Guyana Times Daily - May 16, 2015

saturday, may 16, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Elections fallout: Ramotar accuses GECOM staff of colluding with Opposition

In light of his demand for a total recount of the ballots, Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Donald Ramotar said he is of the view that some GECOM staff members might have colluded with the Opposition.

Ramotar told media operatives on Thursday afternoon that many of the discrepancies that have taken place at polling places could not have happened without the assistance of staff members.

“Many of these things could not have happened without the collusion of some of the election staff. I am not blaming the whole staff, but very clearly some of them have been colluding with some of the skulldug-

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar

gery that has taken place. It could not have happened otherwise”, Ramotar alleged.

Ramotar and the PPP/C immediately called for a total recount of the ballot in all 10 regions across the country after the announcement by the Elections Commission on Thursday that the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition had won both the Regional and General Elections. So far GECOM has agreed to recount some 22 ballot boxes in the lower East Coast district.

He said this is the first elections that the elections body had failed to provide the list of Election Day staff to the party; a request that was being made long before the E-Day. According to him, the party only came to this knowledge the day before the election.

“Many of them that have been reporting to me had worked for the PNC and the AFC in the last election.”

Ramotar told journalists on Thursday that he would only concede to the coalition’s victory if the Commission adheres and carries out its request. The Presidential Candidate has also already disputed the declarations made by the international observers that the elections were free, fair and credible. Some five observer missions participated in this year’s elections – the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth Observer Mission, the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and the Carter Centre.

Delayed results put spotlight on GECOM’s

inefficiencies

– Chairman embarrassed, promises review

By Gomatie GanGadin

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally has said that whichever party accedes to power, it should consider addressing the operating procedures and electoral processes in place at the elections body in order to achieve more efficiency.

He also expressed that he was embarrassed by the current inefficiency of the Commission. This comment comes on the heels of GECOM getting ready to declare the results of the May 11 General and Regional elections.

Briefing media operatives on Thursday on the final preliminary results and while apologising for the Commission’s inefficiency, Surujbally said that he was very embarrassed that persons had the cause to complain on Wednesday evening on the quality of the graphs and charts which were used to show the first set of preliminary results.

“Technology has failed us and technology has embarrassed us. I have started to put down items that we need to discuss when we retreat…,” he said.

According to the Chairman, those things which have been noted, come under rubrics like staffing and the methodology and efficiency, saying that “it is archaic because of the distrust that exist.”

Meanwhile, speaking at GECOM’s fourth press conference on Tuesday evening, Surujbally said that there were several changes he would like to see for the next election after the question was posed to him on what he thought could improve the efficiency and credibility of the body.

According to Dr Surujbally, one of the first things he would personally like to see is the implementation of an electronic system for the counting of ballots, noting that “we cannot continue to remain with jurassic concepts.”

He noted that while he had previously proposed the idea and even moved to have such a system, it was a futile effort. “We went so far as to have a company come and offer us a possibility of the scan tabulation. They said they would give us 60, albeit it first generation machines for the scanning aspect of things,, not a problem, can be used, have been used.

"They came with 60, then they said you know what we have another set and we raised it to 125, so could we do a stimulation exercise. Right at that time was the University of Guyana’s Students Society elections

GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

and so here was a classic chance.”

“We have the Tain Campus in Berbice and you have the one here, so we’re talking about thousands, so we had a good exemplar, a good sample number. We did it and it went flawless. The people said hear what, we will give you 2299 of these scanners.

"We sent our Commissioners to observe the voting with the scan tabulation and they came back and after deliberation… it was not that we’re eliminating the hand count, it would not eliminate that. It was testing the system still. In the end, we did not trouble that methodology and I am thinking that we cannot continue with this way, we have to go high tech,” Surujbally said.

Dr Surujbally said too that the next government should consider a review of the laws governing the appointment of the Chairman of the Commission while he noted that the depoliticising of the Commission will also have to be considered.

“Lots of the observer missions have been making recommendations. One of that is that we should change the system within the Commission. That is something that we would have to look at more seriously,” Dr Surujbally told media operatives.

Meanwhile, Presidential Candidate of the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition David Granger, speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday at the coalition’s headquarters said that he was disappointed in the manner in which the results were announced, noting that it was a long and drawn-out process.

Questioned on whether he would consider a review of the electoral process and the systems in place, Granger said that “I promise to look at any system which could boost, which can be faster and which can enjoy the public’s confidence.”

saturday, may 16, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from Saturday, May 16 - 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, May 17 - 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, May 16 – 15:20h-16:50h and Sunday, May 17 – 16:05h-17:35h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on:

Saturday, May 16 – 05:00h and 17:00h Sunday, May 17 – 05:00h, 14:00h and 17:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Today, all regions can expect cloudy to overcast skies with frequent moderate to heavy showers, light intermittent rain and isolated thundershowers over some areas. Gusty winds are likely to occur before and during showers. The highest rainfall is expected over Regions Three through Six, Seven, Eight and some areas in Region 10. Please note that with the forecasted weather conditions, water accumulation is likely to occur in flood prone and poor drainage areas.

Winds: North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:54h and 15:23h reaching maximum heights of 2.73 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:55h and 21:12h reaching minimum heights of 0.47 metre and 0.54 metre respectively.

Spring Tide Advisory will be in effect from today. The forecasted rainfall along with the Spring tides can cause coastal flooding. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions.

Returning Officers declare results

In a statement, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said it is quite aware of the anxiety that prevails at this time in relation to the final declaration of the 2015 elections results. GECOM also stated that it shared that anxiety but is constrained by the legal requirements, which it has to observe.

The electoral management body said that, relative to the process of declaring the results, those results have now been declared by the respective Returning Officers for the ten electoral districts.

However, parties may raise objections by midday of the day after the last of the ten declarations. “For that reason, since the last declaration was made this morning, Friday May 15, 2015, the Commission has to wait until noon on Saturday May 16, 2015 before it can pronounce on a final declaration. This is the law.” The Commission is therefore asking the public to bear with it until midday today before it advises on the next stage of the declaration of results.

Based on the preliminary results, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition is in the lead, with a current total of 206,817 votes, while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has 201,457, out of a total of 410,391 votes casted.

According to the election body, these were the emerging results after all of the 2299 Statements of Poll (SoPs) were checked and verified. This announcement was made at a press conference hosted on Thursday.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield had stated then that the Returning Officers were expected to make their declarations by Thursday afternoon, after which they will be perused by him. Lowenfield said that they are pushing to ensure that declarations are done, but cautioned that it may take a bit longer than the two hours mentioned.

Lowenfield told report-

ers that while it is possible that numbers can change in the recounting process, such a change is unlikely to be significant enough to affect the outcome reflected in the preliminary results. “We should be singing from the same sheet,” he stated.

He further expressed the view that recounts,

notwithstanding the results, would not be significantly altered. “If there was any variance, in my view, that variance would not be significant,” he said.

According to Lowenfield, the APNU/ AFC coalition has won Regions Four, Seven, Eight and 10, while the PPP/C has won Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Six and Nine.

However, overall, APNU/AFC was still able to lead the regional votes, raking in 201,324 votes while the PPP/C received 198,148. The smaller of the parties such as the National Independent Party received 561 votes, The United Force received 880, the Independent Party acquired 338 votes, and the United Republican Party received 338. The CEO said that the numbers, thus far, can be interpreted to mean that the APNU/AFC coalition has won, not only the presidency but will also have control over the National Assembly after managing to grab the majority of 33 of the 65 seats.

Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Time for leadership

In the days before the internet, politicians were forced to connect with their constituents in meaningful ways. They were forced to construct images that were larger than life itself. They were defined by their pronouncements, which were repeated in homes and public spaces with reverence. Even when they were unwittingly funny, the stories were told with reverence. Today, however, we are stuck with leaders of all kinds, leaving society particularly our male folk to wonder if they understand what it means to be a male political leader. Leadership brings its own set of challenges. The challenge of youth is they are always seeking leaders. The root of Guyana’s problem is the people who have become leaders are often involved in some of the wrong activities. While they preach peace and harmony their very actions cut across the values they project to society. Now that the elections campaign is over and we enter a phase of much political uncertainty we call on all our leaders to demonstrate good leadership that will safely navigate this country through this trick period.

It had been predicted by many that the just concluded elections would have been a historic as well challenging one. We have come now to the challenge after all the campaign rhetoric. The Guyana Elections Commission is still to declare the winner of these elections, quite rightfully so following the challenges by the People’s Progressive Party Civic. While there have been several statements from all quarters urging that party to accept and concede the elections, perhaps it is also fair that they be allowed to raise whatever concerns they have in the interest of moving the country forward. What could be worst, if after a declaration, there is a series of court challenges and possible street demonstrations? It would be for the good of this nation that we escape such a situation though painful and frustrating this phase of the elections might be. Those of us who had to endure the aftermath of the 1997 elections following a swift swearing of the Mrs Janet Jagan can empathise that Guyana needs not go down that road again.

It here at this juncture that I believe the leadership and resolve of Mr David Granger and President Donald Ramotar would be tested-their ability to lead their supporters aright though this period and ensuring that they keep the peace while GECOM is allowed to do its work. One religious writer said that the greatest want of the world is the want of men or as I would say leaders. Leaders who will not be bought or sold who in their inmost souls are true and honest. Leaders whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole and who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. It is leaders with these attributes that Guyana seeks today.

History has taught us many lessons of leaders whose missteps caused nations to suffer. One man infected with its deadly leprosy may communicate the taint to thousands. Those who occupy responsible positions as guardians of the people are false to their trust if they do not faithfully search out and stand up for what is right. And for those who it is considered uncharitable to rebuke such behaviour should also be condemned. In the existing state of our country, there is crying need of earnest, honest leaders-men who will not shun to stand up for what is right. Those upon whom the burden of carrying this nation rest are not to hold their peace and cover with a cloak of false charity, but must be willing to separate themselves from entrenched hatred and racism that have for years dogged this country.

The stealing of an election, GECOM is part of the collusion

Dear Editor,

Make no mistake about it – the will of the people was not reflected by the results of the 2015 elections in Guyana.

No bones about it, APNU+AFC stole people’s votes, in the same tradition and maliciousness of the old PNC, and with the same kind of collusion with the Guyana Elections Commission that was typical of the elections in 1968, 1973, 1980, and 1985.

But this time there was not the same crude methods of those past elections. This time rigging was done through a sophisticated plan.

Can you believe that they actually stole 10 PPP/C votes from every box and added these to APNU+AFC? Sometimes in tabulating results, mistakes can be made, but they will be random and the total will not match.

But in these cases, the PPP/C votes were always short of 10 and APNU+AFC were always increased by 10. In checking just 7 boxes on the East Coast Demerara, the results that GECOM has for the PPP/C was short of 10 and APNU+AFC increased by 10 for each box. Amazing?

But it is true. In check-

ing another 19 boxes in South Georgetown, the same pattern emerged. This cannot be a co-incidence; it is a deliberate pattern of thieving. In how many boxes this happened? Because if this happened in just 10 % of the boxes, it is enough gain an advantage of 5,000 votes.

The International and local observers concluded that the elections were free and fair. But they only looked at Election Day activities. Voting is only part of the process. The counting was done properly for the most part.

The statements of poll were accurately filled. But then the mischief took over after voting was completed. The rigging of the results had to be done by GECOM staff. What happened after these statements of poll were delivered by Presiding Officers to Deputy Regional Election Officers, Regional Election Officers and to GECOM?

Somebody altered the results in a pattern that strongly indict people with a wellorchestrated plan to steal an election. The pattern was seen for many statements of poll.

We have evidence for the

box numbers and the divisions where this occurred. But GECOM itself, through the Chief Elections Officer and the Chairman of GECOM, confirmed that there were fraudulent Statements of Poll. Their Press Conference is evidence that they know of fraudulent Statements of Poll. It is an indictment of these persons that knowing and admitting that they know, they refuse to test the overall integrity of the elections.

Why for example GECOM cannot publish the results they have used to calculate the overall votes, box by box before declaring the results?

Let us examine it and compare the box by box results with our SOPs.

Give us just two hours to compare our SOPs with their tabulated results before they declare the final results. Tell me what is wrong with this request?

GECOM and all stakeholders owe it to the people of Guyana to verify with no room for uncertainty that the elections results reflect the will of the people.

If we are all so certain that the elections results are accurate, why then are we afraid

to do a complete recheck to ensure that the results that GECOM tabulated represent a true reflection of how people voted?

What is it APNU+AFC, Mr. Lowenfield, Dr. Surujbally, the ABC countries, the international observers and the private sector of Guyana afraid of?

There was a sophisticated plan to steal the will of Guyanese people in the 2015 elections and many persons are guilty of collusion. Criminal acts are evident and the question is how high up in GECOM is the collusion?

Another electoral heist has been committed in Guyana. This time the Government has been the victim. But the rigging could not have been done by APNU+AFC alone. GECOM staff was intimately involved. Was there also collusion by international players?

Could it be that the Americans and the British who colluded with the then PNC to rig elections post-independence are also involved again in stealing people’s votes? Just asking!

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Electoral rigging and coalition politics

Dear Editor, Electoral rigging has been a fact of life in politics in Guyana. There is no escaping it. It has been a feature of every election since the 1960s and will not be any different in the next election (local or general).

Mutual accusations of misconduct are a key feature of the political environment before and after elections. Because of keenly competitive elections, the two major parties do all they can to acquire “some extra votes”.

And given that the last two elections were very competitive and the outcome very close, rigging would decide

the winner in any election.

One party always engages in more (and brazen) skullduggery than the other. One party engages in more scandalous, bold faced and notorious acts than the other and that party gets away with it because of demographics. Some parts of the country are more prone to skullduggery and rigging than others.

The racial demographics and the zealous behavior of some supporters (who violate electoral rules and engage in criminal activities) make rigging (stuffing of ballot boxes, multiple voting, storming the polling

stations, some voters seeking to imposter others who are out of district, etc) in certain areas unavoidable.

Polling agents are not going to put their lives at stake to prevent rigging. It is the job of Gecom to run a fraud free election. But that has been a difficult task for the organization under trying times when the parties distrust each other and don’t allow the organization to do its job.

GECOM should have had enough resources, personnel, and security in violence prone areas to prevent skullduggery.

In Guyana’s highly charged political environment, that is not pragmatic; GECOM did the best it could. But even when the police came to address complaints from voters and polling agents, their behavior was not satisfactory.

We have grown accustomed to rigging. And the country has not gotten over riggings during the period of the dictatorship. But complaining about rigging will not change election results regardless of when elections are held. Institutions should have been put in place to prevent rigging.

Kambeba Indian Dream Braga, 18, aims his arrow in a jungle near the village Tres Unidos, Amazon state, May 9, 2015. Dream Braga has been shooting fish with a bow and arrow for most of his life. In the Amazonian village where he grew up, that was what kids did for food and fun. He participated in the Indigenous Archery Project which recruits Amazon native children to compete with modern archery equipment and try for a place on the national team, with the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as their ultimate goal. After training with Olympic coaches for three months, he has now been promoted to Brazil's national team (Reuters/Bruno Kelly)

Can GECOM say the integrity of the 2015 elections was not compromised?

Dear Editor,

I don’t know who will be declared the winner of the elections, but there can be little doubt that a significant amount of crookery took place in this election. We know of the intimidation before and during the election.

The observers may not have seen it, but many of our supporters saw and felt the pain of the intimidation.

The PPP/C choose not to send polling agents to some stations because we were not sure we could secure their safety. In some cases, polling agents left in fear and abandoned the security of the boxes. I am certain that persons in these polling stations voted illegally with ballot papers for people who did not show up to vote. There are statements of poll for boxes that indicate more than 100 per cent turnout, i.e. more votes than bal-

lots provided and more than registered voters. Can anyone explain this?

This is not due to assigned disciplinary forces ballots which were distributed to many boxes around the country since the SOPs in question were not ones in which disciplinary forces ballots were sent.

I spoke to certain knowledgeable people around GECOM who also told me that there are questions about the authenticity of SOPs. There are SOPs that are different from the printed GECOM SOPs.

How come? Can someone tell us that this is not so? Clearly something went really wrong with these elections.

This is why we questioned why polling day staff was not published for our vetting prior to elections.

We know that APNU-

AFC had too many people with close links to them that controlled the election process on E-Day and that created room to interfere with the integrity of the election.

We want the results to be declared as early as possible, but should GECOM not ensure the full integrity of the elections are intact first?

Take for example, if we did not ask for the recount, Region 8 would have been won by APNU-AFC. The recount was done for the Regional Elections and showed that the PPP/C actually won. Why then was the General Elections recount not done? We need a clear explanation.

I stated last night that some staff of GECOM were in collusion with APNUAFC to steal votes and create regime change. I insist that this is a matter that I am convinced of.

The International Observers and the ABC countries seem more interested in swearing in a new government. Their role is to ensure they support us in ensuring the integrity of these elections.

I am convinced that should APNU-AFC take control of our government, free and fair elections are forever not possible.

Dr Steve Surujbally has done a fantastic job as GECOM Chairman for two elections. I urge Steve not to allow the clear compromise of these elections to be swept under the rug. It is not only his reputation that would be tainted, it is the welfare of our country.

Every decent Guyanese should stand up to resist the obvious compromise of the elections.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Supremacists in our midst have suddenly become transformed

Dear Editor,

“Race is being shamefully used to divide the electorate and perpetuate fear and distrust as reasons for voting on the same atavistic (sic) lines that have always (sic) damaged our national prospects,” wrote Gordon Forte on May 10, titled “Keep racial stereotyping out of our national politics”.

What gives Mr Forte any elevation to become an overnight fair and ideal “respectable citizen” for a return lecture visit with his special notice served that “one day perhaps I will dare to engage Ryhaan Shah on topics like nature versus nurture...”?

Arguably, Mr Forte’s arousal to confront whatever he sees as race “tensions being raised that respectable citizens should be trying to calm” among Guyanese would make him a suave and ideal oracle of inter racial harmony.

But any attack on Guyana’s most talented and prominent female prize winning novelist from Mr Forte would expect that his craft would excite curiosity, alarm and response.

Another military invasion of the atavistic ballot box body snatchers is no benign mission of nobility. What a

good APNU-AFC salesman Mr Forte can be. But why only on the eve of the May 11 elections is Mr Forte and his kind reborn with such lavish nobility? Why is he only now among so many?

“Blessed are the peacemakers” found in our midst who favour the PNC nucleus in our 2015 elections? So many like him hover to grab and carry all ballots, boxes and SOPs, without any substantial or better tidings of known comfort and joy.

The belief is very deep that the PPP/C Government must be removed because their bounty is hidden in plain sight. Their neighbours believe whatever is hidden must be shared by hook, crook, burning and looting.

Notice how most of the supremacists in our midst have suddenly become transformed overnight harmless cooing doves rejoicing that Moses’s wand may have divided the Red Sea.

Notice how Dr Clive Thomas and Eusi Kwayana just faded into the night? Who’s there? Watch them advance to be recognized.

No evidence can disprove that most of our Guyanese Ms Shahs are any less averse to be free at last from those in disguise. One day it must

GECOM should expeditiously release official results

Dear Editor

Our general and regional elections were completed on May 11. All of the foreign and local observers have endorsed the process and acknowledged that the elections were free and fair. They have also highly commended GECOM for their administration of the elections.

come and will come. Even sanctimonious repackaging of the space cadets promises is no guarantee for their acceptance.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), like Caricom, serves an agenda which sees the Caribbean as an African birthright. Until it demonstrably accepts that Indians are here to stay we will not trust each other.

That it must be regulated by racial parity with freedom of choice in democracy has still not been reaffirmed. Trinidad still strongly believes that Privy Council colonial justice is more fair.

Most Guyanese strongly believe the PPP/C recklessness in supporting the PNC to cut appeals from the Privy Council was a huge ideological mistake.

The PNC-led coalition pledged to garbage appeals to the Guyana Court of Appeals and go directly to the CCJ.

The PNC engineered past miseries which today’s salesmen and women sanction will again be shoved down our throats all over again. Many who previously took the bait

are still alive to regret it.

In responding to Ms Ryaan Shah’s letters, Mr Forte must be careful not to appear as a conquered invader himself. Get off the grovel horse which pleads “I must hasten to beg her and other writers and speakers to try and keep racial stereotyping out of our national politics”.

Beg? No invading conqueror is known for their begging in humility. The screams for mercy came from the Indian victims of Wismar’s 1964 massacre not from their conquerors. Today many aspire to destroy racism’s many evils just by pressing a button.

Ms Shaah to her credit is simply and bravely fending off with much success. But she is no equal match for someone who bravely bared it all to President Donald Ramotar on election campaign, or at Warlock all in public display and applause.

Those with new patented zeal to right wrongs have a lot of work to do.

Sultan Mohamed

Electoral rigging and..

from page 4

Now, the parties and democratic forces have to put measures in place to prevent it. So how can rigging be controlled or reduced or stopped?

There is no easy solution. For the 1997 election, ID voting cards were made mandatory but Chief Justice Desiree Bernard ruled that based on the Burnham constitution, ID cards are not required for voting.

This opened itself for people “to imposter” others and vote for them. The constitution should be amended (assuming the Burnham constitution is not replaced) to require a voters has voting card which should be a requirement for voting.

Foreigners can be brought in to run the elections but that won’t prevent some zealous voters to imposter others and vote for them.

The use of voting ID cards may help to eliminate multiple voting and to stop those who try to importer others at the voting booth.

But even when the actual voting is fair and the outcome is an accurate reflection of the voters’ choice, there could be fake SOPs that seek to alter the results (an inside job) like what is being alleged now.

Professionalism was compromised as admitted by the CEO of Gecom. It is not clear how widespread were fake SOPs – but clearly the existed. So there are individuals working for Gecom or one of the parties that sought to change the election results one way or the other.

Cross racial coalition is another way to reduce or guard against rigging. With cross racial coalitions, stakeholders (cross racial representatives) would

have an interest to prevent rigging.

The cross racial representatives of the parties would stand tough, rather than cave in to bullyism, as was suggested by one of GECOM’s officials.

He suggested that one of the weak parties should have appointed polling agents who is made of “sterner stuff” and who has the mettle to tough out bullyism.

One of the parties did not have polling agents in several polling stations – fear for their lives and did not show up to guard against skullduggery. Cross racial represenatives, in a cross racial coalition, would have an interest to prevent rigging and would be less likely to give in to racial bullying.

The public heard of rigging of last Monday’s elections. The public does not know of the extent of the rigging.

There were issues with multiple voting, fake SOPs, turnout at some polling stations that exceeded 100 per cent, unusually high turnout in some areas, etc. We do not know how exactly these acts of skullduggery impacted the outcome of the election and which side benefited from them.

The parties should have expected rigging and should have taken all measures to prevent or reduce it.

Once the voting takes place, one cannot complain about rigging after the fact and expect it to be reversed. It never happened and won’t happen now. As some have commented, any party that allows itself to be rigged out of office, does not deserve to govern. The winner is congratulated!

Vishnu Bisram

In light of this, the Guyana Islamic Trust is calling on all the political parties and the Guyanese people to accept the official results from GECOM. We are also asking GECOM to expeditiously release the official results of the 2015 elections.

We urge our fellow Guyanese to continue to demonstrate the maturity and patience that they have shown in the last few days until the official declaration is made by GECOM. Guyana is first and it belongs to all of us.

Guyana Islamic Trust

5 lifelong lessons children learn from doing chores

(Continued from thursday)

BY MISS GINA GARDINER

Even very young chil-

dren love to cook. Of course they need lots of supervision, but it’s in the creation of simple things like making jam tarts and vegetable faces that spark a lifelong interest in cooking. What starts out as fun is actually a building block of an irreplaceable life skill: being able to create nourishing tasty foods.

2. Improved self-esteem and accountability

Doing child-appropriate chores can give your children a great sense of self-esteem. This doesn’t happen automatically, though. The process needs to be carefully managed and requires parents to be consistent in setting their expectations and in holding their child accountable. It’s in the structured approach that great success lies, as children have a great need for certainty.

Be very clear about what you want the child to do. Always state it in the positive “I’d like you to lay the table now please.” Changing behaviors works best when you give lots of praise and encouragement when the job is done.

3. The importance of being responsible

Helping around the house gives children a great sense of responsibility. Of course we want children to enjoy their childhood, but it’s been my experience that all too often we expect people to sud-

denly discover a sense of responsibility simply because they have turned 18 and then are disappointed and surprised when they appear to lack it.

Learning to “be responsible ” is a process that comes with having experience of taking responsibil-

it easier to adjust to adult life.

4. That they have a lot to contribute in the world

Helping around the house on a regular basis demonstrates the importance of fairness and contribution to the family unit. It’s been my experience that children can

many parents are overburdened trying to juggle long working hours, child care, being a taxi service to take their children to their many activities, running a house and being a parent and partner.

Many parents I believe are suffering from the. “It’s quicker, easier and less has-

will be learning the skills for successful adulthood.

5. There are consequences (and rewards) that come with their choices

Getting your children involved in doing chores is an ideal way of teaching your child the principle that every-

ity. Learning to be responsible for things and to take the credit when successful –and to understand the consequences when they aren’t – is an incredibly important part of maturing.

Children who have had the opportunity to take responsibility in a measured way are better prepared for future relationships and find

have a very well developed sense of what is fair.

Helping around the house and making a contribution is a great way of teaching children that they have a valuable contribution to make to the family.

There is a paradox in society at the moment. Far fewer children are expected to help around the house and yet

sle to do if yourself syndrome.” Of course if takes time to teach children how to do chores and a real commitment to motivate children to do the chores and understand why it’s important – but it is well worth the investment. Not only will you be able to spend more quality time with the family without being frazzled, but your children

thing we do in life is a choice. Everything we do and say, the way in which we do it, the timing and the approach is a choice. Even not choosing is a choice. Every choice we make has consequences.

When we set expectations it is important to share the consequences when they are done and when they are not.

When a child helps they

need to know that their efforts are appreciated and that it makes a real difference. It works well when children are young for them to see that when they help out there is more time for family activities. As children get older it works really well to offer a clear connection between their making a contribution to helping around the house with achieving certain privileges.

Parents often use money as the motivator, but I believe this has several disadvantages. It can become ever more expensive, but more importantly the young person fails to see that they are making a contribution and will often set up a belief that they shouldn’t do anything unless they are paid for it. Don’t know what chores to give your kids? Here are some age appropriate activities:

Under age five

• Help to put their toys and books away

• Play housework or gardening with you

• Help you when you are cooking – mixing, being given a bit of pastry to roll out

Ages five to seven

• Make their bed (parents to change the bedding for laundering)

• Put their toys and books away

• Help set the table –great way to help them count, learn left and right

• Help clear the table

• Help you cook

• Help put shopping away (unbreakables)

• Put paper in the recycle bin

Ages eight to 11

• Help empty the dishwasher

• Put all dirty washing in designated basket or by the washing machine

• Help with cooking at the weekend and during the holidays

Ages 12 to 15

• Change their bedding and make their own beds

• Pour their own beverages

• Help cook on a regular basis learning how to prepare fruit and vegetables, make simple snacks, etc

• Load the dishwasher and empty it

• Help with dusting

• Put laundry in designated place

• Help hang out washing

• Mow the lawn

• Sort out the recyclables

Ages 15 and up

• Make the family meal at least once a month

• Know how to use the washing machine

• Know how to iron

• Help with general housework or gardening when not actively involved in studying.

(Yahoo! Parenting)

Chief Justice to set date for ruling on presidential term limit case

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang is expected to set a date for ruling on the legal proceedings challenging the presidential two-term limit.

Civilian Cedric Richardson had filed a motion in February, challenging the constitutionality of the two-term limit which was imposed on Guyanese Presidents since 2001. Attorney General Anil Nandlall and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman were named as defendants in the matter.

Following responses filed by Attorneys representing the plaintiff and the defendants, the parties had to present written submissions. Attorney Shaun Allicock, who is representing Richardson, and Deputy Solicitor General of the AG Chambers, Prithima Kissoon, along with Attorney Roysdale Forde for Trotman, have submitted written arguments on the matter.

Following the last session in the acting Chief Justice’s Chamber, Kissoon told reporters that the matter was adjourned for May 12, when Justice Chang was expected to make a ruling. However, given the post elections’ tension, the matter was not heard. The parties are now awaiting a notice from the Chief Justice’s Chamber for the new date.

In the writ filed on February 2, on behalf of 50-year-old Richardson, of Lot 4 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, it was said that Act No 17 of 2001, passed by a two-third majority of members of the National Assembly that altered Article 90 of the Constitution, “curtails and restricts the sovereign and democratic rights and freedom as a qualified elector to elect the person of former President (Bharrat) Jagdeo as the Executive President of Guyana”.

Richardson contends that the Act diminishes and reduces the level of democracy enjoyed by the electorate prior to the alteration and, therefore, required for its legal validity, the holding of a referendum of the people for such alteration. Guyana’s Constitution, upon passing of the Act, states that a person elected as President after the year 2000 is eligible for re-election only once.

The Constitution further states that a person who acceded to the presidency after 2000 and served therein for a single occasion for not less than such a period as may be determined by the National Assembly is eligible for election as President only once.

GECOM agrees to recount 22 boxes from Reg 4 ...after

PPP/C provides evidence of

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has agreed to recount the ballots in 22 boxes from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), that is the Statements of Poll (SoPs) which were identified by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as being tampered with, as the PPP/C continues its call for a wider recount, pointing to the flawed SoPs as indicative of a massive fraud at the 2015 polls.

GECOM had initially resisted the request for recount, but the PPP/C, on Friday, provided evidence of discrepancies in the vote counts from those indicated from their polling agents’ copies in comparison to the figures announced by GECOM in some areas. This prompted GECOM to reverse their stance. The boxes identified for recount are from the lower and upper East Coast of Demerara, as well as north and south Georgetown.

Observers have said that the PPP/C’s approach to the issue has precedent in the aftermath of the 1997 elections, when former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte challenged the announced results. Hoyte had asked for a recount of the ballots which were complied with by GECOM, with observers from the PPP/C, the People’s National Congress

Reform (PNC/R), and also international observers in attendance. The PNC/R, in that instance, refused to accept the recount. And following the final declaration of the polls, staged protests that precipitated a “forensic audit” of the polls by Caricom; the audit verified the initial result. The PNC/R then took another tactic and used one of its supporters, Esther Perreira, to file a petition in the High Court challenging, among other things, the constitutionality of a law, which it had not too long ago supported. Given the importance of the case, the court sat every day to hear the petition.

Evidence presented PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar, at a press conference on Friday, disclosed that his party met with the Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and five of the six GECOM Commissioners, where GECOM had decided to grant the recount. “GECOM this morning (Friday) said they will agree to recount the 22 boxes…,” he noted. Ramotar said he presented his evidence to the GECOM officials and requested a recount of the ballot boxes in the presence of the political parties and observers team, and that the disclosure of election results be put on hold until a recount is completed.

Additionally, since GECOM admitted that fake Statements of Poll (SoPs) were detected during the tabulation process, the PPP/C contended that there must also be a recount to ensure that GECOM’s claim, that these SoPs were not counted, is in fact so.

Ramotar reiterated that in the 22 identified boxes, the votes tabulated by the PPP/C from their SoPs dras-

manipulations

tically differ from the data GECOM used in tabulating results. “These differences disclose a consistent pattern of a subtraction of votes from the PPP/C and additions of that very number to APNU/AFC,” Ramotar said.

Minister of Agriculture

Leslie Ramsammy, who was also present at the press conference, explained that the additions and subtractions were always in multiples of 10 and, since these were done at different locations by different persons, it indicated that a preconceived plan to rig the elections was put in motion.

The President empha-

sised that he submitted a document containing details of the 22 SoPs that were randomly selected from Region Four, which showed the variances in the figures from GECOM and the PPP/C. Ramotar maintained that if these occurrences, which account to a significant amount of the votes, are detected in 22 random boxes, then it is only reasonable to believe that if a recount is done, similar cases will be uncovered.

“We believe that these ballot boxes are seriously flawed enough to change the outcome of the elections and we believe that the figures, the data that was used by GECOM when they announced some figures in

their possession, were numbers that do not reflect the votes in the boxes,” he asserted. Although demanding a recount in all of the 10 electoral districts, Ramotar said he will settle for just a recount in the Regions Four and Five.

He contended that if GECOM takes the decision to go through with the declaration of the results without recounting the ballots, then it will not reflect the will of the people of the country. “The Government will not be legitimate in the sense that it will not reflect the will of the people,” he stated.

Meanwhile, all political parties have until noon today to raise any objections before GECOM pronounces on a final declaration. The Returning Officers of the 10 electoral districts have completed their declaration of results, making it one step closer to the final declaration of the results of the General and Regional Elections 2015. GECOM has a right to act upon or dismiss any objections raised by the political parties where it deems reasonable. Thus far, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic and the United Republican Party have raised objections and called for a recount. The parties are calling on GECOM for a total recount of the ballots before it declares the final result.

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger

Trini fugitive found in Guyana fined for illegal entry

– deportation order granted

ATrinidadian fugitive wanted for a double murder in Trinidad was on Friday fined $30,000 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for unlawfully entering into Guyana. Ralph Ramdhan, also known as “Vernon Rampersaud”, age 50, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that between November 23, 2014 and May 13, 2015 at Charity Essequibo, he entered Guyana by way of sea without presenting himself to

the immigration authority.

According to Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, although the man has no previous convictions in Guyana, he is currently wanted by authorities in Trinidad for two murders. The prosecution explained that through the information received from the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), the investigation was launched and the arrest was made. He explained that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) will be taking the man into custody

after the day’s proceedings.

On the illegal entry charge, the defendant was fined $30,000 or an alternative of three months in prison if he cannot pay the fine. The Magistrate then advised the prosecution that an application of deportation be made as the defendant will be facing charges in Trinidad. Later in the day, the application was made and accepted. The Magistrate ordered that the defendant be removed from the country. In the interim, he will be kept in Police custody.

Teen charged for simple larceny

A19-year-old was on Friday charged with simple larceny at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was accused of stealing a quantity of clothing off of a clothesline.

Kevin Christopher of 39 Houston Housing Scheme, Greater Gerogetown, pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The charge stated that on Wednesday, May 13, at Albouystown, he stole a quantity of clothing worth $42,000; property of

Orindell Harris, the Virtual Complainant (VC).

According to the facts presented by Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, the defendant and the VC are not known to each other. He explained that the previous day, the VC gave his female friend a quantity of clothes to launder for him which she did and hung on the clothesline in the yard. On the day in question, the VC went to the line to check on the articles of clothing and found them missing. He then proceeded to walk West on James

Street Albouystown when he saw the defendant wearing one of the jerseys. At the said time, the defendant had a bag in his hands so the VC confronted him and opened the bag where a quantity of the said clothing was found.

The defendant was arrested, an investigation launched and charges were laid against him.

Addressing the court, the defendant claimed that he was walking through Albouystown when six strong looking men approached him and asked him if he’s new to the area. He responded

in the affirmative, claiming that the men proceeded to beat him and told him that they don’t want new persons in the village.

He claimed that they threw him out of the village. He said as he had no clothes to wear, he went into the VC’s yard and took all of the clothes on the line. The defendant has no previous convictions nor does he have any previous matters before the court.

The Magistrate considered all of the facts presented and requested a probation report. The matter will return to court on June 5.

21-year-old walks free on unlicensed firearm charge

A21-year-old who is supposedly insane walked free on Friday when a charge of illegal gun possession was dismissed against him in Court Five of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The accused, Orseno Benn of 527 Craig, East Bank Demerara walked out a free man on Friday morning after Magistrate Fabayo Azore dismissed two charges against him

The trial has been ongoing since March, after he

had made his first court appearance in February. He had been remanded since.

Magistrate Azore told the court that the prosecution has been unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Benn had an unlicensed .32 revolver on his person.

She detailed that the case has been prolonged unnecessarily since the prosecution’s witnesses have not been coming forward to testify in court on the matter. Also, she indicated the length of time the accused

has been on remand.

Benn was also charged by the Police for larceny after it was alleged he had stolen a gold chain valued $60,000 from Zelta Bess on February 20 at Stabroek Market.

The gun charge stemmed from the revolver allegedly discovered on his person when he was found by the Police.

The Police’s report of the incident stated that the defendant had snatched the Virtual Complainant’s chain around 20:30h and was

caught by a City Constable and the gun was taken off of him.

However, his attorney, Latchmie Rahamat had told the court that her client has a mental problem and thus was not competent to stand trial.

This was to be proven with a medical examination by Dr Bhiro Harry at the Psychiatric Clinic. But the prosecution failed to uplift the doctor’s report on the medical examination done on Benn.

Eyew tness

O...after elections

n Thursday afternoon a and far into the night - the celebrations by the APNU/AFC supporters went on. Even as worried commuters headed out to work the next morning, the more determined revellers were heading home. And why were the commuters worried? Well, from the word "go" the PPPC's been pointing out that there were a slew of irregularities with the poll.

It's not as if they waited until the "preliminary count" indicated they were behind by a whisker. Some of their polling agents had been bullied into leaving their posts and couldn't affix their signatures to the Statement of Polls (SOP). Imagine fighting for decades to have votes counted at the "place of poll" and then not being allowed to witness that count!

Some folks thought the PPPC might be "trying a thing". But then when the CEO of GECOM himself pointed out that there'd been "fake SOP's" submitted - 33 of them!! - you'd think they'd take the PPPC seriously, no? NO!! Your Eyewitness had hoped to take a sabbatical from all this heavy political stuff for a while...but jeez...fair is fair. And this wasn't fair! In an election where the purported difference between the two parties is just 5000 votes... you can't just dismiss 33 fake SOP's. What about the time-tested truism "where there's smoke there's fire"? Who the heck introduced these SOP's?? And one can't be as sanguine as the British Ambassador to echo the GRCOM CEO and say "they weren't counted". Well, weren't the fake SOP's SUBSTITUTED for others?? So what about THOSE people's votes?

And it wasn't just the SOP's. The PPP/C also produced a random sample of 22 SOP's from Region 4 showing a clear pattern of changes from their polling agents' version - the pattern not surprisingly being a reduction of PPPC's votes and inflation of APNU/AFC's. Back in 1997, the now sainted Desmond Hoyte had rejected the election count - certified by even more observers than today's - WHEN THE DIFFERENCE IN VOTES WAS MORE THAN 40,000!!!

And GECOM did allow recounts - two as a matter of fact - since the PNC walked out when they saw no differences exposed. Hoyte, of course, had his people riot in the streets forcing the PPPC to allow a FORENSIC AUDIT by CariCom. And even then Hoyte didn't go along when once again he was shown to be brazenly "trying a thing".

As your jaded Eyewitness taps his keypad, he's being informed that GECOM will announce the FINAL results today at NOON. He hopes it won't be "high noon" and that a recount was done - at least in Region 4. Fairness to the PPPC demands that.

All of Guyana's waiting to exhale.

...in Government

We understand the reason why we aren't hearing much from the Opposition big wigs is they're locked in (smoke filled?) back rooms haggling over "who's going to get what". Your Eyewitness figures that with them promising such a slew of initiatives in their "first 100 days" they'd have their ducks all lined up. While this was supposed to've been settled by the "Cummingsburg Accord", because the AFC hasn't coughed up, a little birdie told your Eyewitness that all bets are off!

Counting chickens when they haven't been hatched seems to be the order of the day. One is about the Speaker of the National Assembly. The coalition promised this individual will come from "Civil Society".

So is this why Ralph Ramkarran wasn't placed on the Opposition list?? Would make sense for them all around, wouldn't it? Ramkarran would have a blast having his erstwhile comrades genuflecting to him every time they rise to speak.

Or if they want to leave to have a tinkle!

...in cricket?

If you think it took too long for GECOM to announce the elections results...what about the announcing the details on "way forward" for WI cricket promised a month ago?

Ralph Ramdhan is wanted for a double murder in Trinidad and Tobago

US-based man robbed, murdered in Corentyne home invasion

AUS-based Guyanese who came home to perform a religious function for his father who died a year ago was killed after armed bandits invaded the home in which he was staying and attacked and terrorised the family before carting off a quantity of jewellery.

Dead is 49-year-old Ramesh Puran of Ozone Park, Queens, New York, who was in Guyana for the past two week. He spent time with various relatives and his visit to Belvedere was no different. The incident occurred at about 21:30h on Thursday evening.

Recalling the traumatising ordeal, Tarmattie Seecharran, age 27, and niece of the deceased said she was at the time feeding her 10-month-old daughter when she saw two men rush in demanding money and jewellery. She noted that one of the bandits held her down and told her not to scream while another held her daughter by her neck and lifted her in the air while threatening to kill the child if they did not hand over the valuables.

“They hold her up and put the cutlass on her neck and said they will cut her throat, they keeping shouting where the US money and gold deh”. Taramattie explained that they were screaming and shouting for help and with the confusion did not recall a gunshot. She explained that Puran’s wife “Sandra” was in the bedroom and after hearing the commotion; she locked the door from inside, opened the louver windows on the upper flat and jumped out.

No one realised Puran was shot until they discovered him in a pool of blood minutes after the ordeal. The injured man was picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was shot once to his upper chest.

Seecharran mentioned that as an alarm was raised, it thwarted the bandits from retrieving any cash and they quickly fled. The entire ordeal lasted no more than five minutes.

Meanwhile, Danny Narine, a nephew-in-law of

Puran said minutes earlier, he had left the house to take two of his relatives home and heard a loud noise. This caused him to turn back and upon returning to his home, he was alerted to the presence of the bandits. “Whilst going we heard a loud noise and I turn to come back home, me and another uncle when we reach close, I saw my wife aunty jump through the window and I realise something was not right. She run out and say go quick them bandits ah kill them people inside. When I run inside, there was no one,

atives and villages gathered at the home to offer sympathy to the grieving family members.

Further, family members said the wife of Puran was too traumatised to speak and had to be taken to the hospital for medical attention as it related to the injuries she received after jumping from the window. Another family member who was also spending time with visiting couple was beaten in her head with a gun. Devica Ramotar, age 46, was beaten to her head with a gun and had to receive medical attention. She

they already escape... Like they see we coming and get away”, he said. The Police were alerted and responded in a timely manner; however, the bandits managed to escape. When Guyana Times visited the family, neighbours, rel-

was in the lower flat when the bandits pounced. Puran, his wife and son were expected to return to the United States on May 20. The Police are continuing their investigations.

Police question persons implicated in the murder of MFK Trading boss

In light of the recent revelation by an inmate of the Camp Street Prison with respect to the murder of MFK Trading Boss, members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have taken statements and are in the process of verifying those claims.

Lenox Wayne, who is on remand for the murder of cosmetologist Ashmini Harriram at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, has revealed the names of several high ranking officials of the Guyana Police Force (GDF) who might be aware of the murder of Mohamed F Khan. Khan’s headless corpse was found at Graham’s Hall but, due to the condition, it was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home where it was subsequently identified as the businessman who went missing some two months prior to the discovery.

A senior rank told the Guyana Times that Wayne was taken to the CID headquarters where he was grilled about the accusations. Those findings, he added, are with the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force, who are conducting further verifications. Wayne had identified a Police Sergeant as the person who had contracted him to kill Khan, and who had given him the weapon to carry out the job. Days after, he revealed the name of a retired Assistance Commissioner of Police who might be involved.

The Police rank added that they are in the process of questioning the people whose names have been implicated in the disappearance and murder of the businessman. He added, thus far

Armed robberies down

The Guyana Police Force released its monthly report for April, which highlighted an increase in the number of murders while armed robberies saw a significant decline during the month.

In the report, which was issued by Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker, it was stated that a seven per cent increase in serious crimes was recorded when compared to the same period in 2014. These serious crimes included murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.

According to the report, at the end of April, there were a total of 54 murders recorded in comparison to 50 murders at the end of April last year. This represents an increase of eight per cent. Meanwhile, robbery under arms saw an overall decrease of 17 per cent over the same period last year. Based on the statistics provided by the Police, armed robberies involving the use of firearms reflected a 23 per cent decrease while those robberies involve other instruments recorded a six per cent decrease. Furthermore, it was re-

ported that at the end of April 2015, a total of 29 illegal firearms were recovered by the Police. These include 14 pistols, eight revolvers, three shotguns, three rifles and one pen-gun.

On the other hand, the Police provided an update on several ongoing investigations. As it relates to the murder of 31-year-old Quincy Bowman of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, whose body was found with a single gunshot injury to the head, no arrest has been made thus far. Bowman was found in the vicinity of Busta Bridge, Festival City, Georgetown, on April 6.

No arrest has been made also in the matter of the Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, teenager who was found dead at the West Demerara seawalls. The body of 17-year-old Devi Ramadhar was discovered on April 11, at the La Jalousie seawalls. While investigators had arrested two persons, the duo was subsequently released after being interrogated.

However the Police did manage to get a break through following the murder of a Wismar, Linden, resident who was shot during an armed robbery. Shevon Gordon of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, was killed outside

the persons have denied the allegation while noting that Wayne “needs to stop making up stories”.

He nevertheless, stated that they are continuing with the investigations and noted that some of the information provided to the Police by the murder suspect is correct. One of such instances, he noted was the issue the surrounds the July 8, 2014 attempted murder of the businessman.

“No one can know the details with respect to the attempted murder except the Police and the perpetrator”, the rank stated. In addition, the Police rank disclosed that the matter is very sensitive, but a thorough probe will be carried out. However, the source told the Guyana Times that after the investigation, and if the Police finds that Wayne is providing false information to them, he will be charged.

The decomposed, headless corpse was found on September 22, 2014 at Old

– Police

her home on April 4, after her family was confronted by armed bandits who relieved them of a quantity of cash after shooting her. The woman succumbed to her injuries, while her son was hospitalised with a gunshot injury.

Investigations led to the arrest of three men and a woman, all of whom were charged and placed before the court. Robin Thomas, 22, of West Front Road, Georgetown; Anthony Primo called “Shoulders” of Laing Avenue, Georgetown; and Adina Bowen called “Yankee” of Blueberry Hill, Wismar, were arraigned on murder and robbery under arms charges. Additionally, Bowen and Latisha Garraway, 20, of Blueberry Hill, Linden, were also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm component. They appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on May 8, and were remanded to prison.

As investigations continue into the incident involving former Fagistrate, Fazil Azeez, who was shot and injured at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the Police are yet to make an arrest. Azeez was shot in his abdomen after a lone gunman confronted him at a property

which is under construction.

In the meanwhile, Police are yet to arrest the suspect in the murder of 18-year-old Alissa McPherson of Cappies Place, C Field Sophia, Georgetown. The teenager was brutally murdered in the wee hours of April 19, reportedly by her boyfriend.

The suspect, Shivanand Roopnarine, called “Tuch”, of School Street, Grove Housing Scheme, EBD, went into hiding after stabbing the teen 41 times about her body at a social event.

Furthermore, a 19-yearold East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, resident was shot and killed on May 6. Sherwin Barrow was shot and killed during an argument with two men at Warlock, East Ruimveldt.

Road, Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. The head was reportedly found by workers attached to the Public Works Ministry who were weeding in the area. It was reportedly in a black plastic bag and was being carried by a dog.

Upon the discovery, the men went to the area from where the dog came and stumbled upon the body. The businessman, who resided in Venezuela after selling his Hadfield Street business, left that country on August 21, 2014 to visit his Guyanese attorney. He was expected to spend five days in Guyana and return to his three children and wife. After his disappearance, his family members contacted several of his friends, but no one had seen him.

After the discovery, relatives of the businessman turned up at the Lyken Funeral Home and positively identified the remains as those of Khan by the underwear and a belt found on the corpse. Investigators believe that the man was beheaded before his body was dumped in the area.

On July 9, 2014, the 54-year-old businessman was shot to his abdomen by a gunman at La Grange, West Bank Demerara in a failed execution attempt. It was reported that he believed this attempt was due to a business deal that had turned sour. At that time, he claimed that he had sold a property, but the buyer wanted to rob him of millions and thought that the execution attempt might have been orchestrated by the buyer. Khan left the business world about six years ago after he received multiple death threats.

The Police had detained a man for questioning but subsequently released him. In addition, investigations are continuing into the murder of businessman Farouk Ghanie, 56, of Nandy Park, EBD. The businessman was found dead in his yard with stab wounds to his body on April 16. Police held a man and woman but released them after questioning. In relation to the murder of 38-year-old Patrick Boodie of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, who was shot and killed during an altercation, there has been no arrest thus far. However, investigations into the Boodie’s murder continue. The man was shot after he had a confrontation with two men at Angoy’s Avenue.

Mohamed F Khan

Dead: Alissa McPherson Dead: Farouk Ghanie

The house where Ramesh Puran was killed after bandits pounced on the family

Ramesh Puran

PPP/C refutes report of conceding elections

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has refuted “reports in the media that Head of State, President Donald Ramotar is preparing to concede electoral defeat to Opposition Leader David Granger”.

In a brief release late Friday night in the wake of the report in another section of the media, the Party said “any such insinuation is grossly inaccurate and the agenda of such media houses further arouses suspicion”.

“President Donald Ramotar maintains his position that the 2015 General and Regional Elections were fraudulent, evidence of which has been provided to the all stakeholders.

“The President continues to hold the position that a national recount of the votes cast is most important to ensure the genuine will of the electorate is respected and our democracy is preserved.”

Coalition claims declaration of results due by noon, GECOM differs

The A Partnership for National UnityAlliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, claims that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has until 12 noon today to make the official declaration of the results of the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Representatives of the coalition met with the Commission’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally and Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield on Friday and insisted that the Commission make the official declaration.

Executive Member of the coalition and Leader of the Working People’s Alliance, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said himself, Executive Members Basil Williams and Amna Ally along with CoChairs Joseph Harmon and Raphael Trotman met with Dr Surujbally and Lowenfield and asked that the declaration be made so that the nation can move on with its business.

The coalition urged GECOM not to be bound by the Saturday noon deadline, because there has been a previous verification.

Roopnaraine said that

the delegation was told by GECOM that there were very strong statutory provisions that the elections body was observing.

To this end, he noted that it was related that the Returning Officer for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) was only able to make her declarations on Friday morning at 09:00h and as such, the elections body will have to follow protocol and allow one day for any contesting party to raise their objections or concerns.

If a request is made for a recount by any of the parties, GECOM would have to determine whether to accept it or not.

However, the coalition believes that such would be an act in futility as there would have already been a verification which would have seen no material differences in the preliminary results which were announced.

This one day, Roopnaraine said, would expire at 12 noon, after which the coalition expected that the declaration

would be made and David Granger would be sworn in as President.

Roopnaraine said the coalition wanted the swearing-in of the new President to occur immediately after the formal declaration of the result.

“We in the APNU+AFC coalition are insisting that the swearing-in followed the declaration.

“We do not want any delays. We want it as short as possible. We are interested in an as early a declaration as possible.

“It is our view that obstacles are being put in the way of the Commission, being put in the way ... of making a declaration and … we are urging the Commission to identify this as mischief and go ahead make that declaration.

“The law provides a mechanism for dealing with disputes, it is called an elections petition … go ahead and make the declaration, who don’t like it – go to the court,” the WPA leader said.

Declaration challenged

Meanwhile, questioned on what will be the outcome of the matter if the declaration was not accepted by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and challenged, Co-Chairman Trotman said that was not a problem for the coalition.

In explaining the procedure of filing an Elections Petition to stop the declaration, he noted that the Opposition had previously utilised the legal channels available and as such, the PPP/C was welcomed to do the same.

“The process is that you file an Elections Petition under the Elections Validity Law, if you want to challenge

the results and you bring your evidence of discrepancies and let the Court make the decision,” he expressed.

According to the laws of Guyana, the elections cannot be challenged before the declaration is made.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C has said that it will not allow its commissioners to sign on to the declaration until its demand for a general recount is met.

This is even as GECOM has acceded to the Party’s wish to carry out a recount on 22 of the ballot boxes in Region Four. It disclosed that no discrepancies or differences were found.

GECOM said in a release it is quite aware of the anxiety that prevails at this time in relation to the final declaration of the 2015 elections results.

“GECOM wishes to inform the public that it shares that anxiety but is constrained by the legal requirements, which it has to observe,” a release said.

Relative to the process of declaring the results, those results have now been declared by the respective Returning Officers for the ten Electoral Districts.

However, parties may raise objections by midday of the day after the last of the ten declarations.

For that reason, since the last declaration was made Friday morning, the Commission has to wait until noon today before it can pronounce on a final declaration, according to law.

“The Commission is therefore asking the public to bear with it until midday of Saturday May 16, 2015, before it advises on the next stage of the declaration of results,” the release said.

China, India sign more than US$22B in deals

China and India signed deals worth more than US$22 billion in areas including renewable energy, ports, financing and industrial parks, an Indian embassy official said on Saturday.

Namgya C Khampa, of the Indian Embassy in China, made the remarks at the end of a three-day visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which he sought to boost economic ties and quell anxiety over a border dispute between the neighbours.

According to CNN-IBN, the agreements include those on education, railway, and cooperation. Protocols for setting up Consulates-General at Chengdu and Chennai along with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on consultative mechanism for cooperation in trade negotiations were among the 24

agreements signed.

An action plan between the Indian Railways and China National Railways on enhancing cooperation in the railway sector and an MoU on education exchange programme and ‘Space Cooperation Outline’ were also signed.

Other key agreements are on developing China-India think tanks, maritime cooperation and ocean sciences. Four agreements were signed on sister-state and sister city relations between Karnataka and Sichuan province; Chennai and Chongqing; Hyderabad and Qingdao; and Aurangabad and Dunhuang.

The key agreements were signed on the second day of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China.

In a joint press conference after the signing of the deals, Modi said, “We have a historic responsibility to turn

this relationship into a force of good.”

“We both reiterated our strong commitment to make all efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border region. We should be sensitive to each others’ interest,” he said.

“I also discussed some of our regional issues and we agreed to strengthen mutual trust and manage our differences with maturity. I stressed on the need for China to reconsider its approach to some issues that hold us back from realising full potential of our partnership. I sought tangible progress on issues relating to visa policy and trans-border rivers. I also discussed some of our regional concerns. I reiterated our strong commitment to make all efforts to maintain peace, tranquillity in border region,” he added.

(Excerpts from Reuters and CNN-IBN)

Coalition Executive Member, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar

Georgetown slowly returning to normalcy

Persons from across Georgetown were seen in their numbers on Friday at Bourda Market in Georgetown as they engaged in their shopping activities and interacting with their colleagues, updating each other on the election disposition following the releases made by officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) over the past days.

When a team from Guyana Times visited the market, it was observed that persons from all ethnic groups came out to stock up on their groceries, fruits, meats and vegetables, as they made their way through the numerous makeshift stalls.

Speaking with one market goer Patricia Isaac, who was at the time shopping for her vegetables, told this publication that she remained at home for four days since she feared there would be corruption

in the city. She highlighted that she came out because she had to conduct some personal business and after seeing the peacefulness of the town, she decided to proceed to the market to shop a few groceries and vegetables.

Being optimistic about the fact that GECOM has not officially declared the newly elected President yet, the woman said that all she can do is hope and pray for the best. One this note, she indicated that by the time the final result is broadcasted, it is her belief that everything will be as it currently is.

“I am happy how things are and I am hoping that the promises made by the APNU+AFC coalition will be fulfilled. I am not expecting it at a very early stage because I know how the system goes however, in time to come, the state of the country should be at a much more improving lev-

el,” she said.

A few other persons that spoke with this newspaper outlined the same sentiments in that they were at home for the past few days and finally decided to come out and conduct their routine activities due to the calmness in various parts of the city. Vendors were

Residents illegally occupying GuySuCo lands

AGuyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) official has confirmed that residents of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, with whom it has been locked in a land dispute have gone into its fields and are illegally occupying the land.

Guyana Times was also made to understand that this illegal occupancy was also being taken up at lands behind Goedverwagting, Felicity and Foulis, all on the East Coast. The GuySuCo official stated that persons were already marking the land at Plaisance.

According to the official, this illegal possession of private land is part of the “lawlessness” that the country has been experiencing during the last few days. He pointed out that while GuySuCo could intervene and send in security to stop this, it did not want to create any unrest. “… any confrontation at this point in time may create a [further] confrontation,” the official stated.

He explained that GuySuCo has recently harvested the cane lands behind Plaisance and so the persons shifted their attention there. He noted that they were made aware of this since Thursday, adding that the residents took up over 100 acres of land.

In addition, the official from the Sugar Corporation further outlined that GuySuCo also have the option of flooding out the lands, but would not do so,

due to the current situation and “uncertainty of what’s to come”.

“Any actions we –GuySuCo – takes now will definitely incite… so we can only do so much, but we are monitoring the situation. We are trying to limit how far they go, so we have flooded out some land beyond where they have occupied,” he remarked.

Upset

Only late last year, residents in Plaisance were up in arms over the use of their backlands by GuySuCo. This resulted in months of protest after the villagers claimed that the Government was attempting, through the Agriculture Ministry, to seize their backlands despite the known history of the community.

According to reports, Police had carried out an eviction exercise while squatters on the backlands were asleep. More reports suggested that women and children were also assaulted in the process. Fearing for their lives, the squatters left.

Austin, speaking to Guyana Times, said: “We are calling on other villages because it is quite appalling to know that several communities are facing similar problems … We are asking community leaders to protect what belongs to them.

“Our ancestors bought this land, the land of Plaisance was bought by 65 freed slaves and we have to make our ancestors proud.

And at no time, we will allow them to turn in their graves,” the community representative declared during one of a series of protest actions in October.

Apart from the Police intimidating the more than 400 squatters who were occupying the backlands, residents contended that the Agriculture Ministry permitted GuySuCo to flood their backlands. They, however, remain resolute in the face of these challenges, maintaining that they would not surrender. Villagers had organised a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the community’s capacity to defend their rights and promote self-sustenance and entrepreneurship.

The situation in Plaisance had sparked major condemnation from sections of society, including A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger, who had said that the crisis pointed to “the rotten state of the local government system as a whole” and called for an investigation into the matter.

Guyana Times was informed that following this current incident, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar appealed to Granger, whose A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition is on track to become Guyana’s new government following Monday’s polls, to ask the residents to desist from illegally occupying the lands.

seen in their numbers as they brought out their fresh stocks in the hope that their businesses will be successful. Many of them outlined that over the past days, they have not been receiving any business and if they do at all, it was at a low pace.

An aged vendor, who was at the time unloading her stocks, told this newspaper that she was very distressed for the past days; suffering from tremendous losses because persons were rarely seen in the market shopping. She said that she was eagerly awaiting normalcy to return for her business and is happy to see so many people at the market on Friday.

Ras Simeon, a representative of the Guyana Rastafarian Council that specialises mainly in the manufacture of cultural attire, was seen at Bourda Market flocked by many consumers as they were intrigued by the beautifully beaded garments which ranged from necklaces to bracelets, among others.

In an interview with Ras Simeon, he told Guyana Times that he would like to indicate to the public that Guyana is a religious country with all the different faiths that live side by side with each other. He stated that the politicians cannot divide a religious country and that the people of Guyana have shown great

tolerance as it relates to the delay of results by the GECOM.

On this note, he said that the coalition government is one which cannot be defeated as it comprises of all the different races of the country which have contributed significantly, and is clearly seen by the nation’s motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”. He further explained that the fear should no longer be an issue in Guyana, in that the country is on the verge of moving towards cutting the racial differences that many have been plagued with across the various regions. When asked about his business operations, he noted that he was out the past few days and can safely say that he was seeing a “home kind reaction”. However, now that the results of the General and Regional Elections have been partially announced, persons can be seen in their numbers and Ras Simeon is glad because he says business can return to normal soon.

In the capital city of Georgetown, many persons were seen shopping and carrying out their activities while the supporters of the APNU/AFC coalition continued celebrating as they hoisted flags and pieces of green and yellow clothing.

A section of the crowd at Bourda Market

saturday, may 16, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Concerns grow over political unease

The European Union in a statement noted that Guyana’s General and Regional Elections of May 11, 2015, were largely peaceful and inclusive, with a high turnout and good performance of electoral authorities.

“The EU commends the Guyana Elections Commission for an efficient and well-organised election process. The EU calls on all actors to respect the legal procedures and address any possible grievance through the channels established by the law,” a release said.

The EU also said it looks forward to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation and continuing close collaboration with Guyana’s Pro Tempore Chairmanship of CARIFORUM, in particular, in the run up to the EUCELAC Summit and the EU-CARIFORUM Top Level meeting on June 11.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry said in a statement:

“All the observer mis-

sions, both local and international, have deemed the election to be free and fair.

"GECOM, sometimes to the agitation of sections of the population, also went to great pains to ensure that all the results published were accurate and beyond question.”

The Chamber said the uncertainty created by this state of affairs has caused business, productivity and the entire country to grind to a halt.

“As a nation we cannot continue to suffer because of the machinations of parts of our political establishment.

"We therefore urge all parties to accept the results of the election.

"There is a legal recourse available for all those who are dissatisfied with any part of the electoral process.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) said it is aware of the preliminary results for the 2015 General and Regional Elections as announced by the Guyana Elections Commission

(GECOM), and welcomes and congratulates the incoming government.

“Our organisation expects that the new administration would manage the affairs of our nation, keeping in mind the welfare of all Guyanese.

"This is the expectation of all and the call becomes even more pertinent given how close the results have turned out.”

Since its establishment, the IAC said it has worked assiduously to foster and develop the Indian culture and the wellbeing of Guyanese of Indian ancestry.

“Over the years we have worked in this regard as part of our social mandate, security was found to be among the major concerns for IndoGuyanese.

"This concern was raised on various occasions over the years, and given that a new administration is on the verge of taking office, the IAC wishes to reiterate its call for security to be the primary focus.

"Over the past few days,

after it appeared that a new government may emerge, many reports were received indicating that some IndoGuyanese were intimidated and threatened.

"The IAC understands that there will be some exuberance in these celebrations; however it must not be to the discomfort and inconvenience of others.

"In this regard, while the IAC feels heartened by comments made by incoming President, Retired Brigadier David Granger, calling for his supporters to be respectful and celebrate within the ambits of the law, there is cause for concern in some quarters.”

In addition, the IAC said it hopes that Indo-Guyanese would not in any way be made to feel unwelcome and alienated during the tenure of the new government.

“Like all Guyanese, Indian brothers and sisters have worked tirelessly to make a significant contribution to the development of Guyana.

The IAC stands ready to work with the new administration to continue its efforts to preserve, develop and strengthen the rich and diverse cultural traditions brought to these shores by Indian foreparents one hundred and seventy-seven years ago.”

Also adding its voice to the issue, Bishop of the Catholic Church here, Francis Alleyne said GECOM’s preliminary results on the 2015 election showed a photo-finish.

“The exemplary conduct of the people in turning out, exercising their civil responsibility and waiting patiently as well as the various endorsements on the electoral process are a credit to us all and deserve the greatest respect.

"I therefore urge that the declaration of the election results be done quickly so that the voice and good will of the people is not taken for granted.”

Bishop Alleyne said given the closeness of the results, as well as the divisiveness

of the campaigns, it is clear that much work lies ahead to build lasting reconciliation and trust.

"In reality we don’t forget but we can remember without the bitterness and pain: we can be healed and reconciled and trust again and must claim this.

"To this end, I call on all to exercise moderation, for the losing party to concede immediately upon the declaration and the winner to magnanimously accept, so that as one people we can focus with resolve on the critical business of nation building.” He said “our faith traditions teach us that" the person is not only sacred but also social.

"How we organise our society – in economics and politics, in law and policy – directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community” (USCCB). I pray that as a people we encourage and support one another in broadbased inclusion in the governance and life of the nation.”

LGBT health sees progress 15 years after homosexuality ceased being considered a disease

Fifteen years after the World Health Organisation (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders, there has been progress in the circumstances affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. However, challenges persist, say experts at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

In the lead-up to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia – observed each year on May 17 to mark the day in 1990 when WHO removed homosexuality from the

International Classification of Diseases (ICD) – experts at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) say there is now a widespread consensus that homosexuality is a natural variant of human sexuality and cannot be considered a pathological condition.

Among other advances, they note the rejection of “conversion therapies” aimed at changing sexual orientation, which lack medical and scientific justification and represent a serious threat to the health and well-being of people subjected to them, accord-

ing to a technical document published by PAHO/WHO in 2012. There is also an emerging consensus today that transgender identity, like homosexuality, does not qualify as a disorder.

Another advance during the last 15 years was a resolution approved in September 2013 by the ministers of health of the Americas, meeting at PAHO, calling for reducing disparities in access to and use of health services by the LGBT population. “The resolution recognises that stigma and discrimination have real and adverse effects on LGBT

people, generating barriers that range from outright denial of care to deficient care and erroneous assumptions about the causes of the health problems of LGBT individuals,” said PAHO Director Carissa F Etienne.

Senior health officials from throughout the Americas committed themselves to working to eradicate stigma and discrimination in health services and to address other challenges, particularly the lack of information on the health of the LGBT population. PAHO/WHO is supporting efforts to collect information about the health needs of this population, the obstacles that its members confront in obtaining access to care, and the impact of stigmatisation on LGBT people’s health and well-being.

“Few health information systems take account of variables such as sexual orientation or gender identity, and

this means LGBT people are often invisible in health systems, with serious consequences for individual and public health,” Etienne said.

The information being collected will help health systems redefine their care models with an approach that protects human rights and gender equality. Available information indicates that LGBT people experience greater health disparities and worse outcomes than heterosexuals.

They have higher rates of HIV infection, depression, anxiety, tobacco use, alcohol abuse, suicide and suicidal ideas as a result of chronic stress, social isolation, and lack of connection with various health and support services.

Another challenge is health professionals’ lack of skills to understand and address the specific problems of this group. “Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender

individuals are recognised by the law and must receive respectful and considerate treatment by health services, in accordance with universal and regional human rights regulations and standards,” said Heidi Jiménez, PAHO/ WHO Legal Counsel.

Currently, a number of countries in the Americas are carrying out health system reforms, discussing, reviewing, and formulating policies and human rights based legislation, and creating specific services for the LGBT population in order to progress toward universal access to health and universal health coverage.

“There has been progress, but we must do more to overcome the obstacle of homophobia and to provide equitable, comprehensive, differentiated, and friendly care to all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation,” said Anna Coates, head.

Woman fined $20,000 for

Elections Day insult

Awoman was on Friday fined $20,000 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for insulting a polling agent on Election Day. Alycia Wilson, 29, of 3623 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on May 11 at Polly’s Nursery School she insulted and provoked the Virtual Complainant (VC), Eugiene Hercules thereby causing a breach of the peace. According to the facts presented by Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves, on the

day in question, the VC was acting in the capacity of a polling agent attached to APNU+AFC when at 10:15h the defendant came to the said location and started calling the VC insulting names in a loud tone of voice causing a crowd to gather.

The defendant claimed that on the day in question she went to the Stewartville polling station located on the West Bank of Demerara. She said that when she was finished voting, she returned home and spent the entire day there, denying ever being at the said location. She said that the next day her sister informed her that she was summoned to the police station where they informed her of the allegations and charged her. The defendant called her sister to testify to this fact; however, Melisa Wilson claimed that she only saw her sibling leaving Georgetown in a route 32 bus and later in the day when she was heading home.

After considering all of the facts and testimony presented, the Magistrate found Wilson guilty of the charge beyond reasonable doubt. She was fined $20,000 with an alternative of two weeks in prison. She has three weeks to make the payment.

saturDaY, maY 16, 2015 | guYanatimesgY.com

Double win for Digicel Group at Global Telecoms Business Awards

Digicel Group took home two awards at the annual Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards 2015 held at the Sheraton Park Hotel, Piccadilly, London. The two awards – both in the Consumer Service Innovation category – were for Digicel’s Redkneeenabled utility payment service called Easypay that allows customers in Papua New Guinea to purchase electricity at any time directly from their mobile phone and the second for Digicel’s roaming service, “Roam Like You’re Home”, which sees customers paying local rates while travelling abroad and reducing roaming costs by more than 95 purchase.

Elections 2015…

Working in partnership with the country’s incumbent electricity utility provider, Digicel and Redknee provided an alternative solution to the existing prepaid electricity voucher topup payment method, where rural customers had to travel long distances to vending sites that were only available during business hours –a process was time-consuming, costly and inconvenient for the customer. The roaming service, “Roam Like You’re Home”, is the first of its kind in the region as it gives both prepaid and postpaid customers the freedom to use their phones to make calls, receive calls for free, send SMS and use data all at the same price as at home

URP joins calls for total recount of ballots

The United Republican Party (URP) has now joined the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, calling for a total recount of the ballots in all the regions.

The party, through its leader and Presidential Candidate Vishnu Bandu told the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) that upon careful analysis, it has observed the inconsistencies

as reported in the preliminary results.

Based on the preliminary results released by the elections body, the URP secured some 338 votes in the general and 246 in the regional polls.

The URP in its letter to GECOM said it is convinced that somewhere along the line a mistake had been made and that only a recount could satisfy the concerns and curi-

Speeding remains top cause of road accidents

As the Guyana Police Force (GDF) continues with its traffic enforcement activities to ensure the country’s roadways are safe for all users, concerns are still high about those errant drivers who continue to speed.

In its report for the month of April, the Police disclosed that speeding continues to be a major contributory factor in fatal accidents. The statistics provided by law enforcers shows that speeding accounts for 12 of the 26 fatal accidents that occurred for this year thus far.

The second leading cause of accidents has been identified as inattentiveness, which accounts for nine accidents thus far, and drunk driving came in third, causing five accidents. As of April this year, there have been three fatal accidents caused by either inattentiveness or drunk driving.

Meanwhile, there has been a decline in the number of fatal accidents recorded at the end of April 2015, when compared to the 35 from the same period last year. According to the Police, this decrease was seen in all other categories of road accidents, that is, serious, minor and damage. These were decreased by 29 per cent, seven per cent and two per cent, respectively.

On the other hand, pedestrians continue to be the

main category of road users who are mostly affected by road fatalities, with 15 such persons having lost their lives by the end of April this year. In addition one pedal cyclist, 12 persons in motor vehicles, one motor cyclist and six drivers also lost their lives as a result of road accidents.

Nevertheless, the Police continue its traffic enforcement exercise which saw a total of 19,525 cases being made against errant motorists for breaching various traffic laws at the end of April. These include a staggering 8070 cases for speeding; 587 for driving under the influence (DUI), 181 cases for careless driving and 166 for dangerous driving. Additionally, some 963 cases were filed against drivers who were in breach of condition for Road Service Licence/music.

There were also 567 cases of failure to wear seat belt, 98 for failing to wear safety helmets, and another 204 cases for unlicensed drivers. Additionally, 262 cases of prohibition for use hand-held mobile phones, 388 for breach of Traffic Light Signal, 303 for tinted motor vehicles, and some 1009 for overloaded minibuses were recorded. Furthermore, the Police also filed 217 cases against persons for obstruction, 216 for crossing the double yellow line, and another 201 failure to conform to the sign.

osity of its supporters.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Thursday evening, Bandu expressed his dissatisfaction with the results, stating that it does not truly reflect the support his party received during its campaigning exercises.

He noted that while he was not expecting to win the election, he could have made a difference had he gotten

sufficient votes to secure a seat in Parliament. Bandhu said in addition to the figures, he is also concerned about several issues that were raised recently. He referred to the “fake” Statement of Polls (SOPs) that were detected by Lowenfield, noting that this cannot to be considered a “free and fair” election if issues such as these arise.

– crushing normal roaming rates.

Commenting on the awards, Digicel Group CEO Colm Delves said, “Digicel is always looking for innovative ways to make technology really work for the benefit of our customers. As a total communications and solutions provider, we’re all about delivering the best content, services and value to customers on their mobile phone. I want to congratulate the teams who worked hard to deliver these innovative services – their awards are well deserved.”

Redknee’s CEO, Lucas Skoczkowski, commented; “I would like to congratulate Digicel on winning these awards. Digicel and Redknee have worked together to develop many innovative consumer services for their subscribers, and I am pleased that Global Telecoms Business has recognised Digicel’s achievements.”

Digicel Group Limited is a leading global telecommunications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 14 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network. Digicel runs a host of

community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes. Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams and individuals including the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt and Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel also sponsors the West Indies cricket team. Visit www. digicelgroup.com for more information.

Digicel took home the “Best Consumer Service Innovation” Award for its Easypay utility payment service in Papua New Guinea which was collected by Digicel Board Member Vanessa Slowey at the recently-held Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards 2015

Digicel Board Member Vanessa Slowey was on hand to collect Digicel’s award for its “Roam Like You’re Home” service

Regional

US-Mexico custody case: DNA confirms girl’s identity

Ateenager in Mexico is due to be reunited with her mother in the United States (US) after DNA tests confirmed her identity.

The tests showed Alondra Diaz Garcia, 13, was the daughter of a woman in Texas who has been searching for her. She was taken to Mexico by her father eight years ago after a US court awarded custody to the mother.

Last month, another Mexican girl was mistaken for Alondra and taken against her will to Dorotea Garcia in the US. On Monday, Alondra appeared in a court in the western state of Michoacan along with her aunt and grandmother.

Her relatives said her father had decided to hand her over after he saw coverage of the confusion over Alondra Luna Nunez in the media. Last month a video showing 14-year-old girl Alondra Luna Nunez in distress as she was seized by

Police and dragged away from her school caused outrage after it was published on social media.

Ms Garcia had mistaken her for her daughter because the two girls share the same first name, are of a similar age and bear a similar scar.

Alondra Luna Nunez was sent to Houston, where

Ms Garcia lives, even though the girl and her family insisted all along there had been a mistake.

DNA tests carried out in Houston eventually revealed Alondra Luna Nunez was not Ms Garcia’s daughter. The girl was flown back to Mexico, where she was reunited with her parents.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Bahamas Government boosting security after websites hacked

The Perry Christie administration plans to set up a committee to advise it on cyber security matters, after several government websites were hacked.

The sites attacked, purportedly by members of a Tunisian Islamist activist group called the Fallaga Team, included the Ministry of Tourism websites, www. bahamas.com and www.bahamasfilm.com.

A statement from the Government said all defaced sections of the websites had been quickly removed and the functionality of the sites restored. “The evidence collected has been turned over to the relevant local authorities and the matter is currently under active in-

vestigation,” it said. “All government websites have been checked for possible breaches, safeguarded and reinforced against potential vulnerabilities by the implementation of software patching.”

In addition to that short-term measure, the Government said it was planning for the long-term. It will convene a meeting of industry experts to review the entire governmentowned internet related infrastructure to determine what, if any, additional measures can be taken to deliver the strongest possible cyber-security protocol.

“It is the intent of the Government to cause to be established a permanent public/private sector com-

mittee that will meet regularly, conduct regular audits of public internet infrastructure and advise the government on matters of cyber security, so as to inform public policy going forward,” it said.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe lamented that “opportunistic and unscrupulous individuals” were using legitimate communications, trade and commerce platforms for nefarious purposes.

Earlier this month, the St Vincent and the Grenadines faced a similar problem. Its www.gov. vc website was hacked. The site remained unavailable up to this morning. (Caribbean 360)

Buju Banton’s gun charge dropped

J

ailed Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton will be out of prison in less than four years, after striking a deal with US Prosecutors that would see him dodging a pending gun charge.

The US Attorney’s Office disclosed, on Thursday, that in exchange for waiving all appeals related to his 2011 conviction on a cocaine distribution conspiracy charge,

Buju, whose real name is Mark Myrie, will no longer face the firearms charge. He had been convicted on the gun count in 2011 as well, but the conviction was thrown out. However, an appeals court upheld it. A new trial was subsequently ordered after the court found that a juror had inappropriately researched a legal theory relating to the charge. If the Prosecutors had proceeded with the case and Buju was convicted, he would have faced an additional five years in prison. Buju will be out of prison in January 2019. He will be deported to Jamaica on his release. (Caribbean 360)

Deaths in Chile student protests

Two students have been killed in Chile amid massive demonstrations across the country against government education policy.

The deaths, on Thursday, came in the city of Valparaiso, about 125 kilometres west of the capital Santiago, when demonstrators trying to post pamphlets on the outer walls of a home were shot by the son of the owners. Police said they had arrested the shooter.

Students and university professors have been marching in Valparaiso and Santiago demanding reforms to the education system.

The protesters want more of a say in how the Government makes good on reform pledges, such as making university studies free for poorer students and instituting performance re-

views for teachers.

Organisers said around 150,000 people marched in the capital, but Police put the figure at 50,000, a news agency reported.

Demonstrators clashed with Police at the end of the march in Santiago, and more than 130 people were arrested, according to security officials.

The protests came four

days after President Michele Bachelet overhauled her cabinet, as she faces a plummeting approval rating. Among other woes, her eldest son, Sebastian, has been named in an influence peddling scandal.

Chile has previously witnessed mass student protests in 2013 over rising tuition costs and poor teaching standards. (Al Jazeera)

US, Cuba to hold talks on opening embassies

The United States State Department has said that US and Cuban negotiators will meet next Thursday to discuss reestablishing embassies in each other’s capitals.

The talks will focus on the practical measures needed to reopen embassies in Havana and Washington.

Although relations have improved in recent months,

a US trade embargo remains in place. Last month President Barack Obama said Cuba would be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. Havana had said it needed to be taken off the list before talks to reopen embassies could begin.

In a statement the State Department said it will host a Cuban delegation on

21 May. “A US Embassy in Havana will allow the United States to more effectively promote our interests and values, and increase engagement with the Cuban people,” the statement said. In April, President Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro, the first sit-down talks between the nations’ leaders since 1956. (BBC News)

Liverpool Captain promotes BA flights to the Caribbean

Regional tourism is expected to benefit from British Airways (BA) Caribbean Campaign, which is predicted to boost arrivals to all Caribbean destinations served by Britain’s flagship carrier.

Liverpool Football Club

Captain Steven Gerrard, and his wife Alex, are on board as the faces of the promotion, which is currently offering great deals on flights and packages to the Caribbean. The campaign offers seven-night vacations starting at just £529 per person, including air fare and accommodation.

Throughout the promotion, flights and packages will be available from both Gatwick and Heathrow airports and all will include free cabin baggage, free online check-in and complimentary food and beverages on board.

According to British Airways’ Colm Lacy: “British Airways offers more flights to the Caribbean from Europe than any other airline, so our customers will never be short of choice.

“Until May 26, we are offering some amazing deals on holidays and flights so, like Steven and Alex, more peo-

ple can escape to paradise this summer.”

“We honeymooned in the Caribbean, so it has always been a really special place to us,” said Alex Gerrard, a picture of tropical chic in a lightweight cream coloured dress.

British Airways flies to St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Tobago, Port of Spain, Turks and Caicos, St Kitts, and Bermuda from Gatwick, and to the Bahamas and Grand Cayman from Heathrow. (Excerpt from Caribbean 360)

Cuba concludes int’l workshop on anti-cancer vaccine

13 de mayo de 2015, 08:12More than 100

Cuban and foreign researchers concluded debating in Havana on progresses and new actions of CIMAvaxEGF, the first therapeutic vaccine registered for lung cancer.

The event, which concluded on Wednesday, was opened Tuesday at the Havana’s Conference Centre. It was an excellent opportunity to assess new strategies of the medicine, such as its implementation in medi-

cal practice, indications and therapeutic combinations.

Dr Agustin Lage, Director of the Centre of Molecular Immunology, talked in the opening ceremony about the situation of cancer, and the use of therapeutic vaccines as part of the treatment of this disease.

He stated that globally, of all patients with malignant tumours, about three per cent are receiving some form of immunotherapy, and the prediction is that in the coming decade this kind of thera-

py will reach 60 per cent.

“The questions is not today whether immunotherapy is or not effective, but how long and in which patients,” the scientist noted.

In statements to Prensa Latina, Lage explained that CIMAvax-EGF is making itself worldwide. Several clinical trials are ongoing in European and Latin American countries, and the interest for the product is growing, as US scientists recently visited the island. (Prensa Latina).

The teenage girl should be re-united with her mother in Texas after DNA tests confirmed her identity

Chilean student protest

Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton

Obama reassures Gulf allies on Iran

US President Barack Obama has pledged to stand by his Gulf allies with military force if necessary, amid heightened tensions with Iran.

He reassured Arab leaders, after a two-day summit held on Thursday and Friday, that the US was committed to protecting them in a time of “extraordinary changes”.

Speaking at Camp David near Washington, President Obama said a nuclear deal with Iran was not a threat to Gulf nations.

A joint statement pledged new co-operation in many areas. These include counterterrorism, maritime security, cyber-security and ballistic missile defence.

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“I was very explicit... that the United States will stand by our GCC partners against external attack,’’ Obama pledged at the end of the talks. The President said he hoped that working

together would help achieve “the kind of peace and good neighbourliness with Iran” that the nations present sought.

The joint statement said that in the face of any aggression, the US would stand with the Arab nations “to determine urgently what action may be appropriate, using the means at our collective disposal, including

the potential use of military force, for the defence of our GCC partners”.

Gulf nations have grown distrustful of the White House since Obama’s initially sympathetic response to the Arab uprisings, and are frustrated with his reluctance to get more involved in the Syria conflict, says the BBC’s Barbara Plett Usher. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Blues legend BB King dies aged 89

The “King of the Blues”, guitarist and singer BB King, has died aged 89.

King, known for his hits “My Lucille”, “Sweet Little Angel” and “Rock Me Baby”, died in his sleep in Las Vegas.

Born in Mississippi, King began performing in the 1940s, going on to influence a generation of musicians and work with Eric Clapton and U2.

He had been suffering ill health in recent months. He was recently taken to hospital with a diabetes-related illness.

Fellow musicians paid tribute to King including blues guitarist Buddy Guy, who often played with him.

“BB King was the greatest guy I ever met,” he wrote on Instagram.

“The tone he got out of that guitar, the way he shook his left wrist, the way

he squeezed the strings… man, he came out with that and it was all new to whole guitar playin’ world.

Clapton posted a video tribute on Facebook to express his sadness at the death of his “dear friend”.

A former farmhand, King was awarded his 15th Grammy award in 2009 for his album “One Kind Favor”.

He was also inducted into both the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rolling Stone magazine placed him behind only Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Until recently, King performed in at least 100 concerts a year.

He fused together both jazz and blues on his beloved guitar, a Gibson ES355 he lovingly dubbed “Lucille”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Around the World

Fighting continues in Yemen despite truce

At least 10 people were killed in heavy clashes in Yemen on Friday despite a five-day humanitarian truce, while aid distribution of food, fuel and medicine were the millions deprived by weeks of fighting and air strikes continued.

Saudi Arabia, leading a coalition of Arab states backed by the West, has pounded Iranian-allied Houthi forces and fighters loyal to Yemen’s former leader since March 26, aiming to restore President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi.

The ceasefire, which began on Tuesday, appeared to be mostly holding on Friday

despite heavy ground fighting between local militiamen and the Houthis, residents said. A medical source said 10 were killed.

“Nothing has changed with this truce. People are still fighting and the Houthis are still in control,” said Alawi al-Afouri, a resident in the southern city of Aden. “The legitimate Yemeni Government is scattered abroad and has no authority inside.”

Impoverished and strifetorn even before the war, Yemen is now mired in a humanitarian catastrophe, as 300,000 people have been displaced by the conflict, and 12 million short of food.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, on Friday, urged the Saudi-led coalition to ease inspections of Yemen-bound cargo to allow vital commercial and humanitarian goods into the country. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was increasing shipments of medical supplies to Yemen during the humanitarian pause. “More than 20 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies have been flown from WHO’s humanitarian hub to Djibouti, where they will be loaded on a UN vessel departing for Hodeida today,” it stated. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Missing US helicopter found in Nepal rubble

The wreckage of a United States military helicopter lost on an earthquake relief mission in Nepal was found on Friday, with all eight on board presumed dead.

A US search team identified the wreckage as that of the missing Marines UH-1Y Huey helicopter deployed after the Himalayan state was hit by a massive earthquake last month that killed more than 8000 people. Crash debris was found 13 kilometres north of the town of Charikot near dense forest and rugged terrain

“It was a very severe crash. We believe there were no survivors,” said John

Wissler, Lieutenant General of the US Marines.

The Huey went missing while it was distributing aid on Tuesday, the day a strong aftershock hit Nepal and killed more than 100 people.

Six Marines and two Nepali soldiers were on board when it went missing, after the crew was heard over the radio saying the aircraft was experiencing a fuel problem.

The Huey, an iconic helicopter dating back to the Vietnam War era, was completely destroyed, a Nepal Defence Ministry official said. He added, “As the helicopter has broken into pieces and totally crashed, there is no chance of any survi-

vors.”

The first quake, which struck on April 25 with a magnitude of 7.8, has killed 8199 people. The death toll from a 7.3 aftershock on Tuesday has reached 117, with many victims in Dolakha.

The combined toll is approaching the number of just over 8500 who died in an earthquake in 1934, the worst natural disaster on record to hit Nepal.

Some 76,000 more have been injured, while hundreds of thousands of buildings, including ancient temples and monuments, have been damaged or destroyed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Burundian crisis triggers civilian mass exodus

At least 50,000 refugees are living on the shore of Lake Tangyanika in rough conditions after fleeing the political crisis in Burundi, the Tanzanian Government has said.

Isaac Nantanga, spokesperson for the Home Affairs Ministry, told Al Jazeera the Tanzanian Government was doing its best to receive the asylum seekers from Burundi, but said it was overwhelmed by the numbers.

“There are too many people at this point, and when it comes to the threat of disease, it is difficult to avoid,” Nantanga said.

More than 105,000 Burundians have fled the country, with 70,000 crossing into Tanzania alone, since the political crisis began in neighbouring Burundi. Around 26,300 Burundians have entered Rwanda, most of whom are now living in the Mahama refugee camp.

Burundi’s capital

Bujumbura has been hit by a wave of political dissent over the past three weeks, after President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term in office. According to activists, at least 20 people have been killed in clashes with Police. The Government has repeatedly disputed allegations of heavy-handed tactics. But the ongoing crisis has prompted an exodus across the border. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US President Obama as he welcomes some of the Gulf Leaders

Two injured due to fighting in Yemen

More than 105,000 Burundians have fled the country, with 70,000 crossing into Tanzania alone

[UNHCR/ T Winston Monboe]

saturday, may 16, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Relatives await test results of dead teen

One month after samples were taken to be analysed from the body from Devika Ramadar whose body was discovered at the Blankenburg foreshore, on the West Coast of Demerara, relatives are eagerly awaiting the findings.

The badly battered and decomposed body of the 17-year-old was found almost one week after she went missing. She was last seen leaving her place of employment after a fight between herself and a coworker.

Since the post-mortem examination proved inconclusive, several samples were taken and sent for testing. A Police Officer attached to the D Division (West Bank Demerara/ East Bank Essequibo) told Guyana Times on Friday evening that the samples were sent overseas for testing and they are awaiting the results.

He added that while they have information with respect to the disappearance of the teenager, they cannot confirm whether or not the teenager was killed by the persons she was last seen with or committed suicide, since she was report-

edly having problems, both at home and at the work place.

He noted that two young men were questioned for the teen’s death but they both denied having any hand in the suspected murder. They have been released since there was no evidence linking them to the teen’s death.

He explained that once the results of the tests are

back, the Police will be in a better position to determine the cause of death which will atomically guide their investigation. However, relatives of the dead teen are patiently awaiting the results and are hoping the Police charge

someone for the teenager’s death. A cousin of the teenager who asked to remain anonymous told Guyana Times that the young woman “had her own way” and often left home when she felt like it.

Jagranie Omadatt, mother of the dead teenager had told this publication that after her daughter left home, she promised to contact the Police if she did not return within a specific time. From all indication, the teenager was in the habit of leaving home without the consent of her parents.

Ramodar of Lot 59 Bella Dam, West Bank Demerara, was found in a semi- nude state and her body bore several marks of violence. According to information received, the teenager left home on Saturday, April 4 for work and never returned.

Following the discovery, Police sought the assistance of the missing teen’s parents to identify the body due to its state of decomposition. She was positively identified by the mauve top she left home wearing, a bangle and a black and silver ring she was wearing.

Boston Marathon bomber sentenced to death penalty

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been sentenced to death for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, which resulted in the death of four people.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was condemned on Friday to death on some, but not all of 17 counts that could have sent him to death row, by a federal jury for his role in the Boston Marathon bombings.

Tsarnaev, 21, was convicted last month of all 30 counts brought against him, including conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction that led to the deaths of Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu, eight-year-old Martin Richard and MIT police offi-

cer Sean Collier. The attacks also left 17 people as amputees and resulted in more than 260 injuries. Seventeen of those counts drew the possibility of the death penalty.

The sentencing phase began on April 21, the day after the 2015 Boston Marathon. The jury, which consisted of seven women and five men, deliberated for 14 hours before reaching a decision, according to the Boston Herald. The defence argued throughout the trial that Tsarnaev’s older brother, Tamerlan, orchestrated the bombings and that Dzhokhar was brainwashed by his sibling.

However, the prosecution chronicled Dzhokhar’s active role in the killing of Officer Collier, the theft of an escape car, the shootout with police that killed Tamerlan and Dzhokhar’s capture in a boat, where he wrote ‘stop killing our innocent people and we will stop’.

The 2013 bombings occurred near the marathon’s finish line, where surveillance video showed the Tsarnaev brothers carrying backpacks. Inside those backpacks were bombs built from pressure cookers, according to the prosecution. (Digicel SportsMax)

Religious leaders call for peace, calm –

IRO urges patience and respect

Even as the country is being held hostage by the non declaration of election results by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) subsequent to the May 11 General and Regional elections, religious leaders across the country are calling for all Guyanese to remain calm and peaceful.

The religious leaders said that it is time that Guyanese remain sober and firm in their commitment to national unity by respecting each other, the results and the need for the country to be put first and foremost.

Bishop Francis Alleyne of the Catholic Diocese of Guyana; Fazeel Ferouz, President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana; and Marlon Laing, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Guyana said that there were pleading for calm at this crucial time in the country’s history while urging political maturity and acceptance of whatever results are declared.

Bishop Alleyne related that the elections should serve to encourage the Guyanese population to not only come together as one, but to show the world that the motto was not simply made up of words, but was rather backed by actions.

“I think the identity of the Guyanese person, you know, must be, can be hinged on something much

more grounded and something deep, you know, that we can really say that we are Guyanese, that we are one people, one nation, one destiny. Right now you are seeing adamants of polarisation and that is a betrayal of our human dignity, so certainly at this time, we all need to put into our conversation, the language of sacredness and respect and human worth and let us respond to situations out of that kind of definition. Let us stand back from behaviour that might become responsible,” Bishop Alleyne noted.

Meanwhile, President of the CIOG, Fazeel Ferouz also expressed similar sentiments, noting that Guyanese should trust the Guyana Elections Commission to do its job and to wait on their declaration.

“We as Guyanese, we all belong to this nation; One

people, One Nation, One Destiny. We all have to be patient at this time. There is nothing we can do except to wait on the official results given by GECOM,” the CIOG official said.

Both religious leaders pleaded with the politicians involved to be responsible in all their statements and actions and to put the nation’s wellbeing before everything else.

Meanwhile, Bishop Laing said once the results have been made official, whomever the majority of the duly registered voters repose their confidence in as the new government deserves the full support of us all. “In this way, we demonstrate that the welfare of Guyana and what is best for all Guyanese supersedes what may be the personal desires of each individual, as divergent as this may be.”

He also appealed to all candidates involved in the election process and their supporters to remember that after the results “we all must live here, we all must unite to build Guyana, and we are all our brothers and sisters keepers. Please join me in creating a climate of hot campaign driven by the conviction that what is best for Guyana must be a top priority. Even if one group may be at war with the other party’s voice, they are at peace with each other.”

Another entity join-

ing the call for peace and calm is the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO). The IRO is calling on members of the public to continue working towards ensuring that a peaceful nation prevails during and after the 2015 election period.

In an interview with the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Wendell Jeffrey said that they have distributed over 5000 peace stickers and have also been reaching out to persons as it relates to the signing of a peace pledge which will keep citizens obligated as they reflect on the crisis of the country.

He explained that everyone wants peace and regardless of who wins the 2015 election, the life of all continues. On this note, he indicated that persons ought to respect the views of their fellow citizens in that, not everyone will be

of the same opinion in regards to the selection of a political party.

In relation to the crime rate of Guyana, Jeffrey highlighted that it is evident that over the past days, not much has been happening and he is of the belief that this is due to the efforts made by the various organisations and faith based leaders who have been forming communities and engaging persons on the importance of securing peace and also having interactive sessions based on the breaking of racialism and ensuring a culturally diverse economy.

The PRO said that he is aware of the incidents of disturbance that have taken place and would like to encourage the public to refrain from those acts because it would not help them in any way. Adding to this, it was said that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have been trying its utmost best so as to ensure that the results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections is released in a timely manner however, he is optimistic about the fact that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) have been raising concerns as it relates to the recounting of ballot boxes from all the regions.

Having said this, Jeffrey noted that he is of the be-

lief that there are some problems within GECOM that is why the declaration has not been given as yet. However, he is urging the public to be patient as they all await this stage of the declaration process.

The Inter Religious Organisation is of the hope that the political parties remember the importance that the peace pact has and will continue to honour the obligations as it relates to a peaceful election period in Guyana.

The Guyana Elections Commission’s final preliminary results on Thursday placed the Opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) in the lead with a total of 206,817 votes in the general elections and 201,324 in the regional while the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has 201,457 in the general and 198,148 in the regional.

The PPP/C has however challenge the result, citing several irregularities in the electoral system, and as such, had called for a recount while the Guyana Elections Commission said that it will facilitate recounts of 22 ballot boxes in Region Four and will determine a way forward after 12 noon today, the expiration time for all parties to raise their concerns.

Devika Ramadar

Wendell Jeffrey Bishop Marlon Laing

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

A courtroom sketch of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as he was sentenced to death on Friday in Boston

Georgetown on Friday afternoon

Around 16:30h, Camp Street’s Avenue looks like a ghost town compared to the usual bustling scene on a Friday afternoon

A few shoppers still turned out to continue with their lives, although many businesses were still shut tight

Some shoppers enjoying the unusual hassle-free atmosphere of Georgetown

What is normally a busy traffic arena, the Camp and Church Streets junction nearly desolate

Traffic is hardly flowing

This young man heads downtown on his bike to do some shopping

Bourda Market unaffected by the scourge of post-election tension

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER

Take on a challenge. Get together with close friends or competitors. Whether it involves sports, physical activity or mental stimulation, you will end up in the winner’s circle.

Money matters will be your strong suit. Going over your personal documents will reveal a hidden asset or benefit. A minor health issue is best taken care of quickly.

Question someone’s motives. Make sure that you have the right information before you decide to make a change. To sever a partnership because of a misunderstanding would lead to a loss.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Your efficient and dedicated manner will be an asset to any organization you join. Volunteering for a local group will showcase your strong points. Additional offers are likely to follow.

Professional or personal pressures will weigh you down. Look for something new to explore that will lighten your mood. Update your look or your surroundings and you will feel refreshed.

Regardless of the relationship you have with someone, don’t agree to settle anyone else’s debts or shortages. Your budget is in place for your own security. Protect yourself and your assets.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Current events will be confusing or distressing. Remember the things you used to enjoy and make a point to do them again. Visiting old, familiar places will lift your spirits.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t hesitate to accept an offer. Minor household changes will be necessary, but in the end the benefits will outweigh the negative aspects. You will be recognized for helping others..

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

Don’t expect one of your ideas to turn out as planned. Complaining won’t help matters, but fixing what went wrong will. Stay calm and do the best you can.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Deception is evident. Rumors will surface if you are too free with personal information. Keep your private matters a secret to avoid stirring up jealousy and suffering regret.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Be agreeable, but don’t be a pushover. You will lose respect if you allow others to place unreasonable demands on you. Sometimes, you have to say no.

Procrastination will be your downfall. Get an early start on your daily responsibilities if you want to have time left over for pleasurable activities that will ease your mind.

PeanutS

Calvin and HobbeS

dilbert

arCHie

NBA Playoff roundup… Cavs eliminate Bulls, Rockets even series with Clippers

No dominant performance by LeBron James. Not much from Kyrie Irving, either.

Somehow, the Cleveland Cavaliers still found a way to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

James struggled to score 15 points, Irving limped off the court and the Cavaliers still beat the Bulls, 94-73, in Chicago on Thursday night to clinch their semifinal series in six games.

Matthew Dellavedova scored 19 points and Tristan Thompson added 13 points and 17 rebounds to help the Cavaliers advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2009 even though their superstar played like a mere mortal and their AllStar point guard hobbled to the locker room in the first half.

Despite all that, Cleveland is right where it expected to be after James decided to come home from Miami and return to his first team. The Cavaliers didn’t expect to get there like this, though — with Kevin Love suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the opening round and Irving trying to gut through problems with both legs.

‘‘These guys work their tails off every single day when you guys are not around,’’ James said. ‘‘Yes, I’m a little bit surprised because of how we’ve han-

dled the postseason so far. These are first-timers right here [Dellavedova and Thompson] as well as Kyrie and Kev before the injury. They want to be good, they want to be great, and every single day they prepare the right way.’’

Irving scored 6 points in 12 minutes before twisting his left knee when he came down on Thompson’s foot early in the second quarter. The score was 35-35 and he did not return.

James had 11 assists and nine rebounds but hardly looked like the superhuman that carried Cleveland in Game 5. He shot 7 of 23 from the field and missed all four 3-point attempts. But the Cavaliers had more than enough to get by, setting up a meeting with Atlanta or Washington.

It is James’ fifth straight conference finals, the previous four with Miami. Getting there sure hasn’t been easy with all the injuries.

‘‘I do everything for my team, do everything for my teammates,’’ James said. ‘‘I want these guys to be able to feel this moment. That’s what I came back here for. I’ve got four guys that never made the postseason that played a huge role on this team.’’

Jimmy Butler led Chicago with 20 points and Derrick Rose finished with 14. Pau Gasol scored all

of his 8 points in the first quarter after missing the previous two games with a strained left hamstring, and the Bulls simply got overmatched in what could be their final game under coach Tom Thibodeau.

There is heavy speculation that he could be out because of friction with management despite leading Chicago to a 255-139 record and playoff appearances in each of his five seasons.

Thibodeau said he expects to be back unless he’s told otherwise.

‘‘Yeah. Until they tell me I’m not, I expect to be here,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s the way I’m going to approach it.’’

Rockets 119, Clippers

107

Los Angeles squandered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and James Harden led six Rockets in double digits with 23 points as visiting Houston forced a Game 7 in its Western Conference semifinal series.

The Rockets outscored the Clippers, 40-15, in the fourth quarter, as Los Angeles suddenly went cold after outscoring Houston, 28-17, in the third for a 9279 lead.

Blake Griffin and Chris Paul each scored 28 points for the Clippers. Houston’s Dwight Howard had 20 points and 21 rebounds and Corey Brewer had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

(The Boston Globe)

Warne, Tendulkar linked to veterans’ exhibition-match series

Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar are understood to be planning a new Twenty20 event for retired international players that would involve two teams playing each other in a series of exhibition matches.

Although the plans are not concrete yet at least the organisers - whose identity has not yet been revealedhave a shortlist of 30 players in mind. It is understood that they have identified, among others, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Anil Kumble, Brett Lee, Adam Gilchrist, Muttiah Muralitharan, Andrew Flintoff, Glenn McGrath and VVS Laxman.

The plan is understood to involve a series of matches around the world over a three-and-a-half-year period, with the USA to host the first series in September. The idea, it is learnt, is to take the matches to places where fans are starved of good quality cricket. The USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE are some of the venues the organisers are exploring.

A report in the Australian newspaper said the proposed tournament - which it said would be called the Cricket All-Stars Leaguehad offered contracts worth US$25,000 a match to explayers to be involved in it.

The seeds for this venture are believed to have been sown last year during Lord’s bicentenary celebrations, where Tendulkar and

Warne led teams in a 50over match. Subsequently both players and their management teams fanned around the cricketing globe to check if recently retired players were interested in playing in Twenty20 matches which would be competitive in nature.

The organisers are also keeping powerful boards like the BCCI, Cricket Australia and ECB in the loop and are expected to make a formal announcement in the next two months to make the plans public.

Lee’s manager, Neil Maxwell, said Lee had received an offer and would be seeking permission from Cricket Australia to play.

“I can’t see anything wrong with it,” Maxwell told Fox Sports. “It’s a group of retired blokes playing a game of cricket.”

The reports come as the Indian Essel Group also considers launching a T20 league, although the two ventures are unrelated.

There has been no comment from Warne or Tendulkar, although in January, Warne tweeted that “Sachin & I have an exciting announcement soon”. (Cricinfo)

An ICC spokesman said it had not yet received any communication and had seen nothing other than what had been reported in the media. “There is a process in place with regard to activities such as this and the ICC will deal with it once it is approached,” the spokesman added.

McIlroy five off Wells Fargo Championship lead

orld number one

WRory McIlroy shot a two-under-par 70 to lie five shots off the lead after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy, 26, carded six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey at Quail Hollow, North Carolina.

USA’s Robert Streb fired a seven-under 65 and leads by one from compatriots Patrick Reed and Kevin Chappell.

“I was a little bit disappointed with how it finished but it’s a solid opening day.” McIlroy told Sky Sports.

The Northern Irishman was four under with two to play but found water from the tee at the par-three

17th.

His shot from the drop zone went within eight feet of the hole but he missed his putt to drop two shots.

He also found rough from the tee at the 18th and then a greenside bunker but managed to salvage a par. McIlroy is seeking his 11th PGA Tour title at the scene of his maiden victory on United States soil in 2010.

Scotland’s Russell Knox produced a bogey-free 69 to stand three under while Ireland’s three-time major champion Padraig Harrington is two under.

Former US Open winner Webb Simpson and 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink are among six players on five under.

Defending champion JB Holmes managed a threeunder 69. (BBC Sport)

Tristan Thompson James Harden

Sachin Tendulkar (left) and Shane Warne at Lord’s last year

Rory McIlroy

RCB surge after Gayle, Kohli ace 6-over chase

Rain has followed Royal Challengers Bangalore wherever they have gone this season. It denied them the opportunity to defend 200 against Rajasthan Royals. It reduced two of their games to 10-over slugfests. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad it showed up in spurts, first causing a curtailment to 11 overs a side, and resurfacing to reduce their task to scoring 81 in six overs.

It’s hard to tell if it’s easier to score 136 from 11 overs or 81 from six. In any event, Royal Challengers had Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Two of them fired. Gayle gave them the explosive start they needed, and Kohli batted through the six overs to finish the job. It came down to 12 off 4 balls, and Kohli took his side over the line with a couple of stunning placementsopening his bat-face to steer two Bhuvneshwar Kumar yorkers through a tightly packed off-side ring - and a fortuitous winning sixDavid Warner caught the ball at long-off but stepped on the boundary cushions while doing so.

You could say the sixover chase almost reduced the game to pure probabil-

ity. Gayle cleared his front leg and went hard at everything. This is what you do when the resource allocation - 10 wickets to play with in six overs - allows you to take a risk every ball and the required rate - 13.50 runs per over - demands that you do so. Gayle, being Gayle, connected cleanly more often than not, and after two overs - delivered by Dale Steyn and Bhuvneshwarhe had moved to 35 off 9 balls and Royal Challengers were 41 for 0.

A risk is still a risk, though, and Gayle picked out deep midwicket off the

third ball of the third over. Next ball, AB de Villiers lifted one straight into longon’s hands, and Moises Henriques - without doing anything more than simply run up and bowl - had dismissed Royal Challengers’ two most dangerous batsmen in two balls. Henriques had also smashed 57 off 22 - helped along by three lives - to power Sunrisers to 135 for 3 when they had batted. It could have been a match-winning all-round performance, and the likelihood of that increased when Dinesh Karthik ran himself out in comical fashion in the final over - he set off from the non-striker’s end after his bat deflected a straight drive from Kohli straight to the bowler - but Kohli ensured that wouldn’t be the case.

It isn’t often that David Warner makes a 30-ball half-century and the batsman at the other end overshadows him. It’s even rarer that David Warner makes a 30-ball half-century, the batsman at the other end overshadows him, and he finds himself on the losing side. Sunrisers might console themselves with the thought that they simply found themselves at the wrong end of the lottery that is a curtailed T20 game.

Sunrisers made an average-ish start to their innings after choosing to bat, losing Shikhar Dhawan while moving to 27 in their first three overs. Warner picked up a couple of fours in that time, but the seamers were using the slower

ball well and forcing a few plays-and-misses.

Henriques upped the tempo as soon as he arrived. He did so by keeping a still head and hitting down the ground. He showcased these virtues with two monster sixes off Yuzvendra Chahal’s legspin and a skimming hit over long-off when Ashok Dinda slightly misdirected an attempted yorker.

He also enjoyed massive slices of fortune. Mandeep Singh dropped a straightforward chance at long-off, Sarfaraz Khan put down an even easier chance at point, and Harshal Patel, swooping in his follow-through to find Henriques turning back halfway down the pitch, underarmed hastily at the stumps and missed.

Henriques moved to his fifty in the next over and Warner, not at his most fluent in the beginning, joined in the fun, switching to a right-handed grip to muscle Chahal for a slog-swept six over point. The rain was beginning to intensify by now, and Kohli and Karthik protested animatedly when the umpires kept the players on the field even when it became palpably heavy during the final over.

Royal Challengers were clearly frazzled. Their fielders were finding it difficult to run over the outfield, their bowlers were struggling to grip the ball, and Sunrisers were setting them an outlandish target. But they always knew they had the batting to pull it off.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (11 overs maximum)

DA Warner* not out 52 S Dhawan c Dinda b Wiese 8 MC Henriques c †Karthik b Wiese 57

EJG Morgan c Mandeep Singh b Starc 11

Extras (lb 2, w 3, nb 2) 7

Total (3 wickets; 11 overs) 135

B NV Ojha†, KL Rahul, Bipul Sharma, KV Sharma, B Kumar, P Kumar, DW Steyn Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-122, 3-135

Bowling: MA Starc 3-0-26-1, HV Patel 2-0-30-0, D Wiese 2-0-20-2, AB Dinda 2-0-230, YS Chahal 2-0-34-0.

i did not mislead

Pietersen – graves

New England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves says he did not mislead Kevin Pietersen over a potential recall to the England side. Graves suggested in March that the batsman, sacked by England in 2014, could return with good county form.

But new ECB director of cricket Andrew Strauss said he would not be selected over “trust” issues, with Pietersen describing the decision as “deceitful”.

Graves insists he “did not make any promises” to the 34-year-old.

He added in a statement: “Kevin was told on Monday and I completely support the decision that was taken. He may not have liked what he heard but it allowed him to look at his opportunities.

“Despite everything, he can work with us to rebuild the relationship and make a further contribution to English cricket. It was important he knew where he stood.”

In the statement, Graves also said:

* he felt motivated to release the statement because “his integrity has been called into question”

* in a conversation in March, Pietersen asked him if he “thought his England career had ended in the right manner”

* he agreed “that nobody particularly emerged with much credit, particularly given his achievements for England”

* Pietersen then told him he “felt he had a lot to offer” and that “he wanted to con -

tribute, whether as a player or not”

* he gave Pietersen “no guarantees” that he would be selected to play

* but he can “see something has been misunderstood around the conversation

and in the following debate”

* a “clear decision” needed to be taken and he stands by “those people whose job it was to take decisions on team selection”

* Pietersen can still “work with us to rebuild the relationship and make a further contribution to English cricket” Strauss offered Pietersen a role as an advisor on a board to improve the one-day side, which was turned down.

Pietersen’s omission has divided opinion, particularly after he scored an unbeaten 355 for Surrey against Leicestershire earlier this week.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Pietersen said he had been “misled” by the ECB.

“I just find it incredibly deceitful what has happened to me,” he said. “I am angry and hurt but right now there is nothing I can do about it.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme in early March, Graves refused to rule out a recall for Pietersen but said selectors and coaches would make any final decision.

Graves later told the Telegraph that the selectors “can’t ignore” Pietersen if he “scores a lot of runs” for a county side.

“Forget personalities,” he added. “Selectors pick the best players in form, taking wickets and scoring runs. That is their job.”

(BBC Sport)

Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 81 runs from 6 overs)

CH Gayle c Dhawan b Henriques 35 V Kohli* not out 44 AB de Villiers c Steyn b Henriques 0 Mandeep Singh c Morgan b P Kumar 1 KD Karthik† run out (B Kumar) 2 SN Khan not out 0 Extras (w 1) 1

Total (4 wickets; 5.5 overs) 83 Did not bat: D Wiese, MA Starc, HV Patel, YS Chahal, AB Dinda Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-43, 3-58, 4-69 Bowling: DW Steyn 1-0-170, B Kumar

BCCI willing to help Afghanistan – Thakur

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has said that the Indian board is willing to extend all kinds of help to Afghanistan, who want to use an Indian venue to play their matches.

“Afghanistan Cricket Board has requested BCCI that they want to come and play here, use the infrastructure and also to have one venue as the Afghan venue,” Thakur told PTI. “Their board has requested to create one centre in India which can be dedicated to Afghanistan cricket.

“BCCI will be more than happy to accommodate the Afghan cricket team for any kind of help for the promotion of the game.”

Asked if any kind of financial assistance will be given to the Afghanistan team by the BCCI, Thakur said: “Let’s see, let them write to BCCI. Any knowledge, any kind of help which Afghanistan board requires, we are more than happy to help them.” Afghanistan have used Sharjah as the venue for some of their bilateral series in the past. (Cricinfo)

Virat Kohli celebrates after hitting the winning runs

Pietersen scored an unbeaten 355 for Surrey against Leicestershire earlier this week

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Twenty20 super star

Chris Gayle has signed with the Melbourne Renegades for the 2015-16 Big Bash League in Australia.

The West Indies power hitter has signed a deal with Renegades which will make him available for the entire BBL season.

Gayle last played in the BBL during the 2012-13 season, when he turned out for the Sydney Thunder, and he had previously been part of Western Australia’s side in the previous version of the tournament.

“It’s exciting to be coming to the Melbourne Renegades in the sporting capital of Australia,” Gayle said.

“I’m looking forward to

seeing the fans, getting to know the city a little more and helping the team into the finals in BBL 05.”

Gayle will join his West Indian team mate Dwayne Bravo who is returning to Renegades after playing only four games last season before he was replaced by Bangladesh allrounder Shakib-al-Hasan.

Gayle holds the record for the world’s highest T20 score – an astonishing 175 not out from just 66 deliveries made for RCB in April 2013.

Also, he is averaging 43 for RCB this season, with a strike rate of 155.42

Gayle will open the batting with Australia T20 captain Aaron Fincher as

“It’s huge to sign Chris Gayle. He’s someone who has dominated this format over a long period of time. “Along with AB (de Villiers), there is not many of them in the same bracket. He’s the world’s best I think, “said Finch.

“He dominates a game, he can win a game by himself in very limited time. To have signed someone like him to open the batting with is going to be a huge bonus for the Renegades but also the fans who are going to get to see cricket’s biggest hitter at Etihad stadium.”

Last week Gayle demonstrated his hitting power when he blazed 12 sixes in an innings of 117 from 57 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.

“Chris’s abilities and experience goes without saying. He has tremendous skills both as an explosive T20 batsman but also as that genuine allrounder you need,” said new Renegades coach David Saker.

“He’s someone who can inspire the squad, particularly among our batsmen, with his confidence and his ability to back himself and flick the switch when the time is right.”

(CMC)

Hussain: England not good enough to bypass Pietersen

Former England captain Nasser Hussain slammed the England and Wales Cricket Board’s handling of Kevin Pietersen, claiming “we’re not good enough to make anyone unavailable”.

One week out from England’s first of seven consecutive Tests on home soil - two against New Zealand, followed by the Ashes - Hussain once again hit out at the freezing out of the 34-year-old batsman.

In February 2014, Hussain was quoted as saying he wanted the ECB to be forthright with their reasons for cutting ties with South Africa-born Test veteran.

And Hussain’s viewpoint has not changed.

“I was a captain who believed in picking your best players,” said Hussain, who captained England in 45 Tests from 1999 to 2003.

“If you are captain or coach, you man manage difficult people. That’s why you’re in the job and get paid the extra few quid and that’s why you’re in the job, you man manage.

“We’re not good enough to make anyone unavailable for selection, unless they retire, so personally, I would have said to Kevin - as maybe Colin Graves did - ‘Go away, play for a county, get some runs and maybe we’ll consider you for selection’. When he did that, I would have then gone to him and said, ‘You’ve done everything we’ve asked, but at the moment looking at the side, there is no place in that middle order, but you carry on doing what you’re doing and we’ll consider you’.

“That’s how I would have handled the situation because we are not good enough to be leaving out anyone. A clean slate I’d have given.”

Bypassing Pietersen for Test selection was one of new England director of crick-

et Andrew Strauss’ first moves in the role, and Hussain said while it was a brave call, it needed to be validated by positive results.

“Andrew Strauss is going to be judged on results, but make no mistake, Strauss could have easily gone the other way, gone with the populist view - with everyone on social media,” Hussain added.

“But he has taken the difficult decision and he will be judged on the results. That’s all that will be expected of him.”

England host New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s starting May 21. (Digicel SportsMax)

Chris Gayle

Nasser Hussain

GCC hockey ladies off for second stint in Trinidad

After mixed results in their debut trip to Trinidad to compete in the Trinidad and Tobago women’s hockey outdoor season, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ladies travel today for their second of three visits to the island.

On their first visit, the Guyanese ladies won two of their matches against Ventures 1-0 and Notre Dame 3-2. They, howev-

er, squandered a 2-0 lead against Paragon to lose 5-2 and fell by one-goal margins to Magnolias – 1-2, and Checkers 0-1.

The team again face Paragon in their opening match this morning at 11:00h and return later in the evening to face Magnolias.

The GCC ladies have agreed to the rigorous schedule – two matches each day in order to man-

age costs by reducing the number of flights to the host island.

On Sunday, GCC face Malvern for the first time in the competition at 11:00h and then return to the field at 17:00h to oppose Notre Dame.

Team coach Philip Fernandes has indicated that he was cautiously optimistic of his team’s chances. He cited that on the last visit the team showed

that they had the quality to compete with all of the teams that they faced, but, being the only team required to play twice in one day proved a challenge during the evening matches.

The team’s conditioning has not let them down however, and he was hopeful that the few adjustments made over the past two weeks will make a positive difference in the final score line.

iNet Communications football delayed by a week

– rain plays spoilsport

Owing to the inclement weather on Friday, the iNet Communications Under-13 football final has been delayed by a week.

The championship game was slated for today, but given the unplayable state of the Tucville Ground, it has now been pushed to next Saturday, May 23.

Host club Fruta Conquerors and Santos had booked their places in the final following comfortable wins in the semi-finals on Sunday.

Fruta Conquerors needed just a solitary goal to get past their A team and stay in the hunt for supremacy.

Playing on the Tucville Ground, a Jermaine Garrett goal accounted for Fruta Conquerors’ success, paving their path to the final.

In comparison, Santos did a demolition job against Western Tigers, blasting in three unanswered goals to storm into the final. Rondell Jordan, Jermaine Padmore and Darren Niles were the goalscorers for Santos.

The final is now slated for next Saturday Fruta Conquerors Football Club Secretary Daniel Thomas said the competition has been able to unearth numerous talents in the Georgetown area and those will be developed at the club level to ensure continuity.

Thomas is urging parents of the players and football fans to come out in

their numbers and witness the future of Georgetown football in action. He also expressed gratitude to iNet Communications for investing in the Under-13s, noting that it is money well spent.

All players on the champion team will be given scholarships by the sponsor. The third-place game between Fruta Conquerors

Rain postpones GCB intercounty cricket

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Men’s 4-Day InterCounty competition, which was scheduled to commence today, has been put on hold until further notice.

This was made official on Friday by the GCB via a press release.

The postponement was caused by the continuous inclement weather, which has left the designated venues water-logged.

In the rescheduled first round, Guyana Under-19s will take on Berbice at the Enmore Community Centre Ground and Essequibo will go up against Demerara at the Wales Community Centre Ground.

In the second round, slated for May 21-24, Berbice and Demerara will clash at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground, while Essequibo and Guyana Under-19s will do battle at Wales.

The third round will go down from May 26 to 29, with Berbice and Essequibo at Wales, and Demerara and Essequibo at the Everest Cricket Club Ground.

The teams are as follows.

Yodendra Harrinarine; Veerasammy Permaul; Devendra Bishoo; Gudakesh Motie; Keon Joseph; Raun Johnson; and Niall Smith. The Coach is Albert Smith and the Manager is Winston Smith.

A and Western Tigers will commence at 15:00h next Saturday, while the final between Fruta Conquerors and Santos will start an hour later.

Representatives of iNet Communications will be on hand to witness the games and assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion.

Demerara: Leon Johnson (Captain); Vishaul Singh (Vice Captain); Rajendra Chandrika; Shivnarine Chanderpaul; Tagenarine Chanderpaul; Christopher Barnwell; Joseph Perry; Steven Jacobs; Raj Nannan; Steven Sankar; Paul Wintz; Gavin Moriah; Shemroy Barrington; and Trevon Griffith.

The Coach is Michael Franco and the Assistant Coach/Manager is Clive Grimmond.

Berbice: Assad Fudadin (Captain); Anthony Bramble (Vice Captain); Kevin Ramdeen; Jonathan Foo; Keron Fraser; Rajiv Ivan; Clinton Pestano;

Essequibo: Ronsford Beaton (Captain); Ricardo Adams (Vice Captain); Raymon Reifer; Ricardo Peters; Kevon Boodie; Royan Fredericks; Hemchand Persaud; Kesho Rooplall; Anthony Adams; Roopesh Motilall; Wayne Osborne; Mark Gonsalves; Kevin Gordon; Rovindra Parsram; and Kemol Savory. The Coach is Vibert Johnson and the Assistant Coach/Manager is Forbes Daniels.

Guyana Under-19 Squad: Shimron Hetmyer; Tevin Imlack; Parmesh Parsotam; Balchand Baldeo; Keemo Paul; Sherfane Rutherford; Ronaldo Alimohamed; Parmanand Ramdhan; Kasim Khan; Nathan Persaud; Travis Persaud (Captain); Looknauth Chinkoo; Akini Adams; Grisean Grant; Daniel Basdeo; Akshaya Persaud; Dexter Solomon; and Robin Bacchus. The Manager is David Black and the Coach is Adrian Amsterdam.

The GCC ladies have returned to compete in Trinidad and Tobago

Assad Fudadin Leon Johnson

Ronsford Beaton

National Youth and Junior Championships postponed

The National Youth and Junior Championships had to be postponed due to the current political climate.

In a telephone interview, Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President Aubrey Hutson confirmed that the championships which were scheduled to start today had to be postponed because of the “current political climate”.

Hutson related that registration for the meet was very low since parents were unwilling to allow their children-athletes to venture across the river without any assurance that the political atmosphere would not escalate.

“Speaking with the coaches they related that the parents did not want to send their children so far, knowing what can possibly happen during this time with the political atmosphere, especially from the out-of-town areas.

“We were hoping to have registration of about 100 athletes, but, up to now, we only have about 20-24 and we can’t have a good meet like that so we had to postpone it,” Hutson told Guyana Times Sport

The meet will now be held on June 20 and 21 at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora. (Treiston Joseph)

Youth, junior athletes to depart this month for South American meets

OAccording to AAG

and Ornesto

Fifa president confirms FBI probe but will visit US

Fifa chief Sepp Blatter has confirmed the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating alleged football corruption.

The probe reportedly involves ex-Fifa executive committee members, American Chuck Blazer and Trinidadian Jack Warner.

But Blatter says the investigation is “nothing against [him]” and he plans to visit the US in June 2016.

That visit will coincide with next year’s Copa America tournament.

“I know, and this everybody knows, that in the US there is an investigation

Thomas, while the youth athletes set to leave for Colombia are Carifta gold medallist Cassey George, South American youth silver medallist, Natricia Hooper, Avon Samuels, Claudirce McKoy, Shantoba Bright, Compton Caesar, Matthew McKenzie and Kenisha Phillips.

Phillips might not be able to travel given the fact that she has not turned 14 as yet and the meet in Colombia requires the participating athletes to be 15 years of age.

However, Hutson did indicate that the AAG is awaiting a response pertaining to Phillips’ eligibility to participate in the event.

against former people [that] have been in my government,” Blatter said.

The 79-year-old Swiss last visited the US in May 2011 for a meeting of North American confederation Concacaf, and it had been suggested - including in an ESPN documentary this week - that he had deliberately stayed away since then due to the probe.

However, Blatter, who is currently running for a fifth term as president of football’s world governing body, said: “I will be there if elected. Even if not elected, they will invite me I am sure.”

Earlier on Friday, Blatter

sent a letter to all 209 Fifa member associations identifying several areas where “there is still work to be done”, including promoting women’s football, combating discrimination and racism, and cracking down on match fixing.

A Fifa spokesman said it was unconnected to Blatter’s bid for re-election.

Election rules state that candidates must not mix campaign activities with duties connected to their official positions.

Fifa’s member associations will appoint their next president when they meet in Zurich on 29 May.

n account of the Carifta team’s inability to travel in April, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will be sending selected athletes to different meets in South America.

President Aubrey Hutson, the juniors will be leaving for Ecuador while the youth athletes are expected to leave for Colombia.

The junior athletes set to depart for Ecuador are Linton Mentis, Anjelica Powley

Aubrey Hutson

Compton Caesar

Cassey George

(BBC Sport)

Sepp Blatter

Windies Women crumble to spin as Sri Lanka level series

West Indies Women suffered a six wicket defeat against Sri Lanka Women in the second One Day International (ODI) of a four match se-

ries at the R Premadasa Stadium here Friday.

The Windies women crumbled under spin attack to be all out for 124 in 42.3 overs leaving the Sri

Lankans to recover from a poor start before cruising to victory in 39.2 overs.

Stafanie Taylor played a brilliant innings to resurrect her side but was unlucky while Captain Merissa Aguilleira ran out of partners.

Shashikala Siriwardene with an outstanding allround performance and spin partner Maduri Samuddika wrecked the Windies innings-both players taking six wickets between them.

Taylor fell seven runs shy of a half century while leading efforts at rebuilding an innings which slipped to 75 for two after the visitors chose to bat first.

In fact West Indies slipped from 95 for 2 to 110 for 7 in five overs and were eventually bowled out for 124.

Taylor smashed five fours and faced 70 balls when she was run out on 43 after sharing an important 48 run partnership with Kycia Knight.

Knight hit two fours in her knock of 28 and featured in an opening stand of 27 with Hayley Matthews who

chipped in with 11.

Taylor also received support from Shemaine Campbelle in a 20 run stand for the third wicket.

Captain Merissa Aguilleira tried to carry on from where Taylor left off scoring a fighting 13 not out but was unable to build another meaningful partnership as the last four wickets fell for an additional fifteen runs.

Off break bowlers Siriwardene and Samuddika finished with 4-30, and 2-16 respectively.

Sri Lanka suffered an early setback after losing their openers by the 14th over and slumping to 46 for two.

Taylor took the catches to dismiss openers Lasanthi Madushani for 16 and Pradasani Weerakkody for 15 off deliveries from Afy Fletcher and Anisa Mohammed.

But victory was always in sight as Siriwardene backed up her 4 for 30 with an unbeaten 42 that steered Sri Lanka home with 64 balls to spare, helping them level the series one all. (CMC)

Johnson to lead president’s XI against Australia

Promising Guyanese

batsman Leon Johnson has been appointed captain of a President’s XI to play a tour match against Australia ahead of their Caribbean test series which begins next month.

Johnson will lead a 13man squad, released late Thursday by the WICB, to play the Australians in a three-day tour match at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua from May 27-29.

Opener Johnson became the 300th player to represent the West Indies in Test cricket, when he made the starting XI for the second Test against Bangladesh in September last year.

He has played four Tests and scored 275 runs at an average of 39.28, with a

highest score of 66. No other player in the 13-member squad has represented West Indies in Test cricket.

Barbados all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite will serve as his vice-captain in

a squad that also includes Trinidad and Tobago batsman Jason Mohammed who scored two centuries in the regional four-day tournament and one in the Super50 final. Also included is T&T leg

Gatlin equals sixth fastest 100m time in history

Justin Gatlin crosses the finish line easily ahead of his competitors

American Justin Gatlin ran the joint-sixth quickest 100m time in history to dominate the field in the Diamond League opener in Doha.

The 33-year-old, who has served two doping bans, sprinted away to win his first race of 2015 in a time of 9.74 seconds - a world best for this year.

It was a bad night for Britain’s James Dasaolu , who finished last in the race in a time of 10.14.

And Britain’s Mo Farah could only finish second in the men’s 3,000m.

spinner Imran Khan, who was third on the list of leading bowlers in the regional four-day tournament with 56 wickets after Guyana’s Veerasammy Permaul with 67 and his countryman Devendra Bishoo with 61.

The tour match will be Australia’s lone warm-up for the Test series which bowls off on June 3 at Windsor Park in Dominica.

The second Test will take place at Sabina Park in Jamaica from June 11.

President’s XI squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Carlos Brathwaite (Vicecaptain), Sharmarh Brooks, Rajindra Chandrika, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Jason Dawes, Shane Dowrich, Imran Khan, Marquino Mindley, Jason Mohammed, Tyrone Theophile, Jomel Warrican. (CMC)

The 32-year-old was wellplaced going into the final lap but conceded the lead with 300m to go and was unable to chase down eventual winner Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia down the final straight.

Gatlin’s was the standout display of the night as he picked up where he left off in 2014, during which he recorded six of the seven fastest 100m times of the year. His time was the fastest since Jamaica’s Yohan Blake ran 9.69 in August 2012.

His time of 9.74 has only been bettered by fellow American Tyson Gay, Jamaica’s Asafa Powell and his compatriots Blake and Usain Bolt - whose world record 9.58 came in Berlin in August 2009.

It was way too good for his rivals on Friday, with the American finishing well ahead of US relay team-mate Michael Rodgers, who was

second in 9.96, and thirdplaced Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago.

Last year’s 200m Diamond Race winner, American Allyson Felix , made the perfect start to her title defence with a dominant showing, winning in a world lead and Diamond League record-equalling time of 21.98, beating, amongst others, Britain’s Bianca Williams, who was sixth.

Another American, Jasmin Stowers , set a new world lead and Diamond League record time of 12.35 to improve on her personal best for the third time in 2015 and dominate a strong women’s 100m hurdles race.

Britain’s Tiffany Porter took third, ahead of Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Sally Pearson (fourth) and 2014 Diamond Race winner Dawn HarperNelson (eighth).

Brit Jack Green’s time of 49.31 was enough to give him fourth in a men’s 400m hurdles race won by American Bershawn Jackson in 48.09. Ireland’s Thomas Barr was third.

In total, there were 10 world lead performances on Friday, which also included American Tianna Bartoletta’s 6.99m to win the women’s long jump, Cuban Pedro Pablo Pichardo’s 18.06m in the men’s triple jump and a time of 1:43.78 by Djiboutian Ayanleh Souleiman to win a stronglycontested men’s 800m. (BBC Sport)

Stafanie Taylor

Leon Johnson has played four Test for West Indies