Guyana Times Daily

PM to allegedly vet Chronicle's headlines

...censorship in line with creeping party paramountcy

The spotlight continues to be on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; this time with regards to the Office of the Prime Minister reportedly ‘taking control’ of the State owned Guyana Chronicle Newspaper.

These accusations come less than 24 hours after he expressed his ‘disappointment’ with the news agency for its headline “Gov’t blunders on Budget Estimates… violates laws assented to by President Granger” on August 25, 2015. Nagamootoo then expostulated that the Chronicle was the "government's newspaper" and not the "state's". This is line with the PNC's old doctrine of "party paramountcy" enunciated by the PM Forbes Burnham in his "Declaration of Sophia" in 1974.

According to reports, instructions have been passed to General Manager of the Guyana Chronicle, Michael Gordon, that all headlines must be approved by the Director of Public Information in the Prime Minister’s Office, Imran Khan. This must be done before the paper goes to press.

However, a senior staff at the said newspaper told GuyanaTimes on Wednesday evening that this ‘was not true’.

In fact, another senior official at the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper told this publication that he was not aware of such instruc-

tions to anyone in his organisation.

While he admitted that this could have occurred in his absence from the newsroom he highly doubts that the reports are true.

GuyanaTimes was further told that Imran Khan did visit the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper but that the nature of his presence there had nothing to do with passing such instructions.

“From what I do know, Imran Khan was at the Chronicle Newspaper, yes. But I see that he (Khan) is saying that his visit there was of a financial nature. He is saying that he came to discuss finances,” the source revealed.

Meanwhile attempts to contact Khan for a comment on Wednesday afternoon/ evening proved futile as calls to his cellular phone went to voicemail.

It must be noted that if such a decision has been made by the Office of the Prime Minister to have authority over the headlines of the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper then this would contradict the stance which the APNU+AFC had took prior to being in office.

In fact, the APNU+AFC when it was in Opposition, before May 11,2015 had come down upon the PPP/C administration accusing the then government of controlling what the State media produces daily.

Prime Minister

Nagamootoo, who is also responsible for the information sector, on Tuesday evening, maintained that it he does not interfere with editorials.

Concerning the issue of the headline which displeased him, the Prime Minister stated that he did neither called the Editor of the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper nor did he speak with anyone there with regards to ‘what happened.’

He lamented that he was “very disappointed” with the headline in question because he did not think that it was an ‘objective’ one. It was further stated by the Prime Minister that the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper is a ‘government paper’ and that it has to have a balanced interpretation of the sum total of all of the events.

“I would expect for a paper that it has a point of view that supports a govt perspective…At no point have I questioned the right of an editor to set a headline or to judge the article on the basis of what the editors feel is the standard to judge this article, I have not done that…It is a government newspaper, it is a fully supported, established company of the state so one would expect it to mirror the views of the government, not the ruling party…” added the Prime Minister.

In response to the media when asked if he expected the “government newspaper” to ‘tow’ the line, Prime Minister Nagamootoo simply stated “I can’t answer that.”

Govt paralysis on LCDS

$18B earned in danger of being returned to Norway

$18 billion in revenues (US$90M) earned through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is at risk to be returned to the Government of Norway should the projects to which they were allocated be cancelled because of the new government's refusal to commit to their execution.

The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) signed between the Governments of Guyana and Norway in 2009 saw US$250 million provisionally transferred to Guyana for promoting the development of a sustainable, green economy through the preservation of our rainforest.

To date, Guyana has earned US$190 million releases in several tranches in the World Bank, designated trustee. An additional US$40 million was slated to be released some five days before the May 11 2015 regional and national Elections, but were withheld by Norway pending the election results.

However, although the previous administration had signaled its interest in pursuing an extension of the Agreement beyond its contractual end date of June 2015, the current Government is yet to pronounce on this decision.

This newspaper was informed that during the visit to Guyana on August 17, of a Norwegian delegation comprising of Ms Marianne Johansen and Per Fredrik Pharo, at the Ministry of State, the status of the Guyana Norway Agreement was raised. The meeting included Government Ministers such as Hon. Ministers Joseph Harmon, Winston Jordan, Raphael Trotman and Sydney Allicock, as well as officials from several Government agencies and stakeholders from the civil society.

Members of civil society present at the meeting informed this newspaper that the Norwegian representatives expressed their interest in extending the partnership, but were not yet engaged on the matter by

the Government of Guyana. They also indicated the possibility of unused LCDS revenues returning to Norway since funds cannot be deflected from the green, sustainable projects to which they were allocated.

The two largest projects in terms of funding are the Amaila Hydro Electric Project (AHEP) which was allotted US$80 million under the LCDS and the Amerindian Land Titling Project (ALT) which received US$10.8 million. However, while the Amaila Hydro Electric Project has been abandoned by the Granger administration, the Amerindian Land Titling Project has been halted since June 2015. Together alone, these projects represent almost half of the US$190 million earned to date.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his budget presentation, related the Government’s commitment to the promotion of a “green and sustainable economy.” However, no reference was made to the LCDS initiative.

Vice President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock on Monday told the Guyana Times that Government is currently engaged in discussions regarding the future of the LCDS and the projects initiated under it.

With respect to the Amaila Project, Allicock said that Government is explor-

ing other options for renewable energy.

“I think the plan needs to be revised so that we can come up with a better use for the money for the same power for the nation. It will affect all of us. Pollution doesn’t only cater for a few, if it is polluting, it is polluting. All of us will be affected, so all of us have to stay on board of it,” the minister told He informed too that Government was also seeking to engage former President Bharrat Jagdeo under whose tenure, the project was crafted.

In November 2009, former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the former Minister of the Environment and International Development of Norway, Hon. Erik Solheim, signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement represents the first international commitment of financial support to the LCDS and was the first partnership of its kind between a developed and developing country. The Guyanese LCDS was vaunted as a model for countries seeking to balance their thrust for growth in a world of fast depleting hydrocarbon fuels and global warming.

The payments by Norway are made based on performance reported by Guyana in the Annual Progress Reports.

Due to several constraints, one being the previous Opposition’s continuous efforts to block development, Guyana did not meet all the targets and as such, did not qualify to receive the full US$250.

Jagdeo, during his presentation at the Budget Debates on Friday, underscored the importance of the LCDS and the impact on the country’s economy as he urged the new Government to keep the initiative alive. Should the LCDS fail, then the fight for a green economy would be perceived in the future as a Guyanese rhetoric in any other attempt at investing in areas of climate change, the former President related.

Vice President and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock

thursday, august 27, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, August 27 – 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, August 28 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, August 27 – 14:25h-15:55h and Friday, August 28 – 15:20h-16:50h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, with sunny weather in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

High Tide: 02:17h and 14:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.50 metres and 2.52 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:20h and 20:43h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.68 metres respectively.

Pensioners “duped” by new Govt

$300 per month equals real increase in Old Age Pension – PPP/C

The Opposition and the Government on Wednesday clashed over the funds estimated for the Old Age Pension and Public Assistance with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) contending through figures proffered that there was a major shortfall in the funds allocated for pensioners and the vulnerable population of Guyana.

During the consideration of the Budget Estimates, former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill contended that while the David Granger Administration would have announced an increase in Old Age Pension from $13,125 to $17,000, sufficient provision has not been made for such disbursement. In effect, the announced increase was not actually funded and was, therefore, not real.

In 2015, $8.085 billion was allocated for the provision of Old Age Pension and Social Assistance when compared to $7.895 billion, a mere increase of $189.8 million. Edghill, in addressing the matter in the Committee of Supply, demanded an explanation for the major shortfall, noting that if a mistake was made, the Government must admit and make the relevant corrections to the

Budget Estimates.

Minutes after the matter was raised by Edghill in the Committee of Supply, the PPP/C issued a statement calling on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration to provide a proper explanation on the inadequate budgetary allocation for the proposed increase in Old Age Pension.

The PPP/C pointed out that “in 2014, the PPP/C Administration spent $7,895,554,000 to benefit approximately 43,500 pensioners and almost 10,000 persons on Public Assistance. However, in 2015 the Granger Administration, with its announced increases in Old Age Pension to $17,000, has only allocated $8,085,442,000, approximately $190 million increase over 2014, to finance this increase for the period September to December 2015.”

The Opposition is maintaining that approximately $675 million would be required: some $485 million more than what was budgeted for in 2015. “A simple crunching of the numbers will show that based on the increased sums allocated in the 2015 Budget, Old Age

Pensioners in real terms will only benefit from a $300 increase monthly. This most recent act of deception by the Granger Administration is a flagrant betrayal of Guyana, more particularly our senior citizens,” the political Opposition added, noting too that the APNU/AFC promises on the campaign trail were purely to hoodwink Guyanese into voting for the

the Finance Ministry where some $2.7 billion was allocated for “Pension Increases”. However, this was refuted by Edghill who explained to the Committee of Supply and the press that the money allotted for “Pension Increases” will cater for the pension of Government Workers and not Old Age Pensioners.

But after seeking further

coalition.

In supporting the statement of the PPP/C, Edghill told the press that the 2015 Budget presented by the Finance Minister Winston Jordan is riddled with flaws, an issue the Opposition has pointed out since the commencement of the consideration of the Budget Estimates on Monday.

“We have been making the point that this Budget is flawed, it is filled with flaws and every time we point it out...we are met with arrogance,” Edghill told the press.

In responding to the concerns raised by the former Junior Finance Minister and by extension the PPP/C, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence said the increases in Old Age Pension would be catered for under

clarification, Lawrence explained to the Committee of Supply, that approximately $2.8 billion has been budgeted for 42,397 Old Age Pensioners for the period of four months from September to December.

An additional $243 million was set aside for Public Assistance of which some 9361 persons were expected to benefit, while some $30 million was budgeted for single parents. It was also pointed out that some $4.8 billion was used from the period January to August 2015 for the disbursement of Old Age Pension. He made it clear that the Government’s decision to remove the subsidies for water and electricity for the pensioners also impacted the final $300 figure.

Teenager remanded to prison for possession of cocaine – granted bail for possession of cannabis and smoking

Eighteen-year-old

Kevin Beckles of Anna Regina squatting area in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was on Tuesday before the court for several narcotic charges.

He made his appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court. He was charged for the

Sparta

Fpossession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, the possession of narcotics and the smoking of cannabis. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

It is alleged that on August 21, during a Police patrol, Beckles was found with four grams of cocaine in his possession. He was also found with two grams of

cannabis and smoking cannabis by the Police.

For the possession of narcotic for the purpose of trafficking charge, he was refused bail. He was unrepresented by legal counsel and Magistrate Scarce asked him to give a special reason why he should be granted bail. The defendant then said, “Police beat meh

up and I ga get bail”. For the smoking of cannabis charge, he was granted $20,000 bail and for possession of cannabis, he was granted $10,000 bail. The defendant has previous matters pending in court. He has to return to court on September 9, for the commencement of trial for the three matters.

taxi driver charged with wounding

ifty-year-old Thage Persaud Rambarran of Venezuela who currently resides at Lot 1 Sparta village on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) was charged for wounding. Rambarran made his first appearance before

Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

He was charged for the wounding of Ragoonauth Parassam aka Ramo. The injury was a cut to his finger.

Rambarran was unrepresented by legal counsel

and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that he was a taxi driver by profession and had no previous convictions.

It is alleged on Sunday August 23 at Lima Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, Rambarran unlawfully and maliciously wounded Parassam.

He was, however, placed on $30,000 bail on condition that he lodged his passport with the court pending trial of the case. The matter was adjourned to September 1 for trial.

Former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill scrutinising the figures presented in the Budget Estimates for Old Age Pension during the Committee of Supply

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence responding to the barrage of questions posed by the former Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill

Editor (Ag): Michael Younge

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Creeping Party Paramountcy

Now that the Government has completed its first 100 days in office, it may be opportune to look for possible trends in the new governance style promised by the APNU/AFC coalition during the campaign. The coalition did not leave this matter to chance, but spelled out its goals rather specifically in its Manifesto and the Cummingsburg Accord, which became an addendum.

One of the most noteworthy features was the promise of “inclusionary governance”. The Government to be formed after the election would include civil society members and even “members of the PPP”. Against the backdrop of prior cries of “exclusion and marginalisation”, this was a welcome promise and in fact, played a pivotal role in the Coalition eking out its razor thin majority. Unfortunately, the appointments to Governmental office was governed by the old imperative of “jobs for the boys”. In fact, reputable voices in the society, not aligned to the PPP, which can be assumed to be selfinterested, pointed out the even more exclusive pool from which the new appointees were drawn - middle aged African Guyanese men. After this faux pas, the Government promised a review of appointments at the levels of Boards, but the Ministerial ones remain in their skewed state.

Another promise took its cue from the centralized, authoritarian nature of presidential power as adumbrated in the constitution even though there was some severe bi-partisan pruning in 2000. The powers of the Executive were going to be divvied up between the President and his Prime Minister, in a manner stated quite explicitly in the Cummingsburg Accord. This promised curtailment of presidential powers was also very persuasive to voters. The Accord stated that: “The Prime Minister shall have responsibility for: Domestic Affairs and Chairing the Cabinet; Recommending Ministerial appointments and providing the organizational structures of Ministries for the approval of the President; Appointing Heads of Agencies and non- constitutional commissions, subject to the required and agreed democratic mechanisms of consultation and appointment and Domestic Security.

Not even one of these powers was devolved to the Prime Minister, without any explanation to the Guyanese people save to claim that the “PM will chair Cabinet Meetings when the President was absent”. To date, there has been no record of the Prime Minister chairing any Cabinet meeting even though the President has set a very high bar when it comes to foreign travel, necessitating the PM filling in for him.

What these two chasms between the promise and the reality in terms of governance styles indicate is that the early expressed fears of an authoritarian, top-down leadership style appears quite prescient. Executive powers are still heavily centralized in the person of the president and is tightly deployed by a coterie of ex-military “advisors” or Ministers. It would appear that Moses Nagamootoo, the AFC nominated PM, has accepted the status quo where he has only been granted oversight over the Government media, which the Coalition had promised to open up. He has chosen not to exercise the procedures outlined in the Accord to rectify variances from the stipulated reallocation of power and has instead been very busy, ensuring that the appurtenances of his office are secured.

Of recent there has been an even more worrying development in the trajectory of governance style. Evidently taking its cue from former President Forbes Burnham, for whom the constitution was customized, the Executive in the person of the Prime Minister who represents the President in Parliament, has recently proclaimed one of the central tenets of Burnham’s “party paramountcy”. Vehemently objecting to a headline in the state-owned paper the Daily Chronicle, Nagamootoo flatly said that it was “the Government’s paper”. Over the past three months, the record is now replete with other instances where exclusion rather than inclusion is the trend. None were more blatant when 1972 Amerindian Community Service Officers (CSO’s) were summarily dismissed. It is not too late for the Government to abandon the drive towards party paramountcy.

GPL made progress notwithstanding challenges

Dear Editor,

Overview:

I write this letter to put another side, (my side, which the public might have been expecting) on the dissensions at the top of GPL, which were being disclosed and discussed in the media.

Great Tensions and dissensions have always been in play in the provision of our electricity. They may even be inevitable in our circumstances. What I think is most important however, and what we should keep in focus before us as we chew on all these disclosures and furor is the great improvement that has been brought about in our electricity utility It has progressed greatly since 1992, when it provided electricity an unpredictable 60 per cent of the time to 75,000 customers, to today when it supplies electricity about 95 per cent of the time to 175,000 customers!

Great tensions have always been present at our electricity utility

There have always been great tensions and dissensions at the top of our electricity utility, amongst and between Senior and Executive Managers, the Board ,the Minister and the Cabinet, caused in my judgment by, the historical insufficiency in capital equipment and all the resources required; the high expectations inclusive of low costs and pricing which could not be met in our situation(prices In neighboring Trinidad, Suriname and Venezuela could not be matched: they have their natural advantage that we do not yet have); the high non- technical or commercial losses ,reduced presently but still high at about 16 per cent which indicates that about one in six of our customers has arranged by one way or the other to pay little or nothing for the elec-

tricity he has consumed; and the many instances of obvious failings, shortcoming and misdemeanours of utility employees at all levels. It can all be confounding, confusing and frustrating!

There have always been tensions between Chairman and Board on the one hand and CEO and Management on the other, as each pressed from its own position and view for the best performance of the utility. Robin Singh as CEO before and after the period of privatisation of GEC/ GPL was not reluctant to assert that subsidies and subventions to GPL were not subsides to the company GPL itself, nor to its employees, but to the customers, the public at large. Additionally the onus was on the Government as owner, to provide the equity investment for sustaining and progressing the utility. Such assertions through true would have jarred us at times.

My review of the board’s 2014 appraisal of the CEO Towards the end of 2014 the Board did come to me with the failing grade assessment of the CEO Bharat Dindyal. I conceded to the Board that there was nothing factual which I could fault in their assessment but with the projects almost completed at that time, let’s look back and see where things could realistically have been done differently and better.

In my judgment the overrun in cost and time of the two major projects were indicative primarily of the limitations of our envisaging and projections at the start of the projects. There had not been in my view, any wasting of money nor time: if we had the knowledge and experience we now have, the projections would have been closer to how things turned out.

With respect to the transmission upgrade project, it

had been specified in the bidding document that the winning bidder would review and refine our original broad specifications and put recommendations for enhancement. The contractor had put proposals for enhancement entailing a cost increase from just over US$ 30 million to about US$40 million which were considered by the GPL Board and Management, recommended to and approved by Cabinet. We received value more then commensurate with the increased expenditure.

With respect to the Vreeden-Hoop generating station, when we arrived at the decision to have the power station built, we wanted and needed to have it built in a hurry .The first estimates and projections to start the project moving were based on best judgment before soil testing and detailed foundation design. As it turned out the soil conditions at Vreed-en-Hoop were much more demanding than what we had found at Kingston. With delays growing, owing to the slow delivery of the longer wooden piles required, Wärtsilä was asked about substituting concrete piles for wooden piles. Wärtsilä replied that the whole foundation would need to be redesigned. There could be no substituting of wooden piles with concrete piles.

Concerning the adverse comparisons of outsourced and in house performance, these comparisons are seldom “on all fours.” We would need to give some thought to the causes of the differences.

I acknowledged the frustration all around as each side sought to better the overall performance of GPL. Such attempts however often exacerbated the dissensions. I recalled a year or two earlier that the Board called on the CEO and Management to return with a budget in which GPL would have in place all the equipment and

other resources such that the Management would have no excuses and could be held to attaining the performance standards set. That budget however when presented could not be funded and Management was required to return with a fundable budget which was much like the first.

Time for parting It was clear that the relationship between the CEO and the Board was beyond mending: an orderly separation was to be contemplated. I set a period of six months to one year for a separation, both sides considering and developing options within the first six months which would be implemented anytime during the second six months, hopefully at a time of mutual convenience.

The CEO’s compension package It may be recalled that on the privatisation of GPL in late 1999, the core investing partner required that the top five posts of GPL be filled with their appointees so as to put their face on the company. Messrs Robin Singh and Bharat Dindyal the numbers one and two at GEC/GPL were let go and had to find their way as best they could. When the core partner walked away from GPL about four years later (the partnership foundered on the non realisation of the rapid reduction in nontechnical/commercial looses, the reduction of which was key in the financial sustainability of the business model), we called on Messrs Singh and Dindyal then heading electricity utilities in small islands in the Caribbean, to drop whatever they were doing. We committed to fully compensating them, matching and even bettering whatever they were then receiving as foreign North American Nationals.

continue on page 5

Students of the Cove and John Hindu College donned their uniforms to visit the school just days before the official reopening of school

(Carl Croker photo)

Ramjattan must go

Dear Editor,

I join the many Guyanese in their exasperation at the crime situation in Guyana and the inability of Minister Ramjattan to engage in proper policies to address this societal plague.

His initiatives so far are on the verge of ridiculous considering the current needs of our country. While sniffer dogs are important for tracking narcotics, how do they ensure our security on the streets in Georgetown where wearing jewelry is an invitation for being mugged? How do police on horsebacks ensure the safety of a Geetangali who is robbed, beaten and gagged in the night a few houses away from Ramjattan? They don’t, for they are no match for the much necessary technological innovation of which our police officers are in dire need.

How does imposing a 2 am curfew prevent drunken drivers from extracting lives on the road? It doesn’t. It simply encourages compensation for business through illicit underground activities. If Ramjattan really believes that alcohol is a cause of our crime situation, then he should impose limits on advertisements which encourage drinking and link drinking to virility. If this Government is so bent on imitating Western models, then Ramjattan should force advertisements for alcohols to carry messages reminding consumers to use with moderation. Also, the general mes-

Dear Editor, Cognisant of an article captioned “GPF can probably learn from GDF in terms of attracting manpower” which was written by one Patrick E. Mentore and published in the Kaieteur News of today Wednesday August 26, 2015, the Guyana Police Force wishes to state that whoever the writer is has penned the

A few years ago I wrote the Board affirming the North American compensation package of the CEO, which was particular to him. At the same time our not so long term target must be to fill the post of the CEO (and all other Executive Managers) with ‘Guyanese” receiving compensation packages which would be in line with the compensation packages of executives in other Guyanese Companies, and well related to the compensation of the unionised employees in GPL. We had to get past the forced practice of having to pay whatever we had to pay, which payment would be particular to the individuals.

Loss reduction: A source of great vexations

GPL needs to and it is being constantly demanded of GPL that it spares no effort to reduce non technical/commercial losses. Those losses now down to 16 per cent none-

sage the advertisements promote should be confined to established rules and regulations.

However, if Ramjattan is convinced that a curfew would actually positively impact the crime spree and enforce security, then he should maintain a national curfew through the use of police patrols on the roads to monitor and apprehend criminal activities, as a short term solution to containing and reducing crime. This proposal is no less ludicrous than the 2 am curfew which is a failure to date.

Geetangali, the victim who was robbed and assaulted in Campbellville, a few houses away from Minister Ramjattan, related to the press that the Minister flew to her aid and in a short space of time her house was literally “packed with police” officers. This is truly a valiant act from the Minister. However, what happens to other assaulted mothers who do not have the luxury of living near to the Minister’s residence? Would they suffer the same three hour wait for the police arrival as the family of Ganesh Ramlall, the murdered mall owner? Would horses, cyber strategy, sniffer dogs and a 2 am curfew help them?

Minister Ramjattan deserves the proposed no confidence motion introduced by Dr. Baytoram Ramharack. Indeed, he plays a dangerous game in his attempt to mask his blatant failure by try-

article out of a state of ignorance in that he is not aware of what is happening in the Police Force. The Guyana Police Force wishes to inform that our training institutions in Georgetown and Essequibo are presently filled to capacity. The other training institution at Adventure, Corentyne, Berbice, where renovations were recently

theless indicate that at least one in six of GPL’S customers and a number of past and current employees of GPL are involved in stealing electricity. Responsible GPL personnel cannot but pursue suspicious persons and situations in the face of possibilities of error. The regular publication of loses in various geographical areas across GPL’s network appears to add useful area identification with additional pressures to end stealing.

The Deputy CEO operations

Sometime in 2012, Mr Welch was introduced to me as a Guyanese who had studied at Harvard, had worked at major US Companies and who was keen to contribute his expertise and experience in Management to his country, specifically at GPL Mr Welch although he had no utility experience, seemed to be just what GPL needed. He could be a great addition to the Executive Management Level

ing to justify his inaptitude in dealing with the situation which he claims preluded his entry into ministerial office. However, his inability is accentuated by the fact that he has not inherited the same magnitude of responsibilities due to the now reduced mandate of the ministry he governs. Even so, he has shown that he does not possess what it takes to even contain crime much less reduce it. All of the initiatives so far undertaken by Ramjattan reveal that he cannot serve the people as he, through his incoherent policies, seems not to know the first thing about manning a country’s security and safety. His denial of the severity of the situation coupled with his readiness to caste blame on third parties, as well as his indifference to the ethnic undertone of the crime situation, is not only an insult to Guyanese, it is an insult to the seat he holds.

Subsequently, for all the men, women and children who fall victim to crime because of their perceived wealth, political partisanship, ethnic particularity, citizenship, etc., I join in the call to have Ramjattan replaced by a competent servant of the people, and not a Minister who is comparable only to a pompous peacock in the Honourable Parliament of Guyana.

Sincerely, De Sà

completed, now has a capacity of 60. We have recruited 52 applicants who were sworn as members of the Force yesterday, and the other 8 will be sworn prior to the commencement of training which is scheduled for next Monday. These 52 persons have been selected from a waiting list of 1,018 applicants who have been processed. The Police

where there was a shortage of numbers and everyone seemed too much stuck in hands; on day to day work. I requested the Chairman to negotiate with Mr Welch with intent to hire him, seeking the best (lowest) acceptable compensation package.

The first appraisal of Mr Welch by the CEO was blistering. I ruled that it was too early to make such final determinations. Mr. Welch should have more time to catch his feet.

Sometime subsequently, Mr Welch in focusing on Loss Reduction had risen with the Human Resources Manager the propriety and procedures of a high level appointment in the Loss Reduction Division. Not obtaining a response to his satisfaction he sent me a copy of his letter which I requested the Board to investigate and report on. The Board apparently in a reflex, replied that the matter should not have been brought to my attention as yet. I replied that

There should be a Special Prosecutor's Office (SPO)

Dear Editor,

The sitting Government shouldn’t be investigating graft or theft by the former administration. This should be the responsibility of a Special Prosecutor Office (SPO) and a Public Watchdog.

The SPO should be created by constitutional decree. Moreover, the same should happen to subsequent amendments to strengthen the SPO in effectively carrying out its mandate of prosecuting former and current Government officials for graft and theft of public resources. The superintending prosecutor and the deputy would be elected figures. They would serve for a period of 15 years and should only be removed from office by special elections or gross misconduct as defined by the office charter. The SPO would have the power to issue warrants and subpoenas, including wire-tapping and temporary freezing of assets as well as travel restrictions. In addi-

tion, the SPO may involve other law enforcement agencies both national and international in its quest for justice. The SPO would have its own special agents to carry out arrests and investigations.

Funding for the SPO would be prioritised under the constitution. For this reason, politicians would not be able to manipulate the SPO for their own partisan agendas.

The SPO would be audited annually by a reputable international law firm paid for by the USA, EU or UN.

The Public Watchdog would be setup to act as a conduit between citizen whistle blowers and the SPO. Staff of the watchdog would be under oath subject to a minimum of 25 years of jail time if they are found to have violated the secret act. The watchdog would be the initial point to collect information regarding suspected illegal activities by Government officials. Information would include

documents, recordings videos (including smartphones), texts messages, emails etc. Whistle blowers will be able to supply information anonymously via web portal, telephone, letters. All information and recordings will be digitized, and copies stored off site. IT systems will store information in encrypted format and access will be password protected at minimum. SPO should be a bipartisan office answering only to the people. Its primary responsibility should be to prosecute criminal wrong doings committed by Government officials past or present. Nevertheless, there must be checks and balances, i.e. staff of the SPO must be citizens and not above the law. Monies recovered from successful prosecution should go back to the national treasury. Jail terms must be without probation.

Keith Bernard

Alleged illegal mining out of control in Marudi Mountains

Dear Editor, Aishalton Village residents of the South Rupununi Region Nine are highly concerned over the actions of Carl Parker, the acting Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the

Recruit Training Programme is six months residential and therefore only two (2) batches can be accommodated yearly at the three training institutions. The overall capacity is 330.

Whittaker

Ivelaw

Public Relations and Press Officer

even so I wanted a response to the substance at issue .I learnt later that the appointment was reversed.

With this background, I can understand the strong feelings and passionate actions of this Deputy CEO as well as the CEO. It might have been too great a challenge for the Human Resources Manager to have arranged things to the sufficient satisfaction of the two parties and to have avoided that confrontation.

The Deputy CEO Admin

Early this year the Board sought my approval to raise the pay of the Deputy CEO Admin to that of the Deputy CEO Operations saying that there might have been a promise to do so. I pointed to the fact that by all accounts the Deputy CEO Operations would be let go at his next appraisal and what would we do then? Reduce the pay? Up to the time of the ending of my

region. On Sunday August 16, Carl Parker is reported to have visited the Marudi Mountains and at a meeting with illegal gold miners he would have informed them not to heed the advice of authorities, but to continue their illegal gold mining activities. Currently, officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are reported to be unable to perform their duties because they are said to be physically threatened by the illegal miners not to interfere with their “work”. It is not known if the GGMC officials at Lethem have reported this problem to the GGMC Commissioner Mr Rickford Vieira. The Commissioner needs to act

mandate I did not approve the increase.

Board Fees

Our Cabinet had been repeatedly resistant to generally raising Board Fees from where they were earlier pegged. Eventually, earlier this year, new increased levels were set, payable from the current date. The question of arrears was raised but to my knowledge remained open up to the time of the ending of my mandate.

In conculision

The supply of electricity in our country has long been full of many contentions and controversies. These tendencies became unconstrained in that long void after the declaration of the election results: my mandate being at an end in mid May; the new responsible Minister not being identified with certainty for some time; the Board paralysed; and the new Government

very quickly. It is believed that the Deputy Toshao Dorothy James is very silent on the illegal Gold mining activities at Marudi Mountains because she has a shop there that allegedly buys illegal gold which is alleged taken to Brazil. It is also said that illegal guns are in the possession of these miners. It is therefore important that the Public Security Minister, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan dispatch a police team from Georgetown to conduct investigations. The situation at the Marudi Mountains is reported to have gone out of control where it is like a State within a State.

Sincerely, Joseph Thomas

saying that it had no confidence in the person who was Chairman and would let him go as soon as they were finished with him.

CEO Dindyal was ready to separate out on June 30th. I kept asking him to stay on for a smooth handover. I was not wrong in so asking. I call on all who have been Chairmen and Board Members, CEO ‘S, Managers and indeed all employees of GPL during my mandate to celebrate the progress we achieved in the presence of all the contradictions, contentions and dissensions, within and without the utility. Furthermore, we have invested so much in GPL we cannot but continue rooting for its continued improvement and success!

Yours truly, Samuel A.A. Hinds Former Prime Minister responsible for Energy and Electricity

Page Foundation

It’s appropriate for teens to want to spend more time with their peers than their parents as they get older. Our job is raising children to become independent, and that means moving out into the wider world.

Luckily, if we’ve accepted our child’s dependency needs and affirmed her development into her own separate person, she’ll stay fiercely connected to us even as her focus shifts to peers, high school and the passions that make her soul sing.

It’s critical, during the teen years, for parents to remain their children’s emotional and moral compass. Children will begin to experiment with intimate relationships outside the family, but to do that successfully, they need to be able to rely on those intimate relationships at home remaining solid.

So it’s important for parents to realise that while the teen years means parents have to invest extra effort to stay connecting, it’s crucial to put in that effort. And while it’s normal for a 17-year-old to focus mostly outside the family, a 13-year-old who focuses mostly outwards is probably looking for something he wasn’t getting at home.

We need to invite our children to rely on us emotionally until they’re emotionally ready to depend on themselves. Too often, in our culture, we let teenagers transfer their dependency outside the family, with disastrous results. Teens often give up a great deal of themselves in pursuit of the

closeness they crave, only to crash against the hard reality that other teens aren’t developmentally able to offer them what they need.

developing into his twenties, so he’s still building his impulse control and the ability to foresee the consequences of his actions. Good judgment,

So it’s important for parents to realise that while the teen years means parents have to invest extra effort to stay connecting, it’s crucial to put in that effort. And while it’s normal for a 17-year-old to focus mostly outside the family, a 13-year-old who focuses mostly outwards is probably looking for something he wasn’t getting at home.

It is not a sign of healthy emotional development for a teen to push parents away, or for parents to let him. That’s a sign of a damaged relationship. Attempting to parent when your relationship with your

after all, develops from experience combined with reflection. Life will provide your teen with experience. Your job is to make sure he has the opportunity to reflect on his experience.

decisions. You have to ask good questions and let him come to his own conclusions. So start slow, with connection. Find ways to be with your teen daily, and longer times on weekends. Listen more than you talk. As Stephen Covey says, “Seek first to understand.” Over time, your connection with your teen will deepen, even while she’s spending lots of time with her friends and activities. In fact, don’t be surprised if she plops down on your bed some night just when you’re about to turn out the light to sleep, and wants to talk about what’s going on in her life. I know, you need your sleep –but what a vote of confidence from a teen! Every teen needs at least one relationship like that as she journeys toward independence.

Our job as parents is to meet our children’s emotional needs at each stage of their development so they can advance to the demands of the next stage. In the teen years, everything we’ve done right and wrong comes into sharp focus. If we’ve accepted our child’s dependency needs and affirmed her development into her own separate person, she’ll stay fiercely connected to us even as her focus shifts to peers, high school and the passions that make her soul sing.

It’s appropriate for children to become increasingly independent throughout their teen years. But it’s critical, for most of those years, for parents to remain their teen’s emotional and moral compass. Children will begin to experiment with intimate relationships outside the family, but to do that successfully, they still rely on those intimate relationships at home remaining solid. That means that a teen who rebuffs parental bids for contact is probably looking outside for something he wasn’t getting at home.

The biggest predictor of how early your child will become sexually active? The closer she is to you and her other parent, the longer she’ll wait. We need to invite our children to rely on us emotionally until they’re emotionally ready to depend on themselves. Too often, in our culture, we let teenagers transfer their dependency outside the family, with disastrous results. Teens often give up a great deal of themselves in pursuit of the closeness they crave, only to crash against the hard reality that other teens aren’t developmentally able to offer them what they need.

It is not a sign of healthy emotional development for a teen to push parents away, or for parents to let him. That’s a sign of a damaged relationship. Attempting to parent when your relationship with your teen is damaged is like pushing a boulder uphill. It’s never too late in your relationship with your child to do repair work, to move closer. But it’s a whole lot harder to build the strong connection you want if the foundation isn’t there.

How can you stay connected to your teen?

1. Recognise that your teen’s fierce need for independence doesn’t mean he can’t stay connected to you. If you can let your teen exercise his own judgment and be himself, rather than who you want him to be, he’ll be able to grow into ageappropriate independence without cutting you off. If, on the other hand, you insist that he play the sport you love or that she agree with your political views, your teen will have to choose between a relationship with you and his or her integrity.

2. Listen. Empathise. Keep advice to a minimum. It doesn’t matter how good your advice is. Every time you offer it, you’re giving your teen the message that he can’t solve his problems himself. Be a sounding board, not a prescriber, and you’ll find your teen coming back for more.

3. Be available when your teen wants to talk. For most teens, that means late at night over a snack. It’s worth a nap, and even setting your alarm for 01:00h. You’ll be amazed at how much more your teen will open up in the wee hours. Most children don’t keep an agenda and bring things up at a scheduled meeting. And nothing makes them clam up faster than pressing them to talk. Children talk when something is up for them, particularly if you’ve proven yourself to be a good listener, but not overly attached to their opening up to you. (If you push them to open up, they feel they have to defend their independence by keeping secrets from you.) Find ways to be in proximity where you’re both potentially available, without it seeming like a demand. This may seem obvious, but stating your availability invites contact that might not otherwise occur: The most important part of staying available is your state of mind. Your child will sense your emotional availability. Parents who have close relationships with their teens often say that as their child has gotten older, they’ve made it a practice to drop everything else if their teen signals a desire to talk. This can be difficult if you’re also handling a demanding job and other responsibilities, of course. But children who feel that other things are more important to their parents often look elsewhere when they’re emotionally needy. And that’s our loss, as much as theirs. (www.ahaparenting.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

President Granger charges BEST bursary awardees to make the best of educational opportunities

As the 2015 batch of the Burnham Education Scholarship Trust (BEST) awardees received their bursary Wednesday, they were urged to see education as an entitlement and to grasp at the opportunity to learn.

The charge was made by President David Granger

Jahiem Roberts (Region Two); Latoya Woolford (Region Three); Reanna Mc Curchin, Gianni Carpenter and Shemar Bascom (Region Four); Eon Duncan (Region Five); Jahiem Hutson (Region Six); Akeem Williams (Region Seven); Lori Ann Gildhari (Region Eight); and Kerri Ann Khan

as he addressed students, their parents, and wellwishers, who gathered at Congress Place, Sophia, during the simple ceremony, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. “We have committed ourselves to ensuring that every person who enters BEST as an awardee will build a relationship [with us]…we want you to remain [in the programme] every single year, to see you through your secondary school and hopefully, when finances and circumstance permit, to see you through university as well,” President Granger said.

The 12 awardees are: Orel Emanuel (Region One);

and Nkechi Layne (Region 10). They were drawn from across the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana, after performing well at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), being awarded places at Queen’s College, President’s College, Bishops’ High School, St Roses High, St Stanislaus College, among others.

As the President congratulated the awardees on their achievement, he urged them not to see this as a victory but more as a beginning of greater things to come, stating that an education is an investment for the future.

The awardees were told that the bursary should not

“Gun Man” wanted for Arau Landing murder

The Guyana Police Force on Wednesday issued a wanted bulletin for a suspect known as “Gun Man” for questioning in relation to investigations into the murder of Antonio Periera DeSena.

DeSena was shot dead by the suspect during a robbery at Arau Landing, Wenamu River on August 4. According to information received, the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, entered DeSena’s business place and held him at gunpoint while demanding gold and cash.

DeSena resisted and was shot to his chest by the perpetrator who took a sum of cash and escaped.

Anyone with information that may lead to the ar-

Wanted suspect known as "Gun Man"

rest of “Gun Man” is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 225-8196, 225-2722, 2261333, 911 or at the nearest Police Station.

be seen as a “hand out” but as a “hand up” so that parents would have one less thing to worry about. Referring to his Government’s policy on education, the President said Government would work towards free education from nursery to university, as this was still one of the pillars of the Constitution of Guyana.

“I believe in the marrow of my bones that education is an entitlement, and unless children have access to education, we will have in this country something called educational apart-

heid,” the President stated. President Granger said his Administration placed a priority on education, as it was the Government’s vision to see every school-age child in school. In an effort to make this possible, President Granger spoke of his Administration’s plans to provide the basic needs including textbooks, uniforms, meals, and transportation for schoolchildren in all of the administrative regions.

He added that his Administration would seek

to bridge the educational gap between the rich and the less fortunate, as moves would be made to bring about equal opportunity within the education sector.

In closing, as the President wished the awardees well in the coming school year, he urged them to “avoid the pit falls of adolescence”, which include teenage pregnancy, which continues to be a growing problem.

On that note, the President said organisations, such as the BEST and others, should step up and play

a greater role in tackling the issue of teenage pregnancies in school and the growing number of school dropouts. Further, the Head of State took the opportunity to thank the many donors over the years who have played a role in keeping the scholarship programme alive. The BEST Awards Programme was founded four years ago by President Granger and is a registered, non-governmental, nonprofit sharing trust.

President David Granger and BEST Bursary awardees, who have benefited from this initiative since its inception

President David Granger as he addressed the awardees, their parents and well-wishers at the 2015 Burnham Education Scholarship Trust, (BEST) Bursary award ceremony

thursday, august 27, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Miner goes to jail for $2.8M theft

AMiner was sentenced to two years imprisonment on Wednesday after admitting to stealing over $2 million worth in raw gold in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Rayon Smith, 28, of Malbora, Pomeroon River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) did not wish to waste the court’s time nor be on remand in prison so he confessed to the charge against him. Smith admitted his guilt when the charge was read to him. The charge stated that on August 23 at Mazaruni Backdam, North West District, he was solely entrusted with 13 ounces 7 pennyweight of raw gold valued $2,800,000 which belonged to his employer Neil Archibald Gonsalves; a dredge owner. However, he fraudulently took the gold and converted it to

Rayon Smith was sentenced to two years for fraud

his own use and benefit. The court also heard that when Gonsalves flew to the city to retrieve the gold, he found out it was gone.

The matter was reported to the Police and Smith was found with 10 pennyweight in gold, along with $200,000. Magistrate Ann McLennan did not delay the matter and sentenced Smith to two years imprisonment.

Alleged thief remanded on break and enter charge

Acharge of break and enter earned a supposed thief a stint in the Camp Street jail after making his first appearance in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The accused, Akeem Connell, age 27, of 244 Queenstown, Georgetown, who is a Disk Jockey by profession, pleaded not guilty to breaking into the home of the Virtual Complainant (VC) Davendranauth Brass between August 13 and 22.

It is believed that he broke into Brass’ Queenstown home sometime between those days and removed several pieces of gold jewellery, totalling $350,000; two Movado wrist watches valued $180,000; a $280,000 Honda Outboard Engine; electrical tools totalling $800,000; a Panasonic stereo system worth $80,000; clothing valuing $200,000 and a DVR Player valued $500,000.

It was stated that the items he stole amounted to

approximately $2,590,000. Due to this, the case was deemed indictable with the potential to be tried at the High Court but Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick employed the Administration of Justice Act allowing the accused to choose where he would like his case to be tried.

Connell opted for the Magistrate’s Court. He stated that he has no matters pending in any court as it is the first time that a matter was brought against

him. Nevertheless, Prosecutor Bostwick objected to bail. He stated the nature of the offence committed; the value of the articles and the fact that the defendant does not live a far distance away from the VC.

Magistrate Judy Latchman heeded to the appeal of the prosecution. She refused bail and ordered Connell to be present on September 8 in her court to receive the prosecution’s statements for his trial.

No bail for homeless man who stole

in kitchen items

Aman who claimed he was a street dweller was remanded after he appeared in Court

Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday after he was charged fot allegedly stealing $38,500 in kitchen items.

Omesh Chetram, who told the court he was home-

less was not granted bail by Magistrate Judy Latchman as there was no surety that he would be back in court at any time to answer to the charge against him.

Chetram is accused of breaking into a shop and stealing a gas cylinder valued $18,000, an electrical deep fryer valued $22,000 and another electrical item

valued $3500.

Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick told the court that the accused broke into the shop on August 16 and left. He stated that a Security Guard identified the Chetram as the man seen leaving the shop the next day and the items were only discovered missing once the shop was

$38,000

opened. The matter was reported to the Police and the suspect was arrested.

He objected to bail based on the fact that the defendant stated he was homeless. Magistrate Latchman refused bail and ordered the next hearing of the matter to be on September 9 for statements.

Eyew tness

Forked tongue

...Nagamootoo on media

It is so easy to say anything when you're in Opposition, isn't it? Promise them the moon and stars...and if folks are gullible enough they'll fall for it. As Barnum said "a sucker is born every minute". Well, among Guyanese shill-men, they don't come more oily than Moses Nagamootoo, the man who would be President. But who is just filling Kwame's shoes, handling media.

If "Prime” is related to "primary", could someone please tell this Eyewitness which Minister doesn't have a bigger portfolio than PRIME Minister Nagamootoo? Getting to be called President (ag) every other Sunday doesn't even get him to wear a shirt jack!! But even with the humiliating stripping of his promised portfolios, you gotta hand it to PRIME MINISTER (as he insisted to Jagdeo!!) Nagamootoo. He's taking his scraps from the master's table VERY seriously.

First of all he must've sprinkled some water over Beverly Alert's head and baptized her "non-political"! How else could you move from being an AFC official; one of its more visible faces and voices on the hustings as a candidate and suddenly you're appointed a head of GINA and you're "non-political"?? Because Janet Jagan gave Nagamootoo a squeeze at the Mirror, he fancies himself as a great propagandist. Unfortunately his model's obviously Hitler's shill, Goebbels: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

We can expect Nagamootooo to follow the mantra, but Guyanese would do well to remember the rest of the quote. "The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

The "repression of the dissent" has already begun. Witness Nagamootoo berating a reporter from the Chronicle for daring to write that the Government "blundered" on the budget. Contrary to what he and the rest of the Government was preaching up to May 11, Nagamootoo bellowed "The Chronicle is a GOVERNMENT paper, not the state's!" So the press must not criticize the Government - since it is above the state. It's only a matter of time that Party trumps Government and state.

The quotation that used to hand over Nagamootoo's desk is from Goebbels: “Think of the press as a great keyboard, on which the Government can play.”

And Nagamootoo thinks he's a "player"!!

...Naga on blunder

So what's this "blunder" that Nagamootoo blusters is not a "blunder"? And this is where it gets real messy... and not only because of the folk aphorism to the effect that "all smart flies does end up in cow backs*de"! All the Chronicle reporter wrote was that the Budget estimates violated two laws passed by the same Government of which Nagamootoo is the PRIME Minister. "The Constitution (Amendment) Act 2015, and the Fiscal Management and Authority (FMA) (Amendment) Act 2015." Nagamootoo doesn't dispute this.

So a Government VIOLATING the law and it's NOT a blunder? But a "blunder" is "a stupid or careless mistake" so maybe the violation was deliberate? Since Nagamootoo was totally opposed the PPP MP's looking too closely at budgetary line-items - such his personal high priced, big item shopping binge - the five-hour delay to straighten out the mess (can we call it that?) might seem to Nagamootoo as a tactical victory??!

As Goebbels taught Nagamootoo: "The bigger the lie, the more it will be believed."

...on stealing cell phones

Your Eyewitness noticed a magistrate sentenced another cell-phone thief to jail. Will these magistrates please get with the programme?

Or are they preparing a larger pardon list in time for next year's mega 50th Independence bash?

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

Teenager killed on Danielstown Public Road

– driver in custody

By IndrawattIe natram

ADanielstown fam-

ily in Region

Two (PomeroonSupenaam) is mourning the death of a 19-yearold miner who was struck down by a motor car on the Danielstown Public Road.

Dead is Anil Henry, of Lot 38 Danielstown Village.

According to a Police report, Henry was riding motorcycle CH 4666 south on the eastern side of the Danielstown Public Road when motor car PHH 6855, driven by Kurt Massiah,

assisting with the investigation.

According to the mother of the deceased, Blossom Henry, she last saw her son around 20:00h on Tuesday.

The grieving woman related that her son was returning from her Hampton Court home when he met with the accident.

“He went by me at Hampton Court to drop his sister and he was returning home. He lives with his grandmother. I saw he dress up, so I ask he where he going; he said tonight is the girls night. He wasn’t wear-

car

which was proceeding north, turned east into his path resulting in the collision.

The 28-year-old Massiah, of Lot 29 Johanna Cecilia, is presently in Police custody

ing a helmet so I asked he to be careful and he said Jesus is protecting him and he does pray.”

The deceased was the eldest son of five children for

his parents. His mother said she received a message from one of his aunts informing her of the tragic accident.

“When I went [to the hospital], his head had a lot of injuries. He was in blood and he was assisted by his friends to hospital,” Blossom said.

The mother is calling on the Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident. The teenager was described as a very loving and caring individual by his siblings.

Only recently, two young men of Region Two – Bidesh Mohabeer, 12, of Sparta Bamboo Dam and Rupesh Jadoo, 19, of Beni Street, Reliance lost their lives after they crashed into the Lima Bus Shed.

BIT to train school dropouts, single parents on the job

School dropouts and single parents will now be getting a second chance to qualify themselves in the field of work through the Board of Industrial Training (Social Protection Ministry) in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). The Board on Wednesday oriented more than 30 persons who were short-listed for several on-thejob training programmes.

According to Technical Officer for BIT, Mohammed Shaheed, persons who applied were interviewed and short-listed for the training. He said the orientation served to inform the applicants who would be placed at various offices how to behave at the workplace.

Shaheed said persons would be placed at several offices at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC); public hospitals; health centres; mechanic shops and the Essequibo Technical Institute.

The fields of work in which they will be trained include clerical office practice; medical trade (patient care assistant, community health worker, nurse aide, medical records clerk, medical laboratory technician); welding fabrication and heavy-duty equipment operation.

Autopsy results confirm

Essequibo rice farmer died from pesticide poisoning

The autopsy conducted on 53-year-old Bisnauth (only name given), also known as “Mighty” of Windsor Castle Village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) confirmed that he died from pesticide poisoning.

The autopsy was conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh

on Wednesday at the Suddie Mortuary.

The rice farmer, who is the owner of many pieces of rice land, was discovered by relatives at his home lying motionless. He was said to be frothing from the mouth. He succumbed on the way to the Suddie Public Hospital.

Relatives had reported that he was sick and was suffering from natural illnesses; however, the autopsy confirmed that the farmer ingested a poisonous substance. A source had also informed Guyana Times that he was discovered next to a bottle that contained poison, but it was empty.

3 arrested after carjacking in North Ruimveldt

Two men and a woman were nabbed moments after they robbed a taxi driver of his motor car at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown in the wee hours of Wednesday. Two other suspects are being hunted by the Police.

According to information received, three men and two women hired Haslington Edwards of Diamond, East Bank Demerara to transport them to North Ruimveldt. The man operates his motor car from the Stabroek Market area.

However, when they reached North Ruimveldt, the passengers held Edwards at knifepoint and ordered him to exit the vehicle.

As he stepped out, the pas-

sengers drove off leaving the man on the road. He immediately contacted the Police who responded quickly and arrested the suspects while recovering the vehicle. The trio is assisting with investigations.

Earlier in the month, Balram Singh, of Lot 67 Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was robbed of his cash and his minibus by two motorbike bandits in the vicinity of Coldigen Railway Line, ECD.

He was reportedly on his way home after dropping off a friend at Kitty, Georgetown when he was confronted by two men on a motorcycle and relieved of $20,000 and his RZ minibus bearing registration number BMM 31. Singh stated that he left

home and went to Kitty and on his way back home, he saw the light of a vehicle in his rearview mirror. He noted that he continued to drive, but in the vicinity of Coldigen, the motorcycle overtook him and turned left into his path forcing him to stop. The pillion rider, he added, came off the motorcycle and walked towards him as he sat in the driver’s seat. The bandit pulled out a knife, placed it to Singh’s neck and demanded that he hand over the money. He took the money from his pocket and handed it over to the men and ran for his life leaving the bus behind.

The abandoned minibus was subsequently found torched at the back of Triumph, ECD.

“Yuh mek pickney, yuh nah make dem mind,” says father of murder suspect

The father of murder suspect Colin Allen was appalled when he saw the photograph of his son on the front pages of all the daily newspapers on Wednesday after he was arraigned for the murder of 76-year-old Danrasie “Carmen” Ganesh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

Ganesh was found brutally murdered in the house for which she was the caretaker on August 1.

to take care of, so much attention was not paid to him whenever he complained. The father disclosed that his son left home for Suriname about five years ago and he has not heard from him since.

Applicants were drawn from as far as Pomeroon. The persons are expected to be on the job for the next six months starting from September 1. While on the job, persons will be monitored and assessed based on their performance. A stipend will be given to participants to offset their travelling expenses.

At the end of the six months, a certificate of competency will be presented to the successful persons.

BIT was established under the Industrial Training Act, Chapter 39:04 of the laws of Guyana. As part of its mandate, the Board is committed to providing training opportunities for youths, thereby equipping them with marketable skills in a variety of occupations.

The depressed father was made aware of his son’s matter moments after he returned from work on Tuesday and immediately turned on his television to watch the news. As he watched the news story in dismay, his entire mood changed and that of his immediate family, including his wife.

The man who asked to remain anonymous told the Guyana Times during a phone interview that his son was a “good boy” who got beaten up by his friends while growing up, and never fought back.

He noted that Colin was one of 15 children that he had

The community of St John in the Lower Pomeroon in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was sent into a state of shock when a 53-year-old man was discovered dead in his house. Dead is Mannie Nobrega. According to information reaching the Guyana Times, the man

“I know he use to call one ah he brother and they would talk, but I never see or hear from he,” the man stated. He added that his relatives would see him from time to time and reported such encounters to him. While in Timehri, the father stated, his son worked with a logger out of the area.

“I never know he was a welder,” the man added. When asked if he believes his son is innocent, he declares “yuh mek yuh pickney but yuh nah mek them mind”. After assessing his son’s behaviour from what he has seen on television, he knows that his son is not in his right senses.

“Since growing up, and if he do anything wrong, he go got this worried look on he face… but on TV, he stay smiling, that is not meh son,” the father stated. He added that he would visit his son but not any time soon.

“He done get charge, he in prison, he can’t go nowhere so when I get time some weekend, I gon go and see he,” the man aid. When asked about his son’s mother, he stated that she was in Guyana and was ‘taking it on’. She, too, only knew about her son’s case when she saw the papers. This issue, the distraught father stated, has tarnished the reputation of his family, noting that people have already started with the “name calling”.

Allen was charged almost one month after the gruesome murder. He was arrested on Saturday last in Guyhoc Park, Greater Georgetown and told investigators that he was offered 700,000 by the woman’s son, Ramesh to commit the act.

The motive for the murder, he claimed, stemmed from a family feud over a land issue. Ganesh’s son denied the allegation when he was arrested. He was subsequently released. Attempts to contact the son of the dead woman proved futile.

was never married and was living alone. He was last seen Sunday evening by residents. Information revealed a friend of the man went to visit him early Monday morning and the discovery was made. The body was taken to the Charity Mortuary where it will await a post-mortem to determine Nobrega’s cause of death. No marks of violence were found. Residents were very surprised by the 53-year-old’s death since he was last seen in jolly spirits. Police are continuing their investigation.

Anil Henry

The

that struck motorcyclist Anil Henry

A section of the persons to be trained More

Montrose Granny murder...

Regions funded for drugs purchases; Health Ministry to procure ..."official contract splitting" charges PPP

On the second day of the Consideration of the Budget Estimates, the Committee of Supply began looking at the Current and Capital expenditures for the 10 Administration Regions during which it was Government disclosed that it has adopted a new procedure for the regions to acquire their own drugs.

Following queries by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) opposition’s Parliamentarians, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, explained that the budget allocations for the procurement of drugs for each regions have be diverted from the Ministry of Health and added to the regional allocations. However, the Minister noted that while the regions will be given their own monies, the Ministry of Health is still responsible with procuring the drugs.

He was at the time responding to questions posed by former Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry, Colin Croal, who now sits on the opposition’s side of the House. Croal had queried an increase of $41 million on line item titled drugs and

medical supplies for Region One (Barima-Waini), asking about the new process.

“The Regional Administration will have a greater say in what drugs and medications are needed on a priority basis,” he stated. Furthermore, Bulkan outlined that there is no guarantee that the amount allotted to the regions to purchase drugs will suffice, hence further applications may have to be made for additional monies to meet the needs of the region.

Another PPP/C parliamentarian, Bishop Juan Edgehill, subsequently asked the enquired whether the regional allocations will satisfy all the needs of the region or whether the monies are for the purchase of specific items. In his response, the Communities Minister stated that the Ministry will also be procuring additional drugs to disseminate to the regions.

Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, outlined that with this new policy adopted by the Government, several issues will be raised such as transportation and storage. “This is a rather large amount… the big challenge will be not

only purchasing and transporting but also storage under the appropriate conditions so that you don’t lose efficacy of the drugs,” she stated.

At this point, the Committee was examining the Health Services under Region Two (Pomeroon, Supenaam). Teixeira expressed concerns about large quantity of drugs being purchasing, noting that its about the capacity and mechanisms put in place to ensure the procurement cycle, the storage and movements are done most efficiently. On this note, she asked the Minister whether is changing the process if the administration has im-

plemented facilities to address this issues.

Bulkan, in his response, pointed out that his Government would not want to cause the drugs, as a result of negligence or improper storage, not be put into use to benefit the people. On the other hand, front bencher on the opposition, Dr Frank Anthony, requested a copy of the list of the type of drugs procured and the quantities. However, the Minister of Communities explained that there is no specific list but “indicative items”.

Bulkan later detailed that the drug requirement for each regions will not be determined entire-

ly by the Health Ministry but by needs of the individual Regional Democratic Council (RDCs). He further stated that the Ministry of Health then consolidates all those separate requests and makes a bulk purchase.

Weighing in on the issue of storage also, Opposition front bencher, Priya Manickchand asked whether the region would be limited to the amount catered for and also whether the region has the storage capacity for the drug, even though the types of drugs have not been identified as yet.

Bulkan replied, explaining firstly that the allocation was arrived at based on a determination of the Region’s RDC. He added too that the entire purchases may not be acquired all at once.

Moreover, Member of Parliament on the PPP/C’s side, Joseph Hamilton, outlined that he is not aware of any of the Administrative Regions have the storage facility and capacity to fit millions of dollars, in the case of Region Two $89 million, in drugs.

“The sourcing, procurement and purchasing of all the drug will be done y Ministry of Health in bulk

purchases to be able to enjoy better prices as a result of economy of scale and more efficient, better procurement,” the Minister said while adding “however, the value of the allocation – the Regions will be able to draw down to this value for their usage and needs”.

On the other hand, PPP/C Parliamentarian, Irfaan Ali, raised the issue of government trying to encourage contract splitting as it relates to the supply of pharmaceutical. He highlighted that this new policy of the coalition government is warranting resources back to the Ministry of Health. The former Minister under the PPP/C regime, enquired whether this is a formal of “contract splitting”. Ali pointed out that if you have one supplier for all the regions then there would be economy of scale and better prices, but by decentralising the purchase by splitting it in every region is a “backdoor way” of achieving contract splitting. In rebuttal, the Minister of Communities explained that the purchases is not decentralised but designed in such a way that the respect needs of each regions are.

Digicel takes dental outreach to Hararuni, Port Mourant

Digicel’s dental outreach continues to take oral health care free of cost to children in areas across Guyana. The dental team on Monday, August 24 saw more than 30 children during the outreach in Hararuni on the LindenSoesdyke Highway.

The children came from Kuru Kuru, Hararuni and other villages along the Highway for their free dental check-up.

“We have completed four of the eight are-

as that were selected for this year’s dental outreach programme; we are looking forward to visiting the other areas and hoping for bigger responses than we have gotten so far. The response has been tremendous,” Sponsorship Executive Louanna Abrams stated.

The team visited Port Mourant, Berbice on Wednesday, August 26 where more than 70 children from Port Mourant and surrounding communities benefited.

The Digicel dental outreach continued on Wednesday at the KK Service Station, Mahaica, while others are planned for Friday, August 28 at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo at the Two Brothers Service Station and on Saturday, August 29 at Anna Regina Market Square in Essequibo. The outreach caters for children between the ages of 6 and 16, and starts at 10:00h on selected days.

Children at Port Mourant, Berbice awaiting their turn on Wednesday

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

Nagamootoo's indulgences up to $50M and counting

In excess of $50 million of taxpayers’ money has already been expended on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo after only four months in Executive Office and this is in spite of having heavily criticised those desirous of leading a “Cadillac and exorbitant lifestyle” in a “donkey-cart economy”.

Ironically, it was Nagamootoo who best exemplified the previous scorn for “squandermania” and vowed to cut excess spending of public funds and lead a lean and clean lifestyle.

It was also Nagamootoo, during his tenure as an Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), who introduced the term “fat cats” in the National Assembly which he used to describe

cost the Government tens of millions of dollars. The two buildings, which were humbly occupied by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, were deemed unsatisfactory by the man who professed deep concerns

those public employees and political appointees benefiting from super salaries that were allegedly “bleeding” the treasury.

But the stark reality is that upon ascending to office, the first demand made by the Prime Minister was to have the Prime Minister's Residence and the Office of the Prime Minister rehabilitated – a task which will

about the poor and ordinary citizens of the country.

“It was deplorable…I probably wouldn’t put my dogs there, I think they would die,” he had told media operatives.

“Deplorable”

Secondly, Nagamootoo exclaimed that the Office of the Prime Minister was

inadequate and he refused to work out of the building which was, again, humbly occupied by the former Prime Minister for a number of years. Consequently, additional millions of dollars will be expended to ensure the Office is up to par with Nagamootoo’s demands.

The Prime Minister also wasted no time in having the road to his private residence repaired, declaring that the street was in a deplorable state. Indeed so, the road was in dreadful condition, but the other roads in the same community which were equally appalling went unattended. Therefore, the cost associated with the road works which were done to this one stretch of road was purely for the PM’s convenience. Of course, this cost millions of dollars. It was also reported that Nagamootoo had another hefty sum of money expended to repair a bridge and the roadway embankment leading to his private abode.

But the Prime Minister did not stop there. It was he who made the Cabinet proposal to have a whopping salary increase for all Government Ministers.

“All I asked for was $100 [USD] increase more on the Prime Minister’s salary,” Nagamootoo admitted to the National Assembly on August 22. He is already earning a monthly salary of some $1 million. In addition to that figure, some $500,000 is set aside for benefits on a monthly basis.

Even in light of all that spending, Nagamootoo did not seem to think that he alone was “bleeding” the treasury.

The Prime Minister will also now benefit from the purchase of a $22 million luxury Land Cruiser which is to be added to his existing fleet of 22 vehicles. Certainly, Nagamootoo is ensuring that for the next five years he will be enjoying quite a sybaritic lifestyle.

Nagamootoo defended this ostentatious purchase by declaring that the luxury vehicle will be

used to “reach out to those who voted for the Prime Minister”. It is presumed

that Nagamootoo was referring to the need to show up to the rice farmers and cane cutters who supported the AFC can during the last elections.

Cadillac lifestyle in Donkey-Cart economy

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

The road to Nagamootoo's private residents after repairs

The Prime Minister's residence

$4B GPHC budget approved

The National Assembly Wednesday approved the 2015 expenditure of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC.)

The $4.010 billion operating cost includes a current expenditure totalling $3.951 billion and capital expenditure totalling $59.312 million, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The capital expenditure was provided for the construction of the maternity ward, operating theatre and works at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital, up to August 2015.

The Georgetown Public Hospital

The current expenditure includes a total employment cost of $1.796 billion, total wages and salaries amounting to $1.449 billion, overhead expenses of $346.964 million and $2.155 billion for other charges.

Questioned during the deliberation of the estimates, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton provided clarification of a sum of $20.730 million appropriated for the maintenance of buildings. He explained that the sum caters for the upkeep of health cen-

tres controlled by the GPHC.

Enquiries were also made about a $13.965 million budgeted for the rental of buildings. Minister Norton clarified that the buildings are used to accommodate the foreign doctors and visiting tutors and examiners attached to the GPHC.

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry denies turning former CSO away

The Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry

Wednesday made an attempt to clear its name from a saga which has attracted widespread condemnation from parts of the populace after the Guyana Times reported on Tuesday that it turned away a man who was seeking assistance to help a two-yearold girl whom he said was his daughter after she was bitten by a snake.

In a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, the Ministry through its adviser, Mervyn Williams accused this newspaper of attempting to defame the Ministry.

“Investigations by the Ministry reveal that Ray Edmond, who claimed his daughter was snake bitten, is not the person he claims to be. Contact was made with the child’s real father, Lambert Manoel, who is currently staying at the Amerindian Hostel,” the release noted.

Williams said Edmond visited the hospital on Tuesday, spoke with the mother, Philicia Manoel, of the sick child, Elelona Manoel, and promised to go back Wednesday in hopes of meeting the father of the child.

“Williams said that he spoke with the real father of the two-year-old child who said that he does not know Ray Edmond, but was informed by his wife that the man was looking for him. The father, who has been in Georgetown for about two weeks, expressed that he feels bad, because he thought he was going to get some help from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs through the said gentleman,” the release alleged.

But the release did ad-

mit that Management Development Officer at the Ministry, Dexter Glasgow, met with Edmond who visited the Ministry.

“He came to the Ministry and asked specifically for me. I spoke with him and referred him to the Community Development Officer for Region Eight, since the complaint he made was an issue of non-payment from a contractor that was based in Paramakatoi, Region Number Eight.”

Adviser Williams said he may ask the Guyana Police Force to look into the matter in an effort to locate Edmond for questioning.

This newspaper reported that the former Community Support Officer (CSO), of South Rupununi, was left at a loss about his next move after he became stranded in Georgetown following a sudden departure from his community when his two-year-old got bitten by a snake.

Edmond told Guyana Times that on Friday his daughter was bitten by a “bush master” snake in his community.

Keeping it real Narco-trafficking

“Woe to you, My Princess, when I come I will kiss you quite red and feed you till you are plump – you shall see who is stronger, a gentle little girl who doesn’t eat enough or a big wild man who has cocaine in his body. In my last severe depression I took coca again and a small dose lifted me to the heights in a wonderful fashion…”

Dr Baytoram Ramharack

He shared that he was tending to his farm when he heard his daughter cry out. After seeing the cause of her distress, he quickly rushed to her aid.

Edmond added that luckily, a “tour helicopter” was in the village nearby. He pleaded with the persons on board for assistance, and they granted him a ride to Georgetown with his daughter and assisted them to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The man stated that he had left his community with only the clothes on his back and was now at a loss about his next move. Feeling dejected, he said he went to the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry to see if he could receive payment as he was a member of the CSO programme, only to learn that the programme was terminated.

Edmond added that for the six months he has been in the programme, he had only received $20,000. When explaining his plight to the Indigenous Affairs Ministry personnel, he was told to “go to the PPP fuh that money”, or to the Labour Ministry, before he was removed from the premises. Edmond said that he has no idea where the Labour Ministry was or what he should do to return to his community.

He added that he had even visited the Amerindian Hostel in Princes Street, Georgetown, but they turned him away as he could not afford the $500 per night fee.

He said he has three other older children at home who were not even aware that he was leaving the community. He stated that he has not eaten a meal since he landed in Georgetown and is pleading for assistance from any avenue to return home.

When Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and father of psychoanalysis, wrote these words, he was clearly addicted to cocaine, the so-called “wonder drug”. The drug trade in Guyana, which blossomed during the PNC era, but escalated to new heights under the PPP now threatens the very fabric of our society. The Roger Khan affair is still fresh on our minds. Narcotrafficking or the drug trade involves a) the production and manufacture of drugs, b) sophisticated money laundering techniques to hide the income earned from the illicit drug trade, and c) the use of precursor chemicals used to manufacture illicit drugs, all of which require global cooperation through an international regime on narco-trafficking to contain their proliferation. The most commonly used drugs in Guyana are marijuana and cocaine. Marijuana use is more widespread, but cocaine, given its higher market value is becoming a much more lucrative commodity for international trade. Consider the impact of the drug trade on Guyana. The GPF, CANU, and GRA reported drug-related seizures worth millions of dollars in 2014 and in previous years. In the first 6 months of 2014, the GPF reported seizing 92.77 kilograms of cocaine and 339.95 kg of cannabis. CANU reported seizing 75.84 kg of cocaine and 10 kg of cannabis last year. The US International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which profiles drug-related crimes around the world noted that “Guyana is a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa. Cocaine originating in Colombia is smuggled to Venezuela and onward to Guyana by sea or air. Smugglers also transit land borders with Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname. Cocaine is often concealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport, human couriers, or various postal methods. The influence of narcotics trafficking is evident in the country’s political and criminal justice systems. Traffickers are attracted by the country’s poorly monitored ports, remote airstrips, intricate river networks, porous land borders, and weak security sector capacity.”

Aside from the 1990 Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs Act, several laws, including The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, the Interception of Communications Act and the Criminal Law Procedure Act, were passed to enhance the investigative capabilities of law enforcement authorities and obtain convictions of drug traffickers. To date, however, the government has sought no prosecutions under these laws. In May 2014, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) identified Guyana as a “money laundering and terrorist financing risk” to the international financial system after Guyana failed to amend its anti-money laundering laws, placing Guyana under targeted review by the Financial Action Task Force. The coalition Government recently took actions to correct this problem, despite its opposition under the PPP. Weak enforcement measures, as well as endemic corruption within the police force make it difficult to carefully monitor this problem, much less limit its proliferation. The massive power, sophisticated organisational network, and resources controlled by drug traders have the potential to corrupt even the most moral citizen. Guyana lacks a robust demand reduction strategy that adequately addresses drug rehabilitation. In addition, Guyanese deportees involved in drug-related crimes in the US continue to pose a security concern.

Marijuana is more widely cultivated in Guyana’s hinterland. One Guyanese, Clairmont Lye, had advocated for the legalisation of marijuana, as well as large scale production for international trade. However, while it is true that several countries (like Jamaica,, Ecuador and US) have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana for medical use, it would be a mistake to enter the “marijuana trade” for a number of reasons: the international regime does not facilitate the drug trade, the negative effects of marijuana have been documented, marijuana is considered a gateway drug, and Guyana simply has too many societal vices to worry about rather than taking on additional problems related to the drug trade.

The US, largest consumer of illicit narcotics, has promised technical and material support to Guyana. Among other things, Guyana needs drug “sniffer dogs” at the airports, a pro-active DEA in Guyana and closer collaboration with the US and surrounding states to ensure that money laundering laws are strengthened and Guyana can access resources needed to interdict traffickers. The Granger Government needs to get ahead of the curve and address this scourge in our society.

Dr. Ramharack is an Associate Professor of Political Science (adj) at Nassau Community College. Send comments to BRamharack60@gmail.com

Ray Edmond

Regions reject Govt regional flag imposition

...secessionist implications and no consultations cited

The move by the government to assign flags to every administrative region across the country has not settled well with the district leaders as a majority of them have already rejected the plan; declaring that there were no consultations and that the move will only promote more division in a land that is already severely divided.

According to information received, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, during a recent forum at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, imposed upon the Regional Heads the respective designs of the flags assigned for each region and instructed them to approve or make suggestions for altercations on the designs. The premise of having regional flags was never mooted for discussion but was taken for granted by the administration.

The Guyana Times spoke to several of the Regional Chairmen about the issue, most of whom were quite upset over the lack of consultation in the process- ridiculing the entire strategy, noting that it was more cosmetic and will not aid in making each region self-sufficient.

Region One Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley, when contacted by this newspaper, made it clear that the Regional Democratic Council

of Region One will not be supporting this initiative.

“The RDC is not going to adopt any flag to show any form of regional independence because we want to remain one sovereign state as a corporative republic of Guyana… we are not in support of it… Guyana needs healing in all ten regions and an adaptation of this initiative will not help to foster the unity that is expected…,” Ashley posited.

Government’s argument is that the assigning of these flags will be part of an effort to implement a decentralised

governing system where each region will be self-sufficient.

However, many regional heads have ridiculed this strategy, contending that a flag simply cannot aid in this process.

“While for them they believe that the flag is a sign of independence and a sign of identity for a region…there are much more important elements needed to be introduced to decentralise authority rather than a flag,” Region One Chairman asserted.

Region Two Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt also objected to this move.

“I don’t know if a flag can bring any degree of independence for a region. I think what needs to be done to bring independence would require a lot of strategic thinking so this can be streamlined prop-

erly…we are speaking about certain ministries which may need to be decentralised and certain key operations need to be decentralised. It is much more complex and it would require great consultations,” Ramdatt asserted, noting that flags will not help the government achieve its goal.

On the issue of flags, Ramdatt chided the government for not consulting with the relevant bodies before moving ahead with this decision.

“We were not consulted, we were given a draft and we were told that we must look at it. Maybe for them, that is consultation,” he said.

Ramdatt also highlighted that “most of the flags have green on it and green, as we know, is associated with a particular political party.”

The Regional Chairman also questioned the legitimacy of this venture, “I don’t know if that is constitutional and I will not act until there is proper guidance provided on this because whatever happens must happen in confines of the law.”

Region Five Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal also voiced his agreement with the other regional chairmen, exclaiming that Region Five will not support this move.

“”We will not acknowledge this. We should have

Nagamootoo's indulgences up... from page 11

The spending did not stop there. An additional $10 million is set aside for the purchase of furniture and equipment, while another $4 million is allocated for the refurbishing of furniture and equipment.

Also, some $10 million was budgeted under the Office of the Prime Minister for “minor works”, which Nagamootoo said will be distributed to assist in various projects undertaken by the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU); the Salvation Army and the Diocese of Guyana, among others.

Additionally, a whopping $15.7 million is set aside for “other expenses”.

Apart from that, reports indicate that Nagamootoo has increased the number of security guards assigned to himanother burden on the treasury. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)

The Prime Minister will also now benefit from the purchase of a $22 million luxury Land Cruiser which is to be added to his existing fleet of 22 vehicles

Administration’s Cabinet of 26 members has already been deemed a “monstrosity and financial burden” by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition. Therefore, with double the number of Ministers, there will most naturally be a significant increase in the amount of taxpayers’ monies spent on

one national flag. We should not have any division when it comes to regions and symbols of identification…also, there were no consultations. They just give us these copies of the flags and said that our regions should use this as a symbol,” he asserted.

Region Nine Regional Chairman Brian Allicock also rejected government’s plan to impose flags on each region.

“Why should we have another flag? We are not going with it. They put a Harpy Eagle on our flag to say it is our National Bird, but that

is not our National Bird. The Canje Pheasant is our National Bird. We are not going to accept another flag,” he insisted. Allicock also blasted the government for not consulting with the necessary authorities before making a decision like this which will impact the lives of all Guyanese.

“The thing is now, why have different flag. How do we

fit in? Let’s say we go to Linden now, we will be treated as foreigners in our own country because of that distinction. Why do we need that? Why try to have a different identification for each region. Aren’t they promoting unity and that all Guyanese should be recognised as Guyanese. Why must we be recognised as a Region Nine person or a Region One person,” he reasoned.

Region Ten Regional Chairman Renis Morian also underscored the insignificance of having flags in each region.

“We are dealing with so many proposals for Region Ten. We haven’t given it priority. We are focusing on regional development and we are putting that as priority…,” Morian stated.

He admitted too that there were no consultations held regarding this initiative.

The only Regional Chairman contacted who was in support of this venture

was Region Seven Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford. But even so, he indicated that some persons in the district have not welcomed the idea.

“It is still under consultation. We have to consult members of the community…So far, some persons welcome the idea,” he said.

Former President and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo already pointed out that this move could be dangerous for Guyana as it could put the country’s sovereignty at risk and reinforce Venezuela’s attempts to win over the Essequibo through encouraging secessionist ten-

dencies.

“Please do not allow them to introduce a flag for Essequibo or Region Two… That is where they will start undermining the unity of a symbol we all respect… one flag, one anthem,” the former President urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge to urge his government to reconsider the venture.

salaries, benefits and other entitlements.

Each of the 26 Ministers appointed thus far is entitled to vehicles, free gas/diesel, free telephone, free electricity and free Internet service, free housing or housing allowance, water, domestic staff and additional office staff, among other benefits and privileges.

Region One Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley

Region Two Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt

Region Five Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal

Region Seven Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford

Region Nine Regional Chairman Brian Allicock

Region 10 Regional Chairman Renis Morian

US gives Haitian immigrants extension in temporary protected status

Haitian immigrants in the United States who got Temporary Protected Status (TPS) after the 2010 earthquake have been given more time to stay in the country under that provision.

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson yesterday announced the extension of Haiti’s TPS designation for another 18 months, from January 23, 2016 to July 22, 2017.

Haiti was initially designated for TPS on January 21, 2010, after a major earthquake devastated the country.

“Following consultations with other federal agencies, the Department of Homeland Security has determined that current conditions in Haiti support extending the designation period for current TPS beneficiaries,” a statement from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said.

The 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which they will need, if they are employed, to show their employers they are allowed to work in the US.

Suriname plans to develop its tourism sector

The newly installed Bouterse-Adhin Administration plans to diversify the economy of Suriname and intends to place an emphasis on tourism. This was disclosed by President Desi Bouterse during his inauguration last week in Paramaribo.

Suriname is blessed with an excellent tourism product that has caught the attention of Lonely Planet, The Guardian, The New York Times and many other well known international publications.

Henry MacDonald, Suriname’s Ambassador to the United Nations and an advocate of developing the tourism industry of Suriname, said that his country’s economy is small, with a “miniscule multi ethnic and religious population, consisting of various unique features with a European twist such as its official language Dutch that makes it interesting to

curious adventurous and nature loving tourists. The history, cultures, languages, food, environment, friendliness, safety and traditions of Suriname, the smallest independent country of South America, are unique to the American continent and thus to the world.”

Suriname has an abundant green rainforest, a rainbow of people and cultures from across the world and little crime. However, the

tourism industry has never been taken seriously. Yet consecutive governments since Suriname’s independence from the Netherlands in 1975 did not develop the industry. But this could all soon change.

“We no longer want to depend primarily on market decisions such as the gold price controlling the price of alumina and the price of oil,” Bouterse said recently. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Colombian rebel pleads guilty in US to hostage taking

Amember of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group pleaded guilty in US federal court to hostage-taking charges stemming from the 2003 kidnappings of three US citizens in Colombia, the US Justice Department said on Wednesday.

Diego Alfonso Navarrete Beltran was extradited to the United States in November 2014 to face charges contained in the 2011 indictment. He is scheduled to be sentenced

in the US District Court of the District of Columbia on November 10, and faces up to life in prison, the department said.

Navarrete Beltran was charged along with 18 other members of the FARC group with crimes relating to the 2003 kidnappings. They were accused of holding Americans Marc D Gonsalves, Thomas R Howes and Keith Stansell hostage in the Colombian jungle for more than five years until their rescue by the Colombian military in 2008.

Two other FARC leaders have already been convicted for their roles in the hostage-taking. Prosecutors said Navarrete Beltran also took part in keeping the Americans captive, and used choke harnesses, chains, padlocks and wires to restrain them.

FARC, a group of Marxist rebels, has fought successive Colombian Governments since the 1960s in a conflict that has killed more than 220,000. The two sides have recently agreed a fledgling ceasefire. (Reuters)

Murders near 800 – Jamaica records 20% jump

Jamaica has recorded just under 800 murders in almost eight months. Figures obtained by The Gleaner show that 775 persons were reported killed up to Monday, a 20 per cent increase when compared with the 643 murders reported over the corresponding period last year.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) recorded 1005 murders last year, a 16 per cent decline when compared with the 1197 recorded the previous year and did not record the 700th murder until midSeptember.

According to the data, 139 persons were reported killed in St James, compared with 87 over the corresponding period last year while 81 persons were reported killed in Clarendon, compared to 57 for the similar period last year.

Reacting to the figures, Derrick Smith, Opposition Spokesman on National Security, called it an islandwide ‘murder wave’ and said he was concerned that despite all the measures that have been implemented “we have not seen the sort of slowing down that one would expect”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Gleaner)

With 12 of the 19 Police divisions across the island reporting an increase in murders, the figures show that in St James and Clarendon – both of which have seen a wave of killings in recent weeks – murders have jumped by 60 and 42 per cent, respectively, this year.

Trinidad PM not “unduly perturbed” by resignation of minister and party

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is not very worried that her Minister of Community Development has left her Cabinet and her United National Congress (UNC) or that he has described her as ungrateful and deceitful.

In fact, she says she is not “unduly perturbed” by Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters’ departure, and wishes him all the best. Persad-Bissessar gave that reaction when questioned by journalists, after the Mayaro MP announced his resignation at

a press conference in the morning, saying that he felt betrayed by the “ungrateful” UNC leader. Peter’s decision to cut ties with the UNC was triggered by the party choosing someone else to be its candidate, in next month’s elections, for the Mayaro constituency which he won four of the five times he has contested it.

The Prime Minister addressed his resignation twice with reporters – first at a walk against violence against women and children

in downtown Port of Spain, and then after a Rotary Club luncheon.

“I haven’t heard what he said but I wish Mr Peters all the best in his future endeavours... I do not share his opinions and I think that there are thousands out there who don’t share his opinions either,” she said, adding that she believed the Mayaro seat, which will be contested by businessman Ruston Paray, would stay with the UNC. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Erika forecast to hit

Less than 48 hours after Antigua and Barbuda was spared possible devastation from Tropical Storm Danny, the Met Office has placed the country on guard again as Tropical Storm Erika approaches.

Meteorologist Cecil Matthew has warned the storm has a high chance of affecting the country as “models have it passing just over Barbuda, so most likely Antigua would be in the brunt of the system”.

The Antigua and Barbuda and surrounding islands were out on Tropical Storm Watch early Tuesday morning as the weather system continued its westward trek towards the region.

At 17:00h on Tuesday, the centre of Tropical Storm Erika was located near latitude 15.6 North, longitude 52.8 West or about 605 miles

The threat of Erika has already triggered several cancellations on Caribbean airline, Liat’s flight network

East of the Leeward Islands. Tropical Storm Erika was moving westward near 20 miles per hour and a West-North-west motion is expected to continue throughout today.

Based on the latest forecast track, the centre of the storm is expected near the Leeward Islands between Wednesday night and early today. The Met Office said

the system has maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with high gusts and is expected to strengthen slowly over night and throughout Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Erika dwarfs recently disintegrated Tropical Storm Danny, with tropical storm force winds extending up to 80 miles from the centre of the system. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status and get a new EAD have until October 26, 2015 to re-register. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Haiti was initially designated for TPS on January 21, 2010, after a major earthquake devastated the country

President Desi Bouterse (R) and Vice President Michael Ashwin Adhin

US reporter and cameraman shot dead during live report

Areporter and a cameraman for a local CBS affiliate in the US state of Virginia were shot dead at close range during a live broadcast.

Shots could be heard in footage taken on Wednesday by the WDBJ7 cameraman Adam Ward before he dropped to the ground.

WDBJ7 reported that the alleged shooter of the journalists has been identified as Vester Lee Flanigan, also known as Bryce Williams. He is a former WDBJ7 employee.

State Police, quoted by WDBJ7 TV, said the suspect shot himself on the I-66 highway in Faquier County.

Police also said the shooter ran off road in his car and crashed, and was found suffering from gunshot wound. Flanagan, 41, later died in hospital.

Ward and reporter Alison Parker were killed on air, according to WDBJ7 manager Jeffrey Marks.

Parker was conducting an interview about tourism on Bridgewater Plaza in Franklin County before at least eight shots rang out. The woman being interviewed was also wounded in the attack.

Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton told a news conference on Wednesday that the suspect had died at Inova Fairfax hospital in northern Virginia.

Overton offered no motive for the shootings and said the investigation would be lengthy.

Hours after the shooting, someone claiming to be Flanagan posted video online of the shooting that appeared to be from the shooter’s vantage point.

The videos were posted to a Twitter account and on Facebook by a man identifying himself as Bryce Williams, which was Flanagan’s on-air name.

The videos were removed shortly afterward. One video clearly showed a handgun as the person filming approached Parker.

The person purporting to be Flanagan also posted “I filmed the shooting see Facebook,” as well as saying one of the victims had “made racist comments”.

Flanagan had sued another station where he worked in Florida, alleging he had been discrimi -

nated against because he was black.

ABC News reported on its website that it had received a 23-page fax from someone claiming to be Bryce Williams some time between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The network turned the fax over to authorities, it said, without giving details on its contents.

According to the BBC, the fax said the attack was intended to avenge the Charleston shootings earlier this year – a suspected hate crime in which a white gunman killed nine parishioners at an AfricanAmerican church.

The rambling fax also complained of racial discrimination, harassment and bullying in the workplace, and professed admiration for the perpetrators of gun massacres at a US school and university.

(Excerpts from Al Jazeera and BBC News)

PM Modi urges Gujarat calm after Patel caste protests

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the people of his home state, Gujarat, to maintain peace after casterelated violence left seven people dead. Modi said violence had “never done good for anyone”. A curfew has been imposed, after members of the

influential Patel community, demanding quotas in Government jobs, clashed with the Police and local people.

A day-long strike called by the Patel community was also observed.

Gujarat’s main city, Ahmedabad, is virtually shut down, and the army and paramilitary soldiers

Around the World

Shares in disarray over China crisis

Wall Street shares are sharply higher, with the Dow Jones 1.3 per cent up, after losing ground on Tuesday.

At the same time, European stock markets lost ground as fears persist of a China-led economic downturn.

London’s FTSE 100 closed down by 1.7 per cent , with markets in Paris and Frankfurt finishing down by 1.4 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively.

Experts expect more market volatility until the Federal Reserve meets in September to set US interest rates.

“Until we get September out of the way, I think markets will continue to be choppy,” said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.

“These are the sorts of swings that we last saw in 2008,” he added.

With the wild movements in global markets, Hewson said he did not expect a rate rise out of the US

next month, in part because of the central bank’s mandate to maintain financial stability.

“I think they would be absolutely bonkers to raise rates now,” he said.

On Tuesday, China’s central bank cut its key lending rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.6 per cent in a bid to calm stock markets after the past days’ turmoil.

The dramatic losses and

volatility in China have shattered investor confidence and led to sharp falls in Asia and the US over the past several sessions.

The interest rate cut was the fifth by the People’s Bank of China since November last year.

The move is aimed at boosting China’s growth long-term, rather than having an immediate impact on investors. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Al-Qaeda denies holding UK hostage freed in Yemen

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has told Al Jazeera that it never held a UK citizen which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it had freed from the group in Yemen on Sunday.

The UAE said its troops had rescued British oil engineer Douglas Semple from AQAP forces in an operation on August 23.

In a statement to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, AQAP said: “The UAE Government claimed that it freed a British citizen held by Al-Qaeda.

“We would like to clari-

have been deployed there and in Surat, BBC Hindi’s Ankur Jain reports.

Internet services on mobile phones have been suspended. Schools and businesses are closed and public transport cancelled in Ahmedabad and other parts of the state.

Among those killed in the violence were a father and son, our correspondent reports. About 40 Police stations have been set ablaze.

Fresh clashes were reported in the cities of Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot as well as Banaskantha district on Wednesday.

“Violence will not benefit anyone. The only way forward is to have a peaceful dialogue,” Modi said in a video message.

Clashes broke out late on Tuesday when police briefly detained the protesters’ firebrand leader Hardik Patel, who had hours earlier led a massive rally in Ahmedabad. (Excerpt from BBC News)

fy to the media that this is untrue. We do not hold any British hostages.

“The incident that the UAE government claims took place with its special forces did not happen.”

Britain’s Foreign Ministry told Al Jazeera on Wednesday that it could not comment on the details of hostage cases. The UAE Foreign Ministry could not be contacted for comment.

The UAE said on Sunday that Semple, 64, was brought back to Aden and subsequently flown to Abu Dhabi where he was met by UAE officials and the British

ambassador.

Britain’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the release of a UK citizen in a UAE military intelligence operation.

In a statement issued through the Foreign Office on Tuesday, Semple said: “My wife Sallie and I want to thank all the people who supported us through this ordeal: especially the Foreign Office, Hostage UK, the police, our family, friends and well wishers, and the UAE forces who secured my release.

“We are incredibly grateful to you all.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

South Sudan President signs peace deal with rebels

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has signed a peace deal with rebels more than a week after refusing to do so, at a ceremony in the capital Juba attended by African regional leaders.

The Presidents of Kenya and Uganda, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, who all helped mediate the negotiations, were at the signing event on Wednesday.

Rebel leader Riek Machar signed the accord in the Ethiopian capital last week, but Kiir had said on the same day that his Government needed more time to study the text.

The United Nations Security Council had said that it was ready to take immediate action if Kiir did not sign the agreement on Wednesday.

Al Jazeera’s Anna Cavell, reporting from Juba, said the

move was potentially very important and could change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people affected by the civil war.

“However, some of the top commanders have split from [rebel leader] Machar, and they say the peace deal means nothing to them, so ... it does not mean that it

would end the fighting,” she said.

South Sudan has been at war since December 2013, when a split within the security forces escalated into a violent rebellion led by Machar. The ethnic nature of the violence has alarmed the international community. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

South Sudan has been at war since December 2013, when a split within the security forces escalated into a violent rebellion [BBC News)

There have been clashes between the protesters and the police on Wednesday

The dramatic losses and volatility in China have shattered investor confidence and led to sharp falls in Asia and the US over the past several sessions

Alison Parker, left, was conducting an interview about tourism on Bridgewater Plaza in Franklin County before her and Adam Ward were killed [WDBJ7]

thursday, august 27, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

No 45 Village cash crop farmer’s murder Two deportees among eight in custody

Police have detained eight persons as they probe for clues into the fatal shooting of a Corentyne cash crop farmer on Thursday while the canine branch has been brought into operation as the investigation intensifies.

On Tuesday morning, Police invited the husband of the dead woman, Deoram Soohand to Central Police Station for further questioning after he had initially given a statement to Police moments after the fatal shooting of the 57-yearold farmer, Pamela Kendall, of Number 45 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Residents of the com-

munity told this publication that they were shocked on Tuesday afternoon when Soohand returned home in handcuffs escorted by Police. They say that the investigators went into the house

with Soohand. “After a while the Police came back out of the house and still had him in handcuff and they carry him away,” one resident said.

Soohand was deported from the USA for possession of illegal drugs and then met Kendall.

Meanwhile, another deportee was also arrested as Police followed a lead that a resident of the very village has an illegal firearm. The man in custody is a livestock farmer and, according to relatives, on the night of the shooting he returned home about 19:30h after taking care of his sheep. The 22-year-old suspect was deported to Guyana two years

Hindu College excels at CSEC once again

The Hindu College located at Cove and John on the East Coast of Demerara has once again recorded a high pass rate at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times on Wednesday, the headteacher of the institution, Rajkumarie Singh, said that the school recorded a 95 per cent pass rate overall this year and this is a mild improvement from last year’s 92 per cent. She said that the school had one student who managed to secure a spot in the top 50 (45th) and four other students were able to place in the top 172.

She went on to give a brief analysis of the students’ performance in the 13 subjects written. One hundred per cent passes were obtained in the following eight: Agricultural Science; Chemistry; Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM); English B; Principles of Accounts (POA); Principles of Business (POB);

Religious Education and Social Studies. The other subjects saw pass rates as follow: 89 per cent in English A; 81 per cent in Mathematics; 95 per cent in Office Administration (OA); 92 per cent in Human and Social Biology (HSB) and 91 per cent in Integrated Science.

The top five students were Christine Singh, Lilotie Jagroop, Mintranie Singh, Bena Williams and the lone male Surinder Motilalall. When this publication visited the school, we caught up with three of the top five students since Christine is currently on holiday in the United States of America and Mintranie Singh was not present at that point in time.

However, Liloutie Jagroop expressed how happy she was as a result of her success at CSEC. She said, “I am very proud of my teachers and everybody else, especially my colleagues. I would like to thank all those persons who helped, supported and encouraged me.” The young lady would like to become

Investigators heading to the crime scene

Police had issued a statement saying that the incident occurred about 18:30h and at the time of the incident there was a blackout in the community. Another man who returned from the USA two weeks ago has also been taken into custody as the investigation continues. That man is a cattle farmer and lives at Number 48 Village. Reports are that the 42-year-old suspect was not at home until 01:30h the following morning.

As Police follow several leads, six males from the Black Bush Polder were also taken into custody and were now assisting with the investigation.

Reports are that the prime suspect Soohand was moved to Police Headquarters Eve Leary on Wednesday morning. Also

on Wednesday, a dog was taken to the Number 45 Village home which Soohand and Kendall shared, as the canine unit joined the investigation.

On Wednesday afternoon, the animal was seen sniffing at objects in the yard. The dog spent more than an hour at the house.

Residents of the community continue to live in fear and on Tuesday evening were sent scampering to their homes after heavily armed Police Officers rushed to the village. At the time (20:00h), residents were keeping a wake for the late Kendall. The officers went into the bushes where it is believed criminals were hiding out. Residents were advised to quickly get to their homes and secure themselves.

Meanwhile, some resi-

$582.4M

a lawyer since she wants to see justice given to those who deserve it.

Her classmate, Bena Williams would like to one day become a medical practitioner since her passion lies in helping people. She added that she was very delighted with the results she received a few weeks ago, saying “I would like to thank my teachers at the Hindu College, especially my hardworking headteacher, Miss Rajkumarie Singh, and I would also like to thank my parents for the financial support throughout this journey.

The headteacher explained that the school did not only focus on academics since its main goal is to create rounded individuals who will meaningfully contribute to Guyanese society. The students are also taught discipline, respect, good morals and religious education. She went on to add that although the school was a religious institution, persons from any religious and ethnic group can enrol.

dents say that about 14:00h on Wednesday, three gun shots were heard coming from the bushes surrounding the community. However, according to them, they were not reported to the Police. “You scared to go to the Police … Because we had to answer plenty question. The Police tell we that we phone call ‘Aunty Pam’ phone the same night that she get shoot. So like you can’t call yo neighbour?” one resident questioned.

On Friday, residents of Number 45 Village and surrounding villages had staged a protest over the lack of Police patrols in the community. The residents used an old tree and several old tyres to block a section of the road, allowing only one lane traffic.

Police continue to investigate.

approved for Ministry of Business

Day two of the review of the budgetary estimates came to an end with the National Assembly approving a $582.4 million allocation for the Business Ministry. The Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, faced with a plethora of questions, but was able to convince the House to approve his budget.

Questions from the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) focused on the Ministry’s current expenditure for Policy Development and Administration and, Business Development, Support and Promotion programmes.

Responding to whether the number of contracted employees represents new employees or those who were previously employed in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Minister Gaskin said that there were no new employees as they were all transferred from the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. Quizzed on the allocation for maintenance of buildings and which

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

building was being referred to, Gaskin explained that it refers to the Ministry’s Head Office on South Road and the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia. He confirmed that his Ministry’s headquarters was formerly occupied by the Tourism Ministry.

The Business Minister, clarifying an allocation of $11.6 million for electricity charges when no such figure existed under that line item in the two previous years, explained that it rep-

resents electricity charges for September to December 2015 for his Ministry’s headquarters and the National Exhibition Centre. It was further explained that the estimates were based on the average rate being paid per month. He also explained that the allocation of $12.8 million for security services represents what will be paid for such services to both the headquarters and the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia.

The Ministry of Business recently began consultations to prepare a five year strategic plan and in keeping with this, has allocated $123 million to agencies such as the National Bureau of Standards, GOInvest, and Small Business Bureau. Of this amount, the Small Business Bureau will receive 20 per cent, which is a direct provision of the Small Business Act which was never implemented under the previous administration. Additionally, 68 per cent of the allocation will be directed to Go-Invest for the execution of its mandate.

Headteacher Rajkumarie Singh (centre) strikes a pose with a few of the students who excelled at the CSEC examinations

Deoram Soohand, the husband of the dead woman

ago.

More coroners to be appointed – AG … as

legislation being reviewed

Attorney General and Legal Affairs

Minister Basil Williams, in a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), explained that the necessary legislative enactments needed to examine killings in the country are currently being addressed. “We are looking at legislation that would widen the categories of persons that could conduct inquests so that we can start the process,” the Attorney General said.

He explained that inquests were only held by Magistrates within the varying Magisterial Districts.

These judicial officials are, however, currently burdened by their heavy workload. “We need to look to see how we can widen that category of persons (Magistrates) who would be dedicated to expediting the number of inquests we could deal with,” Williams said. At an inquest, the Magistrate acts as a coroner, a jury is empanelled, and evidence is taken from witnesses and statements made from investigations.

Minister Williams indicated that these measures form part of a holistic approach that deals with the delivery of justice to all

Guyanese. Other measures include, but are not limited to, addressing the constraint of funding needed to improve the quality and delivery of justice, along with addressing the backlog in both criminal and civil cases.

A number of legislative enactments were made, since the new Government was sworn in, which all serve to ensure the rule of law obtains in Guyana. These enactments include: the Constitution (Amendment) Act, Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act, and the Local Government (Amendment) Act.

Guyana attends British Birdwatching Fair

Guyana was again represented at the British Birdwatching Fair in the county of Rutland. The annual event is described as the Birdwatchers “Glastonbury” and attracts over 20,000 visitors over three days.

The British Birdwatching Fair is jointly organised by the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. The fair encompasses the whole spectrum of the birdwatching industry whilst at the same time supporting global bird conservation. A wide range of fantastic conservation projects have been supported by Birdfair. There are hundreds of stands selling the latest products for wildlife enthusiasts everything, from scopes to sculptures, binoculars to bird food, eGuides to eco-holidays!

This year was perhaps one of the best in supplying contrasting and interesting views on Guyana. As has become tradition for the Guyana contingent the Guyana Summer’s Evening was held on the Wednesday prior to the British Birdwatching Fair. The event has become a popular fixture for the UK travel trade and press.

Marion Herbert, Acting High Commissioner for Guyana, welcomed the audience with a short address.

Tony Thorne of Wilderness Explorers followed giving an overview of developments in Guyana which included a message from the Minister of Tourism, the Guyana Marriott, Guyana’s new branding and update on airlines and airports.

Wally Prince, a freelance guide from the Rupununi, then made an interesting and passionate presentation on Guyana and the experience that a visitor can expect when travelling in Guyana.

Guyanese flautist Keith Waithe provided a short musical interpretation of the rainforest which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Barrister and author John Gimlette then spoke on his recollections of his time

in Guyana whilst researching his book “Wild Coast: Travels on South America’s Untamed Edge”.

The final presentation was by Pat Morris, who delivered an unexpected angle on Guyana as he presented on his own visit to Guyana in 1969 and the journey and connection of Charles

ed by the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana and attendance supported and funded by the Guyana Tourism Authority. The fair ran from August 21 to 23.

Friday is always the busiest day and the booth was busy with many interested people. Guyana has become

A Cock of the Rock, one of Guyana’s

Waterton to Guyana, which the audience found fascinating.

Some of the feed-back from participants: It was excellent turn-out for the evening with 61 tour operators, press and friends of Guyana attending and the event received very positive feed-back from the participants. The evening as organised and hosted by Wilderness Explorers and the major sponsor is the Guyana Tourism Authority. The evening was also cosponsored by Karanambu Lodge, Caiman House, Atta Rainforest Lodge, Rock View Lodge, Surama Ecolodge, Iwokrama and Cara Lodge.

The Guyana team then headed north to England’s smallest county, Rutland to prepare for the three-day British Birdwatching Fair. The Fair, for Destination Guyana, has become one of the most important trade and consumer events that it attends. As the name implies it is a niche show catering to birdwatchers but it has developed to encompass natural history in general. The show is an obvious marketplace for Guyana as it allows the country to leverage marketing advantages as an excellent birding and wildlife destination.

The booth itself is fund-

Taxpayers’ monies to be spent on $16.5M vehicle for new AG

– former AG also exposes PM’s abuse

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Wednesday exposed what he said was a deliberate effort by the new Government to abuse the public purse by wasting taxpayers monies on pursuing a ‘Cadillac lifestyle’, as he reported in Parliament that some $16.2 million was budgeted to purchase another multimillion-dollar vehicle for the new Attorney General Basil Williams.

In a facebook post, Nandlall said “The Attorney General, Basil Williams, has also budgeted for himself 16.5 million dollars to purchase one new Toyota Land Cruiser. Under questioning in the Committee of Supply, he also attempted to mislead by conveying the impression that a vehicle which was being used by me was missing”.

Nandlall explained that to avoid embarrassment, the Minister quickly recanted and admitted that the vehicle is at the Legal Affairs Ministry.

The former Attorney General said too that in order to justify this budgetary allocation, Williams then concocted a story that the vehicle is causing him some discomfort to his shoulder.

reasonably well known in birding circles now and we don’t need to explain where it is and what is on offer as much as in the past. A number of visitors came to the booth as they had already booked tours and were looking for additional information on the destination. This year the booth was manned by Carl Browne from the Guyana High Commission in London, Wally Prince a freelance guide (supported by GTA) and Tony Thorne and Claire Antell from Wilderness Explorers.

In all, it was an excellent week in marketing Destination Guyana. The Guyana Summer’s Evening was a big success with interesting and varied presentations at a good venue.

The British Birdwatching Show was extremely positive with serious enquiries and leads from consumers and positive outlooks from tour operators and Guyana can expect good bookings.

The Guyana Hours and Tour Operator dinner strengthened and built on the existing relationship we have with the travel trade. As a small destination, we were innovative and progressive and as such punched above our weight in a heavily competitive market. (Tony Thorne, Wilderness Explorers/ GINA)

“The truth is that in 2012, the Ministry of Legal Affairs acquired for use of the Attorney General, a reconditioned Prado Land Cruiser for 12 million dollars. The previous vehicle was over a decade old. At the time when I left office, this Prado Land Cruiser was in excellent condition. It is now being used by Mr Williams. It appears to be in the same condition. But

now the taxpayers have to pay 16.5 million dollars for a new luxury land cruiser because this Prado causes some discomfort to Mr Williams’ shoulders”.

Turning his attention to the issue surrounding the disappearance of a vehicle purchased for the Prime Minister, Nandlall exposed what he said again was the extravagance in public spending.

“Since it is my questions in the Committee of Supply which evoked the controversy that now engulfs the 22 million dollars budgeted to acquire a new Toyota Luxury Land Cruiser for the Prime Minister, I wish to add my comments on certain disclosures subsequently made by the Prime Minister on this matter”.

He said he was amused at the lengths at which the Prime Minister has gone in seeking to explain the reasons for this impending acquisition.

“It is as if he feels compelled to justify some colossal wrong which he has committed. I can understand why. After all, it is him who promised to “cut fat” from Government; to create a lean and clean Government and not to “live in a Cadillac lifestyle in a donkey cart economy”. In the face of those public pronouncements and electioneering acrobatics, the acquisition of perhaps one of the most expensive luxury vehicles (duty free) in Guyana with taxpayers dollars after just three months in Government, would be difficult to sell by the finest propagandist”.

Nandall related that placed in this dilemma, the Prime Minister went into the defence and deflection

mode by contending that 23 million dollars budgeted for the Prime Minister last year was used to buy a Land Cruiser which is now missing.

“I made some enquiries and I am told that the 23 million dollars referred to by the PM, was used to acquire three vehicles (not one), a car, a Toyota Hilux Pickup and a Toyota Land Cruiser. These vehicles were never and are not missing. The Prime Minister omitted to disclose the registration number of this land cruiser which he claims is missing. My information is that this vehicle is and was at all times under the control of the Ministry of Finance, at no point in time did this vehicle have to be “recovered” from anywhere, and that this vehicle is the land cruiser that has been used by the current Minister of Finance Winston Jordan from the very first day that he assumed office”.

He said that the Prime Minister “must have known these facts but yet chose to conceal them, and opted instead to make suggestive and misleading insinuations of wrongdoing for the sole purpose of diverting attention from his own current abuse of the public purse. Should the Prime Minister wish to commence using this vehicle, he simply has to instruct Minister Jordan, who has had custody of this vehicle from the first day of his appointment, to hand it over to the Office of the Prime Minister, and avoid incurring the expenditure of $22 million with which he now wishes to burden the taxpayers”.

Far-right protesters boo Merkel during refugee visit

Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Germans to stand up against hatred and vowed zero tolerance for attacks against refugees, as more than 100 far-right protesters booed her during a visit to a shelter for asylum-seekers.

Merkel had travelled on Wednesday to Heidenau, a small town near Germany’s eastern border with the Czech Republic, to express support for refugees following neo-Nazi riots over the weekend at a hardware store that had been converted into a shelter.

On Tuesday, a school sports hall converted into an emergency refugee shelter caught fire in the

eastern town of Nauen, in what police suspect was an arson attack.

In Heidenau on Friday and Saturday, dozens of Police were injured when a far-right mob hurled bottles and fireworks at officers in an attempt to prevent the asylum seekers moving into the former hardware store.

“It’s shameful and repulsive what we experienced here,” Merkel said, after arriving in Heidenau, which is located south of Dresden.

“We need to use all our strength to make clear that we won’t tolerate those who call the dignity of others into question,” Merkel said.

“There will be no tolerance toward those who aren’t prepared to help where help is needed,” she said, urging Germans to speak out against anti-foreigner sentiment in conversations with their families, friends and church groups. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A couple of hundred metres away, far-right protesters jeered and sounded car horns. Some protesters held placards denouncing the Government, while others shouted “traitors” and “lying press.” Speaking to reporters after meeting aid workers, local officials and some of the 560 refugees at the site, Merkel praised those “who have to endure hatred”.

showier rare birds

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

You won’t make an impression sitting on the sidelines. Be a participant, not an observer. Assertiveness and positive thinking are powerful tools that will bring you encouragement and support.

Strengthen your career prospects by embracing new skills. Seminars or workshops will increase your knowledge and introduce you to people who are interested in what you have to offer.

You have options. If you focus your energy and follow your instincts, you will end up on the right path. You will hear from someone who respects you and your accomplishments.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Focus on your future security. Scrutinize and update monetary, legal, insurance or medical records to ensure that everything is in good standing. It’s best to be prepared.

A serious heart-to-heart chat will strengthen your ties with someone you need by your side. Work changes are imminent. Your attention to detail and versatility are a winning combination.

Strive to stay on good terms with colleagues. Avoid office gossip and be patient and understanding, regardless of the circumstances. Remember that you are part of a team and act accordingly.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Spice things up a little. Plan to have fun and stray from your usual routine. A pleasure trip, romantic liaison or other form of entertainment should be scheduled.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Emotional dust-ups will develop if you neglect a close connection. Don’t let this stop you from engaging in an investment opportunity that surfaces through an unusual channel. Instead, include that special someone in the endeavour.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

If someone offers you help, you should accept it. It’s unrealistic to think that you can do everything on your own. Dedication and discipline will help you get an idea up and running.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Turn your dreams into reality and add to your earning potential. The time is right to revive an idea that didn’t work for you in the past due to poor timing.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t let anyone talk you out of something you desire. Be clear about your intentions. Your plan may be bewildering to others, but in the end, victory will be yours.

Make a positive improvement to your living arrangements. Renovating, redecorating or relocating will be invigorating. Differences of opinion with authority figures are likely.

GEMINI

Peanuts

Calvin and hobbes

dilbert arChie

Ato in charge of “Torpedo” for Rio 2016

T&T’s four-time Olympic medallist and former World 200 metres champion Ato Boldon, has accepted the role of preparing Richard “Torpedo” Thomspon for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Boldon, who is currently performing multiple roles at the Beijing World Championships 2015, revealed that Thompson approached him and he had accepted the challenge to prepare the 2008 Olympic 100 metres silver medallist for the prestigious event next year.

Boldon said he always enjoyed a good relationship with Thompson and had known him since primary school. “He called me and said: “You know what? I do not have too many more chances at this, but I want to be at my best for the Olympics, so would you consider coaching me?”

Boldon said he responded positively, but told Thompson such a development would mean moving to Florida. “So he is in Florida right now looking for a house. So Richard Thompson will be joining my team.”

Boldon said he expects Thompson to be in Florida very soon since his camp starts in October. “Richard will be with me. My camp is a lot bigger than that of three, but I just cannot reveal who is coming. There may be some other Trinidad and Tobago sprinters as well. As of right now, only Richard Thompson is confirmed and of course Khalifa St Fort,” he added. One of his key roles in Beijing is part of the T&T coaching staff where he is focused on the relays. He is working closely with the Women’s 4x100 metres team.

“I have watched them train since we got here. I know how Michele (Lee Ahye) has been battling injuries and Kelly Ann (Baptiste) is coming back from a couple years off, so I was very proud of the fact that they both made the finals. America had only one person in the final and we put two. This is very significant. I wish they could have run better but I think this set up for a nice run at the Rio Olympics, now that they have reached the finals some months ahead of the Games,” noted Boldon

Reflecting on the race which was won by Jamaica’s Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce, Boldon said Ahye may have taken herself out of the race early because of a slow start. “Michele is a very inconsistent starter and when you are in a final with people running 10.7 and 10.8, you don’t have that luxury so she took herself out of it early.”

He thought Baptiste was a bit rusty. “When she is at her best, Kelly Ann can start with anybody in the world but she has not been starting with that kind of form for quite some time,” he not-

Agent says Blake will

ed.

Boldon said both sprinters have to time their season better. “The times that it took to make the podium tonight, Michele was actually running in April in Gainesville at the Florida Relays. You have to time your season so that you are running your best times when it counts. That is what all the athletes here are trying to do—time your season to be at your best when it counts the most.”

Apart from his role on the T&T coaching staff, Boldon is also an IAAF brand ambassador and NBC analyst.

(Trinidad Guardian)

FIFA RAP underway at National Racquet Centre

Local football referees are currently engaged in the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Referees Assistance Programme (RAP) at the National Racquet Centre in Georgetown.

The over one dozen officials were urged by FIFA’s Referee Instructor Peter Prendergast to have a re-energised commitment to personal development.

Prendergast, a Jamaican, told the referees that “since 2006 we have not had a ref-

eree on the list for the World Cup. Since 2006! That’s a long time. And we have far more information, far more training programmes and we are not seeing someone from the Caribbean. We barely had one in the Gold Cup.”

He continued, “We have to raise our own standards. It is a personal commitment.”

President of the Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) Alfred King in giving his remarks welcomed the programme for a fifth

year.

He said, “Every time they come here, they give of their best and provide quality experiences to ensure that our referees are prepared to go to the next level of becoming elite referees”

King added, “But of course, the experience that they provide can only enhance your technical competence as referees. Very often the rest is left to you to put in the hard work and physical training and development.”

He, much like

Prendergast, noted the failure of referees to maintain the standards needed to stay at the top level of the game.

Prendergast and Alan Brown, FIFA Referee Fitness Instructor, will be conducting the RAP, which includes simulations, fitness test, a written test and evaluation.

The RAP is designed to help professionalise the environment in which referees work by pairing referee development officers with instructors from around the world.

return stronger and better

The prospect of a Yohan Blake coming back fitter, stronger, and faster is simply frightening.

His manager, Cubie Seegobin, who is in Beijing at the World Championships, says the foundation has been set for a successful Olympics in Rio, Brazil next year.

Blake made a return to action earlier this year from a long injury lay off and appeared at Jamaica Senior Championships, but failed to make the team to Beijing. “It was a

ing the current World Championships, Seegobin says Blake is in good spirits.

“He is in excellent state and the most important thing is the mental part of him. He is not disappointed because he knows his capability,” the agent said.

Blake at 21 years and 245 days became the youngest 100m champion in the history of the World Championships when he won in Daegu in 2011.

“If you know the time frame of his training and

very productive season in the sense that the base for next year is set,” Seegobin pointed out.

Blake known as the “Beast”, has personal bests of 9.69 seconds for the 100m which make him the joint second fastest man in history behind Usain Bolt’s 9.58 seconds. His amazing 19.26 seconds for the 200m also make him the second fastest man ever at that distance.

Seegobin believes Blake, who has a season’s best of 10.12 seconds will be back better than before.

“I would say that he will be back more than 100 per cent. Even stronger I think because he is a more mature athlete now. He understands more about his body and he has employed a nutritionist to improve his eating habits,” Seegobin revealed.

But despite miss-

what he has gone through and what he has accomplished in such a short time, it’s just speaks to the extent of his talent that he can run that fast in a short time,” Seegobin pointed out.

“You see he has so much success at a young age and when you are on that kind of a high, you don’t really pay attention to the certain things until you get older. I think his injuries have allowed him to kind of step back and take an assessment as a real professional,” he added.

“I have no doubts in my mind that he will be back 100 per cent. I said to him last year that it would take him two years to come back and I know he will be back better than before. I think he will surprise a lot of people in Rio,” Seegobin predicted. (Jamaica Observer)

Four-time Olympic medallist Ato Boldon

2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist Richard Thompson

Local referees share a moment with the FIFA and GFF Normalisation Committee officials

Agent Cubie Seegobin on Yohan Blake: “I would say that he will be back more than 100 per cent”

World Championships- Men’s 400m final…

James cops bronze as van Niekerk takes gold

Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa won a scintillating Men’s 400m final in the Bird’s Nest on Wednesday night, leading three men under 44 seconds- the first time this has ever happened.

In a neat bit of symmetry, the men’s 400m at these World Championships started and finished with the greatest round in history.

Rusheen McDonald and Yousef Masrahi started things off by going sub44 seconds in the heats on Sunday morning, leading off the greatest first round in the history of Men’s onelap racing.

Now Van Niekerk has finished it with a 43.48-second victory, taking his country’s first global victory at 400m since Bevil Rudd at the Antwerp 1920 Olympic Games.

Defending champion La Shawn Merritt ran 43.65, a personal best, in second place and Olympic champion Kirani James 43.78 for third. It is the first time three men have ever gone under 44 seconds in one race.

Van Niekerk, who is undefeated at 400m and 200m this year, becomes the fourth-fastest man in history. This does not even net him a championship record – Michael Johnson holds that with the world record 43.18 he ran to win in Seville in 1999 – but elevated him to fourth on the world all-time list behind Johnson, Butch Reynolds (43.29 in Zurich in 1988) and Jermey Wariner (43.45 in winning the world title

in Osaka in 2007). More superlatives, as if they are needed.

Olympic silver medallist Luguelin Santos, fourth in a Dominican Republic record of 44.11, has the unwanted distinction of becoming the fastest nonmedal winner in history at any championships.

And the final was the first occasion on which four sub-44 men – the three medallists, plus Masrahi –have met in the same race.

Van Niekerk succeeds in winning a global 400m title for Africa where Ivory Coast’s Gabriel Tiacoh (silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games), Kenya’s Samson Kitur (bronze at the 1992 Olympics and 1993 World Championships) and Uganda’s Davis Kamoga (bronze at the

1996 Olympics and silver at the 1997 World Championships) all failed.

His performance was a world lead and took the African record he held for 24 hours after beating James in the Paris IAAF Diamond League meeting back from Isaac Makwala, who ran 43.72 a day later. Makwala finished fifth here in 44.63.

But this was above all a super race. The athletes were drawn in lanes two to nine, leaving the inside lane free.

Van Niekerk, fifth from the inside between James and Santos, and Merritt, with only Makwala to his outside, were out fastest. Makwala was also away quickly in the outside lane and these three led James and Santos off the final bend.

James started to move down the final straight, but could not take any significant ground out of Van Niekerk and Merritt – hardly surprising given the pace they were running.

That was how it ended. Van Niekerk striding to the line quick and unchallenged, Merritt running his best race of the season when it mattered most. James did, too, but it was not good enough against two opponents running the fastest times of their lives.

Three of the first four ran lifetime bests, James was within four hundredths of a second of his. This, almost literally, was the race of a lifetime, the sparkling crown on three rounds of the best one-lap running we are ever likely to see.

Kenyans fail Beijing drugs tests

Two Kenyan runners have been suspended after testing positive for doping at the World Championships in Beijing, the International Association of Athletics Federations has announced.

Joyce Zakary, 29, and Koki Manunga, 21, have accepted provisional bans after “targeted tests” by the governing body.

The pair, who competed in the 400m and 400m hurdles, were tested at their team hotel on August 20 and 21.

Zakary set a national record of 50.71 seconds in the 400m heats on Monday.

However, Zakary did not start in her scheduled semifinal on Tuesday.

Manunga finished sixth in her heat of the 400m hurdles after recording a time of 58.96.

cheating”.

BBC athletics commentator Steve Cram said the suspensions of Manunga and Zakary are a “doubleedged sword” for the sport.

“It is disappointing that people are still trying to cheat but it is great that we’re catching them,” said the 54-year-old former world, Commonwealth and European 1500m champion.

“It is not good for the Kenyan team because leading into these championships there were a lot of allegations in the situation around blood doping - and a lot of fingers pointed at Kenya.”

South Africa v New Zealand, 3rd ODI, Durban…

South Africa have not lost successive ODI series in five years; a score higher than 271 has never been successfully chased at Kingsmead and neither of those records changed as the hosts sealed the series in the decider.

In the process, AB de Villiers became the fastest batsman to 8,000 ODI runs, reaching the milestone in 182 innings, 18 fewer than Sourav Ganguly; South Africa posted their

That’s not to say New Zealand did not turn up. Their attack adapted fairly well to a surface that did not offer the seamers as much as was expected.

Adam Milne and Doug Bracewell bowled tight lines and Grant Elliott’s taking pace off the ball proved effective, but their fieldingthey put down four chances compared to South Africa’s three - let them down and their effort with the bat fiz-

SCOREBOARD

South Africa innings (50 overs maximum) MN van Wyk† c Latham b Elliott 58 HM Amla c & b Elliott 44

RR Rossouw c Latham b Wheeler 6

AB de Villiers* b Bracewell 64

DA Miller c †Ronchi b Milne 36 F Behardien c Williamson b Wheeler 40 D Wiese c Sodhi b Wheeler 12

KJ Abbott not out 3

Extras: (b-4, lb-3, w-13) 20

Total:(7 wickets; 50 overs) 283

Fall of wickets: 1-89 (Amla, 20.1 ov), 2-96 (Rossouw, 21.6 ov), 3-134 (van Wyk, 30.3 ov), 4-220 (de Villiers, 40.3 ov), 5-232 (Miller, 43.1 ov), 6-258 (Wiese, 47.2 ov), 7-283 (Behardien, 49.6 ov)

“Athletics Kenya (AK) has already met with the IAAF and the athletes involved, and has begun investigating the situation which led to these results,” said the national governing body. “Follow-up action will be taken in Kenya.”

Earlier this month, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) announced it would begin an “urgent” investigation into allegations of widespread doping in athletics.

Thirteen Kenyan athletes are currently serving suspensions for doping offences.

The Sunday Times published data from 5,000 athletes, which it says reveals an “extraordinary extent of

The IAAF said that, according to rules, it is only able to make a public disclosure once the provisional suspension is in place, adding: “The IAAF will not discuss the details of the cases as they progress through the results management process.” (BBC Sport)

highest opening stand in 17 ODIs, of 89; Morne van Wyk scored his first innings of substance since his recall; Farhaan Behardien’s cameo showed his ability to finish and Imran Tahir underlined why he is being regarded one of the best limited-overs spinner in operation at the moment.

Sodhi c Rossouw b Abbott

Extras: (lb-1, w-5)

Total: (all out; 49.2 overs)

Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Guptill, 4.4 ov), 2-102 (Williamson, 23.5 ov), 3-114 (Latham, 27.1 ov), 4-141 (Worker, 31.2 ov), 5-152 (Elliott, 33.4 ov), 6-156 (Ronchi, 34.6 ov),

(Bracewell, 41.4 ov),

(Milne, 44.5 ov),

(Munro, 45.1 ov),

(Sodhi, 49.2 ov)

DW Steyn 10-0-411 (1-w), K Rabada 10-1-33-2 (2-w), D Wiese 9-0-58-3 (1w), KJ Abbott 9.2-0-43-1 (1w), Imran Tahir 10-0-36-2, F Behardien 1-0-9-0

Bowling: BM Wheeler 10-071-3 (4-w), AF Milne 10-144-1, DAJ Bracewell 10-154-1 (3-w), IS Sodhi 8-0-55-0 (1-w), GD Elliott 10-0-41-2 (2w), C Munro 2-0-11-0 New Zealand innings (target: 284 runs from 50 overs) MJ Guptill c †van Wyk b Steyn 10 TWM Latham run out (Miller)

zled out once they lost the men they usually rely on. Martin Guptill went early and Kane Williamson was dismissed seven balls before the halfway stage of their innings and it proved a loss from which New Zealand could not recover. (Cricinfo)

Wayde van Niekerk takes the Men’s 400m, as Olympic champion Kirani James settles for third (Getty Images)

AB de Villiers struck a fifty and became the fastest player to 8000 ODI runs

Joyce Zakary Koki Manunga

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Guyana’s first Goal Project is one step closer to realisation with FIFA contracted inspector Dr Stephen Baker conducting soil testing at the facility recently acquired by the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Normalisation Committee at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

With FIFA stating its intention of installing an artificial turf at the location, Dr Baker carried out inspections on the subbase, and the entire typography and will now report back to FIFA on what’s needed in order to have the turf installed.

In May this year, the GFF signed a 30-year lease with the Eccles/ Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council for use of the Providence Community Centre ground, where a High

“I’m a bit tired

“Right now I’m feeling OK. I didn’t run a hard corner, but I’m trying to preserve as much as possible for the final. The 200m is my best event.”

Gatlin is desperate to take something away from the championships, having arrived as clear favourite to win back the 100m and 200m world titles he first won in Helsinki a decade ago.

Performance Technical Centre will be erected on the 8.5 acres on land.

Chairman of the GFF Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling, said that the Englishman’s visit is his first of many to come since, along with the local architect, the FIFA inspector will work along to ensure that all systems are put in place for the foundation of the turf, which the GFF head said should be completed within a year.

The GFF, in 2007 under former president Colin Klass, began work at Orangestein, on the East Bank of Essequibo, for what was supposed to be the location for Guyana first Goal Project.

When Klass had found himself in ‘hot water’, Franklin Wilson, his vicepresident at the time (2013), had assumed the post of president (ag) and

And the controversial 33-year-old got out well to dominate the second semi-final and stay on track for another head-tohead with his Jamaican nemesis.

Hughes, born in the British Dependent Territory of Anguilla, formally gained British citizenship in June this year and won the national trials in some style.

In his first major global championship he is one of several athletes scrapping behind the big two,

travelled to Zurich where negotiations with FIFA’s Development Committee brokered US$500,000 to be allocated to Guyana to help get the Goal Project off the ground.

Former President Christopher Matthias, upon taking office, then started negotiations with the Ministry of Sport for land behind the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora. Things again didn’t materialise, since the government had only offered a little over three acres of land which FIFA said was a ‘no-no’.

Guyana was actually earmarked by FIFA to pioneer its Goal Project with president Sepp Blatter making his maiden voyage in 1999 for the turning of the sod at the University of Guyana, but that also fell through after negotiations with the Guyana government.

his win in his heat guaranteeing him a favourable lane draw for the final.

Hughes told BBC Sport: “I hit my toe on the block and it kind of slowed me down when I got out.

“I wanted a great lane for the final and that’s what I got. I train with the greatest in the world and I’m ready for them.”

His compatriot Danny Talbot went out after finishing sixth from the lane outside Bolt, but with a new personal best of 20.27.

FIFA contracted inspector Dr Stephen Baker takes a close look at the soil at the Providence facility in the presence of local officials

Registration for President’s Cup extended to midday Friday

– close to 100 animals entered so far

By Rajiv Bisnauth

The deadline for registration for this weekend’s President’s Cup horse race meet at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) has been extended to Friday and, according to Chief Coordinator, Fazal Habibulla, horse owners have until 12:00h to have their animals properly registered.

Habibulla said no late entries will be accepted after the cut-off time, since adequate time is needed to prepare the programme.

“Based on the overwhelming response from horse owners, we have decided to extend the registration until Friday,” Habibulla said.

The race meet is slated for Sunday at the Club’s track at Arima Park, West Coast Berbice.

The race will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and, according to Habibulla, the rules of the local governing body would be rigidly enforced.

Those horses not properly registered will not be allowed to participate in the

day’s proceedings. Meanwhile, Habibulla disclosed that close to 100 horses from all the top stables locally have confirmed their participation.

Over $7.5 million will be up for grabs at the ninerace programme. The feature race of the day is for animals classified A and Lower over a distance of one mile for $1.2 million and the President’s Cup.

The other races listed for the day are the 1400-metre race for Three-year-old West Indian bred animals for a top prize of $500,000.

The one-mile race for

Four-year-old West Indian bred animals and D3 nonewinners for 2015 and those classified E and Lower will also compete for a first prize of $500,000.

There is an event for horses classified F and Lower over 1400 metres for a top prize of $350,000.

The organisers have also disclosed that there will be no distinction in the Two-year-old event as both the West Indian and Guyana bred horses are slated to do battle over 1100 metres for $350,000 and a trophy.

The winner of the G3 and Lower 1400-metre event will get $300,000 and a trophy, while a competitive field is expected to take to the track in the race for animals classified I and Lower for the $260,000 top prize. That race will be run over a distance of 1100 metres.

Horses running in the J and Lower 1100-metre event will battle for a first prize of $240,000 and a trophy, while the K and Lower event will see the winner taking home $200,000 and a trophy.

Interested horse owners can contact Habibulla on 232-0232 or 657-7010. Race time is 12:00h.

GT Beer Futsal continues tonight at CASH

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will host another four games this evening when round four of the inaugural Petra Organisation/GT Beer Futsal competition is staged from 19:00h. The competition has been a goal-fest in the three nights of action thus far and tonight is expected to be much of the same on the polished wooden surface at Guyana’s premiere indoor facility.

In the opening match, Georgetown’s team North Ruimveldt will face off with East Coast top futsal side Beterverwagting, followed by Show Stoppers against Broad Street at 19:45h.

In an all-Georgetown showdown, Albouystown will tackle Alexander Village at 21:00h, with West Front Road taking on Sophia in the final match, set to start 45 minutes later. The competition is fea-

BCB cricket season resumes Saturday

After a long break due the prolonged inclement weather, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) 2015 cricket season is set to resume on Saturday with the Berbice River Bridge Company’s 50-over first-division competition.

Twelve teams will fea-

ture in six games at separate venues from 09:30h.

The top players in Berbice will be on show with Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Jonathan Foo and Kandasammy Surujnarine turning out for Albion, while Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets will have Assad Fudadin, Delbert Hicks and Eon Hooper in their line-up.

West Berbice will have pacers Keon Joseph and Raun Joseph, with the Hetmyer brothers, Shimron and Seon, playing for Young Warriors.

Port Mourant will be led by Rajiv Ivan, and the fast rising Tucber Park, formerly Bermine, will have a star-studded line-up with pacers Niall Smith and Romario Shepherd and the in-form all-rounder, brothers Eugene and Joemal LaFleur.

The other clubs have good players and if they hold their own can create major upsets.

The fixture was re -

leased on Wednesday with Albion Community Center playing host to Edinburgh; Blairmont Community Centre having home advantage against Bush Lot Rising Star; Police tackling West Berbice at Edinburgh; Young Warriors enjoying home turf against Tucber Park; Port Mourant opposing Skeldon at home and Rose Hall Gizmos and Gadgets taking on Upper Corentyne in round one. Round two is scheduled for September 5. Meanwhile, the board’s annual cricket academy will be held in December.

Gatlin’s agent defends sprinter

American sprinter Justin Gatlin is unfairly carrying the burden of all drugs cheats, according to his agent.

The 33-year-old, who has twice been banned for doping offences, finished behind Usain Bolt in the 100m at the World Championships in Beijing, China.

He was one of four men in the 100m final to have tested positive for banned substances during their careers.

“He shouldn’t be the guy who takes all the brunt of all the criticism and condemnation,” said Renaldo Nehemiah.

“He was the only one who threatened the throne of Usain Bolt and that couldn’t happen in many people’s minds.”

The race between Bolt and Gatlin on Sunday had been billed as a battle for the soul of athletics in some quarters, particularly by those critical of allowing Gatlin to compete.

Gatlin has said he will not speak to British media outlets because of what he perceives as biased coverage towards him.

nights

turing 13 of Georgetown’s top teams, along with one each from the East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara. The final is set for September 13.

The teams will be vying for a top prize of $500,000, while second place will receive $250,000. Third place will receive $125,000 and fourth $75,000. Patrons desirous of watching tonight’s games will have to pay an entrance fee of $500.

After winning the 100m and 200m world double at Helsinki 2005, the American then tested positive for testosterone in 2006. He served a four-year ban that had been twice reduced from a lifetime and eight years.

Nehemiah, a former 110m hurdler world record holder, told BBC Radio 5 live that the notion that Gatlin had not shown remorse for his misdemeanours was an “incorrect assertion”.

And Nehemiah said he was “disappointed” that athletics’ governing body, the IAAF, had not done more to stop Gatlin’s vilification.

His first drugs ban in 2001 was reduced from two years to one after he proved the amphetamines he was taking were for an attention deficit disorder.

“Justin Gatlin has done national tours of middle schools and high schools, telling them about the dangers of drugs and the decisions he made,” he said.

“He has humbled himself for months and months. It was never widely reported so people don’t believe he has made amends or apologised.” (BBC Sport)

Chief Coordinator Fazal Habibulla

Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul will turn out for Albion Community Centre

Assad Fudadin will lead Rose Hall’s batting

The GT Beer Futsal tournament has produced some exciting plays over the first three

Justin Gatlin has twice been banned for doping offences

Dant CC ups preparations for Toronto Cup

– former Guyana skipper Daesrath scores century

By RavendRa Madholall in ToRonTo

ant Cricket Club is

Dupping the tempo on preparations ahead of the inaugural Toronto Cup, which is set to take place on Labour Day weekend (September 4-6).

The tournament will be hosted by Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC) and some 15 teams are expected to compete for top honour in both the Masters and Open Categories (20-overs).

Speaking with former skipper and retiree, Aftab Shamsudeen, who may return to the game for this showpiece event, the team is “gearing up” nicely so far and his expectations of them doing well are relatively high.

“Traditionally, we would continue to play a very aggressive brand of cricket despite lately we have been lacking some intensity; we are hoping to regain some of that aggressiveness though,” the former Canadian cricketer stated.

He continued: “We had started training rigorously over the last three weeks and happily seen some good results already, especially with one of our seasoned players Damador Daesrath scoring a hundred last weekend.”

Dant created an incredible reputation in 2014 at the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) tournament, emerging champions in the 10, 15 and 20-over categories. It was their debut season and their sterling perfor-

mances left a legacy, having become the very first team to have a clean sweep in the history of the League.

However, this year was a change in fortune for the West End side, who has already relinquished the 10 and 15-over trophies to Caribbean Sensation and Cricketers Cove respectively. The other competition (20-over) is still in progress.

Dant was the only Canadian team that participated in the 2014 Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association Guyana Cup 111 under the umbrella of the OSCL.

They were humbled by eventual winner Wolf’s Warriors, but the experience with the white-ball could be a great asset for them on this occasion, according to long-standing player/member of the club, Shamsudeen.

“Most definitely, we lost to Wolf’s Warriors in the fi-

nal over, which would have sent us to the semis in Guyana; playing in Guyana against some of the best players around the softball fraternity can only make us better; we learned a lot and it was our second trip to GT, which earned us some invaluable experience,” the versatile right-handed allrounder, commented.

Teams coming from New York, Florida and Guyana will compete in the Toronto Cup and an enthusiastic Shamsudeen stated that competition is expected to be stiff; given the fact a large number of high-profile softball players will be showcasing their talents.

“We are hoping that the underdog tag will propel us; New York always feeds a good team so yes we are expecting keen competition. There is no team in these tournaments you can take on lightly. We haven’t paid attention to anyone’s team like we did in the past. We are very focused on our goal, as ready to play hard cricket,” Shamsudeen, who has been with the club since its formation almost two decades ago, related.

Some established players set to represent Dant again are: Daesrath, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Farook Hussain, Yadram Bogh, Shamsudeen, skipper Looknaught Ramsuchit, Shaun Deonandan, Riaz Kadir, Avi Singh and Satrohan Balkarran.

Shamsudeen feels the team is very united and they will continue to play with the same degree of harmony as well.

GFF not ruling out CAS in case against FIFA

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is not ruling out the use of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to further pursue its case against the world body for football, FIFA, over its handling of the illegitimate St Vincent and the Grenadines player issue, according to Chairman of the Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling.

Urling’s comments came during a live interview on Digicel SportsMax Zone earlier this week.

St Vincent and Grenadines had fielded a player who was not the holder of a passport from the Island during the

side’s 2018 World Cup Qualifier tournament in June of this year, and days after Guyana was knocked out of the tournament, the GFF had lodged a protest with FIFA over the matter.

However, the GFF was told that after investigation, no further intervention was needed in the context of the matter.

After another appeal by the GFF, FIFA responded by saying that Guyana was not “a party to the relevant proceedings before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and would therefore not be eligible to appeal”.

Urling told Sportsmaxx Zone that the GFF is currently seeking legal advice on the matter, but was quick to point out that they had not ruled out the CAS. FIFA regulations for the 2018 programme say that only passports are “valid proof of a player’s identity and nationality.” Each player’s passport must be shown to FIFA’s match delegate the day before kickoff.

The new rule states: “Identity cards or other supporting official documents shall not be accepted” and history has shown that seven different African teams fielded ineligible players in qualifying group matches for the 2014 World Cup, forcing FIFA to award 3-0 wins to their opponents.

Urling has however, added that at this point, even if they do go to the CAS, they will not get a judgment in time to return to the tournament’s next round in September, but stated that Guyana’s persistence is about justice and ensuring that FIFA abides by its rules in an “equitable manner.” (www.gffonline.com)

To date, over 30 players have signed up for the competition, but Dick intimated that the number will increase significantly, as registration is open until the morning of the event.

The head of the Titans Club said he is expecting healthy rivalry on Saturday and Sunday, with the majority of the country’s top young players set to compete.

At the launch of the event a fortnight ago, Dick mentioned that the agegroup tournament will focus on youth players, from the Novices Open to the B Class Open.

Players will compete in the Boys and Girls Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-18, Under-21 Open, B Class Open and Under-9 Open. The club has been in existence for four years now, and according to Dick, the

aim of the putting together the tournament is to give prominence to the game at the national level. Going forward, Dick outlined that the club will look to create links with all sectors of society to aid the growth and development of not just the players, but the sport in general.

“This is just one of our initiatives as we continue to build bridges with the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), the National Sports Commission (NSC) and various other entities. We’re seeking to basically build partnerships with all sectors of societythe education sector, the health sector etc.,” Dick asserted.

President of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe, who attended the launch, said the local governing body readily agreed to sanction the initiative by Titans, noting that it

is a step in the right direction.

Munroe said the move by the club falls into the association’s mandate to promote table tennis at the youth level, thereby affording the young players an opportunity to hone their skills.

Meanwhile, Dick said the club will work to make the competition an annual feature, providing it can secure the requisite support from the business community and other stakeholders.

Several of the Titans top players are expected to compete in the tournament, among them Colin Wong, Miguel Wong, Isiah Layne, Stephan Corlette, Selenas Jackman and Priscilla Greaves.

Those ‘B’ Class players interested in competing in the tournament can contact Dick on 642-3288 for more information.

Former Guyana captain Damodar Daesrath

GFF’s Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling

Dick calls out ‘B’ Class players for inaugural tourney

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

President of the Titans Table Tennis Club, Dwain Dick, has extended an open invitation to ‘B’ Class players to compete in this weekend’s highly anticipated “Play to Conquer” tournament at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The first-ever, multi-category event to be hosted by the club, which is based in the top flat of the Red Cross building, Eve Leary, is set to attract a cadre of youth players from the various table tennis clubs across the country.

And while the focus is on providing an avenue for the young racquet wielders to showcase their skills, Dick believes it is an opportune time to also have the ‘B’ Class players participate in the two-day tournament.

“We at Titans would want to extend an invitation to those corporations and agencies to have players signed up for the tournament. As you know a lot of businesses have sports clubs and so on, so we want to encourage persons who play for just recreation to also come out and have a shot in the tournament,” Dick said.

Foster unable to make World Championships semi

Guyana’s Andrea Foster finished eighth in the preliminary round of the Women’s 800m on Wednesday when the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships continued in Beijing, China. Foster, up against a tall task against some of the world’s best, was unable to keep up with the pace of the women, clocking 2:17.39s to finish the race.

The time was three seconds off of Foster’s season’s best as well as her personal best, a sign that the athlete, just like compatriot Winston George, was unable to adjust to the climate in time for her event.

Foster, via her Facebook page, thanked those associated with her success, including Coach Julian Edmonds and her mom Alisha Fortune, who is a World Masters sprint gold medallist.

The 19-year-old also noted via her Facebook account, “I gave it my best; I know I can do much, much better and I will do better.”

Bolt v Gatlin in 200m final

The Usain Bolt versus Justin Gatlin rematch is on after both men dominated their semifinals to charge into today’s 200m final.

Bolt, looking to retain his other individual sprint title after that extraordinary 100m victory in the Bird’s Nest, looked to be saving his strength for the next showdown as he eased off in 19.95 seconds.

Gatlin, comfortably the fastest man in the world this year over 200m, as he was over 100m, ran a controlled 19.87 as he seeks revenge for his shock defeat on Sunday night.

Britain’s talented youngster Zharnel Hughes, who trains with Bolt in Jamaica, remains a shot for the podium as he won the first of the three semi-finals in 20.14.

Gatlin, twice banned for doping, has run more than two tenths of a second faster than any other man in the field this year, and almost half a second quicker than Bolt.

The Jamaican has neither the times this summer nor the races, a pelvic injury restricting his season, and he was solid rather than spectacular round the bend.

But transitioning into the straight he was able to open

Guyana’s 800m athlete Andrea Foster

Who will it be? The world will see the Bolt v Gatlin

The Titans players hard in training for this weekend’s competition

Titans president Dwain Dick turn to page 23