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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3192

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Law books vendetta

SOCU questions Nandlall

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Harmon P12 says sugar industry will remain open …sugar too big to fail – Dr Luncheon

Page 3

…PPP says issue reeks of political persecution, witch-hunting

Assassination allegations

Complainant owes local businessmen $8M – source Page 7

…now MIA as Police seek clarity

Nephew gets 2 years for stealing from ‘lonely’ aunt

…tells court he had an Page 11 “irresistible temptation” to steal

Persons with disabilities graduate Page from vocational training centre 17

Self-confessed bandit jailed for 56 months

P8

Bartica man busted with P11 ganja

Ruimveldt man busted with cocaine pellets in stomach P10 Brutal cutlass attack

Husband turns self in to Police

P10

Against All Odds: Eighteen students from the National Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities – the Open Doors Centre graduated in a wide range of skills. In photo, one of the students happily rolls down the ramp of a newly donated bus as he is welcomed by Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings and Ariane Mangar, Director of Rehabilitation Services (Carl Croker photo)

“Don’t blame Private Sector for economic woes” – Ali

Page 9

Public education system in dire state – SVN Page Director 5 …as protestors picket AFC Headquarters

PPP accuses APNU/AFC of abusing Local Govt system

…to honour its financial supporters P13

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news

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Law books vendetta

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, April 25 – 04:00h and 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, April 26 – 04:30h and 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 25 –15:50h-17:20h Wednesday, April 26 –16:40h-18:10h.

and

SOCU questions Nandlall …PPP says issue reeks of political persecution, witch-hunting

FERRY SCHEDULE

Mandate Nandlall has again raised concerns regarding SOCU operating outside of its legal mandate to investigate financial crimes. Questioned, the shadow legal affairs minister said he does not rule out the option of bringing legal proceedings against the entity in this regard.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected to prevail with heavy rain showers in the late morning hours.

Partly cloudy to clear skies are predicted for the evening hours. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 16:02h reaching a maximum height of 2.82 metres.

Low Tide: 09:35h and 21:53h reaching minimum heights of 0.37 metre and 0.40 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, April 22, 2017

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

Anil Nandlall, Bharrat Jagdeo and Priya Manickchand during the hastily-called press conference on Monday

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he Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has said on Monday that an incident involving former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, being questioned by ranks of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) – about several Commonwealth Law Books which Attorney General Basil Williams is claiming were stolen from the State – reeks of political persecution This incident comes days after the Opposition parliamentarian had filed a lawsuit against Williams for libel and slander consequent upon Williams continuously declaring that Nandlall is a thief.

Nandlall has since labelled this action involving SOCU a form of retaliation; and the public feud between these two politicians continues.

In a press briefing held at Freedom House immediately after his release from SOCU on Monday, Nandlall and one of his attorneys, Priya Manickchand, together with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, addressed the media on this development. They all contended that this action is the latest in Government’s attempt to distract the nation from serious problems affect-

ing the country, and is another of Government’s witch-hunting tactics aimed at intimidating the PPP/C. Warrant SOCU officers had obtained a warrant to take possession of the law books, but Nandlall disclosed that they are in his possession at one of his premises, and he is unable to access those premises because the person who holds the keys thereto is currently overseas, and would not return until tonight.

Arrangement The former Attorney General told the press briefing that the arrangement regarding the law books had been made known to Williams back in 2015 during the transition period from one political administration to another.

He reiterated that as part of his employment contract with the PPP government, the subscription fees for the law books had been stood in an arrangement similar to that involving Government paying for electricity or other amenities for its ministers.

He emphasised that he had already been subscribing to the publication of the law

books prior to taking up position of Attorney General with the previous administration; and his successor had never objected to this arrangement, but had in fact lamented not having prior subscriptions which he could have had paid for by the State.

Nandlall said the Attorney General began making an issue of the arrangement regarding the law books only after he became the subject of intense criticisms; which began with the lawsuit against the appointment of the Mabaruma Mayor, and continued with his actions brought against Indira Anandjeet—the Permanent Secretary appointed under his tenure -- and other actions leading up to the most recent courtroom outbursts.

Corruption Jagdeo and Manickchand have also expressed concerns about the priorities of the Government and the use of the State’s apparatus to execute its campaign of political vendetta.

Jagdeo has even questioned whether this matter regarding the law books represents the mass corruption which the APNU/AFC coalition had decried prior to assuming executive office some two years ago. “This becomes the big acts of corruption when they had claimed the PPP stole over $305B,” he outlined, noting that the law books are probably now worth about US$2000; or, according to Nandlall, less than two of his cellular phones.

However, Nandlall disclosed that, at this time, the books are worth approximately $1.5 million.

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tuesDAY, april 25, 2017

Views 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

Rape scourge and nonprotection of victims

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uyana has declared the week of April 24-30, 2017 Sexual Assault Awareness Week, under the theme, “Engaging New Voices to End Sexual Violence”.

The Social Protection Ministry has stated that, along with its strategic partners, it is committed to implementing legislation and policies that focus on the prevention of rape and respond to the cries for justice of women, men and children, who have suffered through this heinous crime.

“We will work to bring all perpetrators to justice, ensure that institutions are held accountable, and the effective support systems are in place for victims,” Social Protection Minister Amna Ally stated. But some of the very institutions that are there to ‘protect and serve’ are the ones that make the system seem ineffective and the victims feel unprotected from the scourge of sexual assault and rape.

For instance, in March of this year, a former rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was charged with rape and taken before the court of a city magistrate. He had been charged with raping a teenage girl, along with two others, during the latter part of January at the Army’s Camp Stephenson base at Timehri.

Winston Haynes, aptly known as “Unruly Boss”, was released on $600,000 bail.

Consequent upon the rape allegation and a subsequent investigation into the matter by a GDF Board of Inquiry, it was determined that the sufficiency of evidence warranted further action. The trio was then dismissed from the Army for contravening Security Standing Orders, as well as having breached several other Standard Operating Procedures of the GDF. They had reportedly taken the 15-year-old victim to the base camp in an army vehicle and sexually assaulted her, which a medical examination later confirmed.

Despite the assurances of army officers that “the GDF remains committed to the preservation of law and order and will deal condignly with all transgressors”, there is little trust between civilians and security services personnel. One could claim, with some degree of justification, on the basis of such occurrences – infrequent to be sure – that once is enough to damn the entire Force.

The Guyana Police Force has been similarly disgraced by errant ranks. In one instance, a 14-year-old resident of the West Bank of Demerara was reported to have contracted a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), after allegedly having been raped by a police constable who was assigned to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). It was revealed that the Constable had genital warts, which he apparently transmitted to the young girl when he committed the act.

In May of 2013, there was a report that Police made a teenage rape victim wait an entire day before she was taken for a medical examination.

This caused human rights activist Karen DeSouza to condemn the treatment of the 14-year-old rape victim by the officers at the Turkeyen Police Station. The girl was forced to wait for approximately eight hours before a female officer accompanied her to the hospital for a medical certificate. This was the day after the victim’s parents took the bloodied girl to report the attack, during which she had been grabbed from outside her home and taken to a lonely spot, where she was violently raped. They were sent away and told to return the next day, by which time it had become just a fruitless exercise.

These actions of the officers contravene the new Sexual Offences Act, which has provisions to minimise the additional trauma that victims experience while seeking justice through the legal systems.

The mother reported that even at the hospital the Policewoman displayed utter disregard and inconsideration for the travails of the child.

A Barama rape victim had to wait nine years before she received a modicum of justice for her brutal violation at the hands of three fellow employees. The 17-year-old victim was found naked and crying on a bed at the company’s location on the East Bank of Demerara, after being raped. Two of the accused were found guilty, while the other walked free.

Paul Abrams, Claude Craig and Holston Melville were all accused of raping and sodomising the 17-year-old victim in 2007, while she was employed at that company.

Incidents of rape are hardly ever reported because confidence in the security forces has been severely compromised because of occurrences exemplified in the foregoing narrative.

Until, and unless, the Police Force takes its mandate seriously and, if not complicit, must not appear to be complicit in such occurrences, the public will never garner the confidence enough to trust the Joint Services and report more instances of rape. This will only cause the scourge of rape and sexual assaults to intensify.

On Saturday, April 22, Iwokrama joined the rest of the world to celebrate Earth Day, the largest global environmental movement, celebrated by over one billion people worldwide under the theme “Environmental and Global Literacy”

Open letter to Education Minister

Dear Editor, The recent introduction of the 14 per cent VAT on education and educational materials is creating extreme adversity on me. I am a student, studying to fulfill my lifelong ambition to educate myself. I have taken a loan at a bank to pay for my courses, and now I have to find 14 per cent more than I catered for.

This extra money will have to come out of my salary – which, as it is, barely does for me and my family for a month. This only serves to create an extra burden on me. The result of this VAT on education is that I may have to drop out of school, as

I cannot afford to pay the extra money nor can I find an extra job to earn the money needed to pay the VAT. This is certainly not the “Good Life” that this Government has promised.

In fact, I am now worse than before, as I am no longer in a position to gain a promotion at work, and am unable to earn the extra money that the VAT demands.

Many students have already stopped coming to classes. They have dropped out of school as they cannot afford to pay the VAT. This VAT is supposed to earn some $350,000,000 from the tuition fees that are paid to private schools;

however, at the rate that students are leaving the private schools, the earnings from the VAT on education and educational materials will result in much less than expected earnings. It will also result in a less educated nation. Many of these students who are affected by the VAT on education will be voting for the first time in the 2020 elections, and they will surely remember you and your administration as being responsible for shattering their dreams of having a higher education and any chance of promotion at their jobs.

This Government says it will review the VAT on edu-

cation in 2018, but by then it will be too late for me and many like me. The VAT on education needs to be removed now. Any tax on education is disgraceful and sends a message that the Government is not interested in having an educated nation. There is a saying: “While the grass is growing, the horse is starving”. This is what will be happening if the VAT is not removed before 2018. Please remove the VAT on education and educational materials now.

Yours sincerely, Jonathan Yearwood Struggling private school student

Guyana's exceptional performances Dear Editor, Guyana’s exceptional performances and achievements at the recently held Carifta Games in Curacao must be lauded; the team of young athletes has made us proud.

Likewise, Government must be commended for its unprecedented initia-

tive of providing scholarships for the successful Carifta Games team. This augurs well for the future, and can serve as an inspiration for up-and-coming athletes.

It is hoped that these young people would not squander this opportunity, but would make full

use of the scholarships while at the same time enhancing and furthering their athletic abilities.

Maybe someday in the not-too-distant future these athletes would be in the Guyana contingent to a Commonwealth Games meet, or ultimately the Olympics.

Congratulations, and continued successes to the Carifta team and all who worked to ensure success.

It is important for all to remember that this is not the end, but is rather just the beginning.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

tuesDAY, april 25, 2017

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News

Public education system in dire state - SVN Director

…as protestors picket AFC Headquarters …told VAT here to stay

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he public education system is in a dire state and is being academically outperformed by private schools; hence, the need for those institutions.

This is according to educator Swami Aksharananda. He made the comment while at a protest against Value Added Tax (VAT) on education on Monday in front of the Alliance For Change (AFC) headquarters.

“There are many challenges in the public school system, everybody admits this. There is no one in this country who thinks that it is where it’s supposed to be…but as far as the public schools – if you have an objective analysis, we are in a dire state as far as public education is concerned and the ability to deliver education, it is very serious,” Swami Aksharananda told this publication.

While addressing the media, he added that parents were choosing the pri-

Demonstrators in front of the AFC Headquarters

vate education system as opposed to the public education system mainly from a performance standpoint. He noted that private schools were most of the times outperforming the government schools in both the National Grade Six Assessment (NSGA) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

“If you look at the results of education in this country, for example the NGSA, all the top results come from

private schools, which is an indication of [their better performance]. People are smart. People know where they get their results and they go there, and it is not only because people can afford, but people will make the additional sacrifice for what they consider a better value for their money,” the educator opined.

When asked about the suggestion of the institutions absorbing the VAT, Swami Aksharananda, who operates the Saraswati

Body in shallow grave

Miner remanded to prison D illon Daniels was on Monday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, charged with the murder of Seon Mentore, whose decomposed remains were unearthed from a three-footdeep grave at Three Miles Karrrau Backdam in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni District of Region Seven some two weeks ago.

An investigation launched following the discovery of Mentore’s remains had resulted in two men implicating each other

in Mentore’s demise; and as investigators dug deeper, they came to the conclusion that Mentore’s colleague had killed him and then buried his corpse.

Mentore’s remains were reportedly stumbled upon in the three-foot-deep grave by a boy flying a kite at Karrau Backdam. The child’s parents informed the Police of the discovery, and ranks later visited the scene, leading to the arrest of Mentore’s former employer and colleague.

Mentore allegedly had been battered with pieces

of wood and a cutlass after he was accused of stealing raw gold. The charge Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the accused on Monday alleged that the accused, between April 7 and 17, 2017, murdered Sean Mentore in the mining community of Karrau Backdam. The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge, but the matter has been transferred before the Bartica magistrate, before whom it will continue on May 19, 2017.

Vidya Niketan (SVN) – one of the country’s top performing secondary schools, explained that it was not legally possible for those institutions to do so. He added that by making that suggestion, there was now the idea of private schools making large profits and that was far from the truth.

In March, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that VAT on private education was not a move to target the institutions, rather it was a move for the Government to broaden the country’s tax base, and help fund the country’s expenditure shortfall in the 2017 $250 billion budget.

A parent, Shamal Zalamuddin said he refused to pay VAT on education and noted that the tax imposition was not only on tuition fees, as it extended to all educational materials inclusive of pens, pencils and erasers. This, he notes, not only affects the private school students, but also those attending public schools as well.

“There is hardly any country in the world that pays VAT on education or health services or social services. My son goes to a private school, yes; I paid his fees today without paying any VAT. I am not going to pay the VAT and if they (the school) rebel, then I am prepared to take him out and I am prepared to homeschool him,” Zalamuddin told reporters.

The protesters told the media that they chose to exercise their constitutional right in front of the AFC headquarters, since they were informed of an executive meeting at the office.

They also noted that there were some members of the AFC who were sympathetic to their plight, so they were seeking an audience with them.

During the protest, AFC

Fire guts lower flat of Essequibo Coast hotel

The dinning area that was destroyed by the blaze

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fire of unknown origin, which began at about 03:00h in the lower flat of the Chick Paris Hotel at Darthmouth,

Essequibo Coast, quickly gutted the lower flat of the building and spread to the dining and reception areas.

But because of lack of

oxygen, occasioned by the building being locked up, the fire “self-extinguished”, according to Chief Fire Officer of the Anna Regina Fire

Station, Clive Mc Donald.

The building is reportedly owned by Rickford Smith, who is currently in the interior. His sister who operates the hotel was informed of the fire, and quickly summoned the Guyana Fire Service.

Speaking with this publication after the fire threat had been neutralised, the Chief Fire Officer told this newspaper: "Because the building was locked up there was not sufficient oxygen. As such, the fire extinguished itself, hence saving the upper flat."

No one was injured during the fire, nor was they any guest at the hotel at the time.

representatives from the office went out and engaged the protesters, informing them that they would have to be protesting for the next three terms. One representative said that the protesters would have to remain there since the VAT on education was there to stay. He added that although he was an AFC Youth Executive, he had protested against the parking meter project, but supported the imposi-

“I don’t speak to the Guyana Times, y’all are asses”

– Minister Khemraj Ramjattan tion of VAT on education.

After failed attempts to contact AFC Leader and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, Guyana Times contacted the party’s former head, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, for an update on the party’s position on

the tax imposition only to be told: “I don’t speak to the Guyana Times, y’all are asses.”

Parliamentary support

Meanwhile, the AFC will be put to the test when the parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) tables a motion to repeal the 14 per cent VAT on private education at the upcoming sitting of the National Assembly on May 8.

Expectations are high that the junior partner in the coalition APNU/AFC Administration would now support the motion, given its solidarity with stakeholders who have for weeks been calling on Government to remove the education tax.

Cabinet recently ruled that the VAT on private education would remain for the rest of the year, but it would be reviewed for the 2018 National Budget.

The AFC has signalled its intention to challenge Government’s collective decision and push for an earlier review.

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Foundation

‒ up to a point, but shyness can also be hard to unlearn

By Joe Moran, PhD

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ichael Argyle traced his interest in social psychology, a field he pioneered, back to his concern for a school friend whose shyness had made him miserable. When Argyle started his research in the Applied Psychology Unit at Cambridge in 1950, it was full of people studying motor skills, and he began to wonder if social skills might be similar to motor skills in that they both depended on feedback, whether it be interacting with a machine or listening to and looking at other people. It occurred to him that social skills might be taught and become second nature, like striking a golf ball or shifting gears on a car.

Argyle began researching the unspoken rules of human interaction, what he called “non-verbal communication”. His Social Skills Research Group at the Institute of Experimental Psychology at Oxford, formed in 1963, devised experiments to examine the minutiae of eye movements and head nods, the way that two people in conversation synchronised their non-verbal cues in a sort of gestural waltz. In one study, Argyle and his team put hostile, friendly and neutral verbal messages in different combinations with hostile, friendly and neutral non-verbal ways of delivering them, to see what effect they had on the listener. They arrived at an arresting statistic: non-verbal communication was 12-and-a-half times more powerful than language in conveying meaning.

Argyle came to believe that social skills were learnable and teachable.

His approach to social psychology suggested that people’s personalities were not crystallised in childhood or adolescence, but capable of change. His bestselling book, The Psychology of Interpersonal Behaviour (1967), argued that many mental problems were due not to a psychopathology beginning in early childhood, as Freudians thought, but to a lack of social skills.

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In 1968, Argyle set up a social skills training programme at the Littlemore Psychiatric Hospital near Oxford, which had pioneered the use of small group meetings with patients instead of the traditional methods of straitjacketed restraint and confinement in padded cells. Argyle wanted to carry on this enlightened tradition. He believed

that a common trait in mental patients was their inability to make friends, due to their failure to take any interest in people or see their point of view, and their consequent “very low level of rewardingness to others”.

He set these patients exercises to improve their postures, enliven their expressions and animate their gestures. They learned to “moodmatch” the voice tone, expression and body language of their conversational partner. If their voices were monotonous,

a common failing among the shy or depressed, they were taught to vary pitch. The hardest thing these patients had to do was to watch videos of themselves and be shown how sullen, bored or hostile they looked to others. They then had to take apart these instinctive gestures and expressions and reassemble them more agreeably, like out-of-form golfers reconstructing their swings.

Argyle’s methods caught on and were rolled out into many areas of life. Schizophrenics were taught social skills in order to overcome their alienating sense of otherness. Violent prisoners were shown how to deal politely with situations that might lead to conflict. Alongside these people that Argyle named the “socially inadequate”, there were line managers, doctors, teachers, service workers – anyone whose job involved dealing with people or the public – who could be schooled in social skills as well.

Argyle became a cheerleader for Scottish country dancing, which he did every Wednesday for years, and he recommended it as a universal cure for shyness. Just as Robert Burns took up Scottish dancing to “give my manners a brush”, Argyle felt that its careful tracing of progressive patterns to a set choreography could teach people social skills. It offered a mini-tutorial in the importance of taking polite turns and coordinating touch and gaze, rather as babies enjoyed matching sequences of smiles and glances with their mothers.

Argyle possessed the evangelism of the missionary, not the experience of a fellow sufferer. An outgoing personality with a barking laugh, who at parties wore a revolving bow tie, he came to feel that extroverts were happier because they expected to get on with people, and so they did. “The happy peo-

ple are a lot less popular than they think they are,” he said. “The depressives are a lot less unpopular. But on the whole, the depressives are generally nearer the truth.” He saw no rational reason for people to be shy, and was puzzled by the reluctance of intelligent people to learn the social skills that would make them happier. When he ran the first conference on non-verbal communication in Oxford in 1967, he was baffled by “the amazingly inept and socially incompetent behaviour of some of the world’s greatest experts on social behaviour.

No satisfactory explanation was found for this despite much discussion.”

Can social skills really be taught? As a resiliently shy person I would have to say: up to a point. Argyle’s work has undoubtedly helped many “socially inadequate” people to relate to others better. But the human personality is much stranger and more unbiddable than motor skills. Learning social skills is an essential part of being human. But it is not as simple as learning how to swing a golf ball. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

Smartphone app tells parents when children are ‘sexting’

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arents worried their children are swapping inappropriate pictures and selfies with friends or even strangers online are being offered a smartphone app to automatically spot suspect images.

The firm behind Gallery Guardian says it uses sophisticated image recognition software to scan pictures appearing on a child’s

ine the world they’re living. This app brings parents peace of mind that there is technology working for them and watching everything their child is doing. It’s all about putting power back into the parents’ hands.”

A recent poll found the craze for so-called sexting, or swapping explicit photographs or messages by mobile phone, is now a big-

Sexting | dictionary for parents * ASL – Age/sex/location * CTN – Can’t talk now * F2F or FTF – Face to face * FWB – Friends with benefits * FYEO – For your eyes only * GYPO – Get your pants off * IWSN – I want sex now * KPC – Keeping parents clueless * LMIRL – Let’s meet in real life * MOS – Mom over shoulder * NIFOC– Nude in front of computer * P911– Parent alert * 420 – Marijuan

mobile to detect naked skin, genitalia or breast exposure.

If the app spots a suspect image on the child’s phone, the parent is immediately sent an alert reading “suspicious image detected”.

Daniel Skowronski, a 50-year-old a father-of-four from London who came up with the idea told the Mail on Sunday: “I realised how widely children as young as eight were sharing these inappropriate images.

Skowronski, founder of YIPO Technologies, which specialises in photo-recognition technology, : “Boys are saying to girls right now: ‘If you don’t send me something I’m not going to ask you out.’

“It’s ridiculous to imag-

ger worry for parents than smoking or alcohol abuse.

Nine out of 10 parents agreed schools should do more to educate pupils on the dangers of sending revealing images, while 78 per cent were either ‘fairly concerned’ or ‘very concerned’ about sexting, while 69 per cent are concerned about alcohol misuse and 67 percent for smoking.

Child protection campaigner Pippa Smith said: “Ultimately, reducing sexting can’t just be left to technology. Children need to know it is wrong and why.

However, they do not have the cognitive maturity to resist this sexualised culture.”

(The Telegraph)

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Assassination allegations

Complainant owes local businessmen $8M – source

…now MIA as Police seek clarity

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well-known barber of Grove, East Bank Demerara, who accused two businessmen of hiring him to assassinate President David Granger, is now proverbially missing in action.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the Police have made several checks for the man, but have to conclude he is nowhere around. Because of the sensitive nature of the case, the Crime Chief did not divulge any further information, but is optimistic that the Police will apprehend him in due course.

Guyana Times understands that, unless the complainant makes himself available to the Police for further questioning, the probe would unavoidably remain at a standstill.

A source close to the investigation told Guyana Times that the complainant is no ordinary “con” man.

Reports received are that the man allegedly owes some businessmen in excess of $8M, which he had borrowed to pay off debts when he first started his mining operation. He has reportedly failed to repay the money at the stipulated deadline.

After some time had elapsed and he had not repaid the money, his creditors – whom he has accused of paying him to assassinate the President – had approached him to enquire about their money; and based on his inability to repay the money, and moreso out of fear of what the men are capable of doing, he (allegedly) levelled the allegation against them, the source revealed.

This barber had reportedly worked with the businessmen he has implicated for some time prior to opening his own mining concession a few years ago. These businessmen have already been interrogated by members of the Major Crimes Unit of the Guyana Police Force, and Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said on Friday last that the case file was sent to the legal minds for advice and had been returned for clarification on statements given by the complainant and a witness.

He explained that those clarifications were expected to have been completed over the past weekend, and the file was to have been resent to the legal advisor, but this phase of the investigation is now expected to take much longer.

Persaud was also adamant that any threats made against the Head of State of a country much be taken seriously, and addition-

President David Granger

al security is accordingly being provided the President by the Guyana Police Force whenever he has an outdoor event.

The matter involving the alleged plot to assassinate the President was first brought to light by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a weekly post-cabinet press briefing. He had noted that the Ministry of the Presidency was made aware of the alleged plot to assassinate the President, and the matter was being investigated by the police.

Moments after the press briefing, the interview with the complainant making the allegation was released on social media and later tele-

vised on a local newscast.

In that interview, the barber revealed that he was offered $7M and given a “long black gun” by a businessman to carry out the job of assassinating the President, but he had declined the offer.

He claimed that, as a businessman, he had approached this businessman -- a gold dealer living on the East Bank of Demerara -for a loan, and it was then the discussions were held about the possible assassination.

With this barber now proverbially missing in action, the authenticity or falsity of this allegation cannot be determined.

8 news

tuesdAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Self-confessed bandit Siblings slapped with jailed for 56 months narco possession charge as mother flees

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Michael White

guilt-stricken Michael White was on Monday arraigned before City Magistrate Judy Latchman on a charge of armed robbery, and departed that magistrate’s court to serve a 56-month jail term after he admitted to committing the offence.

The 39-year-old White admitted that on April 22, 2017, while armed with a

knife, he relieved Taylor Lewinski of a grey handbag containing an IPhone among several articles worth a total of $140,000, in an encounter that occurred at Avenue of the Republic in Georgetown.

The prosecution’s case was that the VC was walking north along Avenue of the Republic when White rode up on a bicycle and demanded that she hand over her bag. The VC fearlessly held on to her property, but when White whipped out a knife from his pocket, the woman was rendered defenceless and surrendered her belongings.

White reportedly collided with a pedestrian while fleeing the scene, but was apprehended by public-spirited citizens after the VC raised an alarm.

He was taken to the Stabroek Police Outpost, where a search conducted on his person unearthed the VC’s belongings in his possession.

T

wo siblings remained incarcerated after denying a charge of narcotics possession when they were arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Temika Bobb Semple being escorted by a police officer

Courts on Monday following a recent drug bust at their Cross Street, Georgetown home.

The duo’s mother, Odetta Bobb Semple fled the scene leaving Temika Bobb Semple, 23, and her 21-year-old brother, Dylan Bobb Semple during the bust.

It is alleged that Police raided the mother’s premises on April 21 and unearthed some 115 grams of cocaine under the wooden flooring.

The court was told in a bail application that Temika Bobb Semple reportedly suffered from epileptic seizures, while her brother had heart surgery earlier this year in February. An arrest warrant was issued for their mother.

The case will continue on May 8.

Hoping it’ll go away…

T

…discrimination his PNC-led APNU/AFC government reminds your Eyewitness of those little kids who believe that when they close their eyes the world disappears!!

Take discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation: no matter how they slice it, dice it, or even puree it, it ain’t gonna disappear. So why’s the Government insisting there are laws on the books forbidding discrimination against ANYONE, and they don’t have to be specific?

But even a moment’s thought about this assertion shows how dissembling this Govt can be. Just look at the “Prevention of Discrimination Act” -- which has to do with employment generally. It excruciatingly spells out that “you can’t discriminate against folks on account of their race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indigenous population, natural extraction, social origin, economic status, political opinion, disability, family responsibilities, pregnancy, marital status or age. Whew! Now, if it was just a matter of forbidding “discrimination” against “anyone”, why spell out all these categories? Very simply because specific acts of discrimination against specific persons are always along specific grounds.

And that’s the whole point about discrimination. Ain’t it? And Lord knows, people are discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Let’s be honest: think of a workplace, any workplace -- YOUR workplace. Do you thing they would’ve hired your boss if he was openly gay?

Or, God forbid, trans??? Well, in case you didn’t realise it, that’s discrimination! Problem is: while at one level most of us may say we look at everyone as “human”, that’s not the point. Is it? When we actually CHOOSE, we’re forced to DISTINGUISH; and that’s where discrimination can come in.

If the criteria we use to make the cut isn’t related to the purpose -- in this case, the job -- then it’s discriminatory. And this is why the legislators made that laborious list above. They recognise folks have been discriminated at one time or another along those lines, and forbid it because it was wrong. So why not add “sexual orientation” to the list?

And we come to the crux of the matter: A large swathe of us -- for many reasons, especially “religious” ones -evaluate gay or trans-people as “not quite” deserving of equal treatment. They make us uncomfortable just as how at one time -- and even presently, in some places -- to be asked to treat Black people equally made some uncomfortable.

So this Government will have to quit trying to ride with the hounds -- those who discriminate against gays -and run with the hares -- those who are gay. There comes a time when they have to make the moral choice and explicitly forbid discrimination against gays.

And that time is now! …Code of Conduct TIGI's complained that the Integrity Act - to which the PNC-led APNU/AFC govt had appended their much vaunted “Code of Conduct for Ministers” -- is fatally defective for “vagueness,” among other sins of omission and commission. So what else is new - or surprising?

This is an administration that’s “talked the talk” but is genetically incapable of “walking the walk”. Genetically?

Think PNC as the chromosomes in every ministry of this Government!

Now, while the Govt’s hoping it’ll just go away, let’s not forget this Code of Conduct was promised to be unfurled within THE FIRST 100 DAYS of the Government. Well, it’s now over 700 days and counting. In the meantime, every week, there’s another scandal involving another Government official. Shall we count the instances, dear reader? We thought not!! It’s just too sickening. Isn’t it?

But it’s the moral responsibility of the supporters of the Government, who put them there with their sweet talk.

Like Spike advised, they should “do the right thing”. …ANSA’s sweetheart deal The Government’s hoping folks will forget the $605M pharma scam involving ANSA. Well, a hat tip to the Stabber for keeping the spotlight on!

But they should look just outside the penumbra for the dirty trick just played!

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

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Don’t blame Private Sector Den Amstel residents decry for economic woes”– Ali poor state of roads, drainage

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pposition Member of Parliament and point person on the economy, Irfaan Ali, has lashed out at Finance Minister Winston Jordan for blaming the private sector for contributing to the slowdown of the economy.

During a diaspora meeting in Washington DC on Friday, Minister Jordan slammed the local private sector for being “stuck in their ways”, and not adapting to the changing business environment.

In a statement made to the Guyana Times on Monday, Ali joined several private sector bodies in criticising Minister Jordan’s comments.

“Our private sector is perhaps the most resilient in the region. It is the function of the Government to stimulate growth and inject confidence in the economy,” he stated.

Ali explained that risk is a function of confidence and signals. “Stability, policy predictability, trust, incentives and clarity in direction are essential factors in providing that confidence for the private sector. If you continue to attack the private sector and alienate (its members), how will you be able to set these conditions?” he reasoned.

Ali believes that, by its statements and actions, Government is singling out the private sector as an enemy of the State. He contends that Government needs to build and strengthen the private sector, give its members incentives, and remove barriers to growth and development.

“Creating an enabling environment requires incen-

Irfaan Ali

tives to match the direction you want the private sector to go in,” he stated. “Instead, the Government has been actively removing incentives,” he charged.

The parliamentarian reminded that forestry, mining, commerce, the services sector, construction, and agriculture have all suffered from removal of incentives granted under the PPP/C Government.

“Worst is the application of new measures -- taxes inhibitive to sustaining these sectors, much less advancing growth and development. The private sector has contributed significantly to our development, and we must recognize that contribution,” Ali emphasised. Unreasonable complaints Heads of two major private sector umbrella bodies, Eddie Boyer of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Deodat Indar of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), told this publication on Sunday that Minister Jordan’s complaints are unreasonable.

They both contend that Government needs to review its tax policy, and offer incentives that create an attractive environment for investment.

Economist Sasenarine Singh has also contended that businesses will not pump money into an economy if the investment climate is not favourable. He explained that it all comes back to the ‘risks and rewards’ balance, and if the risks outweighs the rewards, then businessmen will not be encouraged to invest.

“No businessman is going to invest if he is not going to make returns. Who is going to make investments in Guyana when the risks are so high and the returns are so low?” he questioned, highlighting that there are other countries with greater risks involved, but businesses opt to make investments there because of the attractive rates of return.

Minister Jordan has explained to this publication that he wants a new breed of private sector players; ones willing and prepared to think outside of the proverbial box, and be creative and innovative in using cutting edge technology to improve productivity, thereby increasing competitiveness.

“My new ‘breed' of private sector players would be seizing the many opportunities that are available for expansion, especially with oil on the horizon. They will try to form partnerships and alliances with the private sector in the Caribbean and further afield to overcome some of the barriers they face, such as financing and human resources,” Minister Jordan has stated.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon (third from right seated) and other officials taking note of issues facing residents of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara during a meeting on Sunday

M

ore than 150 residents of Den Amstel turned out on Sunday to meet with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, when he and his team visited the community during a public outreach.

Among the issues raised were poor roads, and major drainage and irrigation issues.

A resident, Lola Isaacs, said the last section of the main road within the community was “extremely bad” and urged the Government to do something immediately about it. “I find it extremely difficult to stroll out whenever it rains because of the bad condition of the road; as you can see, it is in a very bad state,” Isaacs said.

Another resident agreed with her, adding that the drainage system also needed attention.

Harmon assured the residents that the road, which was allegedly destroyed by a construction company, would be repaired this year, as an allocation in this year’s budget

has already been made.

He urged them to exercise patience, explaining that all of the issues could not be addressed at once. However, he assured them that all of the concerns raised have been noted.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), John Adams called on the residents to be patient, stating that things would get better in the Region.

Meanwhile, Region Three Deputy Regional Executive Officer Jennifer Ferreira claimed that many of the issues faced by residents in Den Amstel were

inherited.

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (HagueBlankenburg) Chairman Kenton Hilliman, who was also present for that meeting, said he has been asked to look into the same issues.

“Many requests are being made…demands cannot always be met at the same time,” he too noted.

Harmon encouraged the residents to hold their respective council members sitting on the various Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and NDCs accountable.

The meeting was also attended by Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes.

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Brutal cutlass attack

Husband turns self in to Police A

n East Coast Demerara man who allegedly chopped his estranged wife, during an altercation on Sunday evening at Quamina Road, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, has turned himself in to Police.

Warren Dennis surrendered to Police at the Sparendaam Police Station in the company of his lawyer on Monday evening.

The injured woman, Alana Hazel, remains in serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital. She sustained severe chop wounds to her body while one of her hands was severed at the wrist.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum earlier on Monday told Guyana Times that the Police have taken statements from the in-

Brutally chopped: Alana Hazel

jured woman. He noted that the suspect would immediately be charged once in custody.

The mother of three, who is a cook attached to the Mess Hall of the Guyana Police Force,

was brutally chopped on Sunday evening by the father of her children. Based on reports, the woman and the suspect have been separated for quite some time.

However, although she is living home with someone else, she would normally visit the suspect’s home.

One of her regular visits was on Sunday evening.

During the visit, the estranged couple had a heated argument during which screams were heard emanating from the man's house. Hazel escaped the wrath of her estranged husband by jumping through a window and ended up in a nearby trench.

As persons in the area rushed to Hazel’s rescue, the suspect made good his escape through a nearby cane field carrying a cutlass in his hands. The

woman was rushed to the hospital where she was admitted.

Neighbours were heard murmuring that the suspect had threatened to kill the woman on several occasions. At one time, he had already tied a rope in his house and attempted to hang her.

The situation got worse when she moved out of the house to live with someone else; although Hazel was aware of Dennis’s temperament, she would visit his home and assist with his chores.

It is not clear what started the argument on Sunday evening.

Earlier in the year, a Beterverwagting man had set his house on fire, killing his reputed wife and his three-year-old daughter.

He also perished in the fire.

Brazilian miner nabbed with gun, ammo A Brazilian miner was on Sunday nabbed with an unlicensed single-barrel shotgun and one live cartridge at her mining camp at Black Water Backdam, Konawaruk, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Acting on information received, Police ranks went to the suspect’s camp at about 16:00h and conducted a search, during which the discovery was made in her presence.

The 47-year-old suspect has admitted ownership of the unlicensed firearm and ammunition. She is being processed for court after being charged by the Police for possession of a firearm and ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

This latest seizure in F Division (Interior Locations) has brought the total thus far to 17 illegal firearms seized for the year.

The seized gun

Ruimveldt man busted with cocaine pellets in stomach

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26-year-old chef of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown was on Sunday morning intercepted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) after he admitted that he had swallowed cocaine pellets. The cocaine mule was about to board a Caribbean Airlines flight to The Bahamas.

Police have since confirmed that the suspect had been on their radar for quite some time and upon seeing him at the CJIA, members of the Police Narcotics Branch confronted and interrogated him. During the interrogation, he admitted that he had swallowed cocaine pellets.

He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and an X-ray was done which confirmed his confession. He has since excreted 52 pellets, which amounted to 554 grams of cocaine.

He remains a patient under guard at the medical institution. He is expected to be charged once he excretes all of the pellets.

What happened to Balgobin Persad: the scholar of scholarships?

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n a country where the greedy win and the needy lose in regard to receiving scholarships, I recently rocked myself gently when I rediscovered a report -- in a box in my office -- that I had gathered from Guyana National Archives in 1999 but, for some reason, did not return to it.

This report, labelled “British Guiana Report of the Immigration Agent General for the year 1920”, contains some amazing information about the population of British Guiana in 1920, the year that indentureship was abolished, as well as on an Indian lad named Balgobin Persad. I believe this report deserves an analysis, not only to show what was going on in British Guiana at that time, but also to support my continuous call for compensation for wrongs (denial of land, confiscation of unclaimed remittances and return passages, brutality on Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine and beyond the plantation yards, and so on) meted out to indentured Indians.

To contextualize: In 1920, the resumption of immigration from India to British Guiana was still in the future, since deputations of three sound persons were coming to the colony to investigate the conditions and report back to the Government of India. These individuals were: Diwan Bahadur Kesava Pillai, Deputy President of Madras Legislative Council; G.F Keatinge, Director of Agriculture, Bombay; and Venkatesa Narayan Tewary, of the Servants of Indian Society. Meanwhile, about 270 immigrants who had served indenture elsewhere -- like in Natal, South Africa -- landed in the colony, while 1,782 Indians arrived from India, paying their own passage, and 1,485 departed.

Among the latter group or returnees, there were 60 paupers and 50 lepers, revealing the underbelly of the indenture system, which strangely continues to be a closet secret in Guyana. The Indian population in 1920 was 124,546 out of an estimated 300,000 total population of the colony. An estimated half of the Indian population was still residing on the estates, indicating that a majority of these Indians gave up their return passages for a piece of land to stay in British Guiana, but never received land.

Put bluntly, they paid for land but never received any. They remained on the former indentured yards, paying for basic housing and other amenities.

What also seems interesting to me is the educational status of Indian children, since the perception – real or imagined -- was that Indian children did not attend school because (1) they were used to work in fields to bring in supplementary income; (2) Indian girls stayed away from school to learn domestic chores, so that they would be prepared to meet or find suitable Indian husbands through arranged marriages; (3) the school system was too westernized and inconsistent with Indian customs and values; (4) Indians saw no ideal reason to send their children to school in British Guiana, since they had intention of returning to India. Nonetheless, in 1920, of the 8,484 registered Indian children attending schools, 4,144 were in Preparatory; 2,412 in Lower; 1,439 in Middle; and 489 in Upper. Daily attendance was 4,532. This attendance was low, and got invariably lower as the level of education in the colony climbed. My maternal grandmother, who was born at No. 67 Village, Corentyne in British Guiana in 1902, never attended school.

Out of this dismal educational reality of Indians, Balagobin Persad caught my attention. His father, Bani Thakur, was an indentured labourer who arrived in British Guiana in 1884 and was indentured to Plantation Enmore as No. 19,459, The Bruce 1884. He was nineteen years old. Thakur eventually became a small shopkeeper at Golden Grove Village, East Coast Demerara.

His mother Bifwah (one name given) was born in the colony and was given the No. 462 with a Birth Register 1870, which I think was the year she was born. This means that she was fourteen years older than her husband Thakur, which is an analysis for another column.

Balgobin Persad was born on November 19, 1898, and was given the No. 1416 at Plantation Enmore. I am not sure if he ever worked on the plantation. In 1910, at age of twelve, Persad won the Primary School Scholarship and entered the Queen’s College. In 1916, at the age of eighteen, he won the Guiana Scholarship and entered University of Cambridge. I do not have any more information on this young man, but would like to know whatever happened to him, particularly since he was one of those early models of Indian educational success who were born in the lowest end of the plantation system. Unfortunately, his experience has been drowned out by names such as the Luckhoos and the like. I suspect this young man studied at night using an oil-wick bottle lamp, blocking the breeze with one hand and turning the pages with the other. Balgobin Persad’s story forces me to make this conclusion. I am convinced that minor histories have not failed to meet the significance of history, nor have minor histories been buried in the depths of major eventful history. Instead, minor histories are waiting to be discovered and be told. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu)

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Indigenous communities hurting from economic woes – MP

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eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Member and former Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, Collin Croal said residents of Indigenous communities were hurting as the economic downturn was being felt across the country.

Croal was part of the two-man panel addressing the media at the PPP’s press conference on Monday. The former PS of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, now renamed the Indigenous

PPP Executive Member Collin Croal

Peoples’ Ministry, said the economic pressure being felt on the coastland was also being felt in the hinterland.

These challenges include the Value Added Tax (VAT) placed on air travel and the ban on used tyres. He said the VAT on air travel has caused an expected increase in fares and freight costs.

“What has happened is that in the absence of village economies’ turnover, persons in the hinterland are feeling it more so,” Croal contended.

According to Croal, his

Nephew gets 2 years for stealing from ‘lonely’ aunt – tells court he had an “irresistible temptation” to steal

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hoosing not to waste the court’s time, Delchan Wilson, a 22-year-old welder, on Monday confessed to Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman that he had stolen $120,000 cash from his aunt, Geeta Osmond, on March 11, 2017 at her dwelling house in the Campbellville Housing Scheme in Georgetown.

The prosecution’s facts are that the virtual complainant (VC) Geeta Osmond had, earlier this year, allowed her neph-

ew to move into her home as she was living alone at the time. On March 11, Osmond checked the black purse in which she kept her savings and discovered the money missing.

She confronted the defendant, and he readily admitted to removing the money; thus she reported the incident to police authorities, who arrested and charged the defendant with the offence of simple larceny.

Admitting to the court that he had been fined for a similar

offence in 2010, Wilson begged the magistrate for leniency, declaring that he was not a criminal, but had had an “irresistible temptation” at the time of committing the incident. He also told the court that he has a baby on the way.

Before sentencing Wilson to 24 months’ imprisonment, Magistrate Latchman advised him to desist from stealing, and urged him to work in order to fulfill his needs in the future.

Bartica man busted with ganja

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resident of First Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was on Sunday afternoon arrested at his home with 491 grams of cannabis.

Acting on information that the 27-year-old suspect was selling narcotics at his place of abode, Police swooped down on the location at about 14:30h.

Upon seeing the Police, the suspect allegedly attempted to hide an item in a toilet cistern.

Police examined the cistern and found the illegal substance packaged in small Ziplock bags. The suspect was

promptly taken into custody and should be charged shortly.

Over the past several months, a number of persons, especially those working in mining camps, were prosecuted after they were found with marijuana in their possession.

The Police have also been carrying out frequent eradication exercises in F Division (Interior Locations). Only last week, Police unearthed several kilos of marijuana in the Cuyuni, Region Seven area as it was being processed for packaging and sale.

Plastic wrapped packages of marijuana

Party has been seeking the patience and cooperation of community members, noting that it is also working towards bringing a resolution.

Added to the economic challenges, Croal highlighted the delay in payment to those attached to the Hinterland

Employment and Youth Service (HEYS), which replaced the Community Support Officers programme.

Croal said he has been receiving complaints from individuals involved in the programme about the contin-

ued delays in payment. He said the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, which is solely responsible for the HEYS programme, has now shifted the responsibility of payment to the respective Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Harmon says sugar industry will remain open …sugar too big to fail – Dr Luncheon

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overnment has committed to ensuring that the ailing sugar industry remains in operation, although it plans to continue cutting subventions that assist in its dayto-day operation.

This announcement was

Coast Demerara to discuss issues facing the community.

Harmon said many untruths about the industry’s future are being peddled by various sections of society, including the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party

“Where are the studies used to justify (any plan to close the sugar industry) and the feasibility of specific options? This is not an issue just of politics; this is an issue that is so important to tens of thousands of Guyanese (that it has implications for) the whole economy.” – Dr Luncheon made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Sunday during a meeting with residents of Den Amstel, West

(PPP); but, “We believe, in this administration, that sugar will stay. Sugar will be the major plank in

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and in this country.”

The minister told residents that Government cannot continue to bail out GuySuCo, because that action would continue to restrict spending in other key areas of development; but, “It is our plan to ensure that the sugar industry is restructured, so that sugar remains what it is today -- a major foreign exchange earner and a major employment of people.”

Harmon accused the PPP Administration of being too afraid, when in Government, to make hard choices in regard to the future of sugar; but he said the coalition administration has taken steps to ensure that this process begins.

“We cannot say we will fund one sector and shut down the rest… We have to balance the issues that affect us as a nation,” he said.

He noted that, for too long, the sugar industry has placed a heavy burden on the Consolidated Fund. Outlining the steps Government plans to take to keep sugar alive, Harmon said the priority is to re-organize the way labour is dealt with in the industry.

“We will have to consolidate some estates. We will have to reorganize the allocation of resources. And this is because, every single year, there is a huge call

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

on the national treasury for (sums of money) to be spent on GuySuCo,” Harmon explained.

Salvage sugar

Former Cabinet Secretary, PPP Executive member Dr Roger Luncheon, said his party has insisted that the sugar industry must be salvaged. “We insist not only is sugar too big to fail, but what needs to be done is doodle. We don’t have to pull this façade around these imaginations that characterise what was done in 2008 in many capitals of the world,” Luncheon told a media conference on Monday.

He highlighted that, in the PPP’s 2015 Manifesto, a promise was made to have some $20 billion allocated to the sugar industry to reverse its fortunes and return it to financial viability and

profitability.

Luncheon is requesting that Government justify embarking on a plan that would have had seismic economic implications for the livelihoods of a great mass of the country’s population. He said that such actions have been unheard of in the rest of the world.

“Where are the studies used to justify (any plan to close the sugar industry) and the feasibility of specific options?” he asked. “This is not an issue just of politics; this is an issue that is so important to tens of thousands of Guyanese (that it has implications for) the whole economy,” he declared.

As it stands, the industry is facing its toughest times, with production being recorded at just over 180,000 tonnes last year -- the lowest GuySuCo has recorded since 1990.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has criticised planned efforts to downsize the industry, stating that it would affect the lives and futures of people and their many communities.

The PPP has, likewise, called on Government to conduct a social impact assessment before making a decision on the future of GuySuCo. That party contends that any more closures or privatisations of other sugar estates may lead to chaos countrywide.

A decision was taken last year to close the oldest

PPP Executive Member, Dr Roger Luncheon

estate, Wales, on the West Bank of Demerara. The operations of that estate have since been partially integrated with those of the Uitvlugt Estate.

Workers attached to the now defunct Wales Estate are still awaiting full payment of outstanding severance package benefits.

Government had said the Wales Estate was closed after billions of dollars were accrued in losses over the years. At high-level sugar consultations held last year between Government, GuySuCo, the Union and the Opposition, the Administration had disclosed that only three estates would be kept functional.

A draft ‘white paper’ on the Future of the Sugar Industry is set to be laid in the National Assembly on May 8, 2017.

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

PPP accuses APNU/AFC of Herstelling block maker’s murder abusing Local Govt system Reputed wife, hitman to – to honour its financial supporters

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is accusing the APNU/AFC coalition government of working through the local government system to honour its financial campaign supporters.

The PPP Central Executive member Dr Roger Luncheon was adamant that Government has been using funds from local Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities to fulfill what he called a grand design to provide patronage to those who had supported the current ruling administration during the 2015 elections campaign.

“We must never forget (that), very early in 2015, at the beginning of the David Granger Administration, unchallenged, their spokespersons have made it clear that they have a debt, and they have to reward those who have made financial commitments to the political campaign and (are) deemed responsible for getting them in office,” Luncheon said in his usual inimitable style.

He added that while it might not have been highlighted, considerable sums of public funds are involved in the operation of government systems.

“At the level of the regions, appropriations are made by Parliament. In 2017, billions of dollars for current and capital expenditures were authorised for the 10 administrative

PPP Central Executive Member, Dr Roger Luncheon

regions. When we get to the 62 NDCs and the nine municipalities, we’re talking about more billions – money paid for by the residents through rates and taxes; not forgetting the subventions this year are provided to the NDCs and hundreds of millions (are) provided to the municipalities,” he said.

“What the PPP wants to insist (on) is that this is a lot of money, the expenditure of which is managed by criteria.

When the local government system has problems with procedures, then the possibilities and the likelihood (exist) of those tens of billions of dollars being ineffectively and inefficiently used, not for the benefit of the people, but (to fulfil) the grand design of this admin-

istration,” Luncheon asserted.

Questioning the reason for the overturn of procedures that previously existed within the NDCs, Luncheon said tens of billions of dollars are involved in Government’s plans.

These “ills”, he said, have not only been chronicled by his party, but (by) other organisations, including Transparency International, which is seeing little or no transparency in the operations.

He said there has been no tendering by the board, and the way “they operate” in the local government system is very disturbing. “There is a level of secrecy that is associated with the outcome of Tender Board meetings,” he charged.

Luncheon says the situation has a lot to do with money, and not just ordinary ineptitude and incompetence, although those traits are also being used to “fulfill a grand design to loot the small treasuries” in the local authority areas and regions in order to provide patronage to those who have been identified as worthy of receiving such.

“We have called repeatedly on the administration to come clean on this matter.

Disclosures have been made of the weaknesses (which) have been manipulated to serve the grand design of this administration,” Luncheon added in his disclosure.

stand trial in High Court

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he family of Nathan Andrew Persaud exhaled in relief on Monday afternoon when Magistrate Judy Latchman declared that the court found a prima facie case had been made against the prime suspect and his accomplice for the murder of the deceased block maker.

Beverly Persaud, the reputed wife of Andrew Persaud, and Barbadian security guard Oswald Yaw were jointly charged with murder in September 2015 following the discovery of Persaud’s battered, lifeless body at his home, in a pool of blood.

According to reports, a neighbour heard screams from the residence, but did not think to investigate until a man was seen leaving the home several minutes later, rousing his suspicions. The neighbour alerted others and they proceeded to the house, where they discovered Persaud’s battered body.

A brick and a hammer were found at the crime

Accused mastermind: Beverly Persaud

scene leading investigators to believe that the objects were used to murder Persaud. The number ‘20’ was also found smeared on a refrigerator in the house, equivalent to the number of times the man was hit as confirmed by a post-mortem examination report.

During the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), the court was told that Beverly Persaud met Yaw several weeks pri-

or to the incident and had incited him to carry out a hit on her husband in return for money to cover his travel overseas.

When cautioned and given a chance to speak, Yaw maintained his innocence, positing that he did not believe the prosecution has built a case against him based on the facts and evidence presented to the court.

Beverly Persaud, on the other hand, said: “I do not know this boy … and I don’t know nothing of this charge…”

After listening to the parties, Magistrate Latchman then declared that she found sufficient evidence had been presented by the prosecution in order to commit the accused to stand trial for the capital offence before the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature at the next practicable sitting.

The seemingly composed pair then was escorted to sign documents to this effect at the court clerk’s desk as the hearing concluded.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, april 25, 2017

Regional

Venezuelans protest for elections, unrest enters 4th week

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enezuelans erected barricades with garbage and even bathtubs on Monday and snarled traffic with mass “sit-ins” along major thoroughfares to press their demand for early elections as anti-government protests entered a fourth week.

Ten people have been killed during clashes this month between security forces armed with rubber bullets and tear gas and protesters sometimes throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.

At least 10 people have also died during night-time looting.

President Nicolás Maduro’s socialist Government accuses foes of seeking a violent coup with US connivance, while the Opposition says he is a dictator repressing peaceful

Demonstrators run away from tear gas during clashes with riot Police while rallying against Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro’s Government in Caracas, Venezuela, April 24, 2017

protest.

The Opposition’s main demands are for elections, the release of jailed activists and autonomy for the Opposition-led Congress.

But protests are also fuelled by the crippling economic

crisis in the oil-rich nation of 30 million people.

“I have an empty stomach because I can’t find food,” said Jeannette Canozo, a 66-year-old homemaker, who said Police used rubber bullets against pro-

testers blocking a Caracas avenue with trash and bathtubs in the early morning.

Demonstrators wore the yellow, blue and red colours of Venezuela’s flag and held signs denouncing shortages, inflation and violent crime as they chanted: “This government has fallen!”

In the capital, they streamed from several points onto a major highway, where hundreds of people sat, carrying bags of supplies, playing card games, and shielding themselves from the sun with hats and umbrellas.

In western Tachira, at another of the “sitins” planned for all of Venezuela’s 23 states, some played the board-game Ludo in the street, while others played soccer or enjoyed street theatre. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Security stepped up along Haiti/ Dominican Republic border

F

ollowing plans by the United Nations to withdraw its peacekeeping force, MINUSTAH, from Haiti, security along the border with the Dominican Republic is being beefed up.

Dominican Defence Minister Rubén Darío Paulino revealed on Friday that the number of Dominican troops would be gradually increased all

along the 391-kilometre border.

“On November 7, they’ll be withdrawn (UN peacekeepers) entirely. We as armed forces will deploy the necessary equipment of both the Army and Border Security to strengthen our border. We are in sufficient capacity to do so,” he said.

The move follows a warning from National Investigations Department

(DNI) Director Siegfried Pared that the withdrawal of MINUSTAH troops from Haiti would require increased surveillance along the border.

Head of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission, Sandra Honoré advised last week that the Mission would cease operations in Haiti within six months.

Addressing the United

Nations Security Council, Honoré said that the progress achieved during the past 13 years in Haiti’s stabilisation process was notable and it was “therefore timely to reshape the partnership among the international community, the United Nations and Haiti with a view to ensuring the sustainability of this progress”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Haiti PM’s motorcade hits 2, killing 1 near flooded zone

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motorcade carrying Haiti’s Prime Minister struck two teenage boys, killing one, as officials drove into the country’s third largest city on Monday to see flood damage left by heavy rains.

Serge Daniel, a government delegate who was travelling in Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant’s motorcade, said one of the vehicles accidentally struck two adolescents who darted into the road on a motorbike.

The motorcade continued on to its destination as the badly injured teenagers lay on the road, sparking a tyre-burning protest by furious locals in the southwest city of Les Cayes.

Les Cayes Police spokeswoman Guerline Dimanche said officers rushed the boys to a public hospital, where one was declared dead on arrival.

Mayor Jean Gabriel Fortune said Lafontant, a physician who was ap-

proved last month as Haiti’s number two official, agreed to put the survivor on a Government helicopter for treatment in the capital of Port-au-Prince.

It was not clear if the motorcade was speeding or if the boys were driving recklessly.

Monday’s trip was meant to show Government solidarity with victims of downpours that have saturated much of Haiti, triggering flooding in low-lying areas and causing at least two deaths in the struggling southwest region that was slammed by Hurricane Matthew last year.

Interior Ministry spokesman Guillaume Albert Moleon said that a 19-yearold man in Camp Perrin was swept away when he tried to cross a rising river with his motorbike. The other death was an elderly resident of Port Salut whose shack was destroyed by a torrent of water. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Caribbean Princess cruise line slapped with record penalty for illegal dumping, falsifying records

Antigua pleads with international community for climate change mitigation help

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he tiny island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has made an impassioned plea for support from the international community to deal with the devastating impacts of climate change.

Urging “further action”, Environment Minister Molwyn Joseph said the Paris Climate Agreement must become the cornerstone of advancing the socio-economic development of countries.

“One area of approach that we have undertaken in Antigua and Barbuda, that I believe would be beneficial amongst other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and developing countries, is for those of us with more advanced institutions to seek

Picturesque Antigua and Barbuda says its “natural beauty” is what is being fought for in the war on climate change

to be of assistance to other countries,” Joseph told IPS. “I would like to encourage other countries, which have strong institutions, to take up the challenge in not only seeing how to combat

climate change locally and nationally but, where possible, taking regional and global approaches.”

The Paris Agreement, which entered into force in November last year, brings

all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so.

Its central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Earlier this month Antigua and Barbuda hosted the 16th meeting of countries participating in the Cartagena Dialogue for Progressive Action. (Excerpt from

IPS)

Cuba, India strengthen cooperation in biotechnology

I

ndia may get benefits with the progress of Cuban biotechnology, one of the greatest achievements

by Cuba after the triumph of the Revolution in 1959.

Those were the words of Cuban expert Ibis Portuondo, sales manager for Cuban firm HERBER BIOTEC. “We are here to promote

the relations between Cuban and Indian firms in this field, and cooperate in joint projects,” Portuondo stated.

As an example, she mentioned HEBERPROT P, a unique medication of its kind in the world, which eliminates the ulcers provoked by diabetic feet, already tested and used in

several countries.

In this sense, she emphasised the support and the vision of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, main guardian of the development of the scientific pole located in the capital of the Caribbean island.

Portuondo met with businessmen and specialists of di-

verse Indian firms dedicated to the biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.

For his part, the Cuban Ambassador in India, Ã’scar Martínez, revealed that Havana and New Delhi maintain conversations to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in this sector.

(Excerpt from Prensa Latin)

Caribbean Princess is one of five Princess Cruise Lines ships on which the illegal practices were found to have taken place

A

major cruise line with ships that call on the Caribbean will have to pay a US$40 million penalty – the largest-ever for crimes involving deliberate vessel pollution.

The sentence has been imposed on Princess Cruise Lines Ltd by US District Judge Patricia Seitz in Miami, for illegally dumping oil-contaminated waste overboard and falsifying official logs to conceal the discharges.

Judge Seitz also ordered that US$1 million be awarded to a British engineer, who first reported the illegal discharges to the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), which in turn provided the evidence to the US Coast Guard. The newly hired engineer on the Caribbean Princess reported that a so-called “magic pipe” had been used on August 23, 2013, to illegally discharge oily waste off the coast of England without the use of

required pollution prevention equipment.

The evidence gathered by the whistleblower, including photographs of the magic pipe, led to an inspection of the cruise ship both in England and when it reached New York on September 14, 2013. During each of the separate inspections, certain crew members concealed the illegal activity by lying to the authorities in accordance with orders they had received from Caribbean Princess engineering officers.

The sentence imposed

by Judge Seitz also requires that Princess remain on probation for a period of five years during which time all of the related Carnival cruise ship companies trading in the US will be required to implement an environmental compliance plan that includes independent audits by an outside company and oversight by a court appointed monitor. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

tuesDAY, april 25, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Malaria: Kenya, Ghana and Suspected Maoist rebels kill 24 troopers in Chhattisgarh Malawi get 1st vaccine

S

T

he world’s first vaccine against malaria will be introduced in three countries – Ghana, Kenya and Malawi – starting in 2018.

The RTS,S vaccine trains the immune system to attack the malaria parasite, which is spread by mosquito bites.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the jab had the potential to save tens of thousands of lives.

But it is not yet clear if it will be feasible to use in the poorest parts of the world.

The vaccine needs to be given four times – once a month for three months and then a fourth dose 18 months later.

This has been achieved in tightly controlled and well-funded clinical trials, but it is not yet clear if it can be done in the “real-world” where access to health care is limited.

It is why the WHO is running pilots in three coun-

The vaccine has been tested extensively in more than 15,000 children

tries to see if a full malaria vaccine programme could be started. It will also continue to assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaccination.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, said: “The prospect of a malaria vaccine is great news.

“Information gathered in the pilot programme will help us make decisions on the wider use of this vaccine.

“Combined with existing malaria interventions, such

a vaccine would have the potential to save tens of thousands of lives in Africa.”

The pilot will involve more than 750,000 children aged between five and 17 months. Around half will get the vaccine in order to compare the jab’s real-world effectiveness.

In this age group, the four doses have been shown to prevent nearly four in ten cases of malaria. This is much lower than approved vaccines for other conditions. (Excerpt from BBC News)

French elections: Le Pen steps aside as National Front leader

Marine Le Pen says she will be “a president for all French people”

F

ar-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has announced that she is stepping aside as leader of her National Front (FN) party.

The move comes just a day after she reached the second round of the French election, where she will face centrist Emmanuel Macron.

Le Pen told French TV she needed to be above partisan considerations.

Opinion polls suggest Macron is the firm favourite for the second round, but Le Pen said: “We can win, we will win.”

The French term she used signalled that the move to step aside would be temporary.

She told France 2 that France was approaching a “decisive moment”.

Le Pen said her decision had been made out of the “profound conviction” that the President of the republic must bring together all of the French people.

“So, this evening, I am no longer the President of the National Front. I am the

candidate for the French presidency,” she said.

The BBC’s Hugh Schofield in Paris says this is a symbolic act intended to show her concerns are for the country as a whole and not for her party, and that she is reaching out for the voters of candidates defeated in the first round, particularly those of the Republicans’ François Fillon. (Excerpt from BBC News)

uspected Maoist rebels have killed at least 24 paramilitary soldiers on Monday in a remote part of central India, a police official said, the latest attack in a simmering internal conflict.

The soldiers were guarding road workers in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh state when they came under fire. The rebels fired from hilltops at the group of soldiers, Police Officer Jitendra Shukla said.

Local media reported

U

nited States President Donald Trump said on Monday the United Nations Security Council must be prepared to impose new sanctions on North Korea as concerns mount that it may test a sixth nuclear bomb as early as today.

“The status quo in North Korea is also unacceptable,” Trump told a meeting with the 15 UN Security Council Ambassadors, including China and Russia, at the White House on Monday.

“The Council must be prepared to impose additional and stronger sanctions on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.”

“This is a real threat to the world, whether we want to talk about it or not. North Korea is a big world problem and it’s a problem that we have to finally solve,” he said. “People put blindfolds on for decades and now it’s time to solve the problem.”

T

“The status quo in North Korea is also unacceptable,” President Donald Trump told a meeting with the 15 UN Security Council Ambassadors, including China and Russia, at the White House on Monday

US officials have told Reuters tougher sanctions under consideration include an oil embargo, banning North Korea’s airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks and other foreign doing business with Pyongyang.

The State Department said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would chair a special ministerial meeting of the Security Council on North Korea on Friday

At least 86 people were killed and hundreds were hospitalised after the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun

hospitalised after the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group.

The deaths, blamed by many on the Government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, prompted the United Nations to pledge it would investigate the incident as a possible war crime. (Al Jazeera)

that would give members the opportunity to discuss ways to maximise the impact of existing sanctions and “show their resolve to respond to further provocations with appropriate new measures”.

The White House said Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the “urgent security challenge” posed by North Korea in a phone call on Monday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UN “horrified” by video showing killing of experts in Congo

T Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The Syrian Government said its military “did not and will not” use chemical weapons, denying accusations it was behind an attack on a rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province that sparked widespread international outrage.

At least 86 people were killed and hundreds were

agency, referring to the state capital.

Police spokesman Bhagwati Singh said: “Our teams have been deployed there. We will receive more information about the situation soon.”

Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister, Raman Singh said: “This is the last fight ... [Soldiers] are going inside with bravery. The pressure of security forces increased [and] the attack is the result of [Maoist fighters’] annoyance.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Trump calls for new UN sanctions against North Korea

US sanctions Syria officials over sarin gas attack

he United States has blacklisted 271 employees of a Syrian government agency it said was responsible for developing chemical weapons, weeks after a poison gas attack killed scores of people in a rebel-held province in Syria.

The US Treasury Department on Monday said the employees of Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center are experts in chemistry and related fields, or have worked in support of the centre’s “chemical weapons programme” since at least 2012, or both.

“These sweeping sanctions target the scientific support centre for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s horrific chemical weapons attack on innocent civilian men, women, and children,” US Treasury Secretary

that at least six commandos had been critically injured and were being airlifted to safety.

The attack is the latest in a long-running conflict between insurgents and Indian authorities in the forests and rural areas of mainly central and eastern India.

“We have recovered 23 bodies from the spot and one jawan (soldier) died in Raipur during treatment,” senior Police Officer Anand Chhabra in restive Chhattisgarh told AFP news

he United Nations said on Monday it was horrified by a video screened by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo that appeared to show the brutal killing of two UN investigators.

Congo’s Government showed the film to reporters in Kinshasa on Monday, saying it showed members of an anti-government militia carrying out the act.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende did not explain how authorities obtained the video, but said they were showing it to rebuff suggestions that Congo authorities were complicit in the killings.

The pair, from the United States and Sweden, went missing on March 12 on a mission to the Kasai

Central province, where rebels have intensified an anti-government insurgency in recent weeks that has left dozens dead on both sides.

Their bodies were found later last month.

“Our colleagues in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) have seen the video and we are utterly horrified at what appears to be the killing of Michael Sharp and Zeida Catalan,” said UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.

The UN is carrying out its own investigation into the killings and has urged Congo to do so as well.

Since July, when the militia first launched an uprising, the UN estimates at least 400 people have been killed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16 News Construction underway for housing expo at month-end tuesDAY, april 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Some of the houses under construction for the Housing Solution 2017 and Beyond Model Village Exhibition

M

ore than 400 persons are benefiting directly from the ongoing development of various housing solutions taking shape in the community of Perseverance aback Providence on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Just fewer than 30 houses are being constructed in time for the model village exhibition this month-end where the public can view the new housing solutions being rolled out by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

During a tour of the construction site on Monday, the Project Manager, Kennard Dazzel said these housing solutions were intended to provide start-up homes for

youths, public servants and low-income earners.

“It’s not your dream home where you have a couple thousand square feet and big large acres of land.

It’s just to give the beneficiaries a (start-up),” he stated.

There are 80×45 foot low-income house lots to construct 600-square foot houses; 80x62ft moderate-income house lots to construct 900-square foot houses and 80×85 ft house lots to build 1100-square foot houses.

However, Dazzel noted that extensions could be made to the houses once a certain prescribed period of time has elapsed.

Comfort, affordability

The cost of the houses will be determined by the

contractors, and there will be no policy by the CH&PA to control those prices.

However, Minister within the Communities Ministry with responsibility for housing, Valerie AdamsPatterson had assured that the contractors would be penalised if they did not get the houses sold within six months; therefore, the prices would have to be competitive.

The Project Manager has guaranteed that the houses will be affordable, comfortable and of the highest quality.

“From the concrete that is coming in, we are taking the necessary slump test.

We monitor in terms of the water-cement ratio, and the stuff that is coming in to

pour into the concrete. We are also monitoring the steel arrangement,” he said, noting that the CH&PA was responsible for the supply of all the building materials.

He further noted that the CH&PA has learnt from the mistakes of the “1000 homes (turn-key) project”, and has put systems in place to ensure that the end product was one that not only the beneficiaries were satisfied with, but one that the agency could stand by.

In the 1000 homes project, initiated by the previous Administration, the buildings developed defects even before they were occupied.

Fireproof

The CH&PA is constructing six duplexes and two single units.

Initial reports are that the contractors will have to construct 10 low-income, five moderate-income, and eight middle-income houses.

Also on display would be two houses, constructed by a Polish company.

Dazzel explained that the latter was a result of the Minister’s visit to Poland earlier this year.

Consequent to the visit, the company shipped pre-fabricated materials to the country that would demonstrate how it constructed fireproof houses, Dazzel explained.

Fourteen contractors had signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the CH&PA for the construction of these houses for the model village exhibition, which will be launched on April 28.

Dual payment

Interested persons would have to make two payments, one to the CH&PA for the land and another to the contractor for the house.

Purchasers would have to have an application in the authority’s system or would have to meet the criteria to qualify for an allocation.

The dual payment formula is to guarantee persons in the system are allotted homes.

Currently, there are approximately 25,000 applicants in the CH&PA system awaiting allocations.

Additionally, with the minimum age being changed from 21 years to 18 years, more and more applications are being received on a dai-

Project Manager Kennard Dazzel

ly basis.

The low-income house lots will cost $300,000, the moderate-income $500,000 and the middle-income $700,000.

Future

Following the development of this model village, the CH&PA will be moving to construct duplexes and single units across the country as part of its “Housing Solution 2017 and Beyond” programme.

Some 265 buildings will be constructed this year in ten locations in six regions (Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10). These will be divided into 768 units, each housing a family. The units expected to cost the government about $5 billion.

news

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tuesDAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

18 persons with disabilities graduate from vocational training centre

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class of 18 differently-abled students on Monday graduated from the Open Doors Centre for National Vocational Training. The graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of a two-year educational programme that was designed to assist these individuals as they were integrated into society.

The Open Doors Centre of National Vocational Training was established strictly to aid persons with disabilities through the support of Italian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO).

The main objective of this initiative is to provide opportunities for vocational education and skills training for persons who are differently abled. As such, the Open Doors Centre embarked on a one-year training programme, which was initiated in May 2001.

However, the programme was revised in 2005, increasing its duration to two years so as to adequately improve the capacity of the beneficiaries in order to establish them as assets to Guyanese society.

As such, over the two years, the students were exposed to skills training which was divided into four different dimensions, including Language, Information Technology, Garment Construction and Craft as well as Electronics/ Carpentry and Joinery.

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings and Ariane Mangar, Director of Rehabilitation Services joined the 18 graduates of the Open Doors Centre for National Vocational Training for persons with disabilities

The curriculum was supplemented by core competencies, namely calculation and communication, social and entrepreneurial skills and sign language, among others.

Extracurricular activities were also in the mix, via sports, to aid in the development of well-rounded individuals.

At the commencement of the programme, 40 individuals of varying disabilities enrolled for the unique academic journey. The students ranged in age from 16 to 45 years old, with two being over 50 years of age. After completing the academic aspect as well as work attachments facilitated by the programme, 18 participants made it to the finish line and were honoured at the graduation ceremony on Monday.

On the honour roll were

Ayana Marcus and Melisa Moses for their outstanding performance in Garment Construction and Craft while Marie Gonsalves and Joshua Smith were recognised for their accomplishments in the Information Technology course. However, Smith emerged as the overall best graduating student.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Manager and Principal of the Training Centre, Author Lewis congratulated the students on their accomplishments. Lewis also explained the objectives of the exceptional programme: “It is a known fact that persons with disabilities face enormous challenges in our society, across the world. They are perceived as helpless, unemployable, dependent ob-

jects of social welfare. They find it extremely difficult to access public transportation, building and public conveniences. They are woefully underqualified because of their poor educational background. The few who are able to acquire an average education are often denied promotion and in some cases, a decent job.”

Sharing similar sentiments was Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, who commended the students as well as their well-wishers on their efforts to defy the odds. The Minister emphasised, “Education and skills training is for everyone, including the differently abled. Everyone has a right to an education that provides them with a goal and a purpose in life.”

As such, she expressed delight in the efforts made to ensure that these persons were given a fair chance at life.

Given the success of the vocational training programme, the Open Doors Centre is currently pursuing avenues of expansion to cater for the growing population of persons living with disabilities. The administration is hoping to increase the enrolment capacity to 60 persons, while introducing new courses such as food preparation and cosmetology to better provide for the interests and needs of these individuals.

Linden Town Week 2017 officially opens

A section of the crowd at the opening ceremony

L

ively cultural performances and motivational speeches have set the tone, signalling the official opening of this year's Linden Town Week (LTW).

Held under the theme, "Reflect, Refocus, moving forward with unity and strength for our community development", the annual event was declared officially opened by two of Linden's most recent CARIFTA Games champions Chantoba Bright and Compton Caesar.

The celebrations this year, which began on Sunday at a packed ceremony held at the Linden-Georgetown minibus park, will see Linden celebrating 47 years as a township.

Vybz Entertainment Inc will continue the execution of 10 days of exciting activities in collaboration with the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC). Officials who spoke at Sunday's event utilised the opportunity to encourage Lindeners to unite, in the spirit of the event’s theme.

In his remarks, Mayor Carwyn Holland renewed his commitment towards the advancement of the town, noting that he would continue to charter the course towards

the economic and social development of all Lindeners.

Holland said he would continue to make representation for Linden to be selected as the ideal link between Brazil and Guyana, an initiative which he believed would create revenue and jobs in addition to enhancing the community as the commercial hub, linking South America to the Caribbean and Latin America. He further encouraged Lindeners to work together and to unite to attain the ideal model of development, noting that Linden has been given the gift of chartering its own course.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who was also present at the event, pledged continued support to the community. "We as a Ministry will give our support to this Region…to the economic support of this Region."

During the ceremony, a number of successful students from Linden were also awarded in addition to the outstanding CARIFTA athletes. The ceremony was also graced by the presence of several Mayors, including those of Georgetown, Rose Hall and Bartica, who all extended best wishes.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, April 25, 2017

ARCHIE

Don’t take on too much or get involved in something (March 21- that has the potential to upApril 19) set your relationship with a personal or professional partner. Moderation will be necessary to avoid conflicts.

ARIES

Apply what you know to TAURUS something that you find inter(April 20- esting, enjoyable and motivatMay 20) ing. It will make your chores easier if you have something to look forward to.

dilbert

Get together with people GEMINI who have something to of(May 21fer.

Share your thoughts and June 20) consider what’s doable. Don’t overstep your bounds. Stay focused and make the most of what you’ve got.

Your emotions will take control if you let a partner, do(June 21- mestic issue or child get the July 22) upper hand. Don’t feel obliged or let anyone guilt you into making a snap decision.

CANCER

Peanuts

Take a close look at your LEO professional position and po(July 23tential advancement. Network Aug. 22) at industry events and think about the newest trends. Keep up with the latest technology, reports and discoveries.

Calvin and Hobbes

Taking a short trip or atVIRGO tending a seminar or meeting (Aug. 23Sept. 22) that can provide you with information that is pertinent to something you want to pursue will help you avoid making a mistake.

Partnerships will go LIBRA through an adjustment.

Be (Sept. 23Oct. 23) ready with alternative suggestions to avoid being railroaded into something you don’t like.

Ask a friend or relative to help resolve a dispute.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

An intense push to get SCORPIO things done will pay off pro(Oct. 24fessionally, but will also chalNov. 22) lenge you physically. Take time to rejuvenate to avoid health issues that interfere with your progress.

Personal problems should SAGITTARIUS be dealt with quickly. The (Nov. 23- more you ignore an uncomDec. 21) fortable situation, the worse it will become. Do what needs to be done and move on.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Too much of anything will CAPRICORN work against you. Keep your (Dec. 22distance from people who Jan. 19) are unpredictable, inconsistent or emotionally unstable.

Concentrate on your appearance and physical well-being.

A financial proposal should AQUARIUS be considered carefully. Taking (Jan. 20baby steps to reach your goal Feb. 19) will work out better than stretching your budget. Dealing with institutions or government agencies will lead to trouble.

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

You’ll be faced with deciPISCES (Feb. 20- sions that can challenge you March 20) physically or wreak havoc on your reputation. When in doubt, slow down and weigh the pros and cons.

tuesDAY, aPRIL 25, 2017

19

makes historic debut

By Romario Samaroo

H

istory was made at the Giftland Mall, Liliendaal on Sunday as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) combat fighting was introduced locally with four sensational fights.

In front of hundreds of combat sporting fans, Guyanese of all walks of life flocked to see the first ever MMA action and were thoroughly entertained.

With two professional fights including world ranked fighters, the extremely physical sport saw blood shed, knockouts and tap outs as the athletes pushed their bodies to

25

the limit.

In the first professional fight, Joseph Martin of Trinidad and Tobago made a remarkable counter to have Emerson Hurley of Barbados tap out two minutes and 20 seconds in the second round of the five minute fight to his heel hook submission marking a debut Hurley would want to forget. This fight began slowly as both fighters marked up their opponent waiting for each other to make a move but constantly locked with no progress forcing the referee to break up the two at least three times.

Prior to the Tap out, Hurley

called to National U-15

encampment T

wenty-five youth players from across Guyana are encamped in New Amsterdam, Berbice as part of the National U-15 team’s preparations for a scheduled tournament in Saint Maarten in June and CONCACAF U-15 tournament in August respectively.

This three-day camp, which

began on April 22, is one of two as the team is exposed to the new national playing philosophy as implemented by the GFF Technical Department.

The second camp is scheduled from May 5 to 7.

Among the players are four goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and five forwards from the following Member Associations – Georgetown (8), East Demerara (5), East Bank Demerara (3), Bartica (1), Berbice (2), Upper Demerara (1), Rupununi (4) and one player from Region One. The players will be engaged in intense fitness and other technical activities under the guidance of designated Head and Assistant Coach

respectively, Bryan Joseph and Challus Mc Kinnon.

The group selected is among the most talented taken from the GFF-ScotiaBank Academy Training Centres (ATC). The ATC is a national initiative, which seeks to, among other goals, create a pathway for the development of players to the senior national team.

Following this, a shortlisted squad will be announced.

The encamped players are: Goalkeepers: Leston Smith (Paiwomak Warriors), Oswin Fredericks (Buxton United), Richard Roberts (Santos FC), Usher Jones (Grove Hi-Tech); Defenders: Joshua Braithwaite (Fruta Conquerors), Wayne Da Silva (Saints Sports Club), Cyrus Nicholson (Corriverton Lynx), Jermaine Padmore (Georgetown Football Club), Rickford Emmanuel (Buxton Stars), Miguel Stoll (Santos FC), Kevin Reddy (Potaro Strikers), Jerimiah Douglas (Blueberry Hill United); Mid-fielders: Okifi Patoir (Rosignol United), Shannon Samnauth (Soesdyke Falcons), Orville Daniels (Paimak Warriors), Tyrel Khan (Soesdyke Falcons), Derron Niles (Santos FC), Jermaine Garrett (Fruta Conquerors), Marcus Wilson (Eastville FC), Nicholas Andrews (Fruta Conquerors); Forwards: Omari Glasgow (BV United), Ken Salvador (Saints Sports Club), Troni Semple (Buxton United), Maliki Grannum (Buxton United), Ronaldo Rodrigues (Atkinson Brothers).

Ahmad Khan (red) is tossed on his neck by Gershom Griffith

had looked to break the hand of Martin however left his foot open for Martin to capitalize and made him pay the price in the end of what looked like a short lived fight.

Trinidad born Keron Bourne knocked out Lawrence Hearwood of Guyana in just three minutes and 20 seconds in the first round to spoil his undefeated run. Entering the fight with a 5-0 record, the Trinidad-based Hearwood

seemed overzealous while the aggression was there in the eyes of Bourne who has only been defeated once. A quick roll over and pin to the mat was all it took to put Hearwood into twilight with seven punches to the face. The referee had no choice but to stop the fight as the seriousness of the blows had Hearwood out for close to 30 seconds.

After the fight Hearwood refuse to accept the decision

causing a lot of commotion prior to the announcement of the next bout but in the end accepted the judgement.

Meanwhile, in the amateur bouts, the controversy was not short as all Guyanese fighters pulled out of their slated cards forcing the management to reaffix the cards.

Lashawn Sladden who was booked to face Kwanza Thompson fell victim to Erland Maloney’s triangular

submission, tapping out in two minutes and 27 seconds. This fight went down to the wire in the third and final round, the perfect exemplification of the talent the sport has to offer, fitting start for the first fight of the night.

Also a gruelling match between Ahmad Khan and Gershom Griffith saw the latter winning on points. Khan, who made his debut in the sport was out matched but nevertheless brought the fight to Griffith. In the first minute Griffith had already thrown Khan to the mat twice but the feisty Trinidadian was quick on his reversals.

At one point, it looked as if Khan would make his debut with a victory however the judges saw it differently.

The event was organised

by Ruff N Tuff MMA and Fight Central 592, Guyana.

Marques punishes Zaragga at “Locked and Loaded”

By Romario Samaroo

H

istory was made on Sunday night at the Giftland mall, Liliendaal where the first ever Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights were hosted in Guyana coupled with the pulsating main event boxing match between Dexter ‘The Kid’ Marques and Venezuelan Alberto Zarraga that did not disappoint.

By sunset, the venue had already seen traffic backing up along the main access road all the way to the Rupert Craig Highway, with patrons all excited to enter the arena.

Total carnage was the result at the end of the scheduled 10 rounds of boxing but home town hero Dexter ‘The Kid’ Marques was clearly on his game winning the fight unanimously at 100 points to 84 on all of the judges score sheets in the early hours of Monday morning.

In the 10 rounds of fistic fury, Marques showed little signs of ring rust tearing away the top of Zarraga’s head in the first round but the former WBC champion could not get the strong Venezuelan to take to the mat.

However, it was after 8 rounds of pressure and countless face shots, Zarraga took to the floor from a solid right hook. Zarraga was not calling it quits after putting his body through hell, clearly tired and unable to react fast enough to counter the assault. He managed to last the 10 rounds but the fight was already lost and Marques was back on track to his world title contention. At the end of the fight, Marques in an exclusive interview with this publication attributed his victory to his management team who helped him to come through and pull off the victory while siting his lengthy layoff from the ring.

He also acknowledged his opponent’s skills having lasted the full 10 rounds which saw him take some nasty shots to the face and body. “Everybody expecting me to knock he out in the fifth round but is good to

Imran Khan (black trunks) cranks up to unload on Keeve Allicock (Romario Samaroo photo)

get the experience and go the full 10 rounds cause it is a long time I didn’t fight, over one year now and go over the 10 rounds he is very good but I won, I thank God and this is another win in the record,” ‘The Kid’ said.

At the 20:00h start, fans had already got their money’s worth with the clash of the Rewinne David and Akeela Malazon.

Malazon, who hails from Linden showed finesse in her style and tactically correct form to knock out David in just 50 seconds into the fourth round. In the other Amateur clash, Euel Augustine, another Lindener from the Pocket Rocket Gym secured a unanimous decision win over Kelon Issacs.

Meanwhile in the other fights, Imran ‘Magic’ Khan returned to winning ways by beating Keeve Allicock in the six-round lightweight match up. Khan who returned to the ring after calling it quits last year had already pointed out his stamina weakness

and knew Allicock would have been capitalizing on it, however the talented Albouystown youth showcased his skills to come out on top.

Allicock was no walkover going toe to toe with Khan and a track record of being a dominant force in the game. Easily the most gruelling match of the night, the two matched punch for punch and eventually went down to points.

Also in the mix, Edmond Declou’s record against Winston Pompey remained unblemished though it was a close fight.

Both fighters adding to the list of returning boxers to the ring showed the similar result as the last time these two met but Pompey had shown signs of real improvement.

However, the unanimous decision showed Declou was in for his second win over Pompey to add to the draw result the first time they met.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, april 25, 2017

Cold Fusion receives Young Blazers, GYO register big wins donation from overseasbased Guyanese Well Teen, Trophy Stall, Tropical Springs & Nauth Motor Spares Day/Night U-13 Tournament

Young Blazers’ Coach Shabeer Baksh (far right) stands proudly with his team after the win at DCC

T

he day/night under 13 tournament got off to a fantastic start last Friday evening with Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) registering a hard fought four-wicket victory over Transport Sports Club (TSC).

Transport Sports Club won toss and choose to bat but only got to 65 off of their allotted 20 overs with Riyad Latiff and Jonathan Barton scoring seven a-piece while extras contributed a healthy 35. Bowling for GYO, Danesh Persaud took 4 for 20 and Dilshan Roopnarine took 2 for 10.

GYO laboured to 66-6 in the 18th over with Mavindra Dindyal top scoring with 33. Bowling for TSC, Alvin Mohabir took 2 for 15.

Meanwhile, on Saturday evening Blairmont beat home team Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) by 11 runs in a high scoring thriller.

Blairmont Cricket Club’s Young Blazers took first knock and chalked up 1573 from their 25 overs. Zinul Ramsammy (52 not out) and Jaden Trotz (31 not out) who joined forces at 55-3 put on a magnificent unbroken 102-run partnership for the fourth wicket on the fast outfield. Shakir Saffie had earlier made 20. Ten-year old, Romeo Deonarain was the pick of the DCC bowlers with three for 18 from his five overs of which two were maidens.

In reply, DCC were limited to 146-7 with Inderjeet Nanan hitting an even half century while A. Sookra took 3-21. Trotz and Ramsammy were also among the wickets with 2-7 and 1-15 respectively.

Zinul Ramsammy was named Man of the Match.

The lone match scheduled for Sunday between Everest Cricket Club and the Georgetown Cricket Club was not played after Everest requested to reschedule the fixture.

The competition will continue this weekend with three more matches; on Friday April 28 DCC take on Malteenoes Sports Club at 16:00, on Saturday April 29 Rose Hall Sports Club meet GYO at 16:30h then on

Sunday April 30 GCC take on Everest from 17:00h.

Former Guyana Under-19 player Shameer Sadloo (right) hands over part of the cricket gear to Budhnarine Persaud in the presence of some members of his senior and youth club. Also in picture are Freddie Madray (centre) while Everest Cricket Club President Rajesh Singh and Manniram Shew are on Sadloo’s left

T

Young Blazers heroes with the bat were Zinul Ramsammy and Jaden Trotz

he recently formed Cold Fusion Cricket Club of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, was last Saturday the recipient of a quantity of cricket gears, compliments of New Yorkbased Guyanese Shameer “Joey” Sadloo, his son Ian, Steve Ragubeer and Freddie Madray. Cricket Zone and Millat Sporting Goods also contributed.

Sadloo, a former Guyana Under-19 cricketer who also represented Everest Cricket Club is on holiday in Guyana and handed over the equipment to Budhnarine Persaud, presi-

dent of Cold Fusion at a simple presentation ceremony at his former club at Camp Road, Georgetown.

Sports enthusiast and International Six dominoes captain, Manniram Shew, also a prominent member of Everest, played an instrumental part in securing the gears from Sadloo, a longtime associate and the others involved.

Members of both the senior and youth teams of Cold Fusion as well as executive members of Everest were also in attendance at the presentation.

Following the presen-

tation, former Guyana all-rounder and prominent East Bank Demerara cricket coach Claude St John, who played a big part in Sadloo’s success at the youth level, held a rap session with the youth players from Cold Fusion which was well received by the youngsters.

Among the cricket equipment donated are elbow guards, wicket-keeping pads, hip guards, bat rubbers, wicket-keeping gloves, jack straps, batting gloves, helmet, cricket bats, gear bag and practice clothes.

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" Linden Zone…

Team 25 make perfect

start to title defence T

he Linden leg of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Football Championships kicked-off on Sunday evening and defending champions Team 25 made a promising start to their title defence by defeating South Stars 3-1 at the Mackenzie Market Park.

The trio of Tevin Crawford, Teon Stewart and Ryan Noel scored in the 2nd, 6th and 12th respectively while Steve Lancaster made his mark in the 14th minute for the defeated.

Likewise, Main Street Panthers won 3-1 against the Unknowns on the back of goals by Kevin Kennedy (7th), Keshawn Dey (10th) and Osea Waddell (13th).

An own goal in the 16th minute gave Unknowns some consolation.

Amelia’s Ward Russians also got the better of Constab by a 3-1 margin due to a brace by Shawn

Team 25 (yellow) got the best possible start to their title defence on Sunday evening at the Mackenzie Market Park

Daniels (7th & 19th) and own goal in the 18th minute; Samuel Gilbert had equalised the scores in the 8th minute.

The highest victory margin of the night came when Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets defeated High Stars 6-1. Hat-tricks

by Damian Williams (4th, 12th & 14th) and Jermaine Smauels (11th, 17th & 18th) ensured the crushing victory; Michael Henry scored Stars lone goal in the 11th.

Similarly, Wayne Milo’s 14th minute goal lead Dream Chasers to a 1-0 vic-

tory over Speightland and High Rollers won 3-2 on sudden death penalty kicks after their match ended in a scoreless draw.

A 3-2 penalty kicks outcome gave Dave and Celina All-Stars the win over Ripping Bullets after their match ended 1-1.

Bullets took the lead in the 6th minute via Jonathan Frederick but All-Stars responded in the 8th minute with Keon Sears.

Matches will continue this evening at the same venue from 18:00h when Goal Getters face Good Fellas followed by Aroaima Colo Colo against Future Stars. Hardknocks will then oppose Cherokee Park while Mile Star tackles Coomacka. Amazings will then lock horns with Bourda All-Stars after which Attackers clash with Young Lions. The night’s final two matches will be Running Guns versus Train Line Warriors and Swag Entertainment against Magic Stars.

The teams are battling for a top prize of $400,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth placed finishers collect $150,000, $75,000 and $50,000 respectively.

21

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22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

TUESdAY, april 25, 2017

Nagamootoo hails outstanding work of RHTY&SC ‒ Pestano named Cricketer-of-the Year Youth and Sports Club has.

“That is how we can change the image of the country and inject positives.”

Nagamootoo explained that corporate Guyana needs to come on board so that all young children are protected and be able to enjoy all of the facilities in the country. He said it is because of the young people of the country that the government has allocated $40B for public education which includes sports.

Nagamootoo also congratulated the sponsors of the club, noting that there giving back to society and

C

to those in need and who can make use of it.

The Acting Head of State called on clubs to pay attention to the National Youth Policy and to see how youths can benefit from the Act. Foster noted that the club has in excess of 600 sponsors.

Meanwhile, during the presentation six retired teachers who had a combined total of in excess of 250 years of service and some outstanding police officers from the Rose Hall Police Outpost were also honored.

RHTY&SC awardees after the presentation

linton Pestano was named Rose Hall Youth and Sports Club’s cricketer of the year on Sunday as the club held its 27th Annual Awards ceremony at which players, sponsors, and others were awarded for their sterling performances in 2016.

A total of thirty players were awarded in different categories. The runner up player of the year went to Eon Hooper. Both Pestano and Hooper were unable to be present since they are currently doing duties with the Guyana Senior cricket team.

Among the other club players who received awards were Keith Simpson – fielder of the year and Shawn Perriera - bowler of the year.

The Under 15 cricketer of the year award went to Chanderpaul Govindan who was also named batsman of the year in that category. The under 15 bowler of the year is Tyreese Sealey while the under 17 Bowler of the year is Junior Sinclair. In that category, the best batsman award went to Kevlon Anderson who was also adjudged best batsman.

In the under 19 category, the cricketer of the year award went to Kelvin Sinclair who was also the batsman of the year while the bowler of the year award went to Sylus Tyndell.

In delivering the secretary’s report, Hilbert Foster alluded to the fact that Pestano and Hooper were debutants at the senior national level for the Guyana Jaguars in the just concluded Cricket West Indies Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament.

In his report the club Secretary said that during 2016 a total of twenty club players represented Guyana at the national level; three for the male junior team, eight for the female

under 20 team, five for the female senior female team and four for the senior male team while Erva Giddings and Shemaine Campbell both played for the West Indies female team during the year.

“The club continues to be the only cricket club in Guyana to have a female cricket team,” Foster boasted as he read his report.

“We sponsored or assisted a total of thirty-seven sporting events – softball,

Dolphin Speed Swim Club dominate inter-club meet ‒ McRae, Mahaica, Seaton impressive

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Leon Seaton

Representative of Clinton Pestano accepts the Cricketer of the Year Prizes from acting President Moses Nagamootoo

Among the club’s achievements during the year include winning theTenelec under 15 Berbice competition, the Tenelec 50 over first division, the New York Business Group under 19, the Busta Champions of Champions, the Food For the Poor 5/5 Cricket Tournament and reached the final of the NBS second Division before losing to Tucber Park by four runs in the final while the Amerally Sawmills under 19 finals is still to be played.

During the year the club hosted a total of eighteen cricket tournaments including the Buster Champion of Champions, Smart/Kings female, Hand in hand 5/5, and the GWI under 17 20/20.

dominoes, cricket, football and athletics. We donated $2.1M worth in sporting equipment and gears to other clubs schools and NGO’s.

We donated $800,000 worth in trophies to schools, clubs and NGO’s and hosted several West Indies female cricketers as part of our ‘Say No’ campaign.”

Meanwhile, Acting president Mosses Nagamootoo who delivered the feature address, committed government’s continued support to the Club which is the only sports club in Guyana to have received a National award – Medal of Service (MS).

He said in Guyana today there is too much criticism, we need to show more compassion like the Rose Hall

n Sunday, the curtains came down on the inter-club short course swim meet at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, where Dolphin Speed Swim Club produced the most dominant performances to emerge the top team in the two-day event with 683.5 points after 68 events.

Sea Otters Swim Academy came in second with 337 points while Orca Speed Swim Club (272.5), Sliver Shark Aquatic Swim Club (221), Learn to Swim Academy (76) and Health Minds Swim Club (44) were the other clubs in the meet.

On the individual side, Ocra’s Earlando McRae return to the pool continues to be joyous as he swept the Boys 18 and over category winning the 50M Backstroke (33.67s), 50M Backstroke (30.62s), 50M Freestyle (25.86s) and 100M breaststroke (1:15.16s). The only event McRae did not participate in was the 50M Butterfly which was won by Trumaine Cole in a time of 28.98s.

In the Girls 15-17 category, the spoils were shared between Dolphin’s Kenita Mahaica and Nikita Fiedtkou while Ocra’s Accalia Khan managed to break the duo’s dominance on a few occasions.

Fiedtkou and Mahaica placed first and second respectively in the in the 50M Breaststroke with times of 40.12s and 42.06s a piece. The placement was swapped in the 50M butterfly with the winner clocking 33.01s and second place 36.67s.

Mahaica also won the 50M Backstroke (34.62s) but it Khan (35.19s) who edged her way into second place while teammate Anna Isaacs (37.16s) got third.

Fiedtkou managed to extract some revenge, winning the 50M Freestyle (29.74s) ahead of Khan (30.90s) who tied with Mahaica for second place; Mahaica won the Breaststroke in a 1:29.25s while Fiedtkou clocked 1:38.53s for second.

Likewise Sliver Shark’s Nathon Hackett’s time of 26.37s allowed him to win the 50M Freestyle while Andrew Jordan (27.84s) and George Telford (27.96s).

He also won the 50M Butterfly in a time of 30.50s but placed third in the 50M Breaststroke (35.32s) which was by Andrew Jordan (34.27s) and Nikhil Ramnarine (34.98s) in second.

Silver Shark’s Leon Seaton Jr. also had some commendable performances placing second in the boys 11-14 50M Breaststroke (38.24s) behind Sion Jeffers (37.98s). Seaton Jr. won the 50M Butterfly (30.17s), 50M Backstroke (32.67s), 50M Freestyle (27.23s) and the 100M Breaststroke (1:26.31s).

In the 9-10 category both Aleka Persaud and Paul Mahaica were impressive, winning all their races with some fast times.

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, april 25, 2017

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Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile West Indies vs Pakistan Test Series

WI reeling M

isbah-ul-Haq found yet another avenue into the history books on the fourth day in Kingston, although, he might have done without this one. He became the first Pakistan batsman, and only the sixth overall, to be left stranded on 99 as he ran out of partners, Mohammad Abbas adjudged lbw as the captain stared helplessly from the other end. It wasn’t before Pakistan managed to stretch their lead to 121, the final wicket adding 32 runs, each of which must have felt like daggers to the West Indian cause.

On 97, Misbah cut a short ball from Devendra Bishoo through the off side but declined a third run which might have been on and left Abbas - who had shown an excellent defensive technique - to face Roston Chase. He blocked three balls comfortably, but then to the fourth was hit on the back leg. Almost as soon as Richard Illingworth gave the decision Misbah, himself, signalled the review.

It was close to the bat, but there was no Snicko or Hot

tremely scant - of a possible route to victory in this Test, but the tenth-wicket partnership halted whatever momentum they had built up.

Bishoo started it off by coming around the wicket right away after the lunch interval, and found success, bowling Sarfraz Ahmed round his legs as the batsman attempted to sweep. Misbah, at the other end, reached 5,000 runs in Tests with an understated single, and reached his half-century next over. It broke a spell of nine innings without a fifty for the outgoing skipper, and his first since the sides’ corresponding series in the UAE last year.

Mohammad Amir was good for some light entertainment, dispatching Bishoo for six over midwicket, but struggled against Alzarri Joseph. He had a catch dropped at gully against him, and his nicking through to the keeper next over had an air of inevitability about it. Joseph was the pick of the afternoon session, the 20-year old being the

99 far away it might as well have been on another Caribbean island.

Misbah and Yasir Shah hung around for what would have felt

like a frustrating partnership for the West Indies, but at 18 runs off 45 balls, it was hardly devastating. Yasir fell after setting off for a single after dabbing to point, and substitute fielder Jermaine Blackwood made a direct hit in a rare piece of impressive fielding

by West Indies.

The Pakistan batsmen had looked wobbly in the opening session, but poor fielding by the West Indies - two catches were dropped and a stumping missed in the first session - ensured they were able to establish a position of dominance and stretch their lead.

Gabriel and Joseph extracted sharp bounce off the surface, clearly dis- Shimron Hetmyer looked positive comfiting both Asad during his second innings cameo

Misbah-ul-Haq brought out the reverse sweep but ran out of partners on 99

Spot, and the ball-tracker had it agonisingly clipping the top of the leg stump.

West Indies had hit back ably in the afternoon session, taking four Pakistan wickets for 49 runs to still maintain hopes - albeit ex-

only bowler able to extract movement in the air. He was able to get some shape into the right-handers, and one absolute beauty was too good for Wahab Riaz, swinging in sharply to clip the leg bail; Wahab’s bat was so

somewhat.

He was particularly severe on Bishoo, striking a four and six off his first two overs, and picking off the loose deliveries to ensure the spinner could never get into his rhythm and start buildi n g

Shafiq and Misbah, neither of whom looked confident in dealing with the shorter length. Shafiq’s eventual dismissal brought Sarfraz to the crease, and along with him a sense of urgency to an innings that had stalled

pressure on the batsmen as Pakistan edged closer to West Indies’ total. His strike rate of 128 against the legspinner was indicative of his intentions, and he scored a half-century and brought up 2,000 runs, in a productive session for him.

Misbah, meanwhile, ticked along at the other end, looking curiously reticent to even attempt scoring shots at a juncture of the game when his side could be expected to drive home their advantage, having batted their way out of a crucial phase and emerging on the other side relatively unscathed. He more than lived up to his block-bash reputation in the closing stages of the innings, biding his time while also taking Bishoo for two sixes but that final run was not to be. (ESPNcricinfo)

17 confirmed for Stag Grass Track at Bath Settlement

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he 2017 Stag Grass track Championships will make its presence felt at Bath Settlement, West Berbice this Sunday and a strong field of 17 riders have confirmed their participation.

According to Organiser, Sheik Yassin there will be five professional races, four novices and one open race; the professional riders will have five races at 12 laps each while the Novices will have 10 laps.

The leg of the championships will also debut

The battle among the daredevils will be renewed on Sunday at Bath Settlement

two riders from Essequibo, twin brothers Kennard and

Kenrick Spellen. After last month’s opening show-

piece in Anna Regina, Steve Nobrega currently leads the points table with 100 points followed

by Ravin Ramcoomar in a distant second. Nobrega on his Honda 125 had swept all races in both the professional and open category.

In addition ANSA McAL under the Stag Beer brand, Trophy Stall and R. Ganesh Mining Enterprise have pledged support of the championships.

SCOREBOARD Stumps - Day 4 West Indies 1st innings 286 Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight 201/4) Azhar Ali c †Dowrich b Joseph 15 Ahmed Shehzadlbw b Holder 31 Babar Azam b Gabriel 72 Younis Khan c Brathwaite b 58 Gabriel Misbah-ul-Haq* not out 99 Asad Shafiq c †Dowrich b 22 Gabriel Sarfraz Ahmed† b Bishoo 54 Mohammad Amir c †Dowrich 11 b Joseph Wahab Riaz b Joseph 9 Yasir Shah run out (sub [J 8 Blackwood]) Mohammad Abbas lbw b Chase 1 Extras (b-4, lb-10, w-1, nb-12)27 Total (all out; 138.4 overs) 407 Fall of wickets 1-23 (Azhar Ali, 5.4 ov), 2-54 (Ahmed Shehzad, 16.3 ov), 3-185 (Younis Khan, 66.5 ov), 4-186 (Babar Azam, 68.1 ov), 5-236 (Asad Shafiq, 86.6 ov), 6-324 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 111.4 ov), 7-341 (Mohammad Amir, 116.2 ov), 8-355 (Wahab Riaz, 120.4 ov), 9-373 (Yasir

Shah, 128.1 ov), 10-407 (Mohammad Abbas, 138.4 ov) Bowling ST Gabriel 29-692-3 (nb-6), AS Joseph 31-8-71-3 (nb-2), JO Holder 30-6-65-1 (nb-4), D Bishoo 332-106-1 (w-1), RL Chase 8.4-137-1, KC Brathwaite 7-1-22-0 West Indies 2nd innings KC Brathwaite b Yasir Shah 14 KOA Powell c Younis Khan b Yasir Shah 49 20 SO Hetmyer b Yasir Shah 6 SD Hope lbw b Yasir Shah 0 D Bishoo not out VA Singh not out 0 4 Extras (lb-4) 93 Total (4 wickets; 28 overs) To bat SO Dowrich†, RL Chase, JO Holder*, AS Joseph, ST Gabriel Fall of wickets 1-22 (Brathwaite, 10.1 ov), 2-72 (Hetmyer, 20.3 ov), 3-84 (Hope, 24.2 ov), 4-89 (Powell, 26.6 ov) Bowling Mohammad Amir 9-2-11-0, Mohammad Abbas 6-0-21-0, Yasir Shah 9-0-334, Wahab Riaz 4-0-24-0

Balram Shane General Store hops on board with YWCC Mash Cup

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Balram Shane (left) hands over the sponsorship to Ray Ali

alram Shane General Store of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice has been with The Young Warriors Cricket Club fund raiser, The Mash Cup since the inception and this year is no exception.

For the fourth edition which is now slated for April 30, 2017 at the Cumberland Cricket Ground, East Canje, Berbice.

There is excitement in the air as the public looks forward to this signature event. Proceeds from this event go towards the execution of the club’s cricket programme for the year.

Donations are also made to religious and educational organisations as part of the club’s policy towards community development. Betsy Ground Triple Stars are the defending champions.

It is expected that a number of teams from the East Canje area will compete in the action packed five overs aside cricket competition for prize monies of over $100,000.00. Two top Masters softball teams in

Guyana are expected to do battle in a 15 overs aside feature game. There will be added attractions for the kids and the entire family.

Live musical entertainment and a well stocked bar will be there.

At the presentation ceremony, Balram Shane, owner of the popular store said that he feels satisfied to continue to give back to community development. He thanked the public for their support and promised that he will continue to support sport, cricket in particular.

In response, treasurer of the YWCC, Ray Ali expressed gratitude to the sponsor for his faith in the club. He promised that the event will be well run and provide fun and entertainment for the entire family. He added that YWCC will continue to provide opportunities for the young boys and eventually girls in the East Canje area.

Ali said that the club is proud of its first Test cricketer Shimron Hetmeyer and will work hard to maintain its short but rich history.

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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Pg 19

Marques punishes MMA makes Zaragga at "Locked historic debut and Loaded" Keron Bourne (red) pins Lawrence Hearwood to the mat to set up the knockout

Dexter "The Kid" Marques (black and gold trunks) sends Alberto Zarraga down for the count (Romario Samaroo photo)

Pg 19

25 called to National U-15 encampment The Under-15 Boys' national squad with GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood, Head Coach Bryan Joseph and Assistant Challus McKinnon

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