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Defying the odds: From P poverty to attorney 11

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

Issue No. 3152

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Dental technician drowns during outing with friends Page 3

1 dies after car crashes into utility poll

Guyana’s economy has to “right” itself – Jordan

Page 7

Page 2

…admits to shortfall in economy

Festival of Colours!

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Manickchand questions P9 real motive behind tax on education

Bandits invade vendor’s home P2

P7 Body of unidentified man found on seashore

Hundreds have gathered to celebrate the Festival of Colours as the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha hosted its annual Holi Utsav on Monday. The Everest Cricket Ground was flooded with bright colours as families and friends participated in the playing of Phagwah while enjoying an afternoon of cultural entertainment

Pharmacy graduates’ careers on hold

…as internship programme suffers multiple delays

Page 3

Caricom, P16 Japan to discuss strengthening cooperation

Culture Minister should apologise for 3-year-old holiday mix-up abandoned – Dr Norton Page 9

P8

... left to sleep in Police station

2 news

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana’s economy has to Bandits invade vendor’s home “right” itself - Jordan …admits to shortfall in economy

W

hile the ordinary man may feel that the country’s economic standard is deteriorating, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has assured that the existing state of affairs is an indication that the economy is in fact “righting” itself.

The Minister made the disclosure during an interview on a local radio program “Jumpstart” on Monday where he discussed exclusively the fiscal matters of the country.

According to Jordan, it would seem that some five years ago, the economy was moving ahead, however, there has not been much sustainability, and that the sectors that once propelled the economy, have now lost their way.

“The same things that was generating the growth, after 50 years they still remained. (Rice, sugar, gold, forestry, bauxite). A number of these sectors have collapsed…banks that loaned to these sectors will also have a difficult time doing business in the future because the resources are not there and their bad loan have gone up,” Jordan said.

According to him, the economy has to right itself, but yet, cannot do so on its

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

own.

“For persons who went through the 80’s and 90’s of the restructuring of the economy by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) , if we don’t adjust the economy, we will have to hand it over to somebody to do it,” the Finance Minister said.

Jordan related that during this period, the economy has to be prepared for what is called the “take off” because on the horizon, there is high inflow of foreigners to the country and “we have to prepare the economy for that”.

The Minister said Government has to move ahead and get its $250 bil-

lion 2017 National Budget going. This, he said, is currently stymied by numerous factors including transparency and scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Jordan said Guyana’s economy is not where it needs to be, it does not stand alone, especially when compared with neighboring countries.

“We know of Suriname, Trinidad, and Barbados which recently had to fire its governor. They had to hire their former Prime Minister Owen Arthur as their chief economic adviser to help them come out of their troubles…Venezuela we know what is going on there and Brazil has its issues,” Jordan said He continued that in all of these “oceans of problems”, Guyana remains a light of progress. He reminded that last November Government had projected a 2.6 per cent growth but with the actual numbers coming in now, the economy saw a 3.2 per cent growth last year, which he said was better than 2015.

“While this growth was led by gold, there was some good showing in the Agriculture Sector, other crops sector and a last push to the last half of the year through the implementation

of the public sector program, gave a little bump over the edge,” he said.

Foreign exchange The Finance Minister meanwhile admitted that there have been some issues with foreign exchange, however he maintained that there remains a reserve of over $600 million in the country’s central bank. He said the rates have been stabilized, although with a depreciation between $210 and $215.

As it relates to the reports of shortages in foreign exchange here, Jordan reminded that it is gold that is generating the foreign exchange.

“There is a couple of big gold dealers, and some of them do not declare the rightful amount they get from overseas and the BoG Governor is trying to work with them”. He said the law provides that all foreign exchange must be declared to a bank for exporters.

Jordan lamented that sectors areas that had a huge hand in bringing in foreign exchange are not there. However, despite that, the holdings of Foreign exchange in the commercial banks have not reduced in any way significant, he assured.

A

The vendor’s bag found along the cane field dam

New Amsterdam Market vendor (who has requested not to be named) awoke from slumber at about 04:20h on Monday last; and as per normal, opened the door leading to the lower section of her two-storey home – only to be pounced upon by three masked men!

“I just open the door and come outside, and I see this red pants coming up to me; and when I raise up, the man got a gun,” the incredulous vendor detailed. She said the shirtless man was masked and was accompanied by two other masked men, both carrying knives.

The vendor said she screamed, and a neighbour responded. “She asked, ‘What happening?!’ (as she started) running over; and the one with the gun run inside and pick up my bag from the wall, and another (bag) that was lying down.”

That alarm alerted family members, and they rushed to the woman’s aid. The men fled the scene by jumping a fence and then traversing a canal as the vendor’s neighbours gave chase. The men then made their way into the cane field and disappeared.

Later, nearly one mile away, residents discovered a handbag lying along a dam with a few documents scattered beside it. According to the market vendor, there were mostly medical documents in the bags, along with an identification card.

The Police were subsequently alerted and an investigation has been launched.

Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, on Monday said that Police are searching for members of a gang that fit the description of the men who had attacked and robbed the vendor.

news

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tuesDAY, march 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 14 –05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, March 15 –05:00h-06:30h.

Dental technician drowns during outing with friends

A

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 14 – 05:45h-07:15h and Wednesday, March 15 –06:15h-07:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light to heavy rain showers will prevail throughout the day, while clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 05:33h and 17:52h reaching a maximum height of 2.74 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:26h and 23:42h reaching minimum heights of 0.45 metre and 0.52 metre respectively.

dental technician died after plunging into the Atlantic Ocean during an outing with friends at Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Dead is Gopaul Govindan, 19, also called “Raj”. His body was found along the Manchester Beach about 20:30h on Sunday.

Reports are the teenager and four friends left to go to the Alness Beach about 14:00h. His grieving father, Arjune Govindan, told this publication that none of the young men, including his son, were “capable” swimmers. The father, who is a taxi driver, explained that it was a weekly routine for his son and friends to go to the beach. “He can’t swim properly; in fact, none of them are good swimmers.”

According to Govindan, his son promised to be home by 16:30h, but about 16:00h a friend went to his home to inform him that the teen went into the water and they were trying to lo-

Dead: Gopaul Govindan

cate him.

The taxi driver said when he and his wife rushed to the beach, several persons had commenced a search for the teen. He explained, however, that

the tide was high and as such, they had to wait it out before the search begun.

Villagers went into the water in search of the dental technician, who was attached to Cosdensply Dental Lab. However, they did not find him.

As the water dropped even further and more of the beach became visible, the search was then turned to the beach and about one and a half miles away at Manchester the body was found.

Meanwhile, as Police launch an investigation, the four persons who were with Govindan at the time were detained pending the outcome of a post-mortem.

The four in custody are close friends of the dead teen who attended school with him and hailed from the same village. The dental technician, who took up the trade after he left the Bush Lot Secondary School, leaves to mourn his parents and three siblings. (Andrew Carmichael)

Pharmacy graduates’ careers on hold …as internship programme suffers multiple delays

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very year the University of Guyana (UG) churns out thousands of graduates who successfully complete programmes in various fields which increase their prospects of furthering their careers.

However, several students who graduated from the pharmacy programme at the premier tertiary educational institution claim that their lives are at a virtual standstill.

This newspaper was recently informed that the 2016 class of prospective pharmacists has been waiting for some months now to commence their internship programme at the Georgetown Public Hospital. This programme is necessary for the students to obtain their licences to practise their craft.

Guyana Times understands that the said programme should have commenced in early January.

According to information received, the Pharmacy Council was unprepared to facilitate the process. As such, the students were reportedly told to pay the registration fee before February 27 and submit the requisite job application information to the Hospital.

This newspaper was informed that the internship was intended to start at a delayed date of March 6, but

The University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus

was yet to commence.

“The Pharmacy Council [has] not yet issued a formal letter or email to the registered pharmacy interns stating the date, time and place as to when the internship will start,” a graduate student [name withheld] said.

According to the Pharmacy Practitioners Act of 2003, under the Part VI section titled “Pharmacy Interns”, University of Guyana graduates who have completed the Bachelor’s of Science Degree (Pharmacy) must complete an internship programme not less than six months, before obtaining a licence to practice as a professional Pharmacist.

The Council has the mandate to approve an appropriate institution at which the students can undertake the sixmonth programme.

Other functions of the Council are to establish,

maintain, and develop standards for the practice of pharmacy; and to publish, distribute or disseminate in any manner as the Council thinks fit, literature and information relevant to the pharmacy professions.

It is being alleged that the students are being “pushed around” by the Council: “We ask why since the 2003 Act, absolutely nothing has been

put in place? Peoples’ graduate lives, livelihood and careers have been messed up!”

The students are, hence, calling on Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence to intervene in order for them to earn a living. On Monday, Guyana Times attempted to get a response from Minister Lawrence, but was unsuccessful as her mobile was switched off.

Nevertheless, the students have requested to be financially compensated for the “unnecessary delay”.

“We have spent four years of our lives studying hard to be pharmacists, because we have a passion for healthcare provision. The Pharmacy Council, by their unconscionable delay, has prevented better health provision being provided to those patients in need of health care,” Guyana Times was told.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Added burden T

he recent policy to charge VAT on all and sundry and to reclassify many items from zero-rated status to exempt status has literally added more burden on the shoulders of the poor.

These new tax proposals in the 2017 Budget, especially the VAT on education, water and electricity, finally started to hit home in February on the poor and the vulnerable. Guyanese people are now realising the real impact.

Only recently at a protest against VAT on education in front of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) building, one of the protesters said he saw the cost of his children’s education bills jumping by some “$7700 every single month”, since the implementation of these tax measures.

Another said his family was now paying $1623 more per month for electricity, thanks to VAT. The tax measures in the 2017 Budget are now actively starting to push more poor families into bankruptcy.

Unfortunately, there are few alternative outlets for the poor in this high-pressure economic environment. These new tax measures will have an adverse effect, because if the workers have a smaller disposable income, then it means they will spend less. This will result in the decline of sales for the business community. This decline has already taken effect as many in the local business sector has publicly spoken of the effects of the declining economy as a result of the exploitative tax measures, that is, the tax on water, electricity, education and other basic life necessities.

In addition, these new measures are also regressive.

Today after these new measures, Guyanese are spending more of their income on basic necessities. This, therefore, means Guyanese are being asked to pay for the same products with a smaller after-VAT income. But what compounds the situation is the fact that Finance Minister Winston Jordan continues to give the impression that these new taxes are needed for his Government to broaden the country’s tax base. The purpose of taxes is to fund Government services and when a Government is increasing taxes, it, therefore, means the Government is getting more expensive to manage. The question that begs to be answered is why has the Minister not consider rescinding the 50 per cent increase in salaries for Ministers so that those funds can be applied to partially filling the gap in the budget?

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in one of its recent publications, “Fiscal policy and longterm growth,” advised that cutting taxes stimulates an economy and with such a narrow fiscal space available to Guyana, these increased tax measures will take the wind out of the sail of the entrepreneurial class. However, at present, it is this same entrepreneurial class that is being called upon to grow the Guyanese economy. An in-depth look at the Budget and its measures shows that all that was done in this 2017 Budget was mere shuffling around of money from one set of people to another in an environment of a declining tax basket. Therefore, the Government must act with more restraint and with more consideration for the practical realities that are involved in managing an economy like Guyana.

At the end of the day, the final consumers will pay more for the same products or services. No taxpayer will want to support these tax measures. In that regard, support for the protest movement against the VAT on education can be deemed justifiable.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha hosted its annual Holi Utsav on Monday at the Everest Cricket Ground, Georgetown. Hundreds gathered to participate in the playing of Phagwah while enjoying cultural presentations

Is the British Government now in collusion with the coalition?

Dear Editor, Dr Sittlington, an agent, an employee of the British Government, whatever he does in Guyana, is either the policy of the British Government or embarrassment of the British Government.

It would be sad if the British Government is now in collusion with the coalition in the political persecution of members of the previous Government.

It has been a basic principle of Western democratic society that members of Government are never persecuted for Government policy. All Governments of Guyana have pursued policies of providing land for housing, and housing at subsidised cost. Eg Lamaha Gardens, Meadow brook

Gardens, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Bel Air Gardens (where Carl Greenridge got a gift) have all been provided to Ministers and senior Government functionaries.

Dr Sittlington needs to understand the history; he is where he is because of the sweat of slaves and indentured. You can’t pick one area, without looking at the entire country, for example Eccles. When the PPP started their housing drive in 1993, the persons occupying “BB”, “CC” paid one third the price of the people in “AA”, so all those people need to be investigated.

But this is not about housing fraud, this is about political harassment, political embarrassment, feeding mob frenzy, and race.

The office of the President

under whose budget falls SOCU has emasculated the Police Force, to back it up the SARU will and the Special Prosecutor Bill is designed to take prosecution out of the hands of the DPP. Having the DPP march into SOCU headquarters as a common criminal is a signal that the Granger Administration lacks confidence in the person who is the DPP and already coalition zealots are calling for her to be sent on leave.

This comes just a few weeks after Basil Williams inferring in his comments ‘look how the court is divided’ -- referring to the decision of the appeal court re “Jagdeo’s third term”.

What we are seeing in Guyana today is ethnic cleansing and persecution of

Indians not even experienced during the Burnham era.

Not only have they been removed, but all are now facing trumped up charges – look how Chancellor Kennard and Justice Persaud were booted out of constitutional office. Anytime a regime has to bring out or infer that the army must come out against civilians unrest, know that regime is either unpopular, or undemocratic, or both unpopular and undemocratic.

As part Chinese from the Chungh dynasty, we say I wish you live in interesting times, those times are here as never before witnessed in our country.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my views.

Sincerely, Maria Nadir

Why over 4 years to prepare an internship programme?

Dear Editor, The Pharmacy Council of Guyana made it a law in 2003 that all graduates of the University of Guyana (UG) who have completed the Bachelors of Science degree (Pharmacy) must complete an internship programme of not less than six months before obtaining a licence to practise as a professional Pharmacist.

On January 02, 2017, all pharmacists who had graduated in the 2016 Bachelors of Science degree (Pharmacy) programme at the UG should have started their internship. The Pharmacy Council was not prepared, so we were told that we needed to pay a registration fee of $5000 be-

fore February 27, 2017, and provide certain information and a job application to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, so that the internship programme could commence on March 6, 2017.

The Pharmacy Council has not yet issued a formal letter or email to the registered pharmacy interns to inform them of the date, time and place when the internship will start.

The Pharmacy Council, which is a body corporate, has not organized an internship programme.

Under The Pharmacy Practitioner Act 2003 -Part 11Establishment and Functions of the Pharmacy, the Council is expected to:

•

Establish, maintain, and develop standards for the practise of pharmacy; • Publish, distribute or disseminate, in any manner as the Council thinks fit, literature and information relevant to the pharmacy profession.

We are being pushed around by the Council. We ask why it is that since the 2003 Act, absolutely nothing has been put in place.

People’s graduate lives, livelihoods and careers have been messed up!

We ask for an urgent audience with the Honourable Volda Lawrence, Minister of Public Health, to enable

us to arrive at a solution.

We are also requesting, in light of the unnecessary delay in us being granted our licence to practice, that we be financially compensated by the Pharmacy Council for the unnecessary loss of earnings and career advancement. We have spent four years of our lives studying hard to be pharmacists because we have a passion for healthcare provision. The Pharmacy Council has, by their unconscionable delay, prevented better provision of healthcare services to those patients in need of health care.

Sincerely, Graduate student

guyanatimesgy.com

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

Gross negligence, inefficiency at Burma Rice Research Station

Dear Editor, Farmers have, over the past year, faced grave problems with the seed paddy purchased from the GRDB’s Burma Rice Research Station.

On numerous occasions, several hundred bags of seed paddy purchased from the GRDB’s Burma Rice Research Station have failed to germinate; or, if the seeds germinate, the percentage of germination has been far below the required levels. When this happens, the farmers suffer the losses, or the GRDB suffers the loss in revenue.

I was reliably informed that inefficiency in the management of seed production at the GRDB’s Burma Rice Research Station is the main reason for poor quality seed paddy reaching the farmers.

It is alleged that standard operating procedures (SOP) in the production of seed paddy

have not been observed, resulting in either the seeds not being ready for harvesting from the fields at the correct time, or their not having the correct moisture content, not being dried and stored properly, leading to damage of the embryo in the seed.

Further, the required labels on the bags – to tell the quality of seed paddy and per cent germination of the seed lot – have been totally absent; so farmers have had no option but to accept what was in the bag. Fortunately, I was able to closely examine the poor germinating seed paddy, and I saw evidence of large amounts of shelled grains, broken grains, pieces of clay soil and discoloured grains being present in the bags of seed paddy being sold as C1 and C11 grade.

On every occasion that any issue had been raised by farm-

ers about the poor quality of seed provided by the GRDB’s Burma Rice Research Station, officials there have always concocted and fabricated stories, and have always had perfect excuses to hide their abysmal incompetence.

The time has come for the Government, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, and the Chairman and Board of Directors of the GRDB to get involved and seriously look into this vexing situation. We need to stop taking these lame excuses for why the quality of seed paddy provided to farmers by the Burma Rice Research Station is not up to standard, since the board is spending large sums of money on seed paddy production every year.

Sincerely, George Williams

Consultations needed on ‘VAT on education’ Dear Editor, The providers of private education have been contributing sacrificially and efficiently to the education of a large number of students – young people of this nation – and have been doing so cheerfully for a long time and at their financial disadvantage.

Because of this, there should be no value-added tax (VAT) on education at this time.

A majority of those students are from families who cannot afford an additional financial burden on their budget. It is palpably evident that, in most cases, a family is poor but has a child, or in some cases children, who are academically ahead of their peers, and those children would need a better quality of education, such as is not provided by some of the Government schools in Guyana.

Without wanting to dabble in partisan politics on this vexing and vogue matter of

value-added tax (VAT on private education), I respectfully ask that our Government and all concerned parties convene a special meeting to thoroughly consult on this matter, and/ or appoint a special national committee of learned men and women to listen to the views of all sides. It is a known fact that most of the private schools in this country provide a better quality of education to children who may, one day in the future, make significant contributions to the further development of our country. The children who would benefit from a good quality of education may one day in the future contribute significantly to this country’s continued development. Not all students in private schools come from parents who are rich and can afford the value-added tax, but those parents do understand the need for a good quality of education for their children, and recognize that

that type of education is provided by most of the private educational institutions in this country.

This matter of VAT on private education should not be treated as a partisan or racial matter, but as an intelligent and commonsensical matter wherein private education is now been strangled in the clutches of the ‘tax man’.

Finally, may I suggest to the ‘authorities that be’ that they need to appoint with haste a national committee of learned men and women to hear and listen to the evidences from both sides of this vexing and vogue matter - for and against tax on private education – and then pronounce.

I trust that the powers that be would give consideration to this request.

Yours faithfully, Rooplall Dudhnath

Crime situation in Guyana

Dear Editor, Whenever we hear from the Ministry of Public Security and/or the Guyana Police Force (GPF), it is always good news: “Crime is on the decline”. And figures have been trotted out to demonstrate this. However, those statements are really not believed by the public.

Instead, many persons are of the view that crime is on the rise, and we have once again reached the stage where many crimes are not even being reported. The GPF should be careful with their figures; those figures can cause them to lose credibility.

It is true that we have experienced high crime rates in the past. One particular spike in crime that shook the Guyanese nation is the one that took place after the jailbreak of 2002.

That was indeed a bad period.

What had made the crime spree so prolonged during that period was the political support it had been given by the Opposition PNC. Some elements of the then Opposition even tried to make the criminals appear to be “freedom fighters”.

Weapons taken from the army by the PNC during the late 1970s and 1980s were often found in the possession of several criminals whenever they were apprehended or shot by the Police at that time.

Even the 31 AK-47 rifles that went missing from the army (GDF) found their way to the said group of criminals.

Interestingly, some senior army officers who were prominent during that period are now holding politically appointed posi-

tions in the regime. A former Commissioner of Police also holds a ministerial position. Yes, those were difficult times.

The calibre of crime today is, however, quite different. Crimes now are not politically motivated, but are caused by the deteriorating economic situation. Over the last sixteen months of APNU+AFC rule, the economy has slowed greatly and is approaching the point of stagnation. Unemployment is on the rise: hundreds have lost their jobs at Barama, the Upper Demerara timber producers are finding it difficult to cope without BaiShanlin, one gold mine has sent off many workers, and hundreds of others have already been dismissed from GuySuCo. In the meantime, no new jobs are being created to absorb the thousands of young people who are leaving schools and tertiary institutions. The Government is also taxing small businesses, the self-employed and those employing just a few persons. High taxation is also working against expansion in production.

In the rice growing areas, hundreds are unemployed or underemployed as production contracts.

It can be observed that most of those targeted are not rich people. These are small shop owners who cannot afford to hire security for their homes and/or their bottom house businesses.

They are soft targets.

The situation is compounded by the regular release of prisoners by the regime. Moreover, the attitude of the APNU+AFC coalition while in opposi-

tion was to launch vicious attacks on the Police Force, resulting in crime fighters becoming very tentative.

While we expect more effective action from the Police in the fight against crime, we must also urge and support them in their efforts. Residents of both urban and rural communities must also design a plan and organize groups to assist in the crime fight in a bid to better protect themselves from criminals. Their efforts must complement the efforts of the Police. In many farming communities, larceny is also on the rise. This is having a negative impact on food production, which will subsequently drive up food prices on the market.

As noted above, these are mainly economic crimes. Therefore, the main responsibility lies with the Government to stimulate the economy, so that more jobs can be created. That will have an impact on the situation.

Clearly, then, the main responsibility lies with the Government to focus on ways and means to grow the economy now, and create employment so that honest work can be provided for the unemployed.

Slogans about preparing for the good times to come are meaningless. We don’t have to prepare for the good times; let those times come now.

Parroting statistics that don’t match the perceptions of people will not bring any comfort to the population.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

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Foundation Pollution responsible for quarter of deaths of young children, says WHO

… toxic air, unsafe water and lack of sanitation kill 1.7 million under-fives every year

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ollution is responsible for one in four deaths among all children under five, according to new World Health Organisation reports, with toxic air, unsafe water, and lack of sanitation the leading causes.

The reports found polluted environments cause the deaths of 1.7 million children every year, but that many of the deaths could be prevented by interventions already known to work, such as providing cleaner cooking fuels to prevent indoor air pollution.

“A polluted environment is a deadly one, particularly for young children,” said Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the WHO. “Their developing organs and immune systems – and smaller bodies and airways – make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water.”

The harm from air pollution can begin in the womb and increase the risk of premature birth. After birth, air pollution raises the risk of pneumonia, a major cause of death for under fives, and of lifelong lung conditions such as asthma.

It may also increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer in later life.

The reports present a comprehensive review of the effect of unhealthy environments and found that

Ways to prevent and reduce air, water, and land pollution

By Lory Rich

P

Pollution is our problem

570,000 children under five years old die each year from respiratory infections such as pneumonia, while another 361,000 die due to diarrhoea, as a result of polluted water and poor access to sanitation.

The WHO estimates that 11% to 14% of children aged five years and older currently report asthma symptoms, with almost half of these cases related to air pollution. It also suggests that the warmer temperatures and carbon dioxide levels linked to climate change may increase pollen levels, making asthma worse. “Investing in the removal of environmental risks to health will result in massive health benefits,”

said Dr Maria Neira, WHO director of environmental and social determinants of health. For example, tackling the backyard recycling of electrical waste would cut children’s exposure to toxins which can cause reduced intelligence and cancer.

In October, the UN’s children’s agency Unicef made the first global estimate of children’s exposure to air pollution and found that almost 90% – 2 billion children – live in places where outdoor air pollution exceeds WHO limits.

It found that 300 million of these children live in areas with extreme air pollution, where toxic fumes are more than six times above the

health guidelines.

The WHO announced in May that air pollution around the world is rising at an alarming rate, with virtually all cities in poorer nations blighted by unhealthy air and more than half of those in richer countries also suffering.

Research in 2015 revealed that more than 3 million people a year die early because of outdoor air pollution, more than malaria and HIV/Aids combined. Chan told the BBC on Monday that air pollution is “one of the most pernicious threats” facing global public health today and is on a much bigger scale than HIV or Ebola.(Exepert from the Guardian)

ollution prevention is a major global concern because of its harmful effects on people’s health and the environment.

Because we are all inhabitants on Earth, everyone is a stakeholder, and every person has something to contribute to advance effective pollution prevention awareness. Environmental protection is a natural extension of caring for ourselves, loving our children, and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

“If we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.”

We should all, therefore, accept personal responsibility for the success of our local environmental protection programmes by actively participating in making our atmosphere pollution-free.

And, although we can each help combat pollution in our immediate environments, we can do more by working to change legislation and policy on a larger scale.

Averting the onset of pollution in any area, be it in air or water or on land, could be the simplest preventive solution. If there are no pollutants, there will be no pollution. And yet, this is easier said than done. Certain bad habits are entrenched and industrial development as we know it seems to involve an expectation of pollution. Even the most simple preventive approaches are often quite complicated, expensive, and difficult for a small business to implement.

Still, there are small changes we can make on the individual level that make a difference, both in the short and long term. Breathing is life. We know that we can survive without food for several weeks and without water for few days, but without oxygen, we will die in a matter of minutes.

A list of things you can do

Every action or inaction of any person has an effect on the environment—be it good, neutral, or negative.

By becoming aware and doing the right thing, we choose to be part of the solution. Here are some things you can do: •Stop smoking or don’t throw your butts on the ground. Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and contain extremely toxic soluble chemicals. One butt thrown on the ground can remain

for up to 25 years, leaking chemicals like arsenic, ammonia, acetone, benzene, cadmium, formaldehyde, lead, and toluene into the environment.

•Drive an electric or hybrid car or at least one that uses unleaded gasoline.

•Keep your car in good running condition to avoid emissions.

•Share a ride or carpool.

•Choose to walk or ride a bicycle whenever possible.

•Never use open fires to dispose of waste, especially chemicals and plastic.

•Adopt the 3 Rs of solid waste management: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

•Use sustainable, reclaimed, or recycled building materials.

•Start composting leaves and clippings from your yard and food scraps from your kitchen to reduce waste while improving your soil.

•Use the power supplied abundantly and freely by wind and sun. Hang your laundry to dry to minimise your use of gas or electricity and open a window or put on a sweater rather than turning on the air conditioner or heater.

•Buy local foods and goods. In this manner, the use of fuel for transporting goods can be minimized.

•Look around your house or place of business for ways you could conserve water.

•Use and buy products that are eco-friendly or made with biodegradable materials. Avoid plastic.

•Always bring a bag when you shop.

•Get rid of your lawn: Plant bee-friendly, drought-tolerant, native plants instead.

•Plant more trees. They clean the air, provide oxygen, and beautify your surroundings.

•Take care to properly dispose of your pet’s waste.

•Do not litter. Start an anti-litter campaign to educate your community.

•If you own a business, make sure you have considered the environmental impact of your business practices. If you work for someone else, take the time to assess your company’s environmental impact and try to implement positive change.

•Say a big “NO” to pesticides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

•Join an Earth Day celebration (every April 22) and consider making its tenets an everyday practice. (Excerpt

from soapboxie.com)

news

7

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

1 die after car crashes into utility pole S

hazam Ismile, a 23-year-old labourer of Lot 17 Portuguese Quarters, Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice, died almost instantly when the car in which he was travelling slammed into a utility pole along the Number 19 Village Highway on the East Coast of Berbice on Sunday at about 21:15hrs.

One of three persons travelling in the vehicle at the time, Ismile was sitting beside its driver and owner, 22-year-old Shazam

to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention.

Both Seepersaud and the now dead Ismile worked with poultry farmers as labourers, and would have known each other for approximately three years.

Apart from being a labourer, Ishmile also reared his own stock.

The three men were al-

Dead: Shazam Ismile

The injured driver Shazam Seepersaud

ble condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital under police guard. The other occupant of the vehicle, 23-year-old Anthony

Ramlocahn of East Canje Berbice, reportedly sustained broken limbs among other injuries, and was transferred

The damaged car

Seepersaud, also called Randy, of Seawell Village, East Coast Berbice, when the accident occurred.

Seepersaud is in sta-

Body of unidentified man found on seashore

T

he body of an unidentified man was early Monday morning discovered on the Johanna Cecilia seashore, Essequibo Coast face down with several facial bruises and blood oozing from the mouth.

Residents reportedly spotted the naked body and immediately contacted the Police. The man was said to be of East Indian descent and appeared to be in his mid-thirties. He was about 5 feet, 3 inches in height. His body also bore two birthmarks.

When Police arrived at the scene, they cordoned off the area and started their investigations. Several persons in the area were questioned, but they claimed that they did not hear any unusual sound or see any unusual movements prior to the discovery of the body.

The body was later transported to the Suddie Hospital Mortuary to await a post-mortem and identification. The post-mortem is expected to be performed on Wednesday to determine the cause of death. Police are continuing their investigations.

The body of the unidentified man at the Johanna Cecilia seashore

legedly on what family members described as “a drinking spree”, and according to Ismile’s mother, Brahas Baijnauth, it appeared as if all of the men were drunk. She said that Seepersaud and her son would often go out together, and prior to the accident, her son had called to say that he would be home late, as he was with friends.

Reports are that Ishmile, Seepersaud and Ramlocahn had gone for an “after-payday drink” which went on longer than expected and took them to several different places, until the deadly accident occurred at about 21:15 hours.

Police are investigation the accident. (Andrew Carmichael)

8 news

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

3-year-old abandoned A

three-year-old girl who spent the night at the Brickdam Police Station, after she was allegedly abandoned is now in the custody of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA).

The child, a French national, was residing with relatives at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Reports are the child was in the company of her mother and other relatives during the Phagwah celebrations on Sunday in Alexander Village, Georgetown. It is believed that the child wandered off from her relatives. She was seen on Sunday afternoon by residents in the

The Child Care and Protection Agency

area, who contacted the Police after realising that the child was lost. The lass was taken to the Brickdam Police Station where she slept for the night.

Police sources have confirmed that no reports were

made to the Police about a missing child leaving them to believe that the child might have been purposely left in the village.

It was not until the story was published on an online news website that the

grandmother of the child visited the Police station and requested that the child be released into her custody, but the Police informed her that the CCPA had full control of the child.

CCPA Director Ann Greene confirmed that the child was in the care of the Agency and full probe would be launched.

She noted that the Police contacted the Agency on Monday and all arrangements were put in place for the child to be taken into CCPA’s custody.

She said the Agency would be meeting with the relatives of the child today, and promised to launch a thorough investigation.

Farmer charged for molesting stepdaughter

A

3 2 - y e a r - o l d Essequibo Coast man who allegedly sexually molested his stepdaughter was remanded to prison by Magistrate Sunil Scarce.

The man appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

The prosecution is contending that the man was arrested on March 4 for

having sex with a family member and, as such, was charged for the offence of sexual activity with a child family member under Section 16 (3a) of the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03. It is alleged that he committed the act between 2010 and 2017.

The case will continue at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on March 24.

Fisherman on bail for B&E charge

A

22-year-old Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast fisherman was slapped with a break and enter and larceny charge and was granted $75,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce.

Deodat Sumsundar denied the charge which stated that on December 31, 2016

at Walton Hall, he stole a quantity of GTT and Digicel phone cards valued $10,000, one Samsung cell phone valued $30,000, US$350 equivalent to $75,000 in local currency and $30,000, a total value of $145,000, property of Naina Narine.

The defendant will return to court on March 21.

What’s different…

Y

…in sugar today? our Eyewitness understands tomorrow the Government will be officially joining in on the commemoration of the 15 – yes...15! – indentured and non-indentured sugar workers who’d been massacred by the planters/govt/policemen at Plantation Rose Hall (Canje) on March 13, 1913. Your Eyewitness can only wonder in anticipation of what Moses Nagamootoo, representing the Government, will be telling the descendants of those massacred workers.

After all, the Government’s pretty much confirmed as imminent Rose Hall’s closure – just as Wales was last December. And throwing out another 1700 workers or so from the estate. What’s the difference with a few hundred sugar workers here and there: they don’t really matter, do they? Then and now.

Back in 1913, the workers had toiled on their Sundays and longer hours during the weekdays to bring the crop to a successful close. They’d been promised a four-day holiday in the ‘out of crop” to recompense them. But at the last moment, the manager reneged – and demanded they show up to plant cane!! The workers balked and seven of them were threatened with eviction from the logees they occupied and transferred to other plantations.

When they complained to the Immigration Agent in NA, who was supposed to protect their interest, they were then charged by the manager. At the court, the men were advised by their lawyer to plead guilty – which they did, even though they disagreed. But now, the manager decided to demand the workers pay his legal fees! This was too much for the workers and they protested.

The Police who were brought from Georgetown under the command of its “Bad man” chief – who’d “quelled” indentured protests by killings before – were now sent to the logees to seize these “agitators”. But at the logees, the folks thought it was the old manager’s eviction order being enforced, and resisted. The Police opened fire with their new machine gun and 15 persons – including one woman – was killed and 42 wounded!

But that was back then…what about now? When the Government closes Rose Hall, how many persons will be killed when they can’t find work? How many will commit suicide? How many will be evicted from their homes? What is the difference then and now, when the “Big Manja” could just snap his fingers and lives would be snuffed out?

Your Eyewitness has no problem with the Government “rationalising” sugar production in Guyana. But unlike the planters who then owned the plantations, now it’s the Government of GUYANA, and they have an obligation to provide alternative employment before throwing workers to the dogs.

Your Eyewitness looks forward to the address by PM Nagamootoo. …between SARA and SOCU? Your Eyewitness is challenged by these new outfits deployed by the Government against the Opposition – oops! – crime. SOCU – Special Organised Crime Unit – is the one formed by the PPP to nab “organised crime” laundering their ill-gotten gains by throwing up high rises like jumbie umbrellas and such other schemes?

But here it is SOCU’s now going after fellas who – at the very worst – arranged to buy land at lower than market rates. So the question troubling your Eyewitness is this: were they laundering money or financing terrorists?

Your Eyewitness, who freely admits he’s not as au fait with the English language as SOCU’s Englishsponsored advisor, would’ve thought such get-rich schemes might be more in the bailiwick of SARA – the State Assets Recovery Agency. Land is a “state asset”, no?

Ah well…it’s all about nailing the Opposition and it doesn’t matter whether the cat is white or black, does it? …on parking meters?

So, what’s the latest on the Parking Meters, apart from inspiring “town people” to street theatre? Well, the Minister of State says there needs to be more consultation. Yep!!

Your Eyewitness thinks the Government’s just waiting out the chatterati in the streets!! And with good reason. Remember the Occupy Movement?

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

news

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tuesDAY, march 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Manickchand questions real motive Culture Minister should apologise for holiday behind tax on education

F

ormer Education Minister Priya Manickchand is questioning whether the real reason the Government has taxed private education is because President David Granger believes there is education apartheid in Guyana.

Granger, as Opposition Leader in 2013, said education delivery in Guyana was akin to ‘apartness’, another form of ‘apartheid’, and “we must avoid and avert the danger of children being separated along lines of gender, social class or geographical location”.

Manickchand, speaking to reporters, pondered if Government imposed the burdensome tax on private education so as to limit the number of children who access quality services from private institutions.

mix-up – Dr Norton

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Education Minister Rupert Roopnaraine

want their children to do better…So is that the reason they have now taxed private education, because he believed that a certain set of people only were accessing that?” she enquired.

Nonetheless, the former Education Minister posited that there was no education

new tax regime in the 2017 National Budget.

Protests have taken the form of petitions and picketing actions outside the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as well as the Finance Ministry.

In response to the outcry, President Granger main-

Ministers, was not at the level which it should be in order to guarantee quality education delivery.

Additionally, he failed to assess the capacity of the public system to receive an influx of students who can no longer afford private education and would have to resort to the public sector.

Many stakeholders, including educators and students, have argued that taxing education was definitely not the way to go in modern society as education is the backbone of any developing country.

They questioned the Government’s logic to tax education, especially since President Granger peddled the rhetoric of wanting an educated nation to build and develop Guyana.

Joining the campaign, the former Education Minister called on the Government to remove the 14 per cent tax on education, noting that it would only result in Guyana regressing.

Protesters against the tax on education during a protest in front of the Finance Ministry

“I have a question for Mr Granger; his view was that a certain set of children were accessing, a certain ethnicity was accessing certain education. By now, he should have been disabused of that view, because everybody wants good for their children whether you’re black, you’re Indian, you’re Chinese, you’re Portuguese, you’re yellow, you’re pink or you’re blue; most people

apartheid in Guyana and said the President should have used his time in office to inform himself that children from all backgrounds benefit from private education – in some cases at the cost of personal sacrifices.

Protests in various forms have erupted against the 14 per cent tax on private education and educational materials, since Government imposed the measure in its

tained that the tax must remain on education because some private schools were not tax compliant.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had also defended the decision to add the 14 per cent tax to the private school fees by contending that the public school system was always free.

He ignored the fact that the public school system, as admitted by Government

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton

R

egardless of the perceived magnitude of the blunder, Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton believes the Culture Minister, Nicolette Henry owes the Hindu community a public apology for mixing up their religious holidays.

Henry, the Junior Minister within the Education Ministry with responsibility for culture, youth and sports, confused Phagwah with Diwali and was seemingly oblivious to her mistake.

“I would begin by saying Happy Phagwah, Happy Holi. On Sunday, March 12th, here in Guyana and around the world, Hindus will be celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights,” she stated, not realising her blunder as she continued her prepared speech.

A minute later, she made the mistake again.

When compared with her Diwali speech last year, her Phagwah speech this year bore much resemblance – causing many to conclude

Junior Education Minister with responsibility for culture, Nicolette Henry

that it was recycled.

Public outcry surround the Minister not realising her mistake, not apologising for it and not finding it important enough to take the time to write a fresh speech about Phagwah.

Interestingly also, the Culture Minister was absent from major cultural events hosted on March 12 in observance of Phagwah, including those at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) and the Providence National Stadium where other Government Ministers had gathered.

The Social Cohesion Minister, during an interview with Guyana Times at the Phagwah Mela at the ICC, suggested that Minister Henry was probably busy.

Commenting on the Culture Minister’s holiday mix-up, Dr Norton conceded that the situation warranted an apology.

“There is nothing wrong in an apology…I went public, and I apologised to the whole of Guyana because the occasion called for it,” he stated.

10 news

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lindeners can expect better health delivery system – Councillor

T

he Health and Public Works Sectors in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) are set to benefit from various upgrade works coming out of its $3.138B budgetary allocations for 2017. During a presentation on the televised programme 'Region 10 in Review', Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Councillor Dr Gregory Harris provided an in depth look at some of the projects which will be executed within the region.

Councillor Dr Harris, who also serves as Regional Health Committee Chairman said residents can expect several major changes within the regional health sector this year.

For instance, he said the Rockstone community is slated to receive an ambulance for the first time. This, he explained, will be a major boost given the level of emergencies and the difficulties associated with travel from such outlying areas which usually refer patients to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC). The development is also expected to ease the economic burden of residents, Councillor Dr Harris noted.

"All of the health centres will be receiving an upgrade, especially the Berbice River. We'll be construct-

Guyana’s illegal aliens: what’s your country going to do for you when they come for you

I

Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Councillor, Dr Gregory Harris

ing new outdoor facilitieswashroom facilities, along with that, guard huts. Some of these health centres, also will be seeing extensionsconstruction work would be done," the Councillor outlined. The administration will further seek to establish a polyclinic within the Berbice River.

The Councillor and Health Committee Chairman added that health centres will also be equipped with phlebotomy chairs which will aid in the process of collecting blood specimen, while he said materials required for health workers to function will also be provided. As such, the Health Committee Chairman said the Regional Health Department will

also be purchasing 10 motorcycles to facilitate public health workers in carrying out field work. With regards to drug shortage issues he explained that the new Health Minister is presently putting systems in place to prevent future shortages.

Councillor Harris said more staff would be provided at health centre in riverine areas while essential items such as dressing trolleys, dressing chairs, solar refrigerators and autoclaves will be made readily available. In riverine areas such as Calcuni and Sand Hill upgrade and maintenance works will be carried out to health posts since he said it is the aim that health centres be made more efficient and effective in these areas.

Morian indicated that there will be upgrade to the One Mile access road, Clemfield, Cemetery, Fun Park, Hughesville, Canvas City and Icewater roads, all located at Wismar; further rehabilitation to the upper section of Greenheart Street and Dageraad Avenue at Mackenzie, Linden.

Upgrades "We also want to look at the drainage in Manni Street, drainage in Wismar Street (Mackenzie), sections of the Clemfield road, upgrading some of the sections of the Ball field road (Third Phase, Wisroc). We want to upgrade the drains there and at Henderson road (Greenheart Street, Mackenzie). Additionally, the road leading to Watooka, Richmond Hill and Teachers Hostel road at Amelia's Ward will benefit from upgrade. Bitumenous upgrade will also be carried out to the Casaurina Drive road at Mackenzie, among others.

"The Ministry of Natural Resources will be doing roads at Kwakwani and Ituni...and we've also made requests for that support to be extended to Linden," he stated. Additionally the administration is also expected to explore farming avenues such as shade house agriculture. The allocations for the Region include Health $640,264M, Public Works $368,272M, Education $1,858B and Regional Administration and Finance $270,766M.

am composing this column in a room in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Cornell Weill Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. I am here because one of my brothers, aka “Blacks”, was struck down by a vehicle while biking from work about three weeks ago. The driver sped away from the scene. The Police accident report says it is a hit-and-run case, which I understand occurs quite regularly in the Big Apple. The investigative team is on top of the case and we are hopeful that there will be a break in the case soon.

I do not know what will become of “Blacks”, but the family is praying for him to survive this ordeal and that he will be able to get on with life. “Blacks” is a peaceful and athletic guy. He is a Respiratory Therapist and Educator. He holds a PhD from Columbia University.

The family is obviously in shock and extends its appreciation for the support it has received from everyone, near and afar. The outpouring of Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine support has certainly provided some temporary comfort to the family, but let me say that on a personal level, this place sure feels like hell. I have seen a number of people wheeled in on stretchers, and for some, unfortunately, there will be no return to normalcy.

That said, I am not sure why I feel so inclined to forgive the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle, perhaps it is easier to forgive than to harbour feelings of anger. But the feelings of forgiveness do not mean that justice will not be pursued.

I shared the above information as a way of distracting myself from the daily dose of sadness, stirred more by regular but understandable outbursts from my mother, sister and other family members. At the core of their outbursts is this question: How come someone’s life can change so much in a few minutes when that person has nothing to do with it? I do not have an answer other than to say life is unpredictable even if things are predictable.

Fortunately, my distraction has been facilitated by continuous visits and varying conversations from the resident Guyanese in New York which, interestingly, have been dominated by unfolding events among illegal Guyanese in Queens, New York. I believe this information worth sharing.

From what I have gathered, the buzz word is that US immigration authorities have been raiding Guyanese-run businesses looking for illegal aliens, something that did not happen ever since Guyanese have been arriving in the New York City area in the 1970s. The consensus among the presumably legal resident Guyanese in the Queens area is that the raids have picked up anyone who is suspected to be illegal, not only those with criminal backgrounds. This is a departure from the initial focus of looking for illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds. I understand also there aren’t any court hearings for those who are captured by immigration authorities. One Guyanese told me that stores and restaurants around the Liberty area are virtually half-empty, since the illegal aliens have gone into hiding and, subsequently, business has become financially slow.

Interesting, too, is that the fees for fake marriages to obtain a green card have supposedly increased from US$10,000 to around US$30,000. Trump’s desperate policy of sending back undocumented immigrants has driven illegal Guyanese in more desperate modes of doing whatever it takes to stay in the US. Is Guyana such a bad place?

The anxiety level is obviously very high among the illegal community in the Guyanese Queens area, perpetuated by internal rivalry whereby common disputes in the Guyanese community are now interspersed with threats of turning illegal aliens in to immigration authorities. One illegal Guyanese told me that he had a dispute with another resident Guyanese over work and wages and he was told that if he did not shut up, he would be reported to US immigration authorities. It will be foolish to think that this is an isolated case.

There are an estimated 400,000 Guyanese in North America and I suspect about 50,000 are undocumented; a majority of them reside in the New York City area. It is not possible for US authorities to send back all illegal aliens to their respective countries, Guyana included. But it is reasonable to say that about 20,000 of them will be deported back to Guyana, especially if the Trump Administration maintains its current reckless and nefarious commitment to deport illegals from the US. The question to ask here is, can Guyana handle the forceful return of so many deportees? The straightforward answer is no, mainly because Guyana and other Caribbean countries have not instituted sound programmes to deal with deportees. The leaders of these countries believe that deportees are really a US not a Caribbean problem premised mainly on the thought that deportees are more American than Caribbean. This argument cannot sustain itself any longer in light of the fact that the Trump Administration will withdraw badly-needed aid and programmes to Guyana if Guyana does not comply with its deportee initiative (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu).

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News Defying the odds: From poverty to attorney

By Kizzy Coleman

H

er goal in life is simply this “no matter what career path I take, I must be able to make a difference”.

And a difference she is making, but, most of all, inspirational is what she has become to all young women in Guyana.

Twenty-nine-year-old Attorney-at-Law Latoya Roberts is an exceptional young woman with a determination that could move mountains. However, the person that she is today is one who struggled, one who came from very humble beginnings.

Roberts spent her childhood days on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) in a village called Vreed-en-Rust.

She grew up with her mother, Myrtle Peters, who was a farmer and basket weaver. Her days then would be spent journeying to school via boat and in the afternoons assisting in the garden or farm; some days, she also wove baskets.

However, with the fire burning inside to pursue a better quality of education even at that tender age, Roberts was sent to live with relatives in Georgetown where she attended the Tucville Primary School.

“However, for the holiday season, I would usually go back home with my mother,” the young woman explained.

Following her performance at

the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE), she gained a place at the North Georgetown Secondary School which was a disappointment to her, as it was her dream to attend President’s College.

As they say, a dream can always be realised as long as you put in the hard work and this became true in Roberts’ case.

Her determination became even stronger to attend President’s College and this motivated her to work hard, and this she did, graduating at the top of her class after writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

She was able to gain a place at President’s College as a Sixth Form student and she then set her sights on studying law.

“After finishing CXC, I was not sure as to what area I wanted to pursue; however, based on the grades that I achieved, it was suggested to me that I should pursue law. I was always very vocal; public speaking also always came naturally to me so in Sixth Form at the President’s College, I started out in that field.”

According to Roberts, law was her choice not just because it is lucrative but because it was seen as an opportunity to give a voice to the voiceless and those who cannot otherwise represent themselves.

“I was motivated to continue to pursue law, because I saw it

Latoya Roberts

as my opportunity to effect positive changes in society especially coming from where I came from. I wanted to become a role model.”

Journeying to achieve that dream

The young Attorney described her journey as one that was arduous and financially challenging.

“My journey was life changing, arduous because law is a journey that requires much financially and

as my background was so simple, this was something that my parents could not afford. So it called for much patience, much planning and as a Christian, much prayers and dependence on God.” When she graduated Sixth Form, she continued to pursue her studies in law at the University of Guyana and successfully graduated. However, not being financially able to move onto the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) like her colleagues, Roberts had to seek employment leaving her studies behind.

However, the fire within her continued to burn. “I always kept my eyes on the prize,” she revealed.

A few years later, she was able to write the entrance examination and was accepted into the HWLS. “I went to law school and that in itself was a miracle because I did not have all of the finances, but God provided. My dad worked very hard and I got a lot of support from my church family as well.”

Roberts graduated as the best Guyanese law student for 2016 and was treated to a grand welcome at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

“At law school, going through the different courses, excelling in some, learning in other areas and then the icing on the cake, graduating as Guyana’s best law student for 2016, that was affirmation that this is what is for me and that the journey is now complete. So for me,

the whole journey, it was an arduous one as I said, but it is one that has taught me discipline, how to be tenacious and how to focus on your goals and continuing working towards it, defying the odds and difficulty that may come along the way.”

Her encouragement

“Each young woman in Guyana needs to take a moment to think about the direction in which they want their life to go in. So, the first thing I would say to them is to set a goal; there should always be something that you are working towards. And once you have set that goal and made that plan, come hill or high water, do not allow anything to deter you from achieving that goal. Life can be extremely difficult, I can attest to this as I have experienced it first hand, but you can battle through if you continue to put in the work and explore all the options.”

Roberts further encouraged: “Young women, please surround yourselves with people who are positive and who would inspire and motivate you. Most importantly, pursue a relationship with God; it gives you a basis and a foundation because when those around you may fail, God will always be there. Hard work always pays off; it may take one year or even 20 years, but continue to be consistent and it will pay off, I can attest to this.”

Women urged to mentor more P

u b l i c Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes had urged women to make mentoring a part of their duty throughout this year.

At the Global Mentoring Walk, which was on Saturday held in honour of International Women’s Day (annually observed on March 8) under the theme “Embracing opportunities to pay it forward by investing in the next generation of women leaders”, the Minister addressed those assembled at GeoTechVision on Brickdam prior to com-

mencement of the walk, and encouraged women to seek and reach out to fellow women as mentors. “Just leave a word of encouragement, or tell them about a woman who has defied the odds in this male-dominated world, and who has climbed to high heights,” Minister Hughes admonished.

Noting that mentoring is one of the most fulfilling things that someone can undertake, and describing the experience as rewarding, Minister Hughes stressed that women are the backbone of the world, and that it is women’s responsibility

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes poses with participants and sponsors of the Mentoring Walk at GeoTechVision’s office on Brickdam

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes leads the Mentoring Walk

to do whatever they can to effect positive change.

She admonished women to play more active roles in their respective communities, and to take interest in the local government process. Here, for emphasis, she made reference to the achievements of prominent women in Guyanese history.

“Each of us has so much to offer all of Guyana, we just have to look for the little ways we can contribute that take nothing from us,” Minister Hughes is quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying.

Vital Voices Grow fellow and flag-bearer for Guyana,

the Managing Director of Geo Tech Vision, Ms. Valerie Grant, explained that the occasion serves to raise awareness and highlight the importance of women’s leadership, in order to accelerate the impact of women leaders through mentoring.

Pointing out that the organisation is aware of the unique challenges faced by women on their path to leadership, Grant said the entity, by way of mentoring, is committed to assisting aspiring women to succeed, as mentoring has proven to be one of the most important steps in helping persons to successful careers.

Saturday’s Global

Mentoring Walk, one of many held globally, was hosted by Geo Tech Vision in collaboration with the Guyana Chapter of the Women Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean (WENC) and the Small Business Bureau.

The event commenced at Geo Tech Vision on Brickdam, Georgetown and culminated in the Botanical Gardens with a series of activities, which saw the engagement of participants in discussions ranging from professional challenges to networking, action planning and goal setting – ultimately offering guidance and support to each other.

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tuesDAY, march 14, 2017

Regional

38 dead in Haiti as bus driver hits pedestrians and just keeps going

A

manhunt is underway in Haiti for a bus driver accused of causing the death of 38 people and injuring 13 others in a hit-and-run tragedy on Sunday.

The bus, owned by transportation company Blue Sky Logistics, was carrying people from the northern Haitian city of Cap Haitien to the capital, Port-auPrince.

The carnage began on the outskirts of the city of Gonaives, where the driver struck two pedestrians, one of whom died on the spot.

The driver continued on for several miles, before ploughing into a group of people taking part in an early morning street festival known as Rara, a street celebration which runs from Mardi Gras

A man looks at the bus which drove into a parade of pedestrians (Reuters/Andres Martinez Casares photo)

until Easter Sunday.

According to one eyewitness, people were still trapped under the bus when it finally stopped.

“You could see bodies missing arms, bodies with stomachs out, and a trail of

blood on the ground,” a man who lives in the area told CNN. “You could hear people crying and calling for help.”

On the chaotic scene, angry survivors tried to set the bus on fire even as pas-

sengers were still inside, but quick intervention from Police averted further tragedy.

President Jovenel Moise has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident as he expressed “dismay” at the accident and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

“The Head of State conveys, on behalf of the Government, his sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims,” a statement from his office said.

Moise urged Police “to investigate as soon as possible [the accident] to shed light on the tragedy”, while calling on Haitians to be more vigilant on the road.

Police are continuing investigations. (Caribbean360)

Carlos the Jackal denounces latest terror trial

C

arlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan man behind a series of attacks in France in the 1970s and 80s, has appeared in court to denounce being prosecuted over a deadly Paris shopping cen-

tre attack.

He condemned “scavenging” lawyers and “Zionist interests”.

Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, is already serving two life terms for killings in the

name of Palestinian and communist causes.

But he denies carrying out a grenade attack on the centre in September 1974.

Two people were killed and 34 others were injured in the attack.

In an often rambling statement in the Paris court on Monday, the 67-year-old said that any murders he had committed were carried out in the name of “the revolution”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

More bodies found in Venezuelan jail

T

he number of bodies found in a mass grave in Venezuela’s largest prison has risen to 14, the public prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The General Penitentiary of Venezuela in central Guarico state was closed in October after violent clashes between inmates.

The bodies, which are in an advanced state of decomposition, were found during works to refurbish the jail.

So far none of the remains have been identified.

The grave was discovered on Thursday and the number of bodies found

Forensic experts say they have found the remains of 14 people so far

since has risen from seven to 14.

Forensic experts are continuing with their search and have not ruled out find-

Guatemala fire death toll rises to 40

T

he number of teenage girls killed by a fire at a Guatemalan children’s home has risen to 40.

The girls, aged 14 to 17, were caught in the blaze at the Government-run Virgen de Asuncion shelter last week.

Human rights prosecutor Hilda Morales told the BBC that psychologists were being brought from Costa Rica to help the victims’ families and survivors.

Before the tragedy, Morales had recommended the shelter, near Guatemala City, be shut down.

“The tragedy could have been avoided if the authorities had complied with our recommendations from

years ago,” said Ms Morales of the home in San Jose Pinula.

She said she was determined to bring those responsible to justice and a criminal complaint had been filed.

The tragedy has put a spotlight on alleged failings in Guatemala’s child protection services.

The head of the agency has been ordered not to leave the country while investigations continue.

Some Guatemalans are also calling for President Jimmy Morales to resign over the alleged state failings. Thousands protested against him in Guatemala City on Saturday. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ing more bodies buried on the prison grounds.

On Friday, Prison Minister Iris Varela wrote on Twitter that she had con-

tacted the relatives of two inmates to ask for their help identifying the remains.

The two prisoners disappeared when inmates were relocated from the General Penitentiary of Venezuela to other jails in October.

An estimated 9000 prisoners were locked up in the jail near the town of San Juan de los Morros prior to its closure, according to NonGovernmental Organisation A Window on Freedom.

The NGO says Venezuelan jails are woefully overcrowded and that last year 173 inmates died while in custody. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trinidad Police baffled by disappearance of female cop

W

hen the daughter of female Constable Nyasha Joseph turned four Monday, her mother was not there to share the occasion.

Joseph, 22, who was last week preparing to celebrate with her only child, disappeared without a trace last Thursday.

Family and police insist something went terribly wrong because “Ny Ny”, as she is commonly called, would not disappear without telling anyone. And friends told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper that Nyasha would never turn her phone off.

According to Police, Joseph was last seen leaving her home at Marie Road,

Morvant to reportedly attend to matters at work.

It was her mother, Paula Guy, who first sounded the alarm that something was wrong after Joseph failed to return home and numerous calls to her cell phone went unanswered.

Since then, there have been rampant rumours that Joseph’s body was dumped in a shallow grave.

All through Friday and the weekend, Police and the Coast Guard have been conducting frantic searches, but have had no success.

Meanwhile, a 39-year-old man said to be Joseph’s boyfriend remains in Police custody assisting with the investigations. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

T&T Govt appoints committee to review operations of PETROTRIN

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Government on Monday announced it had appointed a seven-member committee to review the operations of the State-owned Petroleum Company Limited (PETROTRIN).

A brief government statement noted that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley presented the instruments of appointments to the committee that is being chaired by Selwyn Lashley, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs and includes Robert Riley, Head of Safety and Operational Risk, Competency and Capability Development at the BP Group in London and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BPTT. The committee members also include Gregory Marchan and David Abdullah of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union

(OWTU) that has been calling for a probe of the loss-making oil company.

“This appointment honours a Cabinet decision made on February 23rd 2017 to review operations at the company in light of falling revenues, allegations of mismanagement and decreasing oil prices worldwide. “The committee is tasked with making recommendations for restructuring of the company and its first report is scheduled to be submitted on June 1st 2017,” the statement added.

Last week, Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who is also the acting Energy Minister, said the financial position of the State-owned oil company, PETROTRIN, was far worse than the reported net loss, after tax, of TT$533 million (US$85,280,000) in its unaudited financials for the year ending September 30, last year. (Excerpt from CMC)

Antiguan immigration officer dies after liposuction in US

I

Nikisha Lewis

nvestigations are underway in Miami following the death of a 32-yearold Antiguan woman who had liposuction at a clinic there.

Nikisha Lewis, an immigration officer, flew from Antigua to Spectrum Aesthetics Centre for Cosmetic Surgery last Monday to have the cosmetic surgery that same day.

However, according to US media reports, the married mother of two girls was rushed to hospital after she stopped breathing. However, she was pronounced dead about two hours later.

According to NBC, the Miami Dade Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause of death could not be determined immediately after the autopsy and it could take weeks to find out the exact reason Lewis died.

Julie Ingle, an attorney

for Dr Rami Ghurani who performed Lewis’ procedure, issued a statement saying that her client had “provided the highest level of care as he does with all patients” and was “deeply saddened by the loss of his patient and offers his thoughts and prayers during this difficult time”.

Meantime, an attorney for Spectrum Aesthetics, Kubs Lalchandani, also offered condolences to Lewis’ family and said the company is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matter and is cooperating with state officials to determine what led to the young woman’s death. Police have also launched a homicide investigation into her death.

Condolences have been pouring in from friends, colleagues and even strangers on social media. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Hosni UK Parliament passes Egypt’s Mubarak to walk landmark Brexit bill free in coming days T H

he House of Lords has passed the Brexit bill, paving the way for the Government to trigger Article 50 so the United Kingdom can leave the European Union.

Peers backed down over the issues of EU residency rights and a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal after their objections were overturned by MPs. The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law today.

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said this would leave Prime Minister Theresa May free to push the button on withdrawal talks.

The Prime Minister could theoretically invoke

The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law today

Article 50, which formally starts the Brexit process, as early as today.

However, Downing Street sources have said this will not happen this week and the PM is expected to wait until the end of the

month to officially notify the EU of the UK's intention to leave, thus beginning what is expected to be a two-year process.

"Parliament has today backed the Government in its determination to get on

with the job of leaving the EU," Brexit Secretary David Davis said. "We are now on the threshold of the most important negotiation for our country in a generation."

The EU Withdrawal Bill was passed unamended after peers voted by 274 votes to 118 not to challenge the Commons again over the issue of whether Parliament should have a veto on the terms of exit.

The House of Lords had already agreed not to reinsert guarantees over the status of EU residents in the UK back into the bill after they were rejected by MPs, with the Government winning the vote by a margin of 274 votes to 135. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Turkey threatens Netherlands with diplomatic sanctions as ‘Nazi’ row escalates

T

urkey's President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday threatened to impose sanctions on the Netherlands and take it to the European Court of Human Rights over a ban on his Ministers speaking at rallies in Dutch cities, deepening a row with a NATO ally.

Erdogan, who is seeking support from Turks in a referendum on boosting his powers as President, had pre-

viously accused the Dutch Government of acting like "Nazi remnants" for barring his Ministers from addressing expatriate Turks to drum up votes.

The row marks another low point in relations between Turkey and Europe, further dimming Ankara's prospects of joining the EU. It also comes as Turkey is caught up by security concerns over militant attacks and the war in

neighbouring Syria.

A source close to the Government earlier told Reuters that sanctions were expected to be discussed by Ministers on Monday. "We will carry out whatever our diplomatic sanctions are ... We will make sure the Netherlands are rapidly held accountable for this," Erdogan said in comments broadcast live on television. "They use international law whenever it suits them,

they make excuses for it. We will go to the European Court of Human Rights as well. Our friends are currently making the necessary preparations."

He did not say whether the Government would also impose economic measures against the Netherlands. A source in Ankara had earlier said sanctions could affect cultural activities, and military and technological cooperation.

osni Mubarak, who was overthrown as President of Egypt in an uprising in 2011, will be released from detention in a military hospital after a six-year legal battle over accusations of involvement in the killing protesters.

"He will go to his home in Heliopolis," Mubarak's lawyer Farid el-Deeb said, adding the ageing former President would likely be released today or soon after, but would be barred from leaving the country pending an ongoing corruption investigation.

The Prosecutor's decision came on Monday, days after an appeals court acquitted Mubarak on March 2 of involvement in the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ousted him.

His acquittal, which is final, has angered relatives of those killed in 2011.

"Our son's blood was

spilled for nothing," said Mostafa Morsi, whose son was shot dead aged 22 on January 28, 2011.

The President who ruled for 30 years was accused of inciting the deaths of protesters during the 18-day revolt, in which about 850 people were killed as Police clashed with demonstrators.

Mubarak, 88, was sentenced to life in 2012, but an appeals court ordered a retrial, which dismissed the charges two years later.

Amid public anger, Prosecutors had levelled various charges against Mubarak following his February 2011 resignation.

In January 2016, the appeals court upheld a threeyear prison sentence for Mubarak and his two sons on corruption charges.

But the sentence took into account time served.

Both of his sons, Alaa and Gamal, were freed. (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

Brexit: Scottish leader plans new independence vote

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Japan plans to send largest warship to South China Sea, sources say

J

apan plans to dispatch its largest warship on a three-month tour through the South China Sea beginning in May, three sources said, in its biggest show of naval force in the region since World War Two. China claims almost all the disputed waters and its growing military presence has fuelled concern in Japan and the West, with

the United States holding regular air and naval patrols to ensure freedom of navigation.

The Izumo helicopter carrier, commissioned only two years ago, will make stops in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka before joining the Malabar joint naval exercise with Indian and US naval vessels in the Indian Ocean in July.

It will return to Japan in August, the sources said.

"The aim is to test the capability of the Izumo by sending it out on an extended mission," said one of the sources who have knowledge of the plan. "It will train with the US Navy in the South China Sea," he added, asking not to be identified because he is not authorised to talk to the me-

dia.

A spokesman for Japan's Maritime Self Defence Force declined to comment.

Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei also claim parts of the sea which has rich fishing grounds, oil and gas deposits and through which around US$5 trillion of global sea-borne trade passes each year.(Excerpt from Reuters)

India’s new maternity leave policy puts the US to absolute shame

I

n India, only 27 per cent of women work, and that deficit costs the country an estimated 2.5 percentage points of Gross Domestic Product per year.

Last week, India's Government made an attempt to rectify the problem by doubling its federally mandated paid maternity leave from three months to six.

The new, extended policy puts most of the rest of the world to absolute shame.

India's new 26 weeks of paid maternity leave surpasses France's 16-week leave and easily bests the 14 weeks available in Germany and Japan. If India was an OECD country it would rank sixth, alongside Israel and Poland,

Only the United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, the Slovak Republic, and the Czech Republic offer new mothers more paid time off

for longest paid leave. Only the United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, the Slovak Republic, and the Czech Republic offer new mothers more paid time off.

The United States, of course, guarantees women no

paid leave at all. The Family Leave and Medical Act, made law in 1993, only ensures that eligible women don't lose their jobs if they take up to 12 weeks off after having a child, but the measure does not require that women

be compensated during that time. The prospect of a federally mandated paid parental leave policy received unprecedented attention in last year's presidential election with both candidates rolling out their own proposals for nation-wide measures.

Since winning the White House, President Donald Trump has not officially introduced a plan, but he referenced paid leave for "parents" during his address to a joint session of Congress in late February, and First Daughter Ivanka Trump is reportedly pushing for Congressional support for a paid parental leave measure and child care tax benefits.

(Excerpt from Fortune)

Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon will seek approval for a second Scottish independence referendum [Robert Perry/EPA photo]

S

cotland's leader on Monday said she would seek authority for a new independence referendum because Britain is dragging Scotland out of the European Union against its will.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon demanded an independence referendum to be held in late 2018 or early 2019, once the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union have become clearer.

A vote that could rip apart the United Kingdom just months before Brexit adds a tumultuous twist and highly uncertain consequences to the two-year process of leaving the EU after more than four decades.

"If Scotland is to have a real choice – when the terms of Brexit are known but before it is too late to choose our own course – then that choice must be offered between the autumn of next year, 2018, and the spring

of 2019," Sturgeon told reporters.

Her demand comes just as British Prime Minister Theresa May is poised to launch the Brexit process, something opposed by most Scots in last June's vote on leaving the bloc.

Ultimately it is the UK Parliament in Westminster – where May commands a majority – which makes the call on whether Scotland can hold a second referendum. But if May refused to approve such a vote she could provoke a constitutional crisis.

May's Government said in response to Sturgeon's announcement that it is seeking "a future partnership with the EU that works for the whole of the United Kingdom. The UK Government will negotiate that agreement, but we will do so taking into account the interests of all of the nations of the UK." (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

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tuesdAY, March 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Caricom, Japan to discuss Govt still to determine strengthening cooperation how to use oil revenues

W

T

5th Japan-CARICOM Ministerial level Meeting

he East Asian economic powerhouse of Japan will hold talks with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) at the Secretariat in Georgetown today.

The consultations will include a review of Caricom-Japan cooperation since a Ministerial Meeting was held in 2016. Additionally, the two groups will examine Japan- Caricom Friendship and Cooperation Fund (JCFCF) and its current and planned projects.

This year’s meeting is the 18th Caricom-Japan consultation to be held. It was explained that technical cooperation between Japan and Caricom had its genesis in 2001. The cooperation has been funded through the JCFCF and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to a statement from the Caricom Secretariat, the JCFCF is funded by the Japanese Government for Caricom member states to access monies for small and medium-sized enterprises, culture, agriculture, information technology, environment protection and participation in various trade fairs.

Apart from State funding, financial assistance is also garnered from the Japanese Private Sector in the areas of energy, the environment and tourism.

JICA has also provided “technical assistance and equipment for projects especially in the areas of disaster management and fisheries”.

Japan and Caricom states adopted the framework agreement which forms the basis for their co-

operation at a Ministerial Level conference in Tokyo in November 2000, and revised it at a second ministerial meeting in 2010.

“They agreed to four broad areas of technical cooperation: overcoming vulnerability and promoting human security, integrating into the global economy, environment and climate change, and assistance for the reconstruction of Haiti,” the statement added.

Today’s meeting will be co-chaired by acting Permanent Secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Sandy PetersPhillips of St Vincent and the Grenadines on behalf of the Caricom delegation, and Director General of the Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, Yasushi Takase, who represents the Japanese delegation.

hile it will take about three to four years before Guyana sees any monies flowing from its promising oil reserves, Government is still to decide how it will split the revenues.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan said on Monday that while Government planned to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), it is yet to determine just how the money will be used up.

“We have to really know what we want to do with the money, how much we really want to use now, how much we want to put in the fund and if we want to create situations where, given the vagaries of prices of our commodities, if we want to put in an extra fund for whenever there are slippages in foreign exchange.”

Jordan said there was still some time remaining before Government could put this all together and present it to the public to get their views before taking it to Parliament.

President David Granger, upon assuming office in May last year – the very month ExxonMobil announced the discovery of oil in the Stabroek Block – told <<<Guyana Times>>> that his Government would be putting the revenues garnered from the oil and gas sector, and other natural resources sectors, in a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

Such a fund consists of

pools of money derived from a country’s reserves, set aside for investment purposes to benefit the country’s economy and citizens.

The funding for a Sovereign Wealth Fund comes from central bank reserves that accumulate as a result of budget and trade surpluses, and from revenue generated from the exports of natural resources.

Jordan said a Sovereign Wealth Fund was dependent on the flow of money, and with oil expected to flow by late 2020 or early 2021, Guyana still have “another three or four years before the Fund gets going”.

Government is also working towards a Petroleum Commission Bill for the National Assembly which will outline the regulations to govern the newly-established Petroleum Commission.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman will table that Bill shortly in the National Assembly.

The establishment of a new regulatory agen-

cy would relieve the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) of responsibility in this regard.

“We need to reorient our minds towards petroleum, which is a completely different form of mining; and so the idea is that we would move in tandem with the rest of the world and have a separate regulatory agency,” Minister Trotman had said last week.

He added that the Bill has already been extensively shared with stakeholders, including the Opposition and the Natural Resources Ministry has been “working overtime” to create and upgrade legislation to govern the emerging oil and gas sector.

The Commonwealth Secretariat had, in December, drafted a Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill for the country, and Minister Trotman has said that that Bill was now with the Finance Minister, since “it is a financial matter”.

The Ministry has also drafted a local content policy.

Batavia’s craft industry: keeping the Indigenous culture alive

B

atavia is a modern-day Indigenous village located on the twin banks of the Lower Cuyuni River in Region Seven. Its population is a mere 340 inhabitants, and its affairs are governed by a Toshao and five councillors. Dutch in lexicon and meaning “Ancient District”, Batavia was once an area where coffee was cultivated by the Dutch. This settlement was established in the 1950s, with the villagers opting to keep its Dutch name.

The community formally became a village in 2014, when it received its land title from the then Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

Arian Island is the administrative centre of Batavia, and it is here that the Batavia craft centre is located, playing a critical role in preserving the tradition of the Indigenous peoples.

Village Toshao Eon Boyal, in a recent interview with the Government Information Agency, explained that the centre started as a project from the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry. He said a management committee was established after a village meeting was hosted, and the women decided the craft industry needed reviving.

Funds were subsequently obtained from the Ministry,

Glearly Williams-Smith

and the facility housing the craft shops was erected.

“We had one trainer from the village, but we wanted these nice fancy designs, so we had to bring someone from another village (and) pay her a monthly salary so that she could teach the other women. She spent two months,” Boyal explained.

Glearly Williams-Smith, a nurse by profession and a mother of two, visits the centre in her spare time and makes jewelry, hats and bags. The nurse describes the centre as a home away from home, explaining that when the women gather, the atmosphere is one of unity and togetherness. “We strengthen each other and we talk about any and everything,” she proudly declared.

Williams-Smith, who has her roots in both the Arawak and Carib tribes, explained that she uses colourful beads which can be sourced in her village, among other local materials, to make accessories such as hats, bags and clothing. She explained that completion of her work depends on the length and quantity of the orders she has received, disclosing that sometimes she has to source some of the beads from neighbouring villages when she gets large orders.

watch the females in her family make craft items and earn a living from so doing. She said she used to be amazed at the speed at which they worked, and the creativity they would employ. She related that her dream in this respect is to learn as much as she can, so that when her daughter is of age, she can pass on to her the knowledge and skills that she would have acquired.

Emmanuel (only name given), another phenomenal

Batavia craft

“I feel proud of the woman I have become,” she disclosed. “And the feeling that you (get) when you can give back to your community and support your family (cannot be described),” she said.

As a little girl, WilliamsSmith said, she used to

Indigenous artist, describes herself as an “Amerindian woman who loves what she does”. This woman engages in weaving Indigenous craft items both as a means of earning an income as well as to teach others. She makes such items as the matapee,

Ms. Emanuel

which she said is very difficult to craft because it requires special skill and patience.

Reminiscing on her childhood, Ms. Emanuel said she could recall being around her father a lot; watching him fish, hunt and engage in making craft items. “Bear in mind that I am a woman. You know what they say: that women are supposed to be in the kitchen, but I wanted to learn the same things that the men were doing,” Emmanuel pointed out.

The woman eventually fell into the way of life of a typical Amerindian woman – making craft items and preparing delicacies. She said she is happy that the centre is in existence, adding she is grateful that she

is able to pass on her knowledge to the younger generation, and elaborating that the tradition of her people can live on in this way.

The Toshao detailed that there are five other women on the management committee, and they are all actively involved in the centre.

He said that craft items are sold in the surrounding villages on ‘Village Day’, and that Sales’ Day occurs every Thursday in Batavia. He also said that persons from contiguous villages grace the community with their much welcomed presence to purchase items.

Toshao Boyal expressed satisfaction at the present operations of the craft centre, saying, “I am very satisfied that the women could have come up with such a magnificent idea, and bring it to light”. Thanks to the establishment of the craft industry in this small community, women are now able to create Indigenous outfits and accessories to complement same. The Toshao said the women are seeking to expand the variety and design of items they create. He explained that ‘outside’ help would be needed in this regard, and said the village is yet to make a decision on when to embark on this development.

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tuesDAY, march 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kaleidoscope of colours

…as GHDS hosts Holi Utsav

T

he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) on Monday hosted its annual Holi Utsav, attracting scores of families and friends to the celebration of the Festival of Colours.

The Everest Cricket Ground was engulfed in a kaleidoscope of bright colours as hundreds participated in the playing of Phagwah.

The event, which has been in existence for over 40 years, continues to unite a wide cross-section of citizens from different parts of Guyana as well as foreign enthusiasts captured by the collision of culture highlighted in the celebrations. It provided the perfect opportunity for Hindu brothers and sisters as well as persons of various religious and ethnic backgrounds to partake in the smearing of bright shades of powder and liquid in commemoration of the festival of Holi. Persons in attendance quickly became unrecognisable as they went around in their numbers greeting and wishing each other a Happy Holi.

GHDS President, Dr Vindhya Persaud expressed delight in the longstanding tradition that is Holi Utsav.

She noted that the event con-

tinued to grow, from starting out at a residence, before moving to the Kendra compound and now to a national cricket ground. Dr Vindhya further highlighted that Holi Utsav was a showcase of cultural entertainment which promotes unity and diversity.

Accompanying her was GHDS Vice President Pandit Jagmohan Persaud, who told Guyana Times that the Sabha was devoted to the maintaining of longstanding traditions which were inherited through the genera-

Daman Persaud for taking the celebrations of Phagwah out of the precinct of a temple and into a public space, giving birth to Holi Utsav.

The Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam was also in attendance at the gathering.

Ambassador Mahalingam pointed out that the Phagwah celebrations at Everest on Monday and across Guyana were not much different from those in India. He indicated that “people who have migratA large gathering of people celebrating the festival of Holi at Everest Cricket Ground

Persons dancing and celebrating at Holi Utsav

tions. Pandit Persaud also praised former Agriculture Minister, the late Reepu

ed from India to other places try to preserve their culture in a more intense way”.

He further noted, “Joining together in a particular public place is fantastic which generally doesn’t happen in Indian.”

The High Commissioner told this newspaper that he enjoyed Phagwah so much that he joined in on the celebrations on Sunday at the India Cultural Centre as well as the Dharmic Sabha’s initiative on Monday.

The gathering at the Everest Cricket Ground was more than just games of powder and water. The fun and frolic allowed many to share in the festive culture of Holi which promoted unity among the multicultural,

multiethnic populace which already exists. The Sabha was pleased to present an occasion which honours its traditions in a civil and sober manner while adding to the development of the nation.

Celebrations in Essequibo

Meanwhile, a joyous atmosphere was created on Monday in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) as hundreds converged at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground to celebrate the Festival of Colours. The annual Phagwah Mela was organised by the Sabha’s Essequibo Praant in collab-

oration with overseas-based Guyanese Permaul Singh.

The explosion of colours, which emerged from the mixed crowd, transformed the environs into another kaleidoscope of colours that saw participation from all ethnicities.

The dance troupes, with classical dances, caught the crowd's attention with their creative costumes. The traditional dances certainly had the crowd lively.

Essequibo Praant President Kaydar Persaud said that indeed it was a joyous occasion for the Praant.

Persaud added that he was happy that Hindus understood the significance of the festival.

He reminded Essequibians to apply the colours of peace, happiness and prosperity during Holi.

Persaud said the festival fostered unity and absolute equality among everyone.

Many persons were seen in their respective mandirs before they ventured to the Anna Regina Centre Ground. During the day, persons were seen on trucks drenching each other, having a fun time. Children also had a fun time during the season. (Ashraf Dabi and Indrawattie Natram)

India: Washing machine launched with 'curry' button

A

washing machine has been launched for the Indian market, with a special mode to tackle curry stains. Panasonic said the introduction of a 'curry' button followed complaints from customers struggling to fully get the food off their clothes.

It says development took two years, testing combinations of water temperature and water flow. The machine has five other cycles aimed at the Indian consum-

er, including one to remove traces of hair oil.

As part of the development, Panasonic researchers analysed what went into a typical Indian household's curry dish. The firm said it then tried to establish the optimal time and water temperature required to remove the stains.

Panasonic said it planned similar machines for other Asian markets, tackling stains specific to those countries, but would not elabo-

rate.

Only about 10 per cent of homes in India have a washing machine, with most people still doing their laundry by hand.

That means there is plenty of room for market growth, and the electronics giant hopes the Indiafocused machine will help it challenge the South Korean manufacturers dominating the sector.

Panasonic told the BBC that about 5000 of the ma-

Niger’s Opposition Leader jailed for human trafficking

A

court in Niger has sentenced main Opposition Leader Hama Amadou to a year in prison for child smuggling.

Amadou stood against President Mahamadou Issoufou in elections in March. He is now in exile in France and was tried in absentia.

His lawyers were also not present in court in protest over a trial which they said was a parody of justice.

Amadou has repeatedly denied charges that he profited by buying newborn babies from neighbouring Nigeria.

It was alleged that he and his wife – along with several others – were involved in a plot falsely to claim the parenthood of

Opposition Leader Hama Amadou

about 30 children from Nigeria who were then sold to affluent couples in Niger.

Defence lawyers argued that the case against him was politically motivated and should be adjourned to allow time for documents relating to the case to be sent to Amadou in France.

But their request was

rejected by the trial Judge.

The defence also argued that the ultimate aim of the trial was to prevent Amadou from running in the 2021 elections.

Those defendants who were in court refused to answer questions – their lawyers say it is likely they will appeal. (BBC News)

chines had been sold so far, with a target to sell at least 30,000 by March next year.

Priced at about 22,000 Indian rupees (£268; US$330), the new model costs around 10 per cent more than other washing machines. Panasonic entered the India market in

1990, first producing rice cookers and then expanding its line to also manufacture air conditioners.

In December last year, the company announced it would set up a factory in the North Indian state of Haryana making refrigerators. The Japanese firm has

associated itself with other headline-grabbing products.

Last year it invested US$60 million (£49 million) in Seven Dreamers, a Japanese start-up which is developing what it claims to be the world's first robot that folds laundry. (BBC News)

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017

ARCHIE

Nurture important partnerships. Working along(March 21- side others with the intent April 19) to collectively accomplish something big will pay off.

Celebrate your success with someone you love.

ARIES

Look for opportunities with-

dilbert

TAURUS in your immediate environment.

(April 20- Whether you are involved in a May 20) group situation or working on your own, you can improve your reputation by showing greater responsibility.

Work alongside others GEMINI to boost your popularity.

(May 21Offering help will ensure that June 20) you get something in return.

Personal and financial gains will be yours.

Temptation will be difficult to resist. A deal present(June 21- ed to you will be built on hype, July 22) not facts. Avoid impulsive, indulgent actions. Excessive behavior will lead to loss.

CANCER

Peanuts

Welcome change at home LEO and work. Adapting to whatev(July 23er comes your way will put you Aug. 22) in a good position to excel. Use your experience, knowledge and charm to advance.

A financial opportunity is VIRGO apparent.

Investments, win(Aug. 23Sept. 22) nings, an unexpected gift or an inheritance could come your way, or a debt will be repaid. Live up to your promises and be willing to share.

Calvin and Hobbes

You’ll be liable to overreact LIBRA or fall prey to someone who is (Sept. 23excessive, controlling or unOct. 23) predictable. Make choices based on your safety and emotional well-being.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — CHEMISTS

A physical, emotional or fiSAGITTARIUS nancial move will be stabiliz(Nov. 23- ing. Celebrate your success Dec. 21) with the people who helped you get there. Be fair and disciplined in everything you pursue.

(CHEMISTS: KEM-ists: Persons engaged in chemical research or experiments.)

Average mark 25 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 40 or more words in CHEMISTS? The list will be published tomorrow.

Physical efforts will be met CAPRICORN with opposition. Plan your ac(Dec. 22tions carefully and get your Jan. 19) facts from a reliable source.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — ENTREAT earn eaten eater enate enter erne natter near neat neater

tare tarn tart tear teat teen tenet tent tenter tern

tetra treat tree ranee rant rate rent ante antre arete

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Don’t get caught up in SCORPIO someone else’s melodrama.

(Oct. 24Stick to what’s important and Nov. 22) live up to your promises instead of being tempted by the claims of others.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You are only as good as your word. Make honesty and integrity your watchwords.

A

financial

opportunity

AQUARIUS looks promising. Invest in your (Jan. 20- skills, experience and drive to Feb. 19) survive. Join forces with someone you trust, not with someone putting pressure on you to do things his or her way.

PISCES Keep personal matters (Feb. 20- to yourself and stay on top March 20) of events that can influence your position or reputation or cause a conflict with someone who has the potential to disrupt your world.

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017

19

Of frustration and solace: Bangladesh’s journey to

100 Tests S

tatus is an important word in Bangladesh society. It includes financial well-being, respect and value of a human being, a family and a community. It is such an important word in the country’s lexicon that it almost sounds like a Bangla word.

When Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Syed Ashraful Haque spoke about Test status in 1996, many didn’t get what the fuss was all about. But when the Bangladesh team won the 1997 ICC Trophy, they just had to get Test status.

It is not to suggest that Bangladeshis didn’t know what Test cricket was. Many grew up watching Australia early in the morning and West Indies late into the

Cricket has given the people of Bangladesh a new identity, and that’s what should keep the game, and its most cherished format, in the country. T20s are big in Bangladesh too. But gaining Test status has meant that Bangladeshis who work in paddy fields in Barisal, or in an air-conditioning factory in the UAE, have something to dream about.

On the field of play however, it has been more reality and less dreaming. Still, there have been moments of drama, and periods of progress.

Not much of a honeymoon (2000-2004)

Bangladesh’s performance in their inaugural Test was an apt presage of

Mohammad Ashraful’s style of play made him one of Bangladesh’s first Test superstars

night. India-Pakistan arguments were a regular feature at the dinner table.

Soon many figured out the value of Test status.

Nationalism was attached to it, and an all-out effort was made, through Saber and Ashraful, to achieve Test status. It finally came in June 2000, and Bangladesh became the 10th Testplaying nation. But what have Bangladesh made of their status as a Test team?

Eight wins out of the first 99 matches. The first time they beat a top-seven ranked side was 16 years after their debut.

As a Test side, Bangladesh’s performances haven’t met the expectations of their massive fan base, although success in ODIs in the recent past has helped.

The country’s cricket following is immense, and talented players are emerging from several regions. Cricket is a national pastime that has taken over one of every three conversations in modern Bangladesh - the others are about traffic and Facebook.

what was to follow. After making 400 in the first innings, they were bowled out for 91 when they needed to push the game ahead. For the first four years in Test cricket, they didn’t hit such heights often - crossing 400 runs only once during this period - but they managed to push the opposition to varying degrees.

Multan, in 2003, was the closest Bangladesh got to winning a Test match in the early period after Pakistan were pushed to the edge in a fascinating contest. But the one-wicket defeat was heartbreaking, and many felt at the time that the team had squandered its biggest chance.

Nine months later in Gros Islet, Bangladesh picked up their first “earned” draw, after rain-dominated draws against Zimbabwe in 2001 and 2004.

During the first four years, 20 of their 34 Tests were innings defeats, some of them brutal losses. They were bowled out below 100 five times, and went through

40 cricke t e r s .

Only four batsmen crossed 1000 runs, and one bowler took 50 wickets.

There were only 15 century partnerships.

Towards the end of this period, around December 2004, questions about their place among cricket’s elite intensified until Mohammad Ashraful smacked a superb 158 against India in Chittagong.

Some wins, and the arrival of promising players (2005-2010)

Zimbabwe had been going through a tough phase of their own by the time they arrived for their second tour of Bangladesh in 2005, which meant the hosts had to catch them on the hop. Enamul Haque jnr ran through them in the first Test, to confirm Bangladesh’s maiden Test win. In the next game, Nafees Iqbal and Javed Omar batted for hours to ensure a draw, and give Bangladesh their maiden Test series win.

The following six years included their first long gaps in Tests, as they planned for the 2007 World Cup. It was also the period when T20 cricket broke new ground. At the time, some boards had asked the BCB to reschedule Tests, and the Bangladesh board was happy to oblige.

Still, Bangladesh managed to push Australia in a home Test in 2006. More failures continued until the tour of the West Indies in 2009 when they took on a depleted opposition. With their main players on strike, the WICB was forced to field a third XI, which Bangladesh beat to claim their first-ever away series win.

But that was a one-off, as defeats at home to India and England, and away to New Zealand and England followed. At the same time, however, a group of young players had emerged, through the 2007 World Cup, and were about to take the country, and parts of the world, by storm. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan had already made an early mark, while Mushfiqur Rahim arrived later.

Mashrafe Mortaza, though, still quite young but injury-prone, had to give up his Test dreams to prolong his international career.

Bangladesh’s success in the ODI format has translated into performances of substance in Tests

A late realisation but a busy future beckons (2011-present day)

Bangladesh again had a long break in the format, between July 2010 and August 2011, and this time suffered heavily through losses to Zimbabwe, West Indies and Pakistan in the space of five months. Their advances in ODIs meant that they could take some of that confidence into the Test arena.

Drawn matches against Sri Lanka in Galle (2013) and Chittagong (2014), a drawn Test series against New

Zealand at home (2013) and some individual milestones lit up their path. Mushfiqur, Tamim and Shakib all scored double-hundreds, while Shakib soared with the ball. Bowling stars like Robiul Islam, Sohag Gazi and Mehedi Hasan also emerged.

Bangladesh players grew more agitated at the lack of Test cricket during this period, but much of it was down to the BCB’s preference of ODIs and T20s to Tests. ODI successes in 2015 and a maiden Test win over

England in October 2016 meant that Bangladesh started to have a bit of clout on the ICC table.

If their FTP negotiations pan out according to plan, Bangladesh have plenty of Tests scheduled in the next several years. The interest in the Bangladesh team continues to soar. What was achieved in 2000 is too big to be thrown away, and the BCB must stress on giving the format primacy despite all the successes in ODIs and the ambitions in T20s.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Sir Everton Weekes’ tribute to Sir Frank Worrell

Y

esterday marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell, the legendary former West Indies captain.

Sir Frank was born in Barbados, educated at Combermere School and represented the historic Empire Club, which produced several other icons of West Indies cricket. He died at age 42 on March 13, 1967.

He was hailed worldwide as an outstanding servant of the game and a man of great vision and acumen. After his playing days he was a Senator in Jamaica.

A stylish middle-order batsman he made 3,860 runs in 51 Test matches at an average of 49.48 runs per innings. Sir Frank made nine Test centuries including a best score of 261 against England on the famous tour in 1950.

He was also a left-arm bowler, who could use the new ball and also bowl spin.

He was a member of the 3Ws masters of batsmanship, which also included fellow greats Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Clyde Walcott.

Sir Everton remembered his former team-mate and

close friend.

He said: “His legacy will live on forever. All over the cricket world and even outside of cricket people respect his immense contribution to the game and to life of West Indian people. There are many tributes in his honour. He had many great qualities. He was a great cricket thinker…a great thinker period.”

Sir Everton added: “He was one of the finest batsman I have ever seen, graceful, classy and elegant at the crease.

There was a lot of variety in his bowling, he could bowl fast inswingers, then bowl slow.

Overall his greatest attribute in cricket was his leadership.

He had vision, he led from the front and he was able to get best out of those around him.”

Sir Frank was credited as playing a major role in helping to “save cricket” due to his inspirational leadership and diplomacy. This was demonstrated during the West Indies tour of Australia in 1960-61. During that series Australia and West Indies had a number of enthralling battles including the first ever tied Test in Brisbane.

To honor his work and legacy, the Test trophy for

Sir Frank Worrell

matches between West Indies and Australia was named the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, march 14, 2017

CWI/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Jaguars flatten

Scorpions to go on top

Raikkonen fastest as McLaren break down twice

- Pride, Red Force also complete big wins

Windward Islands Volcanoes by 172 runs on the final day at the National Cricket Stadium i n Grenada.

The Red Force were inspired by leg spinning all-rounder Imran Khan who picked up Man of the Match Raymon Reifer his 16th First Class five-for he Guyana Jaguars to bowl out the hosts for took 35 overs on the final day to complete 202 after they were set 375 for an emphatic seven-wicket victory.

Scores; Red Force 1st v i c t o r y over the Jamaica 275 (Yannic Scorpions at i n n i n g s not out, t h e S a b i n a Cariah 102 S t e v e n Katwaroo Park on M o n d ay.

5 9 , K h a r y Resuming on 79/2 50; Kyle still 103 runs away P i e r r e f r o m victory, the Jaguars lost their most dependable a n d p ro d u c t i v e batsman Shivnarine Jamaica Scorpions 1st Innings Chanderpaul J Campbell c Johnson b Joseph 9 early for five C Walton+ c Johnson b Motie 101 but Man of the J Blackwood c Permaul b Match Raymon Shepherd 29 Reifer played a A McCarthy c wkpr Bramble well calculated b Joseph 19 i n n i n g s B King c Shepherd b Joseph 30 alongside viceD Thomas c wkpr Bramble b Joseph 26 captain Vishaul D Green c wkpr Bramble b Singh to see the Shepherd 7 Jaguars home.

D Jacobs c Johnson b Joseph 15 The left N Miller* c Reifer b Joseph 5 handed pair J Taylor not out 1 featured in an M Mindley lbw b Joseph 0 unbroken 78 run E x t r a s (lb5, w4, nb4) 13 match winning Total (all out, 70.3 overs) 255 partnership after FoW: 1-15, 2-75, 3-103,4Shiv was sent back 181, 5-212, 6-222, at 106/3. Singh Kemar 7-245, 8-254,9-255 Roach scored his second Bowling: Joseph 15.3-153-7, Shepherd 16-1-59-2, half century of the Permaul 13-2-39-0, Reifer 13season to follow up 1-57-0, Motie 13-3-42-1 71 that was made against the Scorpions Guyana Jaguars 1st innings at Providence last T Chanderpaul c Blackwood b November. He finished Miller 58 on 63 not out while S Hetmyer c Jacobs b Miller 74 Reifer hit three fours and L Johnson* c wkpr Walton b a six from 63 balls in 37.

Miller 1 After the clinical V Singh run out (Green) 5 performance, the Jaguars S Chanderpaul lbw b Jacobs 57 displaced the scorpions to go R Reifer c and b McCarthy 28 back on top of the points table.

A Bramble+ c Miller b McCarthy 7 The points leaders will now V Permaul c wkpr Walton b McCarthy 0 travel to Trinidad and Tobago R Shepherd lbw b Miller 16 where they will meet the Red G Motie c Blackwood b Jacobs 2 Force at the Queen’s Park K Joseph not out 0 Oval from Friday. Other round E x t r a s (b8, lb4, nb2) 14 seven matches bring together Total (all out, 88.3 overs) 262 the Pride and Volcanoes at FoW: 1-104, 2-116, 3-128, the Kensington Oval while the 4-156, 5-219,6-231, Scorpions hosts the Hurricanes 7-231, 8-260, 9-262 at Sabina Park.

Bowling: Taylor 13-3-43-0, In the other matches of the Mindley 8-0-22-0, Campbell 3-0-21-0, Green 11-0-42-0, round, hosts Barbados Pride Miller 34-12-69-4, Jacobs 11.3complete a massive innings and 0-35-2, McCarthy 8-2-18-3 26 runs victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes inside three Jamaica Scorpions 2nd Innings days at the Kensington Oval J Campbell c wkpr Bramble b while the Trinidad and Tobago Shepherd 26 Red Force blew away the

T

Mayers 4/24) Volcanoes 1st innings 104 (Shane Shillingford 34; Sheldon Cottrell 3/30) Red Force 2nd innings 203/5 dec’l (Kyle Hope 105 not out, Yannic Cariah 47; Kyle Mayers 1/20) Volcanoes 2nd innings (Target 375) 202 (Devon Smith 49, Shane Shillingford 46; Imran Khan 5/67) At the Kensington Oval, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes needed to get 151 to make the hosts bat again and were bundled out for 124 following on. West Indies speedster Kemar Roach was unplayable picking up 4/18 from 16 overs. Only Kacy Carty showed grit with a well composed 79 when no other batsman passed 15.

Scores; Pride 1st innings 313 (Shamarh Brooks 63; Alzarri Joseph 5/42.

Hurricanes 1st innings 163 (Nkrumah Bonner 70; Kemar Roach 3/29, Miguel Cummins 3/34) Hurricanes 2nd innings (following on) 124 (Kacy Carty 79; Roach 4/18)

SCOREBOARD C Walton+ b Permaul 9 J Blackwood LBW b Permaul 37 A McCarthy c Johnson b Joseph B King c Permaul b Reifer 22 D Thomas c Hetmyer b Reifer 32 G Green c wkpr Bramble b Permaul 17 D Jacobs LBW b Reifer 0 N Miller* c wkpr b Bramble b Reifer 4 J Taylor c Johnson b Reifer 14 M Mindley not out 9 E x t r a s (nb-1, b-4, lb-3) 8 Total(All out, 62.2 overs) 188 FOW: 1-30, 74, 3-79, 4-95, 5-130, 6-157, 7-157, 8-165, 9-165, 10-188 Bowling: Joseph 9-1-35-1, Shepherd 11-0-39-1 (nb-1), Reifer 16.2-5-60-5, Permaul 21-8-40-3, Motie 5-1-7-0 Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings (Target 182) T Chanderpaul retired hurt 0 S Hetmyer c Blackwood b Miller 42 L Johnson* c McCarthy b Green 10 V Singh not out 63 S Chanderpaul c wkpr Walton b Mindley 5 R Reifer not out 37 Extras (b-14, lb-7, w-5, nb-1) 27 Total (For 3 wickets, 54 overs) 184 Did not bat; A Bramble+, V Permaul, R Shepherd, G Motie, K Joseph FOW: 1-30, 2-79, 3-106 Bowling Taylor 8-2-33-0, Green 6-0-29-1 (w-5), Mindley 100-19-1 (nb-1), Miller 20-2-321, Jacobs 3-0-16-0, McCarthy 4-0-20-0, Campbell 3-0-14-0 Points: Jaguars 20.1 (12 for victory + 3 bowling points + 2 batting points + 3.2 pace bowling points) Scorpions 5.4 (2 batting points + 3 bowling points + 0.4 pace bowling points) Player of the Match: Raymon Reifer (Jaguars)

Ferrari are hoping to significantly improve on 2016, when they did not win a single race

K

imi Raikkonen finished pre-season testing in Barcelona fastest as Ferrari gave notice they could be a genuine threat at the first race in Australia on 26 March.

The Finn’s lap of 1:18.634 was 0.39secs quicker than the previous best by teammate Sebastian Vettel and is 0.686secs faster than anything by Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton was fifth fastest, 1.216secs slower than Raikkonen.

McLaren-Honda’s dismal winter continued with two on-track stoppages.

They also endured another day of very limited mileage as Fernando Alonso suf-

fered the same intermittent electrical problem that had caused two on-track stoppages for team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne on Thursday.

The Spaniard ended the day with the team’s fastest time of the winter - but he was still only 11th fastest and 2.755secs off the pace.

And for the third day in a row they failed to complete even 50 laps - the only team in that position.

Raikkonen’s time was all the more impressive for being set on super-soft tyres Vettel had used the theoretically faster ultra-softs to set his best time on Thursday.

The 2007 world champion, who had a spin in the

afternoon that disrupted a race-simulation run, did also use the ultra-softs but was 0.3secs slower than his best lap.

Red Bull also showed some strong pace with Max Verstappen second-fastest on a 1:19.438, 0.4secs ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.

Pre-season testing times are notoriously unreliable indicators of true form because there are so many possible variables in the specification of the cars.

But the growing feeling within F1 is that Ferrari may start the season with a genuinely competitive car.

(BBC Sport)

Chelsea knock out FA Cup holders

C

Chelsea celebrate N’Golo Kante’s winner against a 10-man Manchester United

helsea remained firmly on course for a domestic Double as N’Golo Kante’s second-half winner settled a stormy FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

United manager Jose Mourinho was involved in touchline clashes with opposite number Antonio Conte and was verbally abused by Chelsea fans at the scene of many of his triumphs, including three titles.

The Portuguese was furious when midfielder Ander Herrera was sent off 10 minutes before half-time after a second foul on Eden Hazard, and the managers were kept apart moments later after Marcos Alonso tumbled to the floor after being brought down.

Kante’s low 51st-minute drive finally beat defiant United keeper David de Gea, who saved superbly from Hazard and Gary Cahill before the break to

keep Mourinho’s side in contention before Chelsea made the breakthrough.

Marcus Rashford, who came off his sick bed to play - with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, and Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial injured, created United’s best chance for himself but Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois saved with his feet to set up a semi-final against Tottenham at Wembley. (BBC Sport)

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21

GFF caters for more financial, logistical support for associations

T

he Guyana Football Federation is drawing up plans to provide extra financial support to its nine member associations to help with running costs and salaries so that football can have a stronger foundation for growth around the country, GFF President Wayne Forde has announced.

The GFF wants to give its member associations as much financial and logistical support as possible to develop football in their respective regions, as it rolls out a wide range of programmes, and youth and other competitions. The CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani will on Tuesday launch the GFFPele Alumni Frank Watson Memorial Intra-Association U-15 Tournament – Guyana’s first nationwide under- 15 youth football tournament, which will create another tier for youth development alongside the NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 League. “We have a lot of people that are involved with the administration of football that are doing it voluntarily,” GFF President Forde said in an in-house in-

terview. “We have to make changes to our statutes that would allow the (member association) president and secretary, and some of the people that serve football, to be compensated.”

game i s to properly fund the administration of the game at all levels, Forde said, alongside strict com-

GFF President Wayne Forde

The GFF has so far employed nine regional Technical Development Officers and 14 Youth Development Coaches to support its member associations in the delivery of programmes such as the GFF-Scotiabank Academy Training Centres, as well as to oversee competitions.

But key to the growth of the

Forde envisions...

pliance and oversight measures to ensure that finances are used for their correct purpose in an efficient way.

“We are going to make a bold attempt with the increase in the FIFA funding where we are going to support our members by providing finances for their rental of their offices, telephone, utilities, and general office staff,” he said.

from page 23

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The National Under-15 team are expected to be fed with players from the Frank Watson Memorial Tournament

Forde said the public support and encouragement the GFF had received from FIFA and CONCACAF was instrumental in raising confidence in the sport and the national governing body after years of underperformance. “People are starting to take notice that Guyana is getting serious about football,” Forde said.

“I’m very happy that both FIFA and, with the pending visit of (CONCACAF) President Montagliani, they

are essentially saying to us that we have seen what you have been doing and we are pleased, and we are here to support you, and we want everyone to know that we are satisfied with what is taking place in Guyana.”

Forde said plans were now in place to strengthen and reform football governance at all levels around the country so that development programmes could have a long-term and sustainable impact on the

growth of the sport. “The reform process is very relevant to where Guyana football is at the moment and where it needs to be in another couple of years. We will get there,” he said. “There were credibility issues and it’s important that we break that cycle. Guyana is a country that needs to register its presence, and I have made it a specific responsibility of mine to set a serious tone for Guyana football.”

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, march 14, 2017

Fudadin

Cuba celebrates 100 years of cricket replaces injured Chanderpaul

- Guyana-USA team mark occasion with Goodwill Series

T

he First CubaGuyana Solidarity Softball Cricket Tournament which was played in Havana on March 4-5 was deemed a resounding success.

The Miramar Masters Cricket Club is an all-Guyanese team from Florida, USA which comprises 38 members. The touring party was led by Consul General in Florida, Ramzan Ali, and played against three Cuban teams, including one female softball team.

The three Cuban Teams are Los Capitanes de la Habana and Rutas y Andares (male) and Giraldillas Habaneras (female).

The Tournament is significant since this year marks the 100th anniversary of Cricket in Cuba.

The Organizers from the Cuban side were Silvia Cabesas, wife of the former Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Lazaro Cabesas and Humberto Herrera and Lisandro Cabesas.

In the four matches played, Miramar Masters CC lost three while the lone

The Giraldillas Habaneras female team after their match against Miramar Masters

win came against the female team who also showed great fight.

At the conclusion of the games, Guyana Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed hosted a Reception for the Guyanese and Cuban Teams at his Residence. The Consul General in Florida, Ramzan Ali indicted that the Miramar Masters Cricket Club will make the trip to Cuba an annual feature.

A quick look at the histo-

ry of cricket in Cuba shows that the island nation was invited to participate in the 2008 edition of the Stanford 20/20, and was drawn to play Saint Maarten in its preliminary round match.

However, the U.S. embargo meant the team was forced to withdraw, as the tournament’s primary organiser, Allen Stanford, was an American citizen. Despite the match being cancelled, it was still given the status of

an official Twenty20 match.

An eight-match tour of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was arranged as a replacement for the Stanford tournament, and Cuba won 2 of the 8 matches. Cuba were also invited to the 2010 Americas Championship Division Four tournament, played in Mexico, but again had to withdraw, having been prevented from leaving the country by the Cuban government.

“Reaction” Dragz race meet…

Mohammed’s GTRs face Surinamese threat

Assad Fudadin

A

ssad Fudadin has earned a recalled to the Guyana Jaguars Regional Four Day squad after fellow opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul suffered a broken finger at the start of his second innings against Jamaica Scorpions late on day-three at Sabina Park in the Digicel Regional 4-day tournament.

The left-handed batsman who was playing his first four-day match of the season, made a workman-like 57 in the first innings but got a short ball from pacer Jerome Taylor that jagged back and took him on the small finger of the left hand.

Chanderpaul who retired hurt without scoring after

12 deliveries, will return home while the rest of the squad travels to play the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in their seventh round clash at the Queen’s Park Oval, starting on Friday from 10:00h.

For Fudadin, the recall to the four-day squad comes after last playing the format in February 2016 against Windward Volcanoes at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia, where he has scores of 15 and 9.

Overall, the elegant left-handed batsman has played 86 First-class matches scoring 4,253 runs at an average of 31.00, inclusive of five centuries and 20 half-centuries.

FA Cup semi-final draw

Chelsea v Tottenham, Arsenal v Man City Azurdeen Mohammed’s Nissan GT-R (right) takes on Suriname’s Chevrolet Nova during an earlier round of Dragz in Guyana (Sean Charles photo)

D

ubbed the fastest cars in Guyana on the “straight-away,” Mohammed’s Enterprise Nissan GTRs could be in line for stern test once more from counterparts from Suriname when the Guyana Motor Racing Sports Club (GMR&SC) hosts “Reaction” Dragz race meet on Sunday at the South Dakota Circuit.

When team Guyana visited the Dutch country, the Nova and the GT-R ended up in the finals but the Nova had a false start which made the GT-R the official the winner.

However, both cars took the line once more for a

grudge run and the Nova willed off the line when the lights turned green and was leading the race but not for long as “Godzilla” (Nissan GTR) whizzed pass to a close finish.

The visitors will certainly want revenge and Sunday could just be the opportunity to unleash the power required. The Cobra Jet Ford Mustang, ‘Fast Five’ Chevy Nova, ‘PrakoTruck’s’ Toyota Supra, ‘Global Racing’s’ Mazda RX-7, Toyota Chasers, Mitsubishi Evolution and Suzuki GSXRs Motorbikes.

The likes of the Cobra Jet Ford Mustang, ‘Fast Five’ Chevy Nova, ‘PrakoTruck’s’

Toyota Supra, ‘Global Racing’s’ Mazda RX-7, Toyota Chasers, Mitsubishi Evolution and Suzuki GSXRs Motorbikes such also be in action.

At the last drag meet on home turf, the car produced the fastest time of 8.2 seconds over the quarter-mile.

The Surinamese though, were not to be denied. In the B class, Suriname’s Ryan Chakwri, driving a Toyota Chaser, was best in his class and his compatriot Ashian Cajaram won the ‘C’ class in a similar car.

Raymond John, in another Chaser, won the ‘D’ class. Sachin Ramotar,

in a Toyota Starlet, was the ‘E’ Class champion.

Surinamese riders Giovanny Slagveer and Tom Gumperts won the 600 and 1000cc classes respectively.

Overall, the Guyanese, namely Sanjay Persaud, Annand Ramchand, Shawn Persaud as well as the Daby brothers Peter and Rondel should help repel any threat from the Dutch.

Meanwhile, on race day, up to $50,000 will be a stake for the fastest bus with free runs beginning from 09:00h followed by qualifying at 10:00h and the knock-out rounds from 11:00h.

L

ondon rivals Chelsea and Tottenham have been drawn against each other in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Arsenal, who will play in a record 29th FA Cup semi-final, face Manchester City in the other last-four tie.

Both semi-finals will be played at Wembley on the weekend of 22 and 23 April.

Chelsea knocked out holders Manchester United in a hard-fought 1-0 win

Arsenal will play in a record 29th FA Cup semi-final

on Monday, with Spurs thrashing League One side Millwall on Sunday.

Arsenal, who lifted the trophy in 2014 and 2015, proved too good for nonleague Lincoln City in a 5-0 home win on Saturday.

Manchester City are playing in the semi-finals for the first time in four seasons after beating Middlesbrough in a 2-0 away win.

Follow all the reaction to the semi-final draw. (BBC Sport)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, MARCH 14, 2017

Marks going for against Alberto Requena

KO T

he main event of the 2nd World Boxing Council’s youth and amateur programme for the Caribbean and Central America will see Guyanese talent Dexter Marks take on Venezuela’s Luis “Alberto” Requena over 10 grueling rounds on April 9 at the Giftland Mall, Lilliendaal.

Marks says he is up for the challenge after he has been preparing for the last three months. “Last three months I was training for this fight and it was strin-

i have to and give the crowd what they came to see but i think i will stop him in the seventh round.” Marks added.

The boxers will take to the squared circle in order to prove their worth. Seven bouts are carded for the night of action – three will be amateur fights and four will be pro.

While the three amateur matches are yet to be decided, the first pro fight will see Anson Greene of Guyana taking on Charwick Eswick

Petra/Milo U-18 Schools Football…

Morgan’s stretch winning streak

M

organ’s Learning Institute notched their third win in as many matches as they disposed of Tucville Secondary 7-1 on Sunday in the fifth annual Petra Organised Milo under-18 School’s Football Championships.

Playing at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue, Leon Richardson continued his rich goal scoring form, prow-

Current Points Standings Group-A Team

GP W

L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

Masters Academy (Q)

3

0

0

14

+11

9

3

3

Bishop High (q)

3

1

1

1

3

4

-1

4

St. Roses

3

1

1

1

3

8

-5

4

Ann’s Grove

2

0

2

0

2

5

-3

0

Group-B Team

GP GP L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

Chase Academy

2

2

0

0

19

0

+19

6

Buxton Youth Developers

2

2

0

0

12

0

+12

6

St. Joseph

2

0

1

1

1

8

-7

1

North Ruimveldt

3

0

2

1

1

23

-22

1

Group-C Team

GP W

L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

Lodge (Q)

3

2

0

1

6

3

+3

7

East Ruimveldt (q)

3

1

1

1

3

3

0

4

Kingston

3

0

0

3

6

6

0

3

St. Mary’s

3

0

2

1

5

8

-3

1

L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

Group-D Team

Dexter Marks

gent and I just keep pushing myself and looking forward to coming out successful,” the boxer said.

While he has never seen a fight with Requena, he does believe that his preparation will see him emerging the champion on the night, adding that “I am not worried in any way, I have been training hard and I am always focused and I have been doing a lot of sparing with my coach and stuff and I think everything is okay.”

Given that they changed the date several times in the buildup that did not hamper his training in any way, it was actually welcomed, he said he got more time to do more training and think.

However, Marks who was last in the ring back in February at the same venue said that after his previous fight he was shortlisted for a trip to the Commonwealth Games but that never panned out. Heading into the fight, Marks said he is looking to stop Requena in the seventh round.

“I look to have short fights go out there do what

out of Barbados. Greene has not seen much fighting since his debut, but his name will be remembered for his knockout victory over super middleweight champion Derek Richmond. Eswick has toured Guyana before, coming here only last year for a bout in which he was victorious. These two boxers will clash it out for four rounds in the catchweight category.

In the second pro fight, Imran “Magic” Khan will go toe to toe with the skills and flair of Keeve Alicock for six rounds in the lightweight division. Khan will take to the ring after his memorable fight with Quincy Gomes back in 2016, and will be looking to put his career back on track, while Alicock will certainly be confident heading into the fight.

Meanwhile, in the super middleweight class, Edmond deClue will match gloves with Winston Pompey before the main fight in the flyweight division between Marks of Guyana and Requena.

23

GP W

Morgan (Q)

3

3

0

0

25

1

+14

9

Pure Masters (q)

3

2

1

0

9

7

+2

6

Tucville

3

1

2

0

6

12

-6

3

St. John’s

3

0

3

0

1

21

-20

0

L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

Group-E Team

GP W

Sir Leon Lessons

2

2

0

0

18

0

+18

6

Richard Ishmael

2

1

1

0

9

7

+2

3

Carmel

2

0

2

0

5

7

-2

3

Brickdam

2

0

2

0

2

20

-18

0

Group-F Team

GP W

L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

Queenstown

2

2

0

0

7

2

+5

6

South Ruimveldt

2

1

1

0

1

2

-1

3

Christ Church

2

1

1

0

4

6

-2

3

Cummings Lodge

2

0

2

0

1

3

-2

0

Group-G Team

GP W

L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

North Georgetown

2

1

0

1

10

0

+10

4

School of the Nations

2

1

0

1

3

0

+3

4

Dolphin

2

1

1

0

2

3

-1

3

Central

2

0

2

0

0

12

-12

0

Group-H Team

GP W

L

D

GF GA

GD

Pts

Queens College

2

1

1

0

5

2

+3

3

Mae’s

2

1

1

0

7

6

+1

3

Tutorial High

2

1

1

0

5

6

-1

3

St. Georges

2

1

1

0

3

6

-3

3

Some of the teams have already safely secured their passage to the next round

ess recording a hat-trick with goals coming in the 16th, 36th and 70th minute.

He was supported by Osafo Matheson, Alistair Frank, Carl Griffith and Daniel Nedd who scored in the 18th, 24th, 45th and 58th minute respectively.

For the youthful Tucville side, Darren Daly netted in the 53rd minute.

Similarly, Pure Masters downed St. John’s College 5-0. Jamain Simon netted a brace in the sixth and 56th minutes while Alton Benn, Daniel Dorway and Junior Andrews netted in the 13th, 26th and 55th minutes respectively.

Former winners, Lodge Secondary overcame a 0-2 deficit to draw 2-2 with Kingston Secondary.

Terrence John and Shawn Innis scored in the eighth and 28th minutes respectively for Kingston. For Lodge, Rickie Stuart and Shamar Dover scored in the 68th and 70th minute respectively.

East Ruimveldt edged St. Mary’s 2-1. Trevon Bailey and Tony Nelson scored in the 23rd and 67th minute respectively.

On target in the loss was Michael Damion in the sixth minute.

The 32 teams are competing in a round-robin format of eight group of four teams. Upon the conclusion of the group stage, the top two finishers in each group will advance to the elimination round.

Winner of the tourney will receive $500,000 towards a school project and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth placed sides will pocket $300,000,$200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards a school project.

The event is which is slated to conclude April 23rd is also supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Health with an emphasis on Gender Based Violence.

Forde envisions football as Guyana’s No 1 F ootball will become the most successful and popular sport in Guyana as reform and development programmes bear fruit in coming years, Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde said, ahead of the launch of the GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson Memorial Intra-Association U-15 Tournament today, this is according to a press release from the local football federation.

The release stated that, with increased funding from world governing body FIFA and a stable administration in place, the GFF is working to lay a sustainable foundation for football across Guyana through grassroots and youth development, as well as stricter regulations and gover-

nance reform. CONCACAF President and FIFA VicePresident Victor Montagliani will today launch the second GFF nationwide youth tournament to be established in the last year, with the GFF-Pele Alumni Frank Watson Memorial U-15 Tournament adding another layer for development alongside the GFF/NAMILCO “Thunderbolt Flour Power” Intra Association Under-17 League. “By the time my tenure is over as the president of this fraternity, football will be the number one sport in Guyana – I have no doubt in my mind,” said GFF President Forde in an in-house interview. “I think that is something, as an Executive Committee, we will be able to do successfully.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

“Reaction” Dragz race meet…

Mohammed’s GTRs face Surinamese threat

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Nissan GT-R (left) nicknamed “Godzilla” holds the quarter-mile record at 8.2s but the possibility lies it may have to go lower to defend home territory against a raging Suriname contingent (GFX Photo)

Cuba celebrates 100 years of cricket

- Guyana-USA team mark occasion with Goodwill Series The Miramar Masters Cricket Club with Ambassador Halim Majeed (standing with black jacket)

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