Guyana Times - Thursday, 6 April, 2017

Health fair, concert P13 to raise awareness on mental depression THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Issue No. 3175

Thursday, April 6, 2017

PRICE

Mother of 3 strangled to death by abusive husband

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Street lights installed in PM’s P12 hometown

Page 3

Miner stabbed U-turn: Ramjattan admits CPGs are to death at important Mahdia Page 9

Page 7

Disgruntled man sets P2 peacemaker’s home on fire …as children sleep on gasoline-soaked bed

…2 years after taking away resources

VAT on education

Protesters not confident about meeting with Govt

Rupununi man remanded for P8 shooting cousin

Page 7

Region 2 P11 businesses complain over slow sales …vendors call for market opportunities

Digital library, local branch discussed during GTT, Bartica officials’ meeting P11 …as firm commits to improving Internet service

Despite Government having announced its intention to meet with parents who are against the imposition of VAT on education, some protesters are not too confident that a decision will be made in their favour, thus they opted to continue their protest action on Wednesday in front of the Education Ministry on Brickdam, Georgetown (Marceano Narine photo)

Govt scholarships award process finally to be “transparent” Page 2

PPP Councillors storm out of Port Mourant NDC meeting Page 17

Granger assures Russia of Caricom’s solidarity in wake of deadly bombing P13

Parliamentary Committee to P10 examine conditions at Diamond hospital

2

news

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt scholarships award process Disgruntled man finally to be “transparent” sets peacemaker’s A home on fire …as children sleep on gasoline-soaked bed

P

olice are on the hunt for a man who reportedly set alight the bed on which two children were sleeping, following a dispute with their father.

Reports are the arsonist had a dispute with the children’s father over a horse race.

Speaking with this publication, Samuel Fraser, the children’s father, said that his three-year-old and eightyear-old were asleep on the bed at the time the fire was set.

The 28-year-old told Guyana Times that prior to the fire, he attempted to part two other friends after a horseracing bet dispute. It was during his attempts to stop the two from fighting that he was threatened by suspect.

He said that the suspect had pushed him and accused him of taking sides.

“I pull he off of another man and he start cuss up and seh he gone bun down me house and kill me family.”

Fraser said he forgot about the incident, but later received a phone call that his home was on fire.

Meanwhile, the man’s wife, Rosetta Seebarran,

The partially burnt mattress on which the children were asleep

told this newspaper that she heard footsteps and then heard a sound which appeared to be that of water.

“I was coming to open the door, because I think that is me husband come home, but then I start smell gasoline and then one explosion…”

At the time the two children were asleep on a mattress, which was on the floor in front of the door.

Seebarran explained that the gasoline seeped under the door and got into the mattress. “You hear when the matches scratch and by the time I could get the children to go inside is one explosion…”

The two children es-

caped unhurt. According to Seebarran, she opened a bedroom window in an attempt to get the children to safety as flames were seen reaching the ceiling.

Neighbours ran to their assistance and were able to put out the blaze. A plastic bottle with what appeared to be gasoline was left on the step.

According to Seebarran, when she looked through the window she saw someone who is known to her leaving the yard.

Police have since launched a hunt for a wanted man whose last known address was given as Liverpool Village, Corentyne.

fter it already gave away fully funded multimillion-dollar scholarships to Ministers and other party affiliates, the Government has announced that it is now employing a transparent awarding process.

An online application service for the scholarships will be introduced by 2018.

A statement issued by the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday noted that a “transparent process (was) now being employed in award”.

The release quoted the Head of the Public Service and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service, Reginald Brotherson as saying that the Department has been working to ensure that a transparent process was created and managed to afford Guyanese citizens scholarship opportunities.

It was also disclosed following questions by the parliamentary Opposition that Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry is doing her PhD in Public Health to the tune of $3.36 million, while Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson is benefiting from a $3.38 million scholarship in Public Policy Management.

Additionally, Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s daughter, Alicia, is benefiting from a $2.58 million scholarship at a university in the UK. She is studying psychology.

Other notable beneficiaries are former Chief Education Officer Olato

Public Service Head and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Public Service, Reginald Brotherson

Sam, who is studying education policy in Jamaica, at a cost of some $946,000, and a Guyana Chronicle Board Director Tabitha SaraboHalley, who is currently pursuing public policy management studies in the UK to the tune of $3.4 million.

President David Granger, however, said he saw nothing wrong in his ministers benefiting from these Government scholarships, which many believe would have been better granted to persons who truly could not afford to further their studies.

In defending the decision, President Granger said he was not concerned about scholarships being granted to persons holding office within his Administration, since he believed that with higher qualifications, officers of the State could improve their performance.

Against this backdrop, however, Brotherson said the Department now has a national panel, the first

of its kind, which consists of professionals from the Education Ministry, Private and other sectors who have been tasked with shortlisting and interviewing applicants.

The panel, which would be renewed every year, is made up of veteran educators Ingrid Fung and Donna Chapman, Private Sector Commission (PSC) representative Elizabeth Alleyne, Claudette Austin from the University of Guyana (UG) and Executive Director of the Public Service Staff College, Randolph Leitch. From July 2015 to date, more than 500 applications have been processed.

Applicants must be 35 years or under and in good health to qualify, must gain admission to the University they wish to attend and must have a valid Guyana passport. Applicants who are already students must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or above, while foreign students must have a 3.0 GPA or 75 per cent. All applications are reviewed by this panel, and applicants are shortlisted and invited for interviews.

During the interview process, applicants are graded on five main areas: qualifications (10 points); relevance of scholarship (10 points); adaptability (4 points) and ability to cope in a different environment (for foreign students); experience in the field (for postgraduates)/maturity (for undergraduates) (4 points); acceptance of scholarship conditions (2 points) and knowledge of the field of studies. turn to page 9

news

3

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, April 6 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 13:30h-15:00h and Friday, April 7 – a night retraction at 03:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, April 6 – 12:55h-14:25h and Friday, April 7 – 13:50h-15:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals with morning interruptions of heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, followed by partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to 25 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Mother of 3 strangled to death by abusive husband

A mother of three was on Wednesday found with a sheet wrapped around her neck in her husband’s Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home, suspected to have been strangled to death by her abusive husband.

Danwantie Ram, 29, of Parika Façade, EBE, was found in a sitting position

Winds: North Easterly to East North-easterly between 4.47 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 00:52h and 13:17h reaching maximum heights of 2.18 metres and 2.25 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 06:48h and 19:23h reaching minimum heights of 1.06 metres and 0.90 metre respectively.

Murdered: Danwantie Ram

WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS N

03

07 19

20

24 27

09 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 06 07 08 13 21 LUCKY 3 5 2 5 Afternoon Draw

5

5

1

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 05

11 15

16 18 19

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

in a sofa by neighbours, who rushed over to the house after hearing screams. The husband, who was identified as Ganesh Dhanraj has since gone into hiding but the Police are on the hunt for him.

Reports are the woman and the suspect have been married for the past 12 years but the relationship has been an abusive one.

Due to the constant abuse, Ram left her martial home along with her three children about four days ago. The suspect however, went to the victim’s house and demanded that she return to his house but she refused. He reportedly assaulted her and left.

It was reported that at about 06:00h on Wednesday, Ram was on her way to the Parika Police Station to lodge a report but was intercepted by the suspect who took her to his home where he committed the act.

He was seen running out of the house towards the backdam following the incident. The woman was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where she pronounced dead on arrival. Her body is presently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

At the scene on Wednesday, the suspect’s mother stated that her son went to her house moments after committing the crime enquiring from her what she was doing and left shortly afterwards. The woman stated that her son would normally visit her home, hence she did not suspect anything abnormal about his behaviour.

She admitted that her son would inform her when he and the dead woman would have arguments or fights. “Most time when he and she got problems, she does move out and carry away all the goods and so…”

She noted that the couple’s eldest daughter, who is 11, lives with her. The furious mother, however, accused the now dead woman of being unfaithful. “He go work, Sunday to Sunday and give she everything… he doesn’t make she short of anything but she does just fetch out things out of the house and she does be drinking… and that does be the problem”.

The house in which the woman was strangled to death

She also accused Ram of being an unfit mother.

Nevertheless, she noted that on Wednesday morning, her husband left home for work and it was then he received the dreaded news that her son “Andre”, as he is commonly called, killed his wife.

Meanwhile, Bhagat Ram Jailall, father of the dead woman, claims the suspect constantly abused his daughter, adding that he would normally make peace between them, since they are husband and wife with three children.

He said the suspect was in a drunken state on Tuesday and assaulted his daughter. He then promised to visit the man’s house when he is sober to have a chat with him.

He recalled that prior to him receiving the news of

his daughter’s death, she telephoned him to come to her house but by the time he arrived, his daughter’s motionless body was discovered. He is of the belief that it was premeditated murder.

“When I go in the house, the sheet with a knot bin round she head… and he strangle she,” the man stated. The now dead woman leaves to mourn her parents, three children and siblings.

Up to late Wednesday evening, the Police were hunting for the suspect.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

4

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, april 6, 2017

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

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

Drowning Amaila Hydro

O

nce again, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has attempted to present fake news to justify its obdurate rejection of making an impartial evaluation of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electricity Project (AFHEP) as a central cog in our country’s transformation into a “green economy”, which ironically, it articulated as its goal in its “Green State Development Strategy”.

Before assuming office, APNU and AFC’s refusal to endorse AFHEP forced the main developer, Sithe Global to walk away from the project. They claimed they were awaiting an evaluation from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which was in receipt of US$80 million from Norway that was committed to the AFHEP. But with no developer, the IDB declared an investigation was moot and now ensconced in Government, APNU/AFC went to great lengths to avoid re-evaluating the AFHEP, while seeking to use the US$80 million for other projects.

However, after attending COP25 in Paris, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman announced, “… the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet considered it the best option for an objective re-assessment (of AFHEP). This decision follows up on one taken by the country in Paris, France, in December 2015 to conduct a review of the project’s current financial model, which the Government believes could shackle many generations of Guyanese to debt.”

Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway, was contracted by the Government of Norway, for an “objective and facts-based” assessment, which was released in December 2016. However, just before the report was made public, the Government of Guyana, through Minister David Patterson, issued a statement claiming that the Norconsult consultancy justified Government’s position that the AFHEP was not financially viable for the country and would be a burden to the people of Guyana.

But when the report was made public, its conclusions and recommendations were the complete opposite and declared that the only realistic path for Guyana to move towards an emission-free electricity sector and achieve its 2025 green agenda commitment was to develop its hydropower potential in general and maintain the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in particular. We pointed out at the time that the only apparent reason for the Government’s rejection of the AFHEP was because it was a component of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) that had been promulgated by the Bharrat Jagdeo regime.

Now comes further confirmation of the Government’s willingness to expose itself to international derision as it seeks to get its hands on the US$80 million lodged with the IDB without committing itself to the AFHEP. Last week, Per Fredrik Pharo, Special Envoy and Director of the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative, was forced to issue a statement bluntly pointing out, “retired Rear Admiral Gary Best (Presidential Advisor on the Environment) presents a number of misleading arguments about the Guyana-Norway Agreement.

“The cornerstone of our partnership is the original Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) from 2009. The MoU establishes that results-based funding from Norway is to be used to implement the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the core of which was forest protection and a renewable energy transition with the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project at its heart. This is also reflected in our Joint Concept Notes (JCN) from 2012 and 2015.”

The Special Envoy of Norway presented the Government of Norway’s position on the AFHEP very clearly: “We strongly defend the right of a government to set the development path of its country. But if that development path were to deviate from that which was the basis for our partnership, then it is not the right of a government to retain the benefits of a partnership based on commitments it no longer intends to fulfil.” In other words, reading between the lines, no AFHEP, no Norway money.

However, the envoy did say if the Government can present “a concrete, realistic and cost-effective plan for Guyana’s energy transition,” – presumably without the AFHEP – Norway would be inclined to support it. So, we believe, would most Guyanese. We await the details of that plan, rather than the AFHEP being rejected without facts.

Destructive West Indies off-spinner Ashley Nurse put down the ball and picked up a book to read for the young ones of Gifted Hands Special Needs School as part of Digicel’s book reading interaction session (Carl Croker photo)

Vile attack on Swamiji

Dear Editor, At the last count, 21 major American companies have pulled their advertisements from Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” in protest over sexual harassment charges that have been made against the show’s host Bill O’Reilly and which he and Fox News paid up to US$13 million to keep out of the courts.

The companies which include big names like BMW, Bayer, Mercedez-Benz, Lexus and Allstate did not need to be persuaded or pressured but made the decision organically because they did not feel that O’Reilly’s alleged misconduct reflected the ethical standards upheld by their respective companies. They did not want their name associated with him in any way.

Businesses in America take their public image seriously. They know that it is a factor that is considered when customers and clients make purchasing decisions.

Rather than losing customers because of their absence from O’Reilly’s pop-

ular show, the companies expect to gain from taking a stand against a news leader who is now widely believed to be a sexual predator. It is unlikely that O’Reilly’s show will survive without advertising sponsorship.

It is a telling example of how society can shape the business, cultural and political environment for the better. While Fox News fiddles about axing their headline newsman, the people, through corporate America, are expressing their opinion and forcing the media house to act in the nation’s best interests.

What if there were people and businesses in Guyana who would act in a similar selfless manner in order to uphold exemplary ethical and moral standards within our society?

Just days ago, Freddie Kissoon made a vile and venomous attack on Swami Aksharandanda in his column of April 4, 2017. As usual, the attack can easily be unmasked as being purely mendacious and as fulminations that misconstrue

facts for Kissoon’s own ends.

Kissoon has a free hand to attack whomever he chooses probably because his publishers depend on the scurrilous sensationalism of his yellow journalism to sell their newspaper.

Yellow journalism is the type of reporting that presents readers with little or no legitimate researched news and uses instead sensational headlines, exaggerations, scandal-mongering and gossipy name-dropping to grab readers. It’s a cheap trick but a very profitable one.

It does appear that the Guyana Press Association views lies, misrepresentations, and scandal-mongering as responsible journalism or else simply doesn’t care about enforcing ethical rules and conduct.

That is no surprise in Guyana where standards of ethics, morality and decency are hardly ever upheld in any sector of Government or society. Kissoon, his publishers, and his enablers are a perfect fit in this corrupt and dysfunctional world where no one expects or de-

mands better.

Whether leaders within the Hindu and the wider religious community will come to Swamiji’s defence and whether the Social Cohesion Minister will view Kissoon’s attacks as damaging to efforts to build national cohesion and consensus remains to be seen.

We, all of us, have the power to do something if we disagree with this kind of attack being sanctioned and promoted by a news organisation.

We can stop buying the newspaper and businesses can withhold their advertising dollar. These are within our power and reach.

Since this letter is not written as a reply to Kissoon, it has not been sent to his publishers “Kaieteur News” for publication.

The matter is not only about the vile attack on Swamiji. The matter is about what kind of society we want to live in. That decision is in our hands.

Sincerely, Ryhaan Shah

Silence from Public Health Ministry

Dear Editor, Not only do we need an investigation into the death of the premature baby at the West Demerara Regional Hospital on March 30, 2017, but we need also an investigation into the silence and non-action of the Public Health Ministry. Their inexplicable absence when such a horrifying story is spreading like wildfire is irresponsible.

The silence of the Public Health Ministers and the Public Health Ministry relating to the death of the

premature baby at the West Demerara Hospital is sickening and obnoxious.

Something horrifying happened at the Hospital according to videos circulating on Facebook which have gone viral. These videos are dreadful and bring shame to the public health sector and Guyana. This horrifying story brings back those frightening images of a baby being eaten by a rat at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) in the 1980s. While the viral videos are damning and shameful to our coun-

try, the Ministers of Public Health and their Ministry are closeted at the Ministry, ignoring the outrage of people everywhere.

While I am not aware of all the details, there is indisputable evidence that a 21-week-old premature baby was born alive at the West Demerara Regional Hospital to a 16-year-old young lady. Further, there is evidence that the baby was alive for more than 12 hours. During this time, the baby’s mother and her family appeared to have moni-

tored the struggles of the baby to survive. The baby’s mother and her family pleaded with the hospital staff to have the baby placed in an incubator or transferred to the GPHC. But it appears that the baby was considered as non-viable by hospital staff and the baby, therefore, was not provided with any intervention intended to sustain life. The family claimed the baby was placed in a bed pan and videos circulating on Facebook appear to verify this. Continues on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, april 6, 2017

5

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

Wrong end of the stick every time Dear Editor, I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I got the COMBAT newspapers in my inbox? For the record, the COMBAT newspaper is printed by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the largest workers Union in Guyana.

In the COMBAT newspaper, it clearly stated that as at the week ending March 25, 2017, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) produced 20,037 tonnes of sugar from a target of 74,172 (or 27 per cent). I was advised only six weeks was left before the 2017 first crop terminates. As expected, Skeldon produced zero tonnes to date because it was prematurely shuttered in this 2017 first crop under the pretext of another lame excuse from Errol Hanoman and friends. But what this exposed is that there was no proper project-planning at that estate in the second crop of 2016. This is shocking because even in the hard days in the 1980’s, GuySuCo always prepped its factories and machinery at the end of the previous year’s second crop in preparation for the next first crop. So how come the management of Skeldon did not know they had a problem on the co-generation plant before the first crop started?

I immediately called my contact in GuySuCo to find out the prospect for the next six weeks and when I thought that GAWU

was being pessimistic, the GuySuCo insider dropped an even bigger bombshell on the table. I was advised that GuySuCo is not expecting to produce more than 45,000 tonnes for the 2017 first crop (60 per cent performance).

This will result in an immediate loss to the nation of some US$16 million in real foreign currency inflow. So how can the Minister tell me and the rest of the public that there is enough foreign currency in the system for the first half of 2017? It is either he is being economical with the truth or does not know elementary economics. I can now concur with my dear friend Ramon Gaskin who, on a ‘Plain Talk’ programme in March 2017 with Chris Ram, said Guyana will be importing sugar for domestic consumption in under two years’ time. At this rate, his prediction will come through before its due date.

This David Granger Administration is its own worst enemy. By choosing to play hard-ball on this sugar issue, they are putting an entire nation at risk. As the Granger Administration continues to play politics with the economy, my humble advice to the workers is simple; do not become a collateral damage for a second time as the “elephants in the room mash the grass”; DE-RISK and FAST. By de-risking, I am humbly advising the workers with saving to withdraw all unnecessary cash from your

savings account and invest it in something that can store real value like gold or silver or polished diamonds.

Guyana is heading swiftly into a season of devaluation and I will not be surprised if

by Christmas, the exchange rate will be G$250 to US$1.

In layman’s language, if you have G$100,000 in your savings account – at the beginning of 2017, it could have bought US$485.

By the end of 2017, it will more likely buy around US$400, which mean the poor man with a savings account of G$100,000 would have lost US$85 in value or almost 1/5th of its 2016 value over a 12 month period. That is steep.

The teachers and nurses who lost lots of money during the 1988-1990 period will tell you how their life-savings vanished into thin air within two years.

The ordinary people should not make the same mistake again. My humble advice this time around – invest in gold, silver and polished diamonds. Based on the commodity markets, all three of these precious metals are expected to increase in value in the next three years.

But this also means you have to beef up your personal security. Why does the working class always have to get the wrong end of the stick every time?

Sincerely, Sase Singh MSc – Finance, ACCA

Silence from Public Health...

In addition, a porter seemed to have been involved in handling the premature baby.

While it is entirely possible that the baby might not have survived even with life-sustaining interventions, the hospital staff has an obligation to ensure that all possible interventions were employed to keep the baby alive. From the evidence available at this time to the public, no survival effort was made and from birth, a decision to treat as still-born was made by hospital staff, even as the family was pleading that something be done to help their breathing baby.

The Public Health Ministry is aware of the circumstances surrounding the death of this premature baby. It is now more than 96 hours since the unfortunate incident and not a word has emanated from the Public Health Ministry.

The silence of the Public Health Ministers is obnoxious. I am aware that both Ministers and even the PS and Deputy PS were out of the country, but this does not absolve them from re-

sponsibility and accountability. Being out of the country is not an excuse.

This matter has been widely discussed around the country and has gone viral on Facebook, stirring interest not only in Guyana and among Guyanese in the Diaspora, but beyond our borders and beyond Guyanese wherever we live.

Yet the Ministers and the Ministry pretend as if this is a non-story.

If I am misinformed and if the Facebook story is wrong, then this horrendous story deserves an explanation from the Ministry. There may well be another side to the story, but the only story at the moment is one of horror.

There is no dispute that a live premature baby was born to the 16-year-old at West Demerara Regional Hospital on March 30, 2017.

There is no dispute that the baby lived until the next morning. The family’s story is that at all times the baby was treated as if still-born.

The devil is in the details for sure and only the Ministry can provide the details. The longer the Ministry takes to

from page 4

become engaged, the worst the story gets. People are horrified and the Ministry pretends like nothing has happened.

In my post yesterday, I demanded an investigation by the Public Health Ministry, but I must note that such an investigation is automatic by law. The regulation under the Ministry of Health Act provides for an automatic investigation of all new-born and baby deaths with an initial institutional report to the Public Health Ministry within 24 hours. Is this procedural, quality-control and accountability system in place still?

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

NY Golden Jubilee unity questioned Dear Editor, I write in response to D Singh’s “Unity has vanished” (Guyana Times April 4) signing as a Richmond Hill resident. There was no unity. So nothing vanished. Singh does not understand the concept of ethnic unity – shared leadership and relatively equal representation to reflect on the composition of the population.

I live in greater Richmond Hill, have been an activist and advocate for “Richmond Hill”, and a community news reporter for close to 40 years.

I attended and or have been immersed in almost every major community activity; I also helped to organise several events. I can affirm without any fear of contradiction that there was hardly any “unity” in last year’s golden jubilee celebrations in New York. It was not the kind of celebration we should encourage. It disrespected the Indian community.

We should strive for ethnic unity. But to say there was unity between Indian and African Guyanese is a misnomer. We must not fool ourselves into thinking that a handful of individuals from one group joining hundreds of others from another group represent “unity”. Let us stop that charade and call out things what they really are.

Indians, as indeed other ethnic groups, were marginalised at last year’s golden jubilee celebration in NYC. And several pieces of evidence as revealed to me by others confirm this fact.

The large organising committee comprised of only 12 per cent Indians in a greater NY Guyanese population of about 400,000 comprising of about 60 per cent Indians.

Can anyone explain how 12 per cent Indians (to represent 60 per cent of the population) in a committee gives it

“unity”?

There was hardly any unity at the several functions. At the various events, the attendance and or participation were between three and 10 per cent Indians. The parade had one “Indian” float – that of Lisa (Latchmee) Singh promoting her TV show. Does one out of more than a dozen floats bring “unity”? All the floats were ethnic in nature with hardly any multiethnic representation.

The Indian attendance at the parade was estimated at three per cent Queens virtually blanked the parade – no unity there.

At the York College seminar, there was one Indian presenter. Expenses for over a dozen presenters were paid for by the Government of Guyana, but only one Indian (eight per cent) was among them – The attendance in the audience comprised of a handful – not even five per cent. The banquet in Manhattan was about 10 per cent Indians with an Indian co-emcee.

The cultural show in Queens had several Indian participants but the audience was estimated at 10 per cent.

It is noted that only three Indians were honoured out of dozens. Some 50 citations were given with only five Indians (10 per cent) who all happened to endorse the celebration. Only two of these honourees had standing in the community with two others being seen as “maha” opportunists and one an unknown. Those critical of the planned programme and under representation of Indians were not honoured. Worse, they were attacked for exposing the charade.

Singh believes that his and Attorney Rhonda Binda participation in the committee brings unity. There can be no unity without the rec-

ognised leadership of both communities being part of the celebration.

What occurred last year was not unity. In sociology, it is known as ethnic marginalisation. Singh and a few others contributed to and excused that marginalisation and how about the underrepresentation and or a lack of presence of Amerindians, Chinese and Whites (Portuguese) in the planning, presentation, and attendance? Does that make for unity? Even the Alliance For Change representatives criticised the celebration as being “unrepresentative” of Guyana’s diversity.

Unity is when you have a fair representation of all the ethnic groups in the planning and participating in the varied activities and programmes.

Also, those who attempt to speak for the community must have standing in the community as an advocate and champion of their causes. Ms Rhonda Binda is not known in the community and is not an advocate or champion of the community. Since the celebration, Ms Binda has not been seen. Thus, the description of “darling of the Indian community” would not fit.

Clearly, contrary to what Singh penned, the 50th Anniversary Committee NY is not a model for national unity. Its composition leaves much to be desired.

Doesn’t Singh feel 50 per cent Indians (as opposed to 12 per cent) in the committee with co-leadership would be a better symbol of unity? An effort must be made to bring all major black and Indian leaders together under joint leadership in order to attempt to bring unity which is highly desired.

Dear Editor, I note with interest a letter in local newspapers this week under the pen of Sase Singh, who frequently writes on economic and related issues.

One area caught my attention and it had much to do with the point he made relating to the current Administration appointing 15 out of 16 “CEOs of the Government Ministries (Permanent Secretary) for narrow, partisan reasons, totally ignoring all other parts of the society.”

Editor, it is clear that Mr Singh has not done his homework on this very import-

ant aspect of his missive to the media, as most of those very same CEOs or PS’s are holdovers from the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government.

Yes, we agree that a few have been moved around and a few forced out, but the majority are people who were working in the system before 2015. How can this be narrow partisan, political gain? Some of these very same CEOs are known to be

open supporters of the PPP but are still on the job.

Mr Singh should note that President David Granger has stoutly resisted calls from his party faithful and coalition members in general to purge relics of the past. Only time will tell whether this is a good decision or not.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Only time will tell

Sincerely, Peter Joseph

6

thursdAY, APRIL 6, 2017

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation “It requires energy and attention; having an opinion requires neither. Instead of deciding whether or not you like the idea, ask yourself, ‘Where’s the power in this for me?’”

8. Don’t get hung up on perfect

BY STEPHANIE VOZZA

M

y son leaves for college this week, and I’ve realised that it’s one of several fresh starts many of us make in life. This adjustment will be followed by new jobs, new relationships, and maybe career changes. In fact, chances are good that my son will have more fresh starts than I did; according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, the average person stays with an employer for 4.6 years, while millennials average just 1.3 years on a job. Here are 10 of my favourite words of advice for starting anew:

1. Try new things

People entering the workplace today are a commodity, says Fred Cook, CEO of GolinHarris and author of Improvise: Unconventional Career Advice From an Unlikely CEO. “They’ve attended the same schools, read the same books, gone to the same movies, played the same video games, and watched the same TV shows,” he says. “What they don’t have is life experience, ideas of their own or world views. Those are the things that elevate your career.”

Try new foods. Check out the latest museum exhibits.

Read books that are outside your area of expertise. And don’t be afraid to take bigger risks, such as moving across the country. It’s the life experiences that broaden your perspective.

2. Don’t be afraid to fail

Too many people believe failure is a referendum on them, says Megan McArdle, author of The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success, and they come to the conclusion that they’re not good enough.

Failure is a roadmap for what not to do next time. “Those who have a growth mindset, however, think failure is a roadmap for what not to do next time,” she says. From minor slip-ups to epic fails, all of us will falter at some time in life; to be successful, you have to have a certain amount of blindness to the risk.”

3. Talk to strangers

The majority of your future successes are waiting outside your immediate network, says Judy Robinett, author of How to Be a Power Connector. “It’s where the gold is,” she says. But most of us just talk to strangers two to three per cent of the time.

Open yourself to new opportunities by looking approachable. Assume the other person is shy and say hello. Then find common ground on which to start a conversation. If there is something of interest, don’t be afraid to ask for the person’s contact information and then follow up.

“You don’t have to be an extrovert to talk to a stranger,” says Robinett.

“We’re all so

Start New Life the past, and it proved fatal.”

5. Write a personal mission statement

Businesses have mission statements, and people should have one, too, says William Arruda, author of Ditch, Dare, Do: 3D Personal Branding for Executives.

A mission sums up who you are and what y o u stand for; it brings focus and purpose to your life.

Arruda offers this template for writing one: The value you create + who you’re creating it for + the expected outcome. For example: I use my passion for words to inspire readers to think in new ways.

“A personal mission statement is a powerful tool because it provides you with a path for success, and it gives you permission to say ‘no’ to the things that are distractions,” Arruda says.

6. Don’t try to fit in

worried what other people might think about us.

The truth is that no one cares because they’re worried about themselves.”

4. Be willing to change

To stay relevant as you move forward in life, you have to be willing to embrace change, says Jason Jennings, author of The Reinventors.

What got you where you are today isn’t going to get you where you want to go tomorrow. “Acknowledge that what got you where you are today isn’t going to get you where you want to go tomorrow,” says Jennings, who cites Borders as an example of what can happen if you don’t let go. “They refused to change and held onto what had made them money in

Too often, we try to fit in with our environment because we think it will help us move forward, but the person who embraces their differences stands out, says Sally Hogshead, author of How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination.

“Once you identify what makes you different, concentrate on it,” she says. “To be successful, you don’t have to change who you are; you have to become more of who you are.”

7. Don’t confuse having an opinion with having a thought

Assessing a situation can get in the way of learning, says Chris Majer, author of The Power to Transform. And having an opinion is not the same as a thought.

“Thinking is the process of generating an original idea or distinction,” he says.

Parents and teachers encourage us to take time to do our best, but sometimes it’s not practical, says Jeremy Eden, co-author of Low-Hanging Fruit: 77 EyeOpening Ways to Improve Productivity and Profits.

“Excelling sounds like a good thing,” he says “But if you use this mindset in everything you do, you’re spending a huge amount of time on things that aren’t important.”

Instead, identify the things that are worth “gold plating,” and then adopt a

BY TONI BERNHARD, JD (Continued from Wednesday)

R

eviewing the incident in this way gave me the opportunity to set the intention to change how I’d react in the future to a similar situation. I decided to work on becoming aware of when a task was giving rise to anger and frustration. I told myself that when that happened, I’d stop what I was doing, take a few conscious breaths, and see if there was a more skilful way to handle the situation – a way that would be kinder to myself, both mentally and physically.

I haven’t always succeeded in carrying out this intention – I can still mindlessly become caught up in anger and frustration – but I’m doing better as a result of having undertaken a mindful review of this incident.

An example of a skilful response This may be a mundane example, but I’m using it because recalling it as part of my mindful review of the day internalised my skilful response, making it easier to act skilfully in the future when a similar event occurred, and that’s not so mundane! Here’s what happened.

I was reaching into the cupboard for some cinnamon and accidently knocked a box of oatmeal off the shelf.

When it hit the floor, not only did it spread out all over the linoleum, it also fell into the crevices between a bunch of boxes and bins that were sitting on the floor.

My immediate reaction was the same as when I couldn’t get the online medical site to work – anger and frustration.

(I won’t repeat the words that came out of my mouth.) But fortunately, I caught myself almost immediately and was able to keep that aversive

policy where good is good enough.

9. Don’t worry about the big picture – celebrate every milestone

Finally, the road ahead can feel long and overwhelming. To alleviate some of the stress, focus on milestones, says Jones Loflin, co-author of Getting to It. Milestones are everywhere: the first semester, the first week of a new job, the first client.

Loflin shared the story of a friend who started running: “Instead of focusing on miles, he worked on running from utility pole to utility pole,” he says. “It made the process feel much more doable. Concentrate on staying focused for an hour or for a day instead of looking at everything that is ahead.” (www.fastcompany.com)

reaction from turning into a string of self-recriminating and exaggerated stories, such as “You’re such a klutz,” and “This will take forever to clean up.” Instead, I brought myself into the present moment by consciously paying attention to a few in- and out-breaths; then I said to myself: “Oatmeal has spilled all over. No big deal. Just clean it up.”

And, you know what?

I actually enjoyed myself.

Trying to find every piece of oatmeal was like solving a puzzle. I was amazed at how many single pieces managed to lodge between this box and that bin. What could have been an unpleasant 15 minutes, filled with anger and resentment, turned into an interesting task.

That evening, when I did my mindful review, I reflected on this event. I realised what a tremendous difference it had made to my experience and to my mood in the hours that followed to have simply given in to what had happened instead of feeding my initial aversive reaction. I thought about how anger and frustration would have quickly become the vehicles for stress-filled stories, and I was grateful that I’d avoided that unnecessary mental suffering.

I set the intention to react the same way in the future when one of life’s inevitable little accidents occurs.

I hope you’ll try this mindful review of your day. If you do, remember not to hold yourself to too high a standard.

The purpose of this exercise is to learn not to judge yourself.

And let’s face it, you’re not always going to react skilfully when things don’t go your way. You won’t always stop, take a few conscious breaths, and become mindful of the best way to proceed. But you can work on it, and a mindful review of your day is a good way to start. (Psychologytoday.com)

news

7

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

VAT on education

Protesters not confident about meeting with Govt

D

espite the announcement by Government of its intention to meet with parents who are against the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on education, some are not too confident that a decision will be made in their favour.

Another protest was held outside the Education Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown office on Wednesday, where those views were expressed by people affected by the recent change.

While Wednesday’s protest did not attract a large crowd like it did in the past, many parents, including educators and religious leaders, still believe that the Government is not serious about removing VAT on education.

Principal of the

Saraswati Vidya Niketan School Principal Swami Aksharananda holding up a placard during Wednesday’s protest

to continue to agitate.

Other parents told this publication that they hope

Roman Catholic Bishop Francis Alleyne

Saraswati Vidya Niketan School on the West Coast of Demerara, Swami Aksharananda, believes that the meeting scheduled for Friday at the National Cultural Centre will not change Government’s position.

Government will remove VAT on education in its entirety and not try to lower the imposed 14 per cent.

Mark Kazim, a parent who also spoke with Guyana Times expressed his disappointment with the move.

While Kazim did not

listen to affected parents.

“We still have to fight for what we don’t believe in, and what we don’t believe in is VAT on education. Let’s see what happens after that meeting,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Roman Catholic Bishop, Francis Alleyne, who was among the demonstrators, said although many persons are not too hopeful, he would hope both parties could come to an amicable agreement.

He also said the number of people attending does not matter. “If the Government is making a genuine gesture, it’s not about the number of people but the number of issues and concerns and with that is room for discussion and dialogue on education as a whole, so that’s what I hope will happen,” Bishop Francis Allen said.

Since its implementation, Government’s tax on private education has re-

Protesters outside the Education Ministry’s Brickdam office

The school principal and religious leader has said if Government decides not to remove VAT on education, then those affected will have

want to pre-empt what could come out of the discussion between parents and education officials on Friday, he said the fight will continue if Government chooses not to

ceived widespread criticism.

Many are calling the decision one that has not been thought through and needs to be urgently revised or repealed.

Miner stabbed to death at Mahdia

L

ess than a week after a miner was beaten to death in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni district over the disappearance of raw gold, another miner was stabbed to death during an altercation at Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Dead is Reginald Charles, 30. He was reportedly walking in the vicinity of a night club at 111 Miles, Mahdia when he became engaged in a heated argument. This quickly turned into a scuffle during which one of his assailants reportedly broke a bottle and stabbed the man to his neck and chest.

After the stabbing incident, the injured man man-

aged to run to the Mahdia Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

The matter was reported

to the Police and as a result of Police’s swift response, the two main suspects were arrested. This newspaper was told that the two suspects subsequently confessed to the heinous crime.

The duo is expected to be charged shortly. The man’s body is at the Mahdia

Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

On Sunday last, Phillip Cort, 56, of Queen Street, Courtland, Corentyne, Berbice, was found dead in a mining camp at Armu Falls Top, Cuyuni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), with multiple marks of violence about his body.

Based on reports, the now dead man had an argument with another man over some missing gold. The argument quickly turned into an altercation during which Cort was severely beaten and left to die. The main suspect, a 35-year-old man from the bauxite mining town of Linden, was subsequently arrested. He is assisting with investigations.

Gold miner on bail for alleged multimillion-dollar jewellery swindle

A

n alleged fraudster of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, was on Wednesday released on $150,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva successfully made an application for bail.

The court heard that Amnirood Persaud between August 1, 2016 and February 17, 2017, at Eccles, was solely entrusted by the Virtual Complainant

(VC) Dand Sugrim with a quantity of pearl, gold and diamond jewellery valued at some $10.3 million. Instead of returning the pearl, gold and diamond jewellery to the VC, Persaud is accused of fraudulently converting same to his own use and benefit.

Persaud, who is a gold miner by trade, denied the allegation and entered a not guilty plea.

The parties are known to each other and are reported-

ly business partners, with the said allegation stemming from a business deal gone sour. Guyana Times understands that the VC pawned the said jewellery, which naturally attracts an interest rate.

However, he refused to cover the costs incurred, thus escalating the situation and finding the matter before the courts.

The accused is expected to return to court on April 20 for statements to be filed.

8 news

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Rupununi man remanded for shooting cousin

A

Central Rupununi farmer accused of murdering his cousin was on Wednesday afternoon hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to be charged with the capital offence, and was remanded to prison.

The charge read that Levi Steven on March 16, 2017, at Kumu Village (Region Nine), unlawfully murdered Arnold Gordon.

The unrepresented farmer who stood fidgeting in the prisoner’s dock was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Steven will make his next court appearance at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on June 6, when the matter will proceed to trial.

According to media reports, Police, in collabora-

Accused: Levi Steven

tion with public-spirited villagers, had apprehended the suspect just last Sunday evening, after he had evaded the authorities for more than two weeks.

Reports reaching this

newspaper are that the deceased was a 24-year-old labourer of Crapaud Pond, Kumu Village.

It is believed that the 28-year-old accused, on the day in question, armed himself with a lethal indigenous weapon (a bow and arrow) and fatally shot his cousin in the armpit area. He subsequently concealed the death by burying the corpse in a shallow grave just a short distance from the village in an area known as “Tiger Plate”.

A six-year-old relative of the deceased reportedly witnessed part of the gruesome episode. Reports are that Gordon and the boy left home on the fateful day to go fishing at a pond in the Tiger Plate area, where they encountered the accused and

an argument ensued. Steven then reportedly picked up a piece of wood and metal rod and struck Gordon. The six-year-old becoming fearful, ran home to inform his grandmother of the incident.

As Gordon failed to return home by dawn the following day, his mother reported the matter to the village Toshao, who then alerted the Police.

The Toshao led a search team that stumbled upon what resembled a grave in a clump of bushes approximately 20 feet from the accused’s camp. After several minutes of digging, they were greeted by a protruding human hand; after which Police officials were summoned. The corpse was unearthed and transported to the Lethem Hospital.

Bus conductor remanded for robbing local Jazz musician – at Kitty seawall

A

25-year-old bus conductor was on Wednesday morning charged and remanded to the Camp Street prison for an armed robbery committed at the Kitty seawall.

Eon Warrel pleaded not guilty to the charge read by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, which stated that on April 3, 2017, while armed with a cutlass, he relieved local musician Jeremy Sobers of an iPhone worth $90,000.

Prosecutor Simone Payne did not hesitate to ob-

ject to bail being granted, emphasising the seriousness and prevalence of the particular felony.

The defence counsel for the accused, in a bail application, pointed out the uncertainty of Police’s facts as a reason to grant bail. The lawyer added that her client was not singled out by the Virtual Complainant during an identification parade, but rather, in a public place – the Georgetown Public Hospital, and this led Police officials to caution The defendant, Eon Warrel

The victim, Jeremy Sobers

and arrest Warrel for an offence of which he was totally ignorant.

The court heard that the conductor had a previous matter at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

However, he was never convicted as the case was dismissed.

Bail was denied. Warrel will remain incarcerated until the completion of the trial. The matter stands adjourned to April 19.

Meanwhile, a traumatised Sobers is nursing a gash to his head sustained during the armed robbery.

Tight…

Y

…foreign funds our Eyewitness must compliment the Stabber News for confirming Emperor Jordan has been stark naked on this foreign currency availability contretemps. Jordan insisted there were oodles and oodles of greenbacks to satisfy any demand while the business community retorted they just couldn’t secure the stuff. It then basically descended into a nasty schoolyard exchange of “is so!”… “is not!”

So the Stabber sent a reporter to purchase US$150 from the banks in Georgetown – and revealed that only ONE of the four banks could scrounge up that measly sum!! And that one was the runt of the banks and on the path not very much travelled! Now if a fella can’t purchase US$150 can Emperor Jordan explain how the wheels of commerce’re gonna turn in a country that imports most consumables – personal and industrial?? Will he accept it’s his stubbornness in refusing to accept the obvious has brought the aforesaid wheels grinding to a halt?

Don’t hold your breath!

While some may say it’s love that makes the world go around, when it comes to the world of business – it takes money to do that job. Whatever ‘love’ there might be is simply a bonus. What Emperor Jordan and his Court have to do is deal with the implications of the neo-liberal conditionalities President Hoyte was forced to accept back in 1989 from the IMF, when he (Jordan) was a pencil pusher in the backrooms.

The mandarins in Washington insisted the “invisible hand” of the market meant “no hand”!

Truth of the matter…there was always the hand of the Government regulating the markets. At first, to encourage and protect the fledgling industries and then – once they weren’t infants any longer – then to protect the society as a whole. What Emperor Jordan’s doing is to continue with the very worst of the IMF prescriptions – to attempt to square the circle by taxing us out of depression while leaving the business community high and dry! Can’t be done!

Rather than penalising the local gold miners and traders whose greenbacks tend to remain in Guyana, how about relooking at the big expatriate companies that send 95 per cent of the proceeds of their 150,000 ozs of gold to their “mother countries”?? How about keeping Wales going since its 20,000 tonnes of sugar would’ve at least brought in US$6,000,000 of foreign currency. While the “billions” we complain we have to shell out to subsidise Wales is merely pieces of paper we print! And so on…

Anyhow…back to the greenbacks shortage. It all comes down to a lack of confidence in Emperor Jordan’s handling of the economy.

Prezzie should sack him and the moustache man at the same time! …press control How many times must the Government lie before you can call them out for prostituting their office. Whatever the number, it has looooong been exceeded by the man who was supposed to reduce Government control of the State media – Moses Nagamootoo and his all-too-willing handmaiden otherwise known as “The Shill”. Imagine the shill purported to disprove the charge that his Government committed “ethnic cleansing” in the government after they took over, by citing some Indian-sounding names in some positions. He’s just too dense to realise he just dug a deeper hole for he, his boss and the rest of the Government.

For example, he cited five Indian names as Ministers. But what he’s done is to emphasis this is just five out of 27!! Not even 20 per cent. Or one Indian adviser (just appointed) out of 36 to Prezzie!!!

And don’t talk about the composition of Boards and CoIs!!

But the PM and his shill have so normalised controlling the media, that pipsqueak named Bulkan just jumped into the act. Ain’t that a shame? …Regional TV After spilling the blood of two to become the only region to get their own TV station, the folks in Linden can’t even decide on a Board to run the boondoggle!

Greed is a terrible thing!

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

news

9

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

U-turn: Ramjattan now admits CPGs are important … 2 years after taking away resources

A

fter taking away the vehicles from the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) back in 2015 and hand them over to the Guyana Police Force, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has stated that several of those resources have since been returned to the CPG. In fact, at a press conference on Wednesday to mark the 41st anniversary of the Community Policing Organisation of Guyana, the Minister outlined the importance of CPGs, adding that his Ministry during the course of last year took steps to further enhance the assets of the Organisation.

“As you know, when I came into the administration, a lot of the vehicles for the CPG were given to the Police because the Police was in a problem. We’ve gotten a couple back from the Police but not all,” he stated.

Moreover Ramjattan pointed out that having recognised the important role of CPGs, his Ministry has been expending resources to have the members trained in specific areas to be able to better identify and tackle certain situations within their communities, since they are usually the first responders in the event of any criminal activities.

Over the years, he added, Community Policing Group members were ex-

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Head of the Community Policing Organisation of Guyana, Denis Pompey, along with other CPG officials at the press conference on Wednesday

posed to training in policing; domestic and gender-based violence; Trafficking In Persons (TIP); conflict and anger management; interpersonal violence; fire and road safety; First Aid; suicide awareness and more recently, noise nuisance.

Ramjattan has now admitted that “it is monies, in my view at this stage, well spent but of course we can do better by virtue of training so that the CPG members can have a better capacity and quality in seeking out information and transferring it… and also becoming leaders in the communities as to how they can secure themselves from the variety of crimes that occur and the variety of wrongdoings that occur.

That is why, at this stage,

more training is going to happen with the CPGs so that they too can lessen (criminal activities).”

In addition to boosting the resource and capability of the Organisation, Minister Ramjattan pointed out that “more aggressive” efforts need to be taken to encourage citizens to join the CPG membership to aid in reducing crime within their communities.

He underscored that CPGs are an important supplement to the Police Force, having eyes and ears on the ground within communities and are able to pass certain information on to the Police to assist in enforcement efforts.

“Those who are committing domestic violence, those who beat up their

GEA cautions licence holders to comply with law

T

he Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) is urging licence holders to comply with statutory requirements as this will avoid delays in its operations.

According to the regulatory agency, as it continues in its efforts to ensure that there is compliance with regulations provided under the laws of Guyana, it is vested in its mandate to monitor the performance of the energy sector.

The GEA stated on Wednesday that it had no intentions of halting or having purposeful delays

in any of its business operations, especially by licensed public operators.

As such, the Agency is urging all applicants, licence holders and prospective operators to comply with all statutory requirements.

“The Agency is obligated by law to ensure that all regulations and procedures, including those outlined and enforced by other entities, are followed.”

Further, the GEA noted that the timely renewal of licences is a must.

“GEA wishes to remind all licence holders, in the

Govt scholarships...

Once the points have been tallied from the interviews, the recommendations are then sent to the Permanent Secretary and the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who has responsibility for the public service sector.

However, the statement did not explain who is responsible for the final selec-

tion of the applicants receiving the scholarships.

Meanwhile, as the country pursues a ‘green agenda’ and with the potential for a booming oil and gas industry, Government will also give special consideration to applications which are made for studies in the environmental sciences, oil and gas development or any other re-

business of transporting, storing, retail, wholesale or importation of petroleum and petroleum products, of their licensing obligations under the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2014 and requirements for timely renewal through submission of requisite documentation.”

The Agency reminded that confirming to the licensing process would assist its determination to stamp out illegal fuel smuggling through proper monitoring, enforcement and compliance. from page 2

lated fields.

The Department is currently supporting 186 students studying abroad and another 705 who are pursuing studies locally.

Overseas-based awardees have their tuitions and airfares paid for by the host country in most cases, while the Government of Guyana provides some allowances.

wives or their spouses, those who would have a tendency of wanting to kill them and put them in some grave at the backyard and

grow bora – the community generally knows and they if they could be the eyes and ears that could give that preliminary detection work, we in the Police Force and other enforcement agencies, can be better equipped because we are more informed as to what is happening on the ground.

So it is vital that more and more people all across the communities of Guyana join up so that they could be this supplementary, this complementary force to the Guyana Police Force and other agencies,” Ramjattan outlined.

The membership of Community Policing Organisation of Guyana currently consists of 166 groups with a membership of 4347, almost the same as

the 4500 compliment of the Guyana Police Force.

During its operations in 2016, CPGs conducted vehicular, motor cycle, bicycle, foot, boat patrols and ATV patrols, amounting to some 30,000 patrols.

Additionally, CPG members were able to make some 89 arrests ranging from murders to domestic violence.

This year’s anniversary, which is being observed under the theme: “Celebrating 41 years of partnership; supporting reform and development”, commenced on April 1 with an Interfaith Service at Tagore Secondary School in Corentyne, Berbice, and will conclude on May 27 with a women’s conference.

This year’s main celebratory events will be held in the ancient county.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, april 6, 2017

News

Parliamentary Committee to examine conditions at Diamond hospital

Tuschen accident

Family of 4-year-old victim upset at slothful justice …says system “unfair” to them

W

A

The Diamond Diagnostic Centre

special group consisting of several Members of Parliament (MPs) that are attached to the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services will be visiting the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, on the East Coast of Demerara today to examine operational procedures there.

During the site visit, according to a Parliament officer, MPs will be given the opportunity to assess how members of the public access emergency health care and to observe the conditions under which patients are cared for at that facil-

ity.

Only recently, it was reported that in excess of 200 types of drugs were short at various medical institutions countrywide due to what was described as “several gaps in the system.”

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence had ordered a stock count and was informed that 287 types of drugs/medicines were out of stock.

As such, an investigation was launched to ascertain whether anyone needed to be sanctioned, if at all.

The parliamentary Opposition has criticised the Administration for its

mismanagement of the country’s health care system, which they said was currently at its worst.

Members of the same parliamentary committee visited the New Amsterdam Hospital in February and discovered there were drug shortages there.

The Parliamentary Committee on Social Services exercises the responsibility to examine all policies and administration for each sector, to determine whether the execution of Government policy is in agreement with the principles of good governance, and in the best interest of the nation.

eeks after fouryear-old Ramkaran Mohan was struck down and killed at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), his family members are yet to hear from the Police on the matter.

The child’s relatives reached out to Guyana Times on Wednesday stating that since they took protest action late last month, they were told by the investigating officer that the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

However, since that time, almost three weeks ago, the family is yet to receive any word on the course of the investigation and whether the errant driver would be charged or not.

As such, this publication was told by the grandmother of the lad, Bibi Nazmoon Khan that her family would yet again be taking protest action.

According to the woman, the family was advised to take additional protest action.

She related that the treatment the family received

Four-year-old Ramkaran Mohan

from the justice system in Guyana was “unfair”.

“We ain’t get no response from the Police; after we protested that first time, they call we and told we that the file gone to the DPP, but after that and until now we did not hear back anything from them,, so we will give them two weeks and protest again.”

Protest action was first taken on March 23 when a large crowd inclusive of fami-

ly members of Mohan, friends and even students from his nursery school all gathered to lament the lack of justice for the child.

The family believes such treatment is being meted out to them since the woman who was involved in the accident is the daughter of a high-ranking Police Officer.

Following the accident, the female driver was released on $20,000 station bail.

The lad, of Lot 1088 Tuschen New Housing Scheme, was returning home in the company of his brother and uncle when he met his demise.

Reports are that the child and others went to purchase a ball around 11:00h when the accident occurred. After the child was struck, the woman driver, who was allegedly unlicensed, was reportedly unaware that she had hit the lad and stopped several feet away after the child’s uncle ran in front of the vehicle.

The injured child was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Albouystown teen remanded for armed robbery

A

s Guyana continues to grapple with an escalating crime wave that is spiralling alarmingly out of control, Wednesday’s session of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts saw an Albouystown teen being arraigned for robbery under arms.

The charge, read by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, alleged that 18-year-old Kevon Ridley, on March 24, 2017, in the capital city of Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a dan-

gerous weapon (a gun), robbed Virtual Complainant (VC) Linden Roberts of three gold chains valued $360,000.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne strongly objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the crime, as well as the penalty attached to such a felony.

She added that the teen had admitted to Police upon his arrest, his involvement in the commission of the crime.

Bail was refused.

The matter will continue on April 19.

news

11

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Digital library, local branch discussed during GTT, Bartica officials’ meeting …as firm commits to improving Internet service

We still need to be thankful

W

e are certainly in the midst of some difficult times with the unstable economy, leadership at odds with the constituents, living standards falling and crime increasing.

All of these things are making for a rather disgruntled and sombre society with an outlook that is casting a dark cloud over the future of the country and our children. We know these things to be true, Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal because we are living with this daily, but when we take a closer look at what we still have going for us and the possibilities that are within our reach, there is hope. When we take a closer look around the world and even at our South American neighbours, we have to recognise that we still have so much to be thankful for.

Venezuela is going through its toughest time in history.

The hospitals are in a sorry state of repair and the healthcare system is crumbling. Where we claim shortages in drugs and are able to then place a late order and receive vital medication, men, women and children are suffering and dying next door as a result of inadequate governance leading to empty dispensaries.

High teenage pregnancy rates and high infant mortality are uncontrollable in Venezuela. Children are dying due to malnutrition. Food shortages mean that food is now being transported under armed guard, and basic necessities are being rationed. People have to queue for hours and sometimes overnight on days they are assigned to receive staples like rice and cooking oil, and still leave emptyhanded, so they do not eat for days. Even when people have money to purchase food, the supermarket shelves are empty.

French Guiana is also drastically struggling and is plagued by general strikes that are crippling the country.

Thirty-seven unions believe they have no other avenue to address the situation they face. They too are experiencing severe hardships, high unemployment and crime rates, low standards of living and poor governance. Nearly 30 per cent of the population does not have access to either drinkable water or to electricity.

Our southern neighbours Brazil are no exception to these difficulties. From a country previously boasting inclusion in the world’s top 10 GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and the largest economy in Latin America, the state Government now does not have enough money to keep Police vehicles on the roads. Police stations are running out of paper, hospitals are in precarious situations, State universities are on strike pending funds from previous academic years and 500,000 public servants are insecure of payment. Unemployment is increasing, thousands of businesses remain shuttered, and social and economic inequalities have become more pronounced. The recession is hitting hard.

While we lament the falling value of the Guyanese dollar against the US’s, Venezuelans have reputedly taken to using their country’s currency as napkins. While we protest about parking meters (and rightly so, I hasten to add), Venezuelans protest about food. While we fight for a fair deal on private education (again, with good reason), thousands of schoolage children starve. While we feel the strain of VAT on water and electricity, thousands have neither clean water nor light.

Now, while we have every right to protest, to demand fair treatment and to expect a decent standard of living, and while I hope as citizens we all continue to support each other and find ways to secure these things for ourselves, our families and our communities, it is also important to put into perspective what is happening around us. In order for us to be thankful and to be more than a conflicting, aggressive, pessimistic society that is highlighting only the negatives to our children, we need to be appreciative of the things we do have.

If we are not careful, we will find ourselves missing opportunities because we are too busy feeling sorry for ourselves and cultivating an argumentative and ungrateful community in which to raise our children. We may find ourselves unable to benefit from the good because we are too busy focusing on the bad.

Without dropping the gauntlet in our endeavours for proper and fair governance, without sitting back and allowing ourselves to be bullied or manipulated, we still need to find a way to celebrate what we do have in this beautiful land. It is so easy to get caught up in a negative spiral and be consumed with cynicism that we can forget to appreciate the fundamental things we are blessed with.

Times are hard and they may indeed get harder, but we still have so much to be thankful for.

A

fter several complaints about poor Internet and landline services from the country’s main local provider, residents of Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) can soon expect some relief after their elected officials made a breakthrough in finally engaging a senior team from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT).

Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshal, Deputy Mayor Kamal Persaud and other officials met with a GTT delegation, led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd on Friday at the Bartica Town Hall, to discuss a number of issues which have been affecting the emerging town.

The establishment of a local office, a digital library and improving the speed of the presently unsatisfactory Internet service were among some of the pertinent issues discussed.

A commitment was made to locals to finally establish the first GTT branch in Bartica, to provide customer care services.

Residents have been complaining time and again over the absence of a local office which they can

From left: GTT Public Relations Officer Allison Park; Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall, GTT CEO Justin Nedd, Deputy Mayor Kamal Persaud and GTT Chief Commercial Officer Carlos De Mendoza

visit to address the constant problems they face when it comes to the services being provided by GTT. GTT also committed to exploring the idea of establishing a digital library in order to promote advances in the education sector.

The GTT CEO told Guyana Times that the company needs to understand the scope of the concept before making a definitive commitment to develop such a facility.

Regarding improvements to the overall ser-

vice, Bartica will also soon benefit from same technology which was recently rolled out in Essequibo to provide high-speed Internet.

GTT has been waiting one year and counting for Government to approve their towers, which would pave the way for the firm to introduce faster Internet to Bartica.

Bartica’s Deputy Mayor has been very vocal about the plight of residents when using the Internet service, in some cases having to endure 10-15 min-

utes of agony waiting for a webpage to load.

She explained that the state of the Internet service in Bartica is detrimental to the development of town in all sectors, including education and commerce.

“When you mention GTT in Bartica, you never get a good response because persons are almost always dissatisfied with the service,” she told Guyana Times.

The Bartica Town Council is grateful for the support shown by GTT and their commitment to enhancing their services.

Region 2 businesses complain over slow sales … vendors call for market opportunities

W

holesale and retail businesses, as well as cash crop farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), are complaining bitterly over the slothfulness of the economy within the region.

Many businessmen and companies operating within the confine of the region related that sales have decreased significantly and customer spending power has lessened.

Guyana Times spoke with several vendors at the Anna Regina market and many of them related that things were “dull” and day by day businesses were becoming unprofitable. One vendor, Sattie Narine, said that for the entire day she sold $1500 and complained that people are not buying much.

Narine said that consumers are complaining about the heavy taxation that they have to pay and the lack of spending power, “people really not buying much, they come they ask price for things but they are not buying. What I find is that people are only buying what they need to eat, they not af-

Vendor Sattie Narine sitting as she waits for sales

fording to wear fancy things, the economy is bad.”

Another vendor, Savita Persaud, attributed the slow sales to the low prices for paddy. She said she operate a stall in Charity and Anna Regina and has never experienced such a “tuff” economy.

She said those vendors with perishable goods are the ones suffering the most.

“Money not circulating the way it used too, people just walking and watching, we vendors have to sit down and watch on, at the end we have to pay our stall rents, this is cause rice industry

not doing well and when that happens Essequibo down, cause rice is the backbone,” Persaud related.

Vendor Denis Campbell, who ventures from the Charity area daily, also said that sales were slow. He said he is finding it hard but with optimism said he can’t give up.

Another vendor said many of the workers within the region, such as trench cleaners and labourers are owed monies, and as such, persons are not afforded the option to invest money.

He also said nothing is be-

ing done in the region to really boost economic activity; lamenting that instead there is a lot of racial politics since the A Partnership for National Unity coalition Government came to power.

At Charity market, vendors complained bitterly, saying “Business slow… we coming from all over.

Imagine I only sell $500 for today,” one vendor related.

Vegetable vendors also can be seen in the evening having table loads of produce still unsold.

“We are producing but the buyers not coming forward, even we drop our price no one buying, we have family to maintain, business grey, things slow,” another cash crop vendor related.

Many persons are concerned and worried over the sudden slow up in the economy.

On the other hand, rice farmers in the region have harvested their lands and most of them are disappointed with the current prices being offered by millers. Many rice farmers related that they suffered losses due to the low prices that were paid.

12 News

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

500 gun licences issued Street lights installed last year – Ramjattan in PM’s hometown

P

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has disclosed that over 500 gun licences were issued by the Firearm Licences Board during the course of last year.

The Minister told reporters on Wednesday that while he could not give the statistics as to the number of applications that were revoked, he disclosed that in terms of issuance of licences, “last year should be about five to 600 from the Firearm Licences Board.”

In August last year, Ramjattan had told reporters that he intends to conduct a yearly review on all licensed firearm holders to ensure that they are still compatible with the criteria for issuance.

He had explained that the personality of people often change as they get older and they might not be as sound in mind or body as they would have been at the time when they were evaluated before being issued with the firearm licence.

In this regard, the Minister had said he intends to conduct new evaluations and review of firearm licence holders when they turn-up to renew their licences every year.

“I intend to go back and do the checks every year because some of these people get old and they get depressed, who were very valid applicants years ago. So we have to do an ongoing process and if the ongoing process is going to realise a re-

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

vocation, I think it is good because after getting (the licences) you are not the same persons from age 25 to age 75,” he had said to told reporters.

The Minister’s position was in light of the fatal shooting of a miner, 25year old Colin Perreira, who drove his heavily tinted vehicle onto the bridge of a Tucville, Georgetown, residence with the intention of turning the vehicle around.

However, the owner of the property, Robert Benn, who was in his yard at the time reportedly thought the occupants of the car had come to commit a robbery and discharged several rounds from his licenced weapon. Perreira was shot three times to the chest and abdomen while his girlfriend who was also in the vehicle was shot twice but survived.

Ramjattan had stated that the Tucville shooting was a very sad situation.

“It’s an extremely sad

story; I would not believe that someone from what I’m being told, just sees a car turn into his driveway and then he come down like a cowboy and start shooting… what is that? We got a lot of people that are not mentally sound in this place and they carry arms,” the Minister remarked.

However, another area that the Public Security Minister had explained that needs reviewing is the issuance of gun licences to private security firms.

“At the time when they (firms) might have applied for the licence, they might have had a good set of guys who may do the work for the firm but during the course of the years, those guys fall off. Some go America, some die, some migrate and then we get some people who we did not make checks on and because the company got the licences, we don’t know of some of these characters,” Ramjattan outlined.

S

Contractors installing street lights in Whim, Corentyne

treet lights have been installed in the village of Whim in Corentyne, Berbice. Since its establishment many decades ago, the village has been without street lights.

During a recent visit to his home village, Prime Minister (PM) Moses Nagamootoo decided that something must be done about the absence of street lights in the village.

According to a GINA report, the Prime Minister’s Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

representative, Gobin Harbhajan, said the PM subsequently collaborated with the relevant authorities and “street lights are finally being installed in the community.”

He said the Prime Minister also collaborated with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to clean and clear some drains which were clogged in the community.

Several roads in the community were also filled with crusher run and similar

works will be carried out in other nearby communities.

A total of 77 highway lights will be installed on the Number 19 Public Road between Number 50 to 55 Villages, Corentyne. This is the first time that some of these communities will be getting street lights Budget 2017 provides $607.1 million for the continuation of road safety measures including the installation of streetlights in several communities.

Credit unions could provide low-interest mortgages

T

Guyana Defence Force ranks at Base Camp Ayanganna at the CH&PA meeting on Wednesday

he Guyana Cooperative Credit Union League (GCCUL) plans to join with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to facilitate low interest mortgages to its members for the purchasing of the housing units.

This was revealed on Wednesday when the Communities Ministry and CH&PA officials met with the ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Base Camp Ayanganna in Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

Speaking to the ranks, Minister within the Communities Ministry with responsibility for housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson, said the matter of low interest loans was discussed at the meeting with the Credit Union League.

She explained that coming out of that meeting the previous day, the League

agreed to put forward for approval at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), a proposal that its membership body provide loans to finance the cost of homes for its respective members.

“Rather than you having to go to the bank and pay how much percentage interest; your credit union will pay us for the apartment and you pay them one per cent interest,” the minister said, explaining to the ranks how the proposed plan will work.

She urged those ranks that are currently not members of any union to “get on board a credit union,” to be able to benefit from the partnership. Those ranks already a part of credit unions were also urged to get their unions to support the initiative.

The Guyana Cooperative Credit Union League is the umbrella body for over

24 credit unions across Guyana, including the Clerical and Commercial Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited, the Guyana Police Force Cooperative Credit Union Limited and the Guyana Defence Force Cooperative Credit Union Limited.

The League has a membership of 26,589, and a total asset of $21,614,480. The League AGM is set for May 2016.

Government has launched a new housing project for the construction of 265 duplexes and 38 townhouses and should benefit 758 families in 2017.

This will be done in 10 areas in six regions.

The duplexes are of three different designs and to be built of concrete and wood.

The Government’s engineer estimate of place the cost of these units is between $5 to $7 million.

News

13

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Granger assures Russia of Caricom’s Health fair, concert to raise solidarity in wake of deadly bombing awareness of mental depression

C

aricom Chairman, President David Granger has condemned the bombing of the train in St Petersburg, Russia.

In a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Chairman, in decrying this “latest terrorist assault on innocent citizens”, said the “unremitting slaughter of innocent people regardless of the objective can never be justified”.

President Granger, in similar vein to sentiments expressed last month in a letter to British Prime Minister Theresa May following the terrorist incident in London, aligned the Caribbean Community “with all efforts aimed at the eradication of the scourge of terrorism”.

In extending condolences to the relatives of the deceased and the Government

T

Chairman of Caricom, President David Granger

President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin

and People of Russia, the Chairman assured President Putin of the solidarity of the people of the Caribbean Community “at this moment of national shock and grief”.

In his letter to Prime Minister May, the Chairman had condemned the act of “vicious violence against innocent people

in London” and declared the Community’s support of the United Kingdom “in the face of this appalling incident and in its efforts to combat all manifestations of terror”. On behalf of the Community, President Granger also expressed sympathy to the relatives of the victims of the London attack.

he Public Health Ministry will be launching a campaign to raise awareness of how mental depression affects persons and families.

This is part of the efforts to address the high rate of suicide and attempted suicide in Guyana.

Senior Psychologist of the Ministry’s Mental Health Unit, Balogun Osunbiyi, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that a health fair and concert would be hosted by the Ministry to educate persons on how to identify depression.

“This is just one of those other occasions where we are bringing service to the communities rather than waiting on the community to come to us seeking services. So, we have decided

West Ruimveldt single mother charged for ammo, narco possession

L

orraine Springer, a 55-year-old single mother of two, who was busted with three rounds of 3.38 ammunition and three grams of marijuana during a Police raid conducted in her West Ruimveldt, Georgetown home, was on Wednesday morning charged with the offences and brought before City Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

According to the prosecution’s case, Police ranks entered the accused’s prem-

ises and discovered the illegal items in the said dwelling house, leading to her arrest.

Springer’s attorney related that her client was in Police custody for over 72 hours (since last Thursday), drawing immediate attention to the woman’s dishevelled state. She continued that the ranks in “rogue style behaviour” removed personal items from the woman’s home, inclusive of her son’s passport, stove and gas bot-

tle among other items.

She described the ordeal as a “sad situation”, requesting that Springer’s belongings be returned to her.

The court also heard that the suspected illicit drug was yet to be tested.

Bail was set at $25,000 for the narcotics possession charge but was refused for the latter charge of illegal ammunition possession. The Magistrate declared that bail is not usually granted for charges of this nature,

leaving many to question her decision on March 22, 2017, when she granted to Chavell Akra $150,000 bail for each count of ammunition and firearm possession, when her Attorney argued “no knowledge” of the charge.

Senior Psychologist and Coordinator of World Health Day activities 2017, Balogun O Osunbiyi

to have the health fair … in south Georgetown; it’s going to be held on the …

National Cultural Centre tarmac,” Osunbiyi said.

The anti-depression campaign is specially designed to encourage communication, which will lessen the instances of persons committing suicide.

Heavy focus will be placed on awareness during the launch on Friday.

Depression is different from normal sadness; it engulfs day-to-day life and its activities, interfering with the ability to work,

eat, study, sleep and enjoy life. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness are intense with little or no relief.

New estimates have been released in the leadup to World Health Day, which will be observed on April 7 under the theme, “Depression: let’s talk”. The estimates point out that more than 300 million people are now living with depression, an increase of more than 18 per cent between 2005 and 2015.

The fair will offer general free medical services to the public, while the theme ‘”Depression, Let’s talk!” will take centre stage during the concert. It will feature special guest appearances by popular local comedians, dance companies and other young, local talent.

For more information on depression and other mental health-related issues, contact the Mental Health Unit on 226–1402, 226-1405 or 226-1407. The Unit is housed temporarily at the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) building, 252 Quamina Street, South Cummingsburg.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

thursdAY, april 6, 2017

Regional

Venezuela’s Opposition censures Judges; 18 held after protests V

e n e z u e l a ’ s Opposition lawmakers, some carrying injuries from this week’s protests, on Wednesday sought the dismissal of Supreme Court Judges whom they accuse of propping up a socialist dictatorship.

Newly-militant Opposition Leaders also announced another round of demonstrations against President Nicolás Maduro for Thursday, despite chaos and violence in Caracas on Tuesday that left 20 injured and 18 arrested.

The Opposition, which won control of the National Assembly in late 2015, accuses Maduro of wrecking the South American nation’s economy and squashing democracy.

Maduro says his foes are seeking a coup with the help of Washington and compliant foreign media.

The Opposition’s main demand now is to bring forward the next presidential election scheduled for the end of 2018.

But there is no sign au-

Deputies of the National Assembly vote during a session in Caracas, Venezuela on April 5, 2017

thorities will concede, analysts and diplomats say, unless foreign pressure ramps up considerably or Venezuela’s powerful military sways the equation.

The political drama is playing out against the backdrop of a deep economic crisis, with Venezuelans suffering a fourth year

of recession, widespread shortages of basic foods and medicines, the world’s worst inflation, and long lines at supermarkets.

Having been impeded from reaching the National Assembly on Tuesday, lawmakers headed to the building in downtown Caracas from dawn on Wednesday,

some still nursing head wounds or bandaged arms from clashes in recent days.

“We are going to keep fighting for change, opposing repression and dictatorship,” lawmaker Juan Requesens, who had a gash on his head, said at 06:30h while en route to the session. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US-Mexico border crossings at 17-year low T

he number of people arrested crossing the Mexico border into the United States has fallen to the lowest level in 17 years.

There were fewer than 17,000 arrests of undocumented migrants in March, the least since 2000, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told

Congress the decline was “no accident”, crediting President Donald Trump.

The deadline for contractors to submit a design proposal for Trump’s planned border wall was on Tuesday.

Kelly, a retired Marine General, is testifying about the figures to the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

“We’ve seen an absolute-

ly amazing drop in the number of migrants coming out of Central America that are taking that terribly dangerous route from Central America to the United States,” he told the panel.

“March marks the fifth straight month of decline and is estimated to be approximately 71 per cent lower than the December 2016 total – 58, 478,” Kelly said.

Colombia opens investigation into deadly Mocoa landslide

T

he Colombian authorities have ordered an investigation into a deadly landslide that swept through the south-western town of Mocoa.

The inquiry will focus on whether building regulations were enforced and whether officials had planned adequately for natural disasters.

At least 290 people are now known to have died in Saturday’s disaster and more than 300 are still missing.

About 2700 residents are living in shelters.

Some areas remain without water and electricity, and Police reinforcements have been sent in to deter looters.

“This is not about punishment; it’s about prevention,” said national comptroller Edgardo Maya, who ordered the inquiry.

“What good does it do to punish people now, after (so many) deaths?”

A separate investigation is focusing on the Regional Governor, the town’s Mayor and their predecessors, Colombian media reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, rescue teams continue the grim search for victims buried under piles of debris.

The landslide followed a night of heavy rain which caused the Mocoa River and three tributaries to burst their banks.

The flood sent a torrent of mud and rocks pouring into the town, sweeping away entire neighbourhoods.

The Government has faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough – a claim disputed by President Juan Manuel Santos.

He said new systems had been put in place following deadly floods in 2010 and that rescue agencies were coordinating their efforts just hours after the disaster. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Chilean nun sues Catholic Church for damages after rape

“But while this recent decline in illegal migration is good news, we must ensure that the security of our southern border remains a priority to protect the nation from terrorists and other criminals.”

In February, 23,589 immigrants were apprehended at the border, according to data

by US Customs and Border Protection.(Excerpt from BBC News)

Former Government should have been arrested, says Dominica PM A

Chileans have been demonstrating against high levels of violence against women in the country

I

n an attempt to clarify some of the challenges his Administration faced when they entered office, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has indicated that the preceding Government mismanaged the affairs of the country.

Skerrit made specific reference on Sunday to the salary deductions of public servants that were not paid to the Dominica Social Security (DSS).

“We are no fools in this government. We have been managing the affairs of the country in a very prudent manner. Because when we came into office… we inherited a very serious state of affairs,” he explained.

“The Government was collecting or deducting mon-

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (left) and Housing Minister Reginald Austrie

ies from our salaries as public servants. And the law says they shall remit to the DSS. The truth be told, the Government, the Cabinet then should have been arrested for breaking the law.

The law says that if you deduct from somebody’s salary, you must, you shall remit to the DSS.” The Prime Minister went on to explain that it was through the efforts of

his Administration that the DSS still existed today.

“And when we got into office in 2000, the government of Dominica, between 1995 and 2000, had run up a debt to the DSS of $25 million and we had to repay this. And had it not been for this Government coming to office, many of you who are now benefiting from the sustainable manner of the DSS would not have been able to get your benefits from DSS because they would have gone bankrupt had the United Workers Party stayed in office,” he continued.

Skerrit stressed that the government has been prudent in its practices and that benefits every Dominican in one way or another. (Excerpt from CBN4)

nun in Chile is suing the religious order she belonged to after its members pressured her to leave her convent over her pregnancy.

The nun became pregnant after she was raped by a man carrying out repairs at the convent.

She alleges that when her fellow sisters found out about her pregnancy, they pressured her to leave the convent and the Church.

Her lawyer says the sisters blamed her for having been raped.

She is suing the Archbishopric of Santiago and the Order of St Clare.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, the Right Reverend Jorge Concha said that the nun had left the convent “voluntarily” and the Archbishopric had only found out about the rape and subsequent

events on March 27. “[I got] zero support, they told me I was to blame, that I did it on purpose,” the nun told Chilean TV. “I told them I was innocent, but my fellow sisters were very cruel to me.”

She alleges that they pressured her to leave the convent and the Church.

“They wanted me to hand over my habit, but I wasn’t going to do that,” she said.

While she did eventually leave the convent, she says she refused to sign any papers saying she would leave the Church.

She says she sought shelter with a friend and after giving birth, put her child up for adoption.

In 2015, her rapist was found guilty and sentenced to five years in jail.(Excerpt from BBC News)

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

US warns of unilateral Syria Russia: Bomb suspect rented apartment in St Petersburg moves if UN fails to act month before attack

T

he United States has warned it could take unilateral action if the United Nations fails to respond to a suspected chemical attack in Syria that killed more than 70 people, including many children.

“When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action,” US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said on Wednesday.

The warning came during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called

by France and Britain after an early morning attack on Tuesday on a rebel-held town in Idlib province.

Haley lashed out at Russia for failing to rein in its ally Syria, standing in the Council chamber to hold up photographs of victims –one showing a young child lying lifeless, a mask covering his face.

“How many more children have to die before

T

A civil defence member breathes through an oxygen mask, after what rescue workers described as a suspected gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in rebel-held Idlib, Syria on April 4, 2017 [Reuters]

Russia cares?” she asked.

“If Russia has the influence in Syria that it claims to have, we need to see them use it,” she said. “We need to see them put an end to these horrific acts.”

At least 72 people, among them 20 children, were killed in the raid on Khan Sheikhun, and dozens more were left gasping for air, convulsing, and foaming at the mouth, doctors said.

It is thought to be the worst chemical weapons attack in Syria since 2013, when sarin gas was used on a rebel-held area of Damascus.

“If we are not prepared to act, then this Council will keep meeting, month after month to express outrage at the continuing use of chemical weapons and it will not end,” Haley said. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Suu Kyi denies ethnic cleansing of Myanmar Muslim minority

A

ung San Suu Kyi has denied there is ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority in Myanmar – despite widespread reports of abuses.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the Nobel peace prize winner acknowledged problems in Rakhine state, where the Rohingya people live.

But she said ethnic cleansing was “too strong” a term to use.

Instead, Myanmar’s de-facto leader said the country would welcome any returning Rohingya

with open arms.

“I don’t think there is ethnic cleansing going on.

I think ethnic cleansing is too strong an expression to use for what is happening,” she told the BBC’s special correspondent Fergal Keane.

Suu Kyi added: “I think there is a lot of hostility there – it is Muslims killing Muslims as well, if they think they are cooperating with the authorities.

“It is not just a matter of ethnic cleansing as you put it – it is a matter of people on different sides of

the divide, and this divide we are trying to close up.”

For many, Suu Kyi’s perceived silence on the issue has damaged the reputation she earned as a beacon for human rights, thanks to her decades-long battle against the military junta in Myanmar.

Suu Kyi has come under increasing pressure internationally since the Government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, began conducting counter-insurgency operations in Rakhine state. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

he main suspect in a suicide bombing on the St Petersburg metro that killed 14 people had rented an apartment in the city a month before the blast, neighbours and a building maintenance worker told Reuters on Wednesday.

A day after Monday’s attack, security officials raided the apartment and ordered other residents to leave -- a precaution often undertaken when Police believe there may be explosives or bomb-making equipment inside.

A witness who was present during the search, and who did not want to be

identified, told Reuters she saw belongings packed into black bags and cardboard boxes, and household containers with an unidentified powder inside.

The Investigative Committee, the state body leading the investigation, said footage from security cameras near the same building showed the suspect, Akbarzhon Jalilov, leaving home carrying a bag and a rucksack. It did not specify if that was on the day of the attack.

Jalilov was born in 1995 in Kyrgyzstan, a mainly Muslim ex-Soviet republic in central Asia, and held a Russian passport.

If it is proven that he was motivated by militant Islamist ideology, that will test Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policy of military intervention in Syria.

Some Russians may decide their country’s intervention is making them a target for reprisal attacks

by Islamists instead of making them safer.

Jalilov moving into the rented apartment, in a Soviet-built nine-storey building in north-eastern St Petersburg, coincided with his return from a visit to his home city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan. (Excerpt from Reuters)

India man held after postcard divorce

A

n Indian man was arrested for harassment and cheating after divorcing his second wife via postcard.

Mohammed Haneef sent the card just a week after their wedding. It said “talaq” (divorce) three times, enough to enact divorce for an Indian Muslim.

His wife complained to Hyderabad Police who found the marriage invalid as she had not declared an earlier divorce.

Haneef, 38, was bailed but, acting on legal advice, Police say they will now charge him with rape.

“Our investigation showed that the marriage procedure was not correct because he did not have the right papers,” V Satyanarayana, deputy commissioner of police, told the BBC. “We are cancelling the

Activists say thousands of Muslim women have been divorced by their husbands by triple talaq

bail given to Haneef first and we will arrest him for rape as per our legal advice,” he added.

Haneef is still married to his first wife, and reportedly married again with her consent. Under Islamic law a man is allowed to have up to four wives.

The practice of triple ta-

laq, which allows Muslim men to divorce their wives in an instant, is facing fierce opposition in India.

Women’s groups have been campaigning against the practice and India’s top court is in the process of deciding whether it is unconstitutional. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Taiwan announces submarine building ahead of Trump-Xi summit Dozens of Eritrean and

T

aiwan has announced plans for eight new submarines, a senior Taiwanese navy official confirmed on Wednesday.

The new vessels will be Taiwanese-made, unlike its current fleet of four, which were bought from overseas

decades ago.

The announcement comes the day before Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump meet in Florida.

Taiwan has never built its own submarines before. The new diesel-powered additions

Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen, toured the island’s current fleet of submarines last month

will go towards upgrading its ageing foreign fleet.

“In our indigenous submarine project, we hope to be able to make eight submarines,” said Lee Tsung-hsiao, navy chief of staff, after a report on the project was presented at a legislative hearing.

Last month, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed a need for upgrading defences while on a tour of part of the fleet.“Strengthening underwater combat capabilities is most needed for Taiwan’s defence,” she said.

China regards democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, and has never renounced the threat of taking it back by force.Taiwan’s Defence Minister has accused China of having more than 1000 missiles pointed at the island.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Nigerian former Islamic State captives freed in Libya

L

ibyan authorities released on Wednesday 28 Eritreans and seven Nigerians who were captured and enslaved by Islamic State in Sirte and had been held in detention since the jihadist group lost the city in December.

The group, all but two of whom are women and children, escaped from Sirte, a former Islamic State stronghold in central Libya, while forces from the nearby city of Misrata battled to oust the militants late last year.

Some of the women were on their way to Europe when Islamic State fighters kid-

napped and held them as sex slaves.

After they escaped from Sirte, they were investigated for possible ties to the group and held for several months in a Misrata prison.

Reuters has documented how Islamic State used enslaved refugee women to reward its fighters in Libya.

In stories published last year, the women recounted how the group forced them to convert to Islam and sold them as sex slaves.

In November, a Reuters reporter visited some of the captives at a military post in Misrata. Their new cap-

tors, the women said then, starved and humiliated them. At least one woman, a 16-year-old, was pregnant and in need of urgent care.

The Libyan AttorneyGeneral’s office announced that it had cleared the women of any wrongdoing in mid-February, but their release was delayed for several more weeks, with no explanation.

On Wednesday, they were received by staff from the United Nations refugee agency and the Libyan Red Crescent, before being taken to a shelter for medical checks. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16

thursday, april 6, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Surujdai Ramraj of Amavani: “A smile can take you miles”

R

etailer Surujdai Ramraj, the proprietor of Amavani, is a testament to the power of perseverance and hard work. She has grown the multi-faceted business, whose motto is “Efficiency, Reliability.

Quality” from the ground up, retailing stationery and office supplies, as well as cellphones, gifts and other items, while providing document centre services.

“Since I was in my twenties, I had this wish of owning and running my own business,” she related. “Coming from a poor background, I could not have afforded to start as early as I wanted to. But then after working with a number of organisations, including Freedom House, the Cuban Embassy, Caribbean Resources Limited, Republic Bank and eventually the United Nations Development Programme, I had that golden opportunity to do something I had dreamt of for many years. I took the package that was offered to me and started very small on Brickdam (next to Starr Computers, in 2008), at that time I was working part time with two projects.

I subsequently moved from there to Lamaha Street. In the meanwhile, I was building up my clientele and little by little, the business started growing.

“A few years later, the owner of Liberty Office Products (which was situated at the corner of Sheriff and Garnett Streets, offered to sell me that business (clientele, goods and equipment), I took up that offer with the financial help and encouragement from my husband and also my two sons.

Today, I have two small stores – one at the corner of Sheriff and Garnett Streets and the other in Alexander Street, Kitty.”

Asked who her biggest influence was, Ramraj responded confidently: “Myself.

I may sound egoistic, but it is true. I have never really and

truly looked up to anyone to be influenced by them. Mind you, there are people who I admire and from who I may have learnt a lot” – including former Presidents Dr Cheddi Jagan and Bharrat Jagdeo.

The business owner says that along the way she has learnt “you cannot do it alone, you need a team to work with you with honesty and determination. I have learnt that you must trust people – (even though sometimes you get screwed). Appreciate those who work with you.

Show gratefulness. And it is not always about money: A

Business News

LIAT workers getting paid but no promises salaries won’t be late again

I

ndustrial action by employees of regional airline LIAT seems to have been averted – for now.

Chairman of the shareholder Governments, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday evening announced that the latest sore point – the issue of late pay – has been resolved, if only for the time being.

The shareholder Governments summoned an urgent meeting Tuesday following the flaring of

tensions over the weekend after salaries were late. But Gonsalves emerged from the meeting with staff, management, the unions and shareholders at the Hilton Barbados Resort to announce that given the tone of the of the meeting, he would “be very surprised if any form of industrial action was pursued by various unions representing the staff”.

“I think that instructions have gone to the bank for the payments, so depends on which bank you are in,

some persons would get paid tomorrow [Wednesday] or the next day,” he told the media.

However, trouble could still be lurking, with the Vincentian leader suggesting that there was no guarantee that the airline would not be late with salaries again soon.

“The management is not saying that they would be in a position on each occasion over the next three months to pay precisely on time; there may be a couple of days deferral,” Gonsalves said. (Caribbean360)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, April 4, 2016

Selling

USD

$1258.65

GBP

$257.01

$260.27

Gross

$246,186

CAN

$153.75

$155.53

$228,953

USD

$205.98

$208.44

Net

$ 219.85

$222.67

EURO

Indicators as on March 29, 2017 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$54.36

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$223.52/ton

London Sugar

$464.30/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+0.36 Change %

-0.02 -1.92 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1257.00

$1258.00

Low/High

$1243.20

$1259.70

Change

Business Concept – Short Selling

+1.60

+0.13%

Profiting from an anticipated drop in the price of a commodity, financial instrument, or security by (1) borrowing and selling it now, or by (2) selling a firm promise (futures contract) to deliver it on a later date at the current (or a specified) price. In either case, the seller counts on buying the item at a cheaper price to return (with a fee) or deliver it. A short seller is a ‘bear’. Also called selling short. (Business Dictionary)

smile can take you miles! Show kindness always!”

In more words of wisdom for budding entrepreneurs, she advised that tenacity, honesty and being people/ service-oriented were the most important qualities. “Look around first at the needs of the people in the area you plan to open your business.” Her focus on customers is such that her

definition of success is “happy and contented customers”.

Ramraj added that easy access to bank loans with a low interest rate, assistance from Government in terms of duty-free concessions, lower taxes, and more zero rated/ exempted items would help ensure entrepreneurs succeed, particularly when they are starting out.

The mother of four grown children says juggling family life and business can sometimes be very difficult, but with proper planning it was not impossible.

“Sometimes, my husband comes to the rescue at difficult times. I also have very honest and good staff, so when I have family responsibilities (which sometimes have to take priority over the business), I can depend on my staff to handle and manage the business.”

“My sister-in-law, my sister and my nephew were extremely valuable to me during those early days. My nephew, even though he is now a qualified dentist, would still come and assist me when I need his help,”

she later highlighted.

Ramraj, who was born and raised in Enterprise on the East Coast of Demerara, plans to extend the business and include her children so it becomes a family business. “My children have their own area of expertise, which we can put all together and go way beyond what I am doing at the moment.”

In the present business environment, she noted: “It has become very difficult as the type of business I have – photocopying, office and school supplies – is very competitive.

The bigger businesses are squeezing the smaller ones out.

And also the economic pressure on the people is telling on the daily sales you get.”

The Eccles, East Bank Demerara resident says Amavani is “small and surviving in the present circumstances, but we try to meet the needs of the people we serve”.

Contact: 6 Alexander Street, Kitty and 48 Sheriff and Garnett Streets (opposite Royal Castle); 223-5268; www.facebook.com/ Amavani

Time robbers and what to do about them

P

roblems getting everything done that you planned for the week.

Have you ever had this problem?

Time robbers are the people or the things that distract us from achieving what we set out to do.

These can be anything like customers dropping in for a chat, fixing mistakes made by your team, dealing with unimportant phone calls, etc… So, how can you deal with the time robbers in your life?

First you have to identify what the time robbers are in your life. You can’t change anything if you don’t know what the problem is.

Then you must develop strategies for dealing with the robbers of your time and commit to implementing these strategies so you can get back on track to achieving what you set out to do each week.

What to do now

1. Grab a blank sheet of paper and on the left hand

side list the top 10 time robbers in your life (this should only take three minutes).

2. Look back over your list and visualise what life will be like when these time robbers are out of your life.

3. Then on the right hand side of your list write down possible strategies for dealing with your time robbers.

4. Finally, commit to dealing with your time robbers straight away. This commitment is the key to really regaining control over your time. (Excerpt from ActionCoach)

Investors’ Guide

Wall Street falls as Fed minutes reverse earlier rally

W

all Street ended lower on Wednesday after a late-afternoon reversal following signals from the Federal Reserve that it could change its bond investment policy this year, quenching a rally sparked by a strong Private Sector jobs report.

Also investor concerns about the Trump Administration’s ability to deliver promised tax cuts were intensified by comments from lawmakers on deep divisions in Washington.

Most Federal Reserve policymakers think the US central bank should take steps to begin trimming its US$4.5 trillion balance sheet this year as long as the economic data holds up, Fed meeting minutes showed.

The minutes also showed “some participants viewed equity prices as quite high relative to standard valuation measures”.

“Either it scared participants because of talk that sounds like maybe (the stock market) is bubbling, or there

is some thought that the normalisation of the balance sheet is going to harm growth ... or we are going to get more (rate) hikes” than already expected, said Janna Sampson, co-chief investment officer at OakBrook Investments LLC in Lisle, Illinois.

In a heavy volume trading day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended down 41.09 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 20,648.15, the S&P 500 lost 7.21 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 2352.95 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 34.13 points, or 0.58 per cent, to 5,864.48.

The Dow posted its largest intra-day downside reversal in 14 months in Wednesday’s session after shedding a gain of more than 198 points to end near the session low, which was a drop of nearly 50 points.

After the recent failure of the Republicans’ healthcare legislation reform bill, some investors had hoped this would bring President Donald Trump’s tax-cutting promise closer to reality.

But US House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Wednesday that tax reform will take longer to accomplish than healthcare.

“It seems like it was a combination of hawkish Fed minutes, disappointment about the pace of tax reform and a pullback in crude prices” that reversed the rally, according to Randy Frederick, vice president of trading and derivatives for Charles Schwab in Austin, Texas.

“From my perspective, this is probably an unjustified emotional dip driven by several mixed signals.”

Nine of the S&P’s 11 major sectors finished lower, with financials leading the sell-off. Utilities and Real Estate, the so-called defensive sectors, were the only two that ended higher.

Earlier in the day the S&P had risen as much as 0.8 per cent and the Nasdaq hit a record high after private sector jobs data blew past expectations. (Reuters)

news

17

thursDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP Councillors storm out of ActionCoach Guyana Port Mourant NDC meeting launches new brand

S

ix Councillors on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) side of the Port Mourant/Johns Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) stormed out a statutory meeting in protest over what they call “disrespectful behaviour” of the Chairman towards Councillors.

The meeting was supposed to discuss concerns and issues affecting the villages which make up the NDC. However, when the minutes were being corrected, one Councillor tried to correct the minutes to read that Chairman Imran Ally, lied when he said that he did not give permission for a businessman to take about 50 truckloads of sand from Babu Jaan, unknown to the NDC. In a recording of Wednesday’s Council meeting obtained by Guyana Times, the Chairman was heard admitting to giving permission to a businessman to take sand from Babu Jaan. It was also revealed that the operator who filed the sand onto canter trucks told Regional Chairman David Armogan,

that he loaded about 50 canter loads.

A heated argument subsequently ensued and six of the PPP Councillors walked out, leaving the remaining six Councillors and the Chairman to continue the meeting.

Following the walkout, a decision was taken by the remaining members of the Council to remove those who were not present from serving on the Market Committee.

Meanwhile, this publication previously reported that Councillors accused the Chairman of trying to muzzle them. However, the NDC Chairman told Councillors that if he was trying to muzzle them, then the newspaper could not have reported on some of the issues in the NDC. The Chairman also claimed that this publication was incorrect when it reported that the NDC collected in excess of $8 million in land tax over the past year and had only implemented a drainage tube in the community.

Following the article, the NDC has announced that development work will re-

commence with street repairs.

Regional Chairman David Armogan in an invited comment said it is not that party’s policy to prevent Councillors from speaking to the media. In fact, he noted that the Party encouraged interaction between Councillors and the media since those Councillors are from different constituencies and should represent issues affecting their constituents.

Meanwhile, following a recent protest against the NDC and its overseer, the NDC Chairman called for in investigation to an allegation that one employer was part of the protest. The worker has since approached the media to release footage of the protest to the NDC to clear her name.

According to some Councillors, the Chairman has also claimed that the PPP is investigating those Councillors who supported the protest. However, Armogan said he was unaware of that, noting that the issue is expected to take centre stage when the RDC meets today.

A

ctionCoach Guyana on Wednesday launched its new brand called ProfitCLUB group coaching network programme, which will see businesses in Guyana benefiting from coaching which will enable their business to thrive.

The brand, introduced

by Guyana’s ActionCoach, Vishnu Doerga is a programme where a group of like-minded business owners can meet every two weeks, for one or even half of an hour, in a structured environment to learn and discuss new business tips, strategies and ideas.

The aim of ProfitCLUB is to provide a place where business owners can interact with each other to build better strategic alliances which will enable them to meet the rising economy.

Speaking at the programme launch, Doerga who acquired the ActionCoach franchise in November 2014 and on May 20, 2015, officially launched the franchise here in Guyana en-

Business Coach Vishnu Doerga along with GCCI’s Executive Director, Kirk Hollingsworth

couraged businesses to join with their local Private Sector organisations.

According to Doerga, the rate of failed businesses in Guyana is at the 80 per cent range which he blamed on the lack of business education. As such, the Coach further encouraged business owners to educate themselves at the ProfitCLUB which will in turn benefit their businesses. The Georgetown Chamber and

Gaskin commits to examining challenges for marginalised groups starting businesses

T

he Guyana Equality Forum (GEF) has welcomed the Government’s commitment to examine the challenges faced by marginalised groups when it comes to starting small businesses in Guyana.

The GEF met with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin on March 29 to discuss some of the collective challenges their constituents face in realising the right to work, both in relation to entrepreneurship and seeking meaningful employment.

The GEF delegation comprised Sabine McIntosh of the Deaf Association of Guyana (DAG); Danuta Radzik of Help and Shelter (H&S); along with Joel Simpson and Schemel Patrick of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

McIntosh explained to the Minister the plight of persons with hearing disabilities in seeking employment despite being fully capable and extensively trained.

The Deaf Mission, in partnership with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), provided opportunities for deaf persons to benefit from skills-training initiatives and to date a number of deaf youth have been trained in sewing, cosmetology, auto-body work, among other areas.

“The challenges that the group faces are in fortifying employment and in

accessing capital for their own employment ventures,” the representative explained.

McIntosh emphasised the need for youth-friendly systems to be adopted which ensure that young persons were able to successfully access capital to create their own businesses.

With regard to employment, she called for more organisations and Private Sector companies to employ more deaf persons.

McIntosh also urged Minister Gaskin to work on making start-up capital for young persons with disabilities more available and accessible for them to develop micro-enterprises, either through the Small Business Bureau or other State-supported programmes which fall within his portfolio.

Radzik, in her presentation to the Minister, noted Help and Shelter’s work with abused women and their commitment to ensuring that these women become economically independent, and pointed out that one of the challenges faced by the organisation’s clients was the difficulties in accessing capital to initiate micro-enterprises.

She also noted the need for training programmes that would equip these women with the skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs.

Simpson, for his part, noted incidents of discrimination faced by lesbian,

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) workers also occur frequently in the Private Sector. He stressed that with the absence of

specific prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997, LGBT persons in Guyana are left unprotected and made susceptible to discrimination in the workplace, with essentially no consequences under the law. Simpson requested Minister Gaskin’s commitment to support an amendment to the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997 to include “sexual orientation and gender identity” as grounds for discrimination.

GEF said the Minister’s responses were favourable as he accepted that more needed to be done as it related to ensuring the ease

of access to funds for marginalised groups.

“He underscored the importance of ensuring that employment opportunities are available for these groups,” GEF said.

The organisation said the Minister categorically stated that he did not support discrimination against any group and noted that he would appreciate seeing a draft of the amendment that SASOD and the GEF are proposing.

GEF said Minister Gaskin urged the organisation to follow up with him to ensure their concerns are addressed and that they are connected to the State agencies mandated to assist them in achieving mutual goals.

Commerce Industry (GCCI) was the first organisation to benefit from such training.

The organisations Executive Director of the Chamber, Kirk Hollingsworth said many small businesses needs to be prepared to meet the economy as Guyana in the next few years will be an oil and gas economy. “There is going to be tremendous transformation here in Guyana and we can expect to see significant increases in our GDP in the next 10 years or so and that is going to transform this country economically as well as socially. So as businesses, looking to participate in such a rising economy, we will have to raise our game,” Hollingsworth said.

He added that now it is vital for businesses to participate in some of the activities being promted by the ActionCoach’s ProfitCLUB. One on one coaching is will also be offered where person who are ready to move at a much higher pace will get the needed support to grown even faster.

ActionCOACH is the world’s number one business coaching and executive coaching firm, with more than 1000 offices in more than 70 countries, coaching more than 35,000 businesses every week.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, April 6, 2017

ARCHIE

Taking business trips, giving interviews and learn(March 21- ing skills will help you set a April 19) course for success. If you honor a promise, you will gain an ally.

ARIES

Don’t take someone’s chalTAURUS lenge of you the wrong way.

(April 20- Size up the situation before May 20) you commit to any competitive act that could lead to an injury. Stand up for yourself in a safe and thoughtful way.

dilbert

Consider making a change GEMINI to your current living ar(May 21rangements or the environJune 20) ment you work in. An opportunity will arise, but before you accept, make sure you can afford the underlying cost.

Be cautious if someone from your past contacts you.

(June 21- Ulterior motives are present, July 22) regardless of the compliments and kindness offered you.

Don’t offer to pay for others or make a donation.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t let your personal life LEO interfere with your job. If you (July 23have taken on too much, you Aug. 22) must step up and work hard to get things done on time.

Calvin and Hobbes

A change in your personal VIRGO finances is apparent. Be care(Aug. 23Sept. 22) ful how you deal with tax matters and people trying to take advantage of you. Focus on personal gains.

You’ll attract interesting LIBRA people.

Be careful what you (Sept. 23get drawn into. Change can Oct. 23) be good, but not if you can’t afford it. Temptation will drag you down.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

The choices you have will SCORPIO excite you, but will probably (Oct. 24leave friends or loved ones Nov. 22) worried about the outcome.

Reassurance will help you gain support instead of negativity.

If you change your lifeSAGITTARIUS style, it will give you the free(Nov. 23- dom you need to follow your Dec. 21) heart and dreams. Don’t give in to someone trying to control your life.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Home is your sanctuary, CAPRICORN and whether you make a res(Dec. 22idential move or alter your Jan. 19) current living situation, you stand to prosper. Listen to your heart and put your energy into home improvements.

Paying down personal bills AQUARIUS will get you back on track.

(Jan. 20Money will come from an unFeb. 19) expected source, but you will end up being responsible for the paperwork involved.

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

It will be difficult to keep PISCES (Feb. 20- up with all the changes going March 20) on around you. Take a step back and remember what’s important. Emotional arguments can be expected.

thursDAY, aPRIL 6, 2017

19

GFSCA/Digicel Triple Treat 2017

Jamaica’s 12-year-old Semi-finalists confirmed sprinter’s star already rising — all roads lead to Anna Regina for grand hurrah

The action will leave the Perseverance beach after three weeks of intense battles

T

he quarter finals of the annual Digicel Triple Treat cricket competition that were played last Sunday at the Perseverance beach, Essequibo Coast were full of excitement, memories and heartbreaks.

After four matches, four teams are standing and they will now head to the Anna Regina Community Centre ground for the semi-finals and final on April 22.

First to advance to the final-four stage were Richmond Warriors who drew the bye since seven teams were left standing after two rounds of action on the beautiful beach over the last two weekends.

In the first game, Adventure Sports Club beat Devonshire Castle Sports Club by 20 runs. N Sarabjeet continues with his consistency with the bat scoring 32 to help Adventure SC chalk up 101-5 from 10 overs. He was supported by Shawz Grovesnor who made 23 while M. Lall took 2-15

from two overs bowling for Devonshire Castle.

Devonshire Castle found the going tough when they batted with S. Greene taking 3-14 from his two overs to stifle them. N. Bahadur made 25 and A. Persaud 21 which were not enough to seal a place in the next round.

Invaders Masters were having a good tournament until they were confronted by United Warriors 1. Batting first, Invaders Masters got 108-6 from their 10 overs with I. Rampersaud making 30. In the run chase, United Warriors 1 wasted no time in racing to 110-2 from just 5.5 overs with Brion Mangar blasting an unbeaten 81 to seal the eight wicket win and a semi-final spot.

The final match of the day was a one-sided encounter with Die Hard Brothers beating United Brothers by a massive 142-run margin.

Taking first strike, Die Hard Brothers made a whopping 211-6 from their allotment

of 10 overs with in form batsmen Richard Latiff (66), Patrick Rooplall (63) and Vijay Surujpaul (53) all getting half centuries in the onslaught.

When United Brothers batted, Greg Singh took two wickets for seven runs break the back of the batting as they fell for 69-6 when their overs ran out.

The four teams will have a few days off before the semi-finals and final which will be played simultaneously with the sizzling duck curry competition at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground before the mega stage show and after party bring the curtains down on the second annual Digicel triple treat.

A total of 27 teams started the competition which is for teams along the Essequibo Coast and in the islands. The cricket aspect of the triple treat is organised by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA).

Brianna Lyston

S

he might be only 12 years old and only just beginning her high school career in track and field but already Brianna Lyston of St. Jago High School in Jamaica has begun to attract international attention.

Ever since Usain Bolt became a global star following his exploits at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the international media has been paying closer attention to the annual Boys and Girls Championships in Jamaica, largely considered the crucible for Jamaica’s steady stream of international stars.

In 2017, they seemed to have found another.

Lyston won the sprint double at the five-day championships that ran from March 28 to April 1 and did so in Bolt-like fashion, winning by as much as 0.88 seconds, which in the sprints is

the proverbial mile.

She won the 100m in 11.86s but it was the 200m in which she was most Boltesque. After winning her semi-final heat in an astounding 23.46, aided by a slightly illegal wind of 2.2m/s, Lyston returned in the final to destroy her own record of 24.00 set in the heats. Her time of 23.72s is the fastest ever run by a Jamaican Class 4 athlete, it is also a world age group record for 12 and 13 year olds, according to the MVP Track Club that posted the information on Twitter on Monday, two days after the championships ended.

So far, the world has been taking notice.

“Jamaica finds true heir to Usain Bolt’s throne – record-breaking 12-year-old sprinter Brianna Lyston” was the headline in The Telegraph on Tuesday.

“12-year-old Jamaican

hailed as the next Usain Bolt after record sprint goes viral” as the headline in the Business Insider who shared a video of Lyston beating the field by about 15 metres in her blistering semi-final run.

The Mail Online also got in on the act. “Jamaica finds a sprinting superstar to rival Usain Bolt as 12-year-old Brianna Lyston posts astonishing record run” was their headline. CBS News, Skysports, Caribbeannation, Pulse. com.

Eurosports, and Hindustantimes have all carried the story of Liston’s standout performances at Champs, some with videos of her races.

“I’m so proud of her. It was just fantastic to watch.

She always trains very hard and when she came off the track she just felt great,” Brianna’s mother, Toya Bennett, told The Telegraph of her daughter, who said she wants to become a nurse when she grows up.

She also said she wants to become a professional athlete.

Jamaica’s education minister Floyd Green only served to fan the flames of belief as to what the future holds for the young sprinter. “Brianna Lyston, Class 4 runner from St. Jago is exceptional! Feel like we going to be calling her name for years to come,” he said.

(SPORTSMAX)

Jamaica, IOC push back on ARD doping claims about Jamaican athletes

J

amaican officials have described as unfortunate, claims made in a documentary by German broadcaster ARD, that traces of the banned substance clenbuterol were found in samples provided by members of the Jamaican sprint team at the Olympic Games in 2008. They also suggest that the assertions made

by ARD might not be of the purest intention.

In the documentary, ARD, whose investigative report, unearthed the Russian doping scandal in 2015, also claimed that both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) were aware of the adverse findings. However, the IOC has responded saying said it had not detected any significant abuse

of clenbuterol after finding “very low levels” of the banned substance during re-testing of samples from the Beijing Olympics.

It went further to say that the low levels of clenbuterol were found in the cases of athletes from a number of countries and different sports. The IOC said the athletes were innocent and could not give any more details.

It is against this background and more why officials in the Caribbean island have expressed skepticism about the intent of the ARD broadcast.

“I think some of the innuendoes and assertions have been unfortunate, if not outright false, and hopefully these will be corrected by the IOC and WADA in due course,”

Jamaica 2008 Olympics men’s 4x100 relay team

Fennell told Reuters, adding that neither he nor the JOA had received any official notification from the IOC or WADA about the allegations.

“It is clear that there are many people in the world that want to get at Jamaica because some of them feel that we have been far too successful and we do not deserve to be successful.

They cannot believe that this little country can produce so many superstars and they are trying to find some way to damage that.

Our athletes are clean and we respect the anti-doping rules.”

President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Dr. Warren Blake, also questioned if the report was aimed “at trying to destroy

Jamaica’s good name.”

“I find it very interesting that the WADA official that they showed in the documentary made no mention of sprinters, but yet still they have extrapolated from Jamaican athletes to sprinters,” he said.

Meanwhile, the IOC in its statement said that all values were “in the range of potential meat contamination cases”. It said it “carefully deliberated” whether or not to proceed with the cases and consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

According to the IOC, WADA said that it could not find “any significant and consistent pattern of abuse of clenbuterol in these cases and that it would be appropriate not to take these cases any further”

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, april 6, 2017

VIVO IPL 2017

Yuvraj powers Sunrisers to win in opener — debutant Rashid Khan impressive on debut

Y

uvraj Singh took center stage in the opening match of VIVO IPL 2017 as he scored his first half-century for Sunrisers Hyderabad and helped the team to a daunting 207-4. In the second half of the match, the defending champions bowled out their opponents Royal Challengers Bangalore to win the season opener by 35 runs.

Put into bat, Sunrisers lost their captain David Warner in the second over of the innings. But Shikhar Dhawan and Moises Henriques continued to

The SRH second wicket pair extended their association to 74 before Dhawan holed out to long-on in the eleventh over; the lefthander made 40 from 31 balls. In walked Yuvraj Singh and struck the first couple of balls crisply, signaling sign of things to come. In the twelfth over, he whipped one through midwicket; that particular stroke was all wrist-work and had class written all over it.

In the thirteenYuvraj got stuck into debutant Aniket Choudhary, hitting the leftarm seamer’s first three de-

Yuvraj Singh muscles the ball over deep midwicket

put the RCB bowlers to the sword. In the final over before the field restrictions were relaxed, Dhawan got stuck into Shane Watson and hit him for four boundaries; SRH were 59-1 at the end of the six overs.

liveries for 4, 6 & 4. Yuvraj was offered a reprieve in the same over when Sreenath Arvind grassed a regulation chance at the squareleg boundary. As if to rub salt into wounds, Yuvraj hit Arvind for two sixes and a

Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan struck in his first over on debut

boundary in the fifteenth.

The southpaw brought up his half-century in the eighteenth, needing only 23 deliveries to get to the milestone; it was Yuvraj’s first half-century for SRH and his first in the IPL since 5 May 2015. The lefthander was dismissed in the following over when he missed a straight delivery from Mills; Yuvraj made 62 from 27 balls, and his knock was studded with 7 fours and 3 sixes.

Henriques kept himself busy at the crease and played a good supporting hand to an on-song Yuvraj; the Australian, playing his 150th T20 match, made 52 from 37 balls before he was dismissed in the 16th over.

Ben Cutting hit Watson for two sixes in the final over to help the innings finish with a flourish.

For RCB, YuzvendraChahal was the pick of the bowlers; where

the rest of the attack conceded 184 runs in 16 overs, the leg-spinner finished with incredible figures of 1-22 from his four overs.

The two debutants – Tymal Mills and Aniket – finished with figures of 1-31 and 1-55 respectively.

RCB, without Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in this match, began briskly in pursuit of 208. The new opening pair of Chris Gayle and Mandeep Singh added 52 runs for the opening wicket. The Jamaican struck two boundaries and three sixes in his 21-ball 32, while Mandeep made 24 from 16 balls. However, both batsmen were dismissed in successive overs – in the sixth and seventh - and that meant RCB had two new men at the crease.

Travis Head and KedarJadhav, batting at three and four, kept themselves busy at the crease

and picked up boundaries every time a loose delivery was dished out. The pair added 56 runs in 5.1 overs before Ben Cutting’s rocket throw from the fine leg boundary caught Jadhav (31 from 16 balls) short of the crease at the striker’s end. Travis Head perished in the following over, becoming debutant Rashid Khan’s second victim of the night. Yet again, RCB had two fresh batsmen at the crease, and SRH steadily tightened their grip on the match. RCB were eventually bowled out for 172 in 19.4 overs.

For the defending cham-

pions, the quicks were at the receiving end early on and it needed the spinners to apply the brakes on the run-chase. Rashid Khan – the first Afghanistan cricketer to play in the IPL –gave the team the first breakthrough and eventually finished with figures of 2-36, while Deepak Hooda (who dismissed Gayle) and Bipul Sharma chipped in with a wicket apiece. In the final five overs, Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to dismiss Stuart Binny and Mills, while Ashish Nehra saw the back of Watson and Arvind off consecutive deliveries.

(IPLT20)

SCOREBOARD Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (20 overs maximum) DA Warner*c Mandeep Singh b Choudhary 14 S Dhawan c Sachin Baby b Binny 40 MC Henriques c Sachin Baby b Chahal 52 62 Yuvraj Singh b Mills DJ Hooda not out 16 BCJ Cutting not out 16 Extras (lb-1, w-5, nb-1) 7 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 207 Did not batNV Ojha†, Bipul Sharma, B Kumar, A Nehra, Rashid Khan Fall of wickets 1-19 (Warner, 1.4 ov), 2-93 (Dhawan, 10.3 ov), 3-151 (Henriques, 15.2 ov), 4-190 (Yuvraj Singh, 18.4 ov) Bowling TS Mills 4-0-31-1 (w1), A Choudhary 4-0-55-1 (nb-1, w-3), YS Chahal 4-0-221, S Aravind 3-0-36-0, SR Watson 3-0-41-0, TM Head 1-0-11-0, STR Binny 1-0-10-1 Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 208 runs from 20 overs) CH Gayle c Warner b Hooda32 Mandeep Singh b Rashid Khan 24

TM Head c Yuvraj Singh b Rashid Khan 30 KM Jadhav† run out (Cutting) 31 SR Watson* c Henriques b 22 Nehra Sachin Baby c Henriques b Bipul Sharma 1 STR Binny c Yuvraj Singh b Kumar 11 0 S Aravind b Nehra TS Mills c Warner b Kumar 6 YS Chahal run out (sub [CJ Jordan]) 3 A Choudhary not out 6 Extras (lb-1, w-4, nb-1) 6 Total (all out; 19.4 overs) 172 Fall of wickets 1-52 (Mandeep Singh, 5.4 ov), 2-60 (Gayle, 6.3 ov), 3-116 (Jadhav, 11.4 ov), 4-126 (Head, 12.5 ov), 5-128 (Sachin Baby, 13.4 ov), 6-154 (Binny, 16.5 ov), 7-156 (Watson, 17.3 ov), 8-156 (Aravind, 17.4 ov), 9-164 (Mills, 18.5 ov), 10-172 (Chahal, 19.4 ov) Bowling A Nehra 4-0-42-2 (w1), B Kumar 4-0-27-2 (w-1), BCJ Cutting 3.4-0-35-0 (w-2), Rashid Khan 4-0-36-2, DJ Hooda 1-0-71, MC Henriques 2-0-200 (nb-1), Bipul Sharma 1-0-4-1

Local cricket coach says he is being victimised L evel two certified cricket coach, Winston Smith cries foul at treatment meted out to him by local cricket authorities, saying he is not being afforded the opportunity to coach any significant youth or senior teams because of various questionable reasons deriving from personal attacks and politics in the sport.

According to Smith, since he went public about short payments made to him by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) subsequent to the GCB Jaguars Franchise League three-day tournament he has been removed from coaching any of the franchise League teams.

“After the issue I spoke to GCB Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart who told me I would

no longer be with the Upper Corentyne Franchise, instead I was informed by Stuart that I will take up duties with West Berbice Franchise. It was strange to me because coaches are usually assigned to teams closer to them. The one day version of the Jaguars Franchise League was slated for December and when I was ready to travel to West Berbice I was told that someone by the name of Hardcourt was named to replace me.”

He alleged that the individual (Hardcourt) does not possess the level two coaching certificate and it has to be a personal attack on him for speaking against ill-will of the GCB. Smith acquired his Level 1 coaching certificate on December 31, 2004 and his

Winston Smith

Colin Stuart

Level 2 in 2008. He was also involved in a senior coaching programme conducted in Trinidad and Tobago by Anthony Howard.

He feels the higher authorities are abusing their power and victimizing him and many others who have become opposition against

most of their actions.

Smith, who is a Police Sergeant stationed in Berbice said he is the only level two coach among the current crop, who is yet to coach an inter-county or national team at the junior or senior level.

The Sergeant, who has

done work under experience and highly regarded local coach Michael Hyles, has over the years conducted annual cricket academy at Rose Hall as well as the now defunct Berbice Cricket Academy. He has also done worked with clubs from Moleson Creek to Mara.

Smith was accredited the same time as Julian Moore, Guyana U-15 coach, who he said is enjoying his career because of higher influence.

When contacted Stuart said GCB is not solely responsible for the selection of coaches for any franchise.

He said the GCB Cricket Committee and area representatives select coaches.

Speaking on behalf of the cricket committee, the TDO said Smith’s name is often considered, howev-

er, it is not solely their responsibility to select a coach since they work along with area representatives.

There are several level two coaches in Guyana, who are not actively involved in coaching at a top level as revealed by Smith. The circumstances surrounding their absence are uncertain.

However, with the absence of these coaches it is expected that those who are showing interest would be considered.

If the interest of cricket and players’ development is the main concern by the cricket committee and area representatives, then it will be interested to see what qualifications these coaches possess, who will be coaching teams in the remaining GCB tournament for 2017.

YELLOW PAGES thursday, april 6, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

ACCOMMODATIONS Conferences & Retreats – Full Service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities.

Aracari Resort WBD – 264 2946 Alex Wayne Weddings & Anniversaries: Rental or Full Service: Banquet Hall & Catering. Aracari Resort WBD – 264 2946 Alex Wayne Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbour Bridge) – All Modern Amenities – Rates from $25. Phone 264 2946-8

Business Opportunity Complete package, key cutting machine plus 1000 blank keys:.Price: $450,000. Vers Realty: To Rent Office Space & Store Front, 17 Brickdam & Smyth Street, Stabroek, Georgetown Guyana. Tel: 223-1217 Or 600-5759

CAR RENTALS Need a car to rent? Then call 6111018 for the best cars at great prices.

Progressive Auto Rental: Cars from $4000 and up. Tel: 219-3900, 643-5122

dentistry Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown.

Tel: 225-5034

Driving School Shalom Enterprise Driving School 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. You can obtain an International Drivers Permit Covering 131 Countries. Tel: 227-3869, 644-7052, 659-3381

EDUCATION REGISTER - learn to play drums, guitar, keyboard and train your voice NOW OR in the Summer. Call 225-1151/ 657-8404 Learn to Play Music at Foundation7: Call NOW: 225-1151/6578404

FOR SALE 1 HONDA PC 50 KE 1 MODEL, 1 HONDA 125.5 GENTS MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE CALL 667-0887 FOR DETAILS. 1 SAMSUNG CAMCORDER WITH TRIPOD 58G. 667-0887 FOR DETAILS. CLAY ROOF TILES 2500 SQ FT. NO REASONABLE OFFER WILL BE REFUSED. TELEPHONE: 686-7120 MX 2000, 1500, 1000 AMP, 4 BASS, 4 MID, 4 HORNS, 4 TWEETERS, MIXER, JUGGLER CABLES AND 1 JACCUZZI; ALL FOR SALE. CONTACT:253-3070OR654-2732 WATER PUMP TO PUMP WATER INTO RICE FIELDS WITH DRIVE SHAFT AND TWENTY FOOT CANVAS TO CONVEY WATER; CAGE WHEEL FOR JOHN DEERE TRACTOR 5090; STEERING RACK FOR TUNDRA 2000 SERIES; FUEL PUMP FOR TOYOTA HILUX 1 KD – FTV ENGINE; SET OF 6 INJECTORS FOR DAF 6-CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE. CONTACT: 220-1630, 638-1829.

Clean Garden Earth. Also excavating, grading and leveling done. Call 627-9977 Road to Belwasa and A Dip at the Sangam, Indentureship Novels at Austin’s Book Store and Lachmansingh Drug Store. Tel: 226-5053.

flowers Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

immigration Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc.

Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates.

Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED BY IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT. PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATIONS (PERMANENT/VISITOR) FOR USA, CANADA, UK, CHINA, INDIA, ETC. SABITA’S IMMIGRATION SERVICES. TEL: 225-6496/662-6045

KEY CUTTing Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 621-3249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks.

Get your extra key today.

optician Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 3393536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 9431515 for the perfect trendy touch.

health Healthworld Clinic – Providing professional psychological therapy for all mental and behavioral health problems. Call (592)-690-1824 Mondays-Saturdays 9am-3pm.

Email; healthworldhc@gmail.com FOR YOUR HEALTH AND BEAUTY: Natural Choice Chai (Tea) & Moringa Powder, keep yourself healthy and beautiful from the inside out! Add Natural Choice products to your health foods today! Ask for it at your local supermarket. Now available at Flambouyant Supermarkets in Diamond and Eccles, all DSL Cash & Carry branches, The Guyana Shop (GMC) at Robb & Alexander Sts, Bourda, Medi Care Pharmacy in South Ruimveldt, (Royal Castle Building), Ram’s Supermarket at Vreed-En-Hoop and Sangeeta Supermarket in Linden.

LAND for sale 1.5 Acre for housing development W.B.D. Tel: 658-0115 Plot of land used to cultivate RICE, Plantation Better Hope, Essequibo Coast. Size 33.14 Acres. Tel: 625-1514

property for sale Two storey building. Four bedrooms upstairs, Three downstairs.

Transported property. 27 Austin St. Campbellville. Call: 624-4668 Subryanville Property for Sale.

44 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown. $45m or best offer.

Contact - Mortimer: 625-7669 or Richard: 624-1154 PROPERTY FOR SALE IN ENTERPRISE SCHEME. 1 LARGE FAMILY HOME, 4 BEDROOM, FULLY GRILLED, 2-CAR GARAGE, RESERVOIR, OVERHEAD TANKS AND WATER FILTRATION, ETC. CALL/WHATSAPP NAVIN: 1-347517-7432 Two buildings on lot at 180 Charlotte Street. L 20 x W 30. Contact Tel: 6247341, 227-6817, 226-5183. Price Neg. Eccles: $27M Neg. Enterprise Sec C: $20M Neg. Mon Repos: $30M Neg. South Ruimveldt Park: $20M Neg. Broad Street: $80M Neg. Charlotte Street between Camp & Alexander: $55M Neg. Providence (land): $6.5M Neg. Parfaite Harmonie (land): $4.5M Neg. Contact: 691-1521 GOOD HOPE AND OGLE. CONTACT: 673-5546, 222-3066, 682-7257, 679-0987

SALON / SPA “COSMETOLOGY – FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000.

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927”

spirituality WORLD FAMOUS INDIAN PALMIST AND SPIRITUALISTT ASTROLOGER, AT EAST BANK GROVE. MEET HIM ONCE FOR ACCURATE PREDICTIONS, FIXING PROBLEMS LIKE HEALTH AND STRESS, ENEMIES, JEALOUSY, RELATIONSHIPS, FININCIALS AND GET LOVED ONES BACK. HE CAN HANDLE AND REMOVE BLACK MAGIC, VOODOO, OBEAH, WITCHCRAFT. FOR BETTER RESULTS, CONTACT 664-2505 OR 609-4493. LOCATED AT 150 TIME SQUARE STREET, NORTHWEST GROVE, EAST BANK DEMERARA.

1 TOYOTA IPSUM (7-SEATER) IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION WITH MUSIC (5800 W): CONTACT 653-1003

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 602-8997

212 One old model Pkk /one new model PPP and one(1) 192 PRR Series serious enquiry only contact owner on 6212087 or 6380223.

HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081, 322-5738, 337-4510, 337-4259, 337-3070, 337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

TOYOTA DYNA CANTER 612-1085/680-3863

Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to business. Call: 612-6417, 687-5653

Ifa Temple – Are you having serious problems and urgently need spiritual help? Call 621-0552 now.

Email: anew-life@live.com SPIRITUAL HEALING: REMOVE BLOCKAGE , VOODOO, HEXCURSE, BLACK MAGIC, SPELL, BUSINESS, UPLIFTMENT, PREGNANCY, LOVE & MARRIAGE PROBLEMS, CLEARANCE ETC. Contact: 612-1975, 683-5228

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

WANTED Applications are invited for One Evening Tutor for Grade 9 Student.

• Must be a CPCE Graduate or currently attending University of Guyana. • Experienced in Science Subjects. • Two recent references required. Interested persons are advised to send applications to: jobrecruiter7860@gmail.com

FOR RENT Three storey 75ft’ x 30 ft. building/ bond, Open floors, 2 offices, 2 washrooms, driveways. 25 B Princess Street, Charlestown. Tel : 2230654/225-0605

TO LET

THREE STOREY 75 FT’X 30 FT BUILDING/BOND, OPEN FLOORS, 2 OFFICES, 2 WASHROOMS, DRIVEWAY. 25B PRINCESS ST, CHARLESTOWN. TEL: 223-0654, 225-0605 UNFURNISHED BOTTOM FLAT – 2 BEDROOMS, BATHROOM, KITCHENETTE, DINING/LIVING ROOM, PRE-PAID METER. QUIET NEIGHBOURHOOD – KITTY. NO CHILDREN. NO PETS. SUITABLE FOR STUDENTS OR SINGLE WORKING PERSONS. $55,000 PER MONTH. 2 MONTHS SECURITY DEPOSIT. RENT CONTRACT FOR 6 – 12 MONTHS. CONTACT 693-0003 (DURING BUSINESS HOURS)

ONE ACCOUNTS CLERK, EMAIL CV TO info@digitaltechnology.gy or deliver to: Lot 20 Diamond Public Road, E.B.D addressed to ‘The Operations Manager’ - Able to prepare VAT returns, NIS and PAYE submissions (An Asset) - Proficient in the use of QuickBooks and Excel.

FAST GROWING FOOD DISTRIBUTION COMPANY SEEKING A BOOK KEEPER / INVENTORY CLERK, EXPERIENCE AND POLICE CLEARANCE NEEDED. CALL FOR INTERVIEW 231-8344, 223-1027 OR 223-103

CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANT – 624- 0033 COOK – 624-0033 PUMP ATTENDANT – 624-0033 OR 680-3863

Rajindra Dhanraj talks with Devendra Bishoo in the nets at Guyana National Stadium (WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks)

T

he West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced that Rajindra Dhanraj has joined the West Indies Men’s team coaching staff as Spin Bowling Consultant.

The former West Indies leg-break and googly bowler will work with the team in the build-up to the Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile Cup ODI series against Pakistan in Guyana.

He will return ahead of the start of the Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile Cup Test Series in Jamaica later this month.

Jimmy Adams, the WICB Director of Cricket said: “We welcome Rajindra to the West Indies team

group. We’re delighted he has agreed to come and work with our players. He has a wealth of knowledge on the game and we know he will make a great contribution.”

Adams added: “He will be spending time with our slow bowlers prior to both the One-Day Series in Guyana and start of the Test series in Jamaica as we look to improve and enhance their skills.”

Dhanraj, 48, was one of the leading bowlers in regional cricket in the late 1980s and 1990s. He took 295 wickets in 78 first-class matches and also played four Tests and six ODIs for the West Indies between 1994 and 1996.

Liverpool fined

£100,000

Three storey 75ft’ x 30 ft. building/bond, Open floors, 2 offices, 2 washrooms, driveways. 25 B Princess Street, Charlestown. Tel : 223-0654/225-0605

TFA Video Production. Video recording of weddings, birthdays, conferences, advertisements, digital photography. Call: 684-2999/624-4668

Repairs and Spares, Air Conditioning, Car AC, Washers, Stoves. Call Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206

FOR SALE! 1 TOYOTA AVENSIS, PRR 825. $2.2M NEGOTIABLE. CALL TROY: 619-2975

Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc. Call 223-6834/600-7719.

THE MOST POWERFUL ASTROLOGER AND SPIRTUALIST FROM INDIA. If you are having problems, he has the solutions. He solves problems related to love, relationships, happiness, financial, family arguments, getting lover back, husband and wife problems, removal of black magic, evil spirits, voodoo, witchcraft, blockages.

Location: Light Street, Alberttown, between 2nd and 3rd Streets, Opposite the GTT Tower. Telephone number: 652-4444 / 600-0926

VACANCY

PRIVATE CUSTOMS BROKERAGE. CERTIFICATE TRAINING COURSE IN JANUARY 2017. REGISTER NOW AND GET 50% DISCOUNTFOR CHRISTMAS UP TO 31ST DECEMBER. CALL: 6948322 OR 671-9603

FOR SALE. TOYOTA MARK II GX110.

CONTACT RANDY: 651-6985

JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRA-CAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

services

Technician – specializes in repairing and servicing to washing machines, pressure pumps, refridgerators, exercising machines, treadmills, stove/ ranges, dryers, ovens, pressure washers, solar systems, water heaters. Tel: 673-9283

VEHICLES FOR SALE

21 Former T&T ‘leggie’ is Windies spin bowling consultant sports

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

— handed 2 year ban on signing academy players

Call: 223-7230 Ext 35

L

iverpool have been fined £100,000 by the Premier League and handed a two-year ban on signing academy players from other clubs for a rule breach.

It relates to the club’s approach to a 12-year-old academy player at Stoke City in September last year.

Liverpool will be banned from signing any academy players who have been registered with a Premier League or EFL club in the previous 18 months.

This second year of the ban will be suspended for a three-year period.

In September 2016 Liverpool made an application to register the Stoke City Academy player and compensation was agreed.

But the application was rejected by the Premier

League Board.

An investigation by the Premier League found that Liverpool spoke to the youngster and his family before they should have and also paid for him and some of his family to attend a game at Anfield.

Liverpool also offered to pay the player’s school fees, which were being paid by Stoke at this time, but this was a breach of newly-introduced regulations which state a benefit can only be offered if it is applicable to all youngsters across the club’s academy and this was not the case.

Premier League rules ban the offer of any inducements from clubs to encourage a move.

Liverpool have admitted the rule breaches.(BBCSPORT)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, april 6, 2017

GT Beer/NAMILCO/ Star Party Rentals Futsal…

Bent Street, Back Circle to battle for place in final

D

Digicel, West Indies cricketers embrace Special Needs School

— Sparta Boss clash with Sophia

efending champions Bent Street will oppose Back Circle while Sparta Boss will be pitted against Sophia in the semi-finals of the 2nd GT Beer sponsored Petra Organized Futsal Championships after the quarter-finals were played on Tuesday evening at the National Gymnasium.

Bent Street defeated West Back Road 2-0 via two spectacular goals off the feet of Okeene Fraser and Anthony Abrams. Fraser’s right foot scorcher came in the 13th minute while Abrams shot entered the top left of the net in the 16th minute.

The Back Circle match against Broad Street Back proved to be one of the most trilling matches of evening as it had the massive audience in a frenzy with their back and forth attacks. At the end of the engrossing fixture, the former won 2-1 via goals from, Curtez Kellman

(26th) and Akeemo Anthony (29th); Keiron Solomon was the other scorer in the 32nd minute.

Likewise, the Sophia and Tucville matchup had a similar effect, with S o p h i a edgi n g

ahead 3-2.

Sophia took the early lead via Shemroy Arthur conversion in t h e 7th minute while two minutes later Dwayne Lowe added the second.

Jermin Junior reduced the lead before half time when he netted in the 13th

minute to create a decisive second half. Tucville had numerous chances to level the scores but often too many times, they failed to execute fully. Their lack of conversions came to haunt them when Sheik Kamal added a third goal in the 25th but Jahaal Greaves gave his side a sniff once m o r e when he scored in the 28th minute.

In the final game of the night, Devon Millington’s 39th minute strike allowed Sparta Boss to beat North East La Penitence 2-1.

Millington’s goal came after the scored were tied at 1-1 via an own goal in the 35th prior to a Kelvin Moore

Hand-in-Hand Insurance secures YWCC Mash Cup I nsurance giant, Hand in Hand Insurance Companies is once again on board with The Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) fund raiser, the Mash Cup 2017.

The competition which is now in the fourth edition is slated for April 30 at the picturesque Cumberland Cricket Ground, East Canje, Berbice.

A release from the Cumberland based cricket club said that the current inclement weather is the main reason for the postponement. In addition, it was rescheduled for April 9 but would have clashed with the West Indies and Pakistan One Day International Series in Guyana.

The release further stated that, everything is in place for this mega event which has been the major fund raising for the club.

Proceeds from the event will go solely to the club’s cricket programmes. Over the years, funds from this event have also contributed to the transformation of the ground.

Defending champions, Betsy Ground Triple Stars will be challenged from a number of teams from the East Canje area that will compete in the action packed five overs aside cricket competition for prize monies in

Lovita John, employee of Hand in Hand, New Amsterdam Branch hands over winning trophy to Ray Ali, treasurer of the YWCC in the presence of representatives of the insurance company and cricket club

excess of $100,000.

Additionally, two top Masters softball teams in Guyana are expected to do battle in a 15 overs aside feature game. There will be added attractions for children and the other members of the family. Live musical entertainment and a well stocked bar will be there.

At the presentation ceremony, Tajpaul Adjodhea, Berbice Manager of the Insurance Company said that his company is once

again please to be associated with the cricket club. As a resident of the East Canje area, he said that he is impressed with what the cricket club has done for young boys in the area. He made special memtion of young Shimron Hetmyer, the winning West Indies under 19 World Cup captain, a product of the YWCC. In response, Rafeek Kassim, president of the club thanked the company for the faith shown in the

goal in the 30th minute.

The winner of the tournament is set to pocket $400,000 and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively and the correspondingly accolade.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship will pocket $50,000 and a trophy, while the Highest Goal Scorer and Best Goalkeeper will walkway with $25,000 each and the respective accolades.

Meanwhile, in the two exhibition fixtures, Customs defeated Upper Level 4-1 and Green Ice wining 2-1 against Pretty Posse.

In addition to the title sponsor, NAMILCO and Star Party Rentals have also pledged their support of the tournament.

The tournament will continue Saturday while its grand finale will be Easter Saturday, April 15.

club from the inception of the tournament and promised accountability.

Mash Cup 2016 raised approximately $500,000. and the club would like to thank the following sponsors; Ansal McAl, Anirudh Ramcharitar Construction Services, Ashiek and Son Motor Supplies and Auto Sale, Hand in Hand Insurance Company, Altabh Khan of Silver Lining Establishment, Tyre Shop and Auto Rental, A Ally and Son Showroom, RDC Region N0. 6, Murseline Bacchus, President, YWCC and Attorney at Law, Anthony Ameerally, Memorex, Roshan Satar Supermarket, Kascon Engineering Services, New Building Society Limited, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Vickram Jewellery, Jim Bacchus Travel Service, Balram Shane Variety Store, Kris Jagdeo Construction Services, Mortimer George, Suresh of Price is Right, Roger of Extreme Trucking, Zai Permaul, Massy Industries, Massy Distribution, Office Express, Lekho Bus Service, Sham Beer Garden, J’S Printery, N Hamid and Sons, RHTY&SC, Suresh Wash Bay and Auto Sale, Mirza Satar, A Mahabir and Sons and Imran Saccoor.

West Indies wicketkeeper batsman, Chadwick Walton (standing) about to join leg spinner Devendra Bishoo in the interaction with pupils of Gifted Hands Special Needs School. Principal/Founder of the school, Marcia Smith is sitting at the centre in yellow (Carl Croker photo)

W

ednesday afternoon at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, it was joyous moment for nine year-old Jayda Gilkes as she heard the ‘Happy Birthday’ song snag by members of the West Indies Cricket team and classmates of the Gifted Hands Special Needs School.

The memory was made possible since Digicel hosted the school and cricketers for a book reading and interaction session which brought bright smiles to both the pupils and the cricketers.

Digicel’s Communication Manager, Vidya Sanichara said that the activity is part of the company’s continuous effort to give back to society.

Sanichara felt that the players taking time out from their busy schedule show that the game is not everything and it means a lot that that they [players]

West Indies Media Manager Phillip Spooner enjoying his story during the interaction

can give their precious time to the children since it means the world to them [children] and it would remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Further, Sanichara disclosed that her company will continue to be actively involved with the school, helping in any way possible.

West Indies Cricket team Media Manager Phillip Spooner told the gathering that the activity is one that the players do regularly and that they look forward to it considering that many of the players themselves have children.

Meanwhile, Pastor Simon Harris, who is a parent of one of the pupils, felt more initiatives of this nature should be taken by more persons as it can do wonders for the children. Harris’ contention is that the more these children have the interactions, the more it helps to build their confidence which can only auger well for their lives.

The School is located on Parade Street Kingston in the former School of the Nations Compound and caters for wide range of pupils who have special needs.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, april 6, 2017

23

West Indies vs Pakistan, Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile ODI Series

Improving fielding high on West Indies’ agenda — Nurse

By Akeem Greene

D

uring the recently concluded home series against England and even the T20 series against the touring Pakistan, West Indies produced some brilliances in the field but more often than not, they were sloppy, leaking valuable runs and spilling valuable chances.

Heading into the upcoming three-match OneDay International (ODI) series against Pakistan, West Indies off-spinner Ashley Nurse told media operatives on Wednesday at the National Stadium,

Providence that the team is hard at work in improving their fielding.

“Fielding is a key component for the boys, obviously we didn’t have a good series against England, we dropped a lot of catches, so this series is about improving, taking the catches that come and do a good job in the next three games, the Barbadian stated.

In addition to fielding, Nurse sees a need for the team to post more challenging scores for them to be victorious. The player said, “Fielding is important but putting some good scores on the board and just stay-

ing together playing as team and I think [if we do that] we should come out on top.”

The Caribbean side enters the series on the back of two series loss, one against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) last year, then England in the West Indies last month.

Despite the disappointing results, Nurse said the team is in high spirits and know the significance of a series win against an opponent that is ranked higher since the outcome of the series could have an impact on automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup. “We always stress on

family, we always stress on being together, the moral is really good and hopefully the guys stay together in this upcoming series and push on from there,” Nurse disclosed.

The 28 year-old added, “it is a big series, it is obvious is for us the target is to qualify for the World Cup; the team is in good spirits and hopefully we have a good series.”

The right-arm bowler who has played just seven ODIs, had an impressive series against England where he took five wickets and chipped in with some valuable lower-order runs. That

Ashley Nurse addressing the media on Wednesday at the National Stadium, Providence

eter you try to improve every day, I had a good series against England and hopefully I have a good one against Pakistan,” the off

also had their first taste of practice at Providence where engaged in fielding drills and batting practice in the nets. Both sides will be

“Obeah Man” shines in Sunshine state

By Romario Samaroo

G

uyanese rider Raynaught “Obeah Man” Jeffrey closed off the Sunshine Grand Prix (GP) with his best placing of the event, finishing sixth in the time trial race which concluded on Sunday in Florida, USA. With only one race for the season before heading in to the Professional 1-2 group of the Sunshine GP, Jeffrey found it difficult to

to his homeland on Monday, Jeffrey said he “found it difficult to adjust for the first race because New York was so cold and Florida was very hot.”

However, after the first race, the 22 year old rider was still not accustomed to the conditions and managed to place 29th in the second Criterion, this time in Brooksville, Florida on April 1.

The third race was of much more success for the

Jeffrey said the exposure that he has gotten from the tour was one of the most memorable of late and looks forward to capitalize of more international meets for the development of his career.

Upon his arrival, Jeffrey is immediately thrown into the mix and is already a rider for discussion in the other camps as he sets his sights on the 6th annual Baker’s memorial road race this Sunday in the mining town of Linden.

Bulls eye! Ahmed Shehzad about to hit the stumps during a fielding drill (Akeem Greene photo)

performance was a follow-up to him leading the bowling charts with 26 wickets in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Super50 tournament for champions Barbados Pride.

“Obviously as a crick-

spinner revealed.

Commenting on the possible change in conditions of the pitch, the spinner said that “it looks good and hopefully it plays better and we get some good scores.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan

at the venue today fine-tuning their preparation ahead Friday’s series opener.

That match will be followed by another on Sunday and the final match of the series next Tuesday; all matches bowl off from 09:30h.

Calcutta stop Supply on way to softball title C

Guyanese Raynaught “Obeah Man” Jeffrey leads the pack round a turn in Florida, USA

adjust immediately after travelling from New York to Miami and entered into the Inverness Airport Criterion race on March 31, where he placed 14th out of 31 starters in a time of one hour, 11 minutes and 25 seconds.

Brandon Feehery won the event.

This leg marked a 1.7 KM route in the Inverness Highlands with a total assent of 7.97m and a maximum elevation of 25.9m.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after returning

Guyanese wheelsman where he battled the odds to place 11th out of a 35-man pack to finish the Ice Cream Hill road race in a time of two hours, two minutes and eight seconds. The 29.66 KM ride has a total assent of 112.6m with an 82.3m elevation as well as heavy winds, according to Jeffrey.

The final event, a time trial was Jeffrey’s most successful as he finished sixth in the 12km Power Hill challenge in a time of just 18 minutes.

In Florida, a total of 820 riders started the event which signaled a much more experienced list of campaigners in all the categories as Jeffrey, who turned out for Pharmco-Deepsouth racing team finished thirteenth. Jeffrey’s top placement however, was the second best for his team as Emile Abraham finished in 12th.

Overall it was Emon Franck of Crit Life who was crowned the overall champion in the pro 1-2 category.

alcutta Primary School won the Daniel Richmond 8 overs softball cricket competition for grade five students when the event was held last Friday.

The new champions defeated Supply Primary by three wickets to take top honours at Fairfield Cricket Ground. Supply scored 297, with Jordan Blackett and Yuraj Persaud scoring 10 runs each. Tyric Halley, Jeremiah Fraser and Ezekiel Watson claimed two scalps apiece.

Calcutta in reply, registered 31-8 to win the title, Halley and Watson made 11 runs each. Blackett and Tackul Samaroo took two victims a-piece.

In the lone semifinal after Calcutta drew the bye, Supply defeated Zealand.

The latter scored 28-6 while the latter replied with 30-6.

Nine teams were involved in the tournament.

The victorious Calcutta Primary School

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

West Indies vs Pakistan, Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile ODI Series

Pg 23

Improving fielding high on West Indies’ agenda — Nurse Catches win matches! Jonathon Carter (left) and Ashley Nurse engage in slip catching drills with batting coach Toby Radford

GT Beer/NAMILCO/ Star Party Rentals Futsal…

Bent Street, Back Circle to battle for place in final

Pg 22

— Sparta Boss clash with Sophia Part of the action in the Back Circle and Broad Street affair

Bent Street’s Collin Nelson is guarded by West Front Road Randolph Wagner (centre) and Hubert Perdo

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.