Guyana Times Daily - August 18, 2015

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 2589

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

PRICE

Budget debates 2015…

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Irfaan Ali schools Minister Jordan on economics

Govt promises “the good life” for all Guyanese – Business P2 Minister

Page 3

– asserts APNU/AFC Govt’s "corruption", "dishonesty"

PPP/C makes ‘classy’ return to Parliament

– Jagdeo elected Opposition Leader

Page 6

Follow the leader!

LBI man P8 remanded for causing the death of Nigel Hughes’ mother Several injured as minibus topples P9 on Aubrey Barker Road

Miner chopped to death at North West District P11

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo leads the People's Progressive Party/Civic Members of Parliament to their first sitting in the 11th Parliament on Monday

Advertising New National Toshaos' Council executive, wife terrorised by bandits Chairman elected Page 17

– confusion, chaos mar opening day

Dr Jeffrey to Govt: Tread P13 carefully after discrimination perceptions

Page 9

in Festival City

Montrose granny murder suspect’s alibi verified by P17 investigators

2 news

tuesday, august 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

PPP passes on Govt promises “the good life” for all nominating Guyanese – Business Minister Deputy Speaker ...matter to be raised at next sitting

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Monday said it had no nomination for the Deputy Speaker post after the matter was raised by the current Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Dr Barton Scotland.

Dr Scotland said the matter was put down at previous sittings as a result of the absence of the Opposition party.

PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira then rose to inform the House that her Party had “no nominations for the

Former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall

post” at this time.

Former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall had been pipped for that post.

According to PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, the post is a very strategic position and the Party’s move has to do with parliamentary tactics which will be seen unfolding later on.

According to him, the Party has to decide how to tactically utilise its resources in the Parliament to make sure that it is not shortchanged.

The Speaker said given the Party’s position, the matter would be dealt with at the next sitting of

Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Dr Barton Scotland

Parliament which will be today.

In the 10th Parliament, the then A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Opposition, which enjoyed a one-seat majority, had taken both positions declining to continue the past parliamentary custom and practice which established the Government holding the Speaker post and the Opposition occupying the Deputy position.

The two parties, however, had negotiated behind closed doors who would become Speaker and Deputy Speaker - blocking out attempts by the PPP/C, which was in Government but had a minority in the Parliament, to occupy the latter.

The PPP/C had complained bitterly about the move explaining that APNU and the AFC had hijacked the notion of parliamentary democracy.

This time the coalition, which won the May 11 General and Regional Elections, left the post open to the PPP/C. Currently, there is no one to attend to the business of the National Assembly if the substantive Speaker is unable to carry out his responsibilities for any given period of time.

I

n order to achieve a ‘good life for all’ and a green economy, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration will be looking to ensure that small and micro-businesses play a vital part in the development of a green economy.

This is according to Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who during his maiden budget speech told the House that it is his hope that the 11th Parliament will see “healthy, wholesome and fruitful discussions” leading to decisions which will ultimately benefit all Guyanese.

“A fresh start is precisely what we need right now… A fresh start will also see new investments being met in our economy because of our Government’s commitment to fairness, transparency, inclusiveness and good governance in general. These are the standards of the global investment community,” the Business Minister said.

Gaskin emphasised that a balanced approach is necessary in ensuring that the needs of the Guyanese people remain the first priority in the country and that all Guyanese “must have a shot

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

at the good life.”

Minister Gaskin posited that by 2030, Guyana should be one of the leading countries in the Caribbean with respect to economic performance, as well as the country should be recognised as a global destination for ‘the good life’.

He noted that the Private Sector must not only be the engine of growth but the driver of the economy and stated that by the year 2020, the good life must be within the grasp and scope of all Guyanese.

“The good life which some of us have already enjoyed,

unfortunately, is not yet a reality for most Guyanese.

Budget 2015 addresses this with a well thought-out and balanced approach for ensuring that the needs of our people remain the first priority of our Government. I am particularly impressed by its inherent emphasis on equitable distribution of our country’s resources because Guyanese in all regions of all ages, of all ethnicities and genders must have a shot at the good life if we are to develop sustainably and experience long-term prosperity as a people,” the Business Minister further

explained.

He also stated that for Guyanese to really enjoy the good life, there needs to be drastic improvement in most of the Government services delivered throughout Guyana.

“What has prevailed until now is woefully inadequate, our Government understands that there will be a high cost attached to this and that huge budgets will be required down the line. Our Government understands that the tax revenues required to fund these budgets will have to be generated by Private Sector investments. This is why the development of Guyanese businesses is so important,” he said.

Minister Gaskin assured that during 2015, his Administration will target the creation of over 400 new jobs and also focus on training hundreds of business.

For 2016, his Ministry plans to include the development of a small business development centre.

It also aims to provide support for the development of small businesses in all regions while ensuring that small businesses have a fair chance of being awarded Government contracts, Minister Gaskin added.

Tucville man remanded on 3 counts of robbery under arms

A

resident of Constellation Street, Tucville, Georgetown, was on Monday remanded to prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he appeared before her to answer to three counts of robbery under arms.

Mike Tyson, a 24-year-old father of three, who resides at 563 Constellation Street, Tucville, pleaded not guilty to the first charge which read that on July 1, at Durban Backlands, Georgetown, while in the company of an-

other and being armed with a gun, he robbed Eason Grimes of a motor car valued $3.2 million, a cellular phone valued $20,000, a driver’s licence valued $2000, a passport valued $2000 and $34,000 in cash, all to a total value of $3,258,000.

Tyson also pleaded not guilty to a charge which read that on Friday, July 3, at McDoom, Greater Georgetown,, while in the company of another and being armed with a dangerous weapon, that is a gun, he robbed Manesh Veersammy

of a Toyota Premio motorcar valued $3.8 million, a GT&T phone card valued $200, a wallet valued $1500, two stereo speakers valued at $200,000 and $10,000 cash, all to a total value of $4,011,700.

Finally, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a charge which read that on Monday, August 10 at Mc Doom East Bank Demerara, while in the company of another and being armed with a gun, he robbed Lawrence Singh of a Toyota Spacio motorcar valued $2 million, a cellular phone val-

ued at $4500 and $10000 in cash, all to a total value of $2,014,500.

According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, Grimes’ and Singh’s cars were recovered while Veersammy’s is still missing.

He revealed that after Singh’s car was stolen, a Police chase ensued during which Tyson crashed the car and was captured. After reviewing the facts of the charge, the Magistrate remanded the man to prison. He will return to court on September 7 for statements.

news

Tuesday, august 18, 2015

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, August, 18 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, August 19 – 05:00h-06:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, August, 18 – 06:00h-07:30h and Wednesday, August 19 – 06:35h-08:05h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected throughout the morning and early afternoon, with heavy showers in the late afternoon. Clear skies with chances of light rain showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North Northeasterly between 0.89 metres and 2.68 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:28h and 18:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.64 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:02h and 12:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.58 metre and 0.61 respectively.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

LOTTERY NUMBERS G 03 07 14 17 24 28 FREE TICKET

Monday, August 17, 2015

Daily Millions

05 10 12 13 21 LUCKY 3

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| guyanatimesGY.com

Budget debate 2015

Irfaan Ali schools Minister Jordan on economics – asserts APNU/AFC Govt’s "corruption", "dishonesty"

Development Strategy which he claimed was “laid aside”.

Ali added that there was “a lot of fluff in 2015 budget”, but no policy formulation to “give meat” to the statements made by the new Government. He urged it to continue to consult the PPP/C’s manifesto if it was interested in crafting a proper plan to take Guyana forward.

“Use this document and serve the people of Guyana,” he said as his colleagues nodded their heads in agreement.

By Michael Younge

F

ormer Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali delivered what can be described as a ‘masterful if not fiery’ presentation on Monday while schooling newly-appointed Finance Minister Winston Jordan on economics and basic mathematics as the 2015 Budget debate got underway.

Ali, representing the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and speaking first during the debate at theseventh sitting, exposed what appeared to be "dishonesty" and recent corrupt undertakings of the new A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government which came to power back in May this year.

He started his presentation on a high note by expressing the PPP/C’s appreciation of the hard work, dedication and support shown by the country’s public servants and scores of young professionals during the Party’s tenure in office which aided in fast tacking Guyana’s overall development and growth.

Ali said the PPP/C wanted to record its concern during the Budget debate over the mass firings and dismissals that have been taking place across the country, as it was shocked that following the recent election, a new Government could undertake such partisan, politically motivated and ethnically-biased actions.

“The recent elections remind us how fragile democracy is,” he noted, explaining that his presentation on Budget 2015 was being made even as the PPP/C is holding out that it was cheated at the polls. Ali contended that if indeed democracy held sway, there would have been no objections to calls for recounts of ballots cast as this would further validate the results of the elections and inspire higher levels of confidence in the election machinery and the right of the new Government to govern.

“The foundation on which you stand is questionable, confidence in you and trust in you is difficult,” Ali told the Government as he warned that the PPP/C

Former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali

will nonetheless continue to represent the people of the country.

Taking his first jab at the Finance Minister during his presentation, Ali said he was shocked by the Minister’s post-electoral rhetoric on the State of the economy arguing that he has inherited a vastly developed Guyana which recorded nine years of continuous economic growth made possible by the PPP/C. “Winston Jordan must have learnt something under the leadership of Dr Ashni Singh,” he offered before questioning the current posture and actions of the Minister. Ali told Parliament that shockingly in just two months, the new Government has taken away over $1 billion of development from the Amerindian villages across the country, thousands of jobs and some basic aspirations of Guyanese people.

He said the new Budget, presented under the theme, “A fresh start to a good life in a green economy”, failed to address the issues of Private Sector confidence and the need for more domestic and foreign inflows and investments if any good life is to be achieved.

He said a “good life” could not be achieved as the Budget was presented against the backdrop of workers in the bauxite industry being retrenched, a decreasing oil price without savings being passed on to consumers or any reduction in the tariffs, the absence of specialised health care, and a reduction of investments in almost every single ad-

ministrative region except for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

Government Members of Parliament (MPs) started heckling immediately, but Ali skewered the actions of the new Government as he pointed out its subtle move to reduce capital estimates and spending in all of the regions that the PPP/C chaired which it won at the last elections by at least $800 million. He said the new Government had reduced the agricultural allocations in the Budget, cutting some $81 million of spending on this area primarily in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) which were won by the PPP/C. He was concerned that the move now deprived these regions of important resources to keep them moving along the development trajectory and lambasted the new Government over its treatment of the country’s hallmark Low Carbon

Bankruptcy claims

At this point, the Government members burst into heckling and interrupted Ali until his presentation was completed.

The PPP/C MP also rebutted allegations made by the Finance Minister that the country was bankrupt as he contended that the statistics and financial figures presented by the Minister contradicted his own rhetoric.

“The Minister is a visionary…..By the time he is finished, I am sure the economy will be bankrupt…he is a good visionary,” Ali said to smirks from both sides of the House. He contended that the economy grew by 300 per cent over the last couple of years under the PPP/C. He said that it was not surprising that the Government may want to mislead the country as monies could be “earmarked for questionable projects or they have no idea of the financial status of the economy”.

Turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, august 18, 2015

Views Editor (Ag): Michael Younge Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

The Coalition Government

T

he APNU/AFC coalition is in trouble. The dissatisfaction expressed by one of the AFC's Berbice stalwarts, Dr Veerasammy Ramaya, amounting to a not too veiled threat to quit, is only the latest symptom. Ramaya pointed out that while the critical element to the coalition's electoral success was the AFC's weaning away some of the PPP's traditional supporters in Berbice, very little of the spoils of office were doled out to Berbicians.

The AFC leadership in their response, implicitly and explicitly, derided Ramaya as an unprincipled individual not willing to soldier on for the "greater good". The illustration of Ramaya refusing a $180000 monthly salary with a car but not a driver, was used to buttress their case. That case, however, would have been even stronger if the AFC leaders had themselves not necessarily rejected their monthly $1.2 million salary and benefits package, but merely protesting their proposed raises. The raise alone was larger than the total package offered to Ramaya.

But as we said, Ramaya's case is merely a symptom.

The proximate cause of the conflict is that the coalition is a "coalition of convenience" - formed simply to remove the PPP from office. Now that the goal is accomplished, all the contradictions of such coalitions are rising to the surface.

Firstly, as opposed to a "coalition of commitment", coalitions of convenience do not have their members holding on to any particular ideological framework that can be used as a conceptual common ground on which their differences can be hammered out.

In a coalition of confidence, it is "every man for himself, and the devil takes the hindmost". Such an attitude is especially pronounced when, as in the instance of the present coalition, there is a "disequilibrium of size" between the parties. Before the elections, the marginal utility of the minuscule AFC loomed large because the APNU needed only a few seats to take them over the goalpost. These the AFC could provide - and they did.

However, once the elections were over, the bargain would not seem as lustrous as before: especially when the AFC did not fare as well as had been predicted. The out of proportion allocation of seats and offices to the AFC would now seem to be extravagant. The APNU immediately set about rectifying what they felt to be an unfair distribution of offices, by diluting, in effect, the value of the offices offered to the AFC. The APNU accomplished this by simultaneously expanding the number of Ministries, degutting the responsibilities and powers of others and placing the AFC leaders into innocuous positions. In addition, they used Burnham's 1964-68 gambit with his erstwhile coalition partner the United Force - buying out members of the smaller party by offering them side deals.

At this time, it is pellucid to any objective observer that Raphael Trotman has "returned home" following his 2011 selection by APNU as the Speaker of the House in the 10th Parliament. He has been further handsomely rewarded by a huge reservoir of power over Natural Resources, National Patrimony and Governance. The previously derided Nagamootoo - "too recently tainted by PPP - was stripped of most of the powers that came with his nominal PM and VP's offices.

With the disequilibrium of size between the two parties, there was nothing the AFC could do about it even if they wanted to. Their only option was the one exercised at another level by Ramaya: to threaten to leave. This the top leaders refused to do and will have to face the consequences as the years go by and their irrelevance increases. Those consequences include, what has been colourfully described by the leader of the SFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, as becoming "dead meat" and the next outing at the polls.

With the APNU threatening to conduct the adult (over 21 years) Local Government Elections, it would appear that the AFC will be facing a very pungent Christmas 2015.

A rarely seen view of the Kaieteur Falls (Tourism Ministry photo)

New US immigration initiative will help abused spouses and victims of trafficking Dear Editor, The Obama Administration has unveiled a proposal designed to streamline various immigration procedures of obtaining a visa including one that will assist spouses in abused relations waiting for a green card. This will help abused spouses living illegally in America; spousal abuse is a common occurrence among Guyanese, West Indians as well as among other Third World immigrants in the US. Also, under the new directive, employers seeking work visas for professional staff will be simplified and victims of human trafficking, a serious problem in Guyana as well as in the US, will be aided to obtain permanent residence.

The White House says the new directive will modernise and streamline the legal immigration system to improve the visa processing experience. The President’s Director for Domestic Policy Celia Munoz said the current process to apply for a visa is “complex, paper-based, and confusing to the user. Many immigration documents pass through various computer systems and change hands no fewer than six times. Our goal is to modernise this pro-

cess and deliver a positive experience to our users.”

A team of engineers employed by the Government will work with the Department of Homeland Security “to bring the majority of the visa application process online and deliver consistency and ease of use”. The administration stated it is aiming to reduce Government costs. The process will also “reduce burdens on employers who must verify that their employees are eligible to legally work in the US, and mitigate fraud and abuse of the immigration system”.

The new directive simplifies work visas under the H-1B application process, along with reducing the number of documents needed for applications and extensions of such visas. It also simplifies the process under which an employer can directly sponsor students on F-1 visas for legal, permanent employment. Several Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals fall under this category after completing their study in engineering and the sciences. The US is trying to retain foreign graduates of the sciences, engineering and Mathematics.

Under the directive, the

process of applying for a T visa – for victims of human trafficking – or a U visa – for victims of crime and domestic violence – has also been simplified. “There are numerous avenues for humanitarian relief provided to vulnerable individuals in our immigration system. However, many of our existing policies and regulations do not reflect the most recent laws. These recommendations will improve our system for individuals seeking humanitarian relief,” said the White House directive.

However, it is not clear if Congress will block the directive as happened earlier this year when Obama issued the so called DACA directive to assist illegal immigrants.

The Republican controlled Congress blocked the President’s executive order deferring deportation of illegal immigrants and allowing them to live and work for a period of years. The House said the President had overstepped his role while the Senate allowed the order to stand. However, 26 mostly Republican controlled states filed suit to block implementation of the President’s order. A Texas US District Court Judge Andrew Hanen, a Republican, issued a tempo-

rary injunction in February.

The injunction has been appealed but a ruling is not expected soon.

Suman Raghunathan, Indian American Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together, cheered the simplification of the T and U visa application process. He also praised the President for the directive that will allow victims of domestic violence to self-petition for a permanent visa and simultaneously apply for work authorisation.

As he noted, currently, “victims of domestic violence remain in abusive households as their immigration status is linked to their spouse’s status. An abusive partner can hold immigration status as a weapon to keep a spouse in her place, note agencies that work with domesticallyabused women”.

But Raghunathan said the action plan falls short of providing relief for many other immigrants. He is calling for “comprehensive immigration reform legislation that will keep families together and that includes a path to citizenship”.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Who will speak of the ethnic cleansing of Amerindians?

Dear Editor, Every day I read in the newspapers of Guyanese who are upset about what is perceived to be “ethnic cleansing” by the Government, of IndoGuyanese. While it is true that apparently most of those who are being dismissed from their public sector jobs are perceived to be friendly to the Opposition and by extent Indo-Guyanese, many of those who have suffered so far are Amerindians.

As a matter of fact, most of those who have suffered

so far are Amerindians: 1972 Community Support Officers (CSOs) and many others forced to leave their jobs in the Regions and in public institutions in Georgetown.

The contradictory move of Minister Gaskin in wanting to initiate a “youth entrepreneurship” programme, to me is incomprehensible, since 1972 CSOs were paid small stipends under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP) to boost their capac-

ities in different sectors, inclusive of small businesses in communities. Does this mean that Minister Gaskin is privileging other segments of the population over Amerindians?

While Ralph Ramkarran speaks on behalf of IndoGuyanese on what he deems to be ethnic cleansing, who speaks on behalf of us Amerindians when we are now jobless in the interior?

Are we not also victims of ethnic cleansing in this case?

Indigenous peoples across

the world have suffered racial discrimination for centuries.

In Guyana we believed we were moving forward. When I voted for the coalition, I believed we were going to expedite change. We haven’t.

Now that we’re discriminated against, and our people are disempowered nationally, who speaks on behalf of us?

Where is the voice of the APA? Sincerely, Stacy Cheong

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, august 18, 2015

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The PNC doesn’t have lily white hands Dear Editor: I have been reflecting on two recent captions that appeared in online editions of your paper.

One is “Walter Rodney COI nothing but a political witch-hunt – says AG Basil Williams”. The other is “Killings during 2000-2008 to be investigated – ‘In due course, I will ensure that all of those mothers’ children

who were killed have their deaths investigated’ – President Granger”. It appears to me that the investigation and ventilation of facts surrounding the murder of one of Guyana’s leading intellectuals and political leaders is considered a witch-hunt because that murder occurred at a time when the Peoples National Congress (PNC) was in effective political

and governmental control of Guyana, while investigations into “killings during 2000-2008” is vitally important and necessary because these sad events occurred during a period when the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) was in effective political and governmental control of Guyana.

Attorney General Basil Williams and the

PNC should not attempt to insult the intelligence of Guyanese. Guyanese know and understand the reasons why Dr. Walter Rodney was “eliminated”. We also know that extremist fanatics exist in both the PNC and the PPP, and it is possible for these elements to take independent, unauthorized, and unsanctioned targeted action against “the enemy” in the misguided belief that they are thereby “helping” the party to

which they owe allegiance.

Because fanatics are not renowned as people who dispassionately reflect on the full range of consequences of their planned actions, they leave “fallout” for their party to deal with. The PNC has been brilliant in the damage control techniques it has deployed to handle the Rodney affair. The PNC, therefore, should not attempt to project itself as a party with lily-white hands; nor should the

PPP. Both parties have their fringe elements that sometimes take unauthorized action to the reputational detriment of their party.

Now is not the time to engage in political blamegames. Now is the time for the Granger regime to find ways to nurture national cohesion and move Guyana forward..

Wilbert M Stephenson

Coalition 100-day promises produced meagre results Better facilities needed at Port Dear Editor, During the 2015 Elections Campaign, Berbicians and in fact all Guyanese, were repeatedly told by the APNU/AFC coalition that the Berbice Bridge Toll would be reduced significantly and some AFC officials like Ramayya, Mark Ross and Charrandass even said that the toll will be reduced to $1,000. In fact, the coalition’s Manifesto said indicated a reduction in the Bridge Toll within the First 100 days of their mandate. Moreover, within the Manifesto itself it is stated that the coalition will “reduce the toll for passenger vehicles on the Berbice Harbour Bridge eventually to $500”.

This means that within 5 years, passenger vehicles, will pay a reduced toll of $500 from $2200. With the current reduction to $1,900, it means that by the next four years the toll will have to be reduced by $1400 or $350 on a yearly basis. However, the current budget didn’t make any such commitment.

We have seen the play on

words like “significant” and “substantial” and the eventual water-down to “moderate” which is now seen to mean ‘meagre’!

Now comes the sore point. How will the $300 reduction in toll benefit commuters of the Berbice Bridge, especially the school children? A little mathematical calculation will suffice here. With a minibus carrying 24 passengers on a return trip, the $300 will translate into $11 and with a hire-car this will translate into $38.

The question now is: Will these vehicle owners reduce their fares by $11 and $38 respectively so that the commuters will benefit?

This ‘benefit’ is so insignificant that it will be a gross insult to commuters if they ask these vehicle owners for this rebate! And more likely than not, these vehicle owners will never consider reducing their fares!

Even these vehicle owners making a maximum of two trips per day will only benefit by $300 per trip.

Therefore, this meagre and

insignificant reduction in the Berbice Bridge Toll is probably just to console those who voted for the coalition.

Subsidising the Bridge toll hardly benefits beneficiaries so why not use the money to continue the ‘Because We Care’ initiative which will benefit parents in a more direct and tangible manner? If the Because We Care initiative was a political gimmick by the PPP then how do we call the meagre $300 in the Berbice Bridge Toll?

Moreover, when the coalition was in Opposition, it was quick to attack the PPP/C Government with regards to the reduction in fuel price to reflect the drop in the world market price for oil. For a long time now the price for oil is below US $50 per barrel, yet we have been paying over $900 per gallon. This is far higher than what people are paying in the United States and elsewhere.

Sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Mourant Horse Racing ground Dear Editor, My family and I responded to the much advertised horse race held at the Port Mourant on Sunday, August 16. We travelled from West Coast Demerara, all the way to Port Mourant with high expectations for this event.

When we got to the venue, it was observed that there was a huge crowd estimated at about 12,000.

The small seating stand was full and compact with about 1000 patrons. The balance of the crowed were seen climbing on the tops of their vehicles and running up and down to get

a glimpse of the horses on the track.

I went to a nearby fence to get a glimpse only to realise my hands were holding on to tar on the fence.

We had to contend with the blazing sun. I went to a nearby stall to purchase water. The price for a bottle of water we buy for $100 in Georgetown was sold for $250.

The organisers, sponsors and promoters of these events must be informed of acceptable criteria for these public events.

In fact, selling approximately 12,000 tickets with only 1000 seating capacity

technically can be viewed as fraud. There must be some form of legally acceptable standard for this sporting event. We must be mindful of the impression we give, especially to tourists if we are going to develop our tourism sector.

While I was robbed of enjoying an event that is supposed to be exciting, I urge those responsible to relook and ensure the horse race facility is further developed to deliver a better experience to patrons.

Sincerely, C Woolford

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tuesday, august 18, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

News PPP/C makes ‘classy’ return to Parliament – Jagdeo elected Opposition Leader

half of the PPP/C and congratulated him on his election to the Chair.

By Michael Younge

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Monday made a classy return to the National Assembly to be part of the 2015 National Budget Debate.

The Party had refused to attend the first six sittings of the National Assembly to occupy its 32 seats following the May 11, 2015 elections which it is maintaining were rigged and fraudulent.

General Secretary Clement Rohee had told the media that the PPP/C had every intention of occupying the seats, while promising that it would return to the Parliament “when the time is right”.

Over two dozen Party members joined former President Bharrat Jagdeo as they made their way into the compound of the National Assembly and then into the chambers to be part of the official sitting.

Most of the Members of Parliament (MPs) were smiling and appeared energetic, with some explaining that they were now even more committed towards defending the rights and expectations of the public while in Opposition.

Former President Jagdeo appeared extremely excited as he made his way back into the halls of Parliament which he had last visited back in 1999, more than a

Opposition Leader election

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

decade and a half ago, before becoming President.

“So much has changed… .I have to see what is going on….It feels so good to be here,” Jagdeo was heard saying to himself and others as he took a brief stroll through the parliamentary corridors and chambers.

Government’s uneasiness

Decked out in a dark suit, the former President mingled with MPs before being flanked by anxious media and parliamentary staff.

Jagdeo entered the Chambers to loud applause from his colleagues as some Government MPs looked on with what appeared to be a mixture of shock and subtle admiration.

“Thank you. Thank you, Comrades,” he said as he took his seat as the head of the Opposition side.

After this other senior members of the Government trickled in with State Minister, Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo making a quiet entrance into the House.

Nagamootoo appeared extremely quiet and less active than he usually was before the regular sittings. He exchanged cold stares with the former President who was smiling throughout the entire session.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland welcomed the PPP/C to the 11th Parliament

explaining that the Party’s return was appreciated. He quickly updated the Party on the number of bills that were passed by Parliament and assented to by President David Granger during its absence.

Dr Scotland also made it clear that he expected both sides of the House to demonstrate the highest levels of commitment towards passing legislation that would impact the lives of the populace in a positive way.

He also updated the Party on the two visits made

by President Granger to the Assembly since the conveying of the Parliament.

In return, the Party’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira thanked the Speaker on be-

Soon after, Jagdeo and other PPP/C parliamentarians retired to Committee Room Two, during the break, where the election of the Opposition Leader was scheduled to take place.

Speaking with reporters after being unanimously elected as the country’s Opposition Leader, Jagdeo committed himself towards giving his all to ensuring that citizens get what they deserved from the new Government.

“I was truly, truly happy to be out of competitive politics but since I have made this commitment and am back in…I do not do things by half measures so I am starting to feel the excitement of Parliament again. I did not come for ages since ‘99 and there are lots of changes here and so I am starting to feel the excitement of competitive politics again,” he responded when questioned by a media operative about his readiness for the new role.

He said that the new Opposition will fulfil all of its responsibilities.

“We are not with the results of the elections; we have filed the elections petition but there is a Government in place and we are in Opposition, but we are going to fulfil our constitutional re-

sponsibilities,” he said.

Jagdeo said since the May 11 General and Regional Elections, there have been no real discussions between the two sides on constitutional issues, including the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission.

Supporting youth, winning elections

He said his Party would be working to win the next election whenever the time comes for it to be staged.

Answering questions about whether he intended to run for the presidency in 2020, Jagdeo said that he was not willing to offer a premature response.

“I have made it clear that the group that is coming in here today would not necessarily be the group that takes us into the next election … our emphasis has to be on young people. We are reorienting our Party to make sure that young people are prepared and can emerge in leadership positions. We strongly believe in young people,” the Opposition Leader said.

He added that the PPP/C has always supported youth and fielded some of the youngest persons to the seats of Executive and legislative power pointing to examples in the persons of Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Ashni Singh, Irfaan Ali and Priya Manickchand.

“So we believe in young people and not just the rhetoric of it. So you see the evidence of it. At one stage, we had over 60 per cent of our Cabinet in their early 30s and 40s…That is important for the future of our country….,” Jagdeo said.

He explained that the PPP/C did not want to be negative and would be working very hard to support the Government on implementing positive measures if good proposals are being made.

Jagdeo served as Guyana’s sixth Executive President for three terms before demitting office and welcoming his colleague successor, President Donald Ramotar.

After a series of problems, Ramotar was defeated at the May 11 elections. The elections were precipitated by a no-confidence motion, which threatened to end his presidency by two years. This forced him to prorogue the National Assembly and call fresh elections.

Throughout the period, Jagdeo has lobbied and campaigned in support of PPP/C. He is seen as the party’s best chance for regaining State Power and Government.

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tuesday, august 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Locking youth out of Govt unconstitutional – Ramson Jr ... says APNU/AFC will pay for “dissing” youths at next polls

By Michael Younge

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ewly sworn-in People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Charles Ramson Jr on Monday said the move by the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government to lock youth out of every level of Government was unconstitutional. And he promised that it would pay dearly at the next General and Regional Elections for the disrespect shown to Guyanese youth after using them to hype and build momentum in the leadup to the last elections.

Ramson Jr, who barely had any time to benefit from the presentations of more seasoned MPs as he was the third speaker, made the accusation during day one of the 2015 Budget debate in the National Assembly.

He said he was disappointed at the manner in which the new Government has treated young people since it took over the reins of Executive power. The first move, he said, that was a shocking sign was the decision to demote the Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry subsuming it into Education.

He said that with all of emphasis being placed on pursuing constitutional reform, when one considers how youth are being treated, it is clear that the new Government “doesn’t need to rewrite the Constitution – the coalition Government needs to reread the Constitution”.

“The absence of youth from the Cabinet and Parliament is unconstitutional,” he remarked while reading parts of the preamble of the Constitution which stresses that young people have a right to participate at all levels of governance.

Ramson Jr made it clear

PPP/C Member of Parliament Charles Ramson Jr

that youth would not be ignored or treated with disrespect as he warned the members of the Government side who were laughing during his presentation that the youths will laugh at them at the polls, given the fact that they betrayed them after the “It is time campaign” and the May 11 elections.

“Before we look at the numbers, let’s look at the budget

also exposed that the new Government had only budgeted a pittance for youth development over the remaining four months of the year and into the new year ahead of the presentation of the next budget. “…Let’s look at what was budgeted for youth in 2015, turn to page 231 of the estimates – $63 million for current expenditure, now if you

“This coalition Govt is proving itself every day to be yesterday’s men with yesterday’s ideas.” speech as it relates to youth – two measly paragraphs – and the big statement in there – there has been a draft youth policy – that’s it – the youth are the reason you are even in any position of power and we deserve more than just two measly paragraphs – and more than just platitudinal statements of a draft youth policy,” he said.

Ramson Jr, who is a trained Attorney-at-Law,

think that was an error – well, have a look at page 586 for the capital expenditure – a grand total of $50 million. Now let’s do a comparison – the PPP/C in 2014 $535 million for current expenditure and $961 million for capital expenditure – which means the PPP/C spent more on youth in one month than the APNU-AFC Government would spend in the entire budgeted period – by far,” he asserted.

Taking the Government to task, Ramson Jr revealed that youths were treated like an aside in the budget and like an “errant bastard child”.

He called the budget “no good” and “useless” as far addressing the issues which affect youth were concerned.

“The PNC had 23 years to prepare a youth plan and have it waiting; the AFC had about 10 years – now they assume power – you are about to draft a youth policy – now???

So the youth that believed you and voted for you now have to wait longer? I hope you will also tell them that the youth draft policy was 90 per cent already prepared by the PPP/C. Where is the big youth programme? Where is the big youth focus? Where is the big youth vision? Where is the big youth project? Where is the big youth empowerment? Where is the school

cash grant?” he remarked to approving thumps from his colleagues.

Ramson Jr said that the new Government was “all talk, no walk” and “all gear, no game” while asking several burning questions of his fellow MPs. “How are you going to tackle youth unemployment, bullying in schools, underage drinking and drug use, suicide, truancy in schools, youth crime and the big solution cannot be close the bars at 2am and send home everyone – total incompetence – this coalition Government is proving itself every day to be yesterday’s men with yesterday’s idea,” he noted.

The new MP accused the Government of having “facile solutions” while in Opposition and now when it was in power only portraying “flaccid solutions” given that the average

age of its MPs was 62. “…Square pegs in round holes – the old Guyanese adage ya can’t plant plantain an get cassava”, he noted.

“We, the youth of Guyana, deserve better. We are more than just an afterthought. We are more than an errant bastard child who is reluctantly recognised by their father – we are our country’s lifeline – the backbone –we are the past, present and future of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and we refuse to be ignored and silenced and be told to wait until you have a programme for us next year and be told to go home at 2am – so it is for this reason I cannot by any stretch of clemency vote to approve of this Budget,” he said as he ended his maiden budget speech way better than he had started.

Irfaan Ali schools Minister...

Rice, investments

The former Housing Minister also called on the new Government to honour the pledge it made to deliver $9000 per bag of paddy along with the $23 billion in subsidies. Ali hinted that the PPP/C was aware that there was no real subsidy for rice farmers and attempts were being made by the Government to source the money through another mechanism.

“Where is the $23 billion ... should the negotiations fall through … we will hold the Government responsible,” he warned.

He also called for the immediate establishment of a national paddy price system, while urging the Government to ensure that it maintained rice production above 600, 000 tonnes

as well as continue to improve paddy yields and value-added processes.

The PPP/C Executive said that there were no new projects in Budget 2015 except for those initiated by the previous Government.

He said the PPP/C wanted the Government to return the subsidies to the pensioners which amounted to $500 million, while immediately ensuring that the sugar industry received $20 billion to assist it in making a rebound.

He called on the coalition to also double the monies received by Old Age Pensioners as it had promised to do while on the campaign trail.

Additionally, the former Minister said that something was wrong with the new Finance Minister’s math

From page 3

ability as he did not give out increases that would benefit the poor in a big way as he said he did, but rather public servants who earn more will make 300 per cent more than other lower paid public servants.

Audits

Ali also waded in to condemn the new Government for the manner in which it went about conducting and recruiting auditors and forensic audits explaining that contracts were awarded without any levels of transparency or accountability.

“The illegal transfers to the auditors …no advertisement…no tender process… no examination of the qualifications,” he said, was something that would not sit well with the new Opposition in Parliament.

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tuesday, august 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Eyew tness LBI man remanded for causing the death of Nigel Hughes’ mother

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man was on Monday remanded to prison for causing the death of Christobel Hughes, the mother of prominent Attorney and Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes.

Juliano Seunarine, age 28, of La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara was placed before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to two charges in relation to the incident.

Seunarine, who is employed as a driver, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on Saturday, August 15, and Pike and Lamaha Streets, Kitty, Georgetown, he drove motor vehicle PPP 4641 while under the influence of alcohol which rendered him incapable of having control of the motor vehicle. The breathalyer test conducted by the Police revealed that his level was 161 micrograms when the legal limit is 35. Seunarine was not required to plead

Juliano Seunarine was remanded for causing the death of Nigel Hughes' mother Christobel Hughes

to the charge which read that on the same occasion he drove motor vehicle PPP 4641 in a dangerous manner, thereby causing the death of Christobel Hughes.

According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, on the day in question at approximately 23:15h, the defendant was the driver of the said motor vehicle and was

proceeding East on Pike Street. While approaching Lamaha Street, he failed to stop which resulted in him colliding with motor vehicle PMM 6763. As a result of this collision, Christobel Hughes received severe injuries which led to her demise. A report was made to the Police and breathalyser tests carried out revealed that the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol. Charges were then instituted against the defendant.

Hughes, who was in her early 80s, was a passenger in the vehicle bearing registration number PMM 6763 and was being driven by her other son, Stuart Hughes.

After the collision, the injured were rushed to a city hospital, where Christobel Hughes was listed in critical condition while her son Stuart sustained minor injuries. On Sunday, she succumbed to injuries received in the accident.

After reviewing the

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Dead: Christobel Hughes

facts presented, Magistrate McLennan instituted the maximum penalty of a fine of $7500 on the charge of driving under the influence and also ordered that Seunarine’s drivers licence to be suspended until the end of the trial. As it related to the charge of cause of death by dangerous driving, he has been remanded to prison. The matter will return to court on Friday, September 4.

Joint murder charge laid against Sterling Products murder suspects – Paddy protests delay in trial

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nitially, two individual charges of murder were lodged against Ryan Paddy and Orin Arthur for the murder of Edward Beharry Security Guard Wilbert Stewart. Then Uree Varsyack was charged when he was apprehended by the Police. However, on Monday the men were read a joint charge for the murder of Stewart.

Prosecutor, Sergeant Neville Jeffers appealed to the court for the charge against the three men to be tried jointly since the case is the same and thus would produce the same witnesses. This was fervently opposed to by defence Attorney Mottee Singh who is representing Varsyack.

N e v e r t h e l e s s , Magistrate McLennan acceded to the prosecution’s argument; withdrawing the charge against Paddy, Arthur and Varsyack, and rereading the charge to bind them in one trial.

Paddy and Arthur appeared in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on April 13 for the first time where they were first read the charge of murder. It stated that in December 2014, at Providence, East Bank Demerara, they stormed the Sterling Products Limited

Rayon Paddy in court on Monday

compound with the intention of robbing the entity.

This resulted in the death of the Edward Beharry Security Guard Wilbert Stewart who was attached to Sterling Products Limited.

Stewart died on the spot when he was shot twice indiscriminately by bandits who stormed the compound of Sterling Products Limited. He was subsequently relieved of his .32 revolver which had six rounds at the time. Another Sterling Products employee Mario Gohill, an Indian national, was also injured during the gunfire.

Police said the bandits

were able to locate a safe in the building, but were unable to open it and were forced to leave empty-handed.

Varsyack made his first court appearance on May 31 where Prosecutor Bharat Mangru had first made an application for his matter to be tried alongside that of Arthur and Paddy.

Meanwhile, the trials for the defendants were delayed once more due to the unavailability of a file that the prosecution is expecting from the police to complete the case against the men. However, Paddy complained to the court about the continuous delay as the case has been postponed several times due to the slow compilation of the prosecution’s report.

He complained to Magistrate McLennan about this, referencing a case similar to his own where the prosecution was obligated to commence the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) due to delays. The accused stated that his trial should have begun already if not for the continuous delays and appealed to the court for something to be done to remedy this.

Paddy told the court that he has been imprisoned since May and he has a family, particularly a two-

The ethnic bacoo... ...in the firings

our Eyewitness didn't take the PPP too seriously when, last month, they carried on about "ethnic cleansing" by the APNU/AFC Government. He was reminded about Desmond Hoyte doing the same thing when he'd been thrown out of office. There was, of course, the usual hyperbole of politicians and the salutary denouement of the story: "the boy who cried wolf".

But as the firings by the political directorate intoned and the bodies kept on piling up, it was hard not to keep looking at the names of who'd been given the sack.

This, of course, is the default setting of the Guyanese brain when processing information. The names indicate who's getting "what, where and how". And also more to the point, who's NOT "getting what, where and how"!

And sure enough there was a pattern....if Indian Guyanese were now 40% of the population - which fact presumably make "their" party get squeezed out - the "Indian sounding" names of those thrown out on their ears, were almost double that! Now back in the day when Cheddi was still around - and in the Opposition - he'd brought up the charge of "racial discrimination" against the PNC (they'd didn't talk about "ethnic" then - much less "ethnic cleansing"). Burnham laughingly retorted, "It's just political, comrade!"

But what Burnham didn't want to acknowledge was that it really didn't matter as to the "motive" of why the people of one race were fired - if there's a clear pattern showing one ethnic/racial group's inordinately affected, then it's racial/ethnic discrimination. But it still wasn't "ethnic cleansing" in your Eyewitness' view.

There would have to be a whole heap of firings before that could be conceded.

And Lo and Behold! The APNU/AFC coalition provided the smoking gun, so to speak. Or if you will, the "cleansed" ethnic bodies. In one fell swoop, 1972 young Amerindian Community Support Officers were summarily booted out of their jobs. Now here was an instance where you didn't have to read names (or tea leaves) to figure out who were fired: they were all Amerindians! And in terms of the "cleansing" bit that was about 10% of total able-bodied Amerindian population!

The Government - with direct lineage to the old PNC of Burnham and obviously working from the same, unaltered playbook - protested that it was just "political"!! But a funny think happened on the way to the Amerindians taking the Government to court over their violation. NONE of the usual suspects who rally for the underprivileged in and out of season, stood up with the Amerindians to be counted.

The PPP, once again, was on its own!

...at GPL

Murdered: Wilbert Stewart

year-old who is depending on him to come home as soon as possible.

He also complained that he has been in solitary confinement since April 6 and no reasons have been given for this. The murder accused protested that he, along with other prisoners, are not allowed simple amenities, such as access to the media and other tools that can assist them in their various cases.

With this, Magistrate McLennan informed the prosecution of their deadline on September 14 to ensure that their files are complete for the Preliminary Inquiry to commence for the three accused.

Believe it or not, the slogan of one PNC election campaign was "Light up the light - with Desmond Hoyte". Your Eyewitness can just hear you, dear reader, exclaim, "Say what???!!!" OK...so pronounce "Hoyte" the way we Guyanese do..." light up the light - with Desmond Hyte!!" Get it?? Anyhow the slogan worked because in Desmond's days, there was never any light.

GPL's periods of blackout was waaaaay more than periods of light.

Hoyte (Hyte?) tried whichever way to get some power into the grid - even brought in some Irish operators.

Nothing worked. Now whatever we may say about GPL and there's a lot that can be said - you have to concede that at least we're getting consistent electricity. And the fella in charge of this turnaround was a local, home grown CEO, Dindiyal.

After persistent reports that one of his Deputies was conducting a mini ethnic cleansing at GPL on behalf of the government, Dindiyal stepped in. And was axed!!

Now even Ramkarran, not one to wear "Indianness" on his sleeve, cried "ethnic cleansing"!

...and doctorates

We noticed that Minister Ronald Bulkan threw out some thinly veiled hints against Dr Yesu Persaud for using his honorary Doctorates.

What did Yesu ever do the man?

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

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Tuesday, august 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Nothing in Budget for Advertising executive, wife Amerindians – says PPP/C terrorised by bandits in Festival City ... Felix says PPP/C deprived locals of jobs by favouring foreigners

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s the 2015 Budget debate hit the floor of the National Assembly on Monday, the two opposing parties tussled over the provisions for Guyana’s indigenous people in the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s budget for this year.

Addressing the House, Junior Minister of the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe, said that her Government intended to make Guyana a stable and viable nation. She noted that the main objective of her Ministry was to enhance the lives of indigenous people and the Budget that her Administration has put forward will facilitate that.

“Budget 2015 gives Guyana much hope, to the hinterland population, especially for indigenous brothers and sisters, who has suffered from starvation year after year. Starvation from non-existent village economy; starvation from trained teachers in our schools; starvation from properly trained healthcare personnel in our hospitals, health centres and health huts; starvation from the lack of proper roads; starvation from the lack of proper houses. Many indigenous families in this modern age live under tarpaulin tents. Starvation from training facilities that would allow our youths to acquire certificates in various skills, thus properly preparing them for the world of work,” she pointed out.

According to Garrido-Lowe, the road to the development of the indigenous people is a tedious one but one that it was necessary to traverse. She added that the “fresh approach” and the vision of President David Granger were the vehicle to take the hinterland and indigenous people out of poverty.

Foreign nationals

In rebutting the Junior Minister’s statements, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member Ganga Persaud pointed out that Garrido-Lowe forgot one starvation that the indigenous people were suffering from.

“She omitted a very important item of starvation on that list, that is, starvation of unemployment. And I say this Honourable Member (GarridoLowe) because only a couple months ago having assumed office, you took away 1972 jobs from the very people who you call your people, your villages who lack the opportunities,” he declared.

On this note, Citizenship Minister under the coalition Government, Winston Felix, outlined that unemployment was an issue facing the entire country. He turned his attention to the availability of “standard” job opportunities, noting that immigration demanded full attention given that international criminal activities would not spare the country.

Felix disclosed that while Guyana has experienced an influx of foreign nationals for various reasons, there is a build-up of such persons in the

Junior Minister of the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry Valerie Garrido-Lowe interior working in the mining sector. “Our countrymen are complaining of not being given fair play. They see our lands being occupied by foreigners,” he stated, making reference to the number of Brazilian nationals who have been permitted to work in the country.

According to the Citizenship Minister, in 2012, some 1050 persons received employment visas with 991 being Brazilians and 24 Chinese. The following year, he revealed, that another 462 Brazilians were granted permission to come work in Guyana, adding that the trend continued in 2014.

During this year, 744 employment visas were issued and a whopping 694 were given to Brazilians, he stated.

Highlighting the figures for thus far this year, Minister Felix stated that 304 employment visas were issued and 236 of them were given to nationals from the neighbouring Portuguese-speaking country.

“We are not averse to visitors or having investments from foreigners (but) what we are saying Guyanese must have equal play… We don’t want a situation where our own people cannot have access to our lands to do what the foreigners are doing,” he pointed out.

Furthermore, the Minister expressed his disgust at the fact that employment visas are being issued for jobs that Guyanese men and women can very well do such as cooking.

Infrastructure

Meanwhile, PPP/C’s first time Member of Parliament, Aleister Charlie, during his presentation, highlighted that infrastructure in the hinterland developed under the PPP/C Administration. He noted that indigenous people were given solar panels so that they no longer had to cease work at night and the children were given the opportunity to study at nights. He referred to promises made during the coalition’s campaign trail that larger solar panels would be given to them; however, they are yet to see any allocations to indicate that this would happen.

Charlie went on to speak about plans to give Lethem township status when the APNU/AFC Administration is yet to fulfil promises of paving the roads in the area with asphalt. This, he noted, also had no budgetary allocations.

In addition, the PPP/C MP outlined many hinterland families are disappointed that the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) was scrapped, stating that computer centres were established in many villages to facilitate the training process.

“There are no plans for ICT (information and Communication Technology) development in the hinterland,” he declared.

Charlie further mentioned that the Minister of Health had spoken about upgrading the health centres in the region, but nothing has been planned for the improvement of the health huts.

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Barbados-based Guyanese and his wife were on Monday morning terrorised by a group of armed young men seconds after exiting a taxi in front of their Festival City, North Ruimveldt home.

Ian Shanks and his wife of Lot 1955 Festival City, Greater Georgetown, was out for the evening and returned home about 03:00h.

According to information received, as the couple exited the taxi, three young men pounced on them and demanded that they hand over all their valuables. The young bandits proceeded to hold Shanks at gunpoint and relieved him of his jewellery, money and other valuables that he was carrying.

Subsequently, another three men joined the robbers, but they turned their attention to the man’s wife and demanded that she hand over the keys to the house.

The woman reportedly did as ordered. The couple were ordered into the house by the men who were armed with guns and a chopper. As they entered the home, a few

of the men held the couple at gunpoint while the others ransacked the house for money and jewellery which they found.

Traumatised

The bandits then dealt several blows to Shanks’ body as they left the home.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, the advertising executive explained that he returned from Barbados in October last and was in the process of setting up an office here in Guyana, but now he would have to rethink his position.

Shanks, who served in the Guyana Police Force in the 1980s, said he adhered to the demands of the group of young gunmen. “Whatever they said, I went along with it… after they held me up at gunpoint, one of them pat me down, and collected my wallet and my jewellery. These guys are no older than 25,” he stated.

Shanks further explained that his wife was heading up the stairs, but she was confronted by another set of men who asked for the keys to the

house. “The key was in my wife’s bag and these men so brazen they went into her bag, took out the keys and opened the door,” he recalled.

He noted that his wife was traumatised and was serious about moving back to Barbados. He said they were now trying to ascertain if the young men hailed from the village since he would have received information about two who he saw during the ordeal.

He stated that he attempted to talk one of the young men out of committing the robbery, but he threatened to shoot his wife. “These are young men who need guidance… it is a clear indication that they are young and we cooperated since with the times now, any one of them could have pulled the trigger,” he stated.

Shanks noted that he was extremely grateful that none of them cause further harm to him and his wife. The matter has been reported to the Police, but no arrest has been made, The investigation continues.

Brothers on bail for maliciously wounding each other

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wo brothers on Monday appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with unlawful and malicious wounding and damage of property.

Orin West pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on Tuesday, May 12, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded his brother Jason West with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him actual bodily harm. He was also charged with unlawfully and maliciously damaging a glass door valued $100,000; the property of Jason West.

Jason West also pleaded not guilty to a charge which

stated that on the day in question, he unlawfully and maliciously wounding his younger brother Orin with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him actual bodily harm. He also denied a charge which stated that on the said occasion, he damaged several articles belonging to Orin including a Jailing motorcycle, louver windows panes and a television set; a total value of $224,000.

The brothers had previously appeared before former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for the charges but they were dismissed after they came to an agreement about compensation and refused to offer evidence against each other.

During that previous appearance, the court heard that an argument between the two men erupted over the use of a toilet. The argument escalated to the point of a physical confrontation and a report was made to the Police. The then Chief Magistrate had released the men on their own recognisance and ordered them to attend counselling.

However, Jason West stated that subsequent to this, he compensated his brother who began demanding more than they settled for in a threatening manner, thus he wanted the matter to return to court.

Magistrate McLennan placed the men on $100,000 bail each and ordered them to return to court on September 9.

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News

Ramjattan says 'A' Division to Banks DIH rum making big impact be under CCTV surveillance in US market A F s Government moves to up crime fighting strategies to tackle the ongoing crime surge in Guyana, the A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) will be under surveillance as the Public Security Ministry seeks to implement Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara, all the way to Soesdyke.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told media operatives that a huge command centre will be established with access to CCTV footage all across the city and going up to Soesdyke. He explained that the centre will allow persons to press a button and pull up footage of that area of the road or at least a portion of it, depending on the distance of the cameras and their range.

Furthermore, the Minister stated that almost all of the streets in Georgetown will also have CCTV cameras so that the authorities can know and monitor the movements of people and vehicles. “It is going to be a hugely expensive thing but we have to find the money and we are going to find the money because crime

is very depressing, the crime rates are getting very high and so we have to manage it.

I think that kind of sophisticated, modernistic approach is to have a little eye over the entire city,” Ramjattan pointed out.

He went on to highlight that the A Division was selected for this project because 56 per cent of the country’s crime are committed there, hence he has directed his attention to this area.

Bringing back 911

On the other hand, Ramjattan outlined that the restoration of the 911 response system is also part of that Citizens Security Programme. He noted that this has to be collaborated on between the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) to have the service fully functional.

“I don’t see why the collaboration hasn’t moved forward but I intend to press for it,” he declared.

Moreover, the Public Security Minister underscored that he wants to have Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) more active in the Police stations and efficiently adopted by ranks.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

“Policemen must adopt a culture of accepting that this is the way to go and even if we have to provide civilian services to get help in the process of getting the communication as early as possible and to get the patrol teams to then respond to these calls, we are going to ensure that that happens,” he stated.

In this same vein, Ramjattan stated that while he wants to see more educated persons being recruited into the Police Force, such persons do not want to join the Force, yet they are the ones who are most critical of

the Police. “They don’t want to come, they don’t want their families to join but they would call on the Policemen ‘please come I’m under fire’ but they don’t want to go and make the sacrifice,” he said.

According to the Minister, persons claim the salaries of Police Officers are too low and he agreed this is so, pledging to have something done about it. However, he stated that all Guyanese must play a role in getting the country’s crimes reduced.

“We sometimes out there know of the people who do the crime but they don’t want to give information and so all of that helps the rotten nature of our crime situation,” the Minister added.

During the 2015 Budget presentation last week, Finance Minister Winston Jordan outlined that Government will commence the implementation of several activities to support the security sector under the Citizens Security Programme, listing the command centre for the CCTV feeds as one.

To this effect, a total of $21 billion was budgeted for the sector to strengthen and improve the national security services. Of that amount, $11.9 billion will go towards supporting the operations of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), while the remaining $9.1 billion has been budgeted for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

According to Minister Jordan, these allocations will be used to improve the physical infrastructure, upgrade the security fleet, acquire tools and equipment, and upgrade the security features of the machine readable passports.

ollowing the launch of its Xtra Mature (XM) five-year-old rum in New York, Banks DIH Limited is upbeat about the potential of the company’s other prize-winning rums being positioned for a major takeoff in the North American nation.

Banks DIH Limited Marketing Director George McDonald, in a press release, stated that the company has had positive results from initial sales of the XM rum, the VXO seven-year-old rum, special 12-year rum and the supreme 15-year-old rum following the launch just over a month ago in Richmond Hill, Queens.

The XM brand is currently being distributed by a leading US wine and spirit distributor Royal Wine, whose management expressed great confidence in the brand making a big impact on the US market.

The spirit is now readily available for sale in liquor stores, supermarkets and distribution outlets to thousands of XM rum consumers in the United States.

Royal Wine Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mordy Herzog disclosed that customers are ready for XM rum in the US and this was the case even before the launch of the spirit.

According to the release, Herzog said his company had received many requests from persons who were excited about the liquor’s entrance to the marketplace.

Banks DIH Limited was recently allowed to distribute its products in the US

Banks DIH Limited Marketing Director George McDonald

following litigation for a competitor’s lawsuit that argued against the use of the word “Demerara” in the brand-name of the drink.

Fortunately, the matter has since been resolved and the brand-name for the XM rum is now “The finest Caribbean rum”.

With the local product generating such huge success abroad, the company noted with pleasure that Guyanese living in the Diaspora and rum connoisseurs can now enjoy the tradition of fine quality rum from Guyana with over 160 years of experience behind it.

XM Rum is sold across the Caribbean as well as Italy, Spain, Denmark, France and the United Kingdom, while plans are afoot for its entry into the Canadian market.

tuesday, august 18, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

News

Addressing suicide in Guyana

The Caribbean Voice to host National Suicide Prevention Conference

G

uyana’s suicide epidemic has evolved into a disquieting concern in the country, affecting almost every single person regardless of age, religion or ethnic composition.

Often, articles are reported about various groups conducting various sessions on suicide, in a commendable effort to combat the problem, but, arguably, the effect it leaves does little to reduce the high rates currently facing this country.

In an attempt to combine all these efforts to leave a more lasting impact, The

Caribbean Voice (TCV), a prominent Non-Government Organisation (NGO) that has been making headway in tackling this scourge, will be hosting a National Suicide Prevention Conference to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas to help decrease the country’s suicide rate.

This major forum will be held at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Friday and will see special attendees, including US Chargé ?affaires Bryan Hunt and Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence addressing the issue of suicide in Guyana.

Essequibo and Berbice, the two counties in Guyana where the suicide rates are soaring, will have representatives speaking on their behalf as it relates to the culture behind suicide in the

respective counties.

In Guyana, most suicides are committed via the ingestion of a poisonous substance (usually agricultural-based substances like pesticides or herbicides). Given that Essequibo and Berbice are typically agricultural areas, these poisonous substances are readily accessible, making it easier for individuals with suicidal thoughts to follow through with the act.

Records also show that most suicide cases are as a result of an abusive and dysfunctional relationship, owing to the fact that many in-

dividuals lack the ability to deal/cope with problems.

“This generally gives rise to awful agony and depression and feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, powerlessness and loneliness,” TCV Vice President Bibi Ahamad said, noting that a lack of coping skills can lead to one’s desire to give up on life.

Guyana is ranked first in suicides per capita worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2014 report, Guyana suffers 44.2 suicides per 100,000 persons per year. In effect, there are about 333 suicides per year in a population of about three quarters of a million persons. It is also estimated that at least 25 per cent of suicides go unreported. This would mean that there are at least 425 sui-

cides per year in Guyana.

However, empirical evidence reveals that unreported suicides are higher than 25 per cent, thus actual suicides could well be higher than 425 annually.

Other social ills

According to the TCV, Guyana also has the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the Caribbean with an estimated 97 teenage girls between the ages of 15-19 out of 1000 becoming pregnant each year.

It also noted that the average Guyanese drinker

consumes 13.7 liters of pure alcohol each year with 6.1 per cent of the population considered heavy drinkers based on 2010 figures.

With respect to domestic violence, TCV said of some 60 per cent of women who were involved in relationships, 27.7 per cent underwent physical abuse, 26.3 per cent had experienced verbal abuse and 12.7 per cent experienced sexual violence.

TCV recognises that suicide is interrelated to a whole host of social issues such as drugs and alcohol, sexual crimes and any form of abuse.

As such, the conference will be broken down into four plenary sessions to deal with each specific area. turn to page 12

Miner chopped to death in North West District

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miner was on Sunday afternoon chopped about his body by two men during an argument at Nasano Backdam, North West District (NWD) taking the murder toll to 98 for the year thus far.

The dead man has been identified only as “Andrew” of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

According to information received, the now dead and the two suspects were involved in an argument which quickly turned into an altercation resulting in the men chopping him about the body.

“Andrew” reportedly fell to the ground and started to bleed profusely. He was picked up and rushed to the Port Kaituma Health Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The two

11

suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.

The mining areas have been particularly crimeprone.

In the later part of July, Rishaba Dusrajh, 28, of Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was found dead in an abandoned mining pit in Oku Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven submerged in water with chop wounds to the throat and face with his legs tied to an iron wheel.

It was reported that the now dead man was reported missing a few days prior to the discovery following an altercation with his colleague during a drinking spree at a popular bar in the area. During the altercation, he was reportedly chopped

to the face by the suspect.

After receiving the first blow to his face, the injured man was taken to the mining camp, but the suspect reportedly went there to put an end to the issue once and for all. The suspect, who was arrested in Bartica while boarding a speedboat, reportedly confessed to the murder claiming that after he went into the camp and saw the injured man lying on the bed, he collected a cutlass and dealt him several more blows.

When he was convinced that the man was dead, in a drunken state, he reportedly tied Dusrajh’s legs to a heavy iron wheel and threw him into the mining pit in hope that the body would have sunk and never resurface.

Teenager missing since Saturday – mother pleading for her safe return

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devastated Michelle Bumburry is pleading for the safe return of her 15-year-old daughter who went missing on Saturday.

The missing teenage has been identified as Akela Baptiste of Sheriff Street, Georgetown, and a student of Charlestown Secondary. According to Bumburry, her daughter left her grandmother’s East Coast Demerara (ECD) home around 17:00h to attend a party at Front Road, La Penitence, on Saturday but never returned home.

The distraught woman told Guyana Times that she last saw her daughter on Friday around 13:00h while she was leaving to go to her grandmother’s house in Haslington, ECD, and while there she sought permission to attend the party.

The mother related that the teen’s uncle permitted her to go to the party but around 20:00h, when he did not hear from her, he decided to try to make contact with her via her cellphone but he did not get on to her. Bumburry further related that her daughter returned the call sometime later and her uncle ordered her to return to her Sheriff Street home. The next day, the man called to enquire whether the young lady got home safely and that was when they learnt she was missing.

Missing teen, Akela Baptiste

Bumburry stated that she has contacted the teenager’s best friend and even a young man her daughter had expressed an interested in but neither have seen her since Saturday.

The woman said that the young man, whom she does not know, said he last saw Akela on Friday.

According to the worried mother, this is the first time the teenager has left home without informing anyone of her whereabouts. She noted that some months ago, Baptiste had left home and went to her aunt’s but had informed her siblings where she was going.

The mother explained

that Baptiste had expressed an interest in a boy sometime ago but told her not to follow that path, advising her to wait until she was 18 years old to entertain relationships.

However, the teenager refused to return home and the mother had to seek the intervention of the Welfare Department.

“She came back home after and she was fine, I had no problems with her.

Everything was back to normal since then. I don’t know why she would do something like this now,” the woman cried. She recalled that a few days before leaving for her grandmother’s house, the teenager had asked about attending the party and Bumburry told her that she needed to know where and who was keeping the party.

This, Bumburry said, is something she had adopted in dealing with her children. However, the mother explained that the teenager never brought the topic back up and was not aware that she would have sought permission from her uncle to attend the party.

Bumburry is calling on anyone with information about the whereabouts of 15-year-old Akela Baptiste to contact her on telephone number 662-8944 or the nearest Police station. She is also pleading with the teenager to return home as soon as possible.

12 news

tuesday, august 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Aspiring Cardiologist is CSEC’s No 2 Administrative ... says procrastination and time-wasting not options when in exam class regions to get V own flags amanadev Hiralall who is the second best performing student at the recently released Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examination visited Guyana Times on Monday for an exclusive interview.

The young man, who spent the first seven years of his life in the United States of America, returned to Guyana and began his journey to success at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) school. The school excelled this year after securing three of the top 10 spots for the examination and this included Victoria Najab (first in Guyana) and Mohanie Sudama (tenth).

Hiralall said his experience at the SVN was “unlike no other” and the standard of education was acknowledged last week when the CSEC results were released.

Hiralall also mentioned that at the SVN school, there are two main areas that are prioritised by the Swami and they are “the value of education and discipline”.

The 16-year-old aspiring Cardiologist said that he was always a high achiever and when the results were released, he was relieved that his hard work had paid off. “The amount of work that was put into this cannot be described so easily,” the young man said. He said he studied late at nights, attending extra lessons and sacrificed many important events so that he could stay at home and study.

He said although recreation is important, he advises the younger students to limit recreation and study more. The next piece of advice given by the young man was to manage time effectively, especially after school when you have extra lessons to attend, homework and assignments to complete and still have to find time to study.

Procrastination and time-wasting should never be options for persons who are in the examination class.

Accompanying him was his proud father Devindra Hiralall who said that

The young Vamanadev Hiralall who achieved 19 Grade Ones and one Grade Two

his son’s accomplishment would have made the entire community and the religious organisation (that they are a part of) extremely proud. He said that his son would have sacrificed a lot, and as a result, his father would have made it his top priority to provide all of the educational tools that young Hiralall needed,

regardless if there was an opportunity cost attached.

He said that “my son would usually study in the living room and many nights I would sleep out there with him so that he would have company”.

In the cases where they would have experienced power outages, the father would be the one trying to set up a way for his son to study since he knew his son’s potential and he was willing to do everything he could to ensure his son was successful. The boy’s uncle Navin Persaud was also very elated about his accomplishments since he also understood how much was sacrificed.

As it relates to his next steps, the young man currently is looking for colleges to attend, especially those that offer scholarships since the field of medicine has always been an expensive one.

He is currently seeking a suitable way of financing his studying, and a scholarship from someone or a university would be the best option.

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy…

Venezuela to address controversy in Mercosur Parliament

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delegation of Venezuelan parliamentarians will be attending the 33rd Regular Meeting and Special Meeting of the Parliament of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) in Montevideo, Uruguay on Sunday where they will present a document concerning its claims against Guyana over the western Essequibo territory, in an effort to seek the full support of the regional body amid the decades-old border controversy.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge was not clear on whether Guyana would be participating in the upcoming meeting. According to Greenidge, “Our colleagues in Latin America claim we have been invited to a meeting in August, but didn’t see it fit to ask us whether we’d be available, whether the time would be convenient, whether we’d be interested and so forth.”

However, former diplomats have urged the Guyanese Government to attend this important meeting, with the aim of dealing with the recently flared controversy over the illegal claims to the Essequibo.

Venezuelan parliamentarian Saúl Ortega said the delegation will, at the Mercosur meeting, explain

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

how Guyana’s Government plans to “take over” Essequibo – disregarding Venezuela’s sovereignty.

He added that his country expects a unanimous resolution in support of Venezuela.

For generations, Venezuela has been claiming most of Guyana’s territory. The controversy surfaced again in May when US-oil giant ExxonMobil revealed it had found massive offshore oil and gas deposits.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree ratifying maritime sovereignty over waters within a 200-mile range, including the entire Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast, as well as part of Suriname’s maritime territory.

This decree sparked a na-

tionwide debate regarding the matter, with various regional bodies and nations calling for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Guyana already secured the support from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the United States of America (USA), and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, former diplomats have already pressed the Guyanese Government to address the matter at the upcoming Mercosur meeting.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rudolph “Rudy” Insanally had said that Latin American States that are part of the sub-regional bloc of Mercosur should take into consideration the fact that Guyana is now a fully fledged member of the grouping and that the decisions following consultations on the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy should be fair. There is already a widespread perception that the grouping will likely to lean in Venezuela’s favour. However, Insanally, who has been Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since 1987, said those countries should come to the understanding that Guyana is now a part of them and has been attending all of the meetings ever since joining the group

The Caribbean Voice to host...

The NGO also recognised that there are certain weaknesses which complicate the reduction of suicide. These include the lack of funding and training for programmes to be implemented nationwide, inadequate data collections, no consistent approach to data sharing, maintaining

current suicide policies, resistance to change, interplay of politics, family dynamics, no existing mental health programme, and only five psychologists in the Government health care system.

Other threats include the lack of empathetic communication, stigma and taboo

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

and that in spite of what language a country speaks, the group should always be fair.

Additionally, former Foreign Trade Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey pointed out that if Guyana does not attend the confab, then it could lose out on having a say on any decision that is made.

President David Granger, during a recently concluded Mercosur Summit in Brazil, called on the regional grouping to help his country in the defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Granger told leaders at the summit, which was held in Brasilia, that “Mercosur has the duty to be vigilant against this conflict and urged Mercosur leaders to guarantee the sovereignty of small states of the continent”.

from page 11

with regards to mental illness and suicide and suicide related issues, and the prevalence of myths and misinformation.

Meanwhile, some proposals to help curb the issue include free access to online training courses, cross training with University of

Guyana students in all aspect of human services, sensitising students through reports, artwork, projects or workshops, establishment of a crisis network with referral sites in each administrative region and a more collaborative approve between Public and Private Sectors.

… moves afoot to decentralise Government

I

n an effort to implement a decentralised governing system, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration will assign each administrative region across Guyana with its very own flag as a representation of independence.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, who was represented by Ministry official Artiha Henry, made this announcement at the National Toshaos Conference on Monday at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre.

Bulkan was unable to attend the conference due to the budget debates at Parliament.

According to the Minister, Central Government should not dictate what developmental plans are necessary for each region but rather, each region must tell Central Government where their developmental priorities lie. Thereafter, Central Government would provide the capacity and ability needed to achieve those goals.

“Central Government cannot dictate from Georgetown plans for the development of Region Nine… the needs of Region One cannot be solely determined by officers from Shiv Chanderpaul Drive,” it was explained.

The vision of the Ministry is to see each village and community being empowered to be self-sustainable and self-sufficient and capable of efficiently and effectively utilising its resources to develop its district.

“Each region, therefore, is expected to meaningfully participate to improve the lives of the residents and the same expectation of participation applies to villages and community development councils…The introduction of flags for each region is part and parcel of this new strategic vision,” the Minister’s speech indicated.

Consequently, each region will have its own emblem which embodies its unique identity. Region One’s (Barima-Waini) emblem is a turtle against a green and gold background.

The turtle represents the leatherback turtle found on Shell Beach and the colours represent the two main economic activities in the region: forestry and mining.

Region Two’s (PomeroonSupenaam) emblem is a rice stalk against a white and green background. The rice stalk represents the main economic produce of the region while the colours represent the many waterways and the farming activities respectively.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

Region Three’s (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) emblem is a ferry against a white, black and green background. The ferry represents the Ferry MV Sabanto and the colours represent the water resources, endurance of the people and the rich agricultural activities.

Region Four’s (Demerara-Mahaica) emblem is the Stabroek Market against a red and black background. The Stabroek Market is a representation of the region’s economic activity and the colours represent the zeal, strength and endurance of the people.

Region Five’s (MahaiceBerbice) emblem is a rice farmer planting rice. The colours are black and green which represents strength and agriculture.

Region Six’s (East Berbice-Corentyne) emblem is a rice stalk. The colours are red and green and it represents the zeal of the people and the rich agricultural heritage.

Region Seven’s (CuyuniMazaruni) emblem is a porkknocker and the colours are yellow, white and green.

They represent the mineral wealth, the water resources and the vast forest.

Region Eight’s (PotaroSiparuni) emblem is the Majestic Kaieteur Fall. The background colours are green, black and gold and they represent the abundant forest, the resilience of the people and the mineral resources.

Region Nine’s (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) emblem is the harpy eagle and the background colours are red, green and white.

They represent the zeal of the people, the forests and the waters.

Region 10’s (Upper Demerara-Berbice) emblem is bauxite against a gold and black background. This represents the regions mining activities. The gold represents mining while the black represents strength and the ability to overcome challenges.

news

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Tuesday, august 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Dr Jeffrey to Govt: Tread Oil closes near carefully after discrimination 6-year low below perceptions

By Kristen Macklingam

I

n light of the growing perception in the country that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration is displaying ‘acts of discrimination’, former Government Minister and Political Commentator, Dr Henry Jeffrey, has warned that this could prove to be a permanent stain on the coalition Government’s record.

Speaking with GuyanaTimes on Monday via telephone, Dr Jeffrey explained that the dismissal of former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), Bharat Dindyal, was “quite unfortunate”.

In fact, this situation has added to the widely spread perception of discrimination by the present Government and has caused other senior officials to become fearful of this type of treatment as well.

According to Dr Jeffrey, if someone was to ‘sack’ Dindyal, then it should have been the Board of Directors and since there is no Board

Political Commentator, Dr Henry Jeffrey

functioning currently at the power company, then it would have been left for the relevant Minister to do so.

However, before such a decision was made, it was necessary for the Minister to have dialogue with the CEO before acting.

“It is expected that the Minister must have discourse with him (Dindyal) since organisations have precise procedures that are expected to be followed…

Dindyal in any case was not treated properly as it was the duty of the Minister

to transmit personally to him but this was not done.

This entire public display that followed/is following is not doing any good for the Government,” Dr Jeffrey emphasised.

He stressed that this situation ‘comes on the back of discrimination allegations and perceptions.’

GuyanaTimes was told that in 1992 when the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had come into office, allegations of discrimination were thrown at them, especially in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically against AfroGuyanese. Years later, the PPP/C was continually being accused of discrimination as well.

“The discrimination accusations would not go away. The stain remains until this day. Hence the ANPU+AFC Administration need to be and should be very, very cautious about how they go about,” the former Government Minister said.

He also noted that in some cases, people who are obvious political tools are being ‘mixed up’ with being

professionals and this more often than not can lead to some level of problems within organisations or even in Government.

Reference was also made to the 1972 Amerindian community Support Officers (CSOs) who have been fired by the APNU+AFC coalition Government recently.

“These Amerindian CSOs have families and other financial obligations as well and should have been given time before being let go of immediately. Even if the Government should have re-deployed them in various areas because these people are some of the poorest living in the poorest areas. Regardless if some of them were supporters of the PPP/C or not, they would have grasped the opportunity of being employed and earning an income which they depend on,” Dr Jeffrey maintained.

As such, he said, these recent actions by the Administration, which has been in power for three months, are not ‘playing to a good advantage’ for the APNU/AFC.

Case brought against alleged minibus thief

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man accused of stealing a Pitbull minibus worth $4.7 million was asked to lead his defence on Monday when Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts found the prosecution had brought a successful case against him.

Yogeshwar Bisnauth, 55, of Campbellville, Georgetown will be leading a defence the next time he makes an appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman on August 20.

The accused was told of this ruling by Magistrate Latchman after she ruled that Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves had successfully made a prima facie case against the defendant, in-

Yogeshwar Bisnauth will fight to prove he is innocent of simple larceny on Friday

dicating that all the evidence proves that he is guilty. She then asked his

Attorney’s to prove that the evidence provided by the prosecution is not credible.

Bisnauth, who is a Mechanic by profession, is accused of stealing a minibus on April 3 at Alexander Village, Georgetown. Also, he allegedly stole a bottle of oil worth $7000, a box of brake pads worth $7500 and a filter valued $1400 – all the property of the Virtual Complainant (VC), fellow Mechanic Dominque Jackson.

At his first court appearance, his lawyer had produced a defence that Jackson had turned over the vehicle to Bisnauth to remove parts that he could not pay for. She told the

court that Bisnauth had serviced the VC’s minibus and the charges amounted to $700,000. The Attorney further alleged that the VC was unable to pay and after several promises were made by the VC, and they never materialised into payment, Jackson handed over the bus to Bisnauth, instructing him to remove the parts which he had placed in the vehicle.

The Prosecutor, on the other hand, had stated that the Bisnauth had orally admitted to the allegations that were put to him by the Police. Nevertheless, though the vehicle itself was recovered, the parts removed from the minibus were never found.

US$42 a barrel

A key price benchmark for oil (West Texas Intermediate) settled at its lowest level since 2009 on Monday as the global crude glut shows no sign of ending soon(Gerald Herbert/File/Associated Press)

O

il fell about one per cent on Monday, with US crude settling within range of a new 6-1/2-year low, after number three oil consumer Japan said its economy contracted in the second quarter and China’s slowdown continued to weigh on sentiment.

A stronger dollar, after a report that US industrial output grew at the fastest pace in eight months, also made greenback-denominated commodities, including crude, less affordable for holders of the euro and other currencies.

US light crude CLc1 settled down 63 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at US$41.87 a barrel. Monday’s intraday low of US$41.64 came within striking distance of Friday’s low of $41.35, the weakest front-month price since March 2009. Trading in expiring options for US crude dominated the action.

Brent LCOc1, the global crude benchmark, settled down 45 cents, or nearly one per cent, at US$48.74 a barrel. It earlier hit a session low of US$48.35, about US$3 above its six-year low of $45.19 set in January.

Japan’s economy shrank at an annualised pace of 1.6 per cent in the second quarter. China fixed its exchange rate slightly higher for the second day running, after a surprise devaluation last week sliced three per cent off the yuan.

“The general talk in the market is about the continued ripple effect from the Chinese devaluation,” said David Thompson at Washington-based energy-specialised commodities broker Powerhouse.

Oil has lost about a third of its value since June.

US crude itself has fallen for seven weeks in a row, after another rise last week in US oil rig additions that hinted at growing production.

Demand for US crude and Brent is likely to fall further in the next few weeks as US and European refineries start maintenance for autumn, traders said.

Some say the slowdown in refining raises the spectre of oil supplies reaching capacity over the next few months at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery point for US crude and elsewhere on the US Gulf Coast.

“I really don’t see the Cushing or Gulf Coast storage tank-topping scenario in 2015 but more of a possibility in first-quarter 2016,” said Scott Shelton, commodities specialist at ICAP in Durham, North Carolina.

Money managers and hedge funds have cut their combined net long positions in US crude to 2010 lows and in Brent to December 2014 lows, on an apparent building consensus that oil prices will likely remain low for a while, data shows.

(Reuters)

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, august 18, 2015

News

Suicide, mental health, primary Man killed, baby healthcare – main focuses of 2015 shot in head in TT health budget, says Dr Cummings G

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

J

unior Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings, during her budget debate speech on Monday stated that the 2015 National Budget proffers a ‘fresh approach’ for a healthy life for all Guyanese, with the aim of having a ‘green economy’ irrespective of their political affiliation.

However, seconds after this statement, members of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) shouted out “Bharat Dindyal” who was functioning as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) until the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government relieved him of his duties quite recently. His dismissal, which was reportedly executed in an ‘unacceptable’ manner

by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, has raised many concerns among citizens, as the perception of discrimination by this Government continues to spread nationwide.

Ignoring the Opposition, as she continued her speech, Dr Cummings explained that her Government inherited a ‘plethora of problems’ from the former Administration, with regards to the health system in Guyana.

She quoted a recent report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) which was published in the Trinidad Guardian newspaper which stated that Guyana has the highest suicide rate in the world.

Dr Cummings posited that the APNU/AFC Government intends to frontally approach the scourge of suicide in Guyana, as well as implement and exe-

cute targeted programmes, aimed at significantly reducing the suicide rate and eradicating the scorge.

“The 2015 Budget matches the priorities of the nation and in particular the health sector. It paves the way for a safe, cost-effective and comprehensive health care… some priorities include increasing education on how to prevent mental illness and suicide wherever

es and regional communities to take appropriate action…

We will help develop strategies to intervene early when problems first emerge,” the Junior Health Minister affirmed.

She further said that work will be done on upgrading waiting homes in Lethem and Bartica, which are soon to be made official ‘Towns’ and that the budget caters for $131 million for

Junior Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings

possible and eliminate stigma,” she said.

It was further stated that according to the Commonwealth Health online, the most common mental illness in Guyana is schizophrenia, adding that much work is needed to treat all types of mental illness.

“Within the Ministry of Public Health, there is a draft strategic plan (dated 2014) for tackling mental illness… we are reviewing this plan carefully. The Public Health Ministry will manage suicide and mental health by addressing known risks and protective factors that set clear objectives that are sustainable over the long run and support villag-

the Maternity Unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Fifty beds are expected to be added to this Unit, as well as the purchasing of stateof-the-art equipment for the maternity and child care sections of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to Minister Cummings, primary healthcare will remain the fundamental strategic approach to realising the health agenda and the ‘over-arching’ approach to healthcare provision in Guyana.

“They would be evidence based and decision-making to ensure that there will be value for money. The Government will modernise all regional health centres and hospitals,” she added.

Heath budget vs Vision 2020

Meanwhile, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, Member of Parliament for the Opposition, commended the Junior Health Minister on the plans for improvement her Government would be undertaking, stating that “nearly everything said fell under the Vision 2020.”

The Vision 2020 for health was a PPP/C Government initiative.

“The budget should have been better given the state of the country in 2014 going to 2015… Let us build Guyana and we will not do this by destroying what’s working and getting rid of the experienced and qualified personnel just because the PPP employed them,” Dr Mahadeo emphasised.

He argued that while this Government is maintaining that much focus will be placed on the health sector in Guyana, it is the said Government which has prevented the construction of health centres at Mara, located in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Providence, East Bank Demerara; the half way home for psychiatric patients and the doctors quarters in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

“We have come a far way from days when just a couple of medications were available at Government pharmacies; we used to recycle things such as needles, gloves, syringes. While we have not reached and have a far way to go, we can only achieve improvement by building on what we have, utilising resources and experiences available.

We need to put the country and health of the nation above parties and politics,” Dr Mahadeo noted.

unmen opened fire on a vehicle in Enterprise Chaguanas on Saturday night killing one man and wounding a two-year-old baby boy. Inside the vehicle were two-year-old Jahiem Lord, his one-year-old sister Selena, their father Kevin Taitt Lord and a family friend Ebu John, said to be from Edinburgh 500, Toco and Couva.

John, 29, a father of one, died on the spot from gunshot wounds while Jahiem, who sustained gunshot wounds to his head, remains warded in critical condition at the Mt Hope Children’s Hospital.

Selena escaped unhurt after being pulled out of the vehicle and shielded by her father in the midst of the gunfire. When the smoke cleared, little Jahiem was found on the floor of the car bleeding from gunshot wounds to his head.

According to Police reports, at about 22:00h, Lord, the driver of a Black Honda CRV vehicle, was proceeding south along Bhagallo Trace,

C

Workers stand next to a water tank used to supply water to residents in Havana in this April 13, 2011 (file photo)

es.”

The Government has not provided a national breakdown of drought damage

but it said on Monday that emergency measures were being taken at all levels, including stricter rationing of

water through the state-run waterworks.

Communist-run Cuba loses around 50 per cent of the water pumped from its reservoirs due to leaks.

There is little irrigation of farm land and the systems that exist are outdated and inefficient.

Drought conditions across the Caribbean, caused by the phenomenon known as El Nino, have left reservoirs at 37 per cent of capacity.

Cuban authorities appear increasingly alarmed by the situation, which could lead to wider rationing in major cities and hard choices on where water should be allocated with winter planting, the tourism season and sugar milling all beginning in November. (Excerpt from Reuters)

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Barbados beats Germany to win bid to host leading yachting event

That event will feature races among a class of heavier dinghies, as seen in the Summer Olympic Games and it is expected it will attract as many as 200 boats and 500 sailors

Cuba on edge as drought worsens B

uba put its civil defence system on alert on Monday due to a year-long drought that is forecast to worsen in the coming months and has already damaged agriculture and left more than a million people relying on trucked-in water.

From Cuba’s famous cigars to sugar, vegetables, rice, coffee and beans, the drought is damaging crops.

It has slowed planting and left one in 10 residents waiting for Government tank trucks to survive in record summer heat.

The country’s civil defence system said the drought, record heat and water leakage have led to “low levels of available water for the population, agriculture, industry and servic-

Enterprise when the incident occurred. Jahiem and Selena were back seat passengers in the vehicle while his friend John was a front seat passenger. Police said a group of men standing along the street, began shooting at the vehicle carrying the occupants.

Lord lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall along the roadway.

When the vehicle crashed, the men continued shooting. “My children were crying and the men still continued shooting. All I could do was stretch my arms to the back seat and grab them, but my hands were only able to reach for Selena. I did not get Jahiem’s arms,” Lord said.

He added that he knew if he stayed in the car any longer, he and his two children would have been killed instantly. “Bullets just kept coming. I put Selena under my arms and ran out the car. I did not want to leave Jahiem but it was too much.

The gunshots kept coming,” a tearful Lord told Newsday.

arbados has beat out Germany for the bid to host one of the world’s leading yachting events in 2017.

And with the OK Class Worlds set to attract 100 of the world’s best sailors to compete against each other in Carlisle Bay, on the outskirts of the capital, tourism officials are anticipating a big boost in visitor arrivals.

These sailors are known to travel with their families and friends, a trend the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) said would be of direct benefit to local accommodation, restaurants, car rental companies and other industry players.

BTMI Chief Executive Officer William Griffith attributed the win to the critical support of partners who helped make hosting the event in Barbados an irre-

sistible proposition.

“Through the invaluable support of Geest Shipping, which continues to be a loyal partner in getting the boats here, as well as Mount Gay Distilleries and the Barbados Port Inc, Barbados is once again in the limelight as a premier yacht-friendly destination,” he said.

“We will continue to build on our strong reputation as a preferred host country on the international yachting circuit, having already hosted the Fireball Barbados Worlds in 2010, which was followed by our most successful event to date, the 505 International Barbados Worlds in 2013.”

For the first time, Barbados will host two international yachting competitions in one year, as the island will also be the location for the popular Finn Masters Worlds. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

tuesday, august 18, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Bomb in Thai capital UAE allocates land for Abu kills 16, wounds 81 in Dhabi’s first Hindu temple bid ‘to destroy economy’ T

Two people from China and one from the Philippines were among the dead, a tourist Police Officer said. A rescue agency said 81 people were wounded and media said most of them were from China and Taiwan

A

bomb planted at one of the Thai capital’s most renowned shrines on Monday killed 16 people, including three foreign tourists, and wounded scores in an attack the Government called a bid to destroy the economy.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast at the Erawan shrine at a major city-centre intersection. Thai forces are fighting a low-level Muslim insurgency in the predominantly Buddhist country’s south, but those rebels have

rarely launched attacks outside their heartland.

“The perpetrators intended to destroy the economy and tourism, because the incident occurred in the heart of the tourism district,” Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told Reuters.

Several media outlets had earlier reported that 27 people were killed but National Police Chief Somyot Poompanmuang told reporters the death toll was 16 in an attack he said was unprecedented in Thailand.

“It was a pipe bomb,” Somyot said. “It was placed inside the Erawan shrine.”

The shrine, on a busy corner near top hotels, shopping centres, offices and a hospital, is a major attraction, especially for visitors from East Asia, including China. Many ordinary Thais also worship there.

The Government would set up a “war room” to coordinate the response to the blast, the Nation television channel quoted Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha as saying. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Civilians, soldiers die in East Ukraine fighting as Putin visits Crimea

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ighting flared between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels in separate parts of eastern Ukraine overnight, killing at least two Ukrainian soldiers and several civilians, Kiev’s military and separatist sources said on Monday.

The clashes, near the port of Mariupol in the South-East and at rebel-held Horlivka, further frayed an increasingly tenuous ceasefire as Ukraine prepared to mark its Independence Day next week.

Kiev accused the sepa-

ratists of shelling civilians on the outskirts of Mariupol.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Kiev for the violence, giving no detail but saying he suspected Ukraine was preparing a new offensive.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko meanwhile accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to whip up tensions in eastern Ukraine by visiting Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine last year. The Kremlin said the aim of Putin’s three-day trip was to hold meetings on

ways to develop the Black Sea peninsula and promote tourism there.

“I am sure, that despite all the current difficulties, the situation in Ukraine will improve and Ukraine will develop positively,” Putin said. But the escalation in fighting has drawn expressions of concern from Western Governments, which regard the ceasefire and tentative peace agreement worked out in Minsk, Belarus, in February as still the best chance of ending the rebellion in eastern Ukraine. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Sri Lanka goes to polls as former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa plans comeback

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ri Lanka began voting on Monday in a general election in which the former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is hoping to pull off a shock comeback, this time as Prime Minister, months after being toppled as President.

Rajapaksa is confident of returning to power after drawing huge crowds on the election trail, despite the 69-year-old and his closest relatives facing corruption allegations.

“This election is about whether you want Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister or not,” his Spokesman, Rohan Valivita, told AFP. “He is 100 per cent confident of victory” at the poll for the national Parliament.

His successor as President, Maithripala Sirisena, has vowed to thwart his one-time mentor’s ambitions to become Prime Minister. But even Rajapaksa’s oppo-

nents agree the election has turned into a referendum on the charismatic leader who ruled Sri Lanka for nearly a decade until his surprise defeat at a presidential poll in January.

Early voters in central Colombo said they were casting their ballots for reconciliation and good governance, showing sympathy for the United National party of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. (Excerpt from The

Guardian)

he Indian Government has lauded a decision by the United Arab Emirates to allocate land for the building of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.

Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, currently on a two-day trip to the UAE, said in a tweet on Sunday, that he was thankful to the UAE Government, describing the move, “a great step”.

There are currently two Hindu temples and one Sikh gurudwara in Dubai, but none in Abu Dhabi. On Sunday, Modi became the first Indian premier to visit the country in 34 years, meeting with Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The trip is seen an important step in burgeoning trade relations between India and the UAE, and the decision to allocate land for a temple in Abu Dhabi un-

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) shakes hand with United Arab Emirates Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum during his visit in Dubai, August 17

derpins the strategic vision of the two nations.

The UAE, a federation of seven emirates, is home to about 2.6 million Indian expatriates who comprise a third of the total population and outnumber the local Emirati population. Annual Indian remittances from

the UAE are estimated at US$14 billion.

India is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner and the UAE is India’s third largest trading partner behind the US and China.

Trade between the two reached US$60 billion last year. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

South Sudan President fails to sign proposed peace deal with rebels

S

outh Sudan President Salva Kiir failed to sign a peace deal proposed by regional leaders on Monday, saying he required more time, the mediator of the crisis said.

Seyoum Mesfin, the Mediator for the regional group IGAD, said Kiir’s side required two weeks before signing the peace deal that was accepted by the South Sudanese rebels.

“In the next 15 days, the Government will come back

to Addis Ababa to finalise the peace agreement,” Seyoum said. Numerous rounds of negotiations have failed to end hostilities that have killed over 10,000 people and displaced more than two million, with both sides engaged in a war of attrition despite signing ceasefire deals.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, descended into chaos in December 2013 when a political row be-

tween Kiir and his Deputy Riek Machar spiralled into armed conflict that reopened ethnic fault lines.

Last month, IGAD – the East African bloc mediating the talks – gave both sides what it called a compromise pact on power-sharing and other contentious issues, proposing a three-year interim period as a solution to the conflict while setting August 17 as the deadline to end the drawn-out talks.

(France24)

Oscar Pistorius prosecutors push for murder charge

P

rosecutors in South Africa have filed papers calling for Oscar Pistorius to be convicted of murder, days before he is due to be released on probation.

Pistorius has spent 10 months in jail for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, after his conviction for manslaughter last year. The Olympic athlete insists he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.

State Prosecutors want his conviction to be reviewed and converted to murder, with a minimum sentence of 15 years. Pistorius was jailed for five years in 2014 for the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp, a charge equivalent to manslaughter.

Under South African law, Pistorius is eligible for release under “correctional supervision”, having served a sixth of his sentence.

The trial of the Olympic athlete drew worldwide media attention

After being freed, he would serve the rest of his term under house arrest.

During sentencing, Judge Thokozile Masipa said the state had failed to prove Pistorius’ intent to kill when he fired. His defence team now has a month to file its response. Steenkamp’s parents have said that the time he has served is “not

enough for taking a life”.

The double amputee shot and killed Ms Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door at his Pretoria home, believing she was an intruder, he told his trial.

In March a Johannesburg court blocked his legal team’s attempts to stop the prosecutors’ appeal. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 NEWS

tuesday, august 18, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Scenes from the 2015 Budget debates

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo sharing a moment with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo ahead of the start of Monday's proceedings

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo taking the oath of office

Minister odf State Joseph Harmon and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo in dialogue during Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly

PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira turns up to Parliament with several new MPs

Comforting Cathy! PPP/C MP Priya Manickchand expresses condolences to Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes on the passing of her mother-in-law

Ready for Business! New PPP/C MPs (Yvonne Pearson and Colin Croal) on their way to the parliamentary chambers

Watch this! Finance Minister Winston Jordan proudly holds up a copy of his budget speech during the debates on Monday

Ready to rumble! Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee, and Chief Whip Gail Teixeira preparing for the sitting

Upset – Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge heckles as Irfaan Ali delivers his speech

17

news

tuesday, august 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

New National Toshaos' Council Chairman elected – confusion, chaos mar opening day

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here was much organisational chaos when new Executive Members of the National Toshaos' Council were elected on Monday at the Introduction and Orientation Ceremony of the meeting at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Georgetown, much to the displeasure of several Toshaos.

More than 200 Toshaos from Amerindian villages all across Guyana were present at the event.

The meeting held under the theme, “Steadfast Indigenous Leadership towards Territorial Integrity and Sustainable Livelihood”, is scheduled to conclude on August 22.

The first part of the election process entailed that all Toshaos present elect a Toshao from their respective regions to be on the NTC. The second part saw the newly-elected Council members then selecting a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer from among themselves.

The election, conducted by members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), produced results that named former Vice Chairman of the Council, Joel Fredericks, as Chairman after he received 10 of the 19 votes cast. Eyon Boyal was the only nominee for the position of Secretary and Nicholas Fredericks was elected Treasurer.

A section of the Toshaos present at the NTC meeting

Region One (BarimaWaini) will be represented by Cleveland DeSouza, Vincent Emmanuel and Michael Williams; Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) – Joel Fredericks and David Wilson; Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) – Aubrey Samuels; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – Lennox Shuman; Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – Colin Adrian; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) – David Henry; Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) – Norma Thomas, Darnis Larson and Eyon Boyer; Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) – Ian Pio, Gideon John and Edward McGarrel; Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) – Lenny Moses, Nicholas Fredericks and

James George; and Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) – Wilbert Hall and Telford King.

Throughout the day, several Toshaos expressed displeasure with the planning and short notice of the event. Outgoing Chairman Derrick John, in his presentation of the NTC report, shared that he had only been given notice about the event and report preparations about three days ago and had only managed to complete his report several minutes before he was to present it.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the fact that the NTC’s report was not given before the election process began. During the first half of the election process, several Toshaos interrupted the process to

ask for time to get to know the different members eligible for election to represent their region. A few stated that this move was very unprofessional and many were stumped because of improper planning.

Self-governance Minister within the Communities Ministry, Dawn Hastings-Williams, in her charge to the new Council members, urged them to ensure that good governance prevailed in each indigenous village.

She added that she hopes that the newly elected NTC will be able to provide strategic plans so that Guyanese in hinterland villages can have access to appropriate and adequate health facilities and proper

education.

The Minister mentioned that the Amerindian Act spells out the functions of the Council, namely, to promote good governance in villages, to prepare strategies and plans for the reduction and elimination of poverty, and enhance access to health care and quality education in villages. She stated that the Council must be able to fulfil its mandate as an independent body that will provide adequate advice to the Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

She also urged the Toshaos to listen to the Village Councils that are present in each Amerindian community so that together they can work towards having sustainable and empowered Amerindian communities.

Also present at the NTC meeting was Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, who congratulated the leaders on behalf of President David Granger for attending the very important engagement, which Guyana’s Constitution and the Amerindian Act dictate must be held. Trotman also expressed congratulations to the 20 persons who were recently elected as Executive Members of the Council.

The Minister told the Toshaos that the Government had no intentions of interfering in the day-to-day functions of

Newly-elected Chairman of the National Toshaos' Council, Joel Fredericks

Amerindian villages. He said, “I have heard all manner of things said against Toshaos and I have no doubt that you have heard all manner of things said about the new Government.

All I would ask is for you to give us an opportunity to get to know each other better and to win your trust.”

Trotman, in his address, told the Toshaos to not fail to admonish the Government whenever it was at fault.

He added that the time has come for this country to be put on a path that was structured and disciplined and based on rules and laws. He stated that the indigenous people of Guyana were “not to be made footballs to be kicked from party to party, or tugged as if you were somebody’s property. You are citizens of Guyana. You are citizens of the world. You are entitled to respect and the right to choose to yourself.”

Several injured as minibus topples Montrose granny murder suspect's on Aubrey Barker Road alibi verified by investigators

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The aftermath of the accident

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Route 41 South Ruimveldt–Stabroek minibus got into an accident on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown on Monday just around 14:30h. According to eyewitnesses, the accident

occurred as a result of a wheel “blow out” caused by a few minor glitches.

When the wheel “popped”, the bus toppled a few times before coming to a halt in a nearby drain, this publication was made to understand.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, nearby residents said that no one was seriously hurt.

However, according to reports, a few passengers went to the Georgetown Public Hospital to get medical check-ups.

fter days of being interrogated by members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with the savage murder of 77-yearold Carmen Ganesh of Montrose, the suspect was released after investigators verified his alibi.

This was according to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud who also told media operatives on Friday that the Police were hunting for another person. He stated that investigations were continuing into the murder and he was hoping the Police got a breakthrough as soon as possible.

The image that was taken from the Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) footage is still being used by investigators as they go after the real culprit.

The body of Ganesh, of Lot 121 Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was

found in a pool of blood with a gash to her head and a cloth tied around her neck on Saturday, August 1. A knife was found close to the elderly woman’s body.

Information reaching this newspaper revealed that Ganesh’s daughters did not see her for the entire Saturday morning, which was unusual; hence, they went to the house and called out to her. However, their calls went unanswered and the gates were locked, so they could not get into the yard.

The daughters’ suspicions were roused, so a grandson of the now dead woman was summoned who scaled the fence. As he entered the yard, he saw his grandmother lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen and immediately raised an alarm. The Police were summoned and launched an investigation into the grue-

some murder.

The grandson explained that his grandmother worked with the owners of the house for quite some time and when they left the country, they entrusted the house to her.

He added that the perpetrators probably thought that there was money on the property since the yard housed several vehicles, a speedboat and an outboard engine.

The CCTV footage that was obtained from the premises showed the perpetrator spending almost an hour in the house after attacking the elderly woman upon his entry into the house.

Investigators had issued a screenshot image of the suspected killer, seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating him. The following day around 11:30h, Police arrested a suspect at a house in Georgetown.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, August 18, 2015

ARCHIE

Be assertive, not aggressive, if you want to avoid con(March 21April 19) flict. You can make your point heard if you remain cool and present your arguments in a practical and controlled manner.

ARIES

Making the final touchTAURUS es on unfinished projects will (April 20- free you to start something May 20) new. You will be able to get a lot accomplished if you avoid distractions and work alone.

dilbert

Love is in the air. Positive GEMINI (May 21- advancement is quite possiJune 20) ble, so stop second-guessing your every move. Staying in the background while hoping for something to happen will not bring you good results.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

You won’t get far if you try to force others to do things your way. Do as much as you can on your own in order to come out ahead.

A romantic relationship LEO looks promising. Don’t think (July 23you can coast along professionAug. 22) ally without putting in extra effort. Involvement in social or business events will provide you with future prospects.

Calvin and Hobbes

It’s fine to be cautious, but VIRGO spending too much time la(Aug. 23boring over a new proposal is Sept. 22) likely to lead to regret. When the deal is right, act quickly or you will lose out.

Self-improvement projects LIBRA (Sept. 23- will lead to unexpected compliOct. 23) ments and offers. You will have a few options and will need to trust your intuition to guide you down the right path. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

SUDOKU

Your plans will be put on SCORPIO hold, as unfolding events will (Oct. 24Nov. 22) require your attention. You will come out on top if you roll with the punches and don’t overreact.

You can’t do everything SAGITTARIUS yourself, so don’t be afraid to (Nov. 23ask for help if you need it. No Dec. 21) matter what you are working on, others will gladly pitch in.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Conditions around you CAPRICORN will be uncertain and unset(Dec. 22tling.

Stay out of the line of Jan. 19) fire and work on your own projects at your own pace.

Love and romance are highlighted.

AQUARIUS

It would be best to make (Jan. 20- the first move. Traveling for Feb. 19) business will be to your advantage. You will make a stronger impression if you meet face-to-face.

Don’t let self-doubt limPISCES (Feb. 20- it what you can accomplish.

March 20) Others trust in your abilities, and getting ahead financially will be possible if you take on added responsibilities without complaint.

tuesday, august 18, 2015

London 2012 1500m winner Asli Cakir Alptekin stripped of gold

Asli Cakir Alptekin

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ondon 2012 Olympic 1500m champion Asli Cakir Alptekin has been stripped of her gold medal for doping.

The Turkish athlete has also been banned for eight years, the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed.

An appeal by world governing body the IAAF was upheld after the 29-year-old was cleared in Turkey.

Straight after the race, Britain’s Lisa Dobriskey, who finished ninth, told BBC Radio 5 live: “I don’t believe I’m competing on a level playing field.”

Alptekin served a twoyear ban after a positive test as a junior in 2004.

Her competitive results obtained since July 2010 have been disqualified after abnormal values were found in blood samples.

The case comes amid a series of allegations of doping in athletics made by the Sunday Times and a German broadcaster.

Last week the IAAF said it was suspending 28 athletes as a result of suspicious findings in doping tests. (BBC Sport)

19

Day wins US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits A

ustralian Jason Day won his first major title with a record score of 20 under par at the US PGA Championship.

Day, 27, shot a closing 67 at Whistling Straits on Sunday to record the lowest total at one of golf’s four majors.

The world number five saw off a chasing pack that included Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth, who finished three shots back in second place.

That was enough to ensure the American, 22, replaces Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, 26, as world number one.

South African Branden Grace was third on 15 under and Justin Rose of England finished fourth on 14 under after his challenge faded with a double bogey on the 13th.

McIlroy closed with a 69 to end his first tournament back from an ankle injury at nine under par.

From nearly man to major champion Day had previously recorded nine top-10 finishes in the majors, six of them in the top four, but held his nerve superbly to finally get his hands on one of golf’s leading trophies.

His final score of 20 under par broke Tiger Woods’s major record of 19 under at the

Day becomes the fifth Australian to win the US PGA title

2000 Open Championship.

The Queenslander began the final day with a twostroke lead and made four birdies before the first blip came at the eighth hole.

Despite the ominous presence of Spieth alongside him in the final group, Day recovered from a desperate mishit on the ninth to pick up further birdies on the 11th and 14th.

He then responded immediately to a dropped shot at 15 with his seventh birdie of the day, and played the treacherous closing two holes superbly.

“I didn’t expect I was going to cry,” said Day. “A lot of emotion has come out just because I’ve been close so many times and fallen short.

“To be able to play the way I did today in tough conditions with Jordan in the

group - he was the favourite - to be able to play the way I did was amazing.

“Overall I’m just really pleased with how I played.

I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Spieth second, but on top of the world Spieth might have come agonisingly close to becoming the first man to win all three American majors in the same year, but he had plenty to smile about.

With McIlroy back in 17th place, Spieth had done enough to replace the defending PGA champion at the top of the new world rankings.

“It’s as good a consolation prize as I’ve ever had,” said Spieth, whose major finishes this year read first, first, fourth and second.

“It was not easy to de-

throne Rory and it’s going to be even harder to try and stay on top.”

McIlroy, who had not played since the US Open in June after rupturing an ankle ligament playing football with friends, said Spieth was a worthy number one.

“Honestly, the way Jordan has been playing and the way I haven’t played much this year - I think that was only my 12th or 13th event - it’s very deservedly so,” said McIlroy.

“Winning two majors, winning a couple of other times this year, had a chance at the Open, had a chance today.

“I’d be the first one to congratulate him because I know the golf you have to play to get to that spot, and it has been impressive this year.” (BBC Sport)

FIFA official proposes abolishing executive committee in reform plan A n official overseeing reform efforts at FIFA has produced a radical blueprint for reform of football’s scandal-hit governing body, including the abolition of its powerful executive committee, according to a person with knowledge of the plan.

Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee, proposes replacing the executive committee with a dual structure. There would be a management committee including independent professionals charged with ensuring FIFA’s day-to-day running, and a governing council playing more of an oversight role, the source said.

The governing council, which would have a lot less power than the execu-

tive committee, would be elected by FIFA’s Congress, which consists of representatives from its 209 member associations around the world. FIFA is facing unprecedented pressure to reform following the May indictment by U.S. authorities of nine current and former football officials on bribery-related charges.

Many of them had served on the executive committee or in other FIFA positions.

But the proposed reforms are likely to face huge resistance from many within FIFA and from six regional football confederations, who currently wield a lot of influence because they nominate members of the executive committee.

The move would remove the direct link between the continental confederations and FIFA’s power

structure. A new Reform Committee, headed by former International Olympic Committee director general Francois Carrard, could take a different view, and although Scala is supposed to be overseeing its efforts he isn’t in a position to control it.

Also the outcome of the February 26 vote to elect a new president to replace Blatter will likely have an impact on any proposals for major structural change.

Scala, who is the person charged by FIFA’s outgoing President Sepp Blatter with implementing reforms, presented the plan to the executive committee at its meeting in Zurich on July 20, the source added.

TERM LIMITSHis reform plan also includes the introduction of term lim-

its for all elected officials in FIFA. They would be limited to a maximum of three four-year-terms and FIFA would also then demand that national football associations and confederations bring in the same limits - effectively spreading the practise to other levels of the game’s governance, according to the source.

Previous proposals had only included term limits for the president.

Although FIFA does not have the power to force its member associations to introduce their own term limits, the plan envisages changing FIFA’s rules to ensure that only associations with term-limits are able to have individuals elected to FIFA’s bodies.

A FIFA spokesperson did not immediately return an email seeking comment

on Scala’s plan.

Following the July 20 meeting, FIFA did issue a statement which said the meeting had heard the plans for term limits and “higher standards of governance at all levels of football structures including confederations and member associations, as well as individual disclosure of compensation.”It added: “The members welcomed the presentation on reforms delivered by Domenico Scala ... the Executive Committee, supported by the confederations, reiterated its unity and stated its firm commitment to reform.”

The executive committee has already lost some of its previous power as recent reforms took away its ability to determine who hosts the World Cup that is

held every four years, giving it to the full Congress instead. The executive committee’s last such decisions – the granting of the rights to hold the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 competition to Qatar - are currently the subject of a separate investigation by the Swiss authorities into alleged corruption in FIFA. Swiss businessman Scala was appointed to his position in May 2012. He has also been made head of FIFA’s ad-hoc election committee for the presidential vote.

FIFA’s new 15-member Reform Committee is due to meet in mid-September and the organisation has said that the body will be “overseen” by Scala’s Audit and Compliance Committee and FIFA’s Ethics Committee.

(Reuters)

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tuesday, august 18, 2015

After prison, Pistorius Mills tips Bolt to conquer Beijing again set for ‘mansion arrest’

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Oscar Pistorius

n one of the wealthiest suburbs of South Africa’s capital Pretoria stands a three-storey mansion where Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will be taken on his release from prison this week.

Pistorius, 29, is expected to wear an electronic tracking tag when he is released on Friday after serving 10 months of a five-year sentence for killing his model and law graduate girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.

The release of Pistorius, whose lower legs were amputated when he was a baby, is in line with South African sentencing guidelines that say non-dangerous prisoners should spend only onesixth of a custodial sentence behind bars.

Pistorius is due to serve the rest of his term in “custodial supervision”, a form of house arrest.

He will be mostly confined to the home of his uncle, Arnold, a high-walled manor in the leafy suburb of Waterkloof that features more than a dozen bedrooms, a private gym, outdoor swimming pool and landscaped gardens.

The athlete, nicknamed ‘Blade Runner’ because of the carbon-fibre prosthetics he used during his stel-

lar career on the track, will likely be allowed to leave the house to work, carry out community service or to attend important family events.

In a country with one of the world’s highest rates of violent crime and where many still live in poverty, there is limited sympathy for Pistorius.

“It’s more like mansion arrest,” said Christopher, 31, a security guard who works on Arnold’s road but lives in a basic two room flat in a rundown suburb of Johannesburg.

Steenkamp’s parents did not respond to requests for comment. They said at the time of Pistorius’ sentencing that spending 10 months in prison “for taking a life is simply not enough” and it would send out the wrong message to society.

Experts who deal with former prisoners say the public is often unaware of how tough life can be.

Appeal for murder

“Many people don’t understand the very serious impact prison can have on your life and the challenges afterwards, no matter where you live,” said Jacques Sibomana, spokesman for NICRO, an organisation helping to re-inte-

grate offenders.

“The social stigma Oscar will face could be very psychologically traumatic. The punishment lives with you.”

Pistorius’ time in Waterkloof could be shortlived if state prosecutors succeed in overturning the verdict. Details of their case were due to be submitted to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Pistorius has admitted killing Steenkamp, 29, by firing four shots into the locked door of a toilet cubicle in what he said was the mistaken belief that an intruder was hiding behind it.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said during sentencing that the state had failed to convince her of Pistorius’ intent to kill when he fired.

Prosecutors want the verdict of culpable homicide, equivalent to manslaughter, raised to murder because they argue Pistorius must have known when he fired that the person behind the door could be killed. Many legal experts agree.

“Given he fired four shots through a door when he knew someone was inside, I think there is a good chance the appeal will be successful,” William Booth, a lawyer who has followed the trial closely, told Reuters.

If convicted of murder, Pistorius will likely be given a custodial sentence of at least 15 years. The appeal hearing is due to start in November.

Pistorius was once considered one of the ultimate symbols of triumph over adversity, fighting authorities to become the first amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes at the Olympics.

Though he could return to training, Pistorius is unlikely to ever compete at the highest level again given his age and lack of intensive training since Steenkamp’s death, experts say. (Reuters)

U

Usain Bolt

sain Bolt’s coach Glen Mills has backed the superstar to come good at this month’s World Championships in Beijing.

The 28-year-old Bolt will enter the August 2230 showpiece at the Bird’s Nest Stadium with question marks over his form, after a series of lacklustre performances in recent months.

However, Mills said while Bolt had suffered several injury setbacks recently which had affected his preparation, he was the type of athlete who was always highly motivated for the major championships.

“The last two years have

been very challenging for both Usain and myself,” Mills was quoted as saying.

“Unfortunately, he has had a number of different injuries to overcome which have affected his training and the number of competitions he has been able to compete in.

“But Bolt is a champion who knows nothing but excellence when performing on the world stage.”

Bolt enters the World Championships as the defending champion in both the 100 and 200 metres following his conquests in Moscow two years ago, but with a serious challenge expected from resurgent

American Justin Gatlin.

This year, Gatlin has produced the better form, posting world-leading times of 9.74 seconds in the 100 metres in Doha back in May and 19.57 seconds in the 200 metres at the US Trials in Oregon the following month.

Bolt’s 100 metres best this year has been a 9.87 clocking under pressure in London last month.

The injury issues last year and early this season have been a major problem but Mills said a few changes to his training regime had proven productive.

“We have been making a number of changes on the way he trains and have been getting results,” said Mills.

“However, I would have wanted him to have had more races.”

Bolt is the finest sprinter in the history of the sport.

He captured the sprint double at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and successfully defended the titles at the following Olympiad in London three years ago.

He also did the double at the Berlin World Championships in 2009 and only a false start in the 100m at the 2011 edition in Daegu prevented him from completed yet another double. (CMC)

Murray beats Novak Djokovic at Rogers Cup in Montreal

A

ndy Murray ended an eight-match losing run against Novak Djokovic, beating the world number one for the first time in two years to win the Rogers Cup. The British number one’s 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory in three hours in Montreal earned him a fourth title of the year.

A first win over the Serb since the 2013 Wimbledon

The 28-year-old broke in the second game of the deciding set and held to establish a 3-0 lead before saving seven break points in a pivotal 18-minute fifth game to maintain his break advantage at 4-1.

Djokovic, chasing a 25th Masters title, saw off three championship points at 5-2 before Murray served out for the match.

He dedicated the vic-

tated play, forcing a total of 19 break points on the Djokovic serve.

It was the first time Murray had beaten Djokovic over the full distance in a three-set Masters match, and it was his first win on a hard court over the Wimbledon champion since the US Open final in 2012.

“Things can better very quickly and they can get worse very quickly in sport,”

Chung vows to ‘change FIFA’ after launching presidency bid

C

hung Mong-joon has formally announced his intention to stand for the FIFA presidency at next year’s elections.

Former vice-president Chung Mong-joon is to stand for the FIFA presidency in 2016 - stating his intention to change football’s governing body in four years.

Elections to replace outgoing president Sepp Blatter will take place in February next year, after Blatter confirmed his intention to step down in June following the damaging corruption scandal that has engulfed the organisation.

Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term when the crisis was unfolding but later confirmed a new president would be elected at an extraordinary congress in February.

UEFA president Michel Platini has stated his intention to run for the office, while fellow former football icon Zico and Liberia FA chairman Musa Bility will stand as well, with wealthy businessman Chung now joining the race.

“Today FIFA is undergoing a profound crisis,” the South Korean at a news conference in Paris on Monday.

“Under these circum-

stances, the FIFA president must be a crisis manager and a reformer.

“FIFA needs a leader who can bring back common sense, transparency and accountability.

“For any successful organization to be free of corruption, it needs periodic change of leadership.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely, organisations begin to corrupt when the leader thinks he is indispensable.

“If I’m elected I will serve one term of four years. I can change FIFA in four years, this is my pledge to all football fans in the world.” (Digicel Sportsmax)

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic display their trophies

final will be a huge boost for Murray before the US Open in New York starts on 31 August.

The Scot dominated from the baseline as he claimed an 11th Masters title.

Murray is now set to overtake Roger Federer in Monday’s new ATP rankings to return to number two for the first time since 2013.

tory to his coach Amelie Mauresmo, who gave birth to a baby boy on Sunday.

“I’m not sure she will have stayed up to watch this one but, Amelie, this one’s for you,” said Murray, who won his 35th career title.

In an absorbing, highquality match, both players produced exquisite shots but it was Murray who dic-

Murray told Sky Sports.

“It’s important for me to analyse this week and work on areas to improve on before the US Open starts.

“I need to make sure I recover well from this and get ready and hopefully play a good tournament in Cincinnati. This match will be good physically and mentally for the build up for sure.” (BBC Sport)

sports

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21

Bulls capture LABA’s U-23 title

N

The winning Half Mile Bulls side

ational prospect Terron Welch dropped a game high 33 points to lead the rampaging Half Mile Bulls to the championship title of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s (LABA) Under-23 tournament last Friday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

Welch was later named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) as he added to this tournament high 33 points, seven rebounds, seven steals, six assists as the Bulls came from behind to win 69-61.

The standout junior national player led his team as they play up tempo transition basketball. Dennis Niles who netted 12 points

gave good support in the win.

Initially, the Jets were off to a early advantage doubling their opponents’ score in the process 10-5 at the end of the first quarter, despite some excellent play in the paint by the Jets’ Adrian Webster who ensured they were still ahead at the halftime break 35-32.

The Bulls responded to the challenge turning things around in the pivotal third quarter period to take hold of the game to end the third quarter ahead 60-49.

Adrian Webster played well for the Jets with 23 points and grabbed 21 rebounds with Parris Cadogan getting 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and

two blocked shots while Keith Butters also scored 11 points.

In the third place playoff game Victory Valley Royals took that position with a sound 66-40 victory.

Keifer Tappin was the game’s best scorer with 21 points for the Royals and Nevin Glenn contributed 13 points in the win.

The sponsors who supported the championship were Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc, Shawn Myers, Jason Adams, Jimmy Reece, NCN Linden, R and S Luckhoo, G-Six Promotions, Thandy Inniss, Simon’s family, Dinky barber shop, Legend sports Bar, 104.3 Power FM, Kerwin Abrams.

Blatter hits back at Chung over ‘corrupt’ comments

O

utgoing president Sepp Blatter hit back at Chung Mong-joon, one of the candidates to replace him, for labelling FIFA a “corrupt organisation” on Monday and said the South Korean’s remarks were “disturbing”.

Swiss Blatter also pointed out in a statement issued by football’s governing body that Chung was an influential member of FIFA for 17 years until 2011.

The 63-year-old billionaire scion of Korea’s Hyundai industrial conglomerate launched his bid for the presidency in Paris earlier on Monday with a stinging attack on Blatter and Michel Platini, head of European football’s ruling body UEFA. Platini is another candidate to replace Blatter at the election on Feb. 26.

“It is disturbing, to say the least, to hear Dr Chung Mong-joon describe FIFA as a ‘corrupt organisation’ during a press conference announcing his candidacy,” said Blatter.

“Even more so when one recalls, and as Dr Chung cannot have forgotten, that he was a FIFA vice-president and a FIFA emergency committee member for 17 years from 1994 until 2011.

Sepp Blatter

“Regarding personal attacks made by Dr Chung at the same event, I will not comment further than to say that this is particularly disrespectful to all concerned.

“I would like to stress again that FIFA is dedicated to improving the organisation and will continue to strengthen its governance and accountability,” added Blatter.

“Our work in this area continuously evolves and we are focussed on achieving the highest standards for the international football community.”

During his speech and press conference, Chung made several references to corruption at FIFA. “Michel Platini was a great football player and he is my friend,” said the

Korean. “His problem is he does not seem to appreciate the seriousness of the corruption crisis at FIFA. Chung also said “the problem at FIFA is that those mired in corruption, the only thing they are interested in is hiding the corruption”.

He added that the core issue for the election “is whether the 40-year-old system of corruption should continue or not”.

In a reference to Blatter, Chung added: “The real reason FIFA has become such a corrupt organisation is because the same person and his cronies have been running it for 40 years”.

Blatter was secretary general for 17 years before being elected president in 1998. (Reuters)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, august 18, 2015

GT Beer Futsal competition kicks off tonight

– Namilco on board with Petra Organisation

E

ight teams will be on show this evening when the firstever Petra Organisation’s GT Beer Futsal competition kicks off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. A total of four games are carded for the first night, with action set to commence at 19:00h.

In the first game, Albouystown will trade skills with Globe Yard, while Agricola will tackle Kitty Weavers 45 minutes later.

At 21:00h, North Ruimveldt will face West Back Road, followed by Sparta Boss versus Alexander Village.

The 16-team, round-robin competition will continue on Friday at the same venue with Show Stoppers playing Sophia in the opener at 19:00h, followed

by Bent Street against Beterverwagting, Queen Street- Tiger Bay versus Leopold Street, and West Front Road up against Broad Street.

The competition is featuring 13 of Georgetown’s top teams, along with one each from the East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara. The final is set for September 13.

Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca (left), receives the sponsorship cheque from the Assistant to the Managing Director, Autamaram Lakeram, in the presence of Financial Controller Fitzroy McLeod (Avenash Ramzan photo)

The teams will be vying for a top prize of $500,000, while second place will receive $250,000. Third place will receive $125,000 and fourth $75,000. An entrance fee of $500 will be charged on each night of the event.

Namilco support

Meanwhile, the National Milling Company (Namilco) on Monday confirmed its

support for the inaugural event by presenting a cheque for an undisclosed sum to the organisers.

Co-director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca was on hand to receive the contribution at the company’s office at Agricola, Greater Georgetown, from the Assistant to the Managing Director, Autamaram Lakeram, in the presence of Financial Controller

Fitzroy McLeod.

“The Petra Organisation again wants to express our gratitude to Namilco for partnering with us and GT Beer to bring to the nation this GT Beer Futsal competition. We’re so happy for the confidence that the Namilco company has shown in us and the wards that are being involved in this competition.

It’s only fitting for me to continue to ask the players and the spectators to continue to support their brand,” Mendonca said.

McLeod said, “The role that sports play in the physical, mental and social development of our young people is well studied, accepted and appreciated. The role that Namilco plays in the provision of affordable [and] nutritious support for mental and physical development of our people based on health range of products, I think that is also generally appreciated.”

McLeod also lauded Mendonca and his colleagues at Petra for affording community-based teams an opportunity to showcase their skills in organised competition. (Avenash

Ramzan)

Odyssey lends support to Akawini cricket team

W

ith the aim of fulfilling its corporate and social responsibilities, Odyssey Transport and Jet Boat Services last weekend made a donation of cricket equipment towards the Akawini village cricket team in the Pomeroon area.

The presentation of gear was made at the company’s boat port, located at the lookout at Parika, East Bank Essequibo. The company’s representatives handed over two cricket bats, three pairs of batting gloves, two pairs of bat-

ting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping pads, one pair of keeping gloves and bat rubbers.

According to Odyssey Transport official Troy Khan, Chief Executive Officer Feroze Barakat said he was very much happy to make the donation to the Akawini village. He added that he was hopeful his contribution can aid the development of the sport in the village.

The village is set to host a one-week cricket tournament for teams in Pomeroon and Akawini shortly.

Roy Anthony Feriera (centre) of the Akawini cricket team and representatives of Odyssey Transport Services display the gear

Kevin Bayley celebrates his 800m win on Sunday (Treiston Joseph photo)

Cleveland Forde after winning his 5000m returned to win the men’s 1500m

Best of the Best returns solid showing

T

he Black Hawks Martial Arts Club held its Guyana/ International Open championship last Sunday with the Best of the Best Martial Arts School of Houston, Greater Georgetown, turning in a solid performance with all but one of its students copping a place in the top three.

Brandon Christopher

Haroon Safiallah Best was third in the 9-12 Freestyle Kata, Antwone Allen was second in the 9-12 Freestyle Kata and Colwin Adams was third in the 1314 Freestyle Kata.

Azhar Shaw placed second in Self Defence and third in Weapons in the 15-17 division, while black belt Trenton Coates, in the

Founder and instructor of the Best of the Best Martial Arts School, Quacy Baveghems (centre), and his students pose with their trophies

failed to place in his 9-12 category, but his teammates maintained a constant presence on the podium at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, securing three first-place finishes, five seconds and eight thirds.

Miguel Hunte, competing in the 6-8 age group, won the Kumite and placed third in the Freestyle Kata, while Cledwin Adams, in the same age range, copped third in the Freestyle Kata and Self Defence and second in Sparring.

Mumtaz Atton, also competing in the 6-8 category, finished third in the Kumite, while Roshanna Christopher was first in the Freestyle Kata in the 9-12 category.

same age group, was first in Weapons and second in Self Defence. Also, in the 6-8 category, R Bristol and Jadon Pollard copped second and third respectively in Freestyle Kata.

Founder and instructor of the Best of the Best Martial Arts School, Quacy Baveghems, also participated in the one-day event and copped second in Weapons and Traditional Kata in the Masters division.

Meanwhile, the club will continue its hunt for more glory when it journeys to Trinidad and Tobago for the NAMFA International Martial Arts tournament hosted by Master Torres of the USA from Wednesday.

East Coast Cricket Board issues disclaimer

Police make it...

Natreena Hooper topped overseas-based Guyanese 400m hurdler Jeamae McCamon in the women’s 200m clocking 22.5s for the win.

McCamon clocked 26.0s for second, while Deja Smartt finished third in 26.4s.

Smartt later returned to win the women’s 100m in 12.3s, while Aniqua Powley was second in 12.6s. Kezia Bess was third in 12.8s.

Carifta bronze medallist Andrea Foster was dominant topping Trinidad’s Dawnel Colleymore to win the women’s 1500m in 5:17.7s. Colleymore was second in 5:20.6s, while Alika Morgan was third in 5:57.8s.

Guyana’s most dominant distance athlete

Black Hawks Guyana Open Martial Arts

in 4:35.2s. Grivon Grant was second in 4:42.9s, while Bayley was third in

from back page

4:66.2s.

National Javelin record holder Leslain Baird won the javelin event with a throw of 52.08 metres while Julio Sinclair won the men’s discus and shot put with throws of 41.77m and 13.47m.

GDF dominated the relay events, winning five out of the eight relay races including the 4x100 men and women, 4x400 women, 800m medley women and the 3000m men distance medley.

Meanwhile, George finished tied on 20 points with Forde and Sinclair for the male champion athlete, while Foster won the female award with 30 points after winning the women’s 800m, 1500m and 3000m races.

T

he East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) refers to an article published in the national newspapers on Monday, August 17, 2015 captioned “East Coast Demerara Cricket Association competition to restart Sunday”. This article indicated that this Cricket Competition, which had been delayed because of bad weather, will resume on Sunday, August 23, 2015.

The name “East Coast Demerara Cricket Association (ECDCA)” is directly related only to the ECCB and has been used in the past at the Demerara Cricket Board level as a matter of convenience.

The East Coast Cricket Board has been in existence for over 30 years and remains the only legitimate Body for the administration of cricket from Ogle to Abary on the East Coast and is so recognised in the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014.

It was brought to our attention that there was some committee calling itself “East Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC)” which attempted to usurp the functions

of the legitimate ECCB in clear violation of the Cricket Administration Law of Guyana and we brought this to the attention of our membership and our Attorneys-atLaw. Suddenly, the ECCC is now presenting itself as the ECDCA. This appears to be an unconcealed attempt to mislead the public, the sponsors and the membership of the ECCB. We, therefore, wish to advise that Mr Anil Persaud, Mr Jitlal Jowahirlall and Mr Quancy Cummings are not related to the East Coast Cricket Board otherwise known as the East Coast Demerara Cricket Association in any way.

Those representing the purported ECCC and posing as a representative of the ECDCA or the ECCB are unauthorised to transact any business for and on behalf of that ECDCA or the ECCB, and the public and our sponsors are hereby requested to take note.

We shall continue to be guided by our Attorneys-atLaw. (ECCB Release)

monday, august 17, 2015

guyanatimesGY.com

23

teamwork paving way for successful Cricket at Belle Vue Brazilian Games delivery and legacy – the harsh reality C

A

s I visited the village of Belle Vue on Saturday last, I passed by the community centre and the shouts of little voices emanating from the community playground captured my attention.

Being a lover of youths and sports, I was compelled out of my interest to observe the proceedings.

It was an amazing sight to witness about 20 to 25 youths, between the ages of 10 and 15, totally engrossed in preparing the wicket for a cricket match. They were jovial and very friendly with each other, and at the same time displayed high respect for each other and the few

my time, we used coconut branches to make bats, but in such a civilised world, these youths are almost living our past. The gear they used was very old and had outlived its time. The gloves and pads were old and torn. It’s difficult to comprehend how 25 youths would use two half bats, two torn gloves and two batting pads that have two half straps each. It’s also difficult to comprehend how the Sports Ministry through its so-called vibrant outreach and distribution of millions of dollars in gear, etc, could have missed these youths.

From all indications, little or nothing was done

suscitation of the Belle Vue Sports Club (BVSC). It was concluded that the lack of support and neglect over the years forced many youths to abandon sports and gravitate to unwholesome activities.

Whilst the residents are willing to contribute towards the initiative of putting the playground and other facilities in a state of readiness, they are optimistic that they will get the necessary assistance from Government and corporate entities. The BVSC in the coming weekends will be holding competitions in an effort to raise funds for its development and suste-

Defying the odds! The youngsters at Belle Vue get ready for a cricket match

not-so-old among them.

It was almost game time, so I took up my seat in the pavilion. With no conducive dressing rooms available and the pavilion in a deplorable state, the youths also utilised the few good step boards to dress and spectate.

The condition of the ground is as bad or worse than the pavilion as the signs of neglect are evident. The deplorable environment with which they have to contend did not prevent them from being enthusiastic nor did it reflect any negativity.

Except for the pitch, the entire field has the resemblance of a cow pasture. As a boy, I would never dare to play cricket on such a field where you risked broken ankles/ fingers or getting hit in the face from a ball popping up suddenly, staring you right in the face. The bravery of these young men was something to admire.

The most devastating moment came when the batsmen were getting ready to take the crease. In

by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), which has responsibility for the facility, to enhance or develop same in the interest of youths and sports.

This is prevailing and common at most, if not all, of the grounds under the control of NDCs. A situation that needs to be eradicated and replaced with proactiveness, thereby allowing our youths to enjoy better facilities that can contribute to them realising their potential.

I took the opportunity to chat with a few of the elders present and it was highlighted that many years of dormancy and neglect contributed to the deprivation and limited facility afforded to the youths in the community. They would love to see the return of sports and to have better facilities and equipment provided for the youths and it’s in this regard the residents of Bell Vue village, on the West Bank of Demerara, have embarked on an initiative to revive sports through the re-

nance.

Community activist, Pastor Krishna Singh, who has been identified as one of the individuals who are very instrumental in working with the youths, expressed his optimism in working assiduously to ensure sports and its benefits will once again impact the youths positively, thereby contributing to their social and physical well-being. He feels a sense of pride that the Club was functional again, noting that he’s excited to play a part in the growth and development of the youngsters.

He concluded that although the Club’s main focus is on maintaining and developing sports, the youths will be engaged in educational topics.

For the love of youth involvement in sports, I wish to appeal to the benevolent nature of all the generous individuals and businesses to support the positive upliftment of our youths. (M Azimullah)

GABF to host Burnham Memorial Basketball Championship

T

he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) will host a Burnham Memorial Basketball Tournament from August 22 to 30.

The tournament will feature eight First-Division teams from Georgetown and Linden vying for the top prize of $100,000. Second place will receive $60,000

while third will walk away with $40,000.

Trophies and medals will also be awarded to the winning teams, while trophies will be presented to the MVP, Best Uniformed Team and Most Disciplined Team.

There will also be two guest teams in the Georgetown Veterans and the Berbice Rockers.

The Plaisance Guardians and the Half Mile Bulls will square off in the opening game of the tournament, while the Colts will play against the Amelia’s Ward Jets in the second game on August 22.

Action is slated to tip off from 19:00h.

losing its ninth and penultimate meeting (August 10-12 2015) in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission has praised the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and its Local Government partners for their teamwork in delivering the first pre-Games test events. The unity of spirit and mission is helping them to solidify their operations ahead of next year’s Games and to lay the foundations for an important Olympic legacy.

IOC Coordination Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel commented, “With less than one year to go until the opening of the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, we have been delighted with the unity of spirit and mission that is driving ‘Team Brazil’ to deliver a successful first wave of test events.

We have already seen excellent volleyball, triathlon, rowing and equestrian events, with more exciting sport to come over the next few weeks. This common desire to succeed is manifesting itself through excellent test events held in Olympic venues, as well as in operations that are receiving praise from athletes and International Federations alike. This demonstrates the organisers’ capabilities and their capacity to deliver outstanding Olympic Games next year.

The Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games will also produce an important Olympic legacy that, as IOC President Thomas Bach said during the one-year-to-go celebrations, “will be the biggest urban redevelopment since the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992”. “The work to deliver important infrastructure and social legacies like the venues, public transport improvements, and educational initiatives continues at full speed. I for one believe that people will certainly speak of a Rio de Janeiro before the Games and a Rio de Janeiro

after the Games.”

He continued, “The delivery of the Aquece Rio test events has required an important mind-set shift for the organisers. They have now entered the stage of preparations, where their attention is focusing on how to deliver the most memorable, joyful experience for all participants. The athletes remain at the core of all these efforts. Thorough planning is also underway to offer spectators, Brazilians and overseas visitors to the Games an equally thrilling experience next year. From now until the Games, a tremendous amount of work remains to be completed. With the stateof-the-art venues starting to be delivered, it’s now about dealing in a timely manner with millions of operational details.

Practical experience is very important in this regard, and so we expect the organisers to take each wave of test events as an opportunity to prepare the venues and teams for the Games.”

Brazilian Following President Dilma Rousseff’s participation at Rio 2016’s oneyear-to-go event last week, the unity and integration between Rio 2016 and the different Government bodies continues to be clear. All levels of Government were represented during the Commission meetings, with Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão and Mayor Eduardo Paes both personally underlining their commitment to the success of the Games. The Government parties were also joined by the Brazilian Olympic Committee, which shared its plans to prepare a competitive home team for next year’s Games, as well as to extend the elite sporting legacy of the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016 to future editions.

The President of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, said: “This was the most important Coordination Commission that

we have had so far. I say this because of the advanced state of our preparations and the everincreasing integration between the IOC, Rio 2016 and our partners in the federal, state and city governments.”

On Monday, the Commission members visited the Barra Olympic Park and the Olympic golf course, where they were able to appreciate first-hand the significant progress that has been made on the venues since their last visit in February. The Games legacy was also apparent, as the Commission was able to enter the Future Arena, which after the Games will be dismantled and turned into four schools in Rio de Janeiro. The Park will also host the future Brazilian Olympic Training Centre, as well as a school for talented young athletes.

In addition, the Commission heard about other programmes that will leave a legacy by positively impacting millions of lives. These include 10,000 free English courses for Rio taxi drivers and the nationwide rollout of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Transforma education programme that will reach an estimated seven million children across Brazil.

During the meeting, the Commission also received updates from the organisers and their partners in areas such as athlete and National Olympic Committee (NOC) services, sport and International Federation services, media operations, spectators, transport, marketing, technology and the Paralympic Games.

The Coordination Commission will return to Rio de Janeiro for the final time next year. In the meantime, the IOC will continue to support the Rio organisers with project reviews and expert visits.

(Brazilian Embassy release)

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

tuesday, august 18, 2015

Police make it back-to-back titles at Boyce/Jefford Classic

By Treiston Joseph

O

The winning Police team as they collected their fourth championship title (Treiston Joseph photo)

Andrea Foster runs away with the women’s 1500 metres on her way to the Champion Athlete award (Treiston Joseph photo)

nly 15 points separated the Police Sports Club from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) as the Police men and women arrested their second straight title at the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic which concluded on Sunday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden.

Police amassed a total of 354 points for the win, while GDF ended on 339 points. A combined Linden squad ended third on 110 points, while the Mercury Fast Laners (MFL) finished fourth on 71 points.

Rounding out the top five was Super Upcoming Runners with 58 points.

With the win Police pocketed $600,000, while GDF were able to take

home $400,000. Linden received $250,000 and MFL $100,000.

It was an action-packed day despite a soggy outfield as the athletes displayed their talents.

Kevin Bayley ran an excellent 800 metres to win in 2:05.8s, defeating Trinidad’s Ashton Gill who clocked 2:07.9s. Wayne Harlequin also made his return to the track finishing third with a time of 2:08.5s.

Olympian Winston George followed up his 200 metres win from earlier in the day with a thrilling win in the men’s 100m that ended in 10.4s. Rupert Perry was second in 10.7s, while Compton Caesar was third in 10.8s. turn to page 22

Guyanese 400m hurdler Jeamae McCamon in the women’s 200m (Treiston Joseph photo)

Azore to defend welterweight belt next month – Giftland Mall to host return of Guyana Friday Night Fights

T Iwan Azore

he Guyana Friday Night Fights ProAm boxing card is set for a grand return next month with a four-fight event slated for the spanking new Giftland Mall at Pattensen, Greater Georgetown.

The Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s signature event was last held on October 13, 2013, and the upcoming September 26 card will feature a maximum of 26 rounds

of boxing, including a title fight to crown the night’s activity, dubbed “Brawl at the Mall”.

Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese Iwan Azore has agreed to put his national welterweight belt on the line against countryman Dexter Gonsalves in a 12-round defence, billed as the showpiece of the night. It will be the 31st occasion that the Guyana Friday Night Fights ProAm card

is held.

Azore’s last defence of the title was back in November 2012 when he got past Mark Austin.

Incidentally, it was Azore’s last appearance in the ring. The southpaw has recorded 16 wins, five losses and three draws in his 11-year professional career.

The other three fights will feature up and coming pugilists, with the opening bout featur-

ing Stephan Gouveia and Keeve Allicock in a four-round featherweight clash.

Imran Khan and David Thomas will collide in a fourround lightweight showdown, while the other fight of the night, a six-round junior welterweight bout, will bring together Anson Green and Quincy Gomes.

The first bell is set to be rung at 20:00h.

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