Guyana Times Daily

Children from Joshua House Orphanage visit P2 Kaieteur Falls

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

Issue No. 3191

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, April 24, 2017

Private Sector lashes back at Finance Minister Page 3

…says conditions not favourable to invest

Govt to hire independent consultant to verify ExxonMobil’s info

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Tangible benefits of digital coin P10 forecast to rise …experts say why you should invest now

2017 estimates

Audit Office hindered in its duties P9 – AG

... grapples with staff shortage after proposed budget slashed by Govt

Page 7

Half-year report

…citizens, regions to benefit from oil revenues

Corentyne woman commits suicide

Motorcyclist killed in WBD accident Page 17

Republic P11 Bank profits drop below 2016 figures

Page 2

Oil will worsen AG Williams on Public Sector’s an "ego trip" problems – Nandlall – Jordan Page 16

Page 11

... says his attitude challenges Judiciary, separation of powers

GMCS P17 launches education, awareness campaign

2 news Corentyne woman commits suicide monDAY, APRIL 24, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

– after another beating from her husband

T

hirty-year-old Christine Singh of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne consumed a poisonous substance on Saturday morning and consequently died soon after. Her death allegedly followed years of domestic abuse she had suffered at the hands of her husband.

According to her mother, Sarojinie Singh, Christine had told her on Friday afternoon that she was “going out,” but had promised to return home soon. After Christine had left home, Sarojinie said, she recalled that a parade was going to pass on the public road on Friday night, and so she and her neighbour went out to view it.

At about 19:30h, she witnessed her daughter being manhandled and assaulted by her husband in the vicinity of the “burial ground bridge” on the public road. The distraught Sarojinie noted that her daughter did not confide in her about this most recent beating she had received from her husband, as she did not return

Deceased: Christine Singh

home that night.

Sarojinie said she was in her kitchen sometime on Saturday morning when she heard her neighbour’s urgent call summoning her, and upon running to the front of her yard, she

noticed her daughter vomiting continually while leaning against the fence. She said she rushed to assist her daughter, but by the time she was near her, the girl had already fallen in an unconscious state to the ground.

Fearing the worst, she called a taxi – which arrived promptly – and rushed her daughter to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she learned that her child had ingested a poisonous substance. Moments later, Christine Singh was officially pronounced dead by medical officials.

Sarojinie told Guyana Times that several reports had been made to the police about the physical abuse her daughter had been made to endure at the hands of her husband; but, on numerous occasions, the reports had gone uninvestigated. This very distraught mother feels that if the police had acted on any of those reports, her daughter would not have been forced to take her own life.

(Ramona Luthi)

Children from Joshua House Orphanage visit Kaieteur Falls

The children before departing to visit Kaieteur Falls

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hirty-three children from the Joshua House orphanage visited the Kaieteur Falls for the first time on Sunday in an initiative spearheaded by the Private Sector Commission as part of its social responsibility function.

This initiative grew out of a visit Prince Harry had made to the Joshua House, where he lamented the fact that the children had never seen the famous falls and appealed to the Private Sector Commission to remedy this.

PSC members in the aviation sector reacted immediately and generously offered to make their aircraft available for such a visit.

The Private Sector Commission has, in a statement, expressed gratitude to Roraima Airways, headed

by Captain Gerald Gouveia;

Jags Aviation, headed by Mr Brian Tiwarie; and Air Services Ltd, owned by Mr Yacoob Ally, for their generosity in making their aircraft available in this regard. A private donation was also made to charter an additional aircraft.

Coordination of the visit was handled by Mr Manniram Prashad and Major General (ret’d) Norman McLean of the PSC. Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Mr Edward Boyer, who was on hand to see the children off on their adventure, observed that it was worth it to see the excited faces of the children, most of whom had never travelled on a plane before. The Private Sector Commission has said it plans to make a reality of other social responsibility initiatives of a similar nature.

news

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monDAY, APRIL 24, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Private Sector lashes back at Finance Minister

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

– says conditions not favourable to invest

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Monday, April 24 – 03:00h and 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, April 25 – 04:00h and 14:30h-16:00h.

Monday, April 24 – 15:05h-16:35h and Tuesday, April 25 –15:50h-17:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Lightly cloudy conditions followed by heavy to light rain showers are expected, with sunny conditions in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy to clear skies are predicted for the evening hours.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.02 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 15:18h reaching a maximum height of 2.70 metres.

Low Tide: 08:52h and 21:12h reaching minimum heights of 0.53 metre and 0.49 metre respectively.

P

rivate sector players have taken umbrage at Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s scathing criticisms of their willingness and ability to take risks and invest in the local economy.

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

Jordan said: “I met the existing private sector, and they are stuck in their ways. We need to have an expanded breed of private sector players. We need a private sector who shall take more chances.”

But the heads of two major private sector umbrella bodies, Eddie Boyer of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Deodat Indar of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), told the Guyana Times on Sunday that the minister’s complaints are unreasonable.

Incentives

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Boyer explained that both the Government and the private sector drive investment, but the latter is not going to invest if the conditions are not favourable.

According to the veteran private sector official, Government needs to create the incentives in order for the private sector players to take up the challenges.

He noted, too, that the projects have to be bankable, as access to finance for investment is another major hurdle in doing business locally.

Boyer also noted that the current spate of taxation is doing more to discourage investment.

And GCCI President, Deodat Indar, noted that many businessmen have complained of the overwhelming taxes and the impact the new tax regime has on doing business in Guyana.

PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer

He noted that the number of taxes have resulted in the slowdown in the velocity of money flow, and this has ultimately impacted on the various sectors of the economy.

Indar explained that in the face of an overall economic slowdown, private sector individuals will not find it attractive to invest.

Both officials have defended the private sector’s willingness to invest in the local economy, but have asserted that Government needs to work with the key players to develop strategies which can jumpstart the economy.

Local content and carpetbaggers

The Finance Minister had also stated that a significant number of players are “stuck in their ways”, and are restricted in their growth because of a refusal to adjust to a changing and more challenging environment.

Jordan had said that the private sector players are not making the necessary investments, internally and externally, that would help the economy to grow.

“In spite of all the local content legislation we may put in place, few private sector firms will benefit if they do not re-orient the way they do business,” Minister Jordan had stated.

The private sector officials have, however, posit-

ed that local content legislation will actually serve as an incentive to invest.

The GCCI President outlined that, currently, cement for the oil drilling purposes is being sourced from Trinidad and Tobago, and is being docked right there. He argued that if local content legislation were in place, such services could be acquired locally, so the private sector could benefit from that foreign investment, which will overall contribute to the economy.

He lamented that without local content legislation in place, there will be very little benefit for Guyanese from the emerging oil and

GCCI President Deodat Indar

if the risks outweigh the rewards, then businessmen will not be encouraged to invest.

“No businessman is going to invest if he is not going to make returns. Who is going to make investments in Guyana when the risks are so high and the returns are so low?” he questioned.

He also highlighted that there are other countries with greater risks involved, but businesses opt to make investments there because of the attractive rates of return.

New breed

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

gas sector, as the only revenues will be from royalties.

And the PSC Chairman warned Government that “carpetbaggers” can easily be confused as risk-takers.

He charged that investors should be thoroughly vetted before any deal is sealed, as many carpetbaggers would be coming under the guise of investing in the emerging oil and gas industry locally.

Risk and rewards

Economist Sasenarine Singh has also contended that businesses will not pump money into an economy if the investment climate is not favourable.

Singh explained that it all comes back to the ‘risks and rewards’ balance, and

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

“My new ‘breed' of private sector players would be seizing the many opportunities that are available for expansion, especially with oil on the horizon.

They will try to form partnerships and alliances with the private sector in the Caribbean and further afield to overcome some of the barriers they face, such as financing and human resources,” Minister Jordan stated.

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monDAY, april 24, 2017

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

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

Retooling for prosperity A

half-year ago, repeating the need for a governmental stimulus of the economy, we discussed in this space the latter’s evident choice between “guns and butter”. The phrase “guns or butter” entered the lexicon as a trope for signalling the tendency of some political leaders to focus their energies and their nation’s spending on the military (guns), rather than on the needs of the civilian population (butter).

The Nazi-militarised Government was particularly fond of the phrase, as its officials scoffed at the production of “butter”. It entered economics as the classic model of a “production-possibility frontier” of a nation having to choose between two goods.

At that time, President Granger announced a “five pillar” plan to reinvigorate the Defence Force versus his studied silence on a plan to stimulate the nose-diving economy. The five pillars of the plan were: personnel, infrastructure, equipment, readiness and morale. The rationale offered by the President for the increased military spending was the threat on our borders posed

by Suriname on the east and Venezuela on the west.

Yet, the then Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Philips, had just assured the nation that our present forces were adequate to defend any threats from Venezuela, and had launched in Georgetown an impressive display of our military might.

With the GDF then at about half its authorised strength, the plan to bring back the Force to its full capacity plus re-launch the atrophied reserve force which used to be called the People’s Militia and staff it with its full complement will obviously cause the wage bill to rise precipitously. When the equipment needs are factored in, the present annual spending on the entity, estimated at about $600M will have to be at least doubled.

When the choice is between guns or butter, a country can end up in a no-win situation. After WWII, the Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower became President of the USA, which had become the greatest power on the planet. Having to deal with that choice, he declared, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its labourers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.”

But the choice does not have to be “guns or butter”; it can be changed to “guns and butter”. While this newspaper is fully supportive of the need to revive and maintain a force that can adequately defend our borders, we have to be realistic to appreciate that even a weakened Venezuela, for instance, can deliver a much bigger bang with their bucks. It therefore becomes even more urgent for our Government to spend a commensurate amount of time to halt the slide of our economy and initiate policies that can create double-digit growth rates to push our surpluses. We would then be in a position to support a larger Defence Force without the strain that would be caused in the present strained circumstances.

We note the recent acknowledgement of Finance Minister Winston Jordan of the need for a stimulus package to reverse the slide of the economy, but urge the Government – as we did six months ago – not to focus solely on the expenditure side of the balance sheet. Rather than criticising the business community for not taking risks, Government must use the panoply of tools at its disposal to reduce – or allow the business community to reduce – those risks.

The liberalisation of the economy was not meant to be confined to the external trading regime only, but also to the internal investment environment. We repeat our call to the Government: “Work with the business community to collaborate on ways to generate more income for the country. In this way, we can have the safety of a prosperous populace protected by wellpaid security personnel.”

World Earth Day 2017: Mangrove roots filter saltwater and promote fish biodiversity (Credit: Harald Franzen/©GIZ)

Cox was never wronged by UG Dear Editor, An article (which appeared in one of the daily newspapers on Sunday, April 23) under the title: “Law student spends years fighting for UG results – intended career quashed, as the University moves to CCJ”, in which specific mention is made of me, including that “Repeated efforts by this newspaper (KN), to contact Mr Alexander have proven futile.”

I find it necessary to comment on the content of that article, for three reasons.

1. I would have commented on the matter if I had been contacted by the media house that carried the article. The failure of their effort to contact me was unfortunate.

2. While my name is highlighted, I wish to clarify that in relating to Mr Clairmonte Cox, I did so on behalf of the University, whose management’s position I would have communicated. As of December 2014, I no longer spoke for, or acted on behalf of, the University. I never took the matter personal, but was, and still am, of the view that Cox was never wronged by the University.

3. The article, whether intentional or not, veils and omits pertinent information thus allowing for the readers to come to ill-informed conclusions.

In the article, Cox is quoted as stating “the Ministry of Finance apparently had some hiccups in accurately getting the payment to UG”.

Cox is dishonest in making such a statement. It is a verifiable fact that Cox was granted a loan in the first year on condition that he commenced repayment immediately, on a monthly basis. He never honoured that commitment/obligation and as such, was refused loans in the subsequent two years of the programme. Thus, his fees were not paid and he literally ignored all notices of his non-entitlement to sit examinations and in collusion with members of the University’s staff sat examinations, the results of which he now argues he is entitled to.

It is not for me to second guess the court, but the fact of the matter is there was no hiccup on the part of the Ministry of Finance. Cox was in default with regard to his first loan. He was not granted the two subsequent loans and consequently, did not pay his fees for the two

remaining years of his programme.

It is also pertinent to note that when Cox first filed his action against the University, the University’s administration was never served notice and was not aware of the proceedings until after the court had ruled on a case in which there was no active respondent. The notice was served on then Pro Chancellor Dr Prem Misir, whose office took no action and allowed the court to hear the matter in the absence of any response/defence from the University. It is anyone’s guess as to what the outcome would have been had the University been able to present its case. When the Pro Chancellor informed the Council of the University of the matter and its outcome, it was even too late for the University to have appealed. I know of no other instance when the Pro Chancellor was the recipient of a court order on behalf of the University. It is worthy of note that this matter was brought to the Council’s attention by a member and that only then the Pro Chancellor’s office acknowledged receipt of the summons and the court order.

While it is true that ini-

tially the University, at the end of the programme, engaged Cox on the possibility of paying up the fees, he was not forthcoming, thus the University resorted to the position that Cox had not registered (not paid fees) for two years and was not entitled to results for examinations taken in defiance of clear stipulations that he was not entitled to sit the examinations. His statement that he had three years to pay his fees, after the end of the programme is but another fabrication of Cox. The University has no such facility.

It is true that some three years after the University had ruled on Cox’s matter, he did come forth with an undertaking of the Ministry of Finance to grant him loans retroactively. At that time, the University had already disengaged three years prior and moved on.

For me, this letter is simply intended to lay the facts bare. I have no interest in what the court decides. I am in my third year away from the University and its actions, but cannot standby and have Cox use the media to mislead and misinform the public.

Yours truly, Vincent Alexander

Exposing a buffoon Dear Editor, The Sunday Kaieteur of April 23, 2017 features a letter from the prolific Freddie Kissoon with accusations of

racism, bigotry and tribalism.

On page 20 of the same edition, the Government of Guyana has a Public Advisory on Racial Hostility. If not as a

“deep obligation to the readers”, but as a thoughtful law abiding citizen, Mr Kissoon should provide the evidence to the Guyana Police Force

against the accused. In the process, a buffoon will be exposed.

Sincerely, S Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, april 24, 2017

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

An open letter to all MPs on Sunil Narine is seen as 14% VAT on private education a good batsman in India Dear Editor, According to the media, there will be an attempt by the PPP to debate in Parliament on May 8th the rescinding of the 14 per cent VAT on Private Education.

This is an Open Letter to all the Members of Parliament in Guyana, representing all parties, to vote against the VAT on private education.

Last week I contacted a number of leaders regarding their views on this question.

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan stated that he supports the VAT saying "the government has to raise money" as they have a significant deficit.

Marlon Williams, the General Secretary of AFC, stated that he was completely opposed to the 14 per cent VAT, saying that "there should be no VAT on education…. Guyana has fought for free education for almost 50 years and we simply cannot turn our back on it now”.

The Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Lionel Kissoon said, “I sincerely think that the 14 per cent VAT on private education should be rescinded.”

Roy Beepat, was clear, “On Behalf of the Giftland Group of companies we urge the Government to repeal this tax on our students...this single Tax can and may be the difference between being re-elected and not, as when the 15,000 petitioners go to the poll they will surely remember this.”

Christopher Ram stated, “I find the imposition of VAT on education to be disappointing, depressing and distressing… and most of all disappointed at President Granger.”

Peter Bouchard said there is a danger that, “ …our future so-called ‘good life’ should prove to be empty electioneering words, words which will never again be believed when it comes time to vote”.

There were about 20 others that I invited to comment, including a number of Cabinet Ministers. It could be that the contact information for them was incorrect or they were simply too busy, but there was no response.

Interestingly, the only one to respond was the President.

In preparing this letter I re-read all 1,500 comments that have been published on our ipetition (see: www.ipetitions.com/peti tion/education-vat-free). On February 24th the petition, with more than 14,000 signatures, was delivered to the President and Ministers Winston Jordan and Rupert Roopnarine. There was no response.

Some of the comments on the ipetition include: •

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Keith Gordon, Guyana, “.. find another way to raise revenue … please speak out Minister of Education.”

Charlotte Francis, Guyana, “…there must be at least one person with a heart in this decision.”

Yashoda, Guyana, “… don’t raise an ignorant

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nation please.” · Christopher Williams, Guyana, “education is the only way out of poverty.”

Keshawn McAllister, Linden, “how do you know that I am not paying a loan to afford private education?”

Oswin Lynch, Guyana, “where is the study which validates this measure?”

Maria, Guyana, “…this is discriminating against private school children.”

Renee Chester, Guyana, “…this is not what I voted for.”

Annika Narine, Guyana, “…can I ask the persons responsible for this to highlight the benefits of this to us?”

Gordon Britton, Grand Bend, Canada, “education is a human right, not a good or service to be taxed like a luxury car.”

Merle Huntley, Cape Town, South Africa, “the benefit to the state of an educated population is way more valuable than any amount of tax revenue.”

Janet Joseph, USA, “President Burnham promised free education from the womb to the tomb.”

Alicia Isaacs, Guyana, “for better future leaders let’s say VAT free education.”

Hemchand Balli, Guyana, “the government should show that they care for the people.”

Azad Khan, Guyana, “… …retrograde terrible move.”

Vaidehi Narine, Guyana, “the future depends on us, don’t try to make it even harder.”

Vera Zhigalova, Czech Republic, “education is not a thing by which we should build a country’s finances.”

Rajeev, Guyana, “so much for free education.”

Anil Balli, Guyana, “show that you really care for the people of Guyana.”

Somava Stout, USA, “ a tax on education risks the future.”

Kevin McKenzie, Guyana, “people expect the government to be compassionate towards its people.”

Andrew Budhram, Arima Trinidad, “draconian at best.”

Rondecia Wallace, Guyana, “this move by government is heartless.”

Imran Bacchus, Guyana, “adding VAT just makes the future of many Guyanese more difficult.”

Amanda B, Guyana, “Yes I have a choice … 2020.”

Jason Joseph, Guyana, “ it demonstrates backward thinking.”

Peter Bouchard, Guyana, “this is one of the most backward steps ever taken by any government in the world.” · Jaime Singh, Guyana, “I am presently studying at a private school …VAT means I may have to drop out.”

Eudo Singh, Guyana, “by destroying the buds you

will see no flowers.”

Yonette Gordon, Guyana, “APNU/AFC said education should be free for all”.

As Members of Parliament you are our elected representatives and we earnestly hope you will vote based on your conscience and not simply follow the party line.

Before you vote we urge you to reflect on the following questions: #1: How does a coalition government, with a majority of one, manage to ignore a petition signed by more than 14,000 persons? #2: How can there be a “huge budget deficit” and yet none of the leaders suggest other possible sources of revenue? #3: Others have said, ‘so many of the private schools are not paying their taxes’.

Why is it so difficult for a government, with all its powers, to resolve this flagrant injustice? #4: Some Ministers have suggested, that certain schools have been granted tax free status as a “religious school”. Why is the same concession not given to schools run by persons of other Faiths? #5: Senior Cabinet Ministers have stated simply, “they have a choice.” Has the public education system, which is presently the target of a Commission of Enquiry, the capacity to re-integrate the thousands of persons who may be forced to leave private schools? #6: Some claim there is no need for private education as the results from public schools are more than adequate. Have any of those statements been supported by research? The overwhelming body of evidence from national Primary examination results is that private schools are significantly over represented in terms of “success”.

Another commentator talks about CSEC success at the top public schools – did he forget the role of the lessons juggernaut here? Moreover, are lessons teachers asked for the 14 per cent or even for any tax? #7: Within a few weeks of the 14 per cent imposition more than 10 per cent of the 800 ABE students at Nations have dropped out and joined the ever-swelling ranks of the unemployed and unemployable in Guyana. The public system has no equivalent course to the ABE programme offered at a small handful of private centres. Furthermore, if the thousands of students at the eight Off-Shore Medical schools cannot find the additional 14 per cent where will they go? The Aeronautical

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School attracts students from Guyana and the wider Caribbean – the government makes no attempt to provide them with state sponsored training. What will happen to the Jamaican Law school, will the Jamaican Consortium simply look for a more conducive country to do business? #8: Do we care about the international image that has been created by this tax? We cannot find a single example anywhere in the world that has imposed a similar tax on private education. #9: Is it true that “private schools are making significant sums of money?” Yes, some are making “significant” money. Is that wrong? A more pertinent question is “do those schools pay their fair share of tax?” – the ones that are tax compliant pay millions of dollars in Income Tax and Corporation Tax. We need to be careful that we are not developing an anti-private enterprise culture in Guyana – with a huge oil flow around the corner that will not send the right message to the international developers who will be essential to develop those prized riches and who are, no doubt, watching this VAT saga. #10: Why don’t the private schools simply pay the 14 per cent themselves? Yes, that can be done - once all the other businesses in Guyana do the same then the private schools can follow suit. #11: Minister Ramjattan supported his Yes vote by saying simply that there is a significant deficit in the budget.

If this happened before elections, rather than after, would they not have been obliged to sincerely listen to and respect the views of the people? #12: In conclusion, where does that leave us? By abandoning any decision for almost a year the government has succeeded in exhausting and frustrating thousands of persons. A significant number of the youth of this country, already disenchanted by politics are now totally disillusioned. They look for their leaders and can’t seem to find them under any political banner. #13: Are the dollars taken worth the pain, suffering and disenchantment of thousands and thousands of persons?

We surely deserve answers to each of the above questions from our political leaders. Is that too much to ask for? Should the ‘leaders’ of the country be accountable to the views of the people?

Sincerely Dr Brian O’Toole Director, Nations

Dear Editor, I am in India for almost two weeks now to attend the “Indian Diaspora Indentured Academic Conference” held over the weekend in New Delhi where I presented a paper on Indian Indentureship in Guyana and the Caribbean. I used the occasion also to enjoy cricket in which several West Indians are participating in the Indian Professional League (IPL) cricket tournament.

Wherever I travelled in India and at 20/20 IPL matches, because of my ‘English’ accent, curious questions arise on my nationality as Indians would say “I look Indian”, and they want to know how come I speak English differently from them. Of course I am Indian as being born in Guyana does not make me non-Indian. And having Guyanese nationality does not make me a non-Indian in terms of race or ethnicity. It is easiest to say to Indians that I am from West Indies with which Indians easily identify or relate to in terms of cricket because of the several West Indian players in the IPL and the many Indo-Caribbean players who toured or played against India. Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine, Chris Gayle, etc, are well known

by Indians. And then questions arise about the great bowling ability and, of late, the batting skill of Sunil Narine in 20/20 and the batting prowess of Shivnarine Chanderpaul in Tests, and why he is not allowed an opportunity to break Brian Lara’s record as the highest run maker in Tests for West Indian batsmen.

Everyone knows Sunil Narine (Indians pronounced his name as Na-ra-yan – a high Brahmin pandit caste) as among the best 20/20 bowlers in the word. But Indians and the world do not know about his batting skills. He has had some lusty hits in the IPL this year and in the Big Bash in Australia. He also played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL. Not many know that Narine is also a batsman.

Earlier this year, during

field research on outstanding Indo-Caribbean cricketers in Trinidad, I learn that Sunil Narine started out as a batsman in club cricket in his native Trinidad. He did not do well as a batsman when he started out his cricket career.

He tried some bowling in order to be an all-rounder (batsman-bowler so his selection can be justified) where he also did not impress. So he decided he would focus on bowling.

Fast or medium pace bowling was not his niche, and he did not have ability as a paceman. So he focused on spinning. Off spinning did not work. So he focused on leg spinning where he was most effective; off spinning tend to trouble batsmen more than leg spinning.

Narine has troubled batsmen with his leg spinning ever since he started his First Class career around 2009, and he has done extremely well in the IPL as well as in other global matches in Australia, etc.

He is one of the few bowlers who have taken all ten wickets in a match. So he is well-recognised as a bowler.

But it is his batting ability that has surprised many – lower down the order and lately at the top of the order. At the bottom, he has hit some lusty blows to the boundary, and more at the top of the order. He has never failed to impress, including in his latest match on Sunday night for the KKR against RCB. Very few know that Narine has good batting skills (or experience as a batsman), having batted at the top of the order in Trinidad before becoming an exceptional bowler.

He has been batting well, and his captain Gautam Gambhir has praised his batting skills.

That skill was amply demonstrated in Big Bash and IPL matches. He took 18 off fellow Trini Samuel Badree, in the very first over at a 300 strike rate. And of course, Narine remains an economical bowler in 20/20 and other formats of the game.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

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MondAY, APRIL 24, 2017

Page

Foundation

Helping students find their

‒ 3 exercises to get students writing with vivid detail—a key step to developing a distinctive style of their own

By John McCarthy

H

ow do authors draw us in with their prose? What does an article or book do that makes us nod along, laugh out loud, or shout, “What?” Used well, a writer’s words can speak inside us. How do we develop a student writer’s voice so they can have the same effect on their readers?

A writer’s voice is a combination of many factors. The 6+1 Trait writing model, for example, focuses on ideas, organisation, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation.

Developing all of these factors requires ongoing workouts to grow and build confidence in one’s writing voice. Strive to have students write every day. The length may vary, from three to 40 minutes, depending on the curriculum-related experience. Here are three exercises that can be used frequently as writing practice.

Portrait writing This exercise gives students practice with details, especially sensory language: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch. Introduce this in the classroom to teach the process and answer questions regarding the skills students will practice. Once the process is understood, take students to different parts of the building and outside to provide them with different scenery to capture in their writing. This exercise has four steps.

Pick a location or object that you want to capture in a portrait. In a classroom, this may be a wall of posters, an animal cell or habitat, or items on a table. Outside of the classroom, the chosen focus should be rich in sensory qualities. Students should pick their topic.

Capture sensory notes about the chosen focus using all five senses. Students should capture two or three details that fit each sense. These notes can be in any format of the students’ choosing. Often, they make a list. Early on, it’s helpful for students to label the senses after completing their notes to ensure that they have the required number of details for each.

Write a description of the scene or location, using each of the senses. Each sense should be used at least once.

Synthesising notes into a coherent

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description helps students see how to make writing appealing to readers.

This skill is transferable to all genres of nonfiction and fiction. For example: “The chill wind buffeted the school entrance and filled my mouth with invisible ice.

Puffs of hot breath billowed from the students re-entering the building. They passed through red doors, their chatter echoing along the tiled hallway.”

Display the portraits. Publication is important to portrait writing. Having a public audience signals to students that their efforts matter. Publication can mean a public reading, posting in the hallways, and/or being published on a blog or social

media tool.

Using three out of the five senses in a writing assignment can make the reading more appealing to readers. Painting scenes and descriptions with words is one way to draw a reader into the writing.

Inference Riddles “Show, don’t tell” is an adage that writers often hear. But what does that look like? This exercise gives practice in developing understanding that can be transferred to all types of writing. Have students do this exercise as a warm-up to an author study or as a follow-up to modelling an author’s style.

Take students outside of the classroom, preferably outside the building. The location needs to have lots of items that are varied to choose from. Some examples are the parking lot, the playground or cafeteria immediately after lunch, or the school entrance area.

Choose three items and collect descriptive notes about each. Outside, there are cars, discarded items on the ground, signs, and other objects. Students choose three and use sensory detail to describe them. It’s best to describe three features of each object. For example: “This red object had four thick tires. Between two eyes that shone bright light was the image of a smooth silvery horse in full gallop. It sat facing outward in its stall, so that the person could leave in a hurry at the end of the day.”

Make an inference about how the object got there. The above example’s final sentence makes a guess, based on the evidence, as to the reason the car was parked facing outward. The object is never named. The description provides clues that allow the reader to infer an answer.

What kind of car is described above?

Publish the work so that others can solve the riddle.

Readers and listeners should be able to guess the object based on the description and inference. Publication can be in small groups, the whole class, or online.

ThinkDots In “So All Can Learn: A Practical Guide to Differentiation”, I address writer’s voice with the ThinkDot strategy (in which students are given six activities marked with one to six dots and roll a die to select which one to do first).

In this example, the teacher designed two versions of the assignment – one more complex than the other. Students were assigned the one that best stretched their skills appropriately. Working in groups, students built a shared understanding of voice, and how to find theirs.

Using these strategies for frequent practice helps students hone their voice.

Start with three- to five-minute portrait writes. Sprinkle in Inference Riddles and ThinkDots for a change of pace. Over time, students will build writing stamina, and their confidence in their voice will grow. The results will make their future teachers, employers, and the students themselves happy. (Excerpt from edutopia)

Even fish need friends – new research explores how social connections ease stress

By Lydia Denworth

T

he presence of a friend can lower stress levels. That’s an established phenomenon known as “social buffering”.

Given how lethal stress can be, this is very good to know.

But exactly how do friends calm us down? Does it matter which friend? And under what circumstances? Scientists are exploring these open questions in everything from fish to 15-year-olds. A series of recent studies provide some interesting new hints to better explain the power of social connection.

A shoal of zebrafish wouldn’t be the first place you’d think to study friendship and stress. But a team of Portuguese researchers led by Rui Oliveira did just that. They placed fish in tanks alone or with other familiar fish, and then injected a substance known to be alarming into the water. The zebrafish showed reduced levels of fear – they froze less – when they could smell the presence of familiar fish and even lower levels if they could see their “friends”.

This marks the first time anyone has found evidence of social buffering in fish. It suggests that the phenomenon is so important to survival that it has distant evolutionary origins shared by many different species. And furthermore, the researchers believe zebrafish brains hold clues to how exactly friendship eases stress in humans. In the presence of the shoal, the fish showed patterns of brain activation very like those seen in mammals with friends.

For chimpanzees (and humans, for that matter), a friend is an individual with whom there is a long-standing, cooperative bond.

A recent study led by Roman Wittig and Catherine Crockford at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany investigated two possibilities. Did the presence of friends mainly help animals weather stressful experiences (like coming across a neighbouring group of chimps)? Or did it make a difference to their well-being in a more everyday way, such as when they were grooming each other? The researchers measured stress-related hormones (glucocorticoids) in the chimps’ urine in both situations, as well as when the animals were not socialising.

Hormone levels were lower whenever friends were together, and the difference was most pronounced in the most stressful situations. But overall, the researchers found evidence that regular time spent with friends led to better routine health. The benefits of social buffering, in other words, aren’t limited to moments of acute stress.

Chimpanzees and humans share a neurobiological set-up called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is ground zero for stress responses. Imagine that you are preparing to give a speech to a large crowd. That’s enough to induce stress in most of us, and trigger a cascade of hormones along the HPA axis. The end result is that cortisol levels in the blood rise. Higher cortisol levels get you revved up to perform, but can be harmful over time. Being with friends lowers the levels of cortisol and other stress-related hormones.

Mothers are the best social buffers for children, lowering stress levels and helping them cope In humans, scientists are investigating how and when stress responses develop. For young children, mothers (or other close caregivers) are the best social buffer there is. Children put in a stressful situation show more mature regulation of brain activity when their mothers are with them. But how does that response change as children grow older? That’s what neuroscientist Dylan Gee wanted to know. Formerly at the University of California, Los Angeles and now at Yale, Gee studies how brain circuits mature.

As in so many other things, in her study, puberty turned out to be a turning point for dealing with stress. For adolescents, Mom’s presence no longer helps to reduce stress. On the other hand, the necessary brain circuitry to be able to manage the stress – a network that connects the amygdala to the prefrontal cortex – is more fully developed in teenagers. Gee and her colleagues think that perhaps there’s a window of time in childhood during which the positive effects of social buffering are etched into the brain.

It seems logical that when parents no longer serve as social buffers, friends might take over. But that’s not what a recent study from the University of Minnesota found. The researchers induced stress in 15- and 16-year-olds using a common test that combines stressors like public speaking and mental arithmetic.

They found that the presence of friends did not reduce stress.

In fact, cortisol levels went up compared in response to friends versus parents. Perhaps for hyper socially conscious teenagers, having peers around is a mixed blessing because it adds peer pressure. By adulthood, however, friendship is a proven and reliable source of stress relief. Teenagers notwithstanding, the balance of the evidence is clear: If you’re feeling stressed, call a friend. (psychologytoday.com)

7 Govt to hire independent consultant to verify ExxonMobil’s info news

monDAY, APRIL 24, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

– says citizens, regions to benefit from oil revenues

G

overnment has moved to hire an independent consultant to information supverify plied by U.S.-based oil giant ExxonMobil, in light of another recent discovery of oil and gas offshore Guyana.

This information was revealed by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman during a recent parliamentary committee meeting held in the Parliament Chambers.

The minister told the committee that Government has no intention of squandering the natural gas that would be made available to the country, but the matter would be extensively studied. He said an independent analysis will be conducted to determine whether water or natural gas should be used to pressurize the wells to extract commercial quantities of oil.

“Government is using

said.

Trotman said that when production begins in mid2020, Government will install the relevant equipment to independently measure the oil and gas at the point of extraction.

several different means of corroborating and cross-referencing the information…

We’re using other independent sources and contractors to tell us what there is,” he

“There is going to be real-time monitoring onshore and on the vessel by personnel on a 24-hour basis, to ensure that the production is as it said it would be,” he ex-

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

plained.

ExxonMobil recently told Government that Guyana may be able to access 50 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, which by calculation can provide the country with 200 megawatts of power.

According to the minister, the recent data was provided only in March, following repeated requests by Government to have the oil company supply that information.

Trotman also said Government would ensure that both citizens and regions benefit from the oil revenues. He said Government is currently discussing several ways in which the ordinary Guyanese people could benefit, and one of those ways is through social programmes in the areas of education and health-care.

He said Government would also consider whether the citizenry will receive benefits directly, such as yearend cheques, or via social services within the regions. “The idea is that regions would receive a percentage, perhaps following the fiscal transfer system, as is use currently,” Trotman said. He, however, explained that that decision would have to be made by Parliament.

Consideration may also be given to have the population receive benefits in a variance in which each citi-

zen would receive a cheque at year-end similar to the situation that obtains in places like Alaska.

Regions Five, Six and Ten would also benefit from the

establishment of a petroleum facility which is carded for establishment at Crab Island in Berbice, the minister noted.

Government has already completed the structure for the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, an aspect of the regula-

tory framework for the oversight of the new sector. The fund will have budget support, or what he termed “budget stabilisation”, which he noted is to ensure that the Ministry of Finance is capable of carrying out programmes relative to the petroleum sector.

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Chutzpah…

O …of Moustache Man?

r a case of “just don’t give a damn” by the entire PNC-led APNU: in this case, of Basil Williams taking his odiferous doo-doo and rubbing it on the behind of the learned judge of the High Court??

Whatever it is, the AG’s drawn the battle lines between the Executive and the Judiciary – lines that were staked out early in this administration, when the Mustachioed Man went after the then Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Many in the society – especially supporters of the Government – brushed aside that early salvo as “sticking it to PPP appointees”. They assumed amnesia about what the PNC had proved in their first incarnation in Government: give them an inch and they’ll take a furlong; especially when it comes to the Judiciary. The two top honchos in the Judiciary are both appointed by this Government, and yet, here it is: the AG is walking all over them.

Justice Holder had tried to avoid bringing out into the open the conflict involving Executive overreach into Judicial competency when, after Williams’s gross disrespect, he left the bench rather than slap him with a contempt order for his contemptible behaviour and words. But against Justice Holder’s valiant sacrifice for the dignity of the Guyanese state, Williams displayed his total lack of class – and unconcern for the big picture – when he now insists the Judge can’t cite him for contempt OUT of court!!

Can you believe this? Well, this Eyewitness can.

Williams is a fella who’s so self-conscious about his unfitness for the office he holds that he’ll inevitably resort to the “brute force and ignorance” that’s become his trademark. What else is available to him?

Certainly not the wit or legal facility of his Founder Leader, whom he tries to mimic, but actually parodies and caricatures!

But this is a serious matter, dear readers, and the leaders of the Judiciary will have to rise to the occasion, like Justice Crane did back in the day. In a Parliamentary democracy, there’s no ‘separation of powers’ between the Executive and Legislature. The latter’s the slavish handmaiden of the former, since each MP is either a minister serving at the will of the President, or SLOBBERS at the thought of becoming a minister – to rake in the privileges and perks. Only the Judiciary stands between rule of law and rule of the jungle.

The matter of the AG being in contempt of the Court is not a matter that should be left for Pressie to call off his terrier. It is for the Chancellor and Chief Justice (both acting) to demonstrate they won’t be cowed because of their sex or their insecure tenure.

…on waste

Can the AFC be so oblivious to their status in Guyanese society nowadays that they would miss the irony of the caption they placed over their Column in the Muckraker: “Putting waste in its place”? Most Guyanese – especially their supporters in Berbice – see THEM as a “waste” today, and are only waiting for 2020 to dump them into the dustbins of history.

One of the reasons they probably don’t see the reality is because folks like the Muckraker’s publisher kept their column in the face of their total irrelevance both in and out of government. Quick now: can you think of an initiative of the Government – ANY initiative – in which the AFC had a finger, much less a hand?

Your Eyewitness isn’t holding his breath on the VAT on private education ploy the AFC’s trying to pull to distinguish itself from APNU. That’s just a distinction without a difference, after the slavish support they’ve given up to now.

Like they say in Berbice: “Dew cyaan full wha’ rain na full!!

…in food ad

The theme for “Restaurant Week” reminds your Eyewitness of a used tyre outfit’s promo announcing a “blowout sale!!”

Doesn’t “Explore eat and repeat” highlight what you DON’T want food to do to customers?? Repeat!!

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

news

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2017 estimates

Audit Office hindered in its duties – AG

…grapples with staff shortage after proposed budget slashed by Govt

T

he proposed budget for the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) was slashed by the Government side in the National Assembly during consideration of the 2017 Estimates of Expenditure, and the resultant consequences have since included the AOG grappling with not having adequate staff, or adequate funds to pay them.

The proposed estimate for the AOG in the last budget was $771.2 million for that constitutional agency that is tasked with auditing ‘the state apparatus’, but Finance Minister Winston Jordan had decreased this sum to $754.9M. Auditor General Deodat Sharma says the AOG has been affected by the cut, being forced to relinquish plans to hire additional staff. And although central government’s accounts have been brought up to date, work has to be done on statutory bodies.

“It (the budgetary cut) affected us because we were unable to bring on the rest of the staff that we needed, especially when carrying out our extended mandate,” the Auditor General related in a recent interview.

“What is happening (is that) the country’s accounts have been brought up (to date), (and) I’m trying to bring all the other statutory bodies and their accounts up to date,” Sharma pointed out. “And without the adequate staff, it will delay me to bring these accounts up to

date.”

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has been vocal in its opposition to the budgetary cut. The party pointed out that the total budgetary allocation for constitutional agencies in 2016 was $8 billion, whereas it is only $6 billion in 2017.

Former Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill had, during a conference, reminded that a budget was a financial plan which articulated the direction of an organisation and the cost to get there. Therefore, he argued, by cutting the budgets, affected organisations would now have to re-organise priorities and neglect funding for some critical undertakings.

“Whenever the Government reduces the allocations for constitutional agencies, they are actually preventing themselves from being scrutinised. For example, the Auditor General would say, ‘This is what we need.’ If you cut the Audit Office (budget), the Auditor General would have to re-organise his priorities, and so something will be left out; which means less scrutiny for Government,” he explained.

The AOG has a wide remit, being responsible for auditing the public accounts of Guyana and presenting reports of those audits to the Minister of Finance, thence to the National Assembly. As laid out in Article 223 of the Constitution of Guyana, the AOG is authorised to audit

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

all officers and authorities of the Government, including commissions.

Slashing of the AOG’s proposed budget came on the heels of AG Deodat Sharma declaring in his 2015 Audit Report that Government had kept more than $500M, rather than depositing same into the Consolidated Fund.

That report, made public in October 2016, had spoken of the millions of dollars used on the D’Urban Park construction, Mashramani celebrations, and $51.5M being spent on ‘music’.

Nor was the AOG the only agency to have its proposed funding re-adjusted. PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had lamented that constitutional agencies had altogether requested some $11 billion, but Government was willing to approve only some $6 billion, a difference of over $5 billion.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has

suffered the deepest cut in its budgetary proposals, with its 2017 budgetary request being slashed from $5.8 billion to a mere $2 billion.

Government also reduced the budgetary requests for the Ethic Relations Commission (ERC) from $141.2 million to $84.9 million; the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC’s) budgetary requests from $15.02 million to $10.02million; the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission’s (IPC’s) requests from $33.1 million to $24.4 million; and the Rights of the Child (ROC) Commission’s request from $97 million to only $41.5 million.

The Women and Gender Equality Commission requested $62.9 million but received only $42 million, while the Human Rights Commission received $34.1 million of the $74.9 million requested.

The Minister of Finance also slashed the budgetary request of the Office of the Ombudsman -- still without a head -- from $50.3 million to $48.3 million; and the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, which has not yet been established, received $12.4 million of the $13.9 million requested.

In response to questions emanating from the Opposition, Minister Jordan had argued that the allocations were made “in context of existing fiscal space and the consideration of the agencies’ requests within national development priorities.” (Jarryl Bryan)

Govt working to revitalise collapsing economy – Harmon

H

aving received reports of an alleged downward spiral of business and economic activities in the country, Government is taking every possible step to revitalise the country’s economy, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has said.

Harmon explained that the economy is always on the front burner of issues Cabinet members look into, and Government is working towards its resuscitation.

“The President has, at least on three occasions, summoned some of the key ministers -- Finance, Agriculture, Business and Natural Resources -- to look at options on how they are going to address certain things,” Harmon told reporters on Thursday.

He said the housing sector has also been earmarked as a key economic generator -- to see an improvement in employment, among other things. The same will be done in several other sectors, the minister disclosed.

Harmon said Government is doing the best it can to ensure that Guyana does not follow a path similar to what had been taken by some neighbouring countries that have been experiencing economic challenges. As such, every step is being taken to ensure revitalisation of economic activities and creation of a smooth flow of money in the system, he said.

He said, however, that

Minister of State, Joe Harmon

Guyana’s situation has to be considered comparatively with the economic realities of neighbouring countries such as Brazil, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. “These economic realities are not strange.

People are reading, they are on the Internet and they understand what is going on internationally,” Harman said.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has also recently shared some of the measures being taken within the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) that could affect economic growth across Guyana.

Bashed

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had earlier this month bashed Government for not doing enough to revitalise the economy. turn to page 10

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News

Tangible benefits of digital coin forecast to rise …experts say why you should invest now

W

hile the tangible benefits of cryptocurrency are currently limited, the advantages of investing in digital coins are expected to skyrocket in the coming years.

One of the widely known and largely used crypto currencies is the Bitcoin, the first decentralised peerto-peer payment network that is powered by its users with no central authority or middlemen.

Gabriel Abed, the founder of Bitt, the fintech firm behind the new Caribbean cryptocurrency; and Robert Williams, the Associate Information Officer of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, are encouraging persons to educate themselves about the revolutionary cryptocurrency movement, and decide whether they are prepared to capitalise on this dynamic shift in the worldwide digital landscape.

Value

Abed explained that cryptocurrencies can be used for cost savings in value transfer, to access markets otherwise not accessible using other forms of payment, or for trading purposes in order to earn profits.

“You can use them to buy digital assets and stocks in new generation companies,” he explained to the <<Guyana Times>>.

Williams added that this is the creation of a new channel for payments infrastructure, and there are lots of values to be had in giving the existing channels some competition.

“One hopes that the added competition from digital currencies will inspire banks to improve their services, increase their level of efficiency, and pass the savings on to consumers,” he stated.

Risks

However, like with any

Bitcoin is the first decentralised peer-to-peer payment network that is powered by its users with no central authority or middlemen

investment, there are associated risks in the use of cryptocurrencies, but Abed has said he cannot list a single risk with Guyanese getting involved with Bitcoin, other than lack of education.

“Education and awareness are paramount, just like the early Internet age of awareness was crucial,” he stated.

Abed said investing in cryptocurrency is attractive, because it provides an alternative value transfer sys-

tem and store of wealth.

“The idea behind the main cryptocurrency at reference, bitcoin, is deflationary in the sense that only 21,000,000 bitcoins will ever exist. This form of limitation does make for a great ingredient in pricing speculation, especially in the case of increased utility and user growth, which bitcoin is facing,” he said.

The downside, however, is that, due to their nature of being a global market asset and because they are 24/7 global market trading and manipulation-prone, the prices of bitcoins swing violently. “However, average cost buying is a great way of buying bitcoin monthly -- a little bit at a time, regardless of the price. If the principles of deflationary systems hold true and bitcoins (or the other crypto) hold utility, then the price should rise over time,” Abed stated.

The expert advises that persons should invest only what they can afford to lose; and they are investing at their own risk, after they would have educated themselves on the topic.

UNCLAC Associate Information Officer Robert Williams has also cautioned potential investors to weigh the pros and cons before making a big leap into the cryptocurrency market.

“Ten years from now, it is likely that what we see now as innovative payment systems would have become integrated into the global financial landscape.

It’s important to ensure that, when this happens, Guyanese businesses will not be on the outside looking in, but rather are able to use crypto currency as a tool that can facilitate their integration with international value chains,” he expressed.

Regulatory sandboxes

Abed and Williams acknowledge that digital coins put governments in a difficult position, but they are of the view that embracing this technological revolution can transform the business landscape of any nation.

Abed said governments should see bitcoin as technology for many different uses in their organisation.

Real estate land titles, birth certificates and passports are just a few areas of business that can be revolution-

ised with ‘blockchain’ technology.

A blockchain is a public ledger of all Bitcoin transactions that have ever been executed. It is constantly growing, as 'completed' blocks are added to it with a new set of recordings.

Williams recommended that governments should follow the lead of the United Kingdom in establishing "regulatory sandboxes,” which give innovators in this space the latitude they need to experiment with new products under a time-limited regime of relatively lax regulation, while still assuring that these companies maintain basic standards of conduct.

A regulatory sandbox is a 'safe space' wherein businesses can test innovative products, services, business models and delivery mechanisms.

“In the long term, a legal framework will be necessary to assure consumer protection, appropriate taxation, and compliance with existing laws. But I would advise against establishing one prematurely,” he stated.

Williams reminded that this technology is still in a highly experimental stage, and it’s not clear what the end result is going to look like.

The Guyana Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) hosted, on April 6, the country’s first forum on digital currency. (Devina Samaroo)

Govt working to revitalise...

from page 9

The criticisms were made against the backdrop of inadequate investments being made in the country through public/private partnership or otherwise.

Jagdeo said if Government were serious about developing the economy, it could have already entered into approximately 50 public/private partnerships as it inches closer to its third year in office.

Jagdeo reiterated that the economy is sluggish, and said it was not because of the absence of drug money, as some may claim; but because of -- according to Government’s own admission -- the lack of investment in the country. “People are

being laid off because sales have collapsed…,” Jagdeo pointed out.

He also highlighted the huge demand for public/private partnerships as he chided Government’s slothfulness in capitalising on this opportunity.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin recently said Government has not entered any public/private partnership because there is no framework in place to ensure value for money and that any form of abuse is prevented.

Jagdeo, however, is contending that there is no need for a fixed framework. “If the minister is serious, he’d look

at an investment opportunity where they need a PPP (public/ private partnership).

They would develop a prospectus which would estimate the cost of the project,” he said. According to Jagdeo, the prospectus would also state conditions under which each side would participate, and the benefits to private sectors involved, whether in guaranteed rates of return or special tax breaks; and then those conditions would be advertised.

“They could have done 50 of those (PPPs) by now if they are seriously involved in PPP. It’s a simple thing to be done. It’s just ordinary work to pursue PPP,” he posited.

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News

Oil will worsen Public Sector’s problems – Jordan F

inance Minister Winston Jordan believes the arrival of an oil and gas sector will only worsen the issues plaguing the public sector, if prudent measures are not immediately taken to correct those problems.

“As it stands right now, oil will worsen our problems because of the huge inefficiency in the public sector,” Jordan told a diaspora gathering at the Guyana Embassy in Washington DC on Friday.

Jordan explained that the present state of the public sector is less than desirable and conducive if the country is to benefit tremendously from the burgeoning oil and gas sector.

According to him, the public sector suffers from

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

both management and skills deficits. “This is reflected particularly in the implementation of PSIP (public sector investment policies), the dearth of capable con-

tractors to implement projects, and the less-than-efficient service delivery in many areas,” he told the Guyana Times when contacted on Saturday to expand on his statements made during the diaspora meeting.

The minister further explained that the emerging oil and gas industry will demand skillsets, management and competencies that are currently in short supply in the public sector. “In that regard therefore, the arrival of oil and gas would only worsen the present situation if bold and creative attempts are not made to address the problems,” he asserted.

Moreover, Jordan acknowledged, Government will have to move with haste

to enhance the situation in Guyana.

Honest

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

to improve the public sector so that such a dismal situation does not eventuate.

He called upon the diaspora community to lend support in any possible way

In an invited comment, Guyana’s former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, observed that the Finance Minister seems to be more forthcoming and honest in his assessment of the economic realities when he is speaking to a foreign audience.

Referring to the Finance Minister’s admission that there are problems plaguing the public sector, particularly in regard to inefficiency, the Opposition Leader outlined that underspending of the $230 billion National Budget for 2016 illustrates one of the major inefficiencies of the public sector.

Former Minister within the Finance Ministry in

the PPP Administration, Bishop Juan Edghill, had noted thus: “Money isn’t the problem, management is the problem; so we can best describe this coalition Government as incompetent. They have mismanaged the economy…it is clear that strategic planning is woefully lacking.”

Sailing

At his most recent press conference, Jagdeo had argued that many of the economic woes facing Guyana are mainly due to the incompetence and ignorance of the Minister of Finance.

“They are at sea at that ministry… At the Ministry of Finance, (they are) sailing all over the place,” Jagdeo declared. (Devina Samaroo)

Half-year report

Republic Bank profits drop below 2016 figures

R

epublic Bank Guyana Limited has, over a sixmonth period ending March 31, 2017, recorded an after-tax profit of $1.3 billion; $64million, or 4.5 per cent, less than the corresponding period for 2016.

The bank’s unaudited half-year financial statement has declared this

decrease due mainly to an increase in the bank’s provisions for loan losses, amounting to $109 million.

The statement also reported that an interim dividend of $1.28 per stock unit would be paid.

Republic Bank’s Chairman, Nigel Baptiste, has assured that despite the challenges the bank faces with the economy,

Republic Bank Guyana Chairman Nigel Baptiste

the bank would maintain its focus on profitability.

He said: “Notwithstanding the current challenging economic environment, your bank will continue to focus on its growth objectives, containment of operating expenses, and the application of sound risk management practices.”

While the bank has been turning profits, there has been a notice-

able decline in those profits over the past few years.

According to Republic Bank’s audited third quarter financial statement in 2016, the bank failed to exceed its 2015 profits by more than $100 million.

The company in 2015 earned just over $4.3 billion before taxes, winding up with a $2.8 billion profit. In 2016, however, the company returned a prof-

it of just about $2.7 billion, and paid almost $1.6 billion in taxes, compared to just over $1.4 billion in taxes in 2015.

Republic Bank’s audited financial statements did report an increase of almost $10 billion in the company’s asset holdings.

Increases were recorded in the company’s cash in hand, deposits, and treasury bill holdings.

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Around the World

French election: Macron, Le Pen North Korea crisis: Trump speaks with China’s Xi, Japan’s Abe set to face off in final round

U

P

olls have closed in the first round of the presidential vote, and for the first time in modern French history, no major-party candidate will advance to the runoff.

First projections based on partial results showed Emmanuel Macron, a former minister and leader of the centrist En Marche! party and Marine Le Pen, President of the far-right National Front through to the second and final round, which will be held on May 7.

Voter turnout was higher than expected in the closely watched race that could ultimately change the future of Europe.

In a contest that was too close to call up to the last minute, Macron – hailed for months as the favourite to become France’s next President – was projected to get 24 per cent by the pollster Harris and 23.7 per cent

by Elabe.

Le Pen, leader of the an-

Supporters of French presidential election candidate Emmanuel Macron celebrate [AFP]

ti-immigration and anti-EU National Front, was given 22 per cent by both institutes. Three further pollsters all projected broadly similar results.

There was a total of 11 candidates vying for France’s top job, four of whom stood a real chance at making it through to the final round.

Francois Fillon, a former minister and leader of the conservative Republican party and Jean-Luc

Melenchon, leader of the far-left La France Insoumise party received around 20 per cent each, according to Harris, which means their elimination from the race.

Le Pen has promised to review the country’s ties with the EU and raised the prospect of leaving the bloc.

As soon as voting ended, Le Pen’s niece Marion Jeanne Caroline MarechalLe Pen, called the election “a historical victory for patriots”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India’s Cheraman mosque: A symbol of religious harmony

O

n India’s western coast, facing the Arabian Sea, there once lived a Hindu king who had a vision of the Moon splitting into two halves.

Concerned that the dream was a warning, he immediately asked his court astrologers to interpret what he had seen.

They couldn’t provide an explanation that would satisfy the king so the problem remained unsolved until a group of Arab traders arrived at his port, in what is now India’s southern state of Kerala. The traders explained that the king’s vision was most likely a reference to one of the miracles performed by the Prophet Muhammed.

Convinced, the king converted to Islam and set off to Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.

He died before he could return to his kingdom, but left instructions to build what would become India’s first mosque.

That at least, is how the

According to a foundation stone on the premises, the Cheraman mosque was built in AD629, although that has been disputed [Hui

Zhong/Al Jazeera]

myth goes.

The actual history of the Cheraman mosque in the town of Kodungallur is murkier. According to a foundation stone on its premises, the mosque was built in AD629, but the evidence is conflicting.

Kodungallur is about an hour north of Kochi city, a popular tourist destination, but few foreign visitors come here. The State government, however, hopes that will change as it embarks on an ambitious project that will

highlight the area’s history.

In the first phase of the project, the State government has restored two synagogues and opened them to the public.

In a state with a large proportion of religious minorities – combined, Muslims and Christians form nearly half of the State’s population – the State Government hopes the historical sites will push a message of religious harmony. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

9 killed in drug shootout in Mexican village

N

ine people were killed in what prosecutors said on Sunday was a gun battle between rival drug gangs in the mountains of Mexico’s west coast state of Michoacan.

The battle took place Saturday and in an isolated village of the municipality of Churumuco, which borders on Guerrero state, where eight bodies were found on the main street and another in the nearby sierra, the

state prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The region, especially Guerrero state, is the site of the worst violence in Mexico in recent years as gangs battle over fields of opium poppies, which are used to make heroin.

In the first three months of the year, there have been 338 murders in Michoacan, up more than 40 per cent from the same period last year.

Violence in Mexico has risen to its worst levels since 2011. Guerrero is the bloodiest state and Michoacan has the fourth highest tally for firearms murders.

In January 2014, the Federal Government effectively took over control of Michoacan for more than a year in a bid to curb violence between drug gangs and community militias that had risen up to fight extortion and kidnappings.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

S President Donald Trump was scheduled to speak on Sunday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, with North Korea expected to be discussed.

Tensions have risen sharply with North Korea over its advancing nuclear and missile programmes.

Pyongyang said on Sunday it was ready to sink a US aircraft carrier to demonstrate its military might and detained a US citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country.

The man was identified only by his surname, Kim, the BBC reported.

He becomes the third American to be detained by the North; one has been sentenced for spying, the other for trying to steal a sign

from a hotel.

The latest detention comes amid high tension on the peninsula, with the US warning its “strategic patience” on the North’s nuclear programme is over.

A US naval battle group headed by an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, and described by President Donald Trump as an “armada”, is expected to reach the Korean peninsula later in the week. (Reuters and BBC News)

North Korea “ready to sink” US aircraft carrier Vinson

The Vinson battle group was conducting exercises with the Japanese navy in the Philippine Sea on Sunday

N

orth Korea is “ready to sink” a US aircraft carrier heading for the peninsula, State media have said.

A commentary in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper warned that the USS Carl Vinson could be sunk “with a single strike”.

A battle group headed by the Vinson is expected off the peninsula this week.

It was despatched by President Donald Trump amid a warning that US

“strategic patience” over the North’s nuclear ambitions had come to an end.

Tension also rose after a recent failed missile test by the North and a massive military parade showing off its latest hardware.

Sunday’s commentary in Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers’ Party, followed a feature on leader Kim Jong-un’s inspection of a pig farm.

“Our revolutionary forces are combat-ready to sink

a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a single strike,” the commentary read, saying that the attack on what it called a “gross animal” would be “an actual example to show our military’s force”.

State newspaper Minju Joson echoed this, warning the army would “deal merciless destructive blows at the enemies so that they would not come back to life again”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Leading Kenyan conservationist wounded

R

enowned Italianborn conservationist Kuki Gallmann has been shot and injured in an ambush at her conservation park in central Kenya.

The author of the best-selling memoir I Dreamed of Africa was airlifted to hospital for treatment.

Gallmann, 73, owns the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

She also ran a luxury safari lodge that was burned down last month by suspected cattle herders, who have been in conflict

with landowners.

Herders have been invading private property in search of fresh grazing in the drought-stricken Laikipia region.

British rancher Tristan Voorspuy, who also ran a safari company, was shot dead in early March while inspecting his lodges in Laikipia.

There is no confirmation of who carried out the attack on Gallmann, who was reportedly shot in the stomach.

She was flown by helicopter to hospital in

Nairobi to undergo treatment.

Gallmann owns about 360 sq km in Laikipia, which is home to rare wildlife, birds and trees. Her organisation also runs community, education, arts and sports projects.

She moved to Kenya in 1972 with her husband and son who both later died in separate accidents. She later became a Kenyan citizen.

I Dreamed of Africa was turned into a film starring Kim Basinger. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Venezuela Opposition holds silent march to honour dead

T

housands of Venezuelans dressed in white marched in silence to remember those killed in three weeks of protests against the Government of President

Nicolas Maduro.

In Caracas, some protestors were initially blocked from reaching the office of the Roman Catholic archdiocese but then let through.

Marches to Episcopal offices took place in cities across the country.

The opposition blamed the police and militias for the deaths of 20 people.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 News

monDAY, april 24, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

AG Williams on an “ego trip” – Nandlall

… says his attitude challenges Judiciary, separation of powers

A

ttorney General Basil Williams’s pointblank refusal to apologise to a sitting judge for his courtroom behaviour which forced Justice Franklin Holder to leave the bench in protest is not going down well with observers.

According to his predecessor, Anil Nandlall, Williams’s obstinacy smacks of a continued disregard for the Judiciary and the concept of separation of powers.

The Attorney-at-Law made it clear that he has never seen such conduct in his years of practice. “(Williams) has demonstrated his utter disrespect and, indeed, has compounded his contempt for the Judiciary in refusing to apologise to Justice Franklin Holder for his egregious conduct in the courtroom,” Nandlall said in an interview on Sunday.

Nandlall observed that in the letter Williams wrote to President David Granger,

thereby disputing what the Judge’s record is. So he is compounding his disrespect by attempting to portray the Judge to be a liar. I have never seen this kind of conduct displayed towards the Judiciary,” Nandlall declared.

Separation of powers

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

dated April 15, to ‘explain’ his conduct, Williams spoke in the third person by describing himself throughout the letter as the Honourable Attorney General. Nandlall stated that this was significant.

“In that letter, he continues to regurgitate several lines in relation to what transpired in the court,

Nandlall was also critical of Williams’s suggestion in his letter, that Justice Holder should recuse himself from hearing the Carvil Duncan case. Duncan is in a legal fight against his suspension as Chairman from the Public Service Commission (PSC).

And according to Nandlall, this suggestion does not take into account Duncan’s right to a speedy hearing. He stated that it would be unfair for the case to have to go before another Judge through no fault of Duncan, bearing in mind the already lengthy time spent in court.

Attorney General Basil Williams

“So Williams believes that he’s running the Judiciary, that he can dictate when Judges should hear a case. This is precisely why there’s a doctrine called the separation of powers, which makes the Judiciary independent from the Executive.”

“And the Executive cannot be seen to, in any way,

be giving the Judiciary direction. Why should the Judge recuse himself because Williams is on an ego trip? This is utter madness,” Nandlall told this newspaper.

While Williams insisted in his letter that if he had been in contempt of court, the Judge had a duty to cite him before leaving the bench, Nandlall stated that this was not so. According to Nandlall, the contempt of court power resides with the Judge and thus can be exercised in the future.

“But I hope that the Judiciary will act in such a manner to maintain its own integrity and would not act in a manner that may bring the administration of justice into disrepute and allow the populace to lose confidence in the justice system. And that’s why Judges have the power of contempt; it is to protect the system that administers justice.”

“When the public loses confidence in the administration of justice, society will begin to disintegrate. And here you have the head of the Guyana Bar adopting a posture that can lead to loss of public confidence in the administration of justice; all because of his ego and idiosyncratic behaviour.”

The matter arose while Justice Holder was hearing the legal challenge filed by Duncan against the attempt to remove him from the chairmanship of the Public Service Commission on March 23.

Conflicting reports arose from Nandlall, who was present, and Williams about what Williams did to cause Holder to walk off the bench.

The day after the incident, Justice Holder formal-

Justice Franklin Holder

ly complained to the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary that he had abruptly walked out of the courtroom because of statements made by the Attorney General. He quoted the AG as saying, “I could say what I want to say and however I want to say it. I have always been like that.”

The High Court Judge said in his complaint that he felt disrespected by the Attorney General’s behaviour, and has called for an apology in open court.

However, Williams is holding out that he is not to be blamed for causing the High Court Judge to walk out of the courtroom. He has also insisted that his comment was not a threat.

President Granger had told reporters that he asked Williams to formally give a detailed explanation of what transpired. Granger is in receipt of Williams’ response.

Days after two media houses published Nandlall’s version of what transpired in the courtroom, Williams threatened lawsuits against the media houses. (Jarryl Bryan)

news

17

monDAY, APRIL 24, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Motorcyclist GMCS launches education, killed in WBD awareness campaign T accident M

otorcyclist Corwin Anderson of Lot 99 David Rose Street, Bagotville, West Bank Demerara was killed on Sunday at about 05:45h following a collision with a car on the Nismes Public Road, West Bank Demerara.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur and father of one was reportedly driving motorcycle CG 4337 in a northerly direction when motor car PJJ 6297, travelling in the opposite direction, allegedly collided with him and sent his body flying several feet away from the scene of the collision.

Bleeding profusely, he was picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) by public-spirited individuals, where he later succumbed to the injuries he had sustained.

According to Sharon Anderson, one of his aunts, having been informed that her nephew had been involved in an accident, she immediately rushed to the WDRH, where she found him bleeding profusely. She has criticised the hospital for not being fully equipped to deal with her relative’s injuries.

“He was bleeding [profusely] and the doctor them gotta pumping, trying to get the blood out, because he was actually suffocating… he (was) choking. The doctors had to remove the oxygen from him just to get to clean out (the blood) from the mouth…. If I’m bleed-

Dead motorcyclist: Corwin Anderson

ing, by right you should have been able to be replacing that blood… But the fact remains that because (the hospital was) not… equipped, you know, it (cost him his) life,” she told Guyana Times.

This aunt detailed that it was at exactly 07:26h when her nephew took his last breath. She said the police arrived at the hospital shortly after, as the driver of the motor car was being treated for minor injuries.

He was subsequently discharged into police custody to assist with investigations.

The late Corwin Anderson was described as the “street live wire” by relatives and friends, who sought to describe how jovial a person he had been.

He leaves to mourn his reputed wife, seven siblings and other relatives and friends. (Ramona Luthi)

he Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) has launched its education and awareness campaign as part of a committed effort to sensitise the public of the implications of climate change and its impact.

Head of the GMCS, Annette Arjoon-Martins said it was crucial to build a nation that was aware of the concepts of climate change and its unprecedented threats to our nation’s well-being. She noted that as a result of climate change, the Shell Beach Protected Area was closed to tourism on account of rapid erosion.

According to her, environmental literacy is the main engine for a green citizenry and for advancing green jobs; hence, the GMCS education campaign.

Arjoon-Martins told Guyana Times that with oil on the horizon, the GMCS was hoping that good sense would prevail and environmental standards would be upheld. She noted that deepwater drilling has its challenges and, as such, the necessary consultations with all stakeholders must take its course.

“We hope that there are meaningful consultations with residents of the coastal areas and indigenous communities and especially the fishermen, because in the event of an oil spill, God forbids, we will have to be prepared and those are the residents who will be mostly affected,” Arjoon-Martins said.

pressed the GMCS’s sadness at the lack of research in terms of developing a list of our marine resources. She further expressed hope that this initiative would be undertaken soon, since it was of paramount importance as it was critical in the management of marine resources.

The GMCS, as a part of Earth Day activities, collaborated with Simpson Oil to have the Sea Turtle Monument refurbished. The Sea Turtle Monument was erected in 2001 to sensitise the public about one aspect of their natural heritage.

Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) Head Annette Arjoon-Martins and a representative from Simpson Oil pose in front of the Sea Turtle Monument in Georgetown

During a stakeholders’ engagement session at the University of Guyana in March of this year, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman informed that the Government did not expect

an oil spill, but did say that there were plans in place to deal with such an issue if it arose. However, he did not divulge the details of the plan.

Arjoon-Martins also ex-

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, April 24, 2017

ARCHIE

Check for any flaws or hidden details that can in(March 21- fluence your decision regardApril 19) ing a financial or tax matter.

Sticking to a format will be less conspicuous when dealing with bureaucracy.

ARIES

Strive to learn something

TAURUS new. Studying, doing some re(April 20- search and speaking to experts May 20) will help you sort out any confu-

dilbert

sion or uncertainty you have regarding your taxes, a medical issue or educational pursuits.

Break through barriers GEMINI and look inward for answers.

(May 21If you concentrate on what June 20) you can do to make a difference, an unexpected opportunity will develop. A youngster will offer insight.

You will need to be disciplined in all your pursuits.

(June 21- Making an impulsive stateJuly 22) ment or change will be costly. Your time is best utilized making personal improvements.

CANCER

Peanuts

Set goals, live up to your LEO standards and expectations, (July 23and bring about changes that Aug. 22) will make your life better.

Don’t let personal complications distract you or influence your financial strategy.

Calvin and Hobbes

Learn all you can about VIRGO your options when dealing (Aug. 23Sept. 22) with household matters or issues involving older relatives.

Don’t let anyone push you to make a snap decision.

Opportunity knocks. Don’t LIBRA allow anyone to stand be(Sept. 23tween you and what you want.

Oct. 23) Hesitation and procrastination

will be your downfall. Observe what’s going on around you, and follow through with your plans.

Choose to be successful.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Don’t worry about what SCORPIO others do. Use your intuition (Oct. 24to bring clarity to whatever Nov. 22) situation you face. If an idea or offer feels right, pursue it with gusto.

If you feel good about SAGITTARIUS something you want to do or (Nov. 23- someone you want to spend Dec. 21) time with, make plans to do so. New opportunities will set the stage for positive change.

SATURDAY’S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Keep life simple. Stay CAPRICORN close to home and avoid mat(Dec. 22ters that involve government Jan. 19) agencies, institutions or large corporations. Stay focused on what others do or say.

Consider ways to bring AQUARIUS in extra cash. Don’t let your (Jan. 20skills, creative imagination Feb. 19) and innovative intelligence go to waste. Something you enjoy doing can bring in extra cash.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Take better care of your PISCES (Feb. 20- health and personal well-beMarch 20) ing. Nurture relationships, but don’t give in to poor influences or take up bad habits because you want to fit in.

monDAY, aPRIL 24, 2017

19

GCA/Carib Beer T20…

Barnwell (71), Imlach (60) power DCC to another win ‒ De Roche claims hat-trick for GYO

D

emerara Cricket Club (DCC) proved why they are deemed the powerhouses of Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) with another commanding win over Transport Sports Club (TSC) in their final match of the group stage of the Carib Beer first division T20 tournament.

Playing at home, DCC recorded a mammoth first innings score of 235-5 from 20 overs then limited the visitors to 122-7 from 20 overs.

With the win, DCC remained unbeaten in their four matches.

Christopher Barnwell blasted seven sixes and six fours in a top score of 71 for DCC while receiving support from Tevin Imlach, who continue to show form in this tournament with 60 (6x4s;3x6s) ; Sherfane Rutherford and Brian Sattaur chipped in useful scores of 35 and 30 respectively.

DCC’s top four batsmen accounted for 15 sixes and 16 fours which amount to 154

Defending champions DCC leave the field after completing their final group match against TSC

Garfield De Roche

Deonarine Seegobin

runs in boundaries among them. They were hostile to the TSC bowlers, including Kevin Ross, who bagged 2-59 from four overs.

In reply TSC was off to a horrible start after being placed at four runs for the loss of three wickets and they never recovered, settling to bat out the overs to gain much required points to stand a chance of advancing to the

semifinals pending the result in their clash against the University of Guyana in next weekend clash.

Suresh Budhoo made 27, Oslyn Batson (26) and

Messi stars as Barca beat Madrid in thriller

Lionel Messi scored his 31st La Liga goal of the season

L

ionel Messi scored his 500th Barcelona goal to send them top of La Liga with a last-minute winner against 10-man Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

It puts Barcelona level on points with Real Madrid, but with a better head-to-head record.

Casemiro scored first for the hosts before Messi and Ivan Rakitic put Barcelona in front and Sergio Ramos was shown a red card for a wild lunge.

Substitute James Rodriguez thought he had earned Madrid a point late on. But Messi, who scored

his first with a superb jinking run and finish, fired in from the edge of the area to win it for Barcelona.

Both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier missed good opportunities to give their sides the lead, with the Argentina international poking wide of an open goal before the break and the Real Madrid forward slicing over in the second half.

Madrid - who have a game in hand on Barcelona - also felt they should have had a penalty when Ronaldo was clipped by Samuel Umtiti after only two minutes.

Ryan Hemraj (21) as Andre Stoll, who made a return to club cricket after a hiatus for personal reasons claimed 2-23 from four overs and Rutherford took 2-33.

Three of the semifinalist are now known, with Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) topping zone B ahead of Everest Cricket Club, who will face zone A’s winner DCC. The other semifinalist will be known next weekend.

Across at GCC Ground, Bourda despite a four wicket haul which included a hat-trick from Garfield De Roche Gandhi Youth Organisation still ended

up on the losing end against GCC. De Roche playing in his only game this season made life tough for the GCC team which slipped from 58-2 to 58-5 in three successive deliveries, with the dismissal of Joshua Wade, who was bowled for 30, Deonarine Seegobin caught behind for naught followed by Manny Forde, who was bowled also for naught.

Nevertheless they managed 123-8 from 20 overs, with Matin Pestano Belle 32, Wade and Samuel McKenzie 28 the main scorers. De Roche finished with 4-34 while

Parvindra Persaud grabbed 2-24.

GYO folded for 68 in 17.4 replying to GCC. Alex Ramalho and Surendra Hiralall with 16 and 15 respectively were the only batsmen to reach double figures. Seegobin took 3-17 and Bernard Bailey 2-18 for GCC. In the other match of the day, UG recorded an important win over Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) at Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary. However, up to press time scores were not accessible. Report of this match will be provided subsequently.

West Indies v Pakistan, 1st Test, Kingston, Day 3…

Gabriel strikes back on Younis’ record day

I

t sometimes felt as if the sole purpose for playing this Test match was to provide Younis Khan a platform to score the 23 runs he has needed to become the first Pakistan cricketer to score 10,000 runs. If that was indeed the case, then the purpose had been served.

There was almost a palpable sense that a burden had been lifted, and Pakistan’s scoring rate picked up sharply after that. The West Indies pacemen had tired themselves out, and the spin bowlers Devendra Bishoo excepted.

Having come through a cagey second session, Younis and Babar Azam tucked into Roston Chase and Kraigg Brathwaite, during a stand of 131 for the third wicket, a six into the second tier by Younis the shot of the day.

Jason Holder was forced to return to the quicks once again, and called upon Shannon Gabriel to do something about a match that was slipping away from his side.

The move paid off almost immediately. In just Gabriel’s second over back, Younis, who had perhaps relaxed a bit too much, failed to keep an attempted cover drive along the ground, spooning it straight to Brathwaite at short extra cover. It wasn’t before Younis had scored a valuable 58, though, putting his side in control of an in-

wrapping up the home side’s innings, which had stretched on interminably owing to a combination of uncooperative weather and a wagging tail.

Pakistan were dealt an early blow when Azhar Ali, indisputably their best batsmen of late, fell to a short wide delivery from Joseph that he will rue flashing at.

Younis Khan kisses his helmet after reaching the 10,000-run landmark

nings that had been quivering at 54 for 2 when he came in.

Gabriel wasn’t done, however, accounting for Babar in his next over, the young batsman playing on to his stumps after making a composed 72 off 201 deliveries as a seesawing Test began to even up again. The new batsmen, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq, simply shut up shop thereafter as the quicks continued to push for another wicket in fading light. But the pair, nothing if not defensively resolute, held on till the close of play, Misbah surviving a review off what turned out to be the last ball of the day, setting the game up for an intriguing last couple of days.

The day had started with Mohammad Amir (6-44)

Ahmed Shahzad struck some confident boundaries on his return to the Test side but fell soon after, as a Holder delivery nipped in late to strike him on the back leg.

With Gabriel’s late intervention taking the advantage away from Pakistan, the crowning glory is still very much up for grabs.

SCOREBOARD West Indies 1st innings K Brathwaite c Younis Khan b Mohammad Abbas 0 K Powell c Younis Khan b 33 Mohammad Amir S Hetmyer b Mohammad Amir 11 S Hope b Mohammad Amir 2 V Singh c Azhar Ali b Wahab Riaz 9 R Chase c Wahab Riaz 63 b Yasir Shah S Dowrich† b Yasir Shah 56 J Holder* not out 57 D Bishoo c †Sarfraz Ahmed b 28 Mohammad Amir A Joseph b Mohammad Amir 0 S Gabriel b Mohammad Amir 5 Extras (b 4, lb 18) 22 Total: (all out; 95 overs) 286 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Brathwaite, 1.2 ov), 2-24 (Hetmyer, 8.2 ov), 3-32 (Hope, 12.6 ov), 4-53 (Singh, 19.4 ov), 5-71 (Powell, 26.2 ov), 6-189 (Chase, 69.3 ov), 7-189 (Dowrich, 69.4 ov), 8-264 (Bishoo, 88.5 ov), 9-274 (Joseph, 90.5 ov), 10286 (Gabriel, 94.6 ov)

Bowling: Mohammad Amir 2611-44-6, Mohammad Abbas 22-4-63-1, Wahab Riaz 23-666-1, Yasir Shah 24-5-91-2 Pakistan 1st innings Azhar Ali c †Dowrich b Joseph 15 Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Holder 31 Babar Azam b Gabriel 72 Younis Khan c Brathwaite b Gabriel 58 Misbah-ul-Haq* not out 5 5 Asad Shafiq not out Extras (b 4, lb 3, nb 8) 15 Total (4 wickets; 78.2 overs)201 To bat: Sarfraz Ahmed†, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Abbas Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Azhar Ali, 5.4 ov), 2-54 (Ahmed Shehzad, 16.3 ov), 3-185 (Younis Khan, 66.5 ov), 4-186 (Babar Azam, 68.1 ov) Bowling: Gabriel 16-5-37-2 (3nb), Joseph 16.2-5 35-1 (2nb), Holder 18-3-40-1 (3nb), Bishoo 15-1-35-0, Chase 6-1-25-0, K Brathwaite 7-1-22-0

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, april 24, 2017

GCA/NSB 2nd Division 40-over…

TSC too much for DCC in electric final overs, Jacques who batted responsibly for most of his innings attempted a big heave against Massiah off the first ball of the 37th over and was cleaned bowled.

His dismissal sparked celebration for the Thomas Lands side, which started their journey as GCA/ NBS champions for the 2016/ 2017 season.

Former national youth

By Delvon McEwan

T

ransport Sports Club (TSC) defied the odds on Saturday to defeat powerhouses of Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) by a narrow margin of 10 runs to win their first New Building Society (NBS) second division 40-over title.

The TSC team has been consistent at the second division level of GCA cricket, especially for a club without a practicing facility for approximately 12 years.

However, yesterday playing in front of scores of spectators, they prove their worth at this level after they posted 182 all out before returning to restrict DCC to 172 all out in 36.1 overs at the world renown Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda.

Like he did for TSC two weeks ago in their unsuccessful attempt to claim the Noble House Second Division two-day title against Guyana Nation Industrial Corporation (GNIC), Rafael Singh was once again his side’s most instrumental player in the final. His 41 runs and bowling figures of 2-27 from his quota of eight overs earned him the man-of-the match award.

After being inserted by DCC, who played with a weakened team due to some

Those who received awards for individual performances are: Azeem Azeez (TSC) zone stage best bowling figures 8-26 against University of Guyana; Dwain Dick bowler with most wickets in the zone stage with 17 wkts at 7.8 RPW (Stefan Wilson of GCC also took 17 wkts but Dick had the better average; Shaheed Mohamed (Everest) batsman with the

es; Oslyn Batson batsman with the highest score in the final; Dennis Squires best bowling performance in the final; Cowen Ismond best fielder in the final (2 catches); Rafael Singh man-of-the match in the final.

The champions pocketed G$100,000 and a trophy while the runners up claimed G$60,000 and a trophy.

Rafael Singh receiving his Man-of-the-Match trophy from a GCA representative

of their top players having to represent Georgetown in the Demerara Inter-Association Tournament, TSC reached a score 18 runs short of 200 compliments of Oslyn Batson 42 from 43 deliveries, Singh’s 41 and opener Adrian Hinds (26).

Experience campaigner Dennis Squires was outstanding with the ball for DCC, picking up 3-15 from eight overs while his senior and skipper Lyndon Lyght took 3-47 and fast bowler Carlton Jacques bagged 2-28.

In pursuit of the target, DCC never looked in command thus the game swung back and forth until TSC sealed the deal.

After losing their first wicket at 24-1, the Queenstown side slipped to 98-5 then 106-6 until a 34run seventh wicket partnership between Lyght (12) and Jacques (28) gave them some hope.

However, when TSC skipper Shaun Massiah removed his opposite number trapped in front with the score at 140-7, it was obvious the pressure would be mounted on the batting side which required 42 with three wickets in hand.

Jacques tried relentlessly with the remaining batsmen, sharing 15 followed by 17 in the eighth and ninth wicket stance.

With 11 to get from four

TSC skipper Shaun Massiah receiving the winning trophy from NBS Deputy CEO Anil Beharry with representatives of NBS and his team present

pacer, Dexter George, who was promoted to open the batting top scored with 42 for DCC while Jacques was their next best batsman.

Singh, Massiah and Charwayne McPherson spearheaded TSC’s bowling with two wickets apiece.

highest score zone stage 131 versus Sophia; Best fielder in zone stage Chemroy Kendall (TSC) 8 dismissals (6 catches, 2 stumpings); Shaheed Mohammed (Everest) MVP Zone A 309 runs and 11 wickets; Timothy McAlmont (GCC) 221 and seven catch-

In the last three years the tournament has grown to become one of the top events on the GCA calendar and it is known for developing and exposing young talent, namely Tevin Imlach, Sherfane Rutherford and many others.

‒ RCB register all out!

49

E

den Gardens played host to a sensational IPL encounter, with Royal Challengers Bangalore slumping to 49 all out and a humiliating defeat.

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s star-studded batting line-up was sensationally skittled for the lowest total in Indian Premier League history on Sunday as Kolkata Knight Riders overcame a batting collapse of their own to secure a remarkable 82-run victory.

Chasing a seemingly modest target of 132, Bangalore subsided to 49 all out in 9.3 overs, with not a single player reaching double figures amid a frenzied atmosphere at Eden Gardens.

The previous record low score had been Rajasthan Royals’ 58 against RCB in 2009.

Virat Kohli’s dismissal for a firstball duck set the tone for the visitors’ embarrassing innings, which saw seamers Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes and Colin de Grandhomme run riot on their way to respective figures of 3-21, 3-6 and 3-4.

KKR had earlier made a superb start through Sunil Narine (34 from 17 balls), before enduring a struggle against spin as they were limited to 131 all out.

That total ultimately proved more than enough, however, with Bangalore offering a shambolic response on their way to a fifth defeat from seven outings this season. They now sit bottom of the table. In contrast, second-placed Kolkata boast five wins from their first

record low in humiliating defeat to KKR Yet it mattered little as RCB produced a horror show in reply that is sure to prompt serious questions. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

Kolkata Knight Riders’ players celebrate a comprehensive win © BCCI

seven outings.

Coulter-Nile did much of the initial damage for Kolkata. Either side of Umesh Yadav accounting for Mandeep Singh, the Australian had Kohli caught at second slip and AB de Villiers held behind the wicket off a top-edged pull, before also removing Kedar Jadhav, the top-scorer with a paltry nine.

England all-rounder Woakes then took centre stage, removing Chris Gayle - on the four-year anniversary of the opener’s world-record T20 innings of 175 not out for RCB - and Stuart Binny in his first over.

The accurate Woakes also had Samuel Badree lbw and there were

three late scalps for De Grandhomme as Bangalore’s last six batsmen fell for the addition of just nine runs.

Kolkata’s innings began with a bang thanks to Narine, who scored all of his 42 runs against Gujarat Lions last time out in boundaries.

On this occasion, Narine hit Badree for three fours and a six in the first over and dominated an opening stand of 48 with Gautam Gambhir that spanned just 22 balls.

The Knight Riders were unable to make the most of their strong start as wickets tumbled at regular intervals thereafter, Yuzvendra Chahal picking up 3-16.

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (20 overs maximum) S Narine c Chahal b Binny 34 G Gambhir*c †Jadhav b Mills 14 R Uthappa† lbw b Badree 11 M Pandey c Badree b Chahal 15 Y Pathan st †Jadhav b Chahal 8 S Yadav c Mills b Negi 15 C de Grandhomme c Kohli b Chahal 0 C Woakes c Mandeep Singh b Mills 18 N Coulter-Nile c de Villiers b Negi 2 U Yadav not out 2 Kuldeep Yadav b Aravind 4 Extras (w 8) 8 Total (all out; 19.3 overs) 131 Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Gambhir, 3.4 ov), 2-65 (Narine, 5.4 ov), 3-66 (Uthappa, 6.2 ov), 4-82 (Pathan, 9.1 ov), 5-93 (Pandey, 11.1 ov), 6-93 (de Grandhomme, 11.3 ov), 7-120 (Woakes, 16.3 ov), 8-125 (Coulter-Nile, 17.3 ov), 9-125 (SA Yadav, 17.4 ov), 10-131 (Kuldeep Yadav, 19.3 ov) Bowling: S Badree 4-033-1, Mills 4-0-313.3-02, S Aravind 27-1, Binny 1-0-9-1, Chahal 4-0-16-3, Negi 3-0-15-2

Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 132 runs from 20 overs) C Gayle c Coulter-Nile b Woakes 7 V Kohli* c Pandey b CoulterNile 0 Mandeep Singh c Pandey b UT Yadav 1 AB de Villiers c †Uthappa b Coulter-Nile 8 K Jadhav† c Woakes b CoulterNile 9 S Binny c†Uthappa b Woakes 8 P Negi lbw b de Grandhomme 2 S Badree lbw b Woakes 0 T Mills c Kuldeep Yadav b de Grandhomme 2 S Aravind not out 5 Y Chahal c Pandey b de Grandhomme 0 Extras (lb 3, w 2, nb 2) 7 Total (all out; 9.4 overs) 49 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Kohli, 0.3 ov), 2-3 (Mandeep Singh, 1.2 ov), 3-12 (de Villiers, 2.3 ov), 4-24 (Jadhav, 4.1 ov), 5-40 (Gayle, 6.2 ov), 6-40 (Binny, 6.5 ov), 7-42 (Negi, 7.3 ov), 8-44 (Badree, 8.3 ov), 9-48 (Mills, 9.1 ov), 10-49 (Chahal, 9.4 ov) Bowling: Coulter-Nile 3-0-21-3, U Yadav 3-0-151, Woakes 2-0-6-3, C de Grandhomme 1.4-0-4-3

21

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mondAY, april 24, 2017

CWI/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Jaguars crowned champions ‒ Cornwall spoils fairytale ending

B

ottom of the table, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes did what no other team in the Professional Cricket League Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament could have done all season; beat the defending champions the Guyana Jaguars.

The Hurricanes completed their second successive victory over the Jaguars late on day three at Providence when the teams met for the final match of the season.

The margin of victory was by 10 wickets after another poor batting display by the home team.

In November, the Hurricanes completed the highest successful chase in regional First Class cricket when they chased 369 to win by four wickets at Warner Park in round two.

The Jaguars then bounced back to win four of their next seven matches with the other three ending in draws.

Along the way, the Jaguars accumulated enough points to take their third successive Headley/Weekes Title with a match in the bag.

At the start of the match the Jaguars wanted to take revenge on the Hurricanes who wanted to prove that their earlier upset was not

fluke.

The visitors began day three in a commanding position at 255-7 enjoying a lead of 68 with Jacques Taylor on 60 and Jeremiah Louis on 20 in a partnership valued at 44 at that stage.

They extended the partnership to 68 with intelligent batting. Louis was first to go to give Raymon Reifer his third five wicket haul at this level and his best bowling figures in an innings. Taylor continued with Gavin Tonge to realize the 300 for the Hurricanes.

He was then outfoxed by a beauty from Reifer for wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble to take a simple catch.

Left arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul then picked up his first wicket of the match when debutant Elvin Berridge was hit in front of the stumps and was sent on his way.

With a deficit of 119 to wipe off to avoid embarrassment and an innings defeat the Jaguars batsmen never suggested permanence and were asked to survive 11 overs before lunch.

Assad Fudadin was first to go when he offered wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton a simple catch in the third over of the second innings.

Chandrapaul Hemraj was clean bowled for 29 by Jeremiah Louis (not in photo) (Romario Samaroo photo)

Seventeen year old debutant, Bhaskar Yadram then give Berridge his first wicket in First Class cricket when he edged behind for Rakheem Cornwall to complete the catch after it was deflected from Hamilton on the stroke of lunch. At the interval the Jaguars were 30-2 still trailing by 89 runs.

The second session was no better for the champions who lost three wickets for the addition of 63 runs in 28 overs. Jaguars Captain, Leon Johnson horrid run with the bat continued when he drove a half volley in the

air where Akeem Saunders dived full stretch to complete the catch inches from the ground at extra cover.

Chandrapual Hemraj who survived a confident LBW appeal to Louis on 29 was clean bowled next ball for a good little innings of 29 from 59 balls with four boundaries.

Reifer was then run out in a bad mix up with Bramble who played Cornwall down to backward square and called for two. Bramble then turned his back on his partner who was committed to the second but was left stranded in the middle of the pitch when Jacques Taylor’s sent the ball over the bails leaving Hamilton with the simple task of completing the dismissal.

Keemo Paul who injured his left hand while fielding then braved the pain to join Bramble and they took the score to 93 without further loss at Tea with the Jaguars still behind by 26 runs.

Bramble was on 22 and Paul on 6. In the third over after the break, Bramble drove back to Tonge who took the catch in his follow through.

Steven Jacobs then repeated his first innings dismissal, caught at leg slip off of Cornwall who was once again bowling from the

Players Pavilion End, the same end he picked up six wickets in the first innings.

Paul’s brave innings then came to an end when he swept in the air for Berridge to take a tumbling catch on the deep backward square boundary.

Veerasammy Permaul played a sweep shot and missed while Clinton Pestano edged behind to wrap up the innings leaving the Hurricanes with a target of just 25.

The Hurricanes openers, Montcin Hodge and Chesney Hughes then took nine overs and one ball to reach their target to complete the double over the defending

champions. Along the way to the victory, Jaguars captain Leon Johnson sent down two overs of medium pace while Yadram also had a bowl and was denied a wicket when Jacobs dropped Hughes on 13.

Hurricanes skipper, Cornwall was named Man of the Match for his match haul of 9-136.

After the game, representatives of the West indies Cricket Board and Sponsors, Digicel then presented the three time champions, the Guyana Jaguars with medals and the winning Headley/Weekes Trophy.

SCOREBOARD Guyana Jaguars 1st innings 187 Leeward Islands Hurricanes 1st innings (Overnight 255-7) M Hodge c LR Johnson b RA Reifer 70 C Hughes c A Bramble b C Pestano 40 K Carty c A Bramble b RA Reifer 10 A Saunders c KM Paul b RA Reifer 4 J Hamilton+ c A Bramble b RA Reifer 37 R Cornwall* b SA Jacobs 0 SP Peters c (sub) b SA Jacobs 5 J Taylor c A Bramble 72 b RA Reifer J Louis lbw b RA Reifer 32 G Tonge not out 17 E Berridge lbw b V Permaul 0 Extras (lb-8, w-6, nb-5) 19 Total (All out, 127.2 overs) 306 FOW: 1-79, 2-115, 3-125, 4-126, 5-129, 6-140, 7-211, 8-279, 9-305, 10-306 Bowling Reifer 30-9-74-6 W-6), Pestano 24-6-70-1 (nb-1), Jacobs 18-2-52-2, Paul 15-3-530 (nb-4), Adams 12-6-130, Permaul 28.2-15-36-1 Guyana Jaguars 2nd Innings AB Fudadin c J Hamilton b G Tonge 1 B Yadram c R Cornwall b E Berridge 13

29 C Hemraj b J Louis LR Johnson* c A Saunders b 9 G Tonge RA Reifer run out (J Taylor) 2 A Bramble+ c and b G Tonge 23 KM Paul c E Berridge b 26 R Cornwall SA Jacobs c C Hughes b R Cornwall 0 V Permaul lbw b R Cornwall 20 C Pestano c J Hamilton b J 5 Louis A Adams not out 0 15 Extras (b-5, lb-9, nb-1) Total (All out, 53.3 overs) 143 FOW: 1-5, 2-30, 3-53, 4-64, 5-76, 6-96, 7-103, 8-138, 9-143, 10-143 Bowling Tonge 16-6-33-3 11.3-3-16(nb-1), Louis 2, Cornwall 23-468-3, Berridge 3-0-12-1 Leeward Islands Hurricanes 2nd Innings (Target 25) M Hodge not out 6 14 C Hughes not out Extras 4b 1lb 0w 0nb 0pen 5 25 for 0 Total Did not bat Carty, Saunders, Hamliton, Cornwall, Peters, Taylor, Berridge, Louis, Tonge Bowling Reifer 3-0-9-0, Adams 3-1-3-0, Johnson 2-0-5-0, Yadram 1.1-0-3-0

Former 1st Class cricketer Munilall Chinwa passes

F

ormer Guyana First Class cricketer Munilall Chinwa also known as Lall Minilall of West Palm Beach formerly of Canje, passed away peacefully on April, 12 at the age of 68 in the presence of his loving son Derick, wife Chandra (also known as Seeta) and niece Jennifer.

Chinwa was born in Reliance, Berbice Guyana on August 17, 1948 and was the second youngest child of the late Chunoo and Sukrajie.

Muni has eight siblings (4 brothers and 4 sisters).

As a child, Chinwa attend St. Patrick Anglican School and represented his school district in the sport of Cricket. He went unto playe county cricket and progress to play Shell

Shield Cricket for Guyana. He worked with Tulsi Persaud, and continued to travel throughout Guyana playing cricket.

He is survived by his four sisters (Taither) Seeranie Rampersaud, (Sybil) Rajdai Ragunath, (Lizzy) Hardai Benny and (Brahash) Tara Ravilall, brother Seelall Chinwa, mother-in-law (Elsie) Deoki Budhu, sisterin-law (Shantie) Bhanmattie Arjoon, and Brother-in-laws (Krishna) Seoshai, (Vishnu) Deodat Jaikissoon and (Narad) Radhay Budhu. Muni has 27 nieces and 14 nephews and too many grand nieces and nephews to count.

He preceded in death by his brothers Parmanan, Sookhai and Das Chinwa, nephew

Munilall Chinwa

Kampata Persaud, Fatherin-law Edwin (Goldsmith) Jaikissoon Budhu.

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, april 24, 2017

Smith flexes

to GABBFF Novice title

By Romario Samaroo

A

sold out crowd at the Theatre Guild witnessed the crowning of Nolan Smith as the new champion as the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) hosted their Novice championships on Saturday evening.

Despite a late start due to electrical power outage, the show which a sizable turnout in competitors saw Smith demolished the competition in the bodybuilding division while Roscoe Blair was deemed the Overall Men’s physique champion.

Smith got off to the first win of the night in the highly anticipated under-21 division. The Life Gym representative went under the gun as the crowd went wild over Kacey Bailey from Fitness 53 who in the end had to settle for second while Omisi Williams (Perry’s Gym) copped third. The other athletes in that category were Lakeram Seeram (Muscle mania), Vishnu Ramcharan (Life Gym) and Christopher Ramkhellwan (Fitness 53).

Perry’s Gym had another good showing with Gravestone Lambert winning the Bantamweight division.

Vickram Tallho (Fitness Paradise) secured the runner up spot while Lakeram Seeram ended the event in third. Ramcharan (Life Gym), Anand Mangal (Total Fitness) and Kevin Bheeram (Tej Mahal) finished in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Bailey again finished second, this time in the lightweight class as Arlinton Layne from Universal Gym won that category.

Odel Crumewing (Total Fitness) won the welterweight division ahead of lone GDF representative, Junior Cornette.

Smith added his third victory to add the Middleweight top spot to his accolades while Williams and Salim Mohamed finished in second and third respectively.

Speaking at the end of the successful night, Smith extended heartfelt thanks to his trainers and parents as well as those from his gym who he said “were the driving force behind this success.”

He noted that this was something he started back in third form but while that was only a few years ago, the under 21 star is now setting his sights on the senior category.

Much surprise of everyone, there were five beautiful ladies vying for the miss bikini title. This category exemplified the diversity the GABBFF has set into motion by bringing athletes from Linden and Berbice to add to Georgetown’s strong contingent. The evenly poised display went down to the wire as Natasha Chung representing Tej Mahal Gym, Berbice was crowned the winner ahead of Roshawna Allyne from Fitness 53 in

23

GABA holds successful

Trevor Rose 5k

By Romario Samaroo

T

he third edition of the Trevor Rose Memorial 5K run was hosted just as the sun rose on Sunday morning where just over 20 runners took to the starting line in front of Palm Court on Main Street along with members of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) who organised the event.

open category to cross the line. He was trailed by Sean Barry and Calvin Thomas who made a dash to the finish but ended in second and third respectively. Barry finished in 26.30 minutes while Thomas finished in 26.32 minutes. The youngest male, Justin Pryce and youngest female, Beyonce Bepeazer completed the task to be awarded for their efforts; Bepeazer managed her feat in 36.50 minutes.

29.03 minutes. He was followed by Stephan Peters in 30.25 minutes.

Also notably present in the run was 69 year old Louis Deane who had brought second in the Novice Heavyweight category hours before the run.

President of GABA, Adrian Hooper who acknowledged this was the first time the event was held under his presidency to be a bit hectic said that it is his

Nolan Smith's chiseled physique meant he took away the lion’s share of the awards on offer

second. The linden trio from Perry’s Gym, Oslyn McAlmont, Shanella Deana and Sherlyn Henry finished 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively. The spectacular showing of determination and mindset were put on display as 70 year old Louis Deane, on his birthday took to the stage to much applause of the crowd and stand next to Space Gym’s O’Riley Joseph and flex for the heavyweight title. While Deane finished second, the showing was a respectable and commendable feat by the birthday boy.

Another display of personal dedication shocked the crowd as GABBFF President and chairperson of the night, Coel Marks introduced two builders who were bound to wheelchairs but does not keep them back.

The two musclemen gave a little display for the audi-

ence who encouraged them to press on. The two men were Ulyssess Edwards and Uttamkumar Issurdeen.

Meanwhile, in the Men’s physique tall, Lance Gordon won the three way battle between his Fitness 53 gym mate, Damian Fiedtkou (second) and Fitness Paradise’s Darrin Noble.

Blair was unstoppable in the men’s physique short leading second placed, Bailey. Farood Mohamed of Tej Mahal, Robert Perry (Fitness 53), Ramcharan and Christopher Ramkhellawan finished in that order.

Meanwhile, GABBFF President highlighted that despite the hiccups, this was the first competition of the new administration and in his estimation he would give this body an “A” grade for hosting a “successful” competition.

The winners pose with GABA President Adrian Hooper and their prizes at the end of the event

The race then took the route of Palm Court as it headed east on Middle Street and took a left on Camp Street, before heading up to Carifesta Avenue and taking a right on Carifesta, heading to Vlissengen Road, then a left on to the seawalls, after which the runners headed straight down to Pegasus, then head back to Palm Court for the finish.

In a time of 23.44 minutes Johnathan Fagundes was the first man in the

On the other end, Lleweleyn Gardener made a rampant run to finish five seconds short of 29 minutes while Jardine Joseph copped second in 29.26 minutes followed by Alexie Prashad in 31.15 minutes to secure third. Harold Debidyal was the fourth senior to cross the finish line. Meanwhile, there were special prizes for Basketball teams participating and Nathan Saul clocked in the best timings to win that category, finishing in

contention that the legacy of Trevor Rose continues to live on especially through these events.

Hooper also extended thanks to the mother and children of Rose for supporting the event while noting that he and the current executive will be planning to move the sport forward.

Rose, a former President of GABA, was shot dead in January 2014 while in a car in the vicinity of Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Pg 22

Jaguars crowned champions ‒ Cornwall spoils fairytale ending Champions! The Guyana Jaguars pose with the Headley/Weekes Trophy after their match on Sunday at Providence

Smith flexes to GABBFF Novice title

Pg 23

The respective winners along with GABBFF President Coel Marks (centre) are all smiles after the successful event at the Theatre Guild

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