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President, First Lady visit Christmas Day babies P16

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

Issue No. 3079

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

PRICE

Heavy rains threaten Region 5 rice crop

…RDC monitoring situation – Chairman

Jealous man severs ex-lover’s arm, chops mother Page 12

Injured: Bhartie Udho’s mother, Amika Udho

Daughter: Bhartie Udho

9-year-old 20% contracts to small crushed businesses next to death year – Govt Page 2

Page 3

...in car accident at orphanage

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Former GPHC Chairman’s P8 sentencing postponed

P9 GPL’s consumption index heavily favours company – PUC

Flooding halts Christmas P11 celebrations in Region 2

Guyanese soon P2 to sell products/ services globally through e-commerce P9 Indigenous communities call for impartial complaints authority – APA

Parking meters to take full effect on P17 January 23

2 news Guyanese soon to sell products/services 20% of contracts to small globally through e-commerce businesses next year – Govt G wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

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wenty per cent of Government contracts will be awarded to small businesses from next year, as moves are currently afoot to modify the procurement process to facilitate the execution of a provision in the Small Business Act which allows for this to happen.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin told a yearend press conference of the Small Business Bureau (SBB) that the process should come on stream by the second quarter of the New Year.

He said the proposed mechanism is to assess the current procurement process to determine if extra points are needed to be given for registered small businesses and on what criteria.

“The idea is to create a system to allow us to assess the value of contracts and percentage of contracts that actually go to small businesses and then to intervene if necessary to provide

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

an extra incentive for small businesses,” he explained.

Gaskin noted too that the modified system would have to be integrated with the recently established Public Procurement Commission (PPC) which will be taking over the role of the Cabinet to review suggestions made by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The Business Minister explained that the authorities are likely to run a pi-

lot programme in the first quarter of the year to assess whether the proposed mechanism is workable.

Thereafter, the system will be extended to the Ministries which conduct their own procurement process for particular goods or services.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had explained that by activating this provision, everyone will “get a piece of the pie”.

“If the country gives out $10 billion in contracts per year, 20 per cent of that should go to small contractors,” he had stated.

For years, small businesses have been complaining about larger enterprises getting the bulk of the contracts being awarded by Government.

The 20 per cent of contracts will be awarded yearly and the Business Minister had previously estimated that it would amount to some $15 billion.

uyanese will soon be provided with the legal framework and requisite infrastructure to sell their products and services to global markets.

Currently, there are numerous financial restrictions in Guyana preventing local entrepreneurs from tapping into the international market to promote their products and services.

PayPal, one of the most widely used and accepted payment processors globally, is unable to get the licence to operate within Guyana because of the unavailability of legislation, even in the recently passed Telecommunications Bill.

The Guyana Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) – a group of Guyanese entrepreneurs – has lobbied Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes on this matter.

GEN Representative Rosh Khan told Guyana Times that significant strides have already been made to ensure the legislation is updated and will facilitate the entry of notable payment processors into Guyana.

Guyanese will soon be able to sell local products and services to a global market

He explained that the National Payment Systems Act, which deals with electronic money, has already been drafted and is currently being reviewed by stakeholders, including himself.

Government has already begun the process of switching from paper-based transactions, to electronic payments by entering into an agreement with the World Bank which would seek to modernise the country’s

National Payments System.

Additionally, Khan said the Electronic Transaction Act is being drafted.

The Electronic Transactions Act will allow local businesses to extend their reach beyond the country’s borders. When the legal framework is in place, Guyana will have to lobby PayPal to enter into its market.

TURN TO PAGE 10

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wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, December 28 – 14:30h-16:00h and an early morning retraction at 04:30h and Thursday, December 29 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, December 28 – 15:55h-17:25h and Thursday, December 29 – 16:35h-18:05h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, while clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 03:49h and 16:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.46 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:35h and 22:00h reaching minimum heights of 0.75 metre and 0.60 metre respectively.

saturday, december 24 , 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

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FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

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

9-year-old crushed to death ...in car accident at orphanage

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mother is blaming the system for the death of her nineyear-old daughter who was killed in an accident at an orphanage in Berbice.

Dead is Neena Blaire, nine years old, formally of Edingburg, East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

At the time of the accident, Blaire was at the Alpha Children’s Home located at 34 Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam.

According to reports, the little girl was playing in the front yard on Christmas Eve when a male teenager, who also resides at the home, started one of the two cars which was parked in the facility’s compound.

The teen allegedly drove the car around the yard and at some point, put the vehicle in reverse. However, instead of pressing the brake, he put his foot on the accelerator. Reports are that the vehicle hit Blaire and she fell.

The child, not seriously injured, got up but as the car continued to reverse, it hit out one of the banisters on the step and one of the spindles hit the child to the ground. The banister then fell, crushing the nine-yearold.

Guyana Times understands that the caretaker of the home was out at the time of the accident.

The child was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital in a taxi.

Neena Blaire and her two sisters were placed in the Alpha Children's Home after the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) got involved following reports in the media of alleged child neglect.

The dead girl’s mother, Venus Lalloo, also called “Anita”, was placed before the court for child neglect.

The mother of 13 was fined

Dead: Neena Blaire

$350,000 with an alternative of six months imprisonment. Four of her children were removed from her, including a baby.

Lalloo could not pay the fine and was imprisoned. However, the Social Protection Ministry intervened and after three weeks, the fine was paid and the domestic worker was released from prison.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the distraught mother said she was working when two persons from the

CCPA came to her place of work and told her that they had some sad news for her.

According to Lalloo, when she saw the officers from the Agency, she was of the view that they were there to talk to her about her baby, which was expected to be reunited with her.

She said it was also one of her daughters’ birthday and she was expecting good news.

“I blame the Child Protection Agency and the whole system for putting

me in jail for something that was not so and for taking away the children. They did not listen to me at the Child Protection Agency; now they come to tell me that my child that they take from me dead. When they tell me that she pass away in Georgetown, I start to holler and the lady from upstairs run downstairs because I start to hit the post,” the frustrated mother said.

Meanwhile, when this publication contacted one of the caretakers of Alpha Home, she declined to offer a comment, only saying that she was very traumatised by what happened. “I am not in the frame of mind to say anything on the matter. The keys were apparently left in the vehicle for some time now, waiting on the mechanic to come and fix it.”

According to a Police source, the teenage boy is currently in Police custody assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed on Blaire’s body this morning.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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wednesDAY, december 28, 2016

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

Editorial

The giving season

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he highly-anticipated and much-prepared-for Christmas Day came and went. Meals were prepared and gifts were exchanged and unwrapped with excitement. Amid it all, families gathered to share in all the special moments. All across the globe, the giving season was well underway.

During the festive period, it is also customary for communities as well as individuals to demonstrate their generosity. The benefactors of much of these offerings are usually charities and the underprivileged; they are provided with much-needed food, toiletries and other essentials. Unforgivable The spirit of giving is a powerful thing, as we have seen over the past few weeks, Guyanese have once again shown great generosity in countless toy drives and holiday parties to provide Christmas presents and fun for children who might otherwise have had very little.

The collective response and the charitable giving — in food, money and other resources — was remarkable, particularly around this time. So, too, were the efforts of local residents and civic group members who volunteered their time at local fundraisers and other events. Many of the efforts already undertaken this season have brought much joy and relief to the beneficiaries In general, local communities are very in tune with helping others, especially during the festive season; there is something about this time of year that makes persons reflect on just how fortunate they are. This period is also a reflective time for many, with the year coming to a close.

This year, the generosity is even more profound, when we take into consideration the Syrian families who are still struggling and when we see the need in our own country.

One of the best parts about helping the less fortunate is not only that it can change a person’s life, but it allows for personal growth as well. Helping others will always lift spirits, make us feel good, and is something from which we can gather a sense of real accomplishment.

Even as we check off our to-do list in the coming days, we must give a thought to families who might not have as much and who will struggle to put food on the table, in the coming year. We must all do what we can and encourage everyone we know to give what they can to help the less fortunate here and even throughout the world. If money is tight, perhaps they can give some time to a church, school or other organisation in need of volunteers. Whatever it is, what is important is that we continue in the spirit of giving.

Even if it is just giving blood at the blood bank, this too can help save a life.

Christmas and the story of Christ's birth still teach each generation the remarkable joy of giving without concern about getting. But so often the payback is greater than we might ever have imagined. It is comforting to know that all that we give go to a good cause and, in the end, we all feel great because being generous is a gift in itself.

However, after the new year starts, this spirit of giving disappears. But the question remains, since giving back during the holidays creates universal joy, why don’t we do this all year round? Wouldn’t we become happier if we do?

There are endless opportunities to give back and spread love, and can be as simple as seeing a friend in everyday life. Holding the door, asking someone how their day is, or just being friendly towards someone can make a bigger difference than you even know, and it is easy to do any day of the year, not just the month of December. You never know what someone is going through, and treating people with kindness can truly make someone’s life better. There are people in need everywhere, even in your own street, and we should be eager to help them, as we too might one day need a helping hand.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo treats children and residents of Annandale, East Coast Demerara during a Christmas luncheon over the weekend

Unforgivable act

by Govt, GuySuCo

Dear Editor, I could not agree more with Lincoln Lewis’ letter to another section of the media on December 25 captioned “Wales Estate workers needed to be treated with respect”. Lewis quite eloquently, in his usually wellarticulated letters, made clear his criticism on the way the Government and management of GuySuCo treated the workers at Wales by denying them any information whatsoever on the future of their lives.

Lewis, quite rightly, traced the sacrifices and struggles

that our forebears made to guarantee us the respect and dignity we deserve from those that serve and govern us.

Editor, when I read the comments and sentiments offered by workers and their spouses and carried by your newspapers on the closure of the estate, I could feel their pain, anguish and hopelessness. In this season of yuletide blessings, we should all pray for the happiness and prosperity of these people.

Despite the Prime Minister, in his budget sum-

mary speech in the National Assembly just a week ago admitted that his government “slipped” in not informing the sugar workers in advance on the closure of the estate, they still could not find the time to offer some comfort to the Wales Estate community on what future plans are there for them on their employability. What was even more depressing was the company’s CEO, rather than reaching out to the affected workers reportedly went off on a foreign vacation on the very day that the last bundle of

canes were lifted on the estate.

I do not think, apart from the days of bondage and slavery, has it ever occurred that such large amount of people have been occupationally displaced without consultation on the future.

It is indeed as Lewis put it a transgression on the Wales’ workers “inalienable right to be treated as equals with dignity and respect”. It is an unforgiveable act by the Government and GuySuCo.

Dear Editor, Looking back at the APNU/AFC’s 2015 manifesto, we now realise that Guyana’s greatest con-artist has failed to fulfil his promises listed in the manifesto.

When last has the Head of State read his 100-Day Plan in his manifesto? We have read it and were utterly disgusted at the delivery and performance on the promises made. The promise to provide thousands of jobs for the youths turned out to be a scam in that it led to the hiring of pensioners and retired army officers. The promise to establish a department in the Diaspora turned out to be the biggest phony scheme pulled off on the people in the Diaspora to finance the 2015 election campaign. And the promise to provide a better life for all has become the greatest exploit in the history of the country.

Unfortunately, the Head

of State has now earned the record as the Leader of Guyana with the worst delivery rate since independence in May 1966 and unless he changes course, we do not expect his performance to improve. In fact, he has earned the unenviable title of speaking more than acting in the interest of the people. This is a dark tragedy in the country where ego has overwhelmed competence, stubbornness has replaced rationality, and common sense has turned into stupidity. Listening to his utterances has demonstrated that he has very poor judgment and is incapable of healing the racial divide in Guyana. Under his watch, Guyana has engaged in a process of taxing the poor to feed the rich and the endgame of this strategy is endless poverty, joblessness and a quagmire of economic depression.

The Head of State’s

steadfast and rigid adherence to the belief that he and only he, is correct at all times is moronic. His biggest problem is that he is a very poor communicator, who is mean spirited and uncaring for the poor and the working class. His single biggest blunder to date is his failure to find solutions for the constant power blackouts, high crime rate, declining agriculture production, floods, inability to charge anyone for alleged corrupt practices after spending more than $175 million of the taxpayers’ money on audits, and refusing to embrace youths with talent and skills. He has surrounded himself with “Yes” men and women many of whom lack original thoughts and the ability to think creatively. The President should be reminded that he is not the head of a military organisation where all his commands must be car-

ried out. He is now dealing with a civilian population in a democracy where criticism must flourish.

Simply put, his failure to deliver on his 100-Day promises exposes his inability to rise to the challenge, lead the nation and move the country forward. We challenge him to deliver on this one promise, the Code of Conduct for his Ministers. In his 100-Day Plan he said that “A Code of Conduct will be established for Parliamentarians, Ministers and others holding high positions in government to abide by, including mechanisms for those to demit office if in violation of the Code of Conduct.” After 18 months, there is still no code of conduct, and we believe that none will be forthcoming either. Talk is cheap.

Yours faithfully, Selwyn Narinedatt

Making false promises!

Sincerely, Asquith Rose and Harish Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, december 28, 2016

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

Richard Naraine owes the President, PM a public apology Dear Editor, I am not a very big fan of comedy shows, but on Boxing Day (December 26) I was watching television on NCN Channel 11, and also on Channel 65, where the Richard Naraine comedy show was being aired.

To be honest, I am not very much interested in all these comedy shows, but Naraine mentioned some immoral things on his show that made me think very deeply. He always talks to a person on a phone he refers to as Uncle George, but on Boxing Day he went

to the extreme where he made mentioned of the President’s and Prime Minister’s private parts. I do not know who this man Richard Naraine is, but he is stepping beyond his boundaries by the foolishness he articulates on national television and radio.

How can this man disrespect the President and Prime Minister by talking about their private parts?

It is my firm opinion that Richard Naraine should apologise to the President and Prime Minister, and also his show should be

banned from television and radio. I also note with a great deal of interest that many of these link shows at the Cultural Centre and many plays make a lot of defamatory and immoral speeches, including cuss words, sexual overtures and tons of racial and political remarks. When our young people see these shows it creates more racial, political and religious problems in our society. It is my firm view that many of our playwrights here should do more reading and receive more teach-

ings if they wish to produce plays of substance.

I call upon the Social Protection Minister and Public Security Minister to take a look at Mr Naraine’s show that was aired on Boxing Day to make their evaluation. I also call on the management of these TV stations to look at every programme first before they air it. Richard Naraine owes the President and Prime Minister a public apology.

Yours truly, Rev Gideon Cecil

Heywood incorrect on religious bias Dear Editor, Mr Loris Heywood requests the list of names of Christian organisations and leaders that the Leader of the Opposition and the PPP met before making recommendations of the six nominees for potential Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Heywood is of the view that the PPP only met with members of the Hindu and Islamic communities, but not from the Christian community. Heywood made this unsubstantiated conclusion from what he said were “pictorials of meetings held by the PPP.” The pictorials offer no such evidence to draw this conclusion. As an academic, I can say without a fear of contradiction, the pictorials offer no such evidence and as such Heywood is incorrect in his claim of anti-Christian bias.

Is Mr Heywood operating out of a narrow ethnic mind-set? Could this be an idiotic conclusion? How did he know that the members in attendance at those meetings were Hindus and Muslims and not Christians?

None of the attendees had badges saying they are Hindus or Muslims, or “not a Christian”. As far as the public knows, the PPP meetings were not billed as “only for Hindus and Muslims” or “not for Christians”. Did Heywood see banners contradicting this statement?

Were people excluded at the PPP meetings on the basis of religion? Did Heywood, presumably a Christian, attempted to attend a meeting and was denied entry?

The PPP should have rebutted or debunked Heywood’s assertion.

Heywood asked for names of people, organisations and attendees at the meetings that Jagdeo and or the PPP had before making his list of nominees. Is Heywood for real?

Confidentiality will render such a request implausible.

Generally, in Guyana, parties tend to have open public meetings. No one is officially excluded on account of ethnicity or religion. But because of the racial division of the society, the public chooses to attend or not to attend meet-

ings based on racial affiliation – PPP perceived as de facto Indian/Amerindian, and PNC as African. Not all Indians are Hindus and/or Muslims. The Indian community subscribes to varied religious faiths. So a broad conclusion of religious background of attendees at a PPP meeting cannot be drawn unless Heywood interviewed almost all of them. I fully support the view that there

should be no religious or ethnic bias in the selection of nominees, if in any activity. But since May 2015, the country has become racialised because of Government policy. The Government gives preference to its ethnic supporters in all facets of activities.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

AFC has died in Region 5 Dear Editor, The Alliance For Change (AFC) has died in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). I wish to respond to Mr Abel Seetaram’s claims in the Stabroek Newspaper “AFC is not dead in Region Five as Opposition claims”, on December 21, 2016.

Editor, I wish to point out that the AFC has lost all grounds in Region Five.

My reasons for making this statement is that, indeed Mr Abel had organised a Christmas social for the members and friends of the AFC. Not a Government Minister or any senior official from the AFC attended that Christmas social that was held in Bath, Berbice.

My evidence is that no one

from Bath attended the Christmas social. The venue was chosen to be “Bath” because to showcase the political drama show that Bath is fully behind the AFC. The AFC has failed its supporters in Region Five.

The executive members of the AFC have not held an outreach to its members since elections. The leaders of the AFC are hiding from the grassroots supporters in Region Five. The APNU/ AFC Government has put a “duct tape” on Seetaram’s mouth.

Sincerely, Rovin Kalichran Resident of Bath, Berbice

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Are you afraid to be with “just” yourself (no smartphone)?

– our devices are making us fear our own company

BY NANCY COLIER LCSW, REV

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eople often ask me how I think human beings are changing as a result of our addiction to technology. The fact is we are changing in innumerable ways but perhaps none more profound than in our relationship with ourselves, that is, how we experience our own company.

It is paradoxical really. On the one hand, we believe that every cinnamon latte we consume is extraordinary and meaningful to others. We share every thought and feeling, imagining the world as our doting mother, celebrating every itch we scratch. And yet, despite our sense of self-importance, we, simultaneously, have lost touch with an internally generated sense of self worth or meaning.

We determine our value by the number of thumbs ups we receive on social media. We don’t feel important or likeable until our friends validate us with public “likes.” And if our Snapchats are left unopened, our self-worth can plummet into nothingness.

We are on an endless rollercoaster, riding between feeling that we matter and are valuable to believing that we are worthless and unlovable, all driven by an external and often unknown audience.

In the age of technology, we dread being with “just” ourselves. We consider time spent in our own company as time to kill or

be avoided at all cost. The few moments at the end of the day when all the devices are finally off (if they are off) and the distractions are gone (if they are gone), are viewed as at best, boring and at worst, frightening.

To be left alone with just ourselves is to be left in a vacuum, with nothing to do and nowhere to be.

We experience ourselves as empty, something that needs to be filled up and supplemented with entertainment, information, or contents of any kind. We need to have an object of our attention, something to play with, in order to feel that we even exist.

W e h a v e stopped relating to ourselves as a destination, a place t o b e – t o b e with our own experience. These days, when a moment of meaning appears... perhaps a person on the street who needs help, and we go out of our way to help... rather than privately processing that event, marinating in the experience of our own life, we immediately announce our story on social media: “hashtag gratitude,” “feeling sweetness,” “kickin’ it

with kindness.” And then we wait – for the virtual world to respond, to determine what the experience will mean, what our life will mean, and ultimately, the most important thing of all: what the event says about who we are – our identity.

At this moment in history, we are trying to outrun ourselves, with the great help of technology and the unending distractions that it offers, the relief from ourselves that it makes possible. Our goal seems to be to make it to the end of our lives without having to spend any time with or bump into ourselves along the way, to successfully evade our own presence until there is no self left to avoid.

And yet, what a tragic goal for a life.

We are relating to technology as if it were our saviour, the new Mecca.

Somewhere inside its magical, mysterious maze we imagine lies the key to our happiness and fruition.

Within the infinite possibilities that our devices offer exists a place where we will finally be able to settle down, finally be able to be present.

Somewhere, somehow, our smartphone will deliver peace.

In truth however, we cannot experience authentic wellbeing if we cannot tolerate our own company.

We can only distract our-

selves from ourselves for so long before we run out of places to hide or objects and experiences to hide in.

When we chase anything external for our sense of completeness and worth, to make our own presence bearable, we set ourselves up for certain failure and suffering. Nothing outside us can ever complete us, not even technology. Every spiritual, philosophical and psychological tradition eventually leads us back to ourselves, to the one we have abandoned in the searching. Our true refuge is not in the next best app or the updated rose gold smartphone coming out on Monday. Ultimately, we are the destination we are seeking.

The next time you feel the impulse to check your phone or use technology, ask yourself: • “What would I have to feel right now if I couldn’t use?”

• “What am I experiencing right now that I am wanting to get away from?”

• “What am I really longing for in this moment?”

If you still use technology after contemplating these questions, that’s okay too. What’s important is to start to shift your relationship with yourself so that once again you can experience yourself as a place to be, a destination, and someone you want to be with. At the end of the day, this relationship with ourselves is the essence of wellbeing.

(Psychology Today)

Next up, New Year's A s Christmas p a s s e s , inevitably we come to the end of 2016. Yet another 365 days, another revolution around the sun, another year comes to a close.

It is at this time we are most reflective.

We think about the people we love, the people who came into Ashley Anthony our lives in the year past, and the people we want to keep in our lives for years to come.

We think about ourselves and the struggles and challenges we have overcome and how we have developed over the course of our lives.

And after all of this thinking is done, we are left with looking to the future. What do we want to achieve in the coming year? How would we like to change? This inescapably leads us to – New Year resolutions.

The infamous New Year Resolutions...the ones we make every year, never to fulfil. I think one of the reasons why our resolutions are never achieved is because we make open ended statements. “I want to lose some weight”, “I want to spend more time at home” – none of these are measurable, so you don’t exactly have an achievable goal. How much is “some” weight, how much is “more” time? Try to make more specific statements so that you can identify exactly when you have attained your goal.

Another reason resolutions never work is because once the reflective haze, that the new years has placed us under passes, it becomes easy to lose sight of the importance of things. At the end of the year, it’s simple to see why things such as health and family matter; the fact that a year has just ended gives us perspective. It acts as a reality check. We seem to suddenly remember that our days are numbered. But as the New Year begins, this perspective is quickly lost, and it feels as though our lives will continue on infinitely. We think that we have an unlimited number of days to achieve our goals and everything can be put off for the tomorrow that never comes. So what can we do? Perhaps one thing we can try is reminding ourselves daily of our goals. If we never let them out of our minds then it’ll be difficult to not achieve them. If it means you have to put up inspirational messages on your walls or write in a daily planner, or even sharing your resolution with a friend and ask them to help you commit to it, if this goal is something you truly want to accomplish, all the effort will be worth it.

Finally, sometimes we never keep up our resolutions because we simply don’t intend to. We make resolutions purely to say that we’ve made one. If this is the case, just stop. If you don’t want to achieve a goal, then it’s not a goal. And no amount of strategy is going to get that done.

In closing, I wish that everyone has a prosperous New Year. May it bring to you the challenges that you need to help you grow into a better version of yourself. And finally, may you accomplish all that you resolve to.

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wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Heavy rains threaten Region 5 rice crop …RDC monitoring situation − Chairman

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s the torrential downpours across the country persist, several communities continue to experience intermittent flooding.

Over the past few days, areas in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) have seen rising water levels, which pose a great threat to much of the rice crop in the district.

On Tuesday, farmers from villages in the Mahaicony area informed Guyana Times that they were monitoring the high water level in the Mahaicony River. They explained that their rice crop was not inundated during this recent spate of downpours; however, should the rains continue at the current rate, the River would overflow its banks and flood their farms.

Guyana Times understands that rice lands in Mahaica and Burma are also affected. When contacted for an update on the Region’s response to the flood situation, Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal informed this publication that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) was actively monitoring the unfolding events.

According to the RDC Chairman, floodwaters remain in the communities of Trafalgar, Number 30

urged the Government to pay special attention to the rising water level in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), which was reported to be above 57 GD level, as well as the Boerasirie Conservancy.

The Opposition Leader noted that the areas along the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks, Pomeroon River and other inland areas should receive attention as

Kenny and Borlam must be urgently addressed and operationalised, as well as those on the East Coast of Demerara, Georgetown and other areas, as necessary.

Coastal areas such as Lima, sections of Henrietta and Hampton Court, Capoey, Land of Plenty in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); Canals Polder, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara);

backwater flows can result in downstream flooding, which is the predominant trend in riverine areas.

Jagdeo said too that the defective sluices and silted outfall channels in areas such as Capoey, Cozier, Three Friends, Letter

and residential and agricultural areas of Anns Grove/Two Friends, Cane Grove, Good Hope, Mon Repos, Lusignan, Foulis within Region Four were also affected by flooding last week. (Shemuel Fanfair)

Rice lands threatened by high water levels in Region Five

Village, Foulis, Belladrum and Paradise, while floodwaters in other areas have receded.

The Chairman explained that he, along with Vice Chairman Rion Peters and other councillors of both the RDC and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), came out over the Christmas holidays (December 25 and 26) to meet with farmers and residents in the various communities.

Guyana Times was also told that National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development

Authority (MMA-ADA) were informed, and were addressing the situation.

The heavy rains began last Friday – a 12-hour long heavy downpour, coupled with clogged drains, silted outfalls, broken pumps, and more rain over the weekend, inundated several parts of the country, including the capital city Georgetown; Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Region Five and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Several farmers in these Regions have reported damage to cash crops and livestock.

Responding to the situation last week, Opposition

Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal assessing situation at Trafalgar, Region Five on Boxing Day

More rice lands under water

Leader Bharrat Jagdeo called on Government to implement the necessary measures to bring immediate relief to those affected by ensuring that steps were taken to minimise damage to property, livestock and agricultural crops as well as losses. He had also

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wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Good Hope couple robbed Christmas morning

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rmed bandits on Sunday morning pounced on an East Coast Demerara (ECD) couple who had just returned home after closing their business in the City Mall at Georgetown.

The incident took place after 01:00h as the couple drove into their First Phase, Good Hope, ECD yard.

Guyana Times understands that after arriving home, the couple opened their remote-controlled gate and drove into the yard.

They were about to enter the garage to park the car, while the gate was closing when a silver-grey 212 Toyota motor car pulled up into the driveway and three men, two of whom were armed, exited.

The men rushed into the yard and ordered the husband and wife duo to hand over their valuables. At the

time, they were carrying the day’s sales from their business. During the struggle, the bandits gun-butted the wife to her head before taking possession of the couple’s belongings, including an undisclosed sum of cash, three cellphones and a handbag containing documents, keys and other valuables.

The three bandits then rushed to the car, where a fourth person was waiting in the driver seat, and they drove away, making good their escape. As the men were making good their escape, the wife raised an alarm, alerting neighbours.

One of the neighbours related to this newspaper

that he was in his yard a few houses away from the victims when he heard the woman shouting “Thief!

Thief!”. The man said he, along with a few others, rushed over to the victims’ home and was told by them of what just transpired. The Police were subsequently summoned. The investigations continue.

When contacted on Tuesday, a senior Police Officer within C Division (East Coast Demerara) told Guyana Times that no one has been arrested for the robbery. However, he noted that two sets of fingerprints were lifted from the scene and were sent to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters where they are being run against the database for any matches.

Former GPHC Chairman's sentencing postponed

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he former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Noel Blackman, is expected to be sentenced the latest in February 2017, sources have disclosed, a year after he was first arrested.

Blackman, a People’s National Congress (PNC) Executive Member and former Health Minister, became embroiled in an allegation earlier this year which stated that he illegally wrote a number of prescriptions for the narcotic-based painkiller ‘Oxycodone’.

He pleaded guilty to count one of his indictments before Judge Joanna Seybery, before whom he stood following his arrest.

Federal authorities in the United States arrest-

ed the 68-year-old doctor in February of this year, shortly after he was appointed Chairman of the GPHC Board.

The former Health Minister, under the PNC, was arrested for his alleged involvement in a prescription drug-dealing enterprise across three States.

US federal authorities said he was illegally prescribing vast amounts of oxycodone – 365,000 pills in 2015 – in a drug-dealing enterprise spanning three States.

Agents took Blackman into custody after they ordered a Guyana-bound jet taxiing for take-off with him on board to return to the airport terminal. Blackman – under investigation for several weeks – was intent on permanently leaving the United States, according

Dr Noel Blackman

to a tip agents received before they headed him off at the airport. After the plane returned to the terminal, he was arrested and later charged with conspiracy to distribute the narcotic.

Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations also found $30,000 in cash stashed in his luggage, officials had

said.

According to Blackman’s prescription records checked by federal authorities, the 365,000 oxycodone pills came from 2487 prescriptions – a marked increase from the 114 he wrote for 3800 pills in 2014 and 63 written in 2013 for 2100 pills.

Blackman, who is also co-owner of HBTV Channel 9 in Guyana, had offices in Franklin Square, in Elmhurst, Queens, and in Brooklyn. Until his arrest, Blackman had practiced surgery and pain management from offices in Franklin Square, Elmhurst and Brooklyn and most recently lived in Far Rockaway, but was a long-time resident of Valley Stream.

Blackman’s arrest was said to be the latest in a string of cases involving Long Island doctors charged with illegally doling out highly addictive prescription painkillers.

PostChristmas… …bleariness our Eyewitness is valiantly trying to rise out of the fog into which he’d sunk with all the Christmas cheer he imbibed. While for some it might’ve been a case of drowning their sorrows, for most it seemed to be a determined (heroic?) refusal to cave in to the confluence of miserable weather and even more miserable economic tidings.

So even though he’s not a noted tippler, your Eyewitness must confess while the cumulative effect of the vino did uncover a much more effusive personality that matched the bonhomie of the occasion, he’s wondering if the present incessant pounding in his head’s worth it! But that’s Christmas in Guyana, isn’t it? Drink, drink and more drink. How in the world did it get this way? Your Eyewitness isn’t even making the connection between the drinking and the religious nature of the occasion being celebrated. Just celebrating and drinking.

But even before the Big Binge, there was at least one person who thought about the effects of drinking – Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan. When he first introduced his 2 am curfew against drinking, he’d confused your Eyewitness to no end when he “explained” it was to reduce “crime”. What the heck was the connection between drinking past 2 am and crime, he wanted to know? Was there some study that showed a dramatic spike in crimes when folks were allowed to drink into the wee hours of the morning?

How the heck did this work exactly? Did criminals have to drink past 2 am to work up the courage to commit their heinous acts? Or did they have to plot till that time to make sure they synchronised their watches and suchlike? Anyhow this year it was all explained by the goodly Minister – it wasn’t crime he was trying to stop – it was traffic accidents.

Entreated by the owners of bars and clubs to extend the drinking hours for the “Christmas Season”, Ramjattan was reported to have asked sternly, “Is how much more y’all want to drink after 2 am? Are you not concerned about the road accidents and the need to address this? Well, I am concerned.

I am not going to bend the laws for a few people who want to promote lawlessness. The law gives you up to 2 am and that is what you have to work with. So it is not negotiable.”

What firmness! What resolution! Your Eyewitness was proud a line had been drawn now that he knew that it was accidents the Minister was trying to reduce. That made sense.

Then the following day, Ramjattan reversed himself!

What a will!! What fortitude!!!

Y

…tax and fatten The pejorative term “tax and spend governments” arose during the Depression-era Roosevelt government when the latter tried to stimulate the economy and get folks back to work. But at the same time the size of government inevitably ballooned. But what do you call a government that refuses to stimulate the economy, yet increase taxes?

The tax on electricity is a good example. From a cost/ expenses standpoint, GPL’s tariffs were computed when oil was at US$100 plus per barrel. Right now, it’s half of that and GPL’s rolling in cash. And from the revenue standpoint, shouldn’t GPL be going after all those folks – in communities that have been IDENTIFIED - that are stealing electricity?

Back in the day, Burnham bled profits from sugar – but at least he had a strategic vision for the funds he took from the pockets of sugar workers. He wanted to build the Mazaruni Hydropower Project.

So what’s this government doing with the funds from taxes? Spending on festivals, its salaries and perks and enriching favoured insiders, that’s what.

This government’s strategic “vision” is to fatten itself and its favoured elite. …parking meters The Government still has one last chance to redeem itself from the largest pork barrel ever created in Guyana – the Georgetown Parking Meter Caper.

The Minister of Communities can refuse to approve the necessary by-laws.

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

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wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPL’s consumption index Indigenous communities heavily favours company – PUC call for impartial complaints

authority − APA

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he Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has highlighted that the consumption formula used by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to determine the consumption rates of consumers who are caught stealing electricity heavily favours the company.

According to the Commission in its recently released 2015 Annual Report, the Electricity Sector Reform Act (ESRA) authorises the utility company to act against such consumers, that is, it empowers the company to back-bill customers for a determined period once they are caught stealing electricity.

However, the PUC believes that the company’s consumption index overestimate consumers’ electricity usage.

“GPL has a chart that estimates the average monthly consumption per equipment used by a consumer and assumes this to be the level of consumption of each customer. The Commission has been reviewing GPL’s list of estimates being used by the company for some time and is of the opinion that the consumption levels used are heavily weighed in favour of the company,” the PUC stated in the report.

The Commission outlined that GPL’s estimates have similar patterns to a North American utility.

It noted that such a method was flawed from the inception since empirical evidence suggested that electricity consumption in an affluent society would be higher than in a developing country.

In reviewing GPL’s consumption index, the PUC pointed out that there was an assumption that a consumer utilised a microwave for 30 hours per month or one hour per day, but its research suggested otherwise.

To this end, the Commission prepared a list of consumption per equipment which it believes would be fair to both the service provider and the consumers based on its own research.

Furthermore, the PUC indicated that it has compared these estimates to those in use by the Regulated Industries Commission of Trinidad (RIC) and has found that the Commission’s estimates are close to those on its prepared list.

Among the estimates put forward by the Commission are: 7.2 kilowatt per hour (kwh) for television, while GPL’s estimate is 30 kwh and RIC is 18.0 kwh; 0.12 kwh for a microwave oven while GPL’s is 30 kwh and RIC 4.0 kwh; 58.2 kwh for a refrigerator while GPL’s is 90 kwh and RIC is 54.0 kwh; 0.12 kwh for a blender while GPL’s is 5 kwh and RIC is 0.8; 6 kwh for a computer system while GPL’s is 30 kwh and RIC is 4.5 kwh; 16.4 kwh for an electric water pump, while GPL’s is 30 kwh and RIC is 11.9 kwh, and 0.52 kwh for a washing machine while GPL’s is 19 kwh and RIC is 2.0 kwh.

The PUC said it intended to take up with this matter with GPL with the aim of reviewing the estimates used by the country’s premier electricity company.

On the other hand, the Commission also highlighted in its report the ongoing

technological innovations that involve the efficient use of energy. The PUC noted that focus was placed on appliances using the inverter technology, since the unique configuration of the inverter units means less power is used than the noninverter units, while giving the same energy output.

The PUC gave an example of two air conditioning units rated at 8000 Btu, one with an inverter and the other none. The compressor motor of a non-inverter air conditioner only operates at a maximum capacity, or is switched off altogether.

This, the Commission pointed out, leads to unnecessary electricity consumption and higher electricity bills.

“The inverter air conditioning units have increased efficiency in contraction to non-inverter air conditioners, extended life of their parts and the sharp fluctuations in the load are eliminated. This makes the inverter air conditioners units quieter, and lower operating cost. The inverter air conditioners units might be more expensive than the non-inverter air conditioners, but this is compensated by lower energy bills.

The payback time is approximately two years depending on the usage,” the Commission explained.

The PUC had stated that its Engineering Division would be monitoring the technical components of the operators in 2016 with the view to ensure that consumers stand to benefit from the changes in technology and were treated fairly by all public utilities under the Commission’s jurisdiction.

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overnment bodies have made decisions about land titling, demarcation and concessions without the communities’ participation and without obtaining their agreement in advance, the Amerindian Peoples Association said in a report.

The report stated that villages and communities in Region One and Region Two are very unhappy about this situation, stating that this is the main cause of mistakes in boundary demarcations, mining and logging concessions being imposed on traditional lands and the conflicts about land and resources that communities are experiencing.

It stated that if a village disagrees with a decision about its title, the only official way it can appeal is by taking the case to the High

Court.

However, it stressed that this is not a suitable approach for Villages, as the High Court may take years or even decades to make a judgment; also the process is often costly.

Villages Councils can, and do, send written complaints to Ministers or other organisations such as the Indigenous Peoples Commission but the report said it found that in many cases villages have not seen any improvement in their situation after writing to official bodies.

“Often there is no reply, or the points made by the Village are rejected,” it said.

It highlighted that Guyana’s laws and administration dealing with land issues do not have clear and consistent ways of resolving disputes where there is

more than one claim on the land, either for Amerindian titled lands or for tracts of land requested for extension of titles.

Some villages, such as Chinese Landing and Barima Koribao, suspect that mining, logging and other commercial interests have at times influenced GLSC, GFC and GGMC officials to turn a blind eye to conflicts, or to change demarcation lines and surveys to favour mining and logging concessions.

Therefore, the association is calling for Government to set up a fair and clear way for villages and communities to make official complaints about, and appeals against, decisions made by MIPA and/or GLSC on titling, demarcation and giving out land.

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news

wednesday, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana signs open skies agreements D

uring the ninth annual International Civil Aviation Negotiations (ICAN) 2016 conference – recently held in Nassau, The Bahamas – Guyana signed open skies agreements with The Dominican Republic, India and South Korea.

The agreement with India will allow an unlimited number of flights to six airports in India; namely in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai.

The new arrangement will encourage connectivity and passenger travel between India and Guyana.

While there is no imminent direct air connectivity between Guyana and India, the agreement puts in place a legal framework that may provide seamless connectivity to passengers and make possible connectivity between India and Guyana not served by direct flights. The agreement with Guyana will allow international codeshares, including third country airlines with Guyana, and removal of capacity restriction in case of codeshare with third country carriers.

South Korea, which also attended ICAN2016, signed a new air services agreement with Guyana and several other Caribbean and Latin American countries.

The Dominican Republic also concluded an air agree-

Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson signing the agreement

ment with Guyana. Head of The Dominican Republic’s delegation, Luis Camilo, said, "These agreements, which establish the regulatory framework for air transportation between the signatory states, translate into immediate and greater air connectivity for our country and a major boost for tourism, investment and international trade.”

This agreement, according to Camilo, will improve air connectivity between Guyana and The Dominican Republic by authorising route rights and the opportunity to commence immediate operations through chartered flights or designated

airlines.

ICAN provides states with a central meeting place to conduct multiple bilateral (regional or plurilateral) air services negotiations or consultations. It offers a forum for the participants to learn about current trends, discuss and exchange experiences, as well as providing excellent networking opportunities. Guyana’s participation at this annual event has allowed it to conclude over 20 air services agreements with various countries in the past years. One of the major objectives of the event is to improve air connectivity among member states.

Seeking Divine intervention during Budget Debate “Oh Lord… Please don’t let them blame this Budget on me. I’m already dead meat!”

Guyana and Brazil were the only two South American countries that participated in the event out of the 67 countries that took part. The next ICAN2017 will take place in Sri Lanka.

And in a related development, Guyana has moved from 44 per cent to 64 per cent compliance with ICAO regulations within seven months. The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority will acquire a new simulator to boost capacity, while the authority strives to achieve category one rating of the ICAO. This will allow Guyana-based airlines to fly non-stop to the United States.

Guyanese soon to sell products/services...

FROM PAGE 2

“Once we get the legal aspect in place, it shouldn't be too difficult – at least, that's what I hope. We saw it happen in Trinidad and Tobago too. PayPal wasn’t there. Then they put the Electronic Transaction Act

in place (and) a few months later, PayPal was fully functioning (both sending/ receiving),” he explained.

Khan noted that these measures will transform the business landscape in Guyana. “It transforms

how we think about money and as an extension, how we act with money.

It also transforms how we make money. With e-commerce laws firmly in place, Guyanese will have a more levelled playing field of op-

portunity – to serve not only Guyana, but the exponentially larger international market. Imagine what that means for the individual who can make $50-$100 US per day from home, part-time. Imagine

what that means for cash flow and spending power.

And what about existing businesses – imagine what that means for them to be able to accept money for their products and services from around the world via

PayPal, Stripe, and other payment processors,” he outlined. According to the young business executive, Guyana will start to experience a new level of economic transformation with a robust e-commerce sector.

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wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

More than 50 Lindeners benefit Flooding halts Christmas from Work Readiness Programme celebrations in Region 2 … Regional Chairman calls for greater support

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egion 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Chairman Renis Morian has hailed the first Phase of the Region's recently-completed Work Readiness Programme, which was organised through the Christian Development Foundation, successful, and is advocating for continued support of the programme.

Forty young men and women from across the Region have already graduated under the first phase, organised by Morian.

Following six months of training, the graduates, who were attached to various agencies across the Region, are now equipped with the necessary skills required for the world of work.

Already, several of them have been offered employment opportunities through the agencies to which they were attached.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony on December 17, Morian explained that the programme was fuelled by the high level of unemployment in the Region, coupled with the fact that employers were always seeking persons with work experience who were amply prepared for the world of work.

Alluding to the genesis of the initiative, the Regional Chairman noted that the Christian Development Foundation started the programme from a discourse of a vision, which eventually led to a plan and the securing of $3.2 million in funding, which was provided by the Office of the President.

Initially, he said the programme was expected to take 40 people through training; however, as some went off to higher levels of

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

learning, others were enlisted. Participants were drawn from Linden, Ituni, Kwakwani and other areas.

"I'm ecstatic at what we would have achieved and I'm looking forward as again we would petition the Office of the President to see Phase Two of this very programme. Having more than 40 young persons participate, and seeing them go on to the University of Guyana, and the Guyana School of Agriculture, for me it's a worthwhile programme and I'm looking forward for funding to do the other phase,” Morian said recently.

He noted that more than 50 participants would have benefited from the programme. He hailed the support of private entities such as Banks DIH, which he said was very gracious in providing stipends for participants and also made a promise to hire one of the two participants who were stationed at the company. He added that the Department of Education has also expressed interest in retaining the two participants who were on train-

By: Indrawattie Natram

ing there. Additionally, Regional Education Officer Marcia Paddy-Andrews is desirous of employing three of the participants, Morian said.

"So, this is catching on, based on the performance of the young people and we're happy with their performance. They have grown from the very first month.

To the end of the programme we've seen significant improvement in their approach to work, etc. While I'm looking for it to continue, the programme can very well evolve into something much larger. With the number of young persons and jobs coming on stream, you want young people to be ready, so who knows what lies ahead in terms of evolution for the programme,” the Regional Chairman said.

Additionally, he explained that if the programme continued with the guarantees that more young people would be hired, then it would all go well, more so since the Region is expected to benefit from a number of developmental activities.

He said, "We're looking to build the road to Lethem.

We're looking to upgrade the airstrip, we're looking to build a multi-purpose centre for young persons, and we’re doing a new building for the RDC. So, we would want some of these young people to be a part of this programme."

Asked whether there was any guarantee that participants in the programme will be hired, the Regional Chairman assured that everyone would be attached to a work agency or institution of higher learning.

T

he Christmas celebrations for residents of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were halted owing to floodwaters flowing into homes.

Christmas morning found many residents draining and bailing water out from their lower flats owing to excessive rainfall and poor drainage and irrigation within the Region.

Despite numerous complaints made by residents of Lima, Hampton Court, Devonshire Castle and Windsor Castle to the Region Two Administration, many houses and rice fields remain inundated with water.

Residents have since become frustrated as they feel that their concerns are treated as irrelevant by authorities as they are losing thousands daily.

Residents of Lima during interviews told this publication that they are very concerned that the Lima outfalls remain clogged.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, who was seen on site, said that he continues to monitor the drainage system and make necessary recommendations to the Regional Executive Officer (REO) and engineers.

Ramdatt said he has visited several areas where pumps and sluices were in-

One pump in operation at Lima, Essequibo Coast

spected. He added that he has observed that several outfalls were clogged.

“Recommendations were made to authorities (including the REO) through numerous emails to have the pontoon and excavators removed from Capoey, moved to Lima then travelled to Hampton Court, then Windsor Castle clearing outfalls, hence assisting in the draining of water from residents’ land,” Ramdatt said. Ramdatt said it was very unfortunate that delays have prevented one day’s work which resulted in more residents being under water. He, however, promised that the findings from his visits would be communicated to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) since the pontoon and two excavators were contracted by the Authority to clear outfalls.

Currently, the sluice at Plantation Andrews is inoperable on account of a door, which became defective some two weeks. This is said to be creating additional pressure on the Westbury sluice.

Visits to the pump stations revealed that fuel continues to be supplied late which is preventing long hours of pumping water from the land.

When asked about the status of the pumps, the Chairman said three of the six pumps needed repairing.

He said at Cozier close to the Pomeroon areas, two pumps are presently working, while at Charity, the pump is not functioning. At Devonshire Castle, one out of two pumps is working. In villages such as Hampton Court, Lima, Anna Regina, Three Friends and Capoey, one pump is working. The pump at Taymouth Manor is also reportedly not working.

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news

wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jealous man severs ex-lover's arm, chops mother P

olice are on the hunt for a former Tapir driver after he severed the hand of a woman who he claimed to have loved and chopped her mother several times.

The incident took

According to reports, the two women and three other family members left their home to go to Corriverton for a Christmas Eve walk.

According to Abdul Ali, he heard screams shortly after his family left the

Amika Udho (Mother)

place on Christmas Eve at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

The injured women have been identified as Bhartie Udho, 23 and her mother Amika Udho, 42, who are both presently hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

house and as he ran out, one of his daughters was rushing home. The suspect, he said, was seen opposite his home.

“I see he going through the street with a cutlass in his hand and then I run and see my wife lie down in blood. She had a chop on her chest and one on her

forehead and I go to pick her up and she say to go and check my daughter.”

According to the man, his daughter was a short distance away with multiple chops and one hand severed. “Was share blood and just the skin holding the hand and she had chap on she finger…” he related.

The suspect has been identified as Shamar Mohamed Ali, also known as ‘Crab Man”. He has since gone into hiding.

Guyana Times understands that the family had secured a restraining order from the court, preventing the suspect from coming within a certain distance of them, after attempts to kidnap the younger daughter.

The father explained that twice in 2012 the man kidnapped his daughter and on both occasions she managed to escape during the night when he was asleep. Similar incidents also occurred in 2013 and 2015.

Following the last incident, the young lady, a teacher, was able to escape and return home; Ali attempted to break into the house to get her. It was then that the family was able to secure the restraining order.

It was reported that the teenager had to give up her teaching job because of the harassment.

Bhartie Udho (Daughter)

The father is of the view that officers at the Skeldon Police Station have done nothing to assist and have not acted on any of the reports made.

“Every time they pick him up and they tell us that we got to go to court, nothing don’t happen. When we go to court no case don’t

Bhartie Udho (Daughter) in the hospital

call and the Police release him. I fed up running to the station…” Ali said in

grief.

The hunt continues for the suspect.

Cozier pump needs servicing – residents

C

Cozier pump

ash crop farmers residing at Cozier in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have vented their concerns over the non-functioning of the Cozier pump that has resulted in widespread flooding on their lands.

According to farmers, the pump has not been serviced in months, and that is now having a negative effect on their livelihood.

More than 120 farmers reside in the area close to the Pomeroon River and cul-

Water levels are rising in Cozier

tivate a large area of rice, plantains, coconuts, fruits and legumes.

According to farmers, the area requires attention and "Bamboo Dam" is in need of a revetment. Farmers have related that the road has eroded; they are prepared to assist with the labour to fix the road if the RDC would provide the mini-excavator and materials.

This newspaper was informed that the contract for the clearing of the Cozier Canal was stopped by the

Water Users Association (WUA). Farmers vented their concern, stating that such actions by the WUA can lead to the canal being clogged up by vegetation.

Farmers said that drainage was a major concern and explained that the canal needed digging, sluices required maintenance, and the pump operations needed frequent monitoring. They have also suggested that a new canal needed to be dug.

(Indrawattie Natram)

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wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Berbice Christmas baby Linden Hospital gifted with 2 Christmas babies defies odds, arrives T four weeks early F our babies were born on Christmas Day at the New Amsterdam Hospital, in the entire Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); two were referrals from the Mibicuri Hospital in Black Bush Polder, and the others from the Port Mourant Hospital.

The first Christmas baby was born to 25-yearold Alexis Beharry of Betsy Ground, East Canje. The baby boy, weighing 2.8kg, was delivered at 05:10h by Midwife Onica Cummings.

Beharry, who gave birth to her third son, was admitted earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Sattywattie Singh 28, of Mibicuri, gave birth to her third child at 08:40h. The 2.5kg boy was delivered by Midwife Rushell Fordyce.

Twenty-nine minutes

Alexis Beharry and her son

he families of two babies born at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) on Christmas Day are elated, given the significance of December 25, when the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

The two adorable bundles of joy are Leal Wilson, a boy, born to 18-year-old Phebe Charles of Wisroc, Wismar, and little Miss Royalty Joaquin , born to 22-year- old Lisa McDonald. Baby Wilson, who weighed 6lbs, 3 ounces made his grand entrance into the world at 17:00h on Sunday, while baby Joaquin, who weighed 8lbs, 6 ounces, was born at 12:26h.

Speaking with Guyana Times from the Maternity Ward of the LHC, both mothers were overjoyed as they shared the experiences behind their successful deliver-

Lisa McDonald and Baby Royalty

Felicia Solomon and her daughter

after, Felicia Solomon of Ulverston Village gave birth to her second child.

Midwife Janis Carmichael made the successful delivery of the 3.4kg baby girl. The happy mother explained that this was her last child, and she now had a boy and a girl.

With an expected due date of January 21, 18-year-old Roshni Dhanilall, of Rose Hall Town, was transferred from the Port Mourant Hospital and gave birth at 12:23h.

Midwife Alexis RossBeaten was elated by the successful delivery, since the baby was considered premature, weighing 1.9kg.

All of the mothers praised the nurses in the maternity ward and delivery room.

Midwife Alexis Ross-Beaten presents Roshni Dhanilall with a gift after her baby arrived early, while Sister Jacqueline George enjoys the moment

Phebe Charles with Baby Leal

ies. Charles explained that several ultrasounds had predicted various delivery dates; however, the very first ultrasound had indicated that she would deliver on December

25. This ultrasound, she noted, gave her a thrilling feeling and placed her in preparation mode for the delivery of a bouncing baby boy, her first child, on Christmas day.

“I started to get excited

as the days started to wind down,” she noted with a smile.

The contractions began around midday on Christmas Eve, Charles explained, while she was deeply engrossed in her holiday shopping, in preparation for delivery the next day. Her labour quickly advanced and she was admitted to the hospital.

“I feel really nice about it,” she told this publication.

McDonald, however, noted that she was not expecting a Christmas Day delivery, according to medical information, she was due to deliver on December 9. She related that when her contractions commenced around 13:00h on Christmas Day, she knew then that her child would be a Christmas baby. This is McDonald’s second child, and although this experience was a painful one, the new mother was happy to have delivered on Christmas Day. Both mothers received baby friendly hampers on Christmas Day, compliments of the Rubigees Pharmacy in Linden.

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guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, deceMber 28, 2016

Regional

Argentina ex-leader Cristina Fernandez Brazil says 19 migrants feared drowned off charged in corruption case

F

ormer Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been charged over corruption allegations.

A federal judge approved charges of illicit association and fraudulent administration against Fernandez. It is alleged that her government steered public contracts to a businessman close to her family.

Fernandez has previously denied any wrongdo-

ing, insisting that the accusations against her are politically motivated.

She has accused current President Mauricio Macri of plotting against her.

In a court appearance in October, Fernandez presented national budget documents as part of her evidence, highlighting that the accounts had been approved by parliamentary bodies and the country's Auditor General.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has accused current President Mauricio Macri of plotting against her

(BBC News)

Venezuela receives more new banknotes, but scarcity persists V

enezuela took delivery on Tuesday of its third load of new, bigger denomination banknotes, its central bank said, but there was no sign of them in circulation yet despite official promises and mounting public anxiety.

"Seven hundred and ten crates of 500-bolivar notes have just arrived from Stockholm," the bank's vice

president, Jose Khan, announced on state television.

They and other new denominations ranging up to 20,000 bolivars are being brought in by President Nicolas Maduro to replace 100-bolivar notes he wants to scrap, claiming they were being used by "mafias" along the border.

But citizens in the street complained they had not

seen any of the new money, despite Maduro's promise that it would be available from December 15.

Maduro's announcement that the 100-bolivar notes would suddenly no longer be legal tender provoked long lines of people trying to change them, and looting and rioting in some areas, resulting in four deaths.

Following the unrest,

the president extended until January 2, 2017, use of the 100-bolivar bills, each of which is worth 15 US cents at the highest official exchange rate.

The 100-bolivar bills represent more than threequarters of the money being used in Venezuela, according to the website Prodavinci.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Funds appeal to fly home critical gunshot victim T

he family of Christopher Tester are trying to raise £90,000 to fly him via air ambulance to the UK for medical treatment. Tester was shot last night at Boxer Shack Beach Bar and Restaurant, his parents’ business in Old Road, Antigua.

Tony Tester, the victim’s father, says the attack on the eatery happened right at the close of business for Christmas Day. The father said his son collapsed on the floor, injured from a bullet that travelled from below Christopher’s left temple and exited through his right eye. There’s fear that Christopher’s brain will swell and create pressure inside the skull, causing fur-

ther damage.

“It’s absolutely imperative that we fly him. We want to fly him back to his home where we know that there is availability (of expertise) to help him,” Tony Tester says, lamenting that Antigua is ill-equipped to handle the type of injury his son has sustained.

“We’re begging to raise some money to pay for the aircraft. We have some funds (fetched) already,” he appeals. Tony says he first visited Antigua in 1982 and later made it his home. He adds that he’s been living permanently here for 13 years and once attempted to move back to the UK but abandoned the idea, settling instead for his home in the Caribbean.

People are being asked

T

and today, was suggested as the effective day. However, according to a press release from the office of the Governor, they chose to hold the ceremony as early as possible.

The new Cabinet consists of Hensley Koeiman as Prime Minister; Kenneth Gijsbertha, the Finance

A

t least 19 Brazilian migrants are feared drowned off The Bahamas as they tried to cross illegally to the United States, officials in Brasilia said Monday.

The group went missing "during a purported crossing by sea from the Bahamas to the United States," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The migrants' families have not heard from them since November 6, the Foreign Ministry said.

"There are about 20 Brazilians (who have gone missing). So far, there is no information about their whereabouts, nor about the vessel that supposedly was going to take them to the United States," the Foreign Ministry added.

Brazilian media reports said there were also dozens of other migrants aboard the boat, which officials suspect

went down while attempting the roughly 50-mile (80-kilometer) crossing between The Bahamas and the Florida coast.

The Brazilian embassy in Nassau, Bahamas and the Brazilian consulate in Miami, Florida, are in contact with family members and authorities to try to locate the missing persons, officials said.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said it was not ruling out the possibility that the migrants could be in prison or missing for other reasons. But silence from everyone in such a large group, known to have been being trafficked into the US, raises many concerns. Several Brazilian media outlets reported that family members of the missing migrants told them their kin paid thousands of dollars to "coyotes," people traffickers who smuggle them into the US.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Health City Cayman Islands completes 500 orthopaedic surgeries

Founded by renowned heart surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, the hospital has quickly established itself as a premier medical facility in the Caribbean

H Christopher Tester, 37, was shot in the head while vacationing in Antigua for Christmas

to donate through a fundraising account at Barclays Bank in name of Mr Tester – Account Number 0-3-09-6-9-1-2 – Sort Code – 20-

60-88 – Reference Code ANU2UKCHRIS. Donors can also call Tony Tester at 268-723-5143. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

New Government takes office in Curaçao he new government in Curaçao, headed by the new Prime Minister Hensley Koeiman of the political party MAN, took the oath of office last Friday at the Governor’s Palace.

There was previously some doubt as to the date on which the new Government

The Bahamas

Minister; Elsa Rozendal is Education Science, Culture and Sport Minister; Zita Jesus-Leito is health, environment and nature Minister; Eugene Rhuggenaath remains Economic of Development Minister; Suzy CameliaRomer also remains as Traffic, Transport and

Spatial Planning Minister; Ornelio Martina is the new Justice Minister; Ruthmilda Larmonie Cecilia comes into the Planning and Service Ministry and Jaime Cordoba becomes Social Minister of Development, Labour and Welfare. (Caribbean News Now)

ealth City Cayman Islands has completed 500 successful orthopaedic surgeries two and a half years after it opened its doors.

“We are proud to have achieved this milestone in such a short period and look forward to embracing new technologies which have completely changed the way surgeries are performed,” said Dr Alwin Almeida, Health City’s Chief Orthopedic Surgeon and Joint Replacement Specialist.

Health City’s Department of Orthopaedics provides both surgical and non-surgical orthopaedic treatments, including joint replacements and reconstruction, deformity corrections and arthroscopic surgeries of the knee and shoulder which are minimally invasive. Health City also employs the latest advancements in medical technology, such as computernavigated robotic-assisted

surgery.

Dr Almeida, who is a member of the American Orthopaedic Association, brings 10 years of experience to his role at Health City. He has performed more than 4,000 orthopaedic surgeries and specializes in joint replacements, sports medicine and arthroscopic surgeries.

“Health City is fast becoming the Caribbean’s first choice for tertiary level care in orthopaedics, due in large part to the level of expertise of our dedicated staff,” said Dr Almeida.

The hospital regularly sees patients from beyond the Cayman Islands – they arrive from the Caribbean, Latin America and North America. Doctors in many Caribbean countries are referring patients to Health City’s specialists, and some governments are looking to replicate the Health City model in their own countries. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

wednesday, december 28, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Carrie Fisher, Star Wars' Princess Leia, dies at 60

C

arrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films and later endured drug addiction and stormy romances with show business heavyweights, died on Tuesday aged 60, her daughter said through a family spokesman.

"It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning," Lourd said in a statement issued by Simon Halls. "She was loved by the world, and she will be missed profoundly."

Fisher's friend and former Star Wars' co-star Mark Hamill said in a tweet: "No words. #Devastated" William Shatner, best known for his role in the television series "Star Trek," said he would miss her. "A

Fisher suffered a heart attack during a flight on Friday from London to Los Angeles

wonderful talent & light has been extinguished."

Fisher, the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher, who

died in 2010, had been in England shooting the third season of the British sitcom "Catastrophe."

She suffered a heart attack during a flight on Friday from London to Los Angeles. She was met by paramedics and rushed to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre.

Her death came a month after the actress and author made headlines by disclosing that she had a threemonth love affair with her "Star Wars" co-star Harrison Ford 40 years ago.

Fisher revealed the secret to People magazine while promoting her new memoir, "The Princess Diarist," just before it went on sale. The book is based on Fisher's diaries from her time working on the first "Star Wars" movie. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

China calls on Vatican to be flexible, pragmatic on ties T

he Vatican should take steps to improve relations with China, the Chinese head of religious affairs said on Tuesday, a week after the Roman Catholic Church said it was hoping for "positive signals" from Beijing.

Pope Francis is trying to heal a decades-old rift with China where Catholics are divided between those loyal to him and those who are members of a governmentcontrolled official church.

One of the obstacles to improving relations is the question of who should be able to appoint senior clergy.

China says bishops must be named by the local Chinese Catholic community and refuses to accept the authority of the pope, whom it sees as the head of a foreign state that has no right to meddle in Beijing's affairs.

Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, was quoted by state news agency Xinhua on Tuesday as saying China "hopes the Vatican takes an even more flexible and pragmatic attitude, and takes actual steps to create beneficial conditions for improving relations."

The Vatican said last week it was "certain that all Catholics in China are waiting with trepidation for positive signals that would help them have trust in dialogue between civil authorities and the Holy See and hope for a future of unity and harmony."

The two sides have been at loggerheads since the expulsion of foreign missionaries from China after the Communists took power in 1949, and the Vatican's continued maintenance of official ties with self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by Beijing as its own. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia finds main black box from Black Sea crashed jet

R

ussia has found the main flight recorder from a military plane that crashed into the Black Sea killing all 92 on board, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday, amid unconfirmed reports that authorities had grounded all aircraft of the same type.

The recorder, one of several reported to be on board, contains information that could help investigators identify the cause of Sunday's crash, which killed dozens of Red Army Choir singers and dancers en route to Syria to entertain Russian troops in the run-up to the New Year.

Investigators have so far said that pilot error or a technical fault, rather than terrorism, are most likely to have caused the Defence Ministry's Tupolev-154 to

15

Around the World

Romanian President rejects nomination of Muslim woman for PM

R

omania’s President has rejected a proposal by the leftist party that won elections this month to appoint the country’s first female and first Muslim Prime Minister.

Klaus Iohannis gave no reasons for rejecting the nomination of Sevil Shhaideh, put forward by the Social Democrats (PSD), but there was speculation that it may have been due to her Syrian husband’s background.

“I have properly anal-

ysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal,” the President said in a televised statement. “I call on the PSD coalition to make another proposal.” The PSD won 45 per cent of the vote on December 11. Its leader, Liviu Dragnea, withdrew his own bid to become Prime Minister because he is serving a two-year suspended sentence for fraud in a previous election.

Shhaideh’s political experience is limited, hav-

ing served as Development Minister for just five months before the previous PSD-led Government resigned in late 2015. This and her personal closeness to Dragnea – he was a witness at her wedding – stoked opposition accusations that she would merely be his puppet. Shhaideh’s Muslim faith is not thought to have been a problem for Iohannis.

Instead, the focus may have been on her Syrian husband, whom she married in 2011.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

Mozambique's Opposition agrees to 7-day truce after call with President

M

ozambique's Renamo Opposition party will cease all military operations against Government forces for the next seven days to allow the public to enjoy New Year festivities, its leader Afonso Dhlakama said on Tuesday. Rights groups estimate that dozens of people have been killed this year in tit-for-tat attacks between Renamo fighters and the ruling Frelimo Government.

Renamo and Frelimo fought on opposing sides in a civil war from 1976 to 1992 in which a million people died.

Mozambique is on the verge of developing huge offshore gas reserves which could transform one of the world's poorest countries into a middle-

Mozambique's Opposition RENAMO presidential candidate Afonso Dhlakama shows an ink dyed finger after voting in the country's presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections in Maputo

income state. Competition to control this newfound wealth could stir unrest, analysts say.

Mediated peace talks collapsed earlier this month but Dhlakama said that he was willing to continue to dialogue with Nyusi following Monday's productive telephone call.

Nyusi told reporters on Monday that he was "encouraged" by the conversation with Dhlakama and he described the provisional ceasefire as a "sign of hope for the whole country". Renamo has retained a militia since the end of the war and violence has intensified since Frelimo won a disputed election in 2014. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Toxic liquor kills 39 on Christmas Day in Punjab

A

t least 39 people, most of them Christians celebrating Christmas, have died and dozens have fallen ill after drinking toxic alcohol in Pakistan, according to officials.

Police in eastern Punjab province took all alcohol sellers in the district of Toba Tek Singh, the site of the incident, into custody for questioning, Muhammad Shahbaz, a local police official, told DPA news agency.

The brew was consumed during festive celebrations

in a Christian community, Shabaz said. Five Muslims were also among the dead.

Many of the victims had been drinking and dancing throughout Sunday and into Monday morning, when some of them fell ill and were taken to hospital, he said.

More 150 people were taken to clinics, dozens of them unconscious. Funerals have been held for 25 victims, Shabaz said. Shabaz said that the individual who allegedly arranged for the alcohol at the Christmas festivities was

among the dead, complicating Police efforts to trace where the toxic beverage came from.

Usaman Akram Gondal, who is with the Toba Tek Singh Police, said deaths from toxic alcoholic drinks regularly occur in rural areas where people often consume poor quality liquor.

Deaths from tainted liquor, often home-brewed, occur periodically in Muslimmajority Pakistan, often around religious festivals.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Japanese PM Abe in Hawaii for landmark Pearl Harbor visit

J

Flowers are laid next to a portrait of Yelizaveta Glinka on the shore of the Black Sea in Sochi (BBC News)

crash into the sea.

The black box, which was found by a remote-controlled underwater vehicle at a depth of around 55 feet (17 metres) and one mile (1600 metres) from the resort of Sochi, has been sent to a Defence Ministry facil-

ity in Moscow for analysis.

"The casing holding the flight recorder is in a satisfactory condition," the ministry said in a statement. "After it is technically cleaned in distilled water we will start transcribing it.".

(Excerpt from Reuters)

apanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited several memorials in Hawaii, ahead of a visit to Pearl Harbour, the US naval base attacked by the Japanese in 1941.

Abe will be accompanied by US President Barack Obama, making the visit the first by the leaders of both countries since the attack.

Abe will pray for the dead but will not issue an apology, his aides said.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour killed 2300

US servicemen and propelled the US into World War Two. After landing, the Japanese prime minister first headed to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and laid a wreath.

He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near central Honolulu, a memorial to those who died. All eight battleships at the base were damaged and four were sunk.

But the key US aircraft carriers were at sea at the time.

On Tuesday, Abe and Obama will pray for the dead

at the site of the attack after holding a summit meeting in Hawaii, their last before Obama steps down in January.

Abe's visit, three weeks after the 75th anniversary of the attack, follows a visit earlier this year to Hiroshima by Obama. He became the first serving US president to visit the Japanese city, where about 150,000 people are believed to have been killed in 1945 by a US atomic bomb.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

wednesDAY, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 families President, First welcome newborns Lady visit Christmas for Christmas Day babies

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

APNU/AFC promised the Good Life, but Guyana is now poised to regress into backwardness

A

President David Granger giving this mother a special coin bearing the 50th Independence Anniversary commemoration logo

P

Jason and Venita Narine with their Christmas baby

T

he Narine and Sukhu families of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are rejoicing after they received Christmas babies.

Both families expressed their excitement and gratitude to the Almighty for giving them babies for the season. According to one of the mothers, Anita Sukhu, she did not expect a Christmas baby and she thanked God for her safe delivery. She delivered her second child on Christmas Day at around 14:30h and was very elated having delivered a bouncing baby girl.

Meanwhile, Jason and Venita Narine were overjoyed about their Christmas baby. Both parents were smiling throughout the interview. This is their second

child as well. Additionally, Sherine Richards also from the Essequibo Coast, welcomed a baby boy for the season. (Indrawattie Natram)

Anita Suhku from Queenstown and her Christmas baby

resident David Granger on Sunday morning visited the Maternity Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital and interacted with mothers and their babies born on Christmas Day. The President, who was accompanied by First Lady Sandra Granger, distributed hampers to the mothers

and their new babies and gifts to the nursing staff. Up to the time of the President and First Lady’s visit, the Hospital had welcomed five Christmas Day babies. The First Couple stopped to admire each infant in the ward and spoke with each mother in the ward, who proudly shared this special moment of their lives.

President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger take a moment to admire this Christmas baby who is sleeping peacefully

Small Business Bureau provides support to Guyana’s 1st Pet Grooming Service

P

awsome Pets” is the name Luanna Pierre decided to use to represent her business, the first professional Pet Grooming Service in Guyana.

Pierre worked at an animal clinic and saw many animals being neglected in terms of grooming; and as such, this became an initiative she decided to foster.

She started doing grooming part-time, whilst she studied at the University of Guyana from 2011-2015.

Her greatest achievement was finishing her Bachelors of Sciences Degrees in Agriculture. With the additional knowledge, she opted to work at the Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA), but reconsidered after the urge to become an entrepreneur became greater.

Being an entrepreneur has always been a passion as she was exposed to the environment at a tender age, with her mother being a seamstress.

Even though there are many pet shops and dog ser-

vices available in Guyana, Pierre’s business thrives on being the only grooming parlour and salon that takes care of your pets as though they are children.

Grooming pets requires a lot of patience and for Pierre, service is very much personalised with the “your dogs are my children” motto.

She enjoys bathing, grooming and demonstrating her humorous side by creating quirky outfits to dress the animals to their

owner’s desires.

With care and patience, she grooms approximately five animals per day, andher clientele is gradually increasing.

Additionally, Pawsome Pets created jobs for two other UG students and a recent high school graduate.

Her business venture was primarily funded by a loan she facilitated by the Small Business Bureau Credit Guarantee Programme with Republic

Bank Limited (RBL).

With the Bureau’s support, Pierre was also able to attend four days of technical training at an International Pet Grooming Expo in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. At this forum, she interacted with professional groomers and attended training sessions where she gained first-hand experience and knowledge regarding best practice in the care of pets.

s 2016 grinds to an end, Guyana is poised to regress backwards.

2015 provided a signal, but 2016 has confirmed that we made a horrific mistake replacing the PPP with the APNU/AFC. The trajectory of economic and social development which Guyana experienced between 1992 and 2015 has dramatically Dr Leslie Ramsammy stagnated. Budget 2017 eloquently admitted that Guyana faces a dismal future. Bharat Jagdeo warned that Guyana is plunging into economic stagnation and Christopher Ram cautioned that Budget 2017 portents a disaster.

Unfortunately, the private sector, trade unions and other civil society groups agree.

Frighteningly, APNU/AFC seems eerily infatuated with the authoritarian practices of the Burnham-led People's National Congress (PNC) government between 1968 and 1992. APNU/ AFC is not just clueless in moving Guyana on a trajectory of continued economic and social development, but is determined to reintroduce dictatorship in Guyana. They have ruled with an iron fist and total disrespect for our constitution.

For instance, they have wilfully arrogated responsibilities that the constitution has assigned to other people.

When the APNU/AFC instructed the GPHC Board to fire their CEO, or when they summarily terminated the appointment of Carvil Duncan as a member of various constitutional commissions, they abrogated the constitution.

When APNU/AFC threatens to garnish people's bank account and continues Cabinet's decision-making for procurement, it abrogates the law. These are, however, the tip of the iceberg, as there are too many instances of abrogation of the constitution and people's freedom.

The PPP recorded economic growth of 3.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent in 19 of its 22 budgets, and since 2006 recorded nine straight years of economic growth. There were only three budgets in 23 years in which economic growth was not achieved and in each of those instances natural disasters were the driving force. There were, for example, the El Nino droughts of 1996/1997 and the famous La Nina flood of 2005.

Between 1992 and 2015, Guyana's GDP increased from about $US300 per capita in 1992, one of the worst in the world, to about $US3800 by the end of 2014, more than 12 times what it was in 1992. Guyana progressed from a low-income to a middle-income country.

The upwards trajectory under the PPP has come to a sudden and grinding halt. Now even the APNU/AFC have conceded that economic growth has slowed considerably, dropping to 2.6 per cent, significantly below the 4.4 per cent APNU/AFC had projected. The prospects for economic growth in 2017, particularly with the foolish decision to close several sugar estates and the downgrading of rice, appear dismal. Their threat to garnish peoples’ bank accounts is not only undemocratic, it is foolishly anti-business. Far from forcing compliance, people will find ways to migrate money out of the local banking system. In 2016 alone APNU/AFC announced 200 new tax measures. People now are taxed for going to the toilets as water and toilet paper are taxed. Even Internet use is taxed.

The social development programmes have already begun to show strains. For instance, under the PPP the immunisation programme expanded and increased. From about six vaccines in the routine immunisation programme, the PPP expanded the program by providing 15 different vaccines for children.

In addition, the vaccination programme expanded, moving from 40 per cent to 60 per cent coverage in 1992, to 100 per cent coverage by 2008. With less than 70 per cent vaccination coverage at the end of October, we will struggle to even reach 90 per cent by the end of 2016. This dismal failure is an indictment of the APNU/AFC for abandoning our children who are now majorly at risk for diseases such as mumps and polio, which Guyana brilliantly eliminated for more than a decade now.

The PPP was far from perfect, but it moved Guyana in an upward trajectory of economic and social progress. The naysayers might sing songs of denial, but cannot dispute progress in education, health, housing, sanitation and standard of living. Facts speak for themselves. People live longer, poverty has been dented, hunger has been virtually eliminated, more people own homes, cars, telephones and computers, there are more high school, college and tertiary education graduates and our infrastructure has improved leaps and bounds. These achievements under the PPP are now at risk. We suspected this in 2015, but 2016 now confirms Guyana is poised to regress. Unfortunately, 2017 might well speed our regression into backwardness.

Send comments to doc_ram@hotmail.com

17

news

Parking meters to take full effect from January 23

wednesday, december 28, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

UN emergency fund authorises US$3.5M for restoring education services in Haiti

W

hile the installation of parking meters throughout the capital city recently commenced, with the setting up of the first unit on Regent Street outside City Hall, officials say the machines will take full effect on January 23, 2017.

This is according to Smart City Solutions (SCS) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kit Nascimento who relayed to Guyana Timesthat the meters would commence operation on January 9, for informational purposes only.

This means that no payments will be taken at the meters until January 23, when regular fees will be collected from those utilising parking spaces in the city.

The period from January 9-23 will be used to educate the public on the proper usage of the parking meters.

The Managing Director of SCS, Amir Oren calls this the “introductory period” where the public will be taught how to use the machines.

Currently, the units have been installed mainly on Regent Street, Avenue of the Republic and at a few other locations.

The implementation of these meters is to be divided into two phases. The first phase of the parking meter project will see the delineation of 3237 parking spaces throughout Georgetown,

Town Clerk Royston King; Managing Directors of Smart City Solutions, Amir Oren and Simon Moshevilli and other City Hall representatives at the launch of the meters

utilising 157 parking meters.

The meters, intended to regulate parking, will be situated along Quamina Street, Water Street, Hadfield Street, Camp Street, Church Street, North Road, Robb Street, Regent Street, Charlotte Street, South Road, Croal Street, Brickdam, Avenue of the Republic, Wellington Street and King Street.

A fee of $50 plus Value Added Tax (VAT) will be charged for every 15 minutes of parking along the streets of Georgetown.

This will also be mandatory for public transportation, until preparations are made for alternative parking spaces.

The revenue obtained from the machines, according to Town Clerk Royston King, in a recent meeting with the media, is to be rein-

vested into the development of the country.

He said: “Funds garnered from the initiative will be re-invested to upgrade roads and similar facilities, including the development of cycling lanes and also to introduce, install and operate the city transit system, particularly for senior citizens and children.”

The parking meters will be operational from 07:00h to 19:00h Monday to Saturday. Parking is free any time before 07:00h and after 19:00h, on Sundays and holidays.

All seems to be running smoothly even as the Opposition, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) strongly objected to the initiative, even calling for it to be recalled.

George Michael death: Family touched by tributes

G

eorge Michael's family has been "touched beyond words" by an "outpouring of love" for the late star, his publicist has said.

Fans have been gathering outside the singer's London and Oxfordshire homes following his death on Christmas Day. Amid the tributes, tales of his philanthropy have emerged – including how he funded a couple's IVF treatment.

The 53-year-old's publicist thanked "those who, rightly, have chosen to celebrate his life and legacy."

Michael secretly paid £15,000 for a stranger's IVF treatment, former Deal or No Deal producer Richard Osman revealed.

Osman, who now co-presents Pointless, tweeted: "A woman on 'Deal Or No Deal' told us she needed £15k for IVF treatment.

"George Michael secretly phoned the next day and gave her the £15k."

There was "no more fitting tribute than the many, many kind words that have been said", Michael's publicist said.

Other stories of the star's benevolence, including a £50,000 Sport Relief donation, have emerged on social

George Michael

media.

In a string of tweets celebrating the singer's music and humour, comedian and author David Walliams said the star had supported his 2006 cross-Channel swim to the tune of £50,000.

The woman who received IVF treatment was later named as Lynette Gillard, 38, from Bolton, whose partner Steve Davies had appeared on Deal or No Deal in 2008.

She told the Telegraph: "For many years I wondered who would have been so generous and now I know. What more can I say other than 'Thank you George'."

At the time, Davies

had told the Manchester Evening News: "Thank you is not enough. It restores your faith in humankind.

"All the bad news you read about and then something like this happens."

Michael's donations ranged in scope from major charities and appeals to individual acts of kindness.

The proceeds from sales of “Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me”, his 1991 live duet with Sir Elton John, were donated to HIV and children's charities, including the Terence Higgins Trust.

Wham! royalties from Last Christmas went to Ethiopian famine relief efforts, while the founder of the children's helpline charity Childline, Dame Esther Rantzen, said Michael had donated royalties from the song “Jesus to a Child” to the cause.

"He really wanted to keep his help secret, it was an intensely personal gift," Dame Esther told BBC News.

"It meant we could answer more children."

She said Michael, who donated about £2 million to Childline over the years, "completely understood" the importance of helping children. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Boys play football in the yard of the school in Les Cayes, Department du Sud, Haiti, which is being used as a living space or shelter for several hundred people who have lost their homes to Hurricane Matthew

T

he United Nations (UN) fund aimed at rapid humanitarian response for people affected by natural disasters and armed conflict has approved US$3.5 million for restoring safe education services for schools and other relief activities in storm-hit South-west Haiti.

According to the situation report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the disbursement from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will also cover protection assistance to most vulnerable people evicted from temporary shelters and support to an estimated 30,000 people in areas of return.

While the Caribbean island nation recovers from the massive de-

struction wrought by Hurricane Matthew nearly three months ago, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners have identified 1633 schools in need of repairs, affecting approximately 190,000 children, according to the report.

With the funding, the UNICEF-led education project will be implemented in the municipalities of Les Cayes, Port Salut, and Jeremie, among others. The project will target some 16,000 children between age six and 18, who have been excluded from school as a result of damages caused by the Hurricane.

In the storm’s wake, schools served as temporary shelters for evacuees, UNICEF said. Schools in these municipalities are now being vacated and will provide the minimum re-

quired conditions for the resumption of teaching and learning activities.

Children will also benefit from protection assistance and receive school kits, while schools are cleaned, refurbished and basic WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) facilities are rehabilitated.

In Haiti’s Sud region, UNICEF worked with partners to ensure that 30 schools, previously used as shelters, now have adequate sanitation for their reopening.

As of November, 62 per cent of the Flash Appeal – the international community’s effort to adequately help the Haitian Government meet the critical needs of its people – has been funded. The gap remains at US$52.5 million, according to OCHA. (UN News Centre)

Man killed in horse race at viral party A

man was killed at a girl's birthday party in Mexico attended by thousands after her parents' video invitation to "everyone" went viral on social media.

The man died after stepping into the path of a galloping horse during a race in honour of the girl's 15th birthday.

Local media said the 66-year-old owned one of the horses taking part in the amateur race.

About 1.3 million people earlier vowed to attend the party, which also featured local bands and food.

In a video message recorded earlier this month, Crescencio Ibarra announced that he would be organising a 15th birthday party for his daughter Rubi on December 26 in La Joya community, cen-

tral Mexico.

"Hello, how are you? We invite you this 26 December to the 15th birthday party of our daughter, Rubi Ibarra Garcia," Ibarra said while standing next to Rubi and his wife Anaelda Garcia.

He then went on to announce that the winner of the horse race to be held as part of the event would win 10,000 pesos (US$490; £390).

One of those drawn by the invite, and the horse race in particular, was Felix Pena of the local Coyotes Negros (Black Coyotes) stables.

Pena told local broadcaster Hora Zero that he was entering his horse, Oso Dormido (Sleeping Bear), in the race and that he expected it to win.

"I'm not doing it for the

[prize] money, I'm doing it for the fame and the glory."

In a video taken of the race he can be seen rolling in the dust kicked up by the horses and then lying unconscious on the ground.

Emergency workers said he died on the way to hospital.

It is not clear why Pena, who regularly raced horses, stepped into the path of the galloping animals.

Some bystanders said he may have misjudged the distance as he tried to cheer on Oso Dormido.

Another person who also stepped into the path of the horses broke a leg.

Police said apart from the accident during the horse race, the party went off peacefully. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, december 28, 2016

ARCHIE

A diplomatic, conservative approach to partners, peers (March 21- and employers is encouraged.

April 19) Self-improvement will bring better results than criticizing others. Choose love and peace over discord.

ARIES

Where is the money? It’s TAURUS heading your way, and as long (April 20- as you put it somewhere safe, May 20) you’ll be ahead of the game.

Get together with friends or relatives.

dilbert

Don’t get caught up in GEMINI someone else’s melodrama.

(May 21June 20) Separate the truth from fiction, and make alterations to your life that will benefit you in the new year.

If you share your thoughts and plans for the upcoming (June 21- year, you will get valuable July 22) feedback that will help shape the way you move forward. A cultural event will be enlightening.

CANCER

Peanuts

An opportunity will take you by surprise. Whether you are making personal or professional changes, the future will unfold in your favor. Romance is encouraged and will promote a closer bond with someone special.

Join in the fun. Whether VIRGO it’s a networking function or (Aug. 23- a little festive entertainment Sept. 22) with your peers, the interactions you have will lead to a promising new beginning.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Say less and do more. If LIBRA you take action and make (Sept. 23things happen, you’ll feel hapOct. 23) pier about your future. Don’t wait for change to come to you when you can go after it with gusto.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Attending a gathering SCORPIO with people from your past (Oct. 24will remind you of old dreams Nov. 22) and skills you haven’t used in a long time. Explore the possibilities and revitalize old pursuits.

A lifestyle shift must be SAGITTARIUS made for the right reason.

(Nov. 23- Double-check your motives Dec. 21) and others’ expectations of you before you do something.

A commitment can be made.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Accept inevitable changCAPRICORN es and move forward without (Dec. 22looking back. Let your intuJan. 19) ition lead to a better future.

Trust in yourself, not in what others tell you. Make healthy choices.

Secure your place in the AQUARIUS world. Consider what you’ve (Jan. 20done and what you still want Feb. 19) to accomplish. With a little ingenuity and discipline, you can start putting your plans in motion.

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

PISCES An interesting profession(Feb. 20- al opportunity is within your March 20) reach. Consider the possibilities and what it would mean for your future standard of living.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, DECember 28, 2016

19

Rain plays spoil-sport after Azhar ton A

century from Azhar Ali and staunch support by Asad Shafiq frustrated Australia’s bowlers but rain was a sickener for both sides on day two of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Showers truncated the morning session and then reemerged shortly after 5 pm to prevent any further play, meaning at least 78 scheduled overs were lost over the first two days. The inclement weather cut into the time available to Pakistan to force the result they need to stand a chance of winning the series.

In between the rain breaks, Azhar and Shafiq showed good composure to work through the early spells of the Australian pacemen then rotating the strike when Nathan Lyon’s spin was introduced. After Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed perished to the second new ball, Mohammad Amir played some handsome strokes while Azhar forged on with impressive determination to push the score to 6 for 310 at stumps.

Azhar’s hundred was his 12th in Tests, a brilliant exercise in restraint and patience to keep Australia in the field.

The hosts looked a little less than their best in what was their fourth consecutive day in the field, when also including Pakistan’s narrowly failed chase of 490 to win the first Test of the series in Brisbane.

SCOREBOARD

Stumps - Day 2 Pakistan 1st innings

To bat: Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Sohail Khan

Sami Aslam c Smith b Lyon 9 Azhar Ali not out 139 Babar Azam c Smith b Hazlewood 23 Younis Khan b Bird 21 Misbah-ul-Haq* c Maddinson b Bird 11 Asad Shafiq c Smith b Bird 50 Sarfraz Ahmed† c Renshaw b Hazlewood 10 Mohammad Amir not out 28

Fall of wickets 1-18 (Sami Aslam, 11.3 ov), 2-60 (Babar Azam, 25.6 ov), 3-111 (Younis Khan, 42.1 ov), 4-125 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 46.5 ov), 5-240 (Asad Shafiq, 87.6 ov), 6-268 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 94.5 ov)

Extras (b-4, lb-9, w-5, nb-1) 19 Total (6 wickets; 101.2 overs) 310

Bowling: MA Starc 23.2-6-77-0 (w-1), JR Hazlewood 26-11-33-2, JM Bird 29-5-91-3 (nb-1), NM Lyon 17-1-69-1, SPD Smith 3-0-9-0, NJ Maddinson 3-0-18-0

Azhar Ali celebrates his hundred, while Steven Smith applauds in the background

In their search for a wicket, the Australians wasted a referral when Jackson Bird appealed for caught behind against Shafiq, before replays showed that ball was nowhere near bat.

Later in the same over, Shafiq drove Bird down the ground and the bowler touched the ball before it hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Azhar quickly turned to regain his ground in time, before there was brief pandemonium at the ground when the third umpire flashed an OUT decision on the MCG’s big screen.

This mistaken verdict was quickly rescinded, and following some light rain the batsmen resumed their occupation in the final few overs before lunch. Steven Smith tried himself and also Nic Maddinson in this brief period, and with a deft leg-side deflection off the latter Azhar made it to three-

figures before the rain returned.

There was no further play before 3.30pm local time, and with Smith immediately taking the second new ball conditions became more challenging for the visiting batsmen.

Shafiq was undone for 50 by an excellent away swinger from Bird, and Sarfraz also edged the moving ball, inching Josh Hazlewood further towards his 100th Test wicket in the process.

However, Amir ended Australian hopes of rolling up the tail, playing his shots with aplomb and adding 42 in quick time with the enduring Azhar. Pakistan have manoeuvred themselves into a strong position in this match, but the return of the rain lessened the meaning of that advantage.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Liverpool ease to 2nd after beating Stoke 4-1 L

iverpool closed the gap on Premier Peter Crouch around.

League leaders Chelsea to six and Joe Allen Defensive errors contributed to Stoke’s points and moved to second in the instrumental downfall. The visitors ceded possession too league after maintaining their unbeaten for the Potters. easily in their own half for Liverpool’s third home record with a convincing victory C r o u c h , and Ryan Shawcross’ clumsy pass back to over Stoke. starting for the goalkeeper Lee Grant allowed Sturridge a Jon Walters headed home at his near first time since clear run through for a goal the striker depost, highlighting the home team’s vulAugust, held scribed as a “gift”. nerability in defence, to give Stoke an the ball up well Having recovered from a terrible start early lead. while the ti- to the season, Stoke now find themselves in But Liverpool responded positivegerish Allen another sticky run, though there is a sevenly after a disjointed start, with Adam played like a point cushion between them and the relegaLallana and Roberto Firmino scoring beman eager to tion zone. fore the break as the hosts took the lead. prove a point In a busy festive period, Liverpool host Jurgen Klopp’s men made sure of the to the club that Manchester City on New Year’s Eve before win, which moves them one point ahead sold him to kicking off at Sunderland only 46 hours latof third-placed Manchester City - whom Stoke for £13m er. Stoke travel to Stamford Bridge on New they play on New Year’s Eve - when in the sum- Year’s Eve to take on league leaders Chelsea Giannelli Imbula directed Divock Origi’s mer.

Indeed, and then host Watford on 3 January. (BBC Sport) cross into his own net.

Adding gloss to the scoreline was Daniel Sturridge, who scored his first Walters’ goal was only the third league goal Stoke have scored at Anfield league goal of the season - and Liverpool’s in 40 years 100th under manager Klopp.

Once the impressive Lallana equalised, There was a period in the first half when sweeping home from an acute angle after the Welshman could Liverpool looked exposed. Simon Mignolet, Glen Johnson failed to clear the danger inside have doubled the visitagain preferred in goal to Loris Karius as his six-yard box, Liverpool were completely ing team’s advantage Klopp stuck to the team which started the dominant. but instead forced a fine derby win against Everton, should have saved And there was a sense of inevitability save from Mignolet.

Walters’ close-range header.

Stoke sought to conwhen Firmino, allowed to turn unchallenged It was a mistake which will once again in the box, scored - his low shot bouncing in off tain their opponents open up the debate over who should be the the far and then near post. by attacking them and manager’s first-choice goalkeeper. But, in atAs has been the case for the majority of it was a ploy which tack, the Reds were as quick, incisive and de- this season, Sadio Mane and James Milner worked until Liverpool structive as they have been throughout the were key cogs, with the latter’s tireless runs levelled and Mark season.

Hughes’ men suddendown the left flank giving Stoke an extra worLiverpool have now scored 86 league goals ry. ly found themselves in 2016 - their most in a calendar year since Stoke, now winless in four league games, penned inside their own 1985 - and they ended the match having made caused Liverpool’s defence a number of prob- half as the hosts confi- Adam Lallana has been directly involved in eight league goals in a total of 20 shots, six of which were on target. lems in the first half, with former players dently sprayed the ball seven games at Anfield this season (four goals and four assists)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesday, DECember 28, 2016

South Africa v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Port Elizabeth, 2nd day

South Africa surge ahead on seamers' day

V

ernon Philander and Kyle Abbott led South Africa's fightback after they were bowled out for 286 early on day two, giving Sri Lanka no respite as they went to stumps seven down for 181. Dhananjaya de Silva was batting on 43 when bad light brought play to an early close, playing some sparkling strokes through the on side and profiting from an ageing ball that wasn't moving nearly as much as it had done all the way up to tea.

But South Africa had inflicted plenty of damage by then, generating swing and seam movement off a greenish pitch that was now pockmarked by indentations made by the ball's repeated impact.

Abbott and Philander exploited this to the fullest by consistently hitting a fullish length in the channel outside off. Only Suranga Lakmal - who completed his maiden five-wicket haul in the morning session - had managed this among Sri Lanka's frontline seamers.

There were few freebies for Sri Lanka's batsmen: by stumps, only 41.98% of their runs had come through the leg side, despite a spike after tea when the wristy de Silva flicked balls off his stumps and Kagiso Rabada fed Rangana Herath a succession of deliveries directed down the leg side. South Africa's batsmen, in contrast, had scored 59.09% of their runs in that half of the field.

Seam movement did for Kaushal Silva in the ninth over after lunch, after he had ground out 16 in just under two hours at the crease. Stretching out and following what appeared to be a full outswinger from Philander, he ended up playing a long way outside the line as the ball nipped back in and hit him flush on the front pad, in front of off stump. Silva and Mathews, both taking guard on off stump, had added 39 for the fourth wicket, keeping South Africa out for 13.5 uneasy overs after Sri Lanka had been reduced to

SCOREBOARD South Africa 1st innings SC Cook c †Chandimal b Lakmal 59 D Elgar c †Chandimal b Lakmal 45 HM Amla c †Chandimal b Lakmal 20 JP Duminy lbw b Herath 63 F du Plessis* c Karunaratne b Lakmal 37 T Bavuma lbw b Herath 3 Q de Kock† b Pradeep 37 VD Philander c Chameera b Prad eep 13 KA Maharaj c †Chandimal b Lakmal 0 KJ Abbott run out (Perera/†Chandimal)0 K Rabada not out 0 Extras (lb-3, w-1, nb-5) 9 Total (all out; 98.5 overs; 434 mins) 286 Fall of wickets 1-104 (Cook, 35.3 ov), 2-105 (Elgar, 39.2 ov), 3-178 (Amla, 59.5 ov), 4-213 (Duminy, 70.6 ov), 5-225 (Bavuma, 74.5 ov), 6-253 (du Plessis, 83.6 ov), 7-276 (Philander, 94.4 ov), 8-276 (Maharaj, 95.3 ov), 9-281 (Abbott, 96.2 ov), 10-286 (de Kock, 98.5 ov) Bowling: RAS Lakmal 27-9-635,N Pradeep 21.5-5-66-2 (nb2), AD Mathews 13-5-26- 0 (w1), PVD Chameera 14-1-68-0

W

est Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers was among a select group of former players honoured by the Barbados Cricket Association at a special ceremony on Wednesday here.

The incomparable allrounder, who celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this year, was given the award as a member of the 1966 team which played in the first-ever Shell Shield Tournament 50 years ago which marked the start of the modern era of the WICB first-class championship.

Among the guests present were members of the current Barbados and West

(nb-3), HMRKB Herath 20-4-482, DM de Silva 3-0-12-0 Sri Lanka 1st innings FDM Karunaratne b Abbott 5 JK Silva lbw b Philander 16 MDKJ Perera c †de Kock b Philander 7 BKG Mendis c †de Kock b Abbott 0 AD Mathews* c Elgar b Rabada 39 LD Chandimal† lbw b Philander 28 DM de Silva not out 43 HMRKB Herath lbw b Maharaj 24 PVD Chameera not out 7 Extras (lb-4, w-5, nb-3) 12 Total (7 wickets; 57 overs) 181 To bat: RAS Lakmal, N Pradeep Fall of wickets 1-10 (Karunaratne, 3.2 ov), 2-19 (Perera, 6.2 ov), 3-22 (Mendis, 7.6 ov), 4-61 (Silva, 21.5 ov), 5-94 (Mathews, 31.1 ov), 6-121 (Chandimal, 41.3 ov), 7-157 (Herath, 50.1 ov) Bowling: VD Philander 16-735-3 (nb-2), KJ Abbott 18-3-492,K Rabada 13-3-63-1 (nb-1, w-1), KA Maharaj 10-3-30-1

Indies teams.

Barbados won the inaugural Shell Shield tournament early in 1966, a few months before the island gained political independence from Britain on November 30.

In that season’s tournament, Barbados played four matches and won three, with the other interrupted by rain. Receiving the awards at the BCA’s annual Christmas lunch at Kensington Oval were former West Indies players, fast bowlers Charlie Griffith and Richard Edwards; wicketkeeper David Allan; batsmen Seymour Nurse, Peter Lashley and Robin Bynoe;

22 for 3. wickets came from Mathews had left well in the avoidable shots, but they short period he spent at the crease were also the result of the before lunch, but was getting in- lines and lengths Abbott creasingly drawn into drives away and Philander bowled, which from his body, his front foot not magnified the smallest erreally getting too far forward or ror. Dimuth Karunaratne vious over, Philander h a d across. It brought him two crisp- drove away from his body, and gloved another pull, only for ly timed boundaries through cov- Abbott found a bit of inward moveDinesh Chandimal, diving to his er, but also an ugly play-and-miss ment to find his inside edge into left behind the wicket, to drop a when Philander floated one fuller the stumps. Then Kusal Perera, sharp chance. and wider. lucky not to have edged a flatChandimal, who had taken Having been on the shorter side footed swipe at Abbott in the prethree catches on day one, soon got through his first spell, Rabada be- vious over, slashed at Philander another opportunity as Lakmal gan bowling fuller when he came and nicked behind. Ten balls latproduced the perfect fourthback in the second half of the post- er, Kusal Mendis looked to drive stump outswinger to find Keshav lunch session, and persisted with that length even after Dinesh Chandimal had driven him to the cover point b o u n d a r y .

Reward arrived soon enough, as Mathews poked at one that left him, playing a long way outside his body, and edged to third slip.

Rabada could have had another in his next over, when Chandimal nicked an awayswinger to the Vernon Philander appeals for lbw against Dinesh Chandimal right of Quinton de Kock, only for Maharaj's edge. A dive to the right, the keeper to spill the low, diving Abbott on the up, failing to account in front of first slip, gave Lakmal chance. for late away movement, and Sri his best Test figures.

It wasn't too costly a miss. Lanka were 22 for 3.

Then came a moment of madChandimal only added 11 to his In just eight overs, Abbott and ness from Quinton de Kock, who, score before Philander had him Philander had transformed the desperate to stay on strike, called lbw with an in-cutter that had ini- mood of the Test match. Till then Abbott for a non-existent sectially seemed set to shape away in Sri Lanka had been the happier ond run before sending him back, the air. Herath, putting everything team, by far, having taken only giving him no chance of beating into his pulls and swipes through 8.5 overs to wrap up South Africa's Kusal Perera's throw from deep the leg side, added 36 for the sev- lower order, sending them crashpoint to the keeper. Pradeep then enth wicket before becoming the ing from 267 for 6 to 286 all out. ended South Africa's innings in 9999th batsman out lbw in Test It only took Sri Lanka only 4.4 the most emphatic manner, going cricket. Missing an ambitious re- overs to get their first wicket of around the wicket and bowling de verse-sweep, he gave his fellow the day, Nuwan Pradeep's shortKock with an inswinging yorker. left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj ball barrage inducing a top-edged (Cricinfo) his first wicket of the day. pull from Philander, caught at The first three Sri Lankan deep square leg. In Pradeep's pre-

Sir Garry, Shell Shield Champs honoured

Some members of the 1966 Barbados Cricket team (from left) Rawle Brancker, Richard ProffEdwards, Arthur Bethell, David Allen, Robin Bynoe, Marva Holford (wife of David Holford), Sir Garfield Sobers, Charlie Griffith and Peter Lashley

all-rounders Tony Howard and David Holford, as well as other team-mates.

“It is great to be hon-

oured by the BCA and by your country,” said Sir Garfield. “This team from back in 1966 was a great

team. We were following on from the great work started by the Three Ws – Worrell, Weekes and Walcott – so we

had a great legacy to carryon.

“We had a few youngsters in the team so everyone was really excited and did a great job.”

Noel Lynch, chief executive officer of the BCA, said: “It’s always great to have the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers with us at the home of cricket in Barbados and we are delighted to honor him and his great team.

“They were fantastic, winning the first ever Shell Shield back in 1966, and today – 50 years later – we continue to salute them for what they did for Barbados and the great game of cricket.” (Barbados Today)

21

sports

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uyana Jaguars skipper and West Indies player, Leon Johnson is among three nominees for the cricketer of the year accolade when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) hosts its Annual Award Ceremony for 2016 on Thursday at the Umana Yana, starting at 19:00h.

Johnson led the way with the bat for the Jaguars in the 2015-16 edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/ Professional Cricket League (PCL) as his team claimed the title. He also played in the West Indies Test team up to their most recent match but his performance was not as good as it was at the Regional level or anywhere close.

Devendra Bishoo and Vishaul Singh are the other two shortlisted to cop the award. Bishoo had good performances at the Test level recently with his career best figures of 8-49 against Pakistan which also allowed him his first 10 wicket match haul at the international level being the highlight of it all.

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Jaguars skipper Johnson among 3 for GCB top award

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Jamaican gymnasts seek central training location

he Jamaica Gymnastics Association is looking for a home in the new year after rental facilities for the training of those in its national setup became too expensive.

The national team would normally train at Shin Nishida's Nishida gymn, but have been forced to train at their respective clubs to save money.

According to the JAGA's president, Nicole Grant, the organisation is part of the way, in terms of putting together a national training centre.

“We have bought a gymnasium from China. It’s now at the wharf, but right now we need assistance in terms of funding to actually build it, because we have the land and we have the actual gym, but we just need funding to pay the engineer to set up and build a base.

We are hoping to build a five-foot wall base as well as the flooring and all that,” said Grant.

Jamaica enjoyed having its first gymnast at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this year. Since then the sport has earned more visibility in the island and it was the hope that the increased attention would translate into improvements locally.

There has been some progress, according to Grant.

We were very blessed to have our Olympian Toni-Ann and the rest of our local and overseas-based senior gymnasts come together and host the first annual gymnastics summer camp for our beginners to advance gymnasts. We were also able to show our appreciation to the many persons and affiliates who have contributed to the growth of gymnastics in Jamaica,” she said.

Even more progress was achieved when 22 members of the National Junior Development team went to the Caribbean Fest in Ashburn, Virginia.

According to Grant, more can be achieved once the national programme has a base.

(Sportsmax) Toni-Ann Williams

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesday, december 28, 2016

New Era/ Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal Tournament…

Hustlers dethrone Magic Stars in gripping contest

By Romario Samaroo

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ew champions were crowned as the curtains came down on the New Era Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal tournament on the McKenzie Sports Club Hard Court on Boxing night.

Following the semifinal action on Friday, crowd favourites, Hustlers booked their finals berth with defending champions, Magic Stars and together they gave fans more than their money’s worth. On the damp closing night, both the final and third place playoff games entered extra time, emulating the high profile competition the tournament has

Magic Stars’ Captain Jermaine Grandison (green shirt) receives his second place prize

produced over the past weeks.

In the finals, Hustlers drew first blood which brought the capacity crowd into an uproar with Jermain “Brown Boy” Scotland rocketing the first goal past the Magic Stars’ goal keeper in the game’s opening minute which set the pace for the rest of the game.

“Brown Boy” returned to work his way past the entire Magic Stars’ defense line two minutes l a t e r .

By the fourth

minute, Magic Stars were facing down the barrel with a 3-0 deficit with Sean Brewley registered his first for the night. But veteran Kennard Tyrill was not going to let his team head down the same direction as they did in the first half of their semi final contest as he produced an excellent left footer that caught the Hustler’s goal keeper slumbering in the 5th. Rawl Gittens would equalize the game with back to back goals in the 8th and 9th while Keon Sears brought the crowd to the edge of their seats with a goal in 10th that sent the defending champs into the lead.

Steffon Tappin extended the lead in the 12th with a beauty from the half way line as the two Hustlers’ defenders were drawn out strategically by some entertaining one touch passes. One of the leading goal scorers of the competition, Donovan Francis ensured Hustlers did not slip too far behind, squeezing his side’s 4th goal in the 14th minute followed by the equalizer in the 17th.

However, Joel McKinnon closed off the first half with the defending champions looking as if they were going to make it consecutive titles with the sixth goal in the 19th, ending the first half on 6-5.

In the second half of the finals, the weather which had held up for most off the night seemed to have the intention of dampening the spirits of the hundreds of futsal lovers in Linden but no one moved as they braved the drizzles and afterwards, heavy showers as the game continued.

“Brown Boy” was determined to lead his men to the title with two more goals in quick succession (22nd and 26th) while Jermain Grandison got into the action scoring twice as well (31st and 34th) before Deon “Crab” Charter ensured the game would go into extra time when he equalized with the 8th goal for Hustlers in the 39’ which sent the MSC tarmac into an uproar. And Hustlers had lost the grip on a game they should have won a long time ago.

In extra time, the two halves of five minutes could not separate the teams as thy both sent in three goals each ending playing time 11-11 and the championship had to be decided from the penalty spot. “Brown Boy”, Francis and Charter scored in the 43rd, 44th and 49th respectively for Hustlers while Tyrill (41st and 46th) and Sears (50th) were the scorers for the defending champions, sending the game into a penalty shootout.

Grandison took to the spot for the first shot and missed the entire goal as Magic Stars supporters could see the ti-

tle slipping out of their grip, however, the smiles soon returned when “Brown Boy” missed as well. It was Francis, Brewley and Kwame Holder to secure the three penalties which saw Hustlers lifting the title and gyrating to Dwayne Bravo’s song ‘Champion.’

After the competition, “Brown Boy” was adjudged the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) collecting a pair of turf sneakers for his efforts. Hustlers, who are sponsored by Dave and Celena’s Furniture Store won the $400,000 cash prize while last year’s winners Magic Stars had to settle for the $150,000 second place prize.

Meanwhile, in the third place playoffs, the competitive nature of the matches were as high as ever as that game too, entered extra time but a “Shark-attack” brought down the Empire.

Colwyn Drakes, the man in form scored seven of Empire’s eight goals as the team was missing the core of their team. Drakes

Clarence “Shark” Huggins (striped shirt) receives his Most Goals Prize

had put Empire on the scoreboard in the second minute as Good Fellas seemed to have come out with the wrong footwear, missing a number of shots they would usually take with their eyes closed. Mark McLean found the equalizer in the 8th, however, Drakes would score again in the 9th and 10th to put his side 3-1 before Deshawn Joseph, already with 10 goals in the tournament sent one

whisp a s t Empire goal

tling t h e

keeper two minutes later while Clarence “Shark” Huggins opened his account in the 14th. Drakes scored his fourth of the night in the 17th while Trenton Lashley ended the first half with the fifth goal for Empire in the 19th as the contest stood 5-3.

The interval seemed to have worked for Good fellas who found their footing as “Shark” took control of the contest, capitalizing on a lazy pass to shake the back of the net in the 22nd. Drakes would then short live the celebrations as he looked to single handedly carry Empire on his shoulders to the third place prize, scoring back to back goals in the 26th and 27th, denting the hopes of Good Fellas who seemed to have been unsettled.

Huggins, on the other hand looked to be on a next level as he sneaked under the radar of the Empire’s defence, stealing a goal in the 31st to set the score 7-5. Drakes will then score his seventh goal of the night in the 38’ which looked like Empire would cruise to the victory 8-5. But Joseph and Omeion Wills scored three inside the last minute of play to stun Empire and propel the match into extra time.

In extra time, it was Huggins who was the star of the show with four goals (41st, 42nd, 46th and 48th), Joseph (41st) and Wills (46th) with one more goal each that sealed the match 14-8 as Empire crumbled under the pressure of a 50-minute game.

Huggins was awarded the prize for scoring the most goals in the tournament and collected $20,000 and a trophy while his side earned the third place prize of $75,000.

Huggins, who was the MVP last year said “it was a privilege to come and perform for his home team and actually lead them this far, though it was disappointing to not make it to the finals, it was a good experience and next year we are definitely coming for the title.”

Speaking on behalf of the organizers, New Era Entertainment directors, Kenrick Noel, Andrew Major and Shareef Major all extended thanks to the sponsors of the tournament, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Cell Smart, Bakewell, Ansa McAl under the Mackeson brand, Bumper to Bumper Services, Dave and Celena’s, Sankars Auto Works, Tony’s Auto Spares and the fans who turned out in their numbers.

Buxton Youth Developers outstanding at GLTA final youth event W

hen the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) recently hosted its final youth event for the year at the Transport and Harbours Sports Club it was Ricky Romascindo of St. Gabriels Primary School who copped the top honour in the boys division.

From a group of 23 boys and after 12 rounds of round robin matches followed by two semifinals and a final it was Ramascindo, who emerged as the ‘best boy’ on show.

The runner-up position went to Maxim Leacock of St. Paul's Primary while closing off the top four were Kemo Prince of Buxton Youth Developers and Wade Beckles of Marian Academy.

Ngina Garnett was the top girl at the end of competition while Maliyah Rambarran from New Guyana School finished as the runner-up.

Buxton Youth Developers was named as the best school for their participation and performance during the programme.

The event manifested after GLTA Executives engaged Transport and Harbour Manager

Charles Greaves about tennis programme. He was enthusiastic about starting grassroots tennis programmes for juniors and adults since court is not of proper length The Christmas Mini Tennis Red Ball Competition was conducted by National Junior Coordinator Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan.

At Closing, Chair of Junior Mini Tennis Grace McCalman expressed thanks to National Coordinator Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan for a well-executed competition and to the parents for getting their children involved in tennis.

Robin Phillips who is the sports director of the Buxton’s Youth Developers also came in for high praises for travelling so far to participate in the first tennis competition for the group.

President of GLTA Jamal Goodluck also congratulated Greaves for sharing the vision of the GLTA to expand tennis and for his commitment to partnering with the GLTA in developing tennis at his facility.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, december 28, 2016

Dottin taken to hospital after collision W

est Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin has been taken to hospital over a suspected concussion.

She was playing for Brisbane Heat against Melbourne Stars in the Women's Big Bash League at Allan Border field when she collided head first with team-mate Laura Harris on the boundary.

Her x-rays - to check for any cheekbone damage - and tests will be reviewed by the doctors and the next course of action subsequently decided by Wednesday, according to a report on the Cricket Australia site. The West Indies Cricket Board Twitter handle later said Dottin was out of the hospital but fractured her cheek bone and would "most likely" require surgery, which could be done later in the week in Brisbane*.

The site reported that the incident happened in the 11th over of the chase, when Meg Lanning hit seamer Haidee Birkett over midwicket. Dottin and Harris were the fielders in the vicinity and, while trying to prevent the ball from crossing the boundary, they crashed into each other.

Dottin seemed to land awkwardly on a kit bag and was stretchered off the field by the medical staff. Harris was thrown into the picket fence, but she felt well enough to remain at the ground until the end of the match, which Heat won by five runs.

This incident came a day after Heat's Holly Ferling suffered a concussion from her head striking hard into the turf while trying to take a catch. She was not able to play Tuesday's game as a result. (ESPNcricinfo)

Russell’s black bat cleared for use A fter modifications to his black bat, Andre Russell can resume using it for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.

Sydney Thunder allrounder Andre Russell can resume using his black bat after slight modifications.

Russell's bat was banned after the opening game of the Big Bash League (BBL) season, with the Thunder suffering a nine-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers.

Players are permitted to use coloured bats in the BBL, subject to Cricket Australia's approval.

While Russell's bat was initially banned, modifications led to that being reversed on Tuesday.

"Following feedback from the match officials that the bat used by Andre in the opening night of the season left black marks on the match ball, Andre has worked with his bat manufacturer to modify the bat,"

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h e a d of BBL Anthony Everard

said.

"A clear laminate cover has been applied to the bat which complies with regulations to ensure the ball discolouration does not occur again.

"We're now satisfied that the bat will not compromise the integrity of

the game by discolouring the match ball and we have granted approval for Andre to use the bat in any future BBL matches."

The Thunder have lost their opening two games of the season and face the Brisbane Heat in Sydney on Wednesday. (SportsMax)

Soca Warriors Captain still unnamed ahead of Gold Cup attempt

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ays before two friendlies against Nicaragua in preparation for a Gold Cup qualification bid, Trinidad and Tobago head coach, Tom Saintfiet, is yet to name a skipper.

According to the Belgian, naming the captain is not as important as getting every player to take responsibility for the performance of the team.

A captain will be named just prior to the first match in Managua on December 27 though.

"I have had some thoughts about it but I didn’t make the final decision yet. To be honest I don’t think it’s is always that important who is the captain for me," said Saintfiet.

"I like that the whole team takes the responsibility of a captain. They know it’s an honour for a player to be captain of a national team and for a player to play for the national team just like it is an honour to coach a national team, but I want all my players to work as a captain, and to be proud for their country and take on that duty.”

Saintfiet famously sacked Trinidad and Tobago long-time captain, Kenwyne Jones, saying the former Premier League attacker, was not in his plans because of the style of play he wanted to use against Nicaragua and in a three-team playoff with Haiti and Suriname early next year.

Saintfiet has said, however, that the door was not closed on Jones.

The winner of the three-team playoff will then take on the fifth place finishers of the Copa Centroamericana for a place at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. (Sportsmax)

Haiti end 2016 as Caribbean’s best football side −Guyana placed at 133

E

ven though Trinidad and Tobago are the only Caribbean team still in Haitian fans celebrating their nation’s footballing success the hunt for a berth at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and Jamaica are in the semi-final of the Caribbean Cup, Haiti are the best team in the region.

Haiti, after falling four places to 73, are the highest-ranked Caribbean team in the world.

The Haitians closest rivals are Jamaica, who are ranked 77 in the World.

Following closely on the heels of Jamaica, are Trinidad and Tobago, ranked 78.

Interestingly, St Kitts and Nevis have maintained their fourth-place ranking in Caribbean Football Union, with their closest rivals being Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua have fallen like a stone in the rankings, dropping 11 spaces, to sit at 93 at year's end.

To find the next best placed Caribbean side, one has to go all the way to 133 on the FIFA list, where you can find Guyana, who have improved three places.

Barbados, who will be heading into the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship as a replacement for the embattled Guatemala, are ranked 155 when it comes to the more orthodox form of the game, just ahead of Grenada, 158, and Aruba, 160.

Rounding out the top 10 Caribbean sides is St Lucia, who are ranked at 177. (Sportsmax)

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

New Era/ Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal Tournament…

Pg 22

Hustlers dethrone Magic Stars in gripping contest Jermain “Brown Boy” Scotland collects the first place prize from Director of New Era Entertainment, Andrew Major

Pg 23

Dottin taken to hospital after collision Deandra Dottin is stretchered off the field after colliding with a team-mate

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