Binder1

Lindeners benefit from ‘Caring for Others’ charity exercise P17

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

Issue No. 3218

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, May 22, 2017

PRICE

More transparency in drug purchases needed – TIGI Page 3

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Wales severance fallout

High Court yet to hear matter, weeks after being P8 filed … Union to seek legal advice

... Govt's excuses of emergencies not good enough

1 dead, 4 critical

Page 5

Man, wife arrested for unlawful P13 possession of gun

DPP’s chambers to host public outreach in Region 7 P13

21-year-old arrested for unlawful P2 possession of gun

– in 3-vehicle smash-up The remains of the mangled minibus involved in the three-vehicle smash-up at the intersection of Smyth and D' Urban Streets, Georgetown on Sunday afternoon

Region 8 flooding continues

Kanapang under threat, roads washed away

Page 7

…as relief efforts continue in affected locations

Contractors urged to use local labour Page 12

– as Cabinet approves $700M for major road upgrades

Race car driver held in drug bust hospitalised P17

2 news

monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Law books vendetta

Legally impossible to steal from oneself – Nandlall

…calls for SOCU to do honourable thing and withdraw charges

F

ormer Attorney General Anil Nandlall has issued a call for the charges of larceny by bailee instituted against him to be withdrawn. This comes after the publishers of the law books he is accused of stealing affirmed that the law books were indeed being delivered to him in a personal and not official capacity.

After checks of its database, Lexis Nexis, the United Kingdom-based publisher of the law reports, stated that the account was and always has been under Nandlall's name for more than 10 years. In fact, the publisher stated there was no arrangement with the Government of Guyana as the owner of the reports.

“During the year 2012, we were instructed to directly deliver the said law reports and correspondence to him (at the Attorney General Chambers). We are unable to find any subscriptions for Law Reports of the Commonwealth for the Government of Guyana or the Attorney General's Chambers from 2012 to 2015 and even up to present,” the publisher made known in its correspon-

dence.

The fact that Nandlall was receiving the books on his personal behalf and not the Government of Guyana's contradicts the charges brought against him by members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

The charges detail that between May 15 and May 29, 2015, while being a bailee (custodian), Nandlall fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit 14 Commonwealth Law Reports, valued $2.3 million, which SOCU alleges he unlawfully retained after demitting office in 2015.

Commenting on the new development, Nandlall stated that it was legally impossible for someone to steal his own property and thus, the charges could only be an expression of malice and incompetence. He noted that the honourable thing for any professional to do would be to withdraw the charges, as they are “bad in law”.

“The correspondence is self-explanatory. It corroborates every material detail I disclosed about this transaction over a year ago. However, I wish to

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall engaged in discussion with his successor, Basil Williams

highlight the company's assertion that they never sold and delivered these books to the Government of Guyana, nor the Attorney General Chambers, nor the Ministry of Legal Affairs between the period 20122015, or even to date,” Nandlall stated in response to the correspondence.

He noted that the publisher attested to “at all times (having) these books sold and delivered to me and that it was I, who directed their delivery to the Ministry, during my tenure as a Minister. This correspondence should finally put to rest the issue of ownership of those books.”

“It is not legally possible for a person to steal his own property. The charge instituted against me, therefore, is not only bad in law,

but it is an expression of malice and incompetence by those who instituted it and by those who inspired its institution.”

He reminded that from the time he was brought before the court, he had

stated that the charge had nothing to do with law, but more to do with political witch-hunting and a political vendetta.

“I am being vindicated with each passing day.

A professional worth his salt would do the honourable thing and withdraw the charge,” he said. “But I doubt this will happen in this instance.”

Back in November 2015, Legal Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Indira Ananjit was sent on 52 days’ leave after the law books were found missing. This caused an audit to be launched by the Auditor General’s Office to locate the books. Nandlall has repeatedly said that the books were part of his conditions of service, an assertion backed up by former President Donald Ramotar.

He had explained on previous occasions that when he was appointed Attorney General, he requested as part of his contract, of service for the Government of Guyana to stand the ex-

pense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth law books.

“I was subscribing to this particular law report over a decade before my appointment as Attorney General. When I was offered the position, one of the conditions I asked for is for the Government of Guyana to continue to pay the subscription of these books, because I did not want to break the subscription,” Nandlall had pointed out.

Insisting that nothing was abnormal about the practice, the former AG had argued that such was done by other Government Ministries such as Finance and Health.

He had expressed awareness that for decades prior, the Government had paid for professional and technical publications, journals, periodicals, and magazines.

This, he said, had been done for Ministers as well as professional and technical personnel.

21-year-old arrested for unlawful possession of gun

A

n East Coast Demerara resident was arrested on Saturday afternoon after he was found to be in unlawful possession of a firearm.

About 15:30h on the day in question, Police received information that the man was in possession of an illegal weapon at the Stabroek Market in Georgetown in the vicinity of the Digicel outlet.

After conducting a thorough search on the suspect, who was identified as a 21-year-old construction worker, Police found a .38 revolver on his body. No ammunition was discov-

Recovered: The unlicensed .38 revolver

ered. The construction worker is expected to be charged and appear in court sometime this week.

news

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

Monday, May 22 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h- 16:00h and Tuesday, May 23 – a night retraction at 02:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h- 16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, May 22 – 13:45h-15:15h and Tuesday, May 23 – 14:40h-16:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery and heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day. Lightly to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures should range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 13:59h reaching a maximum height of 2.53 metres.

Low Tide: 07:31h and 19:53h reaching minimum heights of 0.69 metre and 0.64 metre respectively.

More transparency in drug purchases needed – TIGI ... Govt's excuses of emergencies not good enough

M

assive amounts of money have been expended by Government on purchasing drugs with no pre-qualification of suppliers or public tendering, thus the Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) is questioning the continuous bypassing of the established system of purchasing drugs by using the excuse that “emergency shortages” necessitate this action.

TIGI head, Dr Troy Thomas, has said the system by which Government is procuring drugs is engaging the attention of TIGI. He described this system as “simply not good enough” for a government to have so much emergency drug shortages.

“Every so often, ever so often, we are hearing about some emergency necessi-

talking about, then I would have to question the level of transparency (involved),” he told this publication.

“You need to have open tendering; there’s good reason for that. One, it’s to ensure that you get the best deal. But apart from that, it keeps everything on top of the table. When you’ve got that kind of approach (emergency procurement), it opens up avenues for all kinds of things to happen,” he explained.

According to Dr. Thomas, an investigation would be necessary before blame could be ascribed to specific personnel for the drug shortages and prevailing emergencies. But he noted that official admission that the system of public tendering and pre-qualification had not been followed would cast

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monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Members of the public have, for some time, complained about shortages of drugs at public health facilities

tating single sourcing or no open tendering; and that’s not good enough,” he said. “I think we need to be planning more ahead, to arrest these situations so that (they do not) happen so often.”

Dr Thomas has stressed that good reasons exist for the systems of open tendering and pre-qualification; and he has emphasised that these systems are in place to ensure Guyana gets value for sums of tax payers’ money expended.

“Procurement practice for anything that involves spending from ‘the public purse’ should include open tendering. So if that was not done in the case that you are

some amount of doubt on any procurement. “(The fact) that the mechanism was not followed would cast some doubt on what took place. So I would urge transparency in the operations, and I would question why it seems that so many emergencies are popping up. Is it a matter of planning?” he elaborated.

When the Peoples Progressive Party fielded questions to the ministers of Public Health and Communities in the National Assembly on May 8, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan revealed that, in nine out of Guyana’s 10 regions, there had been

TIGI Head, Dr Troy Thomas

no public tendering for drugs and medical supplies between January 2016 and February 2017.

In addition, in none of the regions was the pre-qualification process followed. All purchases had been made under the “emergency” system.

O p p o s i t i o n Parliamentarian Juan Edghill, who had assisted in fielding the questions, had noted that 77 per cent of the total sum allocated for the acquisition of drugs for the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) had been expended.

Edghill had also noted that when Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence was asked about the amount of money spend on drugs and medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital for January and February 2017, it was revealed that some $2 billion had already been expended. This sum represents almost 77 per cent of the total sum allocated for the procurement of drugs for the year.

Edghill had, however, pointed out that among the questions posed to the ministers was whether any of the supplier companies had been pre-qualified; and he noted that the answer was “no”.

Pre-qualification is an important part of ensuring quality assurance when works are done or goods are supplied to Government.

In this instance, contractors are usually invited to apply to the NPTAB to be pre-qualified or placed on a shortlist for participation in future projects, according to World Health Organisation standards.

In the case of drugs and medical supplies, companies are expected to have adequate warehousing facilities, staff and security, in addition to appropriate certification and impeccable sanitation.

Emergencies

Then Public Health Minister in 2016, Dr George Norton, had stated that changes in the procurement system were likely the cause for the drug shortages being experienced at certain public health facilities across Guyana.

The Public Health Ministry has reportedly introduced a new system for procuring drugs and medical supplies, wherein each region is required to submit to central government a list of drugs needed and the total sum required to make the purchases. Money would then be warranted back to the Public Health Ministry from the regions to facilitate a centralised procurement.

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monDAY, may 22, 2017

Views A home for orphans Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

Suicide: opting for a final solution to life

W

hen life has become a burden too heavy to bear, some persons do not have the courage, or strength, or spiritual fortitude to overcome an urge to seek a place they think may offer escape from their pain or problems.

They think – that is if they are thinking at all, and not merely acting on primal emotion – that the place they have in mind would provide a final solution to all that are ailing them. Suicide is one of the most selfish and cruel acts that any human being can commit, because the lifelong burden of pain and blame that relatives and loved ones carry to their graves robs them also of their lives, or diminishes the quality of their lives.

The link between suicide and depression indicates that intervention in the lives of those who display suicidal tendencies is a dire necessity, because depression is a disease that predisposes suicidal tendencies. Sometimes someone who decides to end his/her life is saved and has a second chance at living their life to the full and natural end. They discover that so many challenges lead to higher places in life that they come to the realisation that their initial response to pain had not been a solution -- final or otherwise – but merely a precipitator of problems and a source of unending pain for loved ones.

Persons who had opted for this apparent resolution to their problems, whether they died the same time or many days afterwards, had committed the most selfish act; because they had paid no heed to their obligations to parents and other relatives who loved them, or are dependent on them for anything.

Mainly of recent times, there has been a spate of actual and attempted suicide in the youth population in Guyana, especially in rural areas; and the authorities seem perplexed on how to deal with what is emerging as an epidemic, because mental health issues seem to have taken a backseat in the health sector.

There often is need for merely a listening ear to diffuse unbearable emotions, and a caring person to advise that this final act of taking one’s own life leaves many unresolved problems for others. The agony of the moment that precipitates that momentous and tragic act that writes the final episode of one’s life by one’s own actions could be gradually reduced to manageable proportions if there is a confidante or someone to whom the afflicted can relate and in whom they can confide.

According to Wikipedia, suicide in Guyana is a serious social problem, as Guyana is ranked first in suicides per capita worldwide.

Statistics have revealed that about 40% of people who commit suicide in Guyana ingest agricultural pesticides and thus poison themselves. The most famous case of suicide in Guyana was the mass suicide of over 900 members of Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple in 1978, although some sources regard the events as a mass murder. Jim Jones, the leader of this cult, and his followers were all Americans who had created a commune in Guyana’s jungles.

Ethnic Indians have been seen to make up the vast majority of suicide victims in Guyana, though their share of overall suicides dropped from 85% in 2004 to 75% in 2009.

The ethnic groups categorised as “other” were seen to make up most of the difference. Indians accounted for 48% of all deaths in both years, which is 4% higher than their population share.

A 2003 World Bank report stated that the political process in Guyana is often fought with so much time and energy that “little [is] left to undertake the many policies necessary to facilitate growth and development. Poor governance on the national level, according to an IMF report, has led to inefficiencies and has strained the abilities of local and regional authorities to provide basic services and guarantee rule of law. Distribution of land and water rights, payment of taxes, court cases, and the issuance of gun and driver’s licences are all frequently found to be fraudulent.

This basic ill-governance has fed a sense of mistrust and frustration among the population, reduced investments in constructive economic projects, and has led to the growth of a shadow economy. The report posits that the role of economic insecurity as a leading factor in suicide rates remains a controversial issue in Guyana.

A boy playing table tennis with a teacher at the orphanage named after its founder, Hazret Sovmen, in central Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia. Hazret Sovmen, former President of Russia’s largest gold producer, Polyus, founded the orphanage for children of Krasnoyarsk region in 2003 on personal finances, and continues to cover all expenses (Reuters/Ilya Naymushin)

Region 5 contemptuous RDC Councillor and the thin-skinned REO Dear Editor, With the resignation of the former tyrant of Region 5, I had hoped that those elected to serve the people would have finally put aside their confrontational behaviour and work to bring real development to the region. However, it seems like the other contemptuous Councillor and the thin-skinned REO are determined to continue the disruptive agenda of non-cooperation with the Regional Chairman.

Let me make my position emphatically clear: I am not writing this letter in defence of the Regional Chairman, for I was not present at the RDC statutory meeting when APNU+AFC Councillor Abel Seetaram lodged his complaint with the Regional Chairman about the misuse of NDIA equipment. But I write to express my profound disgust at what is clearly a deliberate and continuous effort to stymie development in Region 5 in order to make the PPP-controlled NDCs look bad.

For seven long months in 2016, the now disgraced former APNU+AFC Councillor Carol Joseph, aided and abetted by the despicable RDC Councillor Abel Seetaram, had successfully spearheaded a boycott of the RDC statutory meetings, crippling all forms of development in the region. This happened because Joseph thought that Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphall had been disrespectful to the President when he failed to attend a handing-over ceremony to

which he was not invited.

This lawlessness was encouraged by REO Ovid Morrison, who uses ‘the power of the purse’ to manipulate and dictate which communities in Region 5 are more deserving of attention, so as to accomplish the APNU+AFC objectives in the region. The way I see it, this “crisis” could have been avoided if protocol had been followed.

APNU/AFC Councillor Abel Seetaram, a wellknown trouble-maker, received information that an RDC excavator on loan to the Bath/Woodley Park NDC was being misused for private use. Instead of reporting this to the Regional Chairman as protocol dictates, he went to see the REO, Mr Ovid Morrison.

Without informing the Regional Chairman, and without inviting him to the scene of the “crime”, Morrison accompanied Seetaram to the location where the excavator was operating and photos were taken.

During the April sitting of the RDC Statutory Meeting, Seetaram reported the misuse of the excavator and offered to produce the photos he had taken. The REO confirmed that he, too, was there, giving credibility to Seetaram’s complaint.

In response, Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal requested that an investigation be held into this allegation before any pronouncement on the matter be made. The APNU+AFC Councillors did not approve of the

Chairman’s request, as they believe the photos and the REO’s affirmation of being there should have been enough evidence not to warrant an investigation of any kind.

When the Chairman insisted on an investigation, the REO thought his integrity was being questioned, and threatened to walk out if the Chairman did not offer an apology to him. He subsequently left the meeting, followed by the APNU+AFC Councillors.

The Regional Democratic Council must be guided by parliamentary practices. And whenever allegations are brought before the Council, an investigation must be conducted before any action is taken. If indeed the excavator was being misused, Abel Seetaram was obligated to bring this to the attention of the Council.

But he mischievously and deliberately violated protocol when he reported the incident to the REO, instead of informing the Regional Chairman as Councillors are obligated to do. Had he done the right thing, this entire fiasco would have been avoided.

Residents of Region 5 are faced with serious issues, and the attention of the RDC is required. Most of the farm-to-market roads and streets within the ten Neighbourhood Democratic Councils are in deplorable state; Health Centres are in need of repair, medical equipment and supplies; our schools are in deplorable state and in need of urgent attention; yet, every lit-

tle thing seems to escalate into a constitutional crisis that demands an apology, with total disregard for the need to deliberate the people’s business and to come up with real solutions that would bring much needed relief to the people of Region 5.

I must remind REO Ovid Morrison that if he had taken the time and had objectively investigated allegations of drug abuse by Carol Joseph, he would not have given instructions to have Staff Nurse/Midwife Sheriyn Marks transferred from the Fort Wellington Hospital with immediate effect. And he would have discovered that those who pushed him to make that decision are the ones guilty of perpetrating and covering up a crime to protect an unscrupulous drug addict. But, then again, he may have already known that.

The Regional Chairman owes the REO no apology. I will encourage him to apologise when the Attorney General, the Hon Basil Williams, apologises to High Court Judge Justice Franklin Holder, and when Morrison is remorseful enough to transfer Staff Nurse/Midwife Sheriyn Marks back to Fort Wellington Hospital where she belongs, and issues a public apology for the pain and suffering he has caused this model civil servant of whom we should all be proud.

Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

monDAY, May 22, 2017

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News

1 dead, 4 critical – in 3-vehicle smash-up

A

n unidentified man is now lying in the mortuary of the Georgetown Public Hospital with his body torn in two following a three-vehicle

The Hospital’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mitzy Campbell also confirmed that four other persons, including a pedestrian, are in critical condition nursing severe wounds to their bodies.

The accident occurred around 16:00h. Minibus

One of the persons in intensive care

BVV 5273 was said to be proceeding along D’Urban Street heading to South

Georgetown when it was struck from behind by a black Tundra which was said to be speeding along Smyth Street headed North.

The Tundra, bearing registration GRR 8350, then hit a parked blue Allion before coming to a halt.

According to information received by Guyana Times

after being struck, the minibus which was said to be fully loaded toppled a number of times.

Several injured persons, including a six-year-old and 16-year-old Brian DeSantos, had to be pulled from the mangled minibus, some in an unconscious state.

told them thus; even their own team of “experts” came up with the same conclusion -- that it is backward and unwise to decimate a productive sector.

So, the question comes back: Why not shut down bauxite? The answer is that they will never do that! So what is the prime objective for not facing that reality? The answer is that the PNC government would never shut that industry

down, because it marks a place where a bastion of votes are accrued, and it is a power base for them; so they will continue to prop up the industry at all costs.

However, the sugar industry and the “people” that are contained therein are not particularly of interest to them. “Let us close down sugar; if not, render the industry crippled.” So the one dubious objective they would have achieved as a

party is to bring the industry and the PPP’s sphere of existence to its knees. It is the naked truth.

But I have news for them: No country will prosper when it can express its biases in so blatant a fashion. The end result will be that the entire economy will succumb.

The Tundra hit the minibus and then this parked Allion

smash-up at the intersection of Smyth and D’Urban Streets, Georgetown on Sunday afternoon.

Injured: Brian DeSantos

Out to get revenge

Dear Editor, What is crystal clear about this PNC-led coalition Administration is that it comprises a group of individuals who are out to get revenge on their magnanimous political enemy, the PPP/C; and they are doing it from the standpoint of what I call “vengeful economics.”

When they came into power, they had it all well thought out, and what we see at present is a plan being surgically executed.

They realise that the PPP/C is too great a force to be put to rest by merely being illegally evicted from office; that has been an age-old tried and tattered plan, so they now go for something that would have a crippling effect on the PPP/C – the sugar workers and their hub of existence.

The PNC knows fully well where the power base of the PPP lies. That power lies in the rural hub of agriculture and sugar. It is where Cheddi Jagan was born and where the idea of freedom from servile indentureship originated -- right there in the squalid logies of Port Mourant. There, freedom rang in the ears of that barefoot little boy named Cheddi Jagan. Against that backdrop, a free and independent Guyana, as we now know it, was spawned.

So, the PNC, in their haste to wipe that PPP Freedom

message from our memories, went for the jugular of the PPP. So let’s not play around the fact of what the real intentions of the PNC are.

They should be honest enough to tell the nation that they want to decimate the PPP as a party and as a “nation.”

Their modus operandi, then, is all centred on sugar and the sugar industry. True to their word, they have been very hypocritical in saying that they are trying to bring sugar into the era of profitability.

According to their economic formula, to bring sugar into that line is to brutally close most, if not all, of the sugar estates. This formula, in their scheme of things, will cause the industry to become sustainable and profitable.

Okay, this may appear a good plan in the eyes of the casual onlooker; but if we are to go down the road of their reasoning, why talk only of sugar? What about bauxite? Is that industry profitable? Make public the accounts on bauxite.

How much is its contribution to the economy?

And what does it cost central Government to keep it afloat?

I speak as a matter of equity, what is good for one is equally good for the other. But, like I intimated earlier, they will never reveal those figures for public scrutiny, for fear of exposing their evil scheme. The results would show that sugar is a far greater asset than bauxite. They know it and all right-thinking individuals would attest to this fact. Ironically, the IMF

turn to page 13

Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams

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monDAY, may 22, 2017

Page

Foundation

– the importance of writing by hand for learning

By Victoria L Dunckley, MD

I

n today’s world, students who have trouble printing or writing are allowed –if not encouraged or even forced –to use computers instead, but research and clinical experience suggest that adopting this practice too early may cause additional setbacks.

Sensory integration specialists and child development experts assert that children who can’t hand print well don’t learn to read easily because they don’t have as strong a visual-motor “imprint” for letter recognition. In contrast, practising and becoming proficient in printing makes both printing and reading more fluid and automatic, freeing up mental energy to work on other subjects like math and spelling.1 More generally, printing and cursive writing stimulate the brain and mind in unique and encompassing ways that typing does not, including hand-eye coordination, self-discipline, attention to detail, style, and global engagement of thinking, language, and working memory areas. Yet increasingly, schools bypass this critical skill and rush to let a child use a keyboard at the

guyanatimesgy.com

first sign of struggle. And cursive? Teaching cursive is no longer a requirement of the national Common Core standards.

What’s more, studies show that laptop note-taking produces a more shallow understanding of the material compared to taking notes by hand, and that laptops are distracting both for users

and for their neighbours, even when they’re being used in an appropriate manner. Other research has shown that students using laptops to take notes don’t perform as well on exams compared to longhand note-takers.

In a compelling 2007 report advocating the banning of laptops in the classroom, Professor Kevin Yamamoto of the South Texas College

of Law presents a litany of research supporting his case, including that the use of laptops in law classrooms is linked to a lower passrate of the Bar exam. In a study on his own classroom, he found that laptop use reduced student-teacher eye contact, created an over-re-

liance on looking up material instead of internalising concepts, hindered critical thinking, and erected a mental and physical barrier between himself and the students. He also found that students were frequently not following along, making discussions maddeningly inefficient. In contrast, after banning laptops, Professor Yamamoto noted there were more questions from students, more in-depth discussions, and higher exam

scores as well as overwhelmingly positive feedback from students: nearly 90 per cent felt positive or neutral about the ban.

Interestingly, Yamamoto noted that the ban made the administration very nervous, and he was discouraged from making such a bold move; they figured the ban would cause an uproar.

It did not, but even if it had, why are we all so afraid of removing screen-based technology from certain environments, even in an experimental manner? Was the administration projecting their own psychological dependence on devices, and reacting out of anxiety? Or was it due to resistance they’d seen in their own children when screens were removed? Did they assume the students could not adapt?

Whatever the case, when it comes to learning, development, and health, many times the simplest and most natural way is what resonates with the brain and body. We have to create environments that are conducive to learning, even if it goes against the cultural grain, and at the same time give young people more credit when it comes to adaptability. As boring as it may seem, “back to the basics” often works best. (psychologytoday.com)

– understanding habit formation will lead to greater long term student success

By Bernard J Luskin, EdD

T

hree primary characteristics in forming beneficial learning habits are (1) attention, (2) focus and (3) purposeful repetition.

When improving learning patterns, one can examine his or her behaviour, figure out needs for improvement and replace behaviours that are not productive with behaviours that are more desirable.

Habits such as procrastination, a b s e n c e o f f o c u s , impatience or lack of

motivation c a n b e intentionally replaced. The fact is, research reveals that our bad habits are most effectively eliminated when replaced by new and different learning habits. Given this understanding as a basis for developing positive patterns of learning, you can choose to develop and follow a plan that is beneficial to your overall well-being and feelings of accomplishment.

Habit formation is a process whereby new behaviours become repetitive and automatic. For example, if you instinctively reach for a cigarette the moment you awaken in the morning, you have a bad habit! This smoking habit is bad and detrimental to your overall well-being. Alternatively, if you feel inclined to step into your running shoes and head to the streets as soon as you awaken, you may have a good habit.

Habits can be good or bad and they can be changed, however, old habits are hard to break and new habits are hard to form. One reason is because habit patterns that we repeat with regularity are literally etched into our neural pathways. The good news is that we now know that, through repetition, it’s possible to form and maintain new habits. Enter “The Habit Replacement Loop .”

Learning habits are psychological mechanisms that determine desired or undesired actions, resulting in personal outcomes. We can trace personal patterns of habit formation back to our formative years.

The Marshmallow Experiment done by Stanford professor Walter Mischel is quite well known. Mischel found that children who had more measurable willpower and were able to delay immediately eating a marshmallow treat to receive a bigger treat a little later, were more successful in many areas than their counterparts over time. The Marshmallow

Experiment relates to habit formation coming from consistent and reliable structures, eg, we can decide to exchange our current behaviour for one that can lead us to bigger and better rewards.

Memory is central to habit replacement. If you want to develop a new habit or replace an existing habit, you can consciously decide to replace one habit with another by working on creating and establishing habit memory. I call it, “The Habit Replacement Loop.” Repetition, thereby embedding the behaviour in memory creates t h e automatic h a b i t response.

Successful tactics for habit replacement, ie, changing from poor practices to good practices in learning, may involve using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques. Reducing stress can serve as an example.

Intentional replacement of stress and anxiety can take place by substituting a feeling of accomplishment by learning something new.

Habit Replacement Looping is a behaviour therapy that can help those with nailbiting, thumb-sucking, muscle spasms, stress disorders resulting from PTSD or those who simply have poor personal habits resulting from negative behaviour practices, writes Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit (Duhigg, 2012). Once you identify the habits you wish to change, you can consciously replace them through HRL. As an example, intentionally reinforcing the habit of regular exercise can yield both a physical and mental benefit. What I have described incorporates the use of CBT to establish a learning pattern.

CBT is a method used to create successful habit replacement.

Habit Replacement Looping is the key ingredient.

The primary determinant in successfully substituting or changing a learning habit is that the individual sincerely wants to change a habit more than he or she wants to repeat it. A person wishing to change an ingrained habit must engage as a participant with level of motivation sufficient to create a positive replacement memory.

Desire is very important.

New Year’s resolutions are a good example of wishes to change that may or may not have a substantial degree of desire and the degree of necessary commitment may be low or high. These are the determinants for whether the resolution is acted upon, sustained… or not. (Excerpt from

pyschologytoday.com)

To be continued

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monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 8 flooding continues

Kanapang under threat, roads washed away …as relief efforts continue in affected locations

A

s floodwaters recede in several locations across Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), the Indigenous community of Kanapang remains under threat, given the reduced access to the area.

Guyana Times was on Sunday informed that deploying relief to this community has proved to be a challenge as the roads in the area near the Ireng River were washed away by the floodwaters.

According to information received, boats must be utilised to reach the floodhit village via the Orinduk route. This publication understands that there were also reports of flooding in Cheung Mouth, Region Eight, but communication difficulties have hindered contact with that community.

Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) Member Michael McGarrell related to Guyana Times on Sunday afternoon that relief efforts by a number of bodies were continuing to alleviate the flood crisis. He reiterated that some 22 families lost everything as their homes were washed away.

“They are really in need of food and clothing.

The Amerindian Peoples Association staff has been on the ground since Friday visiting the affected communities; the situation is really grim, we are appeal-

Residents in Chenapau get much-needed supplies

ing for more donations,” he noted.

He further highlighted that his organisation has been in collaboration with the Region Eight Regional Democratic Council (RDC) officials to take supplies to the affected locations.

McGarrell pointed out that the public can donate to the Amerindian Peoples Association, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

The CDC and the Public

Health Ministry, along with several local businesses and organisations, assisted the residents on Saturday morning, delivering food items as well as health-care services.

The six main affected areas are Chenapau, Waipa, Kaibarupai and Itabac, Sand Hill Settlement and Kanapang. The water level in these six villages has been receding. Four planeloads of relief supplies were dispatched to Chenapau and Orinduik on Saturday, while relief supplies for

Waipa, Kaibarupai and other villages were taken to the villages from the CDC’s Forward Operations Centre at Orinduik.

The food items the residents received included farine, cassava bread, rice, tasso, corned mutton/ beef, sardines, tuna, salted fish, salted meat, porridge stuff, milk, sugar, salt, Milo, Ovaltine, drink mixes, chowmein/pasta, peas, casareep, crackers and biscuits.

Other needed items were identified as tarpaulin, mosquito nets, hammocks, sheets, blankets, towels, toilet paper, disposable napkins, sanitary pads, laundry soap/detergent, bleach, bath soap, matches/lighters, rope, garbage bags, water purification tablets, clothing, reusable plastic eating utensils, buckets and insect repellent.

The Public Health Ministry has also dispatched several doctors, nurses, Community Health Workers and Environmental Health Officers to the affected communities. Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings had disclosed that the Ministry prepared flood kits which include antifungal creams, panadol syrup and items to

The flooding in Kanapang as seen on Saturday

prevent outbreaks in those areas.

The CDC had further reported that several villages in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) were also suffering from flooding, but these communities were not as severely affected as their Region Eight counterparts.

The flood-hit Region Seven villages included Purima, Kako, Jawalla, Phillipi, Kamarang and Duebamang. Region Seven Regional Disaster Risk Management Systems (RDRMS) and Regional

Disaster Risk Management Committee (RDRMC) have been activated.

A team was said to have already been deployed to the affected areas to conduct assessments and reconnaissance. Farmland in the main and some residential areas has been flooded in the Region Seven villages. The flooding in both regions has persisted as a result of excessive recent rainfall in the highland regions. Many of the communities are located in mountainous valleys.

8 news

monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wales severance fallout

High Court yet to hear matter, weeks after being filed

… Union to seek legal advice

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

s the months roll by, the matter regarding the non-payment of severance packages to hundreds of sugar workers attached to the Wales Sugar Estate remains unresolved, as the case is yet to be heard in the High Court.

Guyana Times was recently made aware that some weeks ago, the counsel for the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Ashton Chase, SC, compiled and filed the requisite documents for the case to be called up at the High Court. However, after weeks, there has been no movement to commence proceedings, as the matter was reportedly not assigned to a judge.

GAWU President Komal Chand met with a number of aggrieved workers on Sunday, many of whom registered complaints, asking how soon the Union could act to advocate for their monies. He told this publication that many workers were depending on the outstanding payments to make

GAWU President Komal Chand

investments for their future. He also confirmed that the matter was yet to be assigned to a judge.

“It’s bothersome as the people are depending on their money to see how they could work on their future endeavours. I went to Wales and met with a number of people who have to receive their severance pay,” he noted.

Chand further informed this publication that the Union would seek legal advice on whether or not the

court could be petitioned to garner an early hearing.

“We are looking forward for the matter to be addressed without much delay,” the longtime GAWU President stressed.

While several workers had their service transferred to Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, the remaining workers were promised severance payments, some since December 2016 and others

by February 2017.

However, it was at a community-level meeting between Wales residents and several Government Ministers, including Agriculture Minister

“We are looking forward for the matter to be addressed without much delay” – GAWU President Komal Chand Noel Holder, that Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told the gathering that Government had no money to pay the severance to which the workers are entitled. After this comment was made, the workers angrily exited the meeting.

At that meeting, one worker had explained that he had gone to work at the Uitvlugt Estate, only to be given menial tasks, or alter-

Roots…

F

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

nately told to clean drains or scrub steps. The worker expressed great emotion over his impoverished state, since the closure of the Wales Estate operations.

This newspaper understands that around 30 workers from Wales are currently working at Uitvlugt, with many having less than five years of service. The majority of longer-term workers opted to be paid severance.

Government Ministers had reminded the crowd of the billions which had been invested into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), since the Government had taken office, but sugar workers had previously noted that President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had expressed much commitment to sustain the sugar industry. turn to page 11

…for Nagamootoo? or a fella who had disavowed his being “Indian” just before the last elections, Nagamootoo’s certainly been busy commemorating the links between Indians in the Caribbean and India.

Some (maybe unkindly?) have suggested that his disavowal might’ve been an effort to please his new partners in APNU. But most of those worthies were very proud of their African roots; and, in fact, David Granger had spent most of his post-army time digging into the history of Africans in Guyana and the Caribbean.

So maybe Nagamootoo’s now realised the error of his ways and embraced his Indian roots? Early on, he went over to India as the chief guest at a gathering in Madras, India - the region from whence he originated; then, in March, he joined Granger at Highbury, where the first Indian indentured immigrants landed in the western hemisphere.

Evidently encouraged by Granger’s rather open praise of Indians’ contributions to Guyana, he journeyed forth to Trinidad, where he commemorated the end of Indian indentureship at a regional conference.

Between those engagements, of course, he’d broken ground for a monument to be erected to indentured Indians at the Berbice village interestingly named “Palmyra”. This was the name of an ancient town in Syria that was filled with monuments 2000 years ago. Anyhow, the base of the monument in Palmyra, Berbice soon crumbled, leaving the structure remarkably like the ruins in the Palmyra in Syria.

But back to Nagamootoo. The Chronic this Sunday reported he was all the way in Guadeloupe, in the French Caribbean, to commemorate the end of Indian indentureship with people of Indian origin (GOPIO).

Now, most folks don’t even KNOW Indians were sent to Guadeloupe (and its sister island of Martinique) as indentured labourers; so, like your eyewitness said, Nagamootoo’s now doing a good job of spreading a PanIndian-Caribbean awareness!!

But the Chronic was -- not surprisingly -- coy about telling it as it is. Your Eyewitness hopes the PM’s Shill’s taking notice of this silencing of his master’s voice.

The Chronic didn’t even mention the words “Indian Indentureship” in the headline; they just said Nagamootoo was at a “civic reception”! “CIVIC” reception?? Everybody at the reception -- including Henri Nagapin, President of the Chamber of Commerce -- was of Indian origin!!

So, since the Chronic was so sparing with the facts, allow your humble Eyewitness to fill the gaps. The British weren’t too parsimonious about sending off Indians to labour for the French and Dutch. About 42,000 Indians were shipped to Guadeloupe and 25,000 to Martinique between 1854 and 1889, after the abolition of slavery by the French in 1848. Isolated, even in the Caribbean, they accepted they’re of “Indian origin”!! Will Nagamootoo now come out of the closet?? …in the Public Service When the PPP was in office, the AFC and APNU joined with Patrick Yarde, lifetime president of the GPSU, to denounce what they claimed was an alarmingly burgeoning number of ‘contract employees” in the Public Service. Folks were being hired, but on “contract”; and they were not members of the GPSU. Their pay scales could therefore be -- and were -- outside the official pay scales. Additionally, they received a gratuity every three months in lieu of a pension.

The PPP claimed this was the only way they could attract qualified personnel. Didn’t cut any ice!! The APNU/AFC combined huffed and puffed and promised to scrap the system immediately they get into office, so regular Public Service workers would be better paid -- and Yarde could collect union dues! But a funny thing happened in the last two years: while the Govt’s been firing contract workers, their NUMBERS HAVE GROWN!!!

What happened??

The ethnicity of the new ones hired -- after the PPP ones were fired -- solved the problem!

No objections!! …of potatoes Your Eyewitness is rather excited about us growing “Irish” potatoes. The Jamaican experience should give us hope after the failures recorded during Forbes’s experiments.

Just don’t ban the damned “aloo” right away!!

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

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monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Heavy rainfall in Mahaicony

Rains, rising river levels threaten crops, livestock A s heavy rainfall persists in many locations across the country, farmers and residents along Mahaicony River, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) are watching rising water levels with much concern. Many have noted that the conditions are threatening their crops and livestock, including goats, cows and chickens.

On Sunday, Guyana Times was informed that owing to the prevailing weather conditions, many farmers were hesitant to plant rice, the main source of sustenance in the area. This has delayed cultivation of the current crop and that would impact on the finances of the many persons who reside in that Region.

According to information received, with the recent heavy rainfall, the water level in the river has reached the banks, and the high tide worsens the threat. This threat to residents’ livelihood is similar to events that occurred in the area for several months last year when communities, including Mora Point, Pine Ground, Gordon Table and Moraikobai all suffered intermittent flooding. Many farmers in these villages had lost cash crops, and similar to now, livestock was threatened. Recently, mass flooding in several remote communities in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) occurred, threatening the lives of hundreds of residents.

The water level in the Mahaicony River on Sunday afternoon. Residents and farmers are watching the conditions with much concern

WCD road 60% complete – source …rain affecting work

W

ith more than expected rainfall during this MayJune rainy season, works on the West Coast Demerara (WCD) highway expansion project is being affected.

However, reports are that the project is approximately 60 per cent complete.

“The work, I would say, is about 60-65 per cent finished, but this rain affecting this work because when we excavate to widen the road and do back the culvert, the place get swampy and sometime flood out so some time we got to pump out water to do work and that keeping we back,” a source informed.

The US$42 million (G$8.4 billion) project was commissioned in 2015, with an expected completion date of the latter part of 2018. However, if the prevailing weather continues,

the possibility of not meeting the deadline exists.

Works are being carried out

by BK Engineering and a Jamaican engineering company, Surrey Paving and Aggregate.

The works entail the improvement of approximately 30.7 kilometres of the West Coast Demerara Road from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie just about one mile east of Parika. The project is funded by a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

When completed, the road is expected to increase the efficiency and safety of road transportation along the West Coast of Demerara from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo. Ongoing works include the rehabilitation of pavements, road widening and provision of addition-

Road expansion work at the Vreed-en-Hoop junction

al highway lights, and replacement of the Groenveldt Bridge.

According to the source, the replacement Groenveldt Bridge is approximately 40 per cent complete and works are ongoing to have it completed within two months.

“If this rain continue like this, then we have trouble to finish this work,” the source cautioned.

The source added that commuters were complaining of traffic congestion especially at the Vreed-enHoop junction area where the roads are being widened. “We does have plenty traffic at the (Vreed-enHoop) junction especially during rush hour and people does be complaining, but we can’t do nothing; we got to do we work too,” he explained.

Commuters would be stuck in traffic for 45 minutes to an hour during the peak period of 07:00h to

09:00h almost every morning. Hire car drivers are also complaining of being stuck in traffic often resulting in the loss of passengers which means less daily income.

“When we have to sit down in traffic for like an hour every trip that we make in the morning, then that don’t make any sense, them people (contractor) need to do this road in the night when road clear because we suffering,” hire car driver Devon Boucher said.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, announced more major road works for the West Coast DemeraraEast Bank Essequibo area.

These works will be carried out at Greenwich Park Main Road (Lot Four); Old Road De Kinderen (Lot Five); Fisher Dam Zeelugt and the Boerasirie Housing Scheme Road (Lot Seven).

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 22, 2017

News

GLDA engages stakeholders on laws governing animal slaughter

T

he Guyana Livestock D e v e l o p m e n t Authority (GLDA) of the Agriculture Ministry on Saturday met with livestock farmers, butchers and law enforcement officers of Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The purpose of the meeting was to have discussions on the Slaughter Act, which governs the slaughtering of cattle in Guyana.

The objective of this exercise was to identify existing legislation in Guyana pertaining to the slaughtering of cattle, and to enlighten farmers

and butchers of their responsibilities with regard to those legislation.

GLDA Corporate Secretary Monique Ifill presented to those in attendance basic facts that must be considered by the stakeholders once involved in this aspect of livestock agriculture. Extracts presented were taken from the Slaughter of Cattle (Control) Act, Chapter 71:09; Cattle Stealing Prevention Act; Miscellaneous Licences Act; Produce Protection Act of Guyana; Georgetown Abattoir By-Laws, and the Animal Health Act. It has been recognised that

Some stakeholders in attendance

the system of enforcing these laws especially in the two regions are inadequate, as a result of a number of issues prevailing with regard to management and support of laws.

One of the main issues highlighted by the law enforcement officers was the limited compliance by farmers and butchers in B Division (Berbice).

Other stakeholders noted that there was need for some of these laws to be reviewed since most of them were outdated and did not apply to modern-day practices.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officers said that butchers, as well as farmers, must become familiar with the laws and legislation applied to this particular sub-sector of agriculture.

Ifill’s presentation outlined the process for slaughtering cattle and specified that not all cattle should be slaughtered.

The importance of cattle branding was emphasised.

Cattle branding is the marking of livestock as a means of identifying an animal and determining ownership.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, one of the challenges with this is that the Cattle Stealing Prevention Act specifies that cattle should be branded by farmer within six months of birth or 28 days after purchase. This is to allow law enforcement officers to verify that cattle were not unlawfully acquired.

“If you would have bought the animal from a farmer, you need to ensure that when you would have had your agreement of sale and so on, and now you decide to put your brand, what you have to ensure is that your brand is placed in a distinct and separate area. You don’t put your brand over a brand,” Ifill told the stakeholders.

Also the Act specifies certain parts of the cattle where a brand can be placed. Branding should also be approved by Police Officers within the respective divisions.

Other laws state that only certain types of cattle must be slaughtered. This gave rise to the question of reducing supplies to the market. One butcher said if they were to only slaughter bulls, then they would not be able to meet t market demand.

“According to the law, we should not slaughter all cattle, we should not slaughter cattle of the female sex, or cattle with less than one permanent incisor tooth unless you would have gotten written approval from a veterinarian,” the Corporate Secretary added.

Ifill said the purpose of this particular aspect of the Slaughter Act is to serve as a method of preserving cattle’s

sustainability. From time to time, farmers and butchers do not comply with that particular law, but law enforcement officers repeated the need for either a revision of the law or more stringent enforcement measures.

GLDA’s CEO, Nigel Cumberbatch said since Guyana did not have a recent agricultural livestock census, farmers were unsure of what the current cattle population was. The Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP), which was launched earlier this year, will bring correction to this issue.

The SADP will facilitate the agriculture census. The census will focus on Guyana’s vital agricultural sector, providing information to planners and policymakers who will have an understanding of the progress and future prospects of all agricultural industries and their products, and of farm practices “The Slaughter Permit Act came in as a result of the decrease in animal population.

I think we need to recognise that if we don’t monitor the animal population, we will at some point in time find ourselves without any animals,” the GLDA CEO explained.

Other pertinent areas affecting stakeholders present at the meeting were highlighted. These issues included animal diseases; cattle rustling (stealing), which is rampant in Regions Five and Six; the importance of Livestock Extension and Government Veterinary Officers in the area and the need for greater collaboration among butchers, farmers and law enforcement officers to improve production in the cattle sub- sector.

monDAY, may 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News Traffic Police revise vehicle pursuit policy – errant drivers to be summonsed instead

By Samuel Sukhnandan

I

In an effort to reduce collateral damage, injury, and death on the roadways, the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force has moved to revise its vehicular pursuit policy and has decided not to carry out any speed chases.

Traffic Chief Dion Moore told Guyana Times in a recent interview that this new policy aimed to strike the right balance between protecting life and the need to arrest offenders.

“We, the members of the Police Force, will no longer go into speed chases over an errant driver who had committed a minor breach or not riding with a safety helmet,” Moore said.

“Because in the event we were to go into any speed chase, it is likely more serious injuries being done that could have been prevented,” the Traffic Chief added.

However, once the Police get the identification of the vehicle in question, the next step would be

to proceed by way of summons, by getting the relevant information from the authorities.

Moore told this publication that the new policy dictated that a police officer shall not pursue a car or motorcycle, as long as the identification mark is recognised.

He said the safety of the public was of paramount importance and it was always better to safeguard members of the public than to catch a driver who would have committed a minor infraction.

The Traffic Chief complained that there were still many motorcyclists riding without safety helmets, posing a major problem for traffic officials.

“Safety helmets offer protection to the rider and pillion in the event of an accident to reduce injury,” he stressed.

Some high-speed Police chases have led to the death of innocent bystanders and other persons in Guyana.

While some were done as a result of the threat to public safety or a serious of-

Traffic Chief Dion Moore

fence being committed, some did not warrant exposing the public to the immense risks of a chase.

Although efforts have been made to mitigate these risks through restrictive rules, officers still largely retain the individual agency to initiate chases, and they often choose to pursue.

Meanwhile, most recently, the Police Traffic Department said it recorded a 26 per cent decline in fatal accidents for the period beginning January 1, 2017 to May 15, 2017.

Thirty-six fatal accidents and 40 deaths were recorded, compared to 50 fatal accidents and 54 deaths over the same period last year.

There was also a 39 per cent decrease in overall accidents for the same period, as 398 accidents have been recorded, as opposed to 651 accidents the previous year.

“This decrease that we achieved is as a result of the enforcement strategies that we implemented in terms of maximising the use of breathalysers and the radar gun. And some

of it is because of how we conduct our education campaigns, working with youth groups and schools,” Moore stated.

Operation Safeway was also credited for the success. Through this operation, traffic ranks have been on the roads conducting rigid exercises throughout the country, but more particularly in Georgetown, and on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding were the most prevalent traffic offences.

High Court yet to hear matter, weeks...

from page 8

Government, in early 2016, announced the end of sugar operations at Wales Estate, citing cost as the main factor for its closure. It was later disclosed that rice would be planted as part of the Estate’s diversification plans, but at present no rice has been reaped. Many residents in the surrounding communities of the Estate had called for Government subsidies on electricity and other utilities to offset the

impact of the entity’s closure.

Since then, workers and their family members have staged a number of protests against the closure of estates – outside the Ministry of the Presidency and the Parliament, but the latter was recently curtailed by what the Police related were security concerns of House members.

On May 8, the Agriculture Minister presented

Government’s white paper on the future of the sugar industry to the National Assembly. Minister Holder announced that two sugar estates would be closed and the annual production of sugar would be reduced, among a number of other measures as part of a new policy in the sugar industry.

The nation was told that GuySuCo would have three estates and three sugar factories. These estates are:

Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara. The three estates will be complete with factories and will have cane supplied from all locations, the Minister had noted.

He had also claimed that this process would result in improvements to the relationship with some cane cutters, estate staff and about 1710 private cane farmers.

12 news

monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Contractors urged to use local labour – as Cabinet approves $700M for major road upgrades

M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, has announced Cabinet’s approval of the awarding of 24 contracts cumulatively costing $749,583,000, and di-

rected at rehabilitation and construction of roads in Regions Three, Four and Ten. This initiative, according to Harmon, is part of Government’s commitment

to construct and rehabilitate urban and miscellaneous roads in all communities across Guyana.

Declaring that this would boost economic activity in those regions,

Harmon is again encouraging contractors to employ residents from the communities where these contracts and projects are being executed. He says this would ensure a better quality of work is executed.

“While the contracts themselves expressly do not provide for the employment of local labour, as a matter for policy, what we have done is require (that), in all these communities, the contractors take the availability of local labour into consideration in their employment practices,” Harmon said.

This, of course, is intended to ensure that the communities also benefit from the money being spent in the awarding of these contracts.

Harmon said that during last year and earlier this year, he and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had gone to the various contract-recipient community and held various meetings with the contractors, requesting they involve members of the communities. “(Giving members of those communities work) has two benefits: apart from providing employment and economic activity in the community, it also helps the contractor with

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

security of equipment,” he explained.

He said that, in many cases, community projects have been improved with the help of local knowledge and workers.

Government has also stressed that as residents become involved with community projects, they have a better sense of ownership of the project.

Harmon has also urged residents to pay close attention to the works being done by the contractors, and to report any problems to the inspectors, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, and the Regional Democratic Councils.

The Minister explained that during recent outreaches in Mon Repos, East

Coast Demerara, the residents complained about the condition of the roads in their communities, and works will soon commence in those areas, among others in Region Four.

Areas in Region Four to benefit from works include Melanie Damishana; Oil Mill Road, Cove and John; Hope Main Access Road; Lot Number Four, Gas Station Street, Eccles, EBD; Lots Six and Seven, Kaneville, EBD; and Sideline Dam Good Success, EBD among others. Block 8, Mon Repos Housing Scheme will also benefit from works, after being neglected for years.

In Region Three, works will be carried out at Lot Four: Greenwich Park Main Road; Lot Five: Old Road DeKinderen; Lot Seven: Fisher Dam, Zeelugt;and the Boerasirie Housing Scheme Road.

In Region Ten, there will be the rehabilitation of the Teachers’ Hostel Road in Mackenzie and the One Mile to Canvas City road in Wismar.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has said focus will be placed on more concerted efforts to ensure that roads, bridges, energy, power generation and other infrastructural works are undertaken and expanded, consequently leading to a more integrated infrastructure across Guyana.

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monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

President hails Carmen Jarvis as a ‘twenties’ woman – during memorial service

P

G

resident David Granger has hailed the late Carmen Jarvis as a ‘twenties’ woman who could not be restrained and who shattered the proverbial glass ceiling in her quest for knowledge and independence.

“Carmen, in private and public life, was no hot-headed revolutionary. She quietly, however, refused to be constrained by backward conventions which limited women’s achievement. She overcame those obstacles,

President David Granger addressing mourners at the memorial

The late Carmen Jarvis

driven by a calm but insatiable quest for knowledge and an irrepressible commitment to public service,” President Granger said.

The President made those remarks as he attended a memorial service held in Jarvis’s memory.

“Carmen Enid Jarvis, born in 1924, was a child of the ‘twenties’ – a generation for whom hard work, sedulous study, moral rectitude, religious faith, strong social bonds and high standards of work mattered.

She transmitted those values throughout her life. She was intolerant of mediocrity, mendacity and sloth.

She would not countenance crassness or crudeness,” he said.

The President noted that Jarvis’s generation was challenged by adversity, but set high standards of cultural and intellectual performance and made excellence look easy.

This generation’s role in Guyana’s transition from a plantation society to an independent nation is often underestimated and overlooked.

“Carmen’s style qualified her for the role of cultural ambassador. Her service as the Secretary General of the Guyana National Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is a testimony of the national and personal cultural val-

1 dead, 4...

The now dead man was said to be half in and half out of the minibus; hence his horrific injuries.

The driver of the minibus is among those said to be battling for their lives in the emergency Unit of the Hospital.

The driver of the Tundra who was confirmed by eyewitnesses to be a woman fled the scene.

This publication visited the Hospital and was able to speak to a number of those who were injured.

One of the passengers of the minibus, who identified herself as Lynette, relayed that she felt an impact before the bus started to topple.

“All I know is that the bus got hit, and it toppled and then fall on its side.

ues she held dear. She has left an indelible imprint in Guyana’s social history.” – Jarvis wrote her autobiography entitled From Seedtime to Harvest – Seedtime for the generation of the ‘Twenties’ has become the harvest of today’s generation, and launched it in October of last year.

Jarvis passed away on March 29 in the United States at the age of 91.

She was a teacher for 27 years then, in 1979, she was offered the post of Secretary General of the Guyana National Commission of UNESCO. In 1981, she was awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement for long and outstanding service in Education and Social Work.

In 1998, Jarvis was awarded a second national award, this time, the Cacique Crown of Honour for her outstanding service in education and social work.

from page 5

Everybody started to holler and everybody started to hold onto each other and when I come out of the bus, one man I saw half of his body was inside the bus and half was outside. After that, people start running to help us.”

The woman, who is also the mother of the injured six-year-old, said her son injured his leg.

Urlan Nedd, another badly injured man, explained to this newspaper that just as the bus went over the ‘double corner’ at Smyth Street, it was “lashed” by the Tundra.

He added that the bus started to “spin” before it turned onto its side. The man received injuries to his head, chest and extremities.

Man, wife arrested for unlawful possession of gun

The Police are currently investigating the matter and a manhunt was launched for the errant driver, who is also said to be injured.

uyana Times understands that police, acting on intelligence received on Saturday afternoon, swooped down on the home of a 41-yearold businessman and his 40-year-old wife at Helena #1 Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

After conducting a thorough search, they unearthed, in the bedroom that the duo shared, an unlicensed .32 pistol with 50 matching rounds of ammunition and 17 live rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The businessman was arrested, and while being detained at the Mahaica Police Station, his wife visited and allegedly offered a bribe of $525,000 to one of the investigating ranks to have the police abort the investigations and release her hus-

Unlicensed pistol and ammunition

band.

The woman’s action was relayed to the rank’s superiors, and she also was detained, while the “bribe money” was lodged. They both are expected to be arraigned in court sometime this week.

Between Saturday and Sunday, “C” Division po-

lice have carried out several sting operations and arrested a total of 17 persons for various criminal offences. One of those arrested is a 49-year-old who attempted to traffic narcotics.

Four motorcycles suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained have also been seized.

DPP’s chambers to host public outreach in Region 7

T

he Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will hold a two-day outreach programme to Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on May 24 and 25 to meet with residents in Bartica and surrounding communities.

The sensitisation programme is aimed at increasing public awareness about the works and functions of the DPP’s Chambers.

Communications Officer Liz Rahaman and a State Counsel will meet residents, who have concerns about pending criminal matters and those desirous of filing their complaints with the DPP. On Wednesday, the team will be at the boardroom of the regional administration building from 09:30h to 16:30h and on Thursday, from 09:00h to 13:00h.

The officers will also host a live half-hour callin television programme on Wednesday evening from 19:00h on the Tarzie

Television Station.

The DPP chambers in a release stated that the focus was to extend its service to people who live in the outlying regions who may need

guidance and assistance with matters of a criminal nature and who do not know where to go to seek redress, or they simply cannot afford to visit the office to seek assistance.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 22, 2017

Regional

Brazil’s President seeks Venezuelan protests: Man set alight as death toll rises suspension of corruption

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nti-government protestors set an alleged thief alight and a university student lost his life as Venezuelans marked the 50th day of demonstrations.

Orlando José Figuera, 21, suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body after he was engulfed in flames during protests in Caracas on Saturday.

The Interior and Justice Ministry said he had also suffered stab wounds.

Edy Alejandro Teran Aguilar died from a gunshot wound, bringing the total number killed in recent protests to 48.

The Attorney General’s office said gunmen alleged-

Dozens have been killed and hundreds more injured in weeks of anti-government protests

ly opened fire on the demonstrators in the western city of Valera. Two others were wounded.

Protestors demanding that President Nicolás Maduro step down and hold

elections took to the streets across the country on Saturday to mark the 50th day of the increasingly violent demonstrations which have overwhelmed the country in recent weeks.

It is thought 46 people were injured in the demonstration in eastern Caracas where Figuera was hurt.

Journalist and politician Earle Herrera said the man had been accused of being a thief, according to Globo.com.

“A human being is set on fire at a ‘peaceful demonstration’ by the Opposition in Caracas,” he wrote, posting a video of the incident.

Protests have been taking place across Venezuela for seven weeks, as anger towards Maduro and his Government rises.

Seven in ten people are said to oppose Maduro, according to private surveys.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

3 int’l organisations T&T PM: Govt performing join forces to advance reasonably well agriculture in Latin America, Caribbean

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wo international agricultural and rural development agencies will join forces with the International Potato Center (CIP), to pool knowledge and experience on a variety of agricultural and environmental issues to benefit the Latin America and Caribbean region.

This follows the signing of a framework agreement between the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the

al development and well-being for rural populations for 75 years.

CARDI is an institution of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) tasked with providing research services to further agricultural development, and promoting the coordination and integration of those services throughout the Caribbean region.

A technical cooperation agreement already exists between IICA and CARDI to jointly address priorities

The International Potato Center's genebank holds the world's largest collection of sweet potato (Photo: CMC)

International Potato Center (CIP).

The agreement covers the design and execution of technical cooperation projects across various areas of agricultural research and technology.

The two agencies also signed a letter of understanding with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to identify areas for joint cooperation on roots and tubers development.

Both the agreement and the letter of understanding were signed at CIP headquarters.

IICA is a specialised agricultural agency of the Inter-American System, which has been supporting the efforts of its Member States to achieve agricultur-

and challenges of the agriculture and fishing sectors in the Caribbean, in particular those related to research on development and innovation. (Excerpt from CMC)

T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

T

rinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley says the country is not at a standstill as the Government has continued to reduce expenditure while protecting economic stability. He said the Government had done well and it was now moving towards anticipated growth at a lower level of national expenditure. He also acknowledged that there was room for improvement.

In a Q&A with the Sunday Guardian, Rowley responded to questions on issues ranging from economic growth and job losses, to property tax and agriculture.

He also stated the need for the Private Sector to rise up and play its role,

and answered questions on issues such as the Sandals resort proposed for Tobago and the Couva Children’s Hospital.

When asked specially if he was satisfied with his Government’s performance since assuming office in September 2015, Rowley “We came into office in September 2015, after a period of protracted economic stagnation, five years of record-breaking levels of government expenditure followed by a collapse of the country’s revenue base due to the precipitous fall in oil and gas prices and production, “the perfect storm” of negative economic circumstances. Under the circumstances, we have engaged the situation reasonably well, but there is always room for improvement.”

He later said, “The primary objective of this Government at the time of taking responsibility for the State’s affairs was to prevent a collapse of the economy and the social fabric of the society which could have resulted from the dramatic revenue decline, a reality largely driven by external market conditions. We have done that well and are now moving towards anticipated growth at a lower level of national expenditure.” (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

investigation

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razilian President Michel Temer says he will ask the Supreme Court to suspend an investigation against him, because vital evidence has been "manipulated".

In a defiant speech, Temer said a secret audio recording, in which he allegedly discusses the payment of hush money to a jailed politician, needed to be validated.

Temer is suspected of corruption and obstruction of justice which he denies.

Despite growing calls for him to go, Temer repeated that he would not quit.

In the audio recording, made at a meeting with Joesley Batista, President of giant meat-packing firm JBS, Temer appears to be discussing bribes to the former Speaker of the Lower House of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, who is serving a prison sentence for corruption.

Both men played a key role in the downfall of former President Dilma Rousseff, who was removed from office accused of illegally manipu-

sulting remarks about local people in videos on social media.

He was accused of fatally stabbing someone during the affray, the authorities said.

A crowd of locals tried to confront Makeev over his comments, and managed to gain entry into his apartment after the encounter turned violent.

According to local official Guillermo Brahms, a young man who was injured later died in hospital.

Brahms said Police managed to rescue Makeev and take him to hospital for treatment. Although he was bloodied in the attack, he is reported to be in stable condition.

Footage of the attack circulated in Mexican media on

BBC News)

Haitians land in eastern Jamaica, placeed in quarantine

The arrival of the Haitians in Jamaica follows the apprehension of over 50 Haitians in the eastern Bahamas earlier this week

A

rrangements are now being made to take two Haitians who came ashore in the eastern parish of St Mary on Friday, to court.

According to the Police, the two men were spotted off the coast of the Pagee

Mexican mob attacks Russian over insults in Cancún

A Russian man has been put into protective custody in hospital after he was attacked by a crowd of angry Mexicans in Cancún, authorities say.

Police rescued Aleksei Makeev, 42, on Friday night after the crowd stormed his apartment in the Caribbean resort.

The man had allegedly posted disparaging and in-

lating government accounts.

She denies all the charges.

The money would be in exchange for Cunha's silence over Temer's alleged implication in Brazil's wide-ranging corruption scandal known as Operation Car Wash.

The probe, launched in March 2014, centres on companies that were offered deals with State oil giant Petrobras in exchange for bribes, which were funnelled into politicians' pockets and political party slush funds.

The scandal has engulfed Brazilian politics, with a third of Temer's Cabinet under investigation for alleged corruption. Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is already facing five charges.

Temer is already deeply unpopular in Brazil, but his centre-right party has been able to govern as part of a coalition. He took office a year ago, after President Rousseff's impeachment.

Opposition parties have demanded his resignation and snap elections. (Excerpt from

Saturday, with the attackers heard shouting “You’re going to die” and “I’m going to cut your head off”.

Police say frequent complaints had been made about Makeev’s behaviour and requests had been made to deport him.

Some of the videos he had posted were against a backdrop of swastikas, officials said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Fishing Village in the parish.

They were rescued by fishermen who then pulled the boat ashore and called the police and a medical team.

Shortly after their arrival, the men were taken to hospital and placed in quarantine.

“They were given preliminary checks at hospital , they were properly assessed and they have been released in our custody. We hope that

by Tuesday, they will go to court where the deportation proceedings will commence,” said Superintendent Fabian Farquharson in an interview with Radio Jamaica.

The arrival of the Haitians in Jamaica follows the apprehension of over 50 Haitians in the eastern Bahamas earlier this week.

(CMC)

monDAY, may 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Trump urges Muslim leaders to Egypt refers 48 to lead fight against radicalisation military court over

U

nited States President Donald Trump has urged Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalisation in a major speech in Saudi Arabia.

“Drive them out of this earth,” he told regional leaders in Riyadh, as part of his first official trip abroad.

Trump blamed Iran, Saudi Arabia’s rival, for instability in the region.

His speech is seen as an attempted reset with Muslims after his harsh campaign rhetoric stirred concerns in the Islamic world.

Trump had previously suggested he would be open to creating a database of all the Muslims in the US.

The fight against extremism, President Donald Trump added, was not a battle between different faiths or civilisations: “This is a battle between good and evil.”

And he had also called for Muslims to be temporarily banned from entering the US over security concerns.

But, speaking in the

Saudi capital to leaders of 55 Muslim-majority countries, Trump called this a “new chapter”, saying he was not there to “lecture” them or

impose the American way of life.

The fight against extremism, he added, was not a battle between different faiths or civilisations: “This is a battle between good and evil.”

“A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists, and drive out the extremists.”

But, he added, the countries could not wait for “American power” to act, and had to “fulfil their part of the burden”.

He singled out Iran for criticism, accusing it of fuelling sectarian conflict and supporting “unspeakable crimes” by the Government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Pacific Rim countries at odds in heated trade meeting

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apan and other members of the TransPacific Partnership agreed on Sunday to pursue their trade deal without the United States as the Trump Administration’s “America First” policy created tension at a meeting of Asia-Pacific countries.

Turmoil over global trade negotiations was laid bare at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which failed to agree on its usual joint statement after US opposition to wording on fighting protectionism.

The meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, was the biggest trade gathering since US President Donald Trump upended the old order, arguing that multilateral

Delegates chat after the TPP11 meeting, a gathering of TransPacific Pact member countries, held on the sideline of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 23rd Ministers responsible for Trade Meeting in Hanoi on May 21, 2017

free-trade agreements were costing American jobs and that he wanted to cut new deals.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the 11 remaining countries of the TPP

agreed to explore how they could move ahead without erstwhile leader the United States, partly in the hope that Washington would reconsider leaving.

New US Trade

Representative Robert Lighthizer said there was no way back and he believed there would be a series of bilateral agreements with countries in the region.

A statement from Lighthizer said that free trade required the tackling of “trade-distorting measures” that have led to “massive US trade imbalances” in the region – a possible reference to China’s trade surplus, which was nearly US$350 billion in 2016.

“I look forward to working with our trade partners to expand US export market access and address persistent unfair trade practices,” the 69-year-old Reagan-era trade negotiator said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China crippled CIA by killing US sources – NYT

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p to 20 CIA informants were killed or imprisoned by the Chinese Government between 2010 and 2012, the New York Times reports, damaging US information-gathering in the country for years.

It is not clear whether the CIA was hacked or whether a mole helped the Chinese to identify the agents, officials

told the paper.

They said one of the informants was shot in the courtyard of a government building as a warning to others.

The CIA did not comment on the report.

Four former CIA officials spoke to the paper, telling it that information from sources deep inside the Chinese Government bureaucra-

cy started to dry up in 2010.

Informants began to disappear in early 2011.

The CIA and FBI teamed up to investigate the events in an operation one source said was codenamed Honey Badger.

The paper said this investigation had centred on one former CIA operative, but there was not enough evi-

dence to arrest him. He now lives in another Asian country.

In 2012, an official at China’s Security Ministry was arrested on suspicion of spying for the US. He was said to have been lured into the CIA. No other such arrests appear to have reached public attention during that time. (Excerpt from BBC News)

church bombings

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gypt has referred 48 people to the country’s military judiciary for suspected involvement in three deadly church bombings and accused them of joining the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

Of the 48 suspects, 31 are in custody and 17 still at large, the Public Prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Sunday.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the three suicide attacks that targeted the churches in December and April.

Two deadly church bombings in Alexandria and Tanta killed more than 45 people in April, months after a bombing near Cairo’s Coptic Cathedral killed at least 25.

Public Prosecutor Nabil Sadek said that some of the

Security concerns: India’s new rules will bar Chinese companies in power sector

The new reciprocity-based rules would impact Chinese as China does not approve overseas investments in its electricity grid for security reasons

I

ndia will soon bar Chinese power companies from projects in the power sector on security concerns after a policy that will define new conditions for foreign firms eyeing the multibillion-dollar market in one of the fastest growing major economies in the

North Korea in new South Sudan: More than 1 missile test, South says million on brink of starvation

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orth Korea has conducted another missile test, South Korea’s military has said.

The White House said the medium-range missile had a shorter range than those used in North Korea’s last three tests.

It comes a week after North Korea tested what it said was a new type of rocket capable of carrying a large nuclear warhead.

Last Monday, the United Nations Security Council again demanded that Pyongyang conduct no further such tests.

It stressed the importance of North Korea “immediately showing sincere commitment to denuclearisation through concrete action”.

The Council is now scheduled to meet behind closed doors on Tuesday – a meeting requested by the US, South Korea and Japan.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry earlier said the launch was “reckless and irresponsible”, while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described it as “disappointing” and “disturbing”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

I

t has been three months since famine, which has been caused by a long-standing conflict between the Government and rebels groups, was declared in some parts of South Sudan.

But areas outside the famine zones are also suffering from severe food shortages.

More than a million people in the country are on the brink of starvation. Some of them are trying to flee to neighbouring Sudan for relief. (Al Jazeera)

suspects held leadership positions in ISIL and formed cells in Cairo and the southern province of Qena to carry out the church attacks.

He added that they were also suspected of undergoing training at ISIL military camps in Libya and Syria.

The suspects are also accused of killing eight Policemen and wounding three at a checkpoint in the southwest on January 16.

Egypt is fighting ISILlinked fighters waging an insurgency focused in northern Sinai.

Attacks were largely against security forces in the sparsely populated Sinai Peninsula in the past, but the armed group has spread its violence to the mainland and increasingly targeted Christian civilians in recent months. (Al Jazeera)

The country is experiencing a famine

world.

A formal office memorandum, expected in a month, will insulate the power transmission sector from companies based in countries that do not allow Indian entities in similar projects, a senior Power Ministry official told ET. The restriction will be gradually extended to the power generation and distribution sectors as well.

Officials said the new reciprocity-based approach would impact Chinese companies that are looking to invest in the Indian electricity transmission sector.

China does not approve of overseas investments in its electricity grid for security reasons but India allows 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the power sector.

The move will help India in many ways, including protection from cyberattacks because the power sector is increasingly software driven with intelligent technology and control systems being used. (Excerpt from Economic Times)

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monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

Assessing the coalition Govt’s 2nd year in office We asked persons to assess the coalition Government seeing as this is its second year in office, and requested some recommendations as to how the Administration can improve its performance.

Calixte Williams

Keon Hector

Coretta Brathawaite

“The coalition’s performance to me is OK, because the first thing they have to do is to clean up. At least I have seen progress, especially for youths. They’re doing a lot of training and especially what they’re doing at the Public Service Ministry, where they’re employing youths and when they’re finished, they have the job.

For Linden, we need at least two industries for young people. With the bauxite company, we had over 2000 workers. So there has to be a company that can come and employ that amount. So, we need industries and as long as we have industries, we can create employment.”

Sarah Mohan

“A decision by the Government that spiked my interest was the raise in educational fees not only at the private level but at the university level. Some persons are hardly making enough money as it is, to pay for education in Guyana at this point. This would not have been a major concern if there were ways in which one can afford to pay these fees.

There are countless youths unemployed and depressed, because there are hardly any financial avenues available.

If the Government wants to raise the fees, fine, but provide a way in which the Guyanese people could be able to afford these fees.

Provide more opportunities for youths to be educated and employed. Looking at Guyana’s population pyramid, it is evident that the majority of this country’s population consists of young adults. Therefore, if the youths are the future of this country, wouldn’t it be wise to invest in these youths and provide opportunities for them to grow physically, intellectually, mentally and emotionally?

This constant strain on young adults just makes it easier for them to run, engage in criminal activities or worse.

Additionally, there has been a big rave over parking meters.

As I see it, this situation is quite similar to that of the raise in educational fees: some persons are paying mortgages for their car, if you were to calculate the amount of money one has to spent on parking meters per month, a person working for a minimum wage salary will not afford it. If you want to implement such ideas, ensure there are ways in which the Guyanese people can afford it.”

Scott Pheonix

“I think they’ve been doing a good job so far, but some errors here and there.

I can’t really say where the errors are, but there are some errors.”

“I am very disappointed in the coalition Government’s performance. The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) damaged my road, so I can’t get water and now I can’t get transportation, because no car wants to come to my side. And it is stuff like this that keeps happening under their leadership. I don’t know what they can do but retire, I guess.”

Mark Subryan

“To improve a situation, it’s not about bringing something new, it’s about working towards strengthening what we have.

As such, this government needs to establish educational

Maria Shivcharran

“As a Guyanese citizen, I wouldn’t say the coalition Government performed as well over the two years in the office as regards some major and vital sectors of society. Throughout the last few years, I have seen key reforms that will directly impact us as citizens. Some major and growing issues that affect most people are health-care problems; mostly as it relates to the elderly and persons of illhealth.

In addition, education does not only affect children but parents and teachers as

“The Government has academic and nonprogressive policies.

Recommendations are too much to mention now except for them to fix the economy and to stop having anti-professional but progressive vision.”

facilities for youths that have dropped out of school and also facilities that can assist in the furthering of education in areas not only in Georgetown but across Guyana. Addition, what is the point of the qualifications that one holds when there’s no job opportunities where they can portray what they’ve learnt and receive a salary?

There is still a need for job opportunities which was promised. What can be done also is the up-gradation of the health sector and not only modernise the hospitals in the towns, but also the clinics in rural areas. The next thing that can be considered by the Government is focus on the practising of law (higher level) which gives the people a safe and comforted feeling.

However, these cannot be achieved without a high involvement of citizens.”

well. It is quite ironic that many schoolchildren (who are supposedly our future leaders) receive low-quality education because of poorly trained, underpaid teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of basic teaching tools such as textbooks.

I believe this is largely due to the scrapping of the $10,000 cash grant policy, as there are single parents whose minimum wages cannot support their children on such a meagre amount.

Many persons in the Public Sector are affected due to relatively low wages and the ridiculous VAT impositions.

Finally, in focusing on bettering communities, the Government can try to be more cohesive and have regular checks with the NDCs. Meetings can be hosted with communities on a regular basis, so citizens are able to air concerns and issues affecting them which would then be taken up to the Government officials.”

Fiaaz Mursaline

“The APNU/AFC coalition Government that we elected in May 2015 has given us a lot of promises and hopes, but the reality is nothing that they have said could develop this country. We voted for a change and better Guyana. But the reality is that we voted to live in nightmares. This government wanted to build flamboyant infrastructure and yet we are walking on corruption and rubbish… we were better off in the past government. The standard of living was high.”

Latifah Wickham, East Coast Demerara

“Well, the Government is trying to improve our standard of living in various ways, but because it’s only been two years, it doesn’t seem like they have done anything, when in reality, they have done a lot.

However, in my opinion, they can improve their performance by: - Improving their level of communication with the citizens of this country. They often times make hasty decisions without having the opinions of the citizens, and as a result, majority of persons are affected rather than benefiting from the decisions made.

- The education system can also be enhanced by providing adequate and trained professionals to teach in schools. If the teachers don’t understand the syllabus, then they won’t be able to teach the students properly.

- In addition, I believe Government should look into the sports sector; providing scholarships for our athletes so that they can better represent our country.

The quality of infrastructure also needs to be improved, such as roads, bridges, buildings as these structures remain in deplorable states in several communities.

- Finally, the motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” needs to be revived.

There’s an ethnic division in this country, and it’s only tearing us apart. We need to realise that “we’re all sons of one mother”, and we have to be united in order to truly be a free, independent nation.

Social cohesion is a major issue, which needs to be rectified as soon as possible.”

news

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monDAY, may 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

No focus on decriminalising marijuana – Harmon …says Judiciary has some responsibility

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he courts continue to hand down three-year sentences for possession of marijuana while legislation that would lessen the penalty continues to languish in a state of abeyance; and until recently, persons were left questioning Government’s intention in regard to decriminalising marijuana.

During a post-cabinet press briefing on Thursday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon affirmed that decriminalising the use of this substance is not on its immediate radar. He, instead, has laid that responsibility at the feet of the Judiciary, stating that the matter of sentencing lies within the purview of the Judiciary.

“With respect to decriminalisation of marijuana, that is not a matter that is engaging our immediate attention. What we have (is) a motion in the National Assembly by one of our members about the sentencing policy with regard to marijuana,” he explained.

“As far as decriminalising (marijuana is concerned), I think I made this point clear. What I can say to you is that the mat-

per day.

The CoI had also found that reducing to manageable levels the number of inmates in prison was the single most important factor to ensuring that a safe, humane and purposeful prison was established.

University of Guyana Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith, a security expert, had once referred

Football coach Vibert Butts was in 2015 sentenced to a term of imprisonment for possession of 46 grams of cannabis

ter of sentencing is for the Judiciary to consider. The laws are there, and we believe it is a matter that engaged the Judiciary,” he elaborated.

Harmon noted it has been this way since the Camp Street Prison riots. A commission of inquiry that had cost some $13 million had been launched into the deadly riots, and its report had found that Government spends approximately $485,000 per year on one prisoner housed at the Camp Street penitentiary, which amounts to $1,329

The grandmother who, in 2017, was sentenced to serve time for possession of six grams of cannabis sativa

to the selective decriminalisation of marijuana as one way to lighten the load on the justice system.

“It was one of the issues

that were raised, after the prison riot, in the engagement between the Judiciary and the Executive; and the Judiciary undertook to examine the matter,” Harmon said. “And that is as far as we are right now.”

Parliamentarian Michael Carrington had draft legislation intended to reduce the penalties attached to possession of small amounts of marijuana intended for personal use. That legislation has been pending for a year now.

Former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, with the help of Attorney Mark Waldron, had drafted a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015, which seeks to soften the penalties for marijuana possession. That draft stipulates that persons who are found in possession of the drug for personal use would be required to pay a fine of $10,000, or perform community service for a period of time.

While a number of developed countries have acted to decriminalise marijuana,

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

and the movement is gaining momentum worldwide, President David Granger has instead cautioned against buying into practices being embarked upon by developed countries that have the requisite framework in place to support such legislative reforms.

The President has made it clear that such reforms are currently not a concern of the Government; and, on a more personal note, has declared that he would not subscribe to the usage of marijuana.

According to Guyana’s Narcotic Drugs and

Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, once someone has summarily been convicted of possession of any narcotic, that person is liable to be imprisoned -- for at least three years and at most five.

There is also a fine attached to such conviction.

Talk about decriminalising marijuana gained new life in 2015 after the public outcry that erupted over the sentencing of football coach Vibert Butts to three years’ imprisonment for having 46 grammes of cannabis in his possession.

But there have been other cases, which include a grandmother who was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $15,000, earlier this year, after she was found guilty of smuggling six grams of cannabis sativa into a prison.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was recently asked to spell out the PPP/C’s position on decriminalisation of marijuana. He reiterated that party’s support for the decriminalisation of small quantities of marijuana, though he had noted that the party does not have enough research on the topic to make a definitive pronouncement.

Lindeners benefit from ‘Caring Race car driver held in drug for Others’ charity exercise bust hospitalised

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azim Gafoor, the 20-year-old race car driver who, two Fridays ago, was held in connection with a drug bust at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was on Saturday hospitalised at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

According to reports, he was rushed to the hospital suffering from dehydration.

This publication was able to speak with his father, Tazim Gafoor, who had also been arrested and questioned by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). The man declared he would be taking legal action against CANU. He said a medical report declaring that his son is an epileptic who is currently unwell and has to be examined by a doctor had been presented to the CANU ranks. That medical, dated May15, 2017, had stated that “Nazim had visited St. Joseph Mercy Hospital’s emergency department on three (3) occasions: 2016-3-2; 2016-3-3 and 201610-8. His common complaint was a pain in the neck that radiated to his shoulder. He was treated with analgesics and antispasmodics and a soft collar brace was prescribed”.

That report stated that “a diagnosis of epileptic event with whiplash was documented on 2016-3-2”.

It concluded that “according to notes, his chronic conditions would be nuchal pain and epilepsy, for which Dilantin was prescribed”.

However, he noted that after his son’s release from custody on Thursday, he was told to report to CANU headquarters on Friday, and he had complied. He said he and his son reported to the facility at 08:30h on Friday, and were not released until late that night.

This newspaper was told that since his arrest, the man’s son was not allowed to see a doctor, and accordingly fell sick on Saturday. His medical report shows that he was suffering from acute febrile syndrome and moderate dehydration.

Gafoor said a medical detailing his son’s condition was presented to CANU, and he will be taking legal action because his son should have been allowed to see a doctor.

Nazim Gafoor hospitalised

“Every time they find drugs in such a large amount, they keep arresting me and I don’t know why,” he lamented.

Nazim and Tazim Gafoor were arrested by CANU ranks after $500 million worth of cocaine had been unearthed in a shipment of wood destined for the United States (US). The 84.9 kilogrammes of cocaine were concealed in dugout cavities with vacuum sealed plastic packets in a contingent of wood on the premises of arrested man Hakeem Mohammed.

The truck on which the pallets of 1 X 6 dressed lumber boards were loaded and prepared for export was detained.

According to reports, the Gafoors (Tazim and Nazim), along with motorcar driver Stephen Vieira who was apprehended at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), and wanted man Narine Lall, are all connected to this discovery.

Video footage was obtained from a digital device belonging to Nazim, and CANU is hopeful that the recording contains material of evidential value after it is analyzed.

No charges have been filed. However, investigations into the incident are currently ongoing.

I

n keeping with its motto, ‘Giving a voice to the faces of poverty’, charitable organisation Caring for Others Inc. wrapped up its final food, shoes and clothing donation exercise in the Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) area on Saturday.

The exercise was the last of a series of distribution exercises conducted by the organisation. First Lady Sandra Granger and Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally joined the Founder and President of the organization, Eslene Shockley, and her volunteers in conducting the distribution exercise to a number of Lindeners.

The elderly and differently abled persons were also recipients.

Speaking during the exercise, Shockley extended greetings on behalf of the board of directors of the organization, while expressing gratitude to the First Lady and other dignitaries for attending the event.

She stressed that Caring for Others is a human services organisation, and explained that she felt compelled to extend the exercise to the community after she was prompted by Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira. “...To whom much is given, much is required... we are not gonna turn our backs on the poor. I’m gonna be here until God calls me home”, she stated, while promising to return next

Seated at head table, from left, are Jermaine Figueira, Eslene Shockley, First Lady Sandra Granger, Minister Amna Ally, and Sandra Adams

year.

The First Lady, in her remarks, recalled Shockley expressing interest in the initiative when they met about 2 years ago in Atlanta, USA. She noted that she has also reached out to teenage mothers in Guyana, and expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Guyana, thanking Shockley for her “love and dedication”.

“Linden, you are blessed today to have Eslene Shockley and Caring for Others in your midst,” she said.

Minister Alley also expressed gratitude for the Shockley initiative, as she, too, recalled meeting Shockley 2 years ago.

She noted that Shockley has since greatly assisted the country, and explained that the woman is also behind the annual toy donation drive conducted by President David Granger in

the Region each year.

“We can do more for you with people like Eslene Shockley and the others”, the minister noted.

She explained that Eugene Gilbert was the person who had first spoken to her about Shockley and her initiative, and she extended her gratitude to him.

“I want to thank Eugene Gilbert, because this has really been a success. It has brought fruition not only for the people of Linden, because Eugene was thinking Guyana when he spoke with me”, she noted.

Also present at the event were Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, Assistant National Coordinator of Community Development Councils, Sandra Adams; and Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Horace James.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 22, 2017

ARCHIE

Emotions will flare up if you don’t keep busy. Schedule (March 21- your day to prevent you from April 19) wasting time or letting little annoyances get to you. Offer love, not discord.

ARIES

You’ll have plenty to ofTAURUS fer if you attend a meeting or (April 20- set up an interview. Getting May 20) ahead should be your focus.

Telling it like it is will gain you respect.

dilbert

You can make physical alGEMINI (May 21- terations that will pump up June 20) your ego and give you the courage you need to do your own thing. Don’t procrastinate when you should be taking action.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Moodiness will work against you. Think before you say something that might discourage others from helping you. Getting along and offering solutions gracefully is a better way to go.

Adventure will find you wherever you go. Participating in events and jumping from one thing to another will bring you the highest returns. Live in the moment. Romance is encouraged.

Look for something that VIRGO (Aug. 23- interests you. A seminar, trip Sept. 22) or special-interest group will encourage you to try something different and make new acquaintances.

You’ve got everything in LIBRA place, so don’t be deterred by (Sept. 23Oct. 23) a comment someone makes.

Step up and figure it out as you go. Success comes from taking action, not from procrastinating.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Figure out what you want SCORPIO to pursue and get what you (Oct. 24need in order to make your viNov. 22) sion a reality. You can make a major personal change for the better.

Take control of your life SAGITTARIUS and incorporate satisfying (Nov. 23- changes. Personal gains will Dec. 21) be made if you get involved and make things happen.

Romance will improve your day.

SATURDAY’S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Think twice before you CAPRICORN trust someone enough to (Dec. 22- share your personal thoughts Jan. 19) or information. It’s important to protect yourself against manipulative individuals trying to take advantage of you.

Go where the action is.

AQUARIUS Socialise, network and get in(Jan. 20volved in situations that you Feb. 19) feel you can help or benefit from. New beginnings will stem from old beliefs and contacts.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Consider all aspects of evPISCES ery situation you face before (Feb. 20March 20) you decide to make a move.

A dispute will leave you in a precarious position if you act prematurely. Be smart instead of physical.

monDAY, May 22, 2017

19

Thompson

equals world after strong Jamaica Invitational run leading time in J 200m R eigning Olympic sprint double champion Jamaican Elaine Thompson continued her superb form at the 14th staging of the Jamaica International Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston with an easy victory in the women’s 200 metres.

The 24-year-old Jamaican won the race in a new meet record time of 22.09 seconds, an effort which equaled the fastest time in the world this year.

Americans Tori Bowie, on April 20 in Gainesville, Florida and Deajah Stevens, on May 14 in Eugene, Oregon both recorded 22.09 to jointly hold the fastest time in the world this year.

Thompson’s effort in the 200 metres came seven days after she clocked a world leading 10.78 seconds to outclass her rivals in the women’s 100 metres at the second meet of the 2017 Diamond League series in Shanghai, China.

The 10.78 clocking was Thompson’s fourth fastest performance of her career, just 0.08 shy of her personal best, in

amaican sprinter Yohan Blake has expressed satisfaction with a strong showing at the Jamaica International Invitational (JII) meet, a signal that the athlete could be well on the way to rediscovering his best form.

Blake looked in stellar shape as he powered to the line in 9.93, well ahead of the United States pair of Ronnie Baker, who was second in 9.98, and Mike Rodgers who was third in 10.02. The sprinter did not get off to the best start, but took control of the race 40 metres out to easily dismiss the field in the second half.

Once the undisputed second best sprinter in world behind training partner and world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, the athlete’s career was blighted by a horror injury three seasons ago.

Despite being physically recovered from a torn ham-

Yohan Blake, centre, opened his season with a solid sub-ten timing in the 100 metres at the Jamaican Invitational 2017

string, Blake had not looked likely to get back to his very best in subsequent seasons, but Saturday’s performance could go a long way in silencing doubts and critics.

“It’s always good to start off the season with a 9.93,” Blake said.

“I’m feeling really good ... and it gives me great confidence going forward and a

time to aim for at the London World Championships.”

The Jamaica still holds the second fastest times over the 100m and 200, with clocking’s of 9.69 and 19.26.

(Sportsmax)

Novak Djokovic hires Andre Agassi ‒ loses Italian Open final to Alexander Zverev

W

Elaine Thompson

what was her first race in the Chinese port city.

That victory for Thompson came just a week after she outraced world 200m champion Dafne Schippers in the 200-metre race in Doha, the first meet of the series, clocking a season best 22.19.

Prior to that performance in Doha, Thompson illustrated her sound form this season with a wind-assisted 10.75 (+2.2) in Kingston.

The Jamaica International Invitational is the first meeting of the 2017 IAAF World Challenge series.

The series comprises 10 meetings to be held in as many countries over the course of the late spring and summer, concluding with the Rieti Meeting in Italy.

In between, the series traverses the globe, with stops in São Bernardo do Campo (Sao Paulo), Hengelo, Turku, Ostrava and Madrid before the IAAF World Championships London 2017.

It will then pick up again with stops at long-time fixtures, Berlin and Zagreb, before the finale in Rieti. (Sportsmax)

orld number two Novak Djokovic said Andre Agassi will be his new coach after the Serb lost in the Italian Open final to Alexander Zverev.

The 12-time Grand Slam winner parted company with his entire coaching team earlier in May. Former world number one Agassi will be with Djokovic in Paris for the French Open, which starts on 28 May. The news was confirmed after German Zverev, 20, stunned Djokovic 6-4 6-3 to win in Rome.

In the women’s event, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina triumphed with a 4-6 7-5 6-1

Andre Agassi with Novak Djokovic after the Serb’s 2013 Austrailia Open win

win over Romania’s Simona Halep.

Djokovic had said the “shock therapy” of splitting with his backroom team, including Marian Vajda - who

has been with him through almost all of his career would help achieve better results.

Boris Becker, a six-time Grand Slam winner, left in

December after three years as the 29-year-old’s main coach.

Now he has brought in American Agassi, who retired in 2006 after a career which yielded eight Grand Slam titles wins.

“I spoke to Andre the last couple weeks on the phone, and we decided to get together in Paris. So he’s going to be there,” said Djokovic.

“We’ll see what the future brings. We are both excited to work together and see where it takes us.

“We don’t have any longterm commitment. It’s just us trying to get to know each other in Paris a little bit.”

(BBCsport)

Spurs’ Leonard doubtful for game four with season on the line

K

awhi Leonard, who has missed the past two games with a sprained ankle, is likely out for Monday’s Game 4, says coach Gregg Popovich.

San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard is listed as doubtful for Monday’s game four against the Golden State Warriors.

But Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich laid it out in stark terms after the team’s practice on Sunday.

“If he’s unable to play yesterday [Saturday], I don’t think there’s going to be a miraculous healing by tomorrow [Monday],” Popovich told reporters.

Leonard, one of three finalists for the

Kahwi Leonard

NBA MVP Award, has not played the past two games of the Western Conference finals because of a sprained left ankle.

He suffered the injury landing on Warriors centre Zaza Pachulia’s foot following a jump shot in game one.

Leonard did not practice with the team Sunday.

The Warriors hold a 3-0 lead in the series, and have outscored the Spurs 314241 since Leonard left the opening game.

The Spurs will also be without the services of veteran forward David Lee, who suffered a left knee injury in the first quarter of Saturday’s 120-108 loss.

20 W

R

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, may 22, 2017

Mumbai clinch 3rd IPL title in

last-ball thriller

ising Pune Supergiant agonisingly missed out on a first IPL title after Mumbai Indians edged victory by the smallest of margins.

Mitchell Johnson took two wickets in the final over as Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant by one run in a dramatic Indian Premier League final to claim a record third title in Hyderabad.

Krunal Pandya top scored with a 38-ball 47 for a Mumbai side that could only post 129-8 after Jaydev Unadkat (2-19) set the tone with two wickets in an over in the Maharashtra derby.

Ajinkya Rahane made 44 after being dropped on 14 and captain Steve Smith (51) looked set to get Pune home for a first IPL crown at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, but Mumbai edged it to regain the trophy.

Pune only needed 11 off the last over, but Johnson (3-26) dismissed Manoj

Tiwary and Smith after the first ball went for four, while Jasprit Bumrah (2-26) and Lasith Malinga also played k e y

roles a s Mumbai snatched it.

M u m b a i were beaten by Pune in the first qualifier, but the Indians delivered when it mattered most to pick up the INR 15 Crore in prize money and become the first side to win the IPL three times.

Unadkat got Pune off to a dream start, dismissing Parthiv Patel (4) and taking a magnificent low catch off his own bowling when Lendl Simmons (3) misjudged one that stuck in the pitch three balls later in a magnificent third over that went for only two runs.

Mumbai were 8-2 when Rohit Sharma (24) arrived at the crease, but the India

Chelsea crowned

hit.

Rohit was also on his way when Shardul Thakur took a magnificent catch in the deep to give Adam Zampa (2-32) a first wicket, who tossed one up for Kieron Pollard to hit his first ball into the stands.

Krunal produced some much-needed late fireworks, hitting two sixes before he was out from the last ball of the innings from Dan Christian (2-34).

Rahul Tripathi (3) was given out leg before when the ball was going over the top of the stumps and Krunal gave Rahane a life by putting down a simple catch off Malinga.

Rahane took the role of aggressor with Smith biding his time on a tricky surface, but Pollard dived forward to catch the opener off the bowling of Johnson to leave Pune on 71-2 in Krunal Pandya provided the late the 12th over. lift for Mumbai Indians © BCCI The brilliant Bumrah saw the back of Lockie Ferguson before MS Dhoni (10) after Smith Smith ran Ambati Rayudu executed the switch hit ex(12) out with a superb direct pertly to hit Krunal for six batsman injected much-needed impetus by taking 16 off an over from

some

champions in style

‒ Arsenal miss out on Champions League

T

The Blues celebrate yet another Premier League title

he English Premier League ended in style on Sunday as Chelsea ended the season on a high, beating Sunderland 5-1.

Sunday’s win was the 30th for the Blues and it is a record number for the London club in a single season.

Javier Manquillo surprisingly shot the hosts in front when he struck three minutes into the game.

However, Chelsea gave a perfect response as Willian scored the equaliser in the 8th minute.

The already relegated Black Cats were trying to prove stubborn and were able to hold the champions to a stalemate in the first half.

While Sunderland had it going for them in the first 45 minutes, it was a different ball game in the second half as Chelsea pumped in four goals to end the season on a high with 30 goals.

Eden Hazard, Pedro Rodriguez and a late brace from Michy Batshuayi saw Chelsea cruising to another win that confirms that the Blues are worthy champions indeed.

In the other part of London, there was heartache for Arsenal as the Gunners for the very first time in a long while failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Alex Iwobi came off the bench to put in a good shift a for a ten-man Arsenal who

despite beating Everton 3-1 on the final day of the Premier League have missed out on Champions League football next season.

Goals from Hector Bellerin and Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal a two-goal lead over Everton at half time; but the Toffees returned after the break to halve the deficit after Romelu Lukaku beat Petr Cech from the spot.

Wenger’s men restored their lead in the closing stages with a super curling effort from Aaron Ramsey but with Liverpool winning against Middlesbrough and City beating Watford, Arsenal are out of the race for a place in next season’s Champions League. (premium-

times)

in the same over and Pune were left needing 33 from four overs.

Smith lifted Bumrah for six over long-off in the penultimate over and ensure 11 runs were needed to win

off the last over, but Tiwary and Smith were caught in the deep and Christian could only take two off the final ball from Johnson with four needed to win. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD Mumbai Indians innings (20 overs maximum) L Simmons c & b Unadkat 3 P Patel† c Thakur b Unadkat 4 A Rayudu run out (Smith) 12 R Sharma* c Thakur b Zampa 24 K Pandya c Rahane b Christian 47 7 K Pollard c Tiwary b Zampa H Pandya lbw b Christian 10 K Sharma run out (Christian/ Thakur) 1 M Johnson not out 13 Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 5) 8 Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 129 Did not bat: JJ Bumrah, SL Malinga Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Patel, 2.1 ov), 2-8 (Simmons, 2.4 ov), 3-41 (Rayudu, 7.2 ov), 4-56 (RG Sharma, 10.1 ov), 5-65 (Pollard, 10.6 ov), 6-78 (HH Pandya, 13.2 ov), 7-79 (KV Sharma, 14.1 ov), 8-129 (KH Pandya, 19.6 ov) Bowling: Unadkat 4-0-19-2, Washington Sundar 4-0-13-0, Thakur 2-0-7-0 (1w), Ferguson 2-0-21-0 (1w), Zampa 4-0-322 (1w), Christian 4-0-34-2 (2w)

Rising Pune Supergiant innings (target: 130 runs from 20 overs) A Rahane c Pollard b Johnson 44 3 R Tripathi lbw b Bumrah S Smith* c Rayudu b Johnson 51 M Dhoni† c †Patel b Bumrah 10 M Tiwary c Pollard b Johnson 7 D Christian run out 4 (sub [J Suchith]/†Patel) Washington Sundar not out 0 9 Extras (b 1, lb 5, w 3) Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 128 Did not bat: LH Ferguson, A Zampa, SN Thakur, JD Unadkat Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Tripathi, 2.2 ov), 2-71 (Rahane, 11.5 ov), 3-98 (Dhoni, 16.2 ov), 4-123 (Tiwary, 19.2 ov), 5-123 (Smith, 19.3 ov), 6-128 (Christian, 19.6 ov) Bowling: K Pandya 4-0-31-0, Johnson 4-0-26-3, Bumrah 4-0-26-2, Malinga 4-0-21-0 (1w), Sharma 4-0-18-0 (2w)

Ronaldo, Benzema help Madrid clinch title Z inedine Zidane’s Real Madrid secured their 33rd Primera Division title with a 2-0 win over Malaga at La Rosaleda.

Real Madrid clinched the LaLiga title for the first time since 2012 with a 2-0 win over Malaga courtesy of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, rendering Barcelona’s comeback victory against Eibar irrelevant.

Ronaldo continued his remarkable run of form, scoring his 25th league goal of the season in the second minute at La Rosaleda to take his tally to 14 in his last nine games in all competitions.

Benzema doubled Madrid’s lead with his 11th league goal of the season to make it 2-0 after 55 minutes and Zinedine Zidane’s side, who needed just a point to be crowned champions, had extra cause for celebration by becoming the first in the club’s history to score in every La Liga game of the season.

The result keeps Madrid on course for a league and European double and, with Ronaldo playing his best football for some time, Zidane’s men will be confident of beating Juventus in the Champions League final.

Malaga tested Madrid’s resolve and forced a number of good saves from goalkeeper Keylor Navas, but lacked the quality to cause an upset.

The hosts made the worst possible start when Luis Hernandez clumsily played the ball to Isco and the Madrid midfielder instantly slotted an immaculate throughball to Ronaldo, who skipped around Carlos Kameni and rolled into an empty net.

Sandro Ramirez had the chance to equalise for the home side after 12 minutes, but his low shot was saved by Navas at his near post when there were Malaga players crying out for a cross.

Navas risked injury to save a blistering freekick from Sandro after 20 minutes, turning the ball around the post with a one-handed block before colliding with the frame of the goal and taking a blow to the ribs.

Kameni made a brilliant stop to prevent Ronaldo from scoring a second goal after 33 minutes, when Benzema’s cross was allowed to run by Mikel Villanueva, and the Malaga goalkeeper blocked a low drive from Toni Kroos moments later.

Madrid’s slender lead remained intact at the break, but only after Keko Gontan looped

Madrid’s Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their second goal with Sergio Ramos

a header just over the crossbar from Jony Rodriguez’s pinpoint cross.

The second half almost started in disaster for Madrid when Ronaldo went down holding his knee after a challenge from Malaga’s Federico Ricca, but he opted to stay on the field.

Madrid doubled their lead after 10 minutes of the second half when Kroos’ corner found Sergio Ramos and, after the defender’s shot was saved

by Kameni, the rebound hit Raphael Varane on its way into the path of Benzema, who appeared to be in an offside position before his bundled the ball into the net.

Navas made a diving save to prevent Ignacio Camacho from pulling a goal back moments later, and Benzema had the ball in the net again after 70 minutes but the offside flag was correctly raised.

Zidane substituted Isco, Casemiro and Benzema in the closing stages and Malaga substitute Gonzalo Castro hit the crossbar in injury time as the champions elect began to lose focus, but their full attention soon turned to celebrating a first title in five years when the final whistle blew. (Sportsmax)

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est Indies chairman of selectors Courtney Browne insists the cadre of youth players recently introduced to the regional squad will be given time to develop despite a poor showing against Pakistan in the recent Test series.

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VACANCIES

Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne

The inexperienced batting trio of Shimron Hetmyer, Shane Dowrich and Shai Hope had their fair share of struggles in finding consistency during the Pakistan series, which ended in a dramatic 2-1 loss for the West Indies last week.

Despite a strong showing in the unofficial Test against Pakistan Hetmyer, the former Under-19 captain, averaged a disappointing 16 during the three-Test series, with a high score of 25 in the third game. Dowrich fared only slightly better recovering from a duck in the open-

ing innings of the first Test to post his highest score of 56 in the second innings, but went on to average 18 over the next four innings.

Hope’s determined 90run stand was crucial for the West Indies in their second match win over Pakistan, but he also failed to generally put down roots at the crease, notching scores of 2,6, 5, 29 and 17 in his other attempts, for an average of 24.

Browne, however, pointed to a relative lack of experience as the primary cause for the team’s struggles.

“We understand that we have a lot of young and developing players the unfortunate thing is that these players are all bunched up in terms of a number of Test matches. They are all new to Test cricket,” Browne said.

“So that is par for the course when you have a bunch of young people that your exposing to international cricket you will tend to get these types of performances, but you have a coaching team and you have to give them some time to develop these players,” he added.

“I am sure that we will have a lot of downs, but we will also have some game which we will win, but for us it’s really focusing on development.” (Sportsmax)

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nce again the final of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Guyana Diabetics Association (GDA)/PAHO Under-17 T20 Competition has been postponed to a later date owing to heavy rainfall in Georgetown on Sunday.

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Rain forces another postponement of final

O

would have had to reschedule the final on account of rain, which affected the hosting venue, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda.

Reigning champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) will have to wait lon-

ger to know whether they will emerge winners or surrender the title to an improved Transport Sports Club (TSC) unit.

However, it could be an extended delay for the GCA to host the final because the rainy season (May-June rain) is in full effect.

Nevertheless, it is a much-anticipated final that has stirred up lots of hype among cricketers and cricket lovers in the capital city.

The clash is expected to feature some of Guyana’s top youth players, namely Kevlon Anderson, Joel Spooner, Adrian Hinds, Alphius Bookie, Ashmead Nedd and Sachin Singh among others.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, may 22, 2017

Independence 5K…

Sheltez/Homesafe Security Tennis …

Superb Missingher Gentle clinches Girls’ U-18 title outclasses field

Missingher and Thomas are neck to neck during their battle in the 5K

By Michelangelo Jacobus

L

ong-distance athlete Winston Missingher had a commanding run at the Independence Fitness and Health 5K walk and marathon on Sunday despite dreary weather conditions to retain his title ahead of rival Cleveland Thomas.

The race started off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the forerunners quickly established a lead group as the first kilometre went by down Homestretch Avenue; Missingher kept pace with the lead pack and then made his move to go shoulder to shoulder with Thomas when the race turned into Vlissengen Road.

The duo then distanced themselves from the group as they made their way from Vlissengen Road into Hadfield Street, by then it was clear who would be the top contenders.

With the race progressing from Hadfield Street onto Mandela Avenue for the final kilometre, Missingher made his move and established a sizable gap, never to be erased.

Missingher, who lost out to Thomas in Suriname at the Telesur 10K road race earlier this month, showed immense stamina to sprint the last meters of the race, clocking a time of 11 minutes and six seconds (11m: 6s) while Thomas recorded 11 minutes and 24 seconds (11m: 24s).

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after the superb run, Missingher revealed that it was his plan all along to sit back in the first part of the race as he needed to “get warm”; that as well as the slipperiness of the road was a major factor.

He noted that he came to the race with the expectation of getting tight com-

petition, but expressed disappointment, as “it was no competition for me at all, probably if Cleveland Forde was in the race…”

The now two-time winner also pointed out that the race was all about “revenge” as he came prepared to run hard and win ahead of Thomas.

Meanwhile, Thomas said that “the race wasn’t that bad, but it was short”. He noted that he came out prepared to run at least 15 minutes over a greater distance.

Thomas maintained that he did his best and it was a good race, pointing out that the route was great as they had a police outrider to keep the way clear.

The event was organised

by Rising Star Athletics Club Coach Leslie Black, and supported by the President’s office and the Guyana Community of Service.

Powerade Schoolboys and Invitational Cycling…

Vintage McKay powers to top spot

Afruica Gentle about to rally a ball to Kalyca Fraser in their U-18 clash

K

alyca Fraser made life difficult for her superior Afruica Gentle, who emerged as the victor in the final bout to cop the Sheltez/Homesafe Security Independence Cup Girls’ Under-18 title on Saturday at Harry Panday Tennis Court.

Gentle, who was favourite to claim the title, was faulty throughout the match, but held on to secure the title. The game closed at 6-4, 3-6, 10-5.

Meanwhile, at the National Racquet Centre at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, Maliyah Maikoo captured the Girls’ Under-10 orange ball ti-

tle. Second place went to Kayesha Harding, followed

by Maliah Ramlagen in third and Gabrielle Felix in fourth.

Here are some of the results from Sunday’s proceedings: Malian Rambarran defeated Gabriel Felix 15/3, Gabriel Felix def Akeelah Johnson 15/9, Maliyah Maikoo def Mahek Sachadev 15/9, Mahek Sachadev def Gabrielle Ramlagen 15/9, Kayesha Harding def Maliyah Maikoo 18/16, Maliyah Maikoo def Gabrielle Ramlagen15/2, Kayesha Harding def Gabrielle Felix 15/2 and Maliah Ramlagen 15/5.

Sarah Klautky won the

Girls’ U-14 title after several victories on Saturday also at the National Racquet Centre. Nathalie Ramdyhan filled the second position.

On Saturday, Klautky def Nandanee Ramdyhan 4/0 4/0 and Nathalie Ramdyhan 5/3 4/0 in her round-robin matches. She played Akilah Jones earlier and won 4/1 4/1. Nathalie Ramdyhan was second place with wins over Akilah Jones 5/3 4/1, Nandanee Ramdyhan 4/0 4/0 In the Boys’ U-10 category, Aakesh Panday defeated Ricky Ramescendo 10-8 to go along with other victories so far in the tournament.

Independence Super 6 Tape ball …

Paul spurs V-Net Communications to title

Cyclists and organisers at the Powerade Schoolboys and Invitational Cycling Meet

W

arren “Forty” McKay claimed first prize in the feature School Boys and Invitational 35-Lap race at the annual Banks DIH Powerade 11-Race National Park Cycle Meet on Saturday.

McKay won in a time of one hour, 21 minutes, 45 seconds (1h:41m,45s), while Paul DeNobrega came in second, with Jamal John a close third, Christopher Griffith fourth, Alanzo Ambrose fifth and Mario King sixth, rounding out the top finishers.

The race of the day was dominated for the most part by John, DeNobrega and Griffith.

The trio separated themselves from the pack at the get-go, but the experienced McKay

capitalised on some poor judgment by the leaders to take top spot after the final lap.

DeNobrega, John and Griffith led the field until the final lap with 400 meters to go, and McKay who was breathing down their necks from Lap 17 finally made his move after the trio decided to play “cat and mouse” in the final stretch heading to the finish line.

John won five of the eight sprint prizes on offer, while DeNobrega took two and Griffith the remaining one.

The juvenile 10-lap race was won by Nigel Duiguid in 23 minutes 29 seconds, with Briton John and Marcus Keiler closing out the top three.

Junior Niles continued his

fine form by taking the veterans Under-45 category over archrival Lear Nunes and Ian Jackson, while Kennard Lovell took the Over-50 category with Linden Blackman coming second.

In the Mountain Bike event, the top spot went to Sean Budhan, while second and third went to Ryan Canterbury and Wayne Nurse respectively.

David Hinds won the 1214 boys and girls race, with Jonathan Ramsuchit and Brandon De Nobrega in second and third respectively; the Boys 6-9 BMX race went to John Niles, while Zab James won the BMX 9-12 three-lap race and John Christian was the winner in the 12-14 category.

The victorious V-Net Communications team pose with organiser James Lewis (in blue)

G

uyana Jaguars all-rounder Keemo Paul had another day to remember in cricket, but this time it was with a tape ball in hand.

Paul led from the front with a sterling all-round performance to guide V-Net Communications to the James Lewis and Foreign Ministry Promotion organised Pre-Independence Super Six title in a thrill-

er that went down to the last ball against Craig Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac on Sunday.

Despite the rain, Paul captured three wickets to restrict Craig NDC to 42-5 in their allotted six overs, then returned to smash 20 to propel his team to 46-4.

In the semi-finals, V-Net defeated Eccles NDC while

Craig NDC triumphed over the Guyana Forestry Commission.

V-Net successfully chased 72 for victory, ending on 74 without loss in 5.2 overs in reply to 71-3 made

by Eccles NDC. In the other semi-final, Craig NDC stifled the Guyana Forestry Commission to 53-2 in six overs before racing to 55-1 in 5.3 overs.

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 22, 2017

23

Permaul hungry for more international exposure

By Akeem Greene

G

uyana Jaguars left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul continues to be a dominant force in regional cricket, but those splendid performances have not corresponded in consistent exposure to international cricket.

On April 11 at the National Stadium, Providence, Permaul returned to the One-Day International (ODI) team after last playing one of his seven ODIs in November 2013 after making his debut in 2012 against Bangladesh.

During his comeback, he bowled four overs for 31 runs and made eight runs.

“It is always nice playing in front of your home crowd, and it was nice to be back after so many years; the comeback was not the best of games, but I still have to keep working and whatever opportunities present itself to be better next time,” he stated.

Added to his ODI outings, the spinner has played six Tests since making his debut in 2012, with his last being in June 2015 against Australia. In this regard, the bowler is extremely desirous of playing more for the men in maroon.

“I really want to play for West Indies consistently; I have been working hard throughout the years.

I have been getting wickets in regional cricket and I really wanted it. It doesn’t matter the format, I really want to play for West Indies,” the 27 year-old expressed.

During the ODI match, he also got a chance to play with Albion Cricket Club teammate and fellow spinner Devendra Bishoo for the first time in international cricket, an experience he hopes will happen more.

“As a youngster growing up, we always played together, we trained together and always wanted to play together on the world stage and we had that opportunity one time and hopefully we have many more.”

In the last three FourDay seasons, the spinner played 27 matches and collected 148 wickets, while in the 50-over format, in his 17 matches he garnered 37 wickets; even playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, he has been an evergreen of consistency.

In deciphering why he continues to pose a threat to regional batsmen, the bowler put it down to being

Veerasammy Permaul is watched by countryman and fellow spinner Devendra Bishoo during a training session

patient.

“I think as a player I have gotten more experience as to what it takes to get wickets at the regional level; it is same thing I have been doing every year, be consistent in an area.”

He added, “Bowling in the Caribbean once you be patient to batsmen, you tend to get wickets.”

It is not only with ball in hand that the player is seeking to make an im-

Pollard hails stellar

Mumbai fielding after magical win

Mumbai Indians all-rounder Kieron Pollard hailed the team’s outstanding effort in the field as a critical part of a thrilling last-ball win over Rising Pune Supergiant

M

umbai Indians all-rounder Kieron Pollard hailed the team’s outstanding effort in the field as a critical part of a thrilling last-ball win over Rising Pune Supergiant in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Sunday.

In their turn at the crease the Indians could only manage 129 for 6 as Mitchell Johnson’s spectacular bowling (three for 26) at the death, halted the Supergiant chase at 128 and

took the team to its third title at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

With 11 runs required from the final spell, Pollard, who has been one of Mumbai Indians’ most outstanding fielders, gobbled up Manoj Tiwary at longon. The very next delivery, Ambati Rayudu took a stellar catch close to the boundary to send back Steven Smith. The catch to dismiss Smith, who had momentum at 51 at that point, in par-

ticular, swung the game decidedly and put MI in the driver’s seat.

“Fielding is an integral part of T20 cricket and as we saw today, you don’t have much runs on the board and fielding was what made the difference,” Pollard said following the match.

“In the big final, this is where the big players stand up and especially in the fielding.” (Sportsmax)

pact since the right-handed batsman, who has played 93 First-Class matches with a high score of 86 not out, is working overtime on improving his stroke-play.

“I have been working on my batting; most people know me as one who comes down the order and hit the ball, but I’m a much better batter than that… situations in games, that was required; I’m trying to be more consistent and get good scores when opportunities present itself.”

He further disclosed, “as a cricketer you need to adapt to situations, you need to learn quickly and be on your game all the time and try improve every day”. Meanwhile, commenting on the Jaguars three-peat in the Four-Day season, he contended that the rough times were what helped the team learn the

meaning of winning.

“We had some rough times, but we are now reaping the benefits, most of the guys that went through the bad patches; and we were at the bottom of the table for a long time; however, for the last three years, we are the champs.”

He went on to say “The guys are more experienced: we know what it is to lose and what it is to win and everyone understand their game and everyone is playing their role and stepping in various times and it was the collective team effort that brought us success.”

Permaul will have another chance to stake a claim for international duties if he plays for the WICB President’s XI against the touring Afghanistan side in a Twenty20 match on May 30 at Warner Park, St Kitts and Nevis.

South American Youth Championship…

Debutant hurdlers pursuing glory for Guyana

By Michelangelo Jacobus

H

osea Glenn and Terrence Fraser have their work cut out for them at the upcoming South American Youth Championship as they seek to make their mark in the 400 metres hurdles, representing Guyana on home turf.

Events such as hurdles, the steeplechase and pole vault are literally foreign to local athletes; the last time Guyana participated in any hurdles event at an international meet was decades ago, thus this is a new challenge being presented not only to the athletes but the coaches as well.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, in an exclusive interview, veteran coach Moses Pantlitz, who is responsible for the training of Glenn and Fraser, noted that while it has been quite a while since Guyanese athletes have competed in hurdles events, preparation was moving along quite nicely.

The duo who started training from “scratch” for the event five weeks ago have already grasped the skill of hurdling adeptly.

Coach Pantlitz, however, highlighted that they now needed to work on bettering their times in the event.

The world record in the 400m hurdles stands at 46.78s, and Fraser has so far clocked 58s in his time trial, with Glenn coming in at just under 60s. According to Coach Pantlitz, they will be working on their tech-

Hosea Glenn and Terrence Fraser will strive to medal in the 400m hurdles despite their inexperience

nique as well as bringing their times closer to the 50s mark as that was the average time in the event at the last CARIFTA Games.

The Coach added that he was “reasonably confident” that the athletes could bring down their times and do their best in the event.

Glenn, who has been coached by Pantlitz for some time, was singled out for the event, while Fraser was selected by another coach to participate. Both athletes’ traditional events are the 800m and 1500m.

Fraser, who is a lanky athlete, said that while the training was a bit “stiff” at the beginning, things were now falling into place.

He stressed that he was striving to better his time and do Guyana proud

come the weekend of the Championship.

Glenn, who clocked the slower time of the two, highlighted that he had the ability to go faster. He also explained that he was comfortable and caught on quickly while showing progression.

Guyana will be competing at the championship against 12 other countries at an elevated level of athleticism, while striving to participate in every event.

However, it was disclosed that there was not be an athlete representing Guyana in the pole vault, but there would be representatives in the steeplechase.

The Championship will run from June 3-4 at the Leonora Synthetic Track, West Coast Demerara.

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

MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Independence 5K… Pg 23

Pg 22

Permaul Superb hungry for Missingher more international outclasses field exposure Winston Missingher sprints away from Cleveland Thomas in the final stretch of the Independence Health and Fitness 5k

Prior to his One-Day International (ODI) at Providence in April, the talented left-arm spinner last played for West Indies in June 2015

Pg 20

Mumbai clinch 3rd IPL title in last-ball thriller Mumbai Indians get together after a record third IPL win © BCCI

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