Guyana Times

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Issue No. 2874

Friday, June 3, 2016

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Security guard hacked to death by drunken husband, cousin injured

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

“Quarters” remanded P8 for robbing retired British soldier

Page 3

Mixed reactions to President’s Private Sector corruption claims Page 17

UK offers help to Guyana’s emerging oil sector

Corentyne piracy attack

Suspects for court today on advice P16 of DPP

Page 9

... Govt should learn from mistakes of oil producing countries – UK Minister

Boat crashes into Harbour Bridge

Avast! A tug boat smashes into the southern rails of the Demerara Harbour Bridge early Thursday morning. Authorities say the small inoperable vessel was anchored somewhere in the vicinity of Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD) when it suddenly drifted away. The accident caused minor damage to the Bridge, but that has already been repaired

Mother reportedly shot in face by reputed husband

Irfaan Ali rubbishes KN ‘manipulations’ of scrap metal audit Page 2

Page 11

GWI Forensic Audit

Baksh says P15 audit intended to embarrass – claims auditors ignored explanations to Board

Police unearth illegal gun, ammunition at Watooka P15 Hilltop – marijuana plants, tent destroyed

Page 15

Security Sector Reform Programme

Focus to be placed on strengthening Police Force – Granger

− may have provided inaccurate information, search continues

Renewal of investment development deal

Barama to know fate

by August

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2 news

friDAY, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Irfaan Ali rubbishes KN ‘manipulations’ of scrap metal audit

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n light of attempts to manipulate the findings of the forensic audit report into the scrap metal trade, former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, who indirectly supervised the operations under the previous Administration has rubbished a recent report in the local tabloid, the Kaieteur News, which he said was“riddled with sensational lies”.

The tabloid published in its Thursday edition, the scandalous article captioned “Scrap Metal Unit audit…

Inspectors, others paid over $43M to do little; CH&PA’s Finance Director, Taslim Baksh, collected two sala-

ries”.

The recently released forensic audit report into the scrap metal trade was prepared by Ram and McRae and stated that it was sus-

picious that no Cabinet approval was given for the purchase of a 4x4 pickup for the Scrap Metal Unit.

However, in a prepared statement, Ali pointed out that the Board of Directors of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) approved the purchase, noting that there was no requirement for Cabinet to grant approval.

Another observation was that there were containers packed in an unlicenced yard, but Ali explained that that was only one instance and in that case, immediate action was taken against the scrap metal dealer to prevent further operations

in the unlicenced yard.

Ali added that it is impractical to observe the movements of scrap metal from collection yards to licenced ones since there were

more than 20 licensed scrap metal yards that would have required the full-time employment of over 20 scrap metal inspectors.

On the matter of the CHPA Finance Director receiving two salaries, Ali posited that he was actually paid a monthly stipend, as is rightfully highlighted in the report.

According to the audit report, the sum of $3.1 million was paid to the administrator for the period 2011 to May 2015, which works out to approximately $58,000 per month.

With regards to the spending on “Mashramani stuff”, Ali explained once again that branded pens, shirts, hats, etc were ordered from time to time from Impressions for distribution at events such as Mashramani and GUYEXPO. He explained that these items were branded with the Scrap Metal Unit logo and the aim was to bring awareness to the work of the Scrap Metal Unit.

The former Minister noted that copy of Ministerial and Head of Presidential Secretariat approval was sent to Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants via letter dated August 19,

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

2015, and some of the branded items such as T-shirts, hats and pens are still on hand and were presented to the forensic auditor during the physical assets verification exercise.

He expressed that it should be noted that the sum of $1.2 million was expended on branded items

for Mashramani and $1.4 million on branded items for GUYEXPO 2014. The audit report has incorrectly classified the entire $2.6 million as ‘Mashramani stuff’.

Ali made previous attempts to clarify the manipulation of data being released from the report when it was leaked to the media prior to its official release.

He had explained that the Unit was transferred for better management given that both sectors had one Minister, and the Scrap Metal Unit and the Enforcement Unit of the CHPA were both viewed as having the capacity that can be interdependent in order to police the system.

“You may recall that one time there was tremendous vandalism of property, even phone lines and so on as it related to the scrap metal trade, so an enforcement arm became necessary for the Scrap Metal Unit,” Ali pointed out, not-

CH&PA Finance Director Taslim Baksh

ing that instead of establishing another enforcement arm, a decision was made to bring it over to the Housing Ministry for more integration.

Furthermore, the then head of the Scrap Metal Trade Unit had argued that the findings in the report are not justified.

Cook charged for stealing from employer

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Kitty, Georgetown man was on Wednesday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for allegedly stealing a quantity of equipment from his employer.

Trenton McLeod, 61, who was employed as a cook in the interior, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for allegedly stealing a quantity of equipment belonging to his boss.

The charge stated that between May 13 and 21, 2016 at Walapati, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni), McLeod stole one

STHIL chainsaw, one impellor, four empty drums and five gallons of Lube Oil valued a total of $265,000, property of Ivor Gullet.

According to Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones, none of the stolen items were recovered by Police.

The unrepresented McLeod pleaded not guilty and told the Court that he was employed with Gullet as a cook in the interior for a while, but was not paid.

He explained that while in the interior he contracted malaria and needed money to pay for treatment, but when he approached his em-

ployer, he was only given $40,000.

The defendant related that the monies were inadequate, but when he informed Gullet that he did not received the additional monies which were owed to him, his employer said that was all that he had and he was not going to give him any more.

McLeod said he then decided to hold the items as ransom until he received his full payment from Gullet.

He was placed on $50,000 bail and would make his next court appearance on June 20, 2016 at the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.

news

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friDAY, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 3 – 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, June 4 – 14:30h-16:00h.

Security guard hacked to death by drunken husband, cousin also injured

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The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 3 – 15:15h-16:45h and Saturday, June 4 – 16:10h-17:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the morning, while light rain showers are expected in the early afternoon and sunny weather in the late afternoon.

Clear skies and light cloud cover can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

13 year abusive marriage ended tragically Wednesday evening after a member of a Community Policing Group hacked his wife to death while injuring her cousin at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Candacy Pitt, 31, also called “Cindy” of Chelsea Park, Mahaica, ECD, was chopped several times to the body by her husband, Althone Pitt, 41, who subsequently surrendered to ranks at the Mahaica Police

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 4.47 metres per second and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:48h and 15:19h reaching maximum heights of 2.75 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:51h and 21:08h reaching minimum heights of 0.44 metre and 0.54 metre respectively.

Injured: Brenda Thomas

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

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Station with the murder weapon in his possession.

Pitt died on the spot while her cousin, Brenda Thomas, 54, who was also chopped twice by the attacker was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to information, Pitt and Thomas are attached to the Home Safe Security Firm and were at the time stationed at Bygeval Secondary School.

The suspect turned up at his wife’s place of employment (school) and requested to meet her at about 21:45h on Wednesday. He was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

Thomas however, based on previous threats, refused to give him access and it was then he carried out the gruesome attack. He first dealt two blows to Thomas and then proceeded to chop his wife who was in the guard hut.

His wife reportedly ran out in an attempt to escape but due to her injuries she collapsed a short distance away. The man went after her and continued to chop the woman until she died.

After committing the act, he turned up at the Mahaica Police Station where he confessed to the murder and handed over the weapon.

At the home of the dead woman, her mother, Yvonne Andrews was inconsolable while flanked by family.

She recalled that her son-in-law was consuming alcohol in the village all day Wednesday and was heard telling people he did not want his wife to work as a guard.

The woman started to work with Home Safe Security Firm six weeks ago.

“He nah wuk… he ah drink the rum… she get a lil wuk, she want money to maintain she self”. The mother recalled that on the faithfull night, her daughter was visiting.

Soon after, there was a power failure and she heard the suspect calling for his wife but she instructed her not to answer. After sometime, and he did not get a response, he left.

After meh know he gone, meh call she cousin who does wuk with she to come collect she but the cousin de done left to go to the school”. Nevertheless, Pitt’s father, who had just arrived home, accompanied her to the school where she met Thomas.

Upon her husband’s return home, Andrews noted that he was confronted by the suspect who claimed that he was going to his brother’s place. At that time, the aggrieved mother saw the cutlass in his hands but did not know his intentions.

“Meh daughter and she cousin went in the guard house and bin ah put up cardboard because de rain de falling… He chop Brenda fuss - one on she belly, one on she back and one on she finger. Then Brenda run way and then he attack Cindy…

He chop she then he turnover she and finish she off, dah ah wah meh hear”.

In tears the woman stated that she received a call from Thomas’ daughter informing her that her daughter was dead. She immediately ran to the school where she saw her daughter’s bloodied body lying in a pool of water and mud.

As she attempted to lift her daughter, she realised that her head was almost severed and her body bore several wounds. She noted that her daughter did not deserve such a horrific death.

As she continued, the

Candacy Pitt and her husband Althone Pitt in happier times

devastated mother told Guyana Times that the man would normally threaten her daughter but she always passed it off as a joke and never reported it.

At the home of Thomas, her son Joel told Guyana Times he was asleep when he heard his mother calling for help. In a panic, he rushed out to check on his mother but the front door would not open, forcing him to jump from the veranda.

As he looked as his mother, she was bleeding from her abdomen and immediately summoned a taxi and took her to the Mahaicony Hospital but she was subsequently transferred.

On their way to the hospital she told him what had transpired. In shock, he noted that he was not surprised at the man’s action, claiming that he had previously threatened his mother.

He was relieved to disclose that his mother is in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, at the scene, several of the woman’s colleagues expressed sadness upon hearing the devastating news. The now dead woman was described as an easy-going person with a lot of potential.

One woman, Millicent Craig, told Guyana Times that the man would frequently visit the woman’s workplace with a cutlass and would carry out threats.

The now dead woman was urged to make an official complaint to the police but she never did.

Pitt leaves to mourn her parents and two siblings.

Her murderer, her husband of 13 years, is expected to be charged shortly.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

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guyana-times.com

fridAY, june 3, 2016

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

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

Editorial

Go Wild for Life

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uyana will be joining the rest of the world over the weekend in observing World Environmental Day 2016 under the theme “Go Wild for Life”, which focuses on the illegal trade in wildlife, promotes zero tolerance of this practice, and calls on everyone to accept a role in protecting endangered and threatened species.

Wildlife trafficking is a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise and the practice has shifted from a conservation concern for many countries to an acute security threat. The increasing involvement of organised crime in poaching and wildlife trafficking promotes corruption, threatens the peace and security of fragile regions, strengthens illicit trade routes, destabilises economies and communities that depend on wildlife for their livelihoods.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, Wildlife crime is a big business. Run by dangerous international networks, wildlife and animal parts are trafficked much like illegal drugs and arms.

By its very nature, it is almost impossible to obtain reliable figures for the value of illegal wildlife trade. Experts at TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, estimate that it runs into hundreds of millions of dollars. Some examples of illegal wildlife trade are well known, such as poaching of elephants for ivory and tigers for their skins and bones In Guyana, Government has taken to the National Assembly a Wildlife Conservation and Management Authority Bill, which aims at having effective conservation and management of the country’s wildlife. This Bill, which was in the making under the previous administration was tabled in Parliament on May 10, 2016 and first read in May 12, 2016. Its current status is its position on the Order Paper of Parliament.

However commendable, this is not the first piece of legislation Guyana is putting in place to protect our endangered species and wildlife. The Wildlife Import and Export Bill, which was tabled in the National Assembly on June 19, 2014 was sent to the Select Committee for fine-tuning.

The objective of the Bill is to create a national framework and mechanisms to govern the international trade of all wildlife species in Guyana; create a supportive mechanism for wildlife conservation and management; avoid measures which can be taken against Guyana; and to provide a framework of licensing and decisions which support core principles of transparency, natural justice and fairness.

The Bill also provides for the establishment of a Wildlife Import and Export Authority, which will be tasked with the management of the international trade of wildlife in Guyana.

This body will be critical in the implementation of this legislation as well as in addressing the challenges faced by the sector.

This Bill seeks to repeal the Species Protection Regulations and establish the Wildlife Import and Export Authority to replace the Wildlife Division.

These regulations make provisions for among other things, penalising the harvesting of prohibited species of wildlife, exporting, re-exporting or importing wildlife without permits and the use of prohibited devices and methods to hunt wildlife.

Penalties for offenders range from G$30,000 to G$750,000 along with prison time.

For the observances to mark this day in 2016, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging people and governments everywhere to overcome indifference, combat greed and act to preserve the natural heritage for the benefit of this and future generations.

The United Nations last month, at the second United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, launched a UN “Wild for Life” global campaign. The campaign asks everyone to pledge to end the illegal trade in wildlife, from ordinary citizens, who can ensure they do not buy prohibited products, to governments, who can pursue change though implementing effective policies to protect species and ecosystems.

Angola, which is this year’s World Environment Day global host, has served notice that it will no longer tolerate the sale of illegal wildlife products, and is strengthening legislation and increasing border controls as part of efforts to restore elephant populations that were devastated by the country’s civil war.

Such action sends a strong message that wild species of plants and animals are a precious commodity that must be sustainably managed and protected from illegal trade.

But even as the world seeks to preserve wildlife predominately endangered species, the skin of Guyana’s national animal, a vanishing animal, is sprawled on the wall of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan’s office. It is urged that in observing World Environmental Day, the minster take this inappropriate decor off his wall as it is not only disrespectful to Guyanese but sends a negative message to the rest of the world on Guyana’s position to truly commit to such an important cause.

A symphony of nature The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest is in its final week. Here is one of the submissions. “In the breathtaking scenery of the Namibrand Park, right at the border of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, an enormous thunderstorm came in and the setting sun created a wonderful rainbow,” says Stefan Forster of his submission (BBC News)

Indeed, constitutional reform not on agenda Dear Editor, Reference is made to Pastor Wendell Jeffrey’s missive in which he argues that constitutional reform will not happen soon (GT June 1). I agree with the Pastor. The country needs a federalist structure so that people can exercise powers rather than career politicians who are unwilling to part with their drunken powers.

The behaviour of the three political parties in parliament does not suggest they are serious about any meaningful constitutional reform. If there is one thing they have in common is to deny the people political powers.

I should note that in my studies on comparative constitutions, virtually no ruling politician in any part of the globe, save few in mature developed countries, has ever willingly reduced his/her powers while in office.

In Guyana, as indeed in almost every country, every party in opposition spoke the language of reform to empower the people. But when in office, they oppose(d) those very reforms they proposed and advocated. That is the nature of politicians.

They hardly mean(t) what they say (said). That is why people should never trust politicians and never take at face value any promises they made (make).

In my trip to Guyana last February, I asked a sitting PPP MP who served in

the last cabinet, to support a court case I wished to file to challenge the legality of the Burnham constitution. I was shocked at his response.

The former minister said he saw nothing wrong with the Burnham constitution, and, therefore will not support any challenge to the constitution.

Apparently, he (as a lawyer) had no issue with the constitution not being approved by the population or the dictatorial powers given to the Chief Executive.

Apparently, he does not feel the people should govern themselves.

I read a report last April where former President Bharrat Jagdeo stated that he has no problem with the Burnham constitution. I had hoped Jagdeo would support reform to give powers to the ordinary folks. But I guess I was mistaken as he too sees no need to allow the people to rule themselves.

The PPP had opposed the constitution between 1980 and 1992 and also opposed the rigged referendum in July 1978 as well as the drafting of the authoritarian constitution that Burnham proclaimed in late 1980.

As Pastor Jeffrey penned, “the PNC is adamantly opposed to any replacement of the Burnham constitution since it was the creation of their hero.

Burnhamites yearn to return to Burnhamism, and, therefore, will not back any move to replace it. The AFC had stated that its first or-

der of business would be to dump the Burnham constitution. In parliament, it made no effort to do so between 2006 and now. The AFC has now completed a year in office. Having now morphed into the PNC (APNU), constitutional reform is no longer a part of AFC’s vocabulary.”

So drafting a new constitution is out the window since all three parties seem pleased with the Burnham constitution. But the people are interested in reform and in exercising powers (to govern themselves). The three parties should at least have the people decide whether they want the Burnham constitution – let them vote on it or whether they want a new constitution or return to the British Constitution of 1966. The parties want the Burnham constitution; they can campaign for it and convince the people on its merit to have an all-embracing powerful government (Executive) that lord over the people worse than under colonial times.

It is noted that Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled that amendments to the Burnham constitution are unconstitutional unless approved by the population in a referendum. The inescapable conclusion from the ruling is that the peoples’ voice matters – the people must approve the constitution or its amendments. That is a wise ruling and it is standard practice in all democracies (even in Afghanistan,

Egypt, Pakistan, etc).

Since the Burnham constitution was never approved in a free and fair referendum, it follows logically, from Justice Chang’s ruling, that the Burnham constitution is unconstitutional. The people should be asked to approve or reject it.

I am of the view that all powers belong to the people.

Government should have very limited, basic powers (such as in the conduct of external affairs, currency, etc).

Virtually all other powers should belong to the people as in the US, Canada and UK. The people should be given maximum powers to manage their own affairs (policing, education, housing, infrastructure, etc) in their communities with their own budget.

The people must demand that they be given a say in the acceptance of the Burnham constitution since the politicians of the three parties want it and have no plan to replace it. Failing that, the people must demand a new constitution with very limited powers given to politicians. Once the people are empowered, the politician’s ability to tap the treasury will be severely reduced.

I urge the PPP to table legislation to take powers away from the central government and give them to the communities.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

guyana-times.com

friDAY, june 3, 2016

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

Allegiance to the Queen Agriculture Road being neglected Dear Editor, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is known to be anti-colonial.

In fact it is not a secret that he is a leftist, being close to Cuba, Venezuela and other communist countries. A move by him in 2009 to remove the Queen as the Head of the multi island state was defeated in a referendum.

However he and his son, Camilo, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs in their own way played down Her Majesty.

Legislation was passed on Tuesday where officials now swearing allegiance will no longer have to do so to the Queen, but now to the Constitution of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

However, Her Majesty re-

mains the Head.

Gonsalves told Parliament that from time immemorial, the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of execution of office has been sworn, in accordance with the existing law to Her Majesty, her heirs and successor. He added that although Her Majesty is the head of state, it does not necessarily follow that you have to swear the allegiance to her. There is no constitutional provision to that effect in our Constitution.

Parliament has made the law and Parliament can change the Oaths of Officials Act. The Prime Minister made it quite clear that he does not expect that in serving the people of SVG “we will not be serving her majesty. But

it is just what is where sense of our primary obligation is, and that is what it is about.

Simply and straight forward.

Gonsalves noted that his son Camilo noted his objection to having to swear allegiance to Her Majesty when he was sworn in as a senator in 2013. The young Gonsalves, who is an attorney, is Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he did the research on the issue.

Jamaicans do not have to swear allegiance to the Queen. In fact SVG took a page from reggae land.

Incidentally Thursday June 2 marked the 64th anniversary when Queen Elizabeth was crowned Queen.

Yours truly, Oscar Ramjeet

GTT is doing guesswork Dear Editor, A Rohan Singh asked recently “Can GTT explain why this is so?” Rohan penned his letter titled “Poor internet service.” He enumerated his issues: very poor and unreliable internet service; social chats such as BBM, Skype, Whatsapp are … a pain and disaster to endure; and “we cannot send/ receive messages, pictures/ images, videos or simply have a video chat.”

Compounding his frustration is that he and so many others are subscribing to the DSL service (Bronze plan – $5000), but over the past five months, they have been robbed, cheated and made victims of a very weak and slow internet service, which GTT claims to be “high speed”. He added that, “We are paying for a service every month which we cannot enjoy and be satisfied with.”

Let me add my bit in sup-

port of Rohan’s message.

We need to remember that this is the age of rapidly advancing technology. The problems listed should have been teething issues, long resolved years ago. Other countries do not have these issues. If and when some negative anomaly comes up, the customers are refunded.

I note that GTT is very quick to disconnect their already ‘way under par’ service, but never willing to discuss refunding for not delivering.

During the Jubilee ‘mayhem’ many visitors were shell shocked at what we refer to as normal, that is, slow and intermittent service. I went through the futile customer service ordeal in front of a visitor, and she was aghast. The case was where I was not getting my paid service, and yet, after a lengthy delay, I was told that my service should be okay, as ‘nothing untoward was showing up.’ I was

then referred to the DSL technicians and given reference numbers for three ‘broken down services’ that I was reporting at the time - one in Mon Repos and two in Annandale. That was like one week ago, and up to this point, I am yet to be contacted. That is vintage and quintessential GTT. So we either go to the court and sue for refunds and ask for compensation on breach of contract (Guyanese are very dormant as most of us are just in-transit here we are awaiting sponsorship maturity), or we endure.

The next time I comment on this matter, I will list the numbers where the defective service is ongoing, as well as the reference ones I was given. GTT, for me, is doing guesswork; they (their technicians) are doing what they know not (about).

Sincerely, Rayon Gaffor

Dear Editor, As a concerned resident and tax payer living in Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, I am concerned about some issues in this road that leads to the Guyana School of Agriculture and NAREI. Not very long ago, I saw a new road built in NAREI compound, in front of the gate, the length of that road is approximately 200 meters long.

What bothers me most is those who came to build this road left three huge holes on the road just in front the bridge. They also left another three bigger pot-holes in front the Guyana School of Agriculture bridge just a few blocks from the NAREI gate.

They built a road in Agriculture Road, yet on their way in the road of about two miles long they left over 30 pot holes, some huge and some smaller.

Even on their way out they just left all these holes and they are the road builders.

They just put a blind eye to this road because of their personal laziness and incompetence.

I guess the administrators at NAREI didn’t reminded them of these pot-holes because they probably felt that these guys building these substandard roads would have used their common sense and sealed these pot-holes with some brick and bitumen. They were shocked to know these pot holes are left, which are getting bigger daily with the rains.

When it rains these holes are filled and drivers unknowingly drop into these holes leading to accidents and serious vehicu-

lar damage, even injuring the drivers and passengers because these pot-holes are very deep.

Just about ten days ago another set of road builders came to build a new road through Market Street that leads to the Mon Repos and BV NDC. They were no better. They did the same, they left all these pot-holes and just built the road through Market Street.

This Agriculture Road is just a few years old and it’s breaking up gradually because no one seems to care at the NDC or NAREI, they just drive on the road.

Most of our roads are badly damaged because no one is maintaining them.

What I see in this country is we left things to be destroyed when it could have been rescued and repaired before its complete destruction.

Only when the Agriculture Minister coming to the Guyana School of Agriculture or the President I will see those at NAREI or the NDC hustling to throw some sand in these pot-holes. Why hustle to build when someone in authority is coming? These educated folks can make representation to the Ministry of Public Works to resurface the bad spots in this road but they just put a blind eye to it until it gets worse.

Another issue I see in this Agriculture Road is residents throwing their garbage in the trench. Just in front the Market Street not far from the GWI tank

residents living their dump all their garbage just at the end of Market Street that leads to the NDC. I wonder if the chairman and those working at the NDC put a blind eye to this pubic menace from these residents, and if they would not serve them a notice for ‘’littering’’ and take them to court.

School children walk this road daily and have to inhale the stench from this pile of garbage and the same residents who live opposite this garbage heap have to inhale the stench but they have become accustomed to this filth, it doesn’t bother them much.

Speeding is another issue in this Road that needs some speed-bumps, over five people were already killed in this Road including an eight-year-old-boy that was struck dead by a speeding car just in front my house a year ago.

Traffic police should be in this road and a speed limit sign should be erected to protect the lives of people from crazy drivers who speed as if they are at the racing track.

I am calling on the Minister of Public Works to get Agriculture Road repaired and other relevant authorities to address this garbage dump by dealing with the residents living there who make this environment a living hell for those walking and driving on the road.

Yours truly, Rev Gideon Cecil

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friday, june 3, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

“The Best Day Ever!” Positive Parenting Unloved daughters and – training positivity in children

By Judith Coche, PhD

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aising children, I realised, is more than fixing what is wrong with them. It is about identifying and amplifying their strengths and virtues and helping them find the niche where they can live these positive traits to the fullest.

I was engaged in a brief bedtime conversation with Sara, my impish and clever youngest granddaughter. “Grammy, can we go to the beach this weekend? I mean, can we really go TO the beach and play on the sand?” six-year-old Sara’s high voice vibrated with enthusiasm as she remembered what she has deemed “my favourite place” I smiled inside as I remembered her Mom, daughter Juliette, asking the same kinds of questions about Stone Harbor, New Jersey at just about the same age. The pure delight in these young voices indicate their positive take on life, and on living.

At six, Sara’s exuberance is simply unforgettable. A photo of her at three, being thrown into the air at sunset by Michael, her competent Daddy, is one of my favourite visual images: her love of life, her delight in flying in the air is evident.

Now, a few years later, her sharp intellect has augmented her delicious take on life. “Of course, Sara.

There will be lots of time to go to the beach this week-

end. We can build a sand castle and maybe even go into the water.”

Sara was with the programme!

“Then I better bring a bathing suit, Grammy.”

But one important detail remained.

“Grammy, can we sleep on our new fuzzy sleeping bags you bought for our new white bunk beds in our room? Last fall I had purchased adorable puppy

sleeping bags that are soft to the touch, and Sara had not seen hers yet. And I just bought Nutella for warm toast and kites for beach runs. I want to hear these kids exclaim, day after day, “Grammy, this is the Best Day Ever!”

“The fuzzy white puppy sleeping bags are waiting for you, with a few surprises I collected for you and Ava. ” Many of us know some tricks to create happy summer times for those we love.

I have planted French lavender to create the perfume of summer and have stocked our freezer with barbecue

‘fixins’ and the makings of steamed shrimp and crab cakes. Summer needs to be delicious!

When life is good, it is wise to keep the good going generation after generation.

Did you ever consider that, with the right road map for parenting, it is possible to help your children live their best lives under all circumstances? Permanent

well-being creates a foundation for interpersonal vibrancy and for resiliency against inevitable danger. To get you ready for a happier life, we offer you well researched tools to create your individualised Happiness Map! Positive Psychology informs us that there are a few qualities needed for a sense of permanent wellbeing: Positivity: Happy people find a positive outlook part of their daily approach to living. Their glass looks half full and they actually seek and find good times in each day.

Engagement: Happy people engage with others easily, spontaneously, and warmly. They sense that the human species cannot survive without deep commitment to others they love.

They love deeply and let others know of their love.

Positive Relationships: A variety of pleasant and frequent interchanges with others make up the days of happy people.

Through personal contact, email, text and phone, they reach out to others to brighten their mutual world.

Meaning: Happy people seek activities that provide them with substance and meaning. They become experts in things they enjoy. They reap benefits from their activities and look forward to their work and their free time.

Achievement:Happy people find it great fun to set a goal and meet it.

Sometimes the goal is as small as finding and planting just the right rose bush.

Sometimes the goal is complex and challenging. But it is fun to look at the rose bush and envision flowers all summer and remember that planting that bush created day after day of pleasure for all who walk by it.

To Consider: If you parent, have you considered how positive your parenting is? How much happier might you and your children be if you set out to integrate positivity, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and achievement into your parenting? Is it too late?

Never! (Excerpted from psychologytoday.com)

the dance of denial

– why it sometimes takes so long to see the damage done in childhood

By Peg Streep

I

t’s a testament to both the centrality and complexity of the mother-daughter relationship that, for many unloved daughters, the recognition of their wounding and its source is late in coming. Some women are in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and even 60s –and, often, mothers or even grandmothers themselves – before they finally begin to understand how their mothers’ treatment of them in childhood has affected – and continues to shape – their lives.

I know this because I hear from them –at Psychology Today, on Facebook, and via email. They always write a variation on this sentence: “How could I not have known for all this time?”

Some unloved daughters know at a very young age –as I did –that their mothers didn’t love them. They “know” it long before they can even put it into words. I was no older than three or four; others say they knew at six, seven, or eight. These daughters (and I am one of them) don’t know why their mothers don’t connect to them; in fact, they are very likely to blame themselves for whatever might be wrong. Additionally, their perceptions don’t stop them from trying to become the kind of daughter their mother would or might love. But they know deep inside nonetheless and, as they get older, they begin to wrestle with the problem. Note t h e word “begin” because this i s a long process, even with therapy.

Why the mother wound is denied or rationalised

What gets in way of a daughter’s seeing her mother’s behaviour as hurtful, destructive, or even wilful? Part of it is certainly the hardwired need for a mother’s love and approval which is part and parcel of every infant’s being; this need doesn’t appear to have an expiration date and lasts long into adulthood and, perhaps, the entire life span. This is what one daughter wrote, reflecting on her mother’s death, which captures many of the feelings the unloved daughter has: "She was on her deathbed and someone said, “Do you want to tell Linda you love her?” My mother answered “no.” Of course, I rationalised her behaviour because it felt better than thinking I was unloved. I rationalised her behaviour for years, but it never helped my pain. I would tell people she behaved that way because she was “sick”, because she grew up with a detached mother herself, because she was abused…I barely cried when she died and cried more when I had to put a beloved dog to sleep.

Why did I rationalise? Who wants anybody to know that they were unloved by their mother? I think that on some level I felt that if my mother couldn’t love me, how could anyone else?"

That fear –that her mother is right, that she is ultimately unlovable –underlies much of a daughter’s denial.

Mix that in with a sense of shame at being “the only girl in the world whose mother doesn’t love her” –an easy conclusion to reach when the culture preaches not just the idealisation of motherhood but insists that maternal love is “instinctual” which it is not. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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friday, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Gunmen storm Region 4 RDC office, escape with cash

F

our gunmen in the wee hours of Thursday morning stormed the Region Four Regional Democratic Office, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, and carted off an undisclosed sum of money after torching two safes.

Guyana Times understands that at about 02:00h, four men armed with handguns, invaded the RDC office compound from the back where they relieved one of two security guards of his cash and other valuables.

The men then tied up the

guards and made their way into the building where they torched two safes and escaped with an undisclosed sum of money.

From reports, the two guards managed to free themselves and contacted the Beterverwagting Police

Station.

Investigators have since dusted the area for fingerprints and took statements from the guards.

No arrests have been made. Attempts to contact the regional executive officer proved futile.

Bandits invade M&M Snackette

F

ive heavily armed bandits carted off with in excess of $3.5 million from the M&M Snackette, located at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara.

The incident reportedly occurred around 01:40h on Tuesday morning.

According to Director of the establishment, Mahendra Mookram, he received a telephone call from his guard attached to the outlet who informed him of the crime.

“I received a call from one of my junior guards, I have two junior guards because my senior guard passed away recently, telling me to come quick

quick,” Mookram explained.

Mookram reverted to his video surveillance system to see what had happened. The five men dressed in masks and gloves and armed with guns, crowbars, nippers and axes, made their way through a hole they cre-

ated in the fence at the back of the compound.

The men then turned their attention to the four workers on site – two construction workers and two guards – tying them up before making their way to the office.

The thieves broke through the grilled win-

dows and doors of the office, ransacking it in search of the cash.

When the men found the last locked cupboard, they nipped the lock open and found canisters containing a quantity of cash which Mookram said he had stored to pay his contractor for the works being done on the premises.

The men then made good of their escape.

M&M Snackette is no stranger to robberies as they recently suffered heavy losses in November 2015, when bandits carted off with millions that was being stored, as construction of the new building was scheduled to commence.

Police find illegal gun, ammunition at Watooka Hilltop

– marijuana plants, tent destroyed

R

anks of Police E Division (Linden/ Kwakwani) on Thursday morning conducted searches at West Watooka Hilltop, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) during which they found an unlicensed firearm and ammunition along with a quantity of marijuana.

Police spokesman Superintendent Jiram Ramlakhan in a report said acting on information, sometime around 08:00h ranks went to a West Watooka Hilltop residence where they conducted a search add found a .38 snub-nosed revolver and five matching rounds of ammunition.

In addition, the ranks also uncovered four grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana). A male occupant was arrested and charges will be instituted shortly.

However, sometime after, the said team of officers received additional information and went further up West Watooka Hilltop,

where they found a one-acre plot of land cultivated with marijuana plants measuring 1 to 7 feet. A 10x12 tarpaulin tent was also found nearby.

Both the plants and tent were destroyed; however, no one was arrested.

Investigations are continuing.

Miner charged for illegal possession of gun, ammo

A

Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD) miner was on Thursday denied bail

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was slapped with two counts of illegal ammunition and gun possession charges.

Roberto Miggins, 25, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 31,2016, in the NWD he had one .38 revolver in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.

He also denied the other charge which stated on the same day at the same location, he had in his possession five rounds of .38 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Defence Attorney Euclin Gomes told the court the gun and ammunition were found in the riverine area of the mining camp, and his client being the only person there at the time, apart from law enforcement, was accused.

Gomes made an application for reasonable bail to be granted to his client on this ground. However, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers objected to bail and told the Court that no special reason

Roberto Miggins

was provided by the defence.

The prosecution’s facts stated on the day in question, the firearm was found in the pocket of the accused. Jeffers also added that a caution statement was tendered, where the defendant admitted to being the owner of the gun and ammunition.

Miggins was remanded to prison until August 3, 2016, when the matter would be heard in the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

8 news

friDAY, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS

Eyew tness

“Quarters” remanded for robbing retired British soldier Good old days...

J I

ose Barker, 35, called “Quarters” of 34 Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, was on Thursday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before her charged with robbing a retired British soldier visiting Guyana.

Barker pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on May 30, 2016 at Croal Street, Georgetown, he robbed Edward Constant of one gold chain valued

Jose Barker, called “Quarters”

G$180,000. He was also accused of using personal violence against Constant during the robbery.

Barker was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson who in an application for bail told the court his client is innocent and is a victim of mistaken identity.

He further argued that since the matter was laid indictable the case will more than likely not be tried anytime soon.

He also stated that the Magistrates’ Courts are overloaded with cases and

the victim should not be given preference for the reason he is of a British nationality.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers successfully objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence and its prevalence.

Jeffers told the court the accused was positively identified by Constant during an ID parade, hence his apprehension.

He added that the stolen item was not recovered.

Magistrate McLennan denied bail and Barker was remanded to prison.

He will return to court on June 16, 2016.

According to reports Constant, who is in Guyana to celebrate the country’s Golden Independence Anniversary in keeping with a pledge he made 50 years ago, told the media that on Monday morning while sightseeing around the Stabroek Market area, he felt someone grab his shirt from behind and pulled it, in the process, grabbed his gold chain to which was attached a diamond-crested ring.

“As he pulled it, he came towards me and I hit him.

It was more out of temper, because I saw his face for about a second and I just punched him to the side of the head and he was gone,” the former soldier related.

Constant said the stolen items means a lot to him: “My wife bought me the gold chain… she bought me a gold chain before she died and I put her wedding ring and her engagement ring on it and it’s gone,” the old soldier lamented.

Although he spoke of one man, Constant said he was told by the police that the perpetrators were two youths.

Constant was in Guyana back in 1966 to lower the Union Jack when Guyana gained independence from Britain and promised to return when the country turns 50.

Case dismissed against assault accused

T

he case against a Linden taxi driver accused of assault causing actual bodily harm was dismissed by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday when the virtual complainant (VC) in the case refused to give evidence against the driver in court.

The defendant, Samuel Paul, 32, of Lot 9 Silvertown, Wismar, appeared at the Linden Magistrates Court in relation to the matter.

It is alleged he unlawfully and maliciously assaulted the VC, Joyann McCurdy, 21, at West Watooka, Wismar, on Sunday 22 May. However, when the case was called Wednesday the VC, stating that she was neither forced nor coerced into making the decision she does not wish to proceed with the evidence.

The case was dismissed.

...in bauxite

t's been a whole century we've been mining bauxite in Guyana. Imagine that! 1916 to 2016. And in that simple fact lies a not-so simple reality. Imagine our bauxite supplied most of the aluminium to build the Allied warplanes that made them win WWII yet today, the community that actually performed the labour is in ruins. Panhandling for subsidies for its electricity.

Bauxite reminds us that Walter Rodney could've just as well written a book, "How Canada and the US Underdeveloped Guyana". "Underdevelopment", he taught us, is different from "undeveloped". The former is the result of conscious decisions to ensure that a country doesn't develop past the production of primary products...while the latter is simply the consequence of lack of capital or technology to utilise our resources lying around.

Bauxite is the ore from which we produce aluminium... and the price for the latter is at least 30 times the former.

That's a helluva lot of "value added". To transform bauxite to aluminium you first have to purify it into "alumina" and this is the furthest the Canadian Company went with adding value to our product.

But they could've taken it all the way to aluminium.

This needs a helluva lot of electricity – and this is where our "underdevelopment" kicked in. The Canadians shipped the Alumina and Bauxite all the way to near Niagara Falls which they'd harnessed to generate the needed electricity. But just as how they cleared forests to get at our bauxite, they could've utilised our abundant waterfalls and produced aluminium right here. But they never did!

And this was one of the reasons Burnham wanted that Mazaruni Hydro Power Project going back in the 1970s.

He'd nationalised the bauxite industry, but discovered he was still caught in the maws of the international syndicate that markets the product and ensured we continued receiving a pittance. We still had to retain Phillips Bros – a South African company, even as we opposed apartheid – as our marketing agent.

But keeping the manufacturing of aluminium in Canada also allowed the Canada Company – ALCAN to charge itself whatever price it wanted for the ore – to "show" it wasn't making profits. But our bauxite collapsed for another reason – politicisation. While he felt he had to place political appointees to run bauxite – Burnham eventually had to complain how the "comrades" on the work floor felt they didn't have to work any longer.

Our falling productivity caused the Chinese to replace our high-valued calcined bauxite market with their inferior product – because we couldn't deliver on time.

Let's remember our whole story – after a hundred years of underdevelopment.

...of public hangings

With the crime rate stubbornly clinging to the stratosphere, lots of citizens are clamouring for the hangman's noose to be reintroduced for serious crimes.

Even the regime of the late departed Desmond Hoyte invokes nostalgia for the "good old days" of "hang 'em high" justice. And this was only back in 1988 or so when he decided Guyana had enough of "kick down the door" banditry! Imagine if we bring back the "cat o' nine" tail from the 19th Century!

The debate became even sharper when the President's declared he's all for a new "softer and gentler" regime for lawbreakers. In fact, he believes even if the law demands some transgressors must be jailed for certain crimes, he's decided this route is too draconian. He's pardoned – and will continue to pardon – some he feels are "redeemable".

"Go and sin no more" is his motto. Maybe so, says the Opposition, but could we know the names of the pardoned, so we can take care?

...of free money

Your Eyewitness is a tad confused on the $9B outstanding in student loans – much of it from the rich and famous. Isn't there a means test for accessing these loans?

If there isn't, aren't we creating a "moral hazard" for these morally challenged persons??

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

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friday, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

UK offers to help Guyana's Body of Linden emerging oil sector suicide victim

recovered

... Govt should learn from mistakes of oil producing countries – UK Minister

W

ith Guyana on the verge of becoming an oil-producing state, United Kingdom Minister of Africa, Caribbean and Overseas Territories James Duddridge has noted that the country should learn from the mistakes of others in order to have a thriving oil sector.

Duddridge was at the time responding to questions from the local media on whether the UK will assist the Guyana Government in developing the oil sector here.

The British Minister, who is on a familiarisation tour of the Caribbean, said this is an area in which the UK is definitely willing to help.

“Obviously we have a lot of experience in oil exploration given the North Sea reserves so we got quite a lot of technical expertise,” he stated, while adding there are a number of UK companies involved in oil exploration and may be interested in expanding operations here.

However, the British Minister cautioned Guyana not be solely or too dependent on sectors such as oil for economic support. He noted that the Guyanese Government should take notes from other oil-producing nations in order to prevent any downfall.

“There are a lot of international examples in relation to the oil industry as to how you can really reap the rewards of oil while avoiding some of the obvious mistakes that have been made

elsewhere around the world without wasting an opportunity,” he remarked.

Moreover, Duddridge went on to outline that while it might be part of a country’s supply economy, it is not the single answer to its problem. “Perhaps that’s where we can be useful in how oil can be part of a prosperous Guyana; but it’s never going to be the single thing that drives the country,” he posited.

The British MP further stressed that it is very unstable to focus on one commodity since the private sector is more into diversity and adding values to commodities through manufacturing and creating end products that are more profit-valued and taxations are retained.

Investment incentives

On the other hand, with Guyana being ranked 137th among countries around the world that are on the “Ease of Doing Business” list, the British minister believes the country should be looking at ways to improve the formal and legal procedures to ensure efficiency, so overseas businesses can become interested in investing here.

In fact, Duddridge told reporters that this is an area his government is also willing to help Guyana enhance. He noted that some of the basic things that need to be improved are: speed of time to get company information, opening a bank account, registering of a land,

United Kingdom Minister of Africa, Caribbean and Overseas Territories James Duddridge

registering to pay taxes, having clear payment processes in place and a clarity on labour relations. He opined that this can only be achieved when there is cooperation from leaders.

“It doesn’t take a transformation overnight, but what is the most important thing in the international community is a positive trajectory in leadership from democratic and elected politicians, and if you have that countries get the investments,” the British MP stressed.

He went on to say that such an environment creates a virtuous circle whereby companies make profits, they pay large amounts on taxation and taxes are then spent by democratic and elected politicians thus further developing the country and paving way for more investments.

Cashier charged with unlawful wounding

A

32-year-old cashier pleaded not guilty to unlawful wounding on Thursday when she appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.

Stacy Rodney, of

Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse to answer to the charge which stated that on Monday,

May 23, 2016, she wounded a male name only given as “Neville” in Bagotville.

Rodney was placed on $25,000 bail. She will return to court on July 22, 2016.

“It becomes a virtuous circle. I see that time and time again in different countries that I’ve travelled as a Minister but it does take quite a focus on making it easier to do business. If you do that people will come, people will invest and it’s not only about international and regional investors but making it easier for people who live here, to invest rather than simply send their money elsewhere… that doesn’t make any sense when there is so many great opportunities here in Guyana,” Minister Duddridge stated.

The British minister further pointed out that investors see Guyana as a hub for both the Caribbean and South America, especially since it is an Englishspeaking country. He said its geographical location gives Guyana a “pretty unique competitive” advantage. He added too that this is compounded by the fact Guyana has a good work force, an educated work force and the availability of land and resources. “You got a lot going for you,” he said.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn stated they will be meeting with the Guyana Minister of Business soon and identifying specific areas the UK can help to improve the way business is done locally by sharing experience and expertise.

– Regional Chairman calls for disaster preparedness management

T

he body of a Linden woman who plunged to her death off the Mackenzie- Wismar Bridge in the Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) community on Tuesday morning was recovered on Thursday morning.

E Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander Calvin Brutus confirmed on Thursday that the partly decomposed body of the victim, identified as 24-year-old Tabitha Small of Central Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden washed ashore at the Demerara River and was discovered around 06:00h in the vicinity of the Wismar Municipal Market.

A Police source in Linden confirmed that the woman was diagnosed with tuberculosis approximately two years ago and was on Monday admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) around 15:10h after experiencing a series of fainting spells. This newspaper understands that she was discharged from the Hospital at approximately 08:30h on Tuesday and went straight to the Bridge.

Meanwhile, Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian has made calls for systems of disaster preparedness management to be put

Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian

in place in the community, so as to deal with such issues which may arise in the Region.

He noted that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Police in the Region were unprepared to deal with such a tragedy since they were not properly equipped to assist in retrieving the body.

Morian said he would be requesting funding to have the Region get on board with disaster preparedness management, emphasising that it was an important component, at which the Council needed to take a serious look.

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guyana-times.com

friDAY, june 3, 2016

News

Guyanese Doctor attends New, faster water ambulance training on improving for St Monica and Karawab maternal health in Japan – thanks to FFTP and Courts

A

s part of the continuous efforts to improve maternal health in Guyana, the Public Health Ministry’s focal person for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Dr Oneka Scott is attending a one-month Maternal Health Training Programme in Japan.

The training, which commenced on Thursday and will run until July 10, is being conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The main objective of the programme is to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality.

Dr Scott has been a physician for some seven years and joined the Public Health Ministry as the focal person for adolescent health and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, in September last year.

The Ministry, and by extension the Government of Guyana, has a mandate to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, thus improving family health as a whole. It is for this reason that it is working closely with JICA to train personnel in the area of maternal health.

The one-month training programme in Japan is offered to countries aiming to strengthen their strategies

Dr Oneka Scott is currently attending a one-month Maternal Health Training Programme in Japan

to reinforce “continuum of care” at the community level so as to contribute to the improvement of maternal health.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the policies and administration of health in Japan, the nursing education system and the roles of various health stakeholders, including maternity centres, health centres, hospitals, and universities.

Through the lectures and field visits, participants will gain ideas and garner solutions for solving community health issues in their countries, and make an educational plan for nurses, midwives and

health workers.

Insight will also be gained into addressing bottlenecks of health systems for maternal and child survival by delivering a more effective package of preventive and clinical interventions for maternal and child health at both community and facility levels.

Creating linkages between communities and facilities through the introduction of innovative strategies and scaling-up high-impact child health interventions will also be explored during the training.

Rapid progress in some countries demonstrates that when Governments take strategic approaches to safe motherhood, changes can be made to maternal health nationwide.

These approaches can ensure the “continuum of care” during the period from pre-pregnancy to postpartum by deploying skilled birth attendants, ensuring adequate essential supplies, making family-planning accessible and providing timely obstetric care.

Increasing health-seeking attitudes among the people towards reproductive health and safe motherhood can also play a major role in improving maternal health.

The new water ambulance gifted to the St Monica and Karawab communities

By Indrawattie Natram

A

iling residents residing in the St Monica and Karawab Amerindian communities in the Upper Pomeroon River in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) will be easily transported to Hospitals on the Coastland much easier/ faster with the gift that was presented to them.

Food For the Poor Guyana (FFTP) on Wednesday handed over a spanking new water ambulance along with a 40hp out-board engine to the community. The boat measuring 22 x 7.5 feet is named “ASHA” and will be used to transport patients from the two villages to Charity.

According to the CEO of FFTP Kent Vincent, the construction of the boat was funded by Food for the Poor in collaboration with kind donors from the United States of America, while Courts (Guyana) Inc donated the engine. The donation is in keeping with

FFTP’s month-long 25th Anniversary Celebrations.

Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony the CEO said a water ambulance was a necessity for the two communities and called on residents from both communities to take good care of it. He pledged FFTP’s continued support to the community.

Toshoa of the Amerindian Community James Miguel expressed gratitude to both FFTP and Courts for the health boost. Miguel said the Water Ambulance provides relief for sick people in the community and described the initiative as a “useful asset” for the community.

Previously, he explained, health workers had to endure the arduous task of transporting patients, especially in the nights, by whatever means. It was explained oftentimes patients would die before reaching the Coastland.

Managing director of

Courts Clyde De Hass spoke of the company’s willingness to partner with FFTP. De Hass said Courts was inspired by the struggles residents go through in the community to access medical services. He also commended the efforts of FFTP in reaching out to persons throughout Guyana.

Health Worker of St Monica Rozeeta Simon also expressed excitement that she would be using a faster boat to transport patients.

She explained that previously it took three hours to get emergency cases to the Coast.

The community was equipped with a water ambulance powered by a 15hp engine.

A resident, Diane Samuels, expressed gratitude on behalf of residents and also the St Monica Village Council.

St Monica Amerindian community is located some 35 miles from Charity and has a population of 1000.

friDAY, june 3, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

Security Sector Reform Programme

Focus to be placed on strengthening Police Force – Granger

H

aving received the analysis of the needs assessment that was conducted by a United Kingdom mission earlier this year, President David Granger has outlined that the revived Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP) will focus on enhancing the Guyana Police Force.

Updating media operatives on a meeting he had with the British officials, the Guyanese Head of State noted that the analysis done examined the security needs of the country with a view of restoring some form of security cooperation before Guyana and the UK. However, Granger noted that strengthening the Police Force and policing activities on the whole was the main concern of his Administration, so the SSRP would be centred on this.

“The main thrust of the

SSRP would be improving the Police Force, improving law enforcement particularly in terms of interdicting the serious crimes such as gun running, narco trafficking and other forms of criminality such as murders, executions – and also looking at strengthening the CID (Criminal Investigations Department),” the President stated.

The analysis report was handed over to the President by UK Minister of Africa, Caribbean and Overseas Territories, James Duddridge, who is currently on a familiarisation tour in the Caribbean as part of Britain’s renewed efforts to strengthen relations with the Caribbean Region.

During a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron in September last year, President Granger requested that the multimillion-

the UK Government could assist in executing the plan.

However, British High Commissioner to Guyana Gregory Quinn noted that the Guyana Government would consider the report and then say what areas it wanted the UK to help with.

“This is not a case of us producing a report and saying ‘this is what you’re going to do and this is when you’re going to do it and this is how you’re going to do it’. It’s ‘here is the situation, we’re here to help you on this and we’ll come and to talk to you, after you digest the report, to see what the next steps are in terms of what we can do,” Quinn explained at a press briefing on Tuesday.

Moreover, Minister Duddridge added that the UK stood ready to help the Guyanese Government to carry out some of the actions advised in the analysis and have expertise on hand to assist. Additionally, he pointed out that international partners were also there to help since the UK may not be readily available as it related to proximity and availability of resources among other areas.

their customary lands.

This principle means that those who wish to use the customary lands belonging to indigenous communities must enter into negotiations with them. It is the communities who have the right to decide whether they will agree to the project or not once they have a full and accurate understanding of the implications of the project on them and their customary land. As most commonly interpreted, the right to FPIC is meant to allow for indigenous peoples to reach consensus and make decisions according to their customary systems of decision-making.

The Minister pointed out that while the consultation process should have been at a more advanced level, Government is keen on involving all the indigenous peoples and their representatives. Therefore, the South Indigenous Group is heavily involved in the revision and amendment of the Act. “We believe that some of the things could be easily amended to allow us to move the process of land settlements…We are encouraging other indigenous groups and organisations to help to come up with ideas that will assist in moving the process forward,” Allicock declared.

President David Granger along with UK Minister of the Caribbean James Duddridge (right) and British High Commissioner to Guyana Gregory Quinn following the meeting on Tuesday evening

dollar Reform Programme be revived. But, before the Programme can kick into effect, a new assessment had to be done since the security sector in Guyana has changed significantly since the last assessment was done.

The assessment was completed in the first quarter of the year. The analysis that was prepared by the UK assessment mission focused on the current state of the local security sector and contains an action plan going forward as well as how

Amerindian Act 2006 to be amended – Allicock

T

he Amerindian Act of 2006 is set to be amended following the completion of the consultation process which is currently underway.

The Amerindian Act of 2006 was intended to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the indigenous people, including the right to life, liberty, expression, movement and the protection from slavery and forced labour.

However, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock posited that the current Act left much to be desired as it inadequately covered Amerindian rights, especially as it pertained to

land rights. As such, he related that an amendment of the Act was necessary so as to address and resolve many of the conflicts surrounding land rights within indigenous communities.

He revealed that the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry has already commenced consultations with stakeholders, including village leaders and the Nationals Toshaos Council (NTC), on the revision of the Act. Allicock went on to explain that the issue of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), which is enshrined in the Act, has been ignored

throughout the years. As such, the consultation will be placing emphasis on the issue. FPIC is the principle that a community has the right to give or withhold its consent to proposed projects that may affect the lands they customarily own, occupy or otherwise use. FPIC is now a key principle in international law and jurisprudence related to indigenous peoples.

It implies informed, non-coercive negotiations between investors, companies or governments and indigenous peoples prior to the development and establishment of oil palm estates, timber plantations or other enterprises on

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

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friDay, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

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friDay, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

PPP D’Urban Park ‘mistreatment’

Jagdeo urges supporters, country to move forward

W

hile the flag-raising event on the evening of May 25, 2016 remains a sorrowful one for members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is urging all to put the matter behind us and move forward.

Following the ‘chaotic’ seating arrangements during the flag-raising ceremony for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary,

which left scores of PPP/C Members of Parliament standing in the VIP box, the former President said it was time for the country to move forward.

He was speaking to Journalists at the Party’s headquarters on Wednesday, stating that while the situation hurt, it would not help if everyone continued to dwell on the past.

“We could have done better. Really, it pains me.

Because it is our country, regardless of who is in power now. It’s the image of our country that matters and things that are so simple…basic things could have been done better,” he told Journalists as he recounted the event.

“It was a clear case not of just protocol, just of decency.

If you invite people, particularly Members of Parliament, they should be seated. You cannot have them being hu-

miliated standing in the corner. All the protocols were respected,” he said.

Jagdeo said the decision to walk out of the event was not an indication of disrespect to the event nor the country, stressing that his Party and its members remained committed to Guyana.

“I don’t think anyone can question the patriotism of PPP people. I have been President of this country for 12 years and so, a lot of the

decisions on the integrity of our borders, national security and well-being was in my hands. So I respect all the symbols of nationhood and all of us respect this country. But what sort of leader would I be if I did not show that this is unacceptable?” he said.

On the night of the incident, Jagdeo expressed disappointment that his Party was left embarrassed when its MPs turned up at

the D’Urban Park arena to be part of the activities to mark the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary, but could not because most of them were left without seats.

He said an effort was made to correct the situation, but after some 30 minutes standing, nothing was done.

The PPP MPs all dubbed the situation disrespectful, and the group, led by Jagdeo, walked out of the event.

14 NEWS

friday, june 3, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Shot teen waitress still to undergo surgery

A

lmost one week after she was shot in the chin, 16-yearold waitress Onika Luke is still awaiting surgery at the Woodlands Hospital to have the bullet lodged in her throat removed, relatives have said.

Luke, a student of St John’s College who works part-time as a waitress at the Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, was shot by a lone gunman while at work on Friday.

According to the teenager’s brother, Rickford Ranjee, doctors have delayed the surgery until the young woman’s condition improves.

Ranjee told Guyana Times that his sister was still a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.

He, however, complained

that doctors have not been adequately updating his family about Luke’s condition apart from indicating that she would be cleared for surgery after the blood clotting had reduced.

He said the delayed surgery was putting a significant financial burden on the family.

“From Friday night to yesterday (Tuesday), we had to pay over $1 million for Onika’s treatment because we are still waiting for the surgery,” he disclosed.

Luke is still unable to speak and the family has observed that she is having difficulties in moving around. Ranjee related when doctors were questioned about what might be the cause of her difficulties, no answers were provided.

“She can’t talk or anything and they had to bore a hole in her throat and

Onika Luke

use a tube so that she can breathe. We think her spine was damaged too, but doctors can’t confirm it yet,” he related.

In the meantime, the family is hoping that doctors operate quickly on the young lady so that she can begin her recovery.

On the evening of May 27, about 22:45h, Luke was on duty when a lone custom-

er entered the restaurant and ordered a half serving of vegetable fried rice.

After paying for his order, the man allegedly held on to Luke’s hand, while pointing a firearm at her and demanding that she handed over the cash.

Reports are that the teenager put up a fight and it was during this that the man discharged a round in her direction, hitting the St John’s College student in the chin.

She was picked up and rushed to the hospital.

At the hospital, the teenage girl provided a written description of her attacker who was said to be the same man who had threatened to kidnap her a few days earlier.

She had noted that the man has a tattoo on his neck and frequented the restaurant.

Renewal of investment development deal

Barama to know fate by August

T

he Malaysian-owned Barama Company Limited will by August of this year know its fate as Government will decide whether or not it would continue its operations in Guyana.

The company’s 25-year Investment Development Agreement comes to an end in October later this year, and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said Government was still to make a decision on the way forward for the company.

“Cabinet has given the approval since last year for Government to enter into negotiations with Barama.

That has been an ongoing process. We have been meeting pretty often and I hope to lay something before Cabinet by August for its consideration,” the Natural

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Resources Minister told Guyana Times on Monday.

He said following his presentation to Cabinet, a decision would be made.

Trotman said Government remained com-

mitted and had no difficulties in doing business with foreign companies; however, its criteria were pretty simple.

“Respect our laws, respect the people, particularly those who work for you, and respect your agreements that you signed,” he indicated.

Government, in February of this year, commenced discussions on the possibility of renewing the $43 billion-dollar investment in Guyana.

Late last year, Minister Trotman visited the company’s Buck Hall, Essequibo operations and met with the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Choo Siong Liew; General Manager Mohindra Chand, and Senior Manager with responsibility for Human Resources, Patricia Mingo.

During that tour, Chand had reiterated that the company was determined to continue its operations in Guyana, stating that while it was faced with many challenges, it was committed to never closing its operations.

Barama’s operations consist of forest management, timber harvesting and manufacturing of various wood-based products such as plywood, sawn timber, and flooring products.

The Barama Company established its operations in Guyana in 1991, and is one of Guyana’s biggest employers, employing approximately 1000 Guyanese. It has been allocated some 1.6 million hectares of the State production forest and has been operating the largest forest concession in Guyana.

Indians and the Independence Jubilee

N

ow that the Jubilee Independence Celebrations are over, I suspect many like myself who were here for the inaugural event would have had thoughts from fifty years ago rise to the fore. I was a Third Former and distinctly remember my friends and I being quite sceptical anyone would refer to our country by its new name “Guyana”.

Wasn’t Ravi Dev “B.G.” our name from time immemorial?

After the ethnic disturbances between 1962 and 1964 that preceded independence in 1966, another clear memory was the event being seen as a “PNC” thing. The elections of 1964 was a most polarising one and pulled an astonishing 97% of the voters to the polls. If there ever was an ethnic census, this was one. My grandfather who raised me, had always been a supporter of Jang Bahadur’s Singh and was quite sceptical of the “radical” Cheddi Jagan. Yet he unhesitatingly voted for Jagan in ‘64.

In my village of Uitvlugt, the predominantly African section - “Cashbah” - settled as far back as the abolition of slavery - had become even more uni-ethnic; as had the other sections with their Indians. I doubt there were many Indian Guyanese who attended the independence celebrations in Georgetown. But I know none from the village went to the function that unveiled the Independence Arch on the Main Street in Casbah.

The selection of May 26 as the date for Independence by the PNC/UF government struck a raw nerve among Indians and I remember most adults agitatedly discussing the “provocation”. The date was the last of three days of “ethnic cleansing” in what is now called Linden - when three Indians were killed, dozens injured, 200+ homes razed and 3000+ Indian men women and children evacuated to Georgetown.

A month-and-a-half later, a ferry from Georgetown to Linden was blown out of the water and almost 40 Africans perished. In 1966, “both sides” still nursed their grievances.

But what was it that caused the paltry participation of Indians in last week’s Jubilee Celebrations, at the National Park? I’m sure it’s not lingering resentment over “Wismar”.

Even though a 2008 survey by Red Thread on the effects of the then Buxton-based violence on women on the East Coast showed that several relocated Wismar-victims still remembered the 1964 events (as did persons in Linden), this memory was not widespread.

While some suggest the PPP might have told their supporters to stay away from the festivities no one has really taken this seriously. And this leaves us with two other possible explanations: Firstly, after 1966, the PNC downplayed the commemoration of Independence in favour of Republic Day after the success of the first Mashramani celebrations in Linden in 1970. Mashramani was brought to Georgetown and promoted annually by the Government there and in the Regions. Indians were not culturally attracted to the activities of the Carnival “imitation”.

In 1980, Burnham fused “Mass Games”, that was inspired and facilitated by North Korea, into Republic Day celebrations. Most Indian parents resented the compulsory mobilisation of their children in school to participate in what they saw as the further glorification of Burnham. His massive portrait formed by thousands of children holding synchronised coloured cards convinced them the probably apocryphal story of emphasising Republic Day because it was only three days after Burnham’s birthday, was “true”.

Ironically, after its initial demurral, the PPP objected to the PNC’s shift of national celebrations away from Independence Day to Republic Day. And it was on the initiative of the PPP that May 26 was declared a National Public Holiday in 2004. But after some initial objections by its Minister of Culture Dale Bisnauth, the PPP pulled all the stops out from the 1990’s to get their supporters to come out and support Mash. Their success was spotty and more Indians came as spectators than participants.

In my opinion, if the government had included the Opposition PPP in the planning and execution of the Jubilee Celebrations, there would have been greater participation from this segment of the populate. Especially since it might have been less “Afro-Centric”, as even supporters of the government pointed out.

friday, june 3, 2016

guyana-times.com

News

GWI forensic audit

Baksh says audit intended to embarrass – claims auditors ignored explanations to Board

F

ormer Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Shaik Baksh, believes the forensic audit into the utility which accused him of financial improprieties and abuse of power, is aimed at embarrassing him and witch-hunting top executives.

According to the audit report released by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, it was found that Baksh, while at the helm of GWI, had breached established company policies and procedures, and abused his authority.

Among some of the allegations levelled against the former CEO during emergency meeting on May 28, 2015, are: alleged procurement of ‘political’ billboards for the May 11, 2015 elections campaign; the misuse of cash advances for site visits, abuse of authority in using the company assets, overriding company policies, among others However in a statement on Tuesday Baksh explained that an internal audit was already conducted and explanations proffered to the board about the allegations.

He further noted that the auditor – Ram and McRae Chartered Accountant – did not seek any explanations from him on the various matters listed under the item Chief Executive Officer in the report.

“This is a clear breach of professional and international auditing standards and procedures. Further, the Auditor intentionally excluded my detailed explanation to the Board of Directors in June 2015 since a hearing was conducted on these

Former GWI CEO Shaik Baksh

same matters,” the former GWI head stated.

He explained that the board had even taken a decision on the matter and this was communicated to him via a letter dated June 17, 2015. In that letter, Baksh said, having reviewed his response to the various queries raised by the Internal Auditor, the board was dissatisfied with the explanation provided with respect to the accident involving vehicle PPP 9050. The vehicle, belonging to the company, was being driven by the former CEO’s son at the time of the accident.

In this regard, Baksh said the board requested he repay the assessed valuation of the vehicle in the sum of $4,500,000, to which he agreed. He noted that repayment commenced in July 2015 and will end in June 2016.

“I tendered my resignation from GWI which the board accepted by waiving the required three months’ notice and paying me all the benefits. The question to be asked is: why did the forensic auditor intentionally reproduced the Internal Auditor’s report to the Board and did not include my responses to each of the matters,” the for-

mer CEO pointed out.

Baksh believes it was the auditor’s objective to suppress information that would have “miniaturised and obliterated his frivolous findings. The initiation of an investigation against the CEO was the result of external directives to the chairman of the board after the May 11, 2015 Elections, and is meant to embarrass and witch-hunt top executives and replace them with persons affiliated to the new regime,” he added.

Moreover, the former GWI head explained that as it relates to the advances for site visits, they were all cleared by him and approved by the Director of Finance and no query was ever raised.

All these site visits were made in furtherance of the Hinterland Water Strategy and in keeping with the advances taken, he said, while noting that the relevant regional officers, village councils and communities in the various regions would be able to attest to this.

He further stated that the contract of employment, which he accepted, was drawn up by the relevant authorities in terms of remunerations and conditions of service and that payment of gratuity was based on good leadership and management provided by him.

“The many managerial initiatives, innovation, systems improvements and strategies implemented can easily be found in GWI’s documentation. All of these were designed to turn the Utility around, having regard to the state of the company when I took over as Chief Executive,” the former

Duo arrested for 2 separate murders R

anks of the Guyana Police Force on Thursday arrested two suspects wanted for two separate murders committed within the last two years.

The duo, Leroy Ignacia and Orin Paul called “Ants” were arrested at locations in Police F (Interior Locations) and E (Linden/ Kwakwani) divisions on Thursday morning.

Ignacia was wanted for the May 5, 2016, murder of Eric Angel at Black Water, Upper Cuyuni, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

Angel was stabbed and killed by his accomplice during an attempted rob-

15

bery on a Brazillian shop owner.

According to reports, two armed bandits attempted to rob a Brazilian shop owner; however the man put up a fight and during the scuffle one of the bandits accidentally stabbed his accomplice in the abdomen before escaping.

Angel of Number 10 Village, West Coast Berbice, was identified as a former member of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU).

Meanwhile, Paul was wanted for the murder of Terrence James on April 04, 2014 at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper

Essequibo). James, 23, of Kwatamang Village, Rupununi, was found with stab wounds along the Tabatinga roadway.

It is believed that the man might have attended the rodeo at Lethem and was on his way home when he was attacked and stabbed to the chest.

According to Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, the arrests of these two murder suspects come in light of ranks in the respective Divisions working feverishly to reduce the number of unsolved murder cases.

CEO stated.

Baksh outlined too that the then board and top management especially the chairman, and the directors of finance and human resources were aware of the above contributions and it can be implied that they by their non-objection approved of the payment of the gratuity and programmed it in the payroll without any solicitation by me.

Nevertheless, the former GWI head posited that the company was under good management under his tenure and for each of three years, received unqualified audit opinions from the external auditors after failing to achieve this important objective for several years.

“In this regard, there is no surprise whatsoever that no financial irregularities had been unearthed by the Forensic Auditor in the multibillion dollar utility except that spurious and speculative observations were made of clearing of advances taken by the Chief Executive to further the community outreach of GWI in the hinterland,” he stated.

Mother reportedly shot in face by reputed husband

By Devina Samaroo

A

31-yearold mother of one was on Thursday night rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre for emergency medical treatment af- Shawn, the Natasha Harry ter she was alleg- reputed husband he allegedly pulled edly shot in the out a gun and disface by her reputed husband. charged a round in her face.

However, information The incident occurred coming in also suggests that around 21:00h at her home. the woman might have susSome relatives of the tained injuries to the face, but woman who were at the hosnot shot, even though gun- pital explained that her aunt shots were reportedly heard. who was at the home at the Information about what time of the incident heard the exactly transpired remains gunshot and upon investigasketchy, but the woman tion saw the young woman who has been identified as lying on the ground bleeding Natasha Harry is a stu- out. dent of the Carnegie School The man had already esof Economics and resides caped. in Kuru Kururu, LindenAccording to reports, Soesdyke Highway. the aunt summoned nearThe man has been iden- by friends who immediately tified as “Shawn” and up to rushed her to the Diamond press time, he was still on hospital for treatment. the run. Relatives who spoke When Guyana Times to this newspaper were un- arrived at the medical insure about the nature of the stitution, the woman was relationship Harry had with being placed into an ambu“Shawn”. Some indicated lance to be transferred to the that he was a deportee from Georgetown Public Hospital Barbados. for further treatment.

Guyana Times underShe is in stable condition. stands that the woman was An investigation has been involved in a heated argu- launched into the matter. ment with the man when

16 news

friday, june 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Breached Mahaicony Dam

Corentyne piracy attack

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− may have provided inaccurate information, search continues

Backlands flooding subsides, Suspects for court today on advice of DPP farmers overjoyed fter two months of flooding in the backlands of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, the lives of farmers and residents are stabilising as the major sections of the breached dam along Perth Canal has been sealed, according to farmers.

Farmers on Wednesday explained that most of the water has now receded their farmlands.

According to information, the two major breaches mainly responsible for the flooding have been sealed by the Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Developmental Authority (MMA-ADA) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) after Guyana Times had highlighted the issue.

This publication was told that other sections of the dam considered as ‘low areas’ will also be built up to prevent overtopping by the Mahaicony River during high tides.

One farmer who expressed satisfaction over the corrective works, have however cautioned that the current rainy weather signals that the recent rehabilitation is “temporary” and noted follow-up rehabilitation works would be needed in the dry weather.

He opined that this entire situation could have been

A

The state of the breached dam at Strath Campbell on May 12

prevented if officials of the MMA-ADA had heeded earlier pleas of farmers who had stated that the prolonged period of dry weather was ideal for the breaches to be sealed.

On Sunday Guyana Times reported that MMA-ADA General Manager Aubrey Charles as saying that the breaches were almost sealed.

Charles had also related that the MMA-ADA would have assessed other sections of the ‘quick dam’ on the Perth Canal to ensure that the level of any “low sections” would be raised to prevent water from the Mahaicony River spilling over and cause more flooding.

Charles opined that after these works are complete, any additional flooding would be as a result of new breaches along the dam.

It was only Friday last that Guyana Times reported

that the unsealed breeches caused some amount of flooding to recur.

It was on May 20 that MMA-ADA had undertaken initiatives to ensure the rehabilitation of major breaches along the Perth Canal after Guyana Times reported on the plight of farmers in the area.

The MMA-ADA general manager had explained that the spring tide overflow caused soil erosion which facilitated the widening of the breaches, occasioning the severe flooding.

The dam at Perth Canal was rehabilitated some seven months ago when dry weather had prevailed but it collapsed shortly after.

Farmers had lamented the fact that they suffered significant losses as they had the expensive undertaking of pumping water out of fields.

s the five pirate suspects arrested on Saturday remain in custody, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has advised that charges be implemented against them since they are accused of killing at least one fisherman on Saturday on the high seas.

As such the suspects are expected to be arranged today.

Late Thursday afternoon the charge advice was given to investigators in Berbice.

Moreover, as the search for the three fishermen allegedly tied up and dumped into the ocean by pirates last week continues, investigators say they are now beginning to question the authenticity of information provided by the suspects as it pertains to the location at which the men were thrown overboard.

The three missing fishers – Dochan Sukra, 54, called “Butcher”, of Number 55 Village; Dhanpaul Rampaul, of Number 67 Village; and Munish Churman, 26, called “Boyo”, of Number 60 Village – were reportedly tied to anchors and thrown overboard in the Corentyne River on Saturday and are still missing while their colleagues and relatives continue to search for them.

Commander of Police B Division Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam told >>>Guyana Times<<< that searches have yielded no success, even though the area

searched was identified by the suspects.

According to Amsterdam, Police investigators are sceptical of the location the men pointed out. He related that thus far, the fishers’ families have not ceased their search of the Corentyne waters.

He stated that the expanse of water has been searched using high tech equipment; however that search too proved futile.

Nevertheless the commander explained that the hunt will continue until they find the three men.

The commander indicated that investigators may have to summon deepsea divers to continue the search. He also revealed that efforts are ongoing to locate the engines which the suspects confessed to disposing of in the river.

Assistant Commissioner Amsterdam further explained that on Friday, a team of local investigators, led by Deputy Commander Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, left for neighbouring Suriname to meet with their counterparts in hopes of locating the fishers’ bodies; however their efforts also proved futile.

“However, the Surinamese are still continuing the investigation, working with us to see what is going to be the outcome as it relates to what has happened. Despite not being able to recover the three bodies, we still have one body that was recovered. Based on that if we are going to

institute charges it will be because we have recovered one body” Amsterdam said.

On Friday last, five pirates carried out attacks on three boats in the Corentyne River. During the first attack, the hapless Captain, Seepersaud Persaud, 43, of Corriverton, Berbice, was thrown overboard five miles offshore but was rescued by other fishermen after swimming for three hours.

The pirates also threw Hemchand Sookdeo, 45, and the remaining men into the water after beating him.

Sookdeo’s body was found by other fishermen as they were pulling up their seine; however the other three remain missing.

Details of what transpired during the attack were related by Persaud who indicated that the four crew members were held captive and led to two other boats.

Amsterdam had earlier revealed that Police were successful in obtaining permission to detain the suspects beyond the stipulated 72-hour period. However today relatives and friends of those affected could breathe a sigh of relief while mentioning that Suriname authorities seem not to be interested in prosecuting the suspects.

Investigators have already obtained a confession statement implicating the five suspects in the attack.

One of the accused, during interrogation, detailed how they placed anchors on three of the fishers before dumping them overboard.

friday, june 3, 2016

guyana-times.com

17

News

Mixed reactions to President’s Louvre to close as Private Sector corruption claims France floods worsen

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

S

ome claim it’s reckless, insisting that the relationship between Government and the Private Sector will be damaged; others welcome the acknowledgement, underscoring that it is the only way the situation will be address – President David Granger’s bold assertion that corruption is more prevalent outside of Government has definitely generated mixed reactions from the Private Sector.

Representatives of the various Chambers of Commerce across the country have weighed in on the debate, with varying expressions on the extent to which corruption exists in the Private Sector and the appropriateness of the Head of State in making such pronouncements.

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Vishnu Doerga subscribed to the views expressed by the Guyanese President, noting that problems cannot be fixed unless one firstly accepts that there is indeed a problem.

“It’s a step in the right direction, now that an acknowledgement was made that it exists… as long as our systems remain archaic and cumbersome, opportunities for corruption will always exist and they come from both sides of the fence,” Doerga affirmed.

The Linden Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (LCCI) President Kevin DeYounge also agreed with the proclamation that corruption is rampant in the Private Sector.

“Corruption is everywhere,” he pointed out.

DeYounge explained that it would be unfair to determine where corruption is more widespread, given that there really are no statistics available to backup either assertion; however, he posited that it is reasonable to claim that corruption is present in both sectors.

President David Granger “For me to say that it is entirely prevalent in the Private Sector, I would not be accurate because I really and truly don’t have the evidence… I would just say that corruption exists on both sides,” he noted.

On the other hand, Bartica Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Anthony Murray had a completely different opinion.

“I really don’t see the merit in the President’s statement. I totally disagree,” Murray stated, noting that while corruption may be present in the Private Sector, it was inappropriate for the President to make such a public declaration, presumably in an effort to shield his Government.

According to Murray, statements of that nature can damage Private Sector relationships with Government.

“It seems like he wants to cast the blame on us and it will drive a wedge between the Private Sector and the Government,” he stressed.

Nonetheless, he conceded that corruption is indeed present in the Private Sector, however, it was improper of the Head of State to target the Private Sector alone.

Likewise, the President of the Berbice Chambers of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Rajnauth Ramroop argued that corruption in the Private Sector is contingent on corruption in the Public Sector.

With regards to the situation in Berbice, Ramroop explained that owing to the

lack of basic services in the county, the public will naturally “pass some money” to speed up some of the transactions.

“Imagine someone travelling from Berbice to Georgetown to transact some business only to be told he has to come back another day, that’s going to cost him, and what will he do to speed up the process and get it done in that day? They will be forced to (do it) because it will cost them more to go back to Berbice and come back another day. If he (Granger) thinks the Private Sector alone is responsible and not the Public Sector, I would not agree with him,” he stated.

President Granger, seemingly in an effort to exculpate his Government, declared that corruption in Guyana was more rampant outside of Government and as such, the usual anti-corruption critics of his Government should focus more on the Private Sector and non-State organisations, where he believed the scourge was raging.

“It is my view that corruption in Guyana is most widespread outside of Government,” the President declared on Saturday evening while addressing the launch of former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran’s book Governance, Transparency and Accountability.

He said the real contributors to corruption were those who committed crimes of tax evasion, smuggling, narcotics trafficking, trafficking in persons and money laundering, none of which really emanate from within Government, but rather, benefit the Private Sector, offshore banks and tax havens.

He cautioned Guyanese against believing that corruption was confined to law enforcement agents and public servants, adding that while persons must remain vigilant against the abuse of power by the Government, they must also look at “the abuse of trust by the Private Sector”.

T

he world's most visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, was set to close today amid worsening flooding caused by days of torrential rain.

The move will allow staff to move works at risk of damage to higher parts of the gallery, a statement said.

The Seine, which runs through Paris past the Louvre, has risen five metres above normal levels.

Heavy rains across

Europe have left at least 10 people dead, most of them in Germany.

More downpours are forecast right through the weekend across a band of central Europe from France to Ukraine, with as much as 50mm (2in) of rain falling in some parts in just a few hours.

Emergency barriers are being put up along the Seine, which burst its banks in places. Its levels are forecast to peak overnight.

Announcing the closure, the Louvre said: "The aim is to move works situated in areas vulnerable to flooding to safety by moving them to higher floors."

Another much-visited attraction, the Musee d'Orsay, is shutting its doors early today.

Rail operator SNCF announced the closure of the RER C line, which runs alongside the Seine in central Paris from 16:00 local time (14: 00 GMT). (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Prince died of fentanyl painkiller overdose

U

S singer Prince died from an accidental overdose of the painkiller fentanyl, medical examiners have found.

The report, from Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Minnesota, comes more than a month after the singer was found slumped in a lift at his home.

Detectives have already questioned a doctor who saw the 57-year-old twice in the weeks before he died.

Prescription painkillers were in the singer's possession following his death, officials told US media in May. A police warrant has also revealed that Dr Michael Schulenberg prescribed medication to the singer on April 20 – the day before he died.

The warrant does not say what was prescribed or whether Prince took the drugs.

According to the autopsy report, Prince self-admin-

istered fentanyl, an opioid many times more powerful than heroin.

Prince was found unresponsive in a lift at his Paisley Park Studios on the morning of April 21, local officials said. First responders tried to revive him with CPR but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Artists from around the world and Prince's numerous fans later paid tributes to the star. (Excerpt from BBC News)

India orders panic buttons for women installed on buses

I

ndia is fitting panic buttons and other emergency devices on buses across the country, in response to a deadly 2012 gang-rape in New Delhi that triggered global condemnation and widespread protests in the country.

The measure, which was passed by Parliament to prevent sexual violence, became law on Thursday.

The monitoring devices, which also include closecircuit cameras and vehicle tracking systems, are already installed in new buses. Old buses will be equipped with the devices in phases.

When a panic button is pressed, an emergency mes-

sage will be sent to a police control room, where officers can monitor live footage of the bus interior.

A pilot project is already under way in India's Rajasthan state, where 10 luxury and 10 regular buses have been fitted with the emergency devices.

According to Government data obtained by Al Jazeera, there were an estimated 1,676,500 registered public and private buses in India as of 2012.

Last month, the Communication Ministry issued a different regulation requiring all mobile phones sold in the country from 2017 to include a panic button.

An activist scuffles with Indian Police on Tuesday during a protest condemning a recent gang-rape in Kolkata [Reuters]

From 2018, phones will also have to include GPS navigation systems. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Venezuela awaits decision Outrage over Mexican 'teacher on recall referendum

V

enezuelan Opposition politicians were awaiting a key decision on Thursday on whether they can proceed with their moves for a recall referendum.

They want to oust President Nicolás Maduro, whom they blame for the economic crisis in Venezuela.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) is expected to announce whether it has accepted the Opposition's initial petition for a recall referendum.

The Opposition gathered 1.85 million signatures in fa-

vour of the referendum.

Tension between the socialist Government and the Opposition has heightened since the latter won the parliamentary elections in December and took control of the National Assembly.

The opposition Roundtable for Democracy (MUD) coalition ran on a promise to remove President Maduro from office before his term runs out in 2019.

After a proposed constitutional amendment to shorten his term from six to four years was rejected by the Supreme Court, the

MUD launched a petition to recall him.

On May 2, they handed the CNE lists with 1.85 million signatures backing a recall referendum, many more than the 197,000 needed at this initial stage.

Members of President Maduro's United Socialist Party (PSUV) allege that at least 10,000 of those signatures are fraudulent.

The CNE's decision on whether it accepts the petition is, therefore, seen as key, even though this is only the first hurdle on the road to a recall referendum. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

shaming' in Chiapas state

M

exico's human rights ombudsman has called an enquiry into the public shaming of a group of teachers and administrators in the state of Chiapas.

Up to 14 administrators and head teachers were marched barefoot through the town of Comitan after they defied a strike.

A faction of Mexico's teachers’ union, the CNTE, allegedly placed signs around their necks saying they were traitors.

Many of them had their heads shaved while crowds of people watched.

The ombudsman, Luis Gonzalez Perez, said protests needed to remain within the law.

Mexico's Education Secretary Aurelio Nuno said he would ensure those responsible were punished.

The Teachers Union have accused "agents of the state" of infiltrating their ranks to discredit their strike action.

The BBC Mundo correspondent in Mexico, Juan

Paullier, says these type of incidents are not unusual in Mexican education.

Last year alleged members of the CNTE shaved the heads of teachers in Chiapas because they had opposed their strike action.

The CNTE has been on strike in Mexico City since May 15 and has been conducting a series of protests.

It opposes education reforms introduced in 2013 which include new measures to evaluate teachers. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

18

guyana-times.com

friday, june 3, 2016

F

ollowing an immensely successful run in 2014, E-Networks has returned with its popular television talent show “Emerging Voices” for season 2.

The search is on for contestants with great potential in the Bollywood singing style who will not only be vying for the millions of dollars in prizes on offer, but, if chosen as contestants, will benefit from intense training by celebrity judges Jeffrey Iqbal and Purnash Durgaprasad.

Both Iqbal and Durgaprasad are accomplished singers and musicians with wide experience on the international scene, including in popular competitions like ZEE TV’s Saregamapa and in Durgaprasad’s case, India’s RawStar featured on Star Plus.

Season 1 saw Vishalie Sukram of Black Bush Polder, Berbice emerge as the first winner of the competition following an intense contest with Artie Sookhai

Last year's winners and officials

(the eventual second-place finisher) and Gail Ann Singh (third).

In addition to the prize money and other prizes from sponsors King’s Jewellery World and Continental Group of Companies, both Sukram and Sookhai benefited from training stints in India, compliments of E-Networks.

They also got a chance to perform for legendary Bollywood

playback singer Sonu Nigam when he visited Guyana in 2014 and were complimented by the star for their performance.

The “Emerging Voices” competition was keenly followed

by Guyanese everywhere both by way of television and Youtube for those in the diaspora.

Auditions for Season 2 begin on Friday at E-Networks’

Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara office, at 18:00h.

Thereafter, the judges will move to Berbice for three auditions on Saturday, June 4: at 10:00h at Rishi’s Photo Studio, Lot 98 Public Road, No 12 Village, West Berbice; at 13:00h at E-Networks’ Port Mourant office and at 16:00h at Countryside Cinema, No 64 Village, Upper Corentyne.

On Sunday, June 5, auditions will be held at 10:00h in Essequibo and at 17:00h at E-Networks Studios, Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

On Tuesday, June 7, persons in the Upper East Coast areas will have their chance at the KK Gas Station, Mahaica beginning at 18:00h.

The competition is open to persons between the ages of 15 and 40. Interested persons are asked to call 6009120 to register or inbox the E-Networks Emerging Voices Facebook Page. They can also just attend any of the auditions.

Comedic classic “Some Like It Hot” for TVG on Sunday

West Side Auto Expo and Vehicle Sound Off set for July 2

T

N

he film “Some Like It Hot” is considered to be one of the greatest comedies of all time and was voted as the top comedic film by the American Film Institute in AFI’s 100 Years... 100 Laughs poll in 2000.

The 1959 American romantic comedy set in 1929, is directed and produced by Billy Wilder and stars Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. The film is about two musicians who dress in drag in order to escape from mafia gangsters who they witnessed commit the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. The film was produced in black and white, even though colour films were increasing in popularity.

“Some Like It Hot” is also notable for featuring cross dressing, and for playing with the idea of homosexuality, which led

to it being produced without approval from the Motion Picture Production Code. In 1989, this film became one of the first 25 inducted into the United States National Film Registry.

When Curtis and Lemmon first put on female make-up and costumes, they walked the studios to see if they could pass as women. They tried using mirrors in ladies rooms to fix their make-up and when none of the women complained, the two actors knew they were convincing.

It is a “laugh-riot” and viewers will be in for a treat.

TVG-28 will be screening this classic “Some Like It Hot” on Sunday, June 5 at 21:00h (9:00pm).

ow that the major concerts planned in celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee are over, promoters have resorted to their normal events. Come July 2, the West Side will definitely come alive with Auto Expo 5 and Vehicle Sound-Off in the parking lot of Synthetic Track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

Last year’s event saw more than 20 vehicles competing for supremacy in various categories and this year will be bigger and better.

Over 30 vehicles will be on show, competing for cash and trophies in several categories, including Best Graphic, Best Lights, Best Theme, Best Interior, Best Engine, Hardest and Xtreme Sound (car, bike, SUV and bus).

Music will be provided by #TRS and Climaxx. Formidable competitors such as The Avengers, Red Jet, Dark Siderz, Wreaker, Star Cars, TRex, Xclusive and Massive are among the showstoppers that have already confirmed their participation.

Admission to the event is $1000 in advance and $1500 at the gate, while vehicle passes will also be available for $1000. Those who wish to participate in the competition will pay $5000 as a registration fee.

The event is sponsored by Stag Beer, SBT Guyana, Shoppers Superstore, Andy’s Auto Sales, Trans Pacific Motor Spares and Auto Sales and Deals On Electronic.

friDAY, june 3, 2016

guyana-times.com

O

ne night, one ground, one competition is what is going through the minds of several auto lovers as Epic Entertainment and Banks DIH present “Settlement Of All Argument Vehicle Sound-Off” on Saturday evening at the Belle West Ground, West Bank Demerara. With 12 vehicles ready to show off, only one will reign supreme.

Those slated to participate in the event are Red Jet, Team High Voltage, Team Sanjay, Call of Duty, Way

Up, Return of Avengers, Team Joker, Massive Audio,

Team Hunter, Miracle Optical and Team Shopperz.

The vehicles will be competing in at least 20 categories

for over $1 million in trophies and other prizes, but

19

more importantly, bragging rights.

In addition to the auto show and sound clash, there will be a 10/10 hardball competition for the cricket lovers. Those who love dominoes can participate in a special competition as well.

Music for the event will be provided by KLYMAXX Sound, 71 Sound System and Power Sonic.

There will also be lots of other activities for the entire family. Admission to the event is easy.

“Miriamy” for Theatre Guild on June 10

A

s the jubilee celebrations continue, the Theatre Guild Penthouse will come alive when Ron Robinson’s “Miriamy” is hosted on June 10.

The venue is expected to burst at its seams as comedy lovers are ready to watch one of the funniest shows to be directed by the veteran broadcaster. The theme of the story tells of a woman who was pregnant with quintuplets, but she does not know who the father is.

In an action packed Henry Rodney production, patrons will explode with laughter, with a well experienced cast, featuring Mark-Luke Edwards, Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett, Nickosie Layne, Mariatha Causway, Tamika Henry, Leon Cummings, Troy Parboo, Mark Kazim and Henry Rodney among others.

Admission to the event is $1000 balcony and $1500

Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett

main floor. The production is expected to commence at 19:00h.

This production is being staged for one night only as part of the Jubiliee Theatre Festival.

Troy Parboo

Mark-Luke Edwards

Mark Kazim

R

onald Hollingsworth’s “Till Ah Find A Place After the 50” is ready to take off at the Theatre Guild this evening and believe it or not, it will be one heck of a show…

“Till Ah Find A Place”, when it was first held in 1991, was the play to see and Guyanese everywhere wanted it staged in their hometowns. In 1994, the play was staged at the Billy Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn, New York with a cast of Caribbean thespians and Hollingsworth as the guest director/playwright.

The play was a hit, and was staged again in New York off-Broadway at the Producers’ Club.

In 1998, the play w a s staged again i n

Guyana with new actors attempting to do justice to the cult play. On this occasion it was rebranded “Till Ah Find A Place - In Sophia”.

In 2001, the play made its way to Texas, the new home of the playwright, where it was staged in Dallas. The actors were all US citizens except the Guyanese playwright/director himself who had the lead role of Linden.

The play was then staged again in 2006 now suitably titled – “Till Ah Find a Place – After the Flood”. Now 10 years later in 2016, and at the request of the Jubilee Theatre Festival, “Till Ah Find A Place After the 50th” is featured.

It is for one night only – under the directorship of Sheron Cadogan-Taylor.

Playing the lead roles are Mark Kazim and Leslyn Bobb-Semple, with Michael Ignatius as the crazy boyfriend.

Supporting roles will be played by Sean Thompson, Mark LukeEdwards, Le Tisha Da Silva and Makini Harry.

Ronald Hollingsworth

Michael Ignatius

20

friDAY, june 3, 2016

Adem Kilicci & Yekaterina Novak Djokovic & Serena Gnidenko suspended after Williams through to semis London 2012 retests French Open 2016

Williams was five points from defeat in the second set

T

op seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams remain on course to make history as they both reached the semifinals at the French Open.

Djokovic, 29, swept past seventh seed Tomas Berdych 6-3 7-5 6-3 as he bids to win his first title at Roland Garros and complete the career Grand Slam.

Williams, 34, was given a severe test by Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, coming through 5-7 6-4 6-1.

The American is trying to win her 22nd Grand Slam title and equal Steffi Graf.

She will play Kiki Bertens in the last four on Friday, after the unseeded Dutch player saw off Swiss eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky 7-5 6-2.

Djokovic will face Austrian 13th seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Belgian 12th seed David Goffin 4-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 6-1 to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final.

Britain’s Andy Murray will take on Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland in the other

men’s semi-final.

Williams looked out of sorts for much of her quarter-final on a gloomy afternoon, with a sparse crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The champion was in deep trouble after an error-strewn set and a half, with the 5ft 4in Putintseva more than holding her own from the baseline and moving much the better in heavy conditions.

Williams made 24 unforced errors in the first set to just two from her opponent, who had never been past the third round of a Grand Slam before this week.

Putintseva then came back from 4-1 down in the second set to earn a break point at 4-4 that could have seen her serve for victory, but Williams held on and finally began to exert some control.

She worked her way to a 5-0 lead in the decider, only for Putintseva to show one more flash of defiance by saving three match points before finally succumbing.

“She’s unbelievable and I didn’t think I was going to win that but somehow I did,” said Williams.

Djokovic through after racquet slip Djokovic had won 23 of his previous 25 matches against Berdych of the Czech Republic, and was never seriously threatened after beginning their 26th meeting in commanding fashion.

Berdych appealed for officials to take action when

A

Berdych was not happy with the decision to play through the rain

the rain, which has dogged this tournament, returned - but the closest Djokovic came to a quarter-final exit was a potential disqualification in the third set.

He let his racquet slip out of his hand while angrily swiping at the ground and was relieved to receive just a code violation as it narrowly missed a line judge.

“I am aware that I have been lucky,” he said. “It was just some unfortunate bounce, but fortunate ending of the scenario. That’s all I can say.”

Djokovic was already two sets up after dominating for an hour and a half, and moments later he recovered Berdych’s early break of serve in the third set.

Berdych described the tournament director’s hesitance to halt play when the rain became heavier as “an absolute circus”, but the delay lasted a little over 10 minutes and Djokovic soon wrapped up victory on the resumption. (BBC Sport)

"I built Big Bash" – Gayle accuses organisers of ingratitude

W

est Indies star batsman Chris Gayle has accused organisers of the Australia Big Bash League of ingratitude following what he deemed to be an overreaction to claims of sexism.

Gayle, who will not take part in the next edition of the tournament, was the subject of a barrage of criticism following an incident with an Australian reporter during the last edition.

The batsman was fined S10, 000 for the incident, which involved him asking out a reporter on live television. Gayle had claimed the incident was simply a misunderstood attempt at humour, but many had called for him to be banned from the competition, others competitions around the globe, and some even Chris Gayle the sport.

Turkish boxer and a Russian cyclist have been provisionally suspended after doping samples from the London 2012 Olympics returned positive retests.

Boxer Adem Kilicci and track cyclist Yekaterina Gnidenko both tested positive for steroids, their sports' governing bodies said on Thursday.

Olympics chiefs announced last week that 23 competitors at the London Games had failed retrospective doping tests.

Retests focused on athletes who could compete at

the quarter-finals of the middleweight division in London - and the Turkish boxing federation have been notified of the findings and his suspension.

AIBA said it is working with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) "to ensure that boxing is doping-free".

The Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) said it was "extremely disappointed" by Kilicci's positive retest.

"The TOC has a zero tolerance policy on doping and any form of cheating in sport and our primary objective is to protect clean athletes," it

athletes and their entourages throughout Turkish sport.

"The TOC fully supports the IOC and Wada's actions in their drive to clean up world sport and we are determined to play our part in this fight."

Russia's Gnidenko, 23, competed in the women's sprint and keirin at the 2012 Games without winning a medal.

The International Cycling Union said Gnidenko's case "is the only positive the IOC passed on to us from the Beijing and London batches".

The Russian Olympic

Turkey's Adem Kilicci and Russia's Yekaterina Gnidenko

this summer's Rio Olympics.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) said Kilicci had qualified for Rio, while Gnidenko is not listed on the Russian national team squad list for this season.

Kilicci, 30 - who lost in

said in a statement.

"We will now follow the official procedure and will announce appropriate action in due course. In the meantime, we are redoubling our efforts to encourage more rigorous testing in parallel with greater education of all

Committee said eight of its athletes were among the 23 to have failed retrospective doping tests from London.

Thirty-one athletes - 14 from Russia - also failed tests when 454 samples from Beijing 2008 were retested. (BBC Sport)

“I didn’t feel like I was being treat right at the time. The way they were actually going about it, the media make a big mockery of it,” Gayle told BBC Radio.

“To be honest it was a lot of double standard for someone who was a part of the Big Bash for so many years, who actually built the Big Bash from day one. The same name used to build the Big Bash was the same name they want to tarnish. Chris Gayle was the actual name that started the Big Bash from the first tournament,” he added.

“It blew up this big now and they want to stay ban Chris Gayle, we should get rid of Chris Gayle from all leagues around the world. Chris is sexist and it’s just ridiculous how can you brand me for running a joke like that.” (Sportsmax)

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21

sports

Tennis Australia stands

by Kyrgios following Olympics withdrawal N ick Kyrgios will not represent Australia at the Olympic Games, citing the AOC's "unfair and unjust treatment" of him.

Tennis Australia (TA) has thrown its support behind Nick Kyrgios after he made himself unavailable for the Olympic Games, with the governing body "very disappointed" the nation's top-ranked player was forced into the position by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

After a month of clashing publicly with AOC chef de mission Kitty Chiller over concerns regarding his behaviour, world number 19 Kyrgios decided to withdraw from August's Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.

Kyrgios cited the AOC's "unfair and unjust treatment" of him, having been placed under the spotlight following countryman Bernard Tomic's controversial actions at last month's Internazionali d'Italia, where he held the head of the racquet instead of the handle on match point, before responding by saying "would you care if you were 23 and worth $10million?".

Tomic later ruled himself out of the upcoming Olympics.

And TA leapt to the defence of 21-year-old Kyrgios, praising his improved behaviour on the ATP Tour circuit, after a controversial 2015.

"We understand Nick's decision and totally support him and his right to

Nick Kyrgios

make it," TA president Steve Healy said in a statement.

"But we are very disappointed that he has been put in this position.

"Nick is a passionate competitor and he's working hard to learn and mature in a highly pressurised environment where he is under constant public scrutiny.

"As we've said recently Nick's performances this year have improved. His growing maturity is reflected in his on court performance, with only world number one Novak Djokovic defeating more top ten players than Nick has this year.

"He has received support from a lot of other tennis players and athletes.

"But now Nick has made this difficult decision we should let him focus on his tennis without further distraction."

Chiller also released a statement of her own via

the AOC's official website, which read: "According to his website, Nick Kyrgios, has made himself unavailable for selection on the 2016 Australian Olympic Team.

"Tennis Australia is due to nominate athletes to the AOC for selection on the 30th of June.

"The International Tennis Federation [ITF] rankings are released on June 6th. On the 9th of June the ITF will inform the AOC of eligible players.

"Tennis Australia will identify athletes for selection based on these rankings.

"At this point, Nick Kyrgios, or any other tennis athlete, has not been nominated for selection on the Australian Olympic Team.

"In regard to selection every athlete in contention is treated equally and fairly.

"We have no further comment on this issue." (Sportsmax)

Rossi left ‘worried’ by Yamaha engine troubles

Y

amaha's engine woes leave Valentino Rossi worried heading into the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona this weekend.

Valentino Rossi admits he is "worried" about Yamaha's engine troubles following his retirement at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello last month.

Rossi suffered an engine failure while trailing teammate and race-leader Jorge Lorenzo, who suffered an identical issue in the warm up.

The retirement left Rossi 37 points adrift of defending MotoGP champion Lorenzo, who crossed the line just ahead of Honda's Marc Marquez, after the first six races of the season.

Yamaha revealed the failures were caused by the way the rev limiter worked on the new standard ECU software, and Rossi admits he is slightly concerned heading into Sunday's Catalan GP. "This year we have seven engines, two more than last year, but we have to be worried [by what happened],"

Valentino Rossi

the Italian said.

"But in Yamaha they are quiet and I think that more or less the bike will be the same.

"Maybe we lose some RPM. Maybe. But I'm not sure. I think that the performance will be the same - also because the other engines that have already been used have a lot of kilometres and they are okay.

"So it was something unlucky at Mugello."

The seven-time premier class champion added: "In motorsport when an engine

is broken it is always like this, an electronic issue or a one-dollar part!

"I think Mugello is always particular, with the jump at the end of the straight, with a lot of RPM. "It looks like the rev limiter is not very precise like last year and with the small jump that the bike does on the hill maybe the RPM got too high and broke the engine.

"It was a great shame.

But I think and I hope it doesn't happen for the rest of the season." (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2016

Tri-Nation Series: WI/AUS/SA

Copa America Centenario, USA 2016

West Indies, South Africa looking for winning start

BY ROMARIO SAMAROO

W

est Indies and South Africa teams capitalized on the sunny conditions in Georgetown to fine tune preparations for their important opening match in the Tri-Nation Series today at the Guyana National Stadium.

Torrential rain washed out all possibility of practice on Wednesday forcing all three teams to stay indoors. Following practice on Thursday at the international cricket venue along the East Bank of Demerara West Indies captain, Jason Holder spoke highly of his team’s chances.

Holder is confident that his team will do well in the series having been boosted with a number of players who were part of the winning World T20 Tournament and carrying good form from the recent Indian Premier League.

“We have a lot of players who were part of the T20 team winning the world cup and some of coming in from good form in the IPL Carlos Braithwaite, Marlon Samuels is ready to go, Sunil is back in the squad and so is Pollard” Holder said “The mood in the camp is good and the guys are ready to go barring the practice game where we were rusty and we didn’t have a full squad” Holder went on to say.

The West Indies captain expressed his confidence with his squad and plans in preparation of the upcoming games focusing on the experience and lethal nature of the bowling attack.

Holder is aware of the batting strength of South Africa but is also paying special attention to the bowling power mentioning Trabaz Shamsi who has played in the Caribbean

Kieron Pollard

West Indies Captain Jason Holder and Head Coach Phil Simmons were seen strategising after the team’s practice session at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence

Premier League with some amount of success for the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

The Proteas captain, AB De Villiers also spoke to the media after an intense training session. The explosive right handed batsman stressed the importance of maturity, experience and good all round skills to put up a good performance in the 10-match series.

While the team may not have had the best training sessions, they will be looking to overcome those obstacles to arrive and make South Africa proud.

Both captains brushed off remarks of the amount of T20 cricket affecting the 50 over game saying they would transfer the skills of T20 into the longer format.

South Africa have rested Dale Steyn for this series in preparation for the Test season but he is instead playing T20 cricket for Glamorgan. Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott will have to carry the attack, and there will also be an opportunity for the spinners to play more starring roles.

South Africa's batting lineup is settled and, with AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock to call on, they will be expected to make the final.

Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of this match as he recovers from a broken finger, giving Rilee Rossouw the chance to show what he can do. Farhaan Behardien will likely keep the No. 6 spot and Chris Morris could edge out Wayne Parnell for the allrounder's role. With Morne Morkel back, South Africa may have to choose between an extra seamer in Kyle Abbott or a second spinner in Aaron Phangiso to complete their attack.

The West Indian team is not short of stars with the likes of skipper Holder, the experienced Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine who are both returning to the team after a

period of absence. While the likes of Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo who were all part of the winning World T20 team are notably missing.

The surface at the Guyana National Stadium is traditionally slow and low, and takes turn. Runscoring could be sluggish as was the case previously with only one score of more than 300 recorded at the venue which was first used in the 2007 World Cup. Sri Lanka’s 303/9 (50) made against the West Indies in 2007 remains the highest team score while West Indies’ 98 against Pakistan in 2013 is the lowest.

The forecast for today is not so good as there is a high possibility of rain with a high heat and humidity that could prove energysapping, even at night.

This is the first time all matches in an ODI series in the West Indies will be played under lights while the only other time West Indies and South Africa competed against each other in a triangular series was in 1993, when South Africa hosted West Indies and Pakistan. West Indies won that series.

West Indies final 11 will come from Jason Holder (captain), Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Carlos Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Sunil Narine, Jerome Taylor, Ashley Nurse, Sulieman Benn and Shannon Gabriel The South Africa Squad reads: AB De Villiers (Captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw and Tabraiz Shamsi.

The action bowls off at 13:00 Hrs today.

Hosts ready for special Copa America W ith history set to be made in Friday's curtainraiser, United States captain Michael Bradley said his team-mates are ready for a "special" Copa America Centenario.

For the first time in Copa history, the tournament will be staged outside of South America, with USA hosting the 45th edition of the showpiece event, 100 years on from its inception.

USA and 2001 champions Colombia, who make up Group A alongside Paraguay and Costa Rica, will open the Copa at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

The U.S. and Colombia last met in November 2014, in a friendly won 2-1 by Colombia on a late goal.

That match was a physical battle, and though Colombia won, the U.S. did find a good number of scoring chances. As physical as that last meeting was, the U.S. expects a much more intense affair Friday.

Jurgen Klinsmann's side come into the tournament on a run of four consecutive wins, with Gyasi Zardes and teenager Christian Pulisic USA's youngest goalscorer catching the eye as they lead a new wave of American talent.

And 115-cap midfielder Bradley, the second-

Jermain Jones (USA) left and Colombia’s James Rodriguez

most experienced player in the squad behind Clint Dempsey, feels USA are primed to shake things up at the Copa, which features defending champions Chile, 2014 World Cup runners-up Argentina, Brazil and 15time winners Uruguay.

"It's a good blend of youth and experience. I think there's good balance in the team, and I think there's big determination within the team to make this a special few weeks," Bradley said.

"We're happy with the way things went in these last two games. In terms of the spirit and the mentality of the group, it always helps, but we all understood that the second that whistle blew in Kansas City to finish the [Bolivia] game, those results meant nothing.

"Now it's about understanding that the real thing is starting and we've got to have the right mentali-

ty, the right focus and know the difference between these types of games."

Colombia, who boast a three-game winning streak, are out to spoil the party for the host nation in California.

Quarter-finalists at the Copa 12 months ago, Colombia are desperate to go further this time around.

Carlos Bacca will spearhead Colombia's attack in the absence of Jackson Martinez and Radamel Falcao, while the centenary tournament provides captain James Rodriguez with the opportunity to either save his Real Madrid career or improve his chances of a potential move elsewhere.

James fell out of favour at Madrid following Zinedine Zidane's appointment in January, his plight highlighted by the fact he was an unused substitute in the Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid.

(Goal.com)

"Please, Mr President" – international cricket commentator pleads for radio commentary

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President David A Granger

uyanese International Cricket Commentator, Inderjeet Persaud is appealing to the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana His Excellency David Granger to make radio commentary possible for the International TriNation Series which bowls off today at Providence.

In a statement, Persaud stated “Unfortunately, the National Communications Network Inc. (NCN) will not be bringing Radio commentary Mr. President, I humbly appeal to you to use your good office and make that positive intervention so that our fellow Guyanese who depend on radio for their education, information and entertainment on cricket, can follow the sport.”

Persaud who is also a teacher at the Mortice Primary School is strongly lobbying for ball by ball com-

mentary on radio since in his opinion not all Guyanese Cricket lovers can go to the National Stadium and since the games will be played locally at Providence there will not be any television coverage for obvious reasons.

Persaud further asked for His Excellency to think about our fishermen, coconut pickers, taxi drivers, the visually impaired, our labourers, those that live in far flung areas and many others who will not be able to follow our number one sport since there will be no radio coverage.

“Please, Mr. President, let your heart reach down and help the unfortunate up. Your kindness and timely intervention will surely lift the spirit of radio listeners and spread the interest of our number one sport. Imagine, other Caricom countries will have live radio commentary but Guyanese will suffer the indignity of not having?

I am confident that the Patriotism that lies at the core of your heart, mind, body and soul will guide you in your intervention. I ask of you to help because you are the leader of this great country. Nothing unites us liked Cricket.”

West Indies and South Africa play the first game today at the Guyana National Stadium from 13:00 Hrs and from all reports there will be

no live radio commentary locally while commentary will emanate from Providence for the rest of the Region and further afield.

Persaud ended the statement by stating “So please Mr. President, I am on my knees begging, that you pick up that telephone and make that call that will put smiles on the faces of hundreds of thousands in Guyana.”

Other than Inderjeet Persaud the commentary team for the Guyana leg of the Tri-Nation Series will have other Guyanese voices including Sean Devers, Matthew Kissoon, Neil Barry, Travis Dowlin and Clyde

Inderjeet Persaud

Butts. Butts and Dowlin are former Test players. The lead commentator is Barbadian Andrew Mason while John Ramsingh is the Producer.

fridAY, june 3, 2016

Golden Jaguars suffer 5-2 defeat to Curaçao Sheldon Holder

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uraçao made the home advantage count as they crushed Guyana’s Golden Jaguars 5 goals to 2 on Wednesday night in their second round fixture in the Caribbean Football Union, Scotia Bank Men’s Caribbean Cup. The game which should have been a home fixture for Guyana had to be played in the Dutch Island of Curacao due to the unavailability of an appropriate playing venue (in Guyana).

The home team opened the scoring in the 7th minute through Felitciano Zschusschen who would go on to record a hat trick with goals in 61st and 89th minutes.

Two more goals in the 42nd and 63rd minutes from Gina Van Kessel all but sealed victory for the Dutch Islanders.

The Golden Jaguars' opening goal was scored in the 18th minute by Sheldon Holder who plies his trade in Trinidad with Caledonia United while Brandon Beresford who plays for Rochester Rhinos in the United States scored the other consolation goal 78th minute of play.

In round one, the Golden Jaguars were flawless in the execution of duties by clinically dispatching Anguilla 7-0 in Guyana and Puerto Rico 1-0 in Puerto Rico. The men from the land of many waters will now travel to St. Thomas where they will

Brandon Beresford

play the US Virgin Islands (USVI) at the Adelita Cancryn Junior High School Ground on Saturday June 4 while Curaçao will play host to USVI on Tuesday June 7.

The top two teams will advance to the third round which is set for October.

India in West Indies 2016

India and West Indies renew cricket rivalry with Test series

23 Aliann Pompey Invitational guyana-times.com

An opportunity to fill an obvious void

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uyanese Olympian, Aliann Pompey's decision to stage an international meet in her honour is because she feels the region is short in this area.

The inaugural Aliann Pompey Invitational is set for June 18 in Guyana.

Asked why, she replied, “Why not? adding “I've wanted to do one for years.

There aren't enough meets in our region, and each year, we're producing more and more quality athletes. I saw this as an opportunity to fill an obvious void.'' The four time Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012) said the support so far is encouraging.

“This time around when I brought it up to the people from whom I needed support, no one said no, so here we are,” said Pompey.

The competition is supported by ConSudAtle (South American Federation)/IAAF, Guyana Olympic Association, GuySuCo, Quality Plus Fast Foods, Ramada Princess Hotel, Fly-Jamaica and some very good friends of Athletics in Guyana.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games 400m champion, said she has received advice

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he Indian team will tour the West Indies for seven weeks, starting July 6, for four Tests and two practice matches. The Tests will be played in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The tour will start with a two-day practice match from July 9 in St Kitts followed by a three-day warm-up match from July 14 at the same venue. The first Test will begin from July 21, the second from July 30, the third from August 9 and the last one from August 18.

Despite the BCCI and WICB confirming the tour more than six months ago, the announcement of the itinerary was delayed owing to the series clashing with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which starts from June 30. The WICB was involved in talks with CPL officials to avoid any potential venue clash. The BCCI also sent its general manager MV Sridhar to do a recce of the venues in May.

Head of operations at the West Indies Cricket Board, Roland Holder, said all four venues "are ready to host the visiting Indian team."

The last time the Indian team toured the West Indies was in June 2011 for a threeTest series, which India won 1-0.

Last December, the top brass of the two boards had met in India following which WICB President Dave Cameron had said that the Indian board would honour the four-Test series, listed in the ICC's Future Tours Programme. The series was in doubt after the BCCI had suspended all bilateral ties immediately after West Indies had pulled out of the India tour mid-way in October 2014.

Last month, former BCCI president Shashank Manohar told ESPNcricinfo that the board had waived off the $41.97 million damages imposed by the previous BCCI administration on the WICB for abandoning the 2014 tour. Manohar had

said the WICB had guaranteed West Indies would return to India in 2017 to complete the unfinished matches.

The Indian team is expected to depart for the Caribbean with a new coaching staff, applications for which were advertised by the BCCI on Wednesday.

The deadline for receiving the applications is June 10. It will be followed by a screening process to be initially handled by the BCCI, which will then submit a list of names to the soon-to-beformed cricket advisory committee comprising reputed former players.

That committee will then submit a shortlist back to the BCCI, which will likely discuss this further, if not unveil the new coach, during its working committee meeting in Dharamsala on June 25. A new addition this time in the support staff will be a chef, who has been appointed by the BCCI to mainly cater to the vegetarians in the squad. (ESPN Cricinfo)

from 10 countries, but is doing better so far.

“The aim was to get participants from at least 10 countries, and we've exceeded that. It's the first truly international track and field competition like this on Guyana's soil and everyone is excited about it,” said added.

The meet to be staged at the Leonora Stadium, will have 14 events on the track and two in the field. According to the schedule, the 100m for male and female will have heats and finals.

Fly Jamaica is the sponsor of the women’s 100m.

Among the other sponsored events, are the GOA men’s 400m, Ramanda Princess Hotel men’s 110m hurdles, GuySuCo men’s triple jump and Quality Plus men’s 200m. (TrackAlerts)

National Schools Basketball Festival 2016

Marian Academy, St Rose’s win big

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India last toured the West Indies in June 2011 and won the three-Test series 1-0

from other meet organizers and two Olympians who have staged similar meets.

“I talked to people who staged their own - Chris Brown from Bahamas and Cydonie Mothersill from Cayman Islands - so I knew it was going to be hard. It's at least 10 times harder than anything I imagined.

But it's a labor of love for me. It's not "my meet". It's Guyana's meet, and as such, everyone has a hand in the success of this endeavor."

The meet is less than two weeks way, and according to Pompey, “at this point we're finalizing some of the athletes' travel arrangements, ensuring that we have all the supplemental things to ensure not just their comfort, but great performances."

Pompey, the 2003 Pan American Games bronze medallist, said they were hoping to bring athletes

he Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) National Schools Basketball Festival, Georgetown & East Coast Regionals continued last Saturday with three matches played in the U-14, U-16 and U-19 categories collectively.

In the first match of the day, Queen’s College (QC) fell to neighbouring Marian Academy 29-9.

Corey Graham had 8 points and 8 rebounds and was supported

by Tyrese James who added 4 points, 6 rebounds and

Duard Lewis who added 6 points for the Marian side.

Lugard Mohan had 6 points and 2 rebounds for Queen’s College.

In the U-16 cayegory, St Rose’s High steam-rolled St Stanislaus College in a game which finished 676. Anthony Yansen had a game-high 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 steals, Atilla Williamson had 11 points and Kwesi Roberts turned in 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals for St Rose’s. Gordon Trotman had 4 points and 6 rebounds for Saints.

In the Under-19’s, President’s College (PC) got past Marian Academy 61-54. Kadeem Peterkin and Jahleel Duke had 26 and 19 points respectively for PC. Jordon Alphonso had 24 points while Judah Stephney had 14 points and 16 rebounds for Marian Academy.

The tournament is sponsored by Digicel Guyana (Bigger Better Network), Edward B. Beharry and Company Ltd (Champion) and Banks DIH Ltd (Powerade).

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali hospitalised

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oxing great Muhammad Ali is being treated in a hospital for a respiratory issue, a spokesman for the former world heavyweight champion has confirmed.

Ali, 74, is being treated by doctors as a precaution and is described as being in a "fair condition". A brief hospital stay is expected.

Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984, after quitting boxing.

The three-time world champion was last hospitalised in January 2015 following a severe urinary tract infection.

Family spokesman Bob Gunnell confirmed Ali's condition to the Associated Press but did not divulge which hospital was treating him or when he was admitted.

Muhammad Ali

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2016

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

Tri-Nation Series: WI/AUS/SA

West Indies, South Africa looking for winning start Pg 22

Three Captains! One Trophy! Who will be the Winner?

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali hospitalised Pg 23

Muhammad Ali is in hospital with respiratory illness

Golden Jaguars suffer 5-2 defeat to Curaçao Pg 23

Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz

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