Guyana Times Daily – September 18, 2015

P11

First Lady to help women to 'market' entrepreneurial skills THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Issue No. 2620

Friday, September 18, 2015

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Still the Cinderella County…

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Suddie, Charity Hospitals falling apart Page 7

AG backpedals on establishing local law school P3 – PPP insists it is doable, prefers regional affiliation

– neglect, lack of equipment, poor working conditions cited

Essequibo Chamber presses Govt to reduce ferry fares

Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy…

Page 10

– says ordinary citizens, businesses are suffering

2 GDF ranks shot and injured on Seawall Page 13

Trans Guyana Airways commissions new multi million-dollar aircraft

Guyana has a right to speak – Greenidge responds P6 to Maduro 14-year-old allegedly runs away P6 from home

PPP/C P6 concerned over delay in appointing new GECOM Commissioners

Trans Guyana Airways on Thursday commissioned its spanking new Raytheon Beechcraft 1900-D aircraft which touched down at the Ogle International Airport

Soil caves in Govt on Chinese mismanaging national industry at CJIA – Agri Minister “clueless” and Expansion site “misfit” - RPA Action Committee Crisis in rice

Page 13

Page 11

Guyana not a major Page 12 drug transit country – US

– reflects efforts of prior PPP/C Administration

Innocent P9 driver killed in drag-racing smash-up

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friday, september 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

3 AG backpedals on establishing local law school news

friday, september 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 18 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, September 19 – 08:30h-10:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 18 – 06:40h-08:10h and Saturday, September 19 – 07:20h-08:50h

– PPP insists it is doable, prefers regional affiliation

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can expected throughout the day, with clear skies expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 26 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly at 2.68 to 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:09h and 19:22h reaching maximum heights of 2.54 metres and 2.55 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:42h and 12:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.58 metre and 0.73 metre respectively.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

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BY DEVINA SAMAROO

I

mmense societal pressure is mounting on the David Granger-led Administration to fulfill their campaign promise of establishing a law school in the country, particularly now amid the increased difficulties law students continue to experience in pursing their Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago.

“I cannot say that it is something that we can achieve in the first year or two…but in the first five years…law students can look forward to completing their LEC in Guyana,” President David Granger had promised the University of Guyana (UG) students in recognising the numerous challenges and timeconsuming constraints law students have to endure in pursuit of their education.

In an invited comment, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall insisted that government should make the formation of a regional law school one of their top priorities.

“Guyana should canvas for a law school to be established, a regional law school to be established in Guyana…

Any competent government of Guyana will see the merit of embracing the regional approach that I am advocating as opposed to the establishment of an insular local law school,” Nandlall stated.

The former Attorney General said that while he was in office, he was aware that the Regional Council of Legal Education had embarked on a study to look at the delivery of the programme and the need to broaden its scope with the establishment of perhaps more schools.

Nandlall remarked that the current Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General who is an ex-officio Executive on the Council of Legal Education could use his influence to have the matter of establishing a law school here discussed as a matter of priority.

He said that Guyana must continue to work started by the former Peoples Progressive Party Civic to ensure that the dream of having a regional law school established here is realized as he said that such a move would be welcomed by the PPP and all stakeholders because of the benefits that could accrue for Guyanese and West Indian students in particular.

“If Guyana is not sufficiently aggressive in pursuing the establishment of a regional law school to be located here, we can that loose that opportunity to the Eastern Caribbean

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams States who are canvassing heavily for the establishment of a school in that part of the region”.

Nandlall made it clear that steps could be taken by the current Government to fast track discussions with a view of honouring the promises alleged made to the students and legal stakeholders.

Pressure groups

Additionally, several letter writers, in representing the voice of common society, have also been putting pressure on the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government to pursue the initiative of developing a law school here.

Sherod Duncan, former President of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) agreed that it is time for a law school, noting that this has been a position he has ever so often supported.

“What we have been seeing year after year is youths with a greater appetite for learning the law but the constraints of space in our own undergraduate law programme limits their admission (to other law schools),” he said, in explaining the dire need for a law school right here where law students and lawyers in training can further their studies right in Guyana with lesser limitations.

Political Amnesia

Even the current Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, whilst was in Opposition, stood firmly in favour of the establishment of a law school in Guyana.

However, when recently prompted on the issue, Williams alleged that the coalition never promised to establish a law school here- perhaps completely forgetting the promise the President had made during a forum at the Turkeyen Campus.

In response to the current AG’s reported statement,

Nandlall said “I am shocked that Mr Williams is recanting from a position which he advocated at a forum at the University of Guyana where I was the guest speaker. Mr Williams was in the audience and during a period on the programme that allowed for audience participation, Mr Williams was loud in his calling for the establishment of a local law school as early as possible.

Indeed, he accused the PPP/C administration of dragging its foot on the matter and accused of being elitist”.

Meanwhile, several law students, who became overwhelmingly frustrated with the challenges experienced this year, have also advocated for the establishment of a law school right here.

The Hugh Wooding Law School had announced a more than 30 per cent increase in its tuition fees as well as changes in its payment scheme which would require prospective and continuing students to pay 100 per cent of their fees at the beginning of the school year.

Though this matter has been temporarily addressed, students were taken on a rollercoaster ride as they contemplated the likelihood of their future falling apart. Adding to the worries, students also complained of not receiving their grades from the entrance exam they wrote for acceptance into the Trinidadian law school.

Getting started

Moreover, during the brief interview, Nandlall explained that since legal education in the region is administered regionally, Guyana should logically seek to establish a law school that can enjoy the international recognition which the current law school in the re-

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall gion enjoys.

“That is very important for the integrity of any academic institution,” he noted, explaining that Guyana is committed to regionalism and building a stronger Caribbean Community.

Furthermore, Nandlall explained that in pursuing the establishment of a regional law school in Guyana, consideration must be given to the zoning system.

Currently, the Caribbean region hosts three Law schools: The Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago; the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica and Eugene Dupuch Law School in Bahamas. These law schools have a system of zoning where most Guyanese and Barbadian students will be zoned to Trinidad, while countries like Belize would see their students going to Jamaica.

Against this backdrop, Nandlall explained that these zoning regulations would need to be revamped to aid in the process of construction a regional law school in Guyana.

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friday, september 18, 2015

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

Editorial

The National Youth Policy F

or some time now, stakeholders have been calling on the authorities here to have the National Youth Policy finalised and implemented as there has been much delays and excuses over the years for not hav-ing such an important policy document in place. Quite a few countries in the Commonwealth Caribbean have already gone ahead in drafting and implementing policies aimed at improving the lot of their young people.

With respect to the present status of the Guyana’s National Youth Policy, Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment, Aubrey Norton was quoted in the media recently as saying that a draft of the document has been completed and a copy of it will be sent to the President’s office and to the Minister of Education for their input and endorsement As far as we are aware, the international development partners here have been providing the necessary assistance to the relevant agencies to see the realisation of this important policy document. The local NGOs have also been very vocal in their call for the Government to move with haste to have the policy implemented, but so far, Guyana still cannot boast of having a modern, effective and relevant national youth strategy in place.

Norton had said that once the Policy was taken for analysis and endorsement to the higher level in the Government structure, the next step would be popularisation of the document. He had explained that following buy-in from the public, and more importantly the youth segment of the population, a National Youth Policy Action Plan is to be crafted for the implementation of the Policy.

The Government should treat this matter as urgent and have the process come to finality. It must also move with haste to establish a national youth council thereafter which would seek to create a platform for young people to discuss and debate relevant issues and influence policy decisions at all levels.

Certainly, the role young people play in national development cannot be overstated. The world is facing many often overlapping crises, including financial, security, environmental, and other socio-economic challenges hindering the achievement of development goals. As such, investing in and partnering with youth is key to addressing these challenges in a sustainable manner. For this reason the international community has placed much emphasis on youth development and empowerment, and has been work-ing with national governments to ensure that policies are designed and implemented in this regard.

Progressive countries in the world have strong systems for engaging youth in policy formation and in creating or altering programmes designed to support youth. And the National Youth Policy is a key component to achieving all of this. What we are seeing is a new and growing momentum on youth-related issues that will hopefully create more opportunities for young people.

More importantly, considering where we are as a nation, our young people should be empowered and challenged to assist in the task of national healing and reconciliation. The notion of youth empowerment would be meaningless if it is not situated in the larger national context where there is need for peace, racial harmony, equality and justice. One cannot ignore the level of bitterness and division that exists amongst citizens, especially coming out of one of the most competitive election periods in the history of the country.

In order to achieve our developmental aims, there is need for citizens to pool their skills, talents and re-sources and work towards one aim – that is creating a more developed and prosperous country for everyone, irrespective of race, class or political affiliation. And Guyana’s young people have a critical role to play in this regard. They must be empowered and encouraged to take on the challenges con-fronting us as it relates to achieving unity and cooperation between all groups.

In essence, in addition to ensuring that all young people are safe and healthy, have equal access to op-portunities, can participate in public life, and are empowered to meaningfully contribute to Guyana’s sustainable, national development, the national youth policy must also take into consideration the roles young people can play in working towards achieving racial harmony.

Straw shades – the new craze in town? These St Margaret’s Primary students were certainly enjoying them (Carl Croker photo)

Curtailing heckling in Parliament is another ominous sign Dear Editor, Since the beginning of the 11th Parliament, Head of State, David Granger, made a statement about the need for a Code of Conduct for members of the National Assembly. His intuition seems to be to curtail and stop heckling in the Chambers.

After this was said, other Government officials also joined in supporting this call.

Part of the media, too, seems to be in support of curbing heckling in the Chambers.

Last Monday, the main mouthpiece of the regime, the Kaieteur News, editorialized on this subject, supporting the regime’s view. This is a signal that the regime is building support to halt heckling.

On the surface, this seems much ado about nothing because in every democratic society, Parliament is known for heckling during the ‘cut and thrust’ of debates. This is not just confined to the Westminster system, but to democratic Parliaments throughout the world.

If per chance, the behavior is being overdone, the Speaker has the power and authority to bring order to the debate. We don’t need a Code of Conduct to deal with that, the Standing Orders are suf-

ficient.

What should be noted is that Parliaments and National Assemblies that do not have heckling are all some form of dictatorship.

Dissent is not allowed and the Parliament becomes a rubber stamp. Order and/or the other military type disciplines are imposed.

The point to note in our country is that we have a high amount of former military people in top positions in our Government, similar to Egypt. The demand for ‘order, no heckling’ comes from a military mentality that demands all to fall in line and obey orders. This is a dangerous and ominous sign.

Note, while the talk of establishing a Code of Conduct to stop heckling is being pushed, at the same time, areas where a Code of Conduct is needed is being ignored. And we see measures being put in place to make the National Assembly a rubber stamp.

The need for all MPs to declare their assets on entering Parliament, including overseas assets, if applicable, should be one of the rules.

Periodic reporting on assets, one a year at the least would be a step in the right direction. This is a serious measure

and can be described as an anti-corruption stance.

The concern should also be more about how the business of the Assembly is conducted and to inquire if it is filling the role envisaged for oversight, transparency and proper legislation.

Even though this Parliament is still relatively new, we have seen on several occasions the governing APNU/AFC’s intention to make it ineffective. The regular feature of suspending the Standing Orders and passing pieces of legislation without giving the Opposition time to prepare for a debate is very troubling. So, too, the many unanswered questions by ministers are all signs we should not miss.

These are not the only indications that the regime does not want to have debates.

During the last budget, the days for considering the estimates were drastically cut from seven to three days. Why is it that the regime does not want to be scrutinized even though it is so early in its life?

The changing of centuriesold Parliamentary traditions and practices is also serious.

Moreover, Opposition MPs were held on a tight leash as far as speaking time

was concerned. Many were thrown off their speeches by being told by the Speaker that time was running out. This is reminiscent of the Sase Narine/Burnham days.

On the other hand, the Speaker seems not to be keeping track of time when Government MPs were on the floor.

Yes, a lot is wrong with how Parliament is being run.

However, the least of those problems is heckling. This was clearly noticeable.

The demand for military type discipline and order are features of totalitarian regimes worldwide. So, too, is the curtailing of debates.

This is another sign of a creeping dictatorship. In the closing of the debate, the Government side wanted to have four other speakers taking the floor after the Leader of the Opposition closed the debate for the Opposition side. Eventually, they put two others.

This has never happened before. It is to try to answer before without a chance to reply, a ‘banking’ as we would say. That is undemocratic and not in keeping with Parliamentary democracy.

Donald Ramotar Former President of Guyana

CJIA an embarrassment to national pride Dear Editor, Unusual stories from the Guyana airport shouldn’t be unusual. The place is an embarrassment to national pride. Shiv Chanderpaul revealed just a speck of what the general impression of the Guyana Airport is to the average traveler, and implores to have a modern, larger, more efficient and tourism- friendly international airport.

Nationals of the USA and Canada, and other world- class

airports do not have to join any lines upon arrival at immigration. They go to one of many kiosks to let themselves into their homeland. Guyanese returning home have to endure long lines at their own airport—lines that sometimes stretch outside the arrival terminal strip leading to the runway. This is embarrassing.

There are not enough immigration officers and cubicles to tend to a passenger load that has just disembarked a

220- seat aircraft which is totally unacceptable.

The officers appear not be properly trained, and seldom wear a smile on their faces.

It’s thus no surprise that they grilled Shiv Chanderpaul, a national cricketer, about his nationality.

The departure terminal is also an embarrassment.

In other countries persons can accompany their families right up to the area where they walk in to go to immigra-

tion—not so in Guyana. The terminal is so cramped and small, guards have to stand up outside to make sure only travelers enter to check- in.

Persons outside would peer through the tinted glass to get a glimpse of their families who are checking – in.

We have the resources and intelligence to do so much better in Guyana.

Sincerely, Leon Suseran

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Days of action to end the Conference of blockade begin in Washington Opposition Leaders is plausible Dear Editor, The Cuban Embassy in an attempt to inform the public, wishes to highlight the following: A number of solidarity groups have organized three days of activities in Washington to demand an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba, beginning on September 16. The events are co-sponsored by IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the Institute for Policy Studies, International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples, National Network on Cuba and the Venceremos Brigade, with the support of parallel events in several other cities across the United States, as well as in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Organizers announced that appointments with 44 House of Representatives and Senate members have been confirmed.

In addition to participants from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, speaking at the event will be writers Stephen Kimber, John Kirk and Arnold August; Puerto Rican patriot Rafael Cancel Miranda and Jan Susler, lawyer for Oscar López Rivera, who has been imprisoned 34 years for his efforts to win Puerto Rican independence, as well as recent graduates from the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana (ELAM).

More than 60 organizations around the world have joined the call for activities this weekend demanding an end to the blockade which has been imposed on the country

for more than 50 years, in an unsuccessful effort to force the Cuban people to surrender, causing incalculable damage.

On September 16, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, is presenting to the press UN Report 69/5, entitled “The Necessity of putting an end to the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba” Rodríguez denounced the damage caused by this hostile policy for over five decades, which has cost the country billions, and has hampered the comprehensive development of Cuba’s children and youth.

The document will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly next month, for the first time since diplomatic relations were established between Cuba and the United States, in a process which began last December 17.

During President Raúl Castro’s stay in New York, the Army General and President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers will additionally attend a conference on the empowerment of women, and hold meetings with sectors of U.S. society and representatives of the solidarity with Cuba movement, Rodríguez said.

He also reported that the General Assembly sessions this year will be focused on the post-2015 development agenda, and are taking place within the context of the United Nations’ 70th anniversary.

On another issue, Rodríguez described Pope

Francis’ visit to Cuba as an “extraordinary event,” emphasizing, “Cuba will welcome Francis with respect and solidarity.”

He highlighted the role played by the Pontiff in the process of reestablishing diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.

During the press conference, which took place at the Foreign Ministry, Rodríguez referred to the report Cuba has prepared on the need to end the blockade, to be submitted to the international community, at the UN General Assembly, October 27.

Rodríguez, said that the report this year includes two new paragraphs hailing the reestablishment of bilateral relations with the United States, and acknowledging President Barack Obama’s willingness to work for the elimination of the blockade.

Nevertheless, he noted, the hostile policy remains in place, a violation of the civil rights of both Cubans and U.S. citizens.

Rodríguez denounced the current campaign against Venezuela, a part of a crusade against progressive and left governments which have made progress in asserting their sovereignty, emphasizing that Cuba categorically rejects interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela.

Cuba considered unacceptable that the international community continues today threatened by the existence of nuclear weapons, which assessed as a matter of survival for humanity. This was expressed by the island's

Stabroek Market stairway is in danger

Dear Editor, I wish to register my dismay over an untenable and deplorable situation in the Stabroek Market which is a Guyanese heritage building.

On a recent visit there, I observed the lower part of the twirling stairway, by the eastern main gate, being used to expose or showcase vendors’ goods, especially sunshades.

This practice destroys the aes-

thetics of that iconic structure.

The beauty of the stairway in its entirety cannot be captured.

Presently the bottom of the stairway is so cogged up that access to climb becomes difficult. Certainly, this would not be permitted in any other country that supports tourism and respect for heritage structures.

The situation should not be allowed to continue; vendors should not be allowed to

operate without limits within the ambit of the market. It is my view that such a rare and beautiful stairway on a national heritage building should rightly have a clearance of 4 ft. around its base.

I trust that this matter is treated with the urgency it demands.

Yours respectfully, Wade Mc Pherson

Crime is likely to increase with the Gun Amnesty Programme Dear Editor, Gun amnesty is a good political ploy to satisfy citizens that politicians who are trying their best to curb crime.

But isn’t it just a show?

Politicians know that bad guys will always have guns and that means gun amnesty is going to leave the good guys defenseless eventually.

Many countries have tried gun amnesty policies such as the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

They pay loads of money to try to buy back guns from the streets to no avail. Why would a bandit return a gun and get three hundred dollars when he could probably obtain a loot of $300 000 by robbing

store? Before we talk gun amnesty let's talk gun economics.

Crime does not decrease because of gun amnesty. It is quite the opposite. In States such as Texas and Arizona in America where they support the right to have guns in places such as schools, work zones, restaurants, banks, gas stations and homes, crimes have decreased tremendously.

Most people who fight for gun amnesty hang on to the few isolated cases here and there to uphold their cases, where, mishandling of the gun might have led to an unwarranted death of victims such as children, but, these are the exceptions not the rule.

Responsible people should

have the right to carry guns especially in countries where crime keeps spiraling out of control and police are unable to stop it. Criminals will most likely attack a neighborhood that is a gun free zone.

What's so wrong to have a political program to have a gun zone neighbourhood?

Statistics obtained by FBI Uniform Crime Reports show that more guns equal less crime in a gun zone area. A criminal is less likely to enter a neighbourhood where he knows that all the people can defend themselves.

Sincerely, Vassan Ramracha

ambassador to the United Nations Office in this Swiss city, Anayansi Rodriguez, when speaking at the Conference on Disarmament in the context of the 70th anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Rodriguez regretted that the Conference on Disarmament has not fulfilled the mandate to negotiate a legally binding international instrument to ensure the prohibition and total elimination of such weapons. Thus, the demand of the international community, which since 1978 agreed the nuclear disarmament as a priority, on occasion of the first special session of the UN General Assembly devoted to the subject, was The diplomat recalled that during the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, held in Havana in January 2014, the region was proclaimed as a zone for peace.

He emphasized the firm commitment of the members of the regional consultation forum with the promotion of nuclear disarmament as a priority.

Respectfully, The Embassy of Cuba

Dear Editor, The recently concluded meeting of Opposition leaders of the OECS States held in Castries is indeed a step in the right direction, as stated by the leader of St. Lucia Parliamentary Opposition Dr Gale Rigobert. It is high time that leaders of the Opposition parties in the sub region meet on a regular basis to discuss problems and at the same time work out strategy how the opposition can assist the governing parties.

In the mid-1980s a movement called SCOPE -- Standing Committee of Popular Democratic Parties in the Eastern Caribbean, was very active and played a significant role in development of the sub region. Antigua and Barbuda's Baldwin Spencer who was Opposition leader at the time and Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, were in the forefront of that movement and they both became Prime Minister. Dr Gonsalves is still head of the multi island State and is seeking a fourth consecutive term at the helm.

The Castries Confab was organised by the OECS Commission and the Opposition leaders praised the Commission for its vision and foresight of what has been described as "inclusive governance and for attempt-

ing to correct the historically disturbing trend of excluding Opposition Parties from governance - both at the national and regional levels" I recall how Spencer and Gonsalves fought bitterly for Opposition leaders to be invited to meetings of Heads of Government, but their calls were ignored. I sincerely hope that after two decades there might be a change of heart with new leaders in place including Dr Gonsalves. The leaders should bear in mind that they will not be in office indefinitely and opposition leaders are awaiting "in the slips" to take over leadership from Prime Ministers.

Perhaps it might be a good idea if Caricom, or any other regional or international organisation can organize conferences of opposition leaders of the wider Caribbean from Guyana to Jamaica. There is no doubt that Opposition leaders can bring a lot to the table.

One could note that there have been changes in government during the past year or so four governments were removed in Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts/ Nevis, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Maybe Opposition leaders should be allowed to sit in at Heads of Government conferences as Observers.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

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friday, september 18, 2015

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News

PPP/C concerned over delay in appointing Guyana/Venezuela border controversy Guyana has a right new GECOM Commissioners

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he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is extremely concerned over the delay by President David Granger in appointing its new Commissioners on the Guyana Elections Commissions (GECOM).

“The absence of these members is hampering the PPP/C’s representation on the Commission,” the Party expressed in a media release asking the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to treat this matter with urgency.

Almost two weeks ago, two of the three persons who were nominated by the Party to sit as Commissioners on GECOM resigned with immediate effect for “personal reasons”.

Former Commissioners Mohamood Shaw and Athmaram Mangar are set to be replaced by former Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn and

Former Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn

former Human Services Minister and longstanding PPP/C parliamentarian Bibi Shaddick.

To date, however, Government is yet to confirm the appointment of the Party’s replacement.

“Pursuant to Article 161 (3) (b) of the Constitution Mr Benn and Ms Shaddick have been named as the replacement for Mr Mahamood Shaw and Mr Athmaran

Mangar. The Party is aware that the Leader of the Opposition, Cde Bharrat Jagdeo, wrote to President Granger on September 3, 2015, advising of this decision,” the PPP/C explained, recalling the “undue haste” with which the Government pushed through the Local Authorities Bill 2015 in the National Assembly. It called on the Administration to act with commensurate dispatch and appoint the new PPP/C Commissioners, particularly in light of the impending Local Government Elections.

Meanwhile, the only Commissioner representing the PPP/C until the two nominees are appointed is Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj.

The Governmentnominated Commissioners are Vincent Alexander, Sandra Jones and Charles Corbin.

Moreover, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo,

to speak – Greenidge responds to Maduro

G

Former Human Services Minister and longstanding PPP/C MP Bibi Shaddick

during a previous interview with Guyana Times, thanked the PPP/C representatives for their sterling contributions to the Commission and their representation of the Party at that level.

Commissioner Mangar was appointed back in October 2013, while Commissioner Shaw was appointed by former President Jagdeo.

14-year-old allegedly runs away from home

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fter a short dispute with her grandmother at their home in Crane, West Coast Demerara, 14-yearold Thandi Matthias left home on Wednesday morning to head to school at Charlestown Secondary School, but did not return home.

The young lady’s mother, Joylin Matthias told this newscast that her daughter had never stayed away from home overnight before.

The mother further stated that her daughter was probably with a man, as this was the way teens operated, but Thandi was still her daughter and she wanted her home where persons would really care for her could take care of her.

Additionally, the mother shared that the young woman had called her brother’s phone early Thursday morning and refused to speak when she had answered, as she wanted to speak only

to her brother. When the brother had asked about her location, the young woman responded, “I’ll let you know when I see you.”

Joylin is asking that anyone who has seen her daughter who was last seen in her Charlestown Secondary School uniform to make urgent contact with the family on 683-8841, 666-5385, 6980109 or the nearest Police Station. (jpinder@guyanatimesgy.com)

Thandi Matthias

uyana’s Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has taken a firm stance against accusations by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro regarding alleged intemperate attacks by the Guyana Government against the Bolivarian Republic in light of the ongoing border controversy.

Minister Greenidge, in response to these allegations made by President Maduro, made it clear that Guyana would not be silent, as it has a right to speak on matters affecting it.

“By his outbursts each time we speak in defence of our rights President Maduro comes perilously close to revealing a belief that uniquely, as a nation and as a people, we have no right, either to speak or to state our views on any matter affecting our well-being. On this aspect, I say no more,” he stated in a media release.

The Venezuelan President recently refused to accredit Guyana’s new Ambassador to Venezuela, Marilyn Cheryl Miles, justifying this action by claiming Minister Greenidge made offensive remarks about the Spanish-speaking nation during a recent forum in Miami, Florida.

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister reaffirmed

that Guyana would continue to defend its sovereignty.

“I was invited to Miami and what I said there differed in no way from what I said before, either in Miami or elsewhere, in defence of Guyana’s rights or in respect of Guyana’s position as regards the claim to Venezuelan Guyana’s territory and Venezuela’s actions. The latter has been amplified by the illegal action taken recently by President Maduro purporting to extend Venezuela’s land and sea boundaries to include Guyana’s maritime space.

This is a legitimate matter of concern to Guyana and indeed other Caricom States, as it should be, and to the international community as a whole,” he said in the release.

Moreover, he added that whatever actions Venezuela took in relation to Ambassadors, Guyana would remain ready to adhere to the Geneva Agreement.

“We rely on the [United Nations] Secretary General to make his decision as to the means of settlement of the controversy as defined in the Geneva Agreement,” Minister Greenidge stated.

He added that Guyana remained committed to having dialogue with Venezuela on matters affecting bilateral relations, noting that the exchanging of Ambassadors was a crucial element in this process.

“Notwithstanding announced actions by President Maduro in this regard, we are prepared to carry on these discussions,” Minister Greenidge said.

Meanwhile, Convener of the Florida Forum Wesley Kirton also attested to the fact that Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister never delivered any offensive remarks against Venezuela.

In a release also, Kirton said, “As Convenor of the Conference at which Minister Greenidge delivered the keynote address and led a panel on the Guyana/Venezuela controversy, I can attest that at no time did the Honourable Minister “attack” Venezuela... In fact Minister Greenidge sought to “play down” the view expressed by former Grenada Ambassador to Venezuela, Matthew William, that “Maduro is a desperate man” capable of resorting to the use of force in pursuit of the Venezuelan claim and as a means towards bolstering his faltering approval rating amongst the Venezuelan population.”

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friday, september 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Still the Cinderella County….

Suddie, Charity Hospitals falling apart – Neglect, lack of equipment, poor working conditions cited

I

n Essequibo, the Suddie Public and Charity Oscar Joseph Hospitals are in a deplorable state and residents are calling for the newly elected A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change Government to take remedial actions to return the health care facilities to an acceptable state.

Health Minister Dr George Norton had visited the entities several weeks ago where he too complained about the sordid state of affairs of the hospitals which were in a poor state.

He had promised residents and the hospital staff immediate relief as he explained that urgent reforms were necessary to lift the standards of the entities which were at best described as “appalling”.

Weeks after the Minister’s visit and commitments and residents are now complaining that nothing has been done to improve the hospital surroundings, health environment or service. They are upset that all they received were “words”.

Essequibo residents on Thursday pressed Government to immediately commence the necessary reforms with the aim of delivering the services at the standards promised by the new Health Minister.

They want the hospitals to operate on par with the other health care facilities at Linden, Georgetown, New

Amsterdam, West Demerara and Bartica.

“We want the Minister to address the lack of equipment, key medical services and lack of adequate medical supplies”, a 34-year old resident said briefly to the Guyana Times.

don’t know how long I have to keep checking” the patient said.

Another patient who was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital for an emergency surgery said that she was told that her surgery could not be done at Suddie

The Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two

Suddie

Another resident who travelled a far distance to access Ultra Sound services was turned away by hospital staff after allegedly being told to “key checking” to see when the hospital could deliver the service.

The patient said that usually pregnant mothers are given priority but there is no system in place for other persons.

“I need an ultra sound when I asked they said I must check back and they will tell me, like the machine is not working but I

due to the lack of equipment.

“They said they have competent doctors to do the surgery but no equipment, I had to go GT to get it done and every day my family have to spend money to come see me whereas if I was in Essequibo things would have been cheaper”, the patient related.

Professionals complain

Guyana Times also interviewed some of the medical professionals who said they are forced to work in inhumane conditions at the Suddie Hospital pointing out that using the operating

theatre is “risky”.

The operating theatre is not functioning to its capacity due to faulty works being done by a contractor. Even the tiled walls are hallowed and electrical works are being exposed. This staff, said poses a major occupational

no bathroom facility, television or microwave. This, they said, is having a negative effect on them at work.

Charity

Meanwhile, health professionals at the Charity

Health Minister, Dr George Norton during his visit to the Suddie Hospital

safety risk at the work place.

It was also noted by staff that parts of the hospital’s roof are leaking and there is an inadequate supply of water.

The hospital has a portable x-ray machine which is presently non-functional. Other issues noted were the non-availability of important medical equipment, lack of adequate ventilators, insufficient number of monitors and reagents.

Doctors also complained of having to work under unsuitable conditions, being forced to work in, “choked up” areas while on call with

Hospital are of the view that the hospital should be made into a main health facility and not just “cottage” hospital.

According to one of the medical officers there, the hospital is not properly equipped with necessary equipment, blood tests and theatre facilities.

In cases of emergency, the Pomeroon River patients have to be rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital and sometimes nurses have to wait hours for the ambulance to arrive.

“Charity should be able to lend its service to the peo-

ple, we should be able to do surgery, our own, heart test, blood test and everything… sometimes persons come out from the Pomeroon with a serious snake bite or accident, we cannot even handle it….all we can do is call the ambulance and monitor… as medical professionals our hands are tied even as we came to render our services” a medical officer related.

Only recently a mother died on her way to Suddie Public Hospital after Oscar Joseph Hospital could not treat the pregnant mother on time. The delay occurred with the ambulance which resulted into the death of the young mother. The mother was admitted at the Hospital for high blood pressure.

Residents and Health Professional are calling on Minister Norton to give equal attention as he is giving to Linden and other hospitals. Many persons are sometimes forced to venture to West Demerara or the Georgetown Public Hospital to source medical treatment.

Recently also People’s Progressive Party Civic, (PPP\C) councillor, Arnold Adams called for a blood machine for Suddie Public Hospital.

Adams said often persons who are willing to donate blood have to venture to Georgetown Public Hospital at their own expense.

8 NEWS

friday, september 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Eyew tness Nigerian sentenced to four years Economic conundrums... in prison for drug trafficking A T Nigerian national was on Thursday sentenced to four years in prison after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with trafficking in narcotics.

Emeka Solomon, 32, of 141 E Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on Wednesday, September 9 at ‘E’ Field, he was found in possession of 91.5 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

He also admitted to the charge which read that between September 9 and September 15 at the Georgetown Public Hospital, he excreted 245.6 grams of cocaine which he was in possession of for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones told the court that the defendant was a Nigerian who was on vacation in Guyana and on the day in question, Police ranks acting on information received went to the defendant’s residence where they conducted a search.

During the search, a ziploc plastic bag containing six pellets of what was suspected to be cocaine was discovered behind the kitchen sink.

The defendant was shown the said substance and

Nigerian Emeka Solomon will serve four years in prison on drug trafficking charges

he admitted to knowledge if the drugs. He was then taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters where the drugs were weighed in his presence. He subsequently admitted to swallowing more pellets. He was then taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was subjected to an x-Ray which revealed that he had foreign objects in his stomach. Over the course of a week, he excreted 16 pellets of cocaine. He was then told of the offence, taken into custody and charged.

The Prosecutor also revealed that the defendant cooperated with Police

and others are in custody in relation to the matter.

“Victim of circumstances” – defence In court, the defendant told the Magistrate that he was in the country on vacation and received a one-year extension on his visa. He explained that he had been unemployed and struggling for survival when he met a man who gave him $3000 and promised to introduce him to his boss who would give him a job. He related that he subsequently met the ‘boss’ who asked him if he ever swallowed pellets before for the purpose of trafficking. He told him no and the ‘boss’

then demonstrated how he should go about doing it. He then swallowed the 16 pellets and was given $40,000 with instructions written on where and when he would transport the drugs. He explained that he returned home, but started to have cold sweats and a fever.

His wife noticed and inquired what was wrong with him, but he did not reveal the truth to her. He said he cooperated with the Police, because “I told myself that I don’t want to get myself in problem cause I got a family.”

Defence Attorney-atLaw Motie Singh, in his mitigation submission, stated that his client has not wasted the court’s time nor did he have any previous or pending matters. He stated that his client was married to a Guyanese and has a seven-year-old child with her, so he has ties to the country. He posited that the defendant is a victim of circumstances and requested that the minimum sentence be instituted.

After reviewing the charges, the Magistrate sentenced the defendant to pay a fine of $247,050 and four years in prison for the first charge and a fine of $663,120 and another four years in prison for the second. The sentences will run concurrently.

Fisherman charged with ‘break and enter’ at Guyana Stores

A

fisherman was on Thursday placed on $150,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with breaking and entering Guyana Stores.

Kevin Anthony Samuel Mc’crae, 29, of Leopold Street, Georgetown, denied the charge which read that between Saturday, September 5 and Monday, September 7 at Water Street, Georgetown, he broke and entered Guyana Stores Ltd and stole a quantity

The defendant, Kevin Anthony Samuel Mc’crae

of items at a total value of $1,687,615, property of Guyana Stores Ltd. The defendant claimed that he was shocked by the allegation and more so the total value of items stolen as on the day in question he was unable to walk as a result of injuries to his feet. “Ma’am... me ain’t know wuh them people talking about hay...me ain’t know!” he exclaimed. The prosecution made no objection to bail which was granted in the sum of $150,000. The matter was adjourned until October 6 for statements.

...in rice

hey tell you if you work hard, save and invest, you'll get ahead. Tell that to rice farmers in Guyana!! While most folks have turned away from the land and would rather dally in air-conditioned offices, rice farmers are out then in the sun, rain and mud to ensure that the crop comes in. Yet it's clear they're not taken seriously by the new powers-that-be.

Governments in modern economies are supposed to structure their activities to give incentives for the populace to "do the right thing". Such as not just expecting handouts and other freeness but to put their shoulder to the wheel to "produce or perish". So how is it rice farmers are producing but yet perishing? And make no bones about it - if the prices of paddy doesn't rise to at least cover production costs, a whole lot of rice farmers will perish. Literally.

Now is not the time for finger pointing or playing the blame game. The crisis in rice and paddy prices right now is on account of the cancellation of the Venezuelan 200,000 tonne market. Whether Venezuela already had plans to move elsewhere (it had signed a 100,000 tonne agreement for 2015 with Suriname back in Sept 2014) or diversify its sources is not the point. What is the point is that the new Government of Guyana should've factored rice into their response on the Venezuelan demarche on our borders after the elections.

There were so many pluses to the Venezuelan rice market: prices were sky high, we didn't have to pay for it up front, and most importantly we could use it to offset cost of petroleum products shipped by Venezuela. No need to secure foreign funds - we could just pay farmers with our non-convertible Guyana dollars. All it needed was for the Government to engage the Venezuelans on the rice contract - even as we protested their revanchist claims. We've been doing this for the last decade, so what's new??

What made matters worse is - and it's quite obvious now - the new Government had no back-up plan to divert the rice to other markets. Yet in their manifesto they boasted about doing exactly this: "The Coalition’s goal is to seek to increase farmers’ share of the rice and paddy prices received from export market agreements. The APNU+AFC Coalition would Negotiate additional new international markets for rice from Guyana!!"

And imagine that the new, invisible Agri Minister has the chutzpah to now say, "It's not my job man!!" When they needed the votes, it was "promise them anything!!"

But we hope the Government will start seeing rice farmers as human beings.

...on sporting vs working

Businesses in the city have already received letters from the Government to spruce up their business places and clean up their surroundings for the Independence Celebrations next May 26!! Imagine those same businesses are all laying off workers and squeezing their collective bellies because of the collapse in the economy and all the Government's can think about is the next Big Bash.

They can't do a GuyExpo; they can't send trade missions to find rice markets - but we must make sure we jump up next May. And the irony is that the celebrations are supposed to be about INDEPENDENCE!! Gold is down, sugar is down, rice is down, timber is down, bauxite is down - but not to worry...we're INDEPENDENT!! Don't you get a warm glow when you think about that, dear reader.

For your Eyewitness - he's getting a slow burn, that's what. And he suspects that a lot of business owners are doing the same.

This Government is heading for a fall.

...and Icons

If it's one thing we can look out for its cricket. The CPL T-20 Tournament was the last bright spot in the economy.

Cricket is big business.

So how come we treat the best cricketer this nation produced, Chandrapaul, like dirt??

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

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friday, september 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Innocent driver killed in drag-racing smash-up

Dead, Mahindra Sugrim

A

n auto body technician was on Wednesday evening killed following a horrific accident in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, West Bank Demerara (WBD). Dead is Mahindra Sugrim, 23, of Lot 226 Goed Fortuin, WBD. According to information received, two 4-runners were racing along the WBD Public Road and while in the vicinity of the

pinned in the wrecked car and was assisted out by public-spirited citizens who took him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he took his last breath about 23:15h.

Savitri Sugrim, mother of the dead man, told Guyana Times that her son left home, in a jolly mood as always, around 19:00h to visit a friend in La Grange.

The friend, she noted, had called her son seeking advice on a particular matter. The former General Manager of the Caricom Insurance Company stated that she was at home when she received a telephone call after 20:00h informing her of the accident. She was told that her son was involved in an accident and he was in a critical state.

She stated that as she arrived at the hospital, she saw her son lying on the bed being treated. He was covered in blood and was pant-

The wrecked vehicle that was driven by De Santos

Harbour Bridge, one of the vehicles, driven by Ricardo De Santos, struck a Toyota Carina motor car, causing it to slam into the car driven

by Sugrim about 20:00h.

Sugrim’s car, an Avensis bearing registration number PRR 5009, ended up in a nearby trench along with the Toyota Tacoma 4-Runner.

Sugrim was reportedly

ing for breath. His arms and legs were broken and others parts of his body were severely damaged.

Sugrim’s mother stated that she nearly collapsed when she saw the condition of her son, and was taken home. About 23:30h, she received a telephone call and initially thought that her son needed something, but it was then she got the dev-

Cocaine addict sentenced to 18 months in prison

A

self-confessed cocaine addict was on Thursday sentenced to 18 months in prison after he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty in Courts Eight and Nine of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with unlawful wounding.

Christopher Ali pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on Monday, September 14 at Stabroek Market, Georgetown he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the Virtual Complainant (VC), Mahase Boodram.

Prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that the VC received 28 stitches due to the injuries he received.

The defendant told the court that he’s addicted to cocaine and on the day in question, the VC hit him and provoked him so in retaliation he picked up a broken bottle and stabbed him.

The VC who was present at the time stated that he is a minmibus driver and the defendant was smoking at his door and blew the smoke into his face. He stated that he could not tolerate the smell so he pushed the defendant away. He stated that defendant returned with a broken bottle and stabbed him on his hand.

After reviewing the facts, the Magistrate sentenced the defendant to 18 months in prison.

astating news. When asked about the details of the accident, she stated, “I was told that the two Tacoma motor vehicles were racing and my son was heading to La Grange… The driver of one of the vehicles struck a motor car belonging to a Police rank which in turn slammed into another vehicle and then my son’s.”

on the roadways can be reduced,” she added.

She also vented her anger at the way the Police handled the matter on Wednesday evening. She claimed that before the Police took the information relevant to the accident, they started to question her

Raise fines

The vehicle, she said, hit her son’s car head-on causing it to be wrecked. Her only son is dead as a result of the irresponsible behaviour of the drivers; hence, she is calling on the relevant authorities to raise the fines for drunk driving to $150,000. “$7500 is no kind of money to fine someone for drunk driving … if you raise it substantially, then people would know that once they get caught drinking and driving, they will have to pay the exorbitant fee and hopefully, the carnage

The mangled Avensis driven by Sugrim

Injured, Ricardo De Santos

about her vehicle. “They wanted to know what type of job I am doing to buy an Avensis… so I told them…

as far as I am concerned, the Police ranks need more training.”

At the time of the accident, Guyana Times understands, there were a few boys and a girl who was visiting from overseas in the Tacoma. From all indications, all the occupants were drunk. Several persons were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but De Santos was subsequently removed by

his father who informed the hospital officials that he was taking his injured son to the Woodlands Hospital.

Guyana Times was told that this was not the first time De Santos was involved in an accident and had to be hospitalised. He is reportedly the grandson of prominent Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos. The Police have launched an investigation into the accident. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 18, 2015

News

Essequibo Chamber presses Govt to reduce ferry fares – says ordinary citizens, businesses are suffering

By Indrawattie Natram

T

he Essequibo Chamber of Commerce has now added its voice to calls for the Government of Guyana to immediately take action that would result in the reduction of the unreasonable fares that businesses and ordinary citizens are made to pay when they utilise the ferry service on a daily basis.

The Chamber’s call comes at a time when several other regional and national bodies have called on the newly-elected David Granger Government to also pay attention to the commuting woes of Essequibians in the same way attention is being placed on Guyanese affected at Berbice and other parts of the country.

Essequibo Chamber of Commerce Executive Member Ravi Mohan, speaking with the Guyana Times during an exclusive interview, said there was a need to reform the public transportation system within Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) to make it more economical for businesses and ordinary citizens, especially the elderly and the poor.

Speaking on behalf of

Ravi D Mohan, Executive of Essequibo Chamber of Commerce

businesses first, Mohan said that persons doing business within the region were made to face unnecessary expenses while losing millions of dollars monthly because of the time wasted waiting to access the ferry service and making arrangements to transport goods from one economic hub to another via the vessels.

“Time is money” and it is only fair that something be done to ease the burden on those whose livelihoods depend on the ferry service, Mohan said.

The Chamber Executive

pointed out that many times ordinary businessmen and citizens suffer because discriminatory and preferential treatment is given to a select few to board the ferries and conduct their business.

Mohan maintained that Essequibo must be treated fairly like other regions and must benefit from the same concessions and subsidies offered by the Government to ease the plight of citizens.

He lamented that the journey to get to the stelling was a long one especially for persons who were utilising public transport.

In addition to reduced fares, Mohan has called for the pathway leading from the ticket area of the stelling at Adventure to be covered to assist elders as well as the differently-able population who are most vulnerable.

Residents as well as businesses who are frequent users of the ferry voiced their concerns and noted the many challenges they are faced with using the service.

Reduced tolls

Currently, persons travelling between Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on the Berbice

Bridge have to pay a toll of $2200 and it was proposed by the Government for this to be reduced to $1900 (return).

Residents in Essequibo argued that the commuters on the Berbice Bridge could travel across at any time of the day or night, while their circumstances were much more complex.

Guyana Times also reported that recognising the “burdensome” costs also imposed upon Essequibians utilising the ferry system to travel between Georgetown and the Essequibo Coast, President of the Berbice Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), Rajnauth Ramroop was urging the Government to pay heed to the calls currently being made by the users of the service.

Even while pushing for Government to focus on getting the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) to lower its tolls to relieve the Berbicians, Ramroop admitted that the current fares for the Essequibians were equally expensive.

Supporting his calls is David Sooknauth, an activist representing the views of the Berbicians who stated that the fares being paid by the Essequibians are certainly unreasonable and Government should find a way to reduce them.

Furthermore, Region

One of chinese- made ferry at Supenaam stelling

Two Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah has supported residents and businesses in their call for the reduction.

“I believe that we in Region Two need equal treatment… lower fares mean business for many persons and I strongly think consideration should be given,” Coonjah said.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic has also called on the Government to reduce the fares, citing the plight of Essequibians.

Currently, a ticket on the ferry costs $380 per person

and $1140 for a person with an empty vehicle (one-way).

Therefore, a journey back and forth for a vehicle owner would amount to $2280 plus an additional $1900 for five passengers – a total of $4180 to travel from and to Region Two. A minibus with 15 passengers would have to pay the $2280 plus $5400 for the passengers for a total of $7680. Businesses pay twice that amount when their vehicles are weighed.

When using a speedboat passengers pay $1300 one way to Parika and $2600 return daily.

Fisherman remanded on wounding charge

A

fisherman was on Thursday remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty on an unlawful wounding charge.

Forty-five-year-old Mohan Deonarine of Farm Seadam, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge that was read which stated that on August 24 at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the Virtual Complainant (VC) Brian

Norton.

The defendant stated that the VC made use indecent language towards him but another individual who was there intervened and settled the dispute giving them $100 each in the process. He stated that the VC subsequently took away his money and he backed away.

He added that he had a knife in his hands and when the VC ran towards him, he received a cut.

Police Prosecutor Seon Blackman made an appli-

cation for bail to be denied stating that the defendant does not have a fixed place of abode and made reference to the offence and the penalty it attracts.

The VC told the court that Deonarine is homeless and a known thief. In response, the defendant stated “Is me and you does thief, you teach me how to thief”.

The defendant was remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned until October 2.

Diamond man sentenced to 6 months in prison on simple larceny charge

A

man was today sentenced to six months in prison after he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty in Courts Eight and Nine of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with simple larceny.

Inshan Alli, a resident of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on

September 15 at Lombard Street, Georgetown, he stole 19 wing mirrors property; of the Guyana National Industrial Company.

Prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that the security guard on duty saw the defendant committing the act and apprehended him. He revealed that the defendant has been charged on multiple occasions for similar offences in

the past.

The man told the court that he was not the only perpetrator of the offence saying, “It’s not me alone, I been there with other people also.” He begged for leniency stating that the mirrors had been returned.

The Magistrate then sentenced him to six months in prison advising him not to follow the company of unsavoury characters.

friday, september 18, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

News

IT could build Guyana’s Economy – GCCI Chairman

President of the GCCI Lance Hinds at the forum on Thursday

W

ith the current slump in the rice, sugar and gold industries, the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Sector could be the next best thing to drive Guyana’s economy.

This is according to President of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Lance Hinds.

Hinds was speaking at the opening ceremony of an Information Technology forum hosted by Japanese IT service provider Fujistu at the Marriot Hotel on Thursday.

Local Internet Service providers gathered where they listened to representatives from several multitechnology companies such as Microsoft, Oracle and Checkpoint, partnering companies with the Japanese IT service provider. He said the Chambers perspective on the Information Technology Sector is that it could be used to move the country forward.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hinds, whose office had collaborated with the Japanese company to host the programme said that there is something spectacular about ICT and its potential role in national and economic development. According to him, the challenges in the ail-

11

ing industries mean that they cannot continue to be the primary drivers of the economy.

“We believe that it is the technology driven knowledge management industries that will be the cornerstone of this country’s future”, Hinds told the gathering.

According to Hinds, the development of ICT as a productive sector is not as progressive as one would have liked. “The cost of supporting the structure, the absence of legislation limited as a result of all of this 2015 has found Guyana a little way behind its Caribbean counterpart.

However there has been some encouraging signs, including growth in the call centre line of business, national skills set is improving and there is more graduates from the University of Guyana (UG)”.

He said while all these have been accomplished,

Fujistu Vice President of Sales Stephen Juteram speaking to local ICT companies

there is still a significant way to go in the areas of ICT as a significant role in the advancement of this country.

“The Chamber’s position as it has always been is that ICT can transform lives in Guyana”. Hinds noted that the ICT plan is to be successful; it must be placed in a priority position in the overall plan for National Development.

“It should be based on two fundamental pillars...

The growth of ICT as an independent sector and the application of it as a cross cutting component in other sectors. These include education, health, science innovation and creative industry”.

Hinds said despite the little setbacks, there have been tremendous developments and improvements in the sector and its contribution. There is also still need for harmonisation, since too much work is being done by any one company.

Meanwhile, Fujistu Vice President of Sales Stephen Juteram told the gathering that the session was to be used is to reintroduce to Guyana to the company. He said the organisation, whose Caribbean office is based in Trinidad and Tobago, sees technology as a method of improving the lives of people.

The company which has several customers in Guyana, is hoping to have other local companies come on board to assist them in offering improved services to their customers.

Fujitsu is a $55 billion leader in global Information Technology systems and services and is ranked number three in the world’s top IT services providers.

It provides a full range of IT services and has the capability of implementing and supporting multi vendor platforms and systems for servers, storage, networks desktops and servers Juteram said his company is seeking to understand the needs of each client. Its service currently reaches some 170,000 people and operates over 140 data centres. He relayed that the company really wants to have a relationship with local it organisations in Guyana.

Soil caves in on Chinese national at CJIA Expansion site

A

Chinese National was on Thursday afternoon killed while another was injured after they were trapped beneath a quantity of soil that caved in on them while working at the expansion site at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The dead man has been identified as Lui Li, 23, while the injured man is Zhang Yixun, both engineers of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).

According to information received, Li was conducting a soil test in the Timehri area when the soil collapsed.

He was pulled from beneath the soil several minutes later

and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Based on a release from the Public Infrastructure Ministry, rescue efforts were immediately activated but unfortunately, Li died while receiving medical attention.

Yixun, who remains traumatised, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains a patient.

In light of the tragedy, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has requested that an investigation be launched into the incident immediately. The release stated that the Chinese company is responsible for the health and safety of its employees on the

work site.

The Ministry and CJIA’s management extend their condolences to the family of Li. Only recently, the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into mining deaths proved that over the last 15 months, 28 persons lost their lives; most coming from pit cave-ins. In addition, from 2012 to 2015, 62 miners, particularly young men, lost their lives on the job in pursuit of a livelihood in the mining sector.

The CoI into mining accidents was ordered by President David Granger after the death toll in the industry spiked in May when a Potaro Mining pit collapsed and killed 10 miners.

First Lady to help women to 'market' entrepreneurial skills

F

irst Lady Sandra Granger on Wednesday launched a business/entrepreneurship workshop at the Good Hope Learning Centre for a group of women in that community. The workshop is being conducted by Wayne Barrow from Interweave Solutions.

Interweave Solutions

own business plans.

The First Lady explained that the model being used has been tried and tested by Interweave Solutions and proved to be successful in places like Africa and parts of Central and South America. The aim is to empower rural women and teach them to manage and

grammes like this can unlock the potential of women across Guyana. “We are trying this programme here; we want to encourage the women and empower them so that they use their skills and learn to be successful and make some money in the process,” the First Lady said.

The programme, which is

Moderator Wayne Barrow interacting with the participants at the workshop, while First Lady Sandra Granger looks on

is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that helps local organisations and congregations in developing countries to create self-reliance by providing them with the necessary training to implement and promote their

sustain their small entrepreneurial ventures.

Mrs Granger said, “A lot of our women don’t realise that they do have skills that they can market and be successful entrepreneurs.”

She noted that pro-

being funded by the Office of the First Lady, is also expected to be launched in Linden shortly and based on the outcomes, it would then be expanded to other communities across the country.

12 news

friday, september 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

IICA hosts farming with Guyana not a major drug transit country – US climate change workshop – reflects efforts of prior PPP/C Administration

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodriguez-Birkett

By Kristen Macklingam

G

uyana has not been included on a list of several countries that have been named by the United States of America as major drug transiting and/or major illicit drug producing countries for this year. This has to be the consequence of efforts by the previous PPP/C administration that demitted office last May. According to a Presidential Determination “Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2015”, signed by US President Barack Obama, a country’s presence on this list does not reflect its Government’s counter-narcotics efforts or level of cooperation with the US. Guyana Times understands that the countries which were categorised as major drug transit and/or major illicit drug producing countries are: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

“Consistent with the statutory definition of a major drug transit or drug producing country set forth in

section 481(e)(2) and (5) of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), of 1961, as amended, the reason major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries are placed on the list is the combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs to transit or be produced, even if a government has carried out the most assiduous narcotics control law enforcement measures,” the document stated.

The US President maintained that Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela are countries that have failed demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under the international counter-narcotics agreements and also failed to take the measures set forth in section 489(a)(1) of the FAA. It must be noted that despite these breaches, support for programmes in accordance with provisions of section 706(3) (A) of the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act (FRAA), to aid Burma and Venezuela are fundamental to the national interests of the US. The US is the world’s largest consumer of illegal cocaine, followed by Brazil and then certain countries in Europe.

International cooperation

Obama divulged that international cooperation re-

mained the foundation for reducing the threats posed by the illegal narcotics trade and the related crimes carried out by criminal organisations.

It was further stated that the sophisticated and effective operations of organisations challenge law enforcement officials and policymakers globally, and the US foreign assistance programmes have focused primarily on fighting drug production by supporting related law enforcement programmes.

This newspaper understands that this approach is still integral to US policy, but present-day efforts take an increasingly holistic approach.

“Beginning with the current decade, efforts aimed at preventative measures in US assistance programmes are designed to enhance overall citizen security by challenging both transnational and local security threats,” said President Obama.

He noted that these efforts involved US partnerships inclusive of public and private sectors to achieve the common security goals while creating safe communities.

These are achieved through law enforcement training, judicial and human rights training, and alternative development.

The United Nations World Drug Report 2014 reaffirms that Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru continue to cultivate virtually all the world’s supply of coca for cocaine and related products.

It was also noted that many nations, especially in Central and South America, are actively seeking to strengthen their inter- and intra-regional cooperation and exchange of information about best practices for counter-narcotics and crime control law enforcement activities relative to citizen security.

Turn to page 16

Associate Director of Technical Cooperation of IICA, Dr Muhammad Ibrahim making a presentation at the workshop

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he Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on Monday facilitated a fourday workshop on Integrated Management of Water Resources and Adaption of Family Farming to Climate Change.

This event was held in the Agriculture Ministry’s Boardroom and attracted participants from numerous countries in the Region.

The workshop saw participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and Guyana along with IICA representatives from across the region. Some of these countries have been experiencing what may be considered to be a drought, while other considers it a dry spell. Antigua and Barbuda is currently utilising reverse osmosis since the island has no freshwater source.

Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jervis, during his address, mentioned that this was an opportunity for regional integration and that after such a workshop, everyone should “have a synthesis of ideas to solve the problem of water”. As fresh water sources become a cause for concern, there have been studies carried out to develop species of

Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jervis

crop to adapt to the steady changing conditions.

Jervis advocated for a studied approach to water management, noting that there needed to be a holistic approach when dealing with management of the vital resource. With the strongestyet El Niño, which can drive droughts and flooding, already ongoing this year and affecting global weather patterns, the issue has never been more relevant. Both lack of adequate water resources and climate change threaten food and nutrition security around the globe.

Jervis also touched on that issue by encouraging persons to use the fruits and vegetables grown locally in an effort to boost food security. “When we do not eat what we grow and grow what we eat, we will wake up one morning with money in our pocket, but not be able to feed our children.”

Also present at the cer-

emony was Dr Muhammad Ibrahim, Associate Director of Technical Cooperation of IICA. He stated that a great appeal was being made to policymakers to “take into consideration the short and long-term benefits and effects when making decisions on agriculture and water resources.

In addition, the advent of climate change is complicating the situation, impacting crops in several ways. Certain diseases can now thrive in the changing weather and atmospheric conditions. As climate change continues to impact agriculture with extreme weather conditions, there will be a rise in sea levels and a loss in agricultural products, as it also affects harvesting.

IICA has four flagship projects, including one on family agriculture, to help tackle the issue.

news

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friday, september 18, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Crisis in rice

Govt mismanaging industry ...Agri Minister “clueless” and “misfit” – RPA Action Committee

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

By Alexis Rodney

T

he dire condition of Guyana’s rice industry and the debilitating effects it has on local rice farmers will not get better unless Government reshuffles the major players who oversee the work of the sector, including the new Agriculture Minister Noel Holder.

This is according to two senior officials in the industry, Dr Turhane Doerga and Jinnah Rahaman. The men, who have expressed frustration over the current situation facing the thousands of rice farmers across the country, said Government needed to act quickly before the economy reached an irreparable stage.

Dr Doerga, who is also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alesie Rice Group, told Guyana Times on Thursday that he has reached a point of total frustration with the current state of affairs. He said he was not pleased at all with the situation and had really expected things to be different once the new Government took office.

According to Doerga, the new Agriculture Minister Noel Holder should not have been the Minister in the first place, as he does not have a single clue of how the sector works. He explained the situation has caused serious injury to the economy, and it was moving to a place of no return.

The rice expert said anyone who knew about the economy would agree that while gold and sugar were significant contributors, Guyana’s financial system is driven by large by the rice industry. He said persons needed to understand that if the rice industry was injured, the ripple effects would saturate every aspect of the economy.

Asked what recommendations he would put forward to see some turnaround, Doerga said there

was need for professionals to run the industry. The rice expert related that when the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change took office, it was hoped that it would have taken the opportunity to correct the issues. However, as it is now, Minister Holder is speaking as if farmers do not exist. Added to that there must also be a total revamp of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), a major decision maker in the rice industry.

He said with the current state of affairs, particularly with the prices farmers were being offered per bag of paddy, it would be impossible for them to even go back into the field.

He urged Government to honour its promises, particularly those set out in the manifesto. He urged it, too, to look past the differences and find ways to hold consultations to find ways of reversing the devastating effects of the situation.

Incapable

Meanwhile, Rahaman, a rice farmer and activist, who also sits on the GRDB, also lashed out at the poor work proffered by the Agriculture Minister.

He laid out that the industry was in a severe crisis. Compounded with that is the presence of Minister Holder whom he described as a total “misfit”. That is a decision, he said, made

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. He blasted the Minister as well, saying that he was incapable of running the industry, and was giving the Government a bad name.

Minister Holder had earlier become the target of harsh criticism from many in the rice industry over his prolonged silence amid the ongoing plight of farmers.

Following Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s presentation of the budget, farmers and stakeholders in the rice sector were drawn to his assertion that some $23 billion was allocated to the industry.

Minister Holder, during an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, said Government could not give any monies to farmers.

“They have to get money from the millers… the Government does not take the farmers’ rice,” he told this publication.

He alluded to the fact that Government has already released the names of all the millers who owe rice farmers in an effort to put pressure on those millers to quickly settle their debts.

Last week, Finance

Minister Jordan told Guyana Times that the $23 billion that he announced during his budget presentation was not for farmers, but was to be pumped into the PetroCaribe Fund, which Government announced it had found empty.

Government had already said that the rice industry was a private entity and although assistance has been given to the industry, it remained just that.

Jordan reiterated that all the monies owed to the farmers have already been paid and no more money could be paid to them until

2 GDF ranks shot and injured on Seawall

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wo ranks attached to the Guyana Defence Force were on Wednesday evening shot and injured during an alleged robbery along the the next rice shipment.

Georgetown Seawall. The Last Thursday, close incident occurred at about to 400 rice farmers from 22:30h. across the country gathered The injured ranks are in front of the Agriculture Andries Henry, who was hit Ministry and the Ministry to his left foot, while King of the Presidency, demand- Pablo was shot to his right ing that Government hon- foot. our its obligation and pay Based on reports reup the $23 billion that was ceived, Henry and Pablo promised to them. From the were with two females on picket line, they also de- the seawalls when they were manded that Government approached by three men honour its promise of pay- who reportedly demanded ing $9000 per bag of paddy. that they hand over their Half of that amount would valuables.

Guyana Times underbe acceptable, they reastands that the men reportsoned. edly put up a resistance during which one of alleged

bandits whipped out a handgun and discharged several round in their direction.

Despite running for cover, the two soldiers were shot and injured. This publication could not confirm if the two soldiers were armed at the time of the shooting incident.

The three men then made good their escape on motorcycles. The soldiers reportedly contacted their colleagues at Camp Ayanganna who responded almost immediately and took them to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were admitted.

Hospital officials confirmed that Henry and Pablo are in stable condition. The Police as well as the Guyana Defence Force have launched an investigation into the shooting.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Regional

Chilean quake triggers mass New T&T AG seeks time to evacuation and tsunami alert weigh US case against Warner

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ttorney General Faris Al-Rawi has asked for more time to consider the United States’ extradition case against the corruption-accused former Fifa Vice President Jack Warner.

Hours before the initial deadline expired at 16:00 Wednesday, Attorney Brent Hallpike, who is seeking the Ministry of the AG’s interest in the matter, wrote to Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers Caesar seeking an extension to the deadline for signing off on the authority to proceed in the matter.

In the letter, which was obtained by the T&T Guardian, Hallpike stated

The city of Illapel was among the worst hit

O

ne million people had to leave their homes in Chile after a powerful quake hit the country’s central region.

At least 10 people died when the 8.3-magnitude quake hit at 19:54 local time (22:54 GMT).

Residents of Illapel, near the quake’s epicentre, fled into the streets in terror as their homes began to sway.

In the coastal town of Coquimbo, waves of 4.7 metres (15ft) hit the shore. A tsunami alert was issued for the entire Chilean coast, but has since been lifted.

Tsunami waves also hit the coast further north and south of the quake’s epicentre, with waves half a metre higher than usual as far north as La Punta.

The quake lasted for more than three minutes and there have been dozens of aftershocks.

Gloria Navarro, who lives in the coastal town of La Serena, said people were “running in all directions”.

Officials said 1800 people in Illapel were left without drinking water.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the

tremor struck off the coast of Coquimbo, 46 kilometres (29 miles) west of the city of Illapel at 19:54 local time (22:54 GMT).

The USGS said it was at a depth of 25km, while Chilean seismologists calculated its depth at 11km.

The earthquake struck as thousands of Chileans were travelling to the coast ahead of a week of celebrations for independence day.

President Michelle Bachelet said some of the official festivities would be cancelled. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Vatican hopes Pope’s Cuba trip helps end US embargo

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he Vatican said on Thursday it hoped Pope Francis’s trip to Cuba would help bring an end to a 53-year-old US embargo and lead to more freedom and human rights on the communist island.

The Pope will spend four days in Cuba before flying to the United States. He is visiting both countries for the first time as pontiff, after Vatican mediation that led to a restoration of ties between Washington and Havana last year.

In an interview with Vatican Television, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin,

said the Holy See had always opposed the trade and economic embargo against Cuba because it hurt ordinary people most.

“It is hoped ... that a measure like this (ending the embargo) will also bring with it a greater openness from the point of view of freedom and human rights,” Parolin said.

He said the Vatican hoped for “a flowering of these fundamental aspects for the life of persons and peoples”.

Last month, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the US Congress was unlikely to ever lift a punishing econom-

ic embargo on Cuba unless the Communist Government improved its human rights record. Cuba fiercely rejects such conditions.

Before resuming relations, the two countries were locked for decades in hostilities that outlived the Cold War. The comments by Parolin, who is known as the “deputy pope” because he is second only to Francis in the Vatican hierarchy, appeared to be hints that the Pope would speak about the embargo as well as about human rights while in Cuba.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Egypt attack: Mexico Minister visits injured survivors

M

exico’s Foreign Minister has visited six survivors of an Egyptian Army attack in which eight Mexican tourists were killed after being mistaken for militants.

Claudia Ruiz Massieu met the survivors in hospital in Cairo, and said they were doing well.

She called for a thorough investigation into the incident, which happened on Sunday in Egypt’s western desert.

The exact circumstances

of the attack remain unclear.

An Egyptian prosecutor has issued an order banning journalists from reporting details of the investigation now taking place.

Egypt says its forces had been pursuing Islamic militants in the Western Desert and mistook the Mexican tourists for the militants.

It has apologised, but has insisted the group were in a restricted area. Local sources deny the claim.

Egypt has been battling Islamist militants for years,

with attacks escalating since the 2013 ousting of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

Until recently, most of the fighting has taken place in the Sinai Peninsula with occasional attacks taking place in Cairo and other cities.

The tour group had been travelling in a convoy of four 4x4s near the Bahariya oasis, a popular tourist location. The organisers said they had stopped for a picnic when the group was attacked. (Excerpt from BBC News)

that Al-Rawi, who took up duties this week after being sworn in last Wednesday, needed the additional time to consider a request from Warner’s Attorneys which was refused by his predecessor Garvin Nicholas.

Stating that Nicholas may have erred by refusing that request, Hallpike said: “Now while the State is seeking an extension, according to the document, it is also providing an opportunity for Mr Warner’s Attorneys to make representations as to whether or not an authority to proceed should be issued.

“The refusal of the former Attorney General Garvin

Nicholas to grant this facility was one of the reasons Warner’s Attorneys threatened judicial review.”

Although the letter raised possible ramifications of Nicholas’ handling of the situation, it noted that it was within his discretion at the time whether to accept representations from Warner’s lawyers or not.

Hallpike explained that Al-Rawi’s office wrote to Warner’s lawyers this week offering the opportunity to make the representations, but the offer was declined and labelled as an “attempt to barter with the liberty of one of its citizens”. (Excerpt from

Trinidad Guardian)

Barbados AG clears the air on delay in paying Myrie Attorneys’ legal fees

Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite says it was not a case of the Government of Barbados not honouring its commitments pursuant to the judgment, or Government being unwilling to settle the legal fees

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ttorney General Adriel Brathwaite said Barbados was not refusing to pay the legal fees for Attorneys who represented Shanique Myrie in the case she won against this Government.

But he said there were queries about the more than

US$1 million in fees being claimed for which Barbados has been awaiting answers since August last year.

“I do not wish the Barbados public, or the public outside Barbados, to believe that we do not wish to satisfy the court’s decision.

That is not the case at all,”

he asserted.

Brathwaite sought to set the record straight in a statement Wednesday, after it was reported that the Attorneys are still waiting to get their money from the losing party in the landmark case, as ordered by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Myrie successfully challenged the Barbados Government after being denied entry into the island on March 14, 2011. The CCJ ruled in October 2013 that Barbados had breached the rights of the Jamaican national, afforded under Article Five of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, by denying her entry, and ordered that she be paid approximately US$38,000 in damages which she received eight months later.

Myrie was represented by several lawyers from the firm HyltonBrown, including Attorney-at-Law Michelle Brown. (Excerpt from carib-

bean360.com)

Jamaica: Scandal deepens – millions unaccounted for at PC Bank

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special audit of the National People’s Cooperative Bank of Jamaica (NPCB) has uncovered the shocking misuse of the money of the more than 200,000 members of the Bank, and rampant abuse of position by those in charge at the institution, resulting in over J$665 million, or 21 per cent of members’ deposits, unaccounted for.

The audit, a copy of which was obtained by the Jamaica Observer, has found that lending from members’ savings has reached the 50 per cent cut-off mark, and that the weaknesses at the Bank have exposed the institution to high financial, reputational and information technology risks. The probe was carried out from May 13 to June 19 this year.

The audit first came

Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary Donovan Stanberry

up for discussion last week at a meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), where, under pressure from Opposition member Audley Shaw, Permanent Secretary in

the Agriculture Ministry Donovan Stanberry disclosed that the probe had found that managers at the bank were granting themselves loans and approving loans for board members.

Stanberry also said monies were unaccounted for, but did not confirm Shaw’s charge that those funds totalled more than J$600 million.

But now the details of the audit tell a jaw-dropping story of how that amount may have come to slip off the books. Among the many brow-raising details highlighted in the audit is how at least one loan application, from a Director at the Bank for J$50 million, was declined in 2011 by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), but was approved by the NPCB using members’ deposits. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

friday, september 18, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

Croatia overwhelmed by flood Scores killed in South Sudan of migrants, EU calls summit fuel tanker explosion

A Croatian policeman holds a crying baby as he stands among migrants waiting to board a bus in Tovarnik, Croatia, September 17

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mid chaotic scenes at its border with Serbia, Croatia said on Thursday it could not cope with a flood of migrants seeking a new route into the European Union after Hungary kept them out by erecting a fence and using tear gas and water cannon against them.

The EU’s newest member state said it may try to stop taking in migrants, just as the 28-nation bloc an-

nounced its leaders would hold an emergency summit on September 23 to try to resolve the migration crisis, which has deeply divided it.

More than 7300 people entered Croatia from Serbia in the 24 hours after Wednesday’s clashes between Hungarian riot Police and stone-throwing refugees at its Balkan neighbour’s frontier.

At the eastern border town of Tovarnik, Croatian

Riot Police struggled to keep crowds of men, women and children back from rail tracks after long queues formed in baking heat for buses bound for reception centres elsewhere in Croatia.

Police were also deployed in a suburb of the capital Zagreb, taking up positions around a hotel housing hundreds of migrants, some of them on balconies shouting “Freedom! Freedom!”.

Others threw rolls of toilet paper from the balconies and windows.

“Croatia will not be able to receive more people,” Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic told reporters in Tovarnik.

“When we said corridors are prepared (for migrants), we meant a corridor from Tovarnik to Zagreb,” he added, suggesting Croatia would not simply let migrants head north to Slovenia, which is part of the EU’s Schengen zone of border-free travel.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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round 100 people have died in South Sudan when a truck carrying petrol exploded, officials have told Al Jazeera.

The blast on Thursday in Maridi town is believed to have happened when a crowd gathered to collect fuel from an oil truck that had veered off the road.

The truck exploded, leaving scores dead and around 50 people seriously injured, according to Charles Kisagna, the Minister of Information in Western Equatoria.

“We don’t have medical equipment and these people may not survive because we do not have the facilities to treat the highly burnt people,” Kisagna told the Reuters news agency, adding the truck had been travelling from the capital Juba to the Western Equatoria area.

The Associated Press news agency cited varied figures on how many people had died from different offi-

Such incidents have happened before in the east African region where fuel tankers often have to travel long distances along potholed roads and pass through poor communities

cials.

Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said 85 people had died, while Provincial Governor Patrick Raphael Zamoi gave a much higher death toll of 176.

Such incidents have happened before in the east African region where fuel tankers often have to travel long distances along potholed roads and pass through poor communities.

Layal Horanieh, spokes-

woman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, said the aid group had sent two burn kits to Maridi, each with enough equipment to treat at least 50 patients.

In June 2013, 29 people were killed and scores injured in an explosion after a collision between a fuel truck and a passenger van in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Donald Trump pummelled by Two million Indians reply to Republican rivals in 2016 debate ad for 300 clerical jobs

D

onald Trump has come under attack from all sides in a fiery debate between the top Republican presidential candidates in the 2016 election.

The party’s frontrunner, a billionaire businessman with no political experience, refused to apologise over comments about the wife of Jeb Bush.

And he was on the receiving end when Carly Fiorina drew huge applause facing up to his recent jibe over her looks.

Fifteen Republicans are vying to be the party’s White House nominee in 2016.

With more than a year until polling day, the second

Republican debate in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California saw Bush and Trump trading blows several times.

Their most notable clash in the debate, hosted by CNN, came when the former Florida Governor demanded that the tycoon apologise to his wife for saying he was weak on immigration because she is Mexican.

Trump refused.

But the loudest audience response of the night came when Fiorina was asked about an interview in which Trump said she could not be President because “Look at that face”.

She replied, to thunderous applause: “I think

women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr Trump said.”

But if Trump predictably took plenty of punches, as the candidate who has held a commanding lead for much of the campaign, he gave as good he got throughout the debate in his trademark style.

He returned fire on Kentucky Senator Rand Paul with an oblique personal insult about his appearance, mocked the fiscal record of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and introduced himself with the words: “I say, not in a braggadocious way, I’ve made billions and billions of dollars.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Military claims control of Burkina Faso amid unrest

T

he military in Burkina Faso has taken to the airwaves to declare it now controls the country, confirming that a coup has taken place – just weeks before national elections.

In the announcement aired early on Thursday on national television and radio, the statement said that the transitional Government in the West African country had been dissolved.

The statement came a day after members of the elite presidential guard unit of the military arrested the transitional President and Prime Minister.

The communiqué read by Lieutenant Colonel Mamadou Bamba criticised

the electoral code, which blocked members of the exPresident’s party from taking part in the October 11 elections.

It is still very unclear how this crisis will now resolve itself.

Anyone who supported the ex-president’s bid to amend the Constitution so he could seek another term is also banned from running.

Bamba on Thursday announced the beginning of a “coherent, fair and equitable process” that would lead to inclusive elections.

The power grab violates the country’s constitution.

Fanny Noaro, a Journalist based in the capital Ouagadougou, told Al Jazeera gunfire could be

heard on the streets of the city.

“There is a lot of military on the street [...] there is also no information about the transitional President and Prime Minister and there is no information if they are dead or alive,” she said.

A Reuters witness said that soldiers had fired warning shots to disperse a crowd gathered in Independence Square to protest against an apparent seizure of power by the presidential guard. More than 100 people had gathered in the square to demand the release of the interim government, detained by the elite military unit since Wednesday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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uthorities in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, say they have been overwhelmed after receiving 2.3 million applications for 368 low-level Government jobs.

Prerequisites for the posts include having primary school qualifications and being able to ride a bicycle.

But, tens of thousands of graduates, post-graduates and others with doctorate degrees have also applied.

An official said it will take four years to interview all the candidates.

“These candidates only have to be interviewed, but my estimate is that the entire process will take at least four years to complete even if there are 10 boards interviewing 200 candidates a day, for 25 days a month,” senior official Prabhat Mittal told BBC Hindi’s Atul Chandra.

Those who have applied

Tens of thousands of graduates, post-graduates and those holding doctorate degrees have applied for the jobs

for the posts, advertised in August, include 255 PhD holders and 152,000 graduates.

With the number of applicants, there are more than 6250 candidates vying for each post.

The successful candidates will receive a monthly salary of 16,000 rupees ($240; £156).

Unemployment is a huge

challenge in Uttar Pradesh where tens of millions are out of work.

The state, with a population of 215 million, is expected to have 13.2 million unemployed young people by 2017, according to one estimate.

Government recruitment drives have attracted massive responses in other parts of India, too. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China’s island airstrips to heighten South China Sea underwater rivalry

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hina’s apparent construction of a third airstrip on its manmade islands in the disputed South China Sea could fill a gap in Beijing’s anti-submarine defences, complicating operations for the US Navy and its allies, Chinese and Western experts said.

While most attention has been on the power projection China would get from its new islands in the Spratly archipelago, China could also use them to hunt rival submarines in and beyond the strategic waterway, they said.

Possessing three airstrips more than 1400 km (870 miles) from the Chinese

mainland would enable Beijing to extend the reach of Y-9 surveillance planes and Ka-28 helicopters that are being re-equipped to track submarines, the experts added.

A Pentagon report in May noted China lacked a robust anti-submarine warfare capability off its coastline and in deep water.

Strengthened anti-submarine capabilities could also help China protect the movements of its Jin-class submarines, capable of carrying nuclear-armed ballistic missiles and which are at the core of China’s nuclear deterrence strategy, said Zhang

Baohui, a mainland security specialist at Hong Kong’s Lingnan University.

“That would provide greater security for China’s nuclear submarines to survive ... and if necessary to execute their orders in wartime,” Zhang told Reuters.

“They would be safer than in open oceans where China cannot provide adequate support.”

The artificial islands, built on seven reefs over the last two years, will be high on the agenda when Chinese President Xi Jinping has talks with President Barack Obama in Washington next week. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16 News

friday, september 18, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Police Officer, family Govt moves towards tackling NCDs robbed of over $2M T

…“everything I worked for in 23 years, all gone in less than a day” – wife

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family of three was robbed of over $2 million after bandits broke into their home on Friday last.

Domestic worker Shreemattie Dalloo of 93 Campbellville, Georgetown; her husband, a Police Officer , and her five-year-old son were not at home at the time of the incident.

When Guyana Times visited the family, Dalloo and her husband were completely distraught as they tried to grapple with losing everything they worked for in the past 23 years.

“Everything I worked for over the years, over the past 23 years, all gone in less than a day,” Dalloo related.

She explained that on the day of the incident, she left home around 9:00h to drop her son off at school, then she went to work. Her husband was already at work.

Thereafter she returned home around 13:00h only to find her home completely ransacked.

Initially, she thought her husband had returned home and left the house in a mess but after a thorough examination, she then realised that her home had been broken into.

“I came in and I see all the stuff deh out in the living room here so I thought it was my husband left these things like this. So I pick up the phone and called him, but he said he didn’t come home. So I walked and went to the kitchen and then I see the hole in the floor under the sink. Then I know that we house got break into,” she explained.

She then rushed into the lone bedroom only to discover her worst fears.

“A bag we had with over $700,000 was empty and we had a container with jewellery

that they take away. Artificial jewellery, all we jewellery we does wear with the saris they gone with plus the real gold jewellery,” she stated.

In addition, the bandits carted off three cellular phones worth in excess of $100,000.

After she briefed her husband on what transpired, the Police were immediately contacted and an investigation was launched.

Suspects

“We live here for over 20 years and nobody ever robbed we!” Dalloo exclaimed.

According to the family, just a few days before the unfortunate incident, their neighbours, who were convicted for robbery, were released from prison. For this reason, the family strongly suspects that the two individuals are the ones who broke into their home and stripped them of their hard-earned valuables.

“You telling me, all these years we live here and we never got robbed and then suddenly they (neighbours) got released and then we house get broken into?” the family reasoned.

Deepening their belief that the individuals in question were indeed behind the robbery was the fact that following the incident, they were nowhere to be seen.

“Since this thing happen, they didn’t come back around here. So you tell me, why they ain’t showing their face,” the family speculated.

In fact, these suspicions were related to the Police Officers in charge of the investigation. Subsequently, Mr Dalloo recognised the two men drinking at a bar and used

the opportunity to approach them. There, he summoned a patrol car which came by and the ranks arrested the individuals. According to the family, the men were kept in the lockup for two days but were then released on Monday.

“I don’t know yet why they release them, because I didn’t hear back from the Police, but these Police know these men are thieves. They went in jail before plus since they get release, them Police does come by often to check they house to search for stuff. So they are known thieves,” a family member alleged.

Struggling to survive

After having lost almost everything, the family noted that it was currently struggling to survive.

“Look, we barely eating food. We trying to stretch the food. The three of we eat less than a quarter of a breadfruit. We put the rest up in the fridge for later,” the man of the house lamented.

Also, he expressed sincere regret over the fact that the jewellery he made for his son on his “nine day” (a sacred Hindu observation for children when they turn nine years old) was stolen.

Mrs Dalloo noted with regret that she never even wore any of the gold jewellery that was stolen owing to her overwhelming fear that it would be stolen.

“I never wear them, not even to weddings or so, because I does scared that thief gonna thief it. Now they gone so nah best I de wear them,” she regrettably noted.

Family members said they now live in fear that they might be robbed again.

Bank of Baroda hosts financial literacy seminar

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Bank of Baroda Managing Director Amit Kumar (centre front) along with other bank representatives

he Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Inc on Wednesday hosted a financial literacy seminar at its Mon Repos Branch on the East Coast of Demerara, aimed at educating persons about various banking strategies.

The seminar underscored the importance of being financially stable by saving money, as “the more you save, the higher your interest rates would be”, a bank official said.

Managing Director Amit Kumar said persons should aspire to save some money ir-

respective of their current income, as savings over time would amount to large sums of money giving persons more capital for investments.

The Bank, a subsidiary of the Bank of Baroda – India’s International Bank, offers a full range of financial services with local branches, an international network and correspondent banks. The Bank’s core principles are centred on saving and investing. While persons may save money in their homes or via a “box”, it is safer to keep your savings in a financial institution. Savings

enable persons to purchase (invest in) financial products or valuable items with an expectation of favourable future returns. In keeping with its thrust, the Bank provides loans with modest interest rates.

The Bank of Baroda commenced its banking operation in Guyana in 1966, the same year the country gained independence. On March 27, 2012, it spent over $40 million to open its second branch in Guyana, at Mon Repos. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy. com)

he Government of Guyana, through the Health Ministry, is moving towards strengthening the fight against NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs).

This was a commitment made by the Administration in the 2015 National Budget and work has already started, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

During the 2015 National Budget presentation, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had stated that “the Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases will also be reinvigorated with a revised terms of reference and newly-ap-

pointed commissioners, who are expected to advance the national focus on addressing NCDs in a more comprehensive and equitable manner countrywide.”

The Ministry, in observance of Caribbean Wellness Day 2015, hosted a grand exhibition and health fair at the Square of the Revolution, Georgetown. The activity sought to create awareness on NCDs, along with the identification of signs and symptoms and prevention methods along with available treatment options.

Members of the public benefited from a variety of services including blood pressure, hypertension, glucose, eye, HIV and TB testing among many others.

Guyana not a major...

“Taken as a whole, they are intended to promote respect for the rule of law and human rights and to empower citizens to foster law-abiding communities consistent with long-term sustainability...,” the US document added.

Aggressive

The former Administration, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) said it had fought aggressively to curb drug-related crimes and the stigma attached to Guyana for being a drug transit country. Since the PPP/C took office in 1992 until it demitted office, it has always kept intensifying its efforts through various anti-narcotics agencies to curb this illegal trade.

Guyana Times understands that in 1994 an agreement was signed between the Government of Guyana and the Government of Colombia through which Guyanese law enforcement officers benefited from anti-narcotics training.

Then there was the establishment of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in 1995 in a bid to ‘step up’ the fight against narco-trafficking. CANU then fostered a good working partnership with drug enforcement agencies in countries in the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. It also cooperated with anti-drug agencies in neighbouring Venezuela and Brazil .

The Foreign Affairs Ministry under the PPP/C had formalised links with other countries worldwide, which was mandatory under the UN treaty to establish links in the anti-drug fight. Guyana Times was told that there was a United Kingdom liaison officer in Trinidad and Tobago, with responsibility for Guyana.

This collaboration has seen success in operations and is based on the sharing of information to control narco-trafficking.

It must also be noted that Guyana is an active participant of the Regional Drug Squad Commanders (RDSC), established in 1993, which has met annually under the former Government to look

In this regard, $81.2 million has been approved in the Health Ministry’s 2015 budget for the execution of the STEP-wise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance survey. This survey will feature the collection, analysis and dissemination of data relating to chronic disease risk factors, so that more evidence-based measures can be adopted to fight these diseases.

NCDs are of long duration and generally slow progression. The four main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks and stroke); cancers; chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.

From page 12

at recommendations to curb narco-trafficking. Operations Summer Storm and Hurricane are two of several operations in which Guyana participated.

While the PPP/C was in office, every year officers from the Guyana Police Force and CANU underwent intense training in narcotic investigations. Hundreds of officers have benefited from this training with financial support coming from the European Union, the US, the UK and Canada , as part of bilateral cooperation agreements.

Guyanese anti-narcotics officers also benefited from training organised by the Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Centre (REDTRACK) in Jamaica, and also in Trinidad and Tobago, the US and Brazil.

As a result of enhanced capacity, there is more frequent detection of drugs.

The Police’s and CANU officers’ presence at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the country’s border ports have been increased to track the illegal substance(s) arriving or leaving the country.

In April 2001, Guyana and the US signed a Shiprider Agreement to suppress illicit traffic by sea and air. The agreement sought to reduce the ability of illicit narcotics traffickers to elude maritime law enforcement agencies within and outside the territorial waters of Guyana, as well as to strengthen Guyana’s maritime law enforcement capabilities.

Guyana Times was told that on July 23, 2003, the National Assembly passed the Maritime Drug Trafficking (Suppression) Bill 2003. The Bill is to provide the legal framework for the implementation of provisions of international, hemispheric, regional and bilateral agreements, to which Guyana is a part.

“Within the provision of the Bill, law enforcement officials of a treaty State may, with the permission of Guyana, embark on a law enforcement vessel of Guyana to carry out law enforcement action. Assistance may also be given by Guyana to permit law enforcement ves-

sels of a treaty State to follow a foreign aircraft or vessel into Guyana’s territory. Meanwhile, Guyana plays an active role in the Regional Task Force on Crime and Security in which Ministers and Attorneys General with the responsibility for national security within the Caribbean hold meetings in an effort to control illegal activities,” the former Government had stated during that period.

Also, neighbouring Brazil has had law enforcement officers from Guyana work in that country to control narcotrafficking.

It was further noted that under the PPP/C Government, plans were put in place through the Fugitive Offenders Act to extradite drug offenders to treaty and non-treaty countries.

Guyana is also linked to INTERPOL, one of the world’s biggest coordinators of drug interdiction and the Narcotics Unit also plays an active role in the World Customs Organisation.

Guyana Times also understands that television cameras had been placed at all ports of entry to monitor activity at these locations.

These cameras are monitored at various locations by the Guyana Revenue Authority and other law enforcement bodies.

Cross-border and river patrols had intensified when the former Administration was in power and CANU and the Guyana Police Force were assisted by the Guyana Defence Force in this regard.

Additionally, CANU officers and the Police have become members of the “6 Frontiers”, initially six countries bordering Brazil – Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Argentina. However, with Guyana becoming a member, it is now the “7 Frontiers” in fighting narco-trafficking.

The then PPP/C Government officials had made it clear that the fight against narco-trade would receive priority attention under its regime. Before demitting office, the Administration had been continuing to seek cooperation and support from friendly countries and related counter narcotics bodies.

guyanatimesgy.com

Friday, September 18, 2015

A

s preparations get underway for the hosting of the Miss Global International Pageant in Trinidad and Tobago from September 20 to 25, Guyana’s representative, Alicia Bess is in pageant mode and is eyeing the international title.

Thus far, over 30 delegates from around the world have confirmed participation in the pageant and they will vie for the coveted crown on coronation night set for September 25 at the Convention Centre at Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.

Bess is currently undergoing rehearsals for her talent piece which is expected to blow the judges away and hopefully, land her a spot in the top 10. Her gown and swimsuit are being designed by House of Pearson and the final product will be ready by the time she is ready to leave for the twin island republic.

Maxi Williams will design her national costume. Bess is anxious to take to the stage with the intention of winning the coveted title. The event will see preliminary competitions being held on the day before coronation night.

Several fundraising ventures were held in order to raise funds for the Guyanese beauty and the committee expresses its profound gratitude to those who came on board.

The Miss Global International Pageant is a prestigious beauty pageant where delegates from around the world gather to showcase their countries of origin in the most spectacular manner. The pageant is viewed worldwide.

The aim of the pageant is to boost the tourism industry and the economy of the host country by bringing delegates, directors, patrons, family members, friends and international media from all over the world to view the various attractions and familiarise them with the rich culture of the host country. The pageant’s motto is “Uniting the World through Beauty and Tourism”.

The pageant has been successfully staged in Jamaica for the past 10 years but this year, the pageant’s Chairman,Latchu Ramchandani decided to spread its wings to other countries.

J

amaican Dancehall artiste Cardiff Butt, commonly known as General Degree, will be performing live at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown on September 26 during an event named after one of his most popular hits, “Traffic Blocking”.

Throughout the 1990s, General Degree enjoyed success with singles such as “Mother Rude Pickney”, “Granny”, “Mr Do It Nice”, “When I Hold You Tonight”, “Bodyguard”, “Papa Lover”, “Traffic Blocking”, “Boom Boom”, and “Inna Body”.

The popular artiste, who worked as a tailor before beginning his career in music in the late 1980s, was influenced by General Trees, and his stage name reflects this. His lyrics are often sexually explicit and humorous, containing double entendres such as his single “Pianist”. In 1997, he was featured on Richie Stephens’ “Come Give Me Your Love”, which reached number 61 on the UK Singles Chart.

Since 2000 he has spent much of his time on production work, under the name “Snapple Dapple”. In 2006, he launched his own “Reh Geh” clothing range, while in 2008 he was one of the judges in the “Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall” contest. Since 2005 he has held the annual ‘Manchester Fiesta’ show. His first album since 2007’s “Generally Speaking, Snapple Dapple Volume 1”, was released in 2012, with a promotional tour of Europe following.

In January 2015, he released the onedrop reggae EP “Feeling Irie”.

Pre-sold tickets for the show cost $2500 and are available at Palm Court. Those without tickets will pay $3000 at the gate. Those who wish to experience the VIP treatment will pay $5000. Doors open at 20:00h. Music will be provided by Selector Carl and Selector Diamond.

A

s Hits and Jams Entertainment continues to lead the way in the entertainment industry, the entertainment giant will be adding some flavour once again for Guyanese to enjoy. The group will be introducing their weekly Friday night lime dubbed “Friday on the Rocks,” commencing this Friday evening at the HJ Water Park, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

It is a perfect liming spot for persons of all walks of life and features spacious restaurant and bar areas that provides a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Apart from those, there will be an array of grilled meats including chicken, prawns and beef kebabs.

In addition, those who love Bar-B-Que can pick up the most delicious tasting Bar-

B-Que at the Water Park.

Also, there will be grilled fish and steak severed with sides dishes.

Patrons can also enjoy bar specials all night on selected items. The fire gets started at 15:00h and the food will be ready in time for those who are coming off from a long day’s work and just want to have some relaxation.

One little reminder, no food, drinks or sharp objected will be allowed into the park. Admission is absolutely free and entertainment will be provided by Fusion and Stereo Sonic along with the best deejays in town.

Remember, its “Friday on the Rocks” this and every Friday at Hits and Jams Water World, Providence.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 18, 2015

Kumar Sanu

Rachna Chopra

F

“

rom Jazz With Love”, billed for September 26 at the HJ Water World, Providence, East Bank Demerara, has found a new sponsor in Digicel Guyana.

On Wednesday, officials from the RED Entertainment and Digicel signed the contract at Digicel’s Head Office, Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Sponsorship Executive Louanna Abrams of Digicel said that the company is excited to sponsor

the event since Jamaican artiste; Tessanne Chin is widely supported by Digicel Group and is a brand ambassador for Digicel Jamaica.

“Digicel Guyana supports this venture by RED Entertainment, we see this as something different and we like new, fresh and exciting things. Coming on board with this event was a sure thing since one of our regional Brand Ambassadors is headlining the show”.

Tessanne Chin is the 2014 winner of “The Voice”;

a NBC television singing talent show. Since her participation in the contest, she was supported by Digicel Jamaica. She is now one of the official brand ambassadors with Digicel Jamaica.

Chelsea Fung of RED Entertainment noted that as a group, they believe in supporting local artistes and although Chin will be headlining the show, several local artistes will be a major part of the show as well.

Fung also mentioned that this will be a festival

with a difference, since art pieces will be on display as they incorporate art into the festival, with several local artists displaying their work.

During the signing on the contract, Fung expressed her appreciation to the telecoms giant for coming on board in a significant way and also for the beginning of a fruitful relationship.

Also performing at the event will be Arturo Tappin of Barbados and Guyana’s own Romeo “Mystic” Nermal.

locations to be announced later.

There will be specially arranged VIP and VVIP accommodations as requested. This is one show you do not want to miss.

F

Jumo

Charmaine

ire Fest Production, The show will feaknown for proture Guyanese armoting several tistes both, internachutney shows includtional and local, and ing Clash of the Titans is expected to be off at the Guyana National the hook. The show Stadium, Essequibo will feature and Berbice, is Guyanese once again creatBaboo, ing some buzz in T e r r y the entertainment Gajraj; J u m o industry.

This time “Rubber around, the enterWaist” tainment group Primo; will be hosting Terry G another event dubbed “Guyana Night – The big Clash”, at Mahendra Ramkellwan; the Better Hope Community Romeo “Mystic” Nermal, Centre ground. This show also called “Coolie Bhai”; will be completely different Prince JP, Sharmaine from the other shows that is Blackman, Roger Hinds, being held by the entertain- Pooran Seeraj, Bunty Singh, ment group.

Cecelia Samaroo, Rajesh

I

n another week’s time, the Guyana National Stadium is expected to be filled to capacity as Bollywood singing legend Kumar Sanu performs.

Tickets are out at several locations countrywide and the buzz has been spreading.

The singing legend is expected to arrive in Guyana at least a day before the concert that is billed for September 25. The second show is set for the Albion Community Centre ground the following day. Lovers of Bollywood Film music are urged to get their tickets at the earliest to avoid the rush.

The Bollywood Playback singer will be accompanied by Rachna Chopra who is known for her melodious voice. Both of the international artistes will be backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra and it will be the first time that a Guyanese band will accompany two renowned singers.

There will be other local

performers including the founder of Shakti String, Cecelia Samaroo and the versatile Prince JP and Pooran Seeraj, among others. This is the first time also that the Shakti Stings Orchestra will be doing an all Bollywood show.

Nevertheless, those who plan to be a part of the event will be given a treat like never before. Two years ago, the singing sensation performed at “Music of the World” and left patrons blown away. Similarly, come September 25 and 26, the legend will take you back to the golden days with his hits of yesteryear.

He will also pop several of the modern hits that are known to all. Be prepared for an evening of classic Bollywood music.

Tickets for the event cost $3500 for VIP, $20,000 for VVIP and $2000 general admission.

Children under 13 will be admitted at a cost of $1000.

Surida

Dubraj and Aaron Dasrat among others.

For the first time ever in Guyana, there will be four local bands on stage. These include Guyana’s number one Shakti Strings Orchestra, Heatwaves Band, Caribbean Hotshot Band and the Dax New Generation band. The show will also feature spectacular dance routines from the Fire Fest Dancers, Nacha Gana Dance Group, Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Group, Shalita Dance Troupe and from the most popular, Granny Ivelaw, as well as Sandella.

Emcee for the evening will be RGI’s Surida Negreadi and television personalities, WR Reaz and Joel Ganshaam. Admission to the show is $1000 at ticket

H

Lisa Punch

ere they come again with yet another exciting party concept and this time around, folks at Club 704 (Lamaha and Albert Streets, Georgetown) are ‘flipping it up’ with their “Yellow it out Affair”.

The event is set for Saturday evening and it is one that you really do not want to miss.

This event when ignited will showcase dazzling performances by Guyana’s ABC Rising Star semi-finalist, Lisa Punch who incidentally has recently been crowned Guyana’s rep-

resentative in the upcoming Miss World Pageant.

Punch will be there to interact, take photos and patrons might just get lucky enough to see some dance moves from the beauty queen. Party fans are urged to deck out in their most sizzling ‘yellow outfits’ and come out to have a rollicking time as the song diva belt out some of her pulsating singles.

That aside, patrons can mingle with and soak up the vibes as DJ Breeze, Selector Andre and DJ Puffy create a ‘musical inferno’ like never before.

The MC for this event is no other than Malcolm “Mr Wickedde” Pereira and admission to the event is $2000.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, september 18, 2015

A

s reigning Miss Guyana Universe Niketa Barker gets ready to hand over her crown, the Miss Guyana Universe Organisation is in the process of accepting applications for possible selection to compete in the pageant.

Thus far, several young ladies have contacted the organisation expressing their interest in being a part of the pageant.

Guyana Times Entertainment understands that so far two young ladies from Pomeroon and Lethem are among those who have indicated their interest.

As expected, several applications and calls were received from Georgetown residents.

Those interested in becoming a delegate in the

Reigning Miss Guyana Universe Niketa Barker

pageant must be between the ages of 18 and 25, must be single, have no previous criminal records, must not have a baby and must be academically qualified. Once selected, the applicants will be interviewed after which the short-listing process begins.

If selected as a potential finalist, applicants are eligible to win over $4 million in cash and prizes. These include three weeks in a major city ahead of the pageant, and a two-year scholarship in the field of Social Sciences or International Relations.

The deadline for applications is September 30.

Those interested in participating in the pageant can contact the organisers on 609-1998, 223-1473 or 231-4466.

T

set for November

“R

eflections”, one of Guyana’s signature fashion shows, was first held on November 2012. It was dubbed a major success attracting not only local but regional media houses.

Guyanese fashion designer Nelsion Andre Nurse will yet again captivate patrons and fashion lovers with the third chapter of his fashion odyssey called “The Genesis”, which is slated for November 21.

A casting call for the show is scheduled for a date to be an-

nounced soon for local models who will be joined by a visiting cast of models out of Suriname. The call for plus size models is open for both males and females.

“Reflections” is more than just the regular fashion show, since it is choreographed to tell a fashion story incorporating music, dance and drama; as such, patrons will be treated to performances by several artistes from the Kross Kolor family.

Some of the artistes will be launching their Christmas album of original local tracks by the very

19

versatile Melissa Roberts aka Vanilla, Jovinski, Y3K, Teron Marshall, and Mickael Sam among others.

The Sassy Revelers Dance groups and the National Dance Company are slated to perform as well.

Patrons will also be treated to collections by some of Guyana’s leading designers such as Sonia Noel, Mwanza Glenn and visiting regional designers Rosamund Davis, out of Barbados, and Keshon Hawthorne, out of Jamaica.

wenty-four-year-old Jemal Ellis, also called “J Ellis” is a professional dancer attached to the Euphoria Dance Group. He was born in Queenstown on the Essequibo Coast and is the eldest of two siblings.

After moving to Georgetown, he attended the Tucville Secondary School where he wrote the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate and was successful.

His childhood was a bit challenging since he did not have the privileges that other children in his neighbourhood had.

He was not born with the silver spoon in his mouth but with the help of his grandmother, who often encouraged him to be content with what he was blessed with; he made it through his early life. Despite the challenges, he still had a fun-filled childhood full of adventure.

He started to dance at a tender age and saw it at that time as an extracurricular activity that made him happy. With continued practice and commitment, he has managed to gained a name for himself. He is the founder and a senior member of the Euphoria Dance Group that has been around for the past three years.

While the group has several dance routines, he is more inclinedtowards Urban Hip Hop. As a great dancer, he stated that his interest for dance surrounds his mother who was a dance instructor when he was younger.

His experience so far as a dancer was tough and challenging, but mixed with a touch of excitement. One of the major challenges was balancing dance and work. Living comfortably and making ends meet in Guyana as a dance is almost impossible. To this date, he has not been able to overcome this challenge but the situation made him more determined and dedicated. He tries his best to be at his best at both work and dance.

Jemal has participated in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited’s “Feel the Beat” and was given the opportunity to be get out his comfort zone for the first time. He used that experience as an advantage to improve his techniques and dance styles. This has

taught him that there is no barrier to improvement.

Only recently, he participated in Carifesta which was held in Haiti and to him it was an overwhelming and inspiring experience. “I was able to learn about the different cultures from the other Caribbean countries.

I also met a few interesting Haitian people that had a lot to share”. This was his greatest achievement and more so, being called the best hip hop dancer.

As he moves forward in life, he sees himself owning his own dance company and more so, a clothing line. His greatest role model and inspiration has definitely been Marc Marvelous, an American actor and dancer who starred in the movie “Step Up”. For those aspiring to be a professional dancer, he urged them to stay humble, work hard and be passionate about what you do.

Apart from the dancing, he enjoys designing and sewing, surfing the net and going to the movies. This young talented dancer sees himself as down to earth and is full of confidence. He loves to indulge in outdoor activities.

His most favourite foods are fish and chips, cook-up and metem-gee and his favourite colour is green.

FRIday, september 18, 2015

FIFA puts Secretary General Vishual Singh Jerome Valcke on leave Guyana Jaguars 3-day simulation match…

W

orld football body FIFA put Secretary General Jerome Valcke on leave on Thursday just hours after an ex-footballer raised allegations Valcke may have been involved in an improper deal to resell 2014 World Cup tickets for a lucrative profit.

FIFA, which has been rocked by ongoing corruption investigations by Swiss and U.S. authorities, said in a statement it was made aware of allegations involving Valcke and has requested a formal investigation by the FIFA ethics committee.

FIFA did not specify what allegations they were referring to in the statement, which said Valcke would be “released from his duties effective immediately until further notice.”

Valcke’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a re-

Jerome Valcke

quest for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, former Israeli football player Benny Alon said at a press conference in Zurich that he agreed in 2013 to pay cash to Valcke to secure plum

World Cup tickets. He said the plan was to then sell the tickets to fans at a markup and split the proceeds with Valcke.

Alon said the deal fell through and he never paid

the football official any cash. Reuters could not independently confirm Alon’s claims.

FIFA controls the rights to sell all the World Cup tickets and has sanctioned officials in the past for reselling the coveted World Cup spots at a higher price.

Alon’s allegations come on top of ongoing probes by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Swiss Attorney General’s Office into corruption at FIFA following the indictment of 14 senior football officials and sports marketing executives in May. Earlier this week U.S. and Swiss authorities said they were expanding the investigations and more arrests were expected. Valcke faces no charges in either the U.S. or Swiss investigations of FIFA. (Reuters)

Deonarine on the move

T

he Red Force has acquired all-rounder, Narsingh Deonarine for the 2015/2016 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League season.

This was due to an agreement between the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and Leeward Islands Cricket Association to swap the experienced Deonarine for Jamaican batsman Nkrumah Bonner who was drafted by the Red Force.

Deonarine became the top pick of the WICB Player Draft when selected by the Leeward Islands Hurricanes after declining a retainer contract by the Guyana Jaguars. The Guyanese all-rounder’s wife is Trinidadian and representing the Red Force allowed him to be with his family while competing at the regional level.

“I would like to thank the Leeward Islands Cricket Association for reaching an agreement which allows Narsingh to play for the Red Force and be with his family in Trinidad.

Also I would like to commend Nkrumah on being receptive to the trade and we would like to wish him a successful season with the Hurricanes,” said Chief Executive Officer of the TTCB, Suruj Ragoonath.

to have him as part of the Red Force. I believe he will make a smooth transition into our setup and we want him to succeed with us so he can achieve his goal of returning to the West Indies team,” said Ragoonath. (Red Force Release)

completes half-century

Vishual Singh

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

kipper Vishual Singh completed a solid half-century on the final day of the threeday simulation match for the Guyana Jaguars as they continue preparation for the 2015/2016 WICB’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day tournament.

The diminutive Singh took his overnight, 44 to 58, before his dismissal. However, with the fall of Singh’s wicket, the remaining wickets fell in

quick succession.

The other overnight batsman Kemo Paul failed to add to his total, and was run out for four. Steven Jacobs (7), Kemol Savory (0), Javon Searles (0) and Paul Wintz (6), all fell cheaply.

Raymond Reifer was the most destructive bowler to finish with three wickets. Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and Christopher Barnwell claimed two wickets apiece, while Ronsford Beaton, Joshua Wade and Raj Nanan all picked up a wicket each.

Batting a second time, Assad Fudadin’s XI reached 76-2. Veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 29, and with him was Tevin Imlack on 12.

National opener Tagnarine Chanderpaul (15) and discarded West Indies middle-order batsman, Assad Fudadin (7) were the batsmen dismissed.

Gudekash Motie and Steven Jacobs were the two successful bowlers.

Meanwhile, head coach Esaun Crandon expressed his satisfaction over the simulation game. He said a similar game is planned for next week, in addition to two four-day games slated for next month.

The second edition of the PCL starts on November 6. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

S

GDA monthly tournament to attract Guyana’s best Narsingh Deonarine

The 32-year old allrounder is a seasoned professional who has played 18 Test matches for the West Indies with a top score of 82 against Australia at the WACA. He is a veteran of 126 First-Class matches with a batting average of 35.73 and bowling average of 31.51 while playing 102 List-A matches with a batting average of 25.13 and bowling average of 26.76.

“Narsingh brings a wealth of experience playing international cricket for the West Indies and First Class cricket with Guyana for the last decade. He will significantly strengthen the Red Force batting line-

up and make our bowling attack even more formidable,” said Ragoonath.

He continued, “There are a lot of young and inexperienced players in the Red Force team and we believe Narsingh will be instrumental in guiding these cricketers and ensuring they are prepared at the next level” said Ragoonath.

Deonarine has a great deal of insight into the TTCB setup and their players having represented Preysal for the past two seasons.

“Narsingh is familiar with our cricketers from playing club cricket in Trinidad and Tobago and we are very excited

T

he Guyana Darts Association (GDA) will hold its monthly tournament on Sunday at the Malteenoes Sports Club, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

Guyana’s number one darts player Sudesh Fitzgerald will be a part of the event, with the aim to come out on top. Yet again, Rosetta Hiralall will be aiming to take top honours on the distaff side.

The tournament is scheduled to start at 13:30h with the registration process commencing at 13:00h.

All registered members of the GDA are invited to participate in the event that will have prizes and other incentives up for grabs.

The male and female

Sudesh Fitzgerald

singles will be played on a league basis and the luck of the draw will be played on a knock out format.

sports

YELLOW PAGES friday, september 18, 2015

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21

West Indies won’t get it right just yet – Lara B

rian Lara, the man with the most runs ever for the West Indies, has warned fans of the regional outfit not to expect a turnaround in fortunes in the near term.

“I believe when changes are made infrastructurewise and administratively, it will take another five or ten years before we can even think about some semblance of the past in terms of success,” the 46-year-old said.

Lara statements come on the back of the West Indies Cricket Board’s decision to place the captaincy of both the One Day International and Test sides, on the young shoulders of Jason Holder.

Views on the decision have been split, with some

Brian Lara

saying Holder should be given more time before leadership is thrust on him, while others belief the young captain has what it takes to do a good job now.

“I’m very hopeful as a West Indian. I applaud the guys when they win a single game because I know the stress they’ve been under and they keep being put under, as a former player,” said Lara.

The West Indies are ranked as the number eight side among Test teams in the world, while they are slightly worse off, at number nine in One Day Internationals.

“I don’t believe they’re being given all the tools necessary to play cricket at the highest level and compete with the best in the world,” said Lara.

The West Indies will begin a 44-day tour of Sri Lanka next month. (Digicel

Sportsmax)

Liverpool unable to win against Bordeaux

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iverpool were denied their first win in four games after substitute Jussie scored in the last 10 minutes to earn Bordeaux a point in their opening Europa League Group B match.

Adam Lallana opened the scoring with a delightful 65th-minute strike after he had nutmegged defender Pablo.

But with nine minutes remaining Jussie fired high into the net after the Reds failed to clear their area.

Liverpool also went close through Philippe Coutinho and Danny Ings.

Brazilian Coutinho, who was one of the few experienced players in the starting XI, rattled the post with a fierce 20-yard drive, while Ings forced a very good low save from goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso.

The Frenchman also produced a very good stop to deny Lallana prior to the goal.

FC Sion, third in the Swiss league, lead Group B after recording a 2-1 victory over Rubin Kazan. Senegal forward Moussa Konate scored twice.

Lallana finds form in France The ex-Southampton midfielder featured for the club for the first time since picking up a thigh injury against Bournemouth last month.

He did not make much of an impact in the opening 45 minutes, but produced two outstanding moments in the match after the break.

The first was a deft turn-and-shot which Carrasso did well to turn away, but the 33-year-old stopper had no chance with the second.

It was a goal reminiscent of his Saints days. He collected a pass from Alberto Morento, nutmegged Pablo before stroking his effort past the reach of the Bordeaux keeper.

Both the goalscorer and Coutinho were the only standout performers in attack for Liverpool, with strikers Divock Origi and winger Jordon Ibe - talked about in England terms recently - failing to make an impact.

How did Liverpool’s youth fare?

The Reds XI and bench featured five relatively inexperienced players who had graduated from the academy.

In the spotlight, was Maghull-born midfielder Jordan Rossiter. The 18-yearold, who became the club’s second youngest goalscorer last season when he scored in the League Cup, was named in the starting XI and took up a position just in front of the defence.

Rossiter impressed with the ease in which he linked defence and attack. Of the 42 passes he attempted, he completed 38.

Fellow 18-year-old Pedro Chirivella joined him in the middle following an early leg injury to defender Kolo Toure.

Despite the surprise early introduction, the Spain youth international also looked comfortable against lively opponents.

Midfielder Cameron Brannagan, 19, made a second-half appearance, while teenagers Daniel Cleary and Connor Randall remained on the bench. (BBC Sport)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

friday, september 18, 2015

Stag Elite League…

“Pele will lose their cool and the match,” says GFC GM

By Avenash Ramzan

G

eneral Manager of Guyana’s oldest football club, Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Faizal Khan, is not in a mood to mince words ahead of his team’s highly anticipated clash with the country’s second longest surviving club, Pele FC, in the opening match of the first-ever Stag Elite League this afternoon.

The clash of the two Georgetown football giants at the Leonora football facility will usher in a new era of professional football in Guyana, but Khan and his camp are focused on one thing- to defeat Pele and start the League on a positive note.

“My prediction? Pele will lose their cool and the match, “a straightforward Khan said on the eve of the match.

The North Road-based GFC has over the past few months strengthened its focus on youth football, and Khan is banking on a new breed of players to catapult the club to new heights, starting with victory over Pele.

“If I were the Pele coach I would be worried as all the pressure is on Pele to beat up the so called “GFC kids” who beat Pele 2-0 last time we player them in under my watch,” Khan quipped.

He added, “Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson and his clan had their chance. It’s time for a new breed of well coached, disciplined, [and] young quality Guyana football players to be given a chance to shine.”

Khan further stated that his boys are fully aware of the enormous task ahead, and they have prepared

Faizal Khan

John Yates

with that in mind. He said the GFC lads have a point to prove this year.

“GFC this year will showcase the most exciting young football players from all over Guyana.....so be afraid of my GFC young squad, they are coming for you.

They are tired of being talked down too and have a point to prove, they are going to play exciting football and turn heads this season,” Khan promised.

The clash of Guyana’s two longest functioning football institutions will commence the Genesis phase of the eight-month League, which will be contested by the top eight teams in Guyana.

Like all the other participating clubs, word coming out of the Pele FC camp is that it is fully geared up for battle in the country’s first professional League.

“We’re very happy to be part of the League,” President of the club, John Yates, said on Wednesday.

The club’s chances of winning the League were given a massive boost recently when two key players returned after plying their trade with another city side,

Alpha United.

Guyana’s first Major League Soccer (MLS) player Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson and the experienced midfielder Travis “Zorro” Grant are now back with Pele, and their switch is a huge confidence booster for the team.

According to Yates, the club has also sought resources from outside Georgetown and the coastland to aid its cause during the League.

“There are three young players who have come from the North West and we’ve arranged for them to go to training at the Government Technical Institute in Georgetown and they will be coming to show their skills, and I hope that coach Shabazz will look at them, and maybe we will have a player from the North West on the national team shortly,” Yates explained.

The match will kick off at 18:00h, following which there will be an official opening ceremony.

The feature game between Alpha United and Slingerz FC will take place immediately after the opening ceremony. (aramzan@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Need for a basketball selection panel To Editor, First I must congratulate the Youth Guyana Basketball on its 10th Anniversary for the school tournament that concluded.

From the very first year I have continuously participated as an official or a spectator. This year I am impressed with the talent I saw from Linden, Kwakwani, New Amsterdam, Corentyne and Georgetown as a spectator and an official. The players that are shortlisted for the Inter- Guiana Games are the best and would be the future of Guyana Basketball, age ranging from ages 16 – 19.

Second, that bunch of players is going to need proper guidance for the Inter- Guiana games and the future. Now is the time that the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation has to stand strong and put the right coaches in place to train and nurture players for the future.

The GABF shortlisted four coaches and Suriname and French Guiana is mostly likely going to come with

three or more coaches. It is time the GABF put a selection panel in place to pick our national team along with the coaches. After watching the just concluded tournament, the coaches who stand out are Dave Causway from Linden and Willon Cameron from Berbice.

Dave Causway has a lot of experience at the senior level. He represented Guyana both at the junior and senior level and won at the Inter- Guiana games as a player coach in Suriname and Trinidad as well as recently participating for Guyana as part of the senior team.

While I am not taking away anything away from the two coaches I named, I believe Causway used his experience to win two male titles at the just concluded school tournament.

We can’t just put two school coaches in an international arena. My choice of a selection panel along with the coaches should be Lugard Mohan, former national Captain, Herbert Adams, former nation-

al player, Michael Singh, GABF VP of Operations, and Cecil Chin, Technical Director of GABF, along with the coaches, in order to select the best team.

After the Inter- Guiana games with the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and corporate sponsors, we should incorporate some other young players along with the squad and with the help of the coaches and the selection panel, to prepare them for future International tournaments.

This proposal if considered will secure a win for this year’s Inter- Guiana games basketball tournament and future international tournaments.

Regarding female basketball, much work needs to be done and the two coaches selected, Ms Gordon and Ms Debbie, will most likely need some help in preparation. Guyana has the man power to win so let’s cooperate in the best interest of our country.

Yours in sport, Dennis Clarke

Cricketers deserve the truth on the East Coast Cricket Board

Dear Editor, While I cannot deem myself a cricket enthusiast, I do read the sports news.

I saw in today’s edition of the Kaieteur News that the East Coast Cricket Board is informing the public that it is also known as the East Coast Demerara Cricket Association. Is this so? Isn't the East Coast Board being less than honest? I have learnt that the East Coast Demerara

Cricket Association is an independent body born of the right to associate guaranteed under Guyana's Constitution and that this Association has about 16 Clubs playing cricket on the East Coast Demerara under its umbrella. NDCs and other authorities controlling cricket grounds on the East Coast should ask questions of the East Coast Board. Is the East Coast Board really a function-

ing entity? Incidentally, isn't the East Coast Board struck off strength from the Demerara Board? I seem to recall a Notice to this effect in the print media a few months ago.

Editor, I think cricketers on the East Coast deserve the truth about the East Coast Board.

Sincerely, Charles Selman

Stag Elite League set for thrilling...

George confirms participation in Guyana Trail Marathon and 10k event

O

lympian Winston George has confirmed his participation in the Guyana Trail Marathon and 10k event set for November in Santa Mission.

George, coming off a national recordbreaking run at the recently concluded World Championships in Beijing, China, confirmed the news with Guyana Times Sport after a Facebook post by the Guyana Trail Marathon page went viral on social media.

“I really was talking to one of my friends from the US embassy and I just decided to sign up,” George told Guyana Times Sport.

However, George noted that he has no specific aim other than the event helping with his offseason development as a part of the build up the 2016 Olympic season.

“It will help me in my offseason fitness,

Winston George

I just wanted to participate in it and be a part of the event,” George noted. (Treiston Joseph) (josepht@guyanatimesgy.com)

from back page

Both will also aim to influence the outcome of their first match back with their Pele team in order to start their campaign on the right foot.

The second game of the evening will feature two titans of Guyana’s football when Slingerz and Alpha meet.

The heated rivalry will continue under the bright lights of the Track and Field Centre as both teams aim to start their campaign off positively.

With Slingerz gaining their first win over Alpha United at the final of the 2015 Kashif and Shanghai Tournament, memories will still be fresh in the minds of both teams, as one will aim to continue their winning ways while the other will be looking to exact some measure of revenge.

Slingerz FC will need

Dwight Peters

the likes of Anthony “Awo” Abrams, Julian Wade and Devon Millington to fire if they are to top an Alpha United team boasting the likes of Dwight Peters, Daniel Wilson and Andrew Murray Jr. The league will be run on

Gregory “Jackie Richardson

Chan”

a points system with the winner receiving three points while a draw will amount in a point each for the teams involved in the drawn match.

The league is Guyana’s most lucrative as well as the first to have an elite status. (josepht@guyanatimesgy.com)

BCB slams GCB for no Inter-county or trial matches – says decision is unfair to finch players

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has strongly condemned the decision taken by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to not have the usual inter-county tournaments or trial matches held in order to select the senior Guyana team for the second edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League four-day tournament.

The BCB feels that the decision by the local governing body is unfair to the finch players, who have not earned professional or academy contracts with Cricket Guyana Inc. “While the BCB is happy that the GCB has plans to introduce a professional league with eight teams, the BCB is disappointed that there will no longer be inter-county tournaments or trial matches,” an official from the BCB said.

The official added, “This is disheartening for all young and upcoming cricketers, knowing that if they impressed at the inter-county or trail matches, they will have an opportunity to represent their country at the senior level”.

Further, the BCB official pointed out that with the advent of the new system, there is no motivation and incentive for the finch players, who are not con-

Colin Stuart

tracted, and as a result, the lack of interest of cricket will continue to decline.

“Ultimately, this will contribute to the further decline of West Indies cricket with no light at the end of the tunnel for the game in the Caribbean,” the official concluded.

Confirmation

On Thursday, former West Indies fast bowler and Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Territorial Development Officer (TDO), Colin Stuart confirmed to Guyana Times Sport that there will be no inter-county tournaments or trial matches this year, adding that the local governing body is currently looking at a professional structure throughout the country, where an eightteam professional league

will be played.

This, according to Stuart, will give the selection panel the opportunity to look at additional players outside the pool of the 15 contracted players, as well as the 12 players who were awarded Academy contracts.

“Sponsorship is our main issue right now; we are looking for sponsorship, once we can get that (sponsorship) the league will be up and running.

At least we are hoping for a year end start,” Stuart said.

The 41-year-old who took 30 wickets from six Tests, pointed out that the Guyana squad for the first half of the PCL tournament will come from those players who are currently in training, since it will be difficult to pick players outside of those not in training.

“We plan to have two of three practice games with those players in training so the senior squad at least for the first half of the PCL tournament will come from those players in training.

“It will be difficult to pick players outside of those in training with no trials or inter-county cricket, but once the league system is up and running it will be a level playing field for all,” Stuart concluded.

The second edition of the PCL starts on November 6.

BCB Berbice River Bridge 50-Over Cricket…

Albion through to final

A

lbion whipped Police by seven wickets in their semi-final encounter played at the picturesque Cumberland Cricket ground in East Canje, Berbice recently.

After winning the toss, the lawmen chose to take first strike and enjoyed a good start with openers Norwayne Fredericks and Brentnol Wolford added 40 for the first wicket.

However, with the dismissal of Woolford (11) to left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, Police folded for 88 off 27 overs, losing their last nine wickets for just 48 runs.

Motie, the former West Indies youth player led the destruction with 5-19 off his 10 overs. He was supported by Sri Lanka bound West Indies legspinner Devendra Bishoo with 4-25.

23 Guyana Aviation Cup cricket competition on today T guyanatimesGY.com

FRIday, september 18, 2015

Devendra Bishoo

Gudakesh Motie

In reply, Albion stuttered a bit, losing Adrian Sukhwa, Balchand Baldeo and National wicketkeeper batsman Anthony Bramble cheaply.

But promising middle-order batsman David Latchaya joined forces with Bishoo and together took their team

home comfortably at 91-3.

Bishoo showed off his batting skill with an unbeaten 36 and Latchaya provided solid support with 24 not out.

The final is slated for Port Mourant on Sunday pending the outcome of a protest lodged by Port Mourant Cricket Club.

he operators at the Ogle International Airport in collaboration with Banks DIH Ltd will be holding a men’s tape ball competition today at Thirst Park, Greater Georgetown, from 18:00h.

The operators at Ogle Airport comprise the Correia Group of Companies, Air Services Limited, Air Traffic Control and Ogle Airport Inc. These teams, along with a guest team from Banks DIH Ltd will be vying for a trophy in the seven-over per side competition.

The organisers have the utmost intention of expanding the tournament, which is set to be one of a kind in the aviation industry.

The Correia Group of Companies will begin proceedings in the opening match against Banks DIH guest team, while Air Services Limited will take on the Air Traffic Control in the second game. On completion of the two games, another draw will be done, which will decide the remaining two games.

The trophies that will be presented are

Best Batsman, sponsored by Air Services Limited; Best Bowler, sponsored by Banks DIH; First Runner-up sponsored by Air Traffic Control; Third Runner-up sponsored

by Ogle Airport lnc and the championship trophy will be sponsored by Correia Group of Companies. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy. com)

Mobile Wizards 10/10 set for this month end

T

he West Demerara district will be treated to a Mobile Wizards 10/10 softball competition beginning on the September 27.

The tournament which is said to be a collaborative effort between West Demerara Softball body and the Guyana Softball League, will be a round-robin competition and will feature grounds from Leonora, West Coast Demerara to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

West Bank and West Coast teams will clash as they will be two zones from both districts. Female teams are also urged to take full advantage of the tournament.

The competition which has incentives totalling some $100,000 in cash and prizes, will also be the decider to determine which team represents the West Demerara Zone in the Guyana Softball League at the zonal championships.

The Mobile Wizards company will be showcasing their line of phones and services to the general public and persons can expect giveaways.

West Demerara residents are asked to come out and support the various matches in their respective areas.

The event is a family oriented one and Police presence is

expected.

Teams wishing to register for the competition should contact Selena Azeez on telephone numbers 646-0568 and 268-2458; Amiel Azeez on telephone number 6290844; Asif Azeez on telephone number 657-2220; Ravendra Ramgobin on telephone numbers 276-1381 and 6932429; and Mobile Wizards (Parika) on telephone numbers 260-4967 and 655-0767.

Completed registration forms can be submitted to the abovementioned persons and also at Wolf’s Furniture store at Leonora, West Coast Demerara. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

friday, september 18, 2015

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

Preparation going well, says Crandon ahead of PCL – pleased with first simulation game

By Rajiv Bisnauth

H

ead coach of the Guyana senior cricket team Esaun Crandon, believes preparations ahead of the second edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League’s (PCL), Regional four-day tournament are

Vishual Singh gathered runs on the on-side during the final day of the three-day simulation game at the GCC ground

Esaun Crandon

progressing well.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport at the conclusion of the first simulation game at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, the former first-class fast bowler said he is satisfied with progress made so far.

He pointed out that much more needs to be done in the coming weeks to en-

sure the players reach peak condition, but having said that, Crandon acknowledged that he has already seen signs of improvement from the players.

“Yes, definitely things have been going well and I’m satisfied with the progress we have made so far,” Crandon said. He added “Preparation is coming along quite well for us. We have utilised three days for a simulation game which was very competitive.

Obviously we are looking at application, how the batters apply themselves in the crease and spending time in the crease, but “awareness” is an important aspect we are also looking at,” Crandon outlined.

Further, Crandon pointed out that the coaching staff is also monitoring the bowling department, especially the faster bowlers.

“Obviously the bowlers, especially the quick’s, we

are looking at them closely, we want them to construct proper overs and at the same time try to work batters out,” the former Guyana fast bowler opined.

Crandon is also keen on intensifying the basics, adding that once the players cultivate the right attitude and habits, it will be easier at competition time.

Further, in ensuring there is “camaraderie” among the players, the players will have anoth-

er simulation game next week, in addition to two four-day games next month in order to get the players to understand their roles and functions.

The Guyana Jaguars, winners of the first edition of the PCL in 2014/2015, won eight of the 10 matches. They lost and drew one each to accumulate a whopping 148 points, 31 more than second place Barbados Pride on 117.

The Windward Islands

Volcanoes finished third on 109 points, followed

by Jamaica (75), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (65) and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (54).

As was the case during the first edition, the Regional four-day will be played on a home and away basis over 10 rounds from November 6.

Each team will play 10 matches, five at home and five away. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

Stag Elite League set for thrilling start tonight action when Pele FC meets the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), while Alpha United will take on Slingerz FC. With action set to start at 18:00h under lights, Guyana’s own football season is expected to kick off with a bang.

GFC and Pele will battle first in a game that can be deemed as a homecoming for Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson and Travis “Zorro” Grant; both of whom played with Alpha United for the past year.

By Treiston Joseph

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will kick off its Stag sponsored Elite League tonight, with two thrilling games

The Slingerz trio of Anthony “Awo” Abrams, Julian Wade and Devon Millington

that will set the tone for the League at the National

Track and Field Centre ground, Leonora, West Bank

Demerara.

A first of its kind, the

Stag Elite League will have a thrilling opening night of

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