known as the Baby Heart Foundation (BHF) plans to expand its services in Guyana, more specifically at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Guyana Programme to Advance Cardiac Care (GPACC) – a project supported by the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Canada – provides collaborative support to BHF by facilitating operations and care services to patients who might be diagnosed with heart diseases.

Paediatric Cardiologist of BHF, Dr Rodrigo Soto, said officials from the team are currently engaged with the Public Health Ministry and officials of the Georgetown Public Hospital on expanding the facility to accommodate more patients for the purpose of observation to efficiently complete any heart surgery.

“There are many things that we have been discussing with the Ministry of (Public) Health and with [Georgetown Public Hospital] GPHC in order to expand our unit, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), to double the capacity in order to accommodate more patients since we have been increasing the complexity of our cases,” Dr Soto explained. The aim of the GPACC is to improve the health outcomes of patients with heart disease.

This programme started in 2015 and takes up accommodation at the Georgetown Public Hospital, housing a six-bed cardiac intensive care unit (CICU), a six-bed

Dr Rodrigo Soto – Paediatric Cardiologist, International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF)

step-down unit, a heart function clinic, a cardiology clinic, an active echo and treadmill laboratory and an in-patient ward cardiology service. The BHF, working along with GPACC, is looking to have more health care professionals trained to perform surgical procedures and cardiac care on an extended basis.

Dr Debra Isaacs, a Cardiologist attached GPACC; said there will be a time when a team in Guyana will be able to independently support the programme. Dr Isaacs explained that, “Our goals are not to just come here and do things; our goals are to actually work with the local healthcare team and increase their skills to allow sustainability of these programmes. My goal, I have always said, is that at some point people will say, well you don’t actually have to come here and work anymore we could do it on our own, come and visit but we don’t need you to do the work.”

Meanwhile, Dr Isaacs said that she has noticed that overall cardiac health care has continually improved over the years through support from GPACC and the Baby Heart Foundation. “We have got to the point where the echo laboratory, the treadmill laboratory and the cardiac ICU are actually still continuing the work when we are not here. We’ve provided support and provided increased education and provided increased service and we are always available.

We’re in contact online but they (local team) are actually running the service really on their own.”

The Baby Heart Foundation is halfway through its first trip to Guyana for the year 2017.

The cardiologists aim to complete 14 open heart surgeries during this first visit. Children between the ages of five months old to 17 years of age, over the past week successfully underwent surgeries.

Congenital heart disease is said to be the leading cause for babies and children needing to undergo open heart surgeries. The disease has a rate of 0.8 to one per cent in the birth of babies per year which means that infants born in Guyana among these statistics will have congenital heart disease.

Dr Soto said, “That would put Guyana in anything between 60 to 70 patients every year, new patients every year with congenital heart disease that require surgery.”

The team is expected to complete a total of four visits for the year aiming for a targeted 100 per cent success rate.

Ruimveldt woman remanded for ammunition stash A

lana Edwards, a 27-year-old mining assistant of South Ruimveldt Georgetown, was on Friday remanded to prison until April 21 after she was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for unlawful possession of ammunition.

The indictable charge she faces allege that on September 16, 2016 at Lamaha Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, she had in her possession 50 rounds of .40 ammunition and 19 rounds of 7.62 X 51 ammunition whilst not being the holder of a firearm licence.

In a bail application, Attorney-at-law Leslie Benjamin stated that Edwards was not present when her home was searched by Police ranks, as she was positioned in the in-

Alana Edwards

terior at the time. The lawyer related that her client had told police officers upon arrest that a friend had asked her to keep the bag, but she was ignorant of its contents.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, in disclosing particulars of the case, stated

that Police ranks acting on information had visited the premises of the accused and conducted a search, which unearthed in the bedroom of the accused the said ammunition contained in a bag.

He added that the accused was arrested earlier this month, when she returned to the coast after reportedly evading Police by hiding out in the interior for several months. The court also heard that the woman’s roommate had been arrested after the search, but was released some 72 hours later.

Moore further attested that Edwards had told Police that the package was given to her by her boyfriend, one “Black Boy“ of East La Penitence, but checks made at the address given had failed to locate that person.

Thus the magistrate refused Edwards bail.

Regional planning workshops commence T

he Business Ministry has, through the Department of Tourism, embarked on a series of workshops to boost tourism development within the 10 Administrative regions of Guyana. The Regional Tourism Planning Workshops commenced on Friday in Bartica, Region Seven.

The forums are in accordance with the Tourism Policy which was drafted in 2015 and is currently undergoing extensive consultations. The department is now adopting a decentralized approach to tourism planning in order to facilitate within each region the development which would inherently benefit the country at large.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, the Director General of the Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, highlighted that the workshops were crafted on the basis of three main objectives, but the overall objective is to enhance the understanding of stakeholders relative to the role that tourism can play in the development of each region.

He added that the forums will facilitate the identification of tourism hotspots within each region, and elaborate on the lines of action needed to strengthen tourism-based businesses in

Director General of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, and a team from the Department of Tourism at the press briefing presentation

and around the established hotspots.

The Department of Tourism is hoping to attract the attendance of as many as 25 persons to the workshops in store. Participants will be selected from a pool of regional decision-makers (Chairmen and REOs) along with the owners and managers of key tourism establishments (hotels, guest houses, restaurants, transportation services, places of entertainment, event organizers and sports and cultural organizations) as well as representatives of the banking and security sectors within the 10 regions of Guyana.

Highlighting the intentions of the decentralised planning initiative, the Director General of Tourism noted, “The aim of these workshops is to spread

the planning of tourism to all regions of Guyana as a means of having the regional authorities more involved in tourism planning.” He went on to say, “We know that the regional authorities should be the ones who know their regions best, who with some guidance will be able to identify what we call the tourism hotspots.”The workshops will be conducted in each of the ten Administrative Regions, during which an agreed list of hotspots would be established in each. This decentralized approach of outlining tourism strategies would result in the defining of roles and actions needed by stakeholders to boost tourism within the regions, which will eventually attract both domestic and international visitors to these areas throughout Guyana.

Calls mounts for Yarde’s...

FROM PAGE 11

“The members of the Bureau of Statistics’ branch feel that a move to increase dues could have either been tabled and voted on at the Bi-annual Delegates Conference held between September 30 and October 2, 2015, or at a General Council Meeting in December 2015. Instead, it was voted on at the level of the Executive Council in October 2015,” Layne explained.

She noted that a subsequent decision was taken by the Union’s General Council to suspend the increase in dues at the Bureau, thus threating them as associate members. Layne added that the Branch last year also received a letter from the then General Secretary of the GPSU, accusing the members of the Bureau of being “insensitive, inconsiderate and inconsiderable.”

Branch members of the Bureau had requested that copies of the audited accounts of the GPSU’s finances be made public, but Yarde had reportedly responded that they should go the Auditor General for the report, Ms Layne disclosed.

Intimidation

Front-runners of the protest against Yarde -Jermaine Hermanstyne

and Karen Vansluytman – have denounced the GPSU President’s efforts to intimidate union members.

Moreover, Hermanstyne thinks Yarde apparently feels threatened by anyone within the Union who is becoming popular with the membership base. He said “intimidation tactics” have been used against members who have protested against the GPSU Head. He highlighted an instance when the President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (TUC), General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, had been victimised after she had publicly expressed that Yarde has served his time and maybe should be removed from office.

According to Hermanstyne, the incumbent GPSU President had subsequently written the TUC and other agencies in efforts to “intimidate” McDonald.

Hermanstyne used this opportunity to address claims by the union’s Vice President that he was no longer a member of the union.

He explained that when he went to pay his union dues, he was told that Yarde has instructed the Union’s accounts department not to collect any money from him.

He added that, without

resigning in the first place, he was made to complete a new membership application form, which he did last year; but, to date, he has not received a response from the Union in regard to his membership.

Also labelled a non-member, Vansluytman explained that, having joined the GPSU in the 1980s, she had challenged Yarde for the leadership of the Union in 2005, but lost. However, the following year, when she turned up to pay her dues, it was refused based on instructions from Yarde.

Vansluytman insisted that, as a public servant, it is within her rights to take action against Yarde and the way the GPSU is being managed, since the actions of the union ultimately affect her.

She outlined that whenever the union has grievances with the Government, it would call on public servants to protest and strike; but now that those very public servants are taking a stance against the union, they are being disparaged and called unprofessional. She noted that Yarde has even written the agencies with which the members work, to complain about their “unprofessional and partial” behaviour.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, march 25, 2017

ARCHIE

Dig in and don’t stop until you are happy with the re(March 21- sults you get. Don’t leave anyApril 19) thing to chance or someone else’s discretion. Pay attention to detail.

ARIES

Dig in and get things done.

TAURUS Focus on events that will allow (April 20- you to schmooze with co-workMay 20) ers, or plan to engage in something with children or seniors.

dilbert

Channel your energy wiseGEMINI ly and refrain from getting (May 21mixed up in gossip or emoJune 20) tional situations that will put you in a precarious position.

Concentrate on completion, not expansion.

Express your feelings and find out exactly where you (June 21- stand. Share your concerns July 22) and plans with someone who has more experience or something to contribute. A day trip or meeting looks promising.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t put pressure on anyLEO one. Do your own thing and (July 23keep a close eye on your money Aug. 22) and possessions. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Choose not to argue.

Calvin and Hobbes

Refuse to let personal matVIRGO ters become complicated. Keep (Aug. 23Sept. 22) an open mind and share your thoughts. Do your best to make adjustments that will encourage equality. Romance will improve your life.

Children, friends and loved LIBRA ones will play important roles (Sept. 23in the way you respond to Oct. 23) your current personal situation. Draw strength and courage from the wisdom being offered you.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

You’ll be at a creative SCORPIO high. Tune in to the feel(Oct. 24- ings of a loved one and nurNov. 22) ture important relationships.

Possessiveness will not become you. A romantic interlude will be a highlight of the day.

Refrain from taking on too SAGITTARIUS much or expecting the impos(Nov. 23- sible. Be realistic if you want Dec. 21) to find a way to reach your goals and add greater security to your life.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Stay focused on your goals CAPRICORN and work alone to avoid being (Dec. 22taken for granted. Problems Jan. 19) will arise while traveling if a personal document is out of date. Take better care of your health.

Express your concerns and AQUARIUS make suggestions. Offering (Jan. 20your help will result in an unFeb. 19) expected reward. Financial gain, or a gift or proposition will come from an unusual source.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Don’t let emotions lead (Feb. 20- you astray. Your perception March 20) of a situation should be questioned and your motives evaluated. Honesty will help you avoid making a mistake.

saturDAY, march 25, 2017

19

Rahmat ton seals Afghanistan’s series win T

wice in this series, Rahmat Shah failed to kick on after scoring a half-century. In the decider, he scored in triple-figures, for the second time in ODIs, to help Afghanistan recover from an early wobble and convert a potentially tricky 230 chase into a cruise. He steered them towards the target in Samiullah Shenwari's company and then sealed a seven-wicket win with a six that helped them clinch a 3-2 series win to go along with the T20 clean sweep in Greater Noida, their adopted home ground.

While Rahmat came up with the blockbuster knock, Shenwari's unbeaten 62 was also important. The fourth-wicket pair added 133, helping them recover from 98 for 3 and overcoming pressure Ireland's slow bowlers built in the aftermath of Asghar Stanikzai's wicket for 39 in the 25th over. They eventually won with eight balls to spare and completed their second bilateral series win in three attempts against Ireland. The fivematch ODI series in July 2016 in Ireland ended 2-2.

Ireland, who won their first toss of the series, elected to bat and were driven by the experienced pair of Ed Joyce (42) and Paul Stirling (51), who added 69 for the first wicket. William Porterfield and Niall O'Brien also got off to starts and put Ireland in a position from where 275 looked a possibility. But the absence of the big-hitting Kevin O'Brien, out due to a ham-

string niggle, perhaps hurt them in the end overs.

The inability of the lower middle order to bring out the big hits on a slow wicket resulted in a flurry of wickets, the bulk of which were taken by Rashid Khan.

The legspinner finished with 4 for 29 to top the wicket-takers' list with 16 as Ireland lost their last seven wickets for 59 runs to be bowled out for 229 in the penultimate over.

Left-arm quick Fareed Ahmad, playing his first game of the series, picked up three wickets, while Dawlat Zadran, who kept the pressure up early on in cloudy conditions, finished with two scalps including a ripper of a yorker that sent back the experienced Gary Wilson in the 39th over to delay their slog.

Afghanistan lost the big-hitting Mohammad Shahzad in the fifth over when he was snuffed out courtesy a sensational catch at cover by Porterfield. Three overs later, Najeeb Tarakai, who faced 18 deliveries for 5, let pressure get to him as he skewed a catch to long-on to leave Afghanistan wobbling at 25 for 2.

Stanikzai, the captain, held down the fort briefly before

Nadal celebrates routine success over Sela

falling t o George Dockrell's leftarm spin. With the asking rate escalating and pressure building, Afghanistan needed a rescue act and they had one with Rahmat and Shenwari scoring together at a run rate of over 5.5 per over. (ESPNcricinfo)

Felix Austin, Oddman confirmed win gold at Special Olympics for Jamaica Invitational

2

A

A simple backhand volley handed Nadal the match

four-time runner-up at the Miami Open, Rafael Nadal began his 2017 campaign with a straight-sets triumph over Dudi Sela.

Rafael Nadal had little trouble in booking his place in the third round of the Miami Open, easing past Dudi Sela 6-3 6-4 on Friday.

Seeded fifth for the ATP 1000 event, Nadal enjoyed the luxury of a first-round bye while his opponent thrashed qualifier Christian Harrison 6-1 6-1 in just 52 minutes.

The Spaniard is a four-time runner-up at this tournament but with no Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in Florida, may fancy his chances of breaking his duck this time around as the 30-year-old's renaissance continues.

Nadal breezed through the first set with ease, holding to love in the first service game to set the tone and not giving his opponent any break-point opportunities throughout the opener.

Sela struggled as his opponent came in off the baseline, taking the Israeli's one-handed backhand high and early with hard, flat returns to break him in fourth game.

Nadal's trademark booming forehand succeeded in pushing Sela out of position, prompting a series of mistakes from the world number 83 as he fought hard to match the brute strength on show across the net.

Sela lifted in the second set and this time he was the one to hold to love in the opening service game, before making Nadal fight hard to keep it on serve.

Indeed, the world number seven was forced to rescue two break points in game six before converting one of his own courtesy of a cross-court forehand as Sela wilted.

A simple backhand volley handed Nadal the match to cap an impressive performance and set up a third-round meeting with Philipp Kohlschreiber. (Sportsmax)

016 Olympic 400m silver medalist Alyson Felix has joined a growing list of global track stars confirmed for the Jamaica International Invitational IAAF World Challenge meeting set for Kingston on May 20.

The 31-year-old Felix, the 2015 World Champion and six-time Olympic gold medallist will be making her fourth appearance in the Jamaican capital.

She first competed in Jamaica as a 16-year-old when she placed fifth in the 200m at the 2002 IAAF World Junior Championships. Over the years, she has used the meeting as an early-season test of speed by contesting the 100m, finishing fourth in 2013 and third in 2015.

Felix joins 2016 sprint double champion Elaine Thompson and 100-metre hurdles world record holder Kendra Harrison as elite athletes who have already been declared by the meet organisers.

(Sportsmax)

Romaine Austin and Dave Oddman struck gold at the Special Olympics

R

omaine Austin won his second gold medal on Friday at the 2017 Special Olympics Winter Games in Austria.

Austin won the Division 18 333m speed skating event in 52.838 seconds to go along with the gold medal he won on Wednesday in the Division 15 500m event on Wednesday.

Not to be outdone, Dave

Oddman won his first gold medal of the Games in the Division 32 333m speed skating event in 1:17.679, a step up from the silver medal he won in the Division 23 222m event on Thursday.

Jamaica now has won five medals at the Winter Games, three gold, one silver and a bronze medal that was won by the ice hockey team.

(Sportsmax)

Tahir replaces injured Marsh for Pune S

outh Africa's Imran Tahir, the No. 1-ranked ODI and T20 bowler, is set to turn up for a second IPL franchise - the Rising Pune Supergiant after being signed as a replacement for the injured Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh.

Marsh, who had to leave Australia's tour of India midway because of a shoulder injury, underwent a reconstructive surgery last week and faces the prospect of being sidelined for close to nine months. His unavailability allowed Supergiant to pick from the list of unsold players who had

registered for the auction.

Tahir, released by Delhi Daredevils after the previous season, found no buyers at the auction in February, despite listing himself at a base price of 50 lakh INR (US$ 76,394 approx). The franchise now has two overseas legspinners in their roster - they retained Australian legspinner Adam Zampa after an impressive debut season in 2016.

Tahir, who played four games last season, had picked up 29 wickets in 20 matches for Delhi. (Cricinfo)

Imran Tahir found no takers at the auction last month

20

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saturDAY, march 25, 2017

Gold Hamilton Cup dominates Australian return a Grand Prix dream practice for Haiti

B

ritain's Lewis Hamilton put in a scintillating performance to set the pace in second practice at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

He was 0.547secs clear of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in second, who was just 0.009secs quicker than Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton's margin over Bottas will raise questions over whether it is car or driver that has the advantage.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was fifth, behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

This is Bottas' first race for the Mercedes team after replacing world champion Nico Rosberg, who retired at the end of last season, and on the evidence of the first running of the new season the Finn is struggling to get on terms with Hamilton. The threetime world champion was also fastest during the first practice session.

Ferrari impressed sufficiently in

pre-season testing for Mercedes to believe that the Italian team were at least on their pace, if not slightly quicker.

That Ferrari speed has not so far been in evidence this weekend, and the red cars were if anything even further off the pace of Mercedes in the race-simulation runs on heavy fuel loads later in the session - Raikkonen was a second off Hamilton's pace.

However, the cars will not be seen in their ultimate quickest trim until qualifying on Saturday.

Red Bull expected to be the third quickest team this weekend, and that is the way it is panning out so far, with Ricciardo 0.5secs quicker than teammate Max Verstappen, who lost what would have been his quickest lap with an nerve-wracking off-track moment at the 150mph swerves of Turns 11 and 12.

Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz headed

the midfield runners in seventh place ahead of the Haas of Romain Grosjean and Renault's Nico Hulkenberg.

The German's team-mate Jolyon Palmer ended his session in the wall at Turn 16 after losing control on the way into the quick right-hander and smashing the car badly before coming to rest in the middle of the track and bringing the session to a temporary halt.

Fernando Alonso had a better day than many were expecting in the McLaren-Honda, setting 12th quickest time, albeit 2.4secs off the pace.

The Honda is still carrying reliability concerns as a result of a vibration, which appears to be the cause for a nasty grinding sound that can be heard from the car as the driver changes up through the gears.

Alonso was 0.6secs and five places ahead of his highly rated rookie teammate Stoffel Vandoorne. (BBC Sport)

Lewis Hamilton was imperious in practice - way ahead of everybody

S

Valverde beats Froome in stage five climb

pain's Alejandro Valverde won a Spaniard Contador.

The 2009 winner also won stage three thrilling fifth stage ahead of rivals on Wednesday, after he and his Movistar Chris Froome and Alberto Contador team-mates were each penalised one minto take the lead at the Volta a Catalunya. ute penalty for illegal pushing during Movistar's Valverde left his rivals beTuesday's team time trial. hind with a superb burst on the steep climb to the finish in Tortosa.

Team Sky's Froome, Stage Five result: the Tour de France cham- 1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) 4hrs 14mins 52secs pion, beat Contador to the 2. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +13secs line for second place and 3. Alberto Contador (Spa/Trek) Same time trails Valverde by 21 sec- 4. Marc Soler (Spa/Movistar) +25secs Photo: Derrick onds with two stages re- 5. Adam Yates (GB/Orica) +32secs Etienne 6. Daniel Martin (Ire/Quick-Step) +46secs maining.

Welshman Geraint 7. David Gaudu (Fra/FDJ) +58secs Thomas of Team Sky 8. Hugh Carthy (GB Cannondale) +1min 04secs came in 14th and lies sev- 9. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana) +1min 11secs 10. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/LottoNL) Same time enth overall.

General classification: American Tejay van 1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) 17hrs 44mins 27secs Garderen, the leader go2. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +21sec ing into Friday's stage, 3. Alberto Contador (Spa/Trek) +47secs dropped to sixth place 4. Marc Soler (Spa/Movistar) +1min overall.

5. Adam Yates (GB/Orica) +1 min 15secs Valverde broke clear 6. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +1min 18secs in the final two kilome- 7. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) +1min 34secs tres of the 182km moun- 8. Samuel Sanchez (Spa/BMC Racing) +1min 59secs tain stage from Valls to 9. Daniel Martin (Ire/Quick-Step) +2mins 13secs Lo Port to finish 13 sec- 10. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/LottoNL) +2mins 40secs (BBC) onds ahead of Froome and

R

eaching the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the third consecutive time would give a big boost to Haiti, says forward Derrick Etienne.

In order to do so, however, Les Grenadiers must overcome Nicaragua in a two-legged qualifying playoff, hosting the opener Friday at the Stade Sylvio Cator.

"It's extremely important for all the heartaches and hardships and all the things that happened to Haiti in the past 10 years," Etienne stressed.

“Just to be able to get to the Gold Cup, football is a healer. To continue our run of form and continue to play well will mean a lot to the country.

"When football is played in Haiti, everything stops.

That's the only thing that's on their minds. They've been through a lot down there. To be able to qualify and bring joy to the country would just be amazing."

Haiti earned the right to face Nicaragua after capturing first place in the 2016/17 Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup fifth-place playoff by going with wins over Suriname and host Trinidad & Tobago.

"We had a chance to qualify early and we didn't do what we needed to do," remarked Etienne.

"We had a chance to rectify those mistakes we made in Trinidad and we were able to pull through and do that.

Hopefully, we will be able to continue this good form that we had."

Etienne, 20, has enjoyed a memorable start to 2017.

He played in both of the New York Red Bulls’ Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal games against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, made his first Major League Soccer start in a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on March 11 and scored his first international goal in that win over T&T. "Scoring goals has been something that has been in my family for years," finished Etienne, Jr., the son of a former Haiti international striker who goes by the same name.”

Jaguars ready

The Golden Jaguars started their training camp at the Tucville Ground in Georgetown on Friday, ahead of their match against Martinique on March 28 in Linden. The squad is working under the careful watch of Interim Head Coach Wayne Dover, Assistant Coach Charles Pollard and the Guyana Football Federation technical team.

The Martinique clash kicks off at 20:00h at the MSC Ground in Linden. Admission is $1,500.

Linden’s Mayor, Carwyn Holland was recently named as the patron of the international friendly match, a role his worship gleefully accepted.

$3M at stake at Budhan Memorial TC

T

he Budhan Memorial Turf Club at Number 66 village Corentyne is the venue for a one-day horse racing extravaganza tomorrow. In all, there are seven races carded for the exciting afternoon of horse racing beginning at 13:00h.

The feature event is for horses classified J One and Lower for a top purse of

$180,000 covering a distance of one mile.

Other races are for three year old Guyana Bred horses, K and Lower, L One and Lower, L Two and Lower, unclassified and non-winners.

Among the beasts on the track will be Red Jet, Party Time, Red Region, Little and Blue Lightening.

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Local tennis players off to Davis Cup

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21

All set. From left; Coach Shelly Daly Ramdyhan, Heimraj Resaul, Mark McDonald and Jordan Beaton at the GBTI Tennis Court

T

hree leading junior tennis players will depart later today for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Davis Cup in El Salvador. The tournament will commence on Monday March 27 and run until Saturday, April 1.

The players journeying to the Central American Nation are; Jordan Beaton and Hemraj Resaul from Marian Academy and Mark McDonald of Reyaz Business Institute.

These players will compete in the 16 and under tournament.

Unfortunate to miss out on this event was talented junior girls’ player Afruica Gentle, who possesses the quality to compete at this level but due to the inability of her peers to contest on par, the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) could not field a strong female contingent to the event.

Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan is the coach of the team and she is very confident that the boys will be competitive.

Meanwhile, President of the GLTA, said; “Junior Davis Cup is the biggest tournament in the tennis world and it is an opportunity for our children to represent Guyana at the highest level. I think the boys have benefitted from the high performance training imputed by our local and international coaches. They are more confident, tactical and charge in their play. While the competition will be tough, I know they are geared towards giving it their all because of the sacrifices and efforts put into making their participation a reality.”

The GLTA is most grateful to GBTI for opening its facility to have the players trained for this tournament.

It is the second time Guyana is participating in the tournament subsequent to a good showing in their debut in 2012, where the girls, led by Nicola Ramdyhan and Aretta Dey, competed in the fed cup and was outstanding.

The boys were in engaged in daily training at the GBTI Recreational Facility during the week. They will have several practice sessions before the tournament serves off on Monday.

NOT Aiken out of Firebird line up RECEIVING YOUR

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after nine year

J

amaica international Romelda Aiken is set to miss her first ever game for the Queensland Firebirds through injury, snapping a long spell of invincibility that stretches back to 2008.

The 28-year-old player has been an ever-present in the team’s line-up since making her debut almost nine years ago, but will be absent for Saturday’s Suncorp Super Netball clash with Adelaide due to a knee injury. According to reports Aiken has been diagnosed with a strained knee capsule, an injury that while expected to keep her off the court for only a short time, comes at an inconvenient time for the Firebirds.

The team, which claimed the last two ANZ Championship titles, has shown inconsistent form in its early Super Netball cam-

paign. In five outings so far the team has two wins, two losses and a draw.

Firebird coach Roselee Jencke hailed Aiken’s absence as a golden opportunity for the other players and the team itself to step up.

"It's a really good opportunity to step up and be able to do the job without a really important player," Jencke said.

The coach also pointed out that Aiken’s absence from the line-up was more of a precaution than a necessity.

"It's about her long-term health and fitness," Jencke said.

"I've always believed that you don't play anybody unless they are 100% unless you're playing a grand final so we are erring on the side of caution with Romelda."

(Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturdAY, march 25, 2017

Radford upbeat ahead of Jaguars stumble West Indies vs Pakistan showdown after Pride declare W - Shai Hope hits career best 215* A CWI/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

fter declaring their first innings closed on 480/3 the Barbados Pride prized out four Jaguars batsmen before close of play to remain in firm control of the eight round match in the Cricket West Indies Professional Cricket League Digicel Regional Four Day match at the Kensington Oval on Friday.

The home team’s mammoth first innings total was built around an attractive double century from top order batsman, Shai Hope.

The solid stroke maker hit 23 fours and three sixes from 391 balls in a career best knock of 215 not out. After passing his previous highest score of 211 the Pride declared their innings just about 50 minutes before tea on the second day.

Beginning the day on 293/2, the Pride lost one wicket in the morning ses-

sion which turned out to be the only wicket of the day for the visitors. After adding 154 with Hope, Shamarh Brooks was dis-

missed to give Romario Shepherd his second wicket of the innings. The Jaguars bowlers especially the spinners struggled to stem the

Shimron Hetmyer’s expression says it all for the Jaguars (WICB Media Photo)

Shai Hope plays with confidence on his way (WICB Media Photo)

SCOREBOARD Barbados Pride 1st innings

Guyana Jaguars 1st innings

K Brathwaite LBW b Shepherd 143 A Alleyne b Reifer 8 S Hope not out 215 S Brooks c Chandrika b Shepherd 67 R Chase not out 33 Extras (lb-4, w-5, nb-5) 14 Total (For 3 wickets declared, 137 overs) 480 Did not bat K Stoute, S Dowrich, K Harding, A Nurse, J Warrican, M Cummins FOW: 1-45, 2-250, 3-404 Bowling R Reifer 32-6-99-1 (w-1, nb-4), C Pestano 22-290-0 (nb-1), R Shepherd 27-4111-2 (w-4), G Motie 26-382-0, D Bishoo 30-4-94-0

S Hetmyer c Alleyne b Cummins 1 R Chandrika c (sub) J Greaves b Chase 24 L Johnson LBW b Chase 15 V Singh c Dowrich b Stoute 15 S Chanderpaul not 15 R Reifer not out 25 Extras (b-8, lb-9, nb-7) 23 Total (For 4 wickets, 42 overs) 119 Did not bat A Bramble, R Shepherd, D Bishoo, G Motie, C Pestano Bowling M Cummins 9-125-1 (nb-3), K Harding 8-126-0 (nb-4), K Stoute 9-224-1, R Chase 14-4-26-2, A Nurse 2-1-1-0 Position: Jaguars trail by 361 runs with six wickets in hand

flow of runs on the typical Kensington track and fast outfield.

Like the bowlers, the batsmen found the going difficult as well and were in trouble in the very first over of their reply.

Pugnacious opening batsman, Shimron Hetmyer was taken at square leg after just getting off the mark with a single to fast bowler, Miguel Cummins which exposed the fragile Jaguars top order.

Out of form skipper, Leon Johnson and vice-captain Vishaul Singh woes this season continued when they were both sent back for 15. However, with Rajendra Chandrika who is also low on runs and confidence, Johnson added 52 runs either side of tea but were dismissed within eight runs of each other in successive Roston Chase overs.

When stumps were drawn the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the Jaguars dependable all-rounder Raymon Reifer were in a 33-run rebuilding partnership. At 119/4 the Jaguars are trailing by 361 runs and if they are to get back in the game, Chanderpaul and Reifer will have to bat deep.

Today is day three then the match will take a break for one day to facilitate the opening T20 international between West Indies and Pakistan at the same venue on Sunday before resuming on Monday.

est Indies batting coach Toby Radford said Thursday the regional side would try to make home advantage count in the upcoming Twenty20 series against Pakistan, as they attempted to make amends for their dismal showing last September.

Just seven months ago, the reigning T20 World champions found themselves on the end of a humiliating series whitewash in the United Arab Emirates as Pakistan convincingly won the threematch series on ‘home turf’.

However, with much more familiar conditions expected, Radford said he was anticipating a change in fortunes.

“I think the big thing when we played out there is we found that the pitches were particularly slow and obviously suited their spin bowlers and they made very, very big boundaries and made us run a lot,” the Englishman pointed out.

“So hopefully the wickets will be a lot quicker here, more of what we are used to.

We are used to playing on these surfaces and when you are on your home patch, everyone is really up for playing and wants a win so hopefully we’re going to get a lot of good support as well but I’m very much ready for a good show from everyone.”

The four-match series opens on Sunday at Kensington Oval here before heading to Trinidad and Tobago for the last three games at Queen’s Park Oval.

West Indies have been in training since they assembled on Wednesday and Radford said everyone looked in fine form.

“We had a good session this morning and all the batters looked in really good touch which is encouraging,” he said.

“There’s one big game

T

coming up in Barbados this weekend and then it’s off to Trinidad for three games there. It will be a really exciting series and hopefully they’ll put in a really good performance.”

While the wide will be without the likes of T20 stars Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, it includes other big names like batsmen Kieron Pollard and Marlon Samuels, along with leg-spinner Samuel Badree.

Selectors have also opted for first-timers Jonathan Carter, Jason Mohammed and Veerasammy Permaul coming on the heels of their good form against England in the recent one-day series, and the move is one Radford endorsed. and Jason “Carter Mohammed played very well in the 50-over tournament re-

Toby Radford

“Kesrick Williams bowled very well in the UAE against Pakistan; he bowled very straight — if they missed he hit — he mixed his pace up well.” Radford continued: “I think it’s an exciting team, a mix of real talent that’s been there and done it, and some

West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite (right) and all-rounder chat during practice

cently against England and I think it is great their form has been recognised by the board and they’ve been given an opportunity in this format as well,” he pointed out.

youngsters who show real quality and I think putting those together, I would love to see [West Indies] put some good performances together.”

(Windiescricket)

BOSAI interdepartment bball bounces off tonight

he BOSAI Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc annual inter department basketball championship will begin with the reigning champions General Services taking on Plant Operations in the first game and the other will place Mines against Plant Maintenance.

The opening game at 18:30h will see Marlon Persaud, Jamal Bethune, Alfie Robertson, Theodore Tappin, Jermaine Dowden, Clive McCalman, Deon Moire, Seon Sutton, Randy Johnson and Damain Webster in the General Services uniform.

Plant Operations will pose a serious challenge and their hopes of an up-

set rest on the shoulders of Weslie Bobb, Germaine Chan, Omisi Williams, Patrice Rickett, Own Williams, Devon McClean, Mtron Prescott, Rawleston Slowe and Quincy Datson.

The second game will feature the Mines who will have such players like Marvin Russell, Collin Barker, Kurt Lewis, John Knights, Chan, Marlon Pollydore, Melroy Ross, Earl Isaacs, Kevin Jackman and Dennis Anderson to choose from. They will be up against the Plant Maintenance side which will have in their team Jarryle Williamson, Anson Durant, Neil Granville, Larnelle Turner, Orin Scott, Dave Hopkinson, Ryan Noel and Jamal McCalmont.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

23

Masters Champion of Champions

to light up Ogle

By Romario Samaroo

A

fter an absence of over two decades, the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) brings back Inter-County Softball Cricket Tournament after a herculean injection from Lakeram “Mike”Singh.

The tournament was officially launched at the latest location of the Mike’s Pharmacy chain of businesses, located at Bel Air, Georgetown where sponsors and organisers of the tournament gathered to give the highly anticipated event their blessings.

Set for the Easter weekend (April 15-16), organizing secretary, Wayne Jones explained that the tournament has attracted a large fan base and team participation along the East Coast of Demerara corridor and fittingly, the competition will be held at the Ogle Community Center Ground.

The action will see four teams vying in 45 years and over category otherwise known as the Masters category over the two-day period.

Jones noted that a special initiative of the tournament is that each team will be allowed to have two players under 45 years old but not younger than 43 years.

While the competition is only for masters, representing Permaul’s Trading and member of GFSCA Anil Beharry highlighted that this is just the initial phase and over time there will be an introduction of the open category but for this tournament it is only for the masters due to the fact that a lot of interest has come from the elder folks and over time the youths will learn from them.

Beharry also predicted that the competition should be able to promote camaraderie and competitiveness.

Along with Permaul’s Trading, who will be sponsoring the Berbice Masters, other integral sponsors include Sankar Auto Works through the Valvoline brand who will sponsor Demerara. Trophy Stall is the title sponsor of Essequibo mas-

GCB/DMLAS/MOE/NSSCL

Lower Corentyne beat West Dem to title

Kevlon Anderson receiving the winning trophy from Chairman of junior national selectors, Nazimul Drepaul

K

evlon Anderson and Junior Sinclair partnered with bat and ball respectively to guide their school, Lower Corentyne Secondary past West Demerara Secondary by six wickets and to win the National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) title yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda.

West Demerara took first strike after winning the toss and were dismissed for 107 in 44. 5 overs as Sinclair made hey as the sun shined to capture 3-14. He was well supported by Kristoff Williams, who bagged 2-25.

Christopher Gurdyal and Nicholas Holder were the joint top scorers for the West side team, but their efforts proved insignificant in the important clash. Kemar Ferera made 16.

In reply, the talented skipper and national youth player, Anderson finished unbeaten on 44 as he saw his team to final honours. Justin Gonin hit 21 to support his captain.

Bowling for West Demerara, Aftab Basir 2-29 from seven overs was effective in his spell but it was not substantial enough to cause the team from the Ancient County much harm.

The little master behind the tournament Mike “Shane Warne” Singh

ters. The fourth team is Wellman’s Demerara who will be sponsored

by Mike’s Pharmacy.

Speaking at the launch, the architect behind this tournament, Lakeram “Mike” Singh stressed

that “for two decades we didn’t have inter county competition so it was in the making for some time.”

Comparing it to what is traditional “inter club games with the regular club members and club teams and you find that the teams are not working together so we thought it best to go back to the years gone by and see the best way to get more competitive cricket.”

The tournament which is a 20 over per side competition will be played on a round-robin basis with the first two preliminary matches starting from 09:30h.

Jones explained the structure of prizes which will see the successful team taking home $200,000 with the second place $100,000, both with trophies. The best batsman and best bowler in the preliminary rounds will receive $5,000 and a trophy while man of the finals will also be $5,000 richer and will get a trophy for his efforts.

Additionally, fans will see an

exhibition game between the Great Demerara and Mighty Berbice in a female gigantic clash. The winner will be rewarded with $50,000 and a trophy and $25,000 for the runner up. The female of the match, best bowler and best batter will all be rewarded.

President of the GFSCA, Ramchand Ragbeer was in high praises of the sponsors for coming on board with the revival of softball action and is expecting to see a high level of competition with the best team coming out on top.

Admission to the venue is not heavily priced, however persons who hold tickets for the BBQ that will be on sale in the ground will be allowed to enter the ground at no additional cost.

The BBQ tickets are available at all the sponsors’ locations and members of the GFSCA at a cost of $1,000. Also persons desirous of purchasing tickets can do so by calling 661-8263 or 650-1790.

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Lower Corentyne beat West Dem to title Pg 23

Champions! The winners Lower Corentyne

Masters Champion of Champions to light up Ogle

Pg 23

(From left) President of the GFSCA Ramchand Ragbeer, Trophy Stall Essequibo’s Ramesh Sunich, Permaul’s Berbice Anil Beharry, Wellman’s Demerara Mike Singh, Valvoline’s Demerara Sasenarine Singh and Organising Secretary Wayne Jones

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