Guyana Times Daily

US, Guyana relations “fantastic” – Ambassador Holloway P7 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 2729

Thursday, January 7, 2016

PRICE

“Money laundering” claims

Guyana’s banking system undermined

Page 3

...following libellous, spurious KN report

Deadly SOCU pursuit

Opposition roasts GDF, Police for use of “terror tactics”

Page 11

New Junior Communities Minister "ready to serve"

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

H1N1 victim succumbs P9 in US

Moraikobai child falls to death P13 Pensioners starving under APNU/AFC Govt – senior citizens P15

15,000 ounces of gold being smuggled out of Guyana weekly P10

– Minister Trotman tells media

Page 7

Broomes sweeps aside “conflict of interest” concerns P12

Newly-appointed Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Adams-Patterson taking the Oath of Office on Wednesday in the presence of President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency

Double suicide rock East Berbice

P17

...14-year-old, 20-year-old lovers hang selves

Search for missing British teen

Godbrother disappears as probe P10 continues Fisherman’s death

Trawler crew arrested P15

2 News

thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Mon Repos murder suspect still at large

The victim (in green shirt) and the suspect in happier times

V

ishal Baldeo, 18, of Lot 126 First Street, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, who stabbed his cousin Ganesh Ramlakhan, 34, to death on New Year’s Day is still on the run.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that the Police have been working on every possible lead at their disposal, with the intention of arresting the teenager.

He noted that the Police will continue their hunt for the young man whom they believe might have absconded to where he worked as a fisherman. However, a relative of the dead man told this publication that attempts to contact the suspect on his mobile phone proved futile.

She claimed that on every occasion the family attempted to make contact, his mobile phone was switched off. The father of two of Lot 127 First Street, Mon Repos, was stabbed about seven times about the body by his cousin who is also referred to as “Vicky”.

Bases on information received, the carpenter was in the yard when his cousin, who returned from sea, pulled up in a motor car and whispered something in his ear, causing him to use foul languages. The suspect was not too happy; hence he went into the house, collected two knives and confronted the man who was still in the yard.

The suspect reportedly stabbed Ramlakhan once to his chest and back resulting in him collapsing to the ground. As relative saw what was happening, they rushed to the man’s rescue but were also injured by the perpetrator. Those injured are the victim’s uncle Richard Gowkarran and his father Ramlakhan Motilall.

Both men would have sustained injuries to their hands and heads. However, after injuring the two men, the suspect turned his attention again to the injured cousin, stabbed Ramlakhan several other times before making good his escape.

news

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thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 7 – 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, January 8 - 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 7 – 14:35h-16:05h and Friday, January 8 – 15:20h-16:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thick cloud cover with light rain showers can be expected throughout most of the day, with sunny weather prevailing in the late afternoon. Light cloud cover can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:28h and 14:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres and 2.50 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:17h and 20:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.85 metre and 0.69 metre respectively.

"Money laundering" claims

Guyana's banking system undermined …following libellous, spurious KN report

By Michael Younge

T

he strength and security of Guyana’s banking system – which is the linchpin of the country’s financial sector – was placed under great threat on Wednesday following the publication of a spurious and misleading article in the Kaieteur News which sought to implicate the Central Bank, Republic Bank and a local businessman in questionable activities linked to money laundering.

The daily tabloid reported that the Government’s State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) is probing a "local bank" which was accused of money laundering going back to 2011 following apparent non-action on the part of the Bank of Guyana

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

ited the sum of $82,068, 617 in a Republic Bank Account which ended up in an account of a now sitting Minister of Government.

The newspaper, which has a long tradition of publishing falsities and pursuing personal vendettas against local businessmen and persons not supportive of the now ruling political party, referred to statements allegedly made by the Governor General of the Central Bank and SARU, Dr Clive Thomas in relation to the matter.

Bank of Guyana

Bank of Guyana Governor Dr Gobind Ganga

and the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

The article also alleged that the owner of GuyTrac Haresh Narine, also known as “Chinee”, had depos-

But before the dust could settle, the Bank of Guyana condemned the article which it said had the “potential to destabilise the financial sector in Guyana”.

When contacted, Governor Dr Gobind Ganga declined to offer any comment on the article to this newspaper outside what was released in the Bank’s official statement as he believed it sufficiently addressed the concerns of stakeholders.

Soon after, the Central Bank explained that Republic Bank which was identified by the newspaper was not guilty of any wrongdoing in the matter and, therefore, was not in breach of any laws which govern its operations.

The Central Bank admitted that it had received a complaint in relation to the matter and, thereafter, mounted a full investigation which vindicated the local bank.

“The Bank wishes to advise that, subsequent to the receipt of a letter of complaint and request for prosecution of the financial institution, the Bank conducted an examination of the relevant records of the financial institution. Based on the documents and records examined by the Bank of Guyana, no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Republic Bank (Guyana Limited) was found. The examination revealed that the financial institution had taken steps to ensure compliance with the relevant Prudential Supervision Guidelines issued by the Bank of Guyana under the Financial Institutions Act No 1 of 1995,” the Central Bank reported.

Kaieteur News Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris

tions to address these false allegations, to protect its reputation and the interests of all stakeholders.

“Not me” – Chinee

Meanwhile, the businessman who was named in the article has since strongly denied involvement and any knowledge of the entire incident reported by the tabloid.

He said that he never deposited monies amounting to over $82 million in his account or any other person’s account for that matter.

“Not me. That’s a lie. I would be glad if somebody could give that kind of money now. The only money I deposit in my account are monies in relation to my business that has to do with supplies,” he revealed.

Narine said that he was surprised that the newspaper could be so bold to link him to money laundering and other acts of wrong doing, as he was never contacted by the local authorities or banks in relation to such matters.

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Republic Bank (Guyana Limited) Managing Director Richard Sammy

Republic Bank’s statement

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited has rejected the assertion that it engaged in money laundering activities.

The Bank, in a statement on Wednesday evening, said it viewed the suggestion that it was engaged in money laundering as “malicious, libellous and unfounded”.

In particular, the Bank denied that any deposit of cash or cash equivalents was made to the referenced account by the named party on June 16, 2011 or any other date.

The Bank said that in light of the Kaieteur News article, which sought to tarnish its reputation and question its adherence to sound banking principles, it would take all necessary steps, including reviewing legal op-

SARU Head Dr Clive Thomas

“Nobody never contacted me on this matter...no SARU or no bank person…

I do not know what Glenn Lall and the Kaieteur News are talking about,” he maintained.

The businessman said it was important for him to set the record straight as the content of the article had the potential to put his life and his family’s lives at risk. It could have negative impacts on his business relations in and out of Guyana. turn to page 13

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, january 7, 2016

Views Editor(ag): Michael Younge Tel: 225-8697, 225-6695, 225-5634, 225-8696, 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Crime and policing

T

he plague of “spiralling” crime, its causes and what ought to be done about reducing it continue to be burning issues to the citizenry of this country. The Police have launched several direct initiatives, including the latest, “Operation Dragnet”, which unfortunately has not yet made much of an impact. The President has also sent a signal to the judiciary and citizens, through his pardons, that possibly too many persons are incarcerated for what he considers to be “petty crimes”.

Back in 1982, the Harvard sociologist, James Q Wilson, co-authored a paper, “Broken Windows”, which took a contrarian position to the then received wisdom on crime – which still holds sway in Guyana. Maybe, belatedly, we ought to look at Wilson’s analysis and the recommendations that flowed out of it.

Up to that point, everyone focused on the "root causes" of crime. Crime would not decrease, it was emphasised, until the social and environmental “causes” such as poverty, racism, bad housing, poor education, inequality, etc were addressed. Not surprisingly, the Police loved the idea: basically it absolved them from ever reducing crime in absolute terms.

Their stock answer to the stubborn, high and growing crime figures was: “It’s society’s fault; society messed them up.”

In Guyana, there is a persistent section of officialdom that insists on pushing the “root causes” theory of crime reduction. We hope that they will take a look at Wilson’s “Broken Windows” alternative. The “Broken Windows” theory derived both its inspiration and its name from a widely-observed phenomenon. "Social psychologists and Police Officers tend to agree," Wilson and Kelling wrote, “that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighbourhoods as in rundown ones. ““Window-breaking” does not necessarily occur on a large scale because some areas are inhabited by determined “window-breakers” whereas others are populated by window-lovers; rather, one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing. (It has always been fun.)” What's true of windows, Kelling and Wilson argued, was also true more generally of "untended" behaviour in a community. Wilson was saying that culture matters.

A stable neighbourhood of families who care for their homes, mind each other's children, and confidently frown on unwanted intruders can change, in a few years or even a few months, to an inhospitable and frightening jungle. A piece of property is abandoned, weeds grow up, a window is smashed. Adults stop scolding rowdy children; the children, emboldened, become more rowdy. Families move out, unattached adults move in. Teenagers gather in front of the corner store. The merchant asks them to move; they refuse.

Fights occur. Litter accumulates.

At this point, it is not inevitable that serious crime will flourish or violent attacks on strangers will occur. But many residents will think that crime, especially violent crime, is on the rise, and they will modify their behaviour accordingly.

They will use the streets less often, and when on the streets will stay apart from their fellows, moving with averted eyes, silent lips, and hurried steps. "Don't get involved."

In essence, Kelling and Wilson were arguing that minor crimes, if unpunished, led to major crimes and massive social breakdown. The goal of “Broken Windows policing” is to allow a neighbourhood to police itself and reduce crime. The role of Police is to reduce fear through foot patrols, maintaining order, and the judicious use of officers' discretion. In so doing, they would only be responding to the previously unacknowledged demand in poor communities for the same sense of lawfulness enjoyed in wealthy areas.

While our “community policing” and “neighbourhood police” initiatives have adopted their names from “Broken Windows” policing, they have entirely missed its essence.

Commander Hicken seemed to have adopted a more authentic model in the latter months of 2015. This should be expanded across the country.

Preparations for Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival 2016: The ice is cut from the nearby river and teams from different countries take part in the event (BBC)

SOCU exceeds remit to use GDF operative Dear Editor, The Special Organised Crime Unit ( SOCU) was established in 2013 as a law enforcement agency to investigate , exclusively ,allegations and reports relating to money laundering and terrorism. This Unit has no other mandate.

It was part of Guyana's international obligations to strengthen its Anti Money Laundering and Countering The Financing Of Terrorism ( AMLCFT) apparatus. It was estab-

lished as a Unit within the Guyana Police Force. It falls under the superintendence of the Commissioner of Police. Its officers are members of the Guyana Police Force vested with the requisite powers under the Police Act Chapter 16:01.

As a result of recent public disclosures, it is obvious that SOCU is operating with an expanded and unknown mandate and consists not only of members of the Guyana Police

Force, but of members of the Guyana Defence Force.

Only recently, an active GDF officer, operating as part of SOCU, killed himself and others in the apparent discharge of his duties. SOCU officers are searching the homes of private citizens, seizing materials and documents, and are surveilling and are surreptitiously following citizens and their children.

From information made public, SOCU appears not

only to be operating with a sinister agenda, but is also being used as a political weapon of the State against the citizenry.

In the circumstances, the Commissioner of Police must say to the nation , immediately, what is the current mandate of SOCU ; why was this mandate changed from what it was conceived to be ; and who are its current members.

Sincerely, Anil Nandlall, MP

Govt should seek effective collaboration with civil society

Dear Editor, Although the intentions of the coalition Government as articulated by President Granger to create a more secure, fairer and inclusive society remain laudable and valid, realising them in the context of the most racially-polarised elections in Guyanese history is a distant prospect. Laying the foundations for a more unified future, in terms of progressively cultivating common ground and consensual space, is a more credible goal.

However, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is disturbed by the extent to which achieving even this limited goal is being jeopardised by the polarising effects of poor political decision-making. Salary increases for Ministers was the most glaring example, the ill-considered AntiTerrorism Act the most recent, and the partisan anti-corruption campaign potentially the most explosive.

Locating the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) within the Office of the Presidency, however temporarily, was a step in the wrong direction. Moreover, public indignation is being

continuously fuelled by a steady drip-feed of insinuation, gossip and speculation.

Anti-corruption activity appears to be the over-riding Cabinet priority with the Senior Finance Minister investigating the Guyana Revenue Authority, the junior Minister conducting forensic audits, the Minister of Public Infrastructure ordering enquiries into Guyana Power and Light, the Minister of Communities pursuing Pradoville2, and the Public Security Minister taking a ‘personal interest’ in the actions of the former Finance Minister.

However, justified this campaign, it is being conducted with little political prudence or impartiality, creating credibility issues that risk jeopardising the likelihood either of successful prosecution or popular satisfaction that justice is being done. The absence in Guyana of requisite laws and prosecutorial expertise alone are grounds for dampening rather than fuelling public expectations.

Corruption in Guyana has been synonymous with Governments remaining in office for prolonged periods.

It has been encouraged, fur-

thermore, by a political system in which accountability is rudimentary. The laudable goal of addressing widespread corruption in the society, therefore, cannot be reduced to pursuit of scampish individuals. A wise and constructive anti-corruption campaign would address both preventative (ie, political) measures to strengthen systems as well as prosecutorial measures to punish perpetrators. What we are currently witnessing falls short of this prescription.

Given the polarised context and limited capacity, a more concerted effort to build effective coalitions as opposed to striving to goit-alone regardless, seems to be required. Serious consideration must be given, therefore, to encourage Government to harness capacities beyond its own resources in a structured, nonpartisan manner.

Article 13 of the Constitution is frequently cited as providing authority for inclusive, participatory decision-making. The real challenge is at the operational level, that is, ways of making participation work.

In this respect, civil society, broadly understood to en-

compass professional, religious, business, trade union, academic, philanthropic bodies and NGOs, has been remiss in failing to propose how Article 13 might be operationalised.

The proposed mechanism employed by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which brings together Government, the extractive industry and civil society is one such example. A similar formula of bringing Government agencies, representatives of the relevant sector along with representatives from civil society could be tested in many other areas of public life.

Applying this thinking to SARU, for example, would suggest the early separation from the Office of the President appointment of an impartial Board of Directors, selected by a formula that brings the three sectors together – State, technical and civic – to re-assure all shades of opinion and secure effective results.

Sincerely, Executive Committee Guyana Human Rights Association

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, january 7, 2016

Nagamootoo on the way out?

Dear Sir, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was reported by the Government Information Agency press release to have beckoned to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C): “Come on board, let us talk, let us make 2016 the year when we put aside our squabbles, when we stop cussing each other, and this bickering must stop. I want to say that I will not spare any effort in pursuing this goal. Whether they cuss me up today, and they reject me today, I believe that it is unsustainable to do so forever”. Why the feeding with a long spoon of impersonal press release is most significant.

Can Mr Nagamootoo be seeking a personal face saving lifeline? What would be a quirkiness of DNA politically nativity is finding our Mr Nagamootoo in full anxiety, again completely metamorphosised, and now most desirable for new change.

Why? He could be seeking some Columbus circular course which would maybe take him back to the PPP/C mainland. Now in the Promised Land, does he actually want out? How does he get out gracefully?

Licence

Who can doubt that the Alliance For Change (AFC) is just plain window dressing licence for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) despite their advertised "equality" brandished Cummingsburg Accord? Again, the People’s National Congress (PNC) has adequately demonstrated that shared Government is not practical or desirable with them. Right after signed the Cummingsburg Accord and immediately after they won the 2015 elections, that agreement was flushed down the toilet.

Rehabilitation

Interesting has been the rehabilitation and ascendancy within APNU of the AFC's Mr Raphael Trotman and Tourism Minister, Mrs Cathy Hughes within the PNC's inner core. Mr Trotman's office is just a few doors next to President David Granger's.

Mrs Hughes had no difficulty in successfully wrestling away media communications from Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

Burdensome

What were Mr Nagamootoo's countless burdensome responsibilities which supposedly overwhelmed him by APNU's current shameful spin lacking all credibility that he is being rescued from overwork? Mr Nagamootoo really and sincerely believes he has excellent wisdom and abilities, huge testicular fortitude and he has ad-

equately earned the right to become, shoulder and manage all Guyana's problems as President.

Moral eyes

While Mr Nagamootoo may still have excellent moral eyes, he sees not that by his complicity, President Granger's Government has systematically and aggressively imposed significantly much more blatant racial discrimination policies against hundreds of Indo Guyanese and native Amerindians since the APNU/AFC coalition entered Government.

Consciously aiding and abetting the PNC disguised as APNU and with full Working People’s Alliance sanction, their collective witchhunting coupled with Mr Nagamootoo's in progress sanitisation of his new found APNU friends will not be quickly forgotten or forgiven in history. Much will be required to restore such crumbling credibility if he cares.

Shadow

Today, he is a shadow even among those who voted for him in Berbice.

Becoming President of any country is not preordained or certain. In our present mix what one may believe of one's self is a far cry from what the decision makers actually believe or are prepared to accept. Both Mr Nagamootoo and his many one time supporters have consistently blamed the PPP/C for their failure to make him their leader to succeed the Jagans. If they were wrong what is to be said of the APNU's instantaneous political lobotomy of the current Prime Minister who has responsibility for nothing?

National unity

The powerless coalition's Prime Minister now on a proxy media campaign touting national unity and another coalition when he has no power, makes no sense when President Granger remains indifferent. Under Guyana's constitutional law a coalition would be illegal though not impossible or possible by fresh elections. For example, if there were mutual agreement for a coalition both major parties could vote to change Guyana's Constitution to allow it.

The PPP/C is not likely to agree to such a venture unless the PNC concedes the Presidency to the PPP/C with them getting the prime ministership. That effectively will nail the AFC coffin and bury it forever.

Obviously Mr Nagamootoo is daydreaming and has no clue of what’s realistic.

Elections

What is certainly obvious is cracks have already occurred within the coalition. It will become wider in the upcoming Local Government Elections.

Despite all he says or does Mr Nagamootoo has nowhere to go even if he wants to.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

5

Freddie needs to overcome inferiority complex over dark colour Dear Editor, Reference is made to Mr Harry Hergash’s retort of Freddie Kissoon’s obsession of attacking Indians who use body make-up (lotion, cream, chemicals, etc.) to lighten their complexion. Elementary research on the topic would reveal that Indians are not the only ethnic group to use body makeup to lighten their complexion. And yes, it is big business in India as it is in America, Africa and Asia among non-whites. Even Freddie’s uses make- up to lighten his color but it cannot help him.

For some strange reason, almost everyone seems to engage in the practice of “colouring” and want to appear fair. Africans also use such make-up to lighten their colour, as is well documented by anthropologists who study intergroup relations in Guyana and throughout Caribbean society. Some studies that address the issue include: MG Smith’s Plural Society in the West Indies; Ralph Premdass’ Ethnicity and Identity in the Caribbean; “Race and Color in T&T”; David Nicholls’ Colour and Class in the Caribbean; F Henriques’ Colour in the Caribbean; etc. It is also well document-

ed by several other anthropologists that Africans have tried to straighten their nose and hair and sought to make themselves appear mixed or coloured or white to be acceptable to society.

Several anthropologists reported how Africans preferred mixed or coloured children. That was the nature of the society prior to the 1980s and has persisted to some extent even to this day. Indians also wanted their children to be fair.

Freddie’s parents also wanted light coloured children.

But Freddie came out very dark and he has developed an inferiority complex over his dark appearance and he seems unable to overcome it.

His psychosis to overcome his colour complex is to singularly attack Indians without justification.

All dark skinned people (Asians, Africans, Indians, etc) from around the globe seek to whiten their skin.

Michael Jackson and so many black American stars have sought to lighten their colour to be accepted by whites. So the process is not unique to Indians.

Yet Freddie attacks only Indians. Why is he not also criticising blacks for “whitening” their colour?

Freddie has an inferior-

ity complex over his dark complexion. It is well known that Freddie’s mother-inlaw rejected him because of his blackness. Freddie previously wrote about this issue. He could not get over Mrs Mohammed’s rejection of his hand for her daughter. Freddie felt that since he was educated, although he was black skinned, Mrs Mohammed should not have rejected him. Haji Roshan and several Mulvis wrote on Mrs Mohammed’s rejection of Freddie as a prospective son-in-law. For many years, Mrs Mohammed and Freddie could not get along. Freddie Kissoon is seeking revenge by attacking Indians who are light skinned or those who are dark skinned and seeking to lighten their pigmentation with chemicals.

There is nothing wrong in being of dark colour.

Many dark coloured people are extremely handsome (except Freddie off course) or pretty. But Dick Morris and other pollsters who use Freddie as a consultant find Freddie very attractive.

Freddie needs to overcome his hang up or dark colour complex.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Foundation

A fateful first act – the action-packed days a baby spends in utero influence emotional and physical makeup for years to come

EMILY LABER-WARREN

I

f a mother eats a low-calorie or lowprotein diet, or one deficient in essential fats or critical nutrients, such as folic acid, vitamin D, or iron, a foetus may lack the raw materials it needs to properly build its brain and other organs.

(Iron-deficient infants are shyer, fussier, and less sociable.) Children born to women who are pregnant during a famine, for example, are more susceptible to heart disease and depression when they grow up. Starved foetuses build smaller organs with fewer blood vessels, which can lead to high blood pressure later on. Animal research suggests that not eating enough in the first days after conception can increase the potential for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which is why women should eat well while trying to get pregnant.

But eating too much is also risky. When women gain more than the recommended weight during pregnancy (25 to 35 pounds for healthy women), their children are 48 per cent more likely to be overweight at the age of seven. A high-fat diet during pregnancy reshapes rat offspring’s brains, making them crave fatty foods and putting them at risk for lifelong obesity.

The negative effects of drinking while pregnant are well-known: Alcohol can damage key areas of the foetal brain, including the prefrontal cortex – the region responsible for planning, decision-making, and emotional restraint. What’s new and disturbing is research showing that imbibing just a couple of drinks a day during the first 50 days after conception, when a woman may not yet know she is pregnant, creates the strongest effects.

Chemicals that lurk invisibly in our clothes and furniture, in the food we eat, and in the air we breathe dominate to-

day’s world. Some, like bisphenol A, a compound in some plastic water and baby bottles, resemble hormones such as estrogen that are produced by our own bodies, which makes them potentially harmful even at very low levels because the body is primed to respond to them. There is concern that the increase in abnormalities of new-

b o r n boys’ reproductive organs—the rate of hypospadias, a birth defect of the urethra, doubled in the U.S. between 1970 and 1993—results from maternal exposure to such chemicals.

Faith, love, and compensation My sons were born free of Listeria, and in fact were healthy in every way.

But I now realise that there could be hidden problems. Twins have a harder time in utero because a mother can supply only so much food and oxygen, and they must share it. On top of that, this was my first pregnancy and I was over 35 – factors that limit the stretchiness of the blood vessels that shuttle oxygen and nutrients to the uterus. Let’s just say my foetuses were getting their supplies through a coffee stirrer instead of a straw.

And yet I remind myself: Birth is a

beginning, not an ending. Nurturing and mental stimulation can reverse the effects of a compromised pregnancy. Monk and colleagues found that four-monthold infants had high levels of stress hormones in their saliva when their mothers were anxious or depressed before the birth and unresponsive afterward.

But when moms were attuned to their babies, the infants’ cortisol levels were normal, no matter what the pregnancy was like.

If children learn good exercise and eating habits, they are unlikely to become obese or get diabetes. If their parents and other caregivers engage and nurture them, it is less likely they will develop learning or conduct disorders. “You can look at it as though the system has been primed,” says Marta WeinstockRosin, a psychopharmacologist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

“But if nothing else bad happens and everything is calm, it may well be all right.”

And with an enriched upbringing, a compromised prenatal environment might even be turned to advantage. When brain development has been altered because a pregnant woman was highly anxious, drank martinis, or ate too much mercury-tainted fish, the resulting baby may be high-strung and hard to soothe. But the same sensitivity that leads to moodiness can also confer empathy and awareness. “You might just be more able to take in what’s around you and actually do even better than average,” Monk says.

Still, there’s no getting around the fact that a mother’s experiences profoundly shape her developing baby. Now that I know this, would I live my pregnancy differently? Absolutely. I would have eaten organic as much as possible to reduce my foetuses’ exposure to toxins.

To ensure that they had all the essential building blocks to grow healthy brain tissue, I would have poured flaxseed oil over my cereal and served up kale and broccoli almost every night. (psychologytoday.com)

guyanatimesgy.com

Daughters of unloving mothers: 7 common taking stock is often the wounds -first step in healing (Part 2)

BY PEG STREEP

Lack of confidence

The unloved daughter doesn’t know that she is loveable or worthy of attention; she may have grown up feeling ignored or unheard or criticised at every turn. The voice in her head is that of her mother’s, telling her what she isn’t (smart, beautiful, kind, loving, worthy).

Her accomplishments and talents will continue to be undermined by that internalised maternal voice, unless there is some kind of intervention.

Daughters sometimes talk about feeling that they are “fooling people” and express fear that they’ll be “found out” when they enjoy success in the world.

Lack of trust

“I always wonder,” one woman confides, “why someone wants to be my friend. I can’t help myself from thinking whether there’s some kind of hidden agenda, you know, and I’ve learned in therapy that that has everything to do with my mother.”

These trust issues emanate from that sense that relationships are fundamentally unreliable, and flow over into both friend-

ships and romantic relationships. As reported by Hazan and Shaver in their work, the ambivalently attached daughter needs constant validation that trust is warranted and, in their words, these people “experienced love as involving obsession, a desire for reciprocation and union, emotional highs and lows, and extreme sexual attraction and jealousy.”

Trust and the inability to set boundaries are, as it happens, closely connected.

Difficulty setting boundaries

Many daughters, caught between their need for their mother’s attention and its absence, report that they become “pleasers” in adult relationships or are unable to set other boundaries which make for healthy and emotionally sustaining relationships. A number of unloved daughters report problems with maintaining close female friendships, which are complicated by issues of trust (“How do I know she’s really my friend?”), not being able to say ‘no’ (“Somehow, I always end up being a doormat, doing too much, and I get used or disappointed in the end”), or wanting a relationship so intense that the other person backs off.

Insecurely attached daughters often end up creating scenarios that are more like the “Goldilocks and Three Bears” story than not – never quite right but, somehow, either too “hot” or too “cold.”

This is often true in romantic relationships as well. Kim Bartholomew’s work helpfully further divides those who are avoidantly attached into two categories – “fearful” and “dismissive.” Both share the same avoidance of intimacy but for different reasons.

The “fearful” actively seek close relationships but are afraid of intimacy on all levels; they are intensely vulnerable, and tend to be clingy and dependent. The “dismissives” are armoured and detached, perhaps defensively; their avoidance is more straightforward.

Alas, both types aren’t able to get the kind of emotional connection that could move them closer to healing. (psychologytoday.com)

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thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

New Junior Communities Minister "ready to serve"

– promises to improve services in housing

D

ays after Keith Scott was removed as Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Adams-Patterson was sworn in as his replacement by President David Granger on Wednesday.

Adams-Patterson, who currently sits in the National Assembly as an A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Region 10 Member of Parliament, has been given responsibility for the Housing Department within the Ministry of Communities.

After taking the Oath of Office at the Ministry of the Presidency, the newly-appointed Minister expressed her gratitude for the confidence the Head of State has placed in her, noting that she was up for the challenge.

“I know it’s a Ministry that has a lot of work. I am always a hard-working person and I don’t intend to stop now. I am promising the people of Guyana that better will come. Some of the objectives that we have and we want to see become a reality in this Ministry, I will make it happen,” she told reporters.

The Junior Minister pointed out that among the areas she would focus on was improving the services and transaction period. She noted that she wanted persons who have already paid for their house lots to get the legal documents within three months time.

Adams-Patterson met

Newly-appointed Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Adams-Patterson taking the Oath of Office on Wednesday

with senior staff in the Housing Department on Monday and discussions were had on future plans for the sector.

Meanwhile, President Granger expressed confidence that Adams-Patterson would serve Guyana diligently as she did Region 10. “We are all well aware of Valerie’s reputation over the years and although it’s confined to mainly Region 10, she is well known for her work in the community,” he stated.

The President noted that Minister Adams-Patterson not only brought tremendous experience from Region 10 to the table but also social and entrepreneurial experience.

Last week, President Granger announced the “necessary” reshuffling of several Ministers within

his Administration in efforts to develop capacity in key policy areas. According to the Head of State on Wednesday, these changes were “necessary” since they augmented the strength of the coalition Cabinet.

Granger explained that in the case of the reassignment of Minister Cathy Hughes to head the newly established Public Telecommunications Ministry, which is now merged with the Ministry of Tourism, his decision was influenced by the need to improve the rate at which the country is being digitalised.

As it relates to the relocation of Junior Minister Scott from the housing sector to the Social Protection Ministry, Granger outlined that he has a lot of experience that would be useful in strengthening the labour relations portfolio.

In the case of newly-christened Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, the President explained that he was already responsible for the sector as Minister of Governance and National Patrimony. He noted that the re-establishment of the Natural Resources Ministry emphasised the importance Government was placing on petroleum, natural gas and other natural resources.

Meanwhile, the Head of State explained that his main objective behind the removal of Junior Minister Simona Broomes from the Social Protection Ministry to the Natural Resources Ministry was for the protection of lives in the mining sector.

He noted that Government was highly upset over the way in which the industry was operating, citing the incident last year in which 10 persons were killed after a mining pit was caved in. Additionally, the President noted that the Junior Minister has a reputation of protecting young girls from trafficking and other abuses that are prevalent in the mining sector.

When asked whether Broomes’ reassignment would be a conflict of interest given the fact that she continued to benefit from the operations of Troy Resources Limited, the President said he was not aware of the Minister’s involvement with the company. He added that if there was any such conflict of in-

terest, then it would have been brought to his attention to address, but nothing of the sort has happened.

“I am not aware of any conflict of interests at this present time… I know she has a mining background and we felt that that would be an asset, because much of what she is likely to

be involved in at Natural Resources would be ... the protection of our working people (in the mining sector),” he stated.

Against these backdrops, the Head of State believes that all of his decisions were on strong and positive ground.

US, Guyana relations “fantastic” – Ambassador Holloway

President David Granger in discussion with United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway during a courtesy call on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency

U

nited States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, following a courtesy call on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday, said, “I think relations between our two countries are fantastic right now.”

The Ambassador’s visit is his first since the beginning of the new year and as such, he took the opportunity to wish the President and the people of Guyana a productive 2016.

He also expressed hopes for continued fruitful relations between the two nations, a Government Information Agency (GINA) report stated.

Ambassador Holloway, speaking on the continued friendship and cooperation between Guyana and the United States, said, “We have a lot of areas of mutual interests; we talked about security, we talked about energy, and we talked about international issues.”

8 NEWS

thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Ruimveldt man charged with robbery under arms – previously charged for illegal guns

A

resident of West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he was slapped with multiple robbery under arms charges.

Davis Hescott, 24, of Lot 6 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, denied the allegation which stated that on December 4, 2015, in the company of others and been armed with a gun, he allegedly robbed Alicia Hinds of one BLU cellular phone valued $26,000 and Elisabeth Williams of one HTC cellphone and

one hand bag, a total value of $62,000. The unrepresented man also denied the charge which stated that on the same day in question, armed with a hand gun, he robbed Claude Blackmore of $120,000 cash.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves objected to bail citing the seriousness of the offence. Gonsalves in his objections stated that the accused is a flight risk and he may not return to court for the adjourned date. In stating his reasons for these claims, the Prosecutor related that on the day in ques-

tion at 14:45h, Hescott along with two others were armed with guns and they went into Kissoons Furniture Outlet on Main Street, Georgetown and robbed Alicia Hinds, Elisabeth Williams and Claude Blackmore.

The subsequently escaped; however, on the following day, Police ranks of Operation Dragnet tracked the suspects to Robb Street, Georgetown, where they found Hescott along with three others with two illegal firearms.

They were placed on an Identification Parade at the

Carpenter charged for stealing $10,000

A

carpenter was on Wednesday released on $10,000 bail by Magistrate Alex Moore when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for larceny.

Akeem Stanley, of Lot 867 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, denied the allegation, which read that on Christmas Day, he stole $10,000 from the Virtual Complainant (VC) Raphael Nunes. The particulars surrounding the charge were

Akeem Stanley

not revealed in court and the VC did not appear.

Stanley, who has been charged previously for robbery, made an application for bail which was not met with any objection by the prosecution. He was released on $10,000 bail and will make another appearance on February 12.

On April 1, 2014, the accused as well as three others were charged together at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for aggravated robbery.

Golden Grove Police Station and they were positively identified by the victims.

Reports are that the accused was one of the men apprehended by Police ranks on December 5.

The Accused was reportedly caught along with Ryan Hescott, Mark Anthony and Lance Corporal Aaron Eastman who were in a vehicle with an obscured licence plate, in which two unlicensed firearms with matching ammunition was found.

Hescott was denied bail and will make his next court appearance on January 20.

Alleged shampoo, body lotion thief gets bail

A

man was on Wednesday placed on $25,000 bail following a simple larceny charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Jewan Persaud accepted the allegation which stated that on January 5 at Georgetown, he stole two bottles of body lotion and one bottle of shampoo, all to a total value of $5741.

The accused related that on the day in question, he bought the items from a man who was selling them on the pavement in the city. He claimed that he subsequently went to Bounty Supermarket to purchase a packet of chowmein and was apprehended and searched by security guards, who claimed that the items belonged to the supermarket.

Police Prosecutor Gillian Simmons made no objections to bail nor did she reveal the particulars surrounding the charge.

She, however, revealed that the items which belong to the supermarket were found in the possession of the accused and are currently lodged with the Police. As such, a not guilty plea was entered on behalf of the accused and bail was granted in the sum of $25,000.

The case will continue on January 28.

Eyew tness Media Matters…

H

…to Nagamootoo

ot on the heels of Pressie rebuking his PM Nagamootoo by announcing that the media ought to be not only unfettered, but actually be assisted in “telling it as it is” – especially about the Government - Nagamootoo took it upon himself to insist he would be proceeding full steam ahead, with his initiative to create “a regulatory framework” for the media.

Nagamootoo, of course, is in charge of “Information” in this Administration – and it’s clear he sees his role as tightly controlling that flow of information. While he uttered the politically correct phrases of “allowing the private and public media to remain ‘unfettered’, he carefully parsed his words to signal his disagreement with the President when it came to the State media’s editorial policy.

He announced slyly: “the Government would not intrude into editorial policies of the free media.” He deliberately excluded the “public” or State media” from the prohibition on Government intervention. And this is significant – it signals Nagamootoo’s refusal to alter his authoritarian views on information flow. His latest adumbration is in line with the position he took when he upbraided a Chronicle reporter for reporting the Government had “blundered” when presenting the budget under his watch.

The Chronicle felt pressured enough to come out with an EDITORIAL in which it stated its job was to regurgitate the Government line – whatever that was. And since then the Chronicle has been so defensive about defending the Government and not utter anything that could even be remotely construed as even a “critique” that one could be forgiven for envisaging the editor permanently lying supine!

And it is for this reason that the media fraternity must speak out now against this back-door manoeuvre to silence the press. Today Nagamootoo talks about the “public” media – tomorrow it’ll be the rest of us. Even those in Government – must speak out against its Alliance For Change “leaders” insistence to march to their own authoritarian drum. Yesterday, Ramjattan refused to listen to Cathy Hughes on nailing our national animal’s skill to his wall – today Nagamootoo refused to listen to the President against nailing the press against a firing wall.

Every day it’s becoming more apparent that President Granger had very good reasons for refusing to hand the originally promised “governance” portfolio to Nagamootoo.

Pressie’s exposure during the campaign to the dangerous authoritarian sentiments behind Nagamootoo’s bombast must’ve tipped him off. He should spared himself the heartburn if he’d reflected why the latter’s erstwhile comrades never put him up to become even a dogcatcher.

Even dogs should have their rights respected….and they weren’t going to get it from a man(?) who’d cuss out his own grandson to get ahead.

…and Muckraker driving Govt’s agenda

Old people advised, “if you play with puppies, you’ll get bitten by fleas”. So imagine what happens if you play with a mad dog. Rabies? Well, the coalition Government has to be rueing the day it accepted all that free publicity from the Muckraker KN and it’s megalomaniac owner Mook Mohan Lall. The latter had been the biggest donor in the aptly named “Funding a United Committee for Opposition Presidency (FUCOP)” – so when the Opposition did win – he insisted they follow his agenda to a tee.

And Lall’s agenda had nothing to do with Guyana or its development – but everything to do with getting even with those his warped mind felt were doing better than he. Hell hath no fury like a publisher with a grudge. So since May 11, the Muckraker’s boss has been yelling, “Hang ‘em high” – and spare him the niceties of things like “evidence”, “due process” or – God forbid – “fairness”!

So, who in Government will have the “testicular perspicacity” to call out the Mook?

…and sub judice rule

The Commercial Court is a court. So how come the Muckraker can get away with reporting details of a case that’s before it?

No “sub judice” rule for the FUCOP press owner?

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

news

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thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Rice farmers want timely payments – Region 2 Chairman

By Indrawattie Natram

R

egion Two (PomeroonS u p e n a a m ) Chairman Devanand Ramdatt is calling on the coalition Government to put systems in place for millers to pay rice farmers in a more timely manner.

Ramdatt made this request during Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s visit to the Region for the commissioning of the Lima Pump Station.

According to Ramdatt, farmers are key partners in the building of the Region’s economy and as such, systems should be put in place to safeguard their interest. He said last crop farmers were given low prices for their paddy coupled with low grades and were paid late which forced many of them to take loans to enter the present crop in a timely manner. He said this should be avoided as rice farmers depended on the crop for a livelihood and Region Two’s economy depended on rice farmers.

The Chairman also called on the Government to look at ways in which farmers’ loans can be rescheduled

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt

at the commercial banks as many are facing serious financial trouble. He also lobbied for a subsidy on fuel, fertiliser, insecticides and spares as well as for the suspension of leases. He also called for the clearing of outfalls and the maintaining of access road leading to farmlands.

In response, the Prime Minister said that he was aware that timely payments were important for rice farmers. He said he noticed a large expansion of lands under rice cultivation and apart from a good supply of

water, farmers needed to be paid on a timely manner.

“We will have to name and shame the millers openly at forum; they need to pay the farmers so that they could go back in the fields,” Nagamootoo said.

He added that while persons were talking about a “high” price market, it was important to recognise that timely payment was vital, underscoring that at the end of the day farmers needed to make a profit. He further explained that delaying payments would mean farmers going to the banks for funds and hence incurring additional expenses and increasing production costs.

The Prime Minister stressed that millers and farmers needed to work in close partnership during the purchasing process.

Currently, more than 16,000 acres of land are under rice cultivation and many fields are thirsty for water along the Essequibo Coast. Farmers in the past have suffered tremendously owing to delayed payments.

Many families within the Region depend solely on rice cultivation for their livelihood.

Flood warning issued as spring tide approaches

R

esidents along the coast in Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice are asked to be prepared for possible flooding as another spring tide period approaches.

The advisory was sent out by the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s Chief Sea and River Defence Officer Kevin Samad. “The general public (are advised) to take all necessary precautions during the spring tides period of January 8, 2016 to January 15, 2016.

The predicted tide indicates above-normal levels for this impending period,” the release from the Ministry stated.

According to the Sea and River Defence Department, areas along the country’s coastline are considered to be particularly susceptible to possible flooding as a result of storm surges which may induce overtopping of sea/river defence structures.

These areas include: Johanna Cecelia, Cullen/ Perseverance, Essequibo Coast; Charity and along the Pomeroon River Banks.

Also Zeelandia/Moor Farm, Marionville/Bendorff, Good Success/Sarah on Wakenaam and Thierens/ Success, Maryville, Cane Field/Amsterdam, Endeavour/Blenheim on Leguan may also be affect-

Persons are asked to take precautionary measures as spring tide approaches

ed.

Residents of Crane to Ruimzigt and Anna Catherina to Leonora, West Coast Demerara, are also asked to be prepared, along with those living in Parika, Look Out and Salem/Sparta on the East Bank of Essequibo.

Water Street and Kingston in Georgetown as well as Ogle, ECD, to Mosquito Hall/Unity, ECD residents, will have to be on the lookout as well.

Residents in Bush Lot/ Maida on the Corentyne and those along the East Bank of Berbice River are also being asked to take precautionary measures.

The highest tides dur-

ing this period are expected to be on Monday, January 11, 2016, at 17:09h at a height of 3.10 metres and on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, at 17:53h at a height of 3.09 metres.

In addition to the mentioned locations, all persons residing along the banks of rivers and low-lying coastal areas are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flooding.

Precautions should also be taken by all mariners, including those operating fishing vessels and larger vessels. Use of beaches and foreshore areas for recreational purposes during this period is not advisable.

H1N1 victim succumbs in US

T

he Guyanese patient who was infected with the H1N1 virus (swine flu) died at an overseas hospital while seeking medical treatment for the disease.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton confirmed on Wednesday that the male patient had died.

The man had returned to Guyana from China via the United States but had transited in Trinidad and Tobago where the virus is rampantly spreading.

After falling ill upon his return to Guyana, he was admitted to a private hospital where he was monitored for two weeks before family members took him to the United States for treatment.

Measures were immediately put in place to track all the persons who were in contact with the patient for monitoring of symptoms of the virus.

They have not developed or displayed any symptoms of the disease; however, they are still being monitored.

The H1N1 is transmitted in the same way as the seasonal flu. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing.

Symptoms include coughing, fever, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, headaches, chills and fatigue.

Persons who appear to have the symptoms are urged to use a swab and get a sample of their body fluid to the National Reference Laboratory, located at Thomas and New Market

Streets, which has already been placed on high alert.

The Minister had explained that the National Reference Laboratory would run preliminary tests to determine whether or not persons were infected with the H1N1 virus.

If technicians suspect this is the case, then the sample will be sent to the advanced Caribbean Laboratory for confirmation.

There are currently no other suspected cases of the deadly swine flu virus.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, january 7, 2016

News

15,000 ounces of gold smuggled weekly – Trotman – FBI, Homeland Security get involved

S

ome 15,000 ounces of gold are being smuggled out of Guyana on a weekly basis and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States (US) Homeland Security along with local authorities are investigating the situation, with several miners already under Government’s radar.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman stated during a press conference on Wednesday, that the smuggling of gold has evolved into a worrying problem for Guyana.

He disclosed that the gold is often smuggled to Brazil, Suriname, Miami and the Middle East. He stated too that not all the gold being illegally exported is from Guyana.

“There are indications that gold is coming from Colombia, Venezuela, passing through weak or poorer systems in Guyana,” he stated.

According to Trotman, Guyana loses about 5060 per cent from its yearly production as a result

15000 ounces of gold is smuggled on a weekly basis

of the smuggling. The Guyana Gold Board recently recorded 451,490 ounces of declared gold, surpassing last year’s target of 380,000 ounces – making the mineral the largest earner of foreign currency for the country. The mineral raked in approximately $500 million in export earnings.

Therefore, Guyana’s gold declaration could far exceed the current figures if measures are put in place to clamp down on the smuggling.

However, it is not quite an easy undertaking as it sounds, the Minister interjected. He explained that individuals smuggle gold not only because of the current royalty rates but also to avoid paying taxes or to obtain illicit money.

Trotman also revealed that there are weaknesses in the current system in place for gold declarations which makes it easy for gold to be smuggled.

Meanwhile, the FBI and US Homeland Security recently met with the Public

Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Trotman to discuss the issue of smuggling.

“I believe the fact that both the FBI and Homeland Security were in Guyana would mean persons are on the radar,” Trotman disclosed.

However, he declined to disclose the names of the persons being monitored.

Back in 2009, gold declarations were 305,178 ounces, while in 2010 declarations rose to 308,438 ounces. In 2011, gold declarations amounted to 363,083 ounces increasing to 438,645 ounces in 2012.

The following year, 2013, the gold industry achieved total declarations

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

of 481,087 ounces, representing the highest level of production in the history of the industry. However, in 2014, gold declarations

dropped by almost 20 per cent compared to the previous year, ending at 387,508 ounces.

Missing British teen

Godbrother disappears as Police probe continues A s the Guyana Police Force continues to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Britain national Dominic Bernard, investigators are now hunting for the relative whom the teenager was visiting.

The 18-year-old travelled to Guyana on October 14, 2015, and while records show that the young man arrived in the country, he has since vanished without a trace. The young man was reportedly visiting his god brother, Aaron Hing, who resides in Kildonan, Corentyne, Berbice.

However, the missing teenager’s father, Andrew Bernard, told reporters on Tuesday that his god son was reportedly unaware of the teenager’s visit. “It appears that Aaron was unaware that Dominic was making this trip,” Andrew stated.

But when contacted on Wednesday, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that the Police had gone to Hing’s residence in Berbice on several occasions but the man was nowhere to be found and the house remains locked.

“So he is now a person of interest in the investigation,” Blanhum stated. The Crime Chief explained that while the teenager has reportedly been missing since mid-October, the Police were only informed of the matter on Monday.

This publication understands that after not hear-

Missing: 18-year-old Dominic Bernard

ing from the teenager since his left London, his father made contact with Hing asking to speak with Dominic.

However, Hing claimed that he never picked up the teenager from the airport; in fact, he did not even know the young man was coming to Guyana.

This newspaper was further told that Andrew Bernard arrived in Guyana on Friday last and the following day, he met with his god son. Then on Monday, Bernard reported his missing son to the Police.

According to records, 18-year-old Dominic Bernard left London on flight BW903 at 12:50h on October 14, and arrived in Trinidad at 17:30h the same day. He then boarded flight BW483 from Port of Spain to Georgetown, arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 21:50h.

Airport records show that the young man cleared immigration at the CJIA but unfortunately, his trail ended there. This newspaper was told that associates of the Bernard family had gone to review the surveillance footage at the CJIA on Monday in hopes of finding a lead. However, the airport has a rollover system of 60 days and the footage from October 14 was no longer in the system.

Dominic is six foot tall with medium build and has black hair longer on top than on the sides of his head. At the time of his travel, he was wearing blue jeans, a white sweatshirt with a black leather jacket with fabric sleeves. He was also wearing white Nike sneakers.

The young man was carrying a suitcase and hand luggage. He was said to have a large amount of cash on him.

The worried father is also asking persons who might have seen the young man boarding a taxi or saw him anywhere else in Georgetown or Guyana to contact them immediately. “I urge anyone who flew on those flights or who may have sat with my son or may have spoken to him to please contact me. Any bit of information, however small, will be helpful,” the man pleaded.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Dominic Bernard is asked to call telephone number 695-9065 or email his father at andrew@ andlin.co.uk or contact the Police.

thursday, january 7, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Deadly SOCU pursuit

Opposition roasts GDF, police for use of “terror tactics”

PPP/C Chief Whip and a former Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira

P

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip and a former Home Affairs Minister under the PPP/C Government Gail Teixeira has described the recent move by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to stake out Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington’s home as “sinister”, adding that the parties involved must come out and say who really gave the order.

She said too that the move was a violation of one’s human rights; an argument already held by some sections of civil society. The surveillance on the vehicle, which was being driven by a male with the female in the passenger seat on December 30 last, has left Army Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacey dead after the vehicle they were travelling in slammed into a canter, which was driven by Prashad Nagar resident,

Linden Eastman. Eastman also died on the spot.

The Army on Tuesday came out defending its involvement, saying that the young sergeant and father of two young children was

Linden Eastman

doing nothing out of the ordinary. It said that it was “normal” for the Defence Force to offer support to other law enforcement bodies on operations of a similar nature.

The Defence Force also argued that Pyle, who was a member of its Special Intelligence Unit, was working as part of Operation Dragnet; an ini-

tiative announced last year

by Government to tackle the out-of-control crime situation in the country.

But Teixeira told a media briefing on Wednesday that both entities must come to fore with answers as to who really gave the order which claimed the lives of the three persons.

“The GDF and the Police have to come out and say if they were tracking Brassington’s daughter… If your interest in a particular person, there are mechanisms to doing it and not chasing them down the road. It is not the question of who was the target; it is the question of the methodology. If someone is under watch list, there are procedures and practices so the Police are well aware. To give chase particularly when it turns out they may have been at the wrong place and may have been chasing the wrong people, they have to answer to this,” Teixeira told the media.

She recalled that at the formation of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), under the previous Administration, the Army was never involved in the unit’s operations.

She said that as far as she knew, the only time the Army was invited to lend support was during the period she was Minister of Home Affairs back in 2002, when the heated crime wave began.

According to Teixeira, the President at that time made a decision to bring out the Defence Force to assist the Police.

She reminded too that

Croal Street accident

Victim still unconscious T

he pedal cyclist who was struck down at Croal Street on Tuesday evening, by motor car HC 5336 is still in an unconscious state at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The man has been identified as Tyron Tinness, 20, a labourer of Lot 35 Norton Street, Worthmanville, Georgetown.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, Tinness has not regained consciousness since Tuesday evening. This newspaper was told that the man received injuries to his head

and neck, causing severe head and neck trauma.

He is currently in the Emergency Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital and is being closely monitored by doctors. This publication was told that Tinness was riding his bicycle on Vlissingen Road at about 18:00h and was attempting to cross over to Homestretch Avenue, when he was struck.

Guyana Times was also told that Tinness after being hit, fell onto the road.

He was said to be bleeding profusely from his mouth.

Public spirited persons rushed him to Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains a patient.

“I saw that there was seconds left on the traffic light and when I reach near Croal Street, I saw this guy on the bicycle speeding across and I mash brakes to avoid hitting him, but instead of him stopping, he still continued across the road and I struck him and end up inside of the trench,” he explained.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Sergeant Robert Pyle

the then Opposition, now Government, had cried this move, but it was all an attempt to help control the raging crime spree through the joint operation.

In this case, however, she said it is one of more questions than answers.

“If you are going to search people’s places, it must be done within the confines of the law. What reason could there be for you to be chasing anybody?

This is not a robbery, this is not a person running out of house with guns and therefore you have to give chase.

And that is scary. That is not something that should

be treated lightly and heads of the Army and Police have to answer,” the Opposition’s Chief Whip said.

“Did they give the order and do they take the responsibility for what happened that night. If they are playing Pontius Pilate and have washed their hands, then who gave the order… which agency gave the order?” she questioned.

Meanwhile, Karen Desouza, Head of Red Thread told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the operation was a “tragedy of errors” and lacked seriousness, noting that she would not even go into the details about the violation of human rights.

“I honestly do not understand why a serious investigation would be introduced by the number of media teasers that we’ve had by the failure to secure any evidence or documentation. I just find it extremely… ridiculous.”

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also weighed in on the matter, calling for answers from the relevant authorities.

“Since these media re-

Stacey Pyle

ports have not been refuted by the relevant authorities, the Commission calls upon the Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and the Commissioner of Police to bring clarity as to whether the allegations in the media are true and whether this was an authorised assignment carried out on behalf of either of these agencies. This matter has caused immense apprehension in the business community and we believe that answers are needed, not only by us, but by the larger society”, the PSC said.

12 news Vendors protest outside President’s office thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

– claim M&CC cheating them

W

hat had been decades of hard work seemed to have been reduced to nothingness for vendors of the Merriman Mall, Bourda, Georgetown, who were on Wednesday morning stunned by the sudden move by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to have them remove from their place of business.

That move sparked much criticism and the angry mob took their cries to the gates of the Ministry of the Presidency.

The vendors gathered outside the President’s Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office and their irate rants became a sound warning to President David Granger, that if he did not step in to remedy the situation, then there might be trouble.

Close to 30 vendors, many of whom have been selling for close to 35 years at the Merriman Mall, complained that the M&CC was cheating them for no apparent reason.

The vendors said they turned up Wednesday morning, unaware that the Council had made the decision to move them.

Deokie Persaud told this publication that she has been vending at the Merriman Mall for over 30 years.

“I have been selling since mud was there. When mud was there, we had to pay junkie them to throw sand.

Now when we develop it, and it looking better, now for we to stay and inherit it, they don’t want us there. I

Vendors outside the Ministry of the Presidency

came this morning and I buy a set of load and all my perishable goods left there,” she lamented.

She said the Council recently told them that they needed to buy new items including polling sticks and garbage bins. “Why they make us invest so much money and now make us move?” she questioned.

Kalicharan Rooplall, whose wife has been selling plants for over 15 years at the Mall, said what was going on now has never happened before under the previous Governments.

“President Burnham, President Hoyte, President Jagan and all the Presidents have been allowing us. I want Mr Granger to know that this thing is carrying a bad reflection on you, sir. If you know it or not, it carry a

bad reflection on you and the poor people. We are just hustling, sir… we have mortgage to pay, we have children to mind. All we want is to sell and eat,” the angry Rooplall said.

Marlyn Defreitas has been a vendor at the Mall for 33 years from the time it “was nothing to something”.

“I don’t feel that is fair what they have done. That is bullyism,” she said with a rousing chorus from the crowd.

She said no one came and notified them that they were going to be removed from the Mall. “Why must it happen like that; we have families, we have families, what happens to them; what happens to the farmers who depend on us to buy their produce? This is not fair, “she said.

Others said they were in-

formed through the media.

They said it was disgraceful that although the Council has a contact number for

each of the vendors, nothing was communicated to them.

The M&CC on Monday said that it was placing a temporary suspension on vending on the Mall between Orange Walk and Cummings Street, Bourda.

It said it observed that the area was untidy and not in keeping with the vision to keep the city clean.

But the Council has been at odds with these vendors for quite some time now.

Back in October last year, members of the Council pounced upon them, destroying their stalls and items without any proper explanation or prior notice.

Later that same month, Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase Green had warned that if vendors did not comply with an order to become uniformed, they would lose

Mayor Hamilton Green

out on the opportunity to continue. Efforts were made to contact City Council for a comment on the situation but these were unsuccessful.

Broomes sweeps aside “conflict of interest” concerns

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes at the press conference

J

unior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes sees nothing wrong with her managing the mining sector even though she is the owner of three lucrative mining properties.

Concerns of a possible conflict of interest emerged following Broomes’ transfer from the Social Protection Ministry to the Natural Resources Ministry, particularly because of her personal involvement in the mining industry.

However, during a press conference at Cara Lodge Hotel on Wednesday, the Minister insisted that there was no conflict of interest.

“I don’t see a conflict of interest. I have three mining properties in the Issano area, and Pharsalus and I had a contract gone back years and if they are to mine the area, it is simple

we come back to the table if I am to get a percentage or if they are going to buy me out and that is simple. I don’t see any conflict of interest there and that is very straightforward,” she said.

Asked whether she had indicated to President David Granger her interest in being a part of the Natural Resources Ministry, Broomes stated, “The President is the President and I am happy just to serve…I’ve always had an interest in the mining sector…I’ve had several conversations with the President: he knows my passion; we’ve campaigned together and there’s no secret between I and the President.”

Moreover, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman posited that should a situation arise which may be perceived as a conflict of

interest, he will intervene and resolve the matter.

“She would not be the only Minister who has mining properties or business interest. Many former Ministers have vast financial and business holdings.

In the event that there is a perception that there is a conflict in anything that the Minister is dealing with, I will take over and make sure she is kept at arm’s length from that,” he said, noting that he was not the holder of any mining claims nor had he any interest in the area.

Broomes will be responsible for overseeing the occupation, health, safety and protection of workers’ rights in the mining and forestry sector. Additionally, she will be tasked with ensuring compliance of laws and regulations in the forestry and mining industries.

news

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thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Moraikobai child falls to death Police, US working Cane Grove murder

R

egional health authorities in Region Five (Demerara-Berbice) are probing allegations that the unavailability of medical staff at the Moraikobai Health Centre, as well as the unavailability of the regional health boat led to the death of a three-year-old girl who fell from a building.

Relatives of the threeyear-old, who was only identified by her last name Jacobus, said that on December 31, 2015, she fell from a resource centre located in the Moraikobai community.

The child was at the time on the top floor of the building, along with other children, making a cell phone call and was not paying attention when she slipped and fell from the building.

Guyana Times was told that the child was rushed to the Community’s Health Centre but there was no

medical staff available to provide assistance. The parents when alerted tried to access the Government’s health boat to transport the child to the Mahaicony Hospital as the second option, but that too was unavailable.

They had to seek private transportation four hours after the accident which resulted in the child’s death while on her way out, in the Mahaicony River.

Speaking with this newspaper on Wednesday about the issue, Regional Health Officer of Region Five, Avinash Persaud confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident.

He was unable to give any details as to the status of that investigation.

“We do have adequate health staff, but it is because of the remoteness of the location. There is a Medic; we have two community health

workers who are attached to that centre. I have to verify whether there was any health workers available at that moment. I cannot confirm or deny as the process is currently under investigation and to give you that information with certainty, I haven’t been able to determine, because that is what is being said,” Persaud noted.

He, however, said that there were challenges in providing health services in hinterland communities.

“Remote location like any other places in Guyana when you have one health worker and something happens, the person leave and then unfortunately and most sadly is that when accidents or anything do happen, it’s not like the person might have abandoned their post but they might be attending to some other medical related issue; and clearly perhaps unfortunately something can hap-

pen during that period,” he added.

He noted that efforts were ongoing to fully staff the health centre so as to avoid a recurrence of such a situation.

“The issue with us not having adequate staff is not a problem; it’s a remote problem countrywide. Persons are going to be assigned to the area. We have lots of ongoing training for all categories of staff which should be completed anytime soon. So the people in Moraikobai and other regions would be able to benefit.”

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal met with the dead child’s father and he too was informed that no medical personnel was at the health centre at the time of the incident.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

CAL aircraft to be branded with Guyana’s 50th anniversary logo

A

s part of Guyana’s celebration of its 50th independence anniversary, three Caribbean Airlines aircraft will be carrying the anniversary logo.

This initiative is collaboration between Guyana and Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL).

The unveiling of these specially branded aircraft will be held on January 15 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri. A number of Government officials, as well as several managers from Caribbean Airlines, are expected to witness the unveiling and taking off of the aircraft.

The 50th anniversary logo will be on CAL’s 737/800 Boeing aircraft. These planes will be travelling to all CAL destinations in the United States of America, Canada and the Caribbean.

Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration was officially launched on December 31, as the New Year was ushered in. The event, “Roaring of the

Those who attended the event got a glimpse of what to expect during the Independence celebrations in 2016. Over the next few months, Government will be hosting various activities as the much-anticipated May 26 celebrations draw near.

Golden Jubilee”, was held at the Independence Arch,

Brickdam, Georgetown, and attended by thousands.

Guyana's banking system ...

from page 3

This newspaper understands that the sitting Minister who made complaints about the money reportedly ending up in his account has responsibility for the Ministry of Communities under the new Government.

Attempts to contact SARU’s Head for a comment and confirmation that it was still actively probing the case, regardless of the Central Bank’s findings, proved futile.

Impact on local sector

Since the publication of the article, social media debates and other news sites within the country and abroad have flagged the story.

Sources at Republic Bank

in Guyana and Trinidad have also been bombarded by calls from customers and other stakeholders about the news report which linked it to money laundering.

The constant inquiries and calls from customers prompted the Bank to issue a press statement in the media denying any wrongdoing and involvement in money laundering.

“If the article went unchallenged, then the Bank’s integrity would be undermined and the financial institution’s reputation damaged significantly by the spurious report. Were it me, I would sue both SARU, Kaieteur News and its publisher for the publication of such erroneous and mislead-

ing information,” one observer said.

The article also raised brows among financial experts who noted that it sent the wrong impression to the wider world about the integrity of Guyana’s financial sector and the agencies, especially banking institutions, operating therein.

“It appears to be politically coated and it is amazing that days after Parliament voted with support from the Government to pass laws making people’s banking and personal information available during certain probes that such information could remain in the public domain and be slanted, falsified and changed,” another said.

to find Cane Grove murder suspect

C

rime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that local law enforcement officers have been in contact with their US counterparts with the aim of arresting one of the three bandits who were implicated in the murder of Deokumar Basdeo, 22, of Sawah Village Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara.

The bandit had fled to the United States.

During a telephone interview on Wednesday, Crime Chief Blanhum also stated that the second suspect was still on the run, but the Police have launched a manhunt for him.

The third suspect, he added, is expected to be charged today. Blanhum stated that legal advice was sought and it was recommended that a murder charge be instituted against the suspect.

Basdeo, a father of one, succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown

Public Hospital after he was severely beaten and robbed on New Year’s Day. It was reported that the now dead man attended a traditional event called “Greasy Pole” in the village and subsequently took a few drinks at one of the shops.

While at the shop, he reportedly got into an argument with a group of men who had travelled into the village to witness the activities. After sometime, the argument ceased and Basdeo left the drinking spot.

After he left the shop, the same group of men followed him in their motor car and in the vicinity of “Jango House”, he was pulled into the vehicle where he was severely beaten and relieved of his personal items.

After the men were done, they dumped him out of the moving vehicle. He was subsequently found in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died a few hours later.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, January 7, 2016

News

Multimillion-dollar metering contract

Govt still to launch investigation A

lmost three months have passed since damning evidence surfaced implicating acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Colin Welch in interfering in a multimillion-dollar prepaid metering contract.

Up to press time, no investigation has been launched into this matter despite assurance from Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson that the new GPL Board would be in charge of investigating this matter.

Guyana Times understands that the life of the old Board at GPL had expired even before the scandal of Welch’s involvement in the prepaid metering tender process was brought to light.

However, it is unclear as to when the inquiry into the allegations against the GPL CEO (ag) would commence, since to date, the Minister has failed to appoint this new Board which he stated would be responsible for carrying out the necessary investigation.

Additionally, the Public Infrastructure Minister had also declared that during the period of investigation into this matter, Welch would not be sent on leave to facilitate this process.

Less than four months after being controversially appointed, Welch found

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

himself in hot water after evidence surfaced about his interference in the multimillion-dollar contract.

Reports are that Welch reportedly asked a supplier to lie about the specifications with regard to the tender for the supply of thousands of prepaid meters valued at over US$4 million.

In April last, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) closed the bids, with Tesco PLC, a British company winning the contract and undertaking to supply the prepaid meters to Guyana.

It was stated that Tesco was going to procure the meters from Shenzhen Clou Electronics Company Limited of China to supply to GPL. Subsequently, one bidder raised an objection about

the evaluation and award, claiming that Tesco’s supplier does not manufacture the 100-amp meters required by GPL. Another objection raised was in relation to the inspection of the meters.

As such, the Tender Board wrote both Tesco and Shenzhen, seeking clarifications.

It was during the waiting period for responses that the controversially appointed Welch allegedly contacted the Chinese company stating that it must also lie about having the 100-amp prepaid meters available in other countries.

The acting CEO of GPL was elevated from Deputy CEO – Technical following the ‘dismissal’ of former CEO Bharat Dindyal in August last.

At that time Welch was accused of forging his credentials. In early August, Welch had clashed with Dindyal at GPL’s Sheriff Street offices after the then CEO overturned a decision to send home two senior staffers.

The decision by the Government not to have Welch proceed on leave has caused many to accuse the Administration of double standards.

It must be reminded that when the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition came into office, it sent

GPL CEO (ag) Colin Welch

several heads of agencies on leave to allow for investigations and audits.

Less than one month after gaining power in the 2015 elections, the APNU/ AFC Administration amid controversy surrounding several officials being requested to proceed on leave revealed that these requests were made to political appointees in an attempt to facilitate investigations.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had told the

media that Government had adopted a position to investigate the “credibility” and “integrity” of those individuals.

However, to facilitate these investigations, the Minister noted that persons were requested to proceed on leave.

“These investigations must be unhindered and unimpeded,” Bulkan had asserted.

Also in July last year, Head of the E-Governance Project, Alexei Ramotar was sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation into the financial aspects of the ailing project.

The announcement had been made by the Ministry of the Presidency which said that the State agency “decided to conduct an investigation into the financial arrangements of the E-Government Project. As a direct result, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has instructed Project Manager Alexei Ramotar to proceed

on administrative leave with immediate effect”.

It was explained that Minister Harmon initiated this move to ensure “proper facilitation of these investigations”.

Meanwhile, last December, the Government also sent National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Executive Director Winston Brassington and his Deputy, Marcia NadirSharma on leave.

This was shortly after Cabinet had deliberated on the forensic audit report on NICIL and instructions were sent that the report be forwarded to the Guyana Police Force and the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU).

While this is being done, the Cabinet also gave clear instructions for Brassington and Nadir-Sharma, to be sent immediately on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations.

PPP/C stands firm with Edghill on salary increases figure

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) said it stood resolutely behind its Member of Parliament (MP) and former Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill over the figures he presented in the National Assembly last month, representing what he said was the cost of the Government’s salary increases on the public coffers over the next five years.

His pronouncement then was later greeted by a threat

by Government to be placed before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. But the PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira told a news conference on Wednesday, that after going through the figures presented by Edghill, the Party has vowed its support.

According to Teixeira, Edghill had calculated that the increases announced by Government would cost the public coffers some $1 billion over the five-year period.

“They threatened that they will be taking the Bishop to the Committee of Privileges. We have gone through the figures and found that the figure given by the Bishop on the floor is valid and we stand by the calculation that he has made,” Teixeira said.

She noted that now that another Minister has been added to the list, the figure would be further adjusted.

Former Junior Finance Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill

Government, through the Official Gazette during the latter part of last year, announced that it had hiked the salaries of its Ministers, an announcement that was met with utter disgust from the public, particularly, the working class. The argument was that Government, during the campaign trail, had promised that it would first look at a significant salary hike for Public service workers, a promise that was not kept.

On September 25, following the Minister’s budgetary presentation in the National Assembly, the Government gazetted the increases without being forthcoming with the media and public that it had indeed worked out the scale, quantum and criterion for the increases which many believed were not going to be pursued within the new Government’s first

months in office.

In the Official Gazette published on September 25, it is stated that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will be benefiting from over $20 million per annum, while the other Vice Presidents will each receive $11,135,064.

Under the APNU/AFC Government, a Cabinet Minister would receive the hefty sum of $10,439,124 – annually – in excess of $300,000 more than previous Ministers and a Junior Minister or a Minister within a Ministry would be paid $8,346,492 per annum.

In addition to the increased salary for Prime Minister Nagamootoo of $1.7 million monthly, an increase of over $200,000 each month, he would be drawing vacation benefits and perks totalling more than another $500,000.

thursday, January 7, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News

Man, dog spotted dead Pensioners starving under the APNU/ on French-flagged yacht AFC Govt – senior citizens

– Coast Guard dispatched

T

he Coast Guard of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were on Wednesday evening dispatched into the Atlantic Ocean to investigate a report that a man and a dog were seen dead on a Frenchflagged yacht which was adrift. This newspaper understands that the GDF received the information from an oil tanker in the area on Tuesday, but had not dispatched ranks immediately until proper confirmation.

Guyana Times was told that the area where the yacht was spotted is some 150 miles offshore Guyana.

Fisherman’s death

Trawler crew arrested

A

n investigation has been launched into the death of the Meten-Meer-Zorg fisherman, whose body was discovered on Monday in the Berbice River.

Shahabudeen Haniff, 49, of Lot 191 West Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was discovered dead in the net of a fishing vessel after it was alleged that he fell off a trawler he was working on.

Family members of the victim told this newspaper that the other crew members of the trawler that Haniff was on were all arrested and were being held at a police station in Berbice for questioning as foul play was suspected.

According to reports received, Haniff, who has been working at sea on trawlers for about 12 years, left for work on Sunday evening and around 06:00 h on Monday, the family, received a call stating that he was missing.

His body was then discovered around 14:00h by a fishing vessel entangled in a fishing seine.

Family members travelled to Georgetown where they identified his body.

Bibi Zamill Khan, the sister of Haniff, told Guyana Times that her brother had no enemies as he has been living alone for quite a number of years since he and his wife separated.

“Shahab came by me and he was unhappy about going on the trawler this time around. He did not explain his reasons for this, but he was adamant that he did not want to go.”

She added that the other members of the crew had to make several calls to him as he was not going to go with them

Shahabudeen Haniff

before he decided to take the trip.

She further stated that the crew was not the usual team he would go to sea with.

“We are not familiar with the persons that he worked with this time, so we can’t say who the others are. They did not contact us to give us any information whatsoever, we just heard that they were arrested. He usually does not disclose to us where he is going to work, all he says is that he is going on the trawler,” she explained.

She also told this newspaper that as Haniff was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, they were not comfortable with him working at sea as it was usually dangerous and his dying at sea has confirmed their fears.

She also disclosed that they did not receive a lot of information from the Police, but that they did receive some information stating that the crew members were arrested and there was a suspicion of foul play.

Juliet, another sister of Haniff, expressed her sadness to lose her brother, whom she described as a very down to earth and loving person who loved children.

Haniff leaves to mourn his two children and siblings.

G

uyanese senior citizens who attain the age of 65 are eligible to receive a pension regardless of their status, without discrimination.

Over the past years, a programme was implemented by the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government to assist old age pensioners with the payment of their electricity and water bills.

Pensioners who benefited from this venture were extremely grateful and expressed their gratitude for the assistance.

But everything changed when the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government took over.

Senior citizens had their pensions increased by $3875 from $13,125 to $17,000.

However, the most enjoyed subsidies were slashed unbeknownst to the public by the present Administration who cited that “most pensioners are unable to benefit from these subsidies due to the fact most of them are living in catchment areas, where water and electricity are not accessible or they are not registered owners of water and electrical meters, so the decision was made”.

The Government defended this move by stating also that the Guyana Power and

Light (GPL) was not fully equipped to manage the funds associated with the electricity subsidy.

An official from the Social Protection Ministry, Terrence Esseboom told Guyana Times that the electricity and water subsidies were ceased during the latter part of September 2015, owing to the fact there was an increase in Old Age Pension.

He posited also that 42,000 old age pensioners were supposed to be benefiting from the subsidies; however, only 11,000 benefited.

Because of this reason, the Government saw it fit to end the programme, he said.

Speaking with this publication, former Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand, on the other hand, explained that, under the past Administration, in order to benefit from these subsidies, there was a cri-

terion, which stated that water and electrical meters had to be registered in the name of the pensioner applying for the subsidy.

She posited also that the implementation of the water subsidy commenced prior to 2006 and the electricity subsidy before 2011.

They served as a great relief to a significant portion of pensioners who were already burdened with other expenses to take care of.

A concerned pensioner related to Guyana Times that “it’s difficult to survive on that small change. I’m not even in a position to purchase quarter of my monthly grocery basket from my pension”.

“I am now scraping for money to meet my bills; I have to burden my daughter, who already don’t earn enough for herself and her children. I trying to cut back on some stuff but how much you could cut back on? I gah

hurt me head over all this.

Is too much stress. Nah, best I dead and gone,” Tessa McKenzie, a 70-year-old woman, had told this publication.

McKenzie said she was grateful for the money added to the pension; however, she simply could not comprehend the rationale behind removing the subsidies. “I don’t get it. What sense it make really, eh?” she noted While she could not give precise figures, the woman, who lives by herself in Kitty, Georgetown, noted that the subsidies which were previously offered definitely lessened her financial burden.

“I never had to worry about the light bills and the water bills. When the month come, it was just a $2000 for the light bill and like a $4000 for the water bill, ‘cause it’s me alone and how much one old lady gonna use up? So the pension I used to get was good ‘cause at least I had left over to buy my ‘lil groceries. Now, it’s like all my pension going behind the bills,” McKenzie stated.

And this is the prevailing situation for hundreds of pensioners across the country who, instead of enjoying their wonderful retirement years, now have to struggle to make ends meet just to survive.

North Korea says successfully conducts first H-bomb test, experts cast doubt

N

orth Korea said it successfully tested a miniaturised hydrogen nuclear bomb on Wednesday, prompting scepticism among experts and officials who doubt Pyongyang has achieved such a major advance in its strike capability.

The test, the fourth time the isolated state has exploded a nuclear device, was ordered by leader Kim Jong Un and successfully conducted at 10:00h local time (0130 GMT), North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said.

“Let the world look up to the strong, self-reliant

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signed the document authorising a hydrogen bomb test on December 15, 2015

nuclear-armed state,” Kim wrote in what North Korean state TV displayed as a handwritten note.

South Korean intelligence officials and several analysts questioned whether Wednesday’s explosion was a test of a full-fledged hydrogen device, pointing to the fact that it was roughly as powerful as North Korea’s last atomic test in 2013.

But the development unnerved South Korea and Japan and drew international criticism, including from China and Russia, North Korea’s two main allies.

United Nations Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon condemned North Korea’s action, calling it “profoundly destabilizing for regional security”, while US House Speaker Paul Ryan said it “looks like a provocation”.

No countries were given advance warning of a nuclear test, South Korea’s intelligence service said, according to lawmakers briefed by intelligence officials. In previous such tests, Pyongyang had notified China, Russia and the United States beforehand, they said. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Caribbean journalists prepare to report on climate change

E

nvironmentally committed Journalists in the Caribbean point to a major challenge for media workers: communicating and raising awareness about the crucial climate change agreement that emerged from the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris.

The 195 country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in the French capital adopted a binding universal agreement aimed at keeping a global temperature rise this century “well below two degrees Celsius” with respect to the pre-industrial era.

Scientists warn that the planet is heating up as a result of human activity, and this is causing extreme weather events such as heat waves, lengthy droughts and heavy rainfall. In addition, clean water, fertile land and biodiversity are all being reduced.

Coastal areas are already suffering the consequences of rising sea levels, a process that according to scientific sources began 20,000 years ago, but has been accelerated by global warming over the last 150 years.

Small island nations such as those of the Caribbean are among the most vulnerable to climate change, while

their emissions have contributed very little to the phenomenon.

To train reporters from the Caribbean, a group of experts from Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic offered a November 23-26 course on “Social Communication for Risk Prevention, Gender and Climate Change” in the Dominican capital.

The course was attended by 41 journalists from Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It included three talks that experts gave to students from two rural schools and to a group of 25 HaitianDominican women. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

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thursday, january 7, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Profile: The Entrepreneur

John D. Rockefeller

J

ohn D. Rockefeller.

Henry Ford. Andrew Carnegie.

Thomas Edison. Bill Gates. Steve Jobs. Mark Zuckerberg.

Titans of industry and business, their names loom large in history. Men who changed the world dramatically and wielded enormous power.

Men who started with nothing, for the most part, but their wits and perseverance and worked hard to forge empires. Men who redefined what it meant to be a success in this world. Men who defined the world entrepreneur.

John D Rockefeller, the quintessential entrepreneur, counted as the richest person in recent history and one of the most powerful ever, with a net worth of US$392 to US$663.4 bil-

Henry Ford

Andrew Carnegie

lion in today’s figures and ownership of the most powerful corporation in history – Standard Oil, which controlled more than 90 per cent of the world’s oil at the time. He started life in July 8, 1839 as the eldest son but second born in a poor family of six children. His father was not a constant or upstanding figure in his life, a travelling philandering conman who would eventually left his family and marry another woman without bothering to divorce Rockefeller’s mother, Eliza.

Eliza Rockefeller was the pillar in young John’s life.

She was a devout homemaker who struggled to keep her family together and taught her son “wilful waste makes woeful want”.

Rockefeller displayed

A young Thomas Edison

his entrepreneurial spirit early. According to historical reports, in the midst doing his share of regular household chores, he earned extra money selling potatoes and candy, raising turkeys, and eventually lending small sums of money to neighbours. At the age of 16, Rockefeller entered the workforce as an assistant bookkeeper. His mind for numbers and accounting which had been polished by a 10-week business course in bookkeeping after high school; devout, serious, methodical and thrifty nature would serve him well. At the age of 20, he went into the produce commission business with a partner. Four years later, they built a refinery which Rockefeller leveraged into Standard Oil,

A young Bil Gates

the monopoly that revolutionised the oil industry and became so big that the US Government finally broke it up – into 34 companies, including those that would become Conoco, Amoco, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Sohio, and Pennzoil. Before he died, Rockefeller had helped establish four universities, including the University of Chicago and Spelman College; set up the Rockefeller Foundation which has given away billions of dollars; helped eradicate hookworm and founded a dynasty that continues to have a major impact on America.

And he did it all starting out with nothing but determination, smart ideas, and a willingness to work hard and take smart risks, fol-

Steve Jobs

lowing the dictum of John Wesley "gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can". A self-made man, much like the other names on our list: Henry Ford brought the affordable convenience of owning your own motorised transport to the masses; Andrew Carnegie revolutionised the steel industry and philanthropy, giving the gift of learning to millions across the world.

Our National Library was built with monies he donated; Thomas Edison gave the world electricity, making many of the marvels of modern life possible; Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of college to take their brilliant ideas to market and build them into behemoths of the technological age.

Mark Zuckerberg

As these men have shown, a few individuals can revolutionised an industry, change a country, change the world.

While their efforts were on an epic scale, thriving and plentiful Small and Mediumsized Enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of vibrant sustainable economies.

Guyana Times, as part of an effort to help foster the rise of entrepreneurship locally, will be highlighting local entrepreneurs and providing information and advice from business veterans to inspire persons to take the leap to become one as well as improve the capacity of businesses. Who will become the local Bill Gates or Steve Jobs? Do you have what it takes or know someone who might? Let’s find out.

Business News

Scotiabank in talks to sell part of commercial financing portfolio – sources

B

ank of Nova Scotia, Canada’s third biggest lender, is in discussions to sell a C$1 billion (US$715 million) vendor and equipment financing portfolio, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Scotiabank, which began the sale process a few weeks ago, is in talks with several parties, including Toronto-based Element

Financial, said three of the sources.

Two of the sources said the assets that Scotia is looking to sell are housed within its Roynat unit, which the Bank acquired about 20 years ago.

Roynat provides funding between C$250,000 and C$50 million to small and medium-sized businesses. It mainly offers financing options like term loans, asset based

Market statistics Cur

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Fixed as at January 6, 2016 Calculated at 94% purity

Selling

GBP

$ 301.93

$305.73

CAN

$146.29

$147.99

USD

$205.98

$208.44

$ 221.27

$224.11

EURO

U.S.

$1094.20

Gross

$206,187

Net

$191,754

Indicators as on January 6, 2016 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$35.97

Price

USD per Ounce

Silver

14.01

Platinum

$876.00

Live Spot Gold

Change %

-2.20 Change %

+0.02 +1.00 USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1094.20

$1095.20

Low/High

$1077.50

$1096.40

Change

+0.40

+0.04

Business concept – Entrepreneurship

E

plans to sell its similar Canadian business, have given Element reason to rethink the planned sale of its own Canadian commercial and vendor financing operations, said three of the sources.

Scotiabank declined to comment on the matter. A spokesman for Element said the firm’s strategic review around its Canadian C&V business remains ongoing. (Reuters)

Investors' guide

Cambio Rates Buying

lending and leasing to more than 1000 companies across Canada.

All four sources, who declined to be named as they are not authorised to publicly discuss the matter, said that discussions are ongoing and there is no guarantee a deal will be reached.

Scotia’s sale, coupled with commercial lender CIT Group’s recently outlined

ntrepreneurship is the process of designing a new business, ie a start-up company offering a product, process or service. The entrepreneur perceives a new business opportunity and subsequently decides to exploit the opportunity.

The time is now for a new Latin America-China Partnership to foster mutual development strategies In their annual jointly produced report, the OECD Development Centre, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and CAF –Development Bank of Latin America– call for an enhanced Latin America-China partnership. As the China-led Shifting Wealth phenomenon - where the global economy’s centre of gravity is shifting more towards emerging economies – enters a new phase, affecting the global economy, Latin America should try to face the challenges of addressing its inclusive growth agenda, say the Outlook’s authors.

Since 2000, the trade relationship between Latin America and China has experienced an exceptional expansion, multiplying 22fold, compared to a threefold increase with the world at large, says the report.

Latin America has to advance in its integration agenda, building on existing platforms such as Mercosur, the Pacific Alliance and Caricom to grasp the benefits of higher integration in global value chains.

Integration is all the more key as lower Chinese demand for commodities, together with a fall in prices, is set to continue affecting Latin American commodity exporters over the next decades: according to the projections, Latin America’s export growth will slow from 16 per cent to four per cent by 2030 in the case of metals and energy, and from 12 per cent to three per cent for food.

To seize the momentum of the new opportunities propelled by China’s new normal and to remain competitive, Latin American and Caribbean economies need, first, to pursue innovative

development policies to better cater to growing Chinese domestic demand, notably in the agro-food industry and services. Designing policies and a truly effective strategy in skills and innovation will also be essential to keep up with how China is strengthening its human capital. By 2030, nearly 200 million Chinese will have attained tertiary education, doubling the number of Latin America’s graduates.

Shifting toward skilland technology-intensive industries and optimising financing flows to close the infrastructure gap could help maximise benefits offered by China’s new normal. In this way, China can maintain Latin America as a reliable source of commodities, a sound market for its exports and an attractive destination for diversifying its outward investment. (Excerpted from ECLAC)

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news

thursday, january 7, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Double suicide rock Tourism and telecoms merger worrying to stakeholders East Berbice – 14-year-old, 20-year-old lovers hang selves

T

wo persons are now dead in a double suicide at Lonsdale, East Bank Berbice (EBB), Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) which occurred on Wednesday morning.

Dead are Sherriann Ali, 14,of Brothers Village and Deeraj Persaud, also called “Prakash”, 20, of Lonsdale.

The two were discovered in a bedroom at Persaud’s home about 7:30h hanging by the neck from ropes.

The discovery was made by Persaud’s uncle, Shafeek Ally.

Reports are that the two were lovers and Ali was two months pregnant. The two had been living together for the past two months with Persaud’s father until he passed away on December 19. However, on Monday, Police were informed of the relationship and arrested the couple. Ali was taken to see a doctor where it was confirmed that she was almost two months pregnant.

On Monday at Central Police Station, New Amsterdam, the Probation Department advised that the couple be separated and Ali remains in the custody of her guardians in the adjoining village of Brothers.

According to Persaud’s uncle, on Tuesday, Ali visited Persaud twice and returned home on each occasion. Meanwhile, Ali’s foster mother, Shaloma Lattiff said on Tuesday evening every effort was made to ensure Ali did not leave the home. According to her, they locked the teenager in a bedroom and ensured that she could not open the door. “This morning [Tuesday] when we wake up an go in the bedroom, she gone. She take out the louvers and jump through the window and gone.”

Lattiff reported the matter to the Sisters Police Station and a party of Police Officers along with family members went to Persaud’s home situated two villages away. A pad-

Dead: Sherriann Ali

Dead: Deeraj Persaud

lock was found on the outside of the door. “We knock on the door and call, but nobody answer, so we say that that they get away and gone somewhere.”

Meanwhile, Persaud’s uncle, who lives a few houses away, was alerted and went to the house as soon as the Police Officers left. “I knock on the door and call, I hear the music playing low and when I peep through a crease I see a bed on the ground, so I know that he put the padlock on the door and then jump through the window and go inside, so he got to be in the house, but he ain’t answering me.”

With that knowledge, Persaud’s uncle went to a side window and opened it.

“When I jump in the house, I see the bedroom door open and I look inside and see the two of them hanging.”

The Police were immediately alerted.

Persaud’s uncle said he was of the opinion that the couple took their lives after the Police visited. This, he said, is based on the fact that neighbours saw Persaud about 05:00h going to the outhouse. “The Police had threatened them that if they catch them together, they will lock him up and send her to girl school (Juvenile Correction Centre), so after they realise that they get catch, he probably say that he ain’t going to jail and she ain’t

going to girl school.”

Asked whether there were indications that one may have assisted the other in committing the act, Persaud’s uncle said no.

“They had a clotheshorse and they stand up on it and jump off. The two hold hands and jump off together, he had a long rope and she had a short one, he was touching the ground.”

Ali, who grew up with foster parents, quit school last year. According to Lattiff, they were never in agreement with the relationship and tried on many occasions to stop it.

“The girl use to get away and go and meet him. She keep getting away. She was stubborn,” said the woman, who believes she did what she could have done to prevent the teenager from getting sexually involved with an adult.

Persaud was described as a labourer who did odd jobs in the community.

His father died two weeks ago and his mother lives in Trinidad. Persaud’s uncle said that messages in Persaud’s cellular phone indicated that he sent text messages to his mother on Tuesday evening indicating that he was going to take his own life. Messages sent to his mother from the same phone on Wednesday morning around 05:00h read: “I love you, Mum.”

S

takeholders are worried that the submersion of the Tourism Ministry within the newly-established Telecommunications Ministry would result in the tourism industry not being given the attention it needed owing to the demanding nature of the telecommunications sector.

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, in response to these concerns, insisted that tourism remained a high priority area for the Government.

He explained that the tourism portfolio remained in full effect but had simply been twinned with the pub-

Gerald Gouveia

lic telecommunications portfolio; hence, the Ministry would now be known as the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and Tourism and would be headed by Cathy Hughes.

Khan also explained that Hughes would continue her work in building and strengthening the tourism sector with the aim of making Guyana one of the world’s leading eco-tourism destinations.

Nonetheless, those in the tourism sector are still worried that the demands of the telecommunications sector will overshadow those of the tourism.

Former Head of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Captain Gerry Gouveia told Guyana Times that this was definitely a step backward.

“It concerns me that

they’ve gone backward…

For 20 years, we lobbied and struggled for the Government to give us our own Tourism Ministry and we never got it. Under the former Administration, we struggled with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and we never got it (Tourism Ministry).

“So when this Administration came and this Administration gave us a Ministry of Tourism, I was delighted that finally tourism had its own minister and its own ministry and that finally we’d get to pay the kind of attention to the sector.”

Captain Gouveia explained that he has no doubt about Minister Hughes’ competence to manage both sectors, but he posited that the additional responsibility was going to be “astronomical” and would “definitely distract” her from giving tourism the focus it needed in order to develop Guyana.

THAG President Shaun McGrath told this newspaper that the move was definitely disappointing. He noted, however, that the name of the Ministry really did not matter once Government did not diminish its attention towards the development of the industry.

“I think it’s a general disappointment in the sector that tourism is no longer a ministry of its own… This is disappointing, but it’s not the end of the world… but the idea is not what it’s called, but it’s what it does,” McGrath stated.

On that note, he expressed hope that the Government would put the necessary measures in place to ensure adequate focus was given to the development of the tourism industry and not let it be subdued under the telecommunications sector.

“Give additional support to the Minister so she won’t have that much bigger portfolio. Give her more people so she’ll get to focus heavily on tourism...They said in the pre-election, they say it was a major development for Guyana tourism and that’s what we want to see,” he

stated.

Former Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, in an invited comment, expressed some concerns over the joining of the tourism and telecommunications sectors.

“In my opinion, aviation is more closely related to tourism than telecommunication and tourism and aviation would be a more dynamic combination from a tourism standpoint,” he said.

Ali added that great focus should be placed on strengthening three particular areas in order for the tourism sector to flourish.

“What is important is funding for marketing, prod-

Shaun McGrath

uct development and incentives for the operators within the sector. We have to first fix three things. We have a good product, but we don’t have a good enough presence on international market. We have to spend resources to fix that…,” the former Minister said. The other two areas are infrastructural development and the need for an international hospitality centre.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, upon assumption to office, had separated the former Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, citing the need for these two critical Ministries to run independently of each other in order for each sector to be given the required attention it needed to strive.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, January 7, 2016

ARCHIE

A learning experience will lead to more cash, higher self(March 21- esteem and a brighter fuApril 19) ture. Love is on the rise, and a promise can be made. Don’t let someone from your past interfere.

ARIES

Make travel plans or sign TAURUS up for something that will be (April 20- a welcome addition to your reMay 20) sume. Clear up personal paperwork and address concerns involving institutions so you can explore new avenues.

dilbert

Express your feelings and GEMINI (May 21- find out where you stand.

June 20) Hemming and hawing will not help you make plans for the future. Romance is on the rise, and a step forward should be taken.

CANCER

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

Explore your relationship options. Make a move or renovate your space to accommodate your current situation.

Don’t bicker over things you cannot change. Engage in positive action and avoid negative responses.

Sign up for an advenLEO ture or take part in some(July 23thing that is challenging if Aug. 22) you want to meet like-minded people. Love and romance are highlighted.

Step outside your comfort VIRGO zone and put an end to what(Aug. 23ever is holding you back or Sept. 22) causing you grief. Once you put negativity behind you, a window of opportunity will open.

Calvin and Hobbes

Book a trip or take time LIBRA (Sept. 23- off to share something special Oct. 23) with a loved one. Discussing your plans will give you the incentive to work hard and stick to a budget.

SUDOKU

Watch your money and SCORPIO the people you are financially (Oct. 24connected to. Offer innovative Nov. 22) ideas and incentives to make sure you get the service and help you require.

You’ll be tempted to jump SAGITTARIUS into something that requires (Nov. 23- more thought and investigaDec. 21) tion. Slow down and be smart, especially where your career and finances are concerned.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Get your act together and CAPRICORN put the past behind you. Don’t (Dec. 22- fall victim to a dishonest peer Jan. 19) or someone trying to take advantage of you. Be free with advice, but little else.

Conversations, meetings AQUARIUS (Jan. 20- and interviews will bring about Feb. 19) positive change. Don’t dwell on past regrets or let someone’s emotional indulgence drag you down. Romance will brighten the picture.

PISCES Revisit an old dilemma (Feb. 20- in order to figure out a soluMarch 20) tion. Putting the past behind you will allow you greater freedom to pursue something you’ve always wanted to do.

thursday, january 7, 2016

19

WICB/NAGICO Super 50…

Guyana Jaguars in action today against WI Volcanoes

By Akeem Greene

T

he hunt begins today at the St Paul’s Sports Complex, Basseterre, St Kitts, when Guyana Jaguars seek to win a 50-over title after some 10 years. The squad is no way short of confidence, and has a good mix of youth and experience.

Upon departure on Monday, President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Drubahadur, had the urged the players to make Guyana proud and go one step further this year and win the tournament. Confident in the ability of his charges, coach Esaun Crandon said that “we want to bring the title home.”

The burden lies on the shoulders of captain Leon Johnson, who is looking to become the first man to lead Guyana to a regional 50over title since Shivnarine Chanderpaul in 2005 in the KFC Cup. Despite the honour of leading his country, the skipper knows that a difficult task lies ahead. In the 2013/2014 season, Guyana lost to Barbados by seven wickets in the semi-final, and last year, they were clobbered by Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 135 runs in the final.

Johnson has likes of experienced West Indies leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul to lead the bowling department. The exciting feature will be to see another left-arm spinner in young Gudakesh Motie in action, and whether he can transfer the exceptional form he had in the Fourday format, where he has

Leon Johnson is looking to be the first captain since Shivnarine Chanderpaul in 2005 to win a regional 50-over title for Guyana

so far picked up 34 wickets from five matches.

Steven Jacobs and Royston Crandon are expected to chip in with their off-spin. Paul Wintz will be leading the seam bowling department, along with left-arm seamer Raymond Reifer and newcomer Romario Shepherd.

All-rounder and vicecaptain Christopher Barnwell has expressed the need for kicking on to bigger scores when he gets a start and being more con-

sistent with both bat and ball. If he achieves this goal, the team should be posting defendable totals when batting first and have the ability to chase down big totals.

The top order batting has a wealth of experience with the immensely experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul, opener Assad Fudadin and skipper Johnson in the mix.

Vishaul Singh, the second leading runs scorer to date in the PCL Four-day competition, will be hoping he

Guyanese Rodrigues wants...

Rodrigues also puts integrity at the heart of his proposal, saying that “an independent governance and audit and compliance committee will be in charge of supervising the CONCACAF President and the entire CONCACAF organisation to ensure good governance is implemented.”

He also proposes the “creation of the CONCACAF Football Council whose

role will be to advise the CONCACAF President and the CONCACAF Executive Committee on strategic football matters such as: Improving the Confederations way of governance; Competition formats; Calendar; Strategies for football development; and Council will be composed of highly respected members of football and the football business community to ensure credibility.

can transfer that form into the shorter format of the game.

If given an opportunity at an early debut in the tournament, Kevon Boodie could also get the team off to a cracking start with his flamboyant batting style.

Placed alongside Windward Islands, Combined Campuses and Colleges, Leeward Islands in Group B, the Guyana Jaguars have one of the easier groups to qualify to the semi-finals. Wary of this fact, skipper Johnson has mentioned that they are not being over confident and they will take one game at a time.

After their assignment today, the next two games are against Leeward Islands on January 9 and Combined Campuses and Colleges on January 11 before they come up against the same teams for another time.

The Jaguars will play all their group games in St Kitts. The semi-finals and final are billed for Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana Jaguars squad reads: Assad Fudadin; Kevon Boodie; Shivnarine Chanderpaul; Leon Johnson (Captain); Vishaul Singh; Christopher Barnwell (Vice Captain); Raymon Reifer; Anthony Bramble; Steven Jacobs; Veerasammy Permaul; Gudakesh Motie; Paul Wintz; Romario Shepherd and Royston Crandon. The Coach is Esaun Crandon and Manager/Assistant Coach, Rayon Griffith.

Action is set to bowl off at 09:00h.

from page 23

Rodrigues says he has worked at various levels within CONCACAF, but has not participated at the top levels of the confederation’s structures where it has been most exposed to the corruption that brought it to its knees earlier this year. He says this is a positive as he is “not beholden to anyone in any way.

Therefore, I can serve as CONCACAF President exclusively in the interest of

football, while representing all 41 Member Associations and their future.”

The challenge for Rodrigues will be to convince member association voters that he has the expertise and skills to lead the confederation into a new era. He will need to overcome some high profile opposition in CONCACAF football administrative circles to do that. (www.insideworldfootball.com)

Australia v West Indies, 3rd Test, Sydney, 4th day…

Rain washes out second consecutive day

Further heavy rain in Sydney led to the abandonment of the fourth day’s play

F

or the first time in more than 25 years, two consecutive Test days were washed out in Australia without a ball being bowled, as heavy rain continued in Sydney on Wednesday. Only 68 balls had been bowled on the second day before days three and four were completely abandoned, leading Cricket Australia to declare free entry for day five, in addition to refunds for tickets on the second, third and fourth days.

The forecast for the fifth day is for a possible shower, although only two millimetres of rain were expected by the Bureau of Meteorology, which would likely mean play was possible if the outfield was in a

fit enough state. Australia will lift the Frank Worrell Trophy at the end of day five regardless of what happens on the field, having earned a 2-0 lead from their wins in Hobart and Melbourne.

Only 86.2 overs had been bowled in the entire match by the end of day four, with West Indies still 7 for 248 in their first innings. Last time two straight days were washed out in Australia was also in Sydney, against Pakistan in 1989-90. The first two days of that Test were rained out without a ball being bowled, which led to a sixth day being added, though further rain throughout the Test meant a draw was inevitable. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 1st innings KC Brathwaite c Smith 85 b Lyon SD Hope c †Nevill b Hazlewood 9 DM Bravo c Khawaja b Pattinson 33 MN Samuels run out (Hazlewood/†Nevill) 4 J Blackwood b Lyon 10 D Ramdin† not out 30 JO Holder* c Burns b O’Keefe 1 CR Brathwaite b Pattinson 69 KAJ Roach not out 0 Extras (b 5, lb 1, nb 1) 7

Total (7 wickets; 86.2 overs) 248 (2.87 runs per over) To bat: JE Taylor, JA Warrican Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-104, 3-115, 4-131, 5-158, 6-159, 7-246 Bowling: JR Hazlewood 15.25-37-1, JL Pattinson 16-3-67-2, NM Lyon 35-12-78-2, MR Marsh 4-1-15-0, SNJ O’Keefe 16-5-45-1.

Australia team: DA Warner, JA Burns, UT Khawaja, SPD Smith*, AC Voges, MR Marsh, PM Nevill†, SNJ O’Keefe, JL Pattinson, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon

20

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, january 7, 2016

The schoolboy who scored a thousand - Having already broken the record for the highest score in all known cricket, Pranav Dhanawade told his father he would ‘score big tomorrow’, and proceeded to smash his way to a life-changing 1009 not out

O

n Monday morning, Prashant Dhanawade was plying his autorickshaw as usual around Kalyan, a sleepy northern suburb of Mumbai, when he got a phone call from a friend. “Go to the Union Cricket Academy ground,” his friend said.

“Your son has scored 300 and doesn’t look like slowing down.”

Prashant called his wife Mohini and asked her to light up the house in celebration, then rushed to the ground. He watched Pranav score another 300 runs, then returned with Mohini the next morning to watch him cross four figures and break just about every school-batting record.

By Tuesday evening the modest neighbourhood of Wayale Nagar, where the ground is located, was Cricket Central.

“Arre, BBC wale pan yeto aahe!

Ho at-tach phone aala [The BBC guys are on their way!

They just called],” said a stray voice at the ground.

Prashant and Mohini struggled to catch their breath in between boundary-side interviews, while Pranav, after spending 396 minutes at the crease, took the field in his wicketkeeping attire, which he gave up after a few overs to field at slip.

Whatever else life holds for the Dhanawades, these two days will be unforgettable. However small the ground and however weak the opposition, this record is now Pranav’s. His name is in the books. His name figured in all the tweets.

Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni praised him, and even Michael Atherton mentioned his achievement in commentary during the Cape Town

I didn’t realise anything till it was night. I thought he was just batting well. But when he got home I realised the magnitude of what he had achieved, and I couldn’t have been prouder.”

Everyone was celebrating, even the opposition bowlers - who knew their names would also be part of the record.

“Usne mujhe 33 runs maara do over mein [He hit me for 33 runs in two overs], aur do six bhi maara [and also smashed two sixes of me],” Mayank Gupta, tiny and barely out of his puppy fat, says in a chirpy voice filled with pride. Then he points, one after the other, to two of his team-mates.

“Usne usko 200 runs maara aur usko bhi [He smacked him for 200 runs, and him too].”

No accident

By nature, Pravan Dhanawade is an aggressive batsman

None of this was planned, of course, but it was no acci-

Test between South Africa and England.

“I wasn’t at the ground,” Prashant says. “Pranav’s friend’s father called me up and told me that Pranav has scored a triple-century. I couldn’t believe it.

By the time I reached the ground he had crossed 350, and went on and on, breaking record after record, and we didn’t even know that he was breaking them. After going home at night, he himself told me, ‘papa, kal bada score karunga’ [dad, I will score big tomorrow], and today he crossed 1000.”

Pranav’s mother wasn’t aware of the records her son was steadily breaking. “I was at home when [Prashant] called me and asked me to deck up the

dent either. Harish Sharma, Pranav’s school coach, said he promoted the wicket-

keeper to open the batting after a chat with him, and asked him to hang in there and build an innings.

“During friendly school matches I sent him in at No. 7 or 8, and when the team needed him the most, he would play a rash shot and get out,” Harish says.

“He has a good technique, a wide range of strokes and he’s quite powerful. I then thought that I can send him as an opener and I asked him if he was ready.

He grabbed the opportunity and said ‘yes sir, I’ll go’.

I made him promise me that if you’re going to open, you have to spend time at the wicket, for which you have to be mentally and physically prepared, to which he agreed.”

The score was Pranav’s first century in any tournament recognised by the Mumbai Cricket Association. “But he has otherwise scored centuries in

Pravan Dhanawade celebrates his feat with his parents after the game

house. ‘Your son has scored 300,’ he said. He kept calling me from the ground and updating me on his scores, but

school cricket and friendly matches,” his father points out. “His game is such that

he scores quickly - with that kind of game there are very few chances of scoring a century; he would bat lower down the order because of which he wouldn’t get to face many balls. But now that he opens, he has all the time to score.”

What does the future hold for Pranav? On one hand is the example of Sachin Tendulkar, whose feats of heavy run-scoring as a schoolboy, including the famous partnership with Vinod Kambli, are the stuff of legend. On the other is that of AEJ Collins, who held the previous record score of 628 not out, scored in 1899.

“For a while Collins was public property,” Martin Williamson wrote on ESPNcricinfo. “Today all men speak of him,” wrote one newspaper. “He has a reputation as great as the most advertised soap: he will be immortalised.”

But Collins never played first-class cricket. It is too early, therefore, to tell what Pranav’s future will look like. But one thing is for sure. Nothing will be the same when he walks out to bat the next time.

His cousin Rugved Lad puts it in perspective. “He’s in tenth [grade] now, so cricket had taken the back seat to studies, though he’s good at both. He also plays kabbadi. But after this, everything has changed.

Cricket will definitely be his first priority.”

His school, his neighbourhood club, pretty much every IPL franchise, his Ranji Trophy team, the millions across the world who were following the updates on his feat - everyone hopes it will. (Cricinfo)

South Africa v England, 2nd Test, Cape Town, 5th day…

England dig deep to draw second Test E

ngland survived a toporder collapse on day five as the second Test against South Africa ended in a draw.

Resuming on 16-0, a second-innings lead of 18, the tourists lost their top four cheaply and then fell to 1166 as Ben Stokes and James Taylor departed.

But Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali held on before bad light ended play after tea with England, who lead the four-match series 1-0, on 159-6.

Shortly after the match, Hashim Amla stepped down as South Africa captain.

The 32-year-old, who succeeded Graeme Smith as permanent skipper in July 2014, leaves the role having led his team in 14 Tests, winning four, drawing four and losing six, citing the need to “work on my own game.”

He will be replaced as captain by AB de Villiers for the final two Tests.

has now scored just 42 runs in his four innings so far this tour, while Hales’ dismissal further highlights his fallibility outside off stump.

Joe Root and Nick Compton rallied slightly, adding 36 for the third wicket but both fell as they were gaining momentum - the former bowled by Morris for a run-a-ball 29 before the Jonny Bairstow had a few close moments, but held on to the close latter chipped Piedt to short mid-on to depart Amla’s 707-minute 201 in the morning offered somefor 15.

South Africa’s first innings thing for the bowlers and the After smashing a recordwas one of the reasons why home side took advantage. breaking 258 from 198 balls a draw was always the likeCaptain Alastair Cook in the first innings, Stokes ly result after four days dom- was the first to go, feathering was required to demonstrate inated by the bat on a flat his second ball from Kagiso a more disciplined side to Newlands wicket.

Rabada down the leg side and his game along with Taylor But England made hard into the gloves of Quinton de but both fell to spinner Dane work of it, as the loss of ear- Kock, followed soon after by Piedt in quick succession afly wickets gave South Africa fellow opener Alex Hales, ter a stand of 30 - Stokes mishope of levelling the series brilliantly caught one-hand- judging a sweep to Morkel at after the tourists’ victory in ed at third slip by the div- deep mid-wicket and Taylor the first Test in Durban. ing Chris Morris off Morne gloving a rising delivery to For the first time in the Morkel.

Temba Bavuma at short-leg. match, cloudy conditions in Cook’s eight means he The depth to which

England bat was their saving in Cape Town, chiefly in the shape of Bairstow, who followed his 150 not out in the first innings with an unbeaten 30 during a stand of 43 with the equally resolute Moeen (10 not out).

The stand was not without its scares, the most notable of which was a stumping of Bairstow off spinner Dean Elgar, over which the video

umpire took an age before deciding the Yorkshire player had made his ground by a toe’s length.

Having survived to tea, during which light rain briefly fell, the pair were only required to bat six overs of the evening session before bad light brought an early end to the match, with 59 eventful overs having being bowled in the day. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD England 1st innings 629-6d South Africa 1st innings 627-7d England 2nd innings AN Cook* c† de Kock b Rabada 8 AD Hales c Morris b Morkel 5 NRD Compton c du Plessis b Piedt 15 JE Root b Morris 29 JWA Taylor c Bavuma b Piedt 27 BA Stokes c Morkel b Piedt 26

JM Bairstow† not out 30 MM Ali not out 10 Extras (lb-4, nb-5) 9 Total (6 wickets; 65 overs) 159 Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Cook, 7.2 ov), 2-19 (Hales, 8.6 ov), 3-55 (Root, 17.1 ov), 4-85 (Compton, 30.3 ov), 5-115 (Stokes, 40.6 ov), 6-116 (Taylor, 42.4 ov) Bowling: M Morkel 16-7-26-1 (3-nb), K Rabada 13-2-57-1 (2-nb), CH Morris 12-4-24-1, DL Piedt 18-8-38-3, D Elgar 6-2-10-0

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ashim Amla has resigned as South Africa captain following the second Test against England at Newlands. AB de Villiers will take over for the final two Tests of the series in Johannesburg and Centurion.

Amla has come in for criticism of his leadership since the start of the series, but had returned to form with the bat in Cape Town with 201 in South Africa’s only innings. Amla was named as Graeme Smith’s replacement as captain in mid-2014 and this was his sixth series in charge. After winning his first three against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and West Indies, he oversaw a rain-affected drawn series against Bangladesh and the 3-0 defeat in India.

In a statement, Amla said: “This decision has not

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Amla steps down as South Africa captain H

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is very able and a brilliant leader and we will all follow similar goals. Whether I’m pulling the rope, or AB is pulling the rope or Dale [Steyn] is pulling the rope, as long as someone is going in the right direction, we all will go with him.”

Despite reports that Amla had, at times, been a reluctant captain during his two-year tenure, he insisted he had not had to be coerced into the role in the first place, and that his decision to stand down was also entirely his own.

“It was always my decision,” he said. “In life I have learned that if you are going to do something, you’ve got to do something you enjoy. I’ve always enjoyed captaincy.

“When Graeme stepped down, it gave an opportunity for me to explore my cap-

while being handed the job in such circumstances was not ideal, it would allow him to fulfil a dream of captaining his country in Test cricket.

“I’ve said this before that it is an incredible honour to captain South Africa in any format. The captaincy has obviously come at short notice and is the realisation of a lifelong dream,” de Villiers said.

“At the moment my priority and focus is placed on leading this team to what can be a memorable series win against England. This Test squad is motivated and determined to turn our performances around and I’m looking forward to taking up that challenge as captain.

Hashim is a good friend and close colleague and I am grateful for his support.”

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an easy one to make I felt I had to be true to myself.

I am comfortable with my decision and I feel I need to work on my own game.

“I was deeply honoured when the position was given to me. Throughout my time as captain, I have always had the support of my teammates and coaching staff.

I remain committed to the Proteas across all formats and I will fully support whoever is shown as my successor.”

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Amla said that he had begun to think about stepping down two weeks ago, before the start of the series against England.

South Africa are currently 1-0 down, after defeat in Durban, but emerged with credit after a hard-fought draw in Cape Town.

“Captaining your country is probably the pinnacle,” he said. “Why I did it now, it just so happened I got 200 and it fitted nicely that the South African team did exceptionally well on the last day. It was coming for the last two weeks.

“I had chatted to a few of the guys in the team before this, so I don’t think it had come as a massive shock,” he added. “We have a very tight leadership team: myself, AB, Faf [du Plessis]. AB

taincy. I thought at the time I could add value and I’d like to believe that I have added value. I am really surprised some people have suggested it was not my choice. You don’t look like me in this world without being firm on what you want to do.”

“The decision has been purely based on that I think somebody else can do a better job. It was just something that crossed my mind and was working on my mind. My leadership style, and we have a very young team, maybe somebody else would have done a better job.”

Respect

Haroon Lorgat, the CSA chief executive, said: “We respect Hashim’s decision and the manner in which he thought about it and then communicated with me. It was consistent with his well respected personality “He still has a huge role to play in shaping the success of our team without the need for a leadership title.

He is just that type of a person and we are very fortunate to have him in our stable.

“I want to thank AB for readily accepting the challenge of rebuilding our Test team as we seek to remain the best team in the world.”

De Villiers said that

Front-runner

Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, added that de Villiers was the front-runner for the role full-time, but said that the selectors would make a long-term decision at the end of the England series. He added that Amla’s achievements as South Africa’s captain stood up to scrutiny in spite of the criticism he received during his time in charge.

“I feel that there hasn’t been enough respect shown for what he has achieved as a player,” he said. “People can say what they want to, [but] he is still averaging 45 as captain. He has gone to Zimbabwe, won a series there, gone to Sri Lanka and won a series there which no other captain has done. He won a series against West Indies.

He has gone to India where a lot of captains have lost under tough conditions, and we’ve come here with six new players who have all played under 10 Test matches.

“He has sacrificed himself for the rest of the team which speak volumes for him, and people need to appreciate that type of character and it seems we sometimes undervalue that on the field. He has got a lot of experience, and expertise and advice that he can give, particularly the younger players in the side.” (Cricinfo)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, january 7, 2016

GTA ushers in new dawn for tennis with awards ceremony

A

ffiliates of the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA), sponsors and parents gathered recently for the announcement of the prestigious 2015 Player-ofthe-Year awards when the association held its annual awards ceremony.

All, except coach Leyland Leacock, were not surprised that he would cop to top award of Senior Male-ofthe-Year with 600 points, while dethroning Anthony Downes, who won the award several times in succession in recent years.

He edged out a close encounter with Daniel Lopes, who came in second with 560 points, with Downes trailing in third with 540 points.

For the second time, young Nicola Ramdyhan was awarded Senior Female-of-the-Year with 630 points. Aretta Dey came in second with 570 points and Afruica Gentle third with 410 points. The awards were donated annually by Dr Arthur Ingram Hazlewood, an overseasbased Guyanese, who is an avid tennis fan and prominent dental consultant, who provides financial support to the GTA each year.

Daniel Lopes claimed the award of Junior Male-of-theYear with 630 points, but not without the close competition from Keenan Persaud with 613 points. Heimraj Resaul came in third with 504 points. The Junior

Some of the top players and Garfield Wiltshire (right) of Bounty Farm Limited, a partner of the GTA, display their awards

Female-of-the-Year was once again captured by Nicola Ramdyhan, who amassed a whopping 840 points, holding off Aretta Dey on her heels with 805 points. The young and potent Shivani Persaud also racked up an impressive 567 points.

A special award for Most Improved Player was given to the promising 12-yearold Joshua Kalekyezi, who, only a year ago, was playing Green Ball categories before being thrown into the Yellow Ball category where he immediately took on the challenges and made obvious commitments towards excelling.

This award was donated by Norris McLean, who is also an overseas-based Guyanese tennis player and enthusiast.

The GTA also present-

ed an Appreciation Award to Bounty Farm Limited for its unwavering commitment each year to the association to assist with fundraising. Chief Accountant, Garfield Wiltshire, received the award on behalf of the company.

A short presentation, titled “The Climb”, was made by the most recent tennis scholar, Gavin Lewis, who left Guyana’s shores in January 2015 to pursue studies in Criminal Law and Psychology and play college tennis at the Coppin State University in Maryland.

He uttered words of gratefulness for his tennis life, which started with coach Debbie Bunbury in 2004 through tennis camps and ended with coach Shelly Daly- Ramdyhan in 2014 in the national team.

Mobile Wizards 10/10…

Adams, Hussain star in latest action

T

he Mobile Wizard 10/10 softball cricket tournament organised by the Guyana Softball League and sponsored by Wolf’s Furniture Store, Trophy Stall, Rohan’s Furniture Establishment, as well as Miss Love Trading, resumed with its most entertaining weekend.

The weekend saw two grounds in use and 10 matches completed, with Speedboat SC maintaining their unbeaten run. Wolf’s Warriors and Crossbreed Warriors were also in winning mode, as they decimated their opponents on their way to victory. Omesh XI and Settle XI had a win and a loss each.

Among the top performances were a century from Ricardo Adams, the first of the competition, and seven wickets in seven consecutive balls across two games from Shazim Hussain.

Below are the summarised scores from the games played:

Speedboat SC mauled Leonora Youths by seven wickets. Leonora Youths 50 in 8.1 overs (Shazim Hussain 3-12) Speedboat SC 52-3 in three overs (Ganesh Narine 25).

Crossbreed Warriors defeated MMZ XI by

Ricardo Adams

six wickets. MMZ XI 89 all out in 9.3 overs (Sunil Boodhoo 42, Yezim Mohamed 28, Anthony Arjune 3-5) Crossbreed Warriors 94-6 in seven overs (Anthony Arjune 20).

Speedboat SC demolished Vipers XI by four wickets. Vipers XI 82 all out in 9.5 overs (Shazim Hussain 4-7) Speedboat SC 88-6 in 8.3 overs (Greg Singh 21).

Vipers XI crushed Superstreet XI by 41 runs.

Vipers XI 93 all out in 9.3 overs (Extras 21, Rohit Khan 3-29) Superstreet XI 52 all out in 8.3 overs (Arif Hussain 3-12).

Crossbreed Warriors

XI defeated Irfaan XI by four wickets. Irfaan XI 65 all out in 9.2 overs (Jitendra Kishore 30) Crossbreed Warriors 67-6 in 4.3 overs (Rayon Sookram 22).

Omesh XI defeated Zeeburg Warriors by 58 runs. Omesh XI 165-3 in 10 overs (Ricardo Adams 109) Zeeburg Warriors 107-6 in 10 overs (Zaman Baskh 35).

Settle XI defeated Omesh XI by seven wickets. Omesh XI 152-4 in 10 overs (Ricardo Adams 88) Settle XI 158-3 in 9.5 overs (Ameer Nizamuddin 71, Diaram Persaud 44).

Wolf’s Warriors destroyed Brickery All Stars XI by 10 wickets. Brickery All Stars XI 46-6 in 10 overs (Kevin Oxford 3-4) Wolf’s Warriors 47-0 in two overs (Lincoln Leander 45*).

Wolf’s Warriors defeated Settle XI by seven wickets. Settle XI 95-6 (Safraz Karim 3-12) Wolf’s Warriors 96-3 in 7.2 overs (Riaz Karim 37*).

Brickery All Stars XI defeated Zeeburg Warriors XI by six runs.

Brickery All Stars XI 1214 in 10 overs (Kevin Kanhai 49*, Anil Mangar 41) Zeeburg Warriors 115-3 in 10 overs (Zaman Baksh 55).

President optimistic

President of the GTA, Grace McCalman, expressed her optimism about tennis in Guyana, even as she winds down her tenure and sees the latter half of 2015 as a historic juncture that signals a new dawn for tennis in the nation.

The association is spending much effort to foster better relations by developing policies and procedures to alleviate the inconsistencies of information transferred among members, clubs, parents and coaches. An enhanced ranking system, which is easier to understand, was established and used to determine the overall winners.

She revealed that there were discussions with Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and

the Department of Sport to tackle the two critical and basic factors of tennis development, which are proper infrastructure and development programmes that expand tennis beyond Georgetown.

She lamented the overwhelming task of finding resources to push tennis nationwide, but that the GTU has now committed to providing assistance in this regard. She also reminded all present that the effort to develop tennis cannot only come from the GTA, but rather all affiliates such as clubs, coaches, parents and the business community.

She urged partner organisations to work with the GTA to incorporate sustainable tennis activity into the school curriculum for schools outside of Georgetown.

High on the GTA’s agenda this year is working to implement the strategic plan for tennis in primary schools, refurbishment of the National Park courts and embarking on the development of the National Racquet Centre as a proper multi-complex facility that incorporates lawn tennis, table tennis, squash and badminton, while making optimal use of the space available. This would have the potential to serve as an international hub for Caribbean region.

She appealed to all coaches to put egos aside

and work together and learn from each other, as to make coaches workshops work and be productive.

President of the GOA, K.A. Juman Yassin, advised that sporting associations must get on board with Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s vision for sport in Guyana. He explained that this should be an opportunity to work along with him to ensure sport in school is re-established at a young age with impressiveness.

He specifically made mention of the hard work that coach Daly-Ramdyhan has dedicated through the years, but urged that the GTA continue to seek input from more coaches, who can similarly commit to the job at hand to achieve even greater success.

Trevor Williams, who represented the Department of Sport, received applauses from the audience as he proposed that sport persons should not pay airport tax, are recognised for the hard work that goes into preparation and upon return these persons should be welcomed by the media no matter the results posted.

He reiterated the government’s position to use lawn tennis and table tennis as pilots in schools, and to give full support to their undertakings.

YWCC donates water coolers to religious organisations

Representatives pose with their coolers in the presence of West Indies Under-19 captain Shimron Hetmyer and other cricketers

T

he Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) of Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice, has made good on its promise by donating a water cooler each to three religious organisations in the Ancient County of Berbice.

The beneficiaries were Cumberland Masjid, Lighthouse Mission of West Canefield, East Canje, and Number 19 Hindu Mandir.

Proceeds from the club’s annual fund-raiser, Mash Cup 2015, was used to purchase the items.

At a simple presentation ceremony held recently, Sahadeo Singh, manager of the club, firstly thanked all those who have contributed to the success of the event, which placed the club in a position to make the donations. He encouraged the recipients to care the coolers.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Haimkumar Mangal, thanked the striv-

ing cricket club for the kind gesture and assured the club that care will be taken with the coolers. He added that the coolers will surely make life easier for the three places of worship.

He called on private individuals and businesses to continue to support the club, which has produced many outstanding cricketers over the years with the most recent being young Shimron Hetmyer, who is only 18 and is already a senior national cricketer. He was recently appointed captain of the West Indies Under-19 team for the Youth World Cup in Bangladesh.

The following persons/ businesses provided sponsorship for the tournament and the club looks forward for their continued support for the 2016 edition: Ansa McAl Trading, Attorney-atLaw Mursalene Bacchus, Prakash Mahadeo of Number 19, Ashiek and Son

Motor Supplies and Auto Sales, Vickram Jewellery, Terminate Pest Control, Waqar Sahid of A. Ally and Sons, New Building Society Limited, Mortimer George, Jim Bacchus Travel Service, Martin Singh of Associated Business Services, Magistrate Chandra Sohan, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Memorex Enterprise, Danzie’s Clothing, Footwear and Auto Sales, Lilboy Rice Complex, Extreme Trucking Service, Price is Right, Sharple Furniture Establishment, Kris Jagdeo General Contractor, Ahmad Mundal Satar, A. Mahabir and Sons, Massy Distribution, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Sukhpaul Business Enterprise, J’S Printery, Sham Beer, Roshan Satar Supermarket, Anil Deonarine, Rafeek Kassim, Imran Saccoor and Suresh Persaud Auto Sales.

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, january 7, 2016

GFF debunks Chronicle’s article on Elite League ... “Everything I’ve written is based on facts” – Journalist/former GFF employee

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has debunked the contents of an article appearing on the back page of the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday with regards the termination of the management team’s contract for the Stag Elite League.

The local governing body for the sport claims that a former employee, who happens to be the author of the article, has embarked on a “vindictive and malicious pathway to malign and besmirch the GFF” after he was dismissed from the organisation this week. Below is the full text of a release issued by the GFF, through its General Secretary, Diedre Davis, on Wednesday.

“The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) categorically debunks the article entitled “GFF likely to terminate Elite League management’s contract” written by Mr. Rawle Toney in the January 6 edition of the Guyana Chronicle.

The GFF states unequivocally that it does not intend to renege on the contract entered into in good faith with the management team for the Stag Elite League and quash any contract.

The genesis of this issue is anchored on the disgruntlement of Mr. Rawle Toney who was dismissed from the GFF. On Monday January 4 last, the GFF found it necessary to terminate the services of Mr. Toney as the Sponsorship, Marketing and Communications Director

due to his poor performance.

On being handed his termination letter, Mr. Toney proceeded to behave in a most obstreperous manner that occasioned the involvement of the Guyana Police Force. This article was penned by him following his dismissal.

It is patently clear that Mr. Toney has embarked on a vindictive and malicious pathway to malign and besmirch the GFF, and his modus operandi seems to be the use of fabrication and distortion of sensitive information he would have been privy to.

He has clearly used his position as an employee of the Guyana Chronicle to pursue this agenda. To this end, the GFF has obtained legal counsel to treat with this situation.

The GFF seizes this opportunity to bring to the attention of the media, businesses and sponsors with whom it has a relationship, and the general football fraternity at large that Mr. Toney, having been dismissed from the GFF, is no longer authorised to conduct or transact any business on its behalf.”

Toney responds

Responding to the claims of the GFF late on Wednesday afternoon, Toney declared, “Everything that I’ve written and published by the Guyana Chronicle is based on facts and information I received from my sources. At no time at all did

Diedre Davis

I seek to lash out at the GFF or its executive.”

Toney however, pointed out that his beef is with the way the GFF would have terminated his service, which is claimed was done “without notice.”

“In the world of work, these things do happen and people part ways and move on. This clearly isn’t the case with the GFF. I’m employed by the Guyana Chronicle as a Senior Sports Journalist.

I penned an article based on information I received like any other journalist. I must say that despite me working at the GFF, certain information I will not be privy to. Unfortunately, the article was written by me - a former employee of the GFF - and the Federation felt that I’m being vindictive and would want to get back at them for terminating my contract,” Toney said via an email to media operatives.

He continued, “Members

of the media, colleagues; at no time at all will I bite the hands that fed me. I have no issues with the GFF and its Executive Committee, with the exception of President Wayne Forde, whom I have no respect for, nor will I ever, both personally and professionally.”

Toney also said he was not satisfied with certain payment criteria following his dismissal, prompting him to write to FIFA’s Development Officer Howard McIntosh, FIFA’s Head of Member Association Primo Corvaro, CONCACAF’s Head of Legal Affairs Marco Leal, and other high ranking football officials, seeking their intervention in the matter.

“On the day I was issued with a letter of termination, the GFF, through President Forde, said that I’m only entitled to six days of pay and despite me pointing him to the contract that I’ve signed under the Normalisation Committee, he refused to listen and said that I could take the necessary action(s).

An argument ensued and we had an exchange of words,” he explained.

Toney maintained that the only issue he has with the GFF is its “unwillingness to honour the contract that I signed last year.”

“It is my hope that this brings clarity to the issue and we both move on. As a member of the media, I intend cover all football related issues, just like I have for the past 11 years without bias or favour,” Toney concluded.

Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir awards top cricketers

A

The awardees (front row) with executives of the Mandir at the awards ceremony

t a simple ceremony recently, the Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir (SVM) honoured its outstanding cricketers of 2015, pampering them with trophies and words of encouragement for the 2016 season.

The Mandir, which has an active cricket team that participates in structured competitions on the East Bank of Demerara, has produced some top players, the most recent of which is former Guyana Under-15 play-

er Bhojnarine Singh.

Singh was adjudged batsman of the year in 2015, tallying 1,263 runs, while Naresh Ram was the top bowler with 72 wickets during the year.

Also receiving awards

were manager/coach, Lalo Ram, for his dedication to the team, and Camille Deokie, the proprietor of Camille’s Institute for Business and Science Studies, for her school’s sponsorship of the team in 2015.

23

Guyanese Rodrigues wants to be CONCACAF boss

G

uyanese Mark Rodrigues is the first candidate to declare he will run for the presidency of the North and Central American and the Caribbean Confederation (CONCACAF) in elections expected to take place May 12 in Mexico City.

Rodrigues, who has a strong history of administration, football development and coaching, has issued a manifesto in which he says he will usher in a new style of leadership at CONCACAF, “one that leads with honesty and integrity where playing football is at the heart of everything we do and stand for.”

His entry into a leadership contest dramatically changes the presidential playing field in a confederation that historically has preferred to have its elections stage-managed.

The CONCACAF executive committee chose not to promote one of its vicepresidents to the role of interim president following the arrest of the serving interim vice-president Alfredo Hawit in Zurich in December while attending FIFA meetings.

Without anyone fulfilling the presidential role, this left the executive committee and its consultants in charge of decision making, with the statement that they believe that it is in the best interests of the confederation to wait until new elections in May. This situation has been challenged by Caribbean members, who strongly feel that it is a breach of the confederation’s statutes.

The arrival of Rodrigues, backed by Guyana, but who will need the support of three further member associations before he can officially stand, opens up the challenge for the presidency. It is believed that the North and Central American preferred candidate for the presidency is Canadian president Victor Montagliani, while from the Caribbean region, Caribbean Football Union president Gordon Derrick also has privately expressed ambition for the position in the past and is expected to step forward.

The Caribbean, if they vote as a block, can be king makers in the region with their 31 votes out of a total of 41 in the confederation.

It is rumoured that there may also be another Caribbean candidate in the running, the popular Luis Hernandez of Cuba, who is a member of CONCACAF’s executive committee.

If three Caribbean candidates stand (and assuming the Caribbean does not follow through on talk of breaking away from CONCACAF and reforming itself as its own confeder-

Mark Rodrigues is the first person to express a desire to run for the CONCACAF presidency on May 12

ation within FIFA’s jurisdiction), then the regional vote could be split which, ironically, will likely lead to the long term splitting of the Caribbean’s power base and regional voice, which the associations are keen to protect.

Vast experience

Rodrigues brings an alternative dimension to CONCACAF’s presidential options. Having had a career in business where he handled over $110 million of real estates sales in Canada, as well as being president and COO of several multi-franchised fast food stores. He returned to focus on football, building the largest youth soccer club in Florida in five years.

In 2009, he started the Guyana Women’s national team programme, qualifying for the 2010 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Championships, returning in May last year to the women’s set-up and has again qualified the team for the CONCACAF Olympic Championships in Texas, February 2016. He works this job pro bono.

Having worked across multiple CONCACAF member associations he has experienced firsthand the challenges member associations face. This is reflected in his manifesto, which proposes to get more of the confederation’s money directly to its member associations.

“50% of CONCACAF’s revenues should be distributed directly to the Member Associations for Solidarity over four years - including the $100,000 that was initiated and stopped in 2014.”

He also says the confederation needs to establish a sufficient reserve to cover operational needs of CONCACAF and that there needs to be a greater transparency of running costs and development funding.

All of this he says must come with much greater auditing and compliance procedures. turn to page 19

thursday, January 7, 2016

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

WICB/NAGICO Super 50…

Guyana Jaguars in action today against WI Volcanoes

Pg 19

To win this year’s tournament, a greater level of consistency by players and an allround team effort will be needed by the Guyana Jaguars

GFF debunks Chronicle’s article on Elite League

GTA ushers in new dawn for tennis with awards ceremony

... “Everything I’ve written is based on facts” – Journalist/former GFF employee

Pg 22 Pg 23 GTA president Grace McCalman (standing third left) shares a moment with the awardees Rawle Toney

Wayne Forde

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