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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Jagdeo slams ‘sailors’ at Finance Ministry

guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3188

Friday, April 21, 2017

Page 3

– accuses some senior staffers of being ‘at sea’ and ‘sailing’

National Assembly to debate future of sugar industry Page 11

Alleged plot to shoot President being investigated – Minister Harmon Page 2

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Arakaka P8 woman remanded for attempted murder of lover

Mocha man on bail for sexually P8 assaulting 9-year-old relative AFC accused of ‘sheer P10 hypocrisy’ – votes with APNU for VAT on education, then fools public

Former President’s children

Lisa, Alvaro Ramotar sent on admin leave

Govt prepares city for MayJune rains P12 ...approves $150M for drainage works in priority areas

Page 15

One month later

City Hall audit incomplete after delays from officials Page 7

...AG forced to write Town Clerk due to noncooperation

Industry motorcyclist killed in early morning Page accident 15

Man commits suicide P15 months after setting home on fire Police to conduct several exercises today P10

2 news

friDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sister to be charged for brother’s murder T

he suspect Debbie Hansraj will be charged for the murder of her 21-year-old brother, Vishaul Hansraj, who was stabbed to death on Monday last reportedly during an altercation at their Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara home.

Speaking with the Guyana Times, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum explained that the case file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice, and confirmed that the 24-year-old woman, who remains in police custody, is likely to make a court appearance today.

While information surrounding the circumstances of the stabbing incident remains sketchy, Guyana Times understands that the late Vishaul might have confronted his sister after she had inflicted a wound on their mother, leading to them having a heated argu-

Dead: Vishaul Hansraj

ment.

During that argument, the now dead seaman is reported to have collected a knife with which he attempted to injure his sister, who in retaliation relieved him of the weapon and used

it to stab him twice. Both of them were reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

Upon realising that her son had been stabbed, their mother, Sumintra Brijmohan, rushed him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, from whence he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed the following day.

The distraught mother is, however, adamant that the young woman did not kill her brother. She contends that the young woman was at home when her son was seen with the stab wounds to his chest. Prior to the alleged stabbing incident, the two siblings had gone to the nearby school ground to raise their kites, during which they were seen consuming alcohol.

The late Vishaul Hansraj is survived by his mother and seven other siblings.

Alleged plot to shoot President being investigated – Minister Harmon

P

President David Granger

residential security has been beefed up following allegations that a group of high-profile individuals are planning to shoot President David Granger should he step out of his secure zone in one of his public outreaches; and the Guyana Police Force has been assigned to thoroughly investigate this re-

port.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, confirmed on Thursday that Government is very much aware of such a plot, and he said the security presence around the Head of State has been reinforced. The information, he said, has been culled by the police from an ongoing investigation, and advice is being sought from the police legal advisor.

“Since it is one of these ongoing investigations, I don’t think we are at liberty to disclose in any greater detail the nature of that investigation,” Harmon said

as he responded to questions at a post-Cabinet media briefing; but he expressed confidence that the security service being provided to the Guyanese Head of State would be well able to keep him and all ministers safe.

“I want to re-emphasise that security is not something that we play with; it is something that the professional people know what they do. They put measures in place, but sometimes you….find that security runs against presidents who are popular and want to embrace the people, as our president is,” he said.

Guyana Times understands that some high-ranking police personnel may be part of the plot, but Harmon has said he is not aware of such information; what he knows has been provided by the police administration.

The probe was launched following the recent revelation of a young man who appeared on a local televised interview claiming that he had been offered some $7 million and a high-profile weapon to assassinate the President.

news

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friDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, April 21 – 13:30h-15:00h and Saturday, April 22 – 01:30h and 14:00h-15:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, April 21 – 12:45h-14:15h and Saturday, April 22 –13:25h-14:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Jagdeo slams ‘sailors’ at Finance Ministry – accuses some senior staffers of being ‘at sea’ and ‘sailing’

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, interrupted by light rain showers in the late morning hours. Clear skies are predicted for the evening hours. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 12:34h reaching a maximum height of 2.22 metres.

Low Tide: 06:04h and 18:40h reaching minimum heights of 1.09 metres and 0.92 metre respectively.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

M

WEDNESDAY, April 19, 2017

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any of the economic woes facing Guyana are mainly owed to the incompetence and ignorance of some senior staff at the Finance Ministry, including subject Minister Winston Jordan.

This blunt observation was made by former President Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference held on Tuesday.

Jagdeo, a Moscowtrained economist, contends that many of the explanations given by Jordan and his staff about the economy are irrelevant and do not address the concerns facing the people.

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

The former President said the argument about the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) sabotaging the economy was senseless and did not hold any ground, but rather reeked of political prejudice.

Jagdeo, who is the current Opposition Leader, reminded that international financial agencies like the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

International Monetary Fund (IMF) had pointed out that the economy would collapse.

“There has been a decrease of supply in foreign currency to the market from every sector, except gold. We earned less in foreign currency. FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) has dropped (and) remittances have dropped,” he explained.

Jagdeo also criticised the central bank’s explanation for the slowdown in the economy, describing it as “lame”.

“We don’t have a freely determined exchange rate any longer,” Jagdeo stated, while contending that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has destroyed it. According to him, the Government has kept the rate at G$215 because of “bullyisim and executive fiat”.”

In highlighting recent comments made by Jordan in sections of the media about Government’s intention to maintain prudent fiscal policies against external shocks, Jagdeo said his comments were baseless.

“They hide behind this.

Things that sound good but mean nothing,” he opined.

Jordan said recently that Government planned to continue improving its operations to ensure that the measures outlined in the 2017 budget were executed on schedule.

“Is he saying that they are going to cut expenditure to adjust to the changing global environment or is he saying that they are going to increase expenditure? Is he saying that we are going to cut taxes or increase taxes to get more

revenue?

That’s when it makes sense,” Jagdeo stated.

Jordan had said that the overall economic and fiscal performance in 2016 was similar to, or slightly better than, the projections developed at the time the 2017 Budget was prepared.

Since the budget was prepared, he said, the risk of external shocks has increased.

The Minister maintains that Guyana remains highly vulnerable to shocks owing to the absence of a diversified economy.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, april 21, 2017

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

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

AFC failures

C

oalition Governments are commonly defined by politicians’ ability to bring together several political parties, whose ambitions are predominantly to reduce dominance in an aim to achieve the goal of development of a nation.

For us here in Guyana, when the Cummingsburg Accord was signed on February 14, 2015, between the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), great promises were made to Guyanese. This, debatably, led to the new coalition Government winning the 2015 elections. Two years later, as Guyanese face bread-and-butter issues, the coalition Government now appears to be divided on frontal matters, which in a greater way affect the livelihood of citizens.

In the lead-up to the elections in 2015, AFC, the smaller arm of the coalition, made a number of public promises to the Guyanese public, which portrayed an image of efficiency and leadership. Having joined with APNU and sitting together in decision-making meetings for the nation, the AFC now appears to be divorcing itself from some of those very decisions it made.

In its most recent apparent division, the AFC informed some of the protesters who are highlighting the burdens of the decision to impose VAT on education that nine AFC Government Ministers will on Monday meet with them to discuss the best strategies to be employed to reverse the new tax regime.

But was AFC not part of the decision-making process that led to the implementation of this burdensome tax on education? If this was always the AFC’s position, why did Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo not make this clear when he met with stakeholders at the National Cultural Centre. As a matter of fact, it was Nagamootoo who announced at that meeting that the burdensome tax would not be removed in 2017, but rather there was a possibility that it would be reviewed in 2018. It was this that led to the stakeholders understandably walking out of the meeting.

Now, just about two weeks later, the AFC is trying to convince Guyanese that its position on VAT on education is different from APNU’s. It was the same AFC which sat and voted jointly with APNU for the imposition of this burdensome tax on education during the 2017 Budget debate in the National Assembly.

In the parking meter fiasco, the AFC sat futilely and it was only when citizens stood strong against the project that it then publicly denounced that project.

However, again the AFC displayed traits of hypocrisy on that issue as it did not support the parking meter motion, which was tabled in the National Assembly by the Opposition.

The motion had called for a debate on the transparency of the project, method of procurement involved, terms and conditions of the contract, and the overall lack of consultancy with stakeholders. This is the second time around that the AFC is claiming to be an innocent party divorcing itself from the collective decision by its Government.

The implementation of the VAT on education has severe impacts on the lives of citizens and more so the ability to educate our nation and, as such, Guyanese cannot allow the AFC to make this critical issue a political football nor a PR gimmick.

The AFC must take responsibility and be held equally accountable for the implementation of this burdensome tax. The time has come for the AFC to stop using citizens’ real burdens as a PR tool and accept blame for its failures.

An Orthodox priest conducts a blessing in front of the Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft set on the launch pad ahead of its upcoming launch, at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (Reuters/Shamil Zhumatov)

Trumpism and the ethics of climate change denial Dear Editor, In recent years, President Donald Trump has used his Twitter account @realDonalTrump to share his thoughts on climate change. For example, in December 2013, he tweeted: “…global warming is a total, and very expensive hoax.” And in January 2014, Trump asked: “Is our country still spending money on the GLOBAL WARMING HOAX?” In September 2016, Kellyanne Conway clarified the Administration’s position, suggesting that climate change exists but is “naturally occurring.” The Administration’s official position, however, does not avoid the epistemic and moral pitfalls in adopting a hypothesis against which the evidence overwhelmingly points.

Epistemology (or the theory of knowledge) is concerned with, among other things, what right we have to the beliefs we hold. In other words: it is a normative enterprise? It asks not merely the descriptive-psychological question of how people happen to come to acquire their beliefs, but rather how they should do so.

The mathematician and philosopher William Clifford, in “The Ethics of Belief”, famously argued that it is morally wrong to believe anything anywhere at any time on insufficient evidence. To make his point, Clifford used the example of a ship-owner who allows himself to believe that his vessel is seaworthy without giving it the proper inspection – thereby dooming all

the passengers aboard.

“He knew that she was old and not over-well built at the first; that she had seen many seas and climes, and often had needed repairs.

Doubts had been suggested to him that possibly she was not seaworthy… Before the ship sailed, however, he succeeded in overcoming these melancholy reflections … he acquired a sincere and comfortable conviction that his vessel was thoroughly safe and seaworthy. He watched her departure with a light heart and benevolent wishes for the exiles and their strange new home which was to-be. And he got his insurance money when she went down in mid-ocean and told no tales.”

First and foremost, Clifford contends that if a person is aware of evidence against a hypothesis and aware of no good evidence in support of it, but nevertheless allows himself to believe it because it provides him private satisfaction, he has done an epistemic and moral wrong. It is often pointed out that the philosopher William James attacked Clifford’s view (in his essay “The Will to Believe”), yet he agreed with this fundamental principle. What he rejected was Clifford’s secondary claim – namely, that if an individual has evidence neither for nor against a belief, it is wrong for him to either accept or reject it.

Rather, his ‘epistemic duty’, so to speak, is to withhold judgment on the matter until further evidence comes to light; that is, to remain agnostic. In the second case, James thought that, with

respect to religious belief, it was permissible to allow the passions (the will) to guide or determine belief.

Clifford’s ship-owner serves as an illustration for this Administration’s attitude to our current environmental situation.

Whether man-made climate change is occurring is no longer an object of serious scientific contention. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that: “Human influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and ocean, in changes in the global water cycle, in reduction in snow and ice, in global mean sea level rise, and in changes in some climate extremes… It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.”

We must begin to ask ourselves whether we have any epistemic right to the belief that anthropogenic global warming is not a reality, when virtually all the scientific evidence points to the fact that this is a reality which has already begun to exact a devastating toll in terms of climate refugees, desertification, and the rapid loss of biodiversity. The bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef reveals the far-reaching impacts of climate change; it has led to rising ocean temperatures and an increase in its acidity.

The essence of Trumpism lies in its tendency to create the conditions under which we recklessly fail to give due weight to things like justi-

fication, evidence and warrant – we enable ourselves to act in ways that are epistemically wrong. Nowhere is this more evident than in Trump’s disregard for manmade climate change.

Presently, Trump is behaving like Clifford’s ship-owner: he permits himself to believe whatever he wants -- that which he finds most convenient, expedient and desirable. The ultimate critique of Trumpism is not simply whether we still value basic principles, including what defines truth, but whether we are able to perceive objective reality at all.

Trumpism -- with its readiness to cling to unsubstantiated claims, hearsay, rumours, and conspiracies -- is in turn making it easier for all of us to behave, epistemically speaking, like Clifford’s ship-owner: we are becoming credulous for the sake of short-term economic self-interest. In the context of climate change, we should see Clifford’s doomed émigrés not simply as ourselves, but also our posterity. By not responding effectively and rapidly enough to address the looming threat of climate change, we may fail to prevent a geological tipping point, on the other side of which lies a vast unknown.

The real tragedy is not simply that Trump is not doing anything to combat climate change; the fact is that little was accomplished in this respect under the Obama Administration as well.

Sincerely, Sam Ben-Meir, PhD

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, april 21, 2017

5

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

GuySuCo’s focus for 2017 Govt has a very dysfunctional is beyond just production PR department Dear Editor, The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) wishes to respond to a letter published on April 5, 2017 and titled ‘GAWU is predicting low production figure for first crop’. This letter has been authored by Mr. Sase Singh.

In his letter, Mr Singh noted, “I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I got the Combat newspapers in my inbox. For the record, the Combat is printed by the GAWU, the largest workers’ union in Guyana. In the Combat, it is clearly stated that as at the week ending March 25, 2017, GuySuCo produced 20,037 tonnes of sugar from a target of 74,172 (or 27%).”

Mr. Singh further proceeded to cast blame for the low production on various sections of GuySuCo’s management; and the management would not abdicate its responsibility. Indeed, the management of the Corporation has a responsibility to manage the entity as efficiently as possible to produce the highest quality of sugar, and it takes that responsibility very seriously. Additionally, GuySuCo would be the first to admit that the production target of March 25, 2017 was lower than expected; the production figures are public information.

However, a fundamental and important aspect which Sase Singh missed is context. That is, the organisational and wider societal context in which GuySuCo has found itself at this point in time.

Mr Singh’s letter is also very superficial. One would have thought that he would have done some reasonable research before writing. If his research had covered earlier releases and articles relating to the sugar corporation, he would have better understood some of the deeper issues confronting the Guyana sugar industry.

The industry’s problems did not happen overnight.

It was already in deep crisis when the interim management committee and new Board were appointed in June and July 2015, respectively.

It was soon recognised that addressing the ills of the Corporation and industry could only be done by serious re-organisation,

which is a pre-requisite for retooling and improving productivity. This has been the focus of the current management and Board.

Additionally, the El Nino phenomenon and the erratic weather pattern which followed were not “caused by management”.

On the Skeldon Estate situation: The Cogeneration plant was sold to Skeldon Energy Inc. (SEI) in February, 2015. SEI subsequently commissioned an audit of the co-generation plant by Wartsilla, and that audit indicated that the plant was in a very poor state. In mid-2016, SEI had to obtain funding for a limited programme to improve the safety of the plant.

Unfortunately, this was not enough; by the end of the second crop 2016, further work was needed to render the co-generation plant safe to operate. The Corporation had no option but to defer the start of the 2017 crop for safety reasons.

Mr Singh attributes this to lack of proper planning. We do believe that this is more a function of the extent of the deteriorated state of the plant and the very limited funds which are available to address the problem.

Why is production low?

Much has been said over the past months about the state of the industry and the underlying causes. While the Corporation has been working tirelessly on those factors which are within its control, the solutions are not overnight fixes, and the El Nino experience followed by the erratic weather which continues to date do not help.

Therefore, while production is a part of the focus of the Corporation for 2017, its primary focus is aimed at clearly defining the future of the industry, and strengthening the organisation to ensure that it is fit-for–purpose; or rather, fit to meet the demands of the ‘New GuySuCo’.

As most persons are aware, the ‘New GuySuCo’ will include two components - sugar and diversification. The organisational strengthening aspect includes improving systems and structures; and developing, recruiting and positioning appropriate skills and expertise to ensure

that the Corporation has not only the right capacity, but also the right capabilities to secure a future entity that is resilient, sustainable, and eventually profitable.

The management is cognisant of the fact that in order for productivity to be increased, bringing stability to the business has to be a preliminary step, and this is being done by focusing on resuscitating the vital organs of the Corporation – its systems and structures.

Another critical area of focus is changing the current organisational behavioural patterns. For example, strikes are doing much harm to the business, and has proven largely not to be an enabling factor in the increased productivity drive, hence the urgent need to foster more collaborative working relationships with the three unions, to reduce strikes and explore alternative means of resolving disagreements in the industry. In 2016 alone, there were 148 strikes and 44,500 man-days lost. This has to change moving forward.

Additionally, the Corporation is addressing the huge issue of poor attendance by harvesters on estates, since if adequate labour is not available to harvest the canes in a timely manner, productivity will invariably be low.

In concluding, we hope that as Mr Singh examines the industry and its productivity, this letter will assist in broadening his perspective beyond the financial and accounting aspects, to factor in the more complex organisational and societal context within which GuySuCo is operating. We also hope that we have given him some assurances on our larger focus for re-designing, re-organising and re-engineering the Corporation, and more specifically the core agenda for 2017.

Yours faithfully, Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer, GuySuCo

Dear Editor, I sat in the National Cultural Centre (NCC) a few Fridays ago and heard Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo say that the Government will NOT review the VAT on private tuition for 2017, but will consider reviewing it for 2018.

I also saw that, as soon as he said that, the audience, almost in unison, got up and began walking out. I had never before seen anything like that. Normally, protocol dictates that the audience remains seated until the Prime Minister leaves.

However, the ire of the attending audience members was so invoked that they defied any established protocol and began walking out as the Prime Minister was still speaking.

I was not there at the NCC for the Prime Minister’s address; I was at the Centre to attend the health symposium that was a simultaneous event at the same venue.

So when I entered the hall and saw Mr Nagamootoo (who used to be my favourite politician) speaking, I quietly sat and listened. I heard the PM say that the Government had reduced the VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent, and that single act cost the treasury billions of dollars.

I heard him say that the Cabinet agreed to again bail out the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to the tune of one billion dollars. I heard the PM say that the Government has increased the education budget substantially. He made some other points to establish his case that, having done all this spending, the Government had to find ways to make up for the budgetary and operational shortfalls. He went on to justify his argument that the VAT on tuition was justifiable, given this now overwhelming financial need of the Government.

As I sat there listening to him, I kept wondering if the Prime Minister

was listening to himself.

Here he was, telling a hall scattered with some of Guyana’s finest minds that his Government has given the Guyanese people a lot of financial incentives, and therefore his Government must find a way to take it back from them. He looked as though he was reading from a script, and I wondered who wrote that script, or who assisted in advising him on the contents and construct of that script.

How could the Prime Minister justify telling a gathering of protesters that his Government is simply taking back what they had given to the people? It was a public relations nightmare!

I remained seated, and did not agree with the students, parents and teachers walking out in defiance of the PM, but I understood their frustration.

Then, two days ago, I opened the daily papers and read that the AFC (the Prime Minister is the highest-ranking AFC member in the Government and Cabinet) would be reviewing the VAT on education. Editor, I did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Only a couple of weeks ago, the PM got up in front of a protesting crowd and articulated his Government’s position -- he being the first Vice President and second in command. Now, a few days later, the AFC comes out and says, con-

trary to the Government, that they are reviewing the VAT on education.

It is as clear as day that this Government has a very dysfunctional PR department. And come 2020, it will be penalised for it.

The VAT on education was a non-starter from the beginning. I have said before that while I am no supporter of Mr Burnham, he had put Guyana’s education in its right perspective.

His notion of free education from nursery to university was visionary.

And now that his party – the PNC – would lead the charge of making it more difficult to achieve this basic and worthwhile necessity, it is a slap in his face.

Let me end by saying that while the current administration seems confused and incoherent on this matter of tax on education, it is heartening to know that within the halls of administrative power, there is some degree of common sense. There needs to be an immediate cessation of this nonsensical additional cost to Guyanese education.

If the Government wants to replace the money it will lose from taxing education, let it tax cigarettes and alcohol. As far as I am concerned, there can never be too many taxes on those.

Sincerely, Pastor WP Jeffrey

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FRIdAY, APRIL 21, 2017

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Talking to your teen about sex

By Laurence Steinberg, PhD

H

ow can parents overcome their own hesitations and their young adolescent's resistance? Here are some suggestions: Don't postpone discussions of sex until you think the adolescent is involved in a relationship.

Ideally, you should start talking to your child before he or she has become sexually active. Ten- to 12-yearolds are less likely to take the discussions personally and react defensively and more likely to say what is on their minds. It is much less embarrassing to ask and answer a hypothetical, "what if" question than one based on last night's experience or tomorrow night's expectations. If you wait until your daughter is 15 or 16 to bring up contraception, for example, she may feel that you are accusing her of being sexually active or invading her privacy. A younger adolescent won't take your views as a judgment of his or her maturity. Conversations are less likely to become emotional, and doors to future conversations (and the teenager's room) will not be slammed shut.

Having said this, I must add that it is never too late for you and your adolescent to have the conversation (or several of them). If

you've put this off, say so.

"We should have talked before now; you've grown up so fast I just didn't realise.

That's my fault, but I'd like to start now."

Don't try to say everything at once. Many readers will remember the Big Talk. Out of the blue, your father folded his newspaper, glanced knowingly at your mother, and said, "Let's go for a walk, son." Or your mother came to your room, closed the door, and announced solemnly, "It's time you and I talked woman-to-woman." If you remember anything about the Big Talk, it is probably that you and your parent were both horribly embarrassed. Heart-to-heart talks have their place, but the Big Talk tends to overdramatise sexuality, making natural developments seem like momentous, mysterious events.

The adolescent won't learn very much from a single lecture anyway.

If you want your child to consider sex a normal-not scary or compulsive or superglorious-part of life, the most natural approach is to weave discussions of sexual topics into everyday conversation. TV shows (both serious shows and sitcoms), magazine articles, the advice columns in newspapers, and even gossip columns provide ample opportunities to discuss sexual behaviour

and values. (More than 70 per cent of the television shows that are the most popular with teenagers contain sexual content.) A programme on teenage pregnancy can set the stage for talking about why (other) teenagers take chances and how much your child knows about conception and contraception.

Don't overwhelm the young adolescent with information. If your son or daughter asks a question, answer it and ask if there is anything else

they would like to know. Your goals should be first to find out what your child knows and correct misinformation and second to let the youngster know that it is okay to talk about sex. The best way to break the ice is to show the adolescent you are interested in his or her views on topics like teenage pregnancy and sexual harassment.

Respect your adolescent's privacy. As teenagers move into adolescence, their desire

for privacy increases.

They don't want you going through their bureau drawers or email while they are in school, and they don't want you prying into their private thoughts. The rule that sex is private is not for adults only, even if the adolescent's sex life is all fantasy at this point. If your daughter takes you into her confidence, don't rush off to tell your husband or your best friend what she said.

Let

her decide whom she wants or doesn't want to know about her feelings.

The privacy rule works both ways, of course. If you feel comfortable talking about own experience, fine.

But if you don't, say so. You and your adolescent can have a useful, informative conversation about sex without going into intimate details. At some point, nearly all preteens ask "How old do you have to be to have intercourse?" Don't assume that your son or daughter is contemplating an affair. Most young teenagers are looking

for reasons not to have sex, and welcome their parent's help in saying no. Even still, it might not be too soon to begin discussing now how to make responsible decisions about sex, and good and bad reasons for having sex.

Telling adolescents that they are emotionally immature or that they only think they are in love (if that is the case) is not likely to make much of an impression. The best approach with preteens is to emphasise the real risk: Unprotected sex – at any age, even once – can result in pregnancy. The only way to prevent pregnancy is to abstain from intercourse or to use effective contraception. But no form of contraception is 100 per cent effective. Young adolescents are much less likely to use contraception than are older adolescents.

Pregnancy at an early age is both physically and psychologically risky. Very young mothers are more likely to have complicated pregnancies and deliveries than are women in their twenties; their babies are more likely to be underweight, sickly, and slow to develop. Girls who become mothers in their teens are far less likely than other girls to complete high school or go to college. They are also less likely than other

girls to marry the father of their baby or, if they do, to stay married. Abortion also entails greater risk when the girl is very young, if only because young teens are reluctant to face the possibility that they are pregnant and delay seeing a physician.

The risk of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) among teenagers is high. STDs are a leading cause of sterility, among other health problems. Having sex now can reduce the chances of having children later in life. The only way to avoid STDs is to abstain from sexual intercourse or to use condoms.

In short, young adolescents should know that saying no until they are older is important to their health and their future. They should know that having sex doesn't prove that you are glamorous, attractive, and "with it." Sex doesn't prove anything. Saying no at age, for any reason, is okay. You might also want to say that kissing, hugging, and holding hands are good ways of expressing affection that adults enjoy, too. Walking arm in arm on the beach or star-gazing with someone you care for are wonderful at any age. They needn't be a prelude to sexual intercourse. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

– lab tests found kids could not judge road safety

C

hildren are not safe to cross the road on their own until they reach the age of 14, scientists warn.

In laboratory tests using a realistic virtual simulation of a busy street with cars travelling at 25 miles per hour, youngsters were less able to get their timing right for a safe crossing.

Experts said this was because their perception skills were not yet fully developed.

Six-year-olds would have been hit by a car on per cent of crossings. It was six per cent for eight-year-olds, five per cent for children aged 10.

Even those aged 12 were struck by vehicles two per cent of the time – and had to compensate for their lack of judgement by choosing bigger gaps in traffic.

Those aged 14 and older had no accidents. Professor Jodie Plumert, of Iowa University, said: “Some people think younger children may be able to perform like adults when crossing the street.

“Our study shows that’s not necessarily the case on busy roads where traffic doesn’t stop.”

The researchers, who released their findings in the journal “Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance”, urged parents to teach their children to be patient and choose bigger gaps in traffic.

They also advised planners to build more crossings near schools.

Many pedestrians under the age of 15 have been killed or seriously injured in Guyana in recent times. (Adapted from the Mirror)

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friDAY, APRIL 21, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

One month later

City Hall audit incomplete after delays from officials

– Auditor General forced to write Town Clerk due to non-cooperation

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

C

ity Hall executives had written to the Auditor General’s Office requesting an audit; but during that exercise, City Hall officials have not been as helpful as had been hoped. Thus the final phase of the audit, which had commenced last month, has been stalled because of this lack of cooperation.

In an interview with this publication on Thursday, Auditor General Deodat Sharma (AG Sharma) revealed that the relationship between the auditors and City Hall personnel has so deteriorated that Town Clerk Royston King had to be written regarding the undue delays being caused by City Hall officials not making the necessary documents available to the auditors.

“There were some hiccups and (they) were unable to make the arrangements for us to go in. So the Town Clerk promised (that)

by May 8 (he would) make arrangements (for the auditors to go in). I had to write him another letter, because they haven’t been making the records available, or the books. So we have not gone in as yet (to audit the accounts),” AG Sharma revealed. The audit has consequently still not been completed, more than one month after it had commenced.

AG Sharma explained that the audit of the ac-

counts was supposed to have started over a month ago, after the physical or stock audit had been done.

There have been persistent calls for City Hall to be fully audited. Back in 2015, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had received two grants under the Communities Ministry’s Capital Programme for the “Georgetown Restoration Programme”, in addition to the “Emergency Solid Waste Management of Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill”.

Each of those multi-million-dollar grants was based on Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Communities Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Town Clerk of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC). According to the Auditor General’s 2015 Report, there were several “discrepancies” in the way the sums of money allotted to the City Council had been spent during that year.

After examining 212 pay-

ment vouchers, a number of discrepancies were reportedly found, including hundreds of instances wherein there was no evidence that the validity of payment vouchers had been certified by the accountant or other authorised officer before be-

the negative, and said that was one of the reasons why the current audit being carried out by his office was necessary. It is understood that this audit is supposed to probe from as far back as 2012.

“There was a session

The audit at City Hall has still not been completed, one month after commencement

ing payable.

Asked yesterday whether those discrepancies were ever satisfactorily resolved, AG Sharma responded in

with the Public Accounts Committee (wherein) they (officials) appeared and answered questions (on) some of the areas,” Sharma re-

called. “That’s why we want to go in and do a thorough audit.”

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor Bishram Kuppen had written to the press last year, expressing dissatisfaction that the motions for an audit of the municipality’s affairs had been denied.

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green had denied all suggestions that she was stymieing attempts to conduct an audit into the financial affairs of City Hall.

In fact, she claimed she had been the one calling for an audit.

“Since 2012 I’ve said it -that we are open to an audit whenever and by whoever.

I want it to be clearly said that I have no objections to any audit. Since 2011, I have been calling for an audit for the City Council. When the PPP was in Government they did not take heed; and now, in 2016, you’re hearing all the cries for an audit.

I still don’t have any objections,” Chase-Green had de-

Town Clerk Royston King

clared.

In his letter, the PPP councillor had charged that important services were still not being provided, and the City was experiencing financial difficulties despite the millions of dollars it had collected in revenue.

Kuppen had also referred to a donation of $8 million the City had received from the Chinese Government to assist the clean-up campaign in Georgetown. (Jaryl Bryan)

8 news

fridAY, APRIL 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Arakaka woman remanded for attempted murder of lover

T

he Easter Monday celebration turned dark for a North West couple as a guilt-stricken woman now sits in prison after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend with a broken beer bottle on the festive holiday.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan was Cynthia McIntyre, who allegedly, on April 17, 2017 at Arakaka Village, Region One in the North West District, with intent to murder, unlawfully and maliciously wounded Virtual Complainant (VC) Ryan Roberts.

The unrepresented

Cynthia McIntyre

35-year-old mother of five cut a lonely figure in court, opt-

ing to enter a not-guilty plea.

The Prosecutor related to the court that the couple were imbibing alcohol on the day in question when an argument ensued between them. The angry woman grabbed a beer bottle and broke it, reportedly advanced towards the VC, and stabbed him once to the left side of the chest. The injured man collapsed and was then taken to the Arakaka Hospital.

He was subsequently transported via airplane to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he presently remained in critical condition.

The court heard that

Roberts sustained a two-inch stab wound to the left side of his chest in close proximity to his heart, which is still bleeding three days later. Bail was objected to on these grounds and was accordingly refused by the Chief Magistrate.

McIntyre indicated that she was originally from the village, and was seasonally employed as a cook at a gold mine there, but was currently residing in Ruby Village, West Coast Demerara.

The matter was transferred to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court where it is expected to continue on May 9, 2017.

Mocha man on bail for sexually assaulting 9-year-old relative

A

54-year-old man of Mocha, East Bank Demerara was on Thursday morning hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts following allegations of sexual assault made against him.

Presiding magistrate Ann McLennan ordered the courtroom to be cleared owing to the nature of the

offence, so the hearing was held in-camera.

Based on reports reaching this newspaper, the suspect allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a nine-year-old female child by ‘touching and rubbing’ between December 4 and December 24, 2016.

The unrepresented man purportedly pleaded not

guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $100,000.

According to reports, the child’s mother had sent her to pick vegetables at the accused’s premises when she was allegedly falsely imprisoned by Welch, who locked her in a room and demanded that she expose herself, or else

she would not be permitted to leave.

The nine-year-old, out of fear, permitted the man to fondle her, and subsequently related the incident to her mother, who made a report to the relevant authorities, upon which the perpetrator was arrested by Police and charged with the offence.

No clue…

I

…about development

f some diehard supporters of the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition harboured some hope their leaders had a clue -- or even the inclination -- to develop Guyana, Raphael Trotman’s answers in Parliament as to what they plan to do with the coming oil revenues proves conclusively they’re out at sea, even beyond Lisa 1. And that’s over 100 miles out in the deep blue Atlantic!!

To start off, the man is ignorant about the oil business and how it works, making his talk about “revenues” sound just like empty wool-gathering. It’s painfully obvious he hasn’t followed the developments in shale oil in the US after OPEC cut production to lift prices. Just to remind him, Exxon plunged into shale oil after abandoning sandtar oil and the Arctic reserves on the pragmatic principle “if you can’t beat ‘em, then join ‘em”.

The result has been a steady DROP in prices, threatening to plunge below US$50 -- until the blip this week. And “blip’ it will be, even though the Saudis and Russia say they’ll continue beyond June at higher production levels. Your Eyewitness predicts things aren’t going to be much different come 2020, and he’ll like Trotman to tell him what will be Guyana’s share of “profit oil” at that price! The fella just looooves to count his barrels before they’re sold!

But back to Trotman’s plans for whatever profit Guyana will get. Contrary to his vow to establish the Sovereign Wealth Fund -- which the PPP had announced before the last elections -- and to use these funds specifically for strategic investments so future generations and the country could benefit, he dumped those plans like a hot potato. Assuming there was ever such a plan, of course!

So, we now hear the SWF will be used for (1) stabilising the Budget. This means, of course, like it did last year, that Government will run massive budgetary deficits with its boondoggle schemes and jobs for the boys and girls. The oil money will then cover their sins.

(2) Cheques to “the nation’s children and adults”. Yup!!

You don’t even have to read between the lines to know which “children and adults” Trotman’s talking about.

Money down the tubes!

(3) The regions will get a cut. Ditto with (2) above, except it’ll be triple dipping for the favoured few. And lastly (4) we hear once again about the US$500M Crab Island oil facility. The man still hasn’t explained what this “facility” will be doing, since the one company to strike oil -- Exxon -- says they’ll have nothing to do with it.

Trotman mightn’t know squat about oil, but he sure knows much about snake oil!!

…or principles

Waaay back, when it was launched, the AFC leadership triune said they’d be a “swing vote” in Parliament -- to go either with the PPP or the PNC, depending on their respective stance on the issue at hand. The “good of the country” was going to be their talisman and guide! Quite a few persons choked up at that happy prospect, and the AFC got 5 seats.

Unfortunately, the wankers never voted -- not even once -- with the PPP in the decade since. NOT ONCE! Instead, they jumped into bed with the PNCled APNU after a long courtship since 2011, a Valentine Day engagement in 2015, and wedding dowry of 40% Ministries after the last elections. They claimed there was never an issue they agreed on with the PPP. Well, old people say nothing happens before its time.

Lo and behold (as they say when a miracle’s about to happen!!), the AFC and the PPP both disagree with VAT on private education fees. The PPP’s placed the issue on the order paper.

Hope? Your Eyewitness thinks they’ll get larwah from the AFC!

…on SARA

Now, there have to be applications for the most powerful job in Guyana – Director of SARA. Could Prezzie please announce what are the “fit and proper” criteria?

Co-leader of WPA??

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

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friDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$17.5M to modernise Diamond to get overhead Suddie, West Dem and pedestrian crossing Bartica hospitals – from Indian credit line

T

The West Demerara Regional Hospital

he Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said in a statement that the Government of India recently approved a Line of Credit of approximately US$17.5 million to the Government of Guyana.

This money will see modernisation works being done to three primary health care institutions in Guyana; namely the Suddie Regional Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and the Bartica District Hospital.

The Suddie Regional Hospital will receive almost US$8 million for the

construction of a new ambulatory and in-patient centre and diagnostic care facility.

More than US$4.5 million will be used for the same purpose at West Demerara Regional Hospital, while the Bartica District Hospital would receive approximately US$3 million for expansion of the existing building and construction of a number of new structures in the compound. The projects are all expected to commence later this year.

Vanessa Dickenson, Director of the Department of International

Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted thus: “The signing of this agreement will pave the way for improving and upgrading the delivery of healthcare services in Guyana”.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and India, established on May 26, 1966, have since been of mutual benefit to the two countries, including through the provision of official development assistance to Guyana from the Government of India and political support for India from Guyana.

The two countries are also cooperating in the areas of renewable energy technology, agriculture, and health and education, among other areas.

Presently ongoing projects in Guyana include the acquisition of an ocean-going ferry to service Region One (Barima/Waini) and development of the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology at the Turkeyen campus of the University of Guyana.

Adoption Board gets new Directors

M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, on Thursday revealed that the Adoption Board has a new board of directors, chaired by Attorney-at-law James Bond.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, the minister explained to media operatives that the new Board of Directors consists of Bond, Geoffrey Sankies, Kashir Khan, Clonel SamuelsBoston, Punilall Latchman, Patricia Gray and a representative from the parliamentary Opposition. The new Board of Directors is expected to func-

James Bond, the new Chair of the Adoption Board

tion for a period of one year.

The Board processes monthly reviews of between

12 and 16 adoption applications. It also has to ensure that a child has not attained, and will not attain, his or her 18th birthday during the adoption review process, which takes about seven months; since, according to the law, an 18-year-old cannot be adopted.

Persons whose applications to adopt are rejected are usually allowed to appeal. According to a GINA report, this is because, in many cases, additional/new information which was not available before surfaces, or there might have been a misunderstanding of the process.

A typical overhead pedestrian crossing

T

he Government had made known its intention, during last year, to construct three overhead pedestrian walkways at Houston; Eccles; and Peter’s Hall, near the Demerara Harbour Bridge. A planned vehicle bypass for Diamond was also then announced.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, disclosed that Diamond will now be benefiting from an overhead pedestrian crossing. He said, “You would recall that I had previously announced the award of US$1M contracts for the construction of overhead crossings at Houston,

Peter’s Hall and at Eccles.

This is an additional overhead crossing that’s going to be constructed.”

The Minister of State noted that a contract in the sum of US$364,727 was awarded to S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services for work on the Diamond overhead pedestrian crossing.

Works are expected to commence shortly.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that, according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Geoffrey Vaughn, the new overhead pedestrian crossings will

have features which would enable the elderly and persons with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to use the bypasses.

Vaughn pointed out that the overhead pedestrian crossings “will be a normal design for those who may not be able to walk the stairs to get up to the bypass. The elevator will take them up, and they will go to the other side and get down. So there are some modern features that we’re looking at; we’re hoping that everything will work out for us.”

These initiatives are geared to eliminate congestion on the East Bank Demerara roadway.

10

news

friDAY, april 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC accused of ‘sheer hypocrisy’ – votes with APNU for VAT on education, then fools public

V

eteran politician and former Government minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has slammed the Alliance For Change (AFC) for its “sheer hypocrisy” on the controversial issue of VAT on education. The following is the full text of a commentary written by Dr Ramsammy.

The AFC has been resolute in their support for VAT on education. Every time it counts, and their votes mattered, they voted 100% in favour with President Granger, the Minister of Finance and APNU. With public resentment and rejection at a high, AFC is seeking a way to speak on both sides of their faces. It is abhorrent and it is sheer hypocrisy. But they have one chance to redeem themselves - unequivocally support the PPP's motion in Parliament to rescind the 14% VAT on Education. No "ands, if or buts". Are the AFC MPs and Cabinet Members hypocrites? If the cap fits, they must wear it.

With universal public outrage against VAT on education, AFC is twirling in the wind, twisting like the American Pretzel to find a way out of this political quagmire. The AFC voted for VAT on education not once, not twice, not three times, but at least four times.

At each turn, the AFC stood resolutely, unflinchingly, behind APNU, the Minister of Finance and President Granger. In response to public protest, a petition letter signed by

Former Government Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

thousands of Guyanese and universal rejection of the 14% VAT on education, a public consultation was eventually staged at the National Convention Centre last week. That consultation was led by the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, a senior leader of the AFC; and the Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, the Leader of the WPA. They both defiantly announced that VAT on education stays. The highest ranking AFC Cabinet member, the Prime Minister of Guyana (and) the VicePresident of Guyana, Moses Nagamootoo, did not even then dare to cross Granger and APNU by expressing even a modicum of reservation on VAT on education.

Instead, with an iron fist, he dismissed the gathering by informing them that VAT on education stays.

The AFC voted for approval of the budget estimates at Cabinet before Budget 2017 reached Parliament. When they did

so, they knowingly -- willingly, without reservation -approved 14% VAT on education. In Parliament, AFC had two chances: during the consideration of the Ministry of Education Budget and during the consideration of the Ministry of Finance Budget. The PPP begged the AFC to vote against VAT on education. The AFC rejected the request from the PPP, and chose to vote resoundingly with their APNU colleagues to introduce 14% VAT on education, just like they voted without any reservation for 14% VAT on water and electricity.

In Parliament, senior leaders of the AFC spoke firmly and glowingly in support of the budget as a whole, calling the budget transformative, the best budget ever.

They demonised the private schools, wrongly asserting that only rich people's children go to private schools.

Not only did they vote for the 14% VAT on school fees, they also voted for 14% VAT on books, other teaching and educational aids, and other items for schools.

These leaders included Trotman, Nagamootoo, Ramjattan, Hughes, Patterson, Holder, Lowe, Carrington, Charandass and others. They chastised the PPP for finding fault with the budget, calling Budget 2017 the best ever. AFC played politics and disregarded the welfare of the people.

Solidarity with Granger and APNU was far more important to them than the welfare of the children and youth,

young adults seeking higher education, and of the people of Guyana.

After the budget was passed and became the law of the land, public protest exploded. There was a promised review of VAT by Cabinet, at which the Cabinet remained resolute that VAT on education stayed. A second review was done by Cabinet, and the AFC still remained resolute in their support for VAT on education. At no point did the AFC express any reservation relating to VAT on education. In various media engagements and on several TV shows, AFC leaders provided unqualified support for the position of the Minister

of Finance (in regard to) the vulgar imposition of VAT on education.

Having essentially lost much of their support in all regions, and (being considered) virtually dead in Regions 2,3,5 and 6, the AFC is now squirming because they underestimated the universal condemnation of VAT on education. Not only are they squirming, they are trying to find a way to extricate themselves from the fiasco of VAT on education.

They are testing the waters by signalling their support for a review of VAT on education.

The PPP will introduce a motion in Parliament to re-

scind VAT on education. The party has been consistent, and stood with the people throughout these agonising months as the public protested against VAT on education.

The AFC, on the other hand, is guilty of sheer hypocrisy.

While voting solidly to impose VAT on education, they now seek to heap blame solely on Granger and APNU. Well, they can redeem themselves (by voting) against VAT on education, or (they can) stand with Granger and APNU in Parliament.

No "ands, ifs, buts". Will the AFC allow the motion to be debated? And will they join with the PPP to rescind VAT on education?

Police to conduct several exercises today

T

he Guyana Police Force has said that, under “Operation Assurance 11”, ranks of the Police Force will be involved in several exercises between 08:00hrs and 18:00hrs today (Friday April 21, 2017).

The exercises will be conducted on the East Coast, West Coast and East Bank of Demerara.

There will be movements of police personnel, and pyrotechnics will be used which will result in periodic loud explosions.

Members of the public are asked not to be alarmed during the period of the operation.

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S RAIGHT How the CH&PA under Hamilton Green failed Guyana

F

amily remittances play a big part in how the Guyanese economy functions.

In 2012, some US$470 million flowed into Guyana from remittances. There was a 43% decline in remittance over the period 2012-2016, while there was a 66% decline in house lot allocations during the same period. In both 2015 and 2016, remittance inflows were below US$294 million.

But what was startling from the dataset at my disposal was the evidence unearthed to illustrate that more than half of this 66% decline in house lot allocations occurred over an 18-month period under the leadership of Hamilton Green at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) -between the period June 2015 to December 2016. This situation played a critical role in the decline in foreign currency inflows of some US$55 million (Gy$11.5 billion) over that 18-month period.

Such a disservice to the nation does not deserve a national award or a Gy$16 million a year pension package, but permanent banishment to Timbuktu for gross negligence and incompetence at the highest levels in the CH&PA and the Ministry of Communities.

The empirical evidence supports a view that the distribution of house lots directly influences remittance inflows, and by extension economic growth. Did the Granger Administration have access to this narrative? Is there a reason why they have totally massacred the housing programme left by the PPP in May 2015 without immediately putting in place a bigger and better alternative programme? Talk from flunky politicians is cheap. When put into the driver’s seat, these big talkers -- like Minister Bulkan -- all of a sudden become “namby-pambies” and continue failing to deliver.

I would be the first to support standardised houses on new projects, but in the absence of an implementable alternative to replace what was there in the past, it was foolhardy to have curtailed the PPP’s house lot distribution programme. Again, allocation of new house lots has a direct pull on remittances, which then leverage new activities in the economy. Thus, it is a challenge to understand the rationale behind shifting from the distribution of an average of 2,700 house lots every six months since 2010 -- under the PPP -- to the allocation of 251 house lots in the first six months of the Granger Administration.

That is a multiple of 11 times more when comparing the PPP’s performance to the APNU/AFC! For the record, in the latter half of 2016, it climbed up to an average of 996 house lots distributed in that six-month period -- still almost 3 times behind the average during the Irfaan Ali era.

The idea of duplexes and town houses must be welcomed, but you cannot force that on to the people; it is not who we are as a people. It should be sold to those who are willing to live in such arrangement. But the average Guyanese has been accustomed to the single-family home on his/her own piece of land. (Yes, that house lot) Without enough of this in the market, the housing sector will be subdued, and that will hurt the inflow of remittances. Why then jettison the distribution of house lots in a period of dire foreign currency shortages?

Transports Processed

The graph above shows that, since 2011, the housing market has experienced a rapid decline in the allocation of house lots. It also shows a corresponding decline in the issuance of certificates of title. If one were to peruse the several budgets and the dataset from the CH&PA, one would find evidence that issuance of the certificates of title over this five-year period (2011-2016) declined by 72%, while allocation of house lots declined by 78%.

Getting land into the hands of the landless is a critical first step in housing a nation, and this is what house lots do. It is not magic, President Granger; it is common sense! The macro impact will be an expansion of the national stock of housing, which can translate into economic growth. But it also means giving people the opportunity to live in dignity as they acquire their first homes. How hard can that be to roll out?

Please feel free to share your comments at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

11

friDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

National Assembly to debate future of sugar industry

By Alexis Rodney

A

draft ‘white paper’ on the Future of the Sugar Industry is set to be laid in the National Assembly on May 8, 2017; and while its contents have not been discussed extensively, pronouncements by President David Granger regarding his administration’s plans to close several sugar estates are therein entailed.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, reporting on discussions coming out of Cabinet meeting earlier this week, said Government and the Opposition will debate the content of the ‘white paper’, which was submitted to Cabinet by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder.

“This follows a process we had gone through with respect to the situation at GuySuCo. First, there was a Commission of Inquiry on GuySuCo. Subsequently, a special team was put together to look at some options for GuySuCo,” he said. Following this, some options were provided to Government, and it was decided at Cabinet that consultations be held before any decision is made by the administration.

Harmon said, however, that during a stakeholder consultation, Government laid bare its position on the GuySuCo matter.

Stakeholders at that meeting included Government, the Opposition, and representatives of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees, along with sugar workers.

“So several meetings were held at the Ministry of Agriculture, and as a result of those consultations, Government’s position became a little more crystallised,” he explained.

He said Government had also opened the floor for additional proposals for the sugar corporation, and GAWU had submitted some proposals, which he noted have been included in the draft white paper.

Harmon said three important issues have been highlighted and will be dealt with: the financial and technical evidence proving that it is feasible to amalgamate some estates and factories; the need and requirement for divestment of these facilities; and the utilisation of some of the facilities of the estates. He added that the President has already addressed some of these issues.

GAWU said on Tuesday that it would cripple planned efforts to close the East Demerara Estate (Enmore Estate) in the name of restructuring.

GAWU President, Komal Chand, told Guyana Times on Monday that the union was in the process of amass-

Flashback: Representatives from the sugar industry in the boardroom of the Agriculture Ministry, discussing options for the way forward for the ailing sugar industry on December 31, 2016

ing workers to take to the streets in massive protests against the move.

Chand said that while Government has proposed closing the estate, it did not clearly state if it would go ahead with those plans.

However, GAWU members are of the opinion that the estate will be closed.

“The information we are getting from the ground is that this will be a reality, because already they are not doing a lot of important work to have the estate functional next year,” Chand explained.

The top GAWU official, who met with sugar workers last Friday, told Guyana Times that members were nervous about their future and about securing alterna-

tive employment.

While the GAW has been engaged in some level of protests over the past week, particularly in Enmore, Chand said the numbers are likely to grow in coming weeks and months.

“They (sugar workers) hope that they will draw support from the residents and others with the view to build a strong protest, because that might be one of the ways to get Government to rethink its position,” he explained.

Chand opined that if the protest attracted enormous crowds, like the protests regarding the parking meter project in Georgetown, it would send a strong message to the coalition Government.

He also pointed to the

situation in French Guiana, where citizens came out in large numbers to protest high unemployment, crime, high cost of living, and a lack of investment from France.

While the Government has promised to present a white paper on the sugar industry to Parliament, Chand believes it is deliberately delaying, so that the issue would be debated by the end of 2017.

“The Government is trying not to bring the official position to the public, and one of the reasons is because they want the matter brought by yearend,” he told this publication.

As it stands, there is much resentment in the sugar belt, and workers are highly demotivated because much uncertainty surrounds their future, Chand said.

“They have not received any increases for the past two years. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is now complaining about poor turnout. They are so demotivated,” he added.

GuySuCo has long complained that poor labour turnout has contributed to reduced sugar production.

The industry is facing its toughest times, with production at just over 180,000 tonnes last year. This is the lowest production GuySuCo has recorded since 1990.

12 NEWS

friDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt prepares city for May-June rains – approves $150M for drainage works in priority areas

D

rainage and irrigation channels in and around Georgetown will undergo a series of rehabilitative works, while some will be cleared as the city prepares for the MayJune rains.

At a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday at the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said Government has approved $150 million for drainage works in priority areas.

“A sum of $150 million was approved by Cabinet for works to the following areas: the de-silting of the Sussex Street drain; de-silting of the drain and culverts along the Railway Embankment from Sheriff Street on the west to the pump station on the east; the clearing of six culverts that connect the North Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt drainage systems; the clearing of the si-

phons and attendant drains in the Plum Park, Sophia area; repairs to the Meadow Bank sluice and clearing of the Meadow Brook channel inlet; repairs to sluices at Agricola, Rome and Lamaha Street and clearing of the inlet channels (and) clearing of drains in the Newtown area,” Minister Harmon detailed.

The technical team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) highlighted these areas as key locations for rehabilitative works. The drainage process would subsequently be more efficient to allow possible floodwaters to be drained from across the city in a timely manner, Minister Harmon explained.

These works are expected to commence immediately, and will be completed before the arrival of the May-June rains.

The task force was established during a Cabinet meeting earlier in January.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the task force comprises representatives from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Infrastructure and the NDIA. The work of the task

Flashback: Flooding in Georgetown after recent heavy rainfall

Minister Harmon further noted that this was the first of a series of actions taken by a recently-established task force which will oversee the rehabilitation of drainage systems in the capital city.

Additionally, the task force will “execute plans in the short, medium and long

term to prevent flooding of the city in times of heavy rainfall in the future,” Harmon concluded.

The drainage and irrigation programme is factored into the Hydrometeorological Services’ budget of the Agriculture Ministry of approximately $603 million.

force will be guided by the recommendations presented by the team of Dutch engineers, which will be used in finding effective drainage solutions for Georgetown.

Last July, the Dutch Risk Reduction team presented a report for the modelling of an effective and efficient drainage system for the city of Georgetown to the Public Infrastructure Minister.

Engineers, sea defence officials examine collapsed revetment at Burnham Drive

The collapsed revetment at Burnham Drive examined by officials

O

fficials of the Sea and River Defence Division (SRDD) of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, along with several engineers, were recently summoned to examine the latest emergent collapse of revetment works to a section of the Burnham Drive road in Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Regional officials had expressed grave concern over the issue, which threatened a total collapse of the said road. So far, a number of studies have been conducted of the Burnham Drive road, considered the main thoroughfare at Wismar, which is also located in close proximity to the Demerara River and the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge. As such, officials had called for urgent and immediate intervention.

“The engineer is here as it relates to Burnham Drive and I don’t think we need more study. We had almost all and sundry coming and look at Burnham Drive, from the Sea Defence, everybody.

So they would have done all their reports, but I’m happy that the Engineer is here.

The Engineer that came, he is the emergency manager. So I’m hoping, just like the highway, that they treat what is happening here as an emergency,” Regional Chairman Renis Morian stated.

The situation had also

led to flooding on the opposite side of the road where numerous residents reside, whenever there is a heavy downpour. Residents there had pointed out that the collapse was a result of faulty work by the contractor.

“The guy who did the work didn’t take no advice; he didn’t listen. So, this is what ended up happening...

This is the major structure at Burnham Drive, but this structure was not done properly; that’s why it collapsed. The entire Canvas City, coming down to a part of West Watooka experience flooding when the rain falls,” the resident stated.

The Burnham Drive stretch, which falls under the remit of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, is no stranger to structural faults.

A section of the road had collapsed last year. Shortly after repairs were conducted to the collapsed section of the road, other structural faults were detected.

The Regional Chairman had intimated that the increase in vehicular traffic at the location and the rise in high tides were all major contributors to the situation. He said other issues have been detected in areas such as Tar Road; the Palm Tree Cinema area, where he said there is a depression about six inches deep; and Katapulli, Christiansburg.

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fridAY, april 21, 2017

News

SOL staff spruces up Guyana to launch Staycation manatee holding pond initiative in May

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– in Botanical Gardens

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Employees of SOL Guyana Inc during the recent sprucing-up of the manatee holding pond

mployees of SOL Guyana Inc on March 25 converged on the Guyana Zoological Park/Botanical Gardens for the annual sprucing-up of the manatee holding pond.

This is seen as part of Sol’s corporate social responsibility and as a means of giving back to society while enhancing the environs.

The Zoological Park/ Botanic Gardens is one of the few places in Guyana where manatees can be viewed. The species on dis-

play is the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus Manatus) and though it might resemble a seal or sea lion, its closest relative is the elephant.

Manatee populations are declining for a number of reasons, including encroachment on their natural habitat, human pollutants and collisions with watercraft. Against this background, SOL’s annual gesture helps to call attention to these gentle giants by making their holding area more aesthetically pleasing

and, therefore, more inviting for visitors.

The SOL Group of Companies operates in 23 countries across the Eastern Caribbean, including Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Bahamas, Cayman, Belize Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe. SOL supplies fuels, lubricants, bitumen and LPG through an extensive service station network, with marine, aviation and commercial operations.

fforts are being made to boost domestic tourism through the implementation of a Staycation initiative which is expected to officially commence in the month of May. The aim of this initiative is to drive business to local service providers and owners of facilities while simultaneously enhancing national awareness of the local tourism product.

Director General of the Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair, has said that while Staycation is not a new concept to Guyana, the move is to have it officially launched, so that it could become a regular feature.

Sinclair told a news conference on Thursday that it is a known fact that hundreds of Guyanese have never travelled to many places in Guyana, and Staycation would provide them an opportunity to so do.

“It is basically a case where the market is already there, the product is there too. So, it’s a matter of the industry basically deciding to make the product as attractive as possible for local and Caribbean visitors,” he explained.

Sinclair said residents would be given opportunity to take a break from the routine of their day-to-day lives to vacation within their own destinations. He said that vacationing within one’s own destination not only offers an opportunity to avoid long lines, but also gives travellers a chance to avoid the high

Director General of the Department of Tourism, Donald Sinclair

cost normally associated with travel.

Sinclair said the Staycation initiative is deliberately set for a May launching because that month has three long holiday weekends.

“First is the weekend that climaxes at Labour Day (May 1); next is the one linked with Indian Arrival Day (May 5); and the other one, of course, is the Independence weekend (May 26).”

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) is currently in discussion with various entities to arrive at possible discounts that could be offered during this period.

“This is something that the industry will have to be announcing: what special packages (would be available). And, of course, individual resorts and businesses will have their own packages and

discounts that they will be offering to promote local travel in the month of May,” he explained.

The initiative is a joint collaboration of the Department of Tourism, the Guyana Tourism Authority, the THAG, business owners and regional authorities.

At completion of the first phase of the initiative -- at the end of May -- the Department will conduct an evaluation to determine the success of the initiative, and determine its weaknesses with the intention of eliminating those weaknesses. The Staycation package will also feature partnerships with tour operators at significantly reduced prices. Staycation is a regular feature in the Caribbean and many parts of the world, especially in countries where tourism is the highest income earner.

friDAY, april 21, 2017

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News

Industry motorcyclist killed Man commits suicide months in early morning accident after setting home on fire

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hristopher Singh of Lot 358 Area ‘J’ Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was killed at sometime after 07:00h on Thursday, after a mini-bus reportedly struck the motor cycle he was driving on the East Coast Highway.

According to information reaching the Guyana Times the 62-year-old security guard was heading out of the University of Guyana (UG) Road, and had already turned right in an easterly direction on the East Coast Highway when a mini-bus travelling up the East Coast from Georgetown struck the motor cycle from behind. The bus had just crossed over to the northern carriageway when the accident occurred.

Singh’s son, Ram, related that the bus driver is claiming that Singh rode head-on into the bus. “But that can’t be, because if that was the case then the bike would have had damages in front; but the damages were at the back, left side,” Ram explained as he showed this newspaper some parts that were broken off from the motorcycle.

Ram also said the police were not forthcoming with information about his father’s death, and at the station were asking questions about his properties and bank account.

“Something nah look

Dead: Christopher Singh

right, because the police at the station is saying that the man didn’t had on helmet, but when we go at the scene, another policeman there told us that somebody picked up the helmet. And when we check the bag that we collect from the hospital with his belongings, we find the helmet,” the son said.

He further pointed out that the helmet was broken.

Ram believes that his father was wearing the protective gear, and when he fell after being struck by the mini-bus, it probably broke.

Singh’s distraught wife told this publication that after receiving the news of the accident, she rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where she found out that her husband had already died. When she saw her hus-

band’s body, his limbs seemed intact, but there was blood on his nose. Upon further examination, a gaping hole was discovered at the back of his head.

The family is adamant that negligence had caused the death of their loved one, since he had been left for some time lying unattended outside of the Accident and Emergency Unit at the GPHC before he finally received medical attention.

“When I went outside (at the hospital), a man said, ‘I sorry for that big man. A bus man bring he and left he on the bench outside Emergency under the shed.’ He said they had he there a lil while before he get medical attention,” the son related.

Lilly, the dead man’s daughter, cried, “If they had paid attention and look after him, they would have been able to save him, because he was alive when he go to the hospital. The bus won’t carry a dead man and put him at the hospital…But because they didn’t look he, they didn’t pay attention, that’s why he is dead today.”

Singh’s body is at the GPHC mortuary awaiting a post mortem, which is scheduled for today. The driver of the mini-bus remains in police custody at the Sparendaam Station

Former President’s children

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n abusive relationship ended in tragedy on Wednesday evening when 52-year-old Rampersaud Seepersaud of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara committed suicide, just two days after being discharged from the hospital where he had been admitted for treatment for the injuries he had sustained when he allegedly set his home on fire.

Seepersaud reportedly took his own life following a series of tragic events that unfolded in the past three months. Two months ago, on February 14, the father of two had set his home on fire after a prolonged domestic fight with his wife. During that fire, he had sustained several bodily injuries that required him being admitted to the hospital for treatment. Two days after being discharged from that institution on Easter Monday, the man allegedly consumed a poisonous substance that resulted in his demise.

Guyana Times visited the home of Seepersaud’s sister-inlaw Susan Mootoo, where his wife, Sandra Seepersaud, explained what had transpired.

She explained that they had been leading a normal married life up until a few years ago, when the man became abusive. This had forced her to ingest kerosene earlier this year,

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Lisaveta Ramotar

Alvaro Ramotar

the former President was sent on leave with regard to the aforementioned probe at the Gold Board. The former President’s daughter was appointed General Manager at the GGB back in December 2014.

Meanwhile, as it relates to Alvaro, this newspaper was told that he was sent on leave from his post at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) since April 10. He has been employed as a Data Communications Manager at the water company for more than two years.

Guyana Times understands that the youngest of the former

President’s children was told by officials that he was being sent on leave to facilitate an investigation into a “ransomware” bug in the computer system at the GWI. With Lisa and Alvaro now being sent on, what seems like indefinite, leave, all three of former President Ramotar’s children have now been removed from their respective posts. His other son, Alexei, was sent off on administrative leave back in July 2015 to facilitate a probe into the financial arrangements of the E-Governance Project, of which he was the Project Manager.

for which she had been hospitalised for more than a week.

When released from medical care, she had sought refuge at her brother’s residence, and did not return home. This act had enraged her husband, who allegedly set their home ablaze on Valentine’s Day. He had sustained severe burn injuries about his body in that fire, and had been confined to the hospital until recently.

She said Seepersaud had begun to occupy the abandoned residence of his deceased father after his release from hospital on Easter Monday; and she was later informed by her sister that he had committed suicide on Wednesday evening.

High Court challenge

Order to appoint Board of DCRA made absolute

Lisa, Alvaro Ramotar T sent on admin leave wo of former President Donald Ramotar’s children, Lisaveta and Alvaro, have been sent on administrative leave from their respective posts.

In both cases, the siblings were informed that they were being sent on leave to facilitate probes. However, there was no timeframe given for the probes or the leave period.

Guyana Times was made to understand that Lisa, who was the General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), was sent on leave on Monday “to facilitate Police investigations” into the Board. Moreover, there was no mention of whether the probe will be into a specific aspect at the GGB or the entire operations.

There is currently an ongoing probe at the GGB following reports of the entity’s staffers being linked to licensed gold dealer Saddiqi Rafeek Mohamed Rasul, who was charged earlier this month for the $956 million fraud at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

However, there has been no information or confirmation that the daughter of

Dead: Rampersaud Seepersaud

Susan Mootoo also detailed to this newspaper the history of the Seepersauds’ abusive relationship. Mootoo pointed out that her sister and two children had been subjected to domestic violence for close to 15 years.

She related that Seepersaud had been seen returning to his father’s abandoned home, which is within the same street, at about 17:00h on Wednesday. Shortly after, he was heard screaming and vomiting. Neighbours rushed to his assistance, and alerted his brother, who later arrived only to discover Seepersaud’s dead body.

Mootoo indicated that before he developed an interest in alcohol, Rampersaud Seepersaud had been a skilful builder who had been handy in crafting furniture. She posited that his alcohol addiction had resulted in him engaging in outbursts that became intolerable and had led to the disintegration of his family. She also said she believes Seepersaud was attempting to end his life when he had set his home on fire.

A police investigation has been launched into the matter, and an autopsy to confirm Seepersaud’s cause of death is to be conducted today.

he High Court on Wednesday upheld an Order Rule Nisi of Mandamus that was granted last month, compelling Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams to appoint the Governing Board of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (DCRA).

The Governing Board is non-functional, is not properly constituted, and has not held a meeting for over a year. The members of the Board, whose tenure has expired, have not been replaced by the minister in accordance with, and as mandated by, Section 6 of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act. Former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, had moved to the High Court to compel his successor to appoint the board. When the matter was first heard on March 8, Justice Brassington Reynolds granted an Order Rule Nisi of Mandamus compelling the Minister of Legal Affairs to appoint the Governing Board of the DCRA, and to show cause why this Order Rule Nisi of Mandamus should not be made absolute.

At a subsequent hearing on April 5, detailed legal submissions were made by AG Williams and Nandlall before High Court Judge Justice Nareshwar Harnanan, before whom the matter had been placed. Justice Harnanan, on

April 19, subsequently delivered an 18-page written ruling in which he overruled all the AG's submissions and upheld Nandlall’s arguments, and thus made the Order Rule Nisi of Mandamus granted by Justice Reynolds absolute.

The Attorney General was further ordered to pay the applicant, Nandlall, $100,000 dollars as costs. With this ruling, the Legal Affairs Minister is now ordered to appoint the Governing Board to the DCRA. Nandlall had outlined in his applications that the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No 4 of 2013, establishes the Deeds and Commercial Registries as a corporate body created to establish and promote the efficient and orderly operation of the Deeds Registry and the Commercial Registry, to establish the conditions governing the employment of officers and employees of the Authority, to provide for funding of the operations of the Authority, and for connected matters.

Nandlall also explained that the Act establishes a Governing Board of the said Authority which shall have the function of ensuring the proper and efficient performance of the functions of the Authority.

The Governing Board shall consist of a Chairman appointed by the Minister; the Registrar of Deeds; the Registrar of the Commercial Registry; a nominee of the

Finance Ministry; a nominee of the Housing and Water Ministry; a nominee of the Guyana Bar Association; a nominee of the Guyana Association of Legal Professionals; and a nominee of the Private Sector.

Nandlall argued that the tenure of the members of the Governing Board who were last appointed on or about June 2013, expired on or about June 2016, and they were never re-appointed by the Minister, in accordance with Section 6 of the said Act. He argued that the aforesaid conduct constitutes multiple breaches of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority Act 2013, Act No 4 of 2013, Acts and/or omissions to perform duties imposed by the said Act constitute an abuse of power, conflict with the policy of the Act, and constitute misfeasance in public office.

Nandlall said that, as a consequence, “there is inefficiency in the services rendered at the said Registries, which have an adverse impact on my practice and upon my ability to discharge my duties to my clients competently and diligently.”

He said the breaches to which he alluded constitute infractions of the law and amount to unlawful conduct by public officers, for which, “as an Attorney-at-Law, I feel compelled to seek rectification in the courts.”

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friDAY, april 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Recht Door Zee residents lament poor state of roads W

ith the May-June rainy season rapidly approaching, the residents of Parfaite Harmonie, particularly the Recht Door Zee community, are pleading with the relevant authorities to begin rehabilitating the rapidly deteriorating road network that serves the community.

The Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme is one of the largest housing developments in Guyana and is home to thousands of residents, thus proper roads are of paramount importance, according to residents.

“Whenever the rain fall, the hole in the road is flooded out and we can’t use them. Plenty time we does have to go to the man that

Construction workers mixing concrete on the road hindering the smooth flow of traffic

A section of the deteriorating Recht Door Zee road

does make blocks and collect the break up ones and full up the hole,” Bibi Ally said.

Ally indicated that she

has been living in Recht Door Zee for more than five years and the state of the road has only worsened over the years. She added that

roads, the community also suffers because taxi drivers refuse to traverse the area.

One taxi driver, Ramesh Persaud told this newspaper that he refused to take passengers into certain areas in the housing scheme because the poor roads damage his vehicle.

“When I take passengers through the road with plenty potholes, it does damage the car tyre and the brakes pad and the shocks…car parts really expensive too,” he declared.

The residents complained that the state of the roads has been hindering the community development and easy access to goods and services, since providers are refusing to traverse the bad

unoccupied house lots since they are left to be taken over with weeds and many times are safe harbours for dangerous reptiles and criminal elements. They noted that the unoccupied house lots also attract cattle from the neighbouring villages of Canal Number One Polder and Independence Street.

They reported that these animals often graze on the empty lots and would move onto their lands resulting in damage to their flowers and pipes. They noted that the errant animal owners were never to be seen when damage occurs.

It was also observed by this newspaper that residents were using the main access road to mix concrete

Overgrown bushes at the side of the road

along with roads plagued with potholes, there was also the issue of the maintenance of road shoulders.

“We have plenty bush

at the sides of the road and when you have to walk in the street night time it is dangerous because people does be hiding in there and does want to attack and rob you,” Ally added.

Another resident, Tony Bhudnarine, told Guyana Times that along with the overgrowth of bushes and the deplorable state of the

roads, causing residents to be disadvantaged. Hence, they are intensifying their pleas to the relevant authorities to provide them with some form of relief since the rainy season is just around the corner.

They are also calling on the Government to repossess

for construction work and, in doing so, they were hindering the smooth flow of traffic.

Efforts to contact the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul proved futile.

guyanatimesgy.com

Ariell Ghanie

Alieca James

Crystal Wills

Ashana Carrington

Joelly Valentine

Delisha Wright

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ourteen gracious young ladies will be vying for top 10 spots, and ultimately the crown, in the Miss World Guyana 2017 national pageant slated for June 25. The crowned queen will go on to represent Guyana at the Miss World competition to be staged in December in China.

The 14 semi-finalists vying for the coveted title are Ashana Carrington, Nitifah Thompson, Alieca James, Sharda Pramdeo, Hemwantie Seodat, Ariell Ghanie, Nikesia Hussain, Thamesha Watson, Maria Fletcher, Vena Mookram, Manisha Mai-Lee Wong, Crystal Wills, Delisha Wright, and Joelly Valentine.

On April 30, the semi-finalists will present their platform and project to the public at the first-ever Beauty with a Purpose Fair.

Adding to this, the beauties will also kick start a national campaign dubbed “Self-Love GY” within the month of April, after which the top 10 finalists will be selected and will each be appointed to represent one of Guyana’s Administrative Regions. The Miss Guyana pageant serves as a platform to enable personal and professional growth of young women in addition to their promotion of beauty and talent. Participation in the events affords the young women the opportunity to raise awareness on issues and causes affecting their communities. However, every young woman vying for the Miss World Guyana title is expected to compete against herself in an effort to become her best self – a wellrounded youth leader and role model.

Once selected, the top 10 finalists will undergo a series of personal development challenges including sport/fitness, multimedia, talent, modelling and the Beauty with a Purpose Project.

At the end of each challenge, the finalists will be interviewed in order to further analyse the growth and strength of their communication skills.

Preliminary scores from these challenge events will be added to the final round on coronation night.

Hemwantie Seodat

Vena Mookram

Thamesha Watson

Natifah Thompson

Maria Fletcher

friday, april 21, 2017

Nikesia Hussain

Sharda Pramdeo

Manisha Mai-Lee

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friday, april 21, 2017

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his year, the Miss India Guyana Committee has received an overwhelming 30 applications, and after a month-long interview and due diligence process – 15 gorgeous young women were short-listed.

After further due diligence, 10 finalists were selected to participate in the 2017 Miss India Guyana Pageant.

The journey to the title will involve pre-judged interview, talent, Indian wear and evening gown segments. The scores from these will determine the top 5. After the top 5 is selected, the finalists will have a clean slate, and the question-and-answer segment will determine the queen of the night.

The Miss India Guyana Organisation is not only looking to have a beauty ambassador on the international stage but a young leader and role model.

A young woman who can be held in high esteem as a public figure, an all-rounder, who can make Guyana proud and build a platform where young women like herself can come together to fight the many societal ills plaguing our country today.

The Miss India Guyana Pageant is used to enhance leadership skills, interpersonal skills and gives a once-in-lifetime experience, building friendship, bonds of sisterhood and ultimately representing Guyana at an international level.

The gorgeous finalists were sashed and revealed to the public last Saturday at the Indian Monument Garden, Camp Street, Georgetown. The grand coronation is set for May 19 in the Grand Ballroom of the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

Delegate #2 – Sangeeta Bahadur Sangeeta Bahadur is 25 years old and currently works full-time as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Business Communication Studies from Brock University, and was a recipient of the 2016 Top 40 Under Forty Hamilton Business Achievement Award.

Delegate #1 – Cynthia Dookie She is currently employed at the audit office and is a renowned fitness trainer. Fitness is a major part of her life which led to the creation of her signature fitness project titled “Fit-U”, transforming lives one pound at a time.

Her hobbies include travelling, reading and cooking.

Delegate #3 – Alecia Jiwanram She is a 20-yearold beauty, who is currently pursuing a degree in international relations at the University of Guyana with the aim of becoming an ambassador.

She enjoys singing, swimming, cooking and helping others.

Each year, she would assist her family in donating clothing and food to orphans at the Enmore Church of Christ/Hope Children’s Home.

Delegate #5 – Divya Singh Divya Singh is a Quality Control Lab Technician with the aspiration of being an analytical chemist.

She resides in Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara and is a member of the Groenveldt Youth Group. Her leisure activities include travelling, taking on challenging new opportunities and the one she enjoys the most, caring for children as she has a strong belief in empowering young minds.

Delegate #6 – Karishma Makwana K a r i s h m a Makwana is a trilingual 20-year-old.

She has been residing in Guyana for the past two years and is currently pursuing her MBBS studies at Texila American University. She loves to play badminton, ground tennis and throw ball.

Her platform is focusing on autism.

Her ambition is to making a difference in the lives of others who have disabilities.

Delegate #7 – Samantha Chunilall S a m a n t h a Chunilall is a genuine, open-minded and passionate person who enjoys the simple things in life and loves adventures.

She believes her participation in the pageant will give her amazing opportunities to influence persons in a positive manner, travel the world and to represent her country. Her platform is revitalising Indian culture and traditions from the olden days.

Delegate #8 – Rajnie Shiwpal Rajnie Shiwpal, also known as Mandy, who owns her own business “The Make-up shop

by Mandy”, is a confident 23-year-old and a former student of the St Joseph High School. She is also a professional kathak dancer, classical singer and senior dancer for the Jewan Ka Nritya. She believes that the true essence of beauty does not only refer to physical appearance but to the personality of an individual.

Delegate #9 – Sarah Rajkaran She is a young aspiring entrepreneur whose heart goes out to the children who are less fortunate.

She enjoys cooking.

She is still trying to figure herself as much as she can. However, she believes she is very soft and warmhearted yet friendly and can be very sarcastic. She is fun to be around and can be self-centred at times.

She is very open to anyone who wishes to share anything with her.

Delegate #10 – Ash Ramnauth This 21-yearold advocate for children is advocating against child neglect in the country. She is currently a thirdyear student at the University of Guyana reading for a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a proud, aspiring medical doctor. She is a former Miss World Guyana finalist and top model winner 2016. She enjoys modelling, dancing and, most importantly, interacting with family and friends.

Delegate #4 – Shoshanna Ramdeen She is a 20-yearold beauty out of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and a thirdyear medical student at Greenheart Medical University.

Some of her hobbies include meeting new people, reading and listening to songs.

She has participated in numerous charity activities and has been involved in medical outreaches in various communities.

friDAY, april 21, 2017

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“I want to become a legend in this game”— founder of AJ Records Founder of AJ Records Adrian Johnson and Blaze Anthonio

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J Records, the brainchild of 31-year-old Adrian Johnson, has recently been receiving much hype for producing the widely-talkedabout Blaze Anthonio “Blow” song.

The song, which started

off with words “Hey, AJ” thus highlighting where it was produced, is the talk of the town and if you have never heard it, then you have to be living under a rock.

The catchy tune is a clear indication that Guyanese are

finally going somewhere with their music.

However, the independent recording studio has been around for over 10 years and has produced many other popular tunes.

To channel his love for music, Johnson started the studio wanting to provide an outlet where Guyanese could be given a chance to record music even those who were not well-known.

He is looking, however, to carve his name not only in Guyana or the Caribbean but the world.

He told Guyana Times Entertainment: “I am looking to not settle for producing music in the Caribbean but internationally as well, that is where I’m headed. I currently already mixing beat for artistes from the US, but I am looking to expand more and get bigger in

this music industry. I want to become a legend in the game, not just somebody that records music because of the love of it, but to leave a mark.”

Starting as a drummer at age nine, Johnson received a break when he migrated with his mother to Trinidad and Tobago and was introduced to a band called “Home Grown”.

A talented singer as well, he

moved back to Guyana with the hope of recording his own music, but was disappointed when he was given the royal run-around. It was then that he decided to start his very own recording company.

“I had an idea on recording and I started off using Adobe which is a normal recording software and then I started to progress and I moved on to using better quality recording tools,” he revealed.

Setting up his instruments in a section of his kitchen, Johnson started off working with solely gospel artistes such as DC Valan and Mr Daniels.

While making much of what he had, Johnson was having his studio built in the bottom flat of his home.

Upon the completion of the studio, his real journey as the head of a label began.

Since then, he has worked with artistes such as Sean English producing songs like “Run Run” and “Temptation”.

Among the artists he is currently working with are Lil Million, Exodus, Bluetooth, Skill Mode Remedy, Esan Benzie, Blaze Anthonio, G-Man, Stiffy, Christopher Lee called Chellavich out of Jamaica, Kush, Kessi and Alvado also out of Jamaica.

Even former Carib Soca Monarch Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo has paid a visit to the studio and Johnson is hopeful of working with the soca artiste.

An all-round producer who writes music, builds beats and even produces music videos, Johnson is also a DJ that goes by the name of DJ Adrian.

AJ Records is located on the West Coast of Demerara, Lot 106 Meten-Meer-Zorg.

Johnson can be followed on Facebook @ DJ Adrian Johnson, and Instagram @ DJAdrainJohnson.

to be screened at ICC this Saturday

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esidents on the Essequibo Coast are in for a treat as the Essequibo Dharmic Nawjawan hosts its first-ever dramatic show titled “ Naatak Kee ek Sham” at the Anna Regina Mandir, Essequibo Coast on April 29.

The show is one with a difference and features a storyline of two best friends seeking a scholarship. Members from the Dharmic Swarswatti Dance Academy are expected to steal the show with mesmerising dances. According to founder of the dance group, Sursattie Singh, the show will be one to remember and, as such, she urged persons to grasp the opportunity.

Singh said the cast was excited to perform for the first time in the Region.

All proceedings from the show will go towards the renovation of the Anna Regina Kendra, which will serve as a hub for cultural activities in the future.

Tickets for the show cost $1000 and can be sourced from the mandirs on the Essequibo Coast or any of the Nawjawan members.

he general public is invited to view the 2015 romantic film “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” (Found a Treasure Called Love) on Saturday, commencing at 16:30h at the Indian Cultural Centre located at Lot 67 New Haven, Bel Air, Georgetown.

In the film, which was nominated for several awards, Yuvraj Vijay Singh, played by Salman Khan, is a stubborn prince, who is engaged to be married to a princess, Maithili, played by Sonam Kapoor.

Prem, also played by Salman Khan, falls in love with the princess, while the real prince is held captive by his sibling. Family members intervene to stop the marriage and to get their hands on the money.

The resulting story is a mix of music, comedy, fighting and tears which has won some awards. It was directed by Sooraj Baratya.

The film was released in India and Pakistan on November 12, 2015 and merged as a commercial success. It ranks among the highest-grossing Bollywood films, with a gross of US$62 million worldwide.

The movie was reportedly inspired by the South Korean movie “Masquerade”, which itself was loosely based on the novel The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope.

“Big Man Doh Go Outta Style” T

for Mackenzie on April 27

he Linden Town Week festivities open this weekend in the mining community and will run until May 1. Several activities are planned, including the much-talked-about “Big Man Doh Go Outta Style” One-Man Band Fete.

The event is billed for Thursday, April 27 at the Mackenzie Band Stand and will bring together three one-man bands on the same stage for a night of throwback and current vibes.

The party has been organised by gomoseley entertainment and is part of the planned Linden Town Week festivities.

Super Ray, Stitchie Vibes Machine and Atlantic Star are the

one-man bands that will take the stage at the event.

According to the organisers, the event is more than just a ‘big people party, since it will also feature the vibes of popular radio DJ Shizzle and Supreme Sounds.

The bandstand area is expected to create a nice atmosphere for the party as it is close to the riverside and within the heart of the town. The organisers have stated that all systems are in place for the event and every one should expect a nice time. Ladies will be admitted free before 21:0Oh, after which patrons will pay $1000.

20

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friDAY, APRIL 21, 2017

alented 23 year old PharmcoDeepSouth rider, Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey has departed his homeland of Guyana to venture to the United States of America where he will compete in the USA Criterium Series Speed Week 2017.

The event is scheduled to have six races spanned across April 22 to 30 in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia but Jeffrey is expected to head over to Miami before making his way to the racing venues to compete in the Men’s Pro/1/2.

All six of the races are criterium races with the first race will take place at Rock Hill, South Carolina for 60 minutes on April 22 before moving over to the Caromont Health Criterium in Belmont, North Carolina the following day.

On April 26 the national champion will head over to Downtown Walterboro, South Carolina for race three which is an 85-lap race and then Spartanburg Regional Healthcare system Criterium, South Carolina two days later for a 70 lap challenge. The fifth and sixth races will be held in Georgia, on April 29 at Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium for 80 laps and Hennessy Historic Roswell Criterium the next day for 50 laps.

Jeffrey All systems in place departs for for gala NSC awards USA Speed Week

This is the second time Jeffrey will be competing in the event following his 2016 run with Team Cocos alongside Hamzah Eastman, Stephano Husbands and Jamual John.

When Guyana Times Sport contacted Jeffrey, he noted that he is going into the event with an open mind because he does not know what to expect other than the high level competition from the Caribbean, Belgium and United States riders. Jeffrey went on to state that he will be very cautious of the event as it is often a very dangerous race.

Additionally, the 23 year old highlighted that while he would have only been in eight races for the year of which four were circuit races, he is rapidly gaining fitness and is in better form from last year.

Jeffrey who recently returned to Guyana only weeks ago after competing in the Sunshine Gran Prix where he made an excellent showing, finishing 13th overall in the three stage race has competed in three local races and remained a dominant threat.

Upon his return, he was victorious in his first race on the local circuit, the 60 mile road race for the 6th Baker’s memorial.

(Romario Samaroo)

Flashback! The various winners of the 2016 National Sport Commission (NSC) Awards flank Sport Director Christopher Jones and Education Minister with responsibility for Sport Nicolette Henry

T

he Savannah Suites at the Pegasus Hotel will be homage this evening to the gala National Sports Commission (NSC) annual awards ceremony for outstanding athletes, business entities and journalists.

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones briefed this publication on Thursday and confirmed that all systems are in place for the black tie affair event which also includes dinner.

“We at the Sports Commission will continue to raise the bar in terms of how we treat the athletes and not using what was obtained but rather taking step further,” Jones stated.

The Sport Director explained that the change from the National Cultural Centre to the Pegasus was to give the athletes the amenities that they are deserving of.

All the nominees have been notified and a panel of commissioners are selecting the winners who will only be revealed this evening.

This year national record-holder Brenessa Thompson and table tennis player Chelsea Edghill topped the list of nominations for Senior Sportswoman-of-the-Year.

Guyana Cricket skipper Leon Johnson, top-order batsman Shimron Hetmyer, Caribbean Super Bike champion Matthew Vieira, Kristian Jeffrey and Olympian Troy Doris are among those up for Senior Sportsmanof-the-Year.

According to a release from the NSC, a

total of 21 categories will be awarded, since only 15 of the 43 associations and federations affiliated to them had submitted nominations.

Last year Motor Racer, Kristian Jeffrey and the multi-talented Alisha Fortune were among the top awardees.

The 19-year-old Vieira is also among the picks for Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year, where the line-up also includes table tennis player Kaysan Ninvalle, athlete Daniel Williams and Caribbean junior champion squash player Shomari Wiltshire.

In the Junior Sportswoman-of-the-Year, there are athletics’ Chantoba Bright, badminton’s Priyanna Ramdhani and table tennis Neveah Clarkson.

Athletics coach Johnny Gravesande and national table tennis coach Linden Johnson are up for male coach, while Tiffany Solomon from hockey and Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan from tennis are among the female nominees.

Two new categories for businesses have been added, namely Corporate Sponsor (Large Company) and Corporate Sponsor (Small Company). Large companies included Digicel, Banks DIH, Ansa McAl and Scotiabank among others.

Banks was also nominated in the small company category, where other submissions included Trophy Stall, Bounty Farm, E-Networks and Fitness Express.

Journalist will also be rewarded for their performances in print, non-print and online as well. The gala event gets underway at 19:00h.

Historic Day/Night U-13 tournament bowls off M ikes Pharmacy through its brand “Well Teen”, the UK’s number one teenager product, together with the Trophy Stall, Tropical Spring Waters and Nauth Motor Spares of Sheriff Street are the sponsors of a nationwide under 13 years cricket tournament which begins today at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

All matches, except the semi-finals, will be played at the DCC Ground on Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown. The semi-finals will be played at Albion in Berbice.

Today, the tournament starts with inaugural day/night champion Bel Air Rubis taking on Transport Sports Club from 16:00h.

After today, matches will be played also on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday of every week beginning at 17:00h. This tournament is made possible through the collaborative efforts of The Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association and The Demerara Cricket Club.

Matches are 25 overs a-side and will feature teams from Georgetown, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, West Demerara and a Select Berbice Team.

Interested are welcome to join and are asked to contact Shawn Massiah on 616-7240, Anil Persaud 624-6098, Anil Beharry 623-6875 or Ashmol Ally on 619-0531 or 652-5896.

Players qualified to play must born on or after September 1, 2003. Balls and umpires will be provided by the sponsors.

21

YELLOW PAGES friday, april 21, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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LAND for sale Eccles – 5.5 million, Providence – $5.5 million, Farm - $3.5 million, Serious contacts only: 697-6769.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, april 21, 2017

CWI/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day

A lot is expected of Raymon Reifer who makes a return to the Jaguars squad

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uyana Jaguars will formalise regaining the Headley/Weekes Trophy, symbol of supremacy, for a third straight season, when they face Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the final match of the Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament, beginning today at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.

The match will be the only contest this week, since it was rescheduled from the ninth round, due to the staging of the three One-day Internationals

between West Indies and Pakistan earlier this month at the same venue.

The Jaguars effectively wrapped up the title last weekend, when they crushed the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the 10th round of matches by an innings and 122 runs at the same venue, so this weekend’s game will be to practically put the icing on another successful campaign following the long, gruelling season.

Stuck in the craw of the home team will be the highest successful run

chase ever in the modern era of R4Day which the visitors achieved in the second round of matches last November which was only the third victory for the Hurricanes over their opponents since the turn of the century.

Jaguars having won the last two matches between the two sides at the Guyana National Stadium also fortifies their tag as favourites for the contest.

Squads; Guyana Jaguars: Leon Johnson (captain), Anthony Adams, Anthony Bramble, Rajindra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Steven Jacobs, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Clinton Pestano, Raymon Reifer, Bhaskar Yadram In-Adams, Reifer, Out-Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Rahkeem Cornwall (captain), Elvin Berridge, Jason Campbell, Kacey Carty, Montcin Hodge, Chesney Hughes, Jeremiah Louis, Jermaine Otto, Sherwin Peters, Akeem Saunders, Jacques Taylor, Gavin Tonge In-Cornwall, Hamilton, OutNkrumah Bonner, Jaeel Clarke, Umpires: Nigel Duguid, Danesh Ramdhanie (Trinidad & Tobago)

Boyce & Jefford Relay Festival & Family Fun Day…

Top futsal teams invited to participate

M

ost of the top teams in the shorter version of football have been invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Boyce & Jefford Relay Festival & Family Fun Day, which is set to be staged on April 30, at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.

Coming off the just concluded Petra Organisation / GT Beer Futsal Competition the invited teams will no doubt be in prime form for the occasion and fans could expect some rivetting action in the 5-a-side format, which will be played over a period of 15 minutes.

According to a member of the Organisaing Committee, among the teams invited to participate are recently crowned Futsal champions Sparta Boss, losing finalist Back Circle, Agricola Champion Boys, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Broad Street Bullies and Bent Street.

The source also disclosed that upon hearing about the star-studded lineup for the competition, the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force have also requested that they be included in the selection of teams to vie for the top prizes and the Organisers have acquiesced to the request.

Many would know, should all the teams confirm their participation it is anticipated that this segment of the event will take cen-

Part of the action in a recent futsal encounter

tre stage since the more traditional teams in this format are all gunning for revenge following some heartbreaking losses in the indoor futsal tournament that was played recently.

Sparta Boss are the undisputed kings of the small-goal format and provided another example of their prowess with a convincing 5-2 triumph over the ambitious Back Circle so right away there is the obvious hunger for revenge.

The win was even more impacting since the Bosses lost to Back Circle in the preliminary rounds, before winning when it mattered.

Bent Street with a number of national players in their line-up and former futsal champs were eliminated in the semi-finals

by Back Circle and will no doubt have vengeance on their minds, while all the other teams will be harbouring similar ambitions.

On the other hand, the Army and Police teams have not participated in tournaments of this nature traditionally so they may want to grab this opportunity to showcase their talent in this format and send a strong message to Organisers to include them in their competitions.

Whatever the outcome, fans are assured that once all the invited teams confirm, the day will be littered with plenty excitement.

Berbice name strong U-17 intercounty squad

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Kevlon Anderson

he Berbice Cricket Board has named 14 players to represent the county at the National Inter-county Under 17 tournament.

Following practice sessions held under the eye of Chairman of Junior Selectors, Leslie Solomon the players were named along with four standbys.

Initially a 28-man squad was shortlisted and participated in four games at the Young Warriors Cricket Club Ground, Cumberland on Sunday April 16, 2017.

Based on performances in that match, Solomon in consultation with his panel, which includes Berbice Senior Coach, Julian Moore, has shortlisted 18 players who will represent Berbice in the Guyana Cricket Board's Under 17 competition scheduled to commence on April 26.

The Berbice Team reads: Alex Algu, Kevlon Anderson, Brandon Mangal, Jevon Schultz, Antonio February, Seon Glasgow, Deonauth Persaud, Garfield Benjamin, Melvin Singh, Dorasami Mahadeo, Cheddi Budhoo, Kelvin Omrao, Junior Sinclair and Nigel Deodat.

The Standbys are Nathaniel Raghu, Mahendra Nandu, Christopher Harry and Fawaz Gafoor.

Enmore CCCC receives mower from Diaspora

Desmond Mohamed (second from left) with members of the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club and the lawn mower at the Enmore ground

S

everal overseas-based Guyanese with Enmore roots recently made generous monetary donations towards the acquisition of one 48-inch blade tractor/mower, in care of Desmond Mohamed (Chairman), to assist in the maintenance of the Enmore Community Centre ground.

In the past, the ground and facilities were maintained by Enmore Estate, the legal owners, but such assistance had not been forthcoming for some time now, the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) said in a release.

“Thus, the approach to well-wishers from our friends overseas. It goes without saying that maintenance of a sports ground facility, particularly one which is cricket-oriented, requires constant maintenance and at great cost. The kind assistance of the under-mentioned donors is therefore most timely and welcome. The Enmore Centre Ground is now resembling what most of our donors would recall in their earlier days in Enmore,” the ECCCC further stated.

The membership Enmore Community Centre wishes to sincerely thank the following persons and entities for their meaningful contributions towards the successful acquisition and operationalisation of the tractor mower: Jai Hardowar, Baby Gajadhar, Polly Abbas, Juliet Singh/Mahase, Alma Mahase, Doodnauth Jirjodhan (Banda), Henry Singh (H), David Anthony (Girrie), Seow Prashad, Harry Mohabir, Ramphal Bridghmohan, Haripaul Bridghmohan, Shareef (Sharo), Dhanmattie Bridghmohan, Enmore Association Toronto Chapter, Moulvi Mohamed Hussain Khan (deceased), Vishnu Singh, Deodat Gajadar, Shafiek Mohamed, Zorina Mohamed, Rohan Hardowar, Robert Budhu, Patsy Downey/ London Cricket Group, Paul Bhola, Surujpaul Singh and Laparkan Shipping and Anil Persaud.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, april 21, 2017

WI hope to upset Misbah -Younis farewell W

est Indies appear to be a popular side to plan a swansong against. Less than four years on from the twoTest series they played in India - more famous for being Sachin Tendulkar's last series than anything else - Pakistan's Misbah-ulHaq and Younis Khan have decided they, too, will bid farewell to international cricket once the upcoming three Tests against Jason Holder's men are concluded.

As such, the focus is largely on the visiting side, and the statistical minutiae of what the pair might be able to do over these three games. When will Younis complete 10,000 Test runs? Will Misbah finally reverse a trend that has seen Pakistan lose six Test matches in a row, a run that began against these very opponents in Sharjah last year? Will Pakistan finally win their maiden Test series in the Caribbean? Heck, will Younis stick to his retirement decision this time?

There isn't any such context or grand meaning to the West Indies angle. At best, they can build on a somewhat encouraging performance during the ODIs, and their

younger players can polish their credentials in the longest format of the game. A series win would mark their seemingly umpteenth turnaround, a word that apparently so frustrates West Indies cricket fans Fazeer Mohammad said it had been banned right across the Caribbean.

However, what has quietly gone unnoticed while everyone vies for the most melancholic tribute to Misbah and Younis is that a decidedly second-string West Indies side dominated Pakistan during a three-day tour match. The retiring duo combined for 15 runs, while Pakistan's spin king Yasir Shah registered figures of 53-3-1893 across both innings. The West Indies President's XI took a lead of 227 runs and came away with a fair degree more credibility than the international opposition.

Kieran Powell looked like one of West Indies' brightest prospects when, at 22, he scored two hundreds in a Test against Bangladesh, helping his team to victory. However, he followed that with 16 innings without a half-century, and was dropped from the Test side in June 2014. He looks

set to return to the fold for the first Test after a strong showing in the tour game, scoring 58 and an unbeaten 84, and could be a real asset for the hosts at the top of the order if he has managed to regain some of the form he found early on in his career.

41.60. That is what Mohammad Amir has averaged in Test cricket since his return from his five-year ban in 2016. The format that Amir called his "real comeback" back in July last year has not been as kind to him as it was to the teenage boy whose first dalliances with Tests were both mesmeric and exhilarating. Ever since his return, the format has rejected his overtures, even as it has become apparent he is trying very hard (and fielders dropping simple catches doesn't help). Some have begun calling for him to be dumped but for the moment, he is stringing along, feeling he has to fulfil his potential, as well as live up to the romanticised memories people carry of him ripping shreds off Australia and England's batting line-ups seven years ago.

Rain is expected across all five days of the Test. The Sabina Park

23

Misbah-ul-Haq was bowled attempting a sweep shot against Devendra Bishoo

surface has been relaid of late to enable it to become harder and faster, but the pitch has been slower over the last two decades or so.

West Indies have recalled Powell for the first Test, while newcomers Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul Singh could make their debuts in a reshaped top order on the back of strong performances during the tour game. Shannon Gabriel, who struggled with a hamstring injury towards the end of the ODI series, is fit.

Hasan Ali will miss the first Test with a groin injury, although he is understood to be recovering well, and expected to play a part later on in the series. Leftarm spinner Mohammad Asghar could potentially make his debut, which would see him become the first player from Balochistan -

Pakistan's largest province by area - play Test cricket for his country.

West Indies Squad: Jason Holder (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Vishaul Singh Pakistan Squad: Misbah-ulHaq (capt), Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asghar, Shadab Khan, Shan Masood, Usman Salahuddin, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan (Cricinfo)

Hockey players Performance is bracing for nothing short of what packed weekend CARIFTA Games 2017…

we expected – Jones T –athletes in line for scholarships

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones

By Akeem Greene

T

he 2017 CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association) Games held in Curacao last weekend saw Guyanese athletes walking away with bright smiles as their medal haul ended with eight medals (four Gold, one silver, three bronze) as compared to 2016 where they finished with a total of five medals (two bronze and three silver).

The highlight for the team was Linden’s Compton Caesar’s historic win in the Boys’ Under-20 100m dash.

It was the first time in the history of the CARIFTA Games, which started in 1972, that a Guyanese has won the male 100m; Caesar also took the bronze in the 200m.

The other gold medallists were fellow Lindener Chantoba Bright, overseas-based athlete Natricia Hooper, and distance runner Claudrice McKoy. McKoy also has a bronze medal from the Girls’ Under-18 1500m while Anfernee Headecker won silver in the boy’s event.

The performance of the athletes sent shockwaves of great delight by many and most notably is Director of Sport Christopher Jones who told Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive interview on Thursday that the performance was foreseeable.

“The performance of the CARIFTA Team is nothing short of what we [National Sports Commission] expected and this is part of what we had last year where the NSC in collaboration with the AAG [Athletics Association of Guyana] and the other various associations to set out form a data base since which allowed the NSC to follow the progress of the athletes,” the Director revealed. After last year’s National Schools’ Championships, an elite squad was formed by the NSC and it comprised of the same athletes that attended the Games and Jones’ contention is that once we continue with the same programmes more rewards will be reaped.

“We would have formed

an elite programme and then the AAG started the preparation and some of those athletes on the CARIFTA team are from that programme and it is a demonstration that we are on the right path and we anticipate similar results at the upcoming South America Junior Championships in July being held in Guyana,” he stated.

In looking at future for these athletes and those that will follow in their footsteps, the Director re-emphasised the importance of implementing a student/athlete programme.

“Student athletes that remain in a sport programme and keep their grades up when he/she reaches age 17 or 18 is that scholarship must be provided by the government to that athlete,” the Sport Director disclosed.

He went on to say, “once that policy is adopted and we are able to say this in sundry to all in Guyana, it encourages parents to make sure their children keep their grades up and stick to sport.”

The policy is an attempt to integrate various sport disciplines into the school curriculum which could be done as early as September once the Education Ministry and the NSC can decide which disciplines are applicable.

he First Division Outdoor Hockey League organised by the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) and sponsored by Farfan & Mendes and Woodpecker Products will see a busy schedule over the next four days with six exciting matches on the cards.

After a weekend off, the high level competition will resume today from 16:40h at the GCC ground, Bourda with the renewal of one of the longest rivalries in the sport locally.

Bounty GCC who will be playing at their home ground will go up against Pepsi Hikers in the clash of arguably the two best teams in the tournament.

To date both teams are undefeated and have played a match each with Bounty GCC defeating Saints 5-0 and Hikers testing the limits of Old fort to win 3-2.

Both teams have shown that they are very capable and it could be anyone’s game today.

GCC will have the Services of Kevin Spencer and Mark Sargent as well as Philip Fernandes while Hikers will have a strong contingent with Robert France, Andrew

Stewart and company.

Following this excitement, the gruelling tournament will head over to the Saints Ground, Carifesta Avenue for two matches on Saturday.

The first contest will be a clash in the women’s league from 15:00h between Woodpecker Hikers and Old fort Shooting stars before Old Fort and Saints look to bounce back from their previous loss in the men’s division.

Old Fort Shooting stars suffered a thrashing at the hands of woodpecker Hikers 10-0.

On Sunday, at the same venue, two more matches will be played beginning at 15:00h with the Old Fort Shooting Stars taking on GCC Spartans while Pepsi Hikers battle it out against Saints. Spartans will feel their time to shine after falling to a 7-0 defeat at the hands of their club team, Pizza Hut. Following this, Monday will see the action returning to the GCC ground for a match that will feature Pizza Hut GCC and Woodpecker Hikers.

Noitgedacht SC beat Dindyal XI in Wakenaam

S

olid knocks from Matthew Cheong and Navindra Sooklall gave Noitgedacht SC a 33run victory over Sachin Dindyal XI in a 30-over U19 match played on Tuesday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground.

Cheong and Sooklall added 69 for the third-wicket after they lost openers Khemraj Dass (17) and Arvinda Rai (10), as Noitgedacht SC posted 2257, taking first strike. Cheong slammed eight fours and three sixes in a top score of

76 while Sooklall hit three fours and one six in his 53.

Parmamand Rai contributed 27 as Marlon Dindyal was the pick of the bowlers with 4-26 while there was one each for Mahase Ramnarine, Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon and David Chalitar.

In the run chase, openers Tushall Surujpaul and Ramkissoon put on 54 for the first wicket to give Dindyal XI a solid start before the latter was dismissed for 28 while Surujpaul who timed the ball well made 36 with four fours.

Mahase Ramnarine slammed two sixes and a similar number of fours but after he went for 35, Noitgedacht SC picked up some quick wickets to restrict their opponents for 192-9.

Sachin Dindyal contributed 14 as Navin Persaud picked three wickets while Cheong and Imran Khan had two each. Cheong was named man-of-thematch. Following the game the players were involved a coaching session with Nandkishore Andrews and Zaheer Mohamed.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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WI hope to upset Misbah -Younis farewell Devendra Bishoo is expected to play a key role with the ball

Hockey players bracing for packed weekend

Pg 23

Hikers (green) will be tough to beat over the long weekend

Jeffrey departs for USA Speed Week

Pg 20

Raynauth Jeffrey is confident of success in the USA

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