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F Division launches Bartica Youth Summer Programme P14

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2923

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, July 22, 2016

PRICE

SARU has no prosecuting powers, but operating legally – Trotman

WHAT'S INSIDE:

CXC to P12 introduce new “Green Engineering” CAPE syllabus

Page 7

… says ‘Special Prosecuting Unit’ being considered

Teen hacks stepfather to death Page 7

$80 vat included

13 months into scrap metal ban

Govt has no right to suspend trade for more than a year – GMRA

Page 13

Early morning fire leaves 7 homeless

Port P13 Kaituma roads to be rehabilitated – Chairman

West Ruimveldt businessman fends off bandits in robbery P11 attempt

Page 7

Commonwealth SG says P10 Iwokrama can become testing bed for alternative energy

The damaged Ogle, East Coast Demerara home

CoI dismisses corruption Abolition of death claims levelled penalty not a priority at CANU – President …discovers administrative Page 3

… Govt in “no rush” to hold consultations

Page 7

deficiencies

Govt likely to waive interest on outstanding UG student P9 loans

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news

friDAY, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry given $60M in donations

A

charitable organisation has made a sizeable donation to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

On Thursday, the Hope for the Nation Foundation donated $60 million worth of medical supplies, food, clothing, building and other materials to the Government of Guyana.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, who accepted the donation, noted that it was “timely” given the fact the country’s indigenous people have been hopeful for relief.

“The donation has come at a time when the indigenous people have been looking for [it],” Allicock noted.

He reiterated further that the donation is “significant” to his Ministry as many residents in interior villages have been asking for support. The Minister added that the donation to the hinterland region will aid in the national development of the country.

The donation was handed over to Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

Meanwhile, President of the Hope for the Nation Foundation, Dr Abubakir Abdel Bari, who originally came to Guyana from Sudan in 1980, pointed out that he felt obligated to give back to

the country.

“Guyana helped me so much and I thought that I had to give something back to [the country],” Dr Bari noted.

The general practitio-

ner further explained that the donations were solicited principally from donors in the United States (US).

“It is a collective effort [among] a couple of us, who met during the President’s inauguration, we came back with the idea that we need to do something for our country to help…they got in touch with other organisations in the States, we used social media,” the activist noted.

He also noted that donors came from as far as China, Taipei, and the United Arab Emirates.

“Four containers came, and we have others coming…one of the backgrounds we have is that if any disaster takes place here now, we could say we have this problem and they’re going to come”, Dr Bari noted.

Hope for the Nation’s theme is “Helping where it matters the most.” There are several groups located across the country.

Campbellville drainage issue to be addressed – M&CC

T

A silted-up drain in Bel Air, Georgetown

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in collaboration with the Public Infrastructure Ministry will soon be relieving residents of the poor and unsanitary drainage situation in Campbellville, Georgetown.

On Thursday, a team of M&CC Councillors, including Alfred Mentore, Phillip Smith and Akeem Peters, in the company of Community Coordinator of th Public Infrastructure Ministry Neilson McKenzie visited the communities of Bel Air Park; Section K, Campbellville; Lamaha Gardens; D’Andrade Street; and Newton, Campbellville, to evaluate the drainage dilemma affecting the areas.

According to McKenzie, the examination was a “fact finding exercise to determine what are the persistent problems that have been plaguing these communities for a long while and how we could work together to remedy these situations to ensure that citizens ben-

efit from improved drainage, improved de-silting mechanisms to ensure the yards are not flooded, the streets are not flooded, the businesses are not flooded, and to ensure a better quality of life for all.”

Through the inspections, it was disclosed that the poor conditions of the drains required urgent attention due to the drains being blocked with weeds and being heavily silted, preventing proper drainage in the community.

“It is a priority because it has been this way for a number of years,” McKenzie explained.

Meanwhile, during this visit, the spotlight was also placed on the deteriorated roads, but according to McKenzie, “there is need for proper drainage before the road is constructed.”

Councillor Mentore relayed that the communities perused are within his constituency and he intends to fulfill the promises he made and attempt to bring a solution to the problems affecting residents there.

news

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friDAY, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 22 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, July 23 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, July 22 – 05:45h-07:15h and Saturday, July 23 – 06:30h-08:00h.

Abolition of death penalty not a priority – President … Govt in “no rush” to hold consultations

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 in the morning and early afternoon hours, while light cloudy conditions can be expected in the late afternoon hours. Clear skies can be expected in the evening with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 0.89 metre and 4.02 metre.

D

espite repeated calls from the international community, the death penalty will not be abolished anytime soon in Guyana, with top Government officials declaring that this measure is not a priority.

One day after United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) officials urged

tion,” he explained.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, during the chairing of the post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, iterated that there is no urgency in abolishing the death penalty.

In fact, he explained that it is a complicated situation given that the death penalty needs to be enshrined

High Tide: 06:00h and 18:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.76 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:59h reaching a minimum height of 0.46 metre.

Government said it was in no rush to abolish the death penalty

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that the death penalty be removed from the law books, Government affirmed that there is no rush for this to occur since there has already been a moratorium on capital punishment since 1997.

President David Granger, during a recording of his weekly telecast “The Public Interest” on Thursday, made it clear that all governments have their priorities; however, the abolition of the death penalty is just not a pressing matter to pursue.

Positing that his utmost priorities are the eradication of poverty and alleviation of illiteracy, President Granger argued that the sidelining of this issue does not mean his Government will rush to execute prisoners.

“Right now, persons who are being convicted and sentenced to death will not fear that the penalty will actually be carried out… It is not one of my priorities to order the death penalty, I am not about to order an execu-

in the country’s laws in order to be compliant with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regime.

“We are aware that recent laws dealing with countering terrorism include the death penalty brought us in compliance with FATF. We are placed in a position where credible international organisations are calling us to enact certain laws which we complied with so we may not be put on certain lists and made a pariah state where terrorism is concerned,” he stated.

Notwithstanding, Trotman said holding consultations on the matter is

not important at this moment.

“Government is not rushed to remove it from the books. Should we do so, we will have widespread consultations with the people of Guyana,” the Minister said.

The conversation surrounding the abolition of the death penalty in Guyana became slightly complex after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration included capital punishment in its anti-terrorism laws, even though it had signed on to join worldwide efforts to abolish the death penalty.

Ahead of a judicial colloquium on the death penalty on Wednesday at the Marriott Hotel, several UN and EU officials once again emphasised the importance of the death penalty to be repealed and called on Government to make advancements in this regard.

The officials also expressed hope that Cabinet will find it fit to remove capital punishment from the recently passed Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation.

With Government insisting that the death penalty is required to render Guyana FATF compliant, others are contending that this is not the case.

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had

President David Granger

asserted that in other countries deemed FATF compliant, the death penalty is abolished.

He pointed out that in France, where FATF is headquartered, the death penalty has been abolished decades ago; and the country is still FATF compliant.

Nandlall had lamented that the country will only suffer, having the death penalty still enshrined in its laws while standing in solidarity with the worldwide movement to abolish capital punishment, which has been deemed inhumane and completely ineffective in deterring crime.

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fridAY, july 22, 2016

Views The digital generation 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

Population change and migration

T

he Bureau of Statistics earlier this week released the official data of the 2012 National Population and Housing Census. Interesting enough, the changes in the ethnic composition during the period 1980 to 2012 shows that the two main groups recording the highest percentage growth are the Amerindians and the mixed heritage groups. The numbers of each of these two groups have nearly doubled since 1980 and have almost offset the absolute decline noted for the same period in the two major ethnic groups.

According to the just released report, the Bureau of Statistics notes that with the reduction in the size of the entire population, the relative shares of the ethnic groups have expectedly changed with the two groups (Mixed and Amerindians), which have been consistently growing now, accounting for a greater share of the population at the expense of the two traditional dominant groups – the East Indian and African groups.

As it is, Guyana’s final population stands at 746,955, a decline of 4268. Undeniably, migration plays a major role in this decline. Migration has become deeply embedded in the psyche of Caribbean peoples over the past century and a half.

According to the World Bank data, it has evolved as the main avenue for upward mobility through the accumulation of capital – financial and social. Thus, the propensity for migration is high and there is a general responsiveness to the opportunities for moving whenever they occur.

As a consequence, there is a tendency for Caribbean countries to lose a disproportionate number of educated and skilled persons through migration, with a potentially negative impact upon small, developing states.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine was quoted in the media as saying that according to a World Bank report, 89 per cent of tertiary-educated nationals aged 25 and older have migrated. The report titled “A Gendered Assessment of Highly Skilled Emigration”,

by Frédéric Docquier, B Lindsay Lowell and Abdeslam Marfouk, stated that Guyana has the highest rate of migration of tertiary education graduates in the world and has really allowed itself to become “one of those cases where catastrophe has succeeded in remaining one stride ahead”.

Migration over the years has had tremendous impact on the strength of Guyana’s economy, with the educated and skilled citizens moving away to other countries.

Guyana is not an isolated case as brain drain is a matter of serious concern for almost all countries in the Caribbean. Globalisation has many complex effects, which will directly influence future trends in skilled migration from the developing world. However, it is time to explore solutions to maximise the benefits and minimise the losses encumbered. Initiatives need to be sought to retain qualified professionals and to encourage them to return from overseas.

Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine, in his paper “Guyana Population Movement and Societal Development”, stated that the return and transnational migration have had a profound impact on Guyanese society. The positive aspect is that returning Guyanese tend to introduce new skills, ideas, techniques as well as capital, which are much needed for growth and development.

Guyanese returnees are important sources of investment, as remittances have led to unprecedented levels of infrastructural development. However, there appears to be no sound action or procedure to capitalise on the benefits to be had from the Guyanese overseas Diaspora.

The final prognosis is that migration from and to Guyana will continue as long as there are unsound political and economic development in Guyana. As oil is expected to improve the economy, the administration needs to act now, to have policies, programmes and incentives to encourage Guyanese to return home.

Rains or no rains, floods or no floods, me and my phone are inseparable: A man sits on top of a car as he is stranded on a flooded street in Tianjin, China (Reuters/Stringer)

Banking red tape needs to be cut

Dear Editor, My visits to the banks in Guyana are a very frustrating experience. Last week I visited two banks at Water Street. The first bank I reached at about twelve noon. They only had about twelve people in the line but only two persons were working. Just to cash a cheque I took over one hour. I counted nine booths but only two tellers were working. The supervisors just put a blind eye to what was happening while many staff were just walking around doing nothing and gaffing all the time. If all the nine booths were occupied I would have left there in less than ten minutes.

I then walked over to another bank only to be greeted with a longer line of about sixty people. It was around 13:30h. I joined the line that was not moving, it was very hot and no one cares if the line was like a stagnant trench full of bushes.

I counted eighteen booths but only six staff were working, it seems the others were on a long lunch, but the supervisors doesn’t care to fill those empty booths with any other staff I see just walking around and gaffing. The six staff were working for the twelve that were gone to a

very long lunch.

All of this incompetence I see at all these major banks in Guyana is caused by very poor administration. The CEO and managers have no respect for our Guyanese citizens who have to stand for hours in these lines. They need to be fired.

After two hours I approached the teller with my filled out documents. She told me I need to bring my Passport, Tin Certificate and an expense invoice. I was a bit bothered because I gave them those things not too long ago, only the expense invoice that pertains to the amount of money I earned with my income and expenditure was new to me.

I finished my transaction and returned the next day with the documents they required to be greeted with the same long UN-moving line.

That process alone took an extra hour with many questions I had to answer.

I told their staff that they should have called or write to me requesting those documents long before and not wait until I reached there to be greeted by a ‘’steel wall.’’

I was told they are updating all customers’ accounts, all because of the money laundering bill. I have been hear-

ing that for a very long time so I now call on the Minister of Legal affairs to make the stipulations of this bill public when it comes to these banks by having a brochure given to all citizens of this country.

My questions are as follows: Why do the banks need two forms of Identifications?

Why do they need these things all the time: Proof of Address, Tin Certificate, Job letter or Affidavits, Picture, etc? Why the Gecom ID alone doesn’t work? It seems they don’t trust the ID from Gecom and they don’t accept a driver’s licence as a form of ID. Why can’t these banks write their customers, email them, or send letters, publish on TV or in the papers, of their new requirements?

Why wait until customers travel from very far to lose a day’s work for a few documents?

What does it say in the Anti-Money Laundering about customers’ requirements for banking?

To get a Passport, all I will need a good Birth Certificate and my Gecom ID card. Then I will take those to the immigration with my notarised passport form for a passport.

So why the banks just can’t accept the Gecom ID? On the issue of passports,

how many lines can there be at passport office now for persons to renew their passports or apply for one? The Passport Office lines gets longer daily because everyone wants to leave here since this new administration came to power, it’s the hard truth we must accept.

We have a serious migration problem in this country all because of poor wages and salary and bad administration for the past fifty years.

Our economy is at a standstill. This doesn’t bother our political leaders.

My next question for the banks: Why is it that no banks in Guyana have toilets and urinals? You wait for hours in lines but there are no washrooms for their customers, it’s so sad. I fully agree with Kissoon when he writes: ‘’Why is Guyana such a stupid place?’’

We waste hours and days in long lines for just simple things like a Passport, Birth Certificate, and a bank deposit. We are a nation far behind civilszation where the half-educated have risen to power into many offices they are not qualified to administrate. May God help us.

Yours truly, Rev Gideon Cecil

What an achievement, despite an uncooperative Congress!

Dear Editor, There have been times over the last seven years when the hope-and-change song that propelled Barack Obama to the presidency seemed like a cruel fiction. Yet despite taking the reins of a war-weary nation in the midst of an economic disaster and having to endure the unrelenting hostility of a stubborn opposition party, President Obama has wrought enormous changes during what has been the

most transformational presidency in eighty years.

He has executed farreaching reforms in a dysfunctional health-care system, raised school academic standards, legislated pay parity for women, transformed the way we produce energy through harnessing renewable resources, fought back against global warming, taken on the widespread childhood obesity with his First Lady, provided deportation relief to young immi-

grants, made legal same-sex marriage and opened new opportunities for women in the military.

In addition, President Obama saved the United States auto industry, has added nearly four million jobs, reduced unemployment to five per cent and the deficit by two/thirds to a tiny two point five per cent of GDP, engineered democratic tax reforms and removed the most usurious of credit card abuses, while today the

United States is a country of relative calm amid the global financial crisis.

He also took out Osama bin Laden, isolated President Vladimir Putin, normalised relations with Cuba, steadied relations with Iran and also ended the war in Iraq.

What an achievement, despite an uncooperative Congress!

Yours faithfully, Rooplall Dudhnath

guyana-times.com

friDAY, july 22, 2016

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

URP campaigned for a We do not need parking meters as yet change, not exchange Dear Editor, When the United Republican Party (URP) campaigned during the last General and Regional elections, one of our mantras was that Guyana needs a change, not an exchange. By now, after just one year, it is the general conscious of the residents and Diaspora of Guyana that we have been duped; we have voted for a change but got an exchange. Except for the cleaning up of the city, the Coalition Government has been embroiled in just about every corrupt scheme that the last administration has been known for. Just look at the latest BK scandals, the parking meter scandal and the refusal of the President to lower the VAT as they had promised.

How could the new government just give away tens of millions of dollars to friends and cronies just like that?

The PPP did it now the PNC (Coalition) is doing the very same things. Is this the changes that the many Guyanese voted for? Like we have said, Guyana got an exchange when they voted on May 11, 2015.

The administrators changed but the unpatriotic mindsets, with the intention to rape the country, remained the same.

What is even more disturbing is that in just a few months, this new administration is already competing in the area of skullduggery that the PPP took years to perfect.

It is scary to imagine what the APNU/AFC group will do to this country over the next four years and beyond. There seems to be one scandal after the next. And with all they are doing the people continue to suffer.

The URP took a team to the Black Bush Polder recently and what we saw and

learned were saddening. We saw broken dams and damaged roads. We saw a proliferation of unemployed youths and distraught faces. The farmers were complaining that they cannot get to their farms because of the conditions of the roads. When they approached the representatives for the area, they were told that they will not be assisted in fixing the dams. The farmers are now forced to pay an additional cost to boats, in order to have their fertilizers and workers taken into their farms.

Many of the folks we spoke to have expressed that they had decided to move away from the PPP and give the AFC a chance. They are now regretting. One man with deep sadness on his face and a breaking voice, remarked, “We did not expect this! Not this!” The disillusionment of Guyanese is further complicated by the fact that they are absolutely fed up with both the PNC (Coalition) and the PPP. The URP has been traversing the country and meeting with the ordinary man and woman, seeking to find out how we could help alleviate the sufferings in the areas that have been predominately affected over the last several years.

The folks in Essequibo, Wales and the Corentyne have been crying out bitterly.

From the loss of their jobs in the sugar sector to the stagnation in the rice industry, the hopelessness is stark.

Compounding the issue is the fact that the government seems at a complete loss as to where to go next.

Instead of easing the plight of the broke and broken citizens, every day the adminis-

tration is showing their selfish lack of concern, by imposing more and more austere measures on the poor folks. There have now added a tax on the importation of manufacturing materials and goods. This will cause a reduction of growth in the sector, or at least, it will drive up cost which will be passed on to the already financially strapped consumer.

Additionally, we were told that Guyanese citizens living abroad will no longer be able to benefit from the old age pension scheme.

Editor, please be reminded that the pension is a fixed $18,000 per month. The person imposing the restriction on the overseas pensioners just had her pay raised from $500,000 and it was made retroactive to two weeks after she took office. She is now paid $800,000 plus perks, which brings her government income to over $1.3 million a month.

Yet she is concerned about an old man’s and old woman’s meager $18,000.

It is obvious that this new government is completely aloof from the needs of the Guyanese people who elected them, and completely ignorant as to how to please their supporters.

In 13 short months, this government has run out of steam and is now just drifting along. The PPP was voted out of office because of the same behaviors; they had lost touch with the people, additionally, they had become corrupt.

Guyana can ill afford to have governments which take us for granted. Hopefully, next time around there will be real, genuine, change.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bandhu, URP Leader

Dear Editor, I would like to make a few points on the Parking Meter Project (PMP) of City Hall. I have three principled points which I wish to make and this does not include the length of the contract and the issues of transparency and competitive requests for proposals.

First, I asked the question: “Is there traffic congestion in the city centre and what the possible solutions are?”

Traffic congestion is primarily determined by the time delay which is incurred in moving from point A to point B. Some measures this time as much as 60 minutes for persons getting to and from work within a radius of five miles.

I will say that for the PMP the radius is half of a mile and the normal time to traverse this area by vehicle should be fifteen minutes.

I have logged commute time in all these areas and a person can move from Hadfield Street to Church Street on Avenue of the Republic in under that time in the busiest of periods. From Church Street to Hadfield Street via Camp Street in less than that time.

Travels between Cummings Street to Water Street via Croal Street, South Road, Regent Street, Robb Street, North Road or Church Street are all also under fifteen minutes. Thus I concluded that congestion is not the ill (at this time) we are trying to cure with the PMP. To increase traffic flows, all road users need to obey traffic rules. In the downtown areas the biggest obstacle to flows is the manner in which pedestrians cross the road.

There should be wardens placed at key crossings to regulate pedestrian crossings. This should be paid out of the taxes which are paid into city hall.

The downtown businesses and property owners pay more than their fair share of taxes to City Hall and receive the least amount of services.

Secondly, is it to assist with the issue of parking?

Along certain arteries the wait for a parking spot is under ten minutes. Most of the parking in the PMP area are taken up by store owners and their employees or the roadside vending. However, we have not met levels that demand critical action.

When the police started the current no diagonal parking along main downtown streets, there was an outrage about the decrease in parking. However, apart from circling a few times there is parking. Those who want to drive downtown are already consolidating trips to the city or taking taxis.

If we want the private sector to do parking as a business then we should not put parking meters, but allow the issue of demand and supply to allocate the investments necessary. The Parika private parking lot is a great local example of this. How not to do it is the City Hall’s reactive parking lot on East Street.

Is the PMP a good revenue earning measure? City Hall has to deal with the perennial problem that all local government authorities have to deal with, ie financing budgets.

We are told that the city will get 20 per cent of the revenues or about $200 million.

The Parking meter guru

recently said that central government will get 16 per cent also – I guess he is talking about VAT on the parking meters charges. That 16 per cent is not to be taken into the revenue equation.

Thus it means that City Hall is delegating revenue collection to a private company and willing to incur four times the revenue in collection cost for that revenue.

This must be the most inefficient tax collecting system ever.

Imagine GRA spending $800 billion to collect $200 billion. City Hall says 200 jobs will be created; this is not job creation, it’s cost of inefficiency. As a revenue programme the PMP cannot stand the test.

Additionally, the new local government laws talk about fiscal transfers, let’s wait on that.

Editor, here are some other observations: One would have expected that an outgoing council (the Nov 2015) would NOT have entered into any major contractual arrangements when they knew local government elections were around the corner. What really was their motive?

A new council would have looked at the operations of City Hall and work on improving efficiencies at all levels. I am sure that if they had done a review and a forensic audit we would have learnt much. Will they do it? It’s a fact when TC Shoba left office City Hall had $750 million in its account.

Now, it is that amount in debt?

How come I ask?

Thank you, Manzoor Nadir

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friday, july 22, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

The collapse of parenting: Why it’'s time for parents to grow up

— if anyone can be called the boss in modern, anti-hierarchical parenthood, it’s the children

BY CATHY GULLI

F

(Part 1)

or modern families, the adage “food is love” might well be more true put another way: food is power. Not long ago, Dr Leonard Sax was at a restaurant and overheard a father say to his daughter, “Honey, could you please do me a favour? Could you please just try one bite of your green peas?” To many people, this would have sounded like decent or maybe even sophisticated parenting – gentle coaxing formed as a question to get the child to cooperate without threatening her autonomy or creating a scene.

To Sax, a Pennsylvania family physician and psychologist famous for writing about children’s development, the situation epitomised something much worse: the recent collapse of parenting, which he says is at least partly to blame for children becoming overweight, overmedicated, anxious and disrespectful of themselves and those around them.

The restaurant scene is a prime example of how all too often adults defer to children because they have relinquished parental authority and lost confidence in themselves. They’re motivated by a desire to raise their children thoughtfully and respectfully. In theory, their intentions are good and their efforts impressive – moms and dads today

are trying to build up their children by giving them influence; they also want to please them and avoid conflict. In reality, parents are at risk of losing primacy over their children.

The dinner table is ground zero. “When parents begin to cede control to their children, food choices are often the first thing to slide,” Sax writes in his new book The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Children When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups. A rule such as “No dessert until you eat your broccoli” has recently morphed into “How about three bites of broccoli, and then you can have dessert?” The command has become a question capped with a bribe, as Sax puts it. Dinner at home requires polling children o n what they’re willing to eat; the options might include roast chicken and potatoes or chicken fingers and fries. You can bet which they choose. So parents renegotiate: How about sweet potato fries?

Parents in North America have become prone to asking their children rather than telling them. “It’s nat-

ural,” says Gordon Neufeld, a prominent Vancouver psychologist cited in Sax’s book.

“Intuitively, we know that if we’re coercive, we’re going to get resistance.” For trivial choices such as which colour of pants to wear, this approach is fine, he says. But “when we consult our children about issues that symbolise nurturance like food, we put them in the lead.”

That triggers an innate psychological response, and their survival instincts activate: “They don’t feel taken care of and they start taking the alpha role.”

So if the girl served green peas does eat one bite as her dad asked, Sax says, “she is likely to believe that she has done her father a fav o u r a n d that now h e owes

her a favour in return.”

Food may be the first manifestation of the collapse of parenting, but many of the problems within families are a result of this type of role confusion. In this way, what happens over a meal is a metaphor for how uncomfortable parents have become in their position as the

“alpha” or “pack leader” or “decider” of the family – the boss, the person in charge.

The grown-up.

That discomfort comes from a loving place, of course. Many parents strive to raise their children differently from how they grew up.

They say, “I can’t do the stuff I was raised with, it doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to yell, I don’t want to spank,” says Andrea Nair, a psychotherapist and parenting educator in London, Ontario, Canada. “There’s a massive parenting shift between our generation and the one before. We’ve come a long way from when you called your dad ‘sir’ and when he walked in the house you would jump out of ‘his’ chair.”

The evolution hasn’t been easy, though. “We’re trying to pull off the emotion coaching but we haven’t received the training,” says Nair. “It’s like teaching your children to speak French while you’re learning it in the textbook.” Parents have made it a top priority that their children feel heard and respected from a young age.

They want to be emotionally available to them, and for their children to be able to express their own emotions. “Children have permission to have tantrums now because [they’re] learning how to manage feelings,” says Nair. “Someone said to me, ‘Are we seeing more tantrums now than we used to?’

And I wonder.” (www.macleans.ca) TO BE CONTINUED

What's more important?

GPA or character?

BY JIM FAY

Are you more interested in your child's Grade Point Average (GPA) or his/her character and sense of responsibility?

Give yourself a big pat on the back if you answered character and responsibility! Children who grow up in a home where character and responsibility are modelled, valued, and enforced often have little trouble being successful in school and in their adult lives.

Even so, many parents find themselves in situations where the answer seems less than obvious. I recently had a call from a parent who was concerned about her teenager's behaviour. After some discussion, mom admitted the teen had stolen a credit card and purchased items through the Internet. However, mom's major concern was about her daughter lying about the purchases, not the criminal behaviour itself.

Several times the mother said, "I just don't want her to have a record." In desperation, I finally asked, "Are you saying you don't mind that she is a criminal, as long as she

doesn't look like a criminal?"

"Well, no," she replied. "But this is going to be so hard for her. What do I do?"

After spending more than 30 years as an educator and a parent, it was clear to me this mother needed to treat her teenager's mistake as an opportunity for her daughter to learn how to face the consequences of her choices. While it will cause some short-term pain, the long-term benefits will be a stronger, healthier sense of personal responsibility, the foundation of a solid character.

Of course, it's much easier to know what other parents should do about their misbehaving children. This mother is struggling with a trap many of us have fallen into. We love our children. When they are uncomfortable or hurting, we hurt even more. We want to protect them; it's only natural. However, our attempts to save children from the consequences of their mistakes have a great deal to do with comforting ourselves, instead of solving the problem.

Mom has fallen into another trap. She has bought into the belief that a child's self-concept is damaged when children experience the consequences of their mistakes. Nothing could be further from reality. In fact, the opposite is true: Self-concept is reduced every time a parent excuses bad behaviour.

The Love and Logic philosophy gives us a great solution for this dilemma. There is a way of holding children responsible for their actions without appearing mean or authoritarian. This wonderful technique leaves children thinking, "My parent is not the problem. My problem is my bad decision."

Give children a heavy dose of empathy or compassion before laying down any punishment or logical consequences.

This opens their minds and hearts to learn from their mistakes without blaming you. Then hold the line in a loving way to allow the consequences to teach an important life lesson.

In the case of the stolen credit cards, let's see how this teenager's mom might help her daughter face the natural consequences of making illegal purchases. Mom needs to resist the temptation to react in anger, which will only make her youngster defensive.

A heavy dose of empathy

Mom: "Oh, sweety, what a bummer. My heart goes out to you. What a problem. I bet you feel awful. Would it help if I went to the Police with you and held your hand while you explain this?"

Daughter: "But, mom, it's not fair! Can't you just get me a lawyer?"

Hold the line in a loving way

Mom: "Sweety, I love you too much to let you pass up this opportunity to learn about how the real world works."

(Mom needs to repeat this statement for each new argument the child tries.)

This is a sad story about a mother and a daughter who are paying a huge price. Neither of these people would be in this situation had mom started early handling the little problems and misbehaviours in this way.

Life provides a limited number of opportunities for children to build character and learn how the real world works.

Make the most of them! (loveandlogic.com)

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friday, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Early morning fire Teen hacks stepfather leaves 7 homeless to death

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The damaged Ogle East Coast Demerara home

fire early on Thursday morning at Ogle, East Coast Demerara has left seven persons homeless, including three children aged seven, 10 and 17.

The fire allegedly broke out around 06:30h at Lot 34 Railway Line, Ogle and was spotted by a tenant of the property.

Audrey Wilson, the owner of the property, said: “The fire apparently started in the apartment which we rent to two sisters. One was not at home at the time, while the other was sleeping in the front room. She woke up when she smelt the smoke and rushed downstairs to notify us. My husband then ran over to the building, but the fire was al-

ready too big.”

Wilson added that an alarm was raised and neighbours quickly came over to help move household items from the building and contact the Guyana Fire Service.

The fire truck reportedly reached the scene some 15 minutes later, but by that time the entire top floor was completely destroyed.

One neighbour, speaking to this publication, noted that the property also housed Wilo’s Electrical Store, which would have had flammable items and contributed to the blaze.

Wilson’s husband, Birley, broke down in tears explaining that no one was hurt, but the property was unin-

sured.

The businessman estimated his losses to be in excess of $40 million. He said he had spent his entire life trying to reach where he was in life and was heartbroken to see it go up in flames the way it did.

He mentioned that the two girls living in the apartment were the children of his friends and he always tried to help them out.

“They are nice people and I don’t know how this could have happened. All I hear is she come over and say something wrong, but the place was locked up.”

The father of three is contemplating his next move after seeing his main business destroyed.

CoI dismisses corruption claims levelled at CANU …discovers administrative deficiencies

CANU has been cleared of the damning allegation of a massive drug network involving its ranks

T

he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) has been cleared of the damning allegation of a massive drug network involving its ranks.

President David Granger disclosed on Thursday that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the corruption claims made by self-confessed drug lord Barry Dataram found the allegations were without merit. The CoI report is yet to be released publicly but based on the assertions of the President “I would say generally that Barry Dataram’s allegations? of corruption are without foundation,” he stated during the recording of “The Public Interest” which will be aired on Friday (today).

In February, Dataram, during an interview with HGPTV Nightly News, alleged that senior CANU officials were involved in illegal

drug trafficking activities and had even alleged that one of the agents bagged some $10 million in exchange for allowing cocaine to leave the country. Amid the widespread controversy, President Granger ordered that an inquest be established into the allegations a week after the revelations.

The probe went on for some two months and following its completion, the report was handed over to State Minister Joseph Harmon on behalf of the Head of State on Friday last. Brigadier Bruce Lovell was appointed by the Head of State to probe the allegations made against ranks of the country’s premier drug enforcement unit. During the handing over of the report, Brigadier Lovell noted that the allegations made by Dataram are serious especially since State officials were named. As such, it was necessary that Government carry

out an investigation.

He expressed confidence that Government will consider his conclusion and recommendations, and take appropriate actions.

Though CANU has been cleared of the corruption allegations made by Dataram, President Granger disclosed that the CoI discovered several administrative deficiencies which required urgent attention. “The CoI pointed to the need for administrative changes to be made in the architecture in Guyana’s anti-narcotics programme,” he stated. Some of these deficiencies include the lack of adequate funding and unavailability of equipment to carry out proper investigations.

Furthermore, Granger noted that the recommendations include the ? need for greater coordination among the Customs and Trade Administration of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and CANU to address deficiencies and weaknesses.

He pointed out that in this regard, the newly established umbrella body National AntiNarcotics Agency (NANA), becomes useful to coordinate the activities between the abovementioned units.

Meanwhile, the Head of State said government will soon be releasing the National Drug Strategy Master Plan.

The house where the murder took place

By Devina Samaroo

S

hrill screams escaped through the concrete walls of a two-storey building as an old man was being murdered, allegedly by his 16-year-old stepson.

The dead man has been identified as Eustane Williams, 70, commonly known as Patrick, a security guard at the Aracari Resort, West Bank Demerara.

The incident took place at his home in Crane New Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara just before noon on Thursday.

Neighbours who were alerted by the cries for help rushed onto the street in time to see the lad, drenched in blood, fleeing the scene.

He was later found hiding in a nearby latrine in a clump of bushes and was immediately handed over to the police.

Reports indicate that the two shared a strained relationship and were often at loggerheads owing to the teenager’s alleged addiction to illegal drugs.

Some residents say that the teenager was put out of the house since last year by his stepfather as a result of constant arguments that would regularly ensue be-

tween them.

According to reports, the teenager is a high school dropout and would often spend his time loitering around the community.

Guyana Times understands that the young man, in an act of rage, grabbed a cutlass and dealt his stepfather several chops about his body including head, shoulders and back.

The man was discovered lying face down in his kitchen in a pool of blood flowing from his head, where the majority of chops were made.

During the ordeal, the teenager injured his leg.

Despite being wounded, the young man fled the scene but was caught by two residents who gave chase.

When he was handed over to Police, he was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for treatment and afterwards taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station for questioning.

Dexter O’Bryan, one of the men who caught the suspect, explained to Guyana Times what transpired: “Like he head ain too right. When we find him and when I questioning him and ask he why he kill the man, he turn and seh

that he went in the house for he clothes and that the man end up and chop he.

But me ain feel that the old man would do that. He had a chop on he leg but I ain feel the old man do that.

Some zinc musse cut he in de bush.”

Peter Sugrim, another nearby resident, believed that the murder was premeditated: “I was told that since last night the boy was sharpening this cutlass.

Like he planned all the time to do this thing. People say he does use drugs and that he ain’t in he right mind.”

An extended relative of the dead man’s wife told Guyana Times that the teenager would often sell items from the home in order to fund his alleged addiction.

“When Patrick does be at work at nights, you does see a whole set of them gathered at the house. And then you would also hear Patrick complaining that stuff does go missing from the house.

I didn’t even know that he (teenager) was back here ’cause I thought he de get put out,” she related.

The dead man’s wife is currently residing overseas.

Police are continuing their investigations.

8 news

friDAY, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS

Queenstown shooting

Ex-soldier slapped with 3 charges … sentenced to 3 years after pleading guilty to 2 charges

T

hirty-four-year-old Joel Benjamin, an ex-Guyana Defence Force soldier of Queenstown village in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), was on Thursday slapped with three charges after he made his first appearance at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce.

He was charged for having a firearm in his possession without being the holder of a licence; possession of ammunition, that is to say he had sixteen 12 gauge rounds of ammunition in his possession; and discharging a loaded firearm with intent to disfigure two Police Constables.

The first charge stated that on July 20, at Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, he had in his possession a 12 gauge sin-

Joel Benjamin

gle barrel pump action shotgun, while not being the holder of a firearm licence. The second charge stated that on the same day, with intent to disfigure, maim and disable two Police Constables, he un-

lawfully and maliciously discharged a loaded firearm in their direction as they attempted to arrest him. The final charge stated that on the same day, Benjamin had in his possession sixteen 12 gauge shotgun cartridges while he was not a holder of a firearm licence.

After the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded guilty to two charges – possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition – and was sentenced to three years imprisonment. On the charge of discharging a loaded firearm, a not guilty plea was recorded for that charge.

Benjamin will make another court appearance on August 3 for the commencement of trial for discharging a loaded firearm.

On Wednesday, scores of persons living in the Sand Reef area in Queenstown were forced to seek refuge in their homes for hours due to Benjamin opening fire indiscriminately in the area.

Although no one was hurt during the shooting spree, several persons were fearful for their lives. The Police were called and responded promptly and an arrest was eventually made.

Initially, Benjamin resisted arrest and the Police were required to use necessary force to bring an end to the situation. During the arrest, Benjamin received a laceration to his lip. He was subsequently taken to the Suddie Public Hospital for treatment and later discharged.

Lindener slapped with Maintenance man charged for drug trafficking charge stealing employer’s money

A

T

revor Craig, 22, of Lot 80 First Street, Silvertown, Linden, Region 10, was on Thursday remanded to prisons by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a drug trafficking charge.

Craig pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 18, at Sherima Police Outpost, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), he had 492 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Defence Attorney Moti Singh told the court that the defendant was in a vehicle among seven men but no one else was charged.

The prosecution contended that the accused was intercepted at the Police outpost with

Trevor Craig

the drugs in his possession before accessing the Sherima crossing.

The cannabis was found concealed in a red hammock belonging to the defendant.

According to the prosecution, he later admitted ownership of the illicit drug during interrogation. The matter was adjourned and transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

maintenance man was on Thursday arraigned with a robbery charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Shawn Smith, of 1557 South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 17, 2016 at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he stole a total of $274,000 belonging to Arnold Hoppie.

According to the prosecu-

tion, the defendant worked for the Virtual Complainant (VC) as a maintenance man at his business place.

On the day in question, Smith was the only person present when the VC inspected and found that the money was missing. The matter was reported to the Police, and the defendant subsequently arrested and charged.

He was granted $50,000 bail on Thursday. Smith will next appear before the court on August 23, 2016.

Mechanic remanded for drug trafficking

A

mechanic was on Thursday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking charge.

Dexter Franklyn, 22, of Lot 30 Lethem, Central Rupununi, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on July 18, 2016, at Aishalton Village, Rupununi, he had in his possession 465 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Franklyn’s Attorney, Moti Singh told the court that the cannabis was found among groceries on a truck, which was occupied by seven other persons.

He further stated that the driver was arrested but later released. However, the prosecution argued that the cannabis was found where the defendant was sitting in the cabin of the truck and he admitted to ownership of the drug at the time of the bust.

The case was transferred to Lethem Magistrate’s Court for September 1, 2016.

Duo charged for breaking into P&P Insurance building

T

wo men were on Thursday arraigned before City Magistrate Judy Latchman charged with intent to commit felony, after they allegedly broke into P&P Insurance and Consultant Ltd, at the corners of King Street and North Road, Georgetown.

Michael Taylor, 28, and Steve Singh, 24, both of Lot 7 Riverview, Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 17, 2016, they broke and entered P&P Insurance Broker and Consultant Ltd.

Attorney George Thomas who represented the duo, told the court that on the day in question, his clients were traversing that area when they were arrested and charged with the offence of which they have no knowledge.

He made an application for bail on the grounds his clients were willing to lodge their passports with the court.

The prosecution had no objections to bail which was granted at $100,000 each.

The matter will continue on July 29, 2016.

Eyew tness

Goings...

H

...and sendings

ot on the heels of the (census) news about our population shrinking between 2002 and 2012 – was the Finance Minister highlighting remittances from overseas Guyanese and the extraordinarily high rates of migration by university grads. But for some reason, the goodly Minister didn’t connect the two sets of data.

But let’s face it...it’s no secret that migration’s been the factor that kept our population almost constant around 750,000 for decades. Was it because we were all dumped into the “new world” from our original homelands, we retained some sort of transient mentality? But migration has always been a feature of life in the Caribbean. And that in itself tells a story.

Folks in general don’t migrate like lemmings from places where they’re comfortably making a living and living in peace and dignity. While they talk about “pull” and “push” factors causing migration, there can be no “pull” if the grass is greener on your side. And our grass hasn’t been greener than another country in the hemisphere than Haiti for many moons.

So it shouldn’t surprise anyone we’ve not only migrated in droves to the US and Canada, where it’s greener than most places – but also to all our neighbouring countries: Venezuela, Suriname, TT, Barbados and all the other small islands. Close your eyes and stick a pin into any part of the globe – and you’ll find Guyanese living there. Incredible for a country that never had a million inhabitants! But then that’s a chicken and egg proposition, isn’t it? If there weren’t all that migration, we’d be up to at least 1.5 million by now.

So, why the moaning and groaning about the rate of emigration of our university graduates? These are the folks who consciously set out to “do better” – and that “better” meant “economic betterment”. And with Guyana’s economic circumstances stagnating for so long, they’re the folks who’ll pull up stakes and leave.

Countries like Canada offering “self sponsorships” points for tertiary education doesn’t help to keep them down on the farm!

And the remittances, on which the Minister decided to put a positive spin. The US$450 MILLION we received in 2014 certainly wasn’t any “small change” – since it was more than what we got from breaking our backs to produce rice, sugar and timber that year. But is the Minister hinting his Government might actually ENCOURAGE migration to rake in more remittances?

With a shrinking population receiving more remittances, we don’t even need to increase local production of anything to get a higher national income!!

In fact, if we destroy the economy and make our grass less green, we’d then actually increase our remittances!!

Is this the present plan?

...and runnings

All of you dear readers would know by now that your Eyewitness has a soft spot for the foreign “working girls” who’re being harassed and hounded out of Guyana.

And it’s not because he’s a customer or anything, but because of one aspect of the aforementioned Guyanese migration. Does anyone in authority not remember that back in the eighties, when the PNC had destroyed our economy, we had Guyanese “working girls” plying their trade in every hell hole in the islands and Suriname?

If they did, they’d realise it was the desperate times that drove them to desperate means of survival. We don’t have to believe in the “working girl with the heart of gold” narrative to appreciate that those Guyanese “working girls” weren’t evil or anything. They were just trying to make a living and in many cases supporting family “back home”. With remittances.

And they certainly weren’t “trafficked”.

...ridings

While Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan has a point on the parking meters, his ego does seem to’ve become inflated. So in being taught there are many ways to skin a cat – like denying access to a sofa, vehicle, office supplies, guards etc – maybe he’ll imbibe some humility?

‘Cause it doesn’t look like Madame Green’s letting up!

news

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friday, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Govt likely to waive interest on SARU has no prosecuting powers, outstanding UG student loans but operating legally – Trotman

... says ‘Special Prosecuting Unit’ being considered

G

The University of Guyana

overnment has announced that it has devised a number of strategies to recoup the billions of dollars owed to the University of Guyana’s Student Loan Scheme.

This is according to Government’s spokesman, Raphael Trotman, who told media operatives on Wednesday that Cabinet received a report which contained several “nice” recommendations for the University of Guyana’s Student Loan Agency (SLA) to recoup the outstanding fees.

A recent forensic audit into UG’s Student Loan Agency revealed that from the year 1994 to May 2015, some 17,567 or 69.4 per cent of 25,335 student loans were deemed delinquent after students were not honouring their indebtedness.

This means some $10 billion in student loans is outstanding to the institution.

Among the delinquent students are several prominent Attorneys, Magistrates and politicians, including the former Leader of the Opposition and the People’s National Congress Reform Robert Corbin.

Trotman opted not to go into much detail about the recommendations, noting that Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who headed the sub-committee that compiled the report and made the recommendations, is expected to host a press briefing on the matter soon.

Nevertheless, the Minister disclosed that among the proposals presented to Cabinet on Tuesday is the waiver of the interest rates attached to the loans.

“We are hoping that we can be generous in the Jubilee year, indeed, to students and waive interests

and so forth. So there are considerations for passing or excusing or not insisting on payments of some things,” he stated.

Trotman explained that the interest waiver would be made across the board.

He went on to dismiss assertions that the wavier was done in favour of several high profile individuals who still owe the agency.

He pointed out that before these persons became ‘high profile’, there were just mere students of the tertiary institution.

“We are not looking at the profile they hold now, we are looking at the fact that they were students of the institution known as the University of Guyana and should be treated fairly and equally… The point is not to waive interests of any individual but to look across the board at how we can, in our Jubilee year, make an offer to past students that is good in their interests,” he stated.

Back in February, the Finance Minister had announced that Government will stop funding to the Student Loan Agency because there is sufficient cash for another two years.

“The student loan agency has accumulated enough money for the fund to now revolve so the fund is revolving and there is no need for Government contribution at this time,” Jordan had told the National Assembly.

At the time, the Finance Minister had stated that Cabinet was working on a ‘paper’ to recover the more than $10 billion in unpaid loans.

The sub-committee headed by Minister Jordan was set up to examined the forensic audit report on the Student Loan Agency.

According to Trotman, in the report, the sub-commit-

tee recommended a review of the organisational structure and business processes of the agency to make it compliant with auditing and accounting frameworks.

Additionally, he noted that the sub-committee also made a number of recommendations of short and medium-term measures to streamline the agency and to set clear conditions for loan applications, guarantees and repayments.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

I

n light of mounting concerns over the legality of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), Government spokesman, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has conceded that the Unit does not have the relevant prosecuting powers but maintains that it is legally operated.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday,

Trotman disagreed with the “interpretation that SARU has no legal mandate”. He pointed out that the Unit is a legitimate department of the Ministry of the Presidency, where salaries are paid and requisitions are made.

“So that gives them legal authority,” the minister stated of the Unit that was established by the Coalition Administration to hunt for assets that initially belonged to the State and are in the possession of persons who are no longer holding public positions.

In so far as having prosecuting authority, the government spokesman admitted that while the Unit is unable to prosecute, it does have the right to investigate and to report its findings, which will be handed over to the relevant enforcement arms of the State – Guyana Police Force and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Chambers – so they can take up the prosecutions.

“There is nothing to suggest, in my view, legally that SARU is without any legal cloak at this point in time. I believe that SARU has been doing its work and passing its findings over to the relevant authorities and that is the correct protocol which is being followed,” he remarked. turn to page 16

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guyana-times.com

friDAY, july 22, 2016

News

Commonwealth SG says Iwokrama can become testing bed for alternative energy

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland meets with Iwokrama International Centre Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dane Gobin and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

C

ommonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland stated that the Iwokrama International Centre is in a good position to becoming the test bed for new technologies for alternative energy and climate friendly products.

She made this declaration during a visit to the Centre and the Iwokrama Forest on July 6, where she was accompanied by Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock and Dane Gobin, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Iwokrama.

Baroness Scotland stated that the Centre should take advantage of developing best practice models in

sustainable forest management, carbon farming and carbon sinks, the development and study of blue carbon, furthering the study of bio mimicry and partnering with the local communities to identify and develop forest based medicines and remedies.

The Secretary General also said she supported President Granger’s vision for the Iwokrama Forest to house a state-of-the-art world class biodiversity institute.

The Iwokrama International Centre was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the

Iwokrama forest; a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general.

The Centre, guided by an international Board of Trustees is unique, providing a dedicated well managed and researched forest environment. The forest is zoned into a Sustainable Utilization Area (SUA) and a Wilderness Preserve (WP) in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing.

During her visit, the

Secretary General toured the Centre’s River Lodge location at Kurupukari and paid a visit to the village of Fair View, the only community located within the Iwokrama Forest. She was briefed by Gobin on the current work programmes and activities of the Centre and on the challenges the Centre faces.

Baroness Scotland stated that she was pleased to have been the first Commonwealth Secretary General, in at least 15 years, to have visited the Centre’s River Lodge location and was committed to continuing to support the Centre.

She noted that the signing of the international climate change agreement in January 2016 had underscored the urgency with which the international community was treating the issue of climate change, and was going to revolutionise approaches to dealing with negative effects of climate change.

The Iwokrama International Centre collaborates with the Government of Guyana, the Commonwealth and other international partners and donors to develop new approaches and forest management models to enable countries with rainforests to market their ecosystem services while carefully managing their resources through innovative and creative conservation practices.

Alleged rape of stepdaughters

Ex-soldier remanded A

n ex-soldier was on Thursday remanded to prison for allegedly raping three of his stepdaughters. He appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore.

The man from the East Bank of Berbice in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) told the court that he was innocent when the indictable charge for which he was not required to plea was read to him.

It is alleged that between January 1, and July 15, 2016, he had sexual intercourse with three girl’s ages four, seven and 10, knowing them to be family members.

The accused who appeared in court dressed in a torn pair of pants and with his hair un-kept, sat in the docks with his feet plait until instructed to sit properly by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Raquel Mars.

After the charge was read, the accused blurted out, “I am not guilty sir. I was not around. I did not commit such an act.”

However, the Magistrate told the labourer that he will have an opportunity to make his defence. He was remanded until August 28 when the matter comes up again for a Police progress report.

The Child Care and Protection Agency was forced to go to the village after reports surfaced that a

man had sexually molested three children.

The children were seen 10 days ago in the village and were picked up by the welfare department and taken to the Police.

The girls reportedly told social workers that they were all sexually assaulted by their stepfather. At the time, villagers said the eldest girl had a two inch long cut to her head which was reportedly caused when her stepfather hit her in the head with a hammer.

(Andrew Carmichael)

nEWS

11

friday, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

West Ruimveldt businessman fends off bandits in robbery attempt

A

businessman managed to foil a brazen daytime robbery after trading bullets with three armed bandits who attacked his wife at their Front Road, West Ruimveldt shop on Thursday.

The coupled stated that one of the three gunmen at approximately 11:00h approached the shop under the pretext of purchasing propane gas. Businessman Ravi Totaram explained that he was in another room at the time of the attack.

“I been in de kitchen and de wife open fo sell and he [the bandit] just rush she, choke she…I was looking at a bird and she holler: ‘Ravi!’ so I draw me weapon and when I look up…he start back off but I see two others

Businessman Ravi Totaram telling Police about the robbery

outside…I shoot a couple of shots and they fire off couple shots too but nobody here was injured,” Totaram noted, pointing out that he is a licensed firearm owner.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene Police

were still searching the area for the bandits and were questioning the businessman, over the sequence of events.

Totaram’s wife Faresha Khan who was still visibly shaken by the ordeal, man-

Gunmen invade Berbice market vendor's home

− escape with cash, jewellery

A

New Amsterdam Market vendor was on Wednesday evening beaten along with her family and robbed of a quantity of jewellery at their Palmyra Village home. According to reports, vendor Nadira Permaul was at her home along with her son Vijai, 28, and husband Tom Kissoon, 69, when three armed masked men entered their home. At the time Kissoon had just left the veranda to go into the house when the men entered.“He walk in and leave the door open and all we see is three men welcoming themselves in the house,” Vijai said.

The intruders jumped into the veranda and went through the open door, and immediately told Vijai not to move, while demanding cash and jewellery from the family.

The injured Tom Kissoon

One of the men held a gun to Nadira’s head while demanding that she take him to where their valuables were.

Tom was hit in the face and other parts of the head while Vijai got several gun butts. The men left with $500,000 worth in gold jewellery, $180,000 cash, one 18k diamond ring

and two cellular phones. The incident occurred at about 19:45h.

Police were informed and responded. They have since been following several leads; however no arrests have been made up to press time.

(Andrew Carmichael)

aged to recall what happened: “I told him $3300 for the gas and he had his money in his hand and when I open de gate, he rushed me and squeezed my neck and he (Totaram) pull a gun and start firing.”

The woman further explained that this prevented the bandits from being successful in their attempted theft. The couple said this was the first time a robbery attempt was made on their premises. The business has been in operation for over 30 years.

Residents in the area explained that they were alarmed by the gunfire and were fearful for their safety, especially that of their children, who are home from school and would normally play on the streets.

We [were] on de corner liming and we hear de shots and we run and come fo see if anything happen to Uncle Ravi [but] de people dem deh done gone,” stated Alana, only name given.

“This is nah safe because good thing we an went in de shop or other people because we couldda get hit,”

the mother further noted.

A male resident, visibly annoyed, called for more police presence in the area.

“We need more police patrol because when de Police fo pass, they passing after or before,” he noted.

However, moments after these statements were made, Police were tipped off that the bandits supposedly hid the weapon in a nearby churchyard. Though the Police rushed to the scene, no firearm was found at that point.

Investigations are continuing.

12 news

friDay, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

CXC to introduce new “Green Engineering” CAPE syllabus

T

he Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will next Thursday launch its latest new generation Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subject, Green Engineering.

According to the Ministry of Education the Green Engineering syllabus is divided into two units with each containing three modules.

Unit 1 is titled “Introduction to Green Engineering.” The three modules of that unit are “Concepts and Issues”, “Theoretical Framework of Green Engineering” and “Green Engineering in Practice”.

Unit 2 is titled “Application of Green Engineering Principles”.

The three modules include “Utilisation of Sustainable Materials and Energy”, “Sustainable Designs” and “Green Engineering Solutions”.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

The Green Engineering syllabus outlines ten objectives. They are .to enhance students’ awareness of the broad environmental, social and eco-

nomic impact of engineering: * create an understanding of how to incorporate the principles of sustainability into engineering practices; * promote an understanding of the principles of Green Engineering and Industrial Ecology; * develop an understanding of the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary nature of environmental problems related to engineering; * promote awareness of the global challenges related to environment and the impact of our decisions on present and future generations; * apply the principles of Green Engineering and Industrial Ecology to manage and solve environmental problems related to engineering in the Caribbean context; * apply Scientific, Technological, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) principles to improve the environment at the local, re-

gional and global levels; * design solutions to address environmental problems related to engineering; * develop the capacity for critical thinking, creativity and innovation, problem solving, contextual learning, collaboration, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial skills and technological competence through authentic learning experiences; * integrate information, communication and technological (ICT) tools and skills.

The Ministry said the course of study will enable students to apply STEM principles to improve their environment at the local, regional and global levels: “The study of Green Engineering will enhance quality of life for present and future generations, while providing wealth creation through new and innovative job opportunities and other economic possibilities including entrepreneurship. turn to page 14

End of African Security Dilemma

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submit the following to reinforce a point to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which I had made to partisans of the People’s National Congress (PNC) back in 2009 on the need for political mobilisation that reaches across the ethnic divide. With the last of the Buxton gangs taken out the year before, and in anticipation of the elections scheduled in 2011, I wrote in, “Ballots not bullets”: “The hard line, and eventual violent strategy, of the Opposition PNC in the post 1992 era was reinforced by Ravi Dev even more violent extremists that sought to protect the interests of the “minority” African section. There was action and reaction.

“The tragic irony of Guyana was that the Opposition politicians were locked into their real-politik past and refused to acknowledge that demographic changes were inexorably altering the premise of their ethnic security dilemma. Because of persistent migration by the Indians and Africans from the coast, Guyana was becoming a nation of minorities, with the Amerindians in the hinterland increasing both absolutely and relatively to form a critical “swing vote”. The African Security Dilemma had been solved and the once irrelevant liberal premise now offered a way out of our morass.”

Since then, not only have two elections – in 2011 and 2015 – confirmed by implication the thesis of the builtin majority in the Indian section of the population being long gone, the census of 2012 has now produced empirical evidence for it. In a population that has remained fixed at three quarters of a million, Indian-Guyanese had dropped to 39.8 per cent, African-Guyanese followed at 29.2 per cent but the “Mixed” populace jumped to 19.9 per cent and the Amerindian to 10.5 per cent.

In response to the thesis, one well-meaning African Guyanese leader asserted categorically: “Neither the [People’s National Congress Reform] PNCR nor [Alliance For Change] AFC or any combined Opposition will defeat the PPP electorally – at least not in 2011.” This is because, “The sad reality is that the vast majority of PPP supporters will not allow themselves to vote for any other party...If Indians did not vote for Desmond Hoyte who was very pro-Indian and who engaged the REFORM to bring about fundamental change in the PNC…why would they vote for the PNC or AFC now?”

I replied, “Well for one, time and circumstances have changed and the Opposition could have changed their tactics and strategy to exploit those changes. The fact of the matter is that the Opposition do not need “the vast majority of PPP supporters” to vote for them to create seismic changes in 2011...The major problem with the Opposition is that they have not been able to get out their voters to the poll. In 2006, only 69 per cent of the 492,369 eligible voters went to the polls. This means that the PPP’s 54.6 per cent winning percentage only translates into 37.7 per cent of the total electorate – even less than the likely total percentage of Indian voters.”

Fast forward to the present. It is a fact that the majority of voters identifying as ethnically “Mixed” has generally gravitated to the PNC and if this trend continues, Indians are now in danger of being locked out of power in perpetuity. The danger is exacerbated when one considers that the reservoirs of State power – the bureaucracy and the Disciplined Forces – are still dominated by African Guyanese.

But there is a great opportunity presented to the PPP to move more of them into a “swing vote” bloc if they are not forced to cast their ballots because of hardening of ethnic divisions. Since they have already favoured the PNC, it will be up to the PPP to promulgate policies and programmes that push a “Guyanese” agenda to which this group is more inclined, rather than an ethnic agenda that alienates them.

For the 10.5 per cent Amerindian voters now forming another segment of the possible “swing votes”, some of them will remain because of inertia with the PPP but as I pointed out in “Ballots not bullets” – “as with minorities the world over caught between competing larger blocs, the Amerindians tend to go with the group with the pursestrings and power.”

And then there is always the possibility of “power sharing”.

news

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friday, july 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Port Kaituma roads Govt has no right to suspend trade to be rehabilitated for more than a year – GMRA – Chairman T G 13 months into scrap metal ban

overnment has promised to provide rehabilitation work to roads at Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) following protest action by residents of that community over the state of the access roads. That is according to Region One Chairman Brentnol Ashley.

Residents of the community have been up in arms over the deplorable state of roads. According to Brian Gomes, a minibus driver of Port Kaituma, for several years they have been suffering as a result of the deplorable road conditions. He says, as a minibus operator, every day he has to purchase spare parts for his vehicle because of the roads. “Every single day something brake, something loose, something you got to tighten,” he related.

According to Gomes, it was during the campaign period leading up to the 2015 General and Regional Elections that residents were promised better roads should the coalition win the election.

“During the campaign trail, they told us at one of our meetings after going around and seeing the deplorable state that the road was in, that we have Jagdeo highways here and when they get into office we will have better roads and so far the road conditions worsen;

A vehicle manoeuvring through a Port Kaituma road

no changes at all… over a year has passed since elections and we see no improvement. We keep suffering and the conditions with the roads, it worsens.”

“During our protest two weeks ago, one of our demands was that we need the President’s presence here in Port Kaituma because he is the one that promised all the good things of life when he gets into office and so far nothing we receive. Nothing changes in Port Kaituma,” Gomes told Guyana Times.

Chairperson of the Matthews Ridge/Aruka/ Port Kaituma Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Margret Lambert says it is not only the roads but also bridges in the community that need fixing. According to Lambert, following the protest action that was taken by resident and vehicle operators, the NDC made a commitment to undertake

some rehabilitation work.

She said they will be using the services of bulldozers from two residents. The NDC will have to pay $1 million for one of the bulldozers while the service of the other is a donation to the Council.

The material which will be used for the initial road rehabilitation project will come at no cost to the NDC; however, they will have to pay for fuel and labour costs.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Ashley noted that two contracts have been signed between the Public Infrastructure Ministry and two contractors for the rehabilitation of roads at Port Kaituma. “To be specific of how much the contract sum is I will not be able to say because I have not received any bill of quantities or the scope of work for this project as yet,” the Regional Chairman noted. (Andrew Carmichael)

he Guyana Metal Recyclers Association (GMRA), the official body for exporters of scrap metal, has reached out to lambast the Government for what it says is the illegal suspension of the trade for more than one year, rendering legitimate businessmen incapable of making a living.

Agitated over the suspension of the trade, Secretary of the GMRA Michael Benjamin complained that not only was the license to ply their trade suspended without notice; the suspension for more than one year in itself is illegal.

“For 13 months we are without any answers.

We are pleading with the Administration to speed up the process because by law, the Government is not allowed to suspend the industry for more than one year… we have lost in the billions,” he bemoaned.

Benjamin stated that the suspension has rendered exporters incapable of making a living for their families.

He stated that many exporters have bank loans to pay and are unable to honour their contractual oblegations

because the business has stalled.

Questioning whether this is the good life the coalition Government promised them, Benjamin exposed that scores of workers have been laid off.

Referencing this enormous loss, Benjamin is pleading with the Administration to speed up the process of the draft legislation which is aimed at reconfiguring the sector.

“They told us that they are going to take the legislation to Cabinet next week and we are hoping that that is realistic because we were told that before. We don’t have time on our hands, our businesses are stalled. We cannot feed our family and pay our mortgage and our bills,” he said, asking the Government to tell them what to do.

Last year, Government removed the responsibility of the scrap metal trade from the Central Housing and Planning Authority to the Business Ministry. Since then, the Ministry has been in consultation with various stakeholders and the Association to revamp the

sector.

The legislation is expected to go to Cabinet next Tuesday for approval.

However, Benjamin fears that this is a fool’s promise.

Benjamin stated that the sector had to lay off a lot of their workers because there was no work for them. He stated that some 1500 workers depend on the industry for an income.

In 2015, Ram and McRae produced a forensic audit report, which revealed that the Scrap Metal Unit within the Central Housing and Planning Authority was accountable for a string of irregularities, including the mishandling of packing procedures for scrap and the expenditure of millions of dollars.

It also revealed that the laws governing the scrap metal trade need to be completely revamped. Benjamin said the revamp should be accelerated because the Government cannot shut the trade down for more than a year.

It has been 13 months since the scrap metal trade has been stalled.

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friday, july 22, 2016

News

Steve N dredge back in service after GNIC repairs

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he Steve N dredge which was out of operation for some eight weeks owing to repairs, is now back in service, according to the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC).

The Steve N is said to be the largest vessel owned by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and was drydocked for some two months for repairs. It is now available for use in dredging works, the GNIC said in a statement.

The vessel was said to be in critical need for repair. The company said the dry docking and repair took close to a month. Shipyard Manager Jagdesh Ramjag remarked that the GNIC was able to fully complete all the repair work and bring the vessel up to specification with the help of experienced staff.

The Steve N back in operation

The scope of works carried out on the Steve N in-

cluded fabrication works to the hull, hopper and ballast

F Division launches Bartica Youth Summer Programme

F Division Commander Ravindranauth Budhram along with facilitators and participants of the summer programme at the launch on Monday

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he Guyana Police Force is continuing to work diligently to have youths across the country engaged in constructive activities under its crime prevention initiative.

To this end, F Division (Interior locations) on Monday launched a summer programme in Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). The programme, which will last for two weeks, targets children between the ages of six and 16.

During the summer programme, the participants will be engaged in various activi-

ties and interactive sessions.

Some of these activities include football, cricket, singing, and crafting sessions in floral arrangements and sewing (designing patterns), among other activities.

The facilitators of the summer programme will include members of the Police Force, teachers and other volunteers from the town of Bartica.

Senior Superintendent and Divisional Commander Ravindradat Budhram disclosed that at the end of the two-week programme, there will be an exhibition for the parents of the participants to

view the pieces created by the children.

According to the Divisional Commander, the aim of the programme is to get youths in Bartica meaningfully involved and occupied during the school break.

“The youths today will be the leaders of the future, and therefore this programme will enhance their ability to interact with each other and work as a team. It will also help them to strive to be part of the solution in keeping their community safe,” Commander Budhram stated.

tanks; repairs to propulsion system: propeller shafts, propellers, bushes and rudder; sandblasting and painting of hull, hopper and main decks; electrical works including installation of three 35,000 BTU air conditioning units; removal and installing two generators; and installing an echo sounder system and mechanical repairs to hopper doors, suction drag head pipe, dredge pump pipe and valves in engine room and pump room.

Ronald Bourne, Consultant to the Shipyard Manager, said he has been privileged over the years to have worked on preventative maintenance on the dredge, which has a “creative” history with the yard.

Chief Executive Officer of GNIC, Clinton Williams said the company is a mini industrial conglomerate which has been offering various service including shipbuilding and repairs, port

operations and project management.

He said he is pleased that the team was able to complete the job on time, within specification and costs. He noted that going forward, while GNIC has the capacity, it will be looking to upgrade and expand its facilities. Additionally, the company will continue to work with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) to provide apprenticeship and on the job training in the areas of welding, fabrication, machining, marine and bench fitters, plumbers, and carpentry, etc.

According to Williams, training is one of the strengths of the company and over the years it has provided training to more than 1000 Guyanese. The major challenge for the company right now, Williams noted, is the illegal beach operators who put vessels at risk by dragging them up

on beaches for repairs rather than doing a proper drydocking. “The company has been appealing to ship owners to avoid this unsafe practice as it puts unnecessary strain on the hull integrity of vessels. This could make them unseaworthy.”

The GNIC remains one of the main shipyards in the country and has a long history of shipbuilding in Guyana with the likes of the MV Malali and the MV Torani being built in the shipyard.

These two vessels were completely rebuilt and re-commissioned during the early 90s by Guyana National Engineering Corporation Limited (GNEC) – the predecessor company, with funding from the European Union, notwithstanding a strong recommendation by a team of international consultants that they had surpassed their useful service life and should be scrapped.

friday, july 22, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

Brazil: 10 arrested for Libya: Tripoli condemns plotting attack on Olympics French military involvement

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The members of the loosely organised group were all Brazilian citizens, officials said

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Reuters]

razil has arrested 10 people on suspicion of supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group and allegedly planning to target next month's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes said.

The loosely organised group was made up of Brazilian nationals who kept in contact via Internet messaging groups such as WhatsApp and Telegram, but did not know each other personally, the Minister said on Thursday.

The group did not have direct contact with ISIL, though some of its members had made "pro forma" decla-

rations of allegiance to the armed group, the Minister said.

"Those involved participated in an online group denominated 'the defenders of Sharia' and were planning to acquire weapons to commit crimes in Brazil and even overseas," Moraes told a news conference.

"It was an absolutely amateur cell, with no preparation at all, a disorganised cell," the Minister said, adding that authorities decided to intervene when the group started to plan actions.

He said members of the group had visited a weapons site in neighbouring Paraguay that sells AK-47 assault rifles, but there was

[Ricardo Moraes/

no evidence they had acquired any weapons. Two people will be brought in for questioning, in addition to the 10 already detained, he added.

"Police have confiscated their phones, their computers, and now [they] are prioritising the investigation [to understand] whether there are more people involved in this," Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez, reporting from Sao Paolo, said.

Interim President Michel Temer had called an emergency Cabinet meeting following the arrests, the first under Brazil's tough new anti-terrorism law approved earlier this year. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ibya's United Nationsbacked Government has reacted strongly after France's confirmation that its special forces have been operating in the country, which also sparked angry protests in the capital Tripoli against French military intervention.

The French Government announced on Wednesday that three of its soldiers had been killed in a helicopter crash in eastern Libya during an intelligence gathering operation – the first time Paris acknowledged its presence in the oil-rich country.

In a strongly-worded statement late on Wednesday, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) said that it had asked France to explain the presence of its forces in the country.

"The Presidential Council expresses its deep discon-

There were angry protests in the capital Tripoli against French military intervention

tent at the French presence in eastern Libya without coordination with the Council, which was declared by the Government of France."

There could be "no compromise" over Libyan sovereignty, the Council added.

At the centre of the controversy is General Khalifa Haftar, an opponent of the UN-backed Government who leads a large army fighting armed groups in eastern Libya.

If it is proved that the French Government is back-

ing him, then tensions could escalate amid increasing questions about the Western role in Libya.

"This [France's action] will destabilise the country. This is a sort of coup against the political process and against the democratic path chosen by the Libyan people," Mansour Al Hasadi, a member of GNA, told Al Jazeera.

"It is also against the political agreement sponsored by the UN, the international community and the Security Council." (Excerpt from Reuters)

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friday, July 22, 2016

News

Region 1 residents benefit from clean-up drive

…will be fined if found littering — EPA

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esidents of Mabaruma in the North West District (NWD) of Region One (Barima/Waini) may soon be fined or jailed for littering.

This follows the launch of the Mabaruma waterfront clean-up project at Kumaka on Monday last.

The project is an initiative of the Ministry of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Regional Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA will act as an enforcement agent on the project which seeks to reduce littering and improve the management of solid waste.

EPA through regulations enshrined in the constitution can prosecute for illegal dumping and littering.

Senior environmental officer of EPA, Odessa Duncan says it is hoped that it will

Kumaka clean-up under way

be able to create behavioural change in personal disposal of waste: “The EPA is looking to support the Ministry’s effort with enforcement. We will work with the NDC and the Town Council to ensure that persons who continue to dispose of their litter improperly will be charged and will be fined so as to maintain a clean environment.”

Meanwhile, environmental advisor coordinator Dr Latchmin Punalall speak-

ing at the launch at the Mabaruma NARIE Regional Office noted that the Ministry of Communities is also involved in the project: “The community as a whole will be enhanced and so we are encouraging persons not only to clean up but after we would have taken most of the stuff away that you keep it clean. I know the first phase where we have the huge amount of garbage to clean, you will not be able

to facilitate it, so we will facilitate this first phase and then without much expense you will be able to keep it clean.”

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley said Region One Administration is not only looking to see that the Region becomes cleaner but the entire country: “As you know the government is poised on a green initiative to make Guyana a better country environmentally, and so the RDC would like to see it better and so over the coming months there are going to be a lot of projects that will be initiated that will strengthen this project.”

A similar project was launched at Port Kaituma on Tuesday, following others that were launched in Bartica and Kwakwani.

The ministry also plans to launch a similar project in

Waste in the Aruka River

Lethem, Region Nine, next week.

Meanwhile, some residents of Kumaka expressed concern over the sustainability of the project, stating that traders from neighbouring Venezuela dispose of their waste in an improper manner coupled with the waste which comes from businesses situated along the Aruka River.

In an invited comment EPA’s Duncan said residents also have a role to play under the project and that is to report instances of improper dumping: “When that information gets to us we will be able to take action and have those persons charged. That is why we also have an education component of the project.”

(Andrew Carmichael)

SARU has no prosecuting...

Nevertheless, Trotman outlined that steps are being undertaken to have SARU equipped with the relevant enforcement and prosecutorial powers.

However, Leader of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, in a detailed letter last week pointed out there is no need for the unit to be empowered with new legislations to guide its operations, something which his party is completely against.

“The claim that new legislation is required in order to bring charges against persons who are accused of criminal offences with regards to state assets is false. Statutes already exist to bring such charges.

However, the new legislation that is being touted appears to relate more to entrenching the SARU as an entity in law with powers overriding the Guyana Police Force, the Audit Office of Guyana and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.” Jagdeo stated.

In this vain, however, Trotman at Thursday’s post Cabinet briefing underscored the importance of having such legislation since entities such the Police Force and the DPP Chambers have their hands filled with their respective responsibilities and may be overwhelmed with the added work that SARU as well as the forensic audits bring.

To this end, he outlined that the issue of a special prosecutors is being considered by government, particularly as it relates to the forensic audits.

“Cabinet is overwhelmed at the scale of the (forensic audits) findings… this brings back the issue of special prosecutors because the Police Force, SOCU (Special Organised Crime Unit), and even the DPP Chambers are

from page 9

overwhelmed and lack certain capacities to address all of these,” the minister stated.

In this regard, Trotman disclosed that Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was tasked with holding discussions with Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams on the feasibility of a Special Prosecutor’s Office since the service of more than one Counsel may be required in some of the matters.

“The idea of a special prosecutor has in fact been mooted several months ago,” he noted, while adding that it will not be a unit that is established to “witch-hunt” any one as is constantly being cried about.

“We would prefer to have a more studied approach so that these cases, which are of public interest and concern, we have a strong prosecuting team to preside over them,” he remarked, adding that Cabinet is expected to get a feedback from the Public Security Minister within the next fortnight.

So far, SARU, which is headed by economist Dr Clive Thomas, has recommended that the relevant authority consider laying charges against several PPP/C Members of Parliament, including former President Bharrat Jagdeo, over allegations they were all involved in obtaining State lands at an undervalued market price at Pradoville II, East Coast Demerara.

Those named includes: PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford, former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud, and former head of the Guyana Sugar Corporation board, Shaik Baksh.

G

uyana funniest comedy show “Nothing To Laugh About 9” is back again with four nights of belly bursting laughs. It kicks off at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) this evening.

Members audience are in for a

treat every night at 20:00h when the theatrical production commences. It promises to outdo the previous eight years, as some 30 comedians get ready to hit the stage and woo their audience.

Patrons are promised “full bel-

H

ly” laughter and will be kept on the edge of their seats when the comedians displayed their well rehearsed routines.

The participating actors, who have a knack for making people laugh,

are well seasoned in the industry and have been in the business for a number of years.

Actor Chris Gopaul has asked his audience to walk with “pampers” because according to fellow cast member Johann “Excellent”

ave you ever gone to a wedding and noticed that everything was disorganised, from the bride’s makeup to the chicken in the fried rice been uncooked? That’s the picture of a wedding gone wrong.

It can be safel y said that the majori ty of weddings in Guyana do not have a wedding planner and so what should have been the bride’s best day would eventually turn out to be the worst day ever.

Ruth Johnson

David, “you will laugh so hard, stuff might come out”.

Over the years, “Nothing to Laugh About” has been a name to be reckoned with and now it is into its ninth year.

With each passing year, the show somehow manages to outdo the previous years and the cast promised no less this year.

The franchise has never disappointed loyal fans since it is a well produced and competently performed production, through a collection of comic sketches, many of which capitalise on topical humour and references with a touch of political humour.

The script writers have produced a mixed collection of funny pieces including the sharp, the good and the indifferent. This show

Ruth Johnson, a wedding coordinator, has seen it all and watched with disappointment as a girl’s most perfect day flop. It is on account of this dissatisfaction that she started Bridal Blueprint—Guyana’s first wedding coordinating agency.

Bridal Blueprint is a combination of 15 small companies that have partnered to help brides experience the best day of their lives.

“Most of the time people cannot afford a wedding planner. So what we are doing is offering them our expert advice. They come to us with their idea of their dream wedding and we give them the blueprint. If they want photos, we can give them photographs that help them to remember the moment,” she said.

Every company under Bridal Blueprint seeks to create the ultimate intimate wedding experience. “We will do everything: from the budgeting, the decorating, the photography, the makeup, the catering and DJing,” she added.

She stated that on the other hand, “often times other people

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friday, july 22, 2016

guyana-times.com

certainly understands what to produce to provide enjoyment to their unending multitude of fans.

The cast includes

many others.

Tickets for the shows cost $1000, $1500 and $2000, and are being sold at Giftland Mall, Nigel’s Supermarket, Payless Variety

Leza ‘Radika” Singh; Chris Gopaul; Johann David; Micheal Ignatius; Linden “Jumbie” Jones, who is also the Director of this year’s show; Mark Kazim; Mark Luke Edwards; Leslyn Bobb-Semple; Clemencio Goddette; Simone Persaud and

Store, Elegance Jewellery and Pawnshop, the National Cultural Centre and Sir Mars can also be contacted.

All are invited to get their tickets and not to miss out the spectacle.

dictate the whole thing and the bride is unhappy”.

One of the companies that fall under the Bridal Blueprint banner is Java Coffee Bar, which has crafted personalised beverages that give an alternative to alcoholic beverages. The business will also help the bride’s guests to have fun with their food by moving away from conventional buffet dining. AT Investments will be working on capturing every moment on camera.

Other companies that are on board are: Exquisite Cakes, Target Online Shopping, Divinity Spa, Creative Craft Expressions, ShaSha Designs, BG Beau, Harmony Inn and Delhi Designs.

The company was launched on July 16 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and is located at 551 10th Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. Contact number is 6504694.

One of th launch e brides at the on Satu rday

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friday, july 22, 2016

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he new “Star Trek Beyond” touches down in theatres this week, and it’s not only filled with the usual special-effects eye candy, but smart, fan-focused writing.

Beam us down, Captain — there’s intelligent life here.

There’s controversy too, as this f i l m

marks the first appearance of Sulu as a gay man – a character change that annoyed some when it was announced, including George Takei, who played the part first.

Trek fans shouldn’t worry. Cowriter (and co-star) Simon Pegg is a sci-fi buff who grew up on the franchise, and he handles the re-

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vise gracefully. A small acknowledgement of Leonard Nimoy’s passing has been woven into the story, too.

That’s bittersweet, as is, unintentionally, another note: A n t o n Yelchin’s final, puppyish appearance as Chekhov.

That the movie gave him more to do this time only helps make it a fond remembrance of the young actor who died in a tragic accident just last month.

But this is “Star Trek”, not a memorial service – and so there’s also plenty of adventure and simple fun built on the relationships between the characters and decorated with lots of eyecatching visuals.

The story starts with Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and crew jumping into action to rescue a kidnapped alien crew. But then the Enterprise is attacked, too. Forced to abandon ship, the team lands on a mysterious planet.

They’re not alone, though.

Joining them are a pair of new characters. One is Idris Elba’s Krall, a lizard-faced villain who just wants to see the uni-

onight Gravity Lounge will present its Summer Style Party, featuring 2014 breakout freestyle artist Gully Bop. He will be performing his smash hit singles “Evry Gyal Want Ah Wuk Afa Mi” and “Dem Nah Bad Like Me”.

He will definitely be spicing the night up alongside his ex-wife and his new wife.

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– busy in another galaxy far, far away – turns out to be a good choice for helmsman.

He muddles the hand-to-hand combat a bit – sometimes you can’t tell who’s hitting who. But as you’d expect from a “Fast and Furious” veteran, he handles the action scenes – including a terrific set-piece of the Enterprise under attack by hundreds of tiny ships – with energy and style. And he understands that the bigger the film is, the more human the characters have to be.

Only box-office receipts – and contract negotiations – will say for

verse burn. The other is Jaylah, a kickass kabuki-faced warrior played

by Sofia Boutella, probably best known for running around on those razor-sharp sword legs in “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”

Elba is fine, even hidden under all that makeup, but Boutella is terrific and totally in charge, no matter how many times Pegg’s Scotty calls her “lassie”. If “Trek” returns for a fourth adventure, she should definitely be part of the crew.

It’s a big cast, but unlike this trilogy’s first film, which introduced some confusing time-travel elements, this movie simplifies things. It brings back the humour

n Saturday night, Gravity Lounge will be hosting “The Silent Headphones Party”. Revellers will be given complimentary headphones for the night and will be allowed to pick whatever channel of music they want to listen and boom away. Tickets cost $2000 and can be picked up at the Gravity Lounge and Electronic City.

missing in the last sequel. And it restores the focus on the relationships – between Kirk and Spock, between Spock and Bones, between Scotty and his engines.

Meanwhile, Justin Lin, taking over from director JJ Abrams

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sure if there’s yet another sequel in store. But this crew deserve one, as do we. “Star Trek” is back on course. May it live long – and prosper. (NY Daily News)

re you reve l l e r s ready for summer fling night, then Pulse Entertainment’s party at Palm Court is the place to be.

The promoters are looking to ensure that the crowd has a Taboo Summer they will never forget. The party starts at 21:00h (9pm).

There will be performances by international aerial artiste Violetti Tanssija. Musical entertainment will be provided by DJ Anisah, Selector Carl, and DJ Ryan. Admission is $2000 before 22:00h (10pm). The event is sponsored by Pulse Entertainment, Best Warehouse Deals, Real FM, El Dorado.

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016

guyana-times.com

19

At the Arrowpoint Nature Resort, staff kicked back as they enjoyed a trek through the jungle, splashing in the cool black water creek, kayaking through the alligator stream and biking through the forest.

The GraceKennedy Group is currently celebrating its 24th anniversary GraceKennedy staff on their nature getaway

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f anyone has watched Choti Bahu, they know they are in for a gripping show. Therefore, it is only fair to fans that there is a spin off; only this time, it will be a Guyanese show, with Guyanese j o k e s t h a t will have i t s audience falling off their seats.

leave his audiences begging for more.

ChotiBackoo, which is part of the “Gana Bhajana” series, is a hilarious exchange between the old and young generations. The Elder Omkar is a old man who believes with all his heart that going online is hanging out or picking up clothes. He is so ignorant, he believes that Facebook is where someone’s ‘face is in a book’.

No doubt, it amuses his family and of course, the audience. Adding to his

dience who will be in for a treat.

The play also has a magnificent cast, known for giving their audiences a show and a half. It stars Michael “Credit” Ignatius, Chris Gopaul, Romel Edmondson, Nirmala Narine, N a r d a Mohamed and Paul Budhna.

A special appearance will be done by the

The stage play “ChotiBackoo,” is written and directed by Neaz Subhan, who copped the Best Playwright Prize in 2013.

The play will be staged at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, on Friday, July 29 and on Saturday, July 30, at the Bath Settlement Community ground. Both shows will commence at 17:00h.

Subhan has made a name for himself in the theatre arts for crafting mind-gripping, rib-tickling shows that

crazy ideology, the old man is faced with constant irritation from his wife’s nephew, who he calls “ChotiBackoo”, the non-completion of chores by “ChotiBahu” – his daughter-in-law, and Balam the donkey.

His irritations are further compounded by the village vendor, Palo, who he despises for always bringing the ‘fish-market’ into his home. With Balam, Backoo and Palo, there is never a dull moment in Omkar’s life and by extension, for the au-

Master of Ceremonies, Rajan “Katahar” Tiwarie.

The shows are sponsored

by NTN Berbice Television station and Banks DIH Ltd while the Shakti Strings orchestra will provide additional entertainment featuring a number of leading Guyanese singers. The Shelita Dance Troupe will also perform a number of mesmerising dance pieces.

Admission is $1000 for adults, $500 for children, while those under eight years old can enter free.

mployees of the GraceKennedy Group of Companies were treated to an exciting nature getaway as part of their annual fun day retreat.

Staff braved the early morning showers and enjoyed a long and exhilarating journey to the Arrowpoint Nature Resort where all the excitement began.

A quick stop at the Amerindian Village of Santa Mission was part of the package, where employees and their families had the opportunity to purchase unique craft items prepared by the local creative minds.

From baskets to jewellery to swords, the GraceKennedy staff were delighted by the options to choose from as they “oohed” and “aahed” over each selection.

what motivates you?”

Juke Ross: “That’s kind of a hard question, but I’d have to say passion. I really enjoy what I do, it’s my passion and I don’t think there’s any greater mo-

tivation than passion for what you love.”

Reporter: “What was the name of the first single you released?”

Juke Ross: “The first song I released was “Colour Me” and that was made public on January 27, 2016.”

Reporter: “What does the song represent?”

Juke Ross: “It’s a bittersweet love song. It’s a song about how someone can come into your life and change it for the better.”

Reporter: “When can we expect other music from you?”

Juke Ross: “I’ll be releasing more music in September for sure.”

Reporter: “So what kind of person are you when you’re not singing? What do you do?”

Juke Ross: “When I’m singing, I’m a normal person.

I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan. I love cricket. I go to all the matches that are held in

B

orn on March 11, 1994, and raised in Georgetown, Guyana, rising star Juke Ross has brought into the music industry a hint of difference through his vocal sounds, which have been described as “a mixture of contemporary and Pop”.

Though influenced by Soul, Blues and 90s’ Hip Hop, Ross’s expression and lyrics backed by his modern style of guitar playing will cause you to stop, listen and feel the music.

Reporter: “When did you start singing?”

Juke Ross: “I never really used to sing until two, three years ago. I was always a hummer. Just a fan of music more, then gradually I began singing.”

Reporter: “At what age did you discover that you actually can sing?”

Juke Ross: “Not that long.

I’d say probably when I was 18.”

Reporter: “What type of music are you into, and why?”

Juke Ross: “I’m into all kinds of music: Soca, Dancehall, Pop and so on. I think the different genres of music express things differently.”

Reporter: “Okay, so what genre would you say suits you?

Juke Ross: “Well, to be honest, I like to sing in a more contemporary-sort-of-more-singer/ songwriter instrument-focused way. That’s because I think it suits me and it suits what I have to express.”

Reporter: “So who would you label as your favourite singer/s?”

Juke Rose: “I have several actually. I’m more of an old school kind of guy, so I’d say Van Morrison, Otis Redding, and so on. You know hardcore songwriters and singers at the same time.”

Reporter: “Throughout your developing singing career,

E

Browsing unique craft items at the Amerindian Village of Santa Mission

GraceKennedy staff on their nature getaway

Guyana. I play cricket too. I’m also a medical student.”

Reporter: “Tell me a little about your childhood.”

Juke Ross: “I was a very introverted kid, yet regular in most senses. I had friends, played a lot of cricket. I fairly had a normal childhood, by Guyanese standards. Got a lot of bruises and nail bores from running bare foot and all that kinda stuff.”

Reporter: “Presently, what do you think of Guyana’s music industry?”

Juke Ross: “It’s at a very good point right now. Probably as good of a point as it’s ever been. All the talents are here.

The passions are here. I think the music surrounding our Jubilee celebrations have displayed quite a lot of Guyanese music and I think that if we propel from here, our music industry can soar higher. But we’re at a good place right now.”

Reporter: “Any ideas on how we can improve it?”

Juke Ross: “Well, there are a lot of things that can be done.

As you know, Guyana has never really been big on music though we’ve had our musicians and so all the time, but I think artist development programmes, copyright laws, simple workshops, music supplies and all these kinds of things that are there can be vastly improved upon.”

Reporter: “Who is your biggest motivator?”

Juke Ross: “My biggest motivator is my father. He just encourages me to do my best at all times. He supports me majorly.”

Reporter: “Any word of advice for the other talented persons out there?”

Juke Ross: “To general talent, I'd say ensure it’s your passion first, be persistent, be educated and be aware. Its 2016!

Anything is possible!”

20

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016

India tour of West Indies 2016…

Pan American Junior Badminton Championships Peru 2016-Day 2

Johnson’s omission G from final XI extremely baffling

Leon Johnson Says Akeem Greene

B

y all accounts, it seems topping the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) 2015/2016 batting charts and more so, leading the Guyana Jaguars to back-to-back titles in the aforementioned competition, is not enough to warrant a place for Leon Johnson in the West Indies playing eleven for the first Test of four against the touring Indians.

West Indies and Indian are currently locked in battle at the Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua, attempting to secure a series win over the Asian team since 2002 and are without arguably one of their most talented batsmen on the local circuit against the dietary of spin that is expected to be used by India.

The left-handed Johnson was in sublime form this season, batting his way to 807 runs, the only batsman to past the 800- run mark, at an impressive average of 57.64, scoring two centuries and five fifties from 10

matches and certainly had to be high in the pecking order to regain his Test spot after playing on the tour to South Africa in 2015.

His overall stats in the First-class arena may be less pleasing for the elegant batsman, having played 73 matches, scoring only four centuries and twenty-eight half centuries. Those numbers compared to his latest 4-day season, would suggest that the 28-year old is certainly at his peak and without doubt would have been a massive boost to a fragile Windies middle-order.

The experienced cricketer is certainly not one to shy away from performing on the big stage, scoring a fluent 66 as a make-shift opener against Bangladesh on debut in 2014; he added one halfcentury to his Test numbers, making him average 39.28, an average which in the current West Indies Test team, only Darren Bravo (41.50) boasts better.

Johnson, who usually bats in the middle-order for his country, was chosen

as the captain for the West Indies President’s XI for the warm-up matches against India, where he had scores of 3, 17 and two, opening the batting.

Though he opened the batting on his Test debut, it seems ludicrous that because of three low scores on two tour matches, it would translate to his non-selection, after his last score in the 4-day tournament was 93 against Jamaica in March at Providence batting in the middle order.

Based on the squad’s composition, Johnson fell second choice to Barbadian Roston Chase who was given a debut. Chase is a batsman that came three places behind Johnson on the leading runs tally in the last PCL. Chase scored 710 runs from 10 matches, stroking a lone century and six halfcenturies but has only played twenty-nine First-Class matches to date compared to Johnson’s 73 matches.

Chase’s ability to bowl offspin could have inclined the selectors to give him the nod, picking up 23 wickets last season but in the past, the team has chosen the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite (who has a best of 6/28 in Tests) and Jermaine Blackwood to offer spinning support with the ball; albeit Johnson has the capability of offering some degree of support with the ball.

The batsman’s omissions leaves questions to be asked of the meritocracy regarding WICB’s selection policy and the vision of newly installed chairman of the West Indies selectors, Courtney Browne, a former Barbados captain and West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman.

Despite the current Test series is still young, the selectors would have committed the preverbal “one step forward and ten steps backward”, in seeking to take West Indies cricket to greater heights. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

uyana's Top Male & Female Badminton Players Sunburst sponsored, Narayan Ramdhani & Priyanna Ramdhani are currently in the Quarter Finals at the Pan American Junior Badminton Championships July 19-23, 2016 hosted at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Lima Peru.

Guyana’s Pan Am four time medalist, Priyanna Ramdhani again performed at her best by defeating Peru’s top player Adriana Bernales Pinillos to reach the Quarter-Finals in the girls singles.

The games started out with Priyanna coming back from 2 points down to take the lead at 3 all and then continued keeping the lead playing some tight drop shots and deep cross court smashed to win the match 21-18.

The second game she had to maintain her stamina to

Priyanna Ramdhani is currently in the quarter-finals at the Pan American Junior Badminton Championships

keep up but in a close game coming back from behind again and setting at 20-20 to take the Match at 22-20.

During this game Peru was issued a yellow card for indiscipline against Priyanna.

Also in the Quarter Finals is Narayan Ramdhani & Shea Martin who got pass Ailton Josue Correa Francisco Martinez & Rafael Trevino Buenrostro

of Mexico.

The GBA would like to thank The Guyana Olympic Association & National Sports Commission, Mr. Yesu Persaud of Demerara Bank, Mr. Philip DaSilva, Mr. Neville Osman & Continental Group of Companies (SUNBURST) for their contribution to help make this Tour possible.

Courts give generously to GPF Championship

Finance Director Neil Boucher presents the trophies to Assistant Sports Coordinator, Officer Linden Wilson

C

ourts (Guyana) Inc. donated $200,000 worth in trophies to the annual Guyana Police Force Athletic and Swimming Championship slated for July 24-29. The presentation ceremony took place at the furniture giant’s flagship store at Main Street Georgetown on Thursday.

Public Relations Officer of Courts (Guyana) Inc, Roberta Ferguson noted that Courts has always been committed to developing sports in Guyana.

Finance Director of Courts Guyana Inc., Neil Boucher, indicated that this donation was part and parcel of the company’s social

partner’s project.

Boucher informed the gathering that the company recognizes the importance of having these kinds of activities.

“You know the police’s motto is to protect and serve but you still need an all round police force and we see sports as an integral part in that aspect of it.”

Assistant Co-coordinator for the Guyana Police Force, Officer Linden Wilson thanked the entire company for their contribution in making the competition a success.

“I want to extend thanks to the company for their contribution to make our sports

a beautiful one, one that we can always talk about.”

The Assistant Coordinator added that this is a special year since there will be overseas athletes namely from other Caribbean nations.

The championship is expected to commence on Sunday with a road race at 06:00h and then move to the National Aquatic Centre for swimming at 10:00h to close the day. The three following days are reserved for the track and field events at the Police Sports Club Ground, eve Leary. The featured events are the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m races.

YELLOW PAGES FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016 | WWW.GUYANA-TIMES.COM

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21

SPORTS WICB Women’s Regional T20…

Guyana whip debutants Leewards by 55 runs H

ost Guyana opened its campaign in the West Indies Cricket Board WICB Regional women’s T20 Tournament with a commanding win over new comers Leeward Islands on Thursday night at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence. Leewards went down by 55 runs in the final game of the day.

Guyana’s victory was spearheaded by a brilliant half century from West Indies player Shemaine Campbelle, who finished unbeaten on 64 from 56 balls with seven fours.

Campbelle was solid from the start of her innings getting three runs off the second ball she faced. She was swift between the wicket, running ones, twos and at times threes to go along with seven forceful boundaries. The right handed batter brought up her fifty off 44 balls and had already accounted for four boundaries.

She collaborated with opener Melanie Henry 34 for a solid second wicket stance of 111 before the former was caught off the bowling of Shawneisha Hector. Hector was the lone wicket taker for Leewards with two wickets as she also dismissed Latoya Smith with the score on nine.

Guyana innings ended on 138-2 when their overs expired and they returned to limit the visitors to 83-9 To win by 55 runs in a lopsided affair. Leewards never recovered from a horrible start of 17-4 and was restricted to 83-9 from 20 overs. Erva Giddings was the pick of the Guyanese bowlers with 4-15.

The host bowled and fielded well. The bowling was on spot as seven of the batters were

West Indies player Shemaine Campbelle (right) leaving the field after her fantastic innings against the Leeward Islands

ing. Barbados were sent in by newly crowned Super 50 champions and they got to 106/8 from their 20 overs.

West Indies player Hayley Matthews hit the top score of 27 from 20 balls with five fours and was supported by opening partner Kycia Knight with 23 from 24 balls.

The Trinidad and Tobago bowlers were very much on target and were supported by the fielders in restricting the girls in blue to the gettable total. Right arm pacer Lee Ann Kirby (19/2) and off spinner Anisa Mohammed (21/21) were the main wicket takers while Shenelle Lord (15/1) and Karishma Ramharack

Windward Islands by 56 runs.

West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor blasted 62 (48b; 6x4; 2x6) and with contributions from Chedean Nation 29 not out and Natasha McLean 21 saw the Jamaicans posting 148/3 from their 20 overs.

Windwards Captain Afy Fletcher (26/1) and Quiana Joseph (29/1) had one wicket each. In reply, the Windwards who were playing their first game since in Guyana got to 92/5 when they ran out of overs. Medium pacer Roshana Outar had two wickets while Taylor, Chinelle Henry and Vanessa Watts shared the other wickets evenly. Juliana Nero top scored with 23 for

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bowled.

Jennison Richards 18, Terez Parker 14, Rozel Liburd 13 not out and Saneldo Willett 11 were the only players to reach double figures in a poor batting display.

When Guyana was in the field skipper Tremane Smartt suffered a minor injury scarce and had to leave the field for treatment. She later returned and marshaled her troops over the line.

Earlier, in the day the tournament opened with Barbados beating Trinidad and Tobago quite easily by 32 runs in the cool of the morn-

(16/1) were economical in their spell.

The run chase never got going and halfway through the 18th over the match was over with Trinidad and Tobago all out for 74 falling short by 32 runs. Three batters got to double figures with Reniece Boyce getting to 14, Mohammed 13 and Rachael Vincent 13 not out. Matthews capped a wonderful day by picking up 17/4 and Keila Elliott had 24/2.

The second match of the day was a one-sided affair with defending champions Jamaica whipping the

the Windwards who had all of their matches in the Super 50 segment of the tournament washed out.

The tournament continues today with three more matches at the same venue. At 09:00h the Leewards take on Jamaica while at 14:00h will be the match of the day between Guyana and Barbados as both teams won their opening match. The final game of the day will be contested between first round losers, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands. That game starts at 19:00h under the lights.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016

Seagram’s Royal Stag Cup

Kohli ton gives India shot at domination; Bishoo takes 3

I

n the lead-up to this series, India's captain Virat Kohli arranged a meeting with Viv Richards, to take his blessings, in the words of Richards. On the first day of the series, at a ground named after Richards, Kohli, a batsman who has been compared with Richards, showed all the intent that was a hallmark of Richards. He picked five bowlers, going for specialists ahead of those who can bat; he went with Shikhar Dhawan, who brings the possibility of quicker runs than KL Rahul; and he chose to bat first when the first session on this pitch was the only one expected to offer bowlers any assistance on the first three days.

Most importantly, with India in a spot of bother at 74 for 2 and struggling to score

freely, Kohli batted with similar intent, albeit against a limited attack that must have been close to tiring out, and scored an unbeaten 143, his 12th Test century and his first against West Indies

SCOREBOARD

to put India in a position to dominate, a goal they seemed to have set themselves at the start of the series. To make it better for Kohli, his selection of Dhawan played off.

Some considered him lucky to be playing in this Test, he enjoyed some luck against testing bowling at the start of the innings, but Dhawan helped India keep a disciplined West Indies attack at bay with his first half-century in eight innings. The two added 105 in 27.1 overs; the previous 74 runs had taken 27.4 overs.

India would have expected to work hard for their runs when they chose to bat on a slow pitch surrounded by a slow outfield in St John's, but hands in front of helmets as protective action wouldn't have been on the agenda. In their first Test under new bowling coach Roddy Estwick, the West Indies attack, thin on numbers but displaying tenaci-

India 1st innings M Vijay c KC Brathwaite b Gabriel 7 S Dhawan lbw b Bishoo 84 CA Pujara c KC Brathwaite b Bishoo 16 V Kohli* not out 143 AM Rahanec Bravo b Bishoo 22 R Ashwin not out 22 8 Extras: (b-4, lb2, nb-2) Total: (4 wickets; 90 ove rs) 302 To bat; WP Saha†, A Mishra, I Sharma, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Vijay, 6.2 ov), 2-74 (Pujara, 27.4 ov), 3-179 (Dhawan, 54.5 ov), 4-236 (Rahane, 67.2 ov) Bowling: ST Gabriel 13-443-1 (nb-1), JO Holder 17-441-0 (nb-1), CR Brathwaite 15-3-46-0, RL Chase 17-054-0, D Bishoo 27-0-1083, KC Brathwaite 1-0-4-0

ty, tested the Indian top order in the first session of the series. Shannon Gabriel, making a Test comeback after a good comeback in the ODI triangular series earlier in the season, rattled the

West Indies Captain Jason Holder hands the ball to Shannon Gabriel who had a fiery opening burst when he got the break through

openers with his pace, accounting for M Vijay with a lovely bouncer, but Dhawan was prepared to weather the storm before capitalising on the second string, an older ball and falling intensity.

The play began along expected lines. As against India's intent, West Indies took the safer route given their limited resources, playing the extra batsman, debutant Roston Chase, going in with Jason Holder as the third bowler, who on many sheets is marked as an allrounder. India were expected to look for runs, and relatively quick runs, while West Indies were expected to frustrate India. On the field, it was going to be a test of execution and endurance for West Indies.

The West Indies Cricket Baord’s Professional Cricket League Regional Four Day Tournament leading run scorer last season, Leon Johnson was not given the

opportunity to extend his career rather the young Barbadian Chase was preferred in the middle order.

The execution was near perfect before lunch. In his first spell of 4-2-6-1, Gabriel roughed up both Dhawan and Vijay. Dhawan had the worse of exchanges, topedging Holder before fending hopelessly four times in a row against Gabriel. Vijay edged the second bouncer he faced for Kraigg Brathwaite to juggle a catch at second slip. Holder - first spell of 5-2-10-0 - played his part in making Gabriel effective, and Carlos Brathwaite followed it up with a spell of six overs for six runs.

Dhawan might have had the problem against the short ball, but his discipline outside off and his will to make the bowlers get his wicket stood out. He refused to fall for the sucker delivery after the short ones, shelving his cover drive - playing only seven of them - and indulging only in the late cut off Chase, who had begun to get in cheap overs of part-time offspin in the first session of this Test. Unlike Cheteshwar Pujara, who got stuck and fell for 16 off 67 after a 60-run secondwicket partnership, Dhawan kept finding a way to score.

If it was the late cut at start - 14 runs off five attempts he began to use his feet towards the end of the first session. He went into lunch with 29 off the last 26 balls, and would come back to get himself in before opening up again.

Pujara, though, fell immediately after lunch, getting a leading edge off a short legbreak from the returning Devendra Bishoo.

The wicket changed the complexion of the day's play.

With Kohli came intent to

score runs. This flat and slow pitch didn't call for a watertight technique, so Kohli could take a few liberties on that front, but his attitude to look to score first before falling back on other options exposed the limited West Indies attack.

Until now, West Indies had kept India quiet by bowling well outside off, but Kohli began driving at them, a shot that this early in the innings can be dangerous in some conditions, but not here. There was no seam, no unfriendly bounce, and the ball was too old to swing. As if a sign of how the West Indies concentration was now being tested, Kohli's first boundary came through a misfield, from Marlon Samuels.

Floodgates opened then.

Kohli had followed Dhawan to a half-century, bringing it up off the 75th ball he faced. Bishoo, though, came back just before tea to trap Dhawan plumb on the sweep.

Kohli added 57 with an enterprising Ajinkya Rahane, who like Pujara, saw a short legbreak, shaped up to pull but didn't manage to adjust as the ball stopped and bounced at him. In another sign of intent, India had R Ashwin batting at No. 6, ahead of Wriddhiman Saha. West Indies continued with their conservative approach, happy to slow India down, not taking the new ball and getting in some quiet overs before stumps as Kohli and Ashwin added an unbeaten 66 runs together.

Virat Kohli scored his 12th century on Day 1 of the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua

Dhawan found more authority in his cuts. He upper-cut Gabriel for a six, swept Bishoo, stopped missing chances for singles; Kohli kept driving imperiously. In the 34th over, the run rate reached three for the first time since the third over.

The two kept picking ones and twos effortlessly. At one point Kohli pinched a single to Gabriel at mid-off, and told his partner, "He is very tired." Before you realised,

Kohli brought up what had looked like an inevitable century. Only once was there an alarm during his innings.

After a mini quiet period, he drove at a wide Brathwaite delivery. The edge flew wide of gully. On this pitch, such a drive to prevent the bowlers from bowling quiet overs wide outside off was a risk worth taking. As was playing five bowlers. Kohli was prepared to take both. (ESPN

Cricinfo)

RHTY&SC, Beharry launch 5/5 Cricket Tournament

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S and the Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd on Friday last launched their Say No and yes 5/5 Cricket Tournament for second division cricket teams in the ancient county. The tournament would be hosted as part of the two organisation’s massive 2016 Say No to Suicide, Drugs, Crime and Say Yes to Life, Sports and Education Programme.

Secretary/CEO of the Club, Hilbert Foster hailed the tournament as another red-letter day in life of the RHTYSC, M.S and would be one of the 300 project/activities the RHTYSC, M.S would be undertaking in 2016.

The tournament would involve 40 teams with the teams divided equally into four sub-zones – West

Berbice, New Amsterdam/ Canje, Lower/Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. The ten teams in

the Grand Finals. The winner of each Sub-Zone would receive $15,000.00 while the overall winner would

Satesh Singh, Beharry’s Marketing Manager hands over a cheque to Mark Papannah; looking on are Beharry’s Brand Manager Kamini Naresh and Hilbert Foster

each Sub-Zones would clash against each other to decide the top three to advance to

take home $150,000.00 and a trophy, the 1st runner up $75,000.00 and trophy and

3rd place - $25,000.00 and trophy.

The tournament would bowl off on Saturday 13th of August with Sub-Zone matches in West Berbice and New Amsterdam while Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne would host their matches on Sunday 20th of August. The West Berbice Zone matches would be played at the Blairmont Community Centre, the New Amsterdam/Canje Zone at the Cumberland Ground, and the Lower Corentyne Zone at the Area ‘H’ Ground while the Skeldon Community Centre would host the Upper Corentyne Matches.

The final is scheduled for Sunday 27th of August.

Foster is encouraging interested teams to call the Club Office on 337-4562 to regis-

ter by the end of July. The experienced sports administrator stated that the organisers would be using the tournament to promote the Say No and Yes Message to villages across Berbice.

Teams would be required to submit a list with fifteen players and would submit a list with fifteen players and would only be allowed two first division players who have played four matches in 2015 and 2016.

Players who are debarred from Berbice Cricket Board Second Division matches would not be allowed to play.

Foster disclosed that for the rest of 2016, the RHTYSC would be hosting at least twelve other cricket tournaments including the Busta Champion of Champions, the Nasir Memorial Cup and the Ministry of Health

Under 17 20/20 tournament Marketing Manager of Beharry Satesh Singh and Brands Manager Kamini Naresh both expressed confidence in the RHTYSC ability to organise a successful tournament and to fulfil every objective.

The company, Singh stated would play its part in promoting the tournament and also making sure that the finals is organised to the highest standards. Naresh disclosed that she was satisfied with the success of the RHTYSC / Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd Say No and Yes Campaign and the effect it was having on youths across Berbice. She urged cricket Clubs at the second division level to register to be part of the tournament, which features attractive incentives.

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2016…

23

CONTINUED FROM THURSDAY

Walton reigns with whirlwind 97

C

hadwick Walton slammed 97 as Jamaica Tallawahs beat Barbados Tridents by 36 runs in a rain-affected fixture in Kingston to qual-

ify for the final of CPL 2016.

After rain lashed down on Kingston for over an hour to reduce the match to an 18-overs-a-side affair, Tallawahs amassed 195 for

SCOREBOARD Jamaica Tallawahs innings (18 overs maximum) CAK Walton c Ahmed Shehzad b Rampaul 97 CH Gayle* c Reifer b Rampaul 8 KC Sangakkara† c Shoaib Malik b Wiese 50 AD Russell c †Pooran b Wiese 0 R Powell not out 34 Shakib Al Hasan run out (†Pooran/Rampaul) 0 TP Allen not out 0 Extras (w-4, nb-2) 6 Total (5 wickets; 18 overs) 195 Did not bat; Imad Wasim, DW Steyn, GE Mathurin, KOK Williams Bowling: R Rampaul 4-035-2 (nb-1, w-1), D Wiese 4-0-45-2 (nb-1), RA Reifer 3-0-36-0, AR Nurse 2-021- 0, ND Stewart 3-0-31-0, KA Pollard 2-0-27-0 (w-3) Barbados Tridents innings (target: 196 runs from 18 overs)

KA Hope c †Sangakkara b Steyn 13 Ahmed Shehzad c †Sangakkara b Russell 15 AJ Hosein c Steyn b Allen 8 Shoaib Malik c Powell b Allen 10 N Pooran† run out (Shakib Al Hasan/Williams) 51 KA Pollard* c Walton b Steyn 16 D Wiese c Gayle b Steyn 0 AR Nurse c †Sangakkara b Williams 10 RA Reifer not out 9 ND Stewart c †Sangakkara b Ste yn 0 R Rampaul c Shakib Al Hasan b Gayle 14 Extras (b-1, lb-4, w-7, nb-1) 13 Total (all out; 17.4 overs) 159 Bowling: AD Russell 3-033-1 (w-1), DW Steyn 4-027-4, KOK Williams 4-0-361 (w-1), TP Allen 3-0-27-2, R Powell 3-0-23-0 (nb-1), CH Gayle 0.4-0-8-1 (w-1)

5, largely thanks to a second-wicket stand of 127 between Walton and Kumar Sangakkara, who made a 31-ball 50.

In reply, Tridents slipped to 55 for 4 in the eighth over, before Nicholas Pooran mounted a spirited fightback, bringing up the fastest half-century this season, off 23 balls. But as the asking rate crept up to over 15 runs an over less than halfway into the chase, Tridents were left with no option but to go for broke. They were bowled out for 159 in the final over.

"Winning the toss was a good decision, but we didn't bowl well, and so we deserve to be on the losing side," Tridents captain Kieron Pollard said after the match.

"You can't bowl contrary to what your plans are and still end up winning. We have had a few guys injured, but we can't use that as an excuse. Guys who get an opportunity should show why they deserve to be in the XI. We can't slip up going into the business end. Hopefully this is another learning ex-

perience for us and we'll look to fight another day."

Tridents had an early boost when Ravi Rampaul removed Chris Gayle in the third over of the match. For the next hour, though, they came under Walton's wheel.

The opener, who had topped 20 just once this season, struck nine fours and five sixes over the course of his 54-ball knock, before being caught at long-on in an attempt to clear the ropes and bring up his maiden T20 century.

Andre Russell, promoted to No. 4, was out first ball to David Wiese, but Rovman Powell lent the finishing touches with one four and four sixes in his unbeaten 14-ball 34 as Tallawahs smashed 44 off the last three overs.

Tridents came out swinging and lost their openers - Shai Hope and Ahmed Shehzad - inside five overs as Dale Steyn and Andre Russell got among the wickets. Pacer Timroy Allen then struck twin blows, including that of Shoaib Malik, to leave Tridents in tatters at

Chadwick Walton was named Man of the Match for his heroics of nine fours and five sixes in his 54-ball 97

55 for 4.

Pooran and Pollard kept the innings ticking along, before the pressure of bringing out the big shots resulted in Pollard falling into the short-ball trap set by Steyn.

Two balls later, Steyn had his 200th T20 wicket when fellow South African David Wiese chipped one to Gayle at midwicket to leave

Tridents at 90 for 6.

Pooran then muscled his way to six meaty sixes before his run-out deflated Tridents' chase. Steyn finished with 4 for 27 as Tallawahs secured a final berth in front of adoring home fans. The visitors, meanwhile, slipped to their third loss in seven matches.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Sammy special gives Zouks historic win P

laying his first match at the stadium which was recently renamed in his honour, Darren Sammy marked the occasion with a scintillating knock which propelled his side to a comprehensive victory over the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots as the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) continued with match 21 on Thursday

SCOREBOARD

The Zouks celebrate the early and important wicket of Lendl Simmons within the Power Play

special which included five powerfully struck sixes and two well timed fours to help his team to a competitive total of 174-9. He walked to the crease with his team in a bit of worries at the fall of Michael Hussey’s wicket with the score at 834. At that stage the Zouks were on par for the average first innings total on that ground for the last previous 10 innings which

Teams

Darren Sammy praises his home ground fans at the newly renamed Darren National Cricket Stadium

at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St. Lucia.

Sammy smashed 59 from 35 deliveries in his

is 147. However, the skipper change that with an aggressive innings which inspired the eventual total and served as the difference between the two teams. It is his highest score for the tournament and first over 30 after a miserable start to the tournament with bat.

The right handed batsman received valuable support from Johnson Charles who made a blistering 25

from 14 balls and Michael Hussey 26. The Zouks innings fell about some 10 runs short as teenage prodigy Alzarri Joseph bowled a fiery final over where he claimed three wickets to finish with 4-41 from 4 overs. Krishmar Santokie and Jonathan Carter chipped in with two wickets apiece as they tried to restrict their opponents.

In response, the Patriots

Mat Won Lost N/R

Pts Net RR

Jamaica Tallawahs

8

6

1

1

13

+1.502

Guyana Amazon Warriors

7

5

2

0

10

+0.246

Barbados Tridents

7

3

3

1

7

-0.023

Trinbago Knight Riders

7

3

4

0

6

-0.102

St Lucia Zouks

5

2

3

0

4

-0.629

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

8

1

7

0

2

-1.022

St Lucia Zouks innings (20 overs maximum) J Charles c Carter b Joseph 25 ADS Fletcher† c Joseph b Cottrell 6 SR Watson c Lewis b Carter 15 MEK Hussey c †Thomas b Carter 26 DA Miller b Santokie 11 DJG Sammy* c Lewis b Joseph 59 K Lesporis c Carter b Santokie 15 DE Johnson c Badree b Joseph 4 S Shillingford c du Plessis b Joseph 0 JE Taylor not out 0 Extras (b-3, w-8, nb-2) 13 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 174 Did not bat; M Morkel Fall of wickets 1-8 (Fletcher, 1.2 ov), 2-39 (Charles, 4.1 ov), 3-58 (Watson, 6.2 ov), 4-83 (Hussey, 11.3 ov), 5-115 (Miller, 14.4 ov), 6-157 (Lesporis, 18.5 ov), 7-173 (Sammy, 19.4 ov), 8-173 (Shillingford, 19.5 ov), 9-174 (Johnson, 19.6 ov) Bowling: K Santokie 4-0-41-2 (w-1), SS Cottrell 4-0-35-1 (nb1, w-2), AS Joseph 4-0-41-4 (nb-1, w-3), S Badree 4-0-260, JL Carter 4-0-28-2 (w-2)

fell for a self-destruct 139-9 in their 20 overs with only JJ Smut 30 and Faf du Plesis 48 putting up a fight in their attempt to reach the target. Playing in his first match this season, left arm pace bowler, Delorn Johnson, was the main force in the Zouks attack collecting 3-37 in his quota of four overs. He was supported by Jerome Taylor who claimed two wickets.

The Patriots fell short by 35 runs.

The win keeps the

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots innings (target: 175 runs from 20 overs) LMP Simmons c Miller b Watson 15 E Lewis c Lesporis b Morkel 7 JT Smuts c Charles b Johnson 30 F du Plessis* c Watson b Johnson 48 DC Thomas† c Hussey b Sammy 2 JL Carter run out (Watson) 21 BJ Hodge c Miller b Taylor 1 K Santokie c Hussey b Johnson 0 SS Cottrell not out 6 S Badree c Miller b Taylor 2 AS Joseph not out 2 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 139 Fall of wickets 1-16 (Lewis, 2.4 ov), 2-40 (Simmons, 5.1 ov), 3-69 (Smuts, 8.4 ov), 4-73 (Thomas, 9.4 ov), 5-123 (Carter, 15.4 ov), 6-126 (Hodge, 16.2 ov), 7-128 (Santokie, 17.2 ov), 8-128 (du Plessis, 17.3 ov), 9-136 (Badree, 18.4 ov) Bowling: M Morkel 4-0-291 (w-1), JE Taylor 4-0-19-2 (w-2), SR Watson 4-0-27-1 (w-1), DE Johnson 4-0-37-3, DJG Sammy 4-0-26-1

Zouks chances of meeting the playoffs alive as they now have two wins from five matches. They will now prepare to face the Tridents on Saturday at the said venue.

While the Patriots face elimination after the first round where they have so far just one victory from eight matches and will not qualify for the play-offs even if they win both of their matches against the Trinbago Knight Riders in Florida.

FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2016

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

Pg 23

Sammy special gives Zouks historic win Seagram’s Royal Stag Cup

Kohli ton gives India shot at domination; Bishoo takes 3 Pg 22

Jason Holder and Virat Kohli with the series trophy, West Indies v India, 1st Test, Antigua, 1st day

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