Guyana Times Daily

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Issue No. 3026

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

PRICE

Unemployment a major factor for youth involvement in crime – Top Cop We do not want parking meters – PPP/C reiterates Page 3

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Onderneeming pensioner hospitalised after fire P17 gutted house

Page 7

…wants forensic audit into contract

280 boxes of firecrackers seized in Region 2 P16 raids

Regions 1, 2 to benefit from Canada-Guyana Outreach P11 Mission

President David Granger on Sunday joined with the leaders and congregation of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), to celebrate the Lutheran Church’s 273rd anniversary in Guyana (See story on page 17)

Fatal accidents up 21% – Traffic Chief Tourism Ministry to intensify Diaspora tourism Page 9

Page 16

6 ranks fired for misconduct, 5 under investigation Page 7

– 50 complaints per month against Police Officers

GNRSC calling for harsher P14 penalties for drunk driving Community P9 service for APNU Ranger who slapped AFC Councillor

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 1 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, November 2 –– 05:00h-06:30h The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 1 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, November 2 –– 05:20h-06:50h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Sunshine will prevail throughout the day, with light rain showers in the late morning hours, while clear skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures should range between 25 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to East North-easterly ranging from 3.57 metres to 4.49 metres.

High Tide: 05:06h and 17:15h reaching maximum heights of 2.64 metres and 2.71 metres.

Low Tide: 10:52h and 23:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.60 metre and 0.49 metre respectively.

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Unemployment a major factor for youth involvement in crime – Top Cop P

olice Commissioner (Ag) David Ramnarine drew focus on what he believes is a significant contributor to the criminal activities in the country, the idle youths.

He made this pronouncement during a news conference on Monday as he released statistics on a number of categories of criminal activities in the country.

Ramnarine also pointed to a correlation between the crime wave and the state of youth unemployment in the nation.

In disseminating information on traffic offences, the Top Cop (Ag) noted that youth make up a high portion of those in violation of traffic laws.

He said of the 712 random breathalyzer tests recently conducted, a major 60 per cent were between the ages of 18 and 25.

"We have young persons in crime, young persons unemployed, young persons who are driving under the influence, and young persons who just don't want to work for what they say is too meagre a salary," Ramnarine asserted, underscoring that these are all critical factors everyone ought to be apprehensive of when holistically examining the crime situation in the country.

His allusions to the inclusion of youth in crime also covered instances of murders and robberies, or violence-related criminal activities: "We have youths who

prefer to party and party late at nights and we’ve seen a level of violence in this society by young people; an unacceptable level of violence involving young people," he stated.

Ramnarine indicated that the problem lies with the level of youth employment, particularly with young people refusing to work.

"They are misguided, they are lacking proper supervision and guidance.

They don’t want to work for what they perceive to be by their own standard meagre salaries," he stated. It was just last week that a 14-year-old Mahaicony boy was placed before the court charged with the murder of a Mahaicony businesswoman. Reports are that the teen, who did odd jobs for the 54-year-old woman confessed to beating her to death. The young boy was said to be the mastermind of the attack, as he reportedly led his 24-year-old accom-

plice to the woman’s home.

The teenager and his accomplice, Devanand Rampersaud, a fisherman of Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which was read to them in-camera

by Magistrate Zamilla AllySeepaul.

Rampersaud was remanded to Camp Street

Prison, while the 14-yearold mastermind was sent to the Juvenile Holding Centre in Sophia. They will make their next court appearance on November 14 when the matter will be called at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court.

The lifeless body of Bibi Shairoon of Lot 6 Novar, Mahaicony, was found by her nephew on October 17 with her hands and feet bound. The two suspects on Saturday evening reportedly gave a detailed statement to detectives on how they committed the murder. The duo allegedly admitted to beating the woman in her head with a frying pan.

It was reported that after the duo entered the woman’s house, she put up a fight and was struck to the head repeatedly with the frying pan. She subsequently fainted.

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

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

Editorial

Tourism for all R

aising the Tourism Sector’s profile and status in Caribbean countries has been the focus of many if not all countries that have a heavy reliance on tourism, which is one of the main economic sectors and also a major source of revenue, foreign exchange earnings, jobs and investment.

Guyana, like many other countries, plan and execute national tourism awareness programmes annually, in an effort to achieve the goals of raising the profile of the sector and educating various publics about the positive contributions of this sector.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates tourism’s contribution to Guyana’s GDP at 8.9 per cent.

Whichever it is, it is clear that tourism is making a huge impact on our country and has the potential to be one of the leading sectors and largest employer of especially our young people.

As the sector continues to develop, the stakeholders are moving aggressively to accurately measure tourism’s contribution to Guyana’s GDP. In November last year Government established a Tourism Satellite Accounting sub-committee, as they move towards research-based decision-making.

Another integral part of the drive to highlight the potential of the industry is the implementation of a robust awareness programme; this year Tourism Awareness Month, which is commemorated in November, will be executed under the theme “Tourism for All - Building partnerships for Tourism Development”.

Given the potential of the sector, it has become even more important for everyone to understand their role in the development of the sector and more importantly to understand how they stand to benefit from this cross cutting industry which connects everyone in every community, town, region and by extension, the country as a whole.

If Tourism is to be examined under a microscope, one will find that it provides jobs to many across varying sectors; it is a primary source of revenue for several indigenous communities and has a tremendous impact on society.

As a people to people industry, it is imperative to forge strong relationships for the development of tourism in Guyana. The Industry consists of a network of stakeholders working hand in hand to achieve economic prosperity; both public and private sector members need to realise and play their roles effectively to ensure the Industry recognises its full potential.

It is for this reason that the emphasis this year is on strengthening partnerships and creating new ones for the continued development of the burgeoning industry.

Evidently, Guyana has the potential to become a leading destination for Sustainable tourism; in fact research shows that Guyana has a competitive advantage, however time and time again, as Administrations come and go, policies and directions shift and goal becomes all the more elusive.

We have seen concerted and dedicated efforts from the Private Sector and the industry leaders who now need to accelerate their efforts in communicating to the populace that there is a concrete plan going forward and that dedicated efforts will be placed on finding solutions to the constraints and challenges, identifying opportunities and setting benchmarks for the growth of the industry.

Businesses, investors, service providers, and citizens need to have the confidence that indeed there are benefits of investing their time and efforts in growing the industry.

More importantly, they need to know that the Administration is taking the industry seriously. Then and only then will there be the ‘bye in’ that indeed Tourism is for all.

Halloween is now a global phenomenon and is celebrated all over the world on October 31. In photo, women eat next to a fake skeleton ahead of a Halloween parade at Happy Valley Park in Beijing, China (Reuters/Jason Lee)

Bias and/or incompetence accusations levelled at Ministry of Agriculture Dear Editor, In an article which appeared in the news media on Oct 28, it was reported that Charles Ceres of Ground Structures Engineering Consultants, Inc stated that with respect to his bid for consultancy service to supervise reconstruction of an earthen dam in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), the Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) rejected his submission on the ground that its technical approach and methodology did not take into consideration the approved construction supervision and quality assurance plan as laid out in the bidding document.

The Evaluation Committee further discounted Ceres’s claim that the project was geotechnical engineering based since the project’s main objective was

to supervise the reconstruction of an earthen dam based on the drawing and specifications submitted to the bidders.

There is no doubt that geotechnical experience by the successful bidder would have been helpful in executing this earthen dam project.

However, in the final analysis, the consultants would have had to follow the requirements of the contract documents and prepare their bids accordingly.

In response to the rejection of his bid, Ceres questioned the fairness of the tender process and felt that the Evaluation Committee of the MoA was either biased or technical incompetent in its analysis of the bids it received for this project.

This conclusion was unfortunate as this is a World Bank (WB) funded project and therefore the MoA is ob-

ligated to adhere to the WB’s guidelines for the selection of consultants. Further, it appears Ceres misinterpreted the bidding documents as the project required consultants with experience to reconstruct earthen dams and not specifically with geotechnical expertise as he claimed.

Ceres cannot lodge any complaint concerning his bid directly to the WB until the bids are opened and presented by the MoA to the WB with recommendations for an award. He will have to submit his protest to the WB through Guyana’s Director on the WB who will then determine its merit for submission to WB management and board of directors for eventual review and consideration for contract award.

It will be helpful regarding Ceres’s contention if he could obtain a copy of the bidders’ evaluation by the

Evaluation Committee to compare the scores received by each of them under the various items of the WBlisted requirements particularly those of the local consultants vis-a-vis the foreign ones.

He is conversant with the competency, resources and experience of the local consultants to undertake this project and whose performance on the various Government of Guyana projects they executed are well documented. The scores will indicate whether there was indeed bias or lack of competency by the MoA in the award of this contract. If there was any ‘hanky panky’ in analysis of the bids by the MoA, the WB’s team reviewing the bids will surely pick this up and act accordingly.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

12-hour blackouts daily in Essequibo Dear Editor, For the past week Essequibians have been experiencing 12-hour blackouts daily - 6 hours in the morning and 6 hours at night.

No one knows for sure what could be the cause of these sudden power outages, but people are speculating that the 2 Wartsila engines are too old and cannot carry the load of the entire region.

It seems like there is no turning back; it's getting from bad to worse. When the power is off the children who are attending school cannot get water to bathe and study at night. Worst of all, you cannot see to eat your own food at night when you come home late from work.

This is really unacceptable. In the wee hours of the morning our family cannot

see to prepare our meals so we go to work without food.

The little babies are suffering with the heat and mosquitoes because there is no electricity to power fans or air conditioners. A lot of damage has been done to appliances when the current fluctuates. My back-up battery, which I use to store power so I can keep my internet and telephone on when there are blackouts, blew up and caught fire.

Luckily I had my fire extinguisher nearby and I quickly put it out.

With these sudden blackouts and fluctuations of electricity, our houses can burn to the ground and something urgently needs to be done.

Owing to the on-and-off power over the past week, our transmitting systems at the National Communications

Network on the Essequibo Coast went down. We were unable to transmit our usual television programmes to the populace here and in the interior locations. The engineers and technicians from Georgetown had to rush up to Cotton Field, and at our branch they worked assiduously throughout the night to restore the service. Much damage had been done to the motherboard of the panel.

Although the transmitting system has been fully restored and is now working, there is still on-andoff power from GPL, and I am afraid that it might affect the transmitting system again.

In my opinion, the only remedy to this blackout situation is to replace these two old and outdated Wartsila engines with new ones.

Already some people are looking to buy their own solar panels and stand-by generator sets because they cannot depend on GPL anymore.

While the government has made some important strides, the country and the people as a whole face many barriers to progress.

Perhaps the most serious impediment is the prolonged blackouts each day throughout the country. We cannot and must not take this lightly. I draw your attention to the recent revelation that the Wartsila experts will not be operating here in Guyana anymore, and I think this will be a disaster if we are to succeed in holding on to what we have.

Sincerely, Mohamed Khan

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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

Hard times ahead loom large

Dear Editor, Last week, timber giant Barama Company Ltd announced that it will be closing its forestry operations, which will result in 500 persons being dismissed. This is hot on the heels of the dismissal of some200 workers earlier this year by Barama.

The dismissal of these workers is as a result of the company contracting its operations. The closure of Barama’s forestry operations (according to reports) is due to its inability to reach an agreement with the APNU+AFC Regime.

This, of course, is very serious since it will affect the purchasing power of hundreds of families.

However, this is not the only company that is shed-

ding its employees.

The regime, against the advice of the Commission of Inquiry they established, has moved to contract the sugar industry. Wales’s estate has been targeted for closure at the end of this year. Almost 2000 workers will be laid off when this closure takes place.

The regime has also closed off all operations at LBI and here again a sizable amount of workers came under the hatchet.

Rumours are rife that the Rose Hall estate is also being targeted for closure in the near future.

These acts taking place in the sugar industry today are nothing short of vindictiveness. That vengeful attack will have a great nega-

tive impact not only on the communities that earn their livelihood via the sugar industry, but on the country as a whole.

Added to this is the crisis the rice sector is being faced with.

The fact that the government refuses to lift a hand to help the industry has led to a steady decline in that sector. This will also have a negative impact on production and employment in that sector.

Earlier this year, the Aurora Gold Mines had to let go scores of workers after the construction phase of the work was completed.

Even before these massive layoffs took place, a CDB study showed that youth unemployment was at

40%. This rate is very high.

When you factor in the amount of young people leaving school and seeking employment, then we see that the situation is very dire.

To compound all of this is that many of the government’s policies will contribute to a decrease in production levels. The taxing of kitchen garners, horse and donkey cart operators, etc, the rescinding of duty free concessions to farmers and small miners for machinery and other equipment will further contribute to the decline in production.

The granting of licenses to import 800,000 pounds of chicken will also impact negatively on poultry farmers. All of these combined

Ministry of the Presidency clarifies the President’s statements The Ministry of the Presidency, in responding to a letter by Mr. Neil Adams, published in the Guyana times on Monday, October 31st, wishes to clarify on statements made by the President in his address to Parliament on October 13th, 2016.

The Ministry is categorically condemning these assertions and is disappointed that such a letter could be published, despite the fact that the President’s speech was publicised via television, radio, the internet and other communication platforms. The assertions carried therein have no basis in fact and were clearly designed to mislead the public.

Contrary to the letter, in his address to Parliament, the President said: “Dreams of a ‘good life’ turned into a horrible nightmare at the

dawn of the new millennium. The most unforgettable experiences and most frightening evidence of our descent into chaos were the bloody, drug-driven, decade-long ‘Troubles’. The ‘Troubles’ will be remembered as the darkest hour in our history. It was a time of the un-investigated assassination of a Minister; of the investigation into the alleged implication of another Minister in the direction of a ‘death squad’; of the alleged implication of yet another Minister in the acquisition of a computer to track the telephone communication and location of adversaries targeted for assassination.

It was a time of arbitrary arrests; of disappearances and of torture of young men; of the surge in armed robberies, narco-trafficking and gun-running. During that

first, deadly decade, there were 1,317 murders and 7,865 armed robberies.”

The Ministry is urging media entities to act more responsibly. While the Government of Guyana promotes and supports press freedom, it is also important

that the media responsibly treat their role to provide accurate information to the members of the public.

Sincerely, The Ministry of the Presidency

will contribute to rising unemployment.

The business community has complained bitterly that business has reached an all time low. Some businesses had to cut importation from some 24 containers per year to ten.

Many businesses have also been forced to lay off workers due to the constipated economy. These are hardly ever reported.

All these negative actions will sooner or later have a devastating impact on government resources.

The slowdown in business is no doubt caused by a decline in demand by citizens for goods and services, which is due to the decrease in their purchasing power.

This regime, with its propensity to spend heavily on unproductive prestige projects, for example, the D’Urban Park project, and their ‘high life style’ (the good life) will resort more and more to placing undue taxes on the working people on the one hand and on the other, they will begin to cut back on social spending and

other important areas to maintain their growing topheavy bureaucracy and prestige projects. Already we see them cutting funds for constitutional bodies including the Elections Commission.

The quality of life citizens once enjoyed is fast diminishing.

All this can be avoided if the regime would stop practicing racial and political discrimination; it needs to stop being vindictive in its attitude toward the sugar and rice industries.

They still have time to review their position on closing estates in the sugar industry. This is a colossal mistake that will haunt this nation for many years in the future.

The road the APNU+AFC regime is travelling has already caused many hardships on the Guyanese people. Stubbornly staying on this course will lead to more difficulties.

Hard times loom largely ahead.

Donald Ramotar Former President

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Page Foundation The culture of childhood: we’ve almost destroyed it

– children learn the most valuable lessons with other children, away from adults Part 1

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he culture of childhood: we’ve almost destroyed it – children learn the most valuable lessons with other children, away from adults Part 1

By Peter Gray, PhD I don’t want to trivialise the roles of adults in children’s lives, but, truth be told, we adults greatly exaggerate our roles in our theories and beliefs about how children develop. We have this adult-centric view that we raise, socialise, and educate children.

Certainly we are important in children’s lives. Children need us. We feed, clothe, shelter, and comfort them. We provide examples (not always so good) of what it’s like to be an adult. But we don’t raise, socialise, or educate them. They do all that for themselves, and in that process they are far more likely to look to other children than to us adults as models. If child psychologists were actually CHILD psychologists (children), theories of child development would be much less about parents and much more about peers.

Children are biologically designed to grow up in a culture of childhood Have you ever noticed how your child’s tastes in clothes, music, manner of speech, hobbies, and almost everything else have much more to do with what other children she or he knows are doing or like than what you are doing or like? Of course you have. Children are biologically designed to pay attention to the other children in their lives, to try to fit in with them, to be able to do what they do, to know what they know.

Through most of human history, that’s how children became educated, and that’s still largely how children become educated today, despite our misguided attempts to stop it and

turn the educating job over to adults.

Wherever anthropologists have observed traditional cultures and paid attention to children as well as adults, they’ve observed two cultures, the adult’s culture and the children’s culture.

The two cultures, of course, are not

completely independent of one another.

They interact and influence one another; and children, as they grow up, gradually leave the culture of childhood and enter into the culture of adulthood. Children’s cultures can be understood, at least to some degree, as practice cultures, where children try out various ways of being and practice, modify, and build upon the skills and values of the adult culture. I first began to think seriously about cultures of childhood when I began looking into band hunter-gatherer societies. In my reading, and in my survey of anthropologists who had lived in such societies, I learned that the children in those societies – from roughly the age of four on through their mid teen years – spent most of their waking time playing and exploring with groups of other children, away from adults (Gray, 2012, also here). They played in age-mixed groups, in which younger children emulated and learnt from older

ones. I found that anthropologists who had studied children in other types of traditional cultures also wrote about children’s involvement in peer groups as the primary means of their socialisation and education (eg Lancy et al, 2010; EiblEibesfeldt, 1 9 8 9 ) .

Judith

Harris

(1998), in a discussion of such research, noted that the popular phrase It takes a village to raise a child is true if interpreted differently from the usual Western interpretation.

In her words (p 161): “The reason it takes a village is not because it requires a quorum of adults to nudge erring youngsters back onto the paths of righteousness. It takes a village because in a village there are always enough kids to form a play group.”

I also realised, as I thought about all this, that my own childhood, in the 1950s, was in many ways like that of children in traditional societies. We had school (which was not the big deal it is today) and chores, and some of us had part-time jobs, but, still, most of our time was spent with other children

away from adults. My family moved frequently, and in each village or city neighbourhood to which we moved I found a somewhat different childhood culture, with different games, different traditions, somewhat different values, different ways of making friends. we Whenever moved, my first big task w a s to figure out the culture of my new set of peers, so I could become part of it. I was by nature shy, which I think was an advantage because I didn’t just blunder in and make a fool of myself.

I observed, studied, practised the skills that I saw to be important to my new peers, and then began cautiously to enter in and make friends. In the mid-20th century, a number of researchers described and documented many of the childhood cultures that could be found in neighbourhoods throughout Europe and the United States (eg Opie & Opie, 1969).

Children learn the most important lessons in life from other children, not from adults Why, in the course of natural selection, did human children evolve such a strong inclination to spend as much time as possible with other children and avoid adults? With a little reflection, it’s not hard to see the reasons. There are many valuable lessons that children can learn in interactions with other children, away from adults, that they cannot learn, or are much less likely to learn,

in interactions with adults.

Here are some of them.

Authentic communication I don’t know if this is or isn’t true in traditional cultures, but in modern Western cultures adults are terribly condescending toward children.

Their communications with children, especially the wellintended ones, are frequently dishonest. Consider for example, the adult who asks a fouryear old, “What colour is that?” while pointing to a red toy fire engine. This is not an honest question. Unless the adult is blind, or colour blind, the adult knows perfectly well what colour it is. A child would never ask such a stupid question.

Almost all the questions that teachers ask, through all the grades of school, are dishonest; the teacher knows the answer (or thinks she does because she read it in the teacher’s edition of the textbook), so her question is not really a question; it’s a test. Or consider the adult who says, “Oh, that’s beautiful, what a wonderful artist you are,” while looking at the child’s latest scribbling.

Children never give such false praise to one another. Even as children grow older, adults tend to engage them in ways that suggest that either the adults or the children are idiots, and often their comments

have more to do with trying to teach the children something, or control them in some way, than with genuine attempts to share ideas or really understand the child’s ideas.

Little children communicate with one another largely in the context of play, and the communications have real meaning. They negotiate about what and how to play.

They discuss the rules. They negotiate in ways very similar to the ways adults negotiate with one another. This is far better practice for future adultadult communication than the kinds of “conversations” that children typically have with adults. As children get older, and especially once they are in their teen years, their communications with one another have ever more to do with the emotions and struggles they experience. They can be honest with their friends, because their friends are not going to overreact and try to assume control, the way that their parents or other adults might.

They want to talk about the issues important in their life, but they don’t want someone to use those issues as another excuse to subordinate them. They can, with good reason, trust their friends in ways that they cannot trust their parents or teachers. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

things too much screen time does to your body Continued

By JR Thorpe

5. You're likely to die earlier

For decades, studies have indicated that spending significant time parked in front of a screen – whether it's a TV, computer or tablet – lowers cardiovascular health outcomes and increases mortality risk. And the unfortunate thing about this is that exercising more doesn't seem to do much about it. If you're trying to offset your days of playing Skyrim on the couch with healthy amounts of exercise each day, it may not be enough; a 2011 study of 4500 adults showed that lots of screen time raised your likelihood of death by up to 52 per cent, while being a good exerciser only lowered that by about four per cent. So it's not just the sedentary lifestyle; it's something about screen viewing itself that causes our bodies to work less well. If you want to live longer, get fitter, have a healthier heart and be able to talk to your friends properly, it seems that logging off social media immediately and going for a long, long walk might be your best option.

In his lecture “Managing Screen Time and Screen Dependency”, Dr Aric Sigman stressed that “whether it’s Facebook, the Internet or computer games, screen time is no longer merely a cultural issue about how children spend their leisure time, nor is it confined to concern over the educational value or inappropriate content – it’s a medical issue”.

TV has been an easy "babysitter" for years now, aided even further with DVDs, Netflix and so on. But computer, tablet and mobile screens engender more worry, in what has been put down as merely the latest generational complaint – "fresh expressions of horrible and timeless anxieties ... a tried and true form of advanced-age self-care".

The current generation of children in most Western societies spends more time in front of a screen than any before it. A study back in 2010 – before even the phenomenal rise of Apple’s iPad and other tablets – estimated that by the age of 10 children had access to an average of five screens in their lives. That number, Sigman suggests, has almost certainly risen since. (www.bustle.com and pcadvisor.com)

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We do not want parking meters – PPP/C reiterates …wants forensic audit into contract

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pposition against the parking meter project continues to mount even as preparations are underway to roll out the initiative.

An estimated 400 parking meters are expected to be installed along selected streets in the central business district of the capital city of Georgetown.

Concerns abound over the criteria used for the selection of the streets which will be equipped with parking meters, since it registers as a discriminatory move as some patrons will be mandated to pay for parking while others will not.

The controversial parking meter contract, after being exposed in the media as being shrouded in secrecy and smelling of corruption, was

PPP/C MP Irfaan Ali will be moving the motion to debate the parking meter project

reviewed by the executive for any illegalities.

Among the concerns raised about the contract are the division of profits, the exorbitant amount be-

ing charged for parking, the development, as well as the terms of the agreement, and the credibility of the company undertaking the initiative.

The parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had strongly criticised the imposition of this extra financial expense on the public, especially in light of the fact that there were absolutely no consultations on the matter beforehand.

Despite the flaws highlighted in the contract, Government discovered nothing illegal and gave the green light for the commencement of the project once certain recommendations were implemented. This included a reduced fee for parking, which was eventually changed in the contract.

In his most recent commentary, PPP/C Member of Parliament (MP) Anil Nandlall re-emphasised that the Opposition completely rejected the instalment of parking meters around Georgetown on the basis of the current economic state.

“The PPP party has spoken on this matter. We are of the view that we do not need and do not want parking meters in Guyana. It will impose an additional financial and economic burden on the people of this country. The economy cannot sustain parking meters at this point in time,” he posited.

He argued that the Government’s overconcentration on taxing people was the wrong focus since it would only hurt the economy.

“Whilst they continue to

pile taxes on our people, the production sectors are declining, our people are earning less, their disposable income reducing, no new jobs created, no new investment, every day people are losing jobs,” he said, referring to the dismissal of employees at Barama and GuySuCo. “We have survived without parking meters for 50 years and we can go another few years without parking meters,” Nandlall expressed.

Further, the PPP/C intends to address the matter in the upcoming sitting of the National Assembly.

According to the parliamentary agenda, PPP/C MP Irfaan Ali will be moving the motion to debate the parking meter project on the grounds that there were no public consultations, stakeholders have

pleaded with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to revise the initiative, and the contract may have violated tender procedures.

The motion will also address the fact that some Councillors have objected to the project’s implementation and the question of whether the legal hurdles and protocols have been addressed, such as the M&CC having authority over public roads, such as Regent Street, Water Street and Avenue of the Republic.

The PPP/C in its motion will be calling on the Auditor General of Guyana, Deodat Sharma to conduct a forensic audit into the Georgetown Municipal Council, including the parking meter contract.

6 ranks fired for misconduct, 6 under investigation …50 complaints per month against Police Officers

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ome six ranks were dismissed—three for criminal misconduct; while five others are under investigation for October as the Guyana Police Force (GPF) strengthens its zero tolerance policy against unprofessionalism and misconduct.

Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, during a press conference on Monday, expressed worry over the situation but found solace in the fact that the number of reports of misconduct are decreasing.

The officers who were dismissed comprised of one subordinate and five constables, with three of them fired for criminal misconduct.

One of the ranks under investigation is a female attached to the Brickdam Police Station who is reportedly involved in a missing .32 firearm.

“It has to do with the subordinate officer not being able to account for a .32 firearm received by her while on duty, which was lodged by a civilian,” Ramnarine disclosed.

Stolen guns

He reminded that over the last three months, nine guns were reported stolen from licenced firearm holders, seven of which were .32 pistols.

Ramnarine only suspected that these missing firearms are making their way into the hands of criminals.

During a previous news conference, the Acting Police Commissioner chastised the irresponsible ownership of firearms; more particularly the carelessness involved where some of the firearms reportedly were stolen.

“A businesswoman on the East Coast, who obtained a firearm licence for protection, is away from the business, leaves the firearm in a wardrobe at home, there is a robbery and the firearm is taken.

How much more ridiculous can we get?” he had outlined.

Ramnarine also shared the instance of when a firearm holder, who departed Georgetown to go to Berbice, upon his return to the city, felt drowsy and decided to take a nap along the Plaisance Public Road only to awaken the next

morning to discover that his cellular phone and firearm were missing.

During that conference, Ramnarine stated that there is uproar for personal firearm licences and yet, recent instances show the high level of irresponsibility being exhibited.

“This is the behaviour we have… The other one is, the owner is overseas, the firearm is at home, the wife is not at home – this is on the West Demerara – there is a break and enter and larceny, the firearm is taken in the process. He didn’t lodge it at the Police Station as the instruction says on the licence – when not in use; he left it home – gone!” he noted.

50 complaints monthly

Meanwhile, Ramnarine disclosed that there is a 21 per cent reduction in complaints against members of the GPF for the period August 1 to October 25, 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015.

The Top Cop (Ag) said there is an average of 50 com-

plaints against Police officers on a monthly basis. For the corresponding period, there were 193 complaints in 2015 and 154 in 2016. For the entire 2015, there were 615 complaints of which 603 were addressed, whereas in 2016, there have been 515 thus far.

Ramnarine said judging from the figures, there should be a continued decrease in reports against Police officers in relation to fleecing and street harassment.

He alluded the reduction to the efforts by the GPF to clamp down on misconduct and unprofessionalism.

The Acting Commissioner had issued several stern warnings to the traffic officers about their unprofessional behaviour when dealing with the travelling public.

There have been mounting complaints of Police abusing their authority during road

blocks by fleecing and harass-

ing road users.

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News

tuesday, november 1, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Suspected EBD serial Alleged ring thief granted bail robber remanded

A

A

n alleged “big time” robber from the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) was on Monday remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Ron Simmons, 31, was brought before the court on two counts of robbery under arms.

The first charge alleged that on May 3, 2015 at Covent Garden, EBD, in the company of others and armed with a gun, Simmons robbed Valdes Nickram of $100,000 cash, four cellular phones valued $140,000, three wristwatches valued $39,000, and a quantity of jewellery valued at $1 million.

It is also alleged that the defendant on March 3, 2016 at Diamond, EBD, again being armed with a gun, robbed Carlos Moreno of several items: one cellular

Robbery suspect: Ron Simmons

phone valued $40,000, one pair of boots valued $10,000, one backpack valued $8000, one laptop computer valued $100,000 and US$300 (equivalent to $60,000), a total value of $218,000.

man accused of stealing a gold and diamond ring was on Monday morning granted his pretrial liberty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Christopher Small, 28, of Laing Avenue, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that between October 1 and 31, 2015, at Light Street, Georgetown, he stole one gold and diamond ring valued $550,000 and other items worth $450,000.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers told the court that the defendant stole the items from his employer, John Raymond.

The facts are that the defendant first stole the keys to the Virtual Complainant’s home after which at a later date he entered the house and stole the items.

It is alleged that he admitted to stealing and selling the items.

From light...

S ...to darkness in border protection

Christopher Small

The prosecution had no objections to bail, but the defendant could not give the address of his abode; as such, Magistrate McLennan remanded him to prison until he could do so.

He reappeared before her later in the day with the address and was granted $70,000 bail. He is scheduled to reappear in court on November 27 2016.

ome readers do take time to respond to their Eyewitness' take on current affairs. He thanks them from the bottom of his (jaded) heart! They provide him with much grist for his daily mill. So here it was one upstanding citizen thought his Eyewitness was a tad too harsh on Public Security Minister Ramjattan for his Report as to what he did at the high-level meet with the Americans who fund the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

Responding to the American's concerns about drugs transshipped into their country via Guyana's porous borders, Ramjattan reported: "We told them that we would like to have surveillance equipment. If it is not going to be airplanes, drones that could go a good hundred miles and come back and be at some command centre. They have other technologies that I am not too savvy about that they can probably utilise through satellite imagery."

Now, all your Eyewitness said was the Minister ought to've been briefed about border concerns, since, unlike OUR government's practice, the Americans insist on agendas before meetings. Just to ensure discussions don't descend into interminable "Rum shop gaffs". So Ramjattan's advisors made him appear rather clueless with his report.

For instance, what's this about even considering "airplanes"?? Where is the world can you patrol a jungle border with airplanes? So we build airstrips, along the fourhundred mile border between us, Brazil and Venezuela and fly continuously over it - even at night? And drones?

We know he ain't talking about those portable drones since even the most expensive ones (about US$6000+) only have a range of 2km or so. And with forested terrain, the range becomes even more limited.

So we're talking about those military-type drones that the US flies out of Nevada to film (and hit if necessary) targets in the Middle East? Now the "Reaper Drone" isn't even an expensive Drone - yet it costs US$13 million and US$2500 per flight hour!! So let's look at the "Unmanned Aircraft Systems" that've been put to civilian use to patrol the US border. We're still talking costs of US$4-8 million a pop...with US$1000/hr flight time!! And we're not even mentioning the "command center" that Ramjattan so glibly mentioned. And "satellite imagery"!!! What's this?

Bourne Conspiracy?

But as your Eyewitness mentioned yesterday, it doesn't matter what kind of electronic systems the Americans install for us. We still need bodies on the border to follow up on data revealed by the "drones" or whatever.

And with Ayanganna practically empty, more than Cabinet meetings can be held there!!

...to darkness of party paramountcy

Your Eyewitness mentioned, en passant, that PNC General Secretary Oscar Clarke's announcement that the general public can visit PNC "Congress Place" Headquarters at Sophia on specified days to discuss their problems.

Not believing what one respected commentator called "absolute dotishness", your circumspect Eyewitness held his quill. Until, the GS firmly put Minister of the Presidency Joseph Harmon in his place, for suggesting that Oscar might've misspoke.

Not so! Protested Oscar! He insisted he saw "nothing wrong" with the procedure that's redolent of "party paramountcy"! He was stoutly supported by one young member of the PNC Press Brigade. So any suspicions you may've harboured that old guard Oscar was just reflexively regurgitating the said doctrine of Forbes Burnham - which saw the party flag flying over the Court of Appeal - should be put to rest. Following Prezzie's announcement, the party will be guided by the ideology of Burnham. And that's that!!

And who doesn't like it - can very well, stuff it in a place where the sun don't shine!!

...to darkness in sugar

The good news in sugar is we've secured some new markets for our product. The bad news is, this crop our production's just over HALF of the already emancipated production projections for 2016.

So we buy from Nicaragua and ship as ours?

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

news

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tuesday, november 1, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Community service for Tourism Ministry to APNU Ranger who slapped intensify Diaspora tourism AFC Councillor T A he Tourism Ministry will ramp up efforts in 2017 to improve and make Diaspora tourism more sophisticated in an effort to enhance Guyana’s economy.

Director General of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, in an interview, said that special attention must be paid to Diaspora tourism, which must be marketed differently.

“We get frequent visits from persons in the Diaspora who want to offer their help and play a role in driving more Guyanese to visit Guyana. It is not easy to say ‘they’re Guyanese, so

they must come’, that is a serious mistake, so we have to be careful,” Sinclair explained.

He pointed out that as the tourism sector grows, there are alternatives to take into consideration to attract more tourists. The Ministry is exploring differ-

Director General of Tourism, Donald Sinclair

ent markets, “including the weekenders, you can come into Guyana spend a weekend… other niche markets, yachts and cruises for example, so we’re looking to grow some specific markets and identify some hot spots”, Sinclair explained.

The Director General not-

ed that for many years the Rupununi Savannahs have been the hotspot area along with Bartica, Essequibo, Mahaica River, some areas of Canje and Demerara.

“Depending on the planning, the attractions that you’re identifying could be significant tourism hotspots that would significantly impact Guyana’s economy at large.”

Additionally, the Indigenous, African and Indian cultures are also of potential interest to tourists, but it is important to protect these cultures and communities, particularly hinterland communities, from the negative im-

pact tourism can have on their traditional way of life, Sinclair explained. Diaspora tourism can also promote a number of Guyana’s sites, including Fort Island, Magdalenenburg and Fort Kyk-Over-Al, both for their historical and architectural value, Sinclair stated.

Region Two ( P o m e r o o n S u p e n a a m ) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) employee who slapped a councillor aligned to the AFC faction of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) coalition was sentenced to three months community service.

According to information, Rockliffe George was found guilty of the Friday August 26 slapping of Councillor Naitram (only name) over a difference the two had over drainage works in the area.

Guyana Times was told that from now until December, George will serve his sentence at the Anna Regina Police Station.

In late August, the councillor was slapped some four times by George during a conversation with two rangers at the RDC Drainage and Irrigation building concerning the cleaning and maintenance of trenches.

Naitram, the Agriculture Coordinator in Region Two had said that

Meanwhile, Region Two RDC Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt had stated that he was “saddened over the disrespectful act” by the employee whom he alleged was “handpicked” by Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson.

Slapped APNU-AFC Councilor Naitram

during that conversation, the employee interrupted and slapped him across face.

“What I did was simply speak out; things aren’t going the way I speak out, I am the one overlooking, I have every right to speak out,” Naitram had said.

After the incident, the councillor reported the matter to the Anna Regina station and had also visited Suddie Public Hospital where he was given a medical.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 1, 2016

News

Mabura businessman’s murder

Pork-knocker says acted in selfdefence, alleges attempted rape Does an analysis of Indentured Historiography in the Indophone Caribbean reveal interpretations of decay or determination?

– will know fate today

J

ahryl Reid, 20, a porkknocker who is on trial for the April 2014 murder of Mabura businessman Colin McLean, who he allegedly bludgeoned to death after a row, will know his fate today.

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow made this decision late last week after Prosecutor Siand Dhurjon and Defence Counsel Madan Kissoon presented their closing arguments.

The murder-accused who took the stand on Thursday last did not deny that he was responsible for the businessman’s death. He however entered a self-defence claim that at the time of their scuffle, the man was trying to “rape” him. The father of one, when crossexamined by Prosecutor Dhurjon, explained that the late McLean, who was much bigger in stature, pinned him down but he managed “to wiggle out” from his grip.

“Afterwards he was pushing me but I manage to get away,” the young man noted.

Despite Reid’s self-defence claims, the prosecution sought to establish guilt on grounds that the murderaccused stole money from the businessman, and later hid the murder weapon, all on the night in question.

I “I threw (the wood) in de grass,” Reid told the court.

“To hide it.” the Prosecutor retorted.

However, Reid who maintained his composure stressed: “I just throw it in de grass.”

Under intense grilling by the Prosecutor, the murderaccused further explained that he also threw away his pants which was soaked with the businessman’s blood and he also admitted that everything else, apart from the money he had taken, was discarded.

“Mr Reid you are a storyteller...[your] whole story is a lie,” Dhurjon posited, to which the defendant responded in the negative.

Meanwhile, Defence Counsel Kissoon reminded the jury that there was a strong scent of alcohol on

the deceased, suggesting that the businessman was heavily intoxicated.

Kissoon also reminded jurors that the dead man had also provided Reid with alcohol before having him stay over.

“No one questioned why a big man had an 18 year old boy in his bed,” Kissoon queried.

Meanwhile, the Prosecution in its closing statements noted that the rape accusation on the day in question was a “phony concoction to justify the murder” of McLean.

Dhurjon referenced one witness who disclosed that the young man would visit the businessman’s home “more than once per week”.

“Even if there was no relationship, Reid kept coming back time after time...he

must claim self-defence because the crime is unforgivable,” Dhurjon stated as he rested the State’s case.

According to reports that surfaced when the crime occurred two years ago, Reid and McLean had a heated exchange at Mabura, Upper Demerara River, after which the businessman was dealt several lashes across the head with a wood.

McLean had died after he received treatment at the Mackenzie Hospital Complex. A post-mortem examination had revealed that he died as a result of blunt trauma to the head.

Man sentenced to 3 years

R

Jailed: Roopnarine Hariwar

oopnarine Hariwar was sentenced to spend three years in prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Police stated that in November 2014, while on the East Bank of Demerara, he drove motor lorry GPP 9557 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Ramdular Dhanraj.

The Magistrate declared that all evidence presented by the defendants were found to be sufficient and, as such, she handed down her sentence.

The defendant’s Attorney appealed the matter and the Chief Magistrate stated that she noted his appeal.

n the upcoming weeks I will examine published studies on indentured historiography with the expectation to provide new modes and models of thoughts on the Indian sojourn experience during 80 years of indenture.

My aim is to share as much information as possible as we approach 100 years of indentured emancipation in March 2017.

I am convinced that anyone who has conducted a careful analysis on indentured historiography in the Indophone Caribbean will realise that there has been an upsurge in published studies in the past three decades which have arguably enhanced and advanced our understanding of Indian experience during indenture.

Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine Unfortunately, he or she will also realise that most of the recent published works on indentured Indians have not come out of Guyana, a country that ironically has the largest concentration of Indians in the Americas outside of North America. Worse still is that the University of Guyana does not have an Indian studies programme.

By contrast, the University of West Indies in Jamaica has one of the most vibrant African studies programme in the Caribbean, which I believe, is intended to understand and promote African interests in the Caribbean. One would think that other countries in the region would follow this model, especially in multi-ethnic Guyana where an African and Indian programme –jointly or separately – has the potential to embrace social cohesion more efficiently and effectively among the two most conflict-habituated ethnic groups in Guyana.

That being said, a majority of studies – mainly historical on Indians during indenture have some serious shortcomings because of the repeated use and reliance on the records of the colonisers to write the history, narrative, and memory of colonised indentured Indian servants.

The result is that Indian indentured experience is seen as total submission to the planter plantation system which I label as decay.

Sure enough, the brutal aspects or what is known as neoslave experience of indenture should be told and I am certainly not downplaying and adapting a pro-imperialist stance to that experience here.

What is surprising, though, is that the academic discussion on how to write a balanced history of colonised people had been brewing for some time, starting with scholars like Gayatri Spivak, Franz Fanon, Edward Said, Homi Bhaba, Ranajit Guha, to list a few.

Taken together, these studies reveal not only how the history of the colonised had been written from a pro-imperialist perspective but also how damaging this approach had been on the history of the colonied.

The pro-imperialist approach to writing the history of the colonised has caused epistemic violence, marginalising and making the colonised essentially voiceless in the writing and understanding of their own history.

Certainly, one would have expected that the above balanced trends would have been copied or marginally followed in the analysis of indentured historiography in the Indophone Caribbean.

After all, indentured Indians were also colonised and were not involved in the writing of their own history, at least initially.

Yet, for some reason, the subaltern approach, which was actually conceived and developed in India and subsequently spread to other parts of the Developing World, was hardly applied to Indian indentured historiography. I label the subaltern approach as determination.

To contextualise and to avoid contradictions, archival records are key to examining events of the past and are very useful in writing a narrative, memory, or history of any group of people.

These records are indispensable, and if analysed carefully, can authenticate or even provide a framework for competing interpretations of history.

This has certainly happened with regard to Indian indentured historiography in which a number of scholars have used archival information to produce a sound collective memory of people bringing artistically that memory in tune and tandem with its community.

This is, however, in the minority. Early writings on indentureship are based on the use of archival records to write history, narrative, and memory that reflect their own interpretation of events and evidence, and not to purvey accuracy.

The history of indentured Indian people was written, for the most part, by the supporters of the colonisers or individuals who have used the records of the colonisers to write the history of the colonised.

The consequence is that this approach has reflected imperial domination, exploitation, poor representation, and a negative history of the indentured Indians with isolated glimpses of positivity. To be continued. (send comments to: lomarsh.

roopnarine@jsums.edu)

tuesDAY, november 1, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Serious crimes plunge by 17% – Police A

cting Top Cop David Ramnarine announced on Monday that serious crimes were down by a whopping 17 per cent.

The decrease, the acting Top Cop said, is for the period January to October 2016 compared to the same period last year.

For the period this year, there were some 2700 reports of serious crime. For the same period last year, there were 3263 reports of serious crimes. So far for 2016, Ramnarine said, there have been 119 reports of murder against 149 for the entire 2015. He added that there has been a 62 per cent reduction. Meanwhile, this year, there have been some 638 reports of robbery under arms, as against 670 for 2015. For robbery under arms with the use of other instruments, there have been 254 reports this year, against 310 last year. There have also been 79 reports of robbery with violence compared to 115 for the same period last year.

Speaking on the issue of rape, both statutory and forcible, Ramnarine said there have been 212 reports for 2016 as against 261 for the same period last year, representing a 24 per cent decline.

Acting Top Cop David Ramnarine

Meanwhile, break and enter and larceny for this year has seen 1028 reports.

For the same period last year, there were 1326 reports, a decrease of 19 per cent.

The Police were able to seize some 83 firearms so far for the year, with A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) seizing 61 and F Division (Lethem and other interior locations) with 26.

While the Police continue to report on decreases in criminal activities, sections of the public continue to cry out.

Just last week, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) condemned what it said was a rising crime rate, and urged that steps be taken to adequately equip lo-

cal law enforcement agencies and personnel to better police the country’s borders in order to arrest gun smuggling from neighbouring countries.

According to Chairman of the Commission, Eddie Boyer, this will help in curbing the violent gun-related crimes that have been occurring. At a press conference on Friday, Boyer expressed that there was a concern, felt by every citizen in the country, over the inability of the State to generally protect them from widespread gun crime, which threatened their well-being and safety.

Prior to the PSC pronouncement, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux, had told Guyana Times that there

was need for some studies to be carried out to make a determination of Guyana’s actual crime rate.

Asked to comment on the crime situation, the High Commissioner said he did not know the country that well to understand the dynamics, but suggested that studies should be done to understand the phenomenon involved.

According to the diplomat, the gathering of crime statistics is rather complicated.

“Let’s assume there is a society where 100 crimes are committed and people do not report the crime. So they report 30 of the 100. You have the impression that crime is under control, but it’s more, it’s actually 100. Now let’s assume that we now have a situation where Government improves the justice system for crime. It now goes from 100 to 90, so there has been an improvement, but then this gives confidence to people and they start reporting more.”

He continued, “So, suddenly your crime reporting increases. It goes from 30 to 50, but actually your total crime was reduced by 10.”

The High Commissioner said what was not known was what phenomenon was being observed.

11

News

Regions 1, 2 to benefit from Canada-Guyana Outreach Mission

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton along with members of the CanGo Medical Outreach team

A

22-member medical team has arrived in Guyana from Canada for a two-week outreach mission to residents of Region One (Barima-Waini) and Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Canada-Guyana Mission (CanGo) has already begun providing medical services to residents.

According to the Public Health Ministry, the team will focus primarily on family medicine and health awareness in various aspects. The multidisciplinary team consists of a paediatrician, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists, who will work with patients with developmental disorders and mental issues at the Oscar Joseph District Hospital in Charity, Kumaka District Hospital in Santa

Rosa, Kabakaburi Health Post, Karawab Health Post in the Pomeroon River.

The team also consists of family physicians, dentist family physicians, gynaecologists, audiologists, pulmonologists, pharmacists and nurses.

The audiologists will be running Audiology Clinics in Santa Rosa and Waramuri, while the gynaecologists will perform VIA (screening for cervical cancer) and STD (sexual transmitted diseases) testing on women in the various villages. The team will roll-out a massive public awareness programme in each area to focus on management of high blood pressure, controlling diabetes, proper nutrition and dental care, etc, will also be given by the physicians. Information flyers will be circulated after each session. TURN TO PAGE 16

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TUESday, NOVEMber 1, 2016

News

GNRSC calling for harsher penalties for drunk driving

I

n light of the staggering revelation by Traffic Chief Dion Moore that road fatalities have increased by 21 per cent, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) has called strongly for suspension of licences of drivers who drive while intoxicated.

At the launch of Road Safety Month 2016 on Monday, GNRSC explained that the relevant authorities should impose stricter penalties for drivers by taking away their licences if they are found to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

This, the organisation noted, is aimed at reducing road accidents, thereby reducing road deaths.

However, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan explained that all persons, including pedestrians, must consider their individual responsibilities when using the roadways, adding that a speeding car is a dangerous weapon.

“We also want to tell people that are using vehicles for profit, like minibus drivers and hire-car drivers [that] greed and gross indiscipline is going to cost this society lots more than you make,” Ramjattan noted.

Emphasising this year’s

The re-enactment scene warning about the dangers of road accidents

theme “Life does not have a reset button,” Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson added that it is time for the State to relook at how it issues licences, adding that a demerit system should be introduced.

“In Guyana some drivers use the roads as if they’re in a Hollywood action movie; many of them are the major contributors to the road accidents… Life may not have a reset button, but we could find a ‘Stop It’ button – that says stop it to drunk driving [and] stop it to careless driving,” Ferguson said.

Also speaking at the launch was Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who told the Parliament Square gathering that he feels it is wasteful that so many persons are losing their lives on the

roads.

“There are few things more utterly wasteful than deaths by road accidents,” he noted.

Meanwhile Mothers in Black founder, Denise Dias, whose 17-year-old daughter was killed by an alleged drunk driver two decades ago, said that there should be enforcement of road laws.

“I find that many of us that have had to go through the judicial system - they have failed us. The road traffic Police have a lot on their hands, but then there are some [that] like to take bribes and so all the laws that are in place are just not being enforced.”

The event ended with an accident scene re-enactment, which was supported by the Guyana Red Cross Association.

Obama lights first-ever diya in White House to celebrate Diwali

U

S President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali by lighting the first-ever diya in the Oval Office of the White House on October 30 and hoped that his successors would continue the tradition.

Obama, who was the first President to celebrate Diwali personally at the White House in 2009, talked about this momentous occasion in a Facebook post soon after he kindled the diya in his Oval Office with some Indian Americans working in his Administration.

“I was proud to be the first President to host a Diwali celebration at the White House in 2009, and Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali,” Obama said. “This year, I was honoured to kindle the firstever diya in the Oval Office — a lamp that symbolises how darkness will always be overcome by light. It is a tradition that I hope future presidents will continue,” Obama said on the White House Facebook page, which became viral on social media. “On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and your loved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali,” Obama said. “To all who are celebrating the Festival of Lights across America and around the world, happy Diwali. As Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists light the diya, share in prayers, decorate their homes, and open their doors to

US President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali by lighting the first-ever diya in the Oval Office of the White House

host and feast with loved ones, we recognise that this holiday rejoices in the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance,” said the President.

“It also speaks to a broader truth about our shared American experience. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when we see beyond the differences that too often divide us. It’s a reflection of the hopes and dreams that bind us together,” he said. Obama said that it was a time to renew the collective obligation to deepen those bonds, to stand in each other’s shoes and see the world through each other’s eyes, and to embrace each other as brothers and sisters — and as fellow Americans. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who has a large fan following in the Indian American community, greeted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains across the world on the occasion of Diwali.

“On Sunday, nearly a billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and

Buddhists around the world — including more than two million Americans — will celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

For members of these faiths, lighting the lamp (the diya) is a reminder that light prevails over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil,” Clinton said.

“To those of you celebrating this joyous occasion, I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak,” she said. IANS adds from New York: The UN celebrated Diwali for the first time this year. "Happy Diwali! UN celebrates Diwali for 1st time," Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent representative to the UN, tweeted on October 29.

"Thank you, President of the General Assembly for this initiative," he said.

From this year, Diwali was made an optional holiday at the UN and a "Happy Diwali" message was displayed on the UN building.

A Division Spelling Bee competition winners awarded

T

he Guyana Police Force A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) on October 22 held its second annual Spelling Bee competition at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex.

The competition was divided into Junior and Senior categories and saw the participation of 47 children between the ages 8 and 15.

Participants were selected from 15 communities, as well as the Juvenile Holding Centre.

For each category, the spellers had to compete in two rounds - round 1 included words that were given to the spellers prior to the competition and the second round comprised of on-thesport words.

In the junior category, the first prize was won by Indie Rampersaud, while the second spot was secured

by Brian Renga and coming in third was Alesha Jackson.

These children represented Albouystown, Tiger Bay and East Ruimveldt, respectively.

A Division Commander Clifton Hicken hands over a prize to one of the winners at the conclusion of the competition

In the senior category, Shevon Leitch spelt her way to the top, while Megel Struge received the second place prize and Moses Grant came in third. They were selected from East Ruimveldt, Timehri, and Albouystown, respectively.

The children who secured places between 1 and 3 in the junior category were awarded trophies and $15,000, $10,000 and $5000, respectively.

The top three in the senior category were also rewarded with trophies, as well as $20,000, $15,000 and

$10,000, respectively. The winners in both categories were also presented with Lenova Tablets donated by Starr Computer.

The event was chaired

by Eumani Bourne, a Civilian Volunteer and was graced with the presence of A Division Commander, Clifton Hicken; Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus; Founder of the OZONE Foundation, Olive Gopaul; and Astell Collins of the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG).

Duo charged with robbery under arms

A

man and woman were remanded to prison after they appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with robbery under arms.

Robert Beckles and Sharda Thomas both pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them.

It is alleged that on October 26, 2016, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, the duo, while being armed with a dangerous weapon, that is to say a gun, robbed Lakeram Budurgh of one Toyota Primo motor car valued $3 million, one Blu cellular phone valued $15,000 and $10,000 in cash.

Police Prosecutor

Sharda Thomas

Bharrat Mangru told the court that on the day in question, the defendants hired the Virtual Complainant’s

taxi to be taken to 14th Street, Diamond Housing Scheme.

However, while in Diamond, they accused the cab driver of passing their destination and proceeded to place a gun to his head after which they relieved him of his valuables and car.

Another taxi driver who was in the area was called by the VC and they gave chase behind the bandits.

In the process of escaping, the defendants crashed and Thomas, who was pinned, was apprehended.

Beckles managed to escape, but was apprehended later.

The defendants are scheduled to return to court on December 5, 2016.

Charges to be laid today against minibus driver who assaulted handicapped person

C

harges are expected to be laid today against a minibus driver accused of assaulting a handicapped man during an act of road rage.

This is according to Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine who was at the time addressing members of the media on Monday at his Eve Leary Office.

Reports indicate that the minibus driver, following an accident with a car, exited his vehicle and began to abuse the driver of the motorcar, who is handicapped.

According to an eyewitness in a letter to the editor, the minibus BNN 3629 bumped

into the back of the car which was in front of him.

The incident in question occurred on October 25 during the afternoon rush hour traffic in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The eyewitness said the minibus driver exited his vehicle and began to verbally abuse the driver and then dealt him a punch to face.

There was a child in the passenger seat of the car, who was beyond terrified and began crying at the assault before him.

The driver, who does not have his left hand, exited the vehicle at this point, prompting the irate minibus driver to

advance towards him.

Intervention from the public prevented the situation from escalating further.

When the Police arrived on scene, both parties were taken to the Providence Police Station.

The Acting Top Cop said he is aware of the investigation and disclosed that charges of assault, as well as traffic violation charges will be laid against him.

"There was a traffic matter and a matter of assault.

Both matters are being dealt with in the case of the assault.

Charges will be filed tomorrow in the court," Ramnarine said.

tuesday, November 1, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

Trump says Iraqi forces make Clinton email 1st push into Mosul ‘motherlode’ found

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dvancing Iraqi troops broke through Islamic State defences in an eastern suburb of Mosul on Monday, taking the battle for the insurgents’ stronghold into the city limits for the first time, a force commander said.

The fighting came after two weeks of advances by US-backed Iraqi forces who cleared surrounding areas of insurgents, in the early stages of the largest military operation in Iraq since the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Commanders have said the battle for the city, the hardline militants’ last big bastion in Iraq, could take months.

Troops of the Iraqi army’s Counter-Terrorism Service

Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) take part in an operation against Islamic State militants on the outskirts of the town of Hammam Al-Alil, south of Mosul, Iraq October 31, 2016

(CTS) moved forward on Gogjali, an industrial zone on the eastern outskirts.

The commander of CTS forces east of the city, Lieutenant General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, told State television his forces had

reached the edge of the Karama district inside the city.

A Reuters correspondent in the village of Bazwaia saw plumes of smoke rising from a built-up area a few kilometres away which a com-

mander said was the result of clashes already under way inside Karama.

A Kurdish peshmerga intelligence source said he received a report saying seven Islamic State militants were killed in the Aden district, adjacent to Karama, and two of their vehicles destroyed.

Iraqi State television said there were also clashes inside the city between Islamic State fighters and residents rising up against the group.

The Kurdish intelligence source said such “resistance elements” had opened fire on an Islamic State police unit in Intisaar district, south of Karama, and armed fighters had spread out in streets across the city apparently fearing revolt. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Indian Police kill ‘unarmed’ escaped prisoners

I

ndian Police killed eight prisoners accused of belonging to a banned group after they escaped from a jail in the central city of Bhopal.

Authorities in the state of Madhya Pradesh said the men, suspected of being members of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), were shot dead on the outskirts of Bhopal on Monday. They had escaped from a prison by scaling the facility’s walls with knotted bedsheets, offi-

cials said.

Yogesh Choudhary, Bhopal’s Inspector General of Police, said the men were unarmed, but were killed after resisting efforts to be returned to custody.

“They were unarmed, but attempted to attack the Police with stones. We had to shoot them,” Choudhary told AFP news agency.

Choudhary, however, later told reporters that “they had weapons and cross-firing took place”.

TV images showed crude pistols lying next to the bodies, triggering scepticism in some quarters about the Police version of events.

Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia director for Human Rights Watch, called the Police’s approach “dangerous”, and reiterated calls for an inquiry into the shooting.

“Security forces have the right to use proportionate force to save lives, but it appears in this case that the

suspects may not have been armed,” she said.

“The entire incident should be properly investigated. A take-no-prisoners approach to policing is dangerous and harms efforts to create a rights-respecting police force.”

Police insisted there was no breakdown in security at the prison, a supposedly maximum security facility which has a round-the-clock electronic surveillance system. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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epublican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he believes the FBI may have found the “motherlode” of Hillary Clinton’s emails.

At a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he said he hoped the Democratic candidate’s 33,000 deleted messages could now be recovered.

The FBI is investigating new emails that may be linked to its probe into Mrs Clinton’s private email server.

Mrs Clinton later told a rally she had nothing to hide.

It emerged in March 2015 that Mrs Clinton had been breaking federal rules by operating a private email server while she was Secretary of State from 2009-13.

Her lawyers combed through the server and provided the State Department with 30,000 work-related emails.

But her campaign deleted another 33,000 messages, saying they were personal in nature.

FBI Director James Comey concluded in July that Mrs Clinton had been “extremely careless” in handling classified information, but there were no grounds for any charges.

But on Friday, he told

Congress he had learned of fresh emails which might be “pertinent” to its previous inquiry and renewed the FBI probe.

The latest emails were found in a separate investigation into allegations that former congressman Anthony Weiner sent illicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina. Weiner is married to top Clinton aide, Huma Abedin.

The FBI has reportedly obtained a warrant to search the cache of emails belonging to Abedin, which are believed to have been found on her estranged husband’s laptop.

There are reportedly 650,000 emails to search through on the laptop, but it is unclear who sent or received the emails or what they were about.

“That’s the motherlode,” said Trump. “I think you’re going to find the 33,000 (emails) that are missing.”

But Mrs Clinton told a rally in Kent, Ohio, that the FBI was welcome to check her aide’s emails.

“They should look at them and I’m sure they’ll reach the same conclusion they did when they looked at my emails for the past year: there is no case here.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

‘Bionic’ plants can HRW: Boko Haram refugees in Nigeria raped by officials detect explosives

H

uman Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Nigerian officials of sexually exploiting women and girls living in camps for victims of Boko Haram in the war-torn northeast.

HRW said in a report published on Monday that it documented 43 cases of women and girls in seven internally displaced persons’ camps in Maiduguri, the epicentre of a seven-year battle with Boko Haram, who had been abused by camp leaders, Policemen and soldiers.

“It is bad enough that these women and girls are

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said he was “worried and shocked” by reports of sexual abuse [Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]

not getting much-needed support for the horrific trauma they suffered at the hands of Boko Haram,” said

Mausi Segun, senior Nigeria researcher at HRW. “It is disgraceful and outrageous that people who should pro-

tect these women and girls are attacking and abusing them,” she added.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement that he was “worried and shocked” by the report and directed Police to “immediately commence investigations into the issue”.

“The welfare of these most vulnerable of Nigerian citizens has been a priority of his government,” presidency spokesman Garba Shehu said, adding that the allegations raised by the HRW “are not being taken lightly”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China set to show off stealth jet at national air show

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hina prepared to unveil its latest military capabilities and new partnerships in civil aerospace at the opening of an air show in the southern city of Zhuhai on Tuesday.

Airshow China is seen as an opportunity for China, which is set to overtake the US as the world’s top aviation market in the next decade, to demonstrate its ambitions in civil aerospace and to underline its military clout to neighbours and the world.

Topping Zhuhai’s biennial agenda is the public debut of the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter. Another stealth model, the export-oriented J-31, was unveiled at Zhuhai in

Unofficial shots of a J-20 prototype fuelled discussion over the region’s power balance when first glimpsed

2014. Unofficial shots of a J-20 prototype fuelled discussion over the region’s power balance when first glimpsed by planespotters in 2010, and experts say China has been refining designs in

hopes of narrowing a military gap with Washington.

“This shows they now have confidence to put it out in public,” said a Western industry official who has monitored the biennial show from

its inception 20 years ago.

“This is the airplane for China in the way that the J-31 is not; this is the one they develop for themselves,” he added. President Xi Jinping has pushed to toughen the armed forces as China takes a more assertive stance in the region, particularly in the South China and East China seas.

It remained unclear how the J-20 would be displayed or to what extent foreign executives and media would be allowed a close look as they try to figure out its role and effectiveness. Some foreign observers have questioned its stealth capabilities.(Excerpt

from Reuters)

The humble spinach has been transformed into a bomb detector

S

cientists have transformed the humble spinach plant into a bomb detector.

By embedding tiny tubes in the plants’ leaves, they can be made to pick up chemicals called nitro-aromatics, which are found in landmines and buried munitions.

Real-time information can then be wirelessly relayed to a handheld device.

The MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) work is published in the journal Nature Materials.

The scientists implanted nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (tiny cylinders of carbon) into the leaves of the spinach plant. It takes about 10 minutes for the spinach to take up the water into the leaves.

To read the signal, the researchers shine a laser onto the leaf, prompting the embedded nanotubes to emit near-infrared fluorescent light.

This can be detected with a small infrared camera connected to a small, cheap Raspberry Pi computer. The signal can also be detected with a smartphone by removing the infrared filter most have. Co-author Prof Michael Strano, from MIT in Cambridge, US, said the work was an important proof of principle.

“Our paper outlines how one could engineer plants like this to detect virtually anything,” he told the BBC News website.

Prof Strano’s lab has previously developed carbon nanotubes that can be used as sensors to detect hydrogen peroxide, TNT, and the nerve gas sarin.

“The plants could be used for defence applications, but also to monitor public spaces for terrorism related activities, since we show both water and airborne detection,” said Professor Strano. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16

news

tuesDay, november 1, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fatal accidents up 280 boxes of fire crackers in Region 2 21% - Traffic Chief −seized 7 arrested, placed before the court S R uperintendent of Police with responsibility for traffic, Dion Moore, has disclosed that road fatalities have increased by 21 per cent. He made these comments at Monday’s launch of Road Safety Month.

Moore explained that with the recent death of two persons at Moblissa, Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, total fatal accidents are up to 99 incidents where 109 persons have lost their lives for the year thus far. He also noted that this represents a 21 per cent increase in fatal ac-

Traffic Chief Dion Moore

“When compared to the

The mangled bus that was involved in the Moblissa fatal smashup

cidents compared with the same period in 2015.

same period last year we have had 82 accidents and

96 deaths [which] give us a 21 per cent increase in fatal accidents and a 14 per cent increase in deaths...it is unacceptable,” the Traffic Chief noted.

He however added that the multi-stakeholder approach employed under the Operation Safeway Programme saw a reduction from mid-September to present.

“At mid of September, we realised that we were at a 33 per cent increase in fatal accidents and a 17 per cent increase in deaths. With Operation Safeway, from the 15th of September to date, we’ve realised that we have had a decrease in accidents and well as a decrease in deaths.”

He noted that this reduction was only seen through support from the public. He added that his department will continue to work to ensure the public comply with all of requisite road laws.

Updating the public on other figures, the Traffic Chief disclosed that for the year so far 59,695 drivers were charged for various offences, compared with last year’s 47,911. He reasoned that his uptick is attributed the work of Operation Safeway.

esponding to numerous complaints over the use of fire crackers, Police in G Division (Essequibo Coast/Essequibo Islands) promptly acted on information and arrested several persons.

According to information reaching this newspaper, some 14 shops and stalls were searched and a total of 280 boxes of illegal fire crackers (squibs and mini-channa bombs) were unearthed at various locations. The fire crackers were said to be of different brands. All seizures and raids were conducted during the observance of Diwali.

Once reports were made by residents about the noise nuisance, Police swooped down on the identified area, and those caught with the crackers were held responsible.

Seven persons were arrested, however only five appeared before magistrate

Boxes of illegal firecrackers seized in Region Two

Sunil Scarce on Monday at the Charity Magistrate’s Court.

Their matters were deferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court for November 1, where sentencing will be levelled.

Two other persons will make their court appearance at the same court on the same date.

Prior to the Diwali celebrations, persons were warned by various authori-

ties, including the Guyana Police Force, about the use of fire crackers.

During the festival, loud crackling sounds could be heard throughout the villages. Apart from making reports to the Police, several residents shared their views on the popular social media website, Facebook, over the said issues. Elders and children were predominantly affected.

Regions 1, 2 to benefit...

Medications will be administered to residents free of cost after which they will continue with follow-up care at the nearest health facility in their region. Last Friday, some executives of the CanGo team paid a courtesy call on Public Health Minister Dr George Norton where he commend-

ed the Mission for its efforts and expressed gratitude to it for extending its service to the people of Guyana, particularly the remote areas. CanadaGuyana Outreach Mission is a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to providing healthcare to the underprivileged population of Guyana.

FROM PAGE 11

Its mission is to promote healthcare in developing countries by providing confidential, compassionate and supportive medical services to the general population.

The Mission is expected to conclude on November 23, 2016.

17 President lauds Lutheran Church on 273rd anniversary in Guyana P news

tuesday, november 1, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

resident David Granger on Sunday last joined with the leaders and congregation of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), to observe the quincentenary of the Evangelical Lutheran

“commended for its longevity and the continuity of its work in Guyana, including its work in educating the nation’s children.”

“The Lutheran Church’s expansion of membership from 1875 marked a period of acculturation. There are, today, 14 parishes and

launch in the coming twelve months, to commemorate the commencement of the Protestant Reformation. I encourage the Church to continue to be dedicated to its mission of promoting religious understanding during the coming year.”

He noted too that this

President Granger greets a young child at the observance on Sunday

President David Granger greets those who observed the Lutheran Church’s 273rd Anniversary on Sunday

Church in the World or ‘Reformation Sunday’.

The Head of State posited that the Church must be

more than 50 congregations in Demerara and Berbice. I wish all success to the activities that the Church will

church body is the oldest in Guyana, being introduced by a Dutch planter in 1743. Referencing a histori-

cal account, the President reminded that it was the 1763 Berbice Revolt of enslaved Africans that led to the Church being relocated to New Amsterdam, which remains the home of Lutheranism in Guyana.

Regional Chairman David Armogan noted the “significant contributions” the Church has made in Guyana’s development.

“Lutherans in Guyana have played an important role in Guyana over the years, as the President said,

Major D&I works needed in Region 2 – residents

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esidents living throughout Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are calling on the Regional Administration to clear several trenches that are clogged with overgrown bushes.

According to affected residents there are several projects that require urgent attention under the Agriculture (D&I). Those in the Charity area called for the clearing of the burial ground area, which has become a harbour for mosquitoes and other creatures.

Those affected explained that there several contacts were made with the regional adminis-

tration about clearing the bushes but to date nothing has been done.

Other trenches that require clearing include the Sommerset main canal, sea defence drains from Anna Regina to La Belle Alliance, Bush Lot to Three Friends, Aberdeen to Columbia, Capoey to L’Union, Cullen to Suddie; specific areas in need of attention include JD 1, JC 1, JC 8, JC 10 and SC 4.

When contacted, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said he was awaiting feedback from Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson, with regards to maintaining the project and arrang-

ing for a meeting with key D&I stakeholders.

He further explained that, based on several consultations and meetings in various areas along the coast, residents have similar concerns.

Ramdattt added that maintenance and repairs of flap gates are needed at Good Intent, Spring Garden, Riverstown, Airy Hall (Kayman Sankar Wharf) and Adventure (Guyoil area).

Urgent maintenance and repair of kokers /sluices are also needed.

With regards the capability to facilitate the much needed works, Ramdatt disclosed that the Region’s

machineries/equipment are also in need of maintenance in preparation for the upcoming rainy season.

The tractor, grader, loader, excavators and mini-excavators are in need of maintenance, he elaborated.

The chairman also called for the maintenance of the pumps at Dawa and repairs of relief structures at Good Hope, Unu Creek, Riverstown, Sommerset, Anna Regina (Water Course).

Outfalls at Cozier (Sea side), Devonshire Castle, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle, Three Friends, Capoey, Taymouth Manor and Onu Creek are also in need of clearing.

CIOG continues to assist the less fortunate

T

he Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana in keeping with its objective and mandate, continues to offer assistance to Guyanese, especially the less fortunate, through the generous donations of the International Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) based in Toronto, Canada.

During the past month, assistance was given to seven persons, including an eight-year-old orphan, Maryam Bristol who suffered head injuries after a fall.

The total cost of these donations is US$740.

A staff of the CIOG hands over a cheque to Maryam Bristol’s mother (left)

Seven elderly persons received eye tests and spec-

tacles.

The tests, including an

MRI scan for the orphaned child, were paid for by IDRF. The CIOG in a release expressed profound gratitude to the management, staff and supporters of IDRF Canada for their generous contribution towards this worthy cause.

The religious body encouraged all to join in support of worthy causes: “Remember our duties towards the creator, and His creation.

May Allah bless all those who strive to alleviate the sufferings of his creatures.”

in education. Your church has worked very closely in many communities of our country, especially among the poor and depressed communities, bringing hope to many people who would have lost hope; and bring faith where faith is not present. Continue to do the good work that you have been doing in our country,” he encouraged member during his presentation.

At the event, it was explained that the Protestant Reformation was a move-

ment which birthed after Martin Luther had challenged the Roman Catholic Church.

Those present were also told that Luther, on October 31, 1517, had nailed one of his 95 theses, ‘The Power and Efficacy of Indulgences’ on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Saxony in Germany.

This was said to have brought “significant change” in Christian doctrine since the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Onderneeming pensioner hospitalised after fire gutted house

Tom Leondail was hospitalised for burns suffered in the fire which destroyed his home

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om Leondail, 76, of Onderneeming Sandpit in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) remains a patient at the Suddie Public Hospital suffering first and second degree burns.

The pensioner was rescued by neighbours on October 30, after his twobedroom home was completely gutted. He was taken by neighbours to the hospital where he is receiving treatment; his condition is listed as stable.

The fire has left the family homeless and his wife, Kuntie Leondail, is seeking refuge at her daughter-inlaw’s home.

The elderly couple

lost everything due to Leondail’s smoking habit.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the pensioner was smoking in his livingroom when the cigarette set the couch on fire. He immediately alerted his wife and both of them ran through the back door.

By that time the flames had quickly spread through the house. When the fire fighters arrived on the scene the house was completely destroyed.

The fire reportedly occurred between 18:30h and 19:00h hours on October 30. Fire fighters from Anna Regina are currently investigating the matter.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 1, 2016

ARCHIE

Plan a vacation or business trip. Your negotiating (March 21- skills will help you get what April 19) you want. You won’t be able to please everyone, but offering incentives will help.

ARIES

Keep your motives honTAURUS est and your plans on track.

(April 20- If you have nothing to hide, May 20) you will avoid interference.

A partnership will improve if you focus on transparency and equality.

dilbert

Trust in yourself, not in GEMINI someone offering the impossi(May 21ble.

You can present an idea, June 20) but don’t reveal pertinent information. Stay in control, or someone will take credit for your work.

An idea or skill you have should be developed further.

(June 21- Something you do for someone July 22) you care about will benefit you as well.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Avoid complaints by taking care of your responsibilities ahead of time. An outing with friends, a networking event, relaxation session or romantic evening looks promising.

Don’t let someone’s disVIRGO gruntled attitude or demands (Aug. 23Sept. 22) get you down. Do what you can and move on to the people and pastimes that bring you the most satisfaction and joy.

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA An interesting alternative (Sept. 23- to how or where you work will Oct. 23) get you thinking about making a change. Do your homework before you take a leap of faith.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

You can lend a helping SCORPIO hand, but don’t let anyone (Oct. 24take advantage of your kindNov. 22) ness or generosity. Gauge your time and delegate responsibility fairly. Don’t try to do everything yourself.

Personal changes will SAGITTARIUS make you feel good about your (Nov. 23- appearance. Your added conDec. 21) fidence will result in new opportunities. Make a commitment and celebrate with a loved one.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You’ll encounter deception CAPRICORN from someone you thought (Dec. 22you could trust. Don’t share Jan. 19) your strategy for success with anyone. Execute your plans secretively. Play to win.

If you put your best foot AQUARIUS forward, you will be consid(Jan. 20ered for a higher position. If Feb. 19) you play your cards right, you could gain added recognition and respect from your peers.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Stick to the truth, or you (Feb. 20- will be questioned about a March 20) discrepancy. Focus on what you can do for others and the incentives you can offer in order to get something in return.

tuesday, november 1, 2016

Cremer’s smooth ton helps Zimbabwe avoid follow-on

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fantastic rearguard effort from Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order, led by Graeme Cremer’s maiden Test ton, helped the hosts avoid the follow-on and post 373 after they had slumped to 139 for 6 in the morning.

Peter Moor put his wicketkeeping woes behind him to contribute with an 84ball 79 and Donald Tiripano struck a composed 46 on day three of the opening Test in Harare.

Cremer, batting at No. 8, played an attritional Test innings, waiting for anything overpitched. He received plenty such deliveries and drove elegantly to accrue seven of his ten boundaries through mid-off and extra cover. His timing was superlative and placement impeccable, important requisites for boundary scoring.

The highlight of Cremer’s innings was his discipline with straight-bat strokes, even if the ball was short or wide. He milked the spinners, particularly with the spin to long-on or square on the leg side.

On 58, Cremer was dropped at backward square leg by Asela Gunaratne.

Other than that opportunity, Cremer looked impregnable with a tight defense bat close to body, head over

the ball and a good judgement of which balls to play at and which to leave. Such was his fluency that his hundred never looked in doubt as long as he didn’t run out of partners. Suspense arose around the ground when he needed No. 11 Chris Mpofu to block out one delivery from Rangana Herath.

Moor was more selective in his choice of shots, opting to loft the spinners straight as opposed to opting for cross-bat strokes. He used his feet effectively and hit the slower bowlers through the line in the arc between long-off and long-on. When the bowlers compensated with a shorter length, the cut shot was productive.

He reached his fifty off 49 balls, thereby forcing Herath to dispatch fielders to the boundary. At one point, Herath had five deep fielders off his own bowling.

Just when Moor looked set for his maiden Test ton, debutant Lahiru Kumara worked him over with a pair of outstanding bouncers on a slow pitch. The first, directed at the neck, caused Moor to fend awkwardly. The ball lobbed over slip for four. Two balls later, another well-directed bouncer accounted for Moor. The ball ballooned up off the glove and gully raced in to complete a low catch,

By Delvon Mc Ewan in Cayenne, French Guiana

appointed final day where none of their players managed to win in either the singles or the doubles ended on 22 wins.

At the end of the fifth edition of the tournament Suriname have three wins, French Guiana one and now Martinique in their first appearance at the Games.

Guyana is yet to win a title.

The Guyanese girls continued a strong showing although Guyana fell short of winning the title on the final day.

The female players led

by Nicola Ramdyhan, the only Guyanese not to lose a match and Afruica Gentle dominated most of the day’s proceedings for Guyana. The female pair closed Guyana’s final match ecstatically with a thumping of Martinique Under-18 girls Dieuvella Gaspard and Laura Guyot 6-0 6-2.

Prior to that they won their individual matches comprehensively as they

A

photo finish at the Tennis Inter Guiana Games (IGG) ended in favour of first-timers Martinique, who held their nerves on the final day to outplay Guyana and emerge champions at the League Centre in Cayenne, French Guiana.

The winners started the day with 16 wins and trailed host French Guiana but due to some spectacular performances from the talented players they managed to emerge as winners.

Martinique tied with French Guiana 9-9 on the opening day, while they lost to Suriname 7-11 on the second day, but rebounded well to win against Guyana and become the overall champions.

Martinique finished with 31 wins.

French Guiana and Suriname tied on 27 wins while Guyana after their dis-

Graeme Cremer more known for his bowling hit his maiden Test ton to lead Zimbabwe’s recovery

Kumara’s first Test wicket and Sri Lanka’s only one of the session.

Kumara continued to trouble the batsmen with extra oomph in a testing spell.

Cremer survived a nasty moment when Kumara’s bouncer hit and subsequently detached his helmet, which fell perilously close to the stumps.

He added 92 with No. 9 Donald Tiripano, who was equally adept at keeping out the straight deliveries and accumulating runs against Sri Lanka’s tiring spinners.

Against the run of play, Tiripano missed a straight one from part-timer Kusal

kept Guyana in the hunt for an inaugural title. Gentle defeated Guyot 6-2 6-6 9-7 in the day’s first match while Ramdyhan defeated Gaspard by a 6-2 6-4 margin.

Once again the entire female team put in a valiant effort but the boys lacked poise to win their matches as they disappointed on the final day.

Guyana tied with Suriname 9-9 on the opening day, lost to the host 8-10 and 5-13 to the champions.

The President of the French Guiana Tennis League, Christian Pitta, praised the 48 players for their competitive showing in the 108 games that were played. He was also in high praises for the coach and parents, who assisted in many ways more than expected and said he could only see the tournament growing in the future.

Subsequently the President of French Guiana then handed Guyana’s

Mendis - it was Mendis’ first wicket in first-class cricket.

Despite the lower-order fightback, Sri Lanka still retained control of the Test.

They would have been pleasantly surprised with the conditions that greeted them on the third morning. After the Harare surface offered nothing to seam or spin on the first two days, it started to behave differently. Variable bounce, pace and enough lateral movement for the seamers helped Sri Lanka run through Zimbabwe’s middle order in a five-wicket morning session.

Overnight batsmen Tino Mawoyo and Hamilton

Masakadza began the day with staunch defence, even with low bounce evident from the second ball of the morning. Mawoyo was uncertain against the short ball on the second evening, and Suranga Lakmal exploited that weakness by repeatedly employing the bouncer. Some flew off the surface, some looped to the keeper.

In the fifth over of the day, a bouncer hustled Mawoyo for pace and an attempted pull resulted in a top-edge, which was taken by square leg placed halfway to the boundary.

Sean Williams and Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe’s best batsmen, were visibly disconcerted by the bounce and chose to sweep Rangana

19

Herath.

Both batsmen struck boundaries but the stroke was always fraught with risk on this pitch.

Williams attempted a hard sweep off Herath but the ball bounced extra and took the leading edge, which was snaffled at deep square leg.

Zimbabwe had lost their third wicket of the day inside 12 overs, the second off a top edge.

Dilruwan Perera capped an excellent morning for Sri Lanka with two lbws, both non-turning offbreaks.

Ervine missed a straight delivery, his pad interfering with the bat’s contact with the ball. Malcolm Waller went back to what he thought was a long-hop, but the ball skidded on and beat his pull. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka 1st innings 537 Zimbabwe 1st innings TMK Mawoyo c Gunaratne b Lakmal 45 BB Chari lbw b Herath 5 H Masakadza c Karunaratne b Lakmal 33 CR Ervine lbw b MDK Perera 12 SC Williams c Gunaratne b Herath 10 MN Waller lbw b MDK Perera 22 PJ Moor† c MDK Perera b Kumara 79 AG Cremer* not out 102 DT Tiripano lbw b Mendis 46 CT Mumba b Herath 1 CB Mpofu b Lakmal 2 Extras (b-4, lb-4, w-7, nb-1) 16 Total (all out; 107.5 overs) 373 Fall of wickets 1-21 (Chari, 5.4 ov), 2-92 (Mawoyo, 27.5 ov), 3-92 (Masakadza, 29.2 ov), 4-111 (Williams, 34.4 ov), 5-134 (Ervine, 40.3 ov), 6-139 (Waller, 42.1 ov), 7-271 (Moor,

71.5 ov), 8-363 (Tiripano, 101.5 ov), 9-366 (Mumba, 104.5 ov), 10-373 (Mpofu, 107.5 ov) Bowling: RAS Lakmal 21.5-3-69-3 (nb-1), CBRLS Kumara 22-3-90-1 (w2), HMRKB Herath 37-597- 3, MDK Perera 18-1-66-2, DAS Gunaratne 3-023-0, DM de Silva 2-0-10-0, BKG Mendis 4-0-10-1 Sri Lanka 2nd innings FDM Karunaratne not out 1 3 JK Silva not out Extras (nb-1) 1 Total (0 wickets; 3 overs) 5 To bat: BKG Mendis, MDKJ Perera†, DM de Silva, WU Tharanga, DAS Gunaratne, MDK Perera, HMRKB Herath*, RAS Lakmal, CBRLS Kumara Bowling: CB Mpofu 2-2-0-0, AG Cremer 1-0-5-0 (nb-1) Position: Sri Lanka lead by 169 runs with 10 wickets remaining

The successful Martinique female team after winning the championship

President Jamal Goodluck the baton since they will be the next host in 2017.

Goodluck in his brief speech thanked the French authorities for a well-organized tournament which was done in the traditional custom of the IGG and promised to ensure that the trend continues when his country host next year.

There were special priz-

es for the teams and the winner of each categories were named. The Guyana under-18 girls dominated to win their category while Suriname and Martinique won two categories and French Guiana won one.

Overall it was an efficient event which got underway at 8:30h daily and finished at around 20:00h.

Guyana finished at the

bottom of the point standings but they were very competitive on the first two days and surprisingly faltered on the ultimate day. Nevertheless, they were a unified team, who had no practice facility prior to their departure. They must be proud of themselves and return home and work to strengthen their weaknesses so next year they could gain a better result.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, november 1, 2016

GHB/GTT Indoor Hockey Tournament…

GCC thrash Phoenix 11-1 on opening night

By Romario Samaroo

T

he 14th GTT Indoor Hockey Tournament got off to the usual flying start at the home of Indoor Hockey, the National Gymnasium with six breath taking games on Monday night.

The tournament which is divided into four categories saw some predictable results while some left the crowd stunned.

In the presence of an unusually half packed National Gymnasium, the first match up saw a second division clash between the experienced GCC and rookies, Phoenix. Phoenix had put up a respectable defence considering the talent in the GCC team, holding the guys from the Regent Street based club to only a small 2-0 lead over the guys in black (Phoenix) by the end of the first half.

Shaquille Leung scored in the third minute while Kareem McKenzie found the back of the net exactly 10 minutes later.

Heading into the second half, Phoenix were unable to keep up with the GCC side, as they seemed to have giv-

GCC Spartan and Old Fort Lady Bugs in the middle of a heated battle

en up on the match, fading away to a 11-1 score line.

Rafel Robinson was the only Phoenix player to score in the 26th minute. Trevon Smith scored twice (22nd and 23rd ) while Melroy Scotland scored in the 20th minute. Leung completed his hat trick with goals in the 24th and 26th minutes as Mckenize secured the final four goals for GCC in the 26th, 27th 29th and 30th.

In the other second division match up, Supersonic fought hard to a 4-2 victory over Hikers as the score

Carlos, an inspiration for Bishoo

F

or the third straight match, all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite was reduced to watching from the sidelines but that did not prevent him from having a profound impact on the opening day of the third Test here Sunday.

Brathwaite has failed to make the final XI in the series but with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo’s confidence sagging after Pakistan captain Misbahul-Haq put him to the sword, the reserve player was quick to respond, encouraging his teammate to remain on top of his game and not to let his head drop.

The net effect was that Bishoo went on to claim four for 74 and trigger a slide in the final hour which saw Pakistan crash from 230 for four to 255 for eight at the close.

“He (Misbah) tried to get after me in the second Test match. He tried to pick me off … attack me a bit but in this game I tried to do the basics.

I tried to bowl my lengths [in] my areas and don’t try too much,” Bishoo told reporters following the day’s play.

“When I had just started my spell, I had gone for a few runs but Carlos (Brathwaite) saw my body language was a bit down and he came and told me, ‘you need to pick up yourself. ’ “[He said] ‘you’ve done well in international cricket already. You got eight in the first game so why can’t you do it again’ and he said ‘I want to see some confidence in you’ and I started to be a bit more lively.”

Bishoo picked up three of

the four wickets to fall late in the day, including that of Misbah, who gloved a catch behind for 53, as he attempted to reverse sweep.

Misbah was one of four players to make half-centuries as 20-year-old opener Sami Aslam top-scored with 74 and Younis Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed both made 51.

With Pakistan coasting in the second session and in the first hour after tea, Bishoo said West Indies were focussed on drying up the scoring and creating pressure.

“In the second session we decided if we were not going to get wickets, we were not going to let them score as much,” he said.

“We were trying to keep the run rate under three [runs per over] so we tried to bowl our areas, be patient and let them make the mistakes.”

The Guyanese, who took a career-best eight-wicket haul in the second innings of the historic day/night opening Test, was well supported by inform pacer Shannon Gabriel who once again bowled with pace to claim three for 58.

“It’s the first day of the game and I think we’ve put ourselves in a very good position and we need to capitalise from here on. The job isn’t finished as yet but it’s good start for us on the first day,” Bishoo said.

“It was a good bowling effort. I think we tried to bowl as tight as possible, tried to hold our line and lengths and if they wanted to take the chances, they take the chances.” (Windies Cricket)

was leveled 1-1 by half time.

Shomere Garnett scored in the 15th snd Michael Harding (27th) were the two scores for Hikers.

Orin Singh in the 12th, followed by Jael Gaskin in the 17th and Dehron Wilkinson one minute later then Omar Hopkinson in the 22nd were the scorers for Supersonic.

In the veterans division, the older guys from Vintage showed they still had a lot of fight and spirit in them as they romped to a 6-1 thrashing of Antonio’s

Hikers in the 30 minute contest. The lone goal scorer for Hikers, James Menture started them off with a brisk entrance to the tournament by penetrating the defensive line in only the first minute of play. But the rest of the game belonged to Vintage.

Skilled Dwayne Scott replied in typical Vintage style blasting past Goal keeper Azad DeAbrue four minutes later while his team mates, Damon Woodroffe and Philip Fernandes both scored in the eight minute to close off the first half. Devin

Hooper scored twice in the second half (17th and 28th minute) and Patrick Edghill scored in the 21st minute to crush the hopes of Hikers team.

Meanwhile, in the ladies division, stern competition resulted in a draw between GCC Spartans and Old Fort lady Bugs. Excellent goal keeping by Sarafina Phillips (Lady Bugs) and Brianna Gordon (Spartans) ensured only 2-2 was the end result of the grueling match up.

Romichelle Brumell was the only player to beat Gordon in the 35th and 38th minutes while Carina Moller lashed past Phillips in the 17th and 30th minute.

In the highly anticipated 1st division showdown between Old Fort and Saints resulted in the school based team going down 4-2 in full time. The game started with the same fighting spirit of Hikers and the attacking nature of the youthful Saints team as the two powerhouses clashed for glory only to hold off each other without a goal scored in the entire first half.

As the game went into the second half, Hilton Chester broke the spell to find the

back of the net with a powerful shot past the Old Fort goal keeper. Robert Brumell then responded to a goal of his own to level the score before goals from Dehron Wilkinson (31st min.) and Aderemi Simon (34th min.) sent the Old Fort team to a 3-1 lead. Yonnick Peters scored the second goal for Saints in the 37th minute while Ascofu Simon placed the final goal for Old Fort in the penultimate minute of the game.

In the final match up, Robert France led Pepsi Hikers with five goals to a 7-2 victory over Bounty GCC in the 1st Division matchup. France scored in the 4th, 20th, 27th, 29th and 32nd minutes.

The action resumes today with six more exciting matches at the same venue beginning at 17:30h.

The matches to be played are Hikers taking on St. Stanislaus College (2nd Div.), Old Fort battling Phoenix (2nd Div.), Saints against GCC (2nd Div.), Hikers versus Old Fort (Veterans), Old Fort meeting 2020 (1st Div.) and GCC matching skills with Saints (1st Div.)

Fantastic opportunities at stake in national 3x3 qualifiers

The exciting 3x3 is set to return to the Burnham Court

A

great opportunity has presented itself for young basketball lovers with the winner of the national 3on 3 basketball tournament getting the opportunity to represent Guyana at the regional tournament in St. Lucia in 2017.

The tournament is organized by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation and is sanctioned by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and will run across

two days (November 5-6) at the Burnham Hard Court, Georgetown.

The 3x3 event fits into FIBA’s global strategy of promoting and funding a global 3x3 structure that will potentially allow smaller countries to participate in major tournaments.

The winning team will be representing Guyana in 2017 as part of the Lesser Antilles region. The tournament is an Under 18 tournament and by stipulations, the local tournament will

be targeting persons born between 1999 and 2001.

According to basketball coach Andrew Hercules, the tournament is looking to attract a minimum of 15 teams from across the 10 regions of the country in order to meet FIBA regulation of playing for the spot in the regional 3x3. This is the first time Guyana is invited to the tournament.

Hercules made it clear that there cannot be any selection of the team but rather a tournament to select

the best team.

The tournament is looking to target schools as well as individual teams who have fulfilled the criterion.

Hercules noted that there are already six teams registered including from Kwakwani, Berbice and East Coast while urging teams to register early and avoid on the day confusion, pointing out that the process for selecting the schedule is time consuming and can have a smooth operation if registered early.

The other countries that will be participating in St. Lucia next year include Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Sint Maarten, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, The first day (November 5), will see the first leg bounce off from 11:00h and run off into the night. Each game will last for 10 minutes with a team comprising of four members.

Persons and teams desirous of participating may contact Hercules on 6652425.

YELLOW PAGES tuesDAY, november 1, 2016 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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he most look-forward to softball cricket tournament on every player or fan, bowls off in three days in Guyana after an international invasion once again. The sixth edition of the annual International Softball tournament organised by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) is all set for November 4, 5 & 6.

This three days of competition will see teams from Canada, New York, Florida and Guyana competing for softball cricket supremacy in the Americas. Over the years, the tournament was played in the Open and Masters Categories and this year will be no different with 14 teams registered for the Masters category and 10 for the Open segment.

Action on the opening day starts at 9:00h with 12 games playing simultaneously at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Ayangana, Guyana Police Force Sports Club

at Eve Leary, Malteenoes, Demerara Cricket Club DCC and Gandhi Youth Organization grounds. The second round of 12 games starts 13:00h at the same venues.

On Saturday morning, the action picks up at 9:00h with the final 12 preliminaries games across the same venues in both categories again. At 13:00h, two semi- finals will be played simultaneously at the Police Sports Club ground, while at DCC another semi-final will begin also at 13:00 h.

The other semi-final will be played at DCC from 17:00h making way for finals on the final day.

On Sunday November 6 also at DCC, the Masters and Open Finals will be played along with three exhibition female 10/10 matches. The female teams that are invited are Mikes Wellwoman, Trophy Stall Angels, 4R Lioness and Blue Divas.

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Forde nominated to CONCACAF Governance Committee

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resident of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, has been nominated to be a member of the CONCACAF Governance Committee and will participate in the preliminary committee meeting scheduled for Friday, November 18 in Miami, Florida.

In an invited comment, Forde said: “I’m very humbled that CONCACAF would have nominated me for this prestigious position.

No doubt the Governance Committee and Council is one of the most important administrative arm of the Confederation. I see this as a unique opportunity for Guyana to have a voice and to advance some of the unique principles we stand for as a nation (and) Executive Committee. I’m hoping to serve as I have done over the past couple of years to the sport at a different level and to bring that level of prominence to Guyana which we most definitely need at this point in time.”

The financial operations of Member Associations is one of the areas which interests Forde in his new role.

“The fact that we are mov-

Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde

ing from an annual subvention of US$250,000.00 to almost US$1.5M means that the financial infrastructure of the Associations will be challenged and if the Confederation does not take deliberate steps to guide and support its members, it’s very likely that we will see some of the residue of the past repeating themselves. So, I will try to table regulations and policies that would bring greater level of accountability, transparency and capacity in the operations and management of the financial infrastructure of our members.”

In response to what the benefits of this post are to Guyana, Forde said capacity building is one of the pri-

orities. “The Governance Board will seek to identify specific needs of Member Associations. I will no doubt be piloting a lot of these initiatives and I’m hoping that we can (develop) a complete suite of capacity building initiatives that the Guyana Football fraternity and football in general can benefit from over the next four years. No doubt Guyana is on a forward and upward march but it’s still a process that requires careful attention and delicate management and handling to realize its true potential as a football nation.”

CONCACAF is committed to finding the best strategies towards further expanding the development of football in our region guided by precepts of integrity and transparency.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesday, november 1, 2016

Brathwaite leads WI fightback in final Test

– Pakistan fall for 281

P

akistan rebounded from being bowled out for 281 to reduce West Indies to 38 for 3, but had to work much harder for their subsequent breakthroughs as Kraigg Brathwaite led his side back into contention with a gritty, unbeaten 95. Supported first

by Roston Chase and then by Shane Dowrich, Brathwaite helped West Indies close day two on 244 for 6 after two hard-fought sessions in the third and final Test against Pakistan at Sharjah.

Confronted with a probing bowling effort, a slow outfield and horrid start from his top-order team-mates, Brathwaite maintained his composure and patience throughout his 206-ball vigil. Unlike the more free-flowing batsmen at the other end, he seldom tried to force the pace, content to play the ball late whenever he could. Nine of his ten fours came behind the wicket, the sole exception being a loft over mid-on off Zulfiqar Babar.

After the three early wickets, Jermaine Blackwood briefly looked promising after lunch. However, his attacking instincts, and his seeming refusal to rein them in, soon led to his downfall. Having driven Mohammad Amir on the up for a boundary through cover, Blackwood tried to repeat the shot a few balls later. Only, this time, the delivery was slightly shorter and not quite there for the drive; Blackwood edged it to gully and departed for a run-aball 23. Chase was the next to keep Brathwaite company.

In a productive period leading to tea, Chase hit a number of lovely cover drives, moving to 43 off 82 by the interval. He did have a few awkward moments against spin, though, with legspinner Yasir Shah luring him into some injudicious shots against the turn.

Chase kept taking the bait and creamed Yasir for a big six over long-on to reach his fifty shortly after tea. Like Blackwood, however, he perished after one indiscretion too many. With left-armer Amir angling the ball across him from over the wicket, Chase went for an extravagant drive and only managed a thick edge to Younis Khan in the slips. That brought to an end an 83-run fifth-wicket partnership, but West Indies were still vulnerable at 151 for 5.

Next, it was Dowrich’s turn to complement Brathwaite’s marathon knock. Dowrich hit several attractive boundaries during his 90-ball 47, and was particularly strong square of the wicket on the off side. But he had two major strokes of luck early in his innings.

The first, with Dowrich on 15, came via a recurring theme - a Wahab Riaz noball. The bowler had enticed the batsman into chasing a full, wide delivery and edging it to Asad Shafiq at gully.

But he had overstepped - for the 15th time in the series and Dowrich lived on. A few overs later, Dowrich attempted to sweep Azhar Ali, and the

Sponsorship rolling in for Young Warriors CC ‘East Canje Day of Sport’

A

Jermaine Blackwood looks ugly as he edges to Asad Shafiq in the slips

Kraigg Brathwaite works one away on the leg side to inch closer to his 5th Test ton

ball hit the back of bat before looping to Younis at slip, who put down the chance after an elaborate juggle.

It was around this time that things seemed to be slipping away from Pakistan. Legside deliveries were helped on their way to the fine-leg boundary. Dowrich unfurled some cracking strokes. The odd mis-hit landed safely.

Wahab received two warnings for following through in the danger area. As the partnership ticked along past 60, then 70, then 80, West Indies seemed to be regaining the upper hand.

But, against the run of play, Dowrich dragged an innocuous ball from Wahab onto his stumps, ending an 83-run stand. West Indies closed out the day 37 short of Pakistan’s first-innings total, with four wickets in hand.

That was a markedly better outcome than they might have expected after a tumultuous morning session in

which five wickets fell for 64 runs. Alzarri Joseph took the last two Pakistan wickets to bowl them out for 281, just 7.5 overs into the day, before Pakistan struck back through early breakthroughs. Amir troubled Leon Johnson in the first over by swinging the ball away from the left-hander, before Wahab dismissed him for 1 with a straight ball that trapped him in front.

Then, towards the end of the first session, Darren Bravo miscued a cross-batted swing off Babar in the air towards cover, where Amir took a screamer of a catch. Soon after, Yasir trapped Marlon Samuels plumb in front and the batsman departed, but not before wasting a review.

By lunch, West Indies were sinking deep into a hole.

It was Brathwaite’s resolute knock that helped them steadily work their way out of it by the time the day was over. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Pakistan 1st innings Sami Aslam c Holder b Bishoo 74 Azhar Ali c Brathwaite bGabriel 0 Asad Shafiq lbw b Gabriel 0 Younis Khan c Johnson b Chase 51 Misbah-ul-Haq* c †Dowrich b Bishoo 53 Sarfraz Ahmed† b Gabriel 51 Mohammad Nawaz t †Dowrich b Bishoo 6 Wahab Riaz lbw b Bishoo 4 Yasir Shah b Joseph 12 Mohammad Amir b Joseph 20 Zulfiqar Babar not out 1 Extras (lb-4, w-1, nb-4) 9 Total(all out; 90.5 overs) 281 Fall of wickets 1-1 (Azhar Ali, 0.2 ov), 2-1 (Asad Shafiq, 0.4 ov), 3-107 (Younis Khan, 37.1 ov), 4-150 (Sami Aslam, 54.5 ov), 5-230 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 72.1 ov), 6-242 (Mohammad Nawaz, 76.5 ov), 7-248 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 79.5 ov), 8-248 (Wahab Riaz, 80.1 ov), 9-280 (Mohammad Amir, 90.1 ov), 10-281 (Yasir Shah, 90.5 ov) Bowling: ST Gabriel 21-1-67-3 (nb-2), AS Joseph 16.5-5-57-2 (nb-2, w-1), JO Holder 12-4-290, RL Chase 20-5-47-1, D Bishoo 21-3-77-4

West Indies 1st innings KC Brathwaite not out 95 LR Johnson lbw b Wahab Riaz 1 DM Bravo c Mohammad Amir b Zulfiqar Babar 11 MN Samuels lbw b Yasir Shah 0 J Blackwood c Asad Shafiq b Mohammad Amir 23 RL Chase c Younis Khan b Mohammad Amir 50 SO Dowrich† b Wahab Riaz 47 JO Holder* not out 6 Extras (lb-6, nb-5) 11 Total (6 wickets; 78 overs) 244 To bat: D Bishoo, ST Gabriel, AS Joseph Fall of wickets 1-6 (Johnson, 3.2 ov), 2-32 (Bravo, 11.3 ov), 3-38 (Samuels, 14.4 ov), 4-68 (Blackwood, 22.6 ov), 5-151 (Chase, 48.3 ov), 6-234 (Dowrich, 73.6 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 174-44-2 (nb-2), Wahab Riaz 160-65-2 (nb-3), Yasir Shah 18-256-1, Zulfiqar Babar 17-3-45-1, Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-12-0, Azhar Ali 6-0-16-0 Position: West Indies trail by 37 runs with 4 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

. Ally and Sons Showroom of Sheet Anchor, ANSA McAl, Berbice and Gas Man of Palmyra, East Canje, Berbice are the latest sponsors on board with The Young Warriors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice who will hosting the “East Canje Day of Sports” on November 6, 2016 at the Cumberland Ground. The day’s events will be cricket and football and will see villages competing against each other.

At one of the presentation ceremonies held recently, Waqar Sahid of A. Ally and Sons Showroom made cash donation to the event. Sahid said that over the years he has supported the cricket club who continues to keep the game alive in the area. He added that he is pleased to be part of this event and will continue support community development. Receiving the cheque was President Rafeek Kassim who thanked Sahid for his generous contribution and promised that every dollar will be accounted for. He also thanked Mark Bhikhai and ANSA McAl and ‘Gas Man’ for their sponsorship.

Over the years, the East Canje area produced many talented cricketers with the latest being young West Indies winning captain Shimron Hetmyer.

Leonard Baichan was the first and only test cricketer coming out of the area. Seon Hetymer, Gajanand Singh, Damodar Daesarat, Richard and Kevin Ramdeen, Balram Samaroo, Kwesi Maltay,

Rafeek Kassim (right) happily collects sponsorship from a member of staff of A Ally and Sons Showroom in the presence of Managing Director Waqar Sahid

Linden Austin, Boodnarine Sumair and Kassim Khan are among many others that represented Guyana at the various levels.

Even though most of the players came through The Young Warriors Cricket Club program, they live in different villages in the Canje district. This leads to regular fierce competition among the village teams.

Some of the teams expected to take part are Canefield, Gangaram, Canje Pathfinders, Betsy Ground, Goed Bananen Land and Rose Hall Estate.

The cricket competition will be of five overs aside and will involve second division players. However, the teams are allowed to buy the first division players in the area

with the starting bid being two thousand dollars with the exception of Shimron Hetymer whose starting bid will be ten thousand similar to IPL style.

In addition, there will be sprint races, lime and spoon, bag race and a feature football game involving players from #2, Palmyra, Sheet Anchor and Cumberland versus the other villages in East Canje. Attractive incentives and gate prizes are up for grabs with the oldest male and female fan receiving a hamper each. Proceeds from this event will go towards Young Warriors Cricket Club to help with the continuation of promoting cricket in the area. The first cricket match bowls off at 9.30h.

GCB/National Secondary School Cricket League 2016...

Bookie sends Christ Church to North GT Zone final

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brilliant century by skipper Alphius Bookie led Christ Church to victory over Richard Ishmael in a rescheduled North Georgetown zone semi-final on Monday at GNIC ground as the 2016 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) continues.

Richard Ishmael earned the right to face Christ Church in the rescheduled semi-final after they won a protest against School of Nations who defeated them in the previous round but fielded a player who was ineligible to play because of his age.

Batting first Christ Church scored 159/6 in 25 overs. Skipper Bookie led the way with a responsible 110 not out off just 88 balls.

Bookie’s knock included 11 fours and seven sixes.

Ariel Tilho gave good support with 20. Bowling for Richard Ishmael, Kristoff

Andre Seepersaud

Nedd took 3-26.

Richard Ishmael reply never quite got going and were eventually bundled out for 80 from 16.2 overs to give Christ Church a comfortable victory 79-run victory. Bowling for Christ Church, Renaldo Mohamed took 4-10 and Bookie 2-22.

Christ Church will now face Chase Academy in a North Georgetown Zone final clash.

Over at Zeeburg, Saraswat Secondary

booked a place in the West Coast Demerara zone final against SVN College when they defeated Zeeburg Secondary by 40 runs.

Saraswat Secondary sored 166/9 in their 30 overs batting first. Rajesh Rampersaud top scored with 45 and Dexroy Hyman made 23. Bowling for Zeeburg, Andre Seepersaud took 4-11 and Jetendra Ghisiwian had 2-29.

Zeeburg Secondary fell for 126 in 22.5 overs in their reply. Andre Seepersaud top scored with 33 and Parmanand Prabhudyal made 30.

Bowling for Saraswat Secondary, Kevin Latchoo had 3-32.

The NSSCL continues today with the North Georgetown zone final clash between defending champions Chase Academy and Christ Church at GCC from 10:30h while at Zeeburg, Saraswat Secondary and SVN will do battle in the West Coast Demerara zone final.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, november 1, 2016

Guyana Jaguars 4-day warm-up match…

Hemraj, Bacchus among the runs on opening day

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handerpaul Hemraj and Robin Bacchus struck vital half-centuries on the opening day of the Guyana Jaguars 4-day warmup match at the Everest Cricket Club Ground, to place Barnwell XI at 273-7 when play came to a close.

On a day where 86 overs were bowled, Hemraj stroked an eye-catching 65 while Bacchus played a high-tempo 51. Captain Christopher Barnwell and Seon Hetmyer were at the crease at stumps on 40 and 12 respectively.

Left-arm spinner Anthony Adams with three scalps and left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer two, were the main wicket takers for Vishaul Singh XI. Earlier, Barnwell XI lost opener Kandasammy Surujnarine (08) with the score on 17 and three runs later Kevon Boodie went without scoring after edging seamer Raun Johnson behind in the eighth over of the day.

Bacchus and West Indies under-19 player Tevin Imlach steadied the innings with an

Chanderpaul Hemraj counter attacking 67-run partnership for the third wicket but as the right-handed Imlach was beginning to look set, he nicked Adams behind, falling for 25 (1x4;1x6).

The dismissal brought the in-form Hemraj to the crease that immediately looked to put the pressure back on the bowlers while Bacchus motored along to his half-century. Just after reaching his landmark, the attacking lefthander became Adams second victim when he fell after striking six fours and the team slipped to 94-4.

National under-19 player Bhaskar Yadram joined

forces with Hemraj and together batted smartly to take the score to 181-4 but just as Hemraj was on the path to a big scored, he bottom-edged pacer Clinton Pestano unto his stumps after hitting four sixes and five sweetly timed fours.

Yadram continued to bat steadily but Reifer, who got the initial breakthrough when Surujnarine edged to Rajendra Chandrika at second slip, returned to the attack and the 17 year-old right-hander played a lofted shot and fell for a workmanlike 33 (3x4s).

In came Jonathan Foo (15), who was busy at the wicket in his short stay at the crease, as he played a loose shot and skied the ball down to deep-point and the team was now in a precarious position at 231-7.

Skipper Barnwell and Hetmyer ensured no more wickets fell in the final session and will looked to take their team to a substantial first innings total today when play resumes today at 09:30h.

Digicel Annual Breast Cancer Awareness cycle race...

This is a big victory for me – Jamal John

Leading the way! Hard work and determination ensured the Team Coco rider endured the tough conditions to cross the finish line first (Marceano Narine Photo)

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t 19 years old Jamal John rode a spectacular race on Sunday to win Digicel’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Cycle race. From the waving of the green to the chequered flag, John took to the front of the pack with the experienced Raul Leal of Team Gillette Evolution, extending a lead that proved to be unassailable in the closing stages of the gruelling race.

What was even more admirable about the performance, is that in the scorching heat the Team Coco rider managed to rise from his saddle, swaying side to side to build momentum after 70 miles of riding, to produce a sprinting finish and edge Leal at the tape in a time of two hours, fifty-four minutes and eleven seconds (2h: 54m: 11.72s).

Speaking to media after the race, John stated, “This victory is a big victory for me, this is the second big race in my career I have ever won and I’m really thankful for it.”

Only the day before the said duo produced a similar

feat on the inner circuit of the National Park, ridding wheel for wheel while the rest of the pack wagged behind at the annual Payless Variety Store 11-race cycling meet.

However, that race came to an abrupt end with the race official calling it off after 16 laps and the duo having to share the spoils.

Considering that throughout the entire 30-lap race which began on the outer circuit of the National Park in front of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Camp Ayangana Base on JB Singh Road then proceeded north to Carifesta Avenue and continued westwards to Camp Road before turning east onto Thomas Road, John and Leal hardly had any distance between them and the cyclist was quizzed as to when he knew he had the race was in his favour.

“The last seven laps I started to bring up the spread a little and I saw Raul cramping so after five laps I started to attack him and he took long to respond so I knew he was cramping,” John re-

sponded.

In the attritional battle, the Team Coco cyclist explained his “strategy was just to keep a distance like two minutes on the peloton and just keep focus on whatever break was going to occur in the race and the pack meet us but no one came so me and Raul just kept a momentum until the finish.”

The cyclist will now turn his attention to the National Sports Commission (NSC) Three Stage race for November 5-6, which is inclusive of two races and one time trial. On the first day, the riders will take to the roadways on at 7:00h to complete a 65 mile road race from Georgetown heading to Mahaicony where they would return to the starting point for a finish while completing an Individual time trial from Georgetown to Plaisance, a stretch of 3.5 miles from 15:00h later the same day.

The next day, the wheelsmen will then take to the Outer circuit of the National Park to compete in a 30-lap race beginning from 11:00h.

Ming wins big on best track day

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Calvin Ming in action at the Mexican Grand Prix

alvin Ming continued his climb up the International Formula car racing ladder as he completed a podiumfilled weekend in Mexico.

Competing in the Formula 4 supporting races for the 19th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Ming bettered his third place finish on Saturday, with a race win on Sunday in front of a huge crowd.

Driving as a member of the “Ram Racing Team”, the Guyanese started from sixth on the grid and was the victim of an incident at the start, causing his

car to spin off the track.

However, he recovered and was relegated to the back of the field in 14th position for the restart of the race after the safety car exited the track.

In a very determined effort, he managed to claw his way up the field, making his final pass on the last corner of the last lap to finish in third place.

Race two on Sunday, had him starting in sixth position, before launching his way up to first, by the time the field of competitors had arrived at the first corner at the start of the

race. An incident shortly after caused the safety car to go on track resulting in the competitors bunchingup, after Ming had established a comfortable lead of over 2.5 seconds.

On the restart of the race, Ming was hounded by the second place driver for a couple of laps, before he managed to build-up a safe lead, and went on to win the race after a good fight.

After the race Ming thanked the team for the car’s set-up, indicating that he was overjoyed by his performance at the weekend.

tuesday, november 1, 2016

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

Formula 1 World Championship

Golden Arrowhead moment! Calvin Ming stands at the top of the podium as Guyana's National Anthem is played at the Mexican stadium

Ming wins big on best track day

Brathwaite leads WI fightback in final Test

Jermaine Blackwood's shot looks ugly as he edges to Asad Shafiq in the slips

– Pakistan fall for 281

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