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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3180

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Drug shortages, busted machines found at Linden Hospital

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$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Guyana actively involved in Doha trade negotiations − Ambassador P5

Page 11

…as Parliamentary Sectoral Committee examines facility

Govt can afford to remove VAT on private education – Jagdeo

Crime Chief decries lack of DNA Page 17 testing at Forensic Lab

Page 3

Historic visit: FIFA President visits Guyana

Jagdeo accuses Granger of “covering up” for Ministers P7

…as AG issue goes unresolved

Region 2 Councillors say REO hindering progress P15

Berbice fire leaves 6 P5 homeless

Bulkan denies censorship P12 claims – says he was "victim" of editorial discretion FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday made a historic visit to Guyana, the lone English-speaking nation in South America. In photo, Infantino demonstrates some essential skills in the game of football to these youngsters during his stop at the grassroots programme that targets young footballers at the Academy Training Centre (Carl Croker photo) (See stories on sport pages)

Used Tyres Association wants meeting Page with Govt 10

SARU raid

Enmore NDC threatens legal action if seized computers not Page 16 returned

Drowned WBD man found on foreshore P12

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, April 12 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, April 13 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 12 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, April 13 – 05:30h-07:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers can be expected in the morning hours followed by heavy rain showers in the afternoon, with lightly cloudy skies in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East south-Easterly to East north-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 05:03h and 17:24h reaching maximum heights of 2.74 metres and 2.69 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:59h and 23:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.45 metre and 0.55 metre respectively.

Govt can afford to remove VAT on private education – Jagdeo G

overnment can afford to remove its imposed 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education without significantly harming its revenue framework, according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo, an economist, calculated that Government could have, and currently can, slash spending in unnecessary areas in order to maintain its desired revenue stream without taxing private education.

Referring to the monies wasted and squandered on the D’Urban Park Project, which amounted to close to $1 billion, Jagdeo said that would have been more than four years of what the parents have to pay on private education.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, the Government has projected to earn over $350 million per year from the VAT on

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

offending the tax, if they are not paying their fair share of taxes, then, by all means, the GRA [Guyana Revenue Authority] should go after them. But you cannot put in place VAT on the parents as a compensatory measure for the transgressions of private schools,” he posited.

The Opposition Leader

dition to their benefits will be more than $350 million alone! Are they saying that they have greater priority in terms of needs to State funds than the 20,000 students in Guyana who are going to private institutions?”

Jagdeo queried.

He also slammed the Government over its deci-

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One of the protests against VAT on private education

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private education.

He had contended that the education tax was necessary because a number of private schools did not pay their full share of existing taxes, but Jagdeo argued that such an explanation defied logic.

“If the private schools are

pointed out that the priorities of the Government were backward, since it could save much more than $350 million per year if it immediately rescinded the salary increases and lavish benefits given to Ministers.

“The salary increases that Ministers took in ad-

sion to grant beverage giant Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) a $3.5 billion tax write-off even as it found it appropriate to tax the working class who were struggling to elevate themselves.

Jagdeo continued, “Why are we spending hundreds of millions of dollars fixing up

State House or building the Wall of China now by the Office of the President compound? How much does that cost? We don’t know because they haven’t gone to tender.”

He also highlighted that the $12.5 million of taxpayers’ money being handed to Alliance For Change (AFC) financier Larry Singh for the Sussex Street bond could have otherwise been utilised to bolster revenues instead of taxing private institutions.

Former President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr Melissa Ifill had argued that in other Caribbean States which have the same public/private education structure, private schools were in fact given tax breaks and other benefits from the State.

She pointed out that Governments viewed private schools as aiding the Public Sector, as they removed a major burden from the State in providing quality education to masses of students.

Government, even after hosting a post-VAT implementation consultation with stakeholders to address their concerns with the VAT on private education, announced that the tax would remain for this year.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who addressed the forum on Friday, said Cabinet would review their concerns, but announced that if any changes were to be made, they would be done until 2018.

Disgruntled stakeholders have pledged to continue their resistance against the Government until it removed the VAT on private education.

Another protest is slated for today outside the Education Ministry from midday.

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

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

Amerindian land rights under threat

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United Nations publication on the state of the world’s Indigenous peoples reveals that all over the world first peoples continue to suffer from disproportionally high rates of poverty, health problems, crime and human rights abuses.

According to the UN study, Indigenous peoples make up around 370 million of the world’s population – some five per cent.

However, according to the survey, they constitute around onethird of the world’s 900 million extremely poor rural people. The report states, inter alia: “Every day, Indigenous communities all over the world face issues of violence and brutality, continuing assimilation policies, dispossession of land, marginalisation, forced removal or relocation, denial of land rights, impacts of largescale development, abuses by military forces and a host of other abuses.”

The report also draws a dismal picture of the fate of Indigenous peoples worldwide. It stated, “... statistics illustrate the gravity of the situation in both developed and developing countries.

Poor nutrition, limited access to care, lack of resources crucial to maintaining health and well-being, and contamination of natural resources are all contributing factors to the terrible state of Indigenous health worldwide.” The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples report was authored by seven independent experts and produced by the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

However, the social demographics for Guyana’s hinterland communities and Indigenous peoples changed with the advent of the PPP/C Administration.

While the first peoples of this country comprise approximately 9.1 per cent of the population, they currently own in excess of 14.1 per cent of the land, including the forest resources within their titled lands. This is their bounden right because they are the traditional keepers and guardians of the rainforests, for which Guyana was bountifully rewarded through the Norway pact. Amerindians also received protected rights by way of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and when the PPP/C Administration passed the Amerindian Act 6 of 2006.

In fairness to the previous Administration, it made great strides during its tenure in office to protect Amerindians’ rights to their land.

The unprecedented granting of titles and demarcation grants was full proof of a sincere and firm commitment by the previous Government towards protecting the land rights of the Indigenous peoples of Guyana.

It would, however, seem that the current coalition Government has diverted from its many pre-election promises to the Amerindians and has demonstrated no political will to execute a comprehensive developmental agenda for this country’s first peoples. Its promises seem to be constricted to political statements that are often empty and, at best, rhetorical.

Relative to Amerindian development, the very basic principles of consultation, participation and authority to govern and administer their affairs were the foundations of the previous Government’s strategy for development that have already been tested during its tenure, and that have put the Amerindian way of life many notches higher than what it was during the PNC era.

However, in a letter penned by Amerindian representative Alister Charlie, he expressed fear that his people were now in danger of returning to the ethos of yesteryear, when the Indigenous peoples were alluded to and treated in a derogatory way.

While the previous Government (now in Opposition) remained steadfast in its resolve and commitment to uplift the present malaise of Guyana’s Amerindians, whose rights and welfare had often taken the backseat, the current coalition Administration seems to be taking the Amerindian community down a retrograde path through the establishment of a land rights commission that is programmed to address African and Amerindian land rights together.

The rights to land, territory, and resources are well entrenched in the Amerindian Act of 2006.

Amerindian Villages have the right to independently set their respective rules that are not contrary to existing law. The Amerindian Act of 2006 and the Constitution of Guyana clearly stipulate the participation and involvement of Indigenous peoples in policy formulation. The Act has been enacted through massive consultation with the village leaders and villagers.

The issues on titling as have been documented in the Amerindian Lands Commission Report of 1969 are respected by the State and Amerindians as well. Efforts in bridging gaps between the said report and the present land titling systems had been in constant review by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MOAA) and the Amerindian leaders and villagers.

On Sunday, more than 800 Amerindians, from more than 13 villages in Region One (Barima/Waini), unanimously passed a motion that condemns the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) by President David Granger to “examine all issues and uncertainties surrounding the claims of Amerindian land titling”.

This is the latest in the committed efforts by the Amerindian people to reject the Government’s ploy to set up a land CoI.

Patrons converge at The National Gallery of Art, Castellani House for the opening of the “Ganga Ship 1917: the long journey”, an exhibition by the Arts Forum on the occasion of the Centenary of the End of Indentureship in Guyana (Dexter Ceres photo)

If only Kissoon could take off those blinders!

Dear Editor, The columns written by Frederick Kissoon on suicide expose his monomaniasm. The columnist seems to suffer from tunnel vision, which could allow for an analysis only through political lens.

Kissoon claims that the reason why Guyana has achieved the ignominious number one position in suicide rates is because of the political situation in the country – causing young (mainly Indian) folks to take their lives. (This claim mirrors that of his assertion that the event marking the Lusignan Massacre in that village in 2010. The columnist claimed that the event was sponsored by politicians and others so as to garner votes. I happened to be sitting next to the brother of a victim, but expressed deep appreciation, in that commemoration, helped to bring healing to him and others. Kissoon was nowhere to be found – except in the company of his fans.

Kissoon cites “Guyana’s breakdown” to suicide. He does not define “breakdown”. Perhaps he was referring to his statement, “In the entire world, this country may have the highest rate of unsolved homicides, incest accused, road fatalities …”. (He is wrong on all those fronts!)

If Guyana has the number one spot as a result of “breakdown”, how does South Korea come in second place on the suicide list?

That is one of the most progressive countries in the world! And look at the other end of the spectrum and see who comes up on the high end: Haiti is #153 – yet it suffers from chronic instability, dictatorships and natural disasters. There was an election in 2014; the “victor” was declared president in February 2017! Namibia is #154 – with more than half of the population earning less than US$1.50 per day. Belize (#155) has a problem with violent crime (far greater than Guyana)

and is heavily dependent on aid from our neighbour, Venezuela – with a ranking of #156. Just about everyone knows about Maduro leading Venezuela with the absurd political situation in that country – causing their citizens to glean stores in Georgetown to buy toilet paper!

The columnist writes, “the party Wakenaamers put in charge of Guyana for 23 years should have done more for its supporters on the island. There is absolutely nothing in Wakenaam.

The PPP Government did absolutely nothing for that island. It is a place of high unemployment; it has been like that for over fifty years.”

So, could others share the ‘blame’ in the lack of development?

Kissoon needs to take off his political blinders and recognise that there could be other factors for suicide: social, mental, spiritual, etc.

Those who commit suicide come in all colours and socio-economic backgrounds.

They see death as a way to escape their pain and anguish; they could be saddled with a sense of self-hatred, rejection, and hopelessness.

When the columnist compares Black Bush Polder (the “suicide capital of the world”) to Wakenaam, he sees only that the overwhelming Indian population voted for the PPP. For him, the commonality ends there. He cannot see that Black Bush Polder (and Wakenaam) has functioned significantly as the breadbasket of the country with their agricultural produce.

Sadly, in many agricultural communities, alcoholism is a huge problem.

Coupled with easy access to herbicides and pesticides which farmers use, one can understand why such communities account for the astronomical suicide rate.

If only Mr Kissoon could take off those blinders…!

Yours truly, Devanand Bhagwan

Rewarding excellence in public service Dear Editor, As we continue to embrace our national strategy towards a sustainable economy with a focus on ecotourism, we must also continue to develop our reward systems for commitment and excellence in public service.

For time spent providing exemplary work as a teacher, nurse or doctor, Police Officer, soldier, fireman/firewoman, or in other areas within Government regardless of party affiliation, workers should be giv-

en the opportunity to obtain subsidised housing and access to preferential financing rates. This will attract more candidates to these crucial roles in our society and help ease the heaviest financial burden our citizens undertake, while at the same time fostering economic growth in the housing sector. Also, in the area of teaching, the awarding of tenure for proven success in public schools will help retain top talent and encourage entry into the profes-

sion.

Continued investment in our infrastructure, specifically in the maintenance and upkeep of our courts, police stations, army bases, schools, hospitals and fire stations should continue to be a top priority in the area of ongoing Government investments and expenses.

It is essential that our key institutions: 1. reflect the level of quality that our fellow Guyanese would enjoy being a part of

2. foster confidence in the general public and visiting tourists 3. stay competitive versus other tourist destinations Given the size of our Government, the additional growth this investment will spur in the construction sector should not be overlooked. As the nation grows, we must not forsake that which forms the foundation that allows us to support our growth. continues on page 5

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Guyana actively involved in Doha trade negotiations – Ambassador A

mbassadors have been at the forefront of promoting Guyana’s economic diplomacy in the international arena.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, at the conclusion of the Heads of Missions Conference last week, pointed out that the bulk of the work was being undertaken at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

P e r m a n e n t Representative to the United Nations Office and Other International Organisations at Geneva and the WTO, Ambassador Dr John Ford said Guyana was actively involved in the Doha Development Agenda, which was the latest round of trade negotiations among WTO members.

Ambassador David Hales

“We feel that there is a great opportunity this year building up to the ministerial decisions negotiations in Buenos Aries in December,” Ambassador Ford said.

Guyana is chairing the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) partners go-

ing into those negotiations, he pointed out.

This country is working closely with these groups to advance common interests in areas such as fisheries subsidies and commerce and services.

Meanwhile, in the European arena, Ambassador David Hales said Guyana was lobbying on three fronts. There is ongoing work on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which the ACP countries signed with the European Union. “What is more immediate are the preparations that are taking place in the African, Caribbean and Pacific group for the negotiations of a success agreement to the Cotonou Agreement, which expires in 2020,”

Ambassador, Dr John Ford

Ambassador Hales highlighted as the second issue.

The Cotonou Agreement was signed in June 2000, and was designed to establish a comprehensive partnership that enshrined development and political, economic and trade cooper-

ation. The Agreement has been revised twice, in 2005 and 2010, with a clause to re-examine every five years.

“The ACP group, which Guyana is a member of, has taken the position that we would like to see a new all-encompassing legally-binding agreement,” Ambassador Hales explained.

That agreement would seek to secure “concessional financing under the European Development Fund (EDF) for all ACP countries without exception”.

Now that Guyana and other Caricom countries, with the exception of Haiti, are classified as middle income, Ambassador Hales said the trend was that aid or concessional financing

was being reduced or withheld.

“We continue to maintain the position that we want an agreement which would cover all ACP countries, all 79 of them,” Ambassador Hales explained.

Thirdly, Guyana is also among the countries examining what the implications of Brexit (the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the EU) could have for countries in the Caribbean.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, these include any arrangement that the United Kingdom might make to ensure that there is no disruption of trade and those countries when it leaves the EU, Ambassador Hales said.

Berbice fire leaves 6 homeless

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ix persons are now homeless after the house in which they live went up in flames early Tuesday morning.

Flames were seen coming from the Number Three Village, Corentyne, Berbice house about 03:00h.

Speaking to this publication, Derani Phagoo said she was awakened by the unusual brightness of her surroundings, and upon investigating, she realised that the two-bedroom house was burning.

She told Guyana Times that as soon as the discovery was made, she raised an alarm. Residents formed a bucket brigade and their focus was on saving Phagoo’s house.

Rewarding excellence... from page 4

Working closely on an agreed agenda with the unions and institutions representing our public servants is a must for any government to be successful in designing enhancements in the worker benefits provided to Government workers.

The above examples of benefits that could be additionally provided are at a very low cost to the Government given the design of the benefits package. The mentioned investment in the upkeep of the infrastructure of these cornerstone institutions in our nation should be viewed as both necessary and beneficial by administrations focused on economic growth.

To govern is to provide a service to those who have empowered you to do so, and public servants make it possible for any government to serve its people well.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

When the Rose Hall Fire Service arrived, the house was already flattened.

Meanwhile, Achama Kawana, who was expected to move into the house on Tuesday with her five children, explained that she had to go a quarter of a mile to witness the flames after receiving the news.

According to her, the entire building was in flames.

Her family of six was living at a house along the Corentyne Highway in the village.

The house was bought one year ago, but it was only Sunday that the furniture and other belongings of the family were taken into the building.

A ‘horse and staple’ lock,

The six fire victims who were left homeless after a blaze completely destroyed their home

along with a padlock, which was found at the fire site indicated that no one entered the building. It is believed that the fire started from outside the building.

Kawana says she is not pointing fingers, but is awaiting the report of the Guyana Fire Service. She added that the house was fully furnished but the electricity was not yet connected. According to the woman, her husband is currently at sea and has not been informed of the disaster. She said there was now an urgent need to find somewhere to live, since she was asked to move from her current home.

An investigation has been launched.

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Foundation

– 10 reasons why exercise might make you an even better mom Reduce anxiety and improve your mood Exercise reduces our odds of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, research shows. Exercise and fitness also release chemicals that improve mood and sleep, and reduce anxiety. As we all know, there’s stress, and then there’s “mom stress”. As the saying goes, you’re only as happy as your most unhappy child. Exercise can counteract the unavoidable stress of parenting.

Exercise helps your memory

New research links exercise to enhanced memory and cognitive repair.

One study found that regular aerobic exercise appears to boost the size

of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning.

In fact, heart-pumping exercise “stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells.” What better way to fight “mommy brain” and keep yourself sharp?

Move outdoors for stress recovery

We moms often dash between responsibilities with-

out spending time in nature. This treadmill of work, shopping, cleaning, cooking, and so on deprives us of the fantastic psycho-

logical benefits of the natural world.

It’s been proven that natural landscapes accelerate

Volunteering

(Part two) recovery from stress. Try unplugging everyone in the family to hike in the mountains or walk on the beach.

Better yet, go on your own.

Exercising in nature can create positive changes in the brain that will serve you well after a hard morning with the kids.

Increase optimism

Exercise changes our self-perceptions, providing a sense of personal mastery and positive self-regard.

It also reduces negative thinking. A Harvard University study of 70,000 wom-

en reveals that an optimistic outlook improves health and well-being – and even lengthens life expectan-

cy. So, start exercising, build that feedback loop of optimism, and be there longer for your kids!

Avoid depression

Researchers are finding that physical activity works at least as well against mild-to-moderate depression as any other treatment. It may be an alternative to current forms of treatment or a complement to them, even in severe cases. Moreover, resistance exercise and weight training have been found to be as effective against depression as aerobic activity, according to Hara Estroff Marano.

Too many moms face de-

pression due to shifts in identity, sleep deprivation, and the demands o f modern life. Exercise maybe the very thing to stave off depression and introduce joy.

Eating well, exercising, and sleep are expressions of self-worth. Give yourself the same care and love that you show your children, and find joy amid the chaos and demands of parenthood.

You deserve it! (Excerpt from psychologytoday)

– Why I do it and why you should consider doing it too!

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t seems as though volunteerism has become a sort of “rite of passage”. It is as though it’s a phase through which teenagers pass, something they can mark as a notch under their belt. This to me is equal parts encouraging and equal parts saddening. Ashley Anthony Let me explain.

While I find it disheartening that many youths begin to volunteer not out of genuine interest, but rather to pad up their CVs, and eventually stop doing so once they have sufficiently filled up their quota; at the end of the day, they are contributing positively towards the community. Putting that aside, I want to talk about the reasons I, personally, volunteer, so as to perhaps motivate others to do so.

Growing up, one thing that I was acutely aware of is that we aren’t all given equal opportunity. I think this realisation dawns upon everyone at some point in time, but it often comes from the perspective that “there will always be someone better off and someone worse off, so you should just accept your place in the world”. It is used to placate a jealous child, or to guilt them into getting over whatever “minor” problems they might have. However, whenever I think about the people who are given less than I, I can’t help myself but think that I have been given enough to elevate them in some, albeit small, way.

So, why do I volunteer? I volunteer because I believe that I can make a difference. I believe that I can impact the world in some shape or form, and that gives me a purpose.

Volunteering also aids personal growth. It exposes you to a wider cross-section of people than you are generally accustomed to, and with this comes with new ideas and new perspectives. It can help improve communication skills, and it can help teenagers understand how to work in teams to achieve a certain goal separate from the context of school.

Although I have helped refurbish furniture at the palms, and to paint murals, my primary means of volunteering resides in teaching. I think this is because my strength is academics. Not every type of volunteering is suited to every person. If you don’t like children, then maybe teaching will bring you more stress than happiness.

If you aren’t physically fit or familiar with power tools, then perhaps don’t go trying to build houses. Sometimes people try volunteering and realise that it isn’t for them.

This is okay. Maybe you could try doing something else which is more focused on your interests, or maybe you could find some other avenue to enact change like political activism or charity.

Either way, I think that it’s time we start to take a more active role in the development of our community.

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Jagdeo accuses Granger of “covering up” for Ministers …as AG issue goes unresolved

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resident David Granger is being accused of covering up for his Ministers by sweeping serious issues under the carpet, as appears to be the case regarding the Attorney General, Basil Williams and his unruly behaviour towards a High Court Judge.

This is the view of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who is urging the Head of State to take disciplinary actions against Williams over his unacceptable conduct, noting that failure to do so would ultimately expose the true nature of the President.

“I would expect that the President would treat this matter seriously and if he sweeps it under the carpet, it is one more very telling trait of the President that exposes his real nature about how he deals with matters when they concern people in his inner circle,” Jagdeo stated during a press conference at the Leader of the Opposition Office on Monday.

He outlined similar situations where President Granger failed to take action against Cabinet colleagues who made major blunders in the execution of their duties, including the infamous D’Urban Park scandal and the $605 mil-

Minister of Justice and revolved around his conduct in a courtroom.

President’s position

Opposition Leader Bharrat

lion drug procurement fiasco.

“People say the President is aloof and does not concern himself with those matters, but when he does, he doesn’t do these things with a view of bringing them to their conclusion or establish an independent process that will guide him,” Jagdeo said as he lamented the many free passes being given to Ministers who constantly slip up.

Regarding the AG incident, the Opposition Leader had called for investigations at both the level of the Executive and Judiciary, since the matter brought into disrepute the State’s

Guyana Times attempted to ask President Granger, on the sidelines of a book launch on Monday evening, about his thoughts on the Attorney General’s behaviour, but was advised by an officer of his Press and Publicity Unit that he would not be taking any questions.

Such a position flies in the face of the President’s claims that he is accessible to the media, even though he has not held a press conference for more than a year.

Responding to questions posed to him during the recording of the December 20, 2016 edition of “The Public Interest”, the President had said he remained accessible to the media through a number of media engagement options, including engaging with reporters at various public forums.

When Guyana Times attempted to engage with the Head of State after the book launch, the press officer advised that questions be sent to an email address – and that was done, but up to press time, no response was forthcoming.

President Granger had recently expressed confi-

President David Granger

dence that the matter involving the Attorney General would be resolved soon.

However, he did not elaborate on when or how the issue would be addressed.

Guyana Press Association (GPA) President Neil Marks only recently stressed the need for the Head of State to host press conferences in order to engage the media, outside of his televised programme.

High Court drama

The issue between the Attorney General and Justice Franklin Holder stemmed from an exchange, which caused the High Court Judge to storm

out of the courtroom without adjourning the proceedings that were before him. The following day, Justice Holder formally informed the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag0 that he had abruptly walked out of the courtroom on March 23 because of statements made by the Attorney General.

The Judge said in his complaint — which has since been leaked to the public — that after hearing the AG utter the words in question, “I rose from the Bench and went into my Chambers. I did not adjourn the matter, nor did I give any instructions to the parties. I recognise Mr Williams’ behaviour as I have related to be insulting, disrespectful, and calculated to scandalise and lower the authority of the Court, in the face of the Court. Mr Williams’ behaviour was highly contemptuous and deserving of him being cited for contempt in the face of the Court. Instead of doing so at the moment, I chose to leave the Bench.”

Despite the Judge clearly stating that the Attorney General’s behaviour caused him to walk off the Bench, Williams is holding out that he is not to be blamed for what happened. In fact, the Attorney General has even defended his actions and his

Attorney General Basil Williams

statements. He believes that the Judge fell prey to “transferred frustration” as a result of the defence lawyer in the matter, Anil Nandlall’s “barracking” of nearly three hours during the proceedings.

Williams is also insisting that his comment was not a threat, and he has refused to apologise to the Judge, saying to reporters at a subsequent press conference, “I don’t know about apology.”

The High Court Judge has said in his complaint that he felt disrespected by the Attorney General’s behaviour and has called for an apology in open court.

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wednesDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Mahdia stabbing

Miner slapped with murder charge Developing…

A

Stanislaus Clement

miner of Shulinab Village, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) who allegedly stabbed a 30-year-old man to death at 111 Miles Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) was on Tuesday slapped with a murder charge.

Stanislaus Clement is accused of killing Reginald Charles, called “Short Man”, on April 5 during an argument in the interior mining town.

Presiding Magistrate Fabayo Azore read the charge to the unrepresented man. He is expected to face Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan today.

Reports are that Charles was walk-

ing in the vicinity of a nightclub in Mahdia in the wee hours of Wednesday last, when he allegedly became engaged in a heated argument with the accused and another person. This quickly turned into a scuffle during which one of his assailants reportedly broke a beer bottle and stabbed Charles with it to his neck and chest.

The bleeding man then ran into the Mahdia Hospital, where he succumbed while receiving treatment.

Two suspects were subsequently arrested in connection with the stabbing, and one of them – Clement was charged.

Rupununi farmer charged for narco possession

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he instances of narcotic possession cases coming out of Guyana’s interior locations continue as Tuesday’s session at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts saw yet another farmer of Moco Moco, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) being remanded to prison following a recent drug bust in the remote community.

Carlton Jonas, 39, denied the charge, which was read to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore and stated that on April 9, 2017 at Moco Moco

Village, he was in possession of 2.1 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Jonas claimed that he had no knowledge of the charge. The man contended that he was apprehended by Police Officers some five miles from his place of residence, contrary to Police facts which stated that the accused’s home was searched by ranks in his presence and the illicit substance was found in a bedroom, concealed in a red five-gallon bucket.

Investigations are ongoing as the

evidence is yet to be analysed.

The matter will continue today before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Y

…or exploiting Guyana?

our Eyewitness was intrigued at the launching of the book, “Aspects of EuropeanGuyanese Heritage”. He hasn’t rushed over to Georgetown to grab his copy as yet, so he’s wondering exactly what “aspects” were covered. One aspect, of course, was to look the Indigenous Peoples full in the eye, but yet announce they’d “discovered” Guyana (or Berbice) or whatever THEY choose to call it.

The Indigenous Peoples weren’t fully “people” – how could they, not being Europeans and all??!!

Their culture, or lack thereof, made them savages – and how could savages OWN land?? How ridiculous that these savages figured folks could possess land in common and use it with reverence to sustain themselves!! Didn’t they realise civilised people must OWN land, fence it off, and kill whoever’s trying to “trespass”?? That was the civilised way of doing things.

So one European-Guyanese heritage is to deny any right of the Indigenous Peoples to the land and we, who came later, are the real inheritors of the Europeans who must inherit it. And of course, WE’RE the inheritors of the European heritage. Don’t we have their blood to prove it? Your Eyewitness isn’t talking about the Portuguese who may or may not be Europeans. He’s talking about all those of us who’re “Mixed”. Even though we don’t distinguish between Mulatto or Quadroon or the sixteen other gradations of the mixture of white and black that was common in colonial times – we’re all dubbed “Red” – and that’s part of our (colourful) heritage!

Another contribution, of course, was the Christian Religion (in CAPS). Wasn’t it wonderful this religion was flexible enough to move from declaring Africans were “pagans” who had no souls so they could become European “chattel slaves” to the present where the descendants of those slaves can proselytise others who’re now declared as “pagans”?? It’s a sign of progress, however, that unlike beating out the pagan religions from the African Slaves with whips and the rack, these remaining pagans are threatened with fire and brimstone as they are courted with used clothing and trips to Bible colleges in the States.

Another aspect of European Heritage that’s making a remarkable comeback is in architecture. Have you seen the steep, peaked roofs with all sorts of gables on all the posh new houses? These were designed to allow the snow that falls in Europe to run off and not accumulate and crash the roofs on white people’s heads. Obviously, we’re falling back on our European Heritage in light of Climate Change!! Ice skating, anyone?

But, sadly, we’re jettisoning the greatest European heritage of all – the raison d’étre of our existence – sugar!

Ain’t it a shame??

…a PNC plan?

Speaking to all the diplomats they’ve assigned to foreign climes, our Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin confessed he didn’t have any economic projects they could push abroad!! Now it used to be when Burnham was president, he had delusions of grandeur about being a world leader! So he sent his diplomats far and wide – at the cost of millions of US dollars – to spread his reputation – such as it was.

While the economy tanked!

So, you’d think, with the economy careening downhill faster than a toboggan on steroids, Gaskin would’ve prepared some business plans – since his Foreign Minister Greenidge had already signalled the need to drum up “foreign direct investment” for Guyana. But no!! And when Opposition Leader Jagdeo, not surprisingly, jumped on his case, he had the gall to complain Jagdeo hadn’t left him a plan!!

Imagine that!!

So what happened to all those plans outlined in that slick-looking APNU/AFC Manifesto??

…a return to heritage

One commentator’s miffed that DDL gave their shareholders at their AGM a bottle of “white rum”.

Your Eyewitness doesn’t understand why. It’s part of our European Heritage. They introduced rum to the indentureds to ensure the latter were broke on payday, and had to return to work on Mondays!

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

news

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wednesDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Carter Formula

Opposition open to discussions on replacement I

n wake of suggestions that the Carter Formula has outlived its usefulness, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said he was willing to participate in meaningful discussions to develop a replacement.

A former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of Jamaica compiled a report on the need for Guyana to redraft and modernise its electoral laws.

In that report, he argued that the Carter Formula was outdated and there was need for a new process.

Prompted for his views on such a contention, Jagdeo told reporters that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was open to partaking in discussions to bring about reforms.

“Right now, we have Formula in our Constitution that governs the machinery, the leadership of GECOM [Guyana Elections Commission) and how it conducts itself and it

impartial, fair elections machinery,” he explained.

Jagdeo added that any such changes would require constitutional reform, but given Government’s approach, such a process seemed far from becoming a reality.

“In this climate, it seems very difficult to predict that we will have those any time before the next elections,” Jagdeo observed.

Carter Formula

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

is that formula that we are trying to ensure is applied in a manner that is consistent with our Constitution.

At this stage, it’s the only formula that we have. If in the future that is changed, then we will participate in discussions on the change, providing that they can assure, in a highly pollicised environment like ours, the same things that I have stated, of an independent,

Guyana’s 1980 Constitution was amended to incorporate the Carter Formula, which was proposed by the Carter Centre, for the fair selection of the Chairman and Commissioners of GECOM. The Formula outlined that the Opposition Leader submit a list of six nominees for the President’s consideration for the post of GECOM Chair.

The qualifications of the Chairman were also expanded to include “any oth-

Bauxite review report for May

T

he review of the bauxite industry, which was commissioned last year in observance of its centennial, is set to end soon.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, during a recent outreach in

Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), said the report on the review was expected to be completed before the end of May. “We are currently reviewing the industry to see where our reserves are and the future of the industry,”

the Minister said. The review also “includes a decision as to whether or not we should have another alumina plant in the country”.

Minister Trotman said the review was being conducted by Lance Carberry and Sylvester Carmichael, two veterans within the industry. The Government is already considering fuelling the alumina plant with the natural gas that has been found, along with oil, in the Stabroek Block offshore Essequibo.

Guyana celebrated 100 years of bauxite mining in October 2016. There are two bauxite-producing companies in Guyana, Bosai and Rusal. The decreased world demand for the mineral prompted the Government to carry out the review of the industry.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the review is also a manifesto promise of the Administration. It will help to determine the future plans for the industry.

er fit and proper person” in addition to ‘Judge-type’ individuals.

After the 1992 elections, this temporary amendment to the Constitution lapsed.

However, for the Local Government Elections in 1994, the Constitution was then again temporarily amended, incorporating the Carter Formula for the purposes of the Local Government Elections, with one addendum: the list of names must not be “unacceptable” to the President.

The amended Carter Formula was used again in the 1997 elections, with the Constitution again being amended in 1995, capturing the Formula.

During the 1999-2001 constitutional reform process, the Carter Formula was eventually incorporated permanently into Article 161 of the Constitution by Act Number Two of 2000.

Change

The report, titled “Final Report on Redrafting and Modernising the Electoral Laws of Guyana”, said the erosion of confidence in GECOM is in part due to

the names of independent individuals were submitted to the President for formal appointment.

Constitutional reform

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran

the failure of the CarterPrice Formula to enable decisions to be taken on a timely basis and with a measure of consensus.

The report proposed the adaptation of an independent Electoral Management Body (EMB), which would fix all the issues which the Carter-Price Formula fails to address.

The report said that the EMB approach avoided party nominees as Commissioners, and instead used a participatory format that entailed three levels of screening before

Although the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) campaigned vociferously on the need for constitutional reform, it has seemingly lost interest in this process. At least, this is according to former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, who penned his views in his weekly blog, “The Conversation Tree”. The coalition had committed to the establishment of a Constitution Reform Committee with a mandate to complete consultations, draft amendments and present same to the National Assembly for approval within nine months.

So far, Government has appointed a committee headed

by Attorney and former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes to examine the process for constitutional reform. While the committee presented its report to Government almost a year ago, no progress has since been seen.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, april 12, 2017

News Used Tyres Association wants meeting with Govt L

ess than two weeks after a ban on the importation of used tyres took effect, the Government is being asked to revisit this policy in light of the many challenges that lie ahead.

Members of the Guyana Used Tyres Association (GUTA) staged a protest outside State House on Tuesday, calling again on the Government to reverse its decision.

The Association’s Vice President, Mustaak Mohamed said that the concerns of members were not taken into consideration by Government.

However, Mohamed told Guyana Times that there was still time for Government and the Association to meet and come to an amicable solution on the issue.

“They (Government) could call us in, we could come to a compromise and we could discuss the thing.

A lot of poor people will be punished and out of a job because of this,” he opined.

Mohamed, who owns a used tyre business, said now that changes have taken place, he would have no choice but to lay off the four persons he currently employed.

“And you check: if you have 500 tyre shops in this country, and each of these

Dictating S A group of minibus drivers and used tyre business owners protesting outside State House on Tuesday

businesses has one or more worker, they will be out of a job and the Government has no job for them,” he asserted.

The GUTA official told this publication that despite Government’s decision to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on new tyres, people would not be able to afford them.

“When can you save $80,000 to buy four tyres?

They are making it hard for people,” he stressed.

GUTA’s Public Relations Coordinator, Nizam Hussain told this newspaper that he too was hopeful that the Government would agree to meet with members.

“I am positive that His Excellency, Mr David

Granger, with all due respect, if he understands our viewpoint, he will be able to work out with us some arrangement. I am positive that the Government will want to accommodate some sort of an ease for the people of Guyana.”

Hussain spoke about the negative effect the ban on used tyres would have on the economy.

“It will interfere with the shipping, insurance and brokerage companies.

There is a domino effect, because once there is an increase in anything that has to do with transportation, prices will go up.”

The Association has posited that the revenues generated by ‘good used tyres’ were in excess of $100 mil-

lion annually, but with the ban in effect, that figure would be halved.

Moreover, members of the GUTA asserted that the ‘used tyre industry’ allowed for employment of about 5000 young people across the country.

The group has said it understands Government’s concerns regarding used tyres, and has suggested that the Bureau of Statistics develop a mechanism to recognise the ‘good’ used tyres from those that were substandard.

The GUTA suggested that with the ban in effect, there would be “significant increase of wear-tyre use” on the country’s roads, as the high cost of new tyres would force drivers to continue using their current tyres for longer periods.

The ban on importation of used tyres took effect on April 1.

atiricus wasn’t in a good mood. In fact, he was in a very foul mood. Since he usually had the deepest pocket at the back table at the Back Street Bar he habituated with his buddies day in, day out, they were, understandably, quite concerned.

“Suh who t’ief yuh mumma white fowl, Sato?” asked Bungi in his inimitable undiplomatic manner, as Hari kicked him under the table.

“I can’t understand why some Guyanese badminded so!” fumed Satiricus. “Including my editor, of all people.”

“What did he do this time, Sato?” asked Hari solicitously, as he signalled the waitress for a round of beer. “Sending you out of town, again?”

“Nah!” answered Satiricus with a growl. “Imagine he’s doubting the word of Prezzie!”

“Nooooo!” grinned Bungi in mock alarm. “Really??”

“OK, Sato,” said Hari. “Let’s hear the story.”

“Well, you fellas must’ve seen where my editor said Prezzie allow Minister Bull Cant to DICTATE to the Chronic?” said the still agitated Satiricus. “Press interference he said!”

“But na da wha’ Bull Cant do?” asked Bungi in a surprised voice. “’E tell dem whe’ fuh put HE story!”

“Not so!” said Satiricus firmly. “Prezzie said a Minister is just like any reader who is free to make a SUGGESTION!” “Which world you live in, Sato?” asked Hari indignantly. He was willing to risk his supply of beer.

“A Minister telling a GOVERNMENT FLUNKEY in the Chronic where to put a story has the weight of any other reader??”

“Well, Prezzie talkin’ abut Bull Cant, yuh know!” said Bungi in an effort to salvage the flow of beer. “Yuh know he like wan Chrismuss blow-blow!”

“You’re right, Bungi,” said Hari, realising he had to look at the big picture. “Look how the Town Clerk who wukking for Bull Cant, tell him to buss off!”

“I’m happy you fellas agree a fella like Bull Cant will never DICTATE to anybody,” said Satiricus as he signalled for more beers. “He CAN’T even dictate to a fly!”

wednesDAY, april 12, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Drug shortages, busted machines found at Linden Hospital

…as Parliamentary Sectoral Committee examines facility

A

visit by the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) on Tuesday revealed several appalling issues, including drug shortages, a dysfunctional ECG machine, shortage of cutting edge needles, insufficient monitors, issues with sections of the roof, cracks in some parts of the building and the need for more dental staff.

The Committee – consisting of Opposition Members of Parliament Dr Vindhya Persaud, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, and Indranie Chandarpal as well as Minister within the Communities Ministry Valerie Patterson and others – visited all sections of the medical institution to get a first-hand look at the conditions under which patients receive care and some of the challenges faced by staff.

LHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Farouk Riyasat and Medical Superintendent, Dr Steve Mark facilitated the tour of various wards. Over at the Hospital's treatment bay, staff complained of a shortage of drugs and injectables, noting that patients have also complained of a lack of insulin as well as the unavailability and cost of some medications.

At the pharmacy, the Chief Pharmacist pointed out that sometimes medications or-

dered were not received.

"Sometimes, you order and you don't get what you order," she told the Parliamentary Committee.

She added that the Hospital was promised an “emergency order” which was expected to be facilitated on Wednesday. According to the pharmacist, 89 types of drugs were said to be on the pharmacy’s mailing list. Of that number, 19 are critical medication.

However, the chief pharmacist explained that in-house patients were the only ones who would benefit from the present supplies. It was noted by Regional Health Officer Pansy Armstrong that only about $8 million to $11 million in emergency drugs money was allocated annually. Some members of the Committee agreed that it was a small amount, which may have contributed to the other hospitals in the Region being affected. At the Hospital's laboratory, Senior Medical Technologist Melanie Sinclair stressed the need for the Microbial Department to be functional, as she noted that no cultures were being done. She said there was a room to facilitate this activity, but pointed to the absence of relevant staff. The staffer also stressed the need for microbiologists and technologists. The CEO noted that Cuban microbiologists were expected, while others expressed an interest

Dr Vindhya Persaud and the LHC CEO, Dr Farouk Riyasat in conversation at the facility

also in having local trained staff. According to Sinclair, the Department is more populated with medical technicians.

"We have equipment, but we don't have any person who is trained to do it...We have few technologists,” she said.

In response, Dr Mahadeo said given the level of emergency cases, more staff was needed. The need for a backup biochemical machine was also highlighted, since it was noted that only one was present.

Additionally, the Committee was told of insufficient blood supplies despite blood drives at the Hospital. Presently, Sinclair said there was a demand for O positive blood in Linden. Dr Mahadeo suggested that the LHC moved towards securing a blood coordinator.

At the X- ray depart-

ment, staff asked for an ECG machine. Members of the Committee also made recommendations for a CT scan machine, owing to the available space and staff. A local doctor also stressed the need for a printer and computerised sys-

tem to enhance patients' records.

Following the tour of the Hospital, Dr Persaud noted that the issue of drug shortages seemed to be chronic across the country, while indicating that there were issues which were peculiar to the LHC. She said that while some issues may not require major input, others may.

"In the areas where there were deficiencies and inadequacies like in terms of medication, equipment or any other area that was raised, it would be very good if the Parliament Office can have substantiating documentation...because at the end of the day, what we hope is that you would benefit more," she said. Dr Persaud said parliamentary staff would be writing to the

institution soon and a draft report would be prepared. She also noted the similarities at hospitals visited. "There are certain medications that are consistently absent in the system. Diabetic and hypertensive medication in particular and those are the largest populations we have to deal with. So it's challenging and a bit frustrating for people in the system." Meanwhile, Dr Mahadeo said so far the LHC was the best kept of the three hospitals visited so far.

CEO Riyasat also pointed out plans to expand and include new services such as dialysis and chemotherapy services for this year, noting that currently dialysis patients are referred to Georgetown Public Hospital. (Utamu Belle)

12 NEWS

wednesDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bulkan denies censorship claims Drowned WBD man …says he was “victim” of editorial discretion

C

ommunities Minister Ronald Bulkan is refuting suggestions that he has been attempting to censor the State-owned Guyana Chronicle. Bulkan stated that the Guyana Press Association (GPA), which was critical of a letter to the editor he wrote to the Chronicle, missed the point of his letter.

The furore arose over his letter to the editor published on April 3, which remonstrated with the newspaper for giving prominence to an article on oil and gas. He had contended that enough prominence was not given to an article on the swearing-in of Mayors and Deputy Mayors.

According to the Minister in an interview on Tuesday, the letter he wrote to the newspaper was merely a cautionary expression of his opinion that more prominence should be given to current, national issues.

“I think they missed the point entirely about the letter I wrote to the Chronicle.

My letter may have referred to placement of articles, but I think an objective reading of my letter would show that the central point I was trying to raise is to caution against us getting carried away by the prospect of oil revenue…I did not seek to dictate to the Chronicle. I just sought to provide an opinion.”

He also said that the letter’s headline “Your lead story should have been the swearing-in of the mayors and deputy mayors”, made him the “victim” of editorial discretion.

“I was also victim of editorial discretion. Because the

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

editor, when carrying my letter, had also prejudiced himself by the title he gave to my letter. So, it was nothing about being disappointed by not giving coverage to my ministry, as the editor and other commentators sought to make [out],” the Minister added.

Bulkan, in the letter, had expressed concern over the newspaper not giving enough prominence to the article on the swearing-in of Mayors and Deputy Mayors.

He had stated in his letter to the Guyana Chronicle that “in your issue of 2017, 03, 3, you reported on the above activity, but relegated it to page eight...”

“Your front page is dominated by the headline: “More Oil” and was followed by a full-page story on page three.

I wish to suggest that your emphasis and message are totally misplaced,” the Minister penned in his missive.

“I suggest, therefore, that

your public duty would have been better served by switching the aforementioned articles,” Bulkan stated in his letter.

The GPA has since been very critical of the Minister’s letter. In a press statement shortly after, the Association called the letter “an attempt to drive fear into the editors and reporters of that newspaper”.

The GPA had called on President David Granger to ensure that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the rest of his Cabinet understand his stated policy of non-interference in the State media, and to urge them to let their actions be guided accordingly.

The GPA release also said that the body would be transmitting the statement to the Association of Caribbean Media Workers, international press freedom body Reporters Without Borders, and other international bodies as part of a dossier of instances of the deteriorating State media climate in Guyana.

The President has since defended the Communities Minister. Granger was reported as saying that national events occur which some newspapers ignore.

He stated that Minister Bulkan expressed an opinion, not decided what should or should not be published.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday lambasted the Government for attempting to dictate the editorial direction and content of the State media.

found on foreshore

T

he body of a West Bank Demerara (WBD) man was on Tuesday morning discovered at the Orangestein, West Coast Demerara foreshore after he reportedly drowned on Sunday.

Dead is 21-year-old Richard Ramkissoon of Sisters Village, WBD. According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the young man’s body was found about 07:30h between boulders at the Orangestein foreshore.

It was reported that the man had gone to the koker in Parika, East Bank Essequibo with his girlfriend on Sunday to swim in the Essequibo River and it was during the outing, he drowned.

This newspaper understands that Ramkissoon was carrying his girlfriend on his shoulders and as they ventured farther out into the River, the young man suddenly disappeared under the water, while his girlfriend, who could not swim, started to shout for help as she fought to stay above the water.

The young woman was subsequently rescued by public-spirited citizens nearby, but Ramkissoon could not be saved. Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, the young man’s father, Gulkarran Ramkissoon, explained that he last spoke to his son on Saturday as he was leaving work to meet his girlfriend in Parika.

The man noted that his

Dead: Richard Ramkissoon

son did not return home that day and on Sunday morning, the two spoke during which time the young man said he was going to return home later in the day.

The distraught father explained that that afternoon, about 15:15h, he called to inform his son that his boss wanted him to be at work early the next day, but a young woman answered the phone and related the tragic news.

“When meh ask she where meh son deh, she didn’t answer right away and she cry lil. So me ask she ‘what happened to meh son, somebody beat he or he get lock up?’, she still nah answer. Then she say he drowned and them nah find he. So me ask if he dead and she say yes,” the man told this newspaper.

The grieving father went on to say that after receiving the news, he began to panic and so he called his relatives

The dead man’s father, Gulkarran Ramkissoon

to verify if his son had indeed drowned. At Parika, the relatives discovered that the incident occurred since 12:00h on Sunday.

Holding back his tears, the man continued to relate what he was told of how his son drowned. The young woman told the Police that after she was rescued, she informed persons that her boyfriend was also there, but the search for the young man was futile.

The elder Ramkissoon related to this publication the condition of his son’s body after it was found. He said his son had lost a full head of hair and his face was swollen. The man added that the upper part of his son’s leg was swollen. A post-mortem examination of the body of the 21-yearold has been scheduled for today. Ramkissoon leaves to mourn his parents and four younger siblings.

news

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wednesDAY, APRIL 12, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

FFTP, Courts provide homes for 3 needy families

T

hree families have been rescued from appalling living conditions as Food For The Poor (FFTP) and Courts Guyana partnered to present them with new homes.

The families were on Tuesday given a ray of hope as they turned the keys to their very own, newly-constructed Cummings Park, E Field Sophia homes.

This housing initiative provided much-needed shelter and comfort for about 20 persons, inclusive of elders, children, fire victims and a disabled individual who were once either homeless or forced to survive in poverty-stricken conditions.

The beneficiaries were the families of Joseph Roberts, June Ann Bess and Monica Charles.

Joseph Roberts, a father of nine, has been weathering his days in a feeble shack for the past 20 years.

With his nine children and three grandchildren, the man and his wife were forced to sleep in a shed adjoining their home. It was not until the Chairman of the Cummings Park area, Eugene Lewis was made aware of his plight that the Roberts family was given a chance at comfort and safety.

Roberts explained that the family was extremely appreciative of the donation and overjoyed at the facilities available in their

Staff of Food For The Poor and Unicomer officially handing over the symbolic keys to the families benefiting from their housing initiative

new home.

Meanwhile, June Ann Bess and her differently abled son were victims of a fire, nearly a year ago.

The emotional mother told this newspaper that they were out on Easter Sunday last year and they returned home to chaos as all of their belongings were destroyed in the fire.

The other beneficiary, Monica Charles and her two daughters were practically living in a swamp when her mother assisted by offering them a part of her property so that they would be able to receive one of the sponsored houses.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony was FFTP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kent Vincent, who explained that this housing initiative was in keeping with the objectives of the organisation.

The CEO also pointed out that such an initiative would not have been possible without the support of FFTP’s cooperative partners, and thanked the Managing Director of Unicomer (Courts’ parent company), Clyde De Haas, who was present at the handing over, for helping to sponsor the project.

In addition to sponsoring the construction of the homes, Courts Guyana also surprised the families with furniture and equipment.

The 25 feet wide and 30 feet long homes consist of two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and bath.

Construction cost approximately $1.1 million, with an additional $2 million for furnishings. The financing of this project was undertaken by the Unicomer company while the logistics were managed by FFTP.

The High Commission of India in Georgetown has donated 222 books (a total of 141 titles with multiple copies) on various subjects such as philosophy, history, Information Technology, business, religion, politics, and science to the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, Berbice. In photo, High Commissioner of India, Venkatachalam Mahalingam handed over the books to Dr Gomathinayagam Subramanian, Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus at a simple ceremony organised in the foyer of the Library at the University. Also present were lecturers, staff members and students

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wednesdAY, april 12, 2017

News

Jealous man sets home on fire – wife, 3 children homeless

A

fire believed to be an act of arson committed by a husband in a jealous rage destroyed a house at Rose Hall Town, Berbice on Monday evening.

Five persons are now homeless, including the man’s wife and three children.

Reports are that the fisherman was seen going into the house moments before flames were seen coming from the building at Lot 232 Mangrove Street, Reef, Rose Hall Town, Berbice.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Sarita Sewindra, 26, said on Monday afternoon she lent a neighbour the family bicycle and about 15:30h her husband, Seenarine Cyril, 36, wanted to use the bicycle. Upon realising that the bike had been lent to a villager, the man

lives a street away.

Neighbours related that it was while the rest of the family were away that Cyril was seen going into the house, moments before flames were seen.

One unit from the Rose Hall Fire Service, along with a unit from GuySuCo’s Albion State, responded to reports of the fire. The firefighters were able to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to other buildSarita Sewindra

accused his wife of lending it to her male ‘friend’.

Reports are that Cyril accused his wife of infidelity and made several threats.

According to Sewindra, she became afraid and took her three children – aged four, six and seven – out of the house to her mother who

Seenarine Cyril

ings, but not before it completely destroyed the oneflat house.

When the blaze was put out, Cyril was nowhere to be found.

The couple have been together for 10 years. Two years ago, Sewindra joined her husband as a fish vendor

The fire completely gutted the house

at the Rose Hall Market, but operated her own business.

The woman said it was not the first attempt by her husband to burn the house

down. According to her, he made attempts to do so twice in December of last year.

She also said that on six occasions, he attempted to take his life, the most recent being in February.

According to the fish vendor, Cyril recently threatened to kill her and give their three children poison to drink and then take his own life. This, she said, was reported to the Police who went to arrest him. In an at-

tempt to avoid being arrested, the fish vendor tried to end his life.

According to the woman, last Thursday, Cyril took his identification card and other documents belonging to him and gave them to his mother. She said he also stopped giving her money from his daily sales. “He start taking his money and give it to his mother,” she explained.

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.

Jealous husband charged for attempted murder A

25-year-old miner of Campbelltown, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), who in a jealous rage allegedly stabbed a rival, who attempted to woo his wife, was on Tuesday afternoon hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and remanded to prison for attempted murder.

Appearing before Magistrate Fabayo Azore was Leeland Marco. The charge stated that on April 8, 2017 at Campbelltown, with intent to murder, he grievously wounded Virtual Complainant (VC), Terrence Lindo.

Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that on the day of the incident, the accused was taking a stroll with his wife when the intoxicated VC interfered with his spouse.

This led to an altercation during which Marco allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the VC. The miner’s Attorney, however, related that his facts differed from the Prosecution’s. He told the court that the two parties had a scuffle and his client in self-defence pushed Lindo into a drain in close

Accused: Leeland Marco

proximity to a construction site. He asserted that the injuries received by the VC were caused by steel rods and several sharp objects in the drain.

Marco entered a notguilty plea and was remanded to prison after the bail application was denied. The miner’s Attorney was advised to make another submission today when his client will appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

An injured Lindo is currently nursing injuries to his upper left abdomen at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

wednesDAY, april 12, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News

Region 2 Councillors say REO hindering progress A motion was on Tuesday moved at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) for the statutory meeting to be adjourned until April 20 for the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson to attend.

The motion came about after it was observed by Councillors that the REO, who is the clerk of the RDC, was often absent.

The motion was moved after a vote was done and a majority of Councillors from both the Opposition and the Government agreed.

However, one Government Councillor, Dacia Jones abstained from voting.

Before the motion was moved, Councillors who head

a month, it's statutory; the REO is an important person for this meeting and he is absenting. Where are we heading???” Adams questioned.

Head of the Works Committee and Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah said every month councillors were raising issues at the statutory meeting and no results were following. She pointed out that currently there was a lack of fuel at the pumps and the regional store lacked essential materials. According to her, when she followed up on the issues, she was being told that those requests were on the REO’s desk waiting for his signature.

RDC Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said for the year 2017, the REO has

REO Rupert Hopkinson

standing committees within the RDC vented their frustrations over the non-attendance of the clerk. Head of the Local Government Committee and People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Councillor, Showkat Ali, said that often issues were raised from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) levels but when brought to the RDC no meaningful follow-ups were done. He cited the absence of the REO as the main reason for this state of affairs, which is hindering progress in the Region.

Head of the Health and Sanitation Committee, Arnold Adams said the situation within the Region was becoming worse and although numerous reports were made to the REO, those reports were yet to bear fruit. Adams said that there were burning issues at both the Charity and Suddie Hospitals and to date, these issues were not resolved, thus the people of the Region were being shortchanged.

According to Adams, he requested that an ambulance be transferred to Charity Hospital, for a generator to be fixed at Suddie Hospital and for other matters to be addressed and to his dismay, nothing has been done.

"If we don't have an active clerk, one that does meaningful follow-up and is always active on development issues, then we are heading nowhere. This meeting is once

been absent numerous times and often times no excuses were offered to the RDC. He said there were many developmental issues that needed to be resolved within the Region and with the REO being absent, there was no way forward.

"We need a more participatory approach from him.

There are a lot of issues of development that are raised; since last year some matters have not resolved. As the head of the RDC, I will not tolerate such lazy leadership," Ramdatt said.

He, however, said the slothfulness of the REO was no secret to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan.

Ramdatt said since February 1, the REO was written to concerning the upgrading and maintenance of farmers’ access roads and dams, but to date no positive response was given, so rice farmers were suffering.

Ramdatt said as head of the RDC, he would continue to pursue key development issues and would not allow the people of the Region to suffer.

After the meeting was adjourned to a later date, Councillors raised issues and they were recorded for future reference.

Losing confidence

Only recently at March’s statutory meeting, Councillors vented their con-

cerns.

"Meeting are meetings; we raising issues, no meaningful follow-up are made, it's like rubber stamp. The REO

so slow, he is not around and no follow-up made.

Are we wasting our time as Councillors???? Who are here to listen to us? Every RDC

new clerks are placed to represent, we are getting nowhere and people are suffering," Government Councillor Naitram said.

Naitram called for the REO to be more pro-active and to conduct follow-ups from the RDC minutes.

(Indrawattie Natram)

16 News

wednesDAY, april 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Enmore NDC threatens legal action Doctors are collateral damage SARU raid

if seized computers not returned

A

ttorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall, who has been detained by the Enmore Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), wrote the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) on Tuesday requesting that the agency return several computer systems that were confiscated last week.

It was reported that on Thursday last, a group of agents attached to SARU went down to the Enmore NDC and took away 15 desktop computers and eight backup power packs without informing officials there.

However, when contacted that evening, SARU Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Major (Rtd) Aubrey Heath-Retemyer explained to Guyana Times that his agency had merely gone to render assistance to the E-Governance Department,

The Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office at Enmore, East Coast Demerara

which went to retrieve the computer systems after it was informed by SARU that the NDC wanted to “get rid” of them.

“We got information that these computers were there and that they were not in use and that some people on the NDC were about to get rid of them…We simply alerted E-Governance who asked for us to accompany them, so some people went from my unit with E-Governance, col-

lect the computers and give them to E-Governance, who has them,” the SARU Head stated.

However, Enmore NDC Vice Chairman Iqbal Dawud in a subsequent statement the following day denied that there was any “such plot”, adding that “nothing clandestine or unlawful was intended”.

He went on to explain that the computers, which were the property of the

NDC, were outdated and most of them were malfunctioning; as such, a decision was taken by the Council to have the computers sold, if possible, and replaced with a new complement of systems so that the community can continue to benefit from their use.

“This decision was made at a public statutory meeting of the NDC and recorded in the minutes. Therefore, there was nothing sinister, secretive or illegal about it as has been suggested by the Government,” Dawud had pointed out.

To this end, the NDC retained Attorney Nandlall to act on its behalf in the matter. Nandlall outlined in the legal letter addressed to SARU’s CEO that the actions of the SARU officers were “unlawful”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

R

as APNU/AFC increases contracted employees

emember when APNU and AFC were in the Opposition and had vigorously objected to the use of contracted employment?

They chastised the PPP and insisted that all Government employment must be within the public service pensionable establishment.

Now they are in Government, the number of contracted employees has more than doubled.

APNU/AFC is employing hundreds of people under contracts, as political operatives, Dr Leslie Ramsammy with higher salaries and bigger benefits. The plan to move doctors and other professionals from contracted employment into the pensionable establishment is a sinister plan to create space for employing more political activists and operatives. This is more about "jobs for the boys and girls", rather than sound policies. The doctors are collateral damage.

However, APNU/AFC's wicked plan to create more space by moving the doctors out of the contract category to the pensionable establishment has hit a snag. In fact, APNU/ AFC is experiencing another rude awakening in the form of national outrage and resistance. They did not envisage the mighty resistance from the doctors and the now resuscitated Guyana Medical Association. APNU/AFC also did not anticipate the public's reaction – keep your hands off the doctors. It moreover did not prepare itself for the vigilance of the PPP and Bharrat Jagdeo, who warned they would go to court to challenge the assault on the rights of the doctors.

Jagdeo even promised the PPP would overturn the illegal changes in the doctors' terms of employment when the PPP won the next election.

On Monday of this week, under pressure, APNU/AFC and the Public Health Ministry buckled and now claimed they never had such a plan. In a hastily arranged "consultation" with doctors, they tried convincing the doctors and the public that it was just rumours, never mind some of the doctors had seen the circulated orders for the doctors to be transferred from the employment category to the pensionable establishment. They might have the DNA of dictators, but the resistance and solidarity of people who refuse to be silent have forced APNU/AFC to buckle once again. Like the citizens who have in the past 10 weeks gathered in resistance to the parking meters, doctors and their fellow citizens raised their voices and the dictators took notice, cowering "it wasn't me".

The insistence that it was just a misunderstanding and a rumour is an insult to the doctors. There was no rumour.

APNU/AFC and the Public Health Ministry in their typical authoritarian style did start a transition to end contract employment for doctors since February. Some people have asked why the big fuss. Under the contract arrangements, doctors receive a 22.5 per cent gratuity payment every six months. The shift to a pensionable arrangement would deprive the doctors of their 22.5 per cent gratuity and, instead, they would be entitled to a pension when they reached retirement age.

Since 1992, under the PPP, doctors had a choice – contract employment or the pensionable establishment. Almost 100 per cent of the doctors in the last two decades given the option of the pensionable establishment and contracted employment have chosen the contracted employment route.

In fact, under the PPP, several doctors who were initially employed under the PNC on the pensionable establishment ended that employment and opted for contracted employment. APNU/AFC underestimated the outrage and resistance of the doctors. It is another hard lesson for APNU/AFC. Their authoritarian DNA cannot flourish in a Guyana that enjoyed freedom and democracy for more than two decades, following the almost three decades of PNC dictatorship which ended in 1992. The parking meter contract foisted on the people through the complicit action of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown and APNU/AFC elicited massive resistance and forced, at least, a temporary retreat by APNU/AFC. Now, with the doctors, APNU/AFC has retreated by deeming the whole episode as mere rumours.

But the doctors must beware. There is no need for diplomacy; APNU/AFC is not being truthful. There is a definite plan to end contract employment for doctors.

APNU/AFC desperately needs the space to hide the employment of hundreds of activists to function full time as political operatives, an election priority for APNU/AFC. Just as it is playing games with the parking meter contract, it is trying to buy time with the doctors. Given the disastrous state of the public health sector in the midst of rampant and chronic corruption, APNU/AFC has opted this time to avert a rebellion from doctors. It has stepped back to buy time, but the doctors must be vigilant because APNU/AFC cannot be trusted.

news

17

wednesDAY, APRIL 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Crime Chief decries lack of DNA testing at Forensic Lab

H

ead of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Wendell Blanhum has stated that the lack of DNA testing at the Forensic Laboratory located in Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, is a “sore problem” affecting the work of his department.

“They lack the capability to do DNA testing, so this is a sore problem, it’s a sore issue and we still have to rely on (overseas partners).

Of recent, we have been en-

spoke with the Director of the Forensic Lab and I basically expressed my concern to him and he has assured me that very soon, they will be going down that avenue to do DNA testing.

“But it’s a very costly exercise and at the end of the day, I think it will do us great justice, particularly the relatives of those victims, so that they can have the results in a very timely manner,” the Crime Chief said.

Over the years, the

The Forensic Lab

gaging the Brazilian authorities,” the Crime Chief said on Tuesday during the “Hot Seat” – a local radio programme.

According to Blanhum, only on Monday he contacted the Brazilian officials regarding the testing of samples from the decomposed remains, believed to be those of 39-year-old Lilwantie Balack, called “Darling”, that were found in the backyard of Lot 117 Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder home she shared with her 45-year-old husband, Sunildat Balack, called “Redman”.

“I spoke with the liaison officer and we are making arrangements to have the samples sent to Brazil to analyse,” the Crime Chief noted. Nevertheless, Blanhum pointed out that as the Force was able to use the local Forensic Lab for drug analysis, he was confident that it would soon be able to do the same with DNA testing.

“I think very shortly, we will have that capability. I

Guyana Police Force has had to resort to using overseas laboratories to conduct DNA testing for several high-profile cases, including the murders of Babita Sarjou; British teen Dominic Bernard; former Demerara Bank employee Sheema Mangar, and MFK Trading owner Mohamed F Khan.

This is due to the fact that the Forensic Lab is yet to be outfitted with the necessary instruments to conduct basic DNA and gun residue testing which are internationally recognised.

However, back in February, Government had approved some US$32,524 to honour outstanding payments to a Barbados security firm, IED, for the completion of works that will see the Laboratory equipped to provide these services.

The firm was responsible for installing the security system at the Laboratory by way of a contract in 2012 and providing consultation oversight in 2013, during phase one of the project, but this

Enmore NDC threatens...

FROM PAGE 16

“I have noted that in the press you have admitted knowledge of and responsibility for this operation and, therefore, I afflict you with knowledge of the current location of these equipment.

I am to inform you that the aforesaid actions of your subordinates are not only authoritarian but are unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional and amount to misfeasance in public office,” the Attorney said in the letter.

In the circumstances, Nandlall warned that legal action would be taken if SARU failed to return the computer systems to the NDC. “I hereby demand that you return the aforementioned equipment to my client at the location from

which they were taken, within seven days from the date hereof; if you fail to do so, my client will be advised to institute legal proceedings against the State and possibly, private criminal charges against each of the officers who were part of the aforementioned unlawful and criminal exercise,” the lawyer detailed in the letter to the SARU Head.

Furthermore, Nandlall reminded Heath-Retemyer in the letter of his (Nandlall’s) constant public condemnation of the pretention by SARU officers to be law enforcement officers of the State, pretending to exercise law enforcement powers. This continued masquerade, he said, is utterly unlawful.

never materialised because of the outstanding payments owed by Government.

The firm will, therefore, be required to complete its work on the Laboratory, along with completing the training of persons who are going to operate the facility.

The technical and electrical issues that were discovered a while back will also be rectified as soon as the contractors return to work.

The Public Security Ministry last year commenced building the capacity of the Forensic Lab to

prepare the facility for DNA and gun residue testing.

Additionally, discussions were held for the procurement of rapid DNA and gun residue testing devices.

Improving the Forensic Laboratory’s effectiveness towards preventing and

conducting criminal investigations is the second component of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP). This component is being funded at a cost of US$5.5 million through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, April 12, 2017

ARCHIE

Express your feelings and find out where you stand. A (March 21- change in the way you treat April 19) someone will make a difference to your arrangement.

Choose moderation over indulgence.

ARIES

Emotions will take control, TAURUS giving rise to a number of is(April 20- sues that you will no longer be May 20) able to ignore. Speak up and follow your words with action.

Ask for assistance.

dilbert

A partnership will ofGEMINI fer surprising opportunities (May 21to get ahead. Make an unJune 20) expected change to the way you present yourself and your abilities in order to avoid undue scrutiny.

Share, get involved and enjoy interacting with others.

(June 21- Do things your way and don’t July 22) fear taking a unique approach to an old idea. Aim for perfection and exercise patience.

CANCER

Peanuts

Emotional discord is best LEO handled with patience and tol(July 23erance. If you don’t agree with a Aug. 22) person or group, continue down your own path without wasting time trying to persuade others to see things your way.

Calvin and Hobbes

Gather facts and knowlVIRGO edge that will help you make a (Aug. 23- smart decision regarding partSept. 22) nerships you are contemplating

making or have already formed.

Heartfelt discussions will encourage better relationships.

Honesty is your best option.

If you approach money matLIBRA ters differently, you will avoid (Sept. 23being taken advantage of or beOct. 23) ing taxed unfairly. Financial and legal information will help you counter a potential loss.

Don’t let generosity be your downfall.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Give your imagination the SCORPIO boost it needs to forge into un(Oct. 24familiar territory. Discovery Nov. 22) will be the spark that allows you to turn small ideas into new possibilities. Romance is favored.

A chance to watch from SAGITTARIUS the sidelines will give you the (Nov. 23- insight you need to determine Dec. 21) who is and isn’t being honest with you. Trust your intuition and act on your instincts.

MONDAY’S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

A discussion with someCAPRICORN one you feel emotionally close (Dec. 22to will help you iron out any Jan. 19) foreseeable problems before they have a chance to develop. Alterations at home look promising.

An emotional moment can AQUARIUS spin out of control and ruin (Jan. 20your plans. Keep an open Feb. 19) mind and refuse to let anger take control. Concentrate on bringing about positive changes.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Use your intelligence and PISCES (Feb. 20- experience to develop an idea March 20) or plan you want to pursue.

Exploring new possibilities will result in an opportunity for you to excel and do something special.

wednesDAY, aPRIL 12, 2017

19

Vivo Indian Premier League 2017…

Samson’s maiden ton razes Rising Pune A

maiden T20 hundred from Sanju Samson and a blistering unbeaten 38, off just nine balls, from Chris Morris, led Delhi Daredevils to their first 200-plus total since April 2012. It was more than enough to give them their first win of the season, as Rising Pune Supergiants - who were without Steven Smith, their regular captain and best batsman - crumbled in the face of a steadily mounting asking rate, folding for 108 in 16.1 overs.

The efforts of Samson and Morris - helped by some not particularly clever death bowling from Ashok Dinda, Adam Zampa and Ben Stokes - brought Daredevils 76 runs off their last four overs. It was the third-best last-four tally in the IPL, behind two Royal Challengers Bangalore blitzes, and it undid the control Rising Pune’s bowlers - Imran Tahir in particular - had exerted through the middle overs, and ensured they would be chasing 206 rather than, say, 184.

Samson walked in after Daredevils lost Aditya Tare in the second over and began with a flurry of boundaries against Rising Pune’s quicks, piercing the field with a se-

ries of drives and punches through point and cover.

Capitalising on the width given by Deepak Chahar and Dinda, Samson scored 31 off his first 14 balls, hitting six fours in that time.

With Sam Billings similarly positive at the other end, Daredevils scored 62 for 1 in the Powerplay - their best effort since scoring 64 against Deccan Chargers in May 2012.

from 31 off 14 to 54 off 45, with Rishabh Pant - who smacked 31 off 22 - assuming the dominant role in a third-wicket partnership worth 53.

Then came the third phase of Samson’s innings, which began with a straight six off Zampa.

From that ball on, Samson made 48 off 17 - the bulk of them in a 19-run 18th over from Dinda - and reached

Daredevils were 166 for 4, with ten balls left in their innings, when Morris entered the picture. Of those ten balls, Corey Anderson would only face one, wisely taking a single off it - wisely, because Morris was in utterly unreal form, dispatching seven of the nine balls he faced to or over the boundary, all off the middle of his bat. Zampa went for 22 in the 19th over, and

Sanju Samson

The spreading of the field and the introduction of slower bowlers - Tahir, Zampa and Rajat Bhatia - slowed Samson down.

He didn’t manage a single boundary as he went

his century with another six off Zampa before being bowled by his quicker ball in the 19th over. Samson’s 63-ball 102 was the 43rd IPL hundred, and the sixth slowest.

Stokes for 23 in the 20th.

There were three massive sixes in Morris’ innings, but his best shot went for four - an off-stump yorker from Stokes, squeezed past backward point with

ball, and one - the debutant Rahul Tripathi - to a fast and accurate bouncer from Morris.

With the required rate nearing 12 an over, Faf du Plessis and Stokes fell in the next two overs, trying to manufacture shots.

From 54 for 5, there would be no way back for Rising Pune.

a cleverly manipulated batface.

A non-rising Pune chase Rising Pune’s bowlers had sent down a number of freebies to get Daredevils’ innings going. Daredevils’ bowlers did not return the favour. There were only four boundaries in Rising Pune’s Powerplay overs, and three wickets. Two fell to Zaheer Khan’s slower

SCOREBOARD Delhi Daredevils innings (20 overs maximum) AP Tare c †Dhoni b Chahar 0 24 SW Billings b Imran Tahir SV Samson b Zampa 102 RR Pant† run out (Agarwal) 31 CJ Anderson not out 2 CH Morris not out 38 8 Extras (lb 3, w 5) Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 205 Did not bat: KK Nair, PJ Cummins, A Mishra, Z Khan*, S Nadeem Fall of wickets 1-2 (Tare, 1.1 ov), 2-71 (Billings, 8.1 ov), 3-124 (Pant, 15.2 ov), 4-166 (Samson, 18.2 ov) Bowling: AB Dinda 3-0-36-0 (2w), DL Chahar 3-0-35-1 (2w), BA Stokes 4-0-41-0, Imran Tahir 4-0-24-1(1w), A Zampa 4-0-451, R Bhatia 2-0-21-0 Rising Pune Supergiant innings (target: 206 runs from 20 overs) AM Rahane* c Samson b Khan 10 MA Agarwal c Morris b Khan 20

F du Plessis c †Pant b Nadeem 8 RA Tripathi c Nadeem Morris 10 BA Stokes c †Pant b Cummins 2 MS Dhoni† c Nair b Mishra 11 R Bhatia c Morris b Mishra 16 DL Chahar c †Pant b Khan 14 A Zampa c Samson b Mishra 5 AB Dinda c Mishra Cummins 7 Imran Tahir not out 0 5 Extras (lb 1, w 4) Total (all out; 16.1 overs) 108 Fall of wickets 1-24 (Rahane, 2.6 ov), 2-34 (Agarwal, 4.5 ov), 3-49 (Tripathi, 5.5 ov), 4-52 (du Plessis, 6.4 ov), 5-54 (Stokes, 7.5 ov), 6-79 (Dhoni, 11.6 ov), 7-94 (Bhatia, 13.1 ov), 8-100 (Chahar, 14.1 ov), 9-107 (Zampa, 15.3 ov), 10-108 (Dinda, 16.1 ov) Bowling: S Nadeem 4-023-1(1w), PJ Cummins 3.1-0-24-2 (1w), Z Khan 3-0-20-3(1w), CH Morris 2-019-1 (1w), CJ Anderson 1-0-100, A Mishra 3-0-11-3

Cricketers could be sent off as MCC brings in rule changes RCB right to drop

C

ricketers could soon be given their marching orders if they do not behave properly on the field.

Umpires will be able to send off cricketers, while a law allowing mechanisms tethering the bails to the stumps will also come into effect on October 1 this year.

Players will face possible dismissal for poor on-field behaviour all over the world after a Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Committee approved new laws following a three-year project, which included trials and global consultation.

And bails flying off the stumps will also be a thing of the past in world cricket, in an attempt to improve safety in the game.

South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher had to retire in 2012 after being struck in the eye by a bail while keeping in a tour match against Somerset.

Gayle ̶ Binny

R The MCC Committee has also placed limits on the thickness of the edges and the overall depth of bats, while bowling of front foot no-balls on purpose are to be treated in same way as deliberate full-tosses – with bowlers given a warning for one and banned from bowling if they do it a second time.

The handling of the ball by batsmen has been deleted and merged into obstructing the field law, while the run-

ning out the non-striker rule has been altered.

Substitutes will not be permitted to take over as keeper, while a concept of penalty time has also been amended and the bouncing bat law has been changed.

Fraser Stewart, the MCC’s laws manager, said: “MCC has left no stone unturned in researching and redrafting the new Laws of Cricket and has done so in order to make the Laws work in a way that makes

sense to players, umpires and spectators.

“The Laws are applicable worldwide so they need to be as simple as possible to understand and inclusive to all.

“The Club hopes to encourage interest in the game at all levels and believes these new Laws are reflective of the present time and easier for cricketers and umpires to interpret.”(Sportsmax)

oyal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Stuart Binny has defended the team’s decision to drop Chris Gayle in an eightwicket hiding at the hands of Kings XI Punjab in Indore on Monday.

“It was not a tactical strategy but simply we had no other choice. As soon as AB de Villiers is fit he walks into RCB’s playing XI,” Binny said.

“Shane Watson has batted in the top order for all his career, so there was no question of changing his position. We had no option but to drop Chris Gayle to make way for AB in the top order,” he added.

With Indian Premier League (IPL) teams set a limit on overseas players in the line-up for a given match one of Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson,

the captain, Tymal Mills or Billy Stanlake would have to make way for the match. The team chose to replace Gayle with de Villiers at the top of the order and few can argue with the results. The South African cracked an exceptional 89 not out from 46 balls with nine sixes and three fours. De Villiers pyrotechnics helped Bangalore reach 148 for 4 after stuttering at 68 for 4 in 13.1 overs.

The omission would have been all the more painful for Gayle who sits on 9,975 runs, just shy of a history-making 10,000-run landmark in T20s.

The 37-year-old West Indian, who has struggled with injuries of late has seen his form dip in recent times. The big left hander has managed just 196 runs in his last 10 T20 innings.

(Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, april 12, 2017

FIFA Boss completes fruitful visit

By Romario Samaroo

The visiting delegation, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, made a stop at the Academy Training Centre and saw the grassroots programme in action

F

IFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday during his visit to Guyana made his way to the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue, where he engaged local patrons and witnessed one of the ongoing projects of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) – the grassroots programme that targets young footballers at the Academy Training Centre (ATC).

There, the Swiss national was happy to see the youths playing and having fun, and delivered a simple message to them to have fun while reminding them that anyone can play the game that teaches us teamwork.

“It is a great pleasure for me to be here in this beautiful country of Guyana, to see you enjoying the game, to see you enjoying football, but it’s much more fun to play, enjoy and have fun than listen to me talk, so my short message to you is to just enjoy it and also believe in yourself and you learn about teamwork,” Infantino said, adding “I know my friend Wayne [Forde] and all of you are doing a good job in developing football in this country.”

Forde, the GFF boss, acknowledged the moment as he told the players the reason behind Infantino’s visit.

“This is a momentous occasion for football and football in Guyana: President Infantino visited Guyana and has so far been excited as to what is going on in Guyana and football development. We had a lot of consultation on the work being done, especially our youth development brought the FIFA President here to see you [the players],” Forde said.

Infantino’s visit makes him the third FIFA President to touch down in Guyana, following João Havelange’s stop in 1976 and Sepp Blatter’s in 2001.

F

Infantino turns sod for FIFA Forward project

IFA President Giovanni “Gianni” Infantino on Tuesday made a historic visit to Guyana and was given a full overview into what was happening in football locally.

Although Infantino’s visit was short, he managed to squeeze in a number of important activities. After he arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he was immediately shuttled to the site of the FIFA Forward project located at Providence, East Bank Demerara, where he participated in the turning of the sod. Infantino, along with Minister within the Education Ministry with responsibility for sport, Nicolette Henry and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde, spoke briefly on the potential of a project like this, indicating that Guyana was heading in the right direction when it came to football.

Forde informed those in attendance of the historic moment that the event was. The FIFA project “is expected to commence in a matter of months or weeks”.

Meanwhile, Infantino highlighted that “this project will change the landscape of football in the county, but not only football but society because we

GFF President Wayne Forde, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Minister within the Education Ministry Nicolette Henry at the FIFA Forward project site, Providence

hope that some of our values can be adopted”.

The Head of the international football body went on to commend Forde, saying that “Wayne is doing a good job with his team; they are thinking big, they are dreaming big, but what is most important is that they are putting it in practice, they are acting and that

is important for the Region and that is why we are proud to be here and be helping.”

Speaking on behalf of the Government of Guyana, Minister Henry noted that it was a memorable moment to have the distinguished FIFA Head visit Guyana and commended the GFF for making it possible.

FIFA President commends efforts of GFF

T

he President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino concluded his visit to Guyana by hosting a conference at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, where he commended the efforts of President of Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde and his team for their efforts to develop the sport.

The two football heads fielded questions from the media, while Infantino assessed what he had seen.

“I notice that this country has a lot of passion for football and I know that cricket is popular here, but you know it is just a question of time until football is clearly the number one sport,” the Swiss national said.

It is because of this that he noted that FIFA is now seriously investing more into football in Guyana, not only financially but to be here and witness first-hand the kickoff of the developmental project which he termed “a concrete step”.

Infantino, who was elected to office in 2016, indicated that Guyana, like the rest of the Region, has natural footballing talent, and it was only a matter of putting the right environment in place to see some solid results.

Forde indicated that over the past 17 months, their focus has been on football, pointing out that we now

have a “robust youth development programme that is only going to get better with time”.

The GFF Head went on to caution those paying attention to the programme’s growth that it would not happen overnight, as it was “a long arduous and painstaking process in developing football and excellent footballers”. However, he praised FIFA and the President of the body, who were noticing the work the GFF was doing and setting out bold initiatives in funding and projects.

Forde used the opportunity to reassure the FIFA boss and the football family that the executive committee of the GFF has the responsibility to better the image of football, noting that they were committed and working diligently every day.

By virtue of this, the man at the helm of local football administration added that the level of accountability and transparency they were building not only at the federation level, but also the demands and conditions they would be setting out for the associations as well, were consistent with what was required to reform football.

FIFA President Infantino later departed Guyana for Suriname.

GFF Public Relations Officer Debra Frances (left), FIFA President Gianni Infantino and GFF President Wayne Forde

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21 Infantino meets with Caricom SG, Guyana’s President sports

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino (left) paid a courtesy call on Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

By Romario Samaroo

A

fter a few handshakes with the members of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) staff and other persons at the FIFA Forward project site, Providence, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was rushed to Camp Base Ayanganna, where he met with President David Granger before meeting

responsibility of FIFA was the development of football all over the world. He noted that of the US$1.4 billion invested in projects worldwide by his organisation, the Caribbean benefited from approximately US$60 million in the past year.

Speaking on his meeting with the Caricom Secretary General, Infantino informed the public that their objective was

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From a President to a President! The FIFA Head also presented President David Granger with a special token of appreciation

with Caricom stakeholders, including Secretary General Irwin LaRocque on Tuesday.

Ambassador LaRocque informed the FIFA President that sports persons were among the original categories under the free movement of skills regime of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The Secretary General said that sport was valuable as a social investment, which could assist in channelling the youth towards positive endeavours and as a means of instilling discipline. It could also provide a career path, the Secretary General added.

Ambassador LaRocque mentioned that Caricom was in the midst of preparing a Human Resource Development Strategy and sport was an important element given the holistic nature of the development process.

Both Caricom and FIFA are undergoing reform, and Infantino emphasised his focus on transparency and good governance. He said the primary

to work with the Governments in the whole Caribbean to bring football forward, as GFF President Wayne Forde pointed out that the initiative was for FIFA, GFF and the Governments of the Caribbean to work together.

Infantino said, “FIFA, in the past, did not focus on football as it should have been, but now we are focused on the football and we are very happy with the progress.”

Forde added that it was down to the level of the GFF that they were trying to build something that was corruptionfree and transparent.

Infantino was accompanied by a delegation of six persons, including Véron MosengoOmba, FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development for Africa and the Caribbean; Mattias Grafstrom, FIFA Advisor to the President; Pablo Aimar; and Jasmin Frei, FIFA’s Office Manager, Executive Office of the President.

22

wednesdAY, april 12, 2017

Scenes from the third ODI

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Photos by Marceano Narine

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wednesDAY, april 12, 2017

23

West Indies vs Pakistan, Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile ODI Series…

Malik, Hafeez power Pakistan to emphatic series victory

By Akeem Greene

Mohammad Hafeez

T

he first ball of Jason Holder’s 44th went back over his head for a towering six that completed a much deserved century for Shoaib Malik but most importantly the clinical 2-1 series victory for Pakistan over a dispirited West Indies in the three-match One-Day Internationals (ODI) at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Tuesday.

Set a below-par target of 234, the visitors sauntered home with 41 balls remaining as Man-of-the Match and Man-of-the Series, Malik anchored the innings with a masterful 101 not out while Mohammad Hafeez supported with an attractive 81 (8x4s;2x6s).

The critical series decider was an anti-climax to

the woodwork to send back danger man Babar Azam to leave the visitors tottering at 36 for 3 in the ninth over and West Indies in the middle of a fight back.

In close to an identical situation West Indies were placed in earlier, Hafeez and Malik undertook operation restoration to help guide Pakistan to safety.

The pair then fashioned a 113-run stand for the fourth wicket from 21.1 overs, Hafeez added the lion’s share before he fell via good running catch by Veerasammy Permaul who played his first ODI since November 2015. It was a historic occasion as it was the first time that the Albion and Guyana ‘spin-twins’ played in the same international match.

Malik’s ninth ODI ton engrossed the attention of the sizable crowd with 111 delivers of which he stroked

ten fours and two sixes.

After Hafeez’s demise, Sarfraz Ahmed who won his first ODI series since being appointed full time captain earlier this year, withered any thoughts of West Indies revival with breezy 87-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, the home-side’s innings which was delayed due to rain got off to a promising start with Evin Lewis picking the gaps but even-

Wasim, with a delivery that beat the left-hander between bat and pad.

The introduction of leg-spinner Shadab Khan in the 26th brought ten runs and it also signalled the beginning of more fluency from the grafting fourth wicket stand between Hope and Jason Mohammed.

Mohammed, who was the hero in the first match, hinted that another sensational innings could be on the

Jason Mohammed and Shai Hope were among the runs again for the West Indies at Providence (Marceano Narine photo)

Shannon Gabriel had a fiery opening spell (Marceano Narine photo)

Pakistan's Captain Safraz Ahmad celebrates the winning moment (Marceano Narine photo)

the excitement expected as West Indies could only muster 233-9 on a good batting surface then watched almost helplessly as the visitors with two match defining middle-order partnerships steal the series. The defeat meant that West Indies remain winless in a bi-lateral series against Pakistan since 1991.

Pakistan’s top-order was rocked by fiery opening spell by Shannon Gabriel (260) who dismissed Kamran Akmal with the first delivery via a leading-edge then in his next over of sheer pace he almost had his second victim but Chadwick Walton floored Ahmed Shehzad before he got off the mark with what should have been a regulation catch a mid-on.

Holder then sent Shehzad back in the hut thanks to an athletic take by wicketkeeper Shai Hope who flung himself full length to glove the white ball with his right hand. Gabriel who continued to work up some serious pace then scatter

tually fell to a miscued pull.

At the other end, Chadwick Walton who is having a torrid scratched to 19, his best innings of the series and the best of his short career before he played on to Hasan Ali, leaving the team in a spot of bother at 40 for 2 in the ninth over.

Keiran Powell who offered Akmal a simple chance on 23 in the 19th over was next to go when he uncharacteristically took a stroll down track to be stumped off the bowling of Imad

SCOREBOARD West Indies innings (50 overs maximum) E Lewis c Mohammad Hafeez 16 b Junaid Khan CAK Walton b Hasan Ali 19 KOA Powell st †Sarfraz Ahmed b Imad Wasim 23 SD Hope† c Shoaib Malik b Shadab Khan 71 JN Mohammed c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Junaid Khan 59 JL Carter b Shadab Khan 11 JO Holder* c Shadab Khan b Mohammad Amir 12 AR Nurse not out 10 V Permaul c Mohammad Hafeez b Mohammad Amir 8 D Bishoo run out (Mohammad Amir) 0 Extras (lb-1, w-3) 4 Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 233 Did not bat ST Gabriel Fall of wickets 1-31 (Lewis, 7.1 ov), 2-40 (Walton, 8.6 ov), 3-68 (Powell, 18.5 ov), 4-169 (Mohammed, 40.4 ov), 5-192 (Carter, 43.3 ov), 6-211 (Hope, 45.4 ov), 7-219 (Holder, 47.3 ov), 8-231 (Permaul, 49.4 ov), 9-233 (Bishoo, 49.6 ov) Bowling Mohammad Amir 9-0-41-2, Junaid Khan 10-0-

cards when he disdainfully pulled Hasan Ali for six over the deep mid-wicket.

The right-hander moved out of first gear, as he began finding the ropes on a consistent basis, his heart would have been in his mouth when Malik failed to stay within the playing area after taking a running catch.

to score 72 runs in the last ten while losing six wickets with Mohammed Amir (241), Shadab Khan (2-57) and Junaid Khan (2-60) showing their class in the ‘deathovers.’

Pakistan won the T20 series 3-1 and will now their attention to the three-match Test series beginning on April 21 at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

After the Test series, West Indies take on the touring Afghanistan in June in three T20Is and three ODIs followed by a trip to England before the crucial September 30 cut-off date to be ranked eighth or better for automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup. West Indies are currently ranked ninth, one place below Pakistan.

Juventus stun Barca 3-0

L

ionel Messi was outgunned by fellow Argentinian Paulo Dybala, the Juventus star hitting a brace in a 3-0 win against Barcelona in Turin.

Pakistan innings (target: Paulo Dybala reflect234 runs from 50 overs) ed upon living a childhood Kamran Akmal c Powell b Gabriel 0 dream after his match-winAhmed Shehzad c †Hope b ning turn in Juventus’ 3-0 3 Holder Champions League quarBabar Azam b Gabriel 16 ter-final triumph over Mohammad Hafeez c Permaul Barcelona. b Nurse 81 Dybala outshone Shoaib Malik not out 101 Argentina team-mate Lionel Sarfraz Ahmed*† not out 24 Messi and the Spanish chamExtras (b-3, lb-4, w-3, nb-1) 11 pions’ other stars by netting Total (4 wickets; 43.1 overs) 236 a sublime first-half brace.

Did not bat Imad Wasim, Giorgio Chiellini headShadab Khan, Mohammad ed in a third 10 minutes Amir, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan into the second half to leave Fall of wickets 1-0 (Kamran Luis Enrique’s side again Akmal, 0.1 ov), 2-16 (Ahmed Shehzad, 5.1 ov), 3-36 staring down the barrel of (Babar Azam, 8.4 ov), 4-149 a Champions League exit, (Mohammad Hafeez, 29.5 ov) a month on from historicalBowling ST Gabriel 10-0-60-2 ly overturning a 4-0 first-leg (nb-1, w-1), JO Holder 8.1-1deficit against PSG. 37-1 (w-1), D Bishoo 10-1-42“I am very happy - very 0 (w-1), V Permaul 4-0-31happy because as a child 0, AR Nurse 10-0-49-1, JN Mohammed 1-0-10-0 I wanted to live these moments and today I managed it,” Dybala told Mediaset Premium.

60-2 (w-1), Hasan Ali 6-1-29-1, Mohammad Hafeez 7-0-21-0 (w-1), Imad Wasim 10-1-24-1, Shadab Khan 8-0-57-2 (w-1)

Mohammed motored along to reach his fourth half-century in sixth matches from 58 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, while Hope reached his landmark after facing 97 delivers, striking just one four.

The partnership which began in the 19th over with their side tottering at 68-3, finally came to an end when Mohammed feathered one behind to fall for 59 (5x4s; 2x6s); the pair had added 101 in 21.5 overs.

Hope eventually perished for 71 (1x4; 2x6s) which paved the way for Jonathon Carter (11) and Holder (12) to smash a six each which was not enough.

After the 40th over the West indies were placed at 161 for 3 and only managed

Paulo Dybala now has 16 goals for the season

“We certainly cannot rest on our laurels. We know that we need a positive result in the second leg and need to keep a clean sheet, because it’s tough out there, tough – we all saw it [against PSG].

“But we are a great team and can work together to do it.”

Miralem Pjanic impressed in midfield for Juventus and supplied the corner for Chiellini’s goal.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina international echoed Dybala’s calls for caution when he spoke to BT Sport

after the match.

“It was a great game from both teams. Of course we are happy we scored three goals and 3-0 is a good score for us,” he said.

“But it is not finished. We know what they did against Paris and we don’t have to [suffer] that.

“We have to be careful because every time it is difficult in Barcelona. They have great players. We know what they can do.

“We will aim to score again and have to do a good job there.” (Sportsmax)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

West Indies vs Pakistan, Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile ODI Series…

Malik, Hafeez power Pakistan to emphatic series victory

Shoaib Malik

Pg 23

Pakistan confirm their dominance over West Indies with another series win (Marceano Narine photo)

Pg 20

FIFA Boss completes fruitful visit GFF President Wayne Forde, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Minister within the Education Ministry Nicolette Henry turn the sod at the FIFA Forward project site, Providence (Romario Samaroo photo)

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