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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2954 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

August 21, 2016

Police Force least trusted institution in Guyana – US report Page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

CCJ has no enforcement powers P7 against Guyana – AG …as Govt negotiates another multibilliondollar settlement

… fails to successfully prosecute 90% of cases

4-year-old dies, sister critical after Mahaicony collision Page 9

Police shoot man dead outside Camp Street Prison Page 8

“I believe in empowering women to speak for P16 themselves” – First Lady

21st Delegates’ Congress hears...

Disrespectful, high-handed GuySuCo undermines GAWU Page 10

Balancing academics and squash, Larissa P23 Wiltshire gets an A-grade

Hundreds of delegates at the opening of GAWU’s 21st Delegates Congress at Bath Primary School, West Coast Berbice on Saturday. Over the next few days, heated discussions are expected at the Congress on the sugar industry and its future

Armed bandits rob Good Hope family Page 7

Private use of marijuana to be considered – President

Page 2

Private Sector dependent on Govt favours, political connections – report Bosai, NAACIE working to resolve employees’ P12 issues

2 news

SunDAY, august 21, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Private use of marijuana to be considered – President

E

ven as Government is yet to take a definitive position on the issue of legalising and decriminalising marijuana, President Granger has stated that there is a possibility that private use of the herb would be on the cards in the coming months.

Speaking on the weekly televised programme – The Public Interest – which was aired on Friday, the Head of State pointed out that Cabinet is awaiting advice and recommendations from the Ministries of Public Health and Public Security on how to move ahead with the issue as was previously done with tobacco.

However, he noted that steps are being taken to consider making the use of marijuana legal: “I would say, even running the risk of talking out of school, that it is likely that the private use of marijuana would

President David Granger

be given consideration in months to come.”

But as it relates to the issue of decriminalising the use of marijuana, the Head of State explained that while trafficking is not likely to be removed from the law books in the near future, but certainly the use of marijuana is beginning to be decriminalised.

“Decriminalisation is

something else and that is not on the cards presently but there is a possibility that when the matter comes before us, we would want to have a good debate on whether a person should be sent to jail given custodial sentence for being in possession of such a small quantity of marijuana that it is clear it is for personal use and not for trafficking,”

Granger noted.

Nevertheless, the President maintained that Cabinet is still in discussions and a definitive answer will not be given until it has a chance to look at the recommendations, and the matter goes to the National Assembly.

In May, the Guyanese Head of State speaking on the issue had stated that such reforms are not a current concern of the Government and on a more personal note declared that he will not subscribe to the usage of marijuana.

“This is not something that is a preoccupation of the Administration at the present time… I would not counsel the use of marijuana by young people or anybody,” he had posited.

However, on another occasion he had noted that the focus should be on advocating for noncustodi-

al sentences – which is an initiative currently being explored by the judicial and executive arms of Government.

The decriminalisation/ legalisation of marijuana is gaining momentum worldwide and while other coun-

tries have taken steps to decriminalise and legalise the drug, the local debate on the issue went as far as the drafting of a “Ganja Bill”, which was to be tabled in the National Assembly earlier in January but this was indefinitely postponed.

Given that the overcrowding at the prison is said to be largely contributed by those on remand or incarcerated for possession of small amounts of marijuana, critics have argued that it would be in the best interest to introduce the decriminalisation legislation to deal with that problem.

Contrary to the President’s stance, the Alliance For Change (AFC) faction of the ruling coalition has been strongly advocating for the decriminalisation of marijuana.

In fact, AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, with the help of Attorney Mark Waldron, compiled a draft Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015, which seeks to soften the penalties for marijuana possession.

The draft stipulates that persons who are found in possession of the drug for personal use will be required to pay a fine of $10,000 or perform community service for a period of time.

AFC parliamentarian Michael Carrington, who presented the Bill to the

National Assembly, had also expressed his full support of such legislation. He posited that no one should go to jail for ‘taking a smoke’.

Prime Minister and AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo had also spoken extensively on the need for Guyana to move in that direction.

Many analysts have argued that the legalisation of marijuana is catching on because countries have realised that they can make money through generation of huge financial revenues.

Contentions are that the legalisation of marijuana will also cut a big slice out of the business of organised crime. On the downside, there may be an increase in health-related issues caused by excessive marijuana ingestion.

There will also be multiple expensive court cases where marijuana usage is challenged and there will be appeals to these cases if they are lost, all of which will also prove to be expensive.

It is also argued that the criminal organisations will simply find additional methods to make illicit funds from the growing, sale and transport of marijuana.

For example, cigarette bootlegging (the illegal traffic of a legal substance) is a big money-maker and there is no reason to believe that some form of marijuana bootlegging will not be added to their profit schemes.

Only recently at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on International Drug Policy, of which Guyana participated, Canadian Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott announced the country’s plans to introduce legislation in the spring of 2017 that would fully legalise adult cannabis consumption.

In the Caribbean, Jamaica took the first step towards decriminalising the drug back in 2015. (Vahnu Manickchand)

NEWS

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, August 21 – 05:30h-07:00h and Monday, August 22 –08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, August 21 – 06:15h-07:45h and Monday, August 22 – 07:00h-08:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light to heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, while clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 06:27h and 18:47 reaching maximum heights of 2.83 metres and 2.80 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:22h reaching a minimum height of 0.42 metre.

Police Force least trusted institution in Guyana – US report … fails to successfully prosecute 90% of cases

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) is the least trusted institution in Guyana – a country with high levels of crime and violence–and urgently needs to strengthen its investigation and prosecution capacity since it currently records a dismal 90 per cent failure rate.

These are but some of the dismal findings of a United States funded Report on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance in Guyana, and was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)–one of this nation’s longstanding donor partners.

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According to the US-based report, Guyana currently faces a number of social problems, including high levels of crime and violence; high levels of domestic violence; incidents of violence against transgender individuals; high incidents of trafficking in persons (TIP); and the increasing use of guns, particularly for criminal purposes.”

The USAID report said there is urgent significant need to reform the Guyana Police Force and “strengthen its investigations and prosecutions since an estimated 90 per cent of prosecutions are unsuccessful and it is the least-trusted institution in the country.”

Similar to the findings contained in the annual US State Department reports, Guyana continues to be labelled a trans-shipment point for drug smuggling from South America to North America, Europe, and West Africa.

High migration levels

It found too that in addition to a disproportionately high suicide rate, the country also has a high migration rate, with 90 per cent of tertiary-level gradu-

ates migrating to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the Caribbean.

It was observed too that while the Guyanese Diaspora is “tremendously important to the country in terms of remittances,” the high migration levels have an adverse effect on the society, “in that it drains the country of intellectual capacity, technical skills, and know-how.”

This has also resulted in the local private sector experiencing high turnover rates as educated, trained, and capable people find opportunities elsewhere.

Scores of international studies have correlated links between the high migration levels and increased burdens on indigenous security forces.

Far from certain

The scathing report said too that it is too early to tell if the promises of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) will be realised.

According to the report, the May 2015 elections of a multiethnic, reform-minded coalition brought a fresh opportunity for Guyana to move toward a more responsive and accountable state of governance, “however, this democratic outcome is far from certain.”

It documents that the coalition Government faces deep-seated legacies of singleparty domination; politically driven ethnic divisions; and a centralised patron-clientelist system with weak, unaccountable, and unresponsive government institutions.

Political power, the report said, is concentrated in the executive, more specifically within the office of the president in David Granger, a former military officer and elected leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

According to the US report, “President Granger and the coalition Government enjoyed a honeymoon period that is now largely over.”

The report said while

the coalition is expected to last until the 2020 elections, "they need to maintain cohesion and manage tensions arising between the two parties…They say the right things about reforms…

However, it is still too early to tell if this reform resolve will last.”

The local media landscape also came in for critique by the USAID-funded report.

According to the authors, “The media is pluralistic and politicised, with the state media having the only nationwide reach.”

It documents that the local media landscape practices self-censorship as previous governments retaliated against critical coverage.

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SunDAY, august 21, 2016

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

State of the State G

uyana has to be one of the most studied and analysed countries in the world on a per capita basis, not necessarily by scholars operating on academic premises, but by other countries, which, of course is always in furtherance of one or another of their national interests.

One of the most consistent in the latter category has been the US, which through its "United States Agency for International Development (USAID)" just released a report that pronounced, in effect, on the state of the Guyanese state. Without irony it proposed what interventions the US ought to be making here, presumably to "improve" that state, through implementation of "Democracy, Human Rights and Governance" (DRG).

The report harks back to the beginning of our modern party system when the PPP split into two factions giving birth to the PNC. It did not mention the role the CIA played in the denouement of that split or the US' interest then in such a presumably insignificant country: to "prevent the spread of communism" via the PPP. It did point out that in the present, US interests are firstly to prevent the flow of drugs from Guyana, which is strategically positioned in South America to perform that role. And secondly, that our now confirmed oil reserves bumped up our strategic profile more than a notch.

Fundamentally the report concedes that our state is moribund for a number of reasons. While the government, through the Finance Minister insists that our economy is "growing" the report states quite flatly that it is in fact "declining" because of the falling prices for most of our export commodities.

Politically, it pronounces openly about what Guyanese had always known, but what their leaders were bashful about acknowledging: to wit, that the support of the two major parties is ethnically based and they refuse to deal directly with the implications of that reality.

The report suggests that the APNU/AFC coalition is secure to the 2020 elections, but did not elaborate on the reason for the thinking. Most local analysts have pointed to the degutting of the Cummingsburg Accord, especially as it related to the reduction of the promised role for the PM, having placed severe strains on the coalition.

The Report's conclusion means that the authors see the leaders of the AFC as being willing to ignore the discontent expressed by their supporters in the press. Recently, one of those supporters, former AFC MP Verasammy Ramayah quit as Region 6 REO because, as he stated, of the refusal of the AFC leadership to back his drive to root out corruption in his region.

But interestingly, the Report takes one side in the open difference of opinion and position between the AFC and APNU on a key demand of the former's as it relates to constitutional reform. The Report is insistent that the government must move swiftly to initiate constitutional changes such as tempering the powers of the presidency and over-centralisation of power, which were proposed during the campaign. It stated: “These can help balance the power of the executive, address the winner-takes-all nature of the political and electoral systems, and devolve power to local government.”

Prime Minister Nagamootoo has been insistent that the powers of the President must be reduced and has promised the Report of the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform will be submitted soon to a broad-based Committee that will include the PPP. President David Granger, however, has gone on record as stating that while he supports Constitutional Change, he believes that the process of consultations with communities and the citizenry must be broader based.

In the run-up to the last two elections, the PPP had been quite sceptical of the work by the US through USAID's "Leadership and Democracy" (LEAD) Programme, which they claim was geared more towards assisting the now governing parties. Their participation is crucial going forward and we hope they will comment on it shortly.

Men carry a dog, wearing a costume and seated on a stool, as a form of respect as they believe that dogs found water for their ancestors, during a local festival for the Miao ethnic minority in Jianhe county, Guizhou Province, China (Reuters)

Berbice healthcare service is at an all-time low

Dear Editor, Regardless of being overused the saying, ‘the health of the Nation is the wealth of the Nation’ will always remain relevant until the end of time. Therefore, the Nation’s health must and should be the priority of any Government of any given label.

This is so prioritised in the 2016 Budget and will again be prioritised in the 2017 Budget but the relevant question is, are our citizens getting the benefits that they ought to get from these budgeted amounts? Do these figures really mean anything to our citizens? The answer is a resounding no! These ‘figures’ have to be delivered!

The healthcare service in this country is at an all-time low and deserves immediate rectification since our citizens deserve better.

Things are falling apart in the health sector and the corrupt practices coming to light are signals of impending disaster, since incompetence and corruption are the worst combination. It is indeed paradoxical that more money is being budgeted and spent but citizens are receiving poorer health services than before!

In March 2014 Dr Norton, who was then the shadow Minister of Health pronounced on the real reason for the drugs shortage which he said lies with its sourc-

ing. He further added that ‘… the Ministry of Health needs to stop playing around with people’s lives…’

One year after, a source from the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) revealed that 68 of 86 drugs on the essential drugs list were out of stock. This is under Dr Norton’s watch.

Although this was vehemently denied by the Ministry of Health, it was later confirmed that 186 drugs were in fact completely out of stock or in short supply.

It became clear that it was a bad decision to stop sourcing drugs from a local manufacturing company before seeking alternative sources - it was tantamount to ‘cutting your nose to spite your face’!

However, it is the mother of all ironies that the same Health Minister who wanted to eradicate corruption in the Health Sector by stop purchasing from that specific company ended up being involved in even more corruption - is he fighting corruption with corruption?

This drug shortage situation is getting worse with no solution in sight despite excuses and outright denials from the Health Ministry. It has become a vicious circle!

On 17 August, a letter writer wrote about the unavailability of insulin at the New Amsterdam Hospital. However, when I

questioned the Director of Health Services in Berbice, Jevaughn Stephens, he denied that there was such a shortage. This was on 18 August and he was technically correct since 600 (10 mls) bottles were purchased on 16 August and became available to outpatients on 18 August!

But what was revealed when I checked the pharmacy records was that there was an acute shortage of insulin since 28 January, 2016.

Outpatients who were insulin dependent were not given any insulin from that date until 17 August 2016 - a period of over six months!

Whatever little insulin was in stock was used in the hospital wards, and outpatients had to find up to $4000 to purchase one bottle.

This is highly unaffordable since some patients use as many as 4 bottles per month!

Where will our poor citizens, especially pensioners, find $16,000 per month? This is not about budgeting but it is about delivery of healthcare to our citizens! This situation has been going on at all the hospitals in Region 6.

Furthermore, the 600 vials of insulin purchased by the Region 6 Health Administration will only last up to this monthend even though outpatients are given just one vial each.

When the stock ledger is scrutinised it was seen that

on 19 January, 2016 only 100 vials were received and therefore even if we can attribute the drug shortage to the inefficiencies of the Materials Management Unit or late receipt of requisitions (CRIVS) from the Region, it is difficult to accept that it took over six months for the delivery to materialise! It is difficult to accept that an emergency purchase could not have been done to alleviate the sufferings of our insulin-dependent diabetics! Diabetics simply cannot wait for insulin!

However, insulin is not the only drugs in shortage or poor supply. There are a number of medications which are often not in stock and this includes those used in the labs.

But drugs shortages are not the only problem. At New Amsterdam Hospital, the chemical analyser has been down for about two weeks which means that no biochemistry tests can be done, in addition to the microscope and the electrolyte machine.

The surgical theatre is expected to be operational by next Wednesday after a prolonged ‘illness’ of approximately six weeks.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf, Chairman of Region 6 Health Committee

CSEC not final lap but the beginning

Dear Editor, This letter addresses all the students who wrote this year’s CSEC examinations, not only those who did exceptionally well but also those who may not have gotten their desired results; so I wish to congratulate this year’s candidates.

With that said I wish to offer a bit of reassurance, more so for those candidates who may not have done so well.

Inserting a bit of my own personal experience, I graduat-

ed in November 2011 and although I did fairly well, I may not have acquired the results I desired.

Reflecting on those years I would say that I was a bit disappointed in myself and I may have been a bit apprehensive in sharing my results with my family. I remember I was so nervous that I asked a school mate to view my results online; I was also unable to gain access to the site due to the fact that the servers were packed.

Although I have had other academic struggles here and there for instance at Sixth Form I resolved to put all that behind me, while it still serves as a reminder, I must say it fuelled where I am presently, as third year student at the University of Guyana.

Although it has not been an easy journey, I can nevertheless say I am momentarily pleased with where I am personally; and I say momentarily because I am cognisant of the fact that there is still room for

improvement.

Moreover in my opinion CSEC more specifically “bad” CSEC results are not the end of the world, equally I’m in no way saying that sub-par results are acceptable, nonetheless I urge you not to get too discouraged. What you decide to do next be it with those results are therefore up to you, indeed I don’t have a Steve Jobs “insert Guyanese version” academic story however all that I have said is the unadorned truth. continues on page 5

guyana-times.com

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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

Minister Norton should demit office Dear Editor, Minister of Health Dr George Norton should demit office. This is the overwhelming view among Guyanese in New York that I spoke with following the media revelation of what appears to be corruption (wastage of scarce revenues as a repayment to a campaign financier) directly linked to him relating to the rental payment of the storage bond for drugs. And aside from evidence of this latest corrupt act, which seemingly has been condoned by the cabinet, voters in Guyana in opinion polls I conducted last year August and last March described Norton as lacking the capacity and ability for the position of Minister of Health.

Dr Norton and the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, were rated as the worst ministers of the APNU/ AFC Government hurting the image of the government.

Voters felt they lacked the ability for the job and did not have “a clue” about what to do in their Ministries. The general consensus is that both lack the requisite knowledge and skill for their Ministerial positions.

New York-based Guyanese I conversed with, supporters of the PNC, AFC, and PPP, as well as other parties, almost unanimously feel Norton has compromised himself and should tender his resignation immediately.

They firmly believe Norton misled Parliament and his cabinet colleagues on the rental fee of the drug bond with some even saying his colleagues were in with the scam to rip off the nation.

They say if Norton refuses to resign, then the President should fire him. Guyanese find it incredible that cabinet was not aware of the rental and yet approved it before carrying out an examination of the property, and whether it was value for the exorbitant fee.

They also say that an apology, as being suggested by President Granger for Norton’s misleading the cabinet and the parliament on the matter of the drug bond rental, is an insult to the population. Anything less than removal from office is unacceptable.

Guyanese say that President Granger has an opportunity to take tough action against a cabinet Minister who has been caught engaging in an inappropriate act.

Firing him will send a strong message that corrupt actions will not be tolerated.

Before the latest scandal hitting the Health Ministry involving the huge rental fee for an incomplete drug storage bond, medical practitioners, including those who supported the APNU/AFC coalition in the May 2015 General Elections, pointed out to me (and survey in-

CSEC not final lap...

Finally in taking the next steps whatever they may be I encourage you to work harder, whether at another academic institution, a family life or even a regular job because it’s only going to get tougher from here on.

As cliché as it may sound, CSEC examinations are not the final lap, but merely the beginning. Once more I’d like to express that I am in

no way attempting to downplay the fact that you may not have done so well, but I urge you not to be too anxious.

While it may perhaps be a bit embarrassing and yes, your parents may be disappointed or even upset, I recommend you share your results as this is simply a passage from one step to another, if at first we don’t

terviewers) that Norton did/ does not seem to have much knowledge about his job as contrasted with his predecessors Dr Bheri Ramsaran and Dr Leslie Ramsammy, both of whom exhibited competence in the position.

Medical people, including many of Norton’s closest friends and those who worked with him at the Georgetown Public Hospital, felt/feel Norton was/is the wrong person for the Health Ministry and that the Health sector has suffered tremendously under his tenure. They want him off the job. They say it is time for him to be replaced with the rental scam providing an ideal opportunity to push him out.

With the corruption allegation of misleading the nation on the rental, to save grace, Norton should do the honourable thing and submit his resignation to the President.

Guyanese in New York and those I spoke with visiting the US from Guyana feel Norton should accept responsibility for misleading the nation by leaving office. Many are also of the view that Norton’s cabinet and APNU/AFC parliamentary colleagues were/are aware of what they describe as a rental scam, cheating the treasury, to repay an election financier for his contribution in the elections campaign.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

FROM PAGE 4

succeed we must try and try again for only with dedication and hard work will you persevere.

Sincerely, Supportive student

Ridiculous ‘dress code’ sign at NCC

Dear Editor, I am very pleased to see the relaxation of the ludicrous dress code in Guyana, starting with Trevor Benn of Lands and Surveys and finally the President pronouncing on it.

Good work by Francis Bailey for bringing it to light on social media and for the momentum it has generated and more recently Mosafa Telford’s article in Chronicle. The power of social media cannot be underestimated.

I have been fighting the dress code since in the late 90s, ever since the National Cultural Centre introduced it. I started producing shows since 1981 and I cannot recall in the early 80s any dress code to enter the NCC. This was introduced in the 90s and ever since I have been against it.

I have complained, written several letters to the powers that be, all to no avail. I am appalled, upset and flabbergasted to see what takes place at the entrance to the NCC. Patrons’ clothes are being tested to find out what type of fabric they are wearing, they are being bodily touched and turned to see how much skin is being exposed. I was told that there was even a service provided in the foyer for renting scarves, stockings and wraps so that patrons can cover up their exposed skin instead of returning home.

One of the biggest issue is denims. I recalled a prominent lawyer was turned away from The Link Show a few years ago because he was wearing a black den-

im pants. The person who made that rule is hopelessly out of date. They think of denims as ‘dungarees’ which were probably worn in the olden days in the rice fields. They are really out of touch in today’s world.

It saddens me whenever I produce a show at the NCC to see the number of persons being turned away because they are wearing ‘hard pants’ or they have on sandals or they don’t have on dress shoes.

I attend theatres regularly whenever I am travelling, Broadway in New York and West End in London.

There is absolutely no dress code. I checked with many theatres in the Caribbean, the same feedback. So why do we need one here? Are we that backward?

A few years ago Dave Martins wrote his column on the NCC dress code when he was asked to put his shirt in his pants (the cut of the shirt is designed to be worn outside the pants).

Back in the late 90s I was asked to leave the courtroom because I was wearing a pants and top and not a pants suit. This was land court to deal with a transport of property. There was no sign or board telling me how to dress. When I returned to the courtroom there was a woman wearing a red slinky dress and she was well endowed. So the presiding office felt my

attire was more inappropriate for the court room that the woman in a bright red dress that was figure hugging.

I recalled relating the incident to Anna Benjamin, editor of Sunday Stabroek News (at that time) and she was equally supportive of me and wrote a very prominent article on it.

So, much has been done to get rid of these archaic and obsolete dress codes and only now, after nearly 20 years, we are seeing some action.

It must be noted that the architects of the supposed ‘dress code’ have abandoned it eons ago. How are we promoting tourism?

Tourists dress very casually and travel lightly. Are we saying they must not attend shows at the NCC, visit Government offices? How do they get tickets from the T&HD office to visit the Lighthouse?

Some of the offices have recognised and acted upon President Granger’s comment but I think the President needs to direct someone in his office to take charge of ‘taking down’ all the stupid ‘dress code’ signs on all buildings and save us from being laughed at.

Gem MadhooNascimento Director GEMS Theatre Productions

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Foundation

New horizons I

Anu Dev

learned three important things in college - to use a library, to memorise quickly and visually, to drop asleep at any time given a horizontal surface and fifteen minutes. ~Agnes DeMille With the recent release of CAPE and CSEC results, many students have collected their last high school ‘report card’ and soon colleges will be full of newly-minted freshmen. It takes me back to my first year at UWI: everything was so new and exciting - and a bit intimidating. It was a whole new ballgame - full of different rules and new players.

There were some stu-

dents already with degrees, who were already comfortable with the whole university shtick. And then there were callow students like me who were “fresh” out of high school. And maybe we now know the origin of “freshmen”?

But now I’m in my fourth year, and I can’t believe how fast time has passed. I’m happy to say I’ve learnt a lot the past couple of years in university - and not just about anatomy. One of the most important lessons I learnt was about “stick-toit-ivness”. The only way you can be guaranteed success is if you stick to things - even if they’re not going perfectly at the moment. You can’t just chuck it in at the first sign of trouble or even at the first indication that the road ahead has more bumps and pot-holes than my street in Guyana.

There’s that old cliché that says the measure of a person isn’t how many times they fall, but instead how

many times they get back up again. And as with most clichés, it’s true. The greatest moments are those times when you can scrape yourself from the floor, rise up again after being faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem - and then prevail.

At every step of your life there will be new problems, problems that seem like the most difficult thing in the world to deal with. But if you stick to things and not just jump off and abandon ship, the end-result will be so worth it all.

I can’t emphasise enough, the importance of setting realistic goals and specific deadlines for achieving those goals. And this assumes you set goals and not just drift, right? Especially for students, nearing the end of the semester when the teachers start to pile on those assignments. It gets really easy to lose track of what needs to be done.

Taking the time to plan ahead for what needs to be

done really saves time in the long run - especially if you’re a serial procrastinator like I am.

By managing your time better and setting goals and deadlines, you can avoid those last minute frantic allnighters that are most times rather counterproductive.

Especially on the nerves!

But it’s not all work and no play either - I think it’s important to reward ourselves every now and again even if it’s just with little things. I mean, it’s not that we should be constantly patting ourselves on the back for every single thing we do.

But sometimes it’s nice to give ourselves a little treat for achieving our goals.

And lastly, the best advice I can give to the incoming college freshmen is that they should try to enjoy college. It truly is a wonderful time. And of course, it’s the last “hurrah” before adulthood and its accompanying responsibilities truly set in.

“It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them” – Benjamin Franklin

BY ENOZIA VAKIL

G

ood habits go a long way in establishing the child’s personality.

The child tries to emulate his parents and other elders in the family; so as parents you need to practice what you preach. Habit becomes second nature through regular practice. As parents, you should also make your child understand the reason behind developing the habits, so that he will be convinced that this habit is good for him. Don’t forget to reward or appreciate your apple of the eye if he acquires the habit and follows it sincerely.

Acquiring good habits or manners are part of the learning process. Parents can make the learning exciting and fun by interacting with their children. Try to be encouraging and affectionate while teaching good habits for children. Be firm if they are not following your instructions, but don’t discourage them with negative comments. If your child is attending preschool then talk to his teacher and chalk out a plan to develop good habits in children. Keep yourself updated with your child’s progress at school.

From the moment your child calls you mommy for the first time, you will have a million things planned for his future. However, don’t impose your will on your child and also try to understand his problems and desires. As a mother, you would want your child to be successful and happy as he grows older, and you’ll do your best to make that happen.

It is vital to encourage good habits of children in their early years. The habits learnt in this phase will stay with him for the rest of his life.

It takes time to acquire a habit and the parents need to be patient with their children.

Keep repeating these habits every day so the child inculcates it more promptly.

Sometimes, parents are not aware what habits they should teach their children.

So to make things easy, here is a list of 25 good habits you can teach your child daily.

1. Keep things positive Having a positive frame of mind is extremely essential for

(Part one) you as a parent during your child’s initial years. Everything you teach him now will leave a mark on his thought pattern.

The last thing you would want is to see your child take the route of pessimism and depression as a teen or an adult. Adopt a positive frame of mind yourself, and make sure the environment at home is happy and comfortable.

Often, children who develop suicidal nature and tendencies to harm themselves the root causes usually lies at home. These could be many, such as not finding comfort or safety in the place of upbringing. So make sure your home is an abode where your child feels safe and comfortable.

In the book titled Purposeful Parenting: Strategies for Raising Children Who Achieve, Dr Rose T Watson states that those children who are cuddled and communicated with in a regular basis grow up to be more confident individuals.

This also paves the way for a positive environment at home.

Children also need their own furniture and toys, they feel secure in their own space. Dr Watson suggests parents to use the furniture and toys to teach responsibility within the household, like teaching the child to keep the toys back in the right place after playtime is over.

Parents should also maintain a library at home and give their children learning tools so that your child succeeds academically.

As parents encourage your child to search meanings of new words in the dictionary and also find answers to their queries in encyclopedias.

This will teach your child how to do research. Books bring order and discipline at home.

Also help your child to make routines and create a designated time for study and play, this will teach your child the value of discipline.

Never use slang words or fight in front of your child, this will vitiate the positive atmosphere of the house and the child will learn the wrong things. Children who experience domestic violence grow up to be insecure and violent too. (momjunction.com)

NEWS

7

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Armed bandits rob Good Hope family CCJ has no enforcement powers against Guyana – AG … as Govt negotiates another multibillion-dollar settlement

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has handed down yet another judgment against the Guyana Government, this time to the tune of $2.8 billion, but the Administration has begun negotiations to see if a lower settlement could be reached.

This was confirmed

by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, who on Saturday told Guyana Times, the decision to negotiate was as a result of a decision taken at the level of Cabinet.

The court proceedings against the Guyana Government were filed by a Trinidadian company – NH International – which secured judgment last year.

The Attorney General during a brief interview with this publication said he was mandated by Cabinet to negotiate a lower settlement.

Asked about a possible refusal on the part of NH International to accept a lower settlement and the possibility of Guyana being found in contempt, the Attorney General made it clear that “the CCJ don’t have enforcement powers against us.”

He nonetheless committed to abiding with the judgment, calling it another of the ‘inherited burdens’ from the previous Administration.

The matter was first filed in 2007 by Trinidadian based NH International, which claimed that the Guyana Government had breached its contractual obligations with the company.

The then Attorney General – the late Doodnauth Singh – had originally defended Guyana’s interest in the matter, which was appealed over the years, all the way to the CCJ. Minister Williams told Guyana Times there was not much information to divulge since negotiations are ongoing.

Williams in recent days had been lamenting the state of affairs where several large judgments have been awarded against the Guyana Government, re-

AG Basil Williams

peatedly blaming the previous Administration. He recently told a Government information service, “what we have found with these cases that we have inherited is that when you actually look at the cases, little or no effort was put in to defend and represent the State in these cases.”

The NH International judgment is but one in a string of judgments against the Guyana Government recently.

Other prominent cases include Suriname-based RUDISA Beverages which was awarded US$7.72 million by the CCJ after it challenged the environmental taxes charged on each bottle of beverage it imported into Guyana.

The coalition Government had on that occasion also negotiated a lower settlement with the Surinamese company agreeing to accept US$6.22 million.

According to Williams, Cabinet has authorised the method of negotiating reduction in the judgments it has inherited. Local beverage giant Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and contracting firm BK International were also recently awarded large judgments against the Guyana Government.

Williams’ predecessor, Anil Nandlall, this past week retaliated, when by way of a public missive, he lambasted Government’s approach to settling legal matters.

“There is no other Government in the Commonwealth that has

settled more cases and paid out more public funds, as a consequence thereof, over a 16-month period than the coalition Government,” Nandlall said.

According to the former Attorney General, the current Administration has demonstrated such an incomparable proclivity and haste to dole out public funds and write off debts owed to the State, that it puts a strain on the rational mind not to conclude, “that either incompetence overwhelms or, that there is a corrupt motive, or both.”

Nandlall in questioning the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s approach, pointed to an observation made in the RUDISA matter.

The former Attorney General pointed out that, during the hearing of this matter, a senior functionary of the distributor of RUDISA’s products in Guyana, admitted under cross examination, that the products imported were under-valued by RUDISA before shipped to Guyana, in order to compete with Guyanese products.

“By this admission, RUDISA was guilty of underinvoicing and, therefore, never pay the correct amount in taxes on these products.”

Nandlall surmised that if an assessment is to be done, using the market value of those products, RUDISA would be indebted to Guyana in the billions.

These monies, he said, can be set off against the judgment and in the end, Guyana would not have had to pay a cent and “RUDISA may still have been indebted to us.”

Nandlall said while this approach was not public knowledge, this was the strategy of his Administration – a plan that was made known to the APNU/AFC successors which opted instead to pay the judgment.

He pointed too to the ‘suspect’ handling of the DDL and BK International matters.

The couple’s room which the gunmen ransacked

A

couple is now traumatised after armed bandits stormed their Good Hope, East Coast Demerara home Saturday morning. The incident occurred sometime around 08:30h.

Guyana Times understands that the woman, Sanata Boodhoo, 53, was at home with her 4-yearold grandson at her Lot 11 Phase Three, Good Hope, ECD, house when two armed bandits confronted her.

The woman related to this newspaper that she had just opened the backdoor of her home when the bandits forced their way into the house with the gun pointing at her head.

“When we reach inside, they ask where all the money, where the gold deh,” she recalled. Boodhoo noted that the men then took her to the bedroom where they tied her up on the bed and stuffed her mouth with cloth.

She said they began ransacking the house, collecting cash and the other valuables they got their hands on, and even raided the shop.

“Them even carry away my wedding ring and tell me them gon shoot me grandson if me nah give them money and gold; but me nah get money and gold, what meh get me give them,” she recounted.

The woman said that

The bullet hole on the car

by this time her husband, Seelall Etwaroo, arrived home and he too was confronted by the gunmen.

Etwaroo related to this newspaper that when he went home he called for his grandson but got no response, which was strange.

“Me normally come and open the door from the outside so when me push open the door now, two guns pointing at me. All two ah them get one gun then them carry me in the room and me see me wife on the bed tie up; then them put me on the bed and tie me up too,” the man stated.

The ordeal lasted for some 30 minutes during which the gunmen held the four-year-old child frighteningly at gunpoint.

According to the couple, the bandits took away about $220,000 cash, $40,000 in phone cards, cigarettes

and two cell phones valued $130,000 before making good their escape in a blue and white Allion car.

However, as they were leaving the village, another villager, Abdol Mohamed, was passing by in a car and Etwaroo alerted him of what transpired, as such the man gave chase after the bandits.

Mohamed told Guyana Times that after he was told about the robbery, he drove after the car which had no number plate. He stated that as he approached the vehicle, the gunmen opened fire on him. He said the men discharged three rounds in his direction, two of which hit his car.

The bandits made good their escape.

This newspaper was told that a report was made to the Police who took an hour to respond.

8

NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police shoot man dead outside Camp Street Prison

A

n unidentified man was on Friday evening shot dead following an incident involving a Police rank in the vicinity of the Camp Street Prison.

Based on reports the shooting occurred at about 23:50h.

It was revealed that the now dead man was cautioned by Police ranks earlier in the night when he was behaving disorderly at the corners of John and D’Urban Streets. He reportedly pushed down the Police barriers which are outside the prison.

As such he was taken into Police custody by a Police patrol but was released. He returned to the scene and continued with similar behaviour.

Plugging leaks...

H

The Camp Street Prison

The second time around, a constable attempted to warn him but he instead attacked the rank.

It was during the at-

tack that the constable discharged a round, hitting the man to his lower abdomen. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he suc-

cumbed while receiving medical attention.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Duo fined, ordered 6 months community service for narco possession

A

man who admitted to possessing a quantity of narcotics was ordered to do six months community service and fined $2000 when he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Daniel Smalling pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on August 16 he had 2 grams of cannabis in his posses-

Eyew tness

sion.

Smalling, who was unrepresented in court, was ordered by Magistrate Daly to appear every Monday for the next six months to the officer in charge at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of East La Penitence Police Station, Georgetown, to do community service.

Meanwhile, Clifford Brackett, who also admitted to a possession

of narcotics charge before Magistrate Daly, was fined $3000 and ordered to serve six months community service.

Brackett pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on August 6 he had 2 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Defence attorney Mark Conway made an application for less community service since his client has a demanding job that re-

quires him to travel.

He further asked the Magistrate to allow for the time of submission of his client to be varied at the Police Station since his client does a shift job. However, both applications were denied by Magistrate Daly.

Brackett will also do his community service at the East La Penitence Police Station.

...in health

ot on the heels of the scandal in the renting of a "bottom house" warehouse to store Guyana's pharmaceuticals – which is supposed to secure our health as a nation! – comes news that the Government has scrapped the idea of a Specialty Hospital. What's going on with the mavens in charge of our health sector?

On the Pharma storage front, it's not just the evident graft and venality that most folks are holding their nose about, that's bothering your Eyewitness today. It's the blatant disregard for our health. Pharmaceuticals aren't like gravel and stones you bring down on barges from quarries and just dump into any old space. They're carefully and rigorously manufactured and packaged items that must be stored so as to ensure their active ingredients aren't "denatured". It's not just the "spoilt drugs" mightn't do their job...they could actually harm us!

And we're gonna see the culprits walk away without even a slap on the wrist! With the main culprit being a doctor who took the Hippocratic oath – which exhorts him to "first do no harm"! Then imagine Norton took time to point out that he would be "apologising to the Speaker" for "misleading" the House. That is, he's thumbing his nose to the Opposition folks to whom he LIED – he's not apologising to THEM! And we come to the Specialty Hospital. So the facility was good for Guyana up and until Fedders Lloyd was the contractor for the US$18 million structure? Meaning until Minister and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan was still being their agent – all for no fee, of course. But what does it say about Ramjattan's noble sacrifice for this country to deny a fee just for us to have a higher level of medical care?

Have those who cancelled the project no respect for Ramjattan's acumen on the project. Do they know what a sacrifice it is for a lawyer to forego a fee? Try pulling a bloody torso from the jaws of a shark, and you'll get an idea! Surely the project wasn't cancelled because Fedders Lloyd was disqualified by the World Bank for "improper practices" in Africa? They bribed people? Gasp!

But the loss of the Specialty Hospital goes to the nub of why our economy's foundering under this Administration. The Specialty Hospital was not just for raising the bar in medical practice here – it was suppose to be the beginning of a whole new industry – medical tourism. The externalities – as the economists dub them – from the hospital would've percolated into the entire economy. Including hotel rooms for the individuals who typically accompany the patients.

But what do these philistinism know?

...confidential SOCU leaks?

Now that the Govt has finally accepted the clear line of authority over SOCU – the Special Organised Crime Unit – flowing through the Commissioner of Police, we know then that the buck ultimately stops with the Public Security Minister. So why's he not doing what he has to do about that great tragedy that was perpetuated when the wife of a young Army officer was killed as he took orders from the GDF? From the very beginning, SOCU was supposed to be under the Police Commissioner – for the simple reason that its head was made into a Deputy Police Commissioner! But there was all sorts of buck-passing when that operation turned sour. Now this is a very dangerous situation when you're talking about military types, who need to know precisely what's their chain of command.

And while he's at it, can he follow the trail as to who leaked the confidential info on the bank accounts of the Phone Card PS?

...in legal tuition

Could someone please tell this Eyewitness what exactly are the criteria for "assisting" Law Graduates to the Hugh Wooding programme?? And why?

Now Guyana has a lot of unfulfilled needs. But creating more lawyers at the taxpayers’ expense?

Isn't that like creating the pit bull that'll maul you in the end?

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

NEWS

9

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

4-year-old dies, sister critical Several injured in Avenue of the Republic accident after Mahaicony collision T Georgetown while the other car driven by Bowling with registration PRR 1766 was heading in the opposite direction.

However, Bowling reportedly lost control of the car while negotiating a turn and veered into the path of Fattette’s thus resulting in the head-on collision.

Due to impact the car driven by Fattette ended up in a nearby trench. The occupants, including the two children, were pulled from the wreckage in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens.

They were rushed to the Mahaicony Hospital but had to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. However the fouryear-old was pronounced

The car driven by Carlson Fattette

A

four-year-old girl was on Saturday killed while her seven-year-old sister is clinging to life following a twovehicle collision at Bushy Park Village, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

Their mother is said to be in an unconscious state while three others were injured.

Dead is Raveena Harris of West Canje, Berbice, while her sister, Rafeena Harris was admitted in the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The mother Krmoa Harris is also said to be in a serious condition and also being treated at GPHC. The others injured are Carlson Fattette, Latoya Wayne, a reporter with Little Rock Television Station, Berbice, and Samantha Bowling. The three are said to be nursing injuries but were listed

The car driven by Samantha Bowling

as stable.

Based on information, Fattette was driving car bearing registration PSS 5092 heading to

dead on arrival.

The Police in C Division have launched an investigation into the accident.

wo males and a female were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital early Saturday morning after the vehicle they were travelling in plunged into a canal on Avenue of the Republic. The accident occurred sometime around 05:30h.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the silver Toyota 212 car, bearing registration PSS 5215 was travelling on Croal Street heading towards Avenue of the Republic when the driver reportedly lost control and the vehicle ended up in a canal side of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

One witness recounted that she was working in the area when she heard the loud impact and rushed to the scene; “I was working and all I hear is blam! I run and come and see the car in the gutter. A girl was trying to come out and the driver and another passenger at the back was seriously injured.”

This newspaper was told that the Police and Fire Service arrived on the scene shortly and began assisting public-spirited citizens who were already rescuing the victims.

While the names of the

The car moments after it plunged into the canal on Saturday morning

injured persons were not available up to press time, it was revealed that two of the occupants were pulled from the wrecked car in an

unconscious state.

According to witnesses, the driver appeared to have fallen asleep.

10

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016

guyana-times.com

News 21st Delegates’ Congress hears…

Disrespectful, high-handed GuySuCo undermines GAWU

By Shemuel Fanfair and Andrew Carmichael

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Saturday commenced its 21st Delegates Congress and further observances of the event will be held on Monday and Tuesday at the Bath Primary School, West Coast Berbice.

However, the likelihood of unhindered attendance has increased as the Guyana Sugar Corporation has reportedly disallowed sugar workers from obtaining “paid-release” to attend the Congress as delegates.

This is according to GAWU, which noted on Saturday that since July 7 it sought to discuss the release of workers to attend the Congress but were told that the sugar corporation would not do so.

According to reports the union received, the Sugar Corporation’s financial status, which has been deemed “cash-strapped” supposedly “restricted it from approving the release of the workers and assisting in transportation”.

GAWU noted the importance of its Congress, which is held every three years and accused GuySuCo of undermining the union, pointing out that the denial is an “anti-sugar worker” approach.

GAWU in reiterating its condemnation of the entire scenario which it termed a “travesty”, posited that an “undermining” of the country’s “fragile democracy is making its way in the union’s operations.

Meanwhile, despite this hiccup, hundreds of delegates turned up at Bath, West Coast Berbice, to have burring discussion on the sugar industry and its way forward.

President of GAWU Komal Chand called for a united trade union movement. Zeroing in on the sugar industry, the GAWU

GAWU President Komal Chand

head outlined that the trade unions representing workers in that industry must be more vigilant. He also noted that the sugar industry is

the workers of LBI and Enmore estates where the union is trying to meet an amicable settlement regarding the situation there. In response, GuySuCo shut the door to the union. GuySuCo’s behaviour is indeed strange,” he lamented.

Also addressing the congress on Saturday, President of Guyana Trades Union Congress Lincoln Lewis called on all trade unions not to allow politicians to deny the unions the right to fight for workers. He echoed the sentiments of GAWU that the rights of workers are “under threat” by political leaders.

O p p o s i t i o n Parliamentarian Gail Teixeira in a brief message from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) called on the coalition Administration to

Chandarpal in her address noted that the sugar industry has faced and is still facing difficulties, and there are decisions that will be made which are not in the interest of the workers.

“However, it is the responsibility of the government to protect the workers by ensuring that whatever action is taken leaves them with credible alternatives,” she noted.

Over the last few weeks, sugar workers and their union representatives have taken industrial action to vent their frustrations over GuySuCo finalising its decision to merge the La Bonne Intention (LBI) and Enmore estates.

About 100 protestors marched on Tuesday and denounced what they described

A section of the gathering at the 21st Delegates Congress

the most important industry in Guyana.

“I take this occasion to call on the interim Management Committee of GuySuCo to immediately end their highhandedness, unilateral decisions which are evident in recent times. We see such attitudes displayed towards

halt what she described as “the bureaucratic way” in which it is making decisions that affect the lives of sugar workers and those who depend on the industry.

Former Minister of Social Services and President of the Women’s Progressive Organisation Indra

as “bullyism” and “hostility” meted out to them by GuySuCo. Additionally, over the last several months GAWU has registered its concern over the announcement in January that the sugar operations at Wales will cease by yearend.

Oil and water

S

atiricus was surprised. And as most people would know – and his friend Cappo certainly did – this was not an unusual condition for him. "What are people so upset about?" he asked plaintively.

"Suh wha' badda yuh dis time, Sato?" asked Cappo without pausing, as he polished off the beer he'd just started. He and Satiricus were at the Back Street Bar, fighting off the heat wave, the only way they knew – with a continuous stream of cold beer.

"What do you mean?" replied Satiricus, surprised that Cappo didn't divine what was going on inside his head.

"What wrong did Van East Charlie do, for people to hound him so?"

"Yuh talkin' 'bout Baby Jesus?" asked Cappo with a grin as he waved frantically to the waitress to replenish his depleted beer stocks.

"That's being very rude, Cappo," said Satiricus sententiously. "You know the man was Burnt Ham son-inlaw."

"Me know, Sato," said Cappo in relief as he saw the waitress meandering her way towards their table. "Da wha' mek people use fuh call'e "Baby Jesus"!!"

"What?!" exclaimed Satiricus.

"Yes, Budday!" said Cappo. " 'e cou'd do not'in wraang.

He bin a Gaad son!"

"Sometimes I don't know about you, Cappo," said Satiricus. "I'm talking about how people carrying on just because he got a licence to import and export oil."

"Look like 'e still ah Gaad son!" said Cappo with a snort.

"De maan get dat licence in five weeks! Me brudder-in-law tek five year fuh hear he cyaan open wan gas station!"

"I didn't know that," replied Satiricus. "Why?" "He nah bin gat de prappa stainless steel storage tank, de GEA people tell 'e," said Cappo. "Suh Baby Jesus mussee gat big, big stainless tank fuh store all dem oil 'e gon bring in?"

Satiricus was quiet for a while, then said quietly, "I don't think he has any tanks."

"An' 'e done get licence?" chortled Cappo. "Me tell yuh, de man ah Baby Jesus! But he nah de big baas fuh de Watah Company?"

"Yes, he's the Chairman of the Water Company," confirmed Satiricus. "What's wrong with that?"

"Wraang? Me done tell yuh Baby Jesus cyaan do not'in wraang!" smiled Cappo. "Me jus' t'ink 'e can store de oil in dem big tank 'e Watah Company bill all ovah de place."

"Cappo, you know oil and water can't mix," said Satiricus sternly.

"Sato, if Jesus can change watah to wine, yuh na t'ink Baby Jesus can change watah to oil?"

guyana-times.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016

11

News

Private Sector dependent Focus on community, cultural life on Govt favours, political crucial in tackling suicide – Granger connections – report

G

uyana’s Private Sector is dependent on Government favours and patronage and further; the nation’s history of political instability, authoritarian tendencies, and unaccountable Government has meant that the Private Sector often operates at a disadvantage.

This is contained in the most recently released international report on Guyana that was prepared for review by International Donor partner, United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Outside of Government, the small businesses that make up Guyana’s Private Sector are major employers, contributing an estimated US$3.8 million, which gives the Private Sector more access to the Government than regular citizens to lobby for their interests.

It was found that while the Private Sector is dependent on Government favours, the Administration is seen more tolerant of criticism.

Political connections

The report was also critical of the local Chambers of Commerce scattered across the country.

According to the USAID commissioned report, Chambers of Commerce seemed to be active in most towns, although their members were only a fraction of the commercial

operators in their areas because local businesses do not see the value of joining or paying membership fees.

It was observed however that “They were participating with the [Regional Democratic Counicls] RDCs to prepare the regional development plans and had many issues related to governance.”

Some of these included the tax system and need for simplification, centralised Government systems, lack of information and data at the local level, and concessions to foreigners but a lack of incentives for local persons to start a business.

The report found too that “Chambers of Commerce also complained about the need for political connections, especially for small businesses to get a loan at a bank.”

The report documented that while the chambers organised into a Regional Chamber of Commerce in the 1990s with donor support, this body still meets but only intermittently.

It was recognised too that despite the limitations, the local Private Sector has demonstrated an interest in, and actively pursues, “a more robust and responsible private media, better physical security, and strong institutions that are transparent and accountable… Business owners, through their associations in chambers of com-

merce and Private Sector organisations, actively lobby Government on these and other matters and make themselves available to serve on Public Sector boards and constitutional commissions.”

Mining corruption

The role of mining and its contribution to the Guyana economy was also flagged, given its level of importance and it was observed that this industry is plagued by corruption and mismanagement at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

According to the findings of the international report, “Corruption in the sector and mismanagement by GGMC has accompanied increasing problems in the sector… These include environmental degradation, inefficient and unsafe mining operations, and smuggling of gold out of the country.”

The mining industry is regulated by the GGMC, which, according to the report “employs a small number of mining officers (300) to inspect and administer thousands of mining operations across difficult to reach hinterland terrain.”

It was observed too that there are gaps in the existing laws and regulations, such as how to deal with prospective licences, retention of licences, and the need for a miner identification card.

W

ith suicide still very much prevalent in Guyanese society, President David Granger believes that a more close-knit approach is needed to tackle the scourge that is plaguing the country.

He explained that before any step can be taken to develop solutions to this phenomenon, the causation first needs to be determined.

“I am confident (that with) greater emphasis on community life and cultural life, we will be able to overcome those (suicidal) problems. The cultural life of a country is very important… if our culture is one of violence that we saw during that drug war during 2002 to 2010, you find a lot of people don’t want to move on. But I think the tide is turning and people want that good life,” the President told reporters on the weekly televised programme – The Public Interest.

According to the Head of State, suicide is a very complex phenomenon, as such Government is conducting studies and is aiming at decriminalising suicide since it believes that the scourged can be resolved if proper measures are implemented.

He pointed out that persons can look for signs of depression and other examples in the communities, which he noted can be clustered at times.

The President explained that in some communities, you see several persons who over a period of time taking their lives because suicide is so prevalent that they feel that is the only way: “Some communities are not bothered by suicide at all but other communities display a high susceptibility to suicide so there could be the copy cat element.”

Moreover, the Head of State went on to say that emphasis needs to be placed on what is taking place in families, what is causing

this depression or alienation; we need to see what is taking place with children, what they are saying on their phones and ask whether adults could intervene earlier.

“That is why I say we need to look at the community. I am convinced that if those children had the opportunity to go to plays or participate in plays or dramas or dance or choirs; opportunity to go into sport, then they would realise that they are not isolated and they are not by themselves but they are part of a group and part of a team and they will have a greater will to live,” he remarked.

President Granger further posited that he has asked for studies to be done and this is being dealt with by both the Ministries of Public Health and Public Security, while adding that by next year, he is hoping that there can be more definitive investigations and answers to these questions.

Currently, Guyana is infamously known as the suicide capital of the world, with a rate of 44.2 per every 100,000 persons. It is estimated that some 200 persons die on average from suicide every year in Guyana. In fact, a Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) report that was released in 2014 had identified Guyana as having the highest rate of suicide in the world in 2012. Only last week Friday, two suicides rocked the country. Alleia Khandhai, 16, of Lot 3 Palmyra Village, Berbice, succumbed after consuming a poisonous substance on August 12, shortly after meeting her boyfriend.

And Mahendra Singh, 30, of Number 64 Village, Corentyne, succumbed the same day after he too consumed a poisonous substance out of fear that he would be jailed for a wounding charge that he was before the court for.

In efforts to curb the societal scourge, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) opposition had tabled a motion to urgently address suicide in Guyana but this motion was defeated on August 4 following hours of debate in the National Assembly.

12 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Bosai, NAACIE working to resolve employees’ issues

F

ollowing a protest by employees of the Linden bauxite company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) on Thursday, negotiations are continuing as the union and the company seek to address the issues.

Representative of the National Association of Agricultural Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) Linnell Warden said the protest was fuelled by dissatisfaction over the pace of the ongoing wages and salary negotiations,

among other issues.

Protesting employees had indicated that the negotiations for across-the-board increase are at 4.5 per cent, which they consider slothful, since they are aiming at a 9 per cent increase.

Warden said the compa-

Employees protesting last week

ny and union met following the protest to discuss the various issues and future plans. He noted that issues currently being ironed out include vacation and payment as well as tax fee-overtime. The tax-fee overtime was expected to be awarded to bauxite workers at least eight months ago.

Warden said the issue of security is also an ongoing one with the company: “The negotiation is ongoing.

We continue to reach on a weekly basis as per normal and to move forward with the negotiations to see how fast we can wrap it up.”

Other issues such as improved benefits and security were all outlined by the protesting employees. The mine workers also complained of having to travel in a bus without air conditioning on dusty roads and the need for an ambulance since they are present-

ly utilising a faulty pickup truck.

Employees had also outlined the need for improvement in the area of payment and benefits. A protesting employee noted: “Like when you work for a couple of years, the benefits don’t be too nice again...they don’t have a proper payroll system...From since last year we keep fighting about these issues over and over.”

Another concern highlighted was workers having to work inside the pit that is rather dark. However, as it relates to increases, an employee indicated that they were promised that negotiations will be completed by the end of September.

Meanwhile, BMGGI Personnel Manager Trudell Marks said the employees would have walked off the job due to grievances; one being the ongoing negotiations which they believe

should have been completed a long time ago: “We are still in negotiations.” She indicated that ambulatory issues should be resolved within the near future.

“With the issue of the ambulance, this is an ongoing complain and management, right now we have a bus awaiting customs clearance. We purchased a bus to be used as an ambulance.

We are going to convert it, put in the necessary apparatus and that would be used as an ambulance,” she said.

Only last year the employees had protested under similar circumstances as it relates to across-the-board increases and had managed to secure 6.5 per cent.

Likewise in 2013, following protest action by employees, BMGGI and the NAACIE had agreed on a 7 per cent across-the-board increase.

NEWS

13

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Celebrating exam successes

By Ryhaan Shah

I

t has become an annual rite to celebrate the achievements of the students who have excelled at the CSEC and CAPE examinations. We heap praise on them and share in the joy because this is the one measure of true merit and excellence that all Guyana can trust.

Because the exams are marked abroad, they have the cloak of secrecy and anonymity and we therefore feel assured that they have not been corrupted or tampered with at any level.

The top performers who Ryhaan Shah excel have become the standard bearers each year of the excellence that is still possible.

This in a society that has become jaded and cynical about every reward, award, prize, title and position because they are almost always infected by one or more of the corruptions of cronyism, nepotism, racism and partisan politics.

It is always a case of who you know, who knows you, or what you are willing to pay to gain an advantage or a win. In this environment, we can hardly be criticised for celebrating the only standard of meritorious achievement that is left to us.

My congratulations go out to all the top performers and to every student who worked hard and gained those valuable passes at the CSEC or CAPE which they need to fulfil their dreams and ambitions.

This year, as in recent years, regional schools took many of the top spots at CSEC. It is a remarkable feat since most of the student intake at these schools are not usually the top performers at the NGSA (National Grade Six Assessment) exams.

Those top performers are placed at leading city schools like Queen’s College and Bishops’ High School and they are almost always expected to dominate the winning positions in the CSEC exam results.

Last year, however, Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN), located at Cornelia Ida, had the best CSEC performer. This year, SVN took four of the top 10 CSEC spots and two others were won by students of Skeldon Line Path School and Anna Regina Secondary. Three went to Queen’s College and the topmost performer attended St Roses High School.

With six of the 10 top performers coming from regional schools with students who were not, according to the NGSA results, academic high fliers, questions could be raised about the methodology used or the placements that result from the NGSA assessments which are done locally.

Or, perhaps, it is the academic programmes of the regional schools that have created top performers from average students that should be studied with an eye to establishing their academic programmes in other schools.

SVN, in particular, has seen its performance rate rise steadily since the school was established. With its winning performance last year – and again, this year – anyone would expect the Ministry of Education to make an effort to meet with the school’s principal and staff to look at the policies and programmes that have created such success.

To date, no such consultation has happened. Perhaps, it is because of SVN Principal Swami Aksharananda’s active participation in public discussions on various subjects, his ideas and arguments being geared to encouraging critical thinking and spirited discussions on important national issues.

In Guyana, however, critical minds are ignored and sidelined.

It is sycophants who are rewarded. In fact, critics and criticism are not welcomed. They are viewed as being contrary to national development and even unpatriotic, and Swamiji has suffered such public abuse on occasion.

Because this particular corruption infects every level of government and society, information and advice that could help improve our education system and give more of our children a better chance at academic success are sacrificed for petty political expediency. Our young people show how much is possible with their winning results then often watch their prospects dwindle as the reality of Guyana’s corruptions sets in. Then they leave for countries where it is merit that matters. And who can blame them?

The brain drain of our best and brightest have continued for 50 years and counting and no government has moved to root out the culture of corruption. Creating a fair and just society remains a pipe dream.

This does make our annual celebration of all that is possible ring hollow. But we do it, perhaps, with every hope that this time, this year, we will work to make it right for our children and their future. They are our pride and hope. When will we fulfil our end of the bargain and start the process of changing Guyana for the better?

When will we stop failing our children?

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

Berbice Expo and Trade Fair kicks off T

he Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce last evening official kicked off the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair at the Albion Sports Complex, Corentyne under the theme “Promoting entrepreneurship for a diversified economy”.

This year marks twelve years since the expo has been in existence and saw participation by corporate Guyana, several Government Ministries and small business operators.

Given the current world trends where countries are being forced to adopt to eco-

pressed his satisfaction and gratification with the Chamber’s efforts in successfully organising another such event.

Bhigroog made a call on Guyanese to seek new avenues by diversificating their produce when dealing with the rice and the sugar industries. “We have to explore new ways to keep rice and sugar alive.” he added.

Agriculturally, the region is probably Guyana’s largest producing regions given that most of its agricultural activities are rice, sugar, fishing and cash crop

GMC booth at the Berbice Expo

Marketing Corporation has been working tirelessly with farmers to ensure that the best possible markets are tapped into. This, however, can only be achieved through smart and planned agricultural practices.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin said that

Nino posed great challenges for the region, Guyana is still expected to see a four percent growth in the economy,” Minister Gaskin The remaining days of the expo will see patrons getting a chance to visit booths set up by the Ministry of Agriculture. They will be given the opportunity to see the various products and

GRDB booth at Berbice Expo

nomic and climatic changes to thrive, the theme which embodies the need to diversify and develop entrepreneurial skill was well suited and mirrored in the remarks of the various speakers.

The Exposition is the single largest event in the region and allows for both large and small businesses to gain from sales and promotions.

During his opening remarks, Secretary of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Bhigroog, ex-

based. For 2015, the region produced quarter of the national production for rice and just over quarter of the national production for fish.

Many business operate in fishing, but the major strength lies in agriculture.

Appeals were also made for persons to practice Climate Smart agriculture. Guyana has the potential to supply fruits and vegetables to its sister Caricom countries on a large scale basis and the Agriculture Ministry through the Guyana

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin interacting with patrons at the Expo

Government will continue to work with persons to formulate commodities to uplift the economy which will involve a diversification program to reduce import and advance export. “Even as El

the services they offer while having the opportunity to clear up issues with extension officers. The Berbice Expo and Trade Fair continue until Monday.

14 NEWS Sod turned for construction Younge’s Take of Kurutuku Health Post Condoning SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton (second from left) turning the sod for the construction of the new Health Post in Kurutuku, Region Seven. Also in the photo are residents of Kurutuku; Engineer Adrian Ragoobeer (fourth from left); Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Kay Shako (third from right) and other officers from the Ministry

P

ublic Health Minister, Dr George Norton on Saturday turned the sod for the construction of a new Health Post in Kurutuku in Region 7 (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni).

The new Health Post will benefit some 100 persons who reside there, as well as those in neighbouring villages. Construction is expected to commence shortly, since the materials have already been procured and

the contractor is on site.

Dr Norton pointed out that the village is very remote and is a far distance from Bartica, which has the nearest hospital, as well as the nearest Airstrip at Eteringbang.

According to him, it is expected that basic deliveries will be done at the Health Post, which would also provide pre- and post-natal care and other in-patient services, particularly for those who may contract

Malaria.

Currently, there is one Community Health Worker (CHW) in the village, and Dr Norton expressed hope that in the very near future, the ministry will be able to have a Medex or even a trained midwife at the new Health Post.

The new building will measure 25 by 50 feet and also accommodate living quarters.

Meanwhile, a resident, Rosita Lewis pointed out that the CHW is currently working in a section of the teacher’s quarters, which is not ideal and poses a challenge, especially when caring for pregnant women.

As such, she stressed that the building will afford him a space to carry out his functions comfortably, and for this, the villagers are very grateful.

Minister Norton was accompanied by Region 7 Engineer, Adrian Ragoobeer, as well as officers from the ministry, including Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Kay Shako and Director of Vector Control Services, Dr Horace Cox. Treated mosquito nets as well as medication were handed over to the residents along with a quantity of clothing donated by Food for the Poor.

Guyana invited to host CAPAM’s 2018 Biennial Conference

T

he Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) has

invited Guyana to host the association’s next biennial conference in 2018.

The Association’s newly

re-elected President Tan Sri, Dr Ali Hamsa, said CAPAM would send an official invitation to Guyana’s Government

after meeting with CAPAM’s Board of Directors.

“As the President, I will write an official letter to the Government (Guyana), offering them to be the next host of CAPAM Conference and will wait for their response,” he said after the bilateral meeting, held on the sidelines of the 2016 CAPAM Biennial Conference in Malaysia on Saturday.

During the bilateral meeting, in which CAPAM Chief Executive Officer Gay Hamilton was also present, Guyana’s Minister of State Joseph Harmon had expressed interest in being the next host.

Minister Harmon said it was indeed a privilege and honour for Guyana to be invited by the President of CAPAM and other members of his Board to be the next host.

“I am very thrilled and happy about it and Guyana too will be very happy about this opportunity as it can showcase itself to the world,” Harmon said.

Ali Hamsa, who is also the Chief Secretary to the Malaysian Government, also held a bilateral meeting with the Secretary to Cabinet of the Republic of Namibia, George Simataa on the sidelines of the conference.

Simataa said his country was keen to learn from Kuala Lumpur on how to deliver a well-managed public service and administration.

“Matters of performance management is something new for us. Malaysia has been there for some time, so we asked them for their advice. We need somebody that can help us on this performance management,” he added. (Bernama.com)

corruption

2

016 has seen worrying if not stomach-turning changes in the quality, taste and style of politics being practised by politicians attached to the Working People’s Alliance, the A Partnership for National Unity and most notably the Alliance for Change.

These changes mark a significant departure from the postures, utterances, principles and positions adopted by these politicians while they were warming the opposition parliamentary benches, not yet administering the public purse, and removed from Executive political authority and power.

They also point to a shift in the political culture and perceived ‘righteousness’ Michael Younge of those who campaigned desperately for Guyanese to vote for “change”, an end to “endemic Govt corruption”, national unity, policies aimed at ending political, social and corporate discrimination, and a return to good governance characterised by higher levels of accountability, transparency and development.

Over the last eight months, Guyanese have witnessed scandal after scandal involving senior government functionaries, political advisors and campaign financiers.

Interestingly, some of the newly ‘ordained’ ministers appointed

by President David Granger, to serve the interest of the public, have become ‘infamous’ to put it mildly, for the roles they have played in these scandals.

These ministers have all been defended by President Granger and the Government’s public relations machinery in some way or the other.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations levelled against these ministers which arise directly from their official actions, public statements and reportage to the National Assembly on core issues, no one is being disciplined or taken to task by the President or Prime Minister.

What is even more regrettable is that this non-action against ministers and Government MPs is occurring against the backdrop of talk about fighting government corruption, incorporating the draft code of conduct for public officials in the Integrity Act, promoting good governance and creating a legacy in office which differs from successive PPP Administrations.

If the President and the Prime Minister are serious about having “zero tolerance” for corruption then there should be an urgent reshuffling of cabinet portfolios, the resignation of certain tainted and arrogant ministers and a renewed commitment to exhibiting a “no excuse approach”.

Also, those who were ‘anointed’ and ‘rewarded’ by the coalition Government with regional posts inclusive of REOs, head of state agencies such as GWI and GINA, and other postings as advisors must not be allowed to reign free.

President Granger and his sleuths should also consider looking into the financial operations of the Ministry of Citizenship as a very reliable source has disclosed that a UN donor agency has frozen some funds for a particular birth certificate project because of the inability of the Ministry to account for and provide documentation for millions of dollars of funds.

It is instances like these that can be investigated to expose corruption at all levels and all those involved in covering up illegality at the various levels must be dealt with.

The President cannot afford to turn a blind-eye to the growing concerns over the actions of those he entrusted with executive authority or power. He cannot continue to launch CoIs here and probes there when the evidence before him is overwhelmingly pointing to sinister dealings and corruption within his official circles.

If he continues to put party politics above that of national interests, he may very well find himself in an uncomfortable position as his usual banter about “good governance” and his gaff about fighting corruption will become less believable, effective and emotive. Added to this, while President Granger will enjoy the full support of the rank-and-file within the People’s National Congress, his overall appeal to his coalition partners will wean.

It must be noted too that the WPA politicians in government appear toothless and willing to go along with every action taken by the PNC-dominated administration. Rarely if at all, the WPA asserts itself as an independent partner pursuing its own set of core ideologies and objectives within the government. It seems willing to go ahead with the agenda of the bigger boys, out of fear that it may lose its positions…just look at how it undermined Dr Walter Rodney easily.

I will leave the Alliance for Change so that an entire column call address the failure of a third-party in Guyanese politics to stand alone, achieve parity and government while titling Executive Government from the two major parties by remaining true to its founding principles.

NEWS

15

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Demerara Slave Rebellion commemorated – memorial to be erected at Independence Park

By: Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal

Children should have a childhood

T

he recent concerns voiced about the attendance of young children at music concerts is an extremely worrying issue and one which asks questions of the laws in this country, the enforcement of those laws and perhaps more worryingly the mentality of some parents or guardians.

Firstly, taking a child to a concert with such sizable crowds and at such a late hour of the night should already be cause for concern. Without casting aspersions on the practices of individuals en masse, there was a certainty of people being under the influence of alcohol and a probability of illegal drug use which increases the potential for violence, putting physical wellbeing under a real and immediate threat; not a suitable place for a minor.

Secondly, the concert in question had already raised controversy over the perceived content, lyrics, and tone of the artiste. If there was already dispute about the show being appropriate for the wider audience, how on earth could an adult think it appropriate to take pre-teens and youngsters to such a show?

The answer lies in the unfortunate fact that so many of our young people are regularly neglected; listening to this adult content music without any restrictions or guidance from their elders. In fact, there is very little done to discourage this within homes.

Being complacent about what our young people are listening to is a dangerous practice when we consider the power music and lyrics have on a young impressionable, susceptible mind.

Studies show that music has a huge impact on adolescents.

They can become obsessive and entranced in music and it can impact on their emotional moods.

This can work in a positive manner depending on the choice of music, but if a child is repeatedly listening to lyrics with unfavourable content it can become part of their outlook and feel like part of their reality.

The glamorisation of these artistes and their superstar lifestyle can provide negative role models if the focus of their music is aggressive, criminal and abusive. If there is minimal guidance in other areas of the young person’s lives, this can become the most significant message they are receiving and being guided by.

If as adults, we fail to challenge the appropriateness we are in effect condoning it and in turn allowing a desensitisation of young people to these inappropriate messages.

How can we expect our children to have the childhood they deserve while being exposed at every turn to adult content, conversation and behaviour? There seems to be very little that is sacred these days. There should be little surprise then when we hear the conversations many of our youngsters are having or the crimes that are being committed, the way they view women and their behaviour towards them.

The behaviour of some young girls and the lack of respect they have for themselves, the low self-worth and acceptance of abusive behaviour is also part of the fallout of this premature loss of youth.

Child protection laws are put in place to regulate and protect but are in a constant state of revision and always in need of further application. They can never be maintained to the necessary standards if the parents themselves are overlooking the boundaries that should be set.

In fact the culture may be at a critical stage. Generations before who did not separate children from adult conversation and viewing were dealing with a much more obedient and demure generation and as the practice continues children are being exposed to additional influences; more television, the internet, more aggressive music.

A serious revision of the management of appropriate pastimes for young people is needed and the enforcement should be a priority, but as with most issues pertaining to the family and its members, the morality of the parents is what will pass down to the children and until the generation of parents are called upon to modify their attitudes to what constitutes child protection, change will not come and things will get progressively worse.

It is time child protection was the main focus in every household, every institution and every constitution, time each of us made it our responsibility and stopped allowing our young people to be left to be educated by mass media’s skewed view of a glamorous, immoral and sensational presentation of life.

Having polices and laws written into revised Acts is not enough, every effort needs to be made to actively implement and re-educate.

T

he Education M i n i s t r y ’ s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport in collaboration with several African cultural groups in Guyana on Saturday hosted a national commemoration ceremony to remember those who fought in the 1823 rebellion of the Demerara Slaves.

The event held at the 1823 Monument located at the Seawall Road, marks 193 years since the killings of hundreds of Africans, just a couple of days after the revolt had begun.

The Demerara Slave Rebellion of August 18, 1823 was the largest in Guyana’s history.

It started on Plantation Success, East Coast Demerara, and spread to other estates in the county.

The revolt, which saw the involvement of about 10,000 slaves from over 50 plantations, intensified the process

President David Granger addressing the gathering at the national commemoration ceremony on Saturday

that led to the abolition of slavery.

Addressing the gathering, President David Granger spoke of the revolt being a turning point in the slave society, noting the importance of remembering the event which is significant in not only Guyana but

Caribbean history.

He reflected: “The soldiers poured in volley after volley. The slaves returned fire but soon began to run, leaping the trenches into which many tumbled lifeless. Many were shot down on the road and in the cotton fields. By noon, the road-

side was littered with dead bodies. About two hundred slaves had been killed.”

The President thus reiterated the importance of the event to be remembered from year to year.

Following his address, Granger announced that the Government will erect a memorial at the Independence Park to commemorate the executions.

He stated that future generations must not forget that freedom was bought at the high price of the martyrdom of hundreds of Africans on August 20, 1823.

However specific timeframe was not given as to when the construction will commence.

Present at the event and speaking to the media, Executive of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), Violet Baptiste expressed delight at the president’s announcement of the memorial.

16 NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

“I believe in empowering women to speak for themselves” – First Lady

ANNA'S

Guyana needs neither puppets nor miscreants

W First Lady Sandra Granger along with the participants of the Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop for Women, as they proudly display their certificates

T

hirty women were deemed ‘women of success’ by First Lady Sandra Granger, in her address at the closing ceremony of the Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop, held at the Port Kaituma Community Centre, Matarkai Sub-Region, Region One (Barima-Waini) on Friday.

“Your education is a lifelong process, while you would have completed this workshop you will continue to learn, to grow, to support each other…

Go back to your communi-

ties and help other women to develop, not only in the business sense but also in all the things you would have [acquired from] the programme,” Granger told the graduates, who hail from Matthews Ridge, Baramita, Arataka, Four Miles and other communities.

The First Lady encouraged the women to share what they have learnt with the other women in their communities. “I don’t believe in speaking out for women. I believe in empowering women to speak

for themselves. We believe that when women become empowered, they empower their families and they are able to contribute in a much better fashion to the communities in which they live,” she said.

Facilitator of Interweave Solutions, Yohann Sanjay Pooran, said the workshops focus on ensuring that each woman knows the importance of conducting legal and legitimate business. “We talk a lot about the importance of getting legal, registered businesses, conducting your business

through the proper tax regime as established by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), ensuring that you follow through with National Insurance Scheme (NIS), ensuring that the business you operate is not only successful, but legal,” he said.

“Good homes and strong families build strong communities, and in consequence they build a stronger nation, and for these reasons Interweave Solutions is very proud to be associated in participating with the First Lady’s office in this programme,” he said.

In fulfilment of the social aspect of the workshop, the women have already formed themselves into small groups that will meet to find solutions to social problems affecting their communities.

The groups are the Protective Women’s Group, the Matthews Ridge Women’s Group, the Baramita Successful Women’s Group and the Sunflower Women’s Group, which all focus on combating the prevalence of domestic violence, alcoholism and drug abuse.

Meanwhile, in her address to her fellow graduates, Sophia Shelto, a business owner of six years and President of the Matthews’ Ridge Women’s Group, said the workshop has taught her several aspects of business management, which she intends to apply to her own business.

Shelto also pledged to use her role as leader of her social welfare group to keep the members motivated and inspired to continue learning.

“As President of my group, we are committed to review and keep learning and improving ourselves by working together to create our group’s action and agenda; continue community action and service, help recruit new members and teach them about self reliance,” she said.”

The Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop for Women has already been held in Lusignan, Essequibo River, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); Lethem, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo); Rosignol, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini); Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni). The workshops are held under the auspices of the Office of the First Lady and are funded by the Ministries of Social Protection and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

hen Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton implicated himself in one of the biggest scandals of corruption in recent months, many were left with gaping mouths. The truth is, while he may have fallen under criticism for inexperience and irresponsibility, no one thought he would make his record worse by signing corrupt deals with coalition supporters.

Norton’s reputation Anna Correia was put at stake when a massive drug shortage paralysed health facilities last year, leaving a stressful situation for medical workers, which endures today. To add to the difficulties faced by health workers, new supplies now have short shelf lives, placing a continuous risk of multimillion-dollar losses on the Government. A few months after his swearing in, the Health Minister also saw hospitals slapped with lawsuits for several cases of severe medical negligence which disabled babies and even cost lives of adults. In just a few months, Norton became the symbol of inaptitude of a Government that has no experience in running a country, where the few Ministers who operated prior to 1992 belonged to a regime which made Guyana the second poorest country in the hemisphere for decades.

When Norton was selected to serve among the few Amerindian leaders who are the pride of the coalition, he was chosen not just because of his ethnicity to demonstrate representation of the Indigenous peoples of this country, but also because of his medical training and background.

But the Minister’s medical expertise has proven to be inconsequential if not a complete failure in managing the public health sector, and Amerindians are among the first beneficiaries to suffer the effects of deficient primary and regional health care.

For years, Amerindian villages, though equipped with primary healthcare facilities, have had to put up with limited human resources and irregularities in supplying drugs on a timely schedule. However, under Norton’s mandate, the situation morphed into one where drugs and medical supplies became so scarce that Amerindian patients who visited hinterland facilities were transferred to Georgetown for the simplest of ailments. But there came a time when even ointments for rash were no longer available at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Private suppliers of pharmaceuticals were perhaps the sole beneficiaries of this situation, but Amerindians cannot always disburse large sums for drugs. The number of complaints soared.

In terms of health reforms for Amerindians, nothing new to ameliorate the plight of those living in the deep interior was done. Broken equipment still affects the Lethem Hospital for instance, where based on recent reports, it is now impossible to have X-rays taken. The absence of health workers at community health posts is still a challenge for distant communities and financial assistance is not available for drugs or other medical expenses.

George Norton now has the opportunity to bring real change for Amerindians, for his people, but instead, he adds to the complications which are being imposed by the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry under Sydney Allicock, where travel expenses for medical care are now hardly ever covered, and where reimbursements for fuel to transport patients in Region Nine have been removed.

One has to question the veritable intentions of the Public Health Minister, and whether he promoting positive change to match the growing needs of Guyanese figures anywhere on his agenda for the near future. It might also be interesting to examine his penchant for corrupt practices so early in office, in light of the Sussex Street drug bond fiasco, which many believe has been orchestrated by men with greater influence and power who simply used Norton as a scapegoat.

The true danger, however, lies in Norton’s determination to stand in Parliament, lie to the country about the corrupt deal and try to convince us that $12 million for 10,000 ft² of uncertified storage space per month is cheaper than $16 million for a 70,000 ft², internationally certified bond. This simply conveys the message that the Health Minister is either a puppet or a corrupt element bad at his own game.

Unfortunately, Guyana needs neither. (Send comments to sundayarrow@gmail.com)

17 Anna Regina Fire Station, Women of Substance host camp NEWS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ing a demonstration on Thursday.

Also addressing the gathering Stacia Persaud of the Women of Substance said the group wants to make a difference in society, so the first focus was

Firefighters of the Anna Regina Fire Station with youths at the summer camp

T

he Anna Regina Fire Station in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) partnered with the Women of Substance group in hosting a summer camp. The camp was opened on August 2 and will conclude on August 30.

Speaking at the gath-

ering of youths, Station Officer (acting) Suresh Persaud said that the Fire Station, apart from its daily function, also does charitable work for persons in society. He added that youths are Guyana’s future and as such collaborating with the women’s group was done

without hesitation.

Persaud along with firefighters from the Fire Station visited the camp and conducted drills as well as oriented the youths on the functions of the fire station. Children also got the opportunity to see the firemen in action dur-

on youths.

While the Camp aims to indulge the children in art, craft, life skills, youths are also being taught academic subjects such as Mathematics, English, Socials Studies and

Science.

Stacia Persaud said the camp has received positive feedback from the business community, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.

(Indrawattie Natram)

18 AROUND THE WORLD SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Brother of Syrian boy pictured Glass bridge: China in Aleppo dies of his wounds opens world’s

T

he older brother of a Syrian boy whose image, dazed and bloodied after an air strike, shocked people around the world, has died in Aleppo from wounds sustained in the same incident, a war monitor, a local council official and a witness said.

Ali Daqneesh, 10, was wounded in Wednesday’s air strike, according to UKbased monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and a witness who was present at the time of the death along with the boys’ father.

“He was martyred while in hospital as a result of the same bombardment that their house was subject-

Five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, with bloodied face, sits inside an ambulance after he was rescued following an airstrike in the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria August 17

ed to,” said Besher Hawi, the spokesman for the local council of Aleppo.

He had internal bleeding and organ damage, doctors told the witness.

His younger brother, five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, was pictured in the back of an ambulance after being pulled from the rubble, with an expression of incomprehension on his dust- and blood-caked face.

The video and pictures were widely circulated online and in the media, refocusing public opinion on Syria’s five-year-old civil war and the plight of civilians, particularly in Aleppo.

Russian and Syrian warplanes have intensified their air strikes on the rebel-held east of the city since insurgents made an advance last month, breaking an effective siege. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

PM: Govt not idle on Turkey wedding blast: More than 20 dead and T&T Isis recruits

T

his country is on top of the situation involving the nine T&T nationals who were arrested in Turkey en route to Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), says head of the National Security Council Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley.

Commenting on the matter, in his first public appearance after returning from vacation, Rowley said, “Our missions abroad and (the) Ministry of Foreign Affairs are very much in touch.”

Rowley said the Government was doing everything it could about Isis and was aware that citizens were being induced to join the terrorist organisation.

Regarding the detainees who were held at the end of July, Rowley said not much

could be done without information from abroad.

“We have a significant amount of population that are Muslim who are open to inducement to go abroad and do that... and worse to be encouraged to commit atrocities at home. This is the world we live in 2016.”

He said the National Security Council was very aware of these situations.

“Rest assured, we, in association with our larger partners in national security, are doing what we can to minimise our exposure and be alert to the threat that you mentioned.”

He said Cabinet approved on Thursday the purchase of certain equipment for the security services to strengthen our electronic response, while our borders need to be secured.

90 hurt in Gaziantep

A

n explosion near a wedding in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep has killed at least 22 people and injured 94 more, the region’s governor says.

The Turkish government has called it a “terror attack” and suggested it was carried out by a suicide bomber.

Gaziantep, which is mainly Kurdish, is about 64km (40 miles) from the Syrian border. A suicide bomber killed two policemen there in May. “There are people who lost their lives and we have initial information suggesting it was a bomb attack,” said Turkish MP Mehmet Erdogan of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

No group has said it was behind the bombing - but

government sources say it could have been carried out by so-called Islamic State, which is known to have operatives in the border city of Gaziantep.

Turkey has been hit by a series of bombs both by IS and Kurdish militants in the past year, with the last IS attack on Istanbul airport in June, killing more than 40 people.

The jihadists have recently lost ground in northern Syria, including a former stronghold, Manbij.

Syrian rebel soldiers are preparing to advance further into the IS-held province of Jarablus.

If this bomb was the work of IS, there will be speculation it is a revenge attack, intended as a show of strength by a group on the defensive. (Excerpt from BBC News)

highest and longest

Designed by Israeli Architect Haim Dotan, the 430 meter-long bridge stands 300 meters above ground and is six meters wide

I

t’s finally happened. The much-heralded “world’s highest and longest” glass-bottomed bridge has opened to visitors in central China.

It connects two mountain cliffs in what are known as the Avatar mountains in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province. Completed in December, the 430 meterlong bridge cost US$3.4 million (£2.6 million) to build and stands 300 meter above ground, state news agency Xinhua reported.

It has been paved with 99 panes of three-layered transparent glass.

And according to officials, the six meter-wide bridge – designed by Israeli Architect Haim Dotan – has already set world records for its architecture and construction.

Glass bridges in China have been a popular craze

for the daring photo opportunities they provide.

Events like mass yoga displays and even weddings have been staged on several such bridges.

One couple celebrated their special day by dangling in mid-air from a bridge in Pingjiang, also located in Hunan province.

But how safe is it? This was the question on everyone’s minds as the city geared up for the bridge’s official opening. But officials have staged high-profile events to try and reassure the public of the bridge’s safety.

Officials sent in sledgehammers and even drove a car, filled with passengers, across the bridge earlier this year. Park officials have said a maximum of 8000 visitors will be allowed on the bridge each day. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbados Government Moscow airport shop sells model Kalashnikov guns nudges banks with increased tax T ravellers at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo international airport can now buy a model Kalashnikov assault rifle before they catch their flight.

A Kalashnikov boutique has opened at Sheremetyevo to promote the world-famous Russian gunmaker’s brand.

The shop’s souvenirs include camouflage gear and “I love AK” T-shirts.

The AK-47 assault rifle has a worldwide reputation for reliability. The Soviet bloc countries, and many guerrillas, relied on the gun for decades.

An airport official quoted

by Reuters news agency said the model guns were clearly

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

The late Mikhail Kalashnikov designed the AK-47 after being wounded in WWII

imitations and would not pose security problems.

Sheremetyevo is Russia’s

biggest international airport, and handled more than 31 million passengers last year.

There is widespread international concern about replica weapons which can be mistaken for the real thing and potentially used by terrorists. A Russian state corporation, Rostec, owns 51% of the shares in the Kalashnikov concern, which makes the guns at Izhevsk, in central Russia.

In 2014 the EU and US added Kalashnikov to their lists of Russian arms manufacturers subject to sanctions because of Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula. The airport shop is part of the firm’s drive to expand its civilian merchandise.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Angola passes laws to crack down on press and social media

A

ngola’s Government has approved a set of laws which hand control and regulation of all media to a new body run by the ruling party.

The Angolan Social Communications Regulatory Bodywill also have broad powers to “enforce compliance with professional journalistic ethics and standards” and “verify compliance by radio and televi-

sion operators”.

It will also decide which journalists are eligible for press accreditation.

The President warned that he was planning to crack down on social media in December.

José Eduardo dos Santos, who has ruled Angola since 1979, said “social networks should not be used to violate other people’s rights, humiliate, slander or convey degrading or

morally offensive content.”

He added that “the country must adopt as soon as possible adequate legislation” to regulate unacceptable social media practices.

Fulfilling his promise, the laws have been passed shortly before the ruling party national congress later this month, but critics say the new body will merely cement the MPLA’s ability to silence jour-

nalists and restrict the press.

Rafael Marques de Morais, a prominent regime critic who was imprisoned for a series of articles he wrote about the president, said the ruling party is hoping to “control and censor any attempt by political activists to use social media and the internet to blow the whistle on the most egregious examples of corruption, nepotism and the abuse of power.”

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

B

arbados’ Finance Minister, Chris Sinckler, has announced an increase in a tax on bank assets, on the heels of banking institutions not passing on to customers the benefits of the elimination of a minimum interest rate.

Sinckler said the 0.15 per cent increase in the Bank Asset Tax – up from 0.2 per cent to 0.35 per cent – is expected to raise an additional BDS$14.3 million (US$7.15 million) in revenue.

Delivering the 2016 Budget this week, Sinckler complained that although the April 1, 2015 removal of the minimum 2.5 per cent interest rate by the Central Bank of Barbados was intended to ultimately benefit consumers, that had not happened.

The increase in the Bank Asset Tax took effect immediately, with the assessment for the assets starting from April 1, 2016.

President of the Barbados

Barbados’ Finance Minister, Chris Sinckler

Economic Society (BES) Jeremy Stephen has warned that customers could end up hurting more as a result of the tax increase.

Also, President of the Barbados Bankers’ Association (BBA) David Noel has called for the tax to be shared equitably across the entire financial sector.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

SunDAY, august 21, 2016

Neymar the hero as Brazil finally gets gold

T

wo years on from World Cup humiliation versus Germany, Neymar fired Brazil to Olympic gold with a shootout victory over the same nation.

Neymar stepped forward to seal the gold medal Brazil craved above all others as the five-time World Cup winners became Olympic champions for the first time with a 5-4 penalty shootout triumph over Germany, following a pulsating 1-1 draw at the Maracana.

Usain Bolt took his place among the crowd at a fervently partisan Maracana and national icon Neymar put Brazil ahead with a stunning free-kick.

The Barcelona superstar was an injury absentee when Germany humiliated Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final of their home World Cup in 2014, but Max Meyer made him and a football-crazed nation wait a little longer for redemption.

Extra-time could not produce a winner and there were eight flawless spot kicks until Freiburg striker Nils Petersen, scorer of six goals in the tournament, saw Weverton guess correctly and parry his attempt to

An emotional Neymar after scoring the winning penalty

safety.

It set the stage perfectly for Neymar to secure the title and banish the memory of the torment Germany inflicted upon Brazil two years earlier.

He did not disappoint, coolly picking out the topright corner before dropping to his knees and breaking down into tears of joys, while swarmed by teammates caught up in undiluted delirium.

Germany tested the crossbar three times during the first-half - initially when Julian Brandt’s sweetly struck shot cannoned to safety with Weverton beaten.

The hosts’ much-vaunted frontline of Luan, Gabriel

Barbosa, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar began to link pleasingly and, after Renato Augusto spurned an unmarked 23rd-minute chance at the back post, it was Brazil’s captain who sent a capacity crowd into raptures.

Neymar’s 25-yard freekick was simply sumptuous, leaving Timo Horn grasping helplessly as it found the net via the underside of his bar.

Germany refused to be daunted by the scoreline or a now ramped-up party atmosphere and a Meyer freekick caused havoc - his delivery from the left deflecting and skimming to top of the crossbar.

From the resulting corner, Weverton saved sharp-

ly from Meyer and Matthias Ginter was unable to convert the rebound.

Germany struck the bar once more when Bender got in front of Renato Augusto to come agonisingly close from Brandt’s cross, but Brazil’s slender advantage was wiped out 14 minutes into the second half.

The influential Bender was involved, sliding Jeremy Toljan down the right-flank and the full-back pulled the ball into Meyer’s path for a crisp finish.

In the 65th minute, Gabriel Jesus side-footed wide when picked out by the tireless Renato Augusto and Brazil resumed the ascendancy as an absorbing 90 minutes ended all square.

Luan saw a shot blocked at the end of a mazy run and Brandt sent a nimble volley looping over Weverton’s goal - the intensity of the match remaining unchecked.

Early in the second half of the additional period, Neymar’s exquisite reverse pass sent Felipe Anderson racing clear of the Germany defence but the substitute shot too close to Horn, who was powerless to stop Neymar when destiny called. (SporstMax)

Brilliant Farah wins 5000m to achieve ‘double-double’

I

t was a night to remember for Mo Farah, who achieved the ‘double-double’ at Rio 2016 by adding 5000m gold to his 10,000m victory.

Mo Farah confirmed his

standing among the distance-running greats by claiming a superb victory in the men’s 5000 metres to complete a famous ‘doubledouble’ at Rio 2016.

The Briton repeat-

ed his feat of winning the 5000m and 10,000m at London 2012 four years ago, becoming the first man since Lasse Viren in 1972 and 1976 to do so.

Farah put in a typical-

ly astute performance before producing a trademark strong finish to hold off a late charge from Paul Chelimo and take victory in a time of 13 minutes and 3.30 seconds. (SportsMax)

USA earns more gold, winning men’s 4x400m relay

A

fter Allyson Felix and the US women’s team held off Jamaica in their 4x400-meter relay, the men’s team followed suit in their race.

The Americans, led by

LaShawn Merritt, finished in 2:50.30, with Jamaica coming in second with a 2:58.16 time.

Bahamas (2:58.49) took the bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro.

Merritt was joined by

Arman Hill, Tony McQuay and Gil Roberts in the final victory.

Merritt, who ran the final leg of the relay, won his second medal of the 2016 Games. He previously

earned bronze in the men’s 400-meter race. (CNN)

19

South Africa's Semenya takes 800m gold

Caster Semenya of South Africa celebrates winning the gold medal

C

aster Semenya became the first South African woman in 64 years to win Olympic gold in athletics on Saturday, running a personal best time of 1:55.28 in the 800 meters final Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba finished in 1:56.49 to claim the silver, her country's second medal in any sport at the Olympics. Kenya's Margaret Wambui won bronze in 1:56.89.

Semenya has dominated the event this season, with three of the fastest four times, and there had been speculation she could break Czech Jarmila Kratochvilova's world record of 1:53.28 set in 1983. It is the longest-standing athletics world record.

Staying with the pack for the first lap, Semenya let Niyonsaba lead the race up to the 600-metre mark before pulling ahead with an injection of pace to take the gold.

"The race was really quick.

The first 400 we were pushing ourselves, it was great," Semenya told reporters. "It was just about being patient ...

I have a very quick last 200, I just have to utilize it."

The 25-year-old said she had also considered competing in the 400 meters in Rio but chose to focus on her main

event.

"We realized the time difference was not going to favor us so we just had to be clever and focus on the 800," she said.

"I think it was a wise decision."

Semenya won the silver medal in London four years ago.

In Rio, however, she was lacking key competition in the form of Russia's Mariya Savinova and Ekaterina Poistogova, first and third in 2012, who were barred from the 2016 Games following revelations of state-backed doping in Russian athletics.

Some observers have suggested Semenya herself is competing with an unfair advantage, albeit one she can do little about. After winning the 2009 world title as a 19-yearold, tests reportedly revealed that she is hyperandrogenous, resulting in her body producing an abnormally high amount of testosterone, which makes her more powerful than her rivals. An International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule limiting the amount of naturally occurring functional testosterone for female athletes appeared to have limited Semenya's prospects but the rule was quashed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last year. (REUTERS)

US wins sixth straight gold in women’s 4x400 relay

T

LaShawn Merritt took his team to victory

he United States won the Olympic women’s 4x400 meters relay gold medal on Saturday in 3 minutes 19.06 seconds, their sixth straight victory in the event at the Games.

Jamaica took silver and Britain the bronze.

American Courtney Okolo grabbed the lead in the opening stage and her team never relinquished it, opening a big gap on the rest of the field with Jamaica by the halfway point.

The US gold streak in the event started at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The winning 4x400m team

American Allyson Felix claimed her third medal of the Rio Olympics having

won gold in the 4x100m relay and silver in the individual 400m. (Reuters)

20

guyana-times.com

sundAY, august 21, 2016

South Africa vs New Zealand, 1st Test, Durban, 2nd day

Rain ruins delightful swing-bowling day I

t seemed the only thing Dale Steyn’s angry eyes did not have power over was the weather. While the grey clouds gave him swing, and he controlled it so well that South Africa’s total of 263 assumed excellent proportions, they also brought rain which allowed only 16 overs to be bowled on the second day at Kingsmead.

New Zealand were 15 for 2 at lunch and they stayed 15 for 2 when play was called off at tea time.

The day had begun a little late with South Africa’s tail batting. Trent Boult designed a beauty - away swing that almost bowled Kagiso Rabada around his legs.

Tim Southee, playing his first Test in South Africa, kissed the top of leg stump.

The man he dismissed, that old pro Steyn, took four balls when New Zealand batted to make clear his having played no Tests in eight months would only serve to embellish his legend. It was a fastbowling fashion show in Durban. Martin Guptill was distracted by a bevy of out swingers before one moved in and struck the front pad.

Steyn whirled around, his veins popping and spit flying in appeal. Umpire Richard Illingworth calmly shook his head in response.

“Crack it open, boy,”

Dale Steyn had figures of 6-4-3-2 at lunch, after which there was no play © Gallo Images

leered the slip cordon. Tom Latham found himself ganged up on. Then he was sucked in by one that pretended to be a half-volley.

Steyn had watched Latham playing with extreme care, making sure his bat didn’t stray too far from his body and committing himself to a shot as late as possible. But a batsman’s instinct is to score runs and that instinct flared up when the second ball of the seventh over was pitched wide.

Latham fished outside off.

Steyn bagged him, tagged him and would have instagrammed him if he was allowed to.

Guptill’s front pad and Steyn’s in swing went out on a second date right in front of middle stump. The romance was so compelling that even umpire Illingworth had to give his blessing.

Steyn’s first spell read 6-4-3-2. After a point he felt he was getting too much movement and began bowling cross-seamers to have a better chance at snatching the outside edge. He was on 408 wickets and needed 14 more for the South African record.

Into this walked Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, their averages of 10.75 and 11 in South Africa hanging over them along

Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championships

Persaud qualifies for Governor General Final for 3rd year in a row

G

uyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) Captain Mahendra Persaud has qualified for the Governor General Final at the 134th Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championships, reward for being one of the top 50 marksmen of the close to 200, competing at the Connaught Ranges, Ottawa.

Persaud, one of 9-caribbean shooters competing including three Guyanese has been the leading rifleman of the lot and will have the opportunity to shoot against the best in the world including the top 5 from the UK which includes David Calvert and Jon Underwood.

At the conclusion of shooting on Thursday, Persaud was 43rd overall with a Grand Aggregate total of 738v73 out of 184 competitors. Leading was UK’s David Calvert on 752v98.

The next best Caribbean shooter was Trinidad and Tobago’s Norris Gomez at 109 on 717v53 just ahead of Lennox Braithwaite was one position down on Vs, 717v48.

The lone female on the Caribbean contingent, Shellyann Hinds of Barbados was next at

Mahendra Persaud

115th (715v50), Thomas Greenaway of Antigua at 166th (671v27), Guyanese Sigmund Douglas based in the USA was next at 167th (670v25), Christopher Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda 171st (655v23), with the Bermudian trio of Nelson Simons of Bermuda 176th (540v21), David Dumont 178th (429v7) and Neville Trott 179th (423v13) bringing up the rear for the Caribbean of 184 competitors.

Persaud’s scores in the Letson at the 300 (35v2), 500 (35v2) and 600 (34v5) meters ranges as well as the President’s also at the 300 (50v6), 500 (50v6) and 600 (50v7) ranges ensured his qualification for the

Governor General Final; but only his scores from the President’s competition would be taken forward to today’s final.

Persaud, who would be going into the final with a score of 150v19 has noted that quite a few shooters would also be heading into the shoot with scores of 150.

“The competition is very tight herewith quite a few of us going forward with 150, the others are only a point or two away. Now it’s 15 rounds at 800 meters and 15 at 900, so it could be anybody’s game.”

The consistent Persaud informed that he is not having a bad meeting but will be taking it one shot at a time.

“I could only hope to my best and not make any mistakes. In this competition with top shooters from Great Britain, USA, and Canada, you cannot afford any mistakes.”

With the final competition set to be contested this afternoon, Persaud said that he would be competing in a Team Match this morning and will have the opportunity to test his lenses which has been giving him some challenges in order to be spot on for the finals with the right combination.

with the dark clouds. They had only played three matches in this country, but they were New Zealand’s two best batsmen. Regrouping on day three with them at the crease may just be the best of a bad situation for the visitors.

New Zealand will need some luck though because overcast conditions are forecast on the third day as well and South Africa have an attack capable of exploiting them. Vernon Philander, coming back to Test cricket for the first time since injuring his ankle in November 2015, bustled in to string together balls on a good length and jerk them this way and that. There was one delivery that came down perfectly straight, pitched a few inches in front of Taylor’s front foot and seamed away so sharply it seemed like a freakishly quick leg break. The stage was … wet after the break.

Gloomy conditions - despite the floodlights - meant New Zealand were confined to their dressing room, which they wouldn’t have minded.

It was safe indoors, and the All Blacks were thumping the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship.

It wasn’t rain that kept the players out for the rest of the day. For the most part the light just wasn’t good enough, leaving the 2543

people at Kingsmead, approximately one-tenth its capacity, equally frustrated.

Helpfully, play was called off with an hour remaining for them to scramble and catch the start of the Springboks’ Championship campaign.

The outfield in Durban

had been re-laid last year and a few chunks did come out when fielders slid to retrieve the ball. With more rain expected at night, there was concern over whether it would be ready in time for play to restart tomorrow at 10 am.

SCORE BOARD South Africa 1st innings SC Cook c †Watling b Boult 20 D Elgar c Guptill b Bracewell 19 H Amla c †Watling b Boult 53 JP Duminy c Boult b Wagner 14 F du Plessis* c Williamson b Wagner 23 T Bavuma lbw b Santner 46 Q de Kock† c Bracewell b Santner 33 VD Philander c Southee b Wagner 8 K Rabada not out 14 DW Steyn not out 2 D Piedt c †Watling b Boult 9 Extras: (lb) 4 Total:(all out; 87.4 overs; 388 mins) 263 Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Cook, 13.6 ov), 2-41 (Elgar, 16.6 ov), 3-102 (Duminy, 31.3 ov), 4-106 (Amla, 34.5 ov), 5-160 (du Plessis, 57.3 ov), 6-208 (de Kock, 67.4 ov), 7-208 (Bavuma,

67.6 ov), 8-228 (Philander, 74.4 ov), 9-236 (Steyn, 78.6 ov), 10-263 (Piedt, 87.4 ov) Bowling: Southee 23-380-1, Boult 21.4-5-52-3, Bracewell 16-6-53-1, Wagner 15-4-47-3,Santner 11-2-222, Guptill 1-0-5-0 5.00 New Zealand 1st innings M Guptill lbw b Steyn T Latham c Amla b Steyn KS Williamson* not out R Taylor not out Extras: 0 Total: (2 wickets; 12 overs) 15 (1.25 runs per over) To bat: HM Nicholls, BJ Watling†, MJ Santner, DAJ Bracewell, N Wagner, TG Southee, TA Boult Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Latham, 6.2 ov), 2-12 (Guptill, 8.6 ov) Bowling: Steyn 6-4-32, Philander 6-1-12-0

7 4 2 2

US rolls past Spain to win 6th straight gold

T

he United States women's basketball team thumped Spain 101-72 to claim a sixth straight gold medal on Saturday to rubberstamp their credentials as one of the greatest Olympic sporting dynasties of all time.

After a sloppy start that saw Spain lead much of the opening quarter, the U.S. finally settled into their familiar rhythm, turning a 10-0 run into a 17-point halftime lead.

From then on there was no way back for Spain as the U.S. extended their Olympic winning streak to a staggering 49-0.

Only two other teams can claim such a run of domination in an Olympic team sport.

The U.S. men's basketball team earned seven consecutive gold medals from 19361968 while India claimed sixstraight men's field hockey titles from 1928-1956.

"It's mind boggling when you think about it what this team has been able to accomplish, this program," said U.S. coach Geno Auriemma.

"There is such a level of expectation, such a level of respect and it filters down. Everyone who puts that jersey on they get it. We're doing stuff that may never be done again."

For Spain, the silver was their first medal in Olympic women's basketball.

Earlier, Serbia beat France 70-63 in the bronze

US women's basketball team thumped Spain 101-72 to claim a sixth straight gold medal

medal game.

4 Golds

With the U.S. victory Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi joined former team mates Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie as the only players to win four gold medals in basketball.

Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen paced the U.S. on the scoreboard, pouring in 17 points apiece, while Maya Moore potted 14.

"It's pretty incredible," said 34-year-old Taurasi, who left the door open for a possible fifth Olympic run. "We had the goal to win the gold medal but there is something more to it than that. It's not about one person, one coach, it's about how can we make this the best basketball team ever."

Team USA captain Bird,

who sat out the semi-finals with a knee injury, was back in the lineup and was also noncommittal about her national team future while Catchings confirmed Saturday's gold medal game was her last.

Humbled 103-63 by the U.S. in preliminary round play, Spain had looked determined to offer more resistance in the final, holding a 17-14 lead late in the opening quarter. But after Angel McCoughtry hit a layup and connected on two free throw attempts the U.S. never trailed again.

"It's one thing to do the unexpected, it's another to do what you are expected to do year-after-year, game-aftergame, quarter-after-quarter," said Maya Moore.

"This team didn't get complacent. I think that is the sign of a true champion, someone who loves the game."

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SPORTs WICB Regional U-19…

Keen contest expected today as Guyana battles Windwards in final

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he Guyana Under-19 team currently in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19 tournament is on the verge of creating history as they prepare to face Windward Island today in the limited overs final.

It would be Guyana’s third successive finals and if they win it would be the first time Guyana would achieve three consecutive titles. In fact, since winning their first limited overs title in Guyana in 2014, they have managed to win 10 matches as compare to two losses against Jamaica in 2015 and Leeward Island in this year’s edition.

Now the responsibility lies in the hands of skipper Travis Persaud and his troops to ensure the title is brought back to the Land of Many Waters. The Guyana team has been doing a good job and besides their lone failure against Leewards where they loss

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full potential. Not only have they dominated with the bat but also the ball with Paul being Guyana’s leading bowler with 12 wickets and is only behind Barbados’ Joshua Bishop (14) and Windwards Ryan John (13).

Meanwhile Rutherford is Guyana’s lone bowler with a five wicket haul in the limited over version this year.

Apart from Rutherford and Paul, Yadram and Raymond Perez have also contributed with the bat.

Keemo Paul

Travis Persaud

Kheshram Seyhodan

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by 30 runs, Guyana has impressed in all of their other five matches. Prior to the Leeward’s clash, the reigning champions defeated ICC Americas by six wickets. They have comprehensively won every match after their loss to the Leewards.

All-rounders Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford have lived up to expectation while 16 year old Bhaskar Yadram, Akenie Adams and Kheshram Seyhodam have all been instrumental in their team’s successes to date.

With 175 and 174 runs respect i v e l y Rutherford and Paul have lead from the front for Guyana but are yet to reach their

Both have recorded half centuries and played significant roles at important times. Ronaldo Ali Mohamed hit a cameo of 42 from 37 deliveries against Jamaica but he has been unsound so far and has one final chance to make an impression.

In the bowling department Paul has been Guyana’s top performer along with left arm spin duo Seyhodan and Adams have both been effective claiming 11 and nine victims respectively.

Like Ali-Mohamed, Guyana’s skipper Travis Persaud has had a disappointed run so far and he must look to make an impact in today’s finals with bat, ball or he must be spectacular with his leadership.

Prior to their departure to St. Vincent, the Guyana team was touted as a strong unit that was expected to defend its threeday and limited over titles.

However, that was not their fate as they performed poorly in the three day, losing all three of their matches including two in two days.

Subsequent to that lackluster performance Guyana has rebounded to showcase a better performance in the shorter version. They finished second at the end of the preliminaries on 22 points

behind Windwards who scored 22.6 points. Both team lost a game but compliments of their fast bowling points Windwards finished as leaders.

Nevertheless tomorrow’s final is expected to be a keen contest as both teams are fully capable of beating the other. Earlier in the tournament, Guyana defeated Windwards by 38 runs compliments of a brilliant all-round effort from Paul coupled with quality spin bowling by Adams and Seyhodan.

Guyana would have also defeated the Windwards last year in Jamaica and the previous year in Guyana thus holds the edge. The two teams were to clash in the 2014 finals in Guyana but unfortunately rain had the last say.

The Windwards should not be written off since their team includes West Indies U-19 players Ryan John and Emmanuel Stewart, both of whom have

Sherfane Rutherford

done extremely good in the tournament so far. The present of opener Johann Jeremiah and all-rounder Alick Anthanaze could also add to the Windwards cause.

The Windwards have a good unit and must be positive should they win, however, Guyana is in excellent form and should be able to put the final nail in the coffin.

22

guyana-times.com

sundAY, august 21, 2016

NEW GPC supports Guyana Under-15 basketball team

F

ollowing the successful hosting of the Boys and Girls Caribbean Basketball Confederation Under 16 Championships from July 2-17, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, where the Guyana U16 boys placed second to Bahamas.

The Guyana Under-15 Boys team will be participating in the 2016 Centro Basket Under-15 Young Men Championships from August 24-28 in Puerto Rico. Two members of the U16 team are in the U15 team, namely: Roydon Glasgow and Jermaine King.

New Guyana Pharm aceutical Company Inco rporated (NEW GPC IN C) is the flagship sponsor for the Guyana team. The other sponsors are Camex Restaurant Inc.; Dean of Tesoura Hassan Resources and Fly Jamaica.

It is the first time that Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation will be sending a Youth team to the Caribbean and Central American Championships.

Another first is that a Guyana youth team will be playing on

West Indies vs India, 4th Test, Port of Spain, 3rd day...

Another day lost to wet outfield, weather

S

The young basketball players in Guyana will be buoyed by their performance in the recent Caribbean Basketball Championship and will hope they can replicate such performances at the Basket Under-15 Young Men Championships

American Territory, namely Puerto Rico.

The GABF wishes to thank all sponsors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy for expediting the issuance of visas to twelve members of the Guyana team.

The team departs on Monday, August 22 and returns on August 28.

The full team comprises: Kwesi Roberts (Captain), Josiah

Daniels, Shaquawn Gill, Roydon Glasgow, Corey Graham, Jether Harris, Isaiah Jermaine Hintzen, La King, Immanuel Rose, Lugard O. Mohan, Kobe Tappin, Anthony Yansen.

The Head Coach is Lugard Mohan, with Assistant Coaches - Keving Bonnet, Cameron Willon and Alex Graham as Manager.

Sherwin Henry will be the referee from Guyana.

urreal scenes of an outfield being dug up during a Test match were not enough to dry Queen’s Park Oval enough for any cricket on day three.

For the second day in a row, not a single ball was bowled despite there being bright sunshine in the first half of the day. The ground staff dug up parts of the outfield to perhaps try to aerate it, but more rain around noon frustrated everyone further.

There was no super sopper to assist the ground staff.

With only 22 overs possible on the first two days and given the facilities available at Queen’s Park Oval, a result was extremely unlikely. India needed to win this Test to retain their No.

The ground staff at Queen’s Park Oval tried various means to get the outfield fit for play on day three, all in vain © AFP

1 Test ranking and not lose it to Pakistan. West Indies were 62 for 2 after 22 overs,

all bowled in the first session on the first morning.

GHB/Lucozade indoor Hockey Tournament…

Vintage overcomes Knockers

Imran "Magic" Khan plans to turn table on Gomes

Imran "Magic" Khan looks to settle the score against Gomes (Dexter Ceres photo)

By Romario Samaroo

A

t the much anticipated Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s, ‘Bad Intentions’ boxing card, come on August 27 at the Giftland Office Max Mall, Liliendaal,East Coast Demerara, Imran "Magic’" Khan will finally have the opportunity he has been waiting for to match gloves once again with Quincy Gomes.

Khan and Gomes met last February at ‘Hostile Territory’ where Gomes emerged victorious.

However, Khan feels as though the decision was questionable noting he felt the match was a draw.

Nevertheless, Khan acknowledged his defeat, pointing out that he was good in the first three rounds but lost some amount of stamina heading into the final few rounds which allowed Gomes to capitalize.

When Guyana Times Sport visited Khan at his ‘Forgotten Youths’ Boxing Gym, Albouystown, he was deep into his training but took the time to talk about his main focus in defeating Gomes. “I’ve been training hard, getting up early, putting in extra hours in the gym and eating right.” Khan added, “This is the fight of my life and I will beat Gomes.” Khan is cognisant of the face that Gomes is a good fighter but the tables will turn and he will not be taking him lightly when the two clash.

Gomes has already signaled his intentions of ending the fight early and is also confident heading into the showdown.

This is definitely one of the most anticipated fights on the card as the two go head to head for six rounds in the lightweight category.

Khan has to his name over 100 wins in the ama-

teur circuit and has gone toe to toe with Olympic boxers from Cuba, Venezuela, Kenya, Kazakhstan and others Fans will also be treated to some serious matches with reputations and pride on the line.

In the main event of the night, arguably one of the better Guyanese fighters, 27 year old Dexter Gonsalves will enter the ring looking to stop the experienced American, DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley when they battle for 12 rounds.

Corley has been in the ring with the likes of Mayweather Jr and Cotto but Gonsalves has been in the ring and defeated fellow Guyanese, Clive "The Punisher" Atwell, a fight which resulted in Atwell suffering serious head injuries resulting in him needing surgery in the United States.

In the middleweight category, Mark Austin will look to stop the mighty Jamaican, Michael Gardener in his boots. Another lightweight bout for the night will see Anthony Narine making his debut when he shares the square with Keeve Allicock for four rounds.

The first fight slated for the night will have the crowd on their toes to witness Kelsey George, a young Berbician, looking to defeat Barbadian Chadwin Estwick.

Estwick, who is on a winning streak, is looking to extend it, while George will be aiming to gain some momentum for his future.

Admission cost $3000 (ringside) and $1000 (general admission).

Action during the GHB/Lucozade Indoor Hockey Tournament (file photo)

A

s the Guyana Hockey Board/Lucozade Indoor Hockey Tournament continued on Friday at the National Gymnasium, five evenly poised matches thrilled one of the largest turnouts to date.

In the opening match of the night, the Pit bulls team managed to hand the Saints team a 4:1 defeat thanks to the Sargeant pair.

The first half of play demonstrated the intensity of both teams to show they were not going to be walk overs in the competition, having played without a goal scored in the first half.

However, the second half say the Saints team feel the pressure of a long game losing focus even though they opened the scoring in the 23rd minute as Hilton Chester pushed on past Michael Hing.

After which it became the Sargeant show.

Meshach Sargeant stroked a perfect shot to net the first goal for Pitbulls, leveling the score in the 25th minute.

Mark Sargeant then took over proceedings to score a hat trick of goals in minutes 31, 36 and 40 to leave hand Pitbulls a 4:1 victory by the end of the match.

The ladies then showed their skills in the second match where Old Fort contested against Hikers. Like the first game, the first half

showed the quality of both sides with only Hikers’ captain Kenisha Wills being able to register a goal.

But the second half saw Annalisa Singh on return scoring in the 31st minute and Latacia Chung marking her first two minutes before play stopped to close the match at 3:0 in favour of Hikers.

In the highly anticipated clash between Vintage and Old Fort Knockers, the outcome did not disappoint as Vintage handed Knockers an 8:1 drubbing.

Eric Hing pounce on a relaxed Knockers’ defence to score in the first minute of play only to have Knockers’ Dehron Wilkinson reply with the equalizer in one minute later.

Hing returned to score his second in the sixth minute while Devin Hooper score Vintage’s third goal in minute seven.

Philip Fernandes took advantage of a Knockers defence that seemed to be out of place as he scored a double in minutes 12 and 15 respectively to put the vintage team comfortably ahead at the end of the first half with the score 5:1.

Dwayne Scott then capitalized and scored a double of his own in minutes 26 and 33 before Fernandes scored his third and the final goal for the night to leave the Knockers suffering at 8:1.

Spartans and Pizza Hut GCC battled feverishly only

to result in a draw and arguably one of the best contests of the tournament.

Tricia Fiedtkou opened the scoring for GCC with a superb field goal just three minutes into the game but Shebiki quickly responded with a goal for Spartans and allowed Marzana Fiedtkou to put Spartans in the lead by half time.

Spartans resumed the second half on the same pace with Dominique de Groot scoring a penalty goal in the 29th minute giving Spartans a 3:1 lead.

However, things quickly went in the favour of the GCC ladies as Dacia Woodroffe scored a penalty goal in the 35th minute and Rebecca Xavier squeezed in a field goal two minutes before the end of the match to leave the scores leveled at 3:3.

In the fifth and final game, Hikers’ men scrapped in a close victory over Old Fort Stallions in a 2:1 win.

Jason Chase started off proceedings in the third minute for Stallions while Randy Hope provided the equalizing goal two minutes after. The scores remained leveled heading into the second half.

A good display of defensive playing resulted in Jamari Assarah only being able to capitalize on a penalty to squeeze Hikers in the lead and eventually winning the game 2:1.

guyana-times.com

sundAY, august 21, 2016

23

Balancing academics and squash, Larissa Wiltshire gets an A-grade

By Akeem Greene

N

ational Squash Player Larissa Wiltshire is by all means living a dream as one of Guyana’s top junior squash players and scholar. The Wiltshire name in squash should be no surprise as the young star’s father Garfield, sister Akeila and brother Shomari are all formidable players in their own right.

The 18-year-old is winning both on and off the court, as added to her success with squash, her academic achievements are simply stupendous. At the recent Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), the Queen’s College student was placed among the top performers at the examinations; securing six grades ones, which mirrors her performance in the previous year.

It was not only at CAPE the aspiring dentist made headlines, as in the 2014 she secured 17 Gade Ones at CXC. More so, at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) in 2009 she was deemed the coun-

try’s top student, securing 565 marks out of a possible 592 to pip 18,612 other students.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport after hearing of recent accomplishments, she expressed elation, stating: “I am actually very happy and excited about my accomplishment, I am thankful to my parents for their continued support and encouragement as well as my school and lessons teachers and my friends.”

She added: “I studied a lot and even had a twelveweek study plan where I studied a subject per week for the twelve-week period in reverse order of how they appeared on my timetable for like 3-4 hours a night.”

Wiltshire, who was joint recipient of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) award for outstanding achievement in sports for winning the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, a feat she achieved with Taylor Fernandes, was quizzed on her view of persons writing numerous subjects at the regional exams.

Caribbean Badminton Championships 2016 – Aruba...

Ramdhani siblings progress to semi-finals

N

umber one Seeded player Narayan Ramdhani defeated Jehu Gaskin of Barbados: 21-11, 21- 12 in their singles clash to reach the Semi-Finals of the Caribbean Badminton International Championships (CAREBACO) in Aruba on Friday.Ramdhani proved why he is the number one seed, as he won easily to progress to the semis; him along with Priyanna Ramdhani have advanced to the semifinals.

Priyanna Ramdhani, the youngest player in the Carebaco Under-19 International at the age 14 defeated Cheyanna BurnettGriffith of Barbados: 21-5, 21-2 to reach the Semi-Finals in Singles. This is a breakthrough for her and Guyana Badminton as it is her first step in the Under-19 Singles Events to reach so far and medal which will take her BWF World Ranking Points higher; her events are usually under-15.

Jonathan Mangra lost to Shea Michael Martin of Barbados: 21-16, 21-18 in the Quarter-Finals Singles.

In the Under-19 Mix Doubles Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani Defeated Jascha Atmodikromo and Santusha Ramzan of Suriname: 21-10, 21-10 to reach into the SemiFinals. Finals for all Matches will continue in Singles, Doubles and Mix Doubles.

All the Guyanese Players are playing the Semi-Finals to reach the Finals.

Boys Singles-Narayan Ramdhani versus Cesar Adonis Brito Gonzalez (Dominican Republic)

Girls Singles-Priyanna Ramdhani versus Amanda Yearwood (Barbados) Boys Doubles- Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra versus Jade Allman and Joshua Smith (Trinidad) Mix Doubles- Narayan Ramdhani and Proyanna Ramdhani versus Renaldo Sinanan and Jade Renales (Trinidad) Meanwhile earlier in the tournament, the SUNBURST sponsored Narayan Ramdhani got a bye in the first round and was awarded a walk-over from Yonatan Linarez of Dominican Republic in the second round which took him straight to the Quarter-Finals.

Jonathan Mangra was awarded a walkover from Bryan Anderson Castro of Dominican Republic in the first round and defeated Jade Allman of Trinidad & Tobago: 21-14, 21-18 in the second round to reach the Quarter-Finals, and Priyanna Ramdhani got a walk-over from Nairoby Abigail Jimenez of Dominican Republic in the first round to get a place in the Quarter-Finals.

In the Under-19 Mix Doubles Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani (Guyana siblings) defeated Efraim Van Der Linden and Thirsa Van Der Linden (Aruba siblings) to reach the Quarter-Finals : 21-5, 21-3.

The GBA would like to thank Mohamed’s Enterprise, Republic Bank, NSC, BK International, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Crown Mining, Gio Tech and Cosmopolitan Trading. The Tournament continues today from 17:00 hrs.

Outstanding achievement! Wiltshire displays her plaque at the GOA Awards in April (Marceano Narine Photo)

“I wrote 17 subjects for CSEC and was unaffected by the amount of subjects, I still played squash, was on Facebook way too much; so I think students should be allowed to write as many as they want because it’s their life”, she responded.

To some it seems bewildering how she as a player has been able to balance both areas successfully but Wiltshire explained that it’s about being disciplined.

“Well we [squash] had team training that started in March so I just studied after that and sometimes even in school but that was just a few times because it’s hard to focus in school when you are as busy as I am”, the Caribbean under-19 champion said.

The daughter of High Court Judge Justice Roxane George revealed that there is no added pressure to per-

form whether it is squash or academics: “There is no pressure to be the best at squash, I mean that is what every athlete hopes for but there is just encouragement to do your best.”

The young woman who will be heading to the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) to study dentistry come September, had a message for all persons who wish to walk in her footsteps: “I think people should just work hard and try to do their best, they shouldn’t try to be somebody else because it’s at that point when you might end up feeling defeated if you don’t meet that standard”.

Wiltshire said that she hopes to continue representing Guyana on the senior squash team in the future. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy. com)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2016

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

guyana-times.com

Page 19

Neymar the hero as Brazil finally gets gold Neymar stepped forward to seal the gold medal Brazil craved above all others as the five-time World Cup winners became Olympic champions for the first time

Page 19

US wins 6th straight gold in women's 4x400 relay

Brilliant Farah wins 5000m to achieve 'doubledouble' Page 19

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