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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3059 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

LOOK INSIDE !

December 4, 2016

New VAT regime threatens hundreds of medical jobs – Ali

‌repercussions of tax on electricity, water disastrous

GDF Corporal among several injured in EBD smash-up

PRICE

$120 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Border controversy

Guyana still awaiting P9 assessment from UN

2 nabbed P12 with cocaine in Essequibo

Page 2

Guyana Times/Evening News journalist wins PAHO award

Corriverton gets new P5 Mayor, Deputy Mayor

Victim in Eccles fatal accident P17 identified

Guyana Times/Evening News journalist Jeanna Pearson on Saturday evening won the second prize in the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) competition for excellent reporting of hard news related to health issues in Guyana (Dexter Ceres photo)

Opposition Leader meets with City businesses on impact of Budget 2017

Page 13

In-house fighting P15 continues at LM&TC

Granger urges Barbadians to tap into P10 investments in Guyana

2 NEWS GDF Corporal among several injured in EBD smash-up SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Reports are the route 42 minibus bearing registration number BTT 8079 swerved from a another minibus, which had stopped to collect a passenger when it came into contact with the sand truck bearing registration number GVV 6306.

Upon impact, the minibus spun and ended on the median and was

An eyewitness told Guyana Times that after the collision, several persons were seen hanging out ofthe windows of the minibus.

Thompson, the eyewitness related, suffered the most injuries since she was sitting on the side of impact into the utility pole.

The injured passengers were

transferred to the GPHC. The driver of the truck reportedly told the Police that the minibus suddenly swerved from behind a parked minibus and into his path, leaving him no room to react, hence the collision. Guyana Times understands that the driver of the minibus was described by passengers as always

pulled from the wrecked minibus and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where at least five were treated and sent away.

Pollard and Thompson were admitted but Thompson was subsequently

speeding on the roadway. He has been operating the Georgetown to Timehri route for a number of years.

Meanwhile, both drivers were taken into Police custody as investigations continue.

The lorry that collided with the minibus

A

Corporal of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is among several persons injured following a two-vehicle collision at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Saturday morning.

The accident occurred in the vicinity of the Rum Shop Street at about 08:00h. Of those injured, two persons were listed as serious and were admitted to separate medical facilities in the city.

They were identified as Travis

Pollard, 34 of Lot 105 Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara and Shelly Thompson, 50, of Timehri, EBD. Pollard, the GDF Corporal, reportedly received lacerations to his body and is being treated at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, while Thompson was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). She reported suffered severe damage to one of her legs and lacerations to her head and body.

The minibus involved in the accident

then slammed into a utility pole by the truck belong to David E Cone trucking service. The bus was driven by Davindra Raghu of Sarah Johanna, EBD and from reports received; he might have lost a finger.

NEWS

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SunDAY, DECember 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, December 4 – 05:30h-07:00h and Monday, December 5 – 08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, December 4 – 06:55h-08:25h and Monday, December 5 – 07:35h-09:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, followed by clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 0.89 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 07:17h and 19:31h reaching maximum heights of 2.43 metres and 2.50 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:48h and 13:04h reaching minimum heights of 0.65 metre and 0.82 metre.

saturday, december 3, 2016

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New VAT regime threatens hundreds of medical jobs – Ali

… repercussions of tax on electricity, water will be disastrous

T

he National Assembly will from Monday commence what is expected to be an intensely heated debate over the 2017 National Estimates, presented to the nation on November 28, 2016,

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

Guyana Times has since invited Chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, Irfaan Ali to give his take on the growing voices of opposition with regard many measures that were announced by the Finance Minister, including the restructured Value Added Tax (VAT) regime being applied to electricity, water, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and services.

In relation to pharmaceutical and medical supplies, Ali told this publication not only will the cost of accessing private medical service increase dramatically, but medical staff such as nurses, medics, laboratory technicians and others may face the risk of losing their jobs, since patients will now be forced to seek medical service from public hospitals.

This, he said, could lead to the closure of several private operations threatening literally hundeads of jobs in that field.

Ali noted too another of the possible effects of taxes being applied to drugs, medical supplies and services is the fact that it will inherently lead to increased overcrowding at public hospitals will lead to an increase in the death rate.

“Out of desperation, the vulnerable might now be forced to seek alternative medicine, hence putting their lives in additional danger,” he suggested.

This past week the Private Sector Commission had also lamented the move on the part of Government to apply VAT to medicines and medical services.

According to Chairperson of the PSC Committee on

Economics and Financial Affairs, Ramesh Persaud, essential drugs and medical supplies will now be attracting VAT, and as such, this means that a patient will not only have to pay VAT on their doctor’s visit at a private hospital but any prescriptions to be filled will become more expensive.

This obtains since drugs will also now be attracting a 14 per cent VAT, inherently driving up the costs to be paid by consumers.

According to Persaud, “it is a significant challenge,” even as he called on behalf of the PSC for Government to revisit is new VAT regime.

Persaud was of the view that should the new VAT regime as indicated by Government were to go ahead then it will inherently drive up prices and the inflation rate in the country.

Hocus Pocus budget Meanwhile, Ali in his interview with Guyana Times said the “hocus pocus 2017 budget vides no remedy to

pro-

re-

move our economy from the midst of the labyrinth.”

He said too that the bearish sentiment about the country’s economic prospects for the rest of the year by Finance Minister Jordan, “remains rife.”

On the matter of VAT, Ali told this newspaper it is his considered opinion that application of the tax will directly cost the people of this nation an additional $14 billion in addition to the indirect hardships to be placed on Guyanese and local businesses.

Opposition MP Irfaan Ali

During his interview, Ali sought to make it clear that the application of VAT on electricity and water runs contrary to any optimal taxation system.

Ali said electricity and water are considered basic human rights and that the entire regime as proposed is, “regressive and highly convolute.”

He told this newspaper that Minster Jordan seemed inept to correctly comprehend how the adjustments will

work, which points to the glaring fact that he is completely “buried in oblivion, of the detrimental and disastrous ripple effects that will follow.”

According to Ali, VAT on water will cost the people of this nation approximately GY$110 million, given that approximately 9000 persons, on average that pay $1500 or more per month on water charges.

On the matter of the application of VAT on electricity, Ali used as example the operations of a small sawmill operator and pointed to monthly electricity costs which if calculated at today’s rate could be in the vicinity of $900,000 monthly. Ali said that with the application of VAT on the electricity bill, it will skyrocket to in excess of $1 million monthly; a cost that will no doubt have to be passed on to customers. He said the ripple effect from that single sawmill operations would see an increase cost of lumber, which could induce presumed homeowners to use less lumber and more cement.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

Editorial

Guyana as a common venture

T

he Budget brouhaha should remind us that we, the citizens of Guyana, must see it as a “common venture” even as we reject conceptions of “nation” that may be oppressive to existing diversities. “Nation” and “state” have to be disarticulated yet Guyanese have to achieve some commonality of outlook to survive, much less prosper in the modern world.

At independence Guyanese inherited a state but not a nation, since the happenstance of their arrivals ensured that they had no common culture. The experience across the world has demonstrated that people do not identify with the state in a spontaneous, automatic manner – and that’s partially why Guyanese have clung to their ethnicities.

The challenge would be to construct a “unity” of the peoples within the Guyanese state that does not seek to obliterate the diversities but is more receptive and accommodative of self-conceptions. One obstacle to such as unity is the refusal to accept that diversity is not the opposite of “unity” (“homogeneity” is) rather its opposite is “disunity”. The solution to the apparent dilemma is to accommodate diversity without fostering disunity.

Interestingly enough, Canada and Australia, two ex-British colonies, have taken the lead in redefining their “national” identity. They have both rejected the unitary “nation-state” model and chose “multiculturalism” as their ideology for unity. In their understanding, multiculturalism is an official government policy that promotes cultural diversity, and the “national” is conceived as the space within which many (ethnically defined and even imagined) communities live and interact.

Taking our cue from these states, it is proposed that we demarcate our cultural sphere as a private one, and not to be used as the criterion for building the overarching unity we need in the public sphere. The Guyanese state would adopt the policy of multiculturalism as a Governmental policy response to a multicultural society ie a society that is culturally pluralist.

The policy response, “multiculturalism”, must be distinguished from the societal condition of being multicultural. Most countries are multicultural but only a handful are multiculturalist. Multiculturalism must be seen as a set of principles, policies, and practices for accommodating diversity as a legitimate and integral component of society.

This does not mean that the state has nothing to do with culture but that it does not privilege any one culture over others.

What is being suggested is that we move from the idea of a “national culture” as a site for identification to the shared practice of a political ideology as the basis for engendering such identification within the state. We situate this construction of a national outlook within what can be seen as a project of democratisation – the creation of conditions where we are all treated as one, equally, by the state.

Equality of opportunity; human rights, encouragement of diversities, due process; justice and fair play and rule of law may seem dry compared to the warmth of the blood ties of “nation”, but they can engender the unity of public purpose and the recognition of individual worth where all can be proud of their common citizenship.

Citizenship of Guyana has to become something that has concrete meaning to all of us.

For Guyana then, our ethnicities would be defined outside our “Guyaneseness” and to be African-, Indianor Amerindian-Guyanese would not be contradictory in any sense. The first part of our identity would be specific while the latter universalistic. The “national” will now be a space where ethnic communities can live and share. To be Guyanese would be to share public moral precepts – norms, values and attitudes – rather than necessarily, shared cultural experience and practice. To the extent that they are shared it is to be lauded but it must never be at the imperative to jettison one culture.

A “good” Guyanese would be one who is loyal to this country and strives to practice the secular universalistic ideological values it extols.

Newly crowned Harry? Abigail Buckley-Allicock, (left) placed the elaborate piece on Harry before elders from Surama Village gave the Prince a traditional welcome to their community

Leaps from factual information to erroneous conclusions Dear Editor, Quite recently Guyana has once again been associated with notoriety by virtue of an article by Andrea Fernandes and subsequent articles in the little known online paper: Guyana Guardian, whose “Editor in Chief” is one Dennis Adonis, who is well known in Guyana for the accusations of unsavory and deceptive acts leveled at him over the years. The articles referred to were widely circulated and seek to discredit Texila American University and besmirch the name of the National Accreditation Council of Guyana, which is the legally authorized body responsible for regulating post-secondary and tertiary level educational institutions in Guyana, including the granting of registration, accreditation and related instruments.

In the prevailing circumstance the Ministry of Education would be remiss if it did not lend clarity in relation to the post-secondary and tertiary education landscape, which is being put at risk by these crafty and defamatory articles. The Ministry firstly wishes to reiterate that

the National Accreditation Council (NAC) by virtue of the National Accreditation Act, Act no. 12 of 2004 is the body responsible for regulating post-secondary and tertiary level education in Guyana and is the source of authentic information on post-secondary and tertiary institutions in Guyana. Much of this information is public and available on the Council’s website: www.nac.gov.gy.

The ministry has observed that in the Guyana Guardian articles there are quantum leaps from the factual information, which they rely on for legitimacy, and the conclusions which they draw that are off times erroneous. One such case in point is their article of Nov 25, 2016, in which they purported NAC to “have revealed that medical degrees issued by institutions in Guyana are only recognized if the degrees are accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP).

And since CAAM-HP has also confirmed that the Texila American University is not accredited, it is now officially confirmed that the medi-

cal degrees issued by that institution along with several other offshore universities in Guyana are not recognized anywhere at all” While NAC has stated that “Medical institutions, …, are required to seek accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Services”, it also stated that “The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) of the USA recognizes the authenticity of the quality assurance process of the National Accreditation Council and accepts medical schools that are registered by the National Accreditation Council”. NAC further stated that “Texila American University is listed with the ECFMG which allows students and graduates of the institution to apply for ECFMG certification and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

This is but a sample of the Guardian’s conclusions. It is erroneous, at least, and may well be mischievous if their intellect and competence are to be assumed.

It should be noted that in

quality assurance parlance, terms such as registration, accreditation, recognition et al each has a specific meaning; results from different processes; and signifies different statuses. The Guardian seems to unwittingly or intentionally substitute these terms, one for the other, in pursuit of the predetermined plot of their articles.

While the Ministry of Education does not hold a brief for the off-shore medical schools and even NAC, in national interest and in the interest of the reputation of the country, the Ministry found it necessary through this one example to expose the injurious and defamatory nature of the Guardian articles. Many of their conclusions are founded on illogicalities and characterised by quantum leaps.

Whether intentional or not, they bring the education sector and the country into disrepute and must be exposed and refuted at all cost, hence the Ministry’s foray and exposé.

Sincerely, Vincent Alexander Technical Facilitator to the Minister of Education

Leaders should embrace peace Dear Editor, At this time approaching the season of goodwill, I would like to ask all our leaders, at whatever level or persuasion they belong, to remember the following truism that I feel can provide the only avenue for lasting peace and progress in our country.

The prerequisite for

peace, harmony and progress in any community is that all the parties that provide effective service are willing to forget differences, prepared to cooperate for the good of all its members, and disposed to forgetting their own preferences and to compromising to find solutions acceptable and beneficial to all.

We may be able to dupe ourselves for a time that we can generate progress by acting in a partisan manner but, as history has demonstrated over and over through the ages, it is only this earnest and selfless desire to join hands within any organisation of whatever magnitude that will result in any real and permanent

progress.

Please let us inculcate the spirit of this coming season into all our interactions, and move forward as one Guyana to face the future confidently and remove all obstacles to our advancement as a united nation.

Yours sincerely, Roy Paul

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Corriverton gets new Mayor, Deputy Mayor

F

ormer Deputy Mayor of Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Krishnand Jaichand is now the town’s Mayor-elect when the municipality held its elections on Friday.

When the Council met on November 24 to elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor, there was a tie between Gangadin and Jaichand for the position of Mayor, with each receiving seven votes on the 16-seat Council.

On Friday, Jaichand received nine votes, while Gangadin received six.

After the voting concluded, Gangadin declined a nomination for the position of

Mayor elect Krishnand Jaichand

Deputy Mayor.

The Deputy Mayor’s position was contested between proprietor of Royal Graphics, Sheik Mahmood,

and proprietor of Gamandi’s Hardware, J Gamandi.

When the vote was put to the floor, it went in favour of Gamandi nine to five.

The Mayor-elect in a brief comment after the elections spoke about cooperation from all Councilors and promised to continue along the same path of development for the benefit of the township.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Mayor-elect, in his brief remarks, asked that the same attitude portrayed during the past seven months continue so to enhance the work of the Council and the town.

Eight of nine municipalities have so far submitted

their dates for the internal elections. Anna Regina held their elections last Tuesday with Mayor Rabindranauth Mohan and Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud being reelected to their substantive positions. Lethem held its elections on Thursday; Rose Hall will hold its election on

December 7 and Linden on December 8.

New Amsterdam and Mabaruma have scheduled their elections for December 14 and Bartica the following day.

The annual elections are being held for the purpose of electing a Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the vari-

ous municipalities in keeping with Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District Council Act. Meanwhile, in Georgetown, Deputy Mayor Sherrod Duncan is expected to challenge Mayor Patricia Chase-Green for the position of Mayor.

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SunDAY, december 4, 2016

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Foundation

First “It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but retire a little from sight and afterwards return again.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

T

Anu Dev

here are those moments in medicine that really give you pause. Moments that make you stop, reflect, and really think. For me, that “moment” lasted one hour, fifty-seven minutes.

We were on our morning ward rounds and it was business as usual – asking the patient how they’re doing, checking their vitals and adjusting their management plan accordingly.

On this particular day, one of our patients suddenly became unresponsive.

In our classes, our instructors tell us to try to stimulate the patient to determine if they’re actually unresponsive – shout their name, shake their shoulders, rub their chest. If they’re unresponsive, the next step is to check their pulse.

This patient didn’t have a pulse – she was in cardiac arrest. We had to start

CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

For CPR, you start off with 30 compressions in the middle of the chest; well, ‘the lower half of the sternum’ to be exact. When a person goes into cardiac arrest, it means that their heart has stopped beating – it’s stopped pumping blood to the rest of the body.

Chest compressions do the heart’s job for it, to keep blood pumping around the body.

This wasn’t the first time I’ve seen a patient crash – where there was nothing more we could do to revive the patient and it wasn’t my first experience with CPR. But this was the time that really left an indelible impression on me. I think it was because this time I was there while her family members were coming to the bedside to say their goodbyes.

It’s impossible, I think, to be in that place and not think about your own loved ones. It’s impossible to avoid reflecting on whether you’ve spent enough time showing the people you love that you love them while you still have them in your life.

I think by now we’re more

o r less aware t h a t t h i n g s don’t go actually down like we see on Grey’s Anatomy, but it’s still striking how different things are in real life. For one, there was no one yelling “Charge!” while holding “paddles” aloft waiting to jolt the patient back to life. Of the four heart rhythms you’re likely to see in a patient in cardiac arrest, only two of them are responsive to electric shock. For the other two rhythmic, like in this patient, you have to continue with CPR- cycles of 30 chest compressions to two breaths.

It was an experience like I said, I won’t soon forget, but sadly, it’s one that I’m sure I’ll be experiencing many times over in the future. I know that death is an inevitable stage in life but there is yet a finality to it that forces one into deep introspection.

For all the exciting moments in medicine where you crack a difficult diagnosis or treat a patient successfully, there are also these moments where you have to come to grips with the fact that there is nothing more you can do. It’s a

powerless feeling.

Today I left the hospital much wearier than usual. It feels like one of those nights where I need a long shower to wash away the day.

And I remember Martin Carter’s immortal words: “Now

from the mourning vanguard moving on/ dear Comrade I salute you and I say/ Death will not find us that we die.”

And though I know it was written in a different context, it yet comforted me.

Graduations are usually a time of celebration (Pt One)

A

Right of the child Chairperson Aleema Nasir sppech at the American University of Peace Studies

recognition and acknowledgement of the hard work, dedication and commitment that led up to this day and thus I applaud and congratulate your success and achievement. Also, I wish to congratulate the American University of Peace Studies for its stellar contribution to the ideal of higher education in Guyana.

I wish to dwell a little on this theme of higher education. In 1966, the distinguished Caribbean Nobel Prize economist Sir Arthur Lewis in his installation address as chancellor of the University of Guyana made an immortally

profound point. He said: “Universities did not begin with science; we are the guardians and transmitters not merely of science, but of all human knowledge. Not very long ago men lived in caves, or under the shadow of trees. Their lives were dominated by fear, fear of the elements, of drought and

floods and fire; fear of other animals; and fear of other men, who wandered around in families or tribes ready to exterminate each other.

The human race has pulled itself up from this by handing down from generation to generation knowledge of two sets of principles, those relating to controlling nature we call science, and those relating to controlling human behaviour which we call ethics. Human life as we know it today is based on accumulated science, and accumulated principles enshrined in laws and in conventions of decent behaviour.

“The supremely important task of receiving this knowledge, and adding to it, and handing it down to the next generation has always devolved on a very small body of people who specialise in using their brains. If our graduates do not help to keep civilisation together, to reduce the sum of human misery and to advance the cause of human brotherhood, then our universities will have laboured in vain.”

I think more that more than anyone else, Dr. Lewis captured the essence, role and mandate of higher education and all those involved in it. I urge you to contemplate on its deep meaning

and significance.

Many of you today are graduating in the field of psychology and according to Dr. Lewis’s classification of knowledge, you would be involved in the critical task of studying and analyzing with a view to exert a salutary influence on human behavior.

As a child rights advocate, I wish to implore you on a number of issues of child psychology. It is you who will have to further study and emphasize to the State actor the deep psychological damage perpetuated by the retention of corporal punishment in our schools. Using the work of developmental psychologist John Watson’s behaviorism, you will have to point out how this antiquated practice inflicts irreparable harm on our nation’s children and how such harm is assimilated into negative behavioral tendencies during adulthood. The consultation across the country has diagnosed a situation where many educators are still attached to this relic of our colonial past.

I call your attention to psychologist Martin Hoffman who in 1970 reviewed child rearing approaches in America to see whether the disciplinary techniques that parents actually use have any effect on the moral development of their children.

Three approaches were compared: 1. Love withdrawalThis entails withholding attention, affection, or approval after a child misbehaves or, in other words, creating anxiety over a loss of love.

2. Power assertion – This entails the use of superior power to control the child’s behavior such as forceful commands, physical restraint, spankings that may generate fear, anger and resentment.

3. Induction – This entails explaining why a behavior is wrong and should be changed by emphasizing how it affects other people, often suggesting how the child might repair any harm done.

news

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sunDAY, december 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jordan’s 2017 Budget a ‘Pie in the Sky’ – Accountant …lacks strategic foreign direct investment plan

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

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udget 2017 is being dismissed as a proverbial ‘pie in the sky’ since not only does the Minister’s projected growth rates not match reality, but is absent of a clear strategic plan to unleash the new foreign direct investment needed to achieve what the Minister has set as a target for 2017 – 3.8 per cent.

This is the position of respected Accountant and Project Management Professional Sasenarine Singh, a former Alliance For Change member, who in a post-Budget analysis for Guyana Times, questioned the minister’s projections since none of the sectors Government seems to be relying on will return the projected outcomes.

Speaking directly of the mining sector – which has in recent years served as the only pillar of positive economic growth, bringing in substantial and greatly needed foreign exchange while keeping the economy buoyant with sustained growth – Singh pointed to the price for gold which is not projected to increase significantly in 2017.

According to the former AFC executive, the two

large-scale mining investments, “that were incubated and brought to Guyana under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), are already at cruising altitude.”

Singh explained that in such a situation, “the contribution to 2016 economic activity is not to expand by much in 2017 from these mines.”

He drew reference to the fact that latest forecast from the French bullion bankers (Natixis) predicts that the price of gold will average in 2017 approximately US$1,180 per ounce. The price today is US$1,177 per ounce, according to Singh, adding, “Even the prices are working against new hard cash.”

Singh told Guyana Times that in such circumstances, “Guyana’s macroeconomic situation cannot be described as stable.”

Turning his attention to what many have called an imminent influx into the economy in the form of oil and gas sector, the former AFC top brass said, “the oil sector, which can unleash a lot of resources in 2021, will not have any significant impact on the economy in

Former AFC executive Sasenarine Singh

2017.”

He is of the opinion that Trinidad and Tobago, “is benefiting much more from this investment today than Guyana because of their core skill set at supporting pre-harvested oil activities…Those who are close to the happenings will tell you that Trinidad’s experienced oil-servicing industry is being tapped for all sorts of

services that goes along with an oil investment at this stage of its development.”

According to Singh, Guyana is seeing none of this money as yet.

Speaking of the traditional pillars of the Guyana economy, Singh noted that there is not much allocation for resuscitating the Agriculture Sector.

He added that a brutal broadsiding of the industry was unleashed by the David Granger Administration when it adopted a position that “the rice industry is privately owned and the Government has no responsibility to the farmers.”

Singh posits that the situation in the sugar belt further compounds the disregard for the agriculture industry, on the part of the coalition A Partnership for national Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

According to Singh, “it is a grave fallacy to think

the people in the sugar belt are all supporters of the PPP and thus destroying the livelihood of this critical rural economic centre will undermine the PPP. In 2011, it was a charge by Dr Veerasammy Ramaya, as part of an AFC pitch that peeled away thousands of votes in the sugar belt from the PPP… So much so that

the AFC won 35,333 votes in those elections.”

He has since suggested that the Granger Administration stands in power on the backs of some 8000 people in the sugar belt and without them would have been in opposition, “therefore to treat them so poorly today is nothing but a great betrayal.”

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NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Budget 2017

Govt’s defence a pathetic attempt to justify tax burdens – Jagdeo …as Govt assures high “take home” salary for workers

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

A

s criticisms continue to mount over Budget 2017 that was presented Monday last, Government continues to be mum on the reactions by Guyanese.

In fact, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that the senior members of the

Government have gone mute and are now relying on their junior “spin doctors” to defend the indefensible budget.

Jagdeo in a statement on Saturday evening was responding to a previous communiqué issued by Director, Department of Public Information, Imran Khan, earlier in the day.

Khan in a statement said: “The new tax measures announced by Minister of Finance Honourable Winston Jordan will inject some $9,595,000,000 into the Guyanese economy.

This represents the amount which the Government will forego from the national treasury and is in effect a massive stimulus package.”

However, according to the Opposition Leader, that release by Khan was a most lopsided and self-serving

Director of Public Information, Department of Public Information, Imran Khan

piece of propaganda: “It is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to justify and defend the humongous tax burdens that this budget places upon the back of every single Guyanese, whether in the public, or Private Sector.”

He pointed out that Khan in the statement detailed the costs to the Treasury of reduction of VAT, reduction of Personal Income tax, reduction in Corporation tax and increase in the VAT threshold, which amounted to a total of $9,595,000,000. The Opposition Leader noted that this is only a fraction of the effects of the budget.

“The statement deliberately omits to calculate the windfall in revenue that VAT will generate, on electricity, on water, on basic food items, on educational materials, on pharmaceutical and health supplies, and on services such as internet, school fees, educational and health services and a host of other goods and services that are not currently Vatable,” he stressed.

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Hubris squared…

F

…from Trotman

ollowing the Budget presentation by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, your Eyewitness assumed the Government would deploy its big guns into a damage control mode. That’s what governments in democracies do when the masses get restive at their actions, nuh? At least that’s what most of them do after Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette literally lost their heads back in the (pre-democratic) day!

Well, it looks like someone either lost the plot in Guyana or intends to reinstall an absolute monarchy here! (Remember Burnham?) And that “someone’s” no other than Rafael Trotman who’d vowed when he joined the PNC under Desmond Hoyte to, “oppose, expose and depose” the PPP. And more recently revealed he made a pact in the Bahamas with David Granger before the last elections to do the same. It wasn’t made clear as to whether he’d informed his erstwhile AFC comrades of his last move.

Anyhow, here it was Trotman speaking to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) who’d spoken out vehemently about a number of measures in Jordan’s budget that would affect them negatively. And Trotman had the temerity to ask them, “What are we going to do? Complain about VAT on water and electricity and do nothing, or complain and get busy?”

That’s right…businessmen exercise their constitutionally protected right to comment on the Government’s budget and they’re accused of “complaining”!!

That is, they were basically ‘griping’, “kvetching”, “bitching” and “moaning” uselessly!!! So citizens raising concerns about governmental actions, they’re just wasting their time and they should get on with following what are obviously the latter’s “edicts”. In fact they should consider themselves lucky they had something to complain about!! Trotman shared this perspective via what he claimed to be an old Indian proverb: “I have no shoes and complained until I met a man who had no feet”.

So what Trotman’s saying to the business class who’re supposed to be stoking the ‘engine of growth’ for the country - is “you better consider yourself lucky you’re not Haiti”!! Gotta be Haiti since they’re the only country worse off than us – in this hemisphere. If he was thinking of a wider field, maybe he meant the Congo? Just think of this hubris…especially when he and his Government should thank Jagdeo for bailing us out.

But hold it!! Could it be that Trotman made his pact with Pezzie in Nassau because he just wanted to fight for us “from within”?? By telling the businesspeople not to complain but to “get busy”, was he repeating his exhortation to the Lindeners back in 2012 when the PPP wanted to charge a (small) fee for electricity?

Storm the barricades of parliament, GCCI?!!!?

…on not giving a damn

Now, dear reader, there’s gotta be a reason why this PNC-led Government’s so arrogant. It’s not like their first stint at the wheel when the US backstopped their rigging, is it? Then, it just didn’t matter what the people thought – much less the Opposition.

Is the hubris there because when the Budget Debate starts tomorrow, they know their one-seat majority will allow them to do whatever they want, regardless of how much the PPP screams? That might be – but don’t they fear their constituency, currently being battered by their budget, mightn’t be there for them in 2020? Not that your Eyewitness thinks they’ll vote PPP – but maybe they’ll stay home?

Some say it’s déjà vu all over again. The US again have some skin in the game with the Exxon play. So their visa policy kinda makes our elections “outcome determinative”.

Especially when Exxon’s CEO’s being considered as a possible Secretary of State!!

…and (not so) wild about Harry

Education Minister Rupert Roopnaraine, who learnt to speak “posh” up at Cambridge, suffered a “syncope” and had to be rushed to GHPC. This, the dictionary informs us, is “a loss of a sound from within a word”.

He said, “Oh Lawd” when he met Prince Harry and fainted from embarrassment.

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

news

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SunDAY, DECember 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Border controversy

Guyana still awaiting assessment from UN With Guyana on the verge of becoming a lucrative oil-producing nation, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree in May last year purporting to claim the majority of Guyana’s waters off of the Essequibo shore.

The decree was seen as a flagrant violation of international law and was inconsistent with the principle that all states should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.

In an effort to defend its sovereignty, Guyana made

FLASHBACK: President David Granger and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during their 2015 engagement with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

A

fter committing back in September to produce an assessment on the way forward in relation to the GuyanaVenezuela border controversy, Guyana is still awaiting the pronouncement from United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Kimoon.

The outgoing Secretary General had assured Head of State David Granger on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly held in New York over three months ago that he would make an assessment of the situation between the neighbouring South American nations by the end of November, ahead of his retirement the following month.

The assessment is expected to outline the next step to be taken in the border controversy, which will then be

referred to the International Court of Justice for a final and definitive ruling, thus bringing an end to the issue that has affected Guyana’s development over the past 50 years.

However, during a special edition of the local televised programme – The Public Interest – which was recorded in Barbados on Thursday and aired locally Friday evening, President Granger posited that the assessment will probably be given sometime this month, since Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to demit office on December 31.

“I would only say let us wait and see… I don’t want to get ahead of the game.

Foreign Affairs Minister (Carl Greenidge) was with Secretary General Ban-KiMoon up to (last) week and we are awaiting the assess-

ment. We were expecting it in November but it will probably come in December,” the Head of State noted.

Moreover, the President remarked that during Minister Greenidge’s recent visit, he also met with incoming Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a process designed to secure the promised recommendation.

For decades, Venezuela has laid claim to nearly twothirds of Guyana’s landmass – the Essequibo.

In fact, the border controversy which was not on Venezuela’s front burner for several years after being first officially mooted in 1962, was reignited by the Spanish-speaking country, when US oil giant ExxonMobil began exploratory works in the Stabroek Block offshore the Essequibo.

New VAT regime threatens thousands...

FROM PAGE 3

Ali noted that this is among the very sectors that Government is looking gather momentum in 2017, but it will certainly encounter a slew of additional hardship.

According to Ali, “the increase in electricity cost for a mall will increase, prompting an increase in the overall cost for renting boutiques, hence further prompting an increase in the price of clothes.”

Ali said too that manufacturing and commercial activities, including a significant amount of private residents will be equally affected, from a reduction in disposable income.

“The ripple effect that will follow will lead to reduction in private consumption and ultimately increase in non-performing loans… Is this the good life the Government has envisioned?”

He told Guyana Times that during his presentation to this year’s debate he intends to point out too the effects of the tentacles of VAT being extended “to leach off our Internet service, pharmaceutical and medical sup-

plies.”

According to Ali, “given the inelasticity of demand by consumers for these services, this additional burden

would inevitably have to be passed on to consumers, a counterproductive measure that would certainly impede growth in the ICT sector.”

it clear to the Venezuelan Government that the Essequibo and its offshore waters belong to Guyana, and strengthened its push for judicial settlement of the issue, as the Good Officer process had yielded little result.

The border dispute between the two countries was set by an international tribunal in 1899, in an award the parties, including Venezuela, had agreed would be the final settlement. Since the belligerence from Venezuela, moves have

been made by the international community, including the UN Secretary General, to push for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

The Guyanese Leader and President Maduro had met with the outgoing UN Secretary General for the first time in September last year to discuss the controversy. The meeting was dubbed fruitful as both Heads of Government pledged to mend the bilateral relationship while attempts are being made to resolve the border controversy.

10 news Granger urges Barbadians to tap into investments in Guyana P SunDAY, DECember 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

resident David Granger during a recent visit to Barbados, for the country’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations, urged the Caribbean Island to tap into the various investment opportunities that Guyana has to offer.

He was at the time recording a special edition of ‘The Public Interest’ programme in Barbados, where he had gone to partake in the country’s jubilee celebration. The Guyanese Head of State posited that the diplomatic relation between Guyana and Barbados was held steady over the last three centuries and remains strong even today.

However, President Granger outlined that a lot more can be done to boost the already “strong” relationship between the two countries.

He stressed that the successful Santa Fe Mega Farm located in the North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), which is owned by a Barbadian investor, could be replicated in the various areas that are available for investment in Guyana.

President David Granger and Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart admiring this organically grown bitter cassava as Farm Manager Persaram Ramdat looks on during a visit back in July

According to the Head of State, he often refers to Guyana as the hinterland of the Caribbean since it has more landspace than the other countries in the Region.

“I don’t say this boastfully, I say this because I would like to invite the Caribbean and Barbados in particular, to see Guyana as an area of investment. Barbadians have a lot of capital, they have expertise and they experience in the hospitality industry. I would even say that most of the commodities Barbados needs to import could be produced in Guyana and I will be very happy if Barbadian entrepreneurs could see Guyana as an economic horizon,” he stated.

Moreover, while the

Guyanese leader believes that economic cooperation is one of the keys that should be developed between the two countries, he floated a possibility of combining the two countries’ tourism products.

He went on to say that another area that can be developed between the two countries is education, with collaborations between the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus and the University of Guyana (UG) along with other ecoprojects in Guyana for Barbadian students to do biology and other biodiversity studies in Guyana’s vast rainforest.

Furthermore, the Guyanese leader pointed out that Barbadians should see Guyana as an area where they can create employment not only for Guyanese but Barbadians Guyanese as well. He noted that such investments will reap mutual benefits for both countries not only within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) but in other fields such as econom-

ic, environment and employment.

On the other hand, the President disclosed that he has been approached by Barbadians with proposals of various projects such the generation of solar electricity and in some other areas, where there are Guyanese expertise.

“We certainly still have a sugar industry – they may want to come into produce ethanol and there may be other products… So people who have expertise in those fields searching out for niche markets can come to Guyana. We can produce any commodity – avocado, pears, pineapple, fruit juices, and so on,” the Head of State noted.

President Granger further posited that it is up to the two countries to combine the talents of their business classes to help propel their economies.

In July when Prime Minister Freunde Stuart visited Guyana for the 37th Caricom Meeting of the Heads of Government, he along with President Granger visited the Santa Fe farm. The thriving agricultural business venture is a major investment

by Barbadian investor, Sir Kyffin Simpson.

During that visit to the Rupununi, the Barbadian leader asserted that Guyana is definitely open for business and investments. He noted that the success of the Santa Fe farm can serve as a model for other investors from other parts of the Caribbean and further afield to get on board.

Harrimania S

atiricus was all agog about Prince Harry and couldn’t hide his excitement from the fellas around the table at the Back Street Bar. He’d switched seats with Hari so he could keep up with the goings-on on the TV behind the bar. Satiricus was about the only patron who showed any interest in the royal visitor.

“So how does it feel to have the same name as a Prince,” said Satiricus enthusiastically to Hari.

“Sato ole friend,” said Hari, “I know you mean that as a compliment, but the fella’s real name is Henry which they shorten to “Harry” for reasons I’ll never know!”

“But Sato, me gat fuh aks yuh somet’ing,” started out Bungi hesitantly. After all, Satiricus was paying for the beers. ”Go ahead, Budday!!” burst out Satiricus extravagantly. “Ask anything you want on this special day!”

“Ah wha’ mek yuh suh happy da bai Harry visit Guyana?” Bungi asked.

“Bai? Bai?” asked Satiricus incredulously. “The fella is a Prince!! His family used to rule us!”

“Me know da,” said Bungi dourly. “Da wha’ mek me aks.”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” replied Satiricus in puzzlement. He glanced at Hari, who was smiling broadly.

“Well…Bungi works in the cane fields, you know,” explained Hari. “And he wants to know if Harry’s family used to rule us and make us slave in the cane fields, why are you happy to see him?”

“But Harry had nothing to do with that?” protested Satiricus. “He’s the son of that beautiful Princess Di and Prince Charles!”

“Me Daady and Mumma beautiful too,” objected Bungi. “How yuh know dem na coulda bin Prince an’ Princess in India?”

“Yes…but Harry didn’t take away their Kingdom,” insisted Satiricus, with a weak smile.

“But ‘e fambly get rich pan abee fambly sweat,” said Bungi firmly. “Dem get fuh live in palace an’ abee get fuh live in logee.”

“Sato, you think Prezzie and Nagga Man and Rupie would skin their teeth and bow to Bungi, who still works in the cane fields,” asked Hari. “Yet they’re doing exactly that to a son of the family that got us into this mess?”

Satiricus said, “I never thought of it that way.”

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 nabbed with cocaine in Essequibo

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poultry farmer along with another person are expect-

ed to be charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking after

they were found to be in possession of a quantity of cocaine on Saturday.

The men were nabbed after Police intercepted a grey-coloured Toyota AE 100 motorcar along the Riverstown Public Road.

Reports reaching Guyana Times revealed the men were seen leaving the house of a popular drug dealer and were heading to Supenaam when the car was stopped and searched by the Police.

During the search on the vehicle bearing registration number HB 628, the 39-year-old poultry farmer attempted to discard a transparent piece of plastic that was hidden in the panel of the door.

Upon closer inspection, the Police suspected the whitish substance to be cocaine.

The plastic was un-

wrapped and it was confirmed to be cocaine.

The suspect reportedly offered the ranks $200,000 in bribe money to release him. He was subsequently arrested and the drug was weighed in his presence and amounted to 28 grams.

The farmer and the driver of the car are assisting the Police in their investigations.

New make-up line introduced in Guyana

S

hoe Heaven on Saturday launched their new line of make-up products — Milani — an economical but fabulous line, to Guyana at Palm Court, Georgetown.

With a minifashion show, professional makeovers being given and many giveaways, the ‘fashionistas’ came out for the event.

Some lucky invitees won over $30,000 worth of Milani products, including Inews reporter, Ramona Luthi.

Shoe Heaven is the only authorised distributor of the Milani cosmetics.

With hundreds of shades and high-tech formulas, this line offers everything you could want or need for your face, eyes, lips, cheeks and nails.

Speaking to the media, organiser of the event, Marcia Monarath said that seeing that make-up not only in Guyana but around the world, is currently a ‘big

A lucky customer received a makeover on Saturday

deal’, Shoe Heaven decided to join in with the hope of offering affordable products.

She noted that even though the makeup line is well known around the world, it was not recognised in Guyana and as such, Shoe Heaven is seeking to change

that.

Milani make-up can be found at all four of Shoe Heaven’s branches located at the Giftland Mall, City Mall, Robb and Wellington Streets, and Fogarty’s building.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

The eyepass Budget by

Ryhaan Shah

I

t is not just that water and electricity supply is poor and intermittent throughout the country at best but to now have VAT applied to these utilities’ charges is plain eye-pass.

When Finance Minister Winston Jordan explained that VAT would be added to water and light bills to spur conservation efforts this was further eye-pass. He knows full well that conservation is already enforced on taxpayers since, in some areas, there are more blackouts than power Ryhaan Shah supply, and the low water pressure means there is no water in the pipes.

But the most worrying item of the 2017 Budget is the proposal to give GRA powers to access taxpayers’ bank accounts in order to garnish monies owed to the agency.

The Private Sector Commission is correct when it stated that this would scare people into closing their bank accounts.

More money being kept at home will certainly aid and abet Guyana’s already thriving criminal enterprise.

At a time when Government has been advocating the use of more plastic for financial transactions, this move would be counterproductive. It also creates more than a little uneasiness that Government intends to invest itself with the power to reach into privately held accounts and take whatever is owed them.

This is intrusive and is a move towards authoritarianism that must be resisted. If Government succeeds in establishing such rights over citizens, it would be the start down a slippery slope where every other right and freedom would be under threat.

Since the Granger Government is not shy about its racism and partisanship, it would appreciate the further fear that these powers could be used as a weapon to wilfully harass and punish opponents.

Just recently, President David Granger addressed Lindeners, who continue to be favoured with a subsidised power supply, and spoke of the township becoming a manufacturing hub. To this end, the Budget proposes the infrastructural development of the Linden-Brazil highway.

This while the agricultural sector – a traditional Indian Guyanese labour base – is left to languish and die with no planned state intervention to rescue, retool or restrategize this once vital revenue-earning sector.

To the public eye, the racism is clear.

The purposeful neglect is shameful especially when Guyana once boasted of becoming the food-basket of the Caribbean.

There was much pride in being a nation of farmers and agriculturalists and when food is fast becoming a dwindling resource as the world population increases, Government’s deemphasis of the agricultural sector is short-sighted. The skills, if lost, could harm Guyana’s future economic prospects.

The economy has shrunk with real GDP growth falling to 2.6% this year, down from 3% in 2015, and none of Government’s promised investments has materialised.

Guyana’s international reserves have also fallen and are now below the 4-month benchmark – the accepted global standard – to 3.9 months. If this trend continues this could result in restrictions being applied to imports because of limited foreign exchange reserves.

Glaringly absent from the Budget is any plan to build a hydroelectric plant, a green resource that should have been established long before it became fashionable; and waiting for oil to gush and save Guyana while the economy tanks appears both lazy and uncaring.

With the economy on a downward trajectory and traditional export earners like rice and sugar on the ropes, the Budget focuses heavily on gouging an already poor nation of every fee and tax possible. With all the corruptions that have come to light since the Granger Government came to power, this is the biggest eye-pass of all: that every ordinary citizen will have to pay up to provide the billions required for Cabinet’s supersize salaries and their high lifestyle gained by some through their exposed corrupt practices.

Whereas everyone expects Government to act positively to help turn around an ailing economy, this administration has no such sense of urgency and seems incapable of creating policies that would attract investors, create employment, and drive economic growth.

Instead, we will all be paying more for everything from passports and airport departure taxes to transferring a vehicle registration. Medicines and medical supplies and our internet and digital services will all cost more and the measly increase in old age pension along with the 2 per cent reduction in VAT are hardly compensatory.

Local manufacturers will also no longer be able to recoup the VAT paid on raw materials and these costs will now be carried over to the consumer who will have to pay higher prices for locally made products.

Imprisoned by Guyana’s continued sad state of affairs, even our bread and water will now be taxed.

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

Opposition Leader meets with City businesses on impact of Budget 2017

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday undertook a walkabout along Regent Street, Georgetown where he interacted with vendors, store owners and other citizens on Budget 2017. Among other issues discussed was the negative impact of the economy on citizens.

14 news

SunDAY, DECember 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Roraima Airways offers return Younge’s Take flight to ailing 2-year-old … as Copa collaborates with Mercy Hospital for Christmas festivities

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ays after a mother pleaded for public assistance to take her two-year-old son to Cuba to receive medical treatment for a rare eye cancer, Roraima Airways responded by donating the air tickets. The tickets were handed over to Cassandra Persaud at Captain Gerry Gouveia's office on Friday.

Omkar Persaud was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in the right eye and as such, needs to undergo urgent surgery to prevent him from going blind. His left eye has already been removed as a result of the same disease. However, the treatment will cost close to $4 million of which the government pumped in a million.

The family raised another $1 million and the public would have responded to the call and donated another $2 million.

However, on making the donation to the mother and son, Director of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia said he was made aware of the situation only recently and he was pleased to contribute to the recovery and improvement of the child’s eyesight and overall good health.

"It is amazing to know how many Guyanese reached out to help in whatever

Director Roraima Airways, Gerry Gouveia with Omkar Persaud and his mother, Cassandra Persaud

way they could,” he stated.

He added that the offer to Persaud and her son is an extension of Roraima’s continued commitment to the medical evacuation service operated by his company.

Further, Gouveia expressed best wishes for successful treatment and recovery to the child on behalf of his family and company.

The thankful mother accepted the tickets and expressed her appreciation to the company while noting that she was pleased with the public’s response and generous assistance towards her son.

Roraima Airways since its establishment in 1992 has led the way in medical evacuation service, operating a 24-hour Air Ambulance Evacuation Service in Guyana, providing a domes-

tic and regional reliable response evacuation service.

The child along with his mother is expected to depart for the Republic of Cuba shortly. Meanwhile, Copa Airlines is collaborating with the St Joseph Mercy Hospital for a number of festivities the medical institution has planned this Christmas.

The airline on Friday handed over a cheque to the hospital in support of several of these events. The funds are intended to support a children’s party and the annual Christmas tree lightup and carol singing event.

The children of St Ann’s and St John’s Bosco orphanages will be guests of honour at the lighting of the Christmas tree. Copa and St Joseph Mercy Hospital

have been in talks over the past several months, exploring opportunities for collaborating and building partnership. Copa’s Regional Sales Director, Diego Bermudez Parra, during a recent visit to Guyana, also met with Mercy Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Helen Browman and Associate Administrator Deborrah Ramsay.

Meanwhile, in outlining the activities planned for the festive season, Ramsay said this year’s Christmas tree light-up and carol singing event promises to be even bigger than last year’s.

She said planning has been moving along extremely well and a record number of visitors are expected. Regarding the children’s party, she said each child will be receiving a gift bag “with lots of goodies” and with the support from Copa, they will be extremely delighted.

The children’s party is scheduled for December 8 and the carol singing and Christmas tree light-up event will take place on December 9 in the parking lot of the hospital.

The collaboration with Mercy Hospital is the latest in a series of initiatives being undertaken by Copa in Guyana, geared towards strengthening ties and forg-

The bitter Budget

O

ne of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”

Those were the exact words of Greek Philosopher Plato who strongly felt that citizens who believed in demonstrating indifference and conservatism about issues affecting their country would eventually end up paying a very high price for their postures.

Plato, like many other great minds, held firmly to the view that in order to change the political dynamics of a country, one must be actively and integrally involved in the governance processes at every level.

In other words, one must hold the Government accountable and one must critique the Executive whenever there are missteps, mismanagement, poor economic and fiscal policy formulation and execution, and a general puerile approach in handling the public’s business.

Michael Younge He reasons that when the populace is alert, responsive and locked into the Government’s socio-economic agenda, it benefits more from the basket of goods and services offered and the concomitant changes that accompanies that basket.

Unfortunately, over the past year-and-a-half, there has been the development of a new trend and culture that sees sections of the public abdicating their responsibilities as far as holding the Government accountable is concerned.

The situation is made worst with a changing media landscape that sees the print and non-print media becoming more and more compliant and lesser aggressive in its pursuit of truth from public office bearers who are allowed to commit grave and unthinkable sins against the public.

These two developments, when looked at in a specific context, do not augur well for the forward movement of our country and the strengthening of our unique brand of democracy. In fact, they pose a direct threat to the advancement of our domestic politics.

This has no doubt worked to the benefit of the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change Government which continues to demonstrate unbelievably high levels of highhandedness, arrogance and indifference in the dispatch of their duties and the public’s business.

It is therefore not totally surprising that Finance Minister Winston Jordan saw nothing wrong with presenting such a confusing, unrealistic, unimaginative and anti-poor Budget to the National Assembly. The Minister must have known somehow that there would not be any prolonged backlash and that his Government’s Public Relations machinery would work effectively to paint what is one of the poorest thought-out budgets in the country’s post-independence history in a good light.

The Budget, as presented, has countless offensive measures and policy positions. If the Government is serious about delivering the “good life” to Guyanese, then these measures should be either revised or removed instantly. If such a path cannot be undertaken at this point then the entire budget should be withdrawn from the National Assembly as advised by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Juicy and politically correct rhetoric aside, Budget 2017 focuses heavily on increased taxation and appears to be focused on making the poor poorer and the rich richer. Its entire thrust is antibusiness and if passed into law could see the country’s growth and development sabotaged because of unrealistic and untested economic presumptions.

Stripped of its meagre increases for old age pensioners and sections of the working populace, Budget 2017 is void of any real plans and policies to tackle youth development, job creation, wealth distribution and increased crime. It is weak on welfare and social sector incentives to spur outcomes in these areas given the continued social problems being faced by single mothers, abused women and other minority groups.

What is even more appalling is that core traditional sectors that were improving and performing well under the PPP/C are now dying and dead under this new Government. It is shameful too that the Finance Minister could feel no pain in presenting a budget void of concrete proposals or measures to tackle the modernisation and effective operationalization of the country’s ailing sugar and rice industry despite the millions spent on CoIs. It is void too of a comprehensive tax reform regime and any new infrastructural projects that were not already thought of or being pursued by the PPP. The truth is Budget 2017 defied expectations and contained no Christmas treats or goodies for the struggling families and small businesses in this country. But what is clearer now is the fact that the Government does not have a clue about how to run this country and are incapable of reading the mood of many of the people who were instrumental in getting it into office.

Guyanese have nothing to celebrate over the coming weeks but much to prepare for in the New Year as the budgetary measures, as is in the budget, will result in anything but a “good life” for those who have no means of cushioning the impact of inflation, higher food prices, increased telecommunication charges, higher electricity and water bill which now attract VAT and other services.

The Budget is bitter and according to one protestor, “Wicked Winston” is responsible. After all author Milton Friedman said: “Only a Government can take perfectly good paper, cover it with perfectly good ink and make the combination worthless.”

news

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SunDAY, DECember 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

In-house fighting continues at LM&TC C

ouncillors of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) have sought to set the record straight with regards to a recent exchange between Councillor Lennox Gasper and Mayor Carwyn Holland.

During recent exchanges Gasper accused the Mayor of wanting his friends to benefit from reduced tolls at the Kara Kara toll booth, while accusing the Council of disobeying the law and operating based on the orders of the Mayor.

Councillor Gasper also alluded that following the exchange at a recent statutory meeting, the Mayor had sought to have him removed and barred from speaking.

Speaking with regards to what occurred, councillors Neola Rogers and Derron John gave their version of what transpired. According to Rogers: Councillor Gasper's statement is not true and correct and accurate...

Councillor Gasper would have stood up and he made

Councillor Neola Rogers

a very malicious statement about the Mayor and his friends wanting to benefit from this 25 per cent that these persons were asking for.

The entire Council went into some amount of argument on whether or not Councillor Gasper should retract. The Mayor, I think, asked Gasper to retract, to withdraw his statement and apologize to him. Councillor Gasper refused to apologize but after a while he said he will retract but he refuses to

Reg 10 RDC moves to secure assets of President's Youth Choice

Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred King

Regional Chairman, Renis Morian

egion 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) head Renis Morian said the administration of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will be moving to secure assets belonging to the President's Youth Choice, said to be in the hands of private citizens.

Morian said he has already written to Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry Alfred King concerning the issue, which he believes to be very serious.

He added that the RDC is awaiting information so that it can move to secure the assets, which are scattered all across the Region.

Some of the assets include boats, engines, generators, among other things. "This belongs to the people and Government of Guyana.

We at the Regional Democratic Council, we are aware there are outstand-

ing assets in Region 10 belonging to that project that is in the hands of private people. We want the asset list from Mr King. So I've already written Mr King and I'm awaiting the list to let us know where these assets are and what are the assets that the RDC could take possession of," he said. Adding that the process should have been a continuous one, the Regional Chairman noted that by right, at the change of Government, such information should have been made available to the RDC: "Failing to do that, if Mr King fails to do that, at the level of the RDC, we would have to take the appropriate action to make certain that those assets are returned to the Government and the people, one way or the other."

R

apologise."

Rogers went on to state that the purpose of the Council is to conduct the business of the people, but in her opinion a lot of time is being wasted on personalities. As such, she said the Council is not getting ahead with the business of the people.

"I think we need to stop. Take a stock of where we are and be a bit more mature in our dealings...

Councillor Gasper continues to always put himself out there as probably the only councillor that is working...All the constituency councillors were elected by the persons in their communities, and we're constantly being sidetracked by Councillor Gasper's remarks. As a Council we need to grow up. We need to be able to move ahead with the business of the people."

She noted that the while the Mayor is not perfect, he has been doing his best in working tireless-

ly, adding that Councillor Gasper's attacks on the Mayor and Council is becoming very tiresome, while calling for a better working relationship.

Meanwhile, Councillor John said while he respects Councillor Gasper it appears as though he wants to give the impres-

Mayor Carwyn Holland

sion that he is the only councillor making representation on behalf of the

town, which he noted to be untrue. He stated his belief that the difficulty arises since there is no opposition within the Council and as such Gasper is standing out and creating that opposition.

John explained that indeed Holland had asked for Gasper to be removed, but noted that the Mayor was acting in the confines of the law. Referring to Standing Order 27 of the Council, John quoted: “Mayor or the Presiding member may order any member or members whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the Council during the remainder of the day's sitting and the Town Clerk shall act on such order...�

He said Gasper was asked by councillors to withdraw his statement because it was deemed malicious, noting that the Municipal Council Act, Chapter 28:01 gives the Mayor the power to act ac-

Councillor Derron John

cordingly and the Town Clerk to act on his decision.

With that, he said the Mayor did speak to the Acting Town Clerk and based on her decision, Gasper was then approached by security officers of the Council.

According to both councillors, the rift between Gasper and Holland is getting in the way of the business of the LM&TC.

16

news

SunDAY, december 4, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Corentyne murder Experts urge countries to end marketing of breast milk substitutes Fisherman stabbed

T

he United Nations human rights experts have called on member countries, including Guyana, to do more to protect and support breastfeeding as a human right and to end the “inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children”.

Emphasising the importance and benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child, the experts stated that they are concerned about the lack of progress made in improving breastfeeding rates globally and in providing women and their children with the support and protection they are entitled to.

However, their concerns focused more on the continued misleading marketing of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children.

They pointed out that there is little corporate accountability for the adverse consequences of such market-

ing practices. They stated that this continues to undermine efforts to improve early and exclusive breastfeeding rates.

They added that marketing practices act as barriers for women to exercise their rights, as they often negatively affect the choice and ability of mothers to enjoy the many health benefits breastfeeding provides.

They posited that governments should do more, and

emphasised that breastfeeding is a human rights issue for babies and mothers, and should be protected and promoted for the benefit of both.

They called on governments to recognise their core obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant UN human rights treaties to respect, protect and fulfil children’s right to life, survival and development; their right to safe and nutritious foods, and their right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health; and to ensure that women’s rights are protected from harmful interference by non-State actors, in particular the business sector.

Governments were urged to act upon their obligations and take all necessary measures to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, and end the inappropriate promotion of breast milk sub-

stitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children up to the age of three years.

These measures include the adoption and enforcement of comprehensive legislation to end inappropriate marketing practices, provide adequate maternity protection, and protect women from discrimination linked to breastfeeding.

Currently, the Public Health Ministry and the Social Protection Ministry are looking to extend the months of maternity leave for women so as to promote the “golden standard” of breastfeeding. Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence has indicated that in 2017, her Ministry would install a facility so that mothers in the workplace of the Ministry can go to breastfeed their babies.

She hopes that this measure would be adopted in other Government buildings and also in the Private Sector community.

to lung – PM

… suspect confesses, for court Monday

T

he Corentyne, Berbice, fisher whose body was discovered by his mother on Tuesday last, died of a stab wound to the lung. This was the finding by forensic pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan, over the weekend.

The body of Ravi Sharma, 25, of Number 60 Village, was discovered in the yard of his mother in Corentyne. He resided with his mother and was said to be an alcoholic.

On Monday last Sharma went home intoxicated and ordered his mother to vacate the house. When she returned about 06:00h the following day she discovered his body in the yard.

The dead man’s friend and drinking buddy was later arrested and subsequently gave a confession statement, claiming that he and Sharma had fought over a portable DVD player. Later the suspect changed his story and confessed that

Dead: Ravi Sharma

he was having a relationship with Sharma’s mother and he had disapproved. Investigators were told that on the night of the incident Sharma vented his disgust over the relationship and a fight ensued. It was during the fight that Sharma was allegedly stabbed.

Meanwhile, the suspect is expected to appear in a Berbice court on Monday to answer the capital charge. (Andrew Carmichael)

Govt’s defence a pathetic attempt...

from page 8

Jagdeo explained that the statement from the Director of Public Information omitted to recognise the billions of dollars which will be collected from the increase of Personal Income Tax from 30 per cent to 40 per cent and on allowances; the increase in Travel Tax, the increase in Corporation Tax, a new Environmental Tax and a host of other new tax measures.

Moreover, he outlined that the release deliberately failed to allude to the billions of dollars that will be generated by the increase of fees in over 50 different areas, including, increase fees for late filling of Personal Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Property Tax returns, increase in interest rate for late payment of tax, astronomical increase for fines for failing to keep proper tax records, new and higher fees for passports, higher fees for driving permits, higher fees for certificates of compliance, increase in several dozens of fees under the Customs Act, increase in a number licensing fees and the imposition of a two per cent tax on contractors.

Furthermore, Jagdeo asserted that Khan also deliberately excluded the billions of dollars that will be received from Government spending which now attracts VAT. In fact, he referred to page 73 of the Finance Minister’s budget speech, where he said “tax revenue is expected to increase by 8.9 per cent to 162.6 billion, reflecting a considerable increase in collections of VAT due to the measures to be implemented in 2017.”

According to the Leader of the Opposition, no amount of propaganda from any “spin doctor” can change and distort the very clear language of the Finance Minister himself.

Jagdeo noted that it is estimated that conservatively, the

Government will receive an increase in taxes of approximately $25 billion in VAT alone.

On the other hand, the Opposition Leader went onto address theelectronic programme created by Government called the “salary calculator”, which Khan said computes salaries under the new system and will show the increased take-home salary, total taxes to be paid and the National Insurance Scheme contribution.

Jagdeo noted that this was an attempt on the part of Government to deflect criticisms on the new measures imposed by the budget.

“What the calculator will never tell the citizen is: what is the real spending power of his/ her salary as a result of this budget. The calculator does not tell the citizen that their allowances are now subject to tax.

This new calculator will also never tell the citizen by how much their cost of living has skyrocketed as a result of this budget,” he explained.

The Opposition Leader posited that added to a “draconian and an inhumane” budget, Guyanese are now faced with a situation where they have to cope with “insensitive and idiotic” attempts by the Government to insult and mock their collective intelligence.

Meanwhile, Khan in his statement pointed out that the reduction of VAT from 16 to 14 per cent “will dent” the national treasury by $4.8 billion while the loss from the reduction in Personal Income Tax will cost another $3.8 billion.

He noted that the Government can assure that all employees under the new proposed Personal Income Tax system will have a take-home salary, come January 2017, which is higher than their current takehome salary.

news

17

SunDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Anna's

Has the government declared war on Guyanese?

I

f one thing can be said about Budget 2017, it’s that it’s not a budget for the poor, and definitely not one that will stimulate economic growth. Instead, it might just kill consumerism and small businesses altogether!

Miners, entrepreneurs, small businesses, donkey cart owners, cleaners, vendors, farmers, housewives: all are Anna Correia concerned come 2017, and what’s certain is that people will find alternative means to thrive and subsist. If there’s one thing that Guyanese learnt from history, it’s how to survive.

As PSU executive Ramesh Persaud, said: “the stricter the government, [the] wiser the population”.

Let’s start with the subject on everyone’s lips at the moment: A 14% increase on GWI and GPL bills above $1500 and $10,000, respectively. A family possessing all the basic appliances for a decent life in modern-day Guyana, along with other useful necessities such as, for example, a transformer to convert electricity, a computer and related equipment, a blender and other kitchen appliances, a microwave oven or a washing machine, will already be overstepping the monthly imposed $10,000 limitation. Modest families (a good half of the population) will be forced to sacrifice their comfort to save a few dollars at the end of the month. But what’s more is that there will never be compensation for GPL’s disgraceful service which blights Guyanese with hours upon hours of blackouts, ranking the company among the most hated, disreputable entities in Guyana. Despite that the Amaila Hyrdro Project presented a liberating and sustainable solution for Guyana’s energy dilemma, the coalition prefers to make us pay more taxes to live in oppression.

As for the quality of GWI’s service, we’re all familiar with the brownish vitriol spewed daily by our taps, having to use “blue” to obtain brighter white school shirts, having to let rust settle in our buckets, or having to cope without water from 10 am to 3 pm everyday (ask the Essequibians what they think about this; most of them still drink rain water!). Yes, we’re going to pay a scurrilous increase of 14% for sheer mediocrity. Cash crop and livestock farmers who depend on tap water for business, might just be tempted to scale up the prices of their products, and rightfully so.

Then there’s the case of abolishing zero-rated items, converting them to exempt products. Not only does this penalize businesses which would no longer be able to reclaim VAT, but as a result will engender increases on basic kitchen necessities, including milk for children. The people living in the hinterland are already forced to pay much more for food items due to poor infrastructure and distance which significantly augment transportation costs. Subsequently, they will be the first to feel the backlash of this measure which will add to the cost of living. A plausible scenario is the multiplication of contraband activities importing products coming from Venezuela and Brazil at much cheaper prices (already the case for some items).

What calls for equal worry, is the risk of seeing the cost of medical supplies and services increase by up to 14%, which will take a toll on the working class and poorer families.

Amerindians are already struggling to cope with the cost of medical expenses, including transportation fees, causing some families to even become stranded in Georgetown being unable to fund their return home. (During the penury of medication which hit Guyana under George Norton’s watch, Amerindian patients were already unable to finance prescriptions in private drugstores). Other major increases and inflexible penalties on small businesses appear to be more of a punishment than a progressive reform. In addition to the proliferation of contrabandists, big businesses might adapt to propose alternatives to Guyanese consumers, albeit sacrificing quality in the process. A new form of competition might emerge but always at the benefit of the rich minority and detriment of the small woman and man. Where the State ought to guarantee some level of security for its people in the development phase of our history, it is pauperising them, rendering them vulnerable to those who have the resources and will to thrive off the backs of the poor. All changes must be progressive, unlike the 2017 reforms which leave no space for Guyanese to transition comfortably. The coalition is by its actions, the closest thing to a right-wing establishment we could hope to see in Guyana.

It ignores that a progressive, socially just Government is what paves the way for human development.

Victim in Eccles fatal accident identified T

he woman who was crushed to death by a motor lorry along the Haags Bosch Dump Site Road, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Friday, has been identified as 39-year-old Mary Rudolph Williams of Lot 130 Kaneville, EBD. The woman, who grew up in Fourth Street Craig, EBD, lived with her husband who is presently in the interior. At the time of her demise, she had visited a friend at Bagotstown and was heading towards the East Bank Highway when she came into contact with the rear wheel of the motor lorry bearing registration number GPP 1637.

She was clad in a pair of blue jeans and a white blouse. One side of her footwear was in close proximity to the body while the other was under the truck.

Several persons at the

Mary Williams' body lying on the roadway

scene of the accident claimed that the driver of the truck was on his mobile phone but the driver, Lloyd Williams of Timehri, EBD, is holding out that it was the woman who was on her handset

when the accident occurred.

She had just exited Norton Street, Bagotstown, and walked onto the main access road when she was killed. The driver of the motor lorry remains in Police

custody as investigations continue. Her mother and sister who reside overseas were contacted and are expected to arrive in Guyana over the weekend.

18 news

SunDAY, december 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Scenes from Prince Harry’s visit to Regions Eight and Nine where he experienced Guyana’s wealth of natural beauty.

During his tour of the interior, the Prince visited Kaieteur National Park, Surama Village and particularly the flag ship of Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda, the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development.

SunDAY, DECEMber 4, 2016

19

Real Madrid strike late to snatch El Clasico draw

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Luis Suarez has nine goals and three assists in La Liga this season

aptain Sergio Ramos scored a stoppage-time equaliser to extend Real Madrid's unbeaten start to the season and deny Barcelona victory in a bad-tempered El Clasico.

Luis Suarez's glancing header from Neymar's left-wing free-kick put Barcelona ahead at the Nou Camp.

But in a frantic ending, Cristiano Ronaldo went close before Ramos headed home Luka

Premier League pays tribute to plane crash victims

Chelsea and Manchester City's players observed a minute's silence before the game

P

remier League players have paid tribute to the victims of Monday's Colombian plane crash that killed 19 members of Brazilian side Chapecoense.

Many more support staff and journalists covering the club were among the 71 who died in the crash outside Medellin.

A minute's silence was held at matches in England and Scotland on Saturday.

Chelsea's Brazil defender David Luiz, whose side beat Manchester City 3-1, said: "I give this victory to the people who died."

Luiz's former team-mate, Arthur Maia, was one of the victims of the crash.

"It was a difficult week for us, especially emotionally," added Luiz, who held up his black armband alongside team-mate Willian when the latter scored against Manchester City.

"It was difficult to prepare the head for this type of game. Now we pray for the families, for comfort they have as it is a very hard time for them."

Blues midfielder Willian said he "wanted to do this for them, to say they have to keep strong".

Chelsea's Brazil-born striker Diego Costa added: "We pray for them, that God comforts their hearts.

"We have this job and sometimes we travel a lot. We need to pray for everyone inside the plane - the journalists as well as the players.

"I had some friends there also. It's a sad moment for everybody and we hope we can help them somehow."

Modric's free-kick to earn a point for Zinedine Zidane's La Liga leaders.

Leaders Real remain six points clear of defending champions Barca after 14 matches.

Barca were moments away from reducing the gap to three points when Real captain Ramos pounced to make it 33 games without defeat for his side.

Real are approaching the winter break in the driving seat, Barca having gone three matches without a league win.

Barca forward Neymar, who was one of six players booked, will be suspended for next Saturday's match at Osasuna.

The hosts started slowly and managed only one attempt on goal - a Lionel Messi free-kick was comfortably gathered by Keylor Navas - in a scrappy first half.

In contrast, Ronaldo had three attempts in the opening 45 minutes as Luka Modric dominated for Real in midfield.

While far from their fluid best, Barca were better after the break and went in front when Raphael Varane conceded a free-kick just outside his area and Suarez nodded home from close range.

Messi, who has now gone six games without scoring against Real in all competitions,

missed a g r e a t chance to double the lead after a lovely pass from substitute Andres Iniesta, on his return from injury, before Ramos had the final say.

The 30-year-old defender is establishing a reputation for scoring crucial late goals in big games.

Ramos scored a 93rd-minute equaliser against Atletico Madrid to send the 2014 Champions League final into extra time before Real won. He also forced extra time with a stoppage-time equaliser in the 2016 Super Cup final, which Real also went on to win.

Both teams are in Champions League action in midweek. Real Madrid must beat Borussia Dortmund at the Bernabeu on Wednesday at 19:45 GMT to finish top of Group F. Barcelona have already qualified as Group C leaders. They entertain Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sundAY, decEMber 4, 2016

Chelsea rallies to eight straight win

C

helsea's eighth successive Premier League win cemented their place at the top of the table - but their victory at Etihad Stadium ended in chaos as Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho were sent off in injury time.

Antonio Conte's side delivered an impressive statement of intent as they cut City apart on the break after going behind to Gary Cahill's own goal on the stroke of half-time, when he diverted Jesus Navas' cross beyond keeper Thibaut Courtois.

The game turned on Kevin de Bruyne's 56th-minute miss with City in control, crashing Navas' cross against the bar from inside the six-yard box.

Chelsea were level on the hour when Diego Costa outmuscled Nicolas Otamendi to score and they were ahead 10 minutes later when substitute Willian raced clear to beat City keeper Claudio Bravo with ease.

Eden Hazard completed a magnificent win for Chelsea with another goal on the break, showing too much pace for Aleksandar Kolarov to wrap up three vital points.

Chelsea's renaissance since a 3-0 loss at Arsenal in September left them in eighth place, eight points behind then leaders City, has been hugely impressive - but this is their most powerful statement of the season.

Eight wins from eight and only two goals conceded tells the story and this win against City was the second week in succession they have come from behind to beat a team that could be regarded as realistic title rivals after overcoming Tottenham at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

They were tested by periods of City domination, but showed a ruthlessness to match their steely resilience and tore Pep Guardiola's side to shreds in the closing 20 minutes.

Conte's switch to a three-man defensive system and the rejuvenation of key men such as Costa and Hazard is making this Chelsea side resemble the full title package. (BBCSPORT)

Eden Hazard scored Chelsea's third goal in the 90th minute, sealing their eighth Premier League win in a row

Debutant Afif's 5 for 21 stuns Chittagong − Rangpur beat Barisal

D

ebutant offspinner Afif Hossain became the youngest player to pick up a five-wicket haul in T20s as Rajshahi Kings swept past Chittagong Vikings in Mirpur. The six-wicket win helped Rajshahi draw level with Chittagong, Rangpur Riders, and Khulna Titans on the points table. Rajshahi, though, will have to hope for tomorrow's results to go in their favour if they are to make the last four. Chittagong, on the other hand, are through to the playoffs.

Afif did the star turn for Rajshahi, and also became the first Bangladesh to collect a five-wicket haul on T20 debut. He was brought into the attack in the fifth over, and Jahurul Islam welcomed him with back-toback lofts over mid-off for fours. He then had Jahurul lbw off the next ball; given out by umpire Nadir Shah despite an inside edge onto the back pad. In his next over, Afif accounted for Chris Gayle with a very full delivery. He pressed on to remove Zakir Hasan - caught superbly by Sabbir Rahman running in from long-on - and Saqlain Sajib and Imran Khan to complete his five-wicket haul.

Amid the damage, Shoaib Malik fought his way to an unbeaten 67 off 54 balls, including six fours and three sixes.

He scored just more than 60% of Chittagong's 111 for 9. West Indies fast bowler Kesrick Williams pitched in with two wickets, including that of Tamim Iqbal, who was bowled for a first-ball duck.

Rajshahi lost Nurul Hasan and Mominul Haque early in the slim chase, but finished it off in 13.5 overs to lift their net-run-rate. New Zealand allrounder James Franklin led the way with the bat, making an unbeaten 63 off 27 balls, including five fours and four sixes.

Meanwhile Six Rangpur Riders bowlers were among the wickets as they strangled Barisal Bulls' batting to win by 29 runs in Mirpur. Notching up their first win in four matches, Rangpur moved to third while Barisal ended their season in last place.

Defending 154, Rangpur's bowlers never let Barisal settle. Sohag Gazi struck in the first over, removing Rayad Emrit, who had been promoted to open the innings, and dismissing Mushfiqur

Rahim in his next over, before Naeem Islam sent back a dangerous-looking Jeevan Mendis, whose five-ball stay included two sixes.

Fazle Mahmud added 39 with the opener Dawid Malan before he was dismissed on 21 by Shahid Afridi's third ball of the match, leaving Barisal 68 for 4. Four balls later, Malan fell for 30 to Anwar Ali with the team's score unchanged. Rangpur had sent back half of Barisal's batting within their first ten overs. Thisara Perera looked to hit out, and struck two sixes as he attempted to chase down a now improbable target before Afridi had him caught by Naeem Islam for a 17-ball 24.

Liam Dawson then had Shahriar Nafees top-edging to short third-man before pinning Taijul Islam plumb in front with a yorker to finish with figures of 2 for 11.

Rubel Hossain, wicketless till then, ended the match with successive, inch-perfect yorkers - the second one a slower version of the first - to rattle the stumps of Monir Hossain and Kamrul Islam Rabbi.

In the first innings, Rangpur's 154 could best be described as a patchy performance. Opener Mohammad Shahzad scored a 40-ball 48 and added 76 for the second wicket with Mohammad Mithun after Soumya Sarkar fell for 17. Shahzad's innings, which contained four fours and one six, ended in the fifteenth over after he missed a full ball from Emrit that struck him flush on the pad.

The 63-ball partnership ended with the team 105 for 2, bringing Afridi to the crease. He played a typical three-ball innings: taking a single, hitting a six - a short ball dispatched straight over the bowler - and holing out to mid-off, off Kamrul. The pacer was expensive - although he took two crucial wickets - going at an economy rate of 9.75 in his four overs.

Just as Rangpur seemed set to post a really big total, Mithun, who made a controlled 41-ball 38 attempted a lofted shot off Perera but failed to connect cleanly, only managing to hit it as far as deep midwicket. Perera then removed Anwar Ali as well, before Ziaur Rahman and Dawson added 16 in the last over - including a last-ball six - to take Rangpur to 154.

Rangpur Riders have their future in their own hands.

A win in their last match against Comilla Victorians assures them of a semifinal spot, while a loss will l e a v e them waiting anxiously on other results t o know their fate.

(CRICINFO)

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O

n a day blessed with brilliant sunshine, the Smalta Girls’ Pee Wee Football tournament continued on Saturday at the Ministry of Education ground with 41 goals being scored in the double round.

Defending champions, St. Stephen’s Primary were once again dominant and showed good form when they completed a super Saturday with two victories. They had an easy opening game after St. Margaret’s Primary failed to show up while in their second encounter, they defeated Tucville Primary 3-0.

Kezia Parkinson slotted in a double before Odelli Straughn added a goal of her own to seal the deal and crown a clinical day for the champions who will return next week full of confidence of marching on in the tournament.

Tucville however, started the day with a hard fought 3-2 victory against Redeemer Primary. Redeemer, did not help themselves by slipping in two own goals in the ninth and 26th minutes while Sheriah Headley found the back of the net in the 27th. Redeemer got a goal each from Kelisha Patterson in the 14th minute and Rayana Peters in the 31st as they tried desperately to level things up but the damage was already done.

Gabriella Mc Garrell scored five goals in West Ruimveldt Primary School’s drubbing of Smith’s Memorial Primary 6-0. In the high intensity game, McGarrell opened the scoring in the sixth minute and was finding the back of the net almost every time she got the ball. She went on to score in the ninth, 19th, 25th and 28th minutes while Priscilla Edwards scored in the 10th. For Smith’s Memorial, Aaliyah Beverney was the lone scorer when she converted in the 14th.

North Georgetown Primary had mixed fortunes when they beat Winfer Garden’s and then drew with West Ruimveldt. Against Winfer Garden’s Alicia James scored a hat trick which was unanswered. The busy James scored in the sixth, 10th and 15th minutes. However, she was not done there.

In the hard fought draw against West Ruimveldt she was her school’s lone scorer when she executed in the 20th minute. For West Ruimveldt Gabriella Mc Garrell continued from where she left off against Smith’s Memorial when she scored in the replied in the 24th minute to earn an exciting draw.

St. Agnes Primary played a very good game against St. Gabriel’s Primary beating them 5-0. Amana McPherson scored a hat trick while Shequeena Smith and Divine Williams inked their names on the score sheet with goals of their own.

F.E. Pollard Primary was beaten by Enterprise 1-2 with Emmaria Mercier scoring in the 12th and Tanya Mohabir in the 14th for Enterprise.

F.E. Pollard’s lone goal came off the boot of Cedranessa Benn in the 13th minute.

However, F.E Pollard tasted success after Stella Maris was a no show

St. Stephen’s Primary goal scorers Kezia Parkinson and Odelli Straughn

and the game was awarded via walkover. St. Angela’s Primary also benefited from Stella Maris Primary‘s absence via walkover.

Karen Jupiter scored a brace to help St. Pius beat South Ruimveldt 3-2. Kerry Boyce opened the scoring in the third minute before Jupiter finished the job. South Ruimveldt did not go down without a fight with Raven Jacobs trying desperately with two goals (9th and 25th minutes) and the game seemed to be panning out in a draw but Jupiter was on target in the 31st minute to spark wild celebrations.

The Boyce/Jupiter combination worked again when St. Pius Primary trashed St. Gabriel’s 7-0. Jupiter opened the scoring in the 2nd minute while Boyce went to work and was on target in the 7th, 21st and 28th minutes. Boyce hat trick was matched by team mate Donna Lowe who was on target in the 10th, 22nd and 25th minutes to end a good day for their team.

Redeemer Primary won via walkover against St. Margaret's Primary while St. Angela’s Primary and Enterprise Primary played to a scoreless draw.

The final game of the day was won

by South Ruimveldt Primary who beat St. Agnes Primary 1-0 which was compliments of an own goal in the 21st minute.

Three rounds are now completed and at the end of the group stage of matches, the top two finishers from each group will progress to the quarterfinals.

The remaining eight teams will faceoff for positions 9th to 16th until the tourney ends on December 17.

The tournament continues on Saturday at the same venue

22

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, DECEMber 4, 2016

GCA/ Noble House Seafoods 2nd division

TSC earns 1st innings in contrasting quarterfinals − Richardson leads GNIC with ton

T

he sun was out in its glory on Saturday and the day was conducive for cricket allowing all four quarterfinals in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ Noble House Seafoods second division two day competition its full day’s play.

Although the day was good for the gentleman’s game only three teams made good of it while three others had horrible displays and two had mix for-

Vishaul Jaigobin

tunes.

It was a great day for Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), Everest Cricket Club and last year’s finalist Transport Sports Club (TSC). It was a horrible day for powerhouse, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO).

While Malteenoes Sports

Ovid Richardson

Club (MSC) and Police were locked in battle at the end of day one.

TSC is the only team to claim first innings at the end of day one while GDF is close to doing so and could get there early on the second’s day (today) play.

Fierce battles are expected in the other two matches.

Led by 92 from experience player Devaughn Nandan, TSC scored 266 all out in 49 overs batting first. Nandan was supported by opener Sunil Singh, who made 52 while Charwayne McPherson and Azeem Azeez chipped in with scores of 37 and 29 respectively.

S. Ishmile led MYO’s bowling with figures of 4-39 and was assisted by T. Arjune, who claimed 2-29.

In response the host, MYO was bundled out for 51 in 20.1 overs. Richard Lattif made 19 while Keon Morris 5-36 and Kevin Ross3-8

caused havoc throughout the host innings.

With a lead of 215 and a semifinal berth insight, TSC enforced the follow on and MYO are currently on 53-6 from 15.2 overs.

Shahid Gittens made 22 while Joshua Wilson 5-11 and Keon Morris 1-14 are the wicket takers for TSC. Across at Camp Ayangana, former national youth player, Ovid Richarson (121), struck the day’s only century while

Kellon Carmichael

his colleague David Dick (98) missed out on a ton by just two runs after an excellent batting display posted a mammoth total of 3259 declared for the visitors against the military unit.

Another former junior player showed guts for GDF as he captured 5-58. His team mate, Leon Andrews, known more for his batting collected three scalps.

GDF in response

Devaughn Nandan

slumped to 22-7, before the day’s play ended with them facing an uphill task of getting 303 runs with just three wickets in hand.

Off spinner Gajanand Suknanan with three wickets and Rawle Merrel, who took two wickets so far have led GNIC’s charge.

At Carifesta Avenue, host Everest was still batting after the entire day went in their favour as they were able to close on 368-7 from 90 overs. Their most

Khemraj Ramdeen

consistent performer with the bat, Khemraj Ramdeen was once again focus on getting his job done as he managed a top score of 97.

West Indies u-19 selectee Bhaskar Yadram marked his call up to the Caribbean junior team with a brisk 63 while Dwayne Adams hit 58. Kamesh Yadram and Ashkaya Persaud were also among the runs with respective scores of 42 and 41.

Everest batting was good from the start with

Bhaskar Yadram

a 64 run opening partnership between Persaud and Shaheed Mohamed (21) and continued through the innings and included a keen 93 run fifth wicket partnership between Ramdeen and Adams, which saw the host moved from 222-4 to 315-5.

The experience duo of Linden Lyght 3-57 and Dennis Squires 2-71 were the most successful option for DCC.

TTFA boss promises Hart Stanleytown and Tucburg replacement advance to final soon

David Dick

In probably the most balance clash off the day, Police trails MSC by 185 runs with nine wicket in hand at Eve Leary.

Malteenoes scored 245 all out compliments of Kellon Carmichael’s (77) and starts from Clarence Baird 35 and Carlyle Collins 30. That was despite a superb bowling performance from Vishal Jaigobin, who snared seven victims.

The host closed the day on 60-1 in their reply.

It was a good day for GCA’s cricket although some teams did not deliver on the first day.

Nevertheless today lots are expected from all the team and the clash between DCC and Everest is expected to be the keenest of the four matches. Not to take away from the intensity from the other matches.

Play is scheduled to get underway at 10:30h in all matches.

Berbice Inter-ward 8-a-side

S

tanleytown and Tucburg Park have set a date in the final of the Christmas 8-aside inter-ward tournament in Berbice with wins on Friday evening when semifinal action was held at the All Saints Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) In the first game of the doubleheader, Vryman’s Ervin and Stanleytown played to a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time. The two teams then went to the penalty spot to decide the winner.

In game two, a Dale Ferdinand goal is all that was needed to send Tucburg trough as they needled Vryman’s Ervin.

Tucburg and Stanleytown last met in November in the final of the Town Day football tournament. Tucburg will out to revenge their loss then. On paper, Stanleytown seems the better of the two teams.

However, Tucburg has shown remarkable improvement in their game on Friday against Vryman’s Ervin.

Meanwhile, Canje and Vryman’s Ervin will meet on Friday evening for the third place.

At stake in the competition is $50,000 for the winning team, $30,000 for the second placed team and $20,000 for the team finishing third.

D

avid John-Williams, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), is promising that the national team won't be long without a coach.

While unfortunate that long-time coach Stephen Hart, the man who had led a revival of the country's standing in Caribbean football, had to be sacked, John-Williams said he was heartened at the response from top coaches looking to replace him.

According to Williams, the volume and calibre of the applications show that the country's football is held in high regard.

Hart was dismissed after two games in the final round of World Cup qualifying

Stephen Hart

where the team lost 2-0 to Costa Rica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, before going down 3-1 to Honduras at the Estadio Olí mpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

“We are very close to appointing a national coach. The process is being followed as we speak,” Williams confirmed.

“The technical committee is meeting regularly… they will meet again [this week]. Hopefully, we’ll have the recommendation then. Thereafter, when we get the recommendation, it will go to the board for approval and hopefully within the next 72 to 96 hours we will have an announcement on who’s the new national coach.” (Sportsmax)

guyana-times.com

sundAY, DECEMber 4, 2016

Wins for Conquerors, Kings in Elite League latest action

23

Competitive Trophy Stall Tennis Doubles serves off

T

here were contrasting wins for Victoria Kings and Fruta Conquerors as action in the Stag Elite League continued on Friday night at the Fruta Conquerors ground in Tucville.

In the night’s first match Victoria Kings def e a t ed Buxton United 2-1. Seon Robinson and Calvin DeSouza were the scorers for the winners in the 3rd and 72nd minutes while Devon Dennis registered his team’s lone goal in the 21st minute.

It was a tough match for both teams as they fought tireless to the close but it was the newcomers who had everything to smile about when the final whistle was blown.

In the second match, host Fruta Conquerors demolished Monnederlust by a 4-0 margin in a one sided affair.

The host were at their best in the second half where they managed three goals to go with the one from the first 45 minutes. Leon Richardson, Eon Alleyne, Kwamie La Fleur and Jermine Junor were the scorers in that encounter.

Action in the League will now shift to Linden for two matches tomorrow starting at 16:00h at the Mackenzie Sports Club.

Action in the Victoria Kings and Buxton match

WICB reach out to errant Bravo

T

he impasse between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Darren Bravo could be at an end after it seemed headed for court before that.

The problems began after Bravo was

offered a 'C' contract by the WICB, the lowest attainable central retainer, which the West Indies number-three refused.

In explaining the decision, WICB president, Dave Cameron spoke on SportsMax's SportsMax Zone, about the batsman's falling average, saying he couldn't be kept on an 'A' contract with poor performances.

That fuelled an angry response from Bravo, who called Cameron a 'big idiot'. He was subsequently sent home from a tour of Zimbabwe, and asked to delete the tweet and apologise.

There was no apology

Darren Bravo

and the Tweet remained.

To add fuel to flames, Bravo sent a pre-action protocol letter to the WICB, informing the body of his intention to sue for unlawful dismissal.

The WICB, however, have taken a different tac, in the situation, offering to help Bravo to handle some of the pressures they believe he may be facing. "“The board has recognised that Bravo is a young man with immense cricketing talent but it believes he’s not dealing with issues in the right way at the moment," said a source of the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.

According to the WICB source, the cricket oversight body in the Caribbean is willing to provide counselling though his Queen's Park CC. “He is too much of a talent to be lost to West Indies cricket and the board is not saying that they are done with him,” said the source.(Sportsmax)

The Kalekyezi brothers (white jerseys) Joshua left and Jeremiah in their match against Benjaton Osbourne and Asif Subhan

T

ennis ultimate tournament for 2016 was in full action yesterday with three matches completed before press time at the National Racquet Centre.

Starting the day was a heated clash in the men’s doubles. In that event the pair of Oswin Coggins and Steven Bailey defeated Sjimron Lewis and Ravi Ramprasad in three sets of 6/4 3/6 6/1.

Robert Bostwick and Khalid Gobin enter the second round without fatigue as they gained a walk over against Romario Chanderballi/ Philbert Clark in what was

supposed to be the second match of the day.

In the mixed doubles category national pair of Nicola Ramdyhan and her cousins Mark McDonald defeated Leyland Leacock and Kizzy Richmond 6/0 6/7 6/4 to set their campaign off to a good start.

In the final match of the day featuring the Kalekyezi brothers Joshua and Jeremiah versus Benjaton Osbourne and Asif Subhan, the former claimed victory with final scores of 5/7 6/2 6/2.

Action is expected to continue tomorrow at the said venue.

Cavs suffers third successive loss by Bulls, Spurs pip Wizards T

he Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their third consecutive defeat, losing 111-105 to the Bulls in Chicago on Friday.

Reigning NBA champions the Cleveland Cavaliers and their slump continued against the Chicago Bulls, while the San Antonio Spurs beat the Washington Wizards on the buzzer.

The Cavaliers suffered their third consecutive loss, upstaged 111-105 by the Bulls in Chicago on Friday.

Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater saw the Spurs past the Wizards 107-105.

The Los Angeles Clippers backed up their win over the Cavaliers, downing the New Orleans Pelicans 114-96.

Night to forget for Lebron

If rocking up to the United Center dressed in the Chicago Cubs' full team gear after losing a World Series bet to Wade was not bad enough, it got worse for James.

Despite scoring 27 points, James and the Cavs matched their longest losing streak of the season.

Wade posted 24 points for the Bulls, who were led by Jimmy Butler's 26.

Leonard lifts Spurs

As has been the case so often this season, Leonard was the game-winner for the Spurs.

Leonard hit a jump-shot with six seconds remaining as the Spurs extended their winning streak at home to the Wizards to 17 games.

He finished with 23 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points.

John Wall (17 points) had just tied the contest seconds earlier.

Griffin and Paul inspire Clippers

The high-flying Clippers had Blake Griffin and Chris Paul to thank on Friday.

Griffin recorded a double-double thanks to 27 points and 10 rebounds, while team-mate Paul had 17 points and 13 assists.

Despite hurting his shoulder, Anthony Davis put up 21 points for the Pelicans.

Raptors extend streak

Kyle Lowry led the way with 24 points as the Raptors accounted for the Los Angeles Lakers 113-80 - their fifth consecutive victory.

The New York Knicks overcame the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-114, the Detroit Pistons were too good for the Atlanta Hawks 121-85, the Boston Celtics defeated the Sacramento Kings 97-92, the Orlando Magic beat the Philadelphia 76ers 105-88, while the Houston Rockets trumped the Denver Nuggets 128-110. (Sportsmax)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016

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

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Smalta Girls’ Pee-Wee Football Tournament 2016…

Page 21

41 goals scored in double round

− Defending champions showing good form Players from West Ruimveldt Primary and North Georgetown Primary in an gripping contest at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue on yesterday

GCA/ Noble House Seafoods 2nd division Page 22

TSC earns 1st innings in contrasting quarterfinals − Richardson leads GNIC with ton

Khemraj Ramdeen plays a perfect straight drive in his top score of 97 at the Everest Cricket Club

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