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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2968 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

September 4, 2016

Stop pestering public, asking for bribes – Top Cop warns

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Cash- P9 strapped GuySuCo to get $3B bailout

Page 3

... urges ranks to have better relations with media

P14 DDL declares $800M profit in 6 months

70-year-old swims across Berbice River Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine (inset) addressing ranks of the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department and Anti-crime Patrols at the Officer’s Mess Annex, Eve Leary on Saturday during a Police seminar (Dexter Ceres photo)

Police raid Charlotte Street strip clubs – 16 arrested for Trafficking In Persons

Gunmen shoot, rob Essequibo barber Page 2

Page 7

SOCU protocols threaten Guyana’s FATF standing Page 2

… AG’s boastful prediction, an exhibition of misplaced – suspects held with booty, weapon optimism – Nandlall Page 18

SOCU should remain under Police – Ramjattan

− plans Essequibo River swim tomorrow P21

P2 Jagdeo concerned Govt will eventually Balkanise Guyana

Orphan among scholarship awardees to study overseas P13

2 NEWS

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Jagdeo concerned that Govt will eventually Balkanise Guyana

Attorney Anil Nandlall

B

esides bringing economic hardship to a significant portion of the population, the implementation of the Linden road tolls could trigger a dangerous movement that has the potential to disintegrate the entire country.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who explained that Guyana could eventually become Balkanised if Government continues to implement policies that are tantamount to discriminatory practices, which bear the power to divide the nation. In this regard, he is urging the A Partnership for National Unity/

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition Administration to be pragmatic and reconsider its approval of the road tolls, as well as to reconsider its decision to implement the regional flags initiative – another measure perceived to encourage individualism and has the potential to divide the country.

“I am very concerned about Linden and what’s happening with the tolls… we are in a process of Balkanising Guyana.

Because what if Corriverton now, which has a main road – you have to pass Corriverton to go into Suriname – what if Corriverton is to say now that vehicles passing through there

will now have to pay a toll, the Government can’t say no because it has allowed Linden to do it.” “What if another municipality does it? Then we could have what I was always worried about when they have all these different flags, its disintegration of this county. And it is very, very dangerous and I hope that the Government will reconsider it,” he explained, during a recent news conference at the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Headquarters, Freedom House on Robb Street.

Null and void Furthermore, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall asserted that the by-laws which impose the toll charges “are discriminatory and inconsistent with Article 149 and therefore, are null and void by virtue of Article 8 of the Constitution”.

He explained that Article 149 of the Constitution provides that ““no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect”; and that “no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of

the functions of any public office or any public authority.”

Nandlall highlighted also that Article 8 of the Constitution provides that, “this Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana and, if any other law is inconsistent with it, that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void”.

Against this backdrop, the politician expressed utter bewilderment that such “elementary legal mistakes” would survive the scrutiny of a Cabinet comprising of more than four lawyers. “I have advised the Leader of the Opposition to hire a full-time lawyer for his office.

A successful lawsuit can be filed against this Government every week,” he exclaimed.

cle to the toll collector in local currency.

The Council, subject to the approval of the Minister, was vested with the powers to amend the schedule to add or remove categories of vehicles to be included. The tolls to be charged under the by-laws will not exclude persons living in Linden, though there is accommodation.

The gazetted by-laws state that the affected vehicles that are registered in the name of a person living in Linden shall pay a toll determined

have been created under the by-laws for breach of the payment of tolls and also makes provision for the detention of the vehicle of a delinquent road user.

According to the by-laws, in addition to the penalties imposed for refusing to pay, “the toll collector, in the event that a toll demanded is not honoured, may impound the vehicle and release the vehicle after the sum has been paid in full.”

Additionally, the toll collector or the designated officer may release information to the

Tolls Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan approved the payment of 18 different categories of tolls to be paid to the Linden Town Council (LTC) for the use of its roads.

The by-laws state that every vehicle specified in the schedule shall stop at a paying point at the toll station and the owner or person in charge of the vehicle shall pay in the full corresponding toll for the vehiThe new tolls for Linden roads

by the Council twice a year in January and July. Vehicles which had been identified to attract a toll, but are transporting essential supplies for the Government, shall be exempted by the Council from the payment of each toll upon notification and certification by the Regional Democratic Council of the vehicle to the Council.

Meanwhile, offences for the refusal of the payment of tolls

Council or Town Constabulary on any vehicle in respect of number plate, colour, make, type or model, or in respect of any person passing through the toll station and the information shall be confidential, according to the by-laws.

Reports indicate that the municipality will cash in on approximately $3 million monthly from the payment of these tolls.

Gunmen shoot, rob Essequibo barber – suspects held with booty, weapon

A

popular barber from Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) was shot and robbed by armed gunmen, who pounced on him as he was locking the gate to his Henrietta Village premises early Saturday morning.

Troy Hercules, popularly known as “Akee”, is battling for his life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Suddie Public Hospital. The father of two was shot four times.

Reports are the 42-year-old man was returning home from a birthday celebration at about 03:00h when he was attacked.

The gunmen escaped with $3.5 million worth in jewellery.

Guyana Times was told that while doctors at the Suddie Hospital have managed to remove the bullets from his chest and legs, the man’s condition is listed as critical.

Speaking with this newspaper, Hercules’ mother, Enid Noble, said she heard the commotion and heard her son crying out for help. Noble added that she rushed to her son’s aid and saw him lying in a pool of blood.

“My son call fuh me, he said mommy take me hospital, there were gunshot wounds

about his body, I was so speechless, I called for help and we immediately rushed him to the Suddie Public Hospital,” Noble related.

The distressed mother recalled hearing an explosion prior to her son’s screams for help.

She said after discovering that her son was shot, she too began screaming for help and neighbours rushed out and assisted her. Hercules’ reputed wife, Sheoma Critchlow, said that one of his lungs was damaged as a bullet penetrated it.

Meanwhile, swift actions by the Police led to the arrest of two suspects. Reports are one of the suspects was nabbed as he attempted to board a ferry at Supenaam to leave the region. Based on information received, Police contacted their counterparts at Parika and the other suspect was nabbed while existing a speedboat which had just arrived from the Essequibo Coast.

A quantity of jewellery, suspected to be Hercules’ and a .32 pistol with 11 matching rounds were discovered in the suspect’s possession. Police from G Division (Essequibo CoastIslands) are continuing their investigations. (Indrawattie Natram)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: 05:30h-07:00h and Monday, September 5 – 05:00h-06:30h.

Stop pestering public, asking for bribes − Top Cop warns – urges ranks to have better relations with media

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: 05:35h-07:05h and Monday, September 5 – 06:10h-07:470h.

By Vahnu Manickchand

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout most of the day, while heavy showers can be expected in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 25 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East South-easterly between 2.23 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 06:02h and 18:16h reaching maximum heights of 2.69 metres and 2.66 metres respectively.

R

anks of the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department and Anti-crime Patrols got a rude awakening on Saturday from Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine as he addressed the no-nonsensical approach the force has adopted in treating with corrupt practices.

Speaking to a gathering of mainly junior officers at the Officer’s Mess Annex, Eve Leary, Ramnarine pointed out that a true Police officer is one who enjoys his work, interacts with the public, and understands his law enforcement role as

claimed.

According to Ramnarine, there have been numerous reports of ranks acting in total disregard of Police policies. Some of these reports, he noted, are made to the President and Government Ministers by persons in the diaspora who have fallen victim to Police corruption.

Stop doing it

The acting Police Commissioner posited that such behaviour will no longer be condoned. It is against this backdrop that the Force’s hierarchy decided to host the session on Saturday to address the junior ranks. Ramnarine warned the ranks gathered

issue of salary has been an age-old one and will continue to be so.

“When you joined (the Force) you knew what the salary of a police officer is.

So we are not going to accept that you come now by illegitimate ways, illegal ways or unprofessional actions and believe that you are now in a position to get rich quick,” he remarked.

Ramnarine continued: “So I called you here to spell it out to you… (behaviour on the road) has reached a level where it’s becoming a deep concern and an embarrassment… I’m telling you to desist from it, have pride and dignity in what you do.”

During his hour-long

Low Tide: 11:53h reaching a minimum height of 0.57 metre.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

officers fighting at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in front of passengers, an individual in the Police training school injuring a colleague with a cutlass and even a female supervisor who had to be transferred because of “ugly” reports against her, were also highlighted by Ramnarine.

Wasting taxpayers’ money

A section of the gathering at the Police Mess Annex on Saturday

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well as social service.

He reminded that the role of a Police officer is to serve but not serve at a price; hence, he finds it ridiculous and embarrassing that corruption is widespread among junior ranks.

“You are one of the important elements of our daily interface with the public – anti-crime patrol ranks and traffic ranks. It’s becoming a problem; you are demanding from people, you are shamelessly asking them to leave something… You have no pride and dignity in the way you do things, you have no shame! You believe this uniform is given to you to enrich yourselves,” he ex-

that the Force will not accept anything less from ranks hereafter.

“You need to understand that our actions, from a public security perspective, are all part and parcel of the actions that are akin to a country’s image being pretty acceptable from a regional and international perspective. People don’t want to come to this country for vacation and be molested…

Stop doing it! Look deep inside yourself,” he stated.

The acting Top Cop went on to rubbish justification of such corrupt practices, particularly as it relates to claims of insufficient salaries. He explained that the

presentation, the acting Top Cop also highlighted over a dozen recent cases where ranks where caught in corrupt acts or breaching policies, and have since been dismissed.

He mentioned a case where ranks recovered stolen properties and decided to keep them for themselves, another case where an intoxicated officer responded to a domestic violence report and shot the suspect, yet another where an off-duty rank was speeding on the road in his private vehicle when he collided with a Police vehicle, badly damaging it.

Instances of Immigration

He further explained that the Police Force is not going to waste taxpayers’ money to pay officers halfsalaries when they are interdicted for misdemeanours; instead they will be sent packing.

On the other hand, the acting Top Cop went on to outline that crime prevention is not the sole province of a Police Force, as such it is imperative that they establish healthy, working relationships with those they serve in various aspects and facets of social life: “We have to understand that the police are the public and the public are the police, and so there is need for the establishment and maintenance of a healthy, working, respectful relationship.” TURN TO PAGE 7

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

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Editorial

Amerindian Heritage Month

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or this year's Amerindian Heritage Month", the theme selected is "Our Culture, Earth’s future: Save the Environment, Live the Indigenous Way” is very timely. It connects "our" way of life (our "culture") with the need to save our environment and Earth by asserting that this can be achieved by living the "Indigenous way".

There are several elements that need to be highlighted however, one of them being confining our gaze to the connection between ways of life and the environment and not "culture" writ large - as one insensitive soul presumed and unleashed a firestorm.

That our Indigenous Peoples lived in harmony with their environment is illustrated rather simply by pointing out that even though the Caribbean Islands were densely inhabited, when Columbus and later Europeans stumbled over them, they described the terrain in rather Edenic terms.

Christopher Columbus’s letters and journals, for instance, emphasised the climate, presence of fresh water, and lush, green vegetation of the Caribbean in terms that recall biblical descriptions of paradise.

Sir Francis Drake’s account of his voyage to the West Indies describes Santo Domingo as “having in it many sorts of goodly and very pleasant fruites, as the Orenge trees and other, being set orderly in walkes of great length together. Insomuch as the whole Island being some two or three miles about, is cast into grounds of gardening and orchards”.

This meant that the cultivation of the crops to sustain the population and the construction of shelters to house them were accomplished in a way that did not demand wholesale destruction of the environment. It was those same Europeans who introduced "plantations" for agricultural products that led to the razing of millions of acres of forests and woods and where in Haiti, the lack of vegetation to hold the soil together created mudslides and barren hills.

It was not too long ago and continuing into the present right across in Brazil that Indigenous Peoples had to fight pitched battles to save their traditional lands - not just the forests but the savannahs of their "Cerrado" - from being overrun by "agricultural" progress.

Analogously, there is much talk in governmental circles about "opening up" the Rupununi Savannahs for "mega farms", which is the new euphemism for "plantations". Is this au fait with the "Indigenous Way" to save our environment? Remember this is not just a mechanistic check to verify whether "environmental standards" are maintained but whether there is a harmonious balance struck between the imperatives of "modernity" and the worldview of Traditional Indigenous culture.

And this raises the question of the relationship between the original practices of the Indigenous Peoples and those inculcated after hundreds of years of being literally forced to "modernise".

Take the drive to expand "educational" opportunities to the Indigenous Peoples in their traditional lands - such as with the infamously incomplete $1 billion secondary school at Kato. Were the traditional practices of the Indigenous Peoples incorporated into their curriculum? Are the dozens of their brightest students who are brought to the coast to be "educated" exposed to those practices?

Another issue that arises is the relationship between Indigenous practices and the new holy grail of "sustainability" in development strategies. Phrases such as "the greening of Guyana" cannot be reflexively assumed as compatible with either sustainable or Indigenous. As the UN publication, "State of Indigenous Peoples" declare: "The biggest challenge faced by indigenous peoples and communities in relation to sustainable development is to ensure territorial security, legal recognition of ownership and control over customary land and resources, and the sustainable utilisation of lands and other renewable resources for the cultural, economic and physical health and well-being of indigenous peoples.

Indigenous peoples’ economies now represent the greatest continuity with pre-industrial modes of production and traditional livelihoods in the contemporary world. These economies, representing sustained interaction and adaptation with particular locations and ecosystems, are among the longest-standing and most proven examples of “sustainable development” in the 21st Century."

All Guyana should cherish this heritage.

On Saturday afternoon, Minister of State Joseph Harmon visited his village of birth, where he celebrated with residents the 50 years Phoenix Park, West Coast Demerara has been in existence. Minister Harmon (fifth from left), after making a donation of radios to some of the older members of the community, shared a light photo moment

Focus on the 80 percenters or public servants working for less than $100,000 per month Dear Editor, I join the debate on the increase in salaries for public servants, with a sense of patriotism − called the last refuge of a scoundrel

by Samuel Johnson. I also feel obliged - which really is a code word for making a choice – to write as a conscientious citizen of Guyana on salaries for public servant.

Minister Winston Jordan in his maiden budget speech delivered in 2015, as extracted from an article published in another section of the media dated August 11, 2015 stated: “Mr. Speaker, I wish to announce an increase in the minimum basic salary of each public servant to $50,000, effective July 1, 2015. This translates to a 26.4 percent increase for those still earning the old minimum wage of $39,540 and 17.1 percent for over 4,000 public servants earning the current minimum wage of $42,703.”

“Since the bulk of the public servants earn $100,000 and below, these are substantial increases, more than was promised to these categories of workers.

These increases are payable to workers who were employed on or before January 1, 2015,” With approximately 80 per cent or 25,000 public servants earning below $100,000 out of the estimated 31,250 public servants in Guyana, it is my belief that the Coalition Government substantively delivered to the 80 per centres or pub-

lic servants working for less than $100,000 per month, a fulfilment of the campaign promise of 20 per cent increase to public servants.

The table below extracted from the Stabroek News article referenced above; illustrates that the 80 per centres on average received at least a minimum of 20% increase, with effect from July 1, 2015.

The above development

News, on Sunday, August 28, 2016; Tacuma Ogunseye, the fair, fearless and well informed writer and WPA member; a Guyanese who in my opinion looks at the big picture, wrote: “It is my considered opinion that an increase of 20 to 25 percent for low income workers was the least the government could have offered, given all the known challenges it faces.

Such an offer even though

should not be ignored as salary increases are being negotiated for public servants in 2016. However, what is needed in the 2016 salary negotiations are deliberations with a biased focus on those public servants earning below $100,000 per month. It is disingenuous to conflate the 10 per cent currently being offered to the 20 per cent campaign promise that has to a great extent been delivered on and implemented by President Granger’s administration in 2015.

From the statements in his letters to the Editors of Stabroek News and Kaieteur

of Public Servants who earn below $100,000 per month, with Guyana having an income tax threshold equivalent to the minimum wage level of $50,000 per month, essentially results in 30 per cent of the increase being returned to the Treasury - as illustrated in table 2.

We should always strive to do better than our predecessors, not for the sake of casting them in a bad light, but to improve upon what exists and to be true to human nature.

I close with a quote from WEB Du Bois, used by Finance Minister Winston DaCosta Jordan at the ending of his budget speech on August 10, 2015: “Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit

it would have disappointed some workers and their leadership, would have resulted in the broad masses of workers willingly accepting the compromise offer and doing so with dignity.”

I concur with Ogunseye and take this opportunity to point out that a 25 per cent increase for the 80 per cent

ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.”

Dear Editor, Guyana is experiencing a massive shortage of insulin, a vital hormone critically necessary for diabetic patients. Such a shortage is already forcing diabetics onto death row. In the absence of insulin, diabetics face life

threatening consequences, including lapsing into a coma.

The Survival rate of people with diabetic coma stands only at 50%. The severity of this crisis is unarguable.

The number of diabetics that have been rushed to hospital emergency rooms within

recent weeks has spiked enormously due to this shortage.

In addition, the harsh economic situation facing this country forces many diabetics to remain at home and die.

This is inhumane.

The Ministry of Health needs to urgently address this

desperate situation and provide an explanation to the nation. Absolutely no one should ever be left to die because Government fails to provide.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

Failure of Govt to provide Sincerely, Annie Baliram

guyana-times.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

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

Experience with GPF

Dear Editor, It should not be a matter for debate that ordinary, unconnected and law-abiding citizens of this country experience nightmares at the hands of many in the Guyana Police Force. My position is justified based on the number of cases of shakedowns in the media and from what is heard around the country.

And, notwithstanding that so many Police ranks have been taken before the court and/or have been fired from the Force, many Policemen/ women continue to press persons for a “raise”, and even more frontally, “I gotta put you pun bail, so see wha’ yuh can do”. Or, if you are a complainant, your day is done at the Station because of the way the Police go about their work. That a raise ‘can speed up things’ is an unmistakable message.

I travel around this country because of the nature of

my job. I also do most of my grocery shopping in Enmore, my neighbouring village. Of recent, two matters were brought to my attention while I was shopping.

In the first one, a resident had his bicycle stolen by a known thief. The Police arrested the suspect after much begging by the complainant. The suspect confessed to stealing the bicycle. The complainant claims that he had already gone to the Enmore Police Station on more than five occasions and each time he spent more than two hours being questioned.

In the initial stages the complainant was told to get a taxi and go find the suspect and bring him in. That matter is still pending, awaiting a witness to go to the station to give a statement.

What is the Police job?

Not to do the investigation and get statements?

Secondly, a more recent

matter is before the Enmore Police involving another known thief, this time of fruits and cash from a house.

The thief was arrested by the complainant and some relatives and taken to the Enmore Police Station.

In the presence of Police at the Station and in the Station, the suspect threatened to kill the persons who effected the arrest. The complainant claims to feeling pressured by the Police by the long hours being kept at the station and one of the arresting persons being put on bail.

At this time when a group of residents are planning to picket the Enmore Police Station and inviting the Media, it’s not a bad idea to bring focus on the growing number of recalcitrants in the Police Force!

Sincerely, Charles Selman

Missing heat machine and dental equipment Dear Editor, On January 15, 2016 in another section of the media one of my letters was published under the caption “The story of a missing Heat Machine.”

This equipment went missing about two months ago, before a report was made to the police, also missing was a piece of dental equipment from the Anna Regina Health Centre, and again no report was made. I am not sure if any disciplinary action was taken against these persons or person whose responsibility it was to report this incident to the police as soon as this discovery was made because from all appearances, it would have been a clear case of break and enter and larceny or simple larceny and, failing to report demonstrates clearly how carefree and unconcerned the administration

of that institutions is.

Quite recently I received the good news from a usually reliable source that the heat machine in question is back and is servicing the people well, of course that is the purpose we the tax payers bought it for.

I was later told this vital piece of equipment was in the possession of a Cuban doctor that left, but same was not handed over to the authorities. Well if this is so, then that situation can only be described as gross mismanagement. I am very much concerned when these things happen and I have every right to be so, you see I am in that large group of persons who find it very difficult to travel to Georgetown to have a medical examination done at a private hospital when it can be done at

Suddie Public Hospital. I was taught not to envy people, because there would always be lesser and greater persons than myself. There would always be persons who can go to North America and Europe for minor ailments such as fever and diarrhoea and to have their dentures redone.

This letter in written not only on behalf of myself and the people of Region Two but all across the country, where there is gross mismanagement at our health institutions. The story of the missing heat machine and dental equipment needs to be investigated and the report made public, and those who are found to be negligent should face the consequences of their actions or inactions.

Sincerely, Archie Cordis

Tain Campus needs relatively equal attention in renaissance

Dear Editor, A worrying feature of the VC’s inaugural edition of Renaissance newsletter is that virtually nothing is said about the Berbice campus other than the name -- which reflects a continued marginalisation of this campus as happened under the PPP/C. Is the University of Guyana Georgetown centric?

There needs to be an explanation from the VC and staff for this omission. As one NYbased scholar, on reflection on the newsletter asks: “Is there a grand design to promote an Afro-centric view at UG and to further marginalise Indians and other ethnic groups? Is that why Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith was hired at UG?” It is noted that there is a large picture of the Turkeyen campus. But a photo of Tain was virtually non-existent other than by a passing reference to its name. Why was there no promotion of the university inclusive of Tain? Why was the Director of Tain Campus not in the Renaissance? Is Tain a stepchild as it was under the PPP/C? It should be noted that it was Indian rights advocates like Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, Rhyaan Shah, and others who championed

the setting up of the Tain campus much to the extreme opposition of the PPP leadership. PPP was pressured to establish the campus on the Corentyne and a branch in Anna Regina. It was suggested to the PPP that Tain be an autonomous campus running its own affairs. But PPP/C Government was opposed to the idea fearing a lack of control over it.

The PPP always feared an educated polity.

In fact, PPP was opposed to a Berbice campus from the very outset the idea was proposed but caved in when the party feared loss of political support among Berbicians who were flocking to ROAR and independent groups and individuals.

Tain Directors, Profs Parasram Thakur and Daizal Samad were not empowered to transform Tain into a model campus. PPP was not supportive of plans to grant some autonomy in decision making and hiring.

Obstacles to success were placed in the path by the Turkeyen-controlled board causing the Tain directors to leave in frustration. The PPP was not very supportive of Tain and that has now continued under the coalition and by extension the new VC appointed by the coalition.

The VC should encourage and support a publication at Tain that addresses issues pertaining to that campus since Tain is not in the VC’s focus. Prof Griffith should encourage the coalition government to grant autonomy to Tain since the PPP has failed the rural campus, and he should also suggest a campus in Essequibo.

As someone who has been involved in several publications since the 1970s, including student newsletters at CCNY and CUNY Grad School and as a faculty in secondary school, much work needs to be done in making the newsletter a true reflection of Renaissance to bring people together.

Unless there is ethnic balance and equity in Renaissance, then UG will not make much progress regardless of the amount of funds expended. This inaugural issue of Renaissance, unfortunately, will lead to more ethnic alienation and disharmony if not corrected. The VC, myself and other academics should use our influence and publications to help build a harmonious society free of bias.

And the VC can start with a bias free newsletter.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Questions for the city engineer Dear Editor, With reference to the issue of updating laws and regulations to allow for the construction of highrise buildings in Guyana, would a geological engineer be able to answer

the following questions: Is Georgetown’s landscape capable of supporting highrise buildings?

Would the clay soil be capable of supporting such structures without the occurrence of subsidence?

Is it likely that the restrictions indicated in the laws, though outdated, represent the ability of the land to support infrastructure?

Sincerely, Guyanese Citizen

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SunDAY, september 4, 2016

Page

Foundation

Children bearing children “Just saying "no" prevents teenage pregnancy the way 'Have a nice day' cures chronic depression."

- Faye Wattleton

O

Anu Dev

nce again - but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons the issue of children bearing children is in the air. And it should be - it's still a major public health concern because of the risks posed to both the young mom and her developing baby.

During my time in obstetrics, I’ve also seen some very young mothers teenagers, still in school. Some of them with family supporting them; others very much alone.

In Guyana, it was clear that I possibly lived a sheltered life since I remember being surprised when a few years ago (2013), I'd read that according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Guyana had the second highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in both the Caribbean and South America: 97 out of every 1000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 were giving birth. I hadn't seen this either in my village or at QC. Recently, I read

guyana-times.com

of a 17-year-old Guyanese girl giving birth to her third child!

But here at Port of Spain General Hospital, at least the teenage mother-to-be's I was seeing were those that made it to clinic for their antenatal checkups. Going by the figures of teenage pregnancies, it would seem like there are so many more pregnant teens that never get to go to those checkups.

Trinidad reported that they had 2500 teenage pregnancies in 2015, compared with our 3000 (with half of Trinidad's population!) for 2013.

And missing those checkups is dangerous for both the mother and her baby.

As I'd mentioned before, it’s incredibly important for pregnant women to have regular a n t e n a ta l checkups so that the doctors will be able to deal with any of the myriad complications that can arise

during pregnancy. And it’s doubly important for teenage mothers to get those checkups because there are so many extra complications that can happen due to their age.

Pregnant teenagers are at a higher risk of developing preeclampsia, a condition with high blood pressure, kidney damage, liver damage and a host of other complications that can progress to eclamptic seizures. They are also more likely to go into pre-term labour and deliver premature babies. Since teens often become pregnant before their bones are finished growing, their pelvises (‘hips’) aren’t usually wide enough, and a c-section often becomes necessary.

One of the requirements for this rotation was for us to accompany a patient to the Medical Social Worker.

And after our visit, it was patently obvious why it was necessary. It was eye-opening and it certainly put things into perspective for us -

suddenly complaining about the trials and travails of medical school seemed petty compared to those of several of our patients.

We were forced to confront the harsh reality of abuse and incest that some young women have to face. And according to the social worker, those aren’t rare cases.

She explained to us that as doctors, we’re not just supposed to treat the patient and move on - we’re supposed to be advocates for our patients. And in cases where the patient is a pregnant minor, we’re expected to call the Child Protective Unit right away.

The state and nation must move away from the "blame the girl" syndrome and recognise its duty to protect its girls. They are people too.

The report cited above has some good advice for us in the Caribbean: it called for a "...new approach (which) must target the circumstances, conditions, norms, values, and structural forces that perpetuate adolescent pregnancies on the one hand and isolate and marginalise pregnant girls on the other. Girls need to have access to both sexual and reproductive health services and to information."

A parent’s guide

to surviving the teen years

(Part one)

Y

ou’ve lived through 02:00h feedings, toddler temper tantrums, and the back-to-school blues. So why is the word “teenager” causing you so much worry?

When you consider that the teen years are a period of intense growth, not only physically but emotionally and intellectually, it’s understandable that it’s a time of confusion and upheaval for many families.

Despite some adults’ negative perceptions about teens, they are often energetic, thoughtful, and idealistic, with a deep interest in what’s fair and right. So, although it can be a period of conflict between parent and child, the teen years are also a time to help children grow into the distinct individuals they will become.

Understanding the teen years

So when does adolescence start? Everybody’s different – there are early bloomers, late arrivers, speedy developers, and slowbut-steady growers. In other words, there’s a wide range of what’s considered normal.

But it’s important to make a (somewhat artificial) distinction between puberty and adolescence. Most of us think of puberty as the development of adult sexual characteristics: breasts, menstrual periods, pubic hair, and facial hair. These are certainly the most visible signs of puberty and impending adulthood, but children who are showing physical changes (between the ages of eight and 14 or so) also can be going through a bunch of changes that aren’t readily seen from the outside. These are the changes of adolescence.

Many children announce the onset of adolescence with a dramatic change in behaviour around their parents. They’re starting to separate from mom and dad and become more independent. At the same time, children this age are increasingly aware of how others, especially their peers, see them and are desperately trying to fit in. Their peers often become much more important than parents as far as making decisions.

Children often start “trying on” different looks and identities, and they become very aware of how they differ from their peers, which can result in episodes of distress and conflict with parents.

Butting heads

One of the common stereotypes of adolescence is the rebellious, wild teen continually at odds with mom and dad.

Although it may be the case for some children and this is a time of emotional ups and downs, that stereotype certainly is not representative of most teens.

But the primary goal of the teen years is to achieve independence. To do this, teens must start pulling away from their parents – especially the parent whom they’re the closest to. This can feel like teens are always at odds with parents or don’t want to be around them the way they used to.

As teens mature, they start to think more abstractly and rationally. They’re forming their moral code. And parents of teens may find that children who previously had been willing to conform to please them will suddenly begin asserting themselves – and their opinions – strongly and rebelling against parental control.

You may need to look closely at how much room you give your teen to be an individual and ask yourself questions such as: “Am I a controlling parent?,” “Do I listen to my child?,” and “Do I allow my teen’s opinions and tastes to differ from my own?” (Kids Health)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

SOCU protocols threaten Police raid Charlotte Guyana’s FATF standing Street strip clubs

… AG’s boastful prediction, an exhibition of misplaced optimism – Nandlall

T

he protocols of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) could very well threaten Guyana’s conformity with the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) and Attorney General Basil Williams’ bold and boastful prediction that Guyana will soon exit the review process may be an exhibition of misplaced optimism.

This is the view held by Williams’ predecessor, Anil Nandlall who has since observed since the release of the SOCU protocols that “currently, we do not have a Special Crime Unit which exclusively investigates Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) offences as is required by the FATF recommendations.

The SOCU protocols, according to the former Legal Affairs Minister came in the form of an expansion to Guyana Police Force Standing Orders and “confirm that SOCU will remain in the Force under the superintendence of the Commissioner of Police.”

According to Nandlall, a natural consequence is that its officers will be subject to the same regime of scrutiny oversight and functional autonomy that apply to the Force.

He said too that these protocols expand the mandate and the scope of SOCU

Attorney General Basil Williams

outside and beyond its original mandate, which was, “the investigation of offences created by the AML/CFT legislation.”

SOCU, according to its protocols, now has the mandate to investigate murder, piracy, environmental offences and a whole host of offences which are not “organized” crimes.

According to Nandlall, “I have no doubt that these protocols would have been deliberated at and approved Cabinet, which would have included Attorney General Basil Williams.”

As such, Nandlall recalls that over the last year, “I had cause to explain in the press, ad nauseam, that the creation of a Specialized Crime Unit to investigate solely and exclusively AML/CFT offences was a specific recommendation of FATF.”

According to Nandlall “I warned that using SOCU to investigate any other offences may violate the relevant FATF recommendations. I was ignored.

The Government has done worse.”

He said what government has instead done is to institutionally expand the scope of SOCU to investigate offences far and beyond AML/ CFT offences: “So, currently, we do not have a Special Crime Unit which exclusively investigates AML/CFT offences as is required by the FATF recommendations.”

He said too that in preparation for the FATF site visit to Guyana, the Attorney General must have now discovered, after 15 months, the FATF recommendations which require the establishment of this Unit to investigate only AML/CFT offences.

Stop pestering public...

Moreover, Ramnarine sought to underscore the importance of the Police Force have good relations with the media. According to the acting Police Commissioner, often times the Police despises the media when in fact they should understand the vital role the media plays in society, just as the Police do.

“When you are angry about a camera in your face, just tell yourself that if you don’t do anything wrong

and you are professional, and you want to be accountable, then you have nothing to worry about, nothing to be fearful of,” he assured.

Ramnarine added too that the media help to get the Police Force intact and accountable as well as improve services to the country by highlighting whenever something goes wrong.

“Check around the world, many things are not exposed but with the role of the media, it comes to

FROM PAGE 3

light, so you need to understand that. Don’t go taking away people’s cameras and curse them, and tell them don’t push the camera in my face. You can’t do that… that’s not an offence unless in certain settings but once you’re in the public, you doing your work,” the acting Top Cop stated, adding that ranks should appreciate that when they are doing a good job that the media is highlighting it.

– 16 arrested for TIP

According to Nandlall: “With no Special Organised Unit in place to treat only with AML/CFT offences and in the absence of the unwarranted, bureaucratic and top-heavy 20-person AML/ CFT authority which this Government unnecessarily and on its own volition imposed on Guyana’s AML/ CFT apparatus, the Attorney General’s bold and boastful prediction that Guyana will soon exit the review process may be an exhibition of misplaced optimism.”

This past week Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo blasted the decision to expand the SOCU mandate: “This is a Special Organised Crime Unit, it can’t do 21 things, it has to go back to its core functions, which was [fighting] money laundering and terrorism. There are other places in the Police Force where they deal with piracy, smuggling, fraud, murder… you have the CID or environmental crimes and counterfeiting of products, that’s not for SOCU,” the Opposition Leader declared.

S

ixteen persons, including 14 foreign nationals, were arrested on Friday evening following a Police raid on two popular business entities along Charlotte Street, Georgetown.

According to information received, members of the Guyana Police Force acting on information that persons were involved in Trafficking In Persons (TIP) visited the night spots and carried out a raid which led to the arrest of 16 persons.

Police in a statement revealed that the detainees are assisting with the investigations.

As Guyana seeks to clamp down on TIP, a popular dredge owner and his alleged accomplice were recently charged for the offence.

Mario Figueira and Joaquin (only name), a Brazilian national, both pleaded not guilty to the nine charges of TIP when they appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on August 29.

The charges alleged that between August 18 and 24, 2016, at Providence, East Bank Demerara, they engaged in TIP, that is to say, they recruited, transported and harboured nine women for the purpose of sexual exploitation. They were released on $120,000 bail each.

Prior to these charges, two teenagers were rescued during a TIP operation in Region One (BarimaWaini). A woman has since been charged for that offence. Additionally, Police ranks swooped down on Rio Inn, in Queenstown, Georgetown where 10 Dominicans were rescued on suspicions that they were being trafficked.

8

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

North Ruimveldt execution

Police still to make an arrest

A

s investigations continue into the execution-style killing of Mark Anthony Wilson, also called “QQ”, the Police are still to make an arrest, according to acting A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander, Marlon Chapman.

Chapman noted that they are working with several leads and are yet to confirm whether the men left the scene in a motorcar or on foot.

He added that based on initial information gathered by the Police, the two gunmen might have escaped on foot.

Mark Anthony Wilson, also called “QQ”

Nevertheless, he noted the Police will continue to question residents in the area.

The body of 22-year-old Wilson of Lot 1238 Canje Pheasant Lane, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was riddled with bullets by two of the three suspects at about 22:00h.

This newspaper understands the young man was standing in the vicinity of the “Short Cut” when two men exited a car and opened fire on Wilson.

In an attempt to escape, Wilson ran through a yard but the gunmen gave chase

and continued to discharge their firearms, with several other rounds hitting him about the body. He eventually collapsed after running a short distance. The gunmen reportedly caught up with the injured man and continued to pump bullets into his body.

After the gunmen made good their escape in a motorcar, persons in the neighbourhood ran to assist the injured man. He was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital but succumbed on the way to the medical facility.

Norton Street man nabbed with gun, ammo

A

man was arrested after Police conducted a raid on a Norton Street, Lodge home on Saturday. Police confirmed that the man was found with an unlicensed pistol and nine matching rounds of ammunition.

He is expected to be charged as soon as Monday.

Only recently, acting

Police Commissioner David Ramnarine revealed that a total of 46 firearms were seized during the period January 1 to August 20; that is, 23 pistols, 13 revolvers and 10 shot guns.

The highest number of seizures was recorded in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) with 20 seizures, while F Division

(Interior Locations) followed with 12 firearms.

However, the Police continue to conduct raids, resulting in the seizure of firearms and ammunition. On Friday last, two persons were arrested after Police unearthed an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in a vehicle they were travelling in.

It was reported that

Police ranks acting on information, intercepted a motor car on the Golden Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, where a search was conducted and a 12 gauge single barrel shotgun was found.

The driver of the vehicle and a passenger were taken into custody and were subsequently charged.

Parika man found dead on public road

A

man was on Friday found in a motionless state along the Parika Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), suspected to have died of natural causes. The dead man has been identified as

Dindyal Sookram, 52, of Peter’s Street, Parika, EBE. Acting D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) Commander, Leslie James told Guyana Times that a sister of the now dead man made a re-

port to the Parika Police Station that her brother was laying on the roadway.

The man was picked up and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

James noted that the body bore no makes of violence and detectives are awaiting the post-mortem results to determine the way forward with respect to investigations.

When contacted, Nadeem Sookram, nephew of the dead man, told this publication that they would have received information about the man’s death at

about 17:30h on Friday.

He explained that he immediately visited the scene where he saw his uncle laying on the roadway. He admitted that the now dead man was an alcoholic, while adding the he was also ill for quite some time.

“When he fell ill we argued with him to stop drinking but he continued…,” the man stated.

He also ruled out foul play in the man’s death.

The deceased leaves to mourn his six children and other family members. A post-mortem is expected to be conducted on the man’s body on Monday.

Eyew tness

It's only...

T

...the good life

hey say a little bit of knowledge is a "dangerous thing". And this thing called TV that's beamed into our homes 24/7 is proving very dangerous to the government with the kind of "knowledge" it insist of hocking. How's that you say? Most of the programming is snatched from the US, isn't it? And surely they're not preaching revolutionary overthrow of governments even though they're now flying directly to the home of Che Gueverra in Cuba?

Well they aren't...but their TV content's no less subversive to our government. The shows, after all, show our folks in living colour how the rich and famous - and even the not so rich and famous - live over in the States! And it's for that reason when a Guyanese want to let you know you're living in the lap of luxury - they exclaim, "Life in America, eh??!!' And that's the kind of life - or at least a reasonable facsimile - Guyanese want in the here and now. Especially now!

And what made and makes this dangerous to the government is 'cause when they promised to deliver the "good life" to the populace - especially their supporters who took them seriously and voted them in - it was "life in America!" they saw. But here we are over a year-anda-half later still living lives of not so quiet - desperation.

Not so surprisingly, sullen looks; angry growls and waspish letters are now the default reaction to the APNU/AFC government.

Just look at the GPSU and the angst steaming out of their ears! Their 15,000 or so members - three seats! were the shock troops who threw their bodies into the voting booths and reflexively placed they X's on the hand and key. Apart from the ties of blood, was the promise of a "substantial" raise to deliver the "good life" after the elections. And this was no "chicken in every pot" of the Depression era Roosevelt but cartloads of food from supermarkets, a "car in every driveway" and a house in the suburb like "on TV".

So the 5% offered by the government last year on their pittance shook them. 5% on a pittance still remains a "pittance"!! But the faithful figured "let's give them some time to settle in" with their 50% raise they gave themselves to stop "temptation" and better will come this year.

And we arrive at the outrage of the 10% "final, take it or leave it" offer of the government on the lowest paid workers - the ones earning the aforementioned "pittance".

Can we expect them to be storming the Presidential Compound after this "let them eat cake" offer? Is blood thinner than water?

...money

But while the government's taking a whole lotta flack from their supporters, they HAVE been trying to give them a piece of the pie. The problem is it doesn't seem to've percolated into the collective governmental cranium that if the pie isn't growing, giving anyone a bigger pie spice means taking it from someone else's share. And that’s where we are in Guyana today.

The economy has stagnated - excepting for gold, which benefits only a few - and when the government imposes all sorts of new taxes and other revenue collecting measures from the citizenry, they're basically robbing Peter to pay Paul.

The government has to appreciate what even old Karl Marx accepted back in the day. That Capitalism must be allowed to do its thing to create wealth, before you can bring in Socialism to redistribute it.

If you don't do that, the "egalitarianism" you create is a cruel joke. We're all equal - but we're all beggars!!

...basic income

But maybe if our (future) oil money's invested to create new industries we can do what Finland just placed on their agenda - a "basic income" of the equivalent of US$870 for every adult citizen.

More than twice the salary of the average Public Servant!

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

news

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SunDAY, september 4, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Planning units: an ineffective approach – Jagdeo

G

overnment’s plan to establish planning units to help fasttrack budgetary spending is a futile approach, according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

During a news conference on Thursday, Jagdeo explained that the units will not solve the problem of incompetency in the Cabinet.

“These units that I see the President wants to put in place, they aren’t going to make much of a difference.

The incompetence comes from the Cabinet,” he stated.

President David Granger recently told media operatives that considerations are being given to the establishment of planning units and the broadening of the scope of the National Tender and Procurement Administration in order to

President David Granger

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

solve the problem of underspending of budgetary allocations.

Government confirmed and had expressed concern that only half of the sums allocated in Budget 2016 were spent – just three months away from the presentation of a new budget.

President Granger had explained that “there needs to be more careful planning so that the budgetary allocations can be spent in a timely manner. It is a question of planning, there is no incompetence or inefficiencies and we are looking at the need to have a strong National

Tender and Procurement Administration because all of the 15 Ministries use a single Board and the Board obviously needs to be expanded and given the capability to do more work.”

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had indicated that the slothfulness of the spending could be attributed to political personality issues within regional administrations.

He also suggested that the slowness could be because some agencies were caught off-guard with an early budget.

He was quoted as saying that some agencies were “so accustomed to being relaxed and lackadaisical (in their approach to getting things done) that they were surprised by the early budget and were unable to get their footing.”

Cash-strapped GuySuCo to get $3B bailout

G

overnment is gearing up to hand over another subsidy to the cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); this time to the tune of $3 billion.

This, among other considerations, was put to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) General Council, shortly before it voted to reject the Government’s proposed ‘final offer’ of 10 per cent for salary increases for 2016.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde told the opening of the General Council that “the GPSU’s delegation in the current negotiations on wages, salaries and allowances was notified that a further $3 billion is to be provided to GuySuCo.”

The transfer when effected will mean the cashstrapped sugar company would have been supported to the tune of $12 billion, since it has already received a $9 billion subsidy when the 2016 Budget was approved early in the year.

This past week, President David Granger had alluded to the bailout to GuySuCo as among the reasons Government is constrained in making a bigger offer to public servants.

According to the Head of State, GuySuCo is being bailed out to the tune of $10 billion annually and this is in addition to the problems being faced with the falling prices for sugar, gold and bauxite which represent some of Guyana’s main rev-

enue earners.

GuySuco has already recorded a whopping $6 billion deficit in its accounts for the first half of 2016, but this is being masked by a $9 billion subsidy that was handed to the beleaguered entity by Government.

In fact, while the $9 billion transferred was earmarked for the Corporation to be disbursed for the entire year, all of the money has already been transferred.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had documented in his 2016 MidYear report that the reason the entire G$9 billion earmarked for GuySuCo for the entire year was disbursed in its entirety by the end of June 2016 is “because of a deterioration in the

Corporation’s cash balances that was due to a severe shortfall in production.”

The subsidy that was transferred to GuySuCo has in fact allowed the company to record in its books an operating surplus of $2.9 billion, down from an operating surplus of $3 billion for the corresponding period last year.

“This surplus is inflated by a $9 billion transfer from the Central Government to finance operations… without this transfer; GuySuCo’s true position would be a deficit of $6 billion.”

The Finance Minister has since said that in the future, all Central Government transfers will be shown as financing, instead of being included as part of revenues.

Guyana G-Men

S

atiricus was very upset with the naysayers of SOKU. Among whom he counted his drinking buddy Cappo, and with whom he was engaged in wetting his whistle and whetting his appetite with chasers at the Back Street Bar. "Cappo, you have to understand SOKU is a symptom of the progress we are making under this new Pee-anSee/KFC government," Satiricus said pedantically but with some heat.

"Sim-tum ah prug-ress?" Cappo said with eyebrows raised to his hairline. "Me t'ink SOKU ah wan sim-tum ah thiefing!"

"Is the same damn thing I was saying Cappo, you don't know history,” said Satiricus impatiently. "SOKU will be like our own FBI. Can you imagine us having our G-Men?" "G-men? Wha' da mean?" asked Cappo archly.

"Government Man, Cappo. It means "Government Man," said Satiricus.

"But na da wha' dem Appasition ah complain about?" Cappo pointed out. "All SOKU agent guh wuk fuh de guvment!"

"It's just an expression, Cappo," replied Satiricus, "SOKU will be independent like the FBI." "Sato, ole fr'en," Cappo asked as he leaned over the table after taking a loooong swig of his beer."Tell me w'en de FBI bin farm?"

"During the Depression, Cappo," said Satiricus with a smirk. "There were criminal gangs led by gangsters like Al Capone and the government had to wipe them out!"

"Suh you t'ink if abee need G-Men fuh fight gyang in abee depression, da ah prug-res?" Cappo wanted to know. "Yuh na tink if yuh guvment bin create jaab 'e na woulda gat gyang?"

"Cappo, you are missing the point," said Sariricus.

"You don't think it's progress to have an independent investigative unit?"

"Leh me ask yuh waan mo t'ing Sato," Said Cappo.

"Yuh know who bin a de FBI big bass?"

"J Edgar Hoover. Why?" asked Satiricus.

"And yuh know Hoovah bin gat file pan everybady in guvment and none ah dem coulda touch he?" challenged Cappo.

"Really?" asked Satiricus in surprise.

"Yes, Sato," said Cappo. "He get suh "independent" dat nat even de US President could tell he wha fuh do!

And dat is wha' SOKU gon do heah."

"More powerful than the President, eh?!" said Satiricus soberly. "Let me think about that!"

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NEWS

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SunDAY, september 4, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Living with Orphan among scholarship high anxiety awardees to study overseas

By Ryhaan Shah

W

e have been living in a state of high anxiety in Guyana since the 1960s. The main stressor is the racial/political divide which has kept everyone in a state of uncertainty and living with an overwhelming dread that we are not in control of anything, not our past, present or future.

One of the main national untruths that contributes to our high anxiety headlined the recent PNC Congress where the membership continued their attempts to rehabilitate the image of Burnham into that of a visionary when Ryhaan Shah historical facts show him to be a corrupt and racist dictator who was propped up by the US Government and its allies for Cold War gains.

We, the people, have little control even of factual evidence when such distortions of history keep coming from the ruling PNC party and its leadership, Many wanted the PPP/C Administration booted from office because of their alleged corruptions and arrogant behaviour.

However, the Coalition Government’s promised change is yet to materialise and in just over a year, we have witnessed blatant corruptions for which no one is held accountable.

President David Granger seems satisfied with his rogue bunch of Ministers and Advisors who are riding rough shod over the nation.

An apology for the “pharmagate” scandal is not enough.

Health Minister George Norton should have resigned and displayed a modicum of personal integrity, or should have been sacked immediately. And all the cushy public service positions being held by family members and PNC cronies – and so many are already mired in corruption - should be rescinded and given to qualified professionals.

But since the 1960s, this has been the face of Government in Guyana. Public service is about rewards for party loyalty – or paramountcy as in Burnham’s time – and never about serving the country. Fifty and more years of corruption has created a national cancer that sickens everyone.

Vigilante justice, drunk driving, suicide, murder, hospital negligence, rape, banditry – Guyana has it all and at a level that is much too high for our small population. People are living on the edge which makes them trigger happy and unconcerned. If you are jobless and have no chance of gainful employment, the future is a zero sum total anyway so what does it matter if you rape, shoot, kill?

In undeveloped countries like Guyana, people rarely talk of future plans but are more focused on just making it through the day. The future lies elsewhere. It lies in migrating to New York or Toronto where government is held accountable. That is where progress starts: with good and just governance.

But the political upheavals and racial violence of the 1960s have simply continued and no government has yet had the vision or courage to lift us out of that state of uncertainty and dread that was experienced then and which threatens again with the planned rehabilitation of Burnhamist policies and ideology.

The oil find only increases the level of anxiety. The US and its allies kept the PNC in power to further their own political interests for three decades. Is controlling our oil reserves the reason to keep them there again? Is Guyana to be further destroyed to secure American economic interests?

None of that oil will be coming ashore here. It will be shipped off to Trinidad to be refined and given the corrupt state of our public officials no one believes that any of the earnings will be spent on development. They will most likely end up in the pockets of the corrupt and corruptible.

And to hear our politicians talk you would think that we should be proud of our continuing underdevelopment – so many billions to be “won” in loans!

It does appear that Government’s raison d’être is to rebuild the image of a failed dictator, their founder/leader Burnham, and going backward 50 years to revive failed economic policies is to be the forward thrust of the Granger Administration.

This as the rest of the world advances into a new century with technological breakthroughs and new ideas on conducting global business offering up opportunities for countries with progressive and, yes, visionary leadership.

However, the Coalition elections campaign succeeded with its propaganda to “forget the past” and Guyana voted for an amnesiac state of being. National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan - a most vociferous supporter of all that forgetting - must be looking forward to all the “newness” of the PNC’s agenda. That as everyone else recognises it as a rehashing of the worst failures in Guyana’s contemporary political and economic history.

The high anxiety continues.

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

Bibi Aseeya Mohamed

Masud Lewis

Nicholas Roberts

Tyreis Hunte

By Devina Samaroo

telligent young individuals who all have their own vision and plan to improve the future of the country,” he expressed.

Hunte said this experience will grant him the ideal opportunity to showcase the Guyanese culture and traditions to the hundreds of other students from across the globe who will be attending the college.

The other recipient, Mohamed, was incredibly elated when she was in-

formed of her success: “UWC is a life changing organisation to many teens.

As a 16-year-old just finishing high school it is a great opportunity to earn a scholarship from this organisation. The UWC colleges aren't only about academics…They create a community with students from all different parts of the world. Going to UWC Costa Rica would be a pleasure for me,” she stated, as she urged other students to apply for these life changing

scholarships.

Lewis, the other winner, said he always “thirsted for an educational system which not only promotes and facilitates rigid academic goals, but also promotes unlimited and intense extracurricular goals along with the initiative to blend cultures and perspectives, with the aim of creating a better world.”

With this thirst fermenting, he was overjoyed when he won the scholarship to study at UWC. turn to page 14

A

n orphan is among four new Guyanese students who has won scholarships to study across the world at universities under the United World Colleges (UWC), an international organisation that has launched its second scholarship programme in Guyana.

The students are Tyreis Hunte, 16, from St Joseph High School; Bibi Aseeya Mohamed, 16, from Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary; Masud Lewis, 17, from Bishops’ High School; and Nicholas Roberts, 17, from Educational Trust College.

They were chosen by the National Committee of UWC (Guyana) from a shortlist of 16 students.

Hunte will be studying at UWC Changshu (China), Mohamed at UWC Costa Rica, Lewis at UWCSEA (Singapore) and Roberts at - UWC Red Cross Nordic (Norway).

Lifetime opportunity

It is an opportunity of a lifetime for the four students. According to Hunte, when he received the good news, he was overwhelmed with joy.

“I couldn’t control my emotions. I even woke up the next morning and asked if I was actually selected because it was still unbelievable. Being selected out of so many talented and in-

14 NEWS DDL declares $800M Younge’s Take profit in 6 months Police professionalism, D SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

emerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and its subsidiaries have recorded in excess of $800 million for the first half of the year, representing a 12 per cent increase over the same period last year but the company is also becoming increasingly wary of the international developments, specifically Brexit and utterances by US Presidential Candidate Donald Trump.

The company has released its unaudited financial statements and according to Chairman Komal Samaroo, while it is too early to fully evaluate the impact of Brexit on the rum industry in Europe, it is carefully being assessed.

Samaroo said Brexit, coupled with the apparent rise of nationalistic sentiments in the upcoming US

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

Presidential Elections and also in other western countries could arguably signal a reverse of the globalisation process which saw the growth of new markets around the world.

According to Samaroo, “such developments could

present new challenges for countries like ours with small domestic markets.”

He has since suggested diversification.

According to the company’s financial statements, it managed to earn just about $3.5 billion.

Its sales and operating ex-

penses depleted this by just over $2 billion and after paying taxes and other expenses, its net profit was calculated at $805.3 million.

The company saw its investments growing marginally from $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion as was the case with its property, plant and equipment which saw its value increasing from $9.5 billion to $9.8 billion.

The company’s total asset base inclusive of trade and other receivables, prepayments and recoverable taxes at the end of June was recorded as $28.4 billion.

The company has since reported too that Chandramat Chintamani ceased being a Director on the DDL Board in April last but continues to serve as Executive Director of Demerara Shipping Company Ltd – one of DDL’s subsidiaries.

Orphan among scholarship...

“I wouldn't have been able to afford studentship at any of the colleges without assistance and as such, I am eternally grateful to each and every individual who has made this 'opportunity-in-a-million' possible,” he said.

Roberts, who spent most of his life at the St John Bosco

Orphanage in Plaisance, always thought opportunities like these were out of his league: “When I was first introduced to the United World College scholarship, I thought for a moment that this was too big for me,” he explained.

Therefore, when he won the scholarship, he was beyond ecstatic: “In my mind, I would have never seen an orphan going to a foreign country on a scholarship. Anyway the scholarship did not care if you were an orphan, a billionaire, an invalid or anything of that sort, it just cared about how an individual could change the world through education, peace, and fraternity. I am finally a part of something great,” he expressed.

He explained that too often, individuals are defined by their background and only afforded opportunities based on those origins. But Roberts is encouraging everyone out there, regardless of their situations, to break boundaries and strive for greatness.

UWC

UWC Guyana, founded in 2015, is the Guyana branch

FROM PAGE 13

of UWC, which has the mission “To make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future”.

UWC has existed since 1962 and Nelson Mandela was a former president of the board – his own children were educated at the UWC in Swaziland during apartheid.

UWC has 15 schools and colleges across five continents all with distinctive characters but sharing the same mission, ethos and values.

Last year four students were selected and are now studying at UWC. Kyle Joseph, a former Queen’s College student is in Canada; Merissa Peterson, a former of Diamond Secondary is in the USA; Saif Panday, formerly of St Roses High is in Singapore; and Stephon Roberts, who attended Bishops’ High is in China.

(Devina Samaroo)

trust

A

recent survey by the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) revealed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is the least trusted law enforcement body in this country.

The survey indicated that Guyanese also lack confidence in the Police and its ability to fight crime. But what is even more disturbing is the fact that the US Embassy-initiated survey Michael Younge also indicated that citizens do not believe that the Police Force here conducts itself professionally or appropriately.

The truth is, the findings of the survey are not remarkable or surprising in any way as it is a known fact that the level of confidence reposed by citizens in the law enforcement entities here is relatively low if not non-existent.

This is particularly true when one considers the level of crime and criminality prevailing in our society as each day citizens are murdered, victims of other heinous crimes, burglaries, rapes and domestic violence. The police’s response is most times slothful, uncaring, unprofessional and unhelpful.

Recently, patrons at an East Coast hangout spot witnessed gun toting ranks of the Police Force swoop down on the location.

Persons were ordered out of the establishment as it was past the Two O’Clock curfew despite the fact that the doors to the business were closed and staff was in the process of cleaning up.

Patrons were shoved and one CID rank dressed in plainclothes who identified himself as “Saul” began harassing those in control of the business before pulling a chair from under someone who was still seated. The other ranks dressed in brown clothes continued to threaten those present as if they were demanding a bribe or some sort of inducement before departure.

When they left, emotions ran high as patrons voiced their concerns over the manner in which the Police executed their ‘duties’. Stories were spoken of how other ranks have collected bribes and other inducements at other places when dealing with issues linked to robberies, murders, traffic offences. In General, there was a general distaste for rouge, unprofessional and corrupt ranks.

It is simple incidents like these that impact public opinion and perception of the entire Police Force as they are not isolated or specific to one policing division.

It is therefore laudable that government through the Ministry of Public Security has exhibited no tolerance for ranks who are engaged in unprofessional conduct in any area of their work as they are responsible for the ‘bad name’ the other ranks receive because of their deeds. But the government has to do much more to create a paradigm shift and culture transformation within the force.

The Police Commissioner must ensure that his commanders are read the riot act and understand fully that it is their responsibility to ensure that these ranks are disciplined whenever there are reports of such unprofessionalism and thuggery. Surely, the ranks must understand too that they are not a law unto themselves and therefore whenever there are breaches of the law on their part that they will be offered no protection—not from their colleagues nor superiors.

While it can be argued that the ranks are within their right to enforce the curfew laws, it can also be argued that they could spend their time patrolling the streets in pursuit of criminal elements who are usually wreaking havoc on innocent citizens.

They could spend their time solving the many unsolved murders that are staining the pages of the press while at the same time working very hard to rebuild public trust and confidence.

It is necessary for the Force’s administration to conduct periodic sessions with junior and middle management ranks on professionalism, ethics, effective communication and integrity.

This will go a far way in addressing the basic shortcomings that result in the force suffering immensely whenever an evaluation is done of its performance and the level of public trust.

In addition, urgent efforts at reforming the Force must be undertaken. Those proposals made by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee must be implemented immediately and should not be cast aside unless the new Government has new ones.

NEWS

15

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

By: Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal

Back to school

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s parents are undergoing last-minute checks to ensure they have all the items needed to send their children back to school, it is an ideal time to pause and reflect on how fortunate we are to have such access to an education.

There is no shying away from the fact there is still much to do within the education system here, but appreciating how far the system has come and all it is planning to achieve, needs positively acknowledging.

With over 70 million children around the globe having very limited or no access to a primary education, the picture becomes clearer that although many other countries have more advanced, efficient education systems, there are millions of children longing to have the opportunities that are afforded our children here in Guyana.

While many of those developing countries continue to be plagued with the same difficulties poverty brings to all its hosts, we are fortunate enough to be in a position where schools and teachers are available even in the hinterlands. Let all of us ensure we play our part in utilising what we do have on offer.

Parents have a moral and legal duty to ensure attendance at school. Children should not be absent due to having to look after younger siblings, or going out to work. While it has to be understood this is sometimes necessary for the survival of a family, it should not be a long-term arrangement and every effort ought to be made to make effective plans to change the situation.

It is a child’s right to attend school and our responsibility that they are afforded that right. No matter what level of literacy a parent has, there are many ways to support a child’s learning at home, from encouragement to creating space and time for homework. Just being interested and aware is often enough to inspire a child.

School can be such an influential part of a child’s life, impacting long beyond school days.

Teachers can have either a life changing effect or a stifling one. Hopefully any of those who have not been having a positive effect will have had time to reflect over the summer and be strong enough to critically analyse their reason for teaching and ensure their approach fits the purpose of their profession.

After all, the emphasis is on how well you can transfer information, encourage critical thinking and ignite a thirst and love of learning in your students. The discipline necessary to cultivate this should not lose its nurturing focus. Remember you are not just teaching academics, your job is considerably more complex.

Students be aware of the doors that will be open to you if you value your learning and don’t waste the opportunities you are being given.

Ensure you take full responsibility and play your own part on your educational journey. No excuses; take control of your own future by working to the best of your ability and give yourself every chance at success. Take full advantage of what is available whatever your capabilities so you reach your potential. Come prepared to learn. Don’t oppose your teachers at every opportunity; personalities do not always fit but you are in this together and both will benefit from the same outcome.

The scope for improvements is vast and resources, training and implementation are limited in too many areas in Guyana.

Among the difficulties facing the country are: lack of financial resources affecting schooling materials, insufficient teacher training affecting the quality of teaching, oversized classes and those mixed with a wide range of ages and abilities making it difficult to challenge and pitch lessons at a level where all benefit.

Nevertheless, we should still be counting our blessings that within the public system the majority of our children have access to a reasonable form of education at least.

The focus now is on raising the standards within this sector and the sooner the better. Many of our young people are not accessing what they should be and for many reasons the system is failing them. However, the point is the system is in place and little by little it has the potential to improve and become more efficient. Of course we all continue to hope that those others around the world will soon have access too.

Region 2 rice farmers dissatisfied with paddy prices R

ice farmers in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are dissatisfied with the current paddy prices being offered by millers. The prices range from $1500-$2300 for grades A, B and C, and according to them the venture is quiet unprofitable.

During interviews conducted with rice farmers along the Essequibo Coast, farmers complained that the price millers are offering cannot sustain their families and livelihood. Most of them explained that they have loans to repay at commercial banks and they are worried that with the current prices they will not be able to offset their overhead expenses.

One rice farmer from Somerset and Berks, Bupesh Narine, said that this rice crop he only cultivated 10 acres.

He said that it is better for the lands to be at rest than to invest in them. Narine said that paddy bug infestation was a major challenge for him and detailed that despite several sprayings his yield was less as compared to last crop.

This farmer incurred additional expenses to purchase chemicals in an effort to mitigate the infestation. He is of the opinion that millers could offer better prices for a bag of paddy: “Imagine selling one bag paddy for $1500; (and) when you go to the shop $1500 cannot purchase anything, how can rice farmers survive? Even a Chinese food is more than a bag of paddy,” the farmer lamented.

At Golden Fleece, Suresh Persaud also related that he was hoping that millers would have paid $3000 and over for a bag of extra A. He said that to his knowledge many farm-

ers reaped low yield due to the high infestation of paddy bugs.

With the low prices currently offered Persaud said many rice farmers will be reaping at a loss. Meanwhile, Guyana Times spoke with a few millers who pointed out that they do not have sufficient markets to sell the rice they are buying.

Most of them are accepting paddy without even having a market. However one miller related that he is currently seeking markets in Panama and Jamaica. Samad Baksh from Imam Bacchus and Sons Rice Mill said that that mill is purchasing paddy at $1500$2400 per bag. He said Grade

C paddy price is negotiable.

Baksh, an APNU/AFC councillor on Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC), said that sourcing markets for the rice is tiresome.

He however said most of the paddy purchased are processed and sold at their own supermarket. Last crop rice farmers were offered low prices which forced many of them out of business. Region Two is predominately an agricultural region and 75 per cent of the population depends on rice cultivation for a livelihood. Over 34,000 acres of lands are under rice cultivation. Last year, Venezuela officially terminated Guyana’s PetroCaribe deal which saw the exchange of fuel and rice at “favourable prices”, as the Spanish-speaking nation teamed up with Suriname to pursue a similar agreement.

The agreement, signed between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his Surinamese counterpart Desi Bouterse, will allow Suriname to continue to receive favourable rates on oil in exchange for rice.

16 news PPP condemns Dilma Rousseff’s removal I SunDAY, september 4, 2016 | guyana-times.com

n light of the recent decision by Brazil’s Senate to vote in favour of removing Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff from office, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has voiced its disdain for the impeachment.

“The PPP condemns the impeachment of former President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff by the parliamentary Opposition,” the Party noted in a press statement on Saturday.

Rousseff was ousted for supposedly manipulating the country’s budget and was removed after 13 years in office. The PPP pointed out that her removal is “tantamount to a mockery of the democratic process” in Brazil as Rousseff had been elected to office by a majority of the Brazilian people.

“The removal of the former President is nothing short of a parliamentary and judicial coup against the former President and her Workers’ Party which over the years have transformed the econ-

Ousted Brazilian President Dilma Rosseuff

omy to a global economic powerhouse and which lifted millions of Brazilians out of the poverty threshold,” the PPP stated on Saturday, adding its concern over moves in neighbouring Venezuela to shorten the reign of President Nicolás Maduro.

“The removal of Ms Rousseff

raises some serious question regarding the role played by reactionary forces in the removal of governments which are perceived to be on the left of the ideological spectrum, especially when seen against the backdrop of ongoing attempts by forces hostile to President Maduro in Venezuela to remove him from power before the constitutionally due date,” the PPP pointed out.

Bringing the issue closer to home, the Party referenced moves by international players in its early removal from office which greatly impacted upon Guyana’s future: “The PPP recalls its own experience in the early 1960's when foreign vested interests in collaboration with local reactionary forces conspired to remove the democratically elected PPP Government from office with devastating consequences for the political, economic and social life of the country.”

“The situation in Brazil represented a case where a 'technical' argument was advanced by the po-

Selected President Michel Temer

litical Opposition to derail the democratic process which is clear violation of the expressed will of the Brazilian people who voted for her in democratic elections,” the PPP expressed.

In this regard, the PPP says it joins with all progressive forces in extending solidarity with the former President and the Workers’

Party of Brazil on what could only be described as “a rape of democracy” in the country.

The PPP stated that it is calling on the international community to unite and take note of the “unfortunate development” which it reiterated was an “assault on democracy in Brazil.”

Rosseuff who had represented the left-leaning Workers' Party has continued to deny the accusation against her which stated that under watch, funds were moved “between Government budgets,” a crime under Brazilian law.

Some 61 Brazilian senators voted in favour to remove her from office, whereas only 20 voted against the measure. After she was suspended, an interim leader, Michel Temer had assumed office but has since been sworn in as President of the neighbouring republic.

Reports stated that he will lead the country until January 1, 2019 when Rousseff's term would have ended.

NEWS

17

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Allicock chides “dependency syndrome” of Indigenous communities J

unior Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valarie GarridoLowe has posited that more should be done to foster the growth of the cassava producing sector. She made these comments at a recent meeting with executives of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), where the minister indicated that such diversification would improve the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples.

Garrido-Lowe suggested that derivative products of cassava, an Amerindian staple, are ideal due to its financial and health benefits: “[There are] financial benefits of cassava; we can explore cassava snacks like cheesy cassava, garlic cassava, curio cassava; we should explore these things so that well packaged snacks into our supermarkets

from the cassava here that is so healthy, because it doesn’t have gluten.”

She noted that communities are capable of producing value-added products and have a more modernised cassava industry, pointing out that there are intentions to engage the University of Guyana on developing the industry: “We could talk with IAST (Institute of Applied Science & Technology) and try to get something going.”

She further added that the rights of Indigenous peoples are likely to be better advocated as the NTC will see the establishment of its Secretariat, which she explained, will be given financial support from the InterAmerican Development Bank.

“People expect so much from us because we have promised so much but we will ful-

Junior Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Valarie Garrido-Lowe

fil promises but we will go so many at a time and I am sure that you will get your secretariat from where you will be able to function properly with staff

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock

and I am happy to hear that IDB will be supporting financially,” she noted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock told the NTC

that subventions aside, they should think “outside the box” in attaining finance from other avenues. He suggested that the NTC could solicit funds from Indigenous Communities, in rotation, to fund its work in advocating its causes.

“If the NTC gets itself really organised, I am certain that every month, each one of these villages could contribute $10,000 to your purse,” he noted, adding that the NTC can then go into negotiations with the bank in development projects relating to cottage industries that will sustain livelihood of the Amerindian communities.

“If you have cassava – 6 bottles of casreep every month, you add 6 families, change them every month, you will get $10,000 coming into your coffer… what we would like to

move away from, is that dependency syndrome…when you work and sweat for what you need, you have more value for it,” Allicock noted.

He also noted that Indigenous communities should assume responsibility of many vehicles which were allocated in the past are currently in need of repairs. He however added that his government and ministry would continue efforts in supporting: “economic development, respect to ourselves, and to have an education system that would allow other Guyanese to understand how we live,” Allicock said.

Meanwhile, the many concerns raised at the recently concluded National Toshaos Conference will be addressed at the upcoming NTC executive meeting in October.

Over $27M spent on D&I interventions Wanted man shot during Police operation in Berbice in Region 10 communities A

T

he National Drainage and Irrigation (NDIA), in collaboration with the National Community Development Council (NCDC) have over the past month intervened to bring much needed drainage relief to 27 communities in Region 10.

According to Assistant Director of the NCDC Sandra Adams, $25 Million was spent to alleviate flooding for residents and farmers in areas such as South Ameila’s Ward, Retrieve, Industrial Area, Central Mackenzie, Watooka, Fairs Rust, Noitgedacht, Coomacka, Central Wismar, Christianburg Sections C and B, Silvertown, Constabulary Compound, West Watooka, Green Valley, Victory Valley, Canvas City, Half Mile, One Mile Dalawalla, Wisroc, Siberian-old England, Nottinghamshire, Cacatara and Cinderlla City.

Victory Valley drain

The intervention also resulted in 600 people from the established Community Development Councils in the area, finding employment, Adams said.

Adams explained that for the farming communities of West Watooka in Wismar, where 40 farmers are engaged in cash crop farming, the intervention resulted in

“much relief,” by releasing of stagnant water and clearing thick vegetation.

The Assistant Director of the NCDC said that over the years, many farmers had complained of losing cash crops due to flooding experienced in the area, and have pleaded with the authorities for relief, through the provision of excavators and pumps for clearing of the waterways and land in their community.

Adams explained that the intervention in the area was carried out through the use of two excavators.

The Assistant Director of the NCDC explained that drainage and irrigation cleaning exercise will be done regularly, not only as part of an effort to maintain the aesthetics of Linden and Region 10, but, importantly, assisting the farmers, who will now be able to produce more with less loss from flooding.

man wanted by the Police for questioning in connection with several robberies in Berbice was on Saturday morning shot during a Police operation.

The injured man has been identified as Jamal Monroe, 20, also called ‘Ocko’, of Lot 31 Savannah Park, New Amsterdam.

Police in a release said they are investigating the shooting of a male, which occurred at about 03:00h.

The suspect is wanted for a series of break and enter and larceny.

Residents of the community where the incident occurred seemed overjoyed that the Police were able to apprehend

the wanted man. According to residents, it was the second time within the past week that Police had gone to the house in search of Monroe.

Divisional Commander Ian Amsterdam told this publication that the Police received information that the wanted man was at a house at Savannah Park, and when ranks arrived, Monroe upon seeing the Police jumped throw a window and as ranks attempted to intercept him a scuffle ensued and he again escaped. However, he was shot as he was running away with Police in hot pursuit.

In light of the arrest, Amsterdam was quite happy with the work of the

Police. “He was hit and injured and was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital but transferred to the Georgetown Hospital when he is in the Intensive Care Unit.”

Monroe was released from prison less than a month ago.

Currently, he is also before the court on a series of charges, which include break and enter and larceny, simple larceny, robbery under arms, and throwing missiles.

He has also been sentenced for break and enter and robbery under arms. Amsterdam confirmed that since his release there are new matters which have surfaced and the Police were on the hunt for him.

18 NEWS SOCU should remain under Police – Ramjattan F SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

ollowing the recent pronouncement by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) should be independent, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is of the view that the Unit should remain under the purview of the Guyana Police Force.

Speaking with reporters on Friday, Minister Ramjattan posited that he would personally want SOCU to come under the Police Force, but noted this would be determined following debates in the National Assembly.

“I would still want (SOCU) to come under the Police Force because it’s a policing authority and that’s my personal opinion. But first we have to collectively agree, I think the Attorney General has a different perspective on the issue. So like we do on everything, right down to contracts, we debate and then make a decision,” the Public Security Minister stated.

On Tuesday last, Minister Basil Williams had announced that SOCU should be removed from under the Police Force in order to focus more on fighting money laundering, noting that it would not be wise for

the Unit to be considered as one carrying out the work of the Force.

“It is important for us because SOCU has been very busy, very up and about and it’s very important for it to perform its core functions related to AML/CFT and not be burdened with other Police work… SOCU needs to be an independent body like in the manner of CANU (Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit)… It is required now that these agencies be independent and carry out their own investigations when they receive report. We cannot remove SOCU from its core functions,” the Attorney General had stated.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo days later criticised such a move, warning that the Unit would be used as a political weapon.

Moreover, Jagdeo posited that the Unit should return to focusing on its core function; that is fighting money laundering, rather than doing regular Police work such as investigating murders, robbery and theft in accordance with the protocol recently developed by the Public Security Ministry.

Armed with a signed copy of the SOCU protocol, he told a Thursday afternoon press conference that this new mandate is ridicu-

lous and with this expanded mandate, not much is left for the rest of the Guyana Police Force to do, as he urged that SOCU returns to its original mandate.

“This is a Special Organsied Crime Unit, it can’t do 21 things, it has to go back to its core functions, which was [fighting] money laundering and terrorism. There are other places in the Police Force where the deal with piracy, smuggling, fraud murder, you have the CID, or environmental crimes and counterfeiting of products, that’s not for SOCU,” the Opposition Leader declared.

However, in response to Jagdeo, the Public Security Minister pointed out on Friday that the amended Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for SOCU does not entail the investigating robberies or petty crimes. But he explained that SOCU is a Police Unit and every Police Unit is involved in all types of crime.

Nevertheless, he noted that the emphasis of the Unit is on anti-money laundering and anti-terrorists offences, which the AML provisions cater for.

“That is what they have been doing all along…

So it is not as if in the new Standard Operating Procedure, which we amended to accommodate them, that they are going to

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

be robberies and so on. But if there is, let’s say, an anti-terrorist crime that then results in murder are you telling me that this Unit will deal with the anti-money laundering but when it comes to the murder, they send it back to the homicide squad – no! (SOCU) will proceed to do all of these investigations because a lot will be inter-related,” the Minister stated.

According to Ramjattan, he found it “ludicrous” that the Opposition Leader would criticise the SoPs when his Administration – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) – set up the Unit without any such protocols.

SunDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

19

GHB/Lucozde Indoor Hockey League…

Hikers, Pizza Hut crowned champions

BY ROMARIO SAMAROO

T

he dream run continued for the Hikers men in the Guyana Hockey Board/Lucozade Indoor Hockey League as they romped past Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Vintage at the National Gymnasium on Saturday night in the final. GCC Pizza Hut was also crowned the champions in the female division after defeating GCC Spartans.

Undefeated in the tournament, Hikers stomped their way to a 6-1 victory over a tired GCC Vintage team in their 13th consecutive win.

Rayon Branford took the fight to Vintage having capitalized on a penalty to score the first goal in the second minute of play but Patrick Edghill made full use of a rare blunder by Hikers to

level the score line entering the second half.

Four minutes into the second half Shane Samuels managed to secure a penalty goal before repeating that in the 30th minute. One minute later, leading goal scorer of the league, Arodyd Branford threw his stick in the game to score the fourth Hikers’ goal before Andrew Stewart took the score to 5-1 in the 32nd minute.

By then, frustration and tiredness were taking a toll on an older Vintage team letting their guard down for two more goals to be scored on them by Jamarj Assanah in the 35th minute and Randy Hope in the last minute of play.

The frustration took its toll on all players as Samuels Stewart and Phillip Fernandes were all given green cards.

Hikers' Shane Samuels makes the most of the penalty to register his second goal of the night

Captain of the Victorious Hikers, Robert France, thanked his team for their impressive run and attributed their success to hard work and dedication.

He went on to say that the league was a great step forward for the sport citing that the game was not playing enough.

Arodyd Branford attributed his success to his stint in England where he was

given the opportunity to better his game and this was displayed in the tournament with his most impressive feat being his 15 goals in one match.

In the battle of the GCC women, Pizza Hut was the superior team having carved their way to a 2-nil victory over Spartans.

Tiffany Solomon lead from the front scoring in the fourth minute of play while Kerensa Fernandes scored the second and final goal in the 23rd minute.

Captain of the Pizza Hut ladies, Solomon noted that it was a great initiative taken by the GCC Spartans and an excellent run to reach so far

in the league as they were the youngest team in the competition.

During the presentation, notable mentions were made of Vintage’s goalkeeper, 19-year-old Rahim Oliver who was awarded for his hard work. Gabriella Xavier copped the most goals prize in the league for the females while Robert France was awarded the MVP for the males.

Seven male teams and four female teams started the league which began in July and the GHB was happy with the level of hockey that was played over the period.

The first ever indoor league gave players much needed time on the court. The next tournament is expected to be played in October.

GCA/ New Building Society 2nd Division 40-overs Cricket…

Hanif beats field to Massy DCC, GCC romp to convincing wins United Insurance title

By Akeem Greene

D

From left: George Medina, Imran Khan,Fizal Khan, Vibert Austin, Carlos Abrams, ‘Pur’ Persaud, Ian Gouveia and President of Lusignan Golf Club, Oncar Ramroop (Photo by Romario Samaroo)

A

fter four months away from the green, 38 golfers lashed went at each other at the Lusignan Golf Course on Saturday but Fizal ‘That’s it’ Hanif was crowned king of the green in the Massy United Insurance Golf Tournament.

The tournament was initially scheduled to play in May buy due to inclement weather the course was unable to facilitate any play for quarter of the year but when action resumed, captain of the Club, Chatterpaul Deo noted that the scores were all respectable.

The weather was superb for play and at the end of the day; it was Hanif standing tall over his opponents with a score of 87/73 with Imran Khan also having a good day

with 70/73.

Third place went to Carlos Abrams with 99/73 and fourth place Patanjalee ‘Pur’ Persaud, who was kept off the podium for quite some time raked in a score of 71/74.

Khan also walked away with the Best Gross with a comfortable 80.

Ian Gouveia walked away with the Nearest To Pin (three feet) prize while George Medina was the Most Honest player.

Captain Chatterpaul Deo expressed his pleasure at the turnout, the keenness of the competition and the high morale with which golfers participated.

Deo also signaled his gratitude to the club members who had all out a lot

of efforts to get the course to the standard it is in and their expressed dedication to continue bettering the facility.

One of the key problems faced was the deplorable roads leading to the Course but it was through the efforts of Medina, who helped.

Medina noted that this was not only a service to the sport and club he loved but the entire community who benefited from an improvement in the road.

Massy United Insurance, of Lot 126F Carmichael Street, Georgetown (a Barbados based Company,) offers a wide range of general insurance products for businesses throughout 14 territories in the Caribbean.

emerara Cricket Club (DCC) and the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) recorded convincing victories over their respective opponents on Saturday in the opening round of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40-overs Competition.

At Queenstown, home side DCC defeated Everest Cricket Club (ECC) by 35 runs while at Bourda, GCC whipped Transport Sports Club (TSC) by nine wickets.

Everest set a target of 234 from their allotted lost their way in the dying overs falling from 186-5 in the 30th over to 198 all out in 33.1 overs. After losing the first two wickets with just 28 on the board, top scorer Khemraj Ramdeen and Mark Jeffers took the score to 84, when Jeffers was stumped off the bowling of leg-spinner Anton Atwell for 14.

Two more wickets fell in quick succession but that the pair of Ramdeen and Gavin Sookdeo took the team from 115-5 in the 19th over to 186, featuring in what looked to be a match changing 71-run partnership.

The collapse came when ECC were coasting to vic-

tory, needing 48 runs from 60 balls but medium pacer Carlton Jacques bowled Sookdeo for 44 ( 3x4s; 3x6s) off the first ball off his over, then next ball, a senseless run out occurred between Ramdeen and Javid Rasheed (00).

The over seemed to be the turning point, as Ramdeen skied the third ball to deepmid wicket but a running Raymond Perez could not reach in time to take the catch.

The preceding over skipper Lyndon Lyght got the wicket of danger man Ramdeen for 73 (7x4s; 1x6) when he pulled straight into the hands on Atwell at midwicket which practically sealed the hard fought win for DCC. Jacques ended with 2-32 while Lyght and Denis Squires chipped in with 2-2 and 2-39 respectively.

Earlier, when DCC were asked to take first strike, their total was built on flashy 137-run opening partnership in 24 overs between National youth players Sachin Singh and Raymond Perez.

The right-handed Perez top scored with an attractive 73, hitting two maximums and eight sweetly times fours before fell via the caught and bowl route to Sookdeo.

On the other hand,

Singh, who just recently returned from West Indies under-16 duty in England, carried his bat in workman-like 67 not out, clearing the ropes thrice and stroking the same number in fours.

The next best scores by the home side were Andrew Gibson (15) and Atwell (14), as the middle and lower-order failed to build on the solid start.

Seamer Mark Jeffers led with the ball with figures of 4-52 while Dwayne Adams and Javed Rasheed took one wicket a piece.

At GCC, Captain Martin Pestano-Belle stuck a handy 56 before he retired hurt and left-arm spinner Stephon Wilson took 4-35 to secure the comfortable win.

Set to 160 to win from their allotted overs, they reached the target in 34.1 overs as Samuel McKenzie 41 and Timothy McCalmont 40 not out supported Pestano- Belle to ace the chase.

TSC’s 159 all out total was due to steely 42 from Devaughn Nandan and opener Charwayne McPherson 24; Azeem Azeez was the next best run getter with 18.

In support of Wilson, Pestano-Belle took 2-22.

Action continues today when the University of Guyana play Ace Warriors at DCC from 11:00h.

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Serena passes Navratilova’s Grand Slam record

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erena Williams powered to a record 307th Grand Slam match win to reach the fourth round of the US Open.

The world number one moved ahead of Martina Navratilova for most match wins in a major by a woman, and tied Roger Federer’s mark for men with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Sweden’s Johanna Larsson.

“That’s pretty awesome and what a place to do it, where everything first started,” said the 34-year-old.

Serena won her first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 1999.

“To be up there with both men and women is something that’s super rare, and it actually feels really good,” she added.

The American is bidding to claim a 23rd Grand Slam singles title, which would see her surpass Steffi Graf as the most successful woman in the Open Era. The six-time US Open champion, whose number one ranking is under threat, next faces Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, a 6-2 7-5 winner over China’s Zhang Shuai.

Sister Venus Williams, the sixth seed and oldest woman in the tournament at 36, plays Laura Siegemund of Germany later.

Fifth seed Simona Halep of Romania smashed her racquet in frustration before avoiding an upset by defeating Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-1 2-6 6-4.

Halep trailed 3-1 in the deciding set but fought back to reach the last 16.

“I don’t know how I came back. I felt like I didn’t play my best but I was fighting to

Chris Gayle (left) and Andre Russell were expected to be part of the excitement at Albion

T

Elliot Vieira tops qualifying rounds

Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam singles match at the 1998 Australian Open

the end for every ball,” she said.

Halep will play Spain’s 11th seed Carla Suarez Navarro for a place in the quarter-finals.

Suarez celebrated her 28th birthday with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Russian Elena Vesnina.

Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland overcame France’s Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-3 and will face either American Varvara Lepchenko or Ana Konjuh of Croatia next. (BBC Sport)

DJ Stress T20 Cup postponed

he West Indies ‘A’ tours Sri Lanka and their Test team journey to the United Arab Emeritus (UAE) where they face number one ranked Pakistan later this month and West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has organised a training camp for the players in Barbados from September 9.

This camp clashes with DJ Stress Champions T20 Cup at Albion on Sunday September 11 under lights and since seven of the players set to participate in this even have been invited to the camp the organizers have been forced to postpone the T20 Cup to a date

Caribbean Motor Racing Championships 2016...

still to be confirmed.

The Pakistan Limited overs series ends on October 5. The Albion Event has already been sanctioned by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) but the new date has to be reapproved by the GCB & WICB since it includes West Indies players.

Promoter of the Event Paul ‘DJ Stress’ Bonar apologizes for the postponement which is beyond his control but promised something ‘special’ on the new date which will be announced shortly.

“We want to put on a spectacular show as international T20 players take to the Albion sward for

the first time under lights.

Without the West Indies players the fans would be robbed of seeing the best in the business perform so it’s in the best interest of everyone involved that we wait until the players are available” explained Bonar.

Guyanese Leon Johnson, Rajendra Chandrika, Devendra Bishoo, Vishaul Singh and Keon Joseph are set to leave on Friday for the camp in Barbados.

He said tickets are printed and ready to go while TV commercials were set to begin in Berbice this week. The Organizers have agreed to reduce the cost for tickets to $1,000 for all stands and a capacity crowd is anticipated on the new date.

A game between a team from Suriname and a Berbice line-up from will be the curtain raiser at 16:00h while the feature match involving big names like Chris Gayle, Andrew Russell, Daren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul, will commence at 20:00h.

Bonar said the facebook promotion of the mega Event has already generated a lot of interest and excitement not only in Guyana but also overseas, adding that the T20 Cup will be could be held on a Saturday so that most of those traveling to Berbice may not have to work the next day.

Elliot Vieira

T

he third leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) heated up in Barbados at the Bushy Park Circuit on Saturday with members of team Guyana enjoying excellent runs during the qualifying rounds ahead of today’s main event.

Notably, defending CMRC Super Stock champion Elliot Vieira produced some of the fastest times of the day with his Kawasaki ZX-6R to finish in first place at the end of the qualifying rounds. Though Elliot sits on fourth on points table with 43 points, he sent a strong warning to opponents that will go down fighting for his title with one more round remaining.

Cousin Matthew (105 points) finished in third

behind Barbados representative Kevin Graham; when Guyana Times Sport spoke to Matthew, he revealed that his Yamaha R6 worked well but due not having “rain tyres” he faced some difficulties and should it rain today he could find it a bit challenging to compete.

Current leader Stephen Vieira (122 points) had a horrid time as he fell, injuring his hand which meant he will be starting at the back of the pack. Stephen said that should he recover well enough from the injury he will compete today.

Meanwhile, group three drivers Nazim Gafoor had an excellent outing with his Mazda Miata finishing in third. There has been no confirmed report on the position of Group two driver Shan Seejattan.

In the qualification for the Suzuki Radicals Barbadian Suleman Esuf finished in P1, Calvin Ming of Guyana in P2, and Mark Maloney of Barbados in P3.

Mark Vieria and Kristian Jeffrey are also expected to compete today.

For defending champions Guyana, their main aim will be scrape valuable points in a courageous effort to reduce the daunting lead of Trinidad and Tobago before returning to home turf for the final leg on November 13.

On the overall points standings, Trinidad and Tobago lead with 799 points, followed by Jamaica on 465 and Guyana on 276 points. Barbados and Cayman Islands round off the table with 202 and 60 points respectively. Race time is at 08:00h.

Benefit match for injured referee Colin Bowery today

T

he Berbice Football Association (BFA) has organised three exciting games to raise funds for injured FIFA referee, Colin ‘Ash’ Bowery.

The event will take place at the All Saints Church Ground, Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam, today.

Bowery was injured in a car accident in July while returning to New Amsterdam after refereeing at game at Bartica.

The July 25, accident at Lovely Lass Village, West Coast Berbice left Bowery unconscious for three weeks.

On Saturday he was still incapacitated.

A release from the BFA stated that the fund-raising benefit effort is to assist the family of Colin “Ash” Bowery, a young Football Referee who resides in Smithfield New Amsterdam Berbice and who was involved in a near fatal vehicular accident.

Sir ‘Ash’ as Bowery is popularly known, the son of Stephanie Bowery (Poet/ Writer) and Kenrick Bowery

Colin Bowery

of Hearts of Oak Masters, has been involved in football all his life, first as a player who achieved national standings and now as a dedicated and prospective FIFA Referee. He is also a husband, father, and a teacher by profession (NA Multilateral School), the release said.

The day’s activities will see their West Berbice teams taking on three East Berbice team. In the Opening game; NAMILCO U-17 leaders Corriverton Links on 18 points from six

matches will take on secondplaced Paradise Invaders on 13 points from five games in a game of that competition.

The second game will see a match which promises to be exciting between East Berbice Masters taking on West Berbice Masters. The game will bring together several former National and Berbice players. The feature game of the triple header will bring together East Berbice Masters vs.

West Berbice Masters. The feature match will be East Berbice Seniors against West Berbice Seniors from 19:00h.

President of the BFA Keith O’Jeer told Guyana Times Sport that all proceeds derived from this benefit event will be handed over to Colin Bowery’s family in an effort to assist with medical expenses and any other necessary needs.

“Even the officials will pay to enter the game, the referees and all of the BFA officials.”

Meanwhile, tickets for today’s events are available at the cost of $500. each.

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Gonsalves gives back to Albouystown A

head of the start of the new academic year, former Fecarbox champion, Dexter Gonsalves, in a collaborated effort with his management team, NexGen Global Promotions visited the Forgotten Youths Foundation Boxing Gym located in the heart of Albouystown, Georgetown on Saturday to give back to the youths of the community.

In the form of hampers containing school supplies including books, pencils, geometry sets, among other items, 15 youths between the ages of eight and 12 years old along with members of the gym received the much needed supplies.

Wendy Butts, President of NexGen Global Promotions, speaking with Guyana Times Sport noted that this was the first of many initiatives between the collaboration and it was a privilege to be part of something as special as this since it is education which is important to the children.

Gonsalves, who is a product of the community highlighted that it was tough growing up in Albouystown so he thought it necessary to give back to the youths of the community by helping them to get a better education.

The 27-year-old thanked his management for making the vision a reality and coming into the community with him to provide the youths with these hampers.

“This will help them to start the new school year with the basic supplies needed and in

Guyana’s Welterweight Boxer, Dexter Gonsalves assisting in sending Albouystown Youths back to school

turn help to keep them off of the streets and out of trouble.” Gonsalves mentioned.

Gonsalves pointed out that he wanted to show the younger generation that there is a brighter future through education and not because of your current position that you will be limited.

This is one of the first initiatives between the collaboration and was gracefully welcomed by boxing coach, Sebert Blake.

Blake said “on behalf of the members of the Forgotten Youths Foundation Boxing Gym, he would like to thank the collaboration for the timely donation,” pointing out that “education is the key to success and seeing that the sponsors recognized this by starting with the youths.”

Blake went on to urge the rest of the business to community to follow suit and help out in whatever way possible to facilitate the young talents in these areas.

He noted that the community has a lot of potential citing Gonsalves as one of the

success stories.

Gonsalves advised the youths, who have little or no choice but to grow up in such a rough neighborhood, to avoid crime and violence by staying in school and picking up a sport. The south paw noted that was at the Forgotten Youths Foundation gym that he fell in love with the sport and is hoping that others will follow in his footsteps.

Blake has been the coach of Gonsalves since he was just 13 years old and found it heartwarming to have him come back and donate especially in the education field.

“Maybe he could have given gloves but he chose school supplies and education is the best gift anyone could give, as a coach and mentor I am proud to see Gonsalves do something like this.” Blake said The new school year begins on Monday but Gonsalves is already back in the gym training for his next fight which is expected to be in the near future.

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eventy-year-old Asraff Ally took 48-minutes to swim across the Berbice River on Saturday breaking his 90-minute record he set back in 1998. It was the fourth time he swam the river. The swim was in preparation for a swim across the Essequibo River on Monday.

Already Ali has swum the Demerara River twice and the Corentyne River once and now intends to take on the majestic Essequibo River in what is expected to be a sixhour swim. To add to his experience, Ali has swum across

Lake Mainstay twice.

On Saturday Divisional Commander of Berbice Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam who saw Ally off to his record-breaking swim, noted that it is always good when people can do things like that. “It should act as a good motivator for the youths, we now have an Olympic size pool in Guyana and it is about time for us to start producing swimming champions. I wish you success and hope that more young people will take up swimming as a sport,” the Commander said.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman David Armogan who was at the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling from where Ally started his swim, he will go down in history as one of the great Berbice swimmers, “I want to wish you well on Monday, I know you will be able to do it and all Berbice will be behind you.” Speaking with Guyana Times Sport after coming out of the water on Saturday Ally said the swim was not challenging. “The current was a little strong but it was like a regular swim I take twice a week. Last week before I came back from the United States I did a 90-mimute swim so this was nothing,” he said. Tomorrow’s swim is expected to be more testing with the river being home to anacondas, piranhas, stingrays and caimans. Ally will commence his Essequibo River swim from Rockstone and he intends to swim around Luck Island and then make it to the other side of the river. He estimated that it will take him

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Jaguars Premier League…

Shepherd 5-for stifles East Bank − Foo hits 2nd consecutive ton

N

ational medium pacer Romario Shepherd produced and excellent spell of swing bowling to help West Bank Demerara to first innings advantage over East Bank/Upper Demerara at the Everest Cricket Club ground on Saturday in the second round of the inaugural Guyana Cricket Board/ Cricket Guyana Inc. national three-day league.

At stumps on day 2, West Demerara batting a second time reached 164/4 with national opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul making 75 before being dismissed in the dying stages of the day’s play. Earlier, East Bank who began day two on 55-2 were eventually bundles out shortly after lunch for 160 giving West Dem a healthy 97-run lead before they began their second innings.

East Bank never looked threatening and got useful starts from Stefan Browne

who top scored with 37 and Vishal Singh and Ershard Ali with 28 apiece. Romario Shephard was the pick of the bowlers claiming 5/32 while off spinner Rishi Looknauth bagged 3/57 and left-arm medium pacer Raymon Reifer 2/27.

At Young Warriors Cricket Club at Cumberland, Essequibo resuming at 111 for 8 were bowled out for 117 replying to 171 made by West Berbice on the opening day. In their second turn at the crease, West Berbice are so far putting up a better display to reach 98 for 2 before rain ended the day’s play 20 minutes before the scheduled lunch interval. Before the clouds burst Shimron Hetmyer hit an attractive 35. Play was officially called off at approximately 16:35h with West Berbice having a lead of 152 runs heading to today’s final day.

The match between hosts Lower Corentyne and

Georgetown at the Albion Community Centre was also rain affected but first round centurion Jonathan Foo used the period of play to complete his second ton. When the rain the rain came at 11:40h Lower Corentyne resuming on 123 for 3 in reply to 212 made by Georgetown in their first innings reached 249 for 6.

Jonathan Foo stroked an attractive 127 and got valuable support from David Latcha with 29 and Hakeem Hinds 19. When play begins today at 09:30h Sharaz Ramsarran, 19 and Veerasammy Permaul 14 will resume batting with Lower Corentyne looking to extend their slender lead of 37 runs.

Play was officially called off at approximately 13:30h by match officials.

At Enterprise, East Coast Demerara resuming on their overnight score 129/6 with Rajendra Chandrika on 31

and Ameer Khan on 14 was eventually dismissed for 227 with Chandrika making 69 and Ameer Khan finishing on 58 not out. Kamesh Yadram and Baskar Yadram made 46 and 26 on the first day. Troy Gonsalves and Shawn Perreira had identical figures of 3/34 while Eon Hooper claimed 3/36.

In their second turn at the crease Upper Corentyne was dismissed for 194 with Assad Fudadin stroking 70, Anthony Bramble and

Shawn Perriera Contributed 36 and 20 not out respectively. Bowling for East Coast Demerara, Kamesh Yadram returned with the ball to bag 5/34 while Vivian Albert supported with 3/57. East Coast Demerara closed the day on 33/1 chasing 116 for an outright victory.

At Everest, West Demerara claimed a first innings lead of 97 after they dismissed East Bank Demerara for 160. Stefan Browne top scored with

37 while Vishal Singh and Ershard Ali both scoring 28.

Romario Shephard was the pick of the bowlers claiming 5/32. Rishi Looknauth had 3/57 while Raymon Reifer 2/27.

West Demerara in their second innings close the day on 164/4.Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored a well composed 75 being he was dismissed just before close of play.

Play continues tomorrow starting at 09:30 hours.

Youthful men’s team wing out for Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Championships

A

five-member Guyana table tennis team left yesterday for the Dominican Republic where they will participate in the 59th edition of the Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Championships from September 4 to 9 at the Pabellón de Tenis de Mesa del Parque del Este Santo Domingo.

The comprises national men’s champion Nigel Bryan, National 21 years and under Champion and Caribbean Junior Bronze medalist Shemar Britton, National Junior Champion Kyle Edghill and Elishaba Johnson along with national coach Linden Johnson.

In the absence of some of the more seasoned senior players in the like of national Men’s Champion Christopher Franklin, Mathew Khan who has a high ranking in the USA and has indicated his availability to the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) to possibly represent Guyana; Edinho Lewis among other players and based on resource availability.

The GTTA selected some our talented disciplined and brightest prospects to represent Guyana at this prestigious event, The central objectives and aims of the association in selecting this group was based on central premise of molding and positioning a them for the future, which is vital to creating a new nucleus of players who would represent us well in the future. (Succession planning and developmental), the association also felt

Members of the National Men’s team; from left Shemar Britton, Nigel Bryan, Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill and Manager Linden Johnson along with Godfrey Munroe strike a pose prior to their departure for the Dominican Republic

that this can provide the opportunity start nurturing and transitioning the young players which can lend to developing and improving the competitive level in domestic events/tournaments A key element of our participation in this tournament is that we would have the players selected participate in the under 21 category where we feel that their prospects for medals are very high Further of critical importance is that the championships will be used to assign world ranking to players in the Caribbean for the first time in the history of the championships which is critical to our success in future tournaments.

The team will be missing some of its prospects for medals in a veteran player in the 45 years and over category and the women’s team who are former the Caribbean women’s team runner, the likes of Chelsea Edghill Caribbean 21 years silver medalist due to her scholastic commitments, Trenace Lowe Caribbean

Team Silver medalist and women’s doubles gold medalist in addition to Natalie Cummings who is currently in Brazil training on a scholarship engagement.

Eight countries have confirmed their participation in the event Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica host Dominica Republic, Puerto Rico Curacao Guyana and St Lucia.

The members of the team selected has been practicing twice daily in preparation for these championships for the last month.

President of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe who sent the team off from the National Gymnasium wished the players well and told Guyana Times Sport that while the team is not at full strength it is a good investment in youth.

The team will commence its quest for honors today when the team events begin followed by the doubles and will wrap up with the singles events on September 9.

The team is scheduled to return on September 10, 2016.

guyana-times.com

sundAY, september 4, 2016

23

The talent is here and the time is right –Garrido-Lowe ...as GFF launches Women’s Development League

By Akeem Greene

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in collaboration with the National Association For Women’s Football (NAWF) launched its Women’s Development League on Saturday at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue.

Giving the feature address, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valarie Garrido- Lowe echoed these words “the talent is here and the time is right, let’s use this league to play great female football.”

The Minister added, “having a developmental league is excellent for the growth and expansion of football locally and is keeping on par with the international standard.”

Garrido-Lowe’s contention is that Guyana has abundance of talent but it just needs to nurtured by professionals.

She said, “Guyana has raw talents, as for someone who has travelled the length and breadth of this country I can tell you, the girls just need someone to coach their skills”.

The Minister further stated that she is confident, that in the coming years, a large percentage of locally based players will be representing the National team.

NAWF President, Charmine Wade, explained that“as of 2013 and onwards, FIFA has decided to increase its annual subventions to female football; six years ago we were standing at 5% subvention but today we stand at 20% subvention.”

RHTYSC Town Week 2016

Nand Persaud & Kris Jagdeo Construction to fund recreational park

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S and the ‘B’ Division of the Guyana Police Force would be teaming up once again to make a positive difference in the lives of families. The two organisations would construct a family Recreational Park as part of the 46th Anniversary celebrations of Rose Hall being granted the status of township. The Park would be officially opened on Friday September 23. Secretary/ CEO of the RHTYSC Foster, who is spearheading the project stated that the playfield would consist of a benab, slides, swings, see-saws, flower garden, tourist seats among others and would also be branded with messages of the organisations Say No and Yes campaign.

Plans for the Family Playfield received a massive boost when popular businessman Kris Jagdeo of Jagdeo Construction Firm and Mohindra Persaud of Nand Persaud Co. Ltd of NO 36 Village made financial contributions towards the construction of the slides, swings and seesaws. Foster hailed the contribution of Jagdeo and Persaud and described them both as real friends of the RHTYSC, M.S. Foster, disclosed that the objectives of the Family Recreational Park are to promote the importance of sports, to provide clean relaxation for children, to allow families to bond together, to promote social cohesion and to promote the Say No to Suicide, Drugs, Crime and Yes to Life, Sports and Education Message. Construction of the Park would be undertaken by members of the RHTYSC, M.S eight cricket teams and its Over 35 Section. The Club and the Police Force on completion of the project would

Mohindra Persaud

officially hand it over to the Rose Hall Town Council, who would then be responsible for the playfield’s upkeep.

Foster expressed amazement at the amount of projects/programmes the RHTYSC, M.S undertakes each year and expressed profound disappointment that other sports clubs were not playing any role in assisting less fortunate children.

He expressed gratitude to Kris Jagdeo Construction Firm and Nand Persaud Co. Ltd for their timely contribution and reassured them that the project would fulfil all of its objectives. Police Commander Ian Amsterdam explained that the ‘B’ Division of the Guyana Police Force fully supports the project as it would play a major role in fostering stronger family bonds. He joined Foster in expressing gratitude to the two donors for their contribution.

The cricket teams involved in the construction of the Family Recreation Park are RHT Farfan and Mendes Under 15, Bakewell Under 17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under 19 and Intermiade, Metro Females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under 21 and First Division.

Some of the players engage in an exhibition match after the launching

According to second Vice President of the GFF, Rawlston Adams, FIFA has donated balls, uniforms and shoes for the tourna-

ment and revealed that the GFF will soon be launching its school football programme targeting young boys and girls, to harness

their talent.

The league which commences on September 17, will run for two months with participation of thir-

teen (13) clubs drawn from three-geographic districts.

The teams in district one are: Fruta Conquerors, Guyana Defence Force, Foxy ladies and Bartica; District two comprises of New Amsterdam Warriors, West Side Conquerors, KuruKuru Warriors, Demerara Queens and Kwakwani Strikers while district three will feature Saints Football Club, Snatchers Football Club, Paiwomak Football Club and Shulinab Football Club.

Several notable persons in society including media personalities such as Alana Bose, Feliz Robertson, Wanita Huburn, Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts are designated as patrons of the league in an effort to provide greater promotion.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

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

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GFF second Vice President Rawlston Adams (left), Minister Valarie Garrido- Lowe (centre) and National Association For Women’s Football (NAWF) Charmine Wade (right) along some of Guyana Lady Jags

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