Guyana Times

The cry of a dying woman P14

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 2730

Friday, January 8, 2016

PRICE

Controversial NICIL probe

SOCU dodging media over surveillance fiasco Page 3

– facing trenchant criticisms from TIGI, GHRA

Irate Mall vendors strike deal with M&CC

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Trotman to host P2 concessions hearings for miners Marijuana P2 field unearthed at Ekereku

Govt axes Opposition Leader, Parliament budget P15

As crime spirals

Berbice businessman executed during home invasion Page 7

Vindictive petty action!

...Finance Minister owes Guyanese a proper explanation – Jagdeo

Mayor, wife P12 still pursuing reimbursement of $M in taxes TIGI says P10 Broomes’ appointment presents conflict of interest Haags Bosch Landfill

Workers from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council on Thursday removed "No Parking" signs outside the People's Progressive Party/Civic's Freedom House, Robb Street headquarters. All other such signs from businesses nearby remained untouched

Emergency Millions spent meeting on suicide but project still prevention convened incomplete Page 11

– President says suicide rate disturbing

Le Repentir Cemetery restoration

– Mayor Green

Page 10

Litter pickers frustrated over entry denial P9

Man busted with illegal firearm P9

2 News

friday, january 8, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Marijuana field unearthed at Ekereku

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s drug enforcement officers continue to put a dent on the drug trade in Guyana, Police ranks on Wednesday destroyed a field of marijuana at Ekereku, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

According to reports received, at about 10:00h on the day in question, Police ranks of F Division (Interior locations) while on a roving patrol at

Ekereku, unearthed a field of marijuana plants.

A closer inspection revealed that the field contained in excess of 1000 of the illicit plants ranging from eight to 12 inches in height.

The estimated size of the field is reportedly about one acre. Upon the discovery, the plants were destroyed. No arrests have been made.

Trotman to host fortnightly hearings on concessions for miners

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Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

ersons will no longer have to pay US$3000 for the approval of duty-free concessions.

This is according to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman who disclosed that the Ministry will soon start a process of hosting fortnightly hearings for miners to express their concerns.

Trotman explained that it recently came to his attention persons have to pay such exorbitant fees to get certain concessions for mining but posited he does not want to continue with this system in place. “I have arranged to start a process of duty free concessions hearings where the miners themselves would appear with members of the GGMC and other officials

where we would be able to speak to them about duty free concessions,� he stated.

He said this process would help to alleviate allegations of impropriety and will create a more transparent process for the acquisition of duty-free concessions.

Meanwhile, there will also be a small miners meeting on January 16 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre where the miners can meet with the relevant authorities to address several pressing concerns in the sector.

Additionally, the ministry will be conducting several field visits and hold community meetings to address concerns of citizens and miners.

The first of these will be in Mahdia on January 10.

Bosai employee on felonious wounding charge

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n employee of Linden bauxite mining company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) was granted bail on Wednesday when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse on a felonious wounding charge.

Anson Durant, 34, of Lot 24 Nottinghamshire, Wismar, Linden, Region

10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Clevon Jones with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.

He was granted bail in the sum of $40,000 by the presiding Magistrate.

The case against the father of three was adjourned until February 2.

news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 8 – 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, January 9 – 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 8 – 15:20h-16:50h and Saturday, January 9 – 16:00h-17:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Controversial NICIL probe

SOCU dodging media over surveillance fiasco – facing trenchant criticisms from TIGI, GHRA

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light cloudy conditions with rain showers can be expected throughout most of the day, with sunny weather prevailing in the late afternoon. Light cloud cover can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:15h and 15:28h reaching maximum heights of 2.45 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:02h and 21:30h reaching minimum heights of 0.76 metre and 0.58 metre respectively.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS O 10 11 17 19 22 25 06 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET Thursday, January 7, 2016

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Sydney James

mid mounting concerns and public disquiet, the Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Sydney James remains uncooperative and unforthcoming with the media on an event that has sparked widespread controversy in past few days.

This prolonged deafening silence has generated much uneasiness within the public domain, resulting in the relevant authorities coming in for stern criticisms from civil society groups including the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI), Red Thread and the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

When contacted by Guyana Times on Thursday, the SOCU Head declined to offer any clarification on the incident after which he hung up the phone.

Several subsequent attempts to contact him again proved futile as all calls went unanswered. Other authorities have also remained tightlipped on the matter.

So far, only the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has issued a statement in an attempt to shed some light on the incident; however, a mul-

titude of questions still remain unanswered.

The GDF only proffered that one of its ranks, Sergeant Robert Pyle, was on a “legitimate operation” in collaboration with SOCU at the time of his demise on December 30, 2015, while chasing a vehicle which they believed had links to the Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington.

However, reports revealed that the vehicle was being driven by a young man who was not related to Brassington. His sister was an occupant in the car. It was

Stacy Pyle

reportedly seen in the vicinity of Brassington’s Kingston, Georgetown home on the night Pyle and special ranks were staking out the property.

After failing to block the vehicle from taking off, Pyle and other special ranks in a second vehicle tailed it in hot pursuit all the way to Carifesta Avenue where another attempt was made to block it from proceeding further.

But this time, one of the two vehicles – the one with Sergeant Pyle and his wife – giving chase slammed into a Canter which was being driven by civilian Linden

Eastman. He subsequently died on the spot as a result of the impact, according to reports.

This botched operation gives rise to numerous concerns, including the misuse of intelligence for political reasons, among others.

Meanwhile, the thought of one’s privacy being invaded by military men and other Joint Forces officers carrying out surveillance and stakeouts on random civilians is not settling well with several rights group throughout the country.

GHRA President Mike McCormack told Guyana Times that the situation is “very disturbing”, adding that more information needs to become available on the matter.

Expressing great concern on the recent developments, McCormack said the GHRA will be attempting to investigate the situation with the aim of discovering more about the mandate of SOCU and its authority to carrying out surveillance and stakeouts on citizens.

TIGI acting President Compton Meerabux also said his organisation is greatly concerned about the operations of the Unit, particularly in light of the fact that its operations can so easily affect

Linden Eastman

the lives of innocent civilians.

“It shows certain incompetence and the way they are going about the operation is not proper… they have to be more cautious,” Meerabux stated, noting that in this particular case, media reports indicated that the operation had targeted the teenage children of Brassington.

The TIGI Head also pointed to the fact that there are many uncertainties surrounding the situation and therefore, the authorities have an obligation to come forth to the public to offer clarification on the matter.

Additionally, Head of Red Thread Karen Desouza expressed that the operation was a “tragedy of errors” and lacked seriousness.

“I honestly do not understand why a serious investigation would be introduced by the number of media teasers

Sergeant Robert Pyle

that we’ve had by the failure to secure any evidence or documentation. I just find it extremely… ridiculous.”

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has also weighed in on the matter, calling for answers from the relevant authorities.

“Since these media reports have not been refuted by the relevant authorities, the Commission calls upon the Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and the Commissioner of Police to bring clarity as to whether the allegations in the media are true and whether this was an authorised assignment carried out on behalf of either of these agencies. This matter has caused immense apprehension in the business community and we believe that answers are needed not only by us but by the larger society”, the PSC said.

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friday, january 8, 2016

Views Editor(ag): Michael Younge Tel: 225-8697, 225-6695, 225-5634, 225-8696, 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Gold smuggling

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n a damning announcement on Wednesday, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman announced that about 15,000 ounces of gold are smuggled weekly from Guyana.

Gold, one of the largest foreign currency earners for the country, earned some US$500 million in 2015. This declaration was a significant achievement in a price-declining market environment. At the start of 2015, the London Fix quoted the price of gold at US$1184. The market prices initially fluctuated around US$1150 before showing increased volatility and declining to a five-year low of below US$1100.

However, it is disappointing that even though the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) surpassed last year’s target and recorded 451,490 ounces, a large percentage of gold mined is passing through our porous systems.

There is no doubt that the illicit trade is fuelled by better prices and ingenious ways of avoiding taxes as a means of cheating the revenue collection agencies. What is obvious is that Government and security agencies are aware of not only the amount but the countries to which the smuggled gold is being siphoned off. According to Trotman, indicators are that the gold is going to Brazil, Europe, the United States and Middle Eastern countries.

Smuggling gold is not a new phenomenon around the world. The World Gold Council (WGC) estimates that about 200 tonnes of gold is imported illegally in India each year.

This represents a whopping US$9 billion. India, according to the Reuters report, whose appetite for gold is only rivalled by China, has imposed a 10 per cent import duty and made it mandatory to export a fifth of all bullion imports, seeking to curb bullion demand that has blown out the trade deficit. But just as shocking are all the innovative methods smugglers are utilising to smuggle the precious metal. Outside of smuggling on ships and trawlers, the metal is converted into batteries and hidden in electronic goods, converted into gold buckles, melted into seed-shaped chips and hidden in fruits and even concealed in smugglers’ privates. It is refreshing to see in the case of Guyana, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States (US) Homeland Security along with local authorities are investigating the situation, with several miners already under Government’s radar.

As a matter of fact, only recently Guyana had sought help from the US for assistance to help convict a Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo businessman who was charged with smuggling large quantities of gold to New York. Christopher Baldeo is accused of smuggling almost US$69,142 worth of gold to the United States between February 6 and 7, 2015. In 2012, gunmen attacked a Guyana fishing vessel that reportedly smuggled 470 pounds of raw gold, valued US$11.5 million.

This was the largest indication that there is large-scale gold smuggling from Guyana. That investigation is still ongoing.

Even as the Natural Resources Ministry seeks to tighten its protocols with regard to gold exports, which are being overseen by officials of the Gold Board and the Guyana Revenue Authority, more stringent measures must be put in place to deter smugglers.

The Anti-Gold Smuggling Task Force needs to be resuscitated and strengthened for Guyana to be able to tap into the iceberg and dismantle this hugely profitable illegitimate industry of gold smuggling. The Anti-Gold Smuggling Task Force would continue with its mandate to tighten loopholes to tackle gold smuggling at more borders, the two international airports and other ports of exit. At the airports, it is suggested that apart from regular frisking, staff and cargo areas must be manned with electronic cameras and sensors which are monitored through a centralised command and control centre. Airlines also can play a major role by taking necessary measures to ensure that their staff are not involved in these illegal activities with emphasis on its ground-handling employees.

While it may be accepted that gold smuggling cannot be completely stopped, since smugglers develop innovative ways to cheat the system, it is an area that needs considerable curbing. A dent in the illicit trade of this precious mineral will see significant revenues for Guyana.

President David Granger on Thursday received a copy of the Holy Quran from Shaykh Faid Muhammad Said, an Islamic scholar from the United Kingdom,who is currently visiting Guyana under the auspices of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG). Also in photo is Shaikh Moen ul-Hack, Director of CIOG

The impact of Substances Control Bill on youth Dear Editor, As a youth of the Alliance For Change, I would like to take this opportunity to give my unequivocal support for the private member’s bill brought to the National Assembly, Bill No 17 of 2015, entitled: “An Act to amend the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Control Act 1988.”

First let me thank Michael Carrington MP for presenting this bill to the National Assembly for this bill bears weight for the future of our young people.

My reasons for supporting this bill lies in the outdated penalties imposed by the principal act, the feeling that this bill does have a positive impact on the future of young people and that the bill provides social support to ameliorate the issue of drug addiction among the youths.

Examining the current and principal act in Section 4 (1) a (i-ii) states: “On summa-

ry conviction, a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars, together with imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than five years; Or On conviction on indictment, to a fine of not less than thirty thousand dollars or three times the market value of the narcotic, whichever is the greater, together with imprisonment for not less than five years nor more than ten years;” The moral question one can ask here in today’s society is, it fair to incarcerate a youth for any length of time for the possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana? This law seems draconian to me! It should be clear to all that I am not in favour of decriminalisation of marijuana of less than 100 grams. It is justifiable that youths should not be jailed for small possessions for their contribution to the development to this county is important. It is President

Granger who said: “Youths do not belong in prisons… they belong in schools, universities and the world of work.”

I like many others are in total agreement with the President’s statement and I believe that supporting this bill will be a sound investment for the future of our young people.

Youths, especially the poor ones, are frequently caught smoking marijuana and are subsequently incarcerated for a long period of time. This bill will also ensure that youths and others in society are not incriminated for minor possessions of marijuana.

The Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Control Bill of 1988 ensure that young people and others in society receive the social assistance in the form of support services in the form of counselling, drug rehabilitation and community service.

The passage of this bill

will see greater cooperation between the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection in the fight against drug addiction among youths and other members of the population. It will also encourage greater social responsibility for youths and their families to play a greater role in ensuring reduced use and possession of marijuana.

It is my view that it is reasonable for offenders of marijuana possession to be charged or sentenced to community service and mandatory psychological counselling and drug rehabilitation for offenders but not to be incarcerated for any amount of time. We have to create an environment that is conducive to the social, economic and political development of our youths.

Yours truly, Collin Haynes, MPH (AFC Youth member)

Govt should privatise GuySuCo Dear Editor, In a news media article of Jan 5, it was reported that Bharrat Jagdeo, former President of Guyana and now Leader of the Opposition has warned that his Party (PPP) will oppose any move to privatise the sugar industry (GuySuCo). A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has reported on the future development of GuySuCo and its contents have been laid in Parliament for consideration and deliberation.

There are grave doubts given the global pricing outlook for sugar that GuySuCo can return to profitability in the foreseeable future and its sustainability and survival will be dependent on continued government subsidies which will be difficult to maintain without causing severe damage to the country’s economy. Therefore the

Govt would have to bite the bullet and make the tough decision to privatise GuySuCo the sooner the better.

For a start the Govt should appoint a reputable qualified Real Estate Agency from abroad to provide a detailed inventory of GuySuCo’s assets with their estimated current market values. Guyanese should not be involved with this assignment as their penchant for graft, reward for special favours, cronyism and pay-back for the politically well-connected can easily corrupt the disposal process.

Therefore disposal of Guyana’s most valuable assets has to be open, fair and transparent so that the country and its people could benefit from the sale. Further, the Govt should be advised how the assets should be bundled to attract maximum

closed bidding prices and not through NICIL’s negotiations. Experience has shown that rehabilitating the fields, factories and infrastructures of GuySuCo to make the assets more attractive to investors and to command a higher sale price would be a retrograde step as the cost so expended would never be fully recouped and therefore the assets should be sold as is.

After all only the buyer will know how the assets will be deployed for maximum profits.

GuySuCo’s sale will have many other hurdles to overcome such as compensation for the workers who will be laid off, debts to be paid off and legal agreements made with others to be satisfactorily resolved. These are not un-surmountable issues and with a competent team they could be readily resolved.

Finally, Jagdeo is under the false notion that GuySuCo is responsible for the drainage system along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Guyana generally. Fortunately drainage of most of the lowlying areas on the ECD and elsewhere along coastal Guyana has been the responsibility of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), a division of the Ministry of Agriculture and not GuySuCo. NDIA has also been providing all the irrigation needs for GuySuCo at zero cost. Therefore it is not clear as Dr Clive Thomas claims that commercialisation of GuySuCo’s drainage and irrigation facilities could provide much needed revenue for a deeply indebted corporation.

Yours sincerely, Charles Sohan

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Realities of problematic Arbitrary firearm restrictions parenting to crime Dear Editor, I am convinced more and more every day that my desire to see an inaugural exoffender rehabilitation centre established in Guyana is rooted in logic and basic commonsense.

My vision was again highlighted when I read what Child Protection Agency Director, Ann Green, said recently. She spoke of the need for her agency to conduct Parenting Classes.

Green stated emphatically that, “Parenting is in trouble!”

This begs a series of obvious, logical, questions. If parenting is in trouble, what kind of children are these troubled parents raising? If a parent doesn’t know how to parent, what kinds of mores and values are they instilling in their children?

Now that you have answered those two questions, you are closer to understanding why I am in this mad scramble for the establishment of a post-release, ex-offender, rehabilitation centre. We are failing our children, they are falling through the cracks, they are behaving badly, we are incarcerating them, and then they are returning to

the society with additional scars and bruises, branded as “criminals”.

Many in the society, even religious leaders, show disdain and scant regard for these “criminals”, when the problem, by and large, has its genesis in problematic and failed parenting.

Green is right and should be applauded for her frank assessment of the main contributor to Guyana’s crime problem. In essence what the CPA director is saying is that if the child does not receive the requisite foundational skill-sets to prepare him/her for life, then that child is off to a problematic start in life.

While in the USA I worked for the South Bend Community School Corporation, in Indiana.

My title was Family and Community Specialist.

My role was primarily to Mediate for the interest of the children between the school and the parents. I worked for an inner-city school.

What I was made to understand was that projections for the building or expansions of prisons were based on the dropout rates of what they call the K-12,

Title One schools, in the inner cities. These were the primary schools in neighbourhoods with predominantly underprivileged, addicted, low-income, families.

Yes, with ‘parenting problems’.

People are people. The parents whom Green is planning to target fit the category of the parents I interacted with and whose children I mediated for. If the professionals in the USA could tie the realities of problematic parenting to crime, it is obvious that that sociological fact could be assumed here in Guyana.

That is why for all we are bent on increasing the size of the police force and incarcerating these youths, there must be a comparative, wellthought-out, well-funded rehabilitative programme, for after all, it is not solely the youth’ problem.

Additionally, that is why what the President is doing by releasing non-violent, young offenders has merit, in my view.

Sincerely, Pastor Wendell P Jeffrey Practical Christianity Ministries

Dear Editor, I write in relation to a self-imposed mandate that is arbitrarily being applied by various Government and other agencies, including the GPL, GRA, GT&T, NIS, etc.

I refer to the refusal of permitting licenced firearm holders entry into these entities. It is an established fact that stringent criterion must be satisfied before a firearm licence is granted, whereupon, the licensee is required to always be in possession of his/her firearm and licence except, when in the courts or in the office of senior government functionaries. No condition is stipulated on the licence hence, no authority is endorsed to supersede the conditions of the said licence and to deny a licenced firearm holder entry with his/ her firearm is an act of constitutional infringement.

A simple solution would be for a person to produce his/her firearm licence when requested to do so before being permitted entry into any agency with such authority. This

would be similar to a police rank requesting the driver of a vehicle to produce his/ her driver’s licence which would be a legal directive.

However, it would be a legal impropriety for a driver to be instructed that his/her licence is not authorised for use in a specific part of the country.

Entities with restriction for entry with a firearm should employ a security based system where a licenced firearm holder can have his/her firearm lodged at the point of entry and retrieved at his/her point of exit, as is being applied at The Princess Hotel.

The commercial banks where financial transactions are paramount do not advance this insensitive rule.

Licenced firearm holders are now faced with the daunting risk of having to leave their firearms at home or in their vehicles when it is necessary to conduct business in the agencies referred to.

I have been advised by a brilliant legal exponent to challenge this ill-conceived

practice in the courts of law as the very foundation of its genesis would be unable to withstand legal scrutiny.

Which bandit with felonious intentions would subject him/herself to physical examination for a firearm?

How many robberies, attempted robberies or gunrelated crimes have been thwarted by this time-wasting imposition?

I have had the misfortune of being disrespected by security guards where the performance of this exercise can be quite demeaning.

Further, the negative attitude in the performance of this specific duty is at times reflected in the lax display by some security personnel whose distractions, including gossiping and use of cellphones, are occasionally evident.

I trust that the contents of this missive will inspire appropriate action and my suggestion in para three will be considered for urgent implementation.

Respectfully, Maurice Rajkumar

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Foundation

to repair a damaged Daughters of unloving mothers: How relationship between 7 common wounds (Conclusion) you and your child − taking stock is often the first step in healing

BY PEG STREEP

Difficulty seeing the self accurately

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ne woman shares what she has finally learned in therapy: “When I was a child, my mother held me back by focusing on my flaws, never my accomplishments. After college, I had a number of jobs but, at every one, my bosses complained that I wasn’t pushing hard enough to try to grow. It was only then that I realised that I was limiting myself, adopting my mother’s view of me in the world.” Much of this has to do with internalising all you were told growing up, and these distortions in how we see ourselves may extend into every domain, including your looks. (I personally have scoured photos of my teenage years, looking for the girl my own mother called “fat.” She also called me “unloveable” which, alas, isn’t as easy to verify or dispute in a picture. That took years.) Other daughters report feeling surprised when they succeed at something, as well as being hesitant to try something new so as to reduce the possibility of failure. This isn’t just a question of low self-esteem but something more profound.

Making avoidance the

default position

Lacking confidence or feeling fearful sometimes puts the unloved daughter in a defensive crouch so that she’s avoiding being hurt by a bad connection rather than being motivated by the

mistrust or something else – actively prevents the unloved daughter from finding the kind of loving and supportive relationships she’s always sought.

what’s meant as banter as something else and I end up worrying it to death until I shake myself and realise the person really meant nothing by it.” Having a mother who’s unattuned also means that unloved daughters often have trouble managing emotions; they tend to over think and ruminate as well.

Replicating the mother bond in relationships

possibility of finding a stable and loving one. These women, on the surface, may act as though they want to be in a relationship but, on a deeper though less conscious level, they are really motivated more by avoidance. The work of Hazan, Shaver, and Bartholomew bears this out.

Unfortunately, avoidance – whether triggered by fear,

Being overly sensitive

An unloved daughter may be sensitive to slights, real and imagined; a random comment may carry the weight of her childhood experience without her even being aware of it. “I’ve had to really focus on my reactions or, better put, over-reactions,” says one woman, now in her forties. “Sometimes, I mistake

Alas, we tend to be drawn to what we know – those situations which, while they make us unhappy in the end, are nonetheless “comfortable” because they are familiar to us. While securely attached individuals tend to go out into the world seeking people who have similar histories of attachment, unluckily, so do the ambivalently and avoidantly attached. This sometimes has the effect of unwittingly replicating the maternal relationship. “I married my mother, for sure,” one woman says, “He was on the surface completely different from my mother but, in the end, he treated me much the same way, the same seesaw of not knowing how he would be with me. Like my mother, he was indifferent and attentive by turns, horribly critical or vaguely supportive.” She ended up divorcing both her husband and her mother. (psychologytoday.com)

BY DR STEVEN RICHFIELD

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ne of the more painful challenges of parenting arrives not suddenly but gradually and with the ebb and flow of good and bad times with your child. Along with these circumstances come plenty of signs that your relationship is suffering and in urgent need of emotional repair. Frequent conflict tears at family harmony, misbehaviour takes on new and alarming forms, and parental anger leads to the blurt-

ing out of stinging indictments of a child. This leads to widening emotional distance between parent and child and the gush of internalised emotion that goes with it.

If this sad situation exists in your home, either between one or both parents and a child, read on for ways to begin to heal what’s broken and keep it that way.

Take an honest inventory of what “baggage” you bring to your role. Raising a challenging child exerts stress upon adults with already many demands upon them.

Consider what past, pres-

ent, and even future issues may be reducing the emotional fuel to invest into your parenting role. Some suffer from deep disappointment that their same sex child is so different from them in interests and attitude. Others have fragile “parent egos” making it difficult for them to accept the need for change because they are hindered by personalising and projection of blame. Many are illequipped to recover from a particularly painful episode, and then drag the family through the excessive apol-

ogy and recrimination.

Reflect upon your unique parenting triggers based upon the repeating events at home. Use these insights to develop a parenting mission that prepares you to respond to child behaviour problems and positive relationship situations. Consider both as windows of opportunity to create the kind of unconditionally loving bond with your child. Think of this mission as “being present as the parent you want to be” so that there is less chance you will be caught off guard by circumstances and distractions. It’s helpful to write a list of principles underlying your new mission, such as ‘respond with acceptance to their interests’ and ‘pause and thoughtfully consider consequences before issuing them.’

Pay special attention to the nuances of your interactions with your child as these can often send an unintended message and sabotage time together. These include imposing unnecessary conditions upon fun time together, displaying familiar annoyance and/or intolerance when circumstances don’t deserve such a response, and finding fault and/or criticising comments or behaviours in the present when it’s preferable to delay them for another more opportune time. Perhaps most important is to acknowledge that when rebuilding a relationship with your child the sound of rejection is easily interpreted through words and body language.

Ask other family members for their feedback.

Those who are daily witnesses of the splintered relationship can be very helpful in your attempt to reframe responses interpreted as rejection or stretch oneself to demonstrate greater tolerance of your child’s uniqueness. (healthyplace.com)

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Berbice businessman executed during home invasion

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Dead: Patrick Mohabir

Berbice businessman is now dead following an execution-style murder at his Belvedere home in Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Dead is 42-year-old Patrick Mohabir, the owner of a popular supermarket in Berbice.

According to a Police statement, two men armed with a firearm and a cutlass, invaded the home of Mohabir and held him up, along with his 39-year-old wife Shabina Ahmad.

The incident occurred around 23:30h on Wednesday. During the ordeal, Mohabir attempted to fight off the perpetrators but was shot and chopped in the process.

The perpetrators then escaped with two cellular phones and a pair of shoes, leaving the wife unharmed but overly traumatised since she witnessed her husband

being murdered in cold blood.

Police reported that Mohabir was rushed to the Anamayah Memorial Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical attention. Medical reports suggest that the man died as a result of excessive bleeding from the injuries received.

At the home of the family on Thursday, Ahmad was visibly shaken as she recounted the horrifying experience. Speaking to Guyana Times, Ahmad said on the night of the incident, she went to investigate a strange noise coming from another part of the house and was confronted by two masked men.

It is believed that the men gained entry into the house by climbing through an open window.

“So I tell them don’t do us nothing, and since my husband hear that, he get up, he and one of them had a scuffle and then they shot he.

On Thursday morning, residents flocked ontside the home where the incident occured

When they finish they come back

Shabina Ahmad thinking of her next move

to me and I pull out one of them mask off ah them, but me ent see he face because he duck...”

The woman related that her husband was shot to his left leg.

After he fell to the floor, one of the assailants swung the cutlass, chopping him in his right shoulder.

Ahmad said she pleaded with the intruders and even offered them money to leave her family alone but they refused. At the time of the attack, there were four children in the house; ages 12, 10, eight and five. The couple had six children. The two eldest are overseas.

After rendering the man immobile, the perpetrators fled with two cellular phones and a pair of shoes which were lying around the house.

When they left, Ahmad immediately alerted the Police.

Meanwhile, Ahmad strongly believes that the men did not come with the intent to rob.

“Because they didn’t ask for anything; I offered them, ‘I said don’t do us anything, what you want,’ but they didn’t say anything,” Ahmad told this publication. She noted also that the men spent less than five minutes in the house.

According to a source close to the investigation, the matter is being treated as a robbery/murder; however, Police have not ruled out the possibility of an execution.

Mohabir was in business for more than three years. In 2007, he, along with two others was charged for the fatal chopping of Police Officer Yuborn Quinn. The matter was dismissed in the High Court five years later.

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Indecent exposure, assault lands man in jail

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man who told the Court he was using his penis to heat a tennis roll was on Thursday sentenced to five months in prison by Magistrate Alex Moore when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Balram Singh, also known as “Dog Mouth” who has no fixed place of abode, was slapped with three charges when he appeared in appearance. The defen-

dant accepted the three charges of damage of property, indecent exposure of his genitals, and indecent assault.

The first charge read that on January 5, at the Bourda Police Outpost, he damaged one wooden door valued $10,000, property of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). The second charge read that on January 4, at the Stabroek Access Road, he indecently exposed his

genitals to Gail Mc’Almant.

The last charge stated that on the same occasion he indecently assaulted the said Gail Mc’Almant.

When asked by the Magistrate why he exposed his genitals, he responded that on the day in question he needed to heat a tennis roll which was to serve as his meal but did not have a microwave. As such, the man said he used his penis to rub the tennis roll and

heat it via friction.

When asked about the indecent assault charge where he was accused of performing frottage (dry humping) the woman, he remained silent.

The magistrate sentenced him to two months each on the damage to property and indecent assault charges, and one month for the indecent exposure charge, a total of five months which will run consecutively.

Lindener slapped with assault charge

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Half Mile, Linden, resident who appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday charged with assault and making use of threatening language, was granted bail while being placed on a bond

to keep the peace.

The accused, Keith Colette, 28, of Lot 46 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The first charge read that on Tuesday, January 5, while at Half Mile, he unlawfully and

maliciously assaulted Blount Colette which resulted in actual bodily harm.

The second charge stated that he made use of threatening language to Jinana Colette so as to cause a breach of the peace while he

was at the said location.

In addition to being placed on a peace bond, the accused was granted bail in the sum of $30,000 by Magistrate Nurse.

The matter will be called again on February 16.

Eyew tness The enemy within…

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…our “National Security”

he Ministry of Home Affairs was renamed “Ministry of National Security” to make explicit the functions of this Executive department of the Government and its line Minister – Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan.

“Home Affairs” was evidently too British and understated – “Security” was the thing.

From the beginning of the independence era, both the PPP and PNC competing for control of the State conceded this was THE critical Ministry in the country.

In their sporadic discussions and proposals for a “grand coalition”, this was the Ministry that generated the most COMPETITION TO SECURE. It wasn’t surprising.

Guyana was birthed in a virtual civil war in which those who had control (or loyalty – which was not necessarily the same thing) of the armed forces always had the political edge. Guyanese society ended up with a permanent cloud of Insecurity hanging over them. So in the Cummingsburg negotiations between APNU and the AFC to coalesce, the latter – which promised to deliver unto APNU 11% of Indian votes – demanded – and to the surprise of many – got the “Security Ministry”.

“Security” was the #1 issue in the campaign. So some in the old PPP constituency breathed easier and enough of them voted in the coalition because they figured the military-heavy APNU combine would be monitored by the leader of the AFC. So you’d think the present firestorm that has exploded like a ripe sore over SOCUgate would have Ramjattan offering some answers, wouldn’t you?

Like explaining exactly how was Guyanese “security” being protected when a civilian head of NICIL – accused of playing games with the State’s assets (which should be investigated by the eponymously named “State Assets Recovery Unit” – SARU) – was being shadowed by SOCU – which is supposed to be dealing with Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism?

If this isn’t at least a clear instance of mission creep then nothing else is. And what is worse than the tragedy of having three persons killed because of the “operation” is the tragedy of the cover-up that’s now taking place at the highest echelons of the Government. SOCU falls under the Police Force so the GDF claims its man was “seconded” to the Unit under Police control. This is the SOP when Army personnel are involved in domestic operations. Remember Buxton?

But Commissioner of Police, Seelall, says he knows NOTHING about the operation and hung up on this newspaper when asked about it. The head of SOCU, Leslie James, must be under cover on another operation – because no one’s seen hide or hair of him.

President Nixon was brought down not by the rogue operation at Watergate – but by the subsequent cover-up.

We hope history won’t burp and repeat itself in Guyana.

…SOCUgate

Prezzie says there’s no need for any overall investigation into Operation SOCUgate. This Eyewitness respectfully begs to differ. There’s EVERY reason for a full and final investigation. For one, even if Sergeant Pyle was, as the Chief-of-Staff gushed, a fella willing to serve above and beyond the call of duty – doesn’t his mother-in-law and his young children deserve to know why their daughter and mother perished in such mysterious circumstances?

And for two, don’t the citizens of this country need to know how many “GDF intelligence officers” were seconded to SOCU and how many civilians they’re surveilling? This Eyewitness heard the first number is “seven” and the second runs into “scores”.

The GHRA must be commended for asking some of the pertinent questions. We hope that other civil society groups will follow suit.

Today they came for Brassington; tomorrow it will be us.

…the financial world

And here you thought data in the banking sector was safe and were worried that the few thousands you squirrelled away would be reported to the GRA. So what about an $82M transaction by a major bank leaked to the Muckraker?

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

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friday, january 8, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Projects in “sad state of Litter pickers frustrated affairs” – Region 10 REO

Haags Bosch Landfill

over entry denial

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Haags Bosch litter pickers

everal waste recovery entrepreneurs, popularly known as “litter pickers” on Thursday vented their frustration, after being denied entry into the Haags Bosch Landfill Site.

According to the “Litter Pickers”, upon arrival, the entrance to the landfill was opened but as they approached to enter the facility, the security closed the gate and informed them that permission was no longer granted to them to enter the restricted area.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday, a number of “litter pickers” accused management of the site of being “spiteful”, adding that their livelihood is being af-

fected. When this newspaper visited the area on Thursday, these individuals were seen sitting on the culverts in close proximity to the landfill.

Other angry individuals told this newspaper that they were given permission from the Local Government Ministry, which is now the Communities Ministry, to access the area to perform their duties. The group claimed to be ‘Visionary Recyclers,’ pointed out that “we are unable to work, how they expect us to get money? Bread is being taken out of our mouths.”

Speaking with this publication, Manager of the Landfill Site, Lloyd Stanton, stated that the group is “a

By Utamu Belle

bunch of wild people”. He said that some time ago, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) was trying to formalise some individuals into a proper group, to work on a project, which involved gaining access to the site, but they refused to comply with the rules they were given. Due to this, the organisation pulled out, resulting in them been left alone without any guidance.

Stanton further commented, “this site is a private entity that is owned by the Ministry of Communities, but at this point in time, it is operated by BK International.

Persons who wish to enter the site would need to consult with either party in charge to do so. I am in no position to determine who enters and who leaves the site.”

He concluded by saying, “denial of entry into the site for these individuals was ordered from the Ministry of Communities. This was done since the temporary holding area for the garbage is too small to accommodate the 40 persons who call themselves “litter pickers”, along with three large machines that operates on the premises. He emphasised a while back that there was the occurrence of one fatality at the site, due to the cramped space to operate there. Stanton explained his duty at the site at this point in time is working along with BK International to ensure the fire subsides completely.

Man busted with illegal firearm

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man is expected to be placed before the court on Friday after he was charged following the discovery of an unlicensed .32 revolved at Agatash, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Based on reports received, at about 10:00h on Wednesday, Police ranks were

on a mobile patrol in the area when they stopped and a search a man resulting in the discovery of the firearm in his possession.

He was questioned and admitted that he did not have documents for the gun.

As such, he was taken into Police custody and charged.

R

egional Executive Officer (REO) of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Gavin Clarke has vented frustration over a number of inconsistencies existing within the administration. At the monthly statutory meeting of the Council held on Thursday, Clarke said presently, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is in a “sad state of affairs” as it relates to infrastructural projects, noting that there were “some disturbing things unearthed” from within the Council, all of which, he stated, involves money.

While he did not divulge all of the information, the REO said there are a lot of things that need to be addressed internally and externally as it relates to contractors and the level of work they execute under the watchful eyes of the Council. As such, he said a team will address the internal issues today.

Under the circumstances, Clarke has made calls for the Works Committee to be re-enacted and be fully up and running, stating that the burden is too much for the REO alone.

“I would have challenged the contractors from time to time, saying to them ‘all I’m asking you to do is to do the people’s work correctly… once the work would have been approved and completed, collect your money and go... I also said to them that the problem will come, however, if once I do inspection and find

the work is not done correctly. That is what makes my job very difficult,” he stated.

The REO further urged the Council to put systems in place to have contractors in full compliance with what is expected to be done.

He contended that he is focused on doing an honest job to the best of his ability in an effort to have things done fairly within the Region. Clarke said, recently, upon checking several infrastructural projects which were up to be checked before issuing final payments, it was discovered more than 95 per cent had issues.

“We have issues too numerous to mention... it’s a real sad state that we are in, to tell you the truth, we are in a sad, sad state, to know where we’re at right now... the things that have been unearthed are very disturbing,” he said.

Clarke added that it is not his desire to pay contractors

for any substandard or incomplete work, stressing that his officers are fully aware of this.

He said while he has not been able to inspect all projects, what has been discovered is that hundreds of thousands of dollars would be deducted for some incomplete projects under the pretense of them being completed.

He added that there is also an existing issue of fraud as it relates to transportation.

The REO further expressed issues with contractors who request Scope of Works and fail to provide updates on projects in addition to providing work which is considered substandard.

“I want us to get value for money... we are excited to know that we would have spent money and no money has gone back but my challenge is not only to spend the money but to ensure that the money is spent correctly. That we get value for those monies”, the REO stated.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, january 8, 2016

News Le Repentir Cemetery restoration

TIGI says Broomes’ appointment presents conflict of interest

Millions spent but J project still incomplete – Mayor Green A

By Kristen Macklingam

lthough the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) received a sum of $300 million last August to commence a restoration programme throughout Georgetown, much more work is left to be done at the Le Repentir Cemetery.

This is according to Mayor Hamilton Green who told Guyana Times on Wednesday afternoon that while $100 million of the abovementioned sum was awarded for the restoration of the burial site, it was still not enough to complete that project.

In fact, about 40 to 50 per cent of the needed work at the Le Repentir Cemetery was yet to be done and the M&CC has already expended the $100 million that was set aside for cleaning the location, the Mayor informed.

This newspaper understands that on Wednesday morning, the Mayor, along with other officials of City Hall, met to discuss the way forward on this much-anticipated project fully aware that they would need funds from the Government to efficiently complete this job.

At this point in time, the M&CC has not decided just how much money it would require to complete the project and officials are still preparing the budget proposal.

“We are moving to the maintenance phase soon and some people will be coming tomorrow (Thursday) with some interesting pro-

Mayor Hamilton Green

posals which we will be looking at, but the cleaning process has started. Moving to the maintenance component, we are talking about a lot of money…we don’t have the figures as yet,” Mayor Green stated.

City Hall is trying to “get the up-to-date” figure which the remainder of works to be completed would cost.

With regard to the timeframe in which the restoration programme is expected to be completed, the Mayor could not provide a definite answer.

“The restoration is an ongoing process; there is so much of stuff to be done: I mean, we are now getting things done, we have got the canals to look at, revetment to do, roads to fix. You have to look at the building codes, the parapets, the public open spaces…it is a monumental task,” he explained.

Mayor Green further stated that the first stage

of the restoration project at the Le Repentir has not been “quite completed”, but work was still ongoing.

In recent years, the public has criticised the Council for the condition of the city of Georgetown.

Various complaints about health and safety hazards in a number of locations were cited. Garbage dumping was the most pressing issue on which citizens regularly voiced concerns.

It must be noted that the Le Repentir Cemetery, which was in dire need of restoration, was allocated $100 million, and work on Blocks One, Three, Four and Five of the cemetery commenced under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government’s $1 billion “Clean-up My Country” programme.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his budget presentation in August last, had told the National Assembly that the money set aside for the restoration programme for Georgetown would enhance the aesthetics of the capital, befitting the unique setting of colonial buildings, tree-lined avenues and canals.

“To assist in the resuscitation of our capital city, we have allocated $300 million for the Georgetown Restoration Programme, encompassing an intense clean-up campaign, while enforcing laws on littering,” Minister Jordan noted. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

unior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes is coming under fire for her new role as Minister in charge of the mining sector; an area which she has a personal interest towards.

Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) acting President Compton Meerabux posited that there is definitely a conflict of interest in play and Government needs to address it.

“She has mining interests so there is a conflict of interest,” Meerabux posited as he referred to the draft Code of Conduct which outlines the social norms, rules and responsibilities of public office holders.

Broomes recently declared that she sees nothing wrong with her managing the mining sector, even though she is the owner of three lucrative mining properties.

But the TIGI President explained that “a conflict of interest can either be real or perceived” and therefore, it is critical to consider a situation that gives rise to both aspect.

He pointed out that the public already perceives this development as a conflict of interest.

However, Meerabux declined to offer any suggestions on how Government should handle the situation.

“I would have liked to talk to herself myself before making any further statement.

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry Simona Broomes

I don’t know precisely what she has so that’s why I prefer to talk to her first and let her tell me what exactly she has,” he stated.

The recently released draft Code of Conduct states clearly that “Ministers, Members of Parliament and public office holders should avoid using their official position to transmit any information made available to them in the course of their official duties to benefit themselves, their relations or any other individuals with whom they are associated. They should avoid compromising themselves or their office, which may lead to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. The failure to avoid or declare any conflict of interest may give rise to criticism of favouritism, abuse of authority or even allegations

of corruption.”

Meanwhile, when questioned by media operatives on whether she had indicated to the President David Granger about her interest in being a part of the Natural Resources Ministry, Broomes stated, “The President is the President and I am happy just to serve… I’ve always had an interest in the mining sector… I’ve had several conversations with the President, he knows my passion. We’ve campaigned together and there’s no secret between I and the President.”

She had earlier admitted to having three mining properties however; sees no reason for the ruckus being created.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had defended his colleague, noting that should a situation arise which may be perceived as a conflict of interest, he will intervene and resolve the matter.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Broomes is among several persons involved in lucrative mining operations in Tasserene, an Akawaio community located in the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The three blocks were registered under B-149/ MP/000, B-149/MP/001 and B-150/MP/000, and issued in April, 2013 to the Minister.

Miner accused of robbery under arms granted bail

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miner who has been accused of two counts of robbery under arms, was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday. The accused, Rawle Hinds, 29, of 112 Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden, is alleged to have, along with others, robbed Shawn Kishan of a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued $22,000 and $36,000 in cash, both property of Kishan, while being armed

with a gun on Saturday, October 3, 2015.

He is also accused of robbing Kishan of a TM 6×6 Bedford truck valued at $12 million and 16,500 litres of fuel; both being the property of Julius Ferreira.

The incident is alleged to have occurred along the Mabura access road, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice). He was granted bail in the sum of $75,000 by Magistrate Nurse for this offence.

The other charge against Hinds read that he, along with others at the said location and date, robbed Lakram Shuslachan of a gold band valued $37,000 while being armed with a gun. The gold band was the property of Shuslachan. The accused was granted bail in an additional sum of $75,000 by the presiding Magistrate.

The court heard that Hinds has had previous brushes with the law. The case was adjourned for February 3.

friday, january 8, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Emergency meeting on Mahdia’s township status delayed suicide convened

– President says suicide rate disturbing

President David Granger meeting with Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton; Junior Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Junior Communities Minister Dawn Hastings

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resident David Granger convened an emergency meeting on Thursday with the aim of charting a course to address the prevailing suicide epidemic and to develop an action plan to get all stakeholders involved in a centralised approach to suicide prevention.

This is in light of the suicide tragedy which occurred on January 6 in Berbice involving two young lovers.

Suicide has become a colossal dilemma in Guyana as it has been on the increase for the past few years.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton; Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings; Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence; Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally; Junior Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, and Junior Communities Minister Dawn Hastings all gathered at the Ministry of the Presidency to pitch ideas to craft an ac-

tion plan to tackle the scourge.

Government wants to work in close collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); religious organisations and other civil society organisations to develop a unified approach in dealing with the issue.

The Public Health Minister recalled the suicide cases that recently plagued the country, noting that it was absolutely worrying that so many young people were ending their lives.

Some of the recent cases include the pregnant 14-year-old girl and her 20-year-old partner hanging themselves; the Kaieteur Falls jumpers; the young couple discovered by the seawall; the Bartica teacher and the Guyanese pilot.

He also highlighted the suicide attempts by students in Bartica.

The Minister mentioned his distress over the fact that almost all the students whom he met at a secondary school in Bartica had indicated that they had con-

sidered ending their lives.

“The question was asked, who have thought of ending their lives and almost all the children raised their hands. These children are living depressed lives. This is why it is important for the Ministry of Education to get involved in this prevention strategy,” he said.

During the meeting, the President was briefed on the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy which was launched September last by the Public Health Minister.

The Head of State issued a call to all parents, guardians, teachers and church leaders to be more sensitive and understanding of the emotional matters that affect young people. He said, “The church needs to be more careful; the home needs to be more careful; peers need to be more careful. It is a delicate period, but the State cannot bear the full burden of counselling, the home is where these matters should be resolved.”

The President affirmed that his Administration intended to do all that was possible, especially since many of the victims of this scourge were young people in whose hands the country’s future lay. He explained too that the circumstances and conditions under which people live needed to be examined to understand the underlying factors responsible for the high suicide rate.

“I intend to find out why we have so many suicides and once we identify those factors, try to use governmental action and try to get the efforts of civil society and households to put this scourge to an end. We are above normal and I want to find out if it’s social, if it’s cultural, or if it’s economic and bring an end to it…we know what the disease is, let’s find out what the cures are,” Granger stated.

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Mahdia, Region 8

he move to clear the way for the hinterland community of Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) to become a town, before May 26, 2016 may be delayed by the lack of a functioning local government system.

The other three communities slated to become towns – Lethem, Mabaruma and Bartica, however, remain on target and the Communities Ministry has been visiting and holding consultations as the process progresses.

In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister within the Communities Ministry, Dawn HastingsWilliams explained that the lack of local government organs such as municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Mahdia was hindering the May 26 deadline set out for the community to attain township status.

“We’re putting Mahdia on hold for now, because of these challenges,” the Minister told GINA. “It is not that we’re going to leave them out, but they are going to come on board a

little later,” she said.

The lack of local governance systems for managing and developing the community is hampering the Administration in identifying and implementing needed projects such as roads, bridges, playgrounds, parks, and sanitary landfills – projects that are critical to the community’s transformation into a town. She explained that the Ministry was awaiting the formation of such councils to proceed with movement of the community towards township.

Not having the local Government system in place before this happens will be a setback, as these councils are important to the system, and their operations allow the citizens to participate in the decision-making process. It also allows for identifying the needs of citizens and delivery of services, Minister HastingsWilliams explained.

She noted that in the absence of the systems, any decision made prior to completing the process, would be made by some other body that probably did not have the same interest in or knowledge of the community’s affairs.

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friday, january 8, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Mayor, wife still pursuing reimbursement of $M in taxes

By Kristen Macklingam

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lans are still afoot to have millions of dollars reimbursed to Jennifer Basdeo-Green, the wife of Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green.

Guyana Times was told by the Mayor on Wednesday afternoon that they want to ensure that the legal procedures were followed accordingly before they took the matter further.

This is despite many objections citing blatant “conflict of interest” and “abuse of power”.

Last year, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) came under the microscope after

it evidently was considering Mayor Green’s request for a full reimbursement of the $10 million paid by his wife for backdated taxes.

Guyana Times understands that at a Statutory Meeting of the M&CC of Georgetown in late September, Green requested that his wife be compensated for the monies she was mandated by law to pay for her property Jelante Pharmacy on Mandela Avenue and Jamoon Drive.

Mayor Green contended that the $10.2 million was monies that previous Town Clerk Carol Sooba had “extracted in violation of a Council’s decision”. He

posited that the “injustice” must be corrected.

When contacted a few days after this, the Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told Guyana Times that no monies had been paid over to Basdeo-Green.

However, at that time, she noted that Town Clerk Royston King was in talks with personnel to determine whether the M&CC was in the position to make the reimbursement.

However, the Deputy Mayor pointed out that the Council has maintained its position that the Mayor’s wife should not have been made to pay the taxes.

“The Council has always

been of the view that the money should not be collected, but the previous Town Clerk went to court and made her pay the money … we at the Council still hold that position,” she had stated.

When reports surfaced that the Mayor’s wife had owed the municipality millions of dollars in taxes, Green had initially denied the allegation.

The Mayor had continuously bitterly complained that Town Clerk Sooba had been deliberately attacking both him and his family.

Thereafter, reports surfaced that Mayor Green was seeking to write-off the debt

which he finally admitted was owed by his wife.

Based on reports, after Sooba refused to write off the debt, the Mayor then had increased his calls for her to demit office.

Finally in November last, his wife paid off the full $10.2 million she owed the City Council in rates and taxes.

The motion passed by the Council to repay Mayor Green has attracted much controversy especially since observers argued that not only was the Mayor’s directive a reflection of a conflict of interest, it also represented a serious case of abuse of power and was outright ul-

tra vires and illegal.

Should the motion be approved by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, a series of unfortunate events could ensue whereby the rule of law will ultimately be undermined, as it would appear that any Government official can be exempt from facing the full force of the law.

An approval of this motion could also set the tone for the outcome of the pending tax evasion cases of other individuals where they too could be exempt from the penalties of the law for monies they owe to the City Council. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Parliament added to constitutional agencies – Teixeira says omission reflects incompetence

M

onths after President David Granger assented to the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2015, giving financial autonomy to several State agencies, a motion was

passed for Parliament Office to be included on that list.

At the first sitting in 2016 of the National Assembly on Thursday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo requested that Parliament Office be in-

cluded on the list of constitutional bodies after it was left out when the Bill was passed last year.

The Prime Minister moved for the Standing Order to be suspended to allow for

the amendment to be made.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had urged all Members of Parliament (MPs) to allow the full passage of the amendment since it was a simple change to be made, as he moved for the Bill to be read.

However, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira rose to call out Government for this “incompetency”, saying that the blunder was made by Government in a rush to pass the Bill last year. She noted that this has become a pattern by Government.

“We wish to draw to this House, again, that this is the eighth time that the Prime Minister is coming to this House to suspend the

Standing Orders to allow a Bill to go through all stages in this House,” she pointed out.

Teixeira stated that this was becoming a “dangerous practice” that the National Assembly was developing, something which she had raised in the past. According to the Opposition Chief Whip, back in August when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took up its seats in the National Assembly, she had highlighted the Parliament Office’s omission from the list of constitutional bodies in the Act that was assented to by the President. She further noted that since then, nothing was done to make the correction.

“We understand that

we have to discuss the Parliament Office today as a constitutional body, but this level of ineptitude is not acceptable,” she stated.

After being read for the stipulated three times, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill No 2 2015 – Bill No 20 of 2015 was amended to “intituled AN ACT to amend the third Schedule relating to Article 222A of the Constitution to insert The Parliament Office among the list of constitutional bodies”.

This motion was allowed since the House was scheduled to consider the proposed current and capital estimates of all of the constitutional agencies for the year 2016.

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friday, january 8, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Irate Mall vendors strike 2016 Budget: Region 3 seeks $1B deal with M&CC capital programme By: Kizzy Coleman

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Town Clerk Royston King speaking to vendors on the eastern half of Merriman Mall on Thursday afternoon

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he Mayor and City Council on Thursday settled scores with vendors of the Merriman Mall, who on Wednesday took their cries to the gates of the Ministry of the Presidency.

The once boisterous vendors stood calmly on the eastern half of the Merriman Mall, where they wrapped up discussions with Town Clerk Royston King.

On Wednesday, the vendors flew in a fit of rage and stormed the Office of the President, calling on the Head of State to intervene in what they said was unfair treatment towards them and their families.

When vendors arrived to begin business on Wednesday morning, they were greeted by City Constables and Police who informed them that they could not sell there.

During their protest outside the Ministry of the Presidency, the vendors argued that they were never informed by the Council about any decision to move them and that they would be returning to the area to continue their business. That move may have caused some friction as one vendor was reportedly taken into Police custody for failing to comply.

Visiting the Merriman mall on Thursday, Guyana Times caught up with Town Clerk Royston King, who said that the two parties had entered into an agreement which will benefit them both.

“What has happened here is that we have just

entered into an agreement with the vendors who are plying their trade here as to how we will operate with the new conditions that we have put in place so that we can deliver to all the citizens of Georgetown a clean a healthy city. That is what we have been doing and we are now having consultations to decide how we will move forward”, he told Guyana Times.

Part of that agreement, he said, is where the Council will demonstrate to the vendors the high standards of excellence they are looking to achieve and that vendors conform to those standards.

The agreement also includes the allowance of vendors to sell on the eastern half of the Mall between now and January 21. In fact, they have been placed on a trial run to see how well they keep their surrounding clean over the next two days, before they could continue vending.

If this is maintained, then

they will be allowed to continue until January 21. The Council in the meantime will be constructing stalls and setting up bins to its own specification; all in an effort to keep the city clean.

The vendors were in a much better mood compared to Wednesday and have pledged that they will work at their best to keep the area clean. They however related that the area is being polluted by outsiders, who send persons to dump their refuse in the area.

“These people clean this place, they take their fingers and clean this place and the people who sell here know for a fact that they are making their bread here… and these people have flexed with them. The law is the law”, said Kalicharan Rooplall, who was very raucous on Wednesday. He said he was very thankful that the two parties were able to reach an amicable agreement.

egion 3 Chairman Julius Faerber said the region is hoping for a capital programme in excess of $1 billion from the 2016 Budget that will go towards the development of communities.

This capital programme, he said, will see new developments being carried out which include the construction of new buildings, the building and repairing of new roads, works to improve the agricultural sector, etc that will aid in development of the region.

According to Faerber, he is unsure whether the amount requested will be procured but that the council is at least hoping for half of that amount.

The chairman stated that the council has budgeted for a number of projects in all five programmes being run at a regional level. These programmes are Administration and Finance, Agriculture, Public Works, Education, and Health.

He added that in the region there are quite a number of areas to be looked into.

“There are quite a lot to be done especially in the health sector and we are looking forward to having the health sector upgraded and improved in 2016”.

Under the Public Works programme the council is hoping for the improvement and rebuilding of roads and

Vessel with dead man, dog still to be located

T

he French yacht that was reportedly spotted offshore Guyana with the bodies of the suspected Captain and his dog is yet to be located.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum up to press time confirmed that the Police ranks and other officials of the search party will have to solicit aerial support in locat-

ing the vessel.

He noted that personnel from the Maritime Administration are also part of the team looking for the vessel.

It was reported that maritime officials and officials at the Light House received information from an oil tanker in the area that the yacht was spotted adrift in the Atlantic

Ocean.

The vessel was reportedly some 200 miles offshore Guyana.

Photos posted on social media showed the Captain in a sitting position and the white dog was lying on its back. The yacht was carrying a French flag. Attempts to contact Chief-of-Staff Mark Phillips proved futile.

Region 3 Chairman Julius Faerber

bridges.

“There are a number of roads in the different communities that have been budgeted for and we are hoping to get most of them repaired and built so that residents will be in a better position in terms of accessing their homes and places of work”.

Faerber added that in the Agriculture programme the council is hoping to find a solution to the flooding issue which has always been a problem plaguing the region.

“In the Agriculture programmes we are hoping to have our trenches excavated, our kokers repaired so that we would be in a better position to get the water off the land when it rains, to

avoid flooding” he explained.

Garbage build-up has been an ongoing issue in the region, as such a project to have a ‘waste disposal site’ had commenced but this project was not completed.

This ‘waste disposal site’ is located at the backlands of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara and the council is hoping for money to be allocated in order for it to be completed.

“Residence of Region Three would have access to the site to dispose of their garbage which will assist the issue to an extent” Faerber explained.

According to reports the 2016 Budget will be presented before the end of January, President Granger had said.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, January 8, 2016

News The cry of a Over 120 Jaguars killed in Guyana - researcher reveals dying woman A

Wendy Blenman is pleading for assistance By: Susan David

H

eredity factors, poor health habits, illnesses and aging can lead to kidney failure in some individuals. The life of an individual can be preserved longer through the use of dialysis during failure of these beanshaped organs.

However for Wendy Blenman she does not know how long more she has on earth.

Speaking with this publication in a sombre yet positive tone Blenman of Paradise, East Coast Demerara, related her story, as she pleads for help to continue her treatment on dialysis. Wendy said, “about two years ago I was diagnosed with kidney failure. During that period when treatment commenced I was in high spirits and also thankful for the assistance I received.”

She exclaimed in a bubbly tone, “my assistance came as a blessing in disguise, since the previous government took the initial cost of my treatment at their expense, which was done at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).”

Wendy recalls that she was progressing nicely each time she completed her treatment, last May, she lamented, the treatment I received ceased abruptly. I then started making enquires, when would I be given free treatment again. I was informed the treatment would not be given free of cost anymore, however I need to fill out a form, submit it to the hospital, then await an update when to return.”

She said her condition began to worsen and with no other alternative, she had to seek treatment elsewhere.

“My treatment is presently being administered with a cost being attached at Doobay Centre, which

is located in Annandale on the East Coast Demerara.”

Wendy revealed that because of financial constraints she is at “wits end” as to the reasons why she can no longer receive free dialysis.

“It’s really frustrating, I’m seeking answers for nine months, in relation to receive the treatment free of cost again, but to no avail.”

Wendy is pleading with the relevant health authorities to render assistance, since she is unable to pay for the treatment.

Tearfully she related, ‘the treatment I need is $9000 per session, and each session needs to be administered three times on a weekly basis. This is extremely difficult for me to finance, which leaves death staring me coldly in the face.”

Dialysis is a treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine.

This helps keep the body in balance when the kidneys cannot do its job.

People who stop dialysis may live anywhere from one week to several weeks, depending on the amount of kidney function they have left and their overall medical condition.

When Guyana Times contacted Public Health Minister Dr George Norton about dialysis at the public hospital, he stated “all services offered at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation are free of cost, however there is a routine process where a form has to be filled in order to obtain the necessary treatment to be administered.” The minister further stated: “Patients are being taken out of a crisis at the Georgetown Public Hospital in need of dialysis. Once they are stabilised they are then referred to other centres around the city to continue their treatment.”

n overseas-based Guyanese professor has revealed that within the past decade, over 120 jaguars have been killed in Guyana.

Professor of the University of Dallas, Texas, Anthony Cummings in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times related that the research is a collaborative effort between his university and various organisations in Guyana, is examining the interaction between people in Guyana and Jaguars.

He revealed the research has found that within the past decade between 120 to 150 jaguars have been killed. “People are extremely fascinated by the idea of jaguars; unfortunately jaguars are not only viewed as a friendly animal, as within our forests people have been suffering losses, he revealed.

He further added that these killings are mainly done for sport, meat and by miners. This he related, is unacceptable as the Jaguar should be revered as our National Animal, and as such measures should be put in place to protect them.

“Jaguars are our National Animal and we want to begin a conversation as to how we can protect the species and keep it as part of our national pride,” the professor added.

He further explained that his research began in 2014 through a partnership with the National Geographic Channel. When asked as to what spurred his interest in researching the endangered species, he related it was due to an incident that occurred during one of his visits to Guyana.

Anthony Cummings

“There was a moment that made me realise that we really need to do something to protect these animals and that moment was in 2012. I visited a friend who is a miner and he gave me some pictures on a DVD of what they were doing in their mines. And as I was going through the pictures, I saw they had a trap, the trap had a jaguar in it… and eventually the jaguar was dead. That is what made me really interested in this,” he explained.

He stated that he subsequently approached National Geographic to conduct the research and arrived for the first field study in December 2014.

He said thus far the research team has been interacting with miners and persons who interact with these animals and are coming up with solutions to preserve the endangered species while protecting ourselves from them.

“One of the first things that we have to be thinking about is some of the wild meat that we like to eat, the agouti and the labba for example, are really the preys

of the jaguar. If we’re going to remove the food source of the jaguar, they’re going to come to find something else to eat… and that generally means cattle… or it might be a dog or a chicken that we’re rearing,” he explained.

The professor announced that the researchers will be inventing a tool kit specific to Guyana that will contain equipment that are safe for the animals to deter them and protect people at the same time.

Member of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Annette ArjuneMartins said it is important the species be protected as it is a major contribution to

so many great things.”

She opined that there is a lot of misinformation about jaguars, one of them being how vicious they are.

“I’d like to debunk that very clearly because of all the cats, the jaguar is the biggest pussy cat in terms of being scared. The reason jaguars are being seen more frequently in populated areas is because humans are encroaching in the land of the jaguars,” Martins revealed.

It was explained that the team of researchers will be collaborating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and other organisations to implement mea-

The skin of the endangered species sprawled on the Public Security Minister’s office wall

Tourism in Guyana.

“I was thrilled that the logo for our 50th Independence anniversary happened to have a jaguar on it, which it deserves because as our National Animal that is symbolic of

sures to protect the animals such as the establishment of no-hunting zones, seasonal hunting of small animals which are the main food source of the jaguars, and the establishment of wildlife reserves.

Courts awards loyal customers

C

Winners of the Mabe Promotion with Managing Director Clyde DeHass

ourts continued with the New Year’s cheer as it rewarded 31 of its customers with cash and grocery vouchers.

The customers were selected from Georgetown, Bartica and Linden for their incessant support during 2015.

Customers who shopped during the period November 1 and December 24, entered the promotion which gave

them an opportunity to be selected for the first prize of $2 million.

Others were selected from the Mabe Promotion which was launched on December 1. Winners were awarded grocery vouchers valued $50,000.

On Thursday, Courts honoured these winners at its Main Street, Georgetown, branch after a brief presentation by Managing Director

Clyde DeHass.

The winners were all smiles as they collected their prizes.

However, the most euphoric of them was Danesh Persaud who won the first prize.

He related to Guyana Times how overjoyed he was to be selected for the “big prize”.

“I didn’t believe I had one, I didn’t believe at all. I

had to call in to make sure when the girl called me. Its only yesterday I confirmed that indeed I won. I was overwhelmed with excitement. Who doesn’t feel good to be a millionaire?” he commented.

This publication also spoke with one of the grocery voucher winners, Amanda Fedee who expressed delight at being a winner of the Mabe Promotion.

“I feel wonderful. I feel blessed that I have won. I must thank the Almighty for granting me this privilege to be a winner.” Fedee responded.

Courts have been able over the years, to live up to its slogan “Bringing Value Home” which is indicated by its generous giving back to customers who remain loyal and supportive.

The winners all encouraged the public to shop at Courts as they too might be fortunate to be winners one day.

friday, January 8, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News

Govt axes Opposition Duo remanded on murder charge Leader, Parliament T budget …Finance Minister owes Guyanese a proper explanation – Jagdeo

T

he Office of the Opposition Leader was among several constitutional agencies, which had their proposed budgets for 2016 reduced by Government using its oneseat majority.

At the first sitting of the National Assembly for 2016 on Thursday, the House considered the Current and Capital Estimates for the 16 constitutional bodies, which were given fiscal autonomy last year.

The budgets proposed by the Office of the Opposition Leader and the Parliament Office were $20,137,000 and $1,395,865,000 respectively.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan recommended that the sums for the two agencies which were combined into one proposal of $1,416,596,000 –be reduced by $42,243,000. The Minister stated that his recommendation was an affordable amount.

However, the Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira asked the Finance Minister to explain the rationale behind the budget cuts of the country’s most important lawmaking body. In response, Jordan cited the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2015, which gives him the power to make recommendations on the proposed sums submitted by the constitutional agencies.

Meanwhile, Teixeira’s colleague parliamentarian, Irfaan Ali, requested the Minister share the relevant documents, studies or information that support his con-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

tention and conclusion that there was a problem of “affordability”.

Opposition Member, Bishop Juan Edghill further asked whether the Minister in his reductions considered that both the Parliament and Leader of the Opposition Offices would be affected.

In response, the only explanation Jordan opted to give was that the recommended figure was “carefully looked at” by his office.

He further stated, “The law just gives me the opportunity to make a recommendation on the lump sum, as to whether they want to argue whether this is right or wrong, that’s the law and I’ve done so. Maybe it has to be improved down the road, but as it exists in the moment. I’ve complied with the law.”

At this point, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo rose to his feet, reiterating that the Finance Minister owed

the National Assembly and the people of Guyana a proper explanation as to why the reduction was recommended. He even went on to opine that the previous system used to finance these agencies was more transparent.

“We would’ve been better off with the old system.

It was more transparent.

We would have been better off because at least then at that time, we would have had explanations line by line as to why cuts were effected and questions would have been posed,” Jagdeo stated.

According to the Opposition Leader, the House, and the country by extension, has not advanced in terms of transparency, adding that the Finance Minister is hiding behind the law and evading questions.

On the other hand, Government parliamentarian Raphael Trotman rubbished Jagdeo’s comments, stating that the country had come full circle in terms of achieving transparency. He pointed out that Government had tried to use the previous system earlier in the evening to consider the estimates, but this route was objected to by the Opposition.

Following more than 30 minutes of heated debate among members of the two sides of the House, the budget estimates for the Parliament Office and the Office of the Opposition Leader were approved in the reduced combined figure of $1,373,759,000.

wo men accused of murder were remanded to prison on Wednesday by Magistrate Clive Nurse, after making an appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. Winston “Town man” Hinds, 23, of Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, and of Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara was jointly charged along with Owen Belfield, 27, of

59 Victory Valley and Silvertown, Wismar, for the murder of Richard Remington.

It is alleged that the duo murdered Remington, a father of two, between February 9 and 12, 2015 at Cholomdely Hill, Wismar.

The case will be called again on January 13.

Syrian Government allows aid to enter starving town

The United Nations said

Civilians in towns along the Syria-Lebanon border are struggling to survive

T

he Syrian Government has allowed humanitarian workers access to an Opposition-held town near the border with Lebanon where people are reported to be starving to death in the freezing cold weather.

in a statement on Thursday it was preparing to deliver humanitarian assistance in the coming days to the besieged town of Madaya. Two Shia towns that have been cut off by rebels in the province of Idlib will also receive UN aid.

Residents of Madaya,

about 25 kilometres northwest of Damascus, are suffering from severe malnutrition and have little access to fuel and medical supplies because of the siege by Government regime forces since July.

Abu Abdul Rahman, a resident in Madaya, told Al Jazeera he had not eaten for four days.

Hungry and weakened, Rahman and his family have been trying to limit their movements inside their house in the Syrian town of Madaya, fearing any activity would drain the little energy left in their bodies.

“There are no more cats or dogs alive in the town.

Even tree leaves that we have been eating have become scarce,” he told Al Jazeera over the phone.

The Red Cross said people in the town are burning plastic to keep themselves warm. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Venezuelans losing hope as gridlock looms

World powers vow to punish N Korea after nuclear test

In an emergency session, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the nuclear test

T

he United Nations Security Council has vowed to pursue new sanctions against North Korea after the reclusive country said on Wednesday it had successfully conducted a test on its first hydrogen bomb.

In an emergency session, the Council strongly con-

demned the nuclear test and said it would begin working immediately on a new resolution against Pyongyang, whose nuclear test claim sparked a global outcry even as some officials and experts voiced doubts over its validity.

The test was in violation of previous resolutions, and “a

clear threat to international peace and security continues to exist”, said the Council, which started imposing economic and commercial sanctions on North Korea a decade ago because of its nuclear activity.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also condemned North Korea’s announcement, calling it “profoundly destabilising for regional security”.

The international community must respond with “steadily increasing pressure” and rigorous enforcement of existing measures, said US Ambassador Samantha Power.

Al Jazeera’s James Bays, reporting from the UN headquarters in New York, said there was already a very strict sanctions regime against North Korea in place – although there were suspicions that some countries may not be fully enforcing it. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Venezuela’s winning coalition of Opposition parties (MUD) celebrate during a news conference in Caracas [Marco Bello/Reuters file photo]

W

hen Kilder Telleria, a 40-yearold graphic designer, voted for the Opposition in last December’s parliamentary elections, he was not feeling particularly hopeful.

For Telleria, the Venezuelan Government has consistently found ways to “cheat” its way into amassing more powers. At best, he thought, the Opposition would seal a close win.

“They control the supreme court, the electoral

council and the military,” Telleria said.

“They’ve even given away houses and taxis so people vote for them.”

When the Opposition won 112 out of the 167 seats – and secured a supermajority in Venezuela’s once Government-controlled assembly for the first time since 1999 – Telleria felt the country had taken a slow turn for the better.

“These elections mean we can bring about a change democratically and not through a coup or vio-

lence like it’s happened in the past.”

A week after the elections, President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, fasttracked the approval of 13 Supreme Court judges who can effectively challenge any legislation passed by the Parliament.

In addition to this, members of the ruling party have challenged the election of eight legislators. Thursday, the Parliament sworn them in defying a Supreme Court ruling. (Excerpted from Al Jazeera)

16 news

friday, january 8, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

Stop ethnic and political profiling – Irfaan Ali

P

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive and Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali has lashed out at the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government over what he said is “hypocritical approach” to the Pradoville/ Red House issue.

Ali’s concerns surround Government’s move to repossess what it said are prime lands issued to former President Bharat Jagdeo along with those of a number of persons who served in the previous government.

Government is also making threats towards repossession of the Cheddi Jagan Foundation property or what is commonly known as “Red House.”

Following the completion of a report from the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), a recommendation was made for former ministers to be placed before the courts to answer to charges of misuse of public property since they reportedly used their influence to obtain the prime lands.

But Ali on Thursday argued that government is engaging in “ethnic and political” profiling.

“They claim that the government abused the system in granting the Red House lease and the issuing of house lots at Pradoville 2.

It is PPP/Civic Government that also issued five acres

of freehold ownership at no cost to the Burnham family. This five acres is not in Paradise but the primest piece of real estate in the centre of Georgetown.

Why isn’t this abuse?

Why isn’t this investigated, and if Pradoville 2 and the Cheddi Jagan Foundation lease which is significantly less valuable than this five acres allocated to the Burnham family considered criminal, then this too can be classified the same.

The question is why this isn’t referred to as criminal?

Further, this land which was acquired at zero cost was resold at an astronomical sum”, Ali said According to him, Government is aggressively pursuing the repossession of what they term prime lands. However, he related that the lands were allocated in Paradise, East Coast Demerara and were heavily swamped.

“Let me make it abundantly clear that this selective partisan political agenda is venomous and filled with flaws”, he argued He recalled that there were transfers of numerous properties and lands to the PNC when it was in government. This too, he said, should be classified as criminal and must now be also investigated.

“Point to the tender process and market valuation that were used in the transfer of these properties.

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

Let me assure you there would be none. In the case of Pradoville 2 there was no need for an audit to determine who the lands were allocated to and at what cost.

This information was provided years ago not only in the public newspapers but also in the National Assembly when requested by the then opposition.

There was no secrecy or anything to hide, the information was all there”.

Ali said the PPP/C would most certainly like to see published every lease and allocation issued by the City Council of Georgetown, the cost it was issued at and the process used in issuing the lands.

“It is time to stop the ethnic and political profiling.

The double standard stinks and cannot be condoned”, he

said.

In October 2015, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams confirmed he had received a copy of the completed report of the SARU and was in the position to recommend that civil charges be laid against five members of the former PPP/C government.

The issue was that former President Bharrat Jagdeo and several former ministers, both under his and former President Donald Ramotar’s tenure, had obtained state lands at an undervalued market price. They allegedly include PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford, former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud, and former head of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Board Sheik Baksh.

They have all been accused of misusing their office to gain benefits from the ‘Pradoville 2’ Housing Scheme some five years ago.

Other beneficiaries of the deal are listed as former Head of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookoo; former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon; former Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul and Lisaveta Valantina Ramotar, daughter of Donald Ramotar, among others.

Attorneys in support of alternative sentencing for youths

By Jillicia Pinder

S

everal attorneys have pledged their support to the idea of an alternative sentencing for young offenders as proposed by Chief Probation and Social Services Officer of the Social Protection Ministry Gavin Munroe at an end-of-year media conference.

Monroe had disclosed that the goal of the ministry is to look at the main aspects of justice in today’s society, including security, rehabilitation, and the reintegration of persons who might be placed before the courts.

The Social Protection Ministry is seeking to greatly restructure the agency to emphasise focus on youth development and family issues.

Attorney Dexter Todd told Guyana Times in an interview Thursday that in order to clearly see the need for alternative sentences for youths, persons need to examine the offences and the sentences in place in society: “If you look at the population of the inmates of the various prisons in Guyana, including Camp Street, a majority of the prison occupants are young adults. I think that there has to be another

Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd

measure in place for young persons that have committed small offences.”

The attorney explained that a person who has been apprehended with 5 grams of narcotics will be faced with the charge of possession, and if over 15 grams, the charge is trafficking, yet both of these charges carry the same penalty which is a minimum of three years in prison.

Todd believes there is an urgent need to revisit the legislation to remove custodial sentences for small amounts of narcotics especially with young offenders, and added that a less harsh fate such as fining the individual or sentencing them to

community service should be recommended.

His issue is not only based on the age of these offenders, but that the laws are so rigid that the magistrate cannot exercise any discretion in awarding sentences that would fall below three years.

“I think we are running ourselves into serious trouble in this society because if someone who is 18 years old is sentenced to three years in prison for a mere possession of a few grams. This young teen is now mixed with hardcore criminals, in which case, that person is in no way being helped. Instead of creating ways so they can be reintegrated into society, they are now exposed to even more savagery, which in turn, creates more problems for our society” the attorney posited.

He added that he does not believe the current legislation is relevant enough to embrace a growing society, as instead of trying to help the individual, the laws are doing the opposite.

Several other attorneys expressed similar sentiments, including young lawyer Siand Dhurjon who stated that the country’s jail is overcrowded by persons who

are still capable of making valuable contributions to society.

In May 2015, President David Granger granted presidential pardons to some 60 inmates who were serving short sentences for minor or non-violent-related offences. The president had stated: “I believe that young people should be in school not in jail, and I have asked that emphasis be placed on young persons and for petty nonviolent offences and sentences of short duration.

Some men are in jail for stealing cellphones, go your way and sin no more… Most of them are young, most of them are minor misdemeanours or offences, which are non-violent and I do hope that we will be able to integrate them by ensuring that they get on training programmes and they can start living the good lives, the longer they stay in prison the more difficult it would be to rehabilitate them.”

It is believed that the Social Protection Ministry is attempting to prevent young people from even entering such environments that may have lasting effects on a young person’s life.

Culture and unity

O

ne of the ironies of the ongoing discussion about “ethnic” intellectuals in Guyana and the Caribbean has been the acceptance by the several interlocutors of the European notion of what it takes to be a “people” and “nation”. This stance privileges “unity” over “diversity” and its premises, which are accepted as common sense, are that the people within a state must all share a common culture and values so that they would feel a sense of oneness so as to better work towards achieving the “national” goals.

The sixty-four thousand dollar question, of course, is, who decides on what constitutes the “national culture” into which everyone is to be assimilated?

There is a project launched to formulate a “cultural policy”, but the question has not been mooted publicly. There have been several variants of the assimilationist school – ranging from the demand that individuals entering such a society jettison their “old” cultures and practice the new – to others where individuals are told they should intermarry with others from the “mainstream” so that they physically disappear.

The sad fact is that the assimilationist project has only worked at the price of great suffering and even then, never very successfully. America has had to concede that instead of a “melting pot”, it has had to accept that it can only be a “salad bowl”. Britain has had to grant autonomy to Scotland and Ireland in cultural as well as political terms. Recently however, under threats from Islamic radicals, both the US and Britain (as well as the rest of Europe) are beginning to re-invoke the old demands for assimilation.

In Guyana while everyone was told to assimilate into British culture, there were always snickers from whites when “natives” talked about Britain as “home” – as was very common as recently as the sixties. There are however, those locally who still see themselves as exemplars of this CULTURE and snicker on others who may have other practices, even though multicultural societies are actually the norm today.

The question as to whether “unity” or “diversity” should be privileged is partially a semantic one, caused by the conflation of “state” and “nation”.

But at the bottom the dispute has to do with power as it almost always does. Political unity and cultural diversity do not have to be mutually exclusive. Each society has to find the right balance between the demands of the two concepts that is appropriate for its own circumstances so as to have a political system that is cohesive and stable, while facilitating the cultural aspirations of all the peoples.

We need political unity to guide the state but that is not contradictory to “diversity” in terms of the “nation” – of diverse cultural expressions by the people of a given society. We have elaborated previously on the type of political unity necessary such as Federalism. We need to address the type of cultural integration that may be best for Guyana in view of its evident cultural diversity. While the definitions of culture are legion, for our purposes, we may see culture as, in the words of Ronald Dworkin, “a shared vocabulary of tradition and convention” by a group of people.

Each culture in Guyana gives its adherents a shared understanding of life – how to live it and how to organise it. Since such “shared understandings” may entail a different conception of the good life, there are obvious implications for the political viability of a culturally plural society.

We have proposed before, the creation of institutions to promote an ideological notion of “Guyaneseness” for a nation based on equality, which incorporates all our present cultures. Having one’s social institutions embody one’s culture means that they will be immediately comprehensible to us and therefore easier to use. The mutual intelligibility will promote relationships of solidarity and trust (“we all understand one another, don’t we?”) for all Guyanese.

guyanatimesgy.com

HJ riding the “slow waves” in 2016

Konshens

H

its and Jams Entertainment is getting ready for yet another year in the entertainment industry and from the way things sound, they will be riding the slow waves in 2016.

The HJ family kick-started 2016 with live performances by Jamaican Raggae rising star Romain Virgo, and his entire band; Dancehall star Dexta Daps and Lloyd Flames.

The next major event for the group will be “Gully God” Mavado’s live performance at the Hits and Jams Water World on February 13, the night before Valentine’s Day. Mavado, who is no stranger to Guyana, will be the headlining act for the evening

With the economy on a downward slope, the directors of the group will be hoping for a turnaround before making decisions with respect to concerts and mega events. We still have to wait for the announcements of the names of the big fishes that will grace Guyana in 2016.

Mavado

Friday, January 8, 2016

Jumo Primo makes the cut for Soca Monarch semis J

umo “Rubber Waist” Primo continues to shine in the music industry as he was on Thursday confirmed as the 60th artiste to compete in the Soca Monarch semi finals slated for January 17 in Trinidad and Tobago. He will be singing his Carib Soca Monarch tune “Unruly”.

Primo was already selected to compete in the Chutney Soca Monarch competition with his tune “Off the Rocks” billed for tomorrow evening, also in Trinidad.

An elated Primo stated that it is an honour to be representing Guyana on the international stage at not one competition, but two. Now that he has been called upon to represent Guyana, he intends to do so to the best of his ability as he aims to win the competitions.

At the Chutney Soca Monarch, he will be competing against the big guns, such as Rikki Jai, Ravi B, Omardatt Maharaj, KI, Nishard M, Raymond Ramnarine and others while in the Soca Monarch, he will

clash with Destra, Bunji Garlin, Machel Montano, Kees and the other popular names in the business.

Although Primo is aware that the competitions will be stiff, he is of the view that “things are possible”. His first aim is to make it to the finals of the International Chutney Soca Monarch, concentrating on promoting his song “Unruly” for the soca competition. Guyana Times Entertainment wishes the Guyanese artiste the best of luck in both competitions.

Adrian Dutchin released “No Excuses” F

Ravi B

along with several other local dancehall artistes who have been creating some buzz.

Then as Guyana gets ready to celebrate 50 years of independence, the HJ family will be hosting at least two main events in observation of that celebration. Although Guyana Times entertainment is unsure as to who will be performing, it understands that several regional and international artistes will be contacted.

As time goes by, the names of the acts will be revealed. Immediately after the hosting of Guyana 50th Independence anniversary, Jamzone will be in full swing. As usual, the international pageant will be held along with several other events at the HJ Water World, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Romain Virgo

ive-time Road March King and former Carib Soca Monarch, Adrian Dutchin, has released his first single for 2016, titled “No Excuses”.

The song was written by the father of two and was produced by Victorious who would have also produced “I am Guyanese” and “Soca Do Me”.

This is the first tune the talented artiste has released after a few months but there are other songs that he has been working on that are expected to be released shortly. Dutchin, who now resides overseas, is thankful to all his fans who supported him and his goals over the past year and hopes that he receives the same support in 2016.

“No Excuses” is avail-

able at www.gtriddim. com/25 or www.592jamz. com and fans can follow him

on instagram to keep up to date with his new releases at iamadriandutchin.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, january 8, 2016

No Carib Soca Monarch for “Mash”

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ocal soca artistes are still shocked after learning that the Carib Soca Monarch competition will not be held this year as per normal – usually held around Republic elebrations.

The competition which would have been celebrating 12 years, has

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artyholics in Blairmont, West Coast Berbice (WCB), are in for a treat this weekend as Exclusive Entertainment presents a big birth night bash in honour of “Pumpkin”. The event billed for Saturday, January 9 is titled Pumpkin

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been put on hold after the new Government announced that all major festivities that are usually held in February will now be held in May, leading up to Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary.

Sources from ANSA McAL on Wednesday stat-

ed that it makes no sense to hold the Carib Soca Monarch Competition in February, since there will be no costume and float parade as was seen in the past.

The official stated that discussions are continuing with the aim of having a smaller competition

in time for May 26 celebrations, noting it is still in the making. The reigning Carib Soca Monarch Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo will be representing Guyana at the international leg of the competition in Trinidad and Tobago.

Nevertheless, the beverage giant will host its

Birth night Bash, Fun Day and Show and it is slated for Blairmont Number 2 ground, WCB. The event will feature several young budding chutney artistes who have been performing here and abroad.

These include Prince JP, Aamir Khan, Bunty Singh

and others. apart from the live performances, there will be volleyball, cricket, domino and football competitions.

Also there will be Slingerz Family Deejays in the house including Deejay Garwin and others.

The birth night bash

is sponsored by Stag, Two Brothers Corp, R Moore and Sons, Plastic and NY Crew, Elegance Pawn Shop, Star Party Rental and Pro Graphics.

Admission to the event is absolutely free.

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4th edition of STAGE between February 19-22.

The venue for the hosting of the event is still to be decided but according to reports, an open air venue is preferred. STAGE will cater for four nights of fun and frolic. As usual, there will be the comedy night followed by the lo-

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cal soca night and then the international night, and it will culminate with Bunji Garlin and Fyon Lyons and band.

The event is absolutely free and has attracted a large audience in the past.

The last edition was held at Parade ground, Middle Street, Georgetown.

ith the Christmas season over, the concept parties continue in full swing into the New Year. Come January 16 at the Buddy’s

free glow bands and free shots. The carnival like atmosphere will definitely be the highlight of the evening.

Patrons are urged not

Night Club, there will be the first event Soca Mask Party promoted by AK Entertainment.

Patrons can enjoy the best in soca music by the best deejays in the house.

Those attending the party will be given free masks,

to be worried about parking since there will be secured parking available.

Remember, it’s the Soca Mask Party at Buddy’s Night Club on January 16.

Admission is $2000 and tickets are available at the gate.

friday, january 8, 2016

Platini will not stand in Fifa presidential election S uspended Uefa president Michel Platini says he will not stand in the Fifa presidential election next month.

Platini, along with Fifa president Sepp Blatter, has been banned from footballrelated activities for eight years by world football’s governing body.

Both men were found guilty of breaches surrounding a £1.3m ($2m) “disloyal payment” made to Platini in 2011.

They are appealing against their bans, but Platini says the timing of the 26 February election means he cannot run.

“I’m withdrawing from the race for the Fifa presidency,” the 60-yearold Frenchman told the Associated Press.

“The timing is not good for me. I don’t have the means to fight on equal terms with the other candidates.

“I have not been given the chance to play the game.

Bye bye Fifa, bye bye Fifa presidency.”

‘Injustice is revolting me’ Platini, president of European football’s governing body since 2007, had submitted his candidacy for the Fifa presidential elec-

Michel Platini

tion but could not stand while suspended.

He and Blatter, 79, plan to take their cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“I’ve spent more time in hearing rooms than on football pitches speaking about 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 or football news,” added Platini.

“I’m taking this philosophically. Let’s wait and see what happens. But injustice is revolting me and I’m trying to fight it.”

Platini and Blatter claimed the payment was honouring an agreement made in 1998 for work carried out between 1998 and 2002, when Platini worked as a technical adviser for Blatter.

Fifa’s ethics committee said there was “not suffi-

cient evidence” to establish the payment was a bribe, but both men demonstrated an “abusive execution” of their positions.

“I can’t have any regret in that story because things fell upon my head while I haven’t done anything wrong,” added Platini.

“I’m struggling to understand what happened, unless there was a will somewhere to prevent me from bidding.”

‘Maybe I’ll come back in 20 years’ The English Football Association had previously backed Platini for the Fifa presidency, but suspended its support in October pending the outcome of the ethics inquiry.

FA chairman Greg Dyke said recently the organisa-

tion had yet to decide who to now support.

“I had 150 associations thinking that I’m the right person to solve Fifa problems,” said Platini.

“It won’t happen. But there is no age limitation, so maybe I’ll come back in 20 years. Who knows?”

Who will be the next Fifa boss?

There are five candidates to succeed Blatter, who has been Fifa president since 1998: * Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa - 50, Bahrain, president of Asian Football Confederation; * Tokyo Sexwale - 62, South Africa, politician, businessman and former political prisoner; * Prince Ali bin al-Hussein - 40, Jordan, a former Fifa vice-president and 2015 Fifa presidential candidate; * Gianni Infantino - 45, Switzerland, Uefa general secretary and a member of Fifa’s reform committee; * Jerome Champagne 57, France, a former Fifa assistant general secretary and former French diplomat.

Voting will take place by secret ballot, with all Fifa’s 209 member states having a vote each. (BBC Sport)

Paraguay police raid Conmebol HQ near Asuncion S

tate prosecutors in Paraguay have raided the headquarters of Conmebol, South America’s football confederation, near the capital Asuncion.

They said the move was part of US-led investigations into corruption at Fifa, world football’s governing body.

Last month the president of Conmebol, the Paraguayan Juan Angel Napout, was extradited to the United States to face charges there.

Mr Napout has pleaded not guilty to taking millions of dollars in bribes.

Paraguay’s state prosecution service said in a statement it was “searching for documentation related to the granting of commercial and broadcast rights for sporting events”.

A lawyer for the confederation, Alfredo

Conmebol headquarters

Montanaro, said the raid was “irresponsible”.

“It is very strange. We have been cooperating with the judicial authorities of the United States, Uruguay and Paraguay.”

Who are the indicted Fifa officials?

Mr Napout, 57, was also a Fifa vice-president.

He was arrested in a dawn raid on a luxury hotel in

Zurich, Switzerland, on 3 December.

He is accused of taking bribes worth millions of dollars linked to the sale of marketing rights to South American tournaments.

He resigned as Conmebol president on 11 December following his arrest and is currently banned from football.

Meanwhile, the for-

mer general secretary of Guatemala’s football federation, Hector Trujillo, who has been charged with corruption in the US, has been allowed out on the terms of his house arrest.

He must wear an electronic monitor and cannot travel more than 50 miles (80km) from a federal courthouse in Brooklyn as part of a bail agreement set by a US magistrate.

The FBI investigation into Fifa corruption was initially sparked by the controversial award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, as well as the bidding process for the 2018 World Cup awarded to Russia.

But the inquiry has since been widened to look at Fifa’s dealings over the past 20 years. The US says the corruption was planned in the US and US banks were used to transfer money. (BBC Sport)

19

Gayle heads to court over ‘indecent exposure’ claims

Chris Gayle

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est Indies batting star Chris Gayle has hired an Australian media lawyer, tasked with the job of launching a defamation action against Fairfax Media.

According to reports in Fairfax Media, Gayle, during the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015, exposed himself to a woman in the changing room after which the West Indies Cricket Board were informed and a letter written to all the players about inappropriate behaviour.

Gayle’s management team has since issued a statement, denying the allegations which surfaced after a much-criticized interview between the batting star and Mel McLaughlin, a Ten Sports presenter.

The big-lefthander attempted to flirt with McLaughlin while she attempted to conduct an interview about a whirlwind innings Gayle had produced for the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash League.

The attempt has been slammed as inappropriate and Gayle has since apologised before flatly denying the claims of prior improprieties stemming from

research of the very public offending interview.

Gayle was fined $10,000 because of the incident, but there have also been suggestions that his actions, mixed with prior accusations including the exposure of himself to a woman in a changing room at the SCG, could cost him his place in BBL next season.

According to Gayle’s manager,Simon Auteri the suit has only been contemplated after Gayle denied the allegations, only to see them continue unabated by the media entity.

“Chris Gayle has strongly denied allegations first published by Fairfax Media that he indecently exposed himself to a woman during last year’s World Cup in Sydney,” said Auteri.

“Despite such denials Fairfax Media continues to publish the false and defamatory allegations which have received widespread re-publication in media throughout the world.

“As a result, Chris Gayle has retained Mark O’Brien, a leading Australian media lawyer, to immediately commence defamation proceedings against Fairfax Media.”

(Digicel Sportsmax)

20 New Zealand cling Athletics-former top officials get life bans for doping blackmail on for 3-run win T guyanatimesGY.com

friday, january 8, 2016

Trent Boult’s economical 3 for 21 put the brakes on Sri Lanka’s chase. (Getty Images)

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ith overs from their frontline bowlers exhausted, New Zealand were forced to turn to Grant Elliott’s gentle seamers to defend 13 runs from the last over in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Mount Maunganui. Elliott proved himself as nerveless with ball in hand, as he had been with the bat during last year’s World Cup. He took one wicket - which was followed by a run-out - and conceded only nine runs with his mixture of yorkers and slower balls. Chasing New Zealand’s 182 for 4, Sri Lanka fell three short to record their sixth loss in eight matches this tour.

The road to this tight triumph had first been paved by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, who struck rapid half-centuries in a 101-run opening stand.

Colin Munro, and then Ross Taylor hit brief but explosive innings, before New Zealand’s quicks gave their side an even better start with the ball than the one with the bat. Sri Lanka’s chase seemed to have run aground at 42 for 4 at the end of the fifth over, before Milinda Siriwardana and Danushka Gunathilaka resurrected it. Their 40s were ultimately futile.

Matt Henry and Trent Boult took three wickets apiece before Elliott’s over extinguished the resurgence.

Boult was first to strike, finding success with that line outside leg stump that has been strangely productive for New Zealand all through the tour.

Tillakaratne Dilshan edged the ball behind his legs to the wicketkeeper first ball, before Shehan Jayasuriya fell in similar fashion in Boult’s next over.

At the other end, Matt Henry had Dinesh Chandimal top-edging a heave across the line, and Angelo Mathews slapping uppishly to cover. Both bowlers would return to

strike a further vital blow apiece in the final overs.

Boult had Siriwardana caught for a typically shrewd 42 from 31 balls, at fine leg, in the 17th over.

Henry had Perera holing out to long on for 28 from 19 balls. Boult’s 3 for 21 earned him the Man-of-theMatch award, with Henry having been more than twice as expensive.

Ish Sodhi also played a role, delivering four overs for 33 and taking the scalp of Gunathilaka, who topscored with 46 from 29 balls. Many of those runs had come down the ground, including two long sixes one of which exceeded 100 metres.

Earlier, Guptill set New Zealand’s innings off apace, when he cut the second ball of the day for four, then smoked one through the covers, and thumped another into the bank beyond deep midwicket to reap 14 from the first over.

Sri Lanka rifled through their attack at the start, trying four different bowl-

ers in the first four overs, but each failed to remain within the miniscule margin of error for Guptill. At the end of the fourth over New Zealand were 49 for 0.

Guptill was 32 off 13.

Sri Lanka scraped through the remainder of the Powerplay by largely keeping Kane Williamson on strike, but they did quiet Guptill when the field relaxed. The leg spin of Jeffrey Vandersay was particularly effective in the middle period - his threeover spell costing only 18.

Despite this relative deceleration, New Zealand had gained enough ground in the Powerplay to cross 100 in the 11th over.

Williamson was busy after Guptill had bruised Sri Lanka, slinking about the crease to find smart, square boundaries - though he was also fortunate that the inside edge that grazed his off stump in the eighth over did not dislodge the bails.

Guptill moved to fifty with a high strike over the long-on boundary, but was run out to a direct hit next over, when Williamson called him through for a tight single. Williamson himself departed after a few quieter overs, when he holed out to deep midwicket off Nuwan Kulasekara.

Vandersay removed Corey Anderson in his last over, and should have also had Munro, had the deep point fielder, Jayasuriya, held on to a straightforward catch. He and Kulasekara emerged from the death overs with credit, as Munro and Taylor struck big blows. Kulasekara’s 19th over cost only five runs and he took a wicket. He finished with Sri Lanka’s best figures of 2 for 26, and later threatened to play a winning hand with the bat, but was one of Elliott’s victims in the final over, having hit 14 from 10. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD New Zealand innings (20 overs maximum) MJ Guptill run out (Kapugedera) 58 KS Williamson* c Lakmal b Kulasekara 53 C Munro c & b Kulasekara 36 CJ Anderson c Siriwardana b Vandersay 2 LRPL Taylor not out 22 GD Elliott not out 10 Extras (w 1) 1 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs; 86 mins) 182 Did not bat: L Ronchi†, MJ Henry, MJ McClenaghan, IS Sodhi, TA Boult Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-131, 3-135, 4-163, Bowling: AS Lakmal 3-039-0, NLTC Perera 3-0-39-0, KMDN Kulasekara 4-0-26-2, DSNFG Jayasuriya 4-0-28-0, JDF Vandersay 4-0-30-1, M Dilshan 2-0-20-0.

Sri Lanka innings (target: 183 runs from 20 overs) MD Gunathilaka c Taylor b

Sodhi 46 TM Dilshan c †Ronchi b Boult 0 LD Chandimal*† c Sodhi b Henry 7 DSNFG Jayasuriya c †Ronchi b Boult 4 AD Mathews c Elliott b Henry 4 TAM Siriwardana c McClenaghan b Boult 42 NLTC Perera c Guptill b Henry 28 CK Kapugedera run out (Guptill/†Ronchi) 17 KMDN Kulasekara c Boult b Elliott 14 JDF Vandersay not out 4 RAS Lakmal not out 1 Extras (lb 6, w 4, nb 2) 12 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs; 94 mins) 179 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-27, 3-33, 4-42, 5-84, 6-133, 7-153, 8-173, 9-174 Bowling: MJ Henry 4-0-443, TA Boult 4-0-21-3, MJ McClenaghan 4-0-40-0, GD Elliott 2-0-18-1, IS Sodhi 4-033-1, C Munro 2-0-17-0.

wo top Russian athletics officials and the son of former world governing body President Lamine Diack were banned from the sport for life on Thursday for covering up an elite Russian athlete’s positive dope test and blackmailing her over it.

The bans follow last year’s World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent commission report that found a state-sponsored culture of doping in Russia and prompted the country’s suspension from the sport.

The report shook world athletics and raised doubts over Russia’s participation in this year’s Olympics Games.

Valentin Balakhnichev, the former head of the Russian athletics federation, the country’s former head distance coach Aleksey Melnikov, and Papa Massata Diack, a former marketing consultant to the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) were all handed life bans by the IAAF Ethics Commission.

“We are angered by the betrayal of our sport by these individuals,” European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen said in a statement, demanding Balakhnichev be stripped of his Honorary Council member status with the organisation.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, however, accused the IAAF of trying to divert attention away from publication next week of the second part of WADA’s investigation which is expected to criticise the world governing body.

“They are correcting their own image,” he told Russia’s R-Sport agency.

The IAAF’s former doping chief Gabrielle Dolle was also banned for five years after all four men were found to have been involved in taking payment for covering up positive drugs tests or turning a blind eye to the activities.

Sins of omission

Papa Massata

The IAAF scandal, which officials accept could extend to other countries, coincides with a corruption scandal shaking world football governing body FIFA that has resulted in bans and arrests around the world.

Thursday’s sanctions related primarily to the case of Russian former London marathon winner Liliya Shobukhova, who paid

Valentin Balakhnichev

$600,000 (411,741 pound) to have positive dope tests covered up.

She was subsequently allowed to compete at the 2012 Olympics and the lucrative Chicago marathon but then gave evidence on the matter to WADA. “The quality of the breaches determined as proven by the Panel need no hyperbolic exaggeration,” the report said.

Three senior IAAF officials had, it said, conspired to conceal for more than three years anti-doping violations by an athlete at what appeared to be the pinnacle of her sport.

“The Panel considers in the light of its findings that VB (Balakhnichev), AM (Melnikov) and PMD (Diack) should be banned for life from any further involvement in any way in the sport of track and field.

It said that in Dolle’s case “his sins were those of omission, rather than commission”.

Balakhnichev and Diack were also fined 25,000 dollars and Melnikov 15,000.

The R-Sport agency said Balakhnichev had described the ban as “politicised” and that he intended to appeal; but sports minister Mutko said there was no point in appealing as the ban “had been expected”.

“There are no facts, but they make it (look) as if Balakhnichev is the author of the whole system of corruption in world athletics.

I’m not surprised by that.”

The Monaco-based IAAF, reeling from a succession of doping and graft scandals, said it was “angered to see that individuals have in the panel’s finding ‘conspired to extort what were in substance bribes from the athletes by acts of blackmail’.”

“The IAAF has already introduced corrective measures to make sure this sort of interference can’t happen again.”

Sebastian Coe, who succeeded Lamine Diack -- who is also under investigation

by French authorities -- as president last August, said: “The life bans announced could not send a stronger message that those who attempt to corrupt or subvert the sport of athletics will be brought to justice.”

WADA held back the second part of its report, pending French police and Interpol investigations. The IAAF Commission panel said there had been no requests for an adjournment because of those enquiries.

(Reuters Sport)

Holder still has faith in out-of-sorts Samuels

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indies skipper Jason Holder has given veteran batsman Marlon Samuels a vote of confidence following a torrid tour of Australia.

The Jamaican’s perceived negative attitude was as much a discussion as his lack of productivity during the three-Test tour down under. In five innings Samuels recorded figures of 9, 3, 0, 19, 4 to average a paltry seven for the series and was also criticized for a poor fielding display, which saw him drop Usman Khawaja during the second Test.

Holder, however, claims the side are willing to stick with the 34-year-old.

Marlon Samuels

“You have to ask Marlon Samuels that question,” Holder said, when asked about Samuels’ future in the side.

“He obviously didn’t have

the best series here but we still have faith in him,” Holder said.

“He’s been one of our leading batsmen the last couple of years.

“We have some first-class cricket going on back home at the moment.

“He will go back home at the moment and I guess he’ll go home and play that.

I guess the rest is down to Marlon.”

Samuel’s has, however, not been picked as a part of his country Jamaica’s team for the NAGICO Super50 tournament or for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL). (Digicel Sportsmax)

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Captains Jason Holder and Steven Smith pose with the Frank Worrell Trophy. (Getty Images)

T

he West Indies captain Jason Holder declined an offer to make a game of the rainruined third Test against Australia in Sydney because he did not think his side was ready to try to go for the win.

In a scenario that the Caribbean side would have struggled to create over a full five-day match against Australia, the hosts’ captain Steven Smith offered Holder the chance to defend 370 runs off 70 overs on the final day, with Australia declaring their first innings at 0 for 0 then offering scoring opportunities to the visitors.

Smith’s disappointment at the offer being refused was plain.

“We want to try and win every game we play and today was a perfect opportunity to set the game up for a good chase and for the fans that stayed out this afternoon,” Smith said. “For us that would have potentially been me bowling with three slips and two gullies and leaving every man up for them to try and hit as many as they can to try and make sure they left 370 off 70 as promised to them.

“Whatever you have to do to get that on the board was going to happen. No-one really wants to see a draw, they want to see a good, exciting cricket and teams winning. We were willing to

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give them 70 overs on a dayfive wicket and we were going to go after the runs. 370 off 70 overs is quite a lot of runs, I think that is fair game for both teams, as I said it was just disappointing that they weren’t willing to come to the party.”

A crowd of 6865 took advantage of free admission to come to the SCG on the final day, and Smith’s intention overnight had been to give them a spectacle. The game is more cynical about contrived results after the days of the former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, who once made a similar offer to the England captain Nasser Hussain on the final day of a Test at Centurion in 19992000 on behalf of bookmakers. However, Smith said the coach Darren Lehmann had checked the ICC playing conditions and code of conduct before making the offer.

“I spoke to a few of the senior guys, but that was the number I was looking at over night and this morning if the sun was going to come out and we could play,” Smith said of the 370 target. “I spoke to Boof who read through the rules, which said you’re allowed to do that kind of thing. That was on our cards today and as I said unfortunately they didn’t come to the party.”

For Holder’s part, his

team has made subtle improvements this summer, but their bowling has been a major weakness throughout, as evidenced by how David Warner rattled to a century from only 82 balls on the final afternoon. Like Allan Border leading a similarly weakened Australia in the mid-1980s, Holder felt that his team must learn how better to avoid defeat before victory can be pursued.

“He [Smith] came to us and made an offer, I just went back to the team and we thought at this stage of our development it wasn’t the best thing for us,” Holder said. “We had [Denesh] Ramdin who was scoring well and looking well, so just give him the encouragement to go out there and build an innings and build some confidence.

“We set out at the beginning of the series to bat 90 overs each time we batted and get past the 300 mark.

That was one of the things that we wanted to achieve today and we achieved that.

It was a team vote, team decision. At that stage of our development and the phase we’re at we thought it was the best thing for the team.

“We started in Hobart and we didn’t play well at all there, we showed improvement in Melbourne and we just had to come here to improve as well. I think we just need to take it step by step, it’s not a case where you can just jump from losing Test matches to winning in one transition, especially against good opposition like Australia.”

The West Indies tour ended on a note of personal loss for opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika, whose father Baljit died suddenly overnight in the Caribbean.

Both sides wore black armbands out of respect. (Cricinfo)

All eyes on Zidane’s first match with Real A

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ll eyes will be on new Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane and on how he delivers his brand of attacking football spearheaded by the ‘BBC’ in his first match in charge against Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga on Saturday.

So far the quietly-spoken Frenchman has given little indication of the way he plans to breathe new life into a side that boasts plenty of talent but failed to perform in big games under former coach Rafa Benitez.

“The idea is to play with the three of them,” Zidane told reporters as he explained the roles of top-notch forwards Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, known in Spain as the ‘BBC’.

“It is important to see attractive football and that is the line I will look to go down.

Attacking and balanced.”

Benitez was never able to win over the dressing room with his studious approach

Zinedine Zidane

following the departure of the more easy-going Italian Carlo Ancelotti in the close season.

Fans and the media also criticised the Spaniard for being too defensive and Zidane will now need his three leading performers to show more willingness to track back.

Real’s attacking trident are as prolific with league goals as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at Barcelona but it is in other facets to their play that the difference shows.

Both trios have hit 35 La

Liga goals this season but the perception is that Real’s players have been less willing to defend.

Former France great Zidane’s illustrious career as a player demands the respect of the squad even though this is his first stint as a top-flight coach.

Third-placed Real are four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who are away to Celta Vigo on Sunday, and two adrift of Barcelona who host Granada on Saturday.

It was the first time since February that a side comprising Messi, Neymar and Suarez failed to score as Barca drew 0-0 with Espanyol last weekend but they quickly got back on track with a 4-1 win over the same opponents on Wednesday in the King’s Cup. A magical Messi display saw him score twice and set up goals for Gerard Pique and Neymar as Barca strolled to victory in the last-16 first leg clash. (Reuters Sport)

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guyanatimesGY.com

friday, january 8, 2016

Better Coaching structure needed for Table Tennis in Guyana

Chelsea Edghill was represented Guyana at the 2014 Youth Olympics in China; the hope would for her and players alike to go represent Guyana at the Senior Olympics in years to come

By Akeem Greene

F

ormer National Player and now Table Coach Idi Lewis is of the view that a greater coaching structure for table tennis is needed in Guyana.

Lewis is contending that having a more concrete structure of coaching is necessary to a player’s development which aids their competitive level. “For Guyana we need to get a much better structure as far as coaching goes”.

Lewis furthered that in having such systems in place, we are able to “keep them [players] together, like the top players for upcoming tournaments; we need more local tournaments and international tourna-

ments to give more exposure”.

In November, a Guyanese national table tennis squad returned with three gold and two bronze medals from the North American Team championships held at the Maryland National Resort.

Based on previous reports, more foreign players can be expected to enter Guyana this year to take part and compete in various competitions.

The Malteenoes Table Tennis Club coach also believes that Guyana has the talent pool to become a stronger force on the table tennis circuit. “We definitely do have talent but it can be a whole lot better; we have a massive coaching programme that will develop the coaching programme , to the masses and decentralizing the sport”.

The ultimate goal of many players is to hopefully play at the Olympics with a dream of securing a medal. Chelsea Edghill is a junior Olympian but it seems a difficult task for other players to qualify for the prestigious games. When this newscast quizzed veteran table coach Linden Johnson, he explained that though we have the quality of players, qualifying is a much more difficult task “we got good players but the wild card never fortunate to get it; You have to qualify at certain international meets and it all depends on where is the qualification because it can be a financial burden”. The level two coaches revealed.

While the possibilities are remote that we have an athlete at this year Olympics, the association is looking ahead to 2020.

“It’s the young athletes we are looking at in preparation for 2020, so we are getting there”, Coach Johnson said. The coach further revealed that they are training a crop of players such as Shemar Britton, Chelsea Edghill, Kyle Edghill, Elishaba Johnson among other top seeds in the country.

Both the players and the table tennis association are adamant that more corporate and government support is needed to aid in the further development of the sport.

Demerara release softball teams for Unity Cricket matches

D

emerara have named their male and female squads for the upcoming Cricket for Unity event set for January 30 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The event which is being organised by Legacy and 007 Promotions will see a number of softball and hardball matches before the grand mega-final with some of the Region’s top T20 stars.

Demerara will face Berbice in a male and female 15-a-side match that will see the males winning $200,000 while the females will receive $150,000.

Demerara will fancy their chances in the female game since three of Berbice’s top players – Tremayne Smartt, Shamaine Campbell and Erva Giddings would be unavailable due to West Indies female team commitments.

Richard Persaud will lead the Demerara Masters team, which will include Wayne Jones and former Guyana First-Class batsman David Harper, while the Demerara lasses will be captained by national female play-

Richard Persaud

er Latoya Smith and will feature Kavita Yadram and Haseena Mohamed who have both represented Guyana at the regional level.

The organisers have collaborated with corporate sponsors and received support from the Guyana Cricket Board and Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) and an exciting day is planned from 10:00h when the gates will be opened.

Five softball matches will be played, with an ‘Open’ 10/10 Final set to be played under lights before the main event.

Karibee Boyz Berbice, Essequibo and two teams from Demerara (Regal and Wolf Warriors) are the teams vying for the $500,000 first prize and a trophy.

Tickets cost $2000 and will go on sale two weeks before the event.

Demerara Masters: Richard Persaud (Captain); Ramo Malone; Yunis Yusuf; Lloyd Rooplall; David Harper; Eric Thomas; Mahendra Hardyal ( Vice Captain); Fazil Baksh; Davanand Kannon; Tony Singh; Jagdesh Persaud; Wayne Jones; Mohamed Rafeek and Manager: Dharam Persaud.

Demerara Female team: Latoya Smith (Captain); Kavita Yadram( Vice Captain); Zola Telford; Matanna Cambridge; Roxanne Domonick; Haseena Mohamed; Tamika Wilson; Jinelle Nero; Amanda Bobb-semple; Kaysia Shultz; Sangetta Sawh; Alicia Allen and Odessa Oneil. The Coach is Linden Wilson.

WICB/NAGICO Super50

Jaguars lose to Volcanoes by 1 run via DL

Gudakesh Motie

Assad Fudadin

he Guyana Jaguars did not get the start they wanted as they suffered a onerun loss to the Windward Islands Volcanoes via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) NAGICO Super50 Competition that

commenced on Thursday.

The match, which was played at the St Paul’s Sports Complex in St Kitts, was marred by rain.

The Volcanoes batted first and made 214 all out from their 50 overs.

Discarded West Indies opener Devon Smith top-

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scored with 91, while Sunil Ambris made 47 and Liam Sebastian chipped in with 27. Debutant Gudakesh Motie led the bowling for Guyana with figures of 3-32 from six overs. Steven Jacobs supported with 3-40 from 10 overs.

The rain came again and there was another reduction in overs as Guyana needed 175 from 33 overs.

At the end of the 24th over, Guyana were 97-4, with Assad Fudadin on 42 not out.

Only two more overs were possible as the game ended in the 26th over with Guyana on 122-4, with Fudadin on 44 not out and Raymon Reifer on eight not out as the calculation showed they were one run behind the par score.

Guyana will need to bounce back in their second game on January 9 against the Leeward Islands at Warner Park, St Kitts.

YWCC launches Mash Cup 2016

T

he Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) of Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice recently launched its annual Mash Cup 2016.

According to a press release, the event will form part of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary with the proceeds going towards further improvements of the Club’s facilities as well as its daily operations. In addition, funds will be allocated to three schools in the Number 19 to Gangaram area.

The tournament will be played on February 23 and will involve 10 SecondDivision teams from the area.

It will be five overs-a-side with no First-Division cricketers allowed. Top clubs such as Canje Pathfinders, Betsy Ground Triple Stars, Kendall’s Union A, Rose Hall Community Centre and the host are expected to take part. Incentives in excess of $100,000 will be up for grabs with numerous gate prizes.

The press release noted that the 2015 edition was a

success, as the club thanked its sponsors with the hope of gaining their support for the 2016 edition.

The sponsors are as follows: ANSA McAL; Attorney-at-Law Mursaline Bacchus; Prakash Mahadeo of Number 19; Ashiek and Son Motor Supplies and Auto Sales; Vickram Jewellery; Terminate Pest Control; Waqar Sahid of A Ally and Sons; The New Building Society Limited; Mortimer George; Jim Bacchus Travel Service; Martin Singh of Associated Business Services; Magistrate Chandra Sohan;

Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd; Memorex Enterprise; Danzie’s Clothing, Footwear and Auto Sales; Lilboy Rice Complex; Extreme Trucking Service; Price is Right; Sharple Furniture Establishment; Kris Jagdeo General Contractor; Ahmad Mundal Satar; A Mahabir and Sons; Massay Distribution; Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club; Sukhpaul Business Enterprise; J’S Printery; Sham Beer; Roshan Satar Supermarket; Anil Deonarine; Rafeek Kassim; Imran Saccoor and Suresh Persaud Auto Sale.

GABA League to resume tonight

T

he Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League will resume tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with regular season and playoff action.

Two regular season games remain in the League with the University of Guyana Trojans taking on the Plaisance Guardians in Under-23 action tonight, while the Melanie Patriots and the Eagles will battle in Division Two action on Saturday night to close out the regular season. Eagles

and Colts will tip off playoff action in the Under-23 category tonight as well.

Semi-finals in Division One and Two will commence on Saturday evening as action is set to start tonight

from 18:30h.

After the semi-final round, the final in all categories will be played in a bestof-three format to conclude the League January monthend.

friday, january 8, 2016

guyanatimesGY.com

23

GPF’s F Division establishes Tennis to place emphasis on grassroot development U-15 football team

− greater commitment of coaches needed, says GTA president

By Akeem Greene

T

Members of F Division pose alongside the newly-established team

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) F (Interior locations) Division on Wednesday established an Under-15 football team as part of its Social Crime Prevention initiative.

Commander of F Division, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram and ranks established the squad which will be called

Kaleidoscope Football Club.

According to a release by the GPF, the objective of the initiative is to develop the skills of youths between the ages of 13 and 15 in the sport while instilling the importance of discipline, fitness, and healthy lifestyles along with staying away from drugs while meaningfully occupying their spare

time in the community through sports.

The 25-member team located in Bartica will be coached by Elvis Jones as the GPF aims to also develop a stronger relationship between members of the public and the Police, thereby creating safer communities where the responsibility of crime-fighting is shared.

Warner blasts 82-ball ton in inevitable draw with Windies

A

fter two days of constant rain in Sydney, David Warner produced a torrent of runs on the fifth day to entertain the faithful with the quickest Test century ever recorded at the SCG. A draw was the inevitable result of a Test in which only 150.1 overs were bowled due to wet weather, but Warner’s 82-ball hundred at least ensured there was good reason to watch the final day’s play.

Cricket Australia had thrown open the gates and declared free entry, and the local fans hoped they would see the Australians bat early in the day. Only 68 balls had been possible on day two, and days three and four had been completely washed out, meaning that the only chance of a result would have been if the captains agreed to double-declarations on the final day, but that was not to be.

West Indies began the morning at 7 for 248 and batted on, Denesh Ramdin completing a second consecutive Test half-century before they were dismissed for 330 on the stroke of lunch.

And so, Australia’s first innings of the Test began after lunch on day five, with Warner and Joe Burns hoping to get whatever they could out of the day’s batting; another century opening stand was a good result.

Burns played the support role while Warner plundered boundaries; he took 16 off one Jomel Warrican over that featured the only two sixes of the innings. The first of those sixes, slapped over midwicket, brought Warner his half-century from 42 deliveries, and he kept his brisk run-rate up as the session wore on. The partnership ended at 100 when Burns lofted a catch to mid-on off Warrican on 26.

Mitchell Marsh was bumped up to No.3 to give

David Warner celebrates his hundred in trademark fashion. (AFP photo)

him some valuable time at the crease; he has spent hour upon hour in this series waiting in the dressing rooms with his pads on as the top-order batsmen have repeatedly built huge partnerships. But while he defended and tried to get his eye in, the runs kept flowing from Warner, who seemed to be on target to score a century in a session.

However, more rain arrived ten minutes before the scheduled tea break and Warner left the ground unbeaten on 90, hoping the weather would clear and he would have the chance after tea to score his 16th Test hundred. It did, and he did; the milestone came up with

an under-edged sweep for three off Warrican, and it was Warner’s first Test century against West Indies.

It was also the fastest of all time at the SCG, his 82-ball effort beating the 84-ball century scored by Matthew Hayden against Zimbabwe back in 2003-04.

Warrican picked up a second wicket when Marsh edged to slip on 21 and Peter Nevill, who had not batted in the series, was promoted to No.4, finishing unbeaten on 7 alongside Warner on 122 from 103 deliveries when the captains agreed to call off play.

Earlier, Ramdin had started the day on 30 and brought up his fifty from his 139th delivery, but the chance to go on and score a Test hundred ended when he edged Steve O’Keefe and was sharply taken by Steven Smith at slip. In the next over, Nathan Lyon had Kemar Roach caught

by Burns at short leg for 15 and West Indies were 9 for 300.

However, a 30-run lastwicket stand frustrated the Australians, with Warrican finishing on 21 not out when Jerome Taylor slapped a catch to point off O’Keefe, who finished with 3 for 63 in his first Test on home soil.

Such was the lack of play that O’Keefe and Lyon between them bowled nearly half the overs completed in the Test. (Cricinfo)

he Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) is centering its efforts on developing the young generation of tennis players, according to president of the association, Grace McCalman.

Speaking recently to the media about the plans of the association for 2016, McCalman indicated that there will be looking to engage more persons at a young age range, especially in the primary school system.

“There is an intensive requirement to keep school programmes going; when teachers transfer from one school to the next it seems that motivation is lost, and there is no more a need for tennis to be a part of the physical education programme,” she explained.

Since taking office last May, the current government has placed renewed focus on having sports play an integral part of the school curriculum. Only recently, Director of Sport Christopher Jones told Guyana Times Sport that “as of January 2016, the first two disciplines of lawn tennis and table tennis will be implemented in the school system.”

McCalman pointed out that the support from government and the Guyana Olympic Association “gives us the ability to go nationwide.” As part of the programme, McCalman ex-

Grace McCalman

plained that teachers will be thought how to conduct tennis in primary schools as a form of Physical Education (P.E.).

“In table tennis, the table is the ultimate equipment; in the case of lawn tennis you need that full court size to teach professional tennis.

What happens in the primary school in the Under-9 and Under-10 age groups is called ‘play and stay’, which entails using different balls and smaller equipment, thus allowing P.E. teachers to define where there is talent. It is about giving players [the] opportunity to showcase talent,” the GTA head explained.

McCalman has also issued a call for solid commitment of coaches and a greater intensity in training. “What has been happening over the years is that we have two or one fully committed coaches; it not about whether you’re a level one or level two coach, it is about

GSL Minor League 10/10 cricket

Action resumes this Saturday

T

SCOREBOARD West Indies 1st innings 330 Australia 1st innings DA Warner not out 122 JA Burns c Roach b Warrican 26 MR Marsh c Blackwood b Warrican 21 PM Nevill† not out 7 Extras 0 Total (2 wickets dec; 38

overs) 176 Did not bat: UT Khawaja, SPD Smith*, AC Voges, SNJ O’Keefe, JL Pattinson, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon Fall of wickets: 1-100, 2-154 Bowling: JE Taylor 4-0-27-0, JO Holder 4-1-15-0, KAJ Roach 4-0-29-0, JA Warrican 15-1-622, CR Brathwaite 7-0-23-0, KC Brathwaite 4-0-20-0.

the commitment and attention you give the players,” she posited.

The need for a lift in the standard of coaching is to hopefully trigger a higher level of competition when tournaments are held, McCalman explained.

“In 2010/2011, we had six certified coaches; today we have about three of those coaches onboard still trying to make their junior programmes come up to scratch.

If you have more functional clubs, the standard of the competition will be lifted and that is what this new initiative will achieve,” she stressed.

In giving an overview of 2015, McCalman revealed that “the year 2015, I would like to consider it a transitional year for tennis; the early part of the year was no different from previous years as it was a bit challenging.”

However, she jubilantly expressed that the infrastructural support from the requisite Ministry and the developmental programmes organised by the Olympic Association will aid in 2016 being a productive year.

McCalman is grateful for all the support given by the corporate sector, but is challenging them to contribute in a greater way. “Let’s move away from big trophies and contribute to a full blown lawn tennis court; that is where you can see the benefit of the programme,” she said. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

One of the Tuschen batters on the go

he Minor League 10/10 cricket competition for primary schools on the West Demerara, sponsored

by Rohan Furniture Establishment and Parboo’s General Store and organised by the Guyana Softball League, resumes this Saturday with eight teams slated to come up against each other.

The eight schools are Leonora, Cornelia Ida, Windsor Forest, Uitvlugt, Den Amstel, Meter-Meer-Zorg, Tuschen and Stewartville Primaries.

The tournament is played on a roundrobin basis and is geared towards encouraging schools’ participation in cricket as well as to unearth new talent at an early stage.

The schools have indicated they are raring and ready to go, with training going well at various grounds throughout the region.

The fixtures are as follows: Den Amstel versus Windsor Forest; Leonora versus Uitvlugt; Meter-Meer-Zorg versus Cornelia Ida and Stewartville versus Tuschen.

The tournament will see the winners being rewarded with trophies, while medals will be given to all participants.

A release from the GSL indicated that the next step will be to have tournaments of this sort in all the regions with the goal of bringing all the winners together for a Grand National Tournament. The games begin at 09:00h.

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

friday, January 8, 2016

Tennis to place emphasis on grassroot development

− greater commitment of coaches needed, says GTA president

Pg 23

A view of the National Racket Centre court in Georgetown.

(Marceano Narine photo)

Warner blasts 82-ball ton in inevitable draw with Windies

WICB/NAGICO Super 50…

Jaguars lose to Volcanoes by 1 run via DL

Pg 23

Pg 22

Steven Jacobs bowls a delivery during his successful spell The victorious Australia side pose with the Frank Worrell Trophy. (Getty Images)

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