Guyana Times Daily

Guyana to host CPL 2016 finals P3

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

Issue No. 2832

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

PRICE

Wakenaam businessman killed during attempted robbery in city

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GRA breaks P7 silence on DDL tax settlement – says deal prevented additional years of litigation

Page 14

Woman rescued after jumping off Harbour Bridge Page 13

Lindener jailed on gun, ammo P8 charges P9 Sordid conditions at Mon Repos Market – vendors express frustration

PM disputes Guyana Times media censorship P2 article

– accuses the publication of a relentless campaign against him

The valiant rescuers pulling the woman from the Demerara River

UK £300M Caribbean Development Fund

Page 2

CDB delegation visits Guyana

Woman killed in UG selects 2-vehicle collision new Vice on Mandela Ave Chancellor

Page 7

Page 17

P11 Body of missing Sophia woman found in Cummings Lodge canal

Deadly prison riot

Deputy Director denies giving instructions to lock door P3

2 news

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

UK £300M Caribbean Development Fund

CDB delegation visits Guyana A

United Kingdom/ C a r i b b e a n Development Bank (UK/CDB) delegation visited Guyana last week to discuss possible projects and proposals, as this country prepares to receive part of a £300 million Caribbean Infrastructure Fund promised to countries in the Region by British Prime Minister David Cameron.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregg Quinn told Guyana Times on Tuesday that Guyana remained eligible for the UK Fund, which was announced by the British PM last September in neighbouring Jamaica.

In September 2015, the Prime Minister, during a visit to the island, had told then Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller that his Government was moving in this direction to help the Caribbean on its path of development – supporting economic growth and creating new opportunities for people living in the Region.

The Prime Minister announced the new Fund in Jamaica on the first leg of a two-day visit focused on reinvigorating the relationship between the UK and Caribbean countries.

Delivered in collaboration with the CDB, the Fund will use money from the UK’s existing aid budget to provide grants over the next few years for a range of projects that will help boost growth and trade across the Region, creating jobs and opening up new market opportunities for British businesses.

The British High Commissioner said the prospects were looking good.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregg Quinn

“This will be managed and allocated through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). A UK/CDB delegation was in Georgetown... to discuss possible projects and the processes for submitting proposals. All is, therefore, looking good, on track and progress is being made. The UK is fully committed to ensuring Guyana gets its fair share of the available grant funding,” he told Guyana Times.

In January, Quinn had said that his Government was scheduled to sign an agreement with the CDB. According to him, the countries will be able to access the funding through the Bank.

He said he had already held discussions with the Government of Guyana in relation to the grant and

Government had expressed the desire to have the money invested in infrastructure, that is, roads, bridges, ports, stellings, and aerodromes.

“Government is looking in the areas that are specified in the grant because although it will be grant funding, there will be conditions in terms of we have to spend it on these broad areas,” Quinn stated.

However, he noted that Government has not earmarked any specific projects since it had to await guidelines from the CDB. With this grant, the UK has become one of the largest bilateral donors to the Region. However, only the Commonwealth Caribbean, including Guyana, will be benefiting. The other beneficiaries include Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Belize,

St Lucia, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Previously, High Commissioner Quinn had explained that some $450 million of the grant will be directed towards infrastructure works. In addition, he outlined that the British Prime Minister also announced some $45 million to be plugged into improving healthcare facilities as well as a similar amount to boost economic growth in the benefiting countries.

Quinn emphasised that the money was not a loan and as such would not have to be repaid. He noted that the monies would be given to the various Governments to be injected into projects agreed upon. The UK will be working along with the various Caribbean Heads to identify and establish their respective projects. The UK Government, in collaboration with the CDB, will be monitoring the programme.

However, at this point it is unclear how much of the grant will be given to Guyana. The High Commissioner had stated that while no specific amount was allocated to any one of the eight countries that will benefit, the expectation is that the monies will be disbursed evenly among them.

He did note, however, that the determination of the allocated amount would also be dependent on the nature of the project and request submitted.

Additionally, he outlined that there was no requirement for the countries to use contracting companies from the UK to carry out their projects.

Thieves hit Delicious Restaurant

T

Delicious Restaurant

he owner of Delicious Restaurant is now counting his losses after bandits broke into his premises on Monday evening and carted off an undisclosed amount of money and other items.

According to reports received, the restaurant which is located at Lot 60 Cummings Street, Alberttown, was broken in to about 22:00h when the family of the owner was out.

A waitress at the restaurant told this publication that the thieves broke in to the premises via the back entrance.

“When the owners for the restaurant returned home that night, they noticed that the back entrance of the restaurant was opened and upon inspection saw the entire inside of the restaurant ransacked,” the waitress said.

Upon further inspection,

it was discovered that the thieves drank a quantity of alcoholic beverages, as empty bottles of Guinness and Heineken were found on the restaurant floor.

“Also we usually buy food and leave it for our boss, and the food was eaten out and the boxes were on the floor,” the woman explained.

According to the waitress, a number of sunglasses that were stored in the restaurant were also stolen.

The surveillance cameras which were inside the restaurant were also disconnected and the DVR (digital video recorder) was taken by the thieves.

The owner of the restaurant refused to report the matter to the Police, as he stated that on a number of occasions the restaurant has been robbed and when reports were made to the Police, no one showed up to investigate the matter.

PM disputes Guyana Times media censorship article

– accuses the publication of a relentless campaign against him

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

P

rime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Tuesday disputed a front page article of Guyana Times captioned “US media censorship observation – PM claims that US wants to damage image of coalition

Govt”.

The article was based on a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, after Guyana Times sought a response from the Prime Minister on the United States Department of State’s 2015 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, which cited attempts at State media censorship by the coalition Government.

The report which was recently released said while the Government “generally respects the laws which provide for freedom of speech and press, there have been attempts by the Administration to suppress freedom of the press.

Under the heading Censorship or Content Restrictions, the report pointed to an attempt by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to restrict and control the content of the State-owned Guyana Chronicle. turn to page 7

news

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wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, April 20 – 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, April 21 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 20 – 15:30h-17:00h and Thursday, April 21 – 16:05h-17:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, with light rain showers dominating throughout the afternoon. Light cloud cover can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:27h and 15:46h reaching maximum heights of 2.54 metres and 2.55 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:22h and 21:36h reaching a minimum height of 0.65 metre at each scheduled low tide.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS M 04 05 07 11 15 17 08 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Daily Millions

06 20 25 26

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LUCKY 3 5

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Guyana to host CPL 2016 finals A

fter months of speculation as to where the final of the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament will take place, it has been confirmed that Guyana will host the August 7, 2016 showpiece after outbidding Jamaica and two-time hosts Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana’s Education Minister, who has responsibility for Sport, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine confirmed this to Guyana Times on Tuesday evening, but did not elaborate.

“Yes, we have the finals,” said Dr Roopnaraine,

who explained that he was in a meeting, but promised to provide further details to this publication today.

Reports are that the Guyana Government had outdone the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica in a three-way bid to host the final.

Guyana will also host both semi-finals which will take place at the Providence Stadium as well.

It will be the first time that the final will be hosted in Guyana, having been hosted by T&T twice and once by St Kitts/Nevis.

While the games will not

be played in the month of May, they are expected to be used as part of the activities to celebrate the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary which will climax on May 26, the date Guyana gained independence from Britain.

CPL 2016 is slated for June-July, and apart from the on-field action, the country’s economy is set to receive a massive boost, given the business and tourism potential that CPL has been able to realise in three short years.

Guyana Amazon Warriors have been among the success

stories of CPL, having made it to the first two finals, narrowly losing to Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013 and suffering a controversial defeat to Barbados a year later.

In 2015, Guyana Amazon Warriors made it to the semifinals, losing out to eventual champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

The CPL since its creation in 2013 has created thousands of jobs across the Caribbean and generated millions of US dollars for the Region’s economy.

The tournament attracts some of the biggest names in T20 cricket around the world.

Deadly prison riot

Deputy Director denies giving instructions to lock door

D

eputy Director of Prisons, Senior Superintendent Gladwin Samuels, has denied that he gave instructions for the doors to be locked at the prison cell at the March 3 riots which left 17 inmates dead. Taking the stand at Tuesday afternoon’s session of the Commission of Inquiry into the deadly Camp Street jail unrest, Samuels refuted the testimonies of many inmates stating that he in fact gave instructions to open the door after he discovered the fire in Capital A. “I went in the prison yard down the step and I instructed that the door be opened so that those persons who wish to come out can come out,” Samuels testified.

Samuels also told the Commission of the instructions which he gave after ranks encountered difficulty in opening the door in Capital A block. Samuels stated that he instructed to have the door to Capital B opened so that prisoners who were in Capital

Deputy Director of Prisons, Senior Superintendent Gladwin Samuels testifying on Tuesday

A could have used the hole they created in the wall to go across to Capital B. He also told the Commission of tensions that existed between prisoners in Capital A and B. “There are several persons from Capital A who have problems with persons from Capital B… the prisoners in Capital B indicated that they were receiving threats from the pris-

oners in Capital A as it relates to them coming out. We left the door to Capital B open and the officers went downstairs. That was with the aim of removing any confrontation with the prisoners so that they had a

free passage to come outside,” Samuels posited.

Earlier in his testimony, Samuels explained that he and the Officer In charge of Camp Street Prison, Kelvin Pilgrim, heard a loud bang on the expanding mesh which was discovered to be “a large chunk of concrete” that was broken from the separation wall. He further explained that these bricks were what inmates used to pelt Joint Service members.

These hostile actions had caused Firemen to exercise caution in their attempt to out the blaze. turn to page 15

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guyana-times.com

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

Editorial

Prequalification would have prevented perpetual drug shortages

G

uyana is now facing a crisis of sorts with drug shortages being registered across all the 10 Administrative Regions. This situation could have been avoided had the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government maintained the internationally prescribed drug procurement practice of prequalification.

The Government had advanced new mechanisms that changed the way drugs were procured and supplied in the country, in essence decentralising the acquisition and dissemination of medical equipment and drugs to the various Regions, while dissolving the prequalification procedure to give companies that do not qualify to the international prescribed standard and consequent supply chain of prequalification an opportunity to supply drugs.

The consequences of such decisions have started to manifest themselves. The former Administration was criticised for its position of maintaining the prequalification criteria because critics felt favouritism was at play, when some local prequalified companies, received contracts in Guyana.

However, the former Administration had only put those mechanisms, which were modelled after international prequalified suppliers such as the World Health Organisation (WHO); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO); United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), etc, in place to ensure that quality drugs were steadily available for mass public consumption at competitive world market prices, the absence of which would invariably lead to shortages of drugs, since there were no direct established supply chains with companies that are prequalified to deliver the requisite drugs needed.

A valid case in point to reference is the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). In order to maintain the efficiency of procurement and purchasing process, “the OECS operates a restricted tendering system in which only suppliers who meet the pre-established quality standards qualify to bid. These suppliers are subject to rigid inspection processes…This system ensures that suppliers conform to international regulatory standards in the pharmaceutical industry, the most common of which are the Good Manufacturing Practices standards of the World Health Organisation.

Pre-qualified suppliers are those which have been successfully evaluated against these requirements and are approved to participate in the bidding process.”

The OECS has established an agency, the Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS), which is representative of nine eastern Caribbean countries with an average combined population of 550,000 in the procurement of pharmaceutical and medical supplies.“With each country in the Eastern Caribbean having such a small population, it is difficult to enjoy the savings offered through the placement of large orders without losing it back in…overstocking such as wastage or shelf-life exhaustion. The cost saving here was reflected in prices quoted for quantities required by the Region being 44 per cent lower than those quoted for individual countries during the 2001/02 tender cycle. So to benefit from this, pooling together was a critical cost-saving strategy, achieved quantity discounts as well as consolidation of bargaining power.”

Comparing the OECS population of 550,000 to Guyana’s 700,000 is a clear indication of the cost savings to be derived if larger volumes of drugs are pursued by the Government in the form of consolidated tenders rather than being done on a regional scale, and the benefits to be had if large contracts are awarded since good prices hinge heavily on professionalism and skill in negotiations as it does on volumes and payment track record.

In Guyana, under this current Government, each Region is to have their own budget. This scenario replicates the bargaining conditions of the individual OECS countries prior to the implementation of pooled procurement, and only sets the country back by abolishing well-established and internationally observed best practices in procurement with proven cost savings.

Aside from the cost savings, the prequalification procedure addresses the critical issue of drug shortages since one of its criterion deals extensively with the qualified suppliers having the warehouse capacity to store and supply drugs. The current Administration had argued to have a warehouse of a certain magnitude to store drugs was not necessary towards the acquisition and dissemination of drugs and hence they went the decentralising route.

However, had there been such a mechanism in place with the requisite supply chain intact then drug shortages would have been non-existent, since according to the OECS “a distinct advantage is presented when a supplier has a local warehouse that meets WHO requirements: the lead time is significantly low for stock transfer to Government warehouses so the buffer stock required to be maintained by Government facilities is relatively low”. This equates to greater expediency at which drugs could be delivered to the various hospitals and health centres across Guyana.

A health worker attached to the Public Health Ministry explaining to students necessary precautions they can take to ensure their good health at the Enmore Health Centre, East Coast Demerara (ECD) (Dexter Ceres photo)

Guyana’s drainage system should be the responsibility of a single ministry Dear Editor, Delivering the feature address at a recently-held Sea and River Defence Resilience Project Workshop at the Pegasus Hotel which was reported in the news media, David Patterson, Minister of Public Infrastructure, stated that “the Government does not have a full overview of Guyana’s drainage system and its oversight is spread over six different agencies”.

Therefore, to resolve the complex drainage problems facing the country, particularly Georgetown, he sought help from the Dutch Government which sent a Disaster Risk Reduction Team (DRRT) to Guyana last year. Following a review of Georgetown’s drainage network, the Team made several recommendations for targeted interventions, including a follow-up visit which is expected to be made sometime this year to map the City’s drainage system and provide a framework for software modelling with the view of identifying flood-risk areas based on water flows.

In a few weeks, the major rainy season is expected to commence and Georgetown as well as low-lying coastal areas drainage systems are ill-prepared to accommodate any heavy rainfall without

flooding. Further, the proposed drainage network mapping of Georgetown by the DRRT is unlikely to provide any meaningful data for drainage upgrade intervention before the end of 2017.

Drainage is an integrated system and all elements must be in good order and working in unison to function efficiently. A ‘blueprint’ to solve the drainage problems of Georgetown was given in the Sir William Halcrow Report which is lying in the City Engineer’s Office. Its recommendations with some modifications are still relevant today and what needs to be done to prevent flooding of the city are as follows: Firstly, the main channels and their subsidiaries leading to the sluices have to be cleared of constrictions, weeds, silt and graded to the sluices for optimum flow efficiency. The bottlenecks will be evident from visual inspections. Secondly, the sluices’ openings have to be streamlined to avoid any constriction of flow through them. Also, there should be no significant leakages through the gates when they are closed and the tides are up. Thirdly, the outfall channels from the sluices to the low water level mark of the Demerara River should be

dredged/excavated to grade to allow for free uninterrupted discharges into the river. Lastly, the installation of pumps with adequate capacity at key sluices to get rid of backed-up flood water in the upstream channels when the tide is up and sluice gates are closed because the channels do not have sufficient holding capacity to prevent overtopping. A start should be made to upgrade drainage in the commercial and administration sections of the city where flooding is most disruptive and the damages incurred costly.

After nearly a year in office the A Partnership for Unity/Alliance National For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has no comprehensive plan and has done little to prevent flooding of low-lying coastal areas as the country apparently awaits the recommendations of Minister Patterson’s committee under the Chairmanship of Major General (Retired) Joe Singh for interventions to improve coastal drainage. During previous Administrations, responsibility for drainage of coastal areas except Georgetown was with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), a Division of the Ministry

of Agriculture. Presently, drainage of coastal areas appears to spread over several ministries with the Prime Minister clearing outfall channels to ease flooding of villages and cultivations in Region Six, while Patterson has Minister been busy with the drainage of Georgetown and the East Bank of Demerara.

The NDIA with some inputs from the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) has been handling the remaining coastal drainage areas, including the conservancies.

President Granger should be aware that the disjointed management and operation of the coastal drainage system is not only confusing but is responsible for the neglect and gross mismanagement of the drainage of coastal areas where flooding has been occurring with undue frequency. The management, operation and maintenance of Guyana’s coastal drainage system as well as irrigation of farmlands have to be under the responsibility of a single ministry if confusion, mismanagement and yearly flooding/droughts are to be avoided.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

Hope Kissoon is not going mad Dear Editor, When Sir VS Naipaul wrote about Man Man in Miguel Street how prophetic was he about life and people in Guyana? Naipaul wrote: “Then one day Man Man said he had seen God after having a bath. This didn’t surprise many of us. Seeing God was quite common in Port of Spain and, indeed, in Trinidad at

that time. Ganesh Pundit, the mystic masseur from Fuente Grove, had started it. He had seen God, too, and had published a little booklet called What God Told Me. Many rival mystics and not a few masseurs had announced the same thing, and I suppose it was natural that since God was in the area Man Man should see Him.

Man Man began preaching at the corner of Miguel Street, under the awning of Mary’s shop. He did this every Saturday night.

He let his beard grow and he dressed in a long white robe. He got a Bible and other holy things and stood in the white light of an acetylene lamp and preached. He was an impressive preacher, and he

preached in an odd way.

He made women cry, and he made people really worried. He used to hold the Bible in his right hand and slap it with his left and say in his perfect English accent, “I have been talking to God these few days, and what he tell me about you people wasn’t really nice to hear. turn to page 5

guyana-times.com

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

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

The uncertain fate of Guyanese Americans celebrate Ram Naumi sugar workers

Dear Editor, I make reference to the article captioned “One Berbice factory produces more than two Demerara estates….GAWU was aware of LBI closure since 2011” that was carried in another section of the media on April 16. The article, in its entirety, described the positions of GAWU and GuySuCo on the closure of all remaining operations at LBI and integrating them with similar operations at Enmore Estate.

The Union’s position is that “when the factory was closed in 2011 and the workers were transferred to Enmore, both Unions (GAWU and NAACIE) were assured by a member of the current interim management that there will be no closure of any other department after the closure of the factory”. The company, on the other hand, is contending that the “integration process was not completed, since there are still two mill docks, two field workshops, two field laboratories, two field offices and two stores within the East Demerara Estates (EDE) operations at LBI”, and “that the full integration process should have been completed since 2011, but was not done, to the further detriment of the economics of EDE”.

The foregoing illustrates an obvious gridlock between the two parties, which could easily be diffused by a process underscored with trust. The common denominator is the member of the interim management. The interim management comprises just two persons, Errol Hanoman and Paul Bhim; the latter was at GuySuCo’s helm as the acting CEO in 2011.Hanoman was not in the company’s employ at the time. Bhim needs to clarify whether he gave an assurance to the two unions that “there will be no closure of any other department after the closure of the factory”, and further if there was no such assurance, what stymied the “integration process to the detriment of the economics of EDE”, bearing in mind that under his stewardship as the CEO, GuySuCo incurred a huge debt of G$58 billion. The completion of the integration process then would have most likely salvaged the “economics of the EDE”, and reduced somewhat the company’s overall debt.

Reference is also made to the statement, “This state of affairs must be compared with

Albion Estate which produces more than twice the amount of sugar as produced by the East Demerara Estates and operates efficiently with one mill dock, one field workshop and one field laboratory”. Before venturing further, it must be observed that in the entire article GuySuCo keeps referring to East Demerara ESTATES, which means that the company at this point in time is recognising that the entity is not a single operating unit. One then presumes that when the “integration process” is completed, it will be East Demerara estate, but why should it be East Demerara Estate, and not Enmore Estate, when LBI will no longer exist? LBI cultivation will be consolidated, integrated (all words used interchangeably by the company) with Enmore.

Editor, Albion Estate has approximately 9100 ha under cane, whilst EDE has 7200, 1900 ha less than Albion.

Albion could process 168 tonnes of cane per hour, whilst EDE is 105. Under these two production capacity factors, it’s misleading to compare Albion with EDE on sugar production capabilities. What should have been stated by the company is that whilst Albion is a larger operating unit, it has one of each of those contentious operating sub-departments.

Reference is also made to article captioned “125 workers of 846 likely to be fired – operations to close by May monthend” that was carried in your April 19 edition. In this article, the sugar company stated that there were 846 workers attached to LBI, and 125 were at risk of losing their jobs through redundancy. This public disclosure by the company has certainly prejudiced and compromised the ongoing discussion with the unions. The company has disclosed its plans to the public before engaging the unions.

The company further disclosed that the East Demerara Estates’ cost of production increased from US$0.26-US$0.30 per pound prior to the closure of the LBI factory to US$0.41 per pound after the closure, peaking at US$0.54 in 2013. By the company’s own admission, the average cost of production increased from US$0.28 before the factory’s closure to US$0.48 after closure, an increase of US$0.20 or US$400 per tonne of sugar. What sort of evalua-

tion was done by the company to close the factory in 2011? Are the 125 persons who will most likely be made redundant responsible for the US$0.20 increase in the cost of production? It’s highly dubious. Seven hundred and twenty-one workers, from the company’s statement, are engaged in productive work, so they cannot be part of that US$0.20.

Further, the company is advancing that it is incumbent on the “current management to expedite the completion of the integration of the Enmore and LBI Estates to try and prevent sugar production in East Demerara from going out of existence in the near future”.

First, it’s clearly a subtle threat that there is a thought to close the East Demerara Estates.

However, that existence is contingent on the “completion of the integration of the Enmore and LBI Estates”.

Editor, I trust the unions will insist on a Memorandum of Understanding that once it agrees to the completion of the integration process that the future existence of the East Demerara Estate and all its employees and operations will be assured. This would remove any future disagreement like the one now where the unions are maintaining that a member of the interim management had assured them in 2011 that there will be no further closure after the factory’s closure.

Editor, this nation, on whose taxes this company survives, cannot continue to witness day in day out unending disputes and deep-seated polarisation between the sugar unions and GuySuCo. This issue of “completing an integration process” is obviously beset by lack of trust. There needs to be trust, openness and honouring of words and deeds, so that the virtues of good office and better judgement could prevail.

The show of one-upmanship must be over.

Like Wales, where the lives of 1700 workers are on tenterhooks due to a drought of information on their future, the workers at LBI will be equally apprehensive of going to Enmore as they look at the uncertain fate of their West Demerara colleagues.

Yours faithfully, Chandimal Rambudhan Hope West Enmore

Dear Editor, Guyanese American Hindus and others celebrated Ram Naumi, the birth of Lord Rama, last weekend.

Temples were packed to capacity in the greater New York area where hundreds of thousands of Guyanese of all religious and racial backgrounds are settled.

There are some 50 Guyanese Mandirs in the NY area.

There are also Guyanese Mandirs in Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Atlanta and a few other cities where there are large clusters of Guyanese (as well as Trinidadians and Surinamese) Hindus. Hindus believe Lord Rama made his appearance (was born) on earth over five thousand years ago.

They celebrated with prayers and a feast. Devotees fasted (avoiding meat, fish and eggs) and visited temples and conducted prayers at homes. Many observed a strict fast for over two weeks. Fasting, the pandit explained, is good for the bodyand the soul. Many performed or sponsored pujas or Ramayana kathas (discourses) as is the custom in Guyana and the Caribbean.

It was an extremely colour-

ful ceremony, highly inspiring. Lord Rama murti was richly adorned with ornaments and malas and very colourful clothing. The holy ‘Ramayana’ was read and its lessons explained by the presiding pandits. Several pandits graced each temple.

The temples were elaborately decorated with party favours (festooned with flags, baloons, and colourful electronic lights).

Devotees were well dressed in traditional garments. It was a solemn yet festive occasion.

People prayed with devotion and intensity to attain the final beatitude of life through intense devotion towards God, invoking the name of Lord Rama for his blessings and protection. Ram Naumi, the birthday of Lord Rama is one of the more popular festivals of Hindus though not in the same category as Diwali or Phagwah. Every Hindu celebrates Ram Namu in India which is a national holiday.

Ram Namui culminates the fasting period for Hindus for the Spring called Navratri – one of the most auspicious periods for observant Hindus. Large crowds thronged mandirs for nine nights of religious observance

and for the birth of the Lord.

Hindus view Lord Ram as the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. They believe that when the evil forces were out to destroy the world, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Rama and made his appearance on earth to save the world and to re-establish dharma – righteous life.

Hence the reason for the propitiation of Lord Rama.

Hindus believe that chanting Lord Rama’s name removes all the devotee’s sins and brings prosperity to them.

Lord Shri Rama fulfils the wishes and desires of his devotees.

There were prayers in all of the mandirs on the occasion of Ram Naumi on Friday night, Saturday midday and on Sunday evening, continuing into Sunday. Navratriis an auspicious time for marriages or new undertakings. Just prior to Navratriis known as “Karwas” which prohibits marriages or poojas.

At the mandirs, there was bhajan and kirtan singing.

Elaborate vegetarian meals were prepared nightly for the celebration of the lord’s birthday similar to a party.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Hope Kissoon is not...

These days you hear all the politicians and them talking about making the island self-sufficient. You know what God tell me last night?

Last night self, just after I finish eating? God say, “Man Man, come and have a look at these people.”’

Man Man must have been looking at people in Guyana. Who is our Man Man self? Preaching nu, Freddie Kissoon admits that God has been talking to him.

Personally. Hope Kissoon is not going mad. Kissoon actually kept good notes of what God said to him. Don’t believe me? Read the article titled “God gave Guyanese a chance in 2015. He will not do it again.” Without his daily brimstone column what would Guyana be? No hopeless nation can afford to lose such national treasures like him and ACDA’s Eric Philips.

Kissoon wrote: “If you are a believer, then you will ac-

cept that the hand of God intervened to save Guyana in May 2015.” (Maybe God is Gecom which rigged the elections or the ABC countries who supervised it to prevent a coup and mayhem) How does Kissoon know for sure?

He says he “has an interesting explanation as to why people suffer when there is a God who can prevent it.” Guyanese are fortunate that daily the Indian Kissoon and Black Phillips better bears our crosses. Like promised coalition messiahs only they can make Guyana into heaven. For only 20 per cent of Guyana’s lands the ACDA and Phillips would end poverty for all Black Guyanese.

Seal the deal before the mind wanders, I say.

Kissoon wrote: “God paid special attention to this country in May 2015 and said to it that I am giving you one last chance. Will the chance be grabbed with

from page 4

both hands?” Like the promised redeemer Kissoon adds from his written notes what God told him. He wrote: “God will not give a second chance.

He normally doesn’t do it.” Kissoon obviously must be God’s beloved son in whom he is well-pleased to know what God does, or would not do. By Kissoon’s miracle of turning philosophy into scripture like water became wine he wrote that “God created space for humans to conduct their affairs and he gave them the independence to act as good souls; you cannot fault God or deny that he exists if humans chose to go on the wrong path.”

How does anyone confirm if the promised redeemer was actually the Guyanese duo in coalition living amongst us all this time? And we never knew it till now!

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

6

wednesDAY, april 20, 2016

Page

guyana-times.com

Foundation

Why I’m considering having my smart kid repeat kindergarten

By Sarah Bregel

I

’m debating between letting my daughter move out of kindergarten and hoping for the best, or giving her what she may really need – more time.

My kindergarten-aged daughter is smart as a whip. I don’t say that because I’m her mother, and I don’t take credit for it either. I say it because it’s true and always has been. She was young when she started talking and was highly verbal by her second birthday. She blew away the paediatrician, cashiers and waitresses when full sentences flowed out of her toddler mouth.

When she entered preschool, teachers immediately noted her verbal and creative abilities. One of her earliest reports said that her understanding of the world around her was at a level “well beyond her age”. She was my first child, and I wouldn’t have known the difference. But soon, I came to realise that it wasn’t just my imagination or undying love that made her look that way to me.

She really was a very smart kid.

Either way, I never dwelled on the way my daughter’s young mind worked. I would’ve been just as content if teachers had been reporting that she was right on the mark socially and emotionally.

All that mattered to me was that she was happy during her time spent in school and was developing well on all levels. She

continued to thrive in her earliest schooling experiences, meeting and even exceeding expectations.

But earlier this year, my daughter started kindergarten, and right away, we noticed a major shift in her experiences.

Suddenly, she began to struggle in her class. Reports came back saying she wasn’t even close to hitting the mark for reading. She struggled to sit still each evening to complete her homework – something I thought she was too young for in the first place, after a seven-hour school day. She came home complaining that her legs hurt from sitting all day for lessons in reading, writing, Maths,

Science and Social Studies. At the halfway point in the school year, she only knew a handful of the 90 sight words she was supposed to have already memorised, with

more on the way. Although I was impressed with the way she was sounding out words, apparently, those signs of early reading were just not enough. In fact, they weren’t even close to where she was apparently supposed to be.

As her parents, my husband and I were instructed to do more.

Read to her more, spend more time on homework, and quiz her every day on her flashcards.

But to me, the problem didn’t seem to be a lack of dedication to her learning at home. We’d rarely missed a day reading books together since she was born.

Going to the library and picking out new stacks of books every other

week had always been one of her favourite activities. But while my daughter loved books and stories, being quizzed on sight words and asked to write sentences were not things she was ready to spend her time doing, and honestly, I didn’t blame her. But I also knew that in order to keep up, we had better try.

Time after time, my attempts failed, though. She got angry when I tried to push more schoolwork on her. She started to say she didn’t like school or that she only liked music, gym and art.

She protested when it was time for homework, or dawdled, and took an hour to complete it while I

got frustrated trying to help. It just didn’t feel right. I had been hearing about how school had become exceedingly more and more demanding for young children, but I didn’t think we’d notice it right away. I had hoped that given she was a pretty smart kid, her first year of real school wouldn’t be too big of a problem, even if it was a little more academic these days. But I hadn’t anticipated just how high the expectations would be. I hadn’t even dreamed that halfway through the year, I’d be wondering what on earth we were going to do when it’s time for first grade – or even if she’d be going to first grade.

I found myself between a rock and a hard place. While holding her back didn’t really feel right, it started to look like the only option.

My biggest fear was that her enthusiasm for learning, which was so intense just a few months ago, was fading. I worried how her confidence in her abilities might be shattered if she continued to fail to meet the expectations set for her in school. That thought became more important to me than what anyone might think of her repeating kindergarten. I knew she might not be thrilled about it either, but I had to ask myself, what’s worse: her being one of the oldest kids in her class next year or pushing her forward when she is clearly not ready and watching her struggle as a result?

I also heard from friends with slightly older children who needed a lot of help outside of school in the form of tutoring. I couldn’t see my daughter being excited about even more schoolwork, just to be achieving at the level teachers said she should be.

While it’s not a pleasant situation to be in, I know I’m not alone. Many parents these days are faced with the same decision due to the growing demands placed on students. Even our youngest learners are expected

to embrace the growing trend of more early academics, although it goes against good sense – and good science. Study after study shows the importance of selfdirected play and socialisation over academics for young children. Still, our public school systems continue to implement more early academics and less play all the time, even in our preschools. And the fact is, it doesn’t help prepare kids for college or the real world any better. In fact, it has the opposite effect. They end up missing out on all the learning that comes from play and socialisation. All this growing trend does is ensure that more children struggle earlier in school. It sets even smart kids up for failure, and it isn’t right.

It has little to do with intelligence; it has to do with readiness. And many kindergarteners simply aren’t ready for the material being presented to them; my daughter included. But if time is all she needs, I’m willing to give that to her. No, holding her back in kindergarten is not ideal. It’s a choice I wish we didn’t have to make. But I’m just not prepared to sacrifice her emotional well-being to keep up appearances. I know my kid is smart, but the fact is, she won’t know that about herself if I push her harder and harder so that she can keep up with increasingly unrealistic expectations. Kids these days need us to be patient because they all learn differently.

But if the public school system will not address that, then I will make the system work for us and give her another year of kindergarten, if I truly feel that’s what she needs. There’s no race to the finish, regardless of what we’re tricked into thinking. So, I might just let her go at her own pace, slow and steady, but exactly where she needs to be. (parenting.com)

READING

H

ere are a few tried-andtrue guidelines from Reading Is Fundamental on how to motivate kids to read, with comments and suggestions from kids themselves.

Let kids pick out their own books

Book choice is a strong motivation for readers young and old. Let kids pick out books at the library or bookstore. It’s almost a sure thing they’ll want to read them. If you pick them out, they won’t.

Set goals and reward reading

Reward reading with more reading, we’ve always said. Stop by the library or bookstore for the next book in your child’s favourite series, or let your child shop for it online. Most kids agree, but they don’t also see a problem with more… well, extrinsic rewards.

Let your kids see you read

Read the newspaper over your morning coffee, take a magazine from the rack in a doctor’s office while you wait, and stuff a paperback into your purse, pocket, or briefcase.

Make reading together fun and memorable

Parents can convey important positive impressions about reading by making reading an experience their children will remember and cherish.

Emily says, “My mom really likes to read to me and she makes the books sound funny by using different voices.”

It’s not what you read to your child that counts; it’s how. Make a story come alive by changing your voice and pace, or using sound effects and motions.

“For me, it was not just books – it was how my mom read the book that got my attention,” says Brittany.

Create loving associations with books and reading

Reading together is a time for closeness and cuddling – another way to show your love as a parent, grandparent, or caring adult.

Luis says, “My grandma is coming, and I want her to read to me.”

For children lucky enough to have parents who read to them, the memory is lasting and their love for books and reading lifelong.

“Most of all, do it the oldfashioned way. Hold your child while you read together. One of my fondest memories is having my mom read to me in bed at night and falling asleep in her arms. I slept perfectly those nights,” says Taurean. (readingrocket.org)

news

7

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

GRA breaks silence on DDL tax settlement – says deal prevented additional years of litigation

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

A

lmost a week after the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) announced that it has managed to settle a 14-year-old Consumption Tax litigation with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for $1.5 billion, the revenue body has finally commented publicly on the issue which has stirred much controversy, announcing that the decision has avoided years of litigation.

The GRA in a statement which also took a swipe at Leader of the Opposition and Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, said that it does not encourage discussions about taxpayers’ issues or information in the public domain.

However, it said it was forced to respond to comments purportedly made by Jagdeo, who described the settlement as “scandalous”.

Jagdeo in a statement on Saturday evening said that the out of court settlement sets the wrong precedence and could open the gate for

other companies to seek tax refunds.

“The settlement sends the wrong message to the business community – that a company can unilaterally decide to stop paying taxes while other companies comply with the law, take the matter to court, and drag it out until a sympathetic Government comes to power and settles its debts to the State,” Jagdeo said.

But, the GRA said it was “disappointing” that Jagdeo, who ought to have known better, would seek to expose the business of a taxpayer as well as attempt to have information on other taxpayers disclosed, even though he knows that these are violations of the oath of secrecy that the GRA is mandated to protect.

“The GRA also finds it astonishing that, given the history of violations of taxpayers’ privacy that occurred under his Government’s stewardship, which Guyanese found repugnant, that he would want to encourage the GRA to continue to operate along those unacceptable lines,” the statement added.

The GRA in defending its

PM disputes Guyana Times... from page 2

“In August (2015), the Prime Minister issued a directive that all headlines in the State-owned print media be first scrutinised and approved by his office before they are published. The directive was a response to a headline criticising the Government. The Prime Minister also serves as Minister of Information,” the report noted. However, Prime Minister Nagamootoo in a statement on Tuesday described the Guyana Times article as “calculatedly, wicked, false and mischievous”, adding that it is “the latest in an almost relentless, daily personal attack” on him since the coalition Government took office in May 2015.

In rebutting the Prime Minister’s claims, the management of Guyana Times said that the newspaper operated within the realm of a free and independent press. Further, the newspaper does not attack politicians but reports the facts responsibly and accurately – operating fairly, with balance and without fear.

The PM’s statement claimed that while the publication’s article sought to create a nexus between a statement issued by the Department of Public Information (DPI) on media censorship and the US report, that was not the case.

“The DPI’s release was not in response to any ‘report’ emanating from the United States,”

the Prime Minister claimed; however, the statement did not at any point, highlighted that its purpose was in response to any political commentator.

However, in its Tuesday statement, the Prime Minister clarified that the statement was related to the April 9, 2016 ‘Hinds’ Sight column’ in the State-owned Guyana Chronicle written by Dr David Hinds and an April 17tedition of the Freddie Kissoon, both of which accused the Government of censorship of the State media.

Nagamootoo said this publication has embarked on an “ad hominem, often times vulgar, demeaning, derogatory and racist campaign” against him as a person and in his capacity as Prime Minister.

He also accused the publication of “trying desperately to undo the malicious attacks levelled by the Jagdeo clique against the Government of the United States and other major Western democracies. The clique has invariably accused the US of helping to oust the [People’s Progressive Party] PPP after 23 years of unbroken power.”

It also claimed that the “clique” accused the Western powers with “meddling” and had instigated and launched an unprecedented vulgar attack against a former US Ambassador during his tenure in Guyana.

decision said that the matter has been engaging the courts since 2002, and already cost the nation significant amounts of monies and accused Jagdeo of wanting to “reconstruct the 14 years of failure by his Government to bring this matter to an end.”

“After almost 14 years with no satisfactory outcome insight, the GRA exercised its right to settlement in order to avoid more years of litigation and the consequent loss to the national coffers as DDL was likely to take the matter

to the CCJ,” is stated, adding that the settlement was calculated based on what the law permits.

Jagdeo has been arguing that since the settlement was arrived at only on March 9, 2016, it means DDL had use of the money for 15 years.

“If one were to calculate interest on this sum at a rate of 10 per cent per annum, using only the past 10 years, the liability would amount to $10.6 billion. The GRA assessment of $5.392 billion was based on a formula handed down by the court, but yet DDL refused to pay,” Jagdeo stated.

According to Jagdeo, the settlement also writes off all possible liabilities in respect of Excise Tax up to March 9, 2016.

“So if the same situation obtains with regard to the Excise tax between 2006 and 2016, then the liabilities would run into tens of billions more,” he contended.

However, the GRA argues that based on Jagdeo’s formula, Government actu-

ally gained a profit of G$231 million under the scenario he proffered.

“Mr Jagdeo is fully aware that once a debt owed exceeds one year, its value must be discounted for every year it remains uncollected… During that 15-year period of litigation and based on the interest rate of 10 per cent that he chose, his G$5.3 billion would have been worth G$1.3 billion to the Government after 15 years,” the GRA said.

It added that it finds the former Finance Minister’s objection to its efforts to have an amicable relationship with

taxpayers, including those in the business community troubling.

“The tone of his views as reported in the newspapers present taxpayers as if they are to be enemies of the State.

It is therefore, important for the GRA to reiterate that it views taxpayers as partners in the development of Guyana and therefore, explores all avenues available to have taxpayers honour their tax obligations without prejudice and at the same create an enabling environment for legitimate businesses,” the statement concluded.

8 news

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS

Lindener jailed on gun, ammo charges J

unior Melville, of Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, was sentenced to three years behind bars on Tuesday by Magistrate Clive Nurse after entering a guilty plea to charges of having unlicensed firearms and ammunition in his possession.

The 29-year-old defendant made his final appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court where the sentence was handed down. The Court heard that Melville was intercepted at a Police road block on August 1, 2015 at Old England, Region 10 (Upper

Demerara-Berbice), where it was discovered that he had a quantity of cash and two unlicensed firearms – a .38 and a .32 revolver – and ammunition. He was subsequently arrested after being told of the offences.

Melville, who had initially pleaded not guilty to the offences, changed his plea earlier this month on all three separate charges and was remanded to prison.

Magistrate Nurse, in handing down the sentence, told the defendant that he took into consideration the fact that he did

Jailed: Junior Melville

not waste the Court’s time and he had a fair prison re-

port. The Magistrate said he hoped that the time Melville spent at the Camp Street Prison helped him to make up his mind regarding the direction he wanted to take in the future.

The defendant was sentenced to a fine of $75,000 and three years for each offence; however, the sentences will run concurrently.

Magistrate Nurse also stated that he took into consideration the 10 months the defendant spent on remand which will be subtracted from the three-year prison sentence.

West Bank man on $150,000 bail for chopping friend

A

Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara man was on Tuesday granted $150,000 bail after he was slapped with an unlawful wounding charge.

Jeffrey Bacchus, 53, pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on April 16 at Georgetown, Bacchus unlawfully wounded Steve Singh with intent to cause him actual bodily harm.

The Court was told that the 23-year-old Virtual Complainant (VC) was severely chopped to his left side, including his left leg.

He is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to the prosecution’s case on April 16, the defendant, who resides at Lot 420 Parfaite Harmonie, was standing at Riverview Landing when he was approached by Singh.

An argument allegedly ensued between the two

and Singh left for his home to get a cutlass. When Singh returned with the cutlass, a scuffle started and Singh dropped his cutlass giving Bacchus the chance to pick it up. He then fired several chops at Singh as he ran away.

The VC was subsequently taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted, and Bacchus was arrested.

Defence Attorney Euclin Gomes, in a bail application, argued that the pros-

ecution failed to give proper details of the incident to the Court.

The prosecution, however, objected to bail, on the basis of the seriousness of the offence, adding that the two persons involved in the case were known to each other and granting the defendant bail would put the victim at risk of more harm.

The prosecution’s objection was overruled and Bacchus was placed on $150,000 bail. The case will continue on May 19.

Larceny accused on $50,000 bail A

Lusignan, East Coast Demerara teen was on Tuesday arraigned on a larceny charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts.

Eighteen-year-old Khemraj Persaud pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on March 29, 2016, at Port Kaituma, North West District, he stole $200,000, property of

Basdeo Persaud.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones related to the Court that the case file was incomplete and the stolen money was not recovered

by Police. He then objected to bail.

The defendant told the Court he lived in Lusignan but worked in Port Kaituma as a gold miner.

He was granted $50,000 bail. The case will continue on May 3 at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

Eyew tness

Depravity...

B

...and monsters

easts? Animals? What else can you call those who invaded the externally grilled home of Mohamed and Bibi Jamila Munir, herded them into their internally grilled bedroom – the one without an escape trapdoor – then doused the house with gasoline and then set it ablaze? Surely these can’t be humans? What kind of twisted thinking would inflict such a death on a couple in their seventies?

A couple who had led pious lives – provided an example to others that while piety might be mocked by some, it provided an anchor of stability in turbulent times. A couple who led industrious lives and – in the words of George Lamming, “made two blades of grass grow where there was one”. In their case, those were blades of rice, which allowed them to earn a living and raise their children – and fed us all.

A couple who had led socially conscious lives – were the members of the Rice Association – especially the wife who would’ve broken so many social barriers in the male-dominated rice farming community. Yet, forced to die not with the dignity they’d earned through their exemplary lives but screaming and gasping for air before they asphyxiated.

But their savage deaths brought to the fore the reality that a large swathe of Guyanese have to live in within Guyana, for the last four decades. The reality of physical insecurity outside the home and even in their homes.

Insecurity so strong it’s a wonder more folks don’t “run off” than they have. Why did the Munirs have to grill their homes so extensively they were more heavily barricaded than the “prisoners” in 12 Camp Street?

Because ever since the era of the “kick down the door bandits” in the late seventies, the homes of some in this country were not castles in which they could relax and be at ease. Since that time people like the Munirs were seen not just as easy marks from whom loot could be extracted. But just as significantly, as slates on which a message could be inscribed and sent to their communities writ large – and their leaders.

Can those who have not been so hounded and herded to have a “prison lockdown” procedure every evening in their homes; who don’t have to worry about withdrawing money from banks; who do not have to leave their jewellery at home when they go out, imagine the sickening claustrophobia of fear that perpetually envelopes and paralyses them.

It’s no use to “hope” there will be any change in pervasive insecurity in the country. We have been assured that “all is well”.

Just celebrate 50 years of Independence! Jubilee time!!

...and power grab

Poor Nagamootoo. He’s in the news for all the wrong reasons. But it all stems from what he’s stoutly denied. To wit – he’d been effectively caponed! Or, in the words of his old comrade, President Donald Ramotar, he’d gotten Lawwah! So after collecting the $1.7M per month salary , the refurbished (air-conditioned) mansion and the SUV, he immediately plunged into intrigue and manoeuvring to finagle some real power.

He moved domestically and internationally. Abroad, he appointed four AFC campaign contributors – two from the US and two from Canada – as “Business Advisors”.

He pulled the wool over Foreign Minister Greenidge’s eyes, claiming they were bringing in investments. Luckily Greenidge didn’t hold his breath.

Locally, he appointed four “representatives” – the big one in Berbice, hanging out in the old Roopmahal Cinema – even though he’s usurping constitutionally mandated Local Government functions.

Getting away with that, he moved to clip Harmon’s powers. And in his coup de grâce, he’ll be relieving the President of some powers, via “constitutional change”.

Poor fella. He might just have to be burdened by those powers!

...mercy

After writing about the Munirs, your Eyewitness learnt a young man on business from Wakenaam was accosted at one of the busiest intersections in Georgetown. The animals demanded his money and when he refused shot him, point blank.

The lunatics are running the asylum.

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

news

9

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Sordid conditions at Mon Repos Market

By Ramona Luthi

M

on Repos Market vendors continue to voice their concerns over the dilapidated state of the facility.

When Guyana Times visited the East Coast Demerara location on Tuesday, we were met with peeved merchants who readily related their frustrations about having to endure the market’s insanitary conditions.

According to numerous vendors, the garbage-filled drains in front of the market would overflow, flooding the walkways in front of their stalls and the market was

the passageway to cast and we need sheds because when rain fall, everything here wet.

I had to put up zinc here and still when rain fall, still water coming in and we have to cover up. We don’t get sales when rain fall. The whole passageway does flood. The water from outside does come inside. Nasty, black, muddy, nasty water.’’

Aside from the drains, garbage and lack of proper roofing, the vendors complained about an infestation of cockroaches and rats in their stalls.

An affected woman said, “Me got plenty cockroach and rat in here. Plenty. Me suh old

The deplorable state of the 'fish pond' at Mon Repos Market

rarely cleaned.

“The market nasty, nasty.

Mostly we gotta clean by weself,” one female vendor who identified herself as “Fazie” added. ‘’Go out pon the road deh and you gon see all the issue. Just watch down in the drains and you gon see.

There’s no way that the water gon flow. Mon Repos Market is the dirtiest market in the world. And dem making money at this market and dem nah do nothing good for it,’’ said one man, who identified himself as “Haniff”.

The sellers indicated that they needed proper walkways and the roof needed repairs.

One elderly vendor called “Lovely” explained, “We need

and me ah clean from morning till night in here. Every weekend me got to buy $500 rat poison. That’s a money me got to put aside. And yuh see them cockroach? Me nah able. The cockroach and rat too much.’’

The merchants expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that not much is done by the cleaners in the market and when they would try to clean it themselves, the Market Office does not give them enough time to do so. They indicated that Market Office personnel would close the facility at precisely 17:00h and would not wait on anyone.

Vendors relayed that on a few occasions, they were cursed at and locked in the Market by

these persons. They informed Guyana Times that when they asked for extra time, the employees would harshly tell them that they did not work for overtime or the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) did not allow that.

Another issue affecting the vendors was the condition of the washrooms and the garbage bins that were both located at the back of the Market, near stalls.

This newspaper was told that the garbage would be left there for days and along with the stench came worms that would crawl out in front of the washrooms and vending stalls. One vendor indicated that she would get no business when it rained because of the smell and rodents that would gather.

Other vendors were annoyed that they were forced to pay daily and weekly fees ranging from $200-$500 to the Mon Repos Market workers. They said that they were never told what the fees covered.

Following these complaints, this publication met

with the Mon Repos Market Office employees who blamed the residents and vendors for the insanitary conditions of the area.

“Hear where this problem coming from. This problem coming from the residents bringing their garbage and dash it all over. And you

that the Market closed at 17:00h and they should finish doing everything by then.

The Market Office employees then refuted the complaint that they would curse the vendors. Deodatt said that the merchants were the ones that would use indecent language towards them

Discarded garbage at Mon Repos Market

see these people, like the vendors them, they are the ones doing these things. They does shy they things anyhow, they don’t care,” one employee Deodatt (only name given) said.

In regards to inflexibility concerning the closure of the Market, Deodatt remarked that the vendors were aware

whenever they highlighted that they were abiding by the rules and regulations of the Market.

Kamini Parshram, another employee at the Market Office, added that a market committee was in the process of being formed and she believed that things would be improved with its forma-

tion. She indicated that the current Councillors were organised and should be able to put things in place. She asked that the vendors give them some time in order for the committee to get established. Parshram highlighted that there would be a meeting today when they would know how soon the committee would be operational.

“Tell them whenever they need something different from the Market; they need to speak with the Councillors.

There’s a meeting every second Tuesday of the month.

They need to be there and complain about their situation. But they never go. They are the ones doing the wrong things in the Market and then they complain about us upstairs. Everything they tell you is vice versa,” Deodatt declared.

On the question of fees paid by vendors, Parshram clarified that the fees were for renting of stalls and space in the Market. She said the weekly fee ranged from $60$500 and the daily fee of $200 was for those who did not have a stall in the market.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, april 20, 2016

News

Region 2 RDC concerned about condition of main roadways – shifting of Maria’s Delight bridge grave concern

By Indrawatttie Natram

C

ouncillors from both the Government and Opposition on the Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) have raised their concerns over the present conditions of the Essequibo Coast Public Road.

The issue was discussed in depth at the recent statutory RDC meeting for the month of April.

The discussions highlighted the shifting of the Maria’s Delight Bridge, filling of potholes, several sinking bridges, and installation and maintenance of street lights. According to People’s Progressive Party/

Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt

Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Vilma Da Silva, commuters as well as drivers traversing the bridge have complained about their safety.

She told the RDC that the bridge was falling apart and no one seemed to be responsible. Apart from the bridge, the RDC discussed the sinking of the approaches to several bridges along the public road.

It was also noted that several holes in numerous streets needed filling and the clearing of the road shoulders should be given priority. There were also reports of constant sinking of the road in some areas.

In addition, at a recent meeting held with the Regional Chairman and newly-elected leaders from the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the Anna Regina Town Council (ARTC), it was

Decentralising power

S

PPP/C Councillor Vilma Da Silva

noted that actions should be implemented regarding road safety. According to the Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, the Police are an important partner in helping to create safer roadways within the region.

Ramdatt noted that the RDC was of the strong view that the Public Infrastructure Ministry has an integral role in addressing the dangers posed by the Maria’s Delight Bridge, other sinking bridges, potholes, and the installation and maintenance of street lights.

He suggested that there be a strategic focus and programmes to address such issues within the Region.

In addressing the roaming of stray animals on the roadways, the Anna Regina Town Council will be embarking on a campaign to keep stray animals off the roads. The Council will be working along with Police and other stakeholders in addressing the issue.

Road users, both pedestrians and motorists, are also asked by the RDC to exercise care and consideration when using the roadways.

atiricus always knew Nagga Man was a trailblazer.

The man was far ahead of his time – and that was why his comrades in PPEE envied him and eventually squeezed him out. They couldn’t keep up with a visionary.

Imagine the latest complaint made by the Leader of the Proposition. That Nagga Man’s “Man in Berbice”, HoreBhajan, was renting the RoopMahal Cinema in Port Mourant for his office. Once again, the Leader of the Proposition was missing the point.

When he’d been a wee lad in Whimsey, Nagga Boy used to stand outside the RoopMahal and wish he could go inside to see all those movies with his hero Pran.

Pran was called a “scamp man” in those days, and all of Nagga Boy’s friends hated him. Not Nagga Boy. He saw Pran was what nowadays folks rave about – an “anti hero”. Nagga Man was ahead of his time. So he had his “Man in Berbice”, HoreBhajan, rent the RoopMahal, so ever he visited Berb Ice in his new SUV, he could go into the RoopMahal. To be inspired by his “scamp man” hero.

“But the Leader of the Proposition was looking at the form and not the substance of Nagga Man’s far-reaching vision.” Thought Satiricus. Just look what HoreBhajan had written in his complaint. “Besides me, I have two persons working in the office: one is a clerk and the other a cleaner.” So can’t the Leader of the Proposition understand when Nagga Man employs a cleaner for a two-person office, that office has to be the whole RoopMahal? Or else he’s just employing family?

And then there’s HoreBhajan’s job – which was the final proof of Nagga Man’s vision. Nagga Man had always said there was no need for Local Government. All that was needed were 10 few good men – all handpicked by him, of course – and they’d handle all the problems of the 10 regions.

Look at what HoreBhajan ALONE had achieved – “finding solutions in farming, business, mitigation of flooding and so on from Blackbush Polder to Hogstyle”.

As HoreBhajan modestly concluded, “Needless to say my interventions in assisting persons to resolve their issues have been highly appreciated and this office is becoming increasingly popular for citizens in Region 6 who could use some help to get their problems addressed.”

Who needs Local Government? Not Nagga Man, the visionary!

Barge handed over to Kwakwani NDC

– 30.5% of proceeds for community development

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he Kwakwani community in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) is expected to reap the economic benefits associated with the recent handing over of a barge by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

Regional Vice Chairman Alroy Adolph said 30.5 per cent of the proceeds would go to the community, which would greatly help in its development.

He noted that previously the community did not benefit from any of the revenue generated by the barge, which for years was operated by a private owner. Passengers us-

ing the vessel would usually pay $200 for a return trip, while motor vehicles crossed at a cost of $2000.

Larger trucks had a crossing charge of $16,000.

Adolph said in an effort to facilitate the handover, an official document was sent to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairperson through Winston Rosario of NICIL. He noted that the vessel was working under a twomonth contract undertaken with private company Edwards to see how it would work out.

The barge, located at the crushing plant, was officially expected to recommence activities on

Monday. According to Adolph, a number of logging trucks and Canters which were stalled pending the way forward were expected to cross the waterway.

“It’s a plus to the community because when you look at 30.5 per cent based upon how many vehicles cross, looking at two trucks per day, that would give you approximately $240,000 for the month and it’s a plus to the community because about two or three persons would be employed,” he said.

Apart from the barge, he noted that the NDC would benefit from the collection of rates and taxes.

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News

Body of missing Sophia woman found in Cummings Lodge canal

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ome two days after 25-year-old Simone Hackett went missing, her mutilated body was pulled from a canal in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, on Tuesday morning.

Hackett of C Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, left home on Saturday night at about 20:30h to uplift a package that was sent by her child’s father from Mahdia, but never returned home.

After two days of intense searching, the woman’s body was found by passersby on Tuesday morning.

Commander of C Division (East Coast Demerara), Marlon Chapman, told reporters at the scene that relatives of Hackett confirmed the body to be hers after it was spotted by passing school children.

“This morning around 08:00h, two children were on their way to school when they spot the body and alerted neighbours, who then sum-

Dead: Simone Hackett

ed by investigators to be examined for any possible clue that would lead them to the killer(s).

At the time, the Commander noted that no one has been arrested but they intend to bring the father of Hackett’s child in once again for further questioning. The dead woman’s family believe the man, known as

The blade and shoe that were found at the scene where the mutilated body of Simone Hackett was discovered

moned the Police,” he stated.

Chapman further noted that after the body was recovered from the canal and examined, it was discovered that her throat was slit and she had three wounds to the back of her neck. “That would have led us to believe that she was murdered so investigations are now active as homicide,” the Commander noted.

Guyana Times understands that a cutlass blade and one side of a pair of male shoes was found at the scene.

These items were collect-

“Clevon” is behind her murder.

Speaking with reporters at the scene, Hackett’s aunt Leyota Greene-Watson related the events of the night the mother of one went missing. She said that her niece received a call from the father of her child, who claimed to be in Mahdia, informing her that he sent some gold and $15,000 with someone by the name of “Dexter” for their son’s third birthday on Sunday, and she should go collect it at the Mahdia Bus Park, Stabroek, Georgetown.

The woman left home to uplift the package but later called home and told a relative that the man from whom she was supposed to collect the package had changed his location and she was asked to wait at the head of the University of Guyana (UG) Road.

The grieving aunt stated that the child’s father told them on Sunday over the telephone that Hackett called him at 22:00h the night before and told him that she collected the package and was going to take a taxi home.

But, Greene-Watson recalled that 22:10h, the 25-year-old called her father and asked that he pick up her up from UG Road head because the person (Dexter) did not turn up.

“She say she waiting at UG road head and she tired waiting because she aint seeing this person coming, and she want him to pick her up… At 22:18h, my phone ring and when I answer we heard a low talking in the background. I keep saying hello, hello and all I hearing was breeze – like when a vehicle moving so I thought the phone pocket press and I cut the call,” the aunt recalled.

She added that they tried calling her back to let her know that her phone was pocket-dialling but from then after, for about three minutes of attempts to contact her, the calls went to voicemail.

“I keep telling them something wrong because I feeling it… minutes to 11 (23:00h), I sent her a Whatsapp message and I say “where are you young lady?” but she did not respond,” the woman lamented.

Greene-Watson is adamant that the father of her niece’s child had something to do with her murder since he has been giving conflicting stories about the pick-up.

“When we call he Sunday, he giving a set of conflicting stories. He calling more than one body name he send this money with, he saying different time that she collect this money,” she related.

The woman went on to say that the two were separated for some time and would sometimes have confrontations over their three-year-

old son. She said that only two weeks back, the man had threatened Hackett when she went to social workers after he took their son away to Mahdia.

“He does hold the child at ransom to get at she… so I told her to go to the social worker and let them give you a paper to go to Mahdia to get a Police to go with you for your child because this man

collect the child, she told the child’s father that she would summons him to pay child support since he took the child away and this prompted the man to threaten her.

“He tell she “you don’t know what I could do to you”… His mother and sister then called her and cuss she up and tell she she gone tek what coming to she,” the woman further stated.

of honour but she never returned.

Hackett’s body is at the Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times on Tuesday evening that while the Police have not arrested any one for the woman’s murder, investigators have an interest in the child father.

Inconsolable relatives of the dead woman at the scene on Tuesday morning

does threaten you and I don’t want he murder you. She did get the paper and went to collect the lil boy,” the woman said.

However, the aunt noted that when Hackett went to

The family said they knew something had happened to her when she did not return home because Sunday was her son’s third birthday and her sister’s wedding day for which she was the maid

“We have alerted the Police in Mahdia to contact him and bring him in for questing,” Blanhum stated, while adding that up to that time, the police were yet to locate him.

12 news UG selects new Vice Chancellor Keeping it real wednesDay, APRIL 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Former UG Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi

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he Council of the University of Guyana (UG) on Tuesday announced that it has selected a new Vice Chancellor after an extensive and rigorous search process.

While it has withheld the name of the new Vice Chancellor, the University said the selection process involved a thorough review by the Search Committee of some 20 individuals who had applied for the position.

Out of the 20 applicants, four were shortlisted based on an assessment of the predetermined criteria for the position.

According to a release from the University, the four candidates were invited for an interview process which involved interactions with staff of the Berbice Campus, the University Council and Academic community, and a public lecture. The candidates then met with the Search Committee for an interview which quizzed their general knowledge of the issues of the University, their proposed approach to dealing with those issues, along with their vision

for the country’s top tertiary institution.

Each interaction was scored by different evaluators, each of whom privately submitted his score to an individual who then computed the numbers according to a predetermined formula. The summated scores for each of the candidates were presented to the Search Committee for review and discussion, and out of this a decision was made about the candidate that best met the criteria for the position.

Three of the shortlisted candidates went through the interview process. The fourth candidate removed himself from consideration for personal reasons. While the Search Committee believed that all three candidates interviewed met the basic requirements for the position, one of

the candidates was adjudged best aligned with the requirements for the position.

UG’s Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris is expected to announce the name of the Vice Chancellor once negotiations have been completed, mutual-

UG’s Chancellor, Dr Nigel Harris

ly agreed upon and approved by the University Council.

The new Vice Chancellor will replace former VC, Nigeria-born Dr Jacob Opadeyi, whose four-year contract officially came to an end in February of this

year. Opadeyi had said late last year that he was willing to continue in service to the University; however, he was not approached by the administration or the Council.

Prior to his leave, Opadeyi faced major criticisms, had a

falling-out with the two major Councils and the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS). He said he was very much interested in an improvement in the salary scale for UG workers.

The two unions in January 2015 had orchestrated over four weeks of protest action against what they said was the unfair treatment meted out to staff members. They were demanding a 60 per cent increase on their salaries, a 200 per cent increase in their travelling allowance, a better medical scheme, increases in allowances for books and other materials, duty-free concessions and yearly research grants.

These demands were not readily addressed.

Later in the year, the Vice Chancellor was served a petition of no confidence against him. The two unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) – signed the petition signalling a vote of no confidence in the Professor in his capacity as Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana.

The unions said they had no confidence in his ability to administer the affairs of the University of Guyana, the premier educational institution of the country.

Mocha mechanic’s killing

Welder slapped with murder charge

Dead: Terrance Lanferman

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fter being on the run for almost a year, murder accused Kenkassie Lynch was arrested and on Tuesday arraigned on a murder charge when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Twenty-one-year-old Lynch, a welder, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on June 1, 2015 at Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, he shot and killed Terrence Lanferman.

According to reports, Lynch and Lanferman had an ongoing feud. Lanferman was gunned down at his Nelson Street, Mocha Arcadia residence around 19:00h on June 1, 2015.

Lynch also implicated his cousin “Birdman” (only name given) in the murder.

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) is set to commence on June 1, which will see approximately 18 eyewitnesses testifying.

Reflecting on 50 years of independence

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s we approach our 50th independence anniversary, the discussion continues as to what we have to show as a nation. We are still relatively young as a republic. But we have a long history of interaction with the ‘land of many waters’ which has transformed our cultural landscape. The mix of people who were brought here contributed to our cultural Dr Baytoram Ramharack diversity. For a country blessed with lots of resources (sugar, rice, diamond, wood, gold and bauxite), a relatively small population and abundant land space for all, even on our narrow coastal strip, our economy is still struggling and we can’t seem to be able to satisfy the basic needs of Guyanese.

Compared to Guyana, our Caribbean neighbours have done relatively well, even though their small State economies are dependent on tourism for foreign exchange or they produce a few commodities for export.

Anyone travelling along the Berbice and Essequibo main road would see a lot of new homes being built. Some are being renovated. One can also see a lot of vacant houses along the way. Guyana, given its rich resources, a hard-working people and gainful remittances from abroad, should have been able to develop its economy and enjoy sustained economic growth like some of the newly industrialised Asian countries (South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong) or the second tier of the developing Asian countries (Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia). However, once the bread basket of the Caribbean, Guyana seems to be continuously moving several steps backwards since independence.

The problems we face today are glowing. One, corruption is widespread. The 2015 US Country Report on Human Rights Practices reminded us that “there remains widespread public perception of corruption involving public officials at all levels” including the “Police and judiciary”. This is a scourge that has a long history and can be traced to the Burnham era when 80 per cent of the economy was controlled by the Government.

The relaxation of Government control under Presidents Hoyte and Jagdeo led to unfettered capitalism as State possessions were being privatised. In the midst of this privatisation scheme, the national economy developed, but, as we are now finding out, mistakes were made in planning or the contractual arrangements between Government and foreign and domestic companies did not maximise benefits for the Guyanese people.

Two, the rapid out migration rate ensured that our best and brightest sons and daughters have departed to other countries. In a country where the scope for tertiary education is limited, our industrial base did not develop to such an extent that their skills were in great demand. No Government, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the People’s National Congress or the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) have been successful in attracting a skilled class of Guyanese to return home nor have we been able to sway a significant population from the Diaspora to invest in the Guyanese economy. It is unlikely that this will change in the near future.

Three, a prevailing culture of scepticism and pessimism continues to plague the land. A contributing factor is the racial divide that raises deep suspicions among Africans and Indians, many years after the country experienced severe civil disturbances and ethnic conflicts that saw some villages that were once multi-ethnic, turned into areas dominated by either Africans or Indians.

Four, high crime and Police abuse are continuous problems, as noted by the US Human Rights Practices. This problem, closely related to corruption, drives away prospective investors or visitors.

Guyanese will be celebrating its jubilee in a few weeks. But we need to reflect on where we are and where we could have been. The APNU/AFC coalition Government which came into office with a lot of good will, barring the fact that it was a close election (the PPP claims there were irregularities), seems to be squandering its good will as the Government stumbles from one controversy into another.

If the Guyana Government can address some of these problems, as well as others (providing basic needs for all, adequate infrastructure, etc) it can still capture the promise of hope. The discovery of oil off our North-eastern shore provides for some optimism for a changing economy. But oil wealth can breed even more corruption, if pre-emptive actions are not taken.

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Woman rescued after jumping off Harbour Bridge

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38-year-old woman is undergoing psychiatric treatment after attempted to take her own life by jumping off the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

Rehanna Budhan of Lot 42 Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, was rescued by passersby who saw her plunge into the Demerara River around midday on Tuesday.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the mother of one was walking on the Demerara Harbour Bridge heading west when

she suddenly climbed onto the rail and plunged into the water.

One of the rescuers, Parsram Ramchand, related to this newspaper that he was driving over the Bridge from the West Bank when he observed the woman walking in the opposite direction on the right-hand side of the bridge.

“When I reach closer, I see this woman climb up on the rail and jump over. I stop my vehicle and run out,” he said, recalling that he immediately took off his boots and pants, and jumped in the

The woman being brought to shore by two passersby

water to save the woman.

“A next guy jump behind me and we rescue her and bring her up on the river bank,” Ramchand stated. The man noted that the woman was unconscious when they brought her out of the water and so they took her to the Police Outpost on the eastern side of the Bridge.

This newspaper was told that the woman, who has a five-year-old child, claimed that she has a spiritual problem hence she wanted to take her life. The woman’s mother was summoned to

the outpost and told the officers that this was the first time her adult daughter had done something like that.

In October last year, a man was rescued by passersby after he too jumped off the Bridge in a bid to take his life. The Harbour Bridge has become a hotspot for suicidal jumps, with many of them being successful.

The latest victim was a woman who jumped to her death back in January 2015. Her body was discovered several hours later in the vicinity of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Wharf.

FFTP donates medical supplies ANSA McAL launches Ariel’s to Suddie Public Hospital 50-55” LED TV promotion

F

ood For The Poor (FFTP) has donated a large quantity of medical supplies to the Suddie Public Hospital, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), following reports of a shortage at the medical institution.

The donated items included medical equipment, such as an examination table, a dental chair, gloves, pillows, linen, adult pampers and other assorted medical and surgical items.

Nurse Emette Tull attached to the Suddie Hospital expressed appreciation for the items, noting that they are essential to the efficient functioning of the facility.

“The variety of items donated to the Hospital would be of great assistance as the institution has been in dire need of essential items for a considerable period of time.”

She assured that the items would be used to benefit the patients seeking medical attention at the facility.

“The items would be utilised to the benefit of the residents of the community

I

FFTP representative Jimeel Davis hands over the items donated by the organisation to a representative of the Suddie Public Hospital

and even those at the Oscar Joseph Cottage Hospital located at Charity are likely to benefit,” the nurse said.

The senior of the Giftsin-Kind Department, Jimeel Davis, in delivering his remarks said that he is very pleased with the donation and the long standing relationship that the Suddie Pubic Hospital has with

FFTP. “I am very pleased with the resuscitation of this enduring relationship between FFTP and the Hospital, I hope that this can continue for a long time to come”.

Davis posited that the donation of medical supplies and other essentials would enhance the services of the hospital.

n observance of Guyana’s 50th Golden Jubilee anniversary, ANSA McAL has launched its Ariel’s 50-55 LED TVs promotion.

The promotion, which was launched at the company’s head office in Beterverwagting, on the East Coast of Demerara, will conclude on May 25.

The promotion with end with a grand drawing of ten 55” television sets.

Speaking at the launching of the promotion, Diana Ally, Marketing Assistant, disclosed that so far, there have been drawings with 20 persons already winning television sets.

The next five drawings will take place at various locations across the country. To qualify for a chance to win a television set, persons have to submit an empty Ariel soap powder pack along with their contact information in an envelope and place it in any of the entry box countrywide.

The 55” LED TV to be won

Recently, ANSA McAL launched its 50/50 Stag Beer promotion at the 704 Sports Bar, enabling 10 participants to win $50,000 cash daily for five days across the country.

Another one of the company’s initiatives in marking the Golden Jubilee, will see ANSA McAL hosting its anniversary concert on May 27 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, which is anticipated to be one of the largest.

These promotions and initiatives by the company will add to the already long list of events which have been planned for the anniversary by a number of entities across Guyana.

The Golden Jubilee celebration is anticipated to be the most grand independence anniversary in Guyana’s history. A number of companies have indicated their desire to collaborate with the Government to make this celebration extravagant.

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News

Wakenaam businessman killed during attempted robbery in city

Dead: Businessman Mahendra Persaud

vehicle, one of the men whom was armed demanded that he hand over the bag which contained a large sum of money; however, Persaud put up resistance. A struggle then ensued between the businessman and the bandit during which Persaud was shot.

The 26-year-old fell to the ground but held on to the bag as the armed man continued his attempt to relieve him of it. At this point, a licensed firearm holder

the bag, and began running.

Further information revealed that as the bandit was running in the direction of Robb Street, the licensed firearm holder opened fire in his direction. There was an exchange of gunfire between the two men during which the bandit was reportedly hit. Nevertheless, the injured bandit managed to escape as his accomplice was waiting at the corners of Robb and Alexander Streets.

On the other hand, as

A

W a k e n a a m , Essequibo Island, businessman was shot and killed on Tuesday, after two bandits attempted to rob him of his bag. The incident occurred sometime around 11:05h on Alexander Street, between Regent and Robb Streets, Georgetown.

Dead is 26-year-old Mahendra Persaud, called “Amar”, of Lot 22 Good Success, Wakenaam. The man, who ran his familyowned supermarket, got married in February.

Guyana Times understands that Persaud was on his weekly trip to Georgetown to get goods for the business and was in the front passenger seat in the parked vehicle along with his driver on Alexander Street in front of the Torginol building, when two men road up alongside him on a CG motorcycle.

As he was existing the

the corner of the road. The injured businessman was picked up by his driver and immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced

town and would bring me lunch,” the grieving woman lamented.

The aunt described the 26-year-old as a friendly, non-confrontational, fun-

According to Police reports, the bag that Persaud had in his possession was recovered and handed over to relatives. The Police also revealed in a statement that

Investigators at the scene following Tuesday’s shooting

A friend collapses as news of the businessman’s death spread in Wakenaam

who was in the area pulled out his weapon and went to Persaud’s aid. However, the bandit saw the armed man approaching and let go of

gunshots ran out, the driver of a car that was approaching the scene reportedly panicked and ran over Persaud, who was lying at

dead on arrival (DoA).

Persaud reportedly sustained three gunshot wounds, one to his neck and two others to his chest.

Meanwhile, at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the young man’s aunt,Dr Koushilyia Persaud, who is a staff at the medical facility, related that she was informed of the shooting by their driver and immediately rushed to Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit where her worst fears were confirmed.

The woman said that her nephew’s parents separated, so he grew up with her and her parents. “He and his younger brother were brought up by my parents and so we are all very close... I can’t believe that he is gone… he used to come visit me every time he is in

ny and helpful young man who just began life, having got married just two months ago.

Back home in Wakenaam, the news of Persaud’s death spread, leaving relatives and friends shocked and dumbfounded. Persons began gathering at his home to extend condolences to his family. The man’s friends even blocked off the street in front of his home with motorcycles and vehicles as they mourned his untimely demise.

They described him as a very independent and consoling friend who is always willing to lend a helping hand to whomever is in need.

Many persons even took to social media on Persaud’s facebook page, expressing their shock and sympathy over his sudden death.

a man was seen attempting to change the number plate of the vehicle that had run over the Wakenaam businessman. He has since been arrested and told investigators that he is a mechanic who was asked to replace the number plate by the owner. The car has been impounded.

The Police said they are yet to arrest the driver of the car. Nevertheless, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that they are looking for an individual who is known to the Police.

The Crime Chief disclosed that investigators were able to obtain CCTV footage from the area and were able to identify one of the suspects. Investigations are continuing.

Ancestral land dispute turns violent in Berbice – Police summoned but failed to arrest situation

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uth Semple and her husband Horatio Edmondson – the alleged owner of a disputed farming land – were allegedly attacked by angry residents armed with cutlasses and other implements whiles in the presence of Police, who apparently out of fear, did

nothing to arrest the situation.

Guyana Times understands that Edmondson, an Attorney, is in possession of 500 acres of farming land at Ithaca, much to the dismay of the villagers there, who are claiming that the lands are ancestral lands which be-

longs to them.

This publication was informed that Edmondson is in the process to transferring the land in his name. This matter is currently before the court and can’t be addressed further, since it’s sub judice.

However, it was reported that about three weeks ago,

Damages to the vehicle the Attorney and his wife escaped in

the villagers went into the farming land and destroyed the farm in the presence of Semple. She subsequently went to court and got an injunction forbidding 13 persons, whom she identified, from accessing the lands and preventing her from gaining access.

On Sunday, Semple in the company of her husband, an evaluator and Police Officers went back to the farm to access the damage. The farm is located in the backdam and could only be accessed via crossing a bridge. After accessing the damage and on their way out of the farm lands, they discovered that the bridge was destroyed by angry villagers who had gath-

Injured: Attorney Horatio Edmondson

The bridge the villagers damaged

ered and were armed with cutlasses and wooden planks.

“When we were going over back, the bridge from Ithaca

some villagers destroyed it; that is the Government’s property, they destroyed it. continued on page 15

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News

Ecuador earthquake: Aid Cuba's Castro keeps top job but agencies step up efforts leadership changes to come

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id agencies are stepping up help following Saturday's devastating earthquake in Ecuador, amid concerns over the conditions faced by survivors.

Thousands of people were left homeless, making them vulnerable to dirty drinking water and disease.

The World Food Programme and Oxfam are sending supplies, while the United Nations said it was preparing a "major airlift".

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake left at least 413 people dead and some 2500 injured.

The cost of rebuilding is likely to be in the billions of dollars, President Rafael Correa said during a visit to the worst-affected region.

Six survivors were pulled from the rubble of a hotel in the town of Manta, but de-

Thousands have been forced to sleep outside since the earthquake

spite the efforts of emergency teams hope is fading that others will be found.

The smell of rotting bodies is filling the air in the worst-hit areas, witnesses said.

From Tuesday, rescue efforts would become more of a hunt for corpses, Ecuador's Interior Minister

Jose Serrano told Reuters.

Focus is turning to the survivors. The quake damaged communications, transport links and sanitation, hampering relief efforts.

Major international and aid organisations are sending help.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 28 dead in major attack in central Kabul

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suicide bomb and gun assault on a Government security building during Tuesday morning rush hour in central Kabul killed at least 28 people and wounded more than 320, in the deadliest single attack in the Afghan capital since 2011.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the assault "in the strongest possible

terms" in a statement from the presidential palace, located only a few hundred metres away from the scene of the blast.

The insurgency led by the Afghan Taliban has gained strength since the withdrawal of most international combat troops at the end of 2014, and the Islamist group is believed to be stronger than at any point since

it was driven from power by US-backed forces in 2001.

With nerves on edge in Kabul, a second explosion hit the city in the evening but no serious casualties were reported from the blast, which was caused by an improvised device, according to Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ethiopia remains silent on fate of 102 missing children E thiopia has declared two days of national mourning for the killing of at least 200 people by gunmen from neighbouring South Sudan without providing any information about the Ethiopian children that went missing during the attack.

The country's House of Representatives said in a statement broadcasted by State media that flags would be flown at half-mast across the country and in the country's foreign missions starting on Wednesday.

Friday's attack happened in three districts of the Nuer Zone in the country's Gambela regional state. The area straddles the border

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on Monday that his Government was working with the Government in Juba to take necessary measures against the attackers

of the two countries and is home to more than 280,000 South Sudanese refugees that fled the conflict in their country.

Prime Minister

Hailemariam Desalegn said on Monday that his government was working with the Government in Juba to take necessary measures against the attackers.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Syrian talks appear doomed as air strike kills dozens in market

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yria's fragile peace talks appeared doomed on Tuesday after air strikes killed around 40 people in a crowded vegetable market in rebel territory, with the Opposition saying a truce was finished and it would keep away from negotiations indefinitely.

France described the bloodshed as "another mas-

sacre". A monitoring group said it believed the strike on the market in Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province was the deadliest single attack since a partial ceasefire took effect on February 27.

A rescue worker said warplanes had simultaneously struck crowded markets in two towns in Idlib killing at least 38 people in

Maarat al-Numan and 10 others in nearby Kafr Nubl.

"We have more than 20 cars that have been moving dead and injured to hospitals in the area," said Ahmad Sheikho, a member of the civil defence corps, a rescue service operating in Opposition-held territory.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

resident Raul Castro will serve a second term as head of Cuba's Communist Party alongside other veterans, as the island's aging leaders see out a final period in power amid economic reform and detente with the United States.

The Communist Party, whose leadership elections were announced by State media on Tuesday, wants avoid any chaotic collapse as it wrestles with economic change and a transition from the generation of leaders who fought in the 1959 revolution.

Speaking at the closure of a four-day party congress, Castro, 84, said it would be the last one headed by the current leaders, signalling that they would step aside

Cuban President Raul Castro speaks during the opening ceremony of the seventh Cuban Communist Party (PCC) congress in Havana on April 16, 2016

sometime before the next such meeting in five years.

"This seventh congress will be the last one led by the historic generation," Castro said.

Castro had proposed age

limits and term limits for top leaders as the party gathered for the start of the congress over the weekend, raising expectations septuagenarian and octogenarian veterans would begin to step aside.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US election 2016: New York primaries crucial for Clinton and Trump

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ew York is holding presidential primaries seen as key for both Republican and Democratic front-runners after their recent defeats.

Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton, a former Senator for New York, is expected to win against Brooklyn-born Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

For the Republicans, Queens-born Donald Trump is likely to come ahead of Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Wins will put Clinton and Trump closer to securing their nominations.

As Trump cast his votes at Central Synagogue in Manhattan on Tuesday morning, he said: "It's just an honour, and my whole

reason for doing this is to make America great again."

Clinton voted with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, near their home in upstate Chappaqua.

It has been a fierce campaign in the state, with the leading candidates using their local ties to attract voters. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ancestral land dispute turns...

"We were on the other side and couldn’t get over. We had to put back the things on the bridge and then we cross. Then further up they block the road so we and the Police couldn’t pass and the Police call the Commander," Semple related.

Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam who commands B Division (Berbice), led a party of Police Officers from New Amsterdam into Ithaca but was not able to keep the peace. Semple said that the Commander first met with the angry mob but after not being able to get through to them, he instructed his officers to clear the roadway.

His wife highlighted that while they were in the thick

of the mob, two of their vehicles were upturned and thrown into a trench; inside of one of the vehicles was Edmondson’s appointment book. According to him, now he does not know which court he is expected to be at, on what day and who are some of the clients he is expected to represent.

Edmondson then related that the persons with him consolidated in the back of a pick-up and were being escorted out by the Police when he was attacked by one of the villagers and hit in the head.

He said at the time, they were instructed to drive as close as possible behind the Police vehicle. According to Edmondson, after being hit in the head, he lost conscious-

ness momentarily.

He later sought medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital. On Monday, he was still recovering from his injuries and up to Tuesday, had not returned to work.

Edmondson says several of the ringleaders were persons who were served with the injunction.

The villagers are contending that the 500 acres of land which Edmondson occupies is ancestral land and belongs to them. According to reports reaching this newspaper, the angry villagers are contending that none of Semple’s foreparents planted the land.

Meanwhile, no one has been arrested for the assault and damage to property.

Deputy Director denies...

With regards to concerns over use of force, Samuels stated that the Guyana Prison Service does not use teargas smoke or tasers.

The Deputy Director was then asked to demonstrate on a replica of the prison door. At this stage, Samuels denied that any plastic cork material was used to block the door.

Samuels further noted that the news of the riots spread very quickly as media operatives were called even before he exited the prison.

“What was quite surprising was that from the time the prisoners said to call

Kaieteur News, I went to the front gate and briefed him on the matter and by the time I exited the prison, there were photographers flashing me who were attached to Kaieteur News,” Samuels recounted.

The Deputy Director also told Commissioners that his life and that of his family has been affected as people have been pointing him out as being responsible for the events leading to the prisoner’s deaths.

Many of the prisoners had laid the blame on Samuels, stating that he had given the instruction for the

from page 14

from page 3

door to be locked. He was sent on leave to facilitate the Commission’s proceedings.

At least 15 inmates lost their lives principally attributed the fire while the Guyana Fire Service investigation revealed that 2 of the inmates died from causes other than the fire.

Samuels was of the view that many of inmates’ testimonies may be slanted due to fear of attacks from fellow prisoners. The Deputy Director of Prisons will resume his testimony at this morning session where crossexamination is slated to occur.

16 NEWS

wednesDAY, april 20, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Good Hope fire/homicide

1 in custody as investigation continues

– IAC calls for end to haemorrhaging of innocent lives

By Kizzy Coleman

P

olice have arrested and are interrogating a man for the murder of the two Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) rice farmers who were killed after bandits set their home ablaze on Sunday night.

Bibi Munir, 70, and her husband Mohammed Munir, 77, of Lot 16 Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) were killed in the fire following a botched robbery.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that Police have one man in custody who is currently being questioned.

Late Sunday evening, pandemonium broke out at Good Hope when several armed men invaded the premises of the two prominent rice farmers and after not being able to gain access to them, torched their house burning them alive.

Eyewitnesses said that

Dead: Mohammed and Bibi Munir

around 23:15h, gunshots were heard and upon investigation it was discovered that the house of the couple was on fire.

Neighbours of the victims ran out of their homes to render assistance to the couple who were heard yelling for help.

Residents of Good Hope as well as the Fire Service worked hard to save the couple, but all efforts proved futile as the grilled room that the couple had hidden in

caved in trapping them inside.

They subsequently burnt to death which the post-mortem examination confirmed.

Meanwhile, the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) in a release called for the haemorrhaging of innocent lives by crime to cease as this incident is the most recent in a spate of crimes in Guyana.

The IAC, in forthrightly condemning these latest incidents, called upon the au-

thorities to immediately implement effective security measures to curb these attacks on Guyanese.

It is urging the authorities to ensure that security is given more importance as it believes that the fear that continues to be instilled in the hearts of the citizenry can no longer be tolerated.

The Committee noted that it has expressed similar sentiments in the past for countermeasures to be implemented as swiftly as possible so as to stop the haemorrhaging of innocent lives.

The IAC took the opportunity to express condolences to the immediate family and relatives of the victims and called on civil society to join in its call.

Meanwhile, late Tuesday afternoon, Mahendra Persaud, of Wakenaam, Essequibo, lost his life in Georgetown after being attacked and robbed by an armed bandit (see story on page 14).

New NCN CEO defends reputation

N

ewly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Communications Network (NCN) Lennox Cornette has sought to defend his name against rising media reports against him, that he was appointed although he had committed a criminal act 17 years ago, while an employee of

the then Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T).

Cornette was appointed last week as the new CEO of the State-owned entity, replacing Molly Hassan, who held the post for two years.

Since his appointment, online news outfits have reported that Cornette, while serving as Public Relations Officer of the telephone gi-

ant, had forged the signature of the company’s then Deputy General Manager Terry Holder; an offence for which he was immediately fired.

But on Tuesday, Cornette in a media release, sought to clear his name, defending that the “signature issue” occurring at GT&T had nothing to do

New NCN CEO Lennox Corlette

with any financial improprieties. According to him, it was an in-house matter which was dealt with internally by GT&T. This, he said, could be attested to by the company.

“Since my departure from GT&T at the end of 1999, the company and I have maintained cordial relations. In May 2011, the company asked me to chair the 16th Tele Gathering Meeting that it was hosting in Guyana over the Easter weekend. Tele Gathering is an annual event of telecos in the Caribbean. Stabroek News’ report on that meeting mentioned my name as chairing the proceedings,” Cornette said He said since the announcement by the NCN Board that he had emerged the best candidate among those interviewed for the post, numerous attacks have been fired on his person from online news sources. Apart from his issue with GT&T, Cornette said the attacks also questioned his ability to manage the broadcasting company. This he sought to also defend.

Continued on page 17

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Government by the few for the few – APNU/AFC jubilee gift

T

he announcement that one of the biggest and most profitable private companies in Guyana was granted a waiver of approximately $5 billion in excise taxes, owed between 2002 and 2006, further confirms that Guyana is now being governed Dr Leslie Ramsammy (dictated) by a few for a few. The resources and benefits of our country are controlled by a few and are entitlements for a few only.

This is the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) jubilee anniversary gift to Guyana.

The select few who made significant donations to APNU/ AFC during the election of 2015 now greedily demand their rewards for their investments. According to the Governance Czar of APNU/AFC, Raphael Trotman, it is normal for political donors to be bountifully rewarded with contracts and jobs.

The powerhouse Minister of State, deems the rewards that benefit the few, but leave out the vast majority who did the voting as ‘honorific’. The voters are pawns in this “game of governance by the few for the few”.

The few who benefits from Government largess are appointed as advisors and use this official title to get special privileges from other investors who see them as having special relations with powerful Government officials. They parlay their special titles to buy influence and get richer, while the majority of the people, the voters and their families, are treated like suckers.

While these advisors get richer and more powerful in the halls of power, the majority of the Guyanese people have nothing to look forward to. More than 100,000 families who benefited from the $10,000 per child “Because We Care” education grants before 2015 were denied the grants in 2015 and 2016 because the few in the APNU/AFC told the vast majority of people that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) left the treasury bankrupt. The few fibbed (a nicer way of saying they lied) in order to deny the many of their legitimate expectations. Yet Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) benefited from an amount that could have given 100,000 families the grant for three years.

In 2015, based on APNU/AFC’s fictitious claim that the treasury was bankrupt, the promised 20 per cent pay increase for the more than 20,000 public servants was denied, but the few in the APNU/AFC Cabinet promptly turned around and gave themselves an unprecedented pay and benefits increase which has no precedent in history anywhere. In 2016, the public servants were again denied any meaningful pay increase. The public servants and the rest of the citizens must feel comforted that “their Government officials were adorned by richness suiting their position as the new emperors”.

Nagamootoo insists the public servants time will come later.

More than 20,000 sugar workers for the first time in more than 40 years did not get a pay increase. Without any notice, the Wales Sugar Estate was closed, affecting not only 2000 workers and their families, but blighting the economy for almost 100,000 people who live in Region Three. Now the workers and their families at La Bonne Intention (LBI) have been informed that the LBI Sugar Estate will also be closed.

Suddenly, people are realising that the veiled threat made before 2015 by the few who now control the Government was real – the sugar industry is on the verge of being closed. Meanwhile, ten thousand rice farmers and families, collectively the largest investors in Guyana’s economy, $30 billion annually, are told by the few that they are not part of the business of Government.

The people were promised that VAT would be reduced, but, instead, the few in Government increased 140 different taxes affecting ordinary citizens. According to the few, while it is wise to give a big, filthy rich organisation like DDL a waiver of $5 billion, it is perfectly sensible to ask ordinary citizens to pay up more. What kind of ethics dictate that it is the right to increases taxes for the donkey cart owner, while waiving taxes owed by big corporations? But this is exactly how the few govern for the few.

The few incidentally includes the 34 advisors appointed on the basis of patronage, simply because these persons supported APNU/AFC financially. If who these persons are only known by APNU/AFC, then that is how the few govern for the few – a few who wield power and a few who benefit.

The vast majority of people, however, are the ones who pay for the extravagance and power drunkenness. This is the real change of May 2015 – substituting a Government that govern for the people with a governance by the few for the few, where the people cherish their donkey carts while in awe of the fancy porches of the few.

news

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wednesDay, april 20, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Woman killed in CCJ overrules Court of Appeal 2-vehicle collision in latest ruling T on Mandela Ave – 1 critical

By Kizzy Coleman and Joseph Allen

O

ne woman has lost her life and a man is in critical condition following a two-vehicle collision at Mandela Avenue and Avocado Street, Georgetown on Tuesday evening.

Dead is Shana Rice, of 651 Zenith, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, The car and bike that were involved in the accident

tion that the couple was at the time of the accident searching for their missing seven-year-old son.

The man explained that the couple’s son went missing around 17:00h on Tuesday and his parents were vigorously searching for him at the time of the accident.

After the accident, this publication was contacted while Stephen Fiedtkou, 32, is in critical condition.

According to reports, the two vehicles – a white Allion with registration number PHH 2547 and a Honda CBR – collided when the Allion was attempting to make a right turn into Avocado Street about 20:15h.

Rice and Fiedtkou were on the motorcycle.

After the collision, the motorcyclists were thrown from the bike some distance away. The occupants of the Allion escaped uninjured.

Reports are that Rice sustained head injuries which caused her demise.

The impact resulted in Fiedtkou sustaining two broken legs and suffering head trauma. They were

both subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Rice was pronounced dead on arrival.

An eyewitness stated that the motorcyclists were both without helmets and there were no lights on the bike.

“Both of them had no helmet on and the cycle was also without any lights. The driver of the car did not notice the motorbike coming as the driver was turning in Avocado.

So the motorbike that was speeding after realising that they would hit the car started to blow his horn, but they went out of control and crashed into the car,” the eyewitness told this newspaper.

A relative of the dead woman told this publica-

Dead: Shana Rice

by that relative who disclosed that the missing boy had been found in the care of a relative who did not notify his parents that he was there.

An investigation into the matter has been launched.

New NCN CEO defends...

from page 16

“In relation to my ability to manage the national broadcaster, I have more than 20 years’ experience in management and executive management positions, I have successfully fulfilled several consultancies for national and international organisations, and I have done my Masters research on Strategic Marketing with focus on corporate identity,” the new CEO stated.

He said from the leaked emails from the NCN Board discussion to what is being said in media reports, it seems obvious that someone was pre-selected outside of the Board for the CEO’s position.

“However, it is now public knowledge that my sub-

missions to the Board (all applicants were required to submit with their applications an outline of what they perceive as the mandate of NCN and how they will enhance that mandate), as well as my performance at the interview, came closest to what the Board required.”

“It is my interest and deep desire to serve my country and to turn the fortunes of NCN around. NCN is a veritable well that has been blocked up by inefficient operations, lack of strategic vision and direction, inconsistencies between corporate strategies and departmental goals, inappropriate allocation of resources, lack of attendance to best practices,

and staff who are not adequately motivated to pursue targets and goals,” he reasoned.

He said as CEO of NCN, he intends to revolutionise the entity by ensuring that a good strategic plan is developed. This plan, he said, is aimed at operational efficiency through effective coordination of the technical, administrative, programming, and marketing components of the organisation.

“A new corporate vision, objectives and major strategy components will be communicated to managers and employees. One of my first endeavours will be to stop the financial haemorrhaging and boost income generation,” Cornette said.

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has overruled the Court of Appeal in the latest ruling in the matter of Errol Campbell v Janette Narine where the appellant, Errol Campbell, was represented

by Attorneys at Law Sanjeev Datadin and Charles Ramson Jr MP. The matter concerned the validity of an agreement of sale for a property at a significant undervalue executed in December 1992 by Campbell’s mother-inlaw, Mrs Feinmesser, who was the property owner, and Ms Narine (the Respondent) while Mrs Feinmesser was in hospital. Before the action could be filed Ms Feinmesser died so Mr Campbell acted in his capacity as executor of her estate and commenced legal proceedings.

After a trial in the High Court, the judge hearing the case, Justice George, ordered that the agreement be rescinded on the legal grounds of undue influence and failure of consideration. The matter was appealed by Ms Narine to the Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal in a majority ruling by Justices Carl Singh and B S Roy disagreed with Justice George and ordered specific performance of the agreement.

Agreeing with Justice George and the minority ruling in the Court of Appeal by Justice Cummings-Edwards, the CCJ re-affirmed the position of the law on undue influence and held that the focus

Charles Ramson Jr

was on the extent of trust and confidence reposed by Mrs Feinmesser in Mrs Narine coupled with the under value sale which was not readily explicable by the women’s relationship. Once such a suspicion has been aroused the evidential burden shifted to Mrs Narine in order for her to rebut the inference of undue influence to show that the transaction was the spontaneous act of the donor acting under circumstances which enabled her to exercise an independent will and which could justify the court in holding that the gift was the result of free exercise of the donor’s will. Relying on Lord Evershed in Zamet v Hyman [1961] 1 WLR 1442 where it was made clear that it is necessary to establish that the gift was made as a result of “full, free and informed thought about it”. At the trial, Justice George ruled that

Mrs Narine failed to disprove the inference of undue influence. In addition, the trial judge after having heard the testimony of Ms Narine held that she disbelieved that Mrs Narine paid any deposit on the signed agreement despite the agreement containing a term that the signing of the agreement by Ms Feinmesser acknowledged receipt of the payment of the deposit leading Justice George to rule that there was lack of consideration required for the validity of the agreement.

Despite the majority ruling in the Court of Appeal, the CCJ held that there was no sufficient basis to interfere with the trial judge’s ruling since the finding of undue influence is a finding of fact.

The CCJ noted with dismay the sloth in the judicial system which saw the proceedings being instituted in 1996 and judgement delivered in 2006 some ten years later.

Further, some six years later the appeal was heard and it took two years for the judgment to be delivered by the Court of Appeal. Interestingly, the matter was commenced by Mr Campbell’s Attorney-atlaw Charles R. Ramson (Sr) and was finally completely

by Sanjeev Datadin and the son of Charles R. Ramson (Sr), Charles S. Ramson (Jr).

Ms Narine, the respondent, who lost the appeal with costs awarded against her as a result was represented by R Poonai, C Satram and M Satram.

18

guyana-timesgy.com

wednesday, April 20, 2016

ARCHIE

Size up your situation and search for the best way to re(March 21- solve issues. An affectionate April 19) approach will bring the best results when dealing with a loved one.

ARIES

You’ve got moves that will TAURUS surprise everyone, so don’t (April 20- hold back when it’s time to May 20) strut your stuff. Take on a challenge and voice your opinion, or start something new and exciting.

dilbert

Make a personal change GEMINI (May 21- that will help you overcome June 20) bad habits and people who have been bad influences.

Stand tall and head in a direction that encourages positive growth.

CANCER

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

You’ll be tempted to try something different. Jump in and see where it takes you.

Chances are you’ll make new acquaintances and learn something interesting. Don’t let negativity or jealousy stand in your way.

You will gain popularity if LEO you are willing to compromise (July 23and contribute realistic soAug. 22) lutions to any problems that crop up. Romance will lead to positive personal changes.

Use your intelligence VIRGO when it comes to your finan(Aug. 23cial affairs.

If someone tries Sept. 22) to lure you into a get-richscheme, keep in mind that a practical solution will be your best bet.

Calvin and Hobbes

Emotions will surface, LIBRA (Sept. 23- causing confusion. Back away Oct. 23) from anyone putting demands on you. It’s up to you to bring about the changes that will add to your happiness.

SUDOKU TODAY’S WORD – MARSHALS

Take a moment to evaluate SAGITTARIUS a situation that appears to be (Nov. 23- shaky. You are best off walkDec. 21) ing away from a joint venture and focusing your time and money on your home.

(MARSHALS: MAR-shuls: Military or government officials.)

Average mark 18 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in MARSHALS? The list will be published tomorrow.

Don’t be too eager to share CAPRICORN your plans. Someone is likely (Dec. 22- to pull a fast manoeuvre that Jan. 19) will leave you in the lurch. Do your own thing.

YESTERDAY’S WORD – VEXATION vain vane vein vent veto vina vine vita vixen

vote envoi exit aeon ante anti atone taxi tine

tinea tone toxin into iota oaten ovate oven ovine

oxen naive native nave neat next note nova

Listen carefully and gathSCORPIO er the information needed (Oct. 24to follow through with your Nov. 22) plans, but don’t let anyone talk you into something that isn’t in your best interest.

Follow your heart.

solution for Last Published Puzzle Prospects appear to be inAQUARIUS viting.

Update your resume (Jan. 20or discuss your options with Feb. 19) someone who can help you reach your goal. Love is highlighted and romance encouraged.

Pay close attention to PISCES (Feb. 20- money, health and conversaMarch 20) tions you have with experts.

Define how you would like to use your skills to improve your standard of living.

wednesDAY, aPRIL 20, 2016

19

More Olympic projects under investigation for corruption — Prosecutor A sweeping investigation into corruption in Brazil is targeting more infrastructure projects for this year's Olympic Games than previously made public, a federal prosecutor told Reuters, citing testimony from construction companies and executives.

Carlos Lima said the probe into corruption on projects for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August was not limited to Porto Maravilha, or the "Marvelous Port", a regeneration of the city's waterfront that includes five high-rises bearing the name of U.S. property mogul and presidential candidate Donald Trump.

"There are more," Lima said in an interview in his office in the southern city of Curitiba on Monday. "There are leniency agreements underway that talk about this, but until they are finalised we will not know how many (projects) for sure."

Lima is a lead prosecutor on a task force that discovered a cartel of engineering firms siphoning kickbacks from state oil firm Petrobras (PETR4.SA) to political parties, a scandal fuelling a crisis that could force President Dilma Rousseff from power.

His comments were the clearest indication yet that the Olympics has become a focus of the two-year-old investigation.

The corruption allegations are not expected to hinder work on infrastructure for the Games, which is nearly finished, but they do further cloud an event set to start in the middle of Brazil's worst political and economic crises in decades.

The lower house of Brazil's Congress, many of whose members are themselves under investigation for corruption, voted on

held in South America. All five are under investigation for price fixing at Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as Petrobras is formally known.

Latin America's largest engineering conglomerate, Odebrecht SA [ODBES. UL], which is at the centre of the Petrobras scandal, is involved in over half of all Olympic projects by value, according to contracts reviewed by Reuters.

and the five Trump towers.

They were announced in 2012 as the largest corporate development in any major emerging nation. Trump only sold naming rights and offered consulting on the high-rise project.

Lima said the investigation of Porto Maravilha, like other Olympic projects, was now under the jurisdiction of prosecutors in Brasilia.

That is because they in-

Men work outside a tunnel, which is part of the freeway under construction at the Rio’s Porto Maravilha (Marvelous Port) urbanisation project

Sunday to impeach Rousseff on charges she manipulated budget accounts.

If the Senate agrees to put her on trial, as seems likely, Rousseff will be suspended for up to six months and would be unlikely to return to power.

Five engineering firms are building most of the 39 billion reais ($11 billion) worth of venues and infrastructure needed for the Olympics, the first to be

Court files made public last month showed police uncovered documents from Odebrecht executives referencing 1 million reais in suspected bribes connected to the Porto Maravilha project and other kickbacks allegedly linked to a Rio metro line.

More than 20 corporate developments are planned to revitalise Rio in the downtown Porto Maravilha area - the main legacy project of the Games - including hotels

volve potential kickbacks to sitting politicians, who under Brazilian law can only be judged by the Brasiliabased Supreme Court rather than Federal Judge Sergio Moro in Curitiba.

The change in jurisdiction will likely slow the investigation.

The Supreme Court has a backlog of some 50 politicians to investigate on charges that they received bribes, though Rousseff is

not among them.

"We collaborate, we work together, but the pace of the 13th district is one thing, the Supreme Court is another," said Lima.

The prosecutor's office in Brasilia declined to comment.

POLITICIANS, WORLD CUP, OLYMPICS

Moro and the Curitibabased prosecutors and police are famous across Brazil for swiftly and aggressively handling its largest-ever corruption probe. Their investigation has ensnared dozens of top businessmen and was cited by many lawmakers who voted in favour of Rousseff being impeached.

Plea bargains and leniency deals, relatively new legal tools in Brazil, have been key to cracking the case and helping investigators find hard evidence.

However, defence lawyers and some independent analysts have criticized the use of lengthy pre-trial detentions of dozens of suspects.

Corruption allegations are now spreading to stadiums built for the 2014 World Cup and the Olympics, two events that were meant to showcase Brazil's rise as a modern global economic power.

On March 22, the same day prosecutors publicly accused Odebrecht of graft in-

volving World Cup stadiums and Porto Maravilha, the company said it would seek to collaborate with the investigation and aim for a leniency agreement and plea deals for its executives.

The other four companies involved in much of the rest of the Olympic work are OAS SA [OAS. UL], Andrade Gutierrez SA, Queiroz Galvao SA, and Carioca Christiani Nielsen Engenharia SA. Odebrecht, Andrade Gutierrez and Queiroz Galvao declined to comment. The other companies did not respond to requests for comment. Lima did not specify which company or companies had mentioned Olympic projects in testimony.

The city of Rio de Janeiro is overseeing the bulk of the Olympic construction projects, though a few are financed by the federal or state government and Rio 2016, the local organising committee, handles some non-permanent structures like seating.

Rio's city government said the contracts were mostly funded with private resources and that all bids were overseen by regulators.

Rio 2016 referred Reuters to City Hall.

The International Olympic Committee did not respond to request for comment. (Reuters Sport)

Spinners, Uthappa lift Knight Riders to top of table A

nother dominant bowling performance followed by another effortless chase led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third win of the season, thrashing Kings XI Punjab by six wickets in Mohali to go on top of the table. Knight Riders' bowling depth was perceptible as their spinners ripped through Kings XI, in a sub-par batting performance, to keep them to 138 for 8. In the chase, Robin Uthappa's quickfire fifty effectively sealed the game.

In 13 games this season, 12 have been won by the chasing team.

Put in to bat, Kings XI lost Manan Vohra early when he flicked Morne Morkel to deep square leg but M Vijay looked in rhythm, scything drives and cuts before failing to pick a googly from Piyush Chawla.

A slow start was made slow-

er by the questionable promotion of Wriddhiman Saha to No. 4, who struggled in his 14-ball 8. Shaun Marsh, though, held one end up despite struggling for fluency.

The stage was set for weither of David Miller or Glenn Maxwell to fire their side back into the contest, but Knight Riders' experienced bowling attack strangled their strong middle order. With two left-handers batting - Marsh and Miller - Gautam Gambhir turned to Yusuf Pathan for the first time this season. The move reaped rewards instantly when Miller edged Yusuf's first ball and Uthappa took a sharp catch. Maxwell soon resorted to a switch-hit off Sunil Narine, but Kings XI's season was summed up when he hammered it to extra cover. Narine's remodeled action returned two wickets in a frugal spell

with an economy rate of 5.50.

In a format where teams target implausible numbers during the second half of an innings, Knight Riders' spinners ensured Kings XI could only rebuild after leaving them at 94 for 5 in the 15th over.

In between, Marsh used swift footwork to accumulate runs and was particularly effective square of the wicket, on both sides. He got to his fifty in the last over with a sweetly-timed lofted drive over long-on. Along with Kyle Abbott, he took Andre Russell's first over the last of the innings - for 18 to lift Kings XI to 138.

With that total, Kings XI needed a miraculous start to have any hope, but Uthappa and Gambhir pushed Knight Riders closer to the target with nine boundaries in a 65-run Powerplay, the

most productive in this season.

The seamers, Sandeep Sharma and Abbott, were inconsistent but when they found their lengths, Uthappa cleared the infield with lofted strokes on the up, on a pitch offering even bounce and carry.

Uthappa eased himself to his first fifty of the season off just 24 balls but his premeditated sweep resulted in his dismissal, as he played around a full delivery from Pardeep Sahu. Gambhir looked set for another fifty before a leading edge was acrobatically taken by Glenn Maxwell, running in from deep midwicket.

Axar Patel removed Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan, but Suryakumar Yadav and Yusuf took Knight Riders home with 17 balls to spare. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Kings XI Punjab innings M Vijay b Chawla 26 M Vohra c Shakib Al Hasan b Mor kel 8 SE Marsh not out 56 WP Saha† c †Uthappa b Narine 8 DA Miller* c †Uthappa b Pathan 6 GJ Maxwell c Chawla b Narine 4 AR Patel c SA Yadav b UT Yadav 9 MM Sharma c †Uthappa b Mork el 1 P Sahu run out (Russell/†Uthap pa) 1 KJ Abbott not out 12 Extras: lb 2, w 5) 7 Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 138 Did not bat: Sandeep Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-47, 3-59, 4-72, 5-94, 6-108, 7-115, 8-118 Bowling : M Morkel 4-0-272, UT Yadav 3-0-17-1, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-28-0, SP Narine 4-0-22-2, PP Chawla 3-018-1, YK Pathan 1-0-61, AD Russell 1-0-18-0.

Kolkata Knight Riders innings RV Uthappa† lbw b Sahu 53 G Gambhir* c Maxwell b Sahu 34 MK Pandey b Patel 12 Shakib Al Hasan c Sandeep Sharma b Patel 11 SA Yadav not out 11 12 YK Pathan not out Extras: (lb 5, w 3) 8 Total: (4 wickets; 17.1 overs) 141 Did not bat: AD Russell, PP Chawla, SP Narine, M Morkel, UT Yadav Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-97, 3-110, 4-123 Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 2-0-21-0, KJ Abbott 3-0-0-320, MM Sharma 3.1-0-29-0, AR Patel 3-0-19-2, P Sahu 4-018-2, GJ Maxwell 2-0-17-0.

20

guyana-times.com

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

GCB/Hand-In-Hand U-19 Inter-county 3-day...

Renee, Perez slam tons in tame draw

-U-17s hold nerve to secure first innings points against Essequibo

By Akeem Greene

I

t was another impressive showing by openers Ronaldo Renee and Raymond Perez as they helped themselves each to delightful centuries on the final day of their match against Berbice in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 three -day inter-county tournament at the Everest Ground on Tuesday.

Renee caressed the ball

Keemo Paul

to all parts of the ground make a memorable 165 not out while Perez battled his way 113.

Not only did the pair bat with maturity way above their age, they also locked heads to put on enormous 293 for the first wicket, which effectively put their team in total control of the match.

The match eventually ended in tame draw, as

Berbice reached 93-2 in their second innings when play came to a close. Matthew Hardial and Joel Seitaram were the not out batsmen at the crease on 21 and 22 respectively.

With a deficit of 153, Berbice simply looked to bat out the day and avoid an embarrassing innings defeat but that seemed to be under threat when Adrian Sukwah went for nine followed by Sasenarine Sookhoo for 22 as they went into tea at 42-2.

Hardial and Seitaram quelled any idea Demerara had of an outright victory as the shouldered arms to most deliveries until close of play.

Earlier, the pair of Renee and Perez picked up where they left off from day two, on 89 and 69 respectively.

They batted superbly to take the team’s overnight total of 170-0 to 351-2.

In keeping with his ability to find the boundaries at will, Renee reached his hundred with two sweetly timed cover drives and 186 balls.

The right-hander spent 268 minutes at the crease compiling this compact innings where he hit thirteen fours.

Renee’s century, also coincided with the team erasing deficit, as they reached 200 runs, and now lead by two.

Unlike the second day,

the sun began beaming down on Everest and the Berbice bowlers looked completely lacking of any enthusiasm as the batting pair increased their tempo with some cheeky shots against the spinners.

The elegance of Perez showed when he played a neat cut backward of point to reach to his landmark, hitting six fours but his concentration saw him spend 313 minutes at the crease.

Perez took his score into the 90's and reached three figures with a simple touch behind point, as he showed his composure by batting for 313 deliveries and hitting six fours in his milestone.

As a breakthrough seemed impossible to achieve, Renee then moved onto another landmark when he reached 150 from 261 deliveries and the team's lead was now over 100.

Off-spinner Asif Ally, was the man to end the formidable stand, when he enticed Perez to give him the charge and the batsman complied by hitting the ball to mid-wicket, to fall for a well-played 113.

The score was now 2931 and the usually aggressive Sherfene Rutherford came to the crease and reached 16 in little time; when lunch was called, Demerara were 311-

1, Renee was on 159 and the lead now at 113.

After lunch, Rutherford tore into pacer Randy Wade, as one of his overs cost 20 runs, and the left-hander was now nearing a half-century.

The spin of Raymond Vankenie brought the demise Rutherford via the leg before route for 46 from just 26 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes.

His dismissal also saw the declaration be called, as Demerara reached 351-2,

Ronaldo Renee

and lead by 153 runs; Renee, who was left unbeaten, hit 18 fours, an innings which spanned 470 minutes.

Vankenie (1-36) and Ally (1-56), were the only successful bowlers for Berbice.

Over at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), the se-

lect under-17s secured first points against Essequibo in their exciting draw.

After no play was possible on day two, due to a wet outfield, Essequibo began on 72 without loss in pursuit of the under-17s total of 243 but openers Mark Williams (58) and Nathan Persaud on (14) soon fell as with rest of the innings, as only Sachin Persaud (25) and lowerorder rally by Looknauth Chinkoo (44), made other notable contributions.

Left-arm spinner Ashmead Need snared 4-58 and Kevin Sinclair took 2-29 which saw boys from the Cinderella County being bowled out for 168 and the Under-17s securing a lead of 75.

In the Under-17s second turn at the crease, they got their innings going with a 42-run opening partnership between Bhaskar Yadram and Joshua Persaud after which Yadram was caught behid off the bowling of Chinkoo for 26.

Alphius Bookie (04), who came and struck one boundary, was bowled by left-arm spinner Akini Adams as the under-17s were now 55-2.

However, smart batting

by Persaud and Sinclair took the score 108, when the right-handed Persaud pushed at one outside off-

Raymond Perez

stump and was out caught behind for an attractive 49 (1x4; 3x6s).

Sinclair went unto make 59 as his side declared on 190-5 which meant Essequibo needed to make 267 for a victory in the final session.

West Indies Under-19 star Keemo Paul hit a whirl wild 94, inclusive of nine sixes and six fours but his side could only reach 123-3 when play came to a close; Nedd picked up 2-25 to end with match figures of 6-83.

The final round will commence on Thursday, with Essequibo playing Demerara at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Berbice playing the Select Under17s at Wales. Action bowls off at 09:30h.

FIFA's Infantino: Russia says economic crisis won't affect World Cup

F

IFA President Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday he had received assurances from the Russian government that the economic crisis convulsing Russia would not affect preparations for the 2018 football World Cup.

Russia, which faces a second straight year of recession after its gross domestic product fell 3.7 percent last year due to lower global oil prices and Western sanctions, plans to cut state spending by 10 percent on average in 2016.

Its World Cup budget has been repeatedly slashed and was limited to 620.9 billion roubles ($9.38 billion) in February.

"Everyone knows, of course, the economic situation and we have received sufficient guarantees that

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) listens to Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin (L) during a visit to the Luzhniki Stadium, which is under construction for the 2018 World Cup in Russia (Reuters Sport)

this will not have an impact," said Infantino on his first visit to Moscow since being elected FIFA president in February.

"I think actually quite the opposite, I think that the World Cup can contribute to boost not only the football movement but the general economy here in Russia."

Seaking at a news conference with Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, Infantino also addressed allegations made against him in media reports citing leaks from the Panama Papers.

"It has already been clarified quite clearly that this

story about these Panama Papers was absolutely a non-story because everything was done completely legally, properly, transparently, openly," Infantino said.

European football body UEFA has confirmed that Infantino, who was working for the organisation at the time, was one of two officials who signed a contract to sell broadcast rights to two Argentine businessmen.

The rights were then reportedly resold for three times as much and the two men were later indicted by the United States as part

of a huge corruption scandal which has thrown world football and FIFA into turmoil.

Both UEFA and Infantino have denied any wrongdoing.

Infantino, who was elected FIFA president on a pledge to lead the federation into a new, scandal-free era, said the reports based on the Panama Papers had not hurt his reputation.

"I don't think at all this will have any impact on what I'm doing," he said. "I simply want to be judged by the facts and by the actions of my work." (Reuters Sport)

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21 Guyana reportedly outbids T&T, Barbados for CPL finals A sports

Call: 223-7230 Ext 35

fter much speculation as to where the finals of the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament will take place, news coming to hand is that it will go South to Guyana this time around.

Guardian Media was reliably informed that the government of Guyana has outdone the governments of T&T and Barbados in a three-way bid to host the finals on August 7. Guyana will also host both semi-finals which will take place at Providence Stadium.

According to a source close to the Guyana government, the deal has been struck and it will be made public in a few days time.

The source did not give particulars about the agreement between the parties, but the CPL organizers were asking for US$4.5M (G$932.4million) for the award of the final-four.

It will be the first time

that the finals will be hosted in Guyana, as the three previous finals took place in T&T (2) and St. Kitts.

Last year, the PP government invested US$3.5 million (TT$24 million) and there was massive interest and sold out crowds for the final which was won by the local Red Steel team (now renamed the Trinbago Knight Riders), which beat Barbados Tridents in the final at the Queen’s Park Oval.

It is understood that T&T proposed a counter offer of US$1.5 million (TT$9.8 million) and was willing to go up to US$2 million, but this was not successful. The Guyana government would have been swayed by the report provided by SMG Insight on the economic impact of last year’s final.

SMG Insight reasoned that by hosting last year’s event, T&T got significant

economic and social benefits, which included the direct spend by CPL from hotel to local vendors, travel, media and advertising. The total direct impact of the 2015 tournament for the T&T economy was stated as US$15.40 million. This was broken down into the direct spend by CPL which was US$3.84 million, accommodation and general expenditure was listed at US$5.63 million, and value produced by the T&T Tourist Board branding at matches was put at US$5.93 million.

The proposal also outlined to all governments that a total of 93,929 fans attended the matches in T&T and as a result 551 jobs were created. In addition, a television audience of 27.3 million persons viewed the games, and a total of 5,703 nights were spent by non-local spectators at the hotels in T&T. (Trinidadian Guardian)

West Indies Legends call for dissolution of ‘obsolete’ WICB A

host of West Indies legends including Garry Sobers, Viv Richards, Wes Hall and Andy Roberts have called upon the WICB to dissolve the board, in line with the CARICOM cricket review panel's recommendation, and appoint an interim committee as part of the structural reforms that would enable the region's cricket to "develop and flourish".

On April 14 in Grenada, converging under the umbrella banner of Cricket Legends, Sobers and Co. met with Grenada premier Keith Mitchell, chairman of the Prime Ministerial Committee on the Governance of West Indies Cricket, which appointed the review panel in the wake of the crisis that emerged in the wake of West Indies' withdrawal from India's tour in October 2014.

Also present at the meeting were other former West Indies players - allrounder Roger Harper; fast bowler Charlie Griffith; wicketkeeper Deryck Murray, who was also member of the CARICOM review panel, legspinner Dinanath Ramnarine, who was previously the president of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), and opening batsman, Desmond Haynes. Rudi Webster, who was the team manager during Clive Lloyd's time and worked as a psychologist with current World T20winning captain Darren Sammy, were invited as guests.

Tearing into the WICB with the same vigour that they reserved for their opponents in their playing days, the Legends decried

the board's "oligarchic structure" which has remained "unchanged in attitude and structure" for the past seven decades.

"During the last two decades, many different presidents and CEOs have led the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and yet, its performance has declined steadily with each passing year," the Legends said in a media release. "The Board is an oligarchic structure that considers itself answerable to no one but itself. It is one of the few sporting institutions that have remained virtually unchanged in attitude and structure in the last 70 years or more."

The Legends said the WICB could not shield itself from such vehement opposition by calling itself a private body. They agreed with the CARICOM panel's view that the board was accountable to various governments in the Caribbean.

The release also pointed out the boards in Australia and New Zealand had overhauled their governance structure for the better and that had been reflected in their various teams prospering in all forms of the game.

Even the most powerful cricketing board, BCCI, the Legends observed, was under pressure from India's Supreme Court to open up to radical reforms to its governance structure.

"Inexplicably, the WICB prefers to maintain the status quo and yet, it expects to get different results while it continues to do the same things," the release said.

"We believe that revival of West Indies cricket will only happen when the Board undergoes structural adjust-

ment, and when it improves the quality of its communication and leadership, and upgrades the management of key relationships."

The five-member review panel comprising Murray, V. Eudine Barriteau, Sir Dennis Byron, Dwain Gill and Warren Smith concluded its report on October 15, in which it described the WICB as "obsolete".

The board plainly rejected the panel's report saying none of the six territorial boards - Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Leeward Islands and Windward Islands were represented, nor its directors, clubs and representatives. Hence, it concluded, the panel's findings were not supported by facts.

Recently former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner, president of the Barbados Cricket Association, was critical of the CARICOM panel's observations, questioning how some members of the WICB could suddenly be called "illegal" when they were formed according to the individual constitutions of the region's countries.

Although some of these former players have voiced opposition against the WICB in the past two decades, this is the first time they have formed a united front of opposition.

"We are very proud of our legacy," the release said.

"We cannot now in good conscience stand idly by and watch everything that we fought so hard to build and achieve disappear right before our eyes because of the actions of inept Board members and an incompetent Board." (Cricinfo)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

Amazon Warriors bowl off CPL preparations

By Avenash Ramzan

T

he management team of the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Tuesday began preparations in earnest for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (Hero CPL) 2016 with an interactive session in Georgetown.

The session was geared to have the local based players interact with each other, field questions and seek clarifications ahead of CPL 2016.

The players who attended were all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, all-rounder Steven Jacobs, batsman Assad Fudadin, wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble, seamer Paul Wintz, opener Shimron Hetmyer and Under-19 selectee Akshaya Persaud.

Team Operations Manager of the Amazon Warriors franchise, Omar

Omar Khan

Khan, spoke of the reason for Tuesday’s session.

“We thought it absolutely necessary to get a feel from the players themselves as to their readiness, not only in terms of their physical readiness, but also in terms of their mental preparation,” Khan highlighted.

He continued, “Because we have found over the years that players go through all the physical training, they do all the gym work and they do all that is required, but at the end of the day to be mentally ready for a tournament like this is much more than being physically ready and being fit.”

The session was conducted by the management team, which included Khan, Head Coach Roger Harper, Assistant Coach Esaun Crandon, Strength and Conditioning Trainer Clinton Jeremiah and Physiotherapist Jason Pilgrim.

According to Khan, physical sessions will be held at the National Stadium from this week, while gym work will be done at Fitness53 at Providence.

“And what the Trainer and Physio would do is actually assess where they

Guyana Amazon Warriors players pay rapt attention at Tuesday’s session

[the players] are and then give them a programme to do work from now until the start of CPL,” Khan stated.

Guyana Amazon Warriors are down to play the first match of CPL 2016 against St Kitts and Nevis

from Dr Ramroop; he’s been a very good franchise owner, very supportive…and he clearly understands what is required in terms of running a franchise and having all the preparations and logistical arrangements in

the semi-final stage last year. The Martin Guptillled franchise will look to break new grounds when CPL 2016 bowls off in June.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors squad reads: Dwayne Smith, Rayad

From left: Assad Fudadin, Paul Wintz and Devendra Bishoo

Patriots, and according to Khan, significant progress has been made in laying the groundwork for a successful campaign.

“I think we’ve had the full support. I think the most important thing is having the full support of the franchise owner [Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop]. We’ve had that

place,” Khan explained.

After the indoor session on Tuesday morning, the players took to the National Stadium for their first physical workout ahead of the impending season.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors finished as runners-up in 2013 and 2014, and were knocked out at

Emrit, Veerasammy Permaul, Orlando Peters, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Ali Khan, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Chris Lynn, Sohail Tanvir, Martin Guptill and Adam Zampa. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy. com)

Bribes were common part of football - Webb

F

ormer CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb believed taking bribes was just part and parcel of football business plea transcripts released by a U.S. judge have revealed.

On Monday the court released the guilty pleas of Webb, ArgentinianItalian marketing executive Alejandro Burzaco and Brazilian intermediary Jose Margulies three of the 40 officials facing charges that range from money laundering to racketeering.

For his part Webb, who plead guilty last year and has been living under house arrest since, admitted to regretting the transactions but saw it as commonplace in world football.

"I abused my position to obtain bribes and kickbacks for my personal benefit. I believed that such offers were

common in this business.

I deeply regret my participation in this illegal conduct," Webb was quoted as saying by the AFP. In the plea Webb also revealed that he received bribes for the sale of commercial rights for the FIFA World Cup 2018, which will be held in Russia and also for FIFA World Cup qualifyJeffrey Webb ing matches for the 2022 edition. Webb also received payments for tournaments in 2012, 2013 and 2014, in-

cluding the Copa America Centenario, which will be played in the United States this summer. (Digicel Sportsmax)

guyana-times.com

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

23

Unibet return as CPL Metro renews sponsorship Official Betting Partner of RHTY&SC’s female team - also extend sponsorship of Zouks

T

he HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is today delighted to confirm an extension to their partnership with Unibet, which will see the multi award-winning sportsbook retained as the Official Betting Partner of the CPL for a further two years.

Pete Russell, Chief Operating Officer, HERO Caribbean Premier League

The deal will also see Unibet continue as an official sponsor to the Zouks franchise, which includes international stars such as Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, David Miller, as well as West Indies duo Johnson Charles and ICC World T20 winning captain, Darren Sammy.

As Official Betting Partner, Unibet will continue to offer an unrivalled range of betting markets on the CPL for the 2016 and 2017 editions. This will in-

clude superb in-play ballby-ball betting via Unibet’s innovative ‘Action Betting’ markets, ensuring CPL fans have the quickest and most immersive in-play experience available.

Unibet will also offer a wide range of interesting and fun bet types such as betting on the coin toss, the number of sixes in the CPL, the length of the longest six and even head to head bets on who will score more runs between big hitters Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers.

The news demonstrates the success of CPL 2015 and continued growth of the competition, hailed as the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’, which continues to grow in prominence each year.

Unibet is one of the largest online gambling companies in the world, with over 13 million customers in over 100 countries. They are the chosen betting partners for a multitude of high profile sporting events, with a strong presence in cricket also including sponsorship of Essex County Cricket Club for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

Pete Russell, Chief Operating Officer, HERO Caribbean Premier League, said: “The CPL are delighted to extend our partnership with Unibet as the tournament’s official betting partner and we look forward to

working closely with them over the next two years.

Unibet are an internationally recognised brand whose values, such as customer service, excitement and innovation, are closely aligned with our own. We believe that this partnership will enhance the fan experience around the CPL as well as help to enhance the profile of the competition internationally for the seasons ahead.”

Unibet UK Marketing Manager, Chris Watson, said: “We are passionate about cricket at Unibet, and as ‘The Biggest Party in Sport’, the CPL perfectly matches our friendly, passionate and expert brand values. As official betting partner we look forward to providing CPL fans with a variety of exciting and innovative bet types while allowing people to bet live in-play, with ball-by-ball betting.

We are delighted to be involved and to ensure Unibet continue to be THE place to go for all bets on the CPL.” Last year’s tournament attracted a global audience in excess of 90 million and this year is set to be even higher as fans across the world continue to be drawn to the high quality action on the pitch and the unique party atmosphere off it. To purchase tickets for CPL 2016 visit www.cplt20.com.

(CPLT20 Release)

Unbeaten Drayton leads ECI chess tournament

Players engrossed in battle at the National Resource Centre last weekend

A

nthony Drayton is unbeaten after three rounds of the Engineering and Construction Inc (ECI) chess tournament, and by virtue is setting pretty atop the points standing.

Drayton has racked up a clean slate of three wins from three, and is the only player to have earned the maximum number of points on offer at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue.

Wendell Meusa and Taffin Khan, both former senior national champions, are locked in second spot on 2.5 points, accrued from two wins and a draw each. players- Maria Thomas, Davion Mars, Roberto Neto, Errol Tiwari, Chino Chung and Kristoff Persaudhave accumulated two points apiece, while Obeng Quamina, Calvin Giddings, Ghansham Allijohn, Jessica Callender, John Wong and

Jayden Taylor have one point each.

Three players have yet to get off the mark, having suffered defeats in all their games. They are Frankie Farley, Nellisha Johnson and Shazeeda Rahim.

The final four rounds of the seven-round Swiss format tournament will contested this weekend at the same venue. Games will get underway at 09:30h on each day.

G

uyana’s only female cricket team on Sunday last received a major boost when its official sponsor renewed its cricket sponsorship for another year.

Metro Office and computer Supplies since 2009 has been the official sponsor of the Rose Hall Town Metro Female Team and the company during the RHTY&SC’s 26th annual awards ceremony handed over a cheque for $200,000 for the 2016 sponsorship.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, stated that the RHTY&SC was very proud to have Guyana’s only female cricket team and noted that since its formation in 2008, the team has done remarkably well on and off the cricket field.

The Metro Female Team over the years has produced players like West Indies stars Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings, while Tremayne Smartt also represented it in the past.

Players like Melanie Henry, Plaffina Millington, Nikita Henry, Shenneta Grimmond, S. Gajnabi, Shanna Vanderstoop and Triesha Cort have all represented Guyana at different levels, while numerous others have represented Berbice.

The Metro Female Team in 2009 won the only female national championship ever organised in Guyana.

Currently, the team under the leadership of Shemaine

Hilbert Foster

Campbelle and Erva Giddings and Managers Elizabeth Brusch and Felisha Archer plays along their male counterparts in Berbice Cricket Board or-

Avie Lindee

ganised junior cricket tournament.

Foster explained that due to non-existence of other female cricket teams in Guyana, the Metro Female team has to play against males at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels. He extended profound gratitude to the management and staff of the company for their continued confidence in the club and its female cricket team.

Captain of the team, Shemaine Campbelle, recommitted her team to upholding the high tradition it has set itself in terms of discipline, commitment and performance on the field.

The team in 2016 would undertake 15 major personal developmental programmes under the name of the sponsorship.

Metro Chief Executive Officer, Avie Lindee, expressed delight at the renewal of the sponsorship and stated that the office supplies giant was pleased to be associated with the RHTY&SC and its female cricket team.

The Metro brand, Lindee noted, has been well represented by the team and congratulated Shemaine Campbelle on her World Cup success with the West Indies team. Lindee committed her company to continuing supporting the team in the future before handing over the sponsorship cheque to club Patron, President David Granger.

wednesDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

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

Amazon Warriors bowl off CPL preparations Pg 22 Guyana Amazon Warriors players going through their first training session at the National Stadium on Tuesday afternoon

Guyana reportedly outbids T&T, Barbados for CPL finals

West Indies Legends call for dissolution of ‘obsolete’ WICB Pg 21

Pg 21 Guyanese fans enjoying a CPL game at Providence

Members of the West Indies Legends panel, including Andy Roberts and Deryck Murray, meet in Grenada (West Indies Legends photo)

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