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Issue No. 2982

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, September 19, 2016

PRICE

GECOM’s radio set fiasco

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Opposition welcomes audit, wants findings made public

Top Cop denies P11 strip-search allegations Tele-medicine and E-learning possibilities for Guyana P11 – Cathy Hughes

Page 3

4th suspect arrested for Black Bush triple murder

Deadly pit bull attack

Suspected P10 owner arrested Linden teen at GPHC nursing multiple P7 fractures

Page 2

– family blames employer

All smiles: This team from St Cuthbert’s Mission is jubilant about having won the female cricket competition during the Indigenous Heritage Games held at Everest Cricket Ground on Sunday

10-year-old struck down by minibus Page 9

Budget 2017

“It’s going to be a lovely budget, don’t worry” – Jordan

Page 9

Collaborative efforts lead to reduced infant mortality, P12 morbidity

– decreased from 35% to 7% as of September 2015

2 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

4th suspect arrested for Black Bush triple murder P

olice on Saturday evening nabbed the fourth suspect in the triple murder, which rocked Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on July 23, 2016, Police spokesman, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan has said.

Ramlakhan, in a report Sunday afternoon, stated that following a tip-off, ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters conducted a covert operation in the backlands of the Corentyne, which led to the arrest of the suspect.

An unlicensed shotgun and seven cartridges were also found, Ramlakhan revealed. He said that two other males were also in custody assisting in the investigation in respect of the firearm used in the triple murder.

A Police source identified the suspect as “Rocky” or “Go to front”, who was wanted for some time now.

Sources in Berbice con-

firmed that the man was spotted in the area by a resident who tipped off the Police.

Well-placed sources said that the suspect was likely to be charged soon.

On Friday, July 23,

called “Mice”, 33, of Number 73 Village, Corentyne were discovered lying next to each other on a dam at Cookrite Savannah, Black Bush Polder, with gunshot wounds.

Police in a release said

dam about three miles into the savannah, a short distance away from “King’s Camp”.

The men had gone on a fishing expedition which began at 15:00h on Thursday.

They were expected back

Carlton Chetram (left); Tameshwar Jagmohan and Jairam Chetram as they exit the holding area at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

Dead: Narish Rooplall, also called “Mice”

Dead: Jaikarran Chandradeo, also called “Kevin Naresh”

Dead: Pawan Chandradeo, also called “Surish Jaikarran”

2016, the bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, also called “Surish”, 37, of Black Bush Polder; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, also called “Kevin”, 15 and his brotherin-law, Narish Rooplall, also

each body bore a single gunshot wound.

The discovery of the bodies was made shortly after daybreak by a rice farmer.

The bodies were lying on a

about 03:00h the following morning.

During the probe, investigators detained several persons and after intense questioning, four of them succumbed to the pressure

and eventually confessed to the crime.

A farmer, Carlton “Lyman” Chetram; his wife; their son, 19-yearold Jairam Chetram and an employee, Tameshwar Tajmohan confessed to the killing and revealed that another man was involved.

That other suspect turned out to be “Rocky”.

Based on information received, on the night in question, Chetram, who owns rice land in the area, along with his family and two employees, was breaking the padlock to gain access to the fuel tanks on another farm-

er’s rice cultivation when they were seen by the trio who were fishing nearby. It was reported that out of fear of being caught, the farmer, his son and his employee killed the three men.

The man’s son was said to be the trigger man.

The farmer is a licensed firearm holder and the suspected murder weapon, his shotgun, was subsequently sent for ballistic testing following autopsies on the victims’ bodies.

The men were subsequently charged and were remanded.

“We need quality teachers to provide quality education” – Granger

President David Granger

S

peaking at the Education Rally at the D’Urban Park on Friday, the Head of State said that all schools should be facilitated with quality teachers capable enough to provide quality education.

President David Granger stated: “We are in a race between education and catastrophe and if we are not careful, we will end up in catastrophe,” noting the need for quality and qualified professionals in the education system.

Also speaking on the issue, Education Minister Rupert Roopnaraine said that currently the work teachers do is underestimated and that the professionals need to be rewarded.

“I said publicly on more than one occasion that I believe that we need to reward our teachers more than we do, because the work that they are doing is

on the railway of the most vital work of the nation.”

According to the Minister, “They are producing the Guyanese of the future, the Guyanese that you will need in the 21st century, this is what our teachers are charged with. There can be no more demanding and to my mind no more noble task, than the task confronting our teachers.”

Having benefitted from a strong educational system, Roopnaraine said that he is aware of areas in the system that need urgent attention as it relates to the professionals.

He urged teachers to commit themselves to the job that they are entrusted with and noted that there are areas in the system that are to be disposed of for improvement; all of that is currently being studied.

“So I want to urge all of my colleagues and I am delighted that the President is here himself because him, like myself, benefitted from committed skilful teachers and I want to say that I think we understand some of the areas that need fortification and some of the areas where we need to dispose of entirely.”

The teachers at the rally were enthusiastic of the recognition they received for the work that they do which they conveyed with loud applauds.

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 19 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, September 20 – 05:00h-06:30h.

GECOM’s radio set fiasco

Opposition welcomes audit, wants findings made public

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 19 – 05:55h-07:25h and Tuesday, September 20 – 05:55h-08:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy to light rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected during the day. Partly cloudy to clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsuis and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 06:07h and 18:23h reaching a maximum height of 2.89 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:58h reaching a minimum height of 0.38 metre.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

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GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

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llegations of high-level corruption at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has caught the attention of the political opposition, and the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has called for there to be full public disclosure of the final report of an audit into the electoral body being conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana over an alleged racket involving the procurement of several radio sets ahead of last year’s national elections.

State auditors earlier this month launched a major probe after the Audit Office of Guyana reportedly noticed some discrepancies with the purchasing of 50 VHF communication radios by GECOM for close to $100 million, prior to the May 11, 2015 general and regional elections, raising concerns over the extraordinarily high cost of r the equipment.

Jagdeo’s office, in a statement, said that it noted with “deep concern” the allegations of irregularity and the implications of corruption in the procurement of the communication equipment.

It added that it was equally concerned with “the corresponding silence” of GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, and the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield.

“As an independent constitutional body, GECOM enjoys financial, functional and operational autonomy and like every agency which is financed with public funds must account in a transparent manner for the expenditure of these funds,” Jagdeo’s office said.

The Opposition Leader’s Office believes that the

Commission is expending “herculean efforts and a tremendous amount of time” in attempting to dismiss and/ or delay the hearing and determination of the Elections petition filed on behalf of the PPP/C, “because it will expose the electoral machinery and system administered and managed by GECOM to public scrutiny – an exercise, which they fervently wish to avoid.”

Jagdeo’s office said that in the circumstances, it welcomes the decision to conduct an audit of these transactions by the Office of the Auditor General and demand that the findings of this audit be made public. Based on reports, the radio sets were purchased for use during the 2015 General and Regional Elections, particular in the outlying regions of Guyana; however, they were never put into use after it was discovered many of them were not working.

Later, information surfaced that while the electoral body would have collected quotations from a number of suppliers, it handed the contract for the supply of the equipment to Mobile Authority, a company owned by a Water Street, Georgetown businessman.

But media reports lat-

er surfaced that some of the equipment purchased were obsolete and were not covered by warranty.

As a matter of fact, sections of the Guyanese media reported that the Australianbased manufacture, Barrett Communications, through its European office, distanced itself from the purchase.

The company made it clear that it had ceased to produce the equipment more than five years ago. Barrett said it had also tendered through the Advanced Office Systems for the supply of new radio equipment for the 2015 elections; however, GECOM subsequently cancelled the order.

There are also fresh reports of even more questionable procurements by the body, with reports now surfacing that the Commission

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

doled out close to another $100 million to M-Tech Business Solutions, another company owned by the same Water Street businessman, this time for the supply of toners used for photocopiers and printers.

Some of the radio sets purchased from Mobile Authority

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guyana-times.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

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

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

Editorial

US elections and American Exceptionalism

C

ontrary to what most of the political pundits outside US borders thought would be the case by now, Donald Trump is still setting the agenda for the US presidential race against Hillary Clinton. With their elections less than two months away and the polls indicating Trump is trailing Clinton by a whisker, it seems that with the capacity to outspend Clinton in advertisements and commercials during that time, Trump is well on his way to becoming the next president of the United States – as this paper proposed back in March even before Trump secured the Republican nomination.

The force driving Trump forwards and over Clinton is he is representing some very deep fears in huge swathes of Americans who have seen the boast of “American Exceptionalism” (AE) exposed as being just a hollow boast.

Clinton, as part of the old politics, is blamed for allowing America to become “ordinary” and be subjected to all the ailments and challenges that only other nations were supposed to face – such as depending on “foreigners” to offer it credit to maintain its standard of living.

American exceptionalism arose from three strands of thought, the first of which sprouted in the circumstance of their formation as the first nation to have become independent through a revolution. This revolution was not confined to defeating the colonial power Britain on the battlefield, but spread to instituting new ideas in governance, constitutionalism, individualism and business.

Very early on, the US leaders also undertook a mission to export their vision of what the world ought to look like through doctrines such as the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 and its wars to “make the world safe for democracy” into the present. And finally, there is the firm conviction that because of their “exceptionalism”, the US is superior to other nations.

After WWII, US was challenged by the USSR in the Cold War between the two nations, but by 1989, America emerged as the lone superpower standing as the USSR disintegrated. But even then, the seeds had already been set by economic forces that would witness the emergence of other nations such as Japan, China and India that would command enough resources to become quite independent of the US hegemony.

Interestingly, the growth of those nations was facilitated

by US-based global corporations that felt impelled to seek greater profits through first licensing their technology to foreign countries with cheaper labour costs and then to actually “outsource” production and operations there.

American manufacturing prowess atrophied and their well-paid blue-collar work force atrophied. Trump is exploiting the resentment of the millions that have been adversely affected by this move by promising he would reverse it through “macho” unilateral actions that evoke “American Exceptionalism”. In trying to be more nuanced and acknowledging the limits of modern American power, Clinton is seen as “weak”.

Simultaneously with the “outsourcing” of American production and services, illegal immigrants – generally non-White – were allowed in to perform the menial jobs that the Americans would not accept at the rates offered.

At the other end of the spectrum, skilled workers – most of them also non-whites from India and China – were also encouraged in to perform high-paying jobs in the STEM areas. This created a backlash of “nativism” – that Trump has also exploited through threats of mass deportations and building a wall on the border with Mexico – against which, Clinton, as part of the old order, cannot compete.

Finally, while both Trump and Clinton have committed to “defending democracy” abroad, Trump has placed more emphasis on other countries accepting greater responsibility for defending themselves. While this may appear to be a diminution of the American Exceptionalism commitment to “bear any burden” to defend “democracy”, Trump, much more effectively than Clinton, has struck just the right note of bellicosity towards the US traditional allies to be defended, which masks the retreat.

A devotee carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh, the Hindu deity of prosperity, jumps into the Sabarmati River to immerse the idol on the last day of the 10-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Ahmedabad, India, September 15, 2016 (Reuters/Amit Dave)

An Industrial Court can bring about social change Dear Editor, The PU&GWU is calling on the APNU/AFC Government to urgently move to Parliament to table a bill and pass the necessary law that provides for the establishment of an Industrial Court in Guyana.

Editor, due to the number of unsolved, unsettled issues, lack of enforcement of existing labour laws, lack of improvement, and lack of addressing ongoing grievances and general work related issues affecting the working class, the People United and General Workers Union (PU&GWU) strongly believes that the way to address these matters is for the Government to urgently establish an Industrial Court.

The union is calling on the APNU/AFC Government and the opposition PPP/C to collectively support the union’s call for the urgent establishment of an Industrial Court, since both parties, when in power and on their past general and regional election campaign trail, had promised the working class and their trade unions a good and strong labour sector, etc.

The union will be dispatching a letter to both the APNU/AFC Government and the opposition PPP/C requesting both parties to move to the National Assembly for “Parliament to establish an Industrial Court with the status of the High Court to hear and determine disputes relating to employment and labour

relations.’’

Should the PPP/C fail to jointly support the union’s request, the APNU/AFC Government has the majority of seats in the National Assembly so they can independently craft, table and pass the relevant bill/law that provides for the establishment of the Industrial Court.

Presently matters that relate to wrongful termination or dismissal, etc, without the relevant payment that the affected worker is entitled to, the Ministry of Social Protection’s Labour Department takes some of these matters to the Magistrates’ Courts for judgment and award, but the Guyana Fines Act and Labour Act, state that the maximum a Magistrates’ Courts can award is $100,000 to an employee.

So for those matters that the award will be over $100,000, the affected employee has to head to the High Court to have said matter addressed, but on many occasions, a number of affected employees cannot afford a lawyer.

The role of the Industrial Court is also included to facilitate social dialogue.

The practice of labour laws should no longer be restricted to trade unions and employer groups. Due to the changing nature of the labour markets, the role of the Industrial Court can drastically change the traditional role of an Industrial Court as an institution of social justice.

The procedures of trade dispute resolution have al-

ways been crafted to enable the workers, deemed not to have the same bargaining strength with their employers, to access quick, affordable and effective remedies.

The shift of the court into the judiciary from the Ministry of Labour can result in a perception by trade unions that workers will no longer have easy access to industrial justice.

This could be a misperception because the new laws should/will have strong provisions empowering workers, and enhance, rather than limiting, access to all forms of justice. We should not, however, disregard the apprehension.

The challenge in restructuring the court is how to accommodate the concerns of the trade unions and employers that we are throwing away the dispute resolution mechanism they created to suit their unique relations without adequately consulting them. Labour Rights, Social and Economic Rights have been enshrined in the Constitution. The Court can have a role to protect and promote these rights.

The Court can move from the era when our role under the legal regime was unclear.

The Industrial Court, more than any other court, should have a role in applying international laws to our domestic labour market. It must be the institution that the International Labour Organisation looks up to, to implement the international labour stan-

dards. The court should have the role to promote and protect international labour standards. It would be in the interest of this court, that the Judiciary does not lose touch with the ILO; otherwise, we may find ourselves unable to understand the ILO’s agenda and our role in its fulfilment.

The big challenge in the future is likely to come from the growing moves to render labour standards throughout the world the subject of international rules, through bodies such as the International Labour Organisation. In a sense, it is the counterpart and counterbalance to the World Trade Organisation.

The Judiciary, and in particular the Judiciary Training Institute, must keep facilitating the judges to participate in the programmes of the International Labour Organisation. The judges must be facilitated to attend the ILO’s Annual Delegates Conference and ILO Turin Training Institute, for them to keep abreast of international labour standards.

The industrial court, if established, will make tremendous achievements and reassert our role in bringing about social change.

All for your information and guidance.

Yours faithfully, Micah Williams, General Secretary People United and General Workers Union

guyana-times.com

monday, september 19, 2016

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

Have Moses and Khemraj betrayed supporters?

Dear Editor, Guyanese who worked with and know Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan, and Charandass Persaud are at a loss to understand why these illustrious sons “would betray their own” – their words. They noted that if anyone had told them a few years back that Moses or Khemraj or Charandass would “sell them out and go into bed with the PNC” for self-perks, they would have hurt that person. So why this turn against Moses, Khemraj, Charandass and other ‘AFCites’?

Everywhere I go in Guyana or NY, there is the oft-repeated comment, “Moses and Khemraj sell out their supporters”. But did Moses and Khemraj really betray the PPP or was it the other way around? If the PPP had not ill-treated them or if the PPP had allowed democratic decision-making within the party, or a democratic process to choose the 2011 Presidential candidate, would Moses have

abandoned the PPP? The political behaviour of Moses, Khemraj, Charandass and Veerasammy Rammayah (popularly called Edgar) is to say the least disappointing.

People never thought that Moses, who many saw as a hero to be emulated for his struggle against Burnhamism, and his buddies Khemraj and Charandass would go into bed with the PNC given what PNC did (the extent of the brutality and humiliation) to them and to so many others during the ethnic dictatorship.

I know Moses and Khemraj well and worked with them in the struggle against the PNC dictatorship for the restoration of democracy. Few in Guyana have put in more time than Moses in fighting the racist PNC dictatorship. But these two former patriotic sons of the PPP were treated very badly by the post-Jagan PPP leadership and perhaps had/have justifiable reasons for turning their guns against some

elements in the PPP. But they have no justifiable reasons for betraying or hurting PPP supporters and those who put faith in them to advocate for their interests in the coalition arrangement.

Their fans now look at these once heroes as worse than neemakharams; they are viewed the way Burnhamites were in the non-PNC supported communities. People cannot understand why Moses, Khemraj, Charandass, and Rammayah have not spoken out against the ethnic marginalisation, discrimination and cleansing being perpetrated against Amerindians, Chinese, Indians and other groups.

It is noted, for example, that in the governing coalition arrangement, both PNC or APNU and AFC would agree on policy-making and decision making-consensus between the two sides; APNU or PNC would not dominate the government and resources would be shared equitably around the nation to reflect the ethnic diversity of the

nation.

All these agreements have been violated and the AFC leadership of Moses and Khemraj have not complained or sought redress.

The APNU had signed an agreement that if the AFC brought their 11% Indians to the PNC’s 40% (to produce 51% and formation of the government), then AFC would be rewarded with a minimum of 40% in every decision-making or policy implementation and appointments.

So far, Indians have not even had 5% resources directed towards their communities. In fact, Indians have gotten “negatives”. It is noted for example that their culture is marginalised, their communities are targeted for robberies similar to the era of kick-down-the-door banditry as institutionalised under the PNC dictatorship; Indian as well as Amerindian communities have lost jobs and disposable income; sugar workers did not get promised raises that lured them to vote

for the AFC; the high prices committed to Amerindian and Indians for rice and ground provisions have not been honoured – worse, AFC and PNC leadership said government is not in business to subsidise farming or find markets for farmers.

The end result is farmers are in worse shape today than when they were under the PPP’s 23 years of governance – a complete betrayal of those who had put their faith on Moses and Khemraj to stand up for and defend the community’s interests.

In my recent exchanges with Afro-nationalists, hardly any of them express any respect for Moses or Khemraj or Charandass.

These AFC Indians are not trusted by proud PNC supporters who see them as traitors to their own people just like how Afros affiliated with the then ruling PPP regime were viewed as traitors by their own. The PNC supporters mock and laugh at Moses, Khemraj and Charandass for being si-

lent to what passes as governance (racism) under the coalition regime.

Is there any hope for Moses, Khemraj and Charandass to regain the adulation people had for them?

Will they consider changing course in the coalition and begin to advocate for equity on behalf of their constituents? Will they direct the PNC to pursue power sharing with the various parties including PPP? Will they give thought to demanding the 40% (of resources and appointments) promised to their supporters in exchange for the votes that propelled the PNC into the corridors of power?

Or will they continue to remain silent and allow the continuation of injustices being perpetrated on the population?

Or will they continue to trade their silence for the perks of office?

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

Make the OPM regional reps’ role public Dear Editor, I will once again like to share my frustration as to what I deem over-riding of the Regional System for political gains and major inference into matters that ought to be dealt with by the authorities.

Since the APNU+AFC Government took office in 2015, we saw several persons being hired by the Office of the Prime Minister as Regional Reps to the Prime Minister. I do not know if those hired are representing the PM personally or if they are representing his Office. There is a major difference there for those that can read through the lines. Representing the PM office is totally different from representing the PM himself.

In Region 5 we had one Abel Seetaram, who was fired by the Prime Minister without a fair hearing. I will continue to defend Seetaram be-

cause I know that the man did nothing wrong during his tenure in such a position but he simply represent all the people no matter race, religion, political affiliation, etc.

He was also a threat to the entire PPP in Berbice. He was a target for some within the APNU+AFC in the region. He was a target for the Regional Administration because he stand up for workers’ rights and benefits, more over for working conditions to be better.

On several occasions I visited his office to seek his involvement in getting some matters resolved but he always says that there is a process that he works with and does not supersede those in authority that have the rights and power to deal with the matters. I respect him for that and he will work through the process to see things done.

But recently in the news I saw the PM Rep in Region 6 doing things by not doing the proper consultation with those in authority at the RDC or NDC level. I am saying this because I enquired about it. He seems to be using his power for his and the PM’s personal gains towards over-riding the system. This man is said to be calling up the police and asking them to deal with matters quickly. He summons officers to his office. I once heard on the news that he called up the US Embassy to enquire about a woman that was left stranded in Guyana. Recently he summons the market vendors to his office for a meeting to deal with the impasse there.

I am very surprise at those moves because I was recently told by an employee of the Prime Minister’s Office in Georgetown that

there are specific roles and guide lines for those Reps.

I was also told that they are not the Prime Minister’s Rep but Representatives to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Those remarks on the role of the reps make me wonder as to who is really in charge of the Reps.

I was told that the OPM Regional Reps are there to take complaints only and not dictate what is to happen but to forward those complaints to their boss in the Head Office, who then deals with it and give the Reps a feedback on the outcome of the situation\problem. So more over Dr Ramayya was right, it is like a note taker or a complaint desk officer.

The public needs to know of the roles these people, as to the office they hold. I cannot see the OPM Rep doing things on his own by go-

The time has come to set up an Afro-Guyanese bank

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bank is the life blood of a community. Moreover, a bank that caters to its community in ways that cares and respects the indigenousness of that community becomes more than a centre of finance.

It is no secret that the afro-Guyanese approach to finance and banking is infused with a sense of upbringing that is ethnically different from the other citizen groups. There is nothing racist about setting up an afro-Guyanese bank to lend more money to small businesses, potential homeowners and others to reinvest back into the community they know and love. It is time the debate shift to financial empowerment for afro-Guyanese ie economic self-awareness.

Let me be clear an af-

ro-Guyanese bank will serve all people of Guyana, but its mission is to empower afro-Guyanese economically by underwriting loans with the added understanding of its primary customers.

Moreover, it is in the interest of afro-Guyanese to support such an entity as an investment into building their future by cyclically compounding wealth.

What "form" should such a bank take to accomplish its primary mission? For starters it should have its headquarters in a predominantly afro-Guyanese locale, for instance Hopetown in West Berbice.

Next, there should be a marketing campaign with emphasis on the unique services and products offered to its primary customers. Products such as loans structured to clients

with special atomisation and terms that are reflective of income streams such those drive from operation of minibuses and taxis, seasonal and contractual labour arrangements.

For example, 30-year mortgages, reverse mortgages, asset back lending including, inventory of market stalls, gold and other precious metals. Other forms of lending should include

non-traditional guarantees such as churches, savings clubs, farming clubs, pension accounts, contract awards, and insurance awards and annuities.

This idea is not new and if implemented will serve as another symbol of pride for the afro-Guyanese community.

Yours sincerely, Keith Bernard

ing past the RDC, NDC or town council. The people who are the leaders of those entities need to put a stop to this man because he is abusing his powers within the region. I was also told he is a regional councillor in the region. Therefore, he should be aware that all complaints as a regional councillor must be taken to the regional chairman first before any action to solve the situation can be made. I don’t know what is taking place, but I do feel the PM should put a stop to this type of dictatorship coming from the Rep of his office. The PM should also check on people’s background when hiring, because the man representing his office in Region 6 was deported from the US a

few years back. So it seems that Deportees are the best to be hired by this APNU+AFC government. I call on the Head of State and the man in charge for the Affairs of the State Joseph Harmon to carry out an investigation into the role of those persons hired by the PM to work with his office as regional reps.

If the PM is saying corruption must stop, then I challenge him to publish the role of his Office Reps in the various regions. Dictatorship must stop. We can’t talk of the things the PPP uses to do and we in the APNU+AFC is doing same.

Take the challenge, PM. Yours sincerely, James Fraser

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monday, september 19, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

What teachers need to know about their students’ brains – why it’s crucial to move physical activity from the playground to the classroom

By Eric Haseltine, PhD

R

ecent research on improving cognitive abilities of autistic children has shed new light on development of “normal” children’s brains and has profound implications for improving education at all grade levels for all types of students.

A sweeping statement, I know, but one that is warranted by the exciting results.

I‘ll summarise the results of the new research, outline the implications, explain the neuroscience underlying the cognitive improvements, then conclude with specific recommendations for getting better results in the classroom.

Here’s what Cynthia Woo and colleagues of the Neurobiology and Behaviour Department at UC Irvine found last year and why it’s so important.

Building on a wealth of animal research showing that enriched sensorimotor experiences early in life significantly improve brain development and cognitive abilities, Woo’s team compared IQ scores of autistic children ages three to six who either had standard care or six months of enriched sensorimotor experience.

Sensorimotor enrichment included activities such as Scented bath and massage with oil Walking on foam pad or pillow Smelling different pairs of scents among a selection of lemon, lavender, vanilla, anise, orange, apple, and hyacinth Drawing shapes, tracking moving coloured objects Viewing paired images and sounds In all, children in the enriched group received 37 different sensorimotor stimuli over six months, including extensive movement and multisensory associations of touch, temperature, smell, sight,

sound, proprioceptive feedback, vestibular stimulating activities and social interaction.

The result? On average, kids in the enriched group raised their IQ scores seven points relative to those in a standard care control group.

More importantly, 20 per cent of children in the enriched protocol improved enough to move out of the “autistic” classification, while none of the standard care group changed classification.

Broader implications of sensorimotor stimulation

The dramatic improvement resulting from sensorimotor enrichment is significant on many levels.

First, improvements in IQ occurred even though nothing was explicitly taught to the children.

This finding adds to a fast growing body of data showing that activities that generally strengthen the brain as a whole, rather than developing a specific part of the brain (eg localised brain regions for music, spoken language, written language or motor coordination), are beneficial to a broad range of specific skills such as reading, quantitative skills and spatial skills measured on IQ tests.

Simply put, when it comes to brain function, “a rising tide lifts all boats”.

Second, although Woo’s research focused on autistic children, it’s highly relevant to “normal” children because: The chief mechanism by which sensorimotor enrichment enhanced brain function in autistic children-formation of novel synaptic connections (eg with pairing of novel combinations of smells, sights, sounds and movement) –has also been shown to enhance performance and memory in “normal” brains, including those of mature adults. These novel

connections are created based on the well-established principle of brain plasticity that “neurons that fire together, wire together”. Thus, when a developing brain is presented with novel combinations of smell, sight, touch and sight, a new network is formed of neural pathways carrying signals in each of those sensory pathways. The greater the number of sensory channels stimulated, the more complex and rich the new neural network.

Woo’s research reinforces recent research showing that multi-modal (simultaneous activation of multiple sensory and motor pathways) is an effective way to strengthen and literally “grow” the brain (eg children who experience coordinated sights, sounds and motor stimulation of playing a musical instrument have larger than normal regions of temporal cortex, the brain region that process music, and larger than normal representation of the fingers that play the instrument in their somatosensory cortex, the brain region that processes tactile information).

Finally – and perhaps most important for education – the amazing power of sensorimotor stimulation has also been recently shown to improve the teaching of Maths and spelling skills in “normal” children.

Writing the Journal Pediatrics this year, Marijke J Mullender-Wijnsma and colleagues of Groningen University in the Netherlands directed second and third grade students to physically

act-out arithmetic and spelling lessons.

“The specific exercises were performed when the children solved an academic task. For example, the word ‘dog’ must be spelled by jumping in place for every mentioned letter or the children had to jump six times to solve the multiplication ‘2x3’.”

After two years, of such “embodied learning” exercises, students advanced their spelling and arithmetic skills by four full months over a matched control group.

And embodied learning works for much older students as well. University of Chicago researchers showed that college students studying physics who physically experienced the concept of angular momentum by holding spinning vs stationary bicycle wheels, scored significantly higher on later quiz’s about the subject than students who learned about angular momentum through conventional “passive” techniques. Here’s an everyday example of embodied learning that you can relate to.

Notice that when you are a passenger being driven by someone else to a new location, it’s much harder to remember the new route than when you are the driver.

The neuroscience of cognition and learning

The image above is a model of human cerebral cortex showing a dense network pyramidal nerve cells and their dendrites (the neuronal fibres that receive inputs from other neurons). Pyramidal

cells in the cortex –which do a lot of the “heavy lifting” of sensing, thinking and behaving, have elaborate dendritic “trees” (coloured fibres) that receive inputs from sensory relays such as the Thalamus buried deep in the brain and from other parts of the cerebral cortex. Through these diverse inputs, individual neurons can be turned on (or off) by multiple sensory channels, such as vision, touch and acoustic signals, as well as by inputs from nerve cells in motor cortex that command our muscles to move. In this image, nerve cells receiving inputs from different sensory and motor channels are depicted in different colours (turquoise for vision, blue for audition, green for both vision and audition, etc), underscoring the multi-sensory

nature of this section of cerebral cortex. Taken together, cortical neurons and synapses (connections) between neurons form a vast neural network that perceives, decides, judges, imagines, learns and acts. The bigger and more richly interconnected the network, the more capable the network is. For example, recent research has shown that people with above average intelligence have a thicker than normal cerebral cortex like that shown below, containing bigger neurons with larger numbers of interconnections. Especially significant are generalised thickenings in so-called “association” areas of the brain where multiple senses and motor channels come together. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

To be continued

How Internet use is shaping our brains — researchers say the more you use the Internet, the less you use your own mind

By Susan McQuillan, MS, RDN

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asy access to the information highway via the Internet is changing our ability to learn, recall, and solve problems using our brains, say researchers at UC Santa Cruz and University of Illinois. The more we rely on the Internet for one type of information, they add, the more we are likely to continue using technology to gather new information in the future. With so much information so freely available, it is difficult for those who are studying this phenomenon to sort out just how much information comes from our brains these days, and how much is retrieved online.

In general, we develop habits that help us solve problems the same ways we have in the past. These days, however, instead of holding on to information in our memories, we place technological bookmarks where we can easily find the information in the future.

The time between posing a question and finding the answer is much quicker when using the Internet than using memory, and we are becoming increasingly reliant on technology to perform any tasks that involve information collection, storage, and retrieval.

The UCSC and UI researchers gave student participants sets of trivia questions, and asked some to answer the questions from their memories and others to use the Internet to find the answers. The first sets of questions were considered to be more difficult.

(For instance, “Who was the King of England during the American Revolution?”) The students were then given

questions that were considered easier (“How many zodiac signs are there?”) along with the choice of using either their memories or their technology to come up with the answers. Not surprisingly, those who used Google to find the answers to difficult questions were also much more likely to search the Internet to find the answers to less difficult questions.

This was true even when the researchers made it less convenient for the students to access a computer. The researchers found that those students who initially relied on Google for answers spent less time trying to search their own memories, even to answer easier questions, than those students who were first asked to use their own memories.

Scary as it may sound, this may not be such a bad thing, however, since search engine technology is extremely efficient, and information accessed through appropriate Internet searches can be more accurate and up-to-date than information accessed through our own memories. The researchers themselves question whether and how relying on Internet searches differs from relying on books or any other traditional source of information. They speculate that as long as an Internet search is available, and used appropriately when a question arises, it may actually be preferable to using and relying on personal memory. In this study, the participants who turned to Google for answers did indeed come up with more accurate responses to the questions they were asked than those who relied on their own memories. (psychologytoday.com)

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monday, september 19, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Linden teen at GPHC nursing Public Health Ministry continues to multiple fractures champion exclusive breastfeeding – family blames employer

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19-year-old labourer, Ramesh Rajbally, of Blueberry Hill, Linden, is currently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) nursing a fractured jaw, spine and neck.

He is facing possible paralysis after he suffered an accident while offloading logs at his place of work in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Information reaching this publication revealed that the accident occurred on Friday, at Grenville’s Sawmill, located in Blueberry Hill (back road), Linden.

The teen’s aunt, Sammantha Williams, disclosed that the mother of the teen received a phone call from Clive Grenville, the sawmill owner, on Friday shortly before noon, informing her of an accident involving her son.

She was told that her son was already taken to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) by a co-worker.

It was only after the family visited the hospital that the teen’s condition became known. Williams said several x-rays and ultrasounds were done on the young man which indicated multiple fractures, including injuries to the spine.

“When we get to the hospital, we see Ramesh with blood gushing from he mouth and blood coming through he nose. Blood was all over his face, his hands swell up fat and we was helpless. He just look like he collapsing all of the time,” Williams related.

After several exchanges with attendants at the Accident and Emergency department, the attending physician, who treated the teen, informed the family that the

Participants in the walkathon pose for a photo with Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings

Injured: Ramesh Rajbally suffered fractures to his jaw, spine and neck

Hospital could no longer handle the matter since the teen was facing possible permanent paralysis.

“The doctor come and tell we that he sorry to give we bad news now, but he is paralysed and would not be able to walk,” the distraught woman related.

Rajbally was subsequently transferred to the GPHC that same day. He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition.

The doctors at the city hospital were able to give the family some amount of hope, noting that the teen had a 50/50 chance of walking again.

The family remains unaware of the details of the accident, since the young man is unable to speak and details of eyewitnesses’ accounts are sketchy. “We do not know what happen really, all we hear is that he was taking log off the truck at the sawmill and one fall on he. We only saw him after the accident at the hospital and all we are hearing is that the log fall on

him,” Williams said.

The family is blaming Grenville for his negligence in sending the inexperienced teen, who has a defective foot, to offload logs when experienced workers were around to do the job. The teen is said to have been working with Grenville for approximately five months.

The family is claiming that the employer never paid NIS on his behalf. The teen’s family is currently concerned over the amount of Grenville’s monetary contribution, since Rajbally has to undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, which is costly, before a number of urgent surgeries can be done.

Williams explained that although the sawmill owner has made small contributions towards the family’s transportation costs, he has not assured them of any substantial monetary assistance.

“He (Grenville) said he would not be able to stand the whole expenses. He will see what he can do, since it is not a premeditated act but an ac-

W

omen have been urged to endorse exclusive breastfeeding, which is the best option for the majority of infants, as Guyana begins its observance of National Breastfeeding Week 2016.

“Today, I urge you all to continue to promote exclusive breastfeeding in whatever way you can, so that our babies can enjoy healthy lives from birth and that you use all available channels to spread the virtues of exclusive breastfeeding,” Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings told a walkathon on Sunday morning which kicked off the week of activities.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the walkathon saw the participation of Minister Cummings, patient care assistants and midwives and doctors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Launched under the theme, “Breastfeeding: a key to sustainable development”, the week of activities seeks to further equip maternal healthcare work-

ers, mothers and even fathers with the requisite knowledge and information to achieve 100 per cent exclusive breastfeeding across Guyana.

Exclusive breastfeeding is a distinctive process that provides perfect nutrition for infants, and contributes to their growth and development.

The Public Health Ministry will be heightening promotion and awareness of the need for mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding.

Nurses and other maternal healthcare personnel also advocated for the implementation of the six-month exclusive breastfeeding policy in Guyana, since the current rate stands at only 23 per cent, according to a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that women should breastfeed their babies for six months, since it reduces the risk of babies becoming infected, creates bonding between mother and child, and prevents ovarian cancer.

Minister Cummings said, “Registered dieticians,

nutritionists and dietetic technicians should continue efforts to shift the norm of infant feeding away from the use of human milk substitute towards human milk feeds.”

Assistant Director of Nursing Services Keith Alonzo highlighted that the theme for this year’s observance of National Breastfeeding Week lent it to creating awareness of the links between breastfeeding and sustainable development.

Alonzo said there were five main areas related to breastfeeding and the Sustainable Development Goals. These are nutrition and food security, health and well-being and survival for human beings, environment and climate change, work productivity empowerment, social protection and sustainable partnership, and the rule of law.

National Breastfeeding Week will continue with a number of countrywide symposiums and workshops that will further educate mothers and promote exclusive breastfeeding.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Several Lindeners fined for traffic violations

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number of Lindeners who appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court last week for traffic violations were fined.

The offences ranged from careless driving to driving uncertified motor vehicles. Thirty-five-yearold Orrin John, of 96 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, was fined a total of $20,000 for the offences of dangerous driving and crossing con-

tinuous double lines along the Washer Pond Road, Mackenzie, Linden on September 12. Failure to pay the fines means an alternative sentence of two weeks and one week in prison respectively.

Then, 42-year-old Earl Bowlin, of 16 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, was fined a total of $50,000 for the offences of driving an uninsured motor vehicle and driving an uncertified and unlicensed motor vehicle,

which resulted in two separate fines of $15,000 with two weeks in prison as the alternative sentences.

The fines were handed down after Bowlin was found guilty of the offences committed while using motorcycle CH 5944 along the Washer Pond Road on September 12. The first offence usually carries a fine of $20,000 or four weeks in prison.

Finally, 22-year-old Brentnol Adolph, of 499

Wismar Housing Scheme, was fined a total of $20,000 on charges of obscured identification mark on the front of his vehicle and driving an uncertified motor vehicle. The court heard that he rode motorcycle CF 1965 along the Washer Pond Road on September 12 under the said conditions.

He pleaded guilty to both charges. Failure to pay the fines will result in a sentence of one week in prison.

Sections of Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling repaired

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ehabilitative works have commenced on the Vreed-en-Hoop Ferry Stelling, with repairs being made thus far to sections of the landing.

These works came after numerous reports were made to the Public Infrastructure Ministry about the deplorable condition of the Stelling.

The works, which commenced on Monday last, saw the half of the landing leading to the boats being rebuilt.

Speaking with a few of the workmen, they indicated that the entire landing would be rebuilt along with the steps, which were falling apart.

Rehabilitation works ongoing at Vreed-en-Hoop Ferry Stelling

Guyana Times also spoke to a few persons who expressed elation with the rehabilitative works.

One vendor who plies her trade inside the

Stelling said she was rather happy with the development.

“I feel satisfied that they start building out there because you know how many

accidents I saw because the condition was not good at all,” the vendor related.

A commuter said that he felt “less frightened” now that the Stelling was being repaired, especially given the fact that he used the Stelling in the mornings during rush hour.

“With everybody rushing to get to work, there is a lot of shoving and pulling out here and with the condition of the Stelling right now, anything could happen so I feel good about this”.

Major repairs are still needed on the inside of the structure which has not been repaired for many years now.

Eyew tness Cronyism...

Y

...with veterans?

our Eyewitness just knew what would happen the moment the ads on a "CoI for Veterans" started popping up like jumbie umbrellas in the dailies.

Especially with the Terms of Reference: “the inquiry will investigate, examine, and report on the required support to enable the transition from service to civilian life; the quality of welfare service that promotes independence, maintains dignity, and provides the required support after service; the eligibility and adequacy of veterans’ benefits.”

And what would those "benefits" include??

They didn't leave anything to the imagination: “... compensation for disabling injuries, psychological trauma, or a terminal disease resulting from his or her participation in service activities; dedicated counselling and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder or related conditions; honouring and memorialising of fallen veterans; education, training and skills’ development; facilitation of employment placement; facilitation of, or advice on, business opportunities; pension; access to healthcare; and housing."

For the first time ever...your Eyewitness hasn't précis a passage lest folks think he's stacking the deck.

What he did predict back then was what would the other "veterans" – (of the Police, Guyana National Service, Prison Service, etc) think? Shakespeare stated their case ages ago and your Eyewitness can't do better than the Bard, can he? Just insert the "veteran" of your choice for "Jew".

"Doesn’t a Jew have eyes? Doesn’t a Jew have hands, bodily organs, a human shape, five senses, feelings, and passions? Doesn’t a Jew eat the same food, get hurt with the same weapons, get sick with the same diseases, get healed by the same medicine, and warm up in summer and cool off in winter just like a Christian? If you prick us with a pin, don’t we bleed?

If you tickle us, don’t we laugh? If you poison us, don’t we die?"

And lo and behold, the dam burst with responses in letters, blogs and social media. What about all those policemen who were shot and killed under fire between 2002 and 2008 when members of the GDF – who were supposed to support the GPF – refused to engage in hot pursuit of the bandits in Buxton. Post-traumatic stress disorder? Where did the GDF come under fire apart from that operation in New River Triangle in 1969 – when there were no casualties? And in that year's wasn't it Police who were killed in the Rupununi when the GDF just did mopping up exercises?

But the biggest irony was the latest cri de coeur for the police veterans from 90-year-old ex-GuySuCo HR Officer, EB John.

He could've also put in a word for the old canecutters once under his charge? But they don’t live past 60, do they?

...in oil "infrastructure"

The no-nothing Minister just said he's scouting locations for an "onshore base" to support our upcoming "oil industry". Now what the heck's he talking about? Didn't Exxon just spell out in excruciating detail they'll be operating two "Floating Production, Storage and Offloading" (FPSO) facilities. Basically an FPSO's a converted oil tanker hull equipped with hydrocarbon processing equipment for separation and treatment of crude oil, water and gases sourced from sub-sea oil wells via flexible pipelines.

The treated oil's transferred to cargo tanks in the FPSO hull where it's stored to be transferred to oceangoing tankers. NOTHING'S NEEDED ASHORE – which is 120 miles away!! Which part of this doesn't the Minister get? But we know what he's up to, don't we?

He's looking to take a page from the "Bondgate" caper and bring in some cronies to create "infrastructure" where none's needed. Wharves? None needed!

Airstrips? Ditto! Helicopters will transport the 100 men needed on the ship-rigs.

But Minister gotta get some action, nuh?

...with Town Clerk

One would've thought after all the high handedness shown, Minister Bulkan would've exclaimed by now: "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome Town Clerk"??

But then he's a fellow PNC crony, isn't he?

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

news

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monday, september 19, 2016 | guyana-times.com

"It’s going to be a 10-year-old struck down by minibus lovely budget, don’t A worry" – Jordan

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

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inance Minister Winston Jordan has assured that the Ministry is on stream in presenting its Annual Budget for 2017 come December 5, but shied away from any specific details regarding any increases in taxes or fees to be paid by stakeholders. “It’s going to be a lovely budget, don’t worry,” he quipped.

Minister Jordan was at the time engaging members of the local media corps on Friday last at the Finance Ministry’s boardroom. Asked specifically

by Guyana Times about any increased payments to be made by taxpayers or those seeking to access Government services, Minister Jordan said: “I cannot speak to anything beyond what has already been done earlier in the year, as it relates to the raising of fees, and so on and so forth this year.”

He suggested that stakeholders wait for the details, saying “The upcoming budget, we’ll wait on it, in a couple more months. It’s going to be a

lovely budget, don’t worry.”

Meanwhile, responding to reported criticism on the lack of adequate consultations

by Government in preparation of the Budget by sections of the Private Sector, namely the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Minister Jordan denied being in receipt of any formal complaint of displeasure from that body.

The Minister reminded that he had met with representatives of the Private Sector Commission earlier this year “where I reiterated to them that at the last consultation I had said to them, we can meet every quarter”.

He told media operatives that representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had admitted to him their tardiness in meeting with Government on the annual budget preparations.

The Minister did seek to assure stakeholders; however, “We are on track for the Budget for December 5.”

He said the relevant personnel were currently assessing the various submissions by Budget Agencies, “to get an understanding of how they were put together and whether they are consistent with what they are looking for”.

Since the coalition Government’s ascension to office, two National Budgets were presented early by the Finance Minister.

By law, the National Budget should be debated and approved by the National Assembly and approved for assent by the President no later than April 30 of each year.

ten-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital on Sunday morning after he was struck by a minibus at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The boy, yet to be identified, is said to be in critical condition at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the incident occurred at around 09:00h. The vehicle in which the boy was travelling was

headed to Parika, East Bank Demerara (EBE).

Ranks at the Leonora Police Station confirmed the accident.

The boy reportedly was in the back of a Canter when it had stopped and he jumped out and attempted to cross the road. A minibus passing at the time heading in the same direction struck him.

According to eyewitnesses, as a result of the impact, the child was flung some dis-

tance away.

One eyewitness revealed what transpired to this publication: “I was sitting by that shop and I wasn’t really paying attention. Out of nowhere I heard this loud bam! And when I get up and check, I saw the boy lying in that grass corner. People start to run out and they pick him up. When I went and look at him, his head buss up.”

Reports are that the boy’s head was partly crushed as

a result of the impact.

He was rushed by public spirited persons to the hospital in an unconscious manner.

Details surrounding the incident are still sketchy, however, it was revealed that the driver of the minibus was taken into Police custody and is assisting with investigations.

The driver of the canter is also assisting the Police with investigations.

MACORP joins Canadian NGO to assist NATI – much-needed machinery, equipment donated

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Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux and others inspecting the equipment

a c h i n e r y Corporation of Guyana (MACORP) has provided assistance to the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) machinery training programme. The company donated agricultural machinery that is being used by many large firms today.

The programme is seen as a collaborative one of NATI, MACORP and

World University Service of Canada through the Product Enterprises and Linkages project. At the recent commissioning of the equipment, Principal of NATI, Maxine Thompson, appealed for greater collaboration among the institution and the various industries to ensure that students can be better trained. “This venture has occurred at a juncture when this institu-

tion is piloting eight courses using advanced technology in agriculture machinery.”

According to Thompson, even though the programme is ongoing, staffers are handicapped since they too lack the relevant training.

She further stated: “We are indeed grateful for the World University Service of Canada’s initiative of facilitating the linkage between

NATI and the Machinery Corporation of Guyana, known as MACORP.” MACORP has shown an interest in using NATI as a feeder by enlisting graduates of the institution’s agriculture machinery programme into its two-year training programme.

Meanwhile, local Director of World University Service of Canada, Doug Graham, noted that the PROPEL project is used to link persons and to improve and enhance the quality of agricultural produce.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux, said that agriculture is a very important part of a country’s Gross Domestic Product, and one way to ensure that the quality of the local produce is improved, is to supply institutions like NATI with improved capacity and quality of instruments that will be used essentially to increase the quality of product.

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guyana-times.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

News

NAPS educates Region 2 Deadly pit bull attack youths on HIV/AIDS Suspected

Facilitator Nazim Hussain speaking to youths about HIV/AIDS

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cores of youths from various communities and youth groups in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) on Saturday benefited from a HIV\ AIDS workshop, compliments of the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS).

The sessions were facilitated by Nazim Hussain, with the Essequibo Coast

A section of the HIV workshop sponsored by NAPS

Dharmic Najauwan also contributing to facilitating the activity.

During various sessions, Hussain enlightened the youths about the epidemic HIV\AIDs and pointed to ways they can safeguard themselves. He said the workshop was aimed at em-

powering persons on HIV\ AIDS and human rights, as well as to remind community leaders about their role in moulding Guyana’s youth.

Hussain also informed participants about the works of NAPS and the Ministry of Public Health

(MPH). He disclosed that to date over 4500 persons are infected in Guyana with the disease, and out of that 250 are children.

The government, through the MPH, is providing free ARV medication to persons suffering from the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), he added.

He reminded that HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, and Human means that it affects only humans, living within their system. The virus, he said, does not live in mosquitoes, cups, spoons or bed sheets that HIVpositive people have used.

Immuno-deficiency refers to a breakdown of the immune system.

Youths were told of ways the disease can be transmitted, such as unprotected sex, Blood Transfusion, Mother-to-Child, and using unclean needles (drugs).

The virus can also be found in four main body fluids - breast milk, semen, vaginal secretions and blood.

The participants were involved in group discussions and expressed their ideas and thoughts about the disease.

Chairman of the Dharmic Naujawan in Region Two, Nandram Prabhu, thanked Hussain for choosing Region Two and said youths are now more empowered and equipped with the necessary knowledge about the disease.

The youth participants expressed gratitude towards Hussain for imparting knowledge on the disease.

owner arrested M

arceline BasdeoSmall, the suspected owner of the pit bulls that mauled a man to death and injured two others on Thursday in Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD), has been detained by Police.

According to Commander of D Division (West Demerara), Leslie James, the reported owner of the animal is presently in custody and is assisting with the investigation into the incident.

James earlier confirmed that Basdeo-Small’s brother, who was taken into custody the same day of the attack, has been released.

The identity of the dead man is still unknown, but Guyana Times understands that he was destitute.

The two men who were also injured are Ramanand Bhikam of Stewartville Housing Scheme, WCD and Wilbert Adams of Cornelia Ida, WCD. Based on reports, the dead man was found about 06:00h at Lot 190 Para Field, Leonora, with several bite marks about his body.

The Police were summoned and an investigation was launched.

The two injured men were treated at the Leonora Cottage Hospital, but only Bhikam was sent away. They have since given detailed statements to the Police about the attack.

Based on reports, Adams told detectives that he was heading to work when he was attacked by the animals.

He works at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate and it was about 03:00h when the dogs attacked him. After being bitten, he managed to make his way to the hospital which in turn alerted ranks at the Leonora Police Station.

However, as Bhikam was heading home from work, he was also attacked by the dogs that were on the road. Both men claimed they did not see the other man lying in the trench. It was not until Police arrived at the scene that the man’s body was discovered.

Guyana Times was told that the dogs would normally escape from the yard and attack people and other animals. Only recently, they killed several sheep and cows in the area, but it is the first time they actually killed someone.

According to James, in earlier reports, they were looking for the owner of the dogs since she reportedly disappeared following the discovery of the man’s body.

NEWS

Top Cop denies stripsearch allegations

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cting Police Commissioner (APC) David Ramnarine, on Sunday released a statement shutting down claims that 65 female students of Region One (Barima-Waini), were stripsearched in the presence of male officers.

This statement came in response to an article titled, “Region One education officials investigate strip-searching of female students” published in the Guyana Stabroek newspaper on Sunday.

The article alleges that female students of the Santa Rosa Secondary School were strip-searched in the presence of male officers, after a re-

port was made to the Acquero Police Station of missing money at the school.

According to the article, the Police Station was contacted by the school’s Welfare Officer who alleged that $55,000 was stolen from the school’s dorm mother.

Reports revealed that the woman claimed that she locked her room and left the key hanging on a wall.

However, she returned and later discovered the money missing which prompted her to report the matter to the Welfare Officer who then contacted the Police.

The article related that orders were given by the Police

Station to strip-search the students. This was done in the presence of two male officers, the dorm mother and the Welfare Officer of the school.

The money was not found, however it was also noted that male students somehow managed to witness the stripsearch which angered the female students.

In the statement, the APC said that according to the reports he received, the officers who reported to the school were present when the students’ bags was searched, however when the Welfare Officer suggested that a search be conducted on each child, the Subordinate Officer objected

and indicated that it would be improper in the circumstance for the Police to sanction this, and he and the Constable left the school.

The Subordinate Officer later reported that he learned that the children were searched by the Welfare Officer. This story surfaced on Friday last when an affected female student confided in a resident of the area as to what had transpired.

The Regional Executive Officer, who also received reports of this incident, seemingly without investigating, called the alleged act by the officers “greatly inappropriate”.

Pitri Paksha observances

Cove and John Swami urges Green Field residents to preserve traditions

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n observance of the period of Pitri Paksha in the Hindu Calender, the Guyana Sevashram Sangha (Cove and John Ashram) on Sunday distributed 100 food hampers and clothing to the less fortunate living in the depressed community of Green Field, East Coast Demerara, as residents were urged to preserve their traditions.

The community was specially selected for the distribution after members of the ashram visited the area and observed residents needed help. Doing the distribution process were administrator and spiritual leader of the Sangha, Swami Shivashankaranandaji Maharaj, members, and students from the Hindu College dormitory.

According to the Swami the outreach was a way of expressing gratitude to the departed souls for the contributions they made in society.

Maharaj said during the period of Pitri Paksha, it is recommended that persons remember the good legacy of their foreparents and to continue to trend along the

Swami Shivashankaranadaji speaking with children from Green Field community

same path. He said the period of Pitri Paksha is set aside specially to recognise the sterling contributions of ancestors and in recognition Hindus offer prayers and daan (charitable donations in the form of foodstuff).

He explained that as such the Ashram and kind donors contributed food items in the name of their departed ones.

“Whatever act or contribution done in the name of the departed soul, it helps that soul to further develop wherever it is, during this time Karana, one of the great

warriors of the Mahabharrat came back to earth to give charity and that was done in the form of food.”

He also used the opportunity to call on parents to encourage their young ones to upkeep the tradition and for them to make offerings during the period to those families who have departed.

“Pitri Paksha is a way of seeking blessings from the ancestor; we can do so by prayers and giving charity through food hampers.”

Swami showered gratitude on all the donors for making the outreach programme a success.

Speaking with residents of Green Field, the Swami encouraged the mixed community of mostly fishers, to take time off for prayers. He encouraged them to believe in God and to always think positive, and that if they want to achieve things in life then they need to make sacrifices. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Sangha for the timely donation.

The outreach programme is part of the seva aspect of the ashram in reaching out to the less fortunate. Many outreaches have been held by the ashram in many communities throughout Guyana.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Tele-medicine and E-learning possibilities for Guyana – Cathy Hughes

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

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n an effort to create a green, smart, information-based Guyana, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes is touting telemedicine and E-learning as possible initiatives that can be embarked upon with the development of an inter-connected digital platform.

“Here we are talking about establishing an inter-connected digital platform that can provide Government services systems to citizens in an efficient cost-effective and timely manner. It is about establishing links that can manage both Government and Private Sector data in a safe and secure manner,” Hughes said at a recent press conference.

She highlighted that Guyana has to explore directions and implement strategies that can foster a more technologically advanced country.

“Inter-connectivity is the foundation of the platform that we can build and of course, it is an integrated cross-sectoral programme. It offers citizens the benefits of tele-medicine: having a doctor in Georgetown connecting with a patient in Mabaruma,”

she explained, adding that a lesson taught in Georgetown can be received in far-flung hinterland regions where subject teachers are limited and, of course, this can be done in an informed format.

She said the digital platform could also create a pathway where the use of E-books can be utilised to reduce the imbalance of those who cannot purchase hard copy or photocopy text books.

“The technology exists today for us to really make the change. So, we have to change the focus and identify our own priorities as a nation. It is time for Guyana to think big, but act small,” she said. “It is about implementing a strategy to bridge the digital technological economic gap we face today.”

Hughes stated that during her trip to China with the Huawei technology giant, the Ministry and the E-Government Unit were able to explore new directions and create new strategies that can propel the development of a green, smart, informationdriven Guyana.

“It is clear to me today, that we cannot solve Guyana’s problems in the traditional way. What’s exciting is that with the use of existing technologies, we have the capacity and many opportunities to truly connect, transform and innovate,” said Hughes.

She added that it was also critical for the establishment of a 21st Century system that can manage all Government and Private Sector data in a safe and secure manner. “No more collecting and disposal of mountains of paper after a flood, no more loss of important information that was only available on paper.”

12 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Collaborative efforts lead to reduced infant mortality, morbidity – decreased from 35% to 7% as of September 2015

From left to right: Representatives from the Georgetown Public Hospital, Dr Winsome Scott and Dr George Norton (in middle), and senior representatives from Laparkan Shipping Limited Guyana

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octors and nurses working in paediatric units at public health facilities have been targeted in a series of training sessions to further reduce the rates of infant mortality and morbidity.

According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), the healthcare professionals have been, and continue to be, trained in the field through a number of pilot

programmes, and collaborative efforts with international organisations Head of the Paediatrics Department of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Clive Bowman said, “In 2011, residency training was started in Guyana and to date, 10 paediatricians have been trained… We also have nine residents who are currently in training. We recognise that we cannot

train doctors and don’t have trained nurses, so in 2013 again, through the initiative of the Guyana Help The Kids (GHTK), Dr Narendra Singh and the Nationwide Children Hospital, we started our neonatal intensive care training, training nurses who are specially equipped to care for very sick newborn babies.”

Dr Bowman said to date, 36 nurses have completed that training, and there were 25 others in training.

GPHC’s Paediatrics Department has been collaborating with overseasbased institutions, such as the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), University of Toronto,

University of Calgary, the University of Buffalo, among others, in realising the training opportunities.

Dr Bowman further stated that the objective of the collaborative efforts with international counterparts was to ensure that “we can provide top quality care to paediatric patients in Guyana, and this involves training, improvement of the physical structure and provision of equipment”.

The training, which the doctors and nurses are undergoing, will further be decentralised into sub-specialty areas, such as echocardiography, spirometry, paediatric haematology/oncology, paediatric critical care, paediatric emergency medicine and neonatology. A neonatology division equipped with the requisite staff will also be set up to give care to the ill or premature newborn infant.

“As we continue training, we are also looking at boosting the manpower capability of our department, and also do some restructuring of the department so that we can provide the care necessary,” Dr Bowman further explained By the end of 2016, GPHC’s paediatric department is expected to have a complement of 12 paediatricians, who will work to provide efficient and effective healthcare, thereby great-

Dr Clive Bowman, head of Paediatrics Department, Georgetown Public Hospital

Bartica.

Over the years, the GHTK has played an important role in contributing to the decrease in neonatal and infant mortality in developing countries, particularly in Guyana.

The GHTK secured a donation from the Humber River Hospital in Canada for paediatric and maternity units at regional health facilities across the country.

Humber River Hospital donated three infant incubators, 11 infant warmers, two infant warmer monitors, two

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, presents a plaque to President of Guyana Help The Kids (GHTK) Guyana Chapter, Dr Winsome Scott

ly reducing infant morbidity and mortality, the release added.

Doctors of the department have also been part of a pilot programme in collaboration with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI). The programme, Dr Bowman said, is funded at a cost of US$38,000 and has seen more than 600 babies and mothers being screened for hypothyroidism and sickle cell disease.

The ongoing training in the different areas of paediatrics will not only benefit doctors from the GPHC, but those from all major regional hospitals, including New Amsterdam, Suddie, West Demerara, Linden and

infant ventilators, 11 foetal monitors, nine phototherapy lights, 28 basinets, 13 delivery patient beds, and two paediatric scales.

The items were handed over to Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who highlighted that with the GHTK’s contributions over the years, as of September 2015, the infant mortality and morbidity rates have decreased from 35 per cent to 7 per cent.

Dr Winsome Scott, President of the GHTK Guyana Chapter, has pledged the organisation’s continued support to Guyana on reducing neonatal morbidity rates.

NEWS

13

monday, september 19, 2016 | guyana-times.com

HJ Public Relations Officer cops Miss Universe Guyana title Although there was no award for best gown, the audience felt that Ashley John, Soyini Fraser and Melissa DeFretias wore it best. Although Husain’s was unique, it was not a popular style.

After the evening gown segment, the judges took some time to tabulate their scores to be able to reveal the final five. After some time the names of five delegates were announced.

They were Soyini Fraser, Rafieya Husain, Ashley John, Ariella Basdeo and Ayana Whitehead.

After the disappointing response to the final questions by some of the delegates, it all boiled down to Fraser who wowed the judges and the audience with her intelligence and knowledge of current affairs.

In addition to the crown, Fraser was given the prize for the best talent.

Miss Universe Guyana Soyini Fraser

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t was a night of elegance, charm, sophistication and intense competition as the curtains came down on the Miss Universe Guyana 2016, with Soyini Fraser walking away with the coveted title.

The Hits and Jams Entertainment employee outshone the 13 other delegates when the finals of the highly anticipated event was held in the well illuminated and decorated grand ballroom of the Marriott Hotel.

Fraser was undoubtedly one of the front runners from the inception; she however sealed the deal in the question and answer segment on Saturday evening.

On point, pure perfection and intelligent are words to describe the 28-year-old as she answered the questions thrown at her. Her six years pageant experience definitely contributed to her confidence and the way she presented herself as a confident, beautiful young woman.

The Miss Universe Guyana title has now been added to her long list of accolades and titles which also include, Miss Grand International, Miss Earth, Miss Jamzone International, and Miss United Nations.

She will head to the Philippines to represent Guyana on the international stage with one goal in mind to be crowned Miss Universe - when the competition is held on January 1, 2017.

The pageant, though

spectacular, started at least 90 minutes behind schedule with the Guyana Police Force steel orchestra performing the National Anthem.

This was immediately followed by the introduction segment which was accompanied by thunderous applause as the audience rooted for their favourite delegate. Dressed in simple cream coloured gowns the delegates gracefully walked the stage and eloquently introduced themselves.

The final ten was then announced by the emcees - deputy mayor of Georgetown, Sherrod Duncan and radio personality, Alana Bose.

Making the top ten were Ashley John, Rafieya Husain, Ayana Whitehead, Soyini Fraser, Melissa DeFretias, Ariella Basdeo, Denisha Rogers, Iman Jaisingh, Odessa Grogan and Xamiera Kippens.

As the night progressed, the top delegates then reappeared on stage for the swimsuit segment. For this, they were decked out in twopiece swimwear in three colors - blue, pink and red. It was this segment that provided the opportunity for the beauties to flaunt their curves and grooves.

After an amazing display of grace, poise and physique, the top ten delegates went back to prepare for the highlight of the evening - the Evening Gown segment.

This segment was classy and mesmerising.

The crowded ballroom at the Marriott Hotel

Coming in as first runnerup was Rafieya Husain who would have also secured the award for best interview, while the second runnerup position went to Ariella Basdeo who copped the prize for beautiful heart.

Ashley John who was awarded the prizes for el-

egance and popularity was adjudged the third runnerup and Ayana Whitehead was adjudged the fourth runnerup position.

In addition, the Miss Congeniality prize went to Malika Russell, while the fitness model prize was won

by Xamiera Kippens.

The elegant event was graced with the presence of Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green and other dignitaries including the Diplomatic Corp.

14

guyana-times.com

monday, september 19, 2016

Regional

Venezuela: Non-Aligned Summit fizzles for Maduro

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nly a handful of leaders have travelled to a meeting of a large Cold War-era bloc in Venezuela in an embarrassment for the crisis-hit socialist Government.

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has touted the 17th meeting of the NonAligned Movement as one that would “be remembered for centuries”, as the unpopular leftist seeks to bolster his international legitimacy.

Yet the turnout from the 120-nation Cold War-era bloc has paled compared to past meetings, including the previous summit in Iran in 2012, attended by some 35 Heads of State.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Iran’s Hassan Rouhani and Palestine’s Mahmoud Abbas, as well as regional allies from Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia are among the few Heads of State who have landed on the island of Margarita.

The half-century old movement formed by nations wanting to avoid aligning with the United States or Soviet Union has dwin-

dled in relevance over the years.

But it appears that heads of state’s attendance at the summit in recessionstricken Venezuela is particularly low, possibly even in single digits, although the Government did not respond to a request for a list of attendees.

Venezuela’s Opposition, vying to remove Maduro in a recall referendum, has jumped on low attendance as a sign of his isolation.

“Millions of dollars of Venezuelans’ money spent for the Government’s ego,” said Opposition Leader Henrique Capriles. “Many of the countries didn’t come to the show!”

In one glaring absence, co-founder and key member India did not send Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only the second time the country’s Head of State has missed a summit since its 1961 founding.

Al Jazeera’s John Holman, reporting from Isla Margarita, said topics discussed so far included the plight of the Palestinians,

Venezuela’s Opposition, vying to remove Maduro in a recall referendum, has jumped on low attendance as a sign of his isolation

Cuba’s raprochement with the United States, and Maduro’s political woes.

Meanwhile, Maduro warned world leaders at the summit that his country was being lashed by a US economic war aimed at toppling him.

Speaking at the same event, which opened Saturday, Maduro’s closest regional ally, Cuban President Raul Castro, echoed the charge, despite his country’s thawing relations with the United States.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

nly a handful of leaders have travelled to a meeting of a large Cold War-era bloc in Venezuela in an embarrassment for the crisis-hit socialist Government.

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has touted the 17th meeting of the NonAligned Movement as one that would “be remembered for centuries”, as the unpopular leftist seeks to bolster his international legitimacy.

Yet the turnout from the 120-nation Cold War-era bloc has paled compared to past meetings, including the

previous summit in Iran in 2012, attended by some 35 Heads of State.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Iran’s Hassan Rouhani and Palestine’s Mahmoud Abbas, as well as regional allies from Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia are among the few Heads of State who have landed on the island of Margarita.

The half-century old movement formed by nations wanting to avoid aligning with the United States or Soviet Union has dwindled in relevance over the years.

But it appears that heads of state’s attendance at the summit in recessionstricken Venezuela is particularly low, possibly even in single digits, although the Government did not respond to a request for a list of attendees.

Venezuela’s Opposition, vying to remove Maduro in a recall referendum, has jumped on low attendance as a sign of his isolation.

“Millions of dollars of Venezuelans’ money spent for the Government’s ego,”

said Opposition Leader Henrique Capriles. “Many of the countries didn’t come to the show!”

In one glaring absence, co-founder and key member India did not send Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only the second time the country’s Head of State has missed a summit since its 1961 founding.

Al Jazeera’s John Holman, reporting from Isla Margarita, said topics discussed so far included the plight of the Palestinians, Cuba’s raprochement with the United States, and Maduro’s political woes.

Meanwhile, Maduro warned world leaders at the summit that his country was being lashed by a US economic war aimed at toppling him.

Speaking at the same event, which opened Saturday, Maduro’s closest regional ally, Cuban President Raul Castro, echoed the charge, despite his country’s thawing relations with the United States.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

St Vincent not putting a cent more Jamaica: Tourism stakeholders urged to satisfy changing in LIAT until service improves

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ne of LIAT’s major shareholder Governments, St Vincent and the Grenadines, has told the beleaguered airline that it won’t be getting a cent more until service to the island is “significantly improved”.

St Vincent and the Grenadines made its position clear on the heels of a meeting with representatives of the beleaguered regional carrier in Kingstown on Wednesday. While he has often defended LIAT in the past, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves appeared to have reached the end of his rope with poor service to

the island in recent weeks, and his Administration had demanded the meeting to discuss the matter.

During that meeting, the St Vincent officials highlighted the various challenges facing the travelling public, including lack of information on delays and cancellation of flights.

In a statement issued by Prime Minister Gonsalves’ office on Thursday, the government – which had recently been approached

by LIAT for EC$810,000 (US$300,000) to assist in its operations – said it was expecting improved service very soon.

It disclosed that LIAT had agreed to review the schedule of flights in and out of the country within a week to better serve the public; review the turnaround time of aircraft to reduce delays; consider a return of a direct Puerto Rico-St Vincent and the Grenadines flight; and improve customer service by providing more information to the travelling public regarding delays and cancellations. The statement said both the Government and LIAT were satisfied with the outcome of the discussions and travellers “should look forward to an enhanced service as promised by LIAT”.

(Caribbean360)

demands of consumers

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amaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is urging local tourism stakeholders to find new ways to appeal to the changing demands of consumers.

Speaking at the inaugural Island Routes Caribbean Adventures Conference at the Sandals Ochi Beach Resort recently, Bartlett urged participants to use their deliberations as the springboard for developing strategies to respond to the new realities of the industry and meet the challenges of 2016 and beyond.

“Once you have finished your conference, I would love to see a draft of the

wonderful ideas and suggestions I know you will come up with,” the minister said.

“Always remember that when visitors leave the confines of their homelands to visit your destination they go in search of their passions. It is your job to find out what those passions are and to find ways to ensure you satisfy them. Once you can do that, then you will win every day and twice on Sundays,” he added.

Bartlett noted that today’s travellers are more sophisticated and informed than ever before, making it extremely imperative that “we are prepared and on top of our game at all times”.

The Minister said that local tourism interests would be well served to look at what is happening globally and to emulate some of the best practices from some of the more popular tourist destinations.

“The tourism industry has the potential to create sustainable development, and Jamaica like countless destinations across the globe, has this opportunity at its finger tips. We must retool by channelling greater investment into the tourism sector to meet the demand of customers for quality and value at the right price,” he argued. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

United States.

Sir Hilary says the SUNY UWI Institute for leadership and sustainable development will be launched next week in the Big Apple. The UWI Vice Chancellor says many people are being left behind even though the way out of poverty in the Caribbean continues to be higher education and professional development.Sir Hilary was responding directly to the findings of the 2016 Caribbean Human Development Report

which was launched last week in Barbados. Among other things, the document urged countries to reassess how they measure national development and highlighted that in Antigua and Barbuda for instance, there is significant economic inequality, in favour of men. The UWI Vice Chancellor says the poverty in the Caribbean is the result of the process towards democracy being incomplete. (Excerpt from

Approval rating of Peruvian UWI working to turn around President Kuczynski rises unflattering ranking

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he approval rating of Peru’s recently-elected President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has risen slightly in September, as Peruvians have supported his plans to spark economic growth, a survey by pollster Ipsos Peru showed on Sunday.

Kuczynski, who took office at the end of July after a close run-off election, had the backing of 63 per cent of Peruvians in September, up two percentage points since August, according to the poll published in national newspaper El Comercio.

The pollster said that the most common reasons among respondents for supporting Kuczynski were that “he has good plans”, “he is working to improve the economy”, and “he has experience and potential.”

Kuczynski, considered

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Peru’s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski gestures while addressing the audience after receiving the presidential sash during his inauguration ceremony in Lima, Peru, July 28, 2016

a business-friendly leader, has filled his cabinet with technocrats and was in China last week talking to potential investors in Peru’s mining and railway sectors.

Of the 17 per cent of Peruvians who disapproved of Kuczynski, the principal reason cited was his perceived lack of seriousness.

In his first months in office he has garnered a reputation for off-kilter humour on topics such as contraception and the porous nature of the country’s border with Bolivia.

The survey polled 1267 people from September 13 to 15, with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. (Reuters)

ice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Hilary Beckles says the regional tertiary institution is working to turn around an unflattering ranking that the Caribbean now holds.

He says research shows the Caribbean has the lowest enrolment in higher education in the Western Hemisphere, with English-speaking countries holding that same title in the 18 to 30 age group.

Sir Hilary says that during UWI’s recent strategic planning meetings, the agenda for 2017 to 2022 was aligned to the United Nations’ 2030 Millennium Development goals.

To achieve its programme, UWI is building ties with the State University of New York better known as SUNY which is the largest comprehensive university system in the

Antigua Observer)

monday, september 19, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

New York bomb blast has no India blames Pakistan as Kashmir attack kills 17 soldiers links to foreign terrorism

I

N

Police had ruled out gas or faulty construction equipment being the cause of the blast

ew York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo says the bombing that wounded 29 people does not have any links to “international terrorism”.

The explosion tore through Chelsea, a residential district of Manhattan that is popular for its nightlife, late on Saturday. Police later discovered a second bomb four blocks away, which was safely defused and taken away for analysis.

“A bomb exploding in New York is obviously an act of terrorism, but it’s not linked to international terrorism. In other words, we find no ISIS connection, et cetera,” said Cuomo in reference to the Islamic State

of Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIL. Earlier, New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference: “There is no specific and credible threat against New York City at this point in time from any terror organisation.”

De Blasio said that, though injuries were significant, none of those hurt was likely to die.

“It is too early to determine what the incident was caused by. We believe it was intentional. A full investigation is under way,” the mayor said.

A police official said on Twitter a second device was being investigated.

Al Jazeera’s John Terrett, reporting from New York, said police had “found some kind of pressure cooker … wrapped in silver duct tape. It has wires protruding from the centre of it, and on the side of it is some kind of device thought to either be a timer or a cellphone”.

A bomb disposal team was on the scene on Sunday morning and alert notifications were sent out to mobile phones across Manhattan, cautioning those in the vicinity of 27th Street “to move away from the windows”, said Terret.

The disposal unit later removed the device from Manhattan for analysis at a specialised facility. (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

Moscow says strikes on Syria Army threaten US-Russia ceasefire plan

M

oscow stepped up its war of words with Washington on Sunday, saying air strikes by a US-led coalition on the Syrian Army threatened the implementation of a US-Russian ceasefire plan for Syria and bordered on connivance with Islamic State.

The diplomatic dispute heated up on the last day of a seven-day ceasefire marred by a surge of violence as warplanes hit the strategic northern city of Aleppo for the first time since the truce came into effect.

In another blow to hopes for the ceasefire, the Governor of Homs said several hundred rebels would be evacuated from the last rebel-held district of the Syrian city on Monday,

Russian President Vladimir Putin

prompting rebels to warn any such step would amount to the Government declaring the end of the truce.

On Saturday, the Russian Defence Ministry said US jets had killed more than 60 Syrian soldiers in the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor in four

air strikes by two F-16 and two A-10 fighter jets coming from the direction of Iraq.

Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari charged that US-led strikes were aimed at torpedoing the ceasefire, but France’s Foreign Minister, speaking in New York, placed the main blame for truce violations on President Bashar al Assad’s Government.

The Britain-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a military source at Deir al-Zor airport reported at least 90 Syrian soldiers were killed in the strikes.

A US official said the US military believed reports that about 60 Syrian troops were killed, but declined to speculate on the number of wounded. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Merkel suffers drubbing in Berlin vote due to migrant angst

C

hancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives suffered their second electoral blow in two weeks on Sunday, with support for her Christian Democrats (CDU) plunging to a post-reunification low in a Berlin state vote due to unease with her migrant policy.

The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) polled 11.5 per cent, gaining from a popular

backlash over Merkel’s decision a year ago to keep borders open for refugees, an exit poll by public broadcaster ARD showed. The result means the AfD will enter a 10th state assembly, out of 16 in total.

Merkel’s CDU polled 18 per cent, down from 23.3 per cent at the last election in 2011, with the centreleft Social Democrats (SPD) remaining the largest party on 23 per cent. The SPD

may now ditch the CDU from their coalition in the German capital.

The blow to the CDU came two weeks after they suffered heavy losses in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The setbacks have raised questions about whether Merkel will stand for a fourth term next year, but her party has few good alternatives so she still looks like the most likely candidate.

(Reuters)

ndia accused Pakistan of being behind Sunday’s separatist attack on an army base near their disputed frontier that killed 17 soldiers, in one of the most deadly attacks in Kashmir in a quarter-century-old insurgency.

Four commando-style gunmen, armed with AK-47 assault rifles and grenades, burst into the brigade headquarters in Uri at 05:30h (midnight GMT) and were killed after a three-hour gunfight, a senior Indian army officer said.

The incident sharply increased tensions between the bitter, nuclear-armed rivals and will raise fears of a potential military escalation. Indian and Pakistani troops are in close proximity in many places along one of the world’s most heavily militarised frontiers, and exchanges of fire are not uncommon.

Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh told reporters in New Delhi that Sunday’s

People react as they see the body of Nasir Shafi, 11, who according to local residents was shot by Indian security forces during a protest on Friday evening in Theed on the outskirts of Srinagar, India, September 17, 2016

attack bore the hallmarks of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Evidence gathered at the scene indicated the attackers were foreign and their equipment bore Pakistani markings, he added.

“Our men are ready to give a befitting response,” Singh said in response to a reporter’s question. He did not elaborate.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned what he called

the “cowardly terror attack”.

“I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished,” Modi said in a series of Twitter posts.

The raid came as tensions were already running high in India’s only Muslimmajority region, which has faced more than two months of protests following the July 8 killing of the commander of another Pakistan-based separatist group. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Global banking watchdog warns over Chinese banks

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isks of a Chinese banking crisis are mounting, according to a warning indicator from the banking industry’s global watchdog.

A key gauge of stress in the banking sector is now more than three times above the danger level, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) says in its latest quarterly review.

China’s credit-to-GDP gap hit 30.1 in the first quarter of 2016, it said.

The BIS considers a credit-to-GDP gap of 10 to be a sign of potential danger.

A year ago the BIS quar-

terly review put the figure for China at 25.4.

The BIS calculates the gap by looking at borrowing in relation to the size of the economy, and comparing that with the long-term trend of that ratio.

When the two start to diverge, the BIS argues, a banking crisis could be on the way.

The BIS has a central position in global finance as it provides banking services to central banks and monitors the international flow of money and credit.

The health of China’s banking sector has long

been a source of concern for financial markets.

Since the financial crisis of 2007-2008, there has been a boom in credit as the Chinese Government has attempted to spur flagging growth.

But some of that lending has not been productive and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that loans worth US$1.3 trillion are at risk of default.

However, as the Chinese banking system is largely owned or controlled by the Government, analysts say it would bail out the banking sector if necessary. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Minnesota stabbing: 8 injured, suspect shot dead

A

t least eight people were wounded in a stabbing attack at a shopping mall in the US state of Minnesota, before the suspected attacker was shot dead by Police, officials say.

The attack happened in St Cloud, 70 miles (110km) north-west of Minneapolis.

The motive is unclear.

The suspected attacker reportedly made references to Allah before he was killed.

So-called Islamic State said he was one of their “sol-

diers”.

None of the injuries suffered by the victims were life-threatening, local Police said.

An off-duty Police Officer from another jurisdiction shot and killed the suspect, said St Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson.

The suspect, who has not been identified, was said to have been wearing the uniform of a private security firm when the attack occurred.

The attacker asked at

least one person if they were Muslim, Anderson said, adding Police “will be diligent and get to the bottom of this”.

He said Police have no evidence to believe more than one person was involved in the attack.

The media arm of IS said in a statement that the attacker had carried out the operation “in response to calls to target the citizens of countries belonging to the crusader coalition”. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Sudan threatens to close border with South Sudan within days

S

udan said on Sunday it would close its border with South Sudan within days if its neighbour did not expel militant groups, the Government told State media.

Sudan regularly accuses its neighbour of backing insurgents in the Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions that run along its southern border.

South Sudan split away

from Sudan in 2011 after decades of civil war fuelled by ethnic divides and disputes over oil.

The border, regularly crossed by traders and pastoralists, was closed after the 2011 split and only reopened last January.

Speaking to State media on Sunday, Kamal Ismail, a minister of state in the Foreign Ministry, said that South Sudan had pledged

to expel the militant groups within 21 days during a visit last month. Khartoum would re-seal the border if its neighbour did not meet this promise, Ismail said.

The position of the border, particularly in the contested Abyei area, has been a constant source of tension, as has the legal status of southerners left living in the north and vice versa. (Reuters)

16

monDAY, september 19, 2016 | guyana-times.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say about

I SAY...

Road carnage across Guyana

Ifor Small – Linden

“Road accidents are always a great concern in any society, more so when there is a rise in such. Too

many lives are being lost; most importantly, families losing their loved ones and the pains stay forever. The fact that such reckless behaviour by drivers can be prevented, we must then ask ourselves – as citizens, as passengers, and as law enforcement, what we need to stop such reckless behaviour. I may want to suggest that we not only enforce the law but erect caution signs around the country such as speed limits for every zone in particular. The traffic departments also need to review the written test system, which allows every driver to take the test.”

Azam Ally – Essequibo Coast

“It is sad to know the amount of persons who lose

Mark Moseley – Linden

Kiran Prashad – Essequibo Coast

“They need to enforce the existing laws against speeding, reckless driving, DUI/DWI, etc.

People are getting off too lightly; therefore, there is no incentive to stop the recklessness.

If someone’s reckless driving caused death of someone else, the charge should be murder... not the tame “death by dangerous driving”. The matter does not convey the seriousness of the deaths occurring daily.”

Douglas Gittens – Linden

“Some of the roads in the vicinity of these areas where accidents occur are poorly lit and

there is lack of good signage to guide these drivers. However, that is not the only cause; motorists are speeding these days for no apparent reason. They need to slow down and obey the law of the land. It is until they are alerted of these offences by the Police that they become aware of the wrongs that they are engaging with. Community members also have to be vigilant; they need to tell these motorists that you are risking my life when you speed, please slow down. Even if they get angry, it is your right as a citizen to say something.”

their lives due to accidents.

The roadways are not safe; as such, persons need to be extra careful, especially drivers and pedestrians, they need to demonstrate extra care when using the road. It is sad also when most persons who died in accidents, their families are left to suffer: most times, it is the breadwinner of that home.

I beg of drivers to observe the 5Cs when using the road and for Police to be more visible on the roadways.”

Carol Cort – Fyrish

“The Police they can’t be at every point at the same time when things will happen, but the drivers have to be more cautious

Kelvin Bobb-Semple – West Ruimveldt

“Every day you open the papers you read about someone losing their innocent life after involving in an accident, I think the Police need to be more vigilant on the roadways. Speeding and the use of alcohol kills, drivers need to be extra careful and my advice – if they have to drive, don’t drink or speed; way too many persons have died on the road.”

Vidya Kandhai – Essequibo Coast

“I must say road carnage in

Guyana is very high; the rates are quite alarming and drivers and road users need to take note. Often, too many innocent lives are snatched away due to drunken drivers or speeding.

Drivers need to exercise care on the roadways and value persons’ life, bus drivers also need to respect persons’ wishes whenever passengers warn them to slow down, we have to take care of each other on the roadways, too many families lose their loved ones in the process.”

on the road. They have to know to slow down, because a small child might be doing something funny – the drivers have to look out for all these things. But, everybody now is in a hurry: they are boring, they are squeezing, why? And at the end of it, lives are lost.

When you look at it, they lock up the people, charge them and when you look, the same people are back on the road doing the same thing and worst because they pay a little money and that is right; money can’t give life.”

“I think it’s sad to see. The consequences of these accidents are hard to bear with people losing their lives and limbs. We need more road users with a higher level of adherence to the laws pertaining to the use of the roadways.

Only then can accidents be reduced.”

Ishmael King – New Amsterdam

“I think the increase in deaths is because of care-

lessness. The Police are taking too much bribes, so drivers now don’t drive with care.

Everybody know that if you have money, you could pay the Police and they could ‘duck’ some of the evidence. What the Government need to do is to pass a law that causing death becomes a no-bail offence. So now if they catch one, the others will know that if they meet a police that don’t take bribe that he can’t come out, not even if he want to bribe the Prosecutor or the Magistrate. And the charge should be for murder.”

Village Feature17 monday, september 19, 2016 | guyana-times.com

T

here is hardly a place in Guyana where eco-tourism is at your hand’s reach as it is in Orealla, an Amerindian community situated 50 miles up the Corentyne River in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The village is home to two tribes of Guyana’s indigenous peoples – the Arawaks and Warraus.

With about 2000 residents now, Orealla is one of the cleanest places in Guyana and maybe the only community that has a weekly clean-up campaign, in which residents must participate if they want family members to get employment in the village.

In Orealla, the breath-taking sunrises over the stillness of the Corentyne River produce a desire to go through the day trying to get as close

duced in the village.

From the factory come jams, jellies, guava cheese, and many by-products of cassava. In super-

The beauty of Orealla

munity but with few inhabitants.

In Orealla, the few families that migrated survived by farming and fishing. The men built houses made from trees in the community and established small farms around them which the women tended after the males went on hunting trips.

One of the persons who grew up in the village knowing that his parents had survived the deadly flu attack in Epora 97 years ago is Fredrick

ily’s canoe. The produce would then be sold in the larger community and the family would take a vacation and return to the village when all earned monies were exhausted. The vacation lasted one to two weeks.

Back home, almost a month after they left, the cycle starts again.

One of Hendricks’ granddaughters’, Ingrid D’Veir says to this day, the people of Orealla continue to be big spenders whenever they have

Hendricks. Now the oldest resident of Orealla, he remembers those days.

“Back then, my father and uncles will go and hunt and sometimes take months before they return,” he said.

“The men will return to the village with preserved slaughtered meat.”

Their return to the village was a time to rejoice. “Some of the meat my father would pack in a boat and all the cassava and pineapple from the farm, and me and my two sisters and brothers would go with him to Corriverton (50 miles down the Corentyne River).”

According to Hendricks, it would take them (including his mother) about one week to get to Corriverton in the fam-

money. “They don’t save; they will go on a spending spree until all their money is finished.”

Unfortunately, Orealla residents have not preserved their indigenous languages, which form part of the Arawak languages. Today, they speak English, and much better than most coastlanders in Guyana.

Most of the men today earn their money by working in the logging industry. They are, however, only allowed to get employment if they participate in the weekly village clean-up exercise.

The village also has a food processing factory, where about five women are employed, processing and packaging some of the fruits pro-

A section of Orealla Village

as possible to nature.

A day in Orealla, wrapped in the arms of nature, allows you to listen to the chirping of the birds and the wind whistling through the trees while walking around a community where everyone has a smile and a kind word to say. It is an unforgettable experience, yet for the residents, it is a norm.

The Arawaks are the ones who first arrived there from neighbouring Suriname in 1918. They had escaped a deadly flu virus which had threatened to wipe out most of the indigenous people of a village called Epora, situated on the Surinamese side of the Corentyne River during the World War l. Today Epora continues to strive as a com-

markets in urban communities, especially Corriverton and New Amsterdam, those products are ‘fast sellers’.

Orealla, also known as “The Land of Chalk”, has ev-

The Orealla Village Food Processing Factory

erything a tourist would enjoy. Nature walks, sightseeing and friendly people. On a visit, you may be able to behold a jaguar in its natural habitat while enjoying a sweet, succulent fresh mango picked by a Squirrel Monkey hovering above on a limb.

The peace and tranquillity experienced on any nature walk in the area will be interrupted temporarily by the cry of a bird escaping from a predator.

One is left in awe as one marvels at the array of birds, magnificently coloured and decorating the sky. No wonder Orealla is truly an ecotourism location; it should be first on a list of tourist destinations in the world.

18

guyana-times.com

monday, september 19, 2016

ARCHIE

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solution for Last Published Puzzle

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

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monDAY, september 19, 2016

Mourinho’s United slump at Watford

M

anchester United’s third defeat in eight days - and their first

by Watford in 30 years - left Jose Mourinho contemplating his worst run in management for a decade after a 3-1 drubbing in the Premier League on Sunday.

It was as much the shapeless performance as the reverse that will trouble Mourinho, who last lost three competitive games in regulation time in 2006.

Since then the Special One has become the Beaten One, defeated in 11 of his past 21 Premier League games with Chelsea and Manchester United.

Mourinho is not the only manager under pressure with David Moyes’ Sunderland, beaten 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur, and Stoke City’s Mark Hughes, whose side were thumped 4-1 away to Crystal Palace, staring up from the bottom of the table, But, as ever, it is the Portuguese who will attract the headlines, particularly on a weekend which saw Pep Guardiola record his eight straight win as Manchester City manager.

After five games City are top with 15 points ahead of Everton, who have 13. Spurs are third on 11 followed

by Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, all with 10. United are seventh on nine.

UNCOMFORTABLE UNITED

Juan Zuniga scored his first Watford goal since joining on loan from Napoli

United never looked comfortable at Vicarage Road from the moment Anthony Martial, still groggy from an earlier clash of heads, was bundled off the ball in the lead-up to Watford’s opener for Etienne Capoue.

Mourinho thought the goal should have been disallowed.

“It was an obvious situation but it is something I cannot control. I cannot improve the referees or officials and luck will arrive when she wants to. But, yes, individual performances have to improve,” the Portuguese told reporters.

Watford’s other goals from Juan Zuniga in the 83rd minute and a late Troy Deeney penalty owed more to poor defending after Marcus Rashford had equalised just past the hour mark.

Although United’s worldrecord signing Paul Pogba

unleashed one fizzing shot against the bar, the midfielder failed to stamp his authority on the game and was outshone by Capoue.

Victory was sweet for Watford manager Walter Mazzarri, who often clashed with Mourinho in Italy.

Asked if the pair would go for a drink after Sunday’s game, he said: “If he has time we will do it. We spoke before the game - even one day next week we can go out for dinner.”

The result moved Watford to within two points and two positions of seventh-placed United, who appear to lack the solidity normally associated with Mourinho’s teams.

United’s latest setback follows a 2-1 home defeat

by Guardiola’s City in the Manchester derby and a 1-0 loss at Feyenoord in their first Europa League group stage game. ( Reuters)

Rosberg retakes World Championship lead from Hamilton

N

ico Rosberg retook the World Championship lead from Lewis Hamilton following a grandstand finish to the Singapore Grand Prix.

He held off a late charge by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in a nail-biting climax and leads his teammate by eight points after Hamilton took third.

Mercedes’ decision to switch Hamilton to a threestop strategy got him back ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

When Ricciardo followed suit, he closed rapidly on Rosberg, who just held on.

Australian Ricciardo rejoined just under 30 seconds adrift, with 16 laps remaining, and initially sliced into Rosberg’s advantage at nearly three seconds a lap.

But as the laps ticked by the advantage of Ricciardo’s fresh tyres began to fade and the edge was taken off his charge.

Nico Rosberg

Rosberg had just enough pace, despite managing fading brakes, to keep the Red Bull at bay, crossing the line just 0.488 seconds ahead for a win that could prove crucial in the destiny of the world title.

Hamilton had an out-ofsorts weekend, qualifying only third, 0.7 seconds slow-

er than Rosberg, lacking grip after failing to set up his car properly because of track time lost to a hydraulic failure in Friday practice.

Raikkonen made his second stop at the end of the lap, Hamilton a lap later, and the world champion rejoined still in fourth place.

At this point, Mercedes decided to switch Hamilton’s strategy and unleashed him from managing his tyres and told him to close on Raikkonen.

Hamilton’s final pit stop on lap 45 triggered his rivals to follow suit, with Raikkonen pitting on the following lap and Ricciardo the lap after that.

The move worked for Mercedes - it leapfrogged Hamilton back ahead of Raikkonen and despite being on super-soft tyres rather than the ultra-softs chosen by Ferrari, Hamilton was comfortably able to hold on to the final podium place.

(BBC)

19

Rio Paralympics 2016...

Iranian Para-cyclist dies after crash

A

n Iranian Para-cyclist has died after a crash during the men’s C4-5 road race at the Rio Paralympics.

The International Paralympic Committee said Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, suffered cardiac arrest after the incident on a “mountainous stretch” of circuit.

“The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival,” a statement added.

Golbarnezhad also competed at the London Paralympics in 2012.

An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched.

“We’re looking to gather as much information as we can and as quickly as possible - it should take a matter of days,” said Piers Jones, sports director of cycling’s governing body UCI. The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the

Bahman Golbarnezhad was competing at his second Paralympics

Paralympic Village and a period of silence will be observed during Sunday’s closing ceremony.

Masoud Ashrafi, the secretary general of Iran’s National Paralympic Committee, said it had requested the body of Golbarnezhad be flown to Iran on Sunday. The Committee also asked for a full report of the incident from the IPC. Ashrafi added: “He had been cycling for 12 years and

he was our best cyclist. He was married and has a wife and one son. “He was the kind of man who was a family man. He loved his family.”

Golbarnezhad’s death is the first in competition at a summer Olympics or Paralympics since Danish cyclist Knud Enemark Jensen in the 100km team time trial at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Saturday’s race began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit used in the Rio Olympics road races.

The Vista Chinesa circuit, which included a treacherous descent where Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands crashed and sustained concussion during the Olympics, was not part of the Paralympic course.

According to the IPC, Golbarnezhad was involved in a crash at around 10:35 local time on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course, on a curved descent.

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

monday, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

Duncan tops field heading into final day Fired Windies Coach Simmons mulls legal action

R

ecently dismissed West Indies coach Phil Simmons is reportedly considering legal action against the West Indies Cricket Board.

According to reports published in The Telegraph the coach is expected to meet with his lawyer over the course of the next couple of days before coming to a decision.

Simmons was fired as the head of the regional team last week, with the WICB citing ‘differences in culture and strategic approach’ for dismissing the former player.

Despite the WICB not being more specific as to why the coach was relieved of his duties, one major bone of contention between the parties stemmed from the

Members of GSSF/Archery Guyana at the Qualifiers of Indigenous Heritage Games 2016: Nicholas Hing (Chair of Archery Committee) is second from right

Phil Simmons

player selection process.

Simmons was keen to get several players currently on the fringes of the West Indies team back into selection contention, while the selection panel routinely looked in other directions.

In November of last year Simmons was suspended

for alleging outside interference in the selection process. The coach was, however, later re-instated. The West Indies are currently on tour against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Henderson Springer, the assistant coach, is the acting head coach. (SportsMax)

TWINS (Bayo) Beer Garden/UCCA U-19...

Aeron Jamaludeen grabs 5 wickets for Scottsburg United

T

he first round of the TWINS (Bayo) Beer Garden/ Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) under 19 cricket competitions bowled off last Saturday with two matches and Aeron Jamaludeen was the star performer, snaring 5-2 from two overs to power Scottsburg United to a 134 runs victory over No. 72 All Stars.

Playing at home, Scottsburg United batted first and were bowled out for 160 in 31 overs. Alex Burnett 44, Stefon Mangal 21 and Saif Ghannie 15 were the top scorers. Bowling for No. 72 All Stars Taleshwar Baichan took 3 for 11 and received good support from

Aeron Jamaludeen

Khameshwar Chaterpal, Sanjay Deochand and Gavin Chaterpal with 2 wickets each.

In reply No.72 All Stars were bundled out for a meagre 26 runs from 11 overs.

Extra top scored with 10.

Doing the damage for Scottsburg was Aeron Jamaludeen taking 5 wickets for 2 runs off 2 overs and got good support from Rudy Jamaludeen with 3 wickets, while Stefon Mangal picked up 2.

At the No. 72 ground: No. 72 Cut and Load won by virtue of No. 64 fighting marines forfeiting the game after the game was severely interrupted by rain with only 7 overs bowled. No. 64 had reached 19 for 4.

The UCCA has since launch an investigation into the matter since there was time for a reduced overs match. The match was awarded to No. 72 Cut and Load.

T

he Qualifier Outdoor Archery on Saturday, September 17, 2016, on the second day of the Indigenous Heritage Games 2016 at the Everest Sports Ground, Eve Leary, Georgetown, saw 86 competitors participating from all parts of Guyana.

Archers shot in groups of five and because of the time frame and the high number of competitors; the Qualifiers comprised an end of six arrows. There was a time limit of four minutes for each athlete to shoot six arrows.

Safety is the paramount consideration of the Federation and that only ath-

letes who were shooting are allowed on the shooting lime.

The other competitors must stay at the waiting Line.

The distance was 20 metres and the signals for shooting were explained to the eagerly awaiting crowd.

There are three different whistle commands: 2 whistle blasts – Archers walk to the shooting line. One whistle blast – Archers commence shooting, and 3 whistle blasts – Archers stop shooting and walk to targets to check scores and collect arrows.

The Honourable Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’

Affairs, led the Archers off in their quest to qualify and secure a spot in the Finals scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 18, 2016. Trophies will be up for grabs for overall 1-3 in Men’s Senior, Women’s Senior and Juniors Categories.

At the end of an exciting afternoon, the Federation released the results of the qualifiers as follows; Men’s senior –Sean Duncan 38, Randy Arjune 28, Nicholas Hing 25. Women’s Senior- Samira Duncan 27, Narda Mohamed 18, Pamela Williams 8.

Juniors Aliyah Gordon 11, Shamara Duncan 7, Garville Daniels 3.

WI are a force in ODIs even without top players – Holder

W

est Indies Test and ODI skipper Jason Holder says the regional team remains a powerful force despite the absence of some top players heading into the series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

West Indies are missing some of their big stars in the T20s and ODIs including explosive opener Chris Gayle and all-rounder Andre Russell.

Trinidad and Tobago left handed batsman Evin Lewis was called up to replace Gayle at the last minute while Kesrick Williams, the fast bowler from St.Vincent and the Grenadines, has replaced Russell.

“It’s obviously a big loss to lose certain players, but obviously, we have some very capable players in the dressing room to fill their boots,” said Holder.

“Evin Lewis was called up at the last minute to replace Chris Gayle, and we saw what he did (100 against India at Lauderhill). I don’t think we are short on personnel. It’s just a matter of everyone getting in and getting used to international circuit.

“We have played a very vibrant brand of cricket, especially in the limited overs, and I think whoever is coming in, has the ability to do the same.”

West Indies start their tour with a warm-up game against Emirates Cricket

Jason Holder

Board XI at the ICC Academy on Tuesday before the opening T20 match against Pakistan on Friday.

“We are just looking to start the series well. It is important that we start well,” said Holder, after an intense net session at the ICC academy on Friday.

“We are coming off a very good win against India in the T20 series. We are coming in with a bit of confidence and hopefully, we can carry it in the heat here in Dubai”. One major factor the Caribbean side would have to contend with is the climate in Dubai.

The 24 year old Barbadian, who celebrates his next birthday in November, says his teammates would need to become familiar with local

conditions quickly.

“I just think it’s a situation where we understand these conditions as best as we can and as quickly as we can and get acclimatized to the conditions here.

The heat is not something we are accustomed to,” said Holder.

“We come from the Caribbean which is quite hot …at times it can get hot, but the humidity in the Caribbean is not in the same comparison as it is here. It is just important to acclimatize ourselves to the conditions here as quickly as possible, and play the cricket we are accustomed to”.

West Indies and Pakistan will play three T20s, three ODIs and three Test matches. (CMC)

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East Coast down West Berbice E

ast Coast recorded a comprehensive victory over West Berbice on the final day of their fourth round encounter yesterday at the Enterprise Community Development Centre ground.

Resuming on their overnight score of 9/0, West Berbice were eventually dismissed for 167 all out, with Leon Andrews pro-

Christopher Barnwell

ducing the lone fight with 91.

Bowling for East Coast Demerara, Kamesh Yadram took 3/28, with Chandrapaul Hemraj 2/13, Vivian Albert 2/37 and Steven Sankar took 2/38 among the other wicket takers.

East Coast won the match by an innings and 19 runs to record their third win in four matches.

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At Tuschen ground, the match featuring Upper Corentyne and West Demerara was finally granted play at 12:30h on the third and final day.

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bat first after winning the toss then declared their innings on 107/7.

Upper Corentyne then made a sporting declaration when they declared their innings at 10/2 after Romario Shephard and Raymon Reifer claimed a wicket each in their first over.

West Demerara, seeking quick runs in their second innings declared on 72/2 off 9.5 overs leaving Upper Corentyne with a target of 170 off a minimum of 22 overs. Raymon Reifer was not out on 45 with 2 fours and 5 sixes.

Upper Corentyne then struggled to 53/4 when bad light stopped play. Skipper Rajiv Ivan was not out 24.

Keshram Seyhodan and Raymon Reifer had 2/11 and 2/15 respectively.

At the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda, Georgetown batted first and made 194 all out.

Sunil Singh top scored with 63, Christopher Barnwell made 54 and Andrew Light Jr supported with 39. Akenie Adams took 5 for 30 and Anthony Adams 2 for 69 bowling for Essequibo.

In reply, Essequibo were 99 for 4 when the last of the mandatory 15 overs were completed.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was not out on 28 and Keemo Paul on 35 not out. Gajanan Suknanan had 4 for 47 bowling for Georgetown.

Dorado trio performs credibly at Maracas Bay Open Water Classic

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21

sports

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(L-R) Alex Winter, Soroya Simmons and Daniel Scott

D

orado Speed Swim Club trio of Soroya Simmons, Daniel Scott and Alex Winter battled the tough waters in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday to produce some commendable performances at the Maracas Bay Open Water Classic.

Simmons placed fourth (10th overall) in female 5K in a time of one hour,

twenty-two minutes and two seconds (1:22.02), Scott finished ninth in male 2,650 K in a time of thirty-eight minutes and twenty-nine seconds ( 38.29) while a time of forty-one minutes and fortyfive seconds (41.45) allowed Winter to finish in eighteenth position.

The event was graced with the presence of over

270 swimmers and the open water swimming events are being used by the Guyanese as avenue to hopefully participate in the event at Olympic Games in the near future.

Only last Sunday, the aforementioned trio took home medals after a strong showing in the Sawaki Bartica-to-Riversview Open Water meet.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

monday, september 19, 2016

Jeffrey leads ‘Duracel’ in 10-lap mountain bike race R

eigning Time Trial Champion, Raynauth Jeffrey, at the National Park on Sunday out rode Keon ‘Duracell’ Thomas and 13 others to be crowned the champion in the 10-lap Mountain Bike race.

The team Coco rider seemed to have been two levels above the rest, completed the course in a time of 33 minutes 39 seconds (33m39sec). Jeffrey lapped more than half of the competitors and by the fourth lap, it was Jeffrey alone who was lengths ahead of second placed Thomas, even managing to take some time to stop and fix his chain.

Raynauth Jeffrey crosses the finish line without another rider in sight

Thomas, having finished first last week in the same event, was unable to retain his top position, but never-

theless still made an impressive showing and managed to finish second. However, Thomas finished nearly one

minute behind Jeffrey.

The closest contest was for the third place position which was eventually won due to the last minute burst

by Paul Denobrega to edge Omia Meually who eventually finished fourth. The two riders matched pedal for pedal in the last five laps but coming into the home stretch, Denobrega powered past Meually.

Fifth place was awarded to Jeffrey’s team Coco’s Stephano ‘Sunny’ Husbands.

The terrain was a much more challenging course for the riders with the overnight rains; the course was transformed into a slush paradise, perfect for the oc-

casion.

Jeffrey walked away with the $10,000 first place prize, while Thomas was awarded $8,000 and Denobrega won the third place prize of $6000. Meally and Husbands won $5000 and $4000 for fourth and fifth place respectively.

Organiser of the race, Jude Bentley said he is trying to promote mountain bike racing with his aim of having a team for the commonwealth games 2018.

Bentley pointed out the fact that the event has attracted double the amount of riders from the last week and that is to be taken as a positive sign.

The Bicycle store owner said that he has an intention of hosting this event at least two times a month and promote the sport, noting that the country mainly focuses on the road bike races and there is a lot of potential of the other cycling disciplines.

The event was sponsored

by Ray Motor Spares and Auto Sales, Team Evolution, Warren Mc Kay, Price Mart and Shay BMF. Keon Thomas, will be using this event as preparation for the Caribbean Mountain Bike Championship 2016 in St Maarten, along with, Jude Bentley this weekend.

YBG School Basketball Festival bounces off Friday

T

he Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) will return to a hive of activity on Friday, as the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) will commence with four exciting games.

In the girls’ category, St. Roses High faces Presidents’ College then in the boys’ under-14, Marian Academy plays President’s College. The two remaining fixtures will be competed in the under-16 category and pits North Georgetown Secondary against St. Joseph High then Plaisance Secondary versus Presidents’ College.

The tournament which was rescheduled due to Guyana hosting the Caribbean Basketball

A number of the top basketball schools will get a chance to stamp their authority in this year’s Conference

Championships (CBC) under-16 in July will now run from September 23 to

October 9.

The Championship has grown from 18 teams par-

ticipating in a single elimi-

nation tournament in 2006 to over 50 teams playing in four divisions (Under-14, U-16, U-19 and Girls) and six regional zone tournaments.

The participating teams in the under-14 category are: Mackenzie High, St. Roses High, Marian Academy, President’s College, Kwakwani Secondary and Bishops’ high.

In the under-16: Mackenzie High, Kwakwani Secondary, Marian Academy, St. Roses High, Plaisance Secondary, Bishops’ High, President’s College, Saints Stanislaus College, Tutorial High, Queen’s College, St. Joseph

High, North Georgetown Secondary and Bladen Hall Secondary.

Under-19: Kwakwani Secondary, Linden Technical Institution, Government Technical Institution, Mackenzie High, New Amsterdam Multilateral, St. Roses High, President’s College, Bishops’ High, Queen’s College, Plaisance Secondary, Berbice High, J C. Chandersingh Secondary and Saints Stanislaus College.

The Girls’ teams: Kwakwani Secondary, Marian Academy, St. Roses High, Bishops’ High, Mackenzie High, President’s College and Berbice High

GFF Women’s Development League...

Kwakwani Strikers, Demerara Queens record wins in Linden’s opener

T

he Women’s Development League under the aegis of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the National Association For Women’s Football (NAWF) kicked-off on Sunday in Linden.

The first match- up saw Kwakwani Strikers coming up against the New Amsterdam (N.A) Warriors followed by Demerara Queens versus Kuru Kuru Warriors.

Game 1 saw Kwakwani Strikers defeating New Amsterdam (N.A) Warriors 3 goals to 1. Ashanna Williams netted the first goal for the winning team, which was followed by a second goal by Norleen Rogers. The third goal for the winning team was secured by 10- year old Jalade Trim.

Meanwhile, action in game 2 saw Demerara Queens defeating Kuru Kuru Warriors 5 goals to nil.

Registering the winning goals were Sheralyn Kingston (3), Latoya Whittington (1) and Lisa Parkinson (1).

Districts One is scheduled to begin their League participation on September 24 due, in part, to logistical challenges being experienced.

The two-month league will realize the participation

Demerara Queens scorers (L-R) Latoya Whittington, Sheralyn Kingston, and Lisa Parkinson

Kwakwani Strikers scorers Norleen Rogers, Jalade Trim and Ashanna Williams

of thirteen (13) clubs drawn from three-geographically designated districts: District One – North East District comprising Georgetown, West Demerara, Essequibo and Bartica Regional Football Associations.

District Two – North West District comprising Berbice, East Demerara, East Bank

and the Upper Demerara Football Associations and District Three – Rupununi Regional Football Association.

The Women’s Development League is designed to facilitate competitive women’s football participation, create public awareness of the sport and to expand the players’ pool.

guyana-times.com

monday, september 19, 2016

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 League…

23

Plaisance Panthers, Den Amstel notch wins P

laisance Panthers and Den Amstel were among the teams that secured convincing wins over the weekend in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Milling Company (NAMILCO) Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 interAssociation league.

Playing at the Melanie Community Centre ground on Sunday, as part of the

East Demerara Association leg, Panthers got the better of Victoria Kings by 2-1 margin due to goals by Jaheel Hinds in the 65th and Jermain Thomas in the 75th; Kevin Maxwell netted for the losers in the 33rd.

In the other match, Buxton United drew with Mahaica Determinators 1-1; Kobe Durant was the man on point for Buxton when he hit home in the 20th while Ozelle Nicholas fond a late equalizer in the 60th.

On Saturday, Golden Grove crushed Buxton Stars 6-0 while Bachelors/ Adventure Paradise Sports

Club defeated Buxton Youth Developers 4-2.

Shamar Kingston opened the scoring in the 18th minute, his first of three strikes, Delron Skeete increased their advantage in the 30th minute before Kingston registered his double on minute later. The rout continued in the second period as Kingston completed his hat-trick three minutes into the resumption.

The score line ballooned to 5-0 as Clevon Montrose netted in the 60th minute and the finishing touch was then applied four minutes later as Michael Woode added his name to the scorer’s sheet.

Lady Budapest wins twice at PostEmancipation horse race classic

L

ady Budapest of the Bactowar Stables won twice to come out as the champion horse on Sunday at the Post-Emancipation horse race meet held at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) and in the process took the feature event which was worth $1M With $1M and the Ivanoff Trophy seven furlongs away from the starting gate, in the feature event for animals classified as B1 and lower, Jack in My Style was the first out and was immediately challenged by of Spit Fire and then Lady Budapest and then Score Is Even coming from the outside, but the latter soon faded and the two animals went neck to neck.

Jockey Semple did his all ensuring that Lady Budapest stays in contention while Jockey Patrick pushed Jack in My Style to stay ahead.

With the final 300 meters Lady Budapest used the advantage of the inside and came out of the final turn ahead and reached the finish poll with her nose just ahead of Spit Fire. Jack in My Style finished third. Score Is Even brought up the rears of the six horses making it the second consecutive time the animal did not place.

Prior to the race, Score Is Even had already been demoted from being an ‘A’ class horse to being classed as ‘B1’.

In other results from

And they’re off! Part of the action at the race meet (file photo)

Sunday, Awesome Cash won the two-year-old Guyana bred horses, which saw the horses covering a distance of five furlongs, winning the top prize of $200,000 and the Clear Waters trophy. The second place went to Flash Again ahead of King Stanley and Princess Soria finishing in that order. The day started with a race for non-winners (L class) over five furlongs with a winners’ prize of $120,000.

The D3 & E & Lower Class (7 furs) had a first prize of $600,000 and was won

by Lady Budapest ahead of Light Up Canada.

The H & Lower (6 furs) was won by Precise Gold with Its My Turn, Rosetta and Midnight Blue following. The first prize was worth $240,000.

She Is In Control was awarded the first place in the L class (5 furs) event after Stewart’s Inquiry was ordered. During the race,

Daddy’s Daughter braced She Is In Control to the rein causing the animal to be injured.

The second place Affirmaty with Daddy’s Daughter third ahead of Royal Stallion. The top money in the race was $120,000.

G & Lower (7 furs) race with a top prize $280,000 was won by Isn’t She Charming, while Golden Kiss won the final event of the day, the J1 & Lower (5 furs; second place went to Liquid Lion. That race was marred by the misfortune of Red Jet falling at the 100-furlong pole injuring Jockey Colin Ross in the process and then Plain Land tripped over Red Jet and Jockey P Chandra was injured. They were both taken to the hospital.

The champion Jockey was Semple with two wins and a second place, while the runner-up was Jockey Richmond with a win and two second place finishes.

Andrew Carmichael

Similarly, the contest between Bachelors/Adventure Paradise Sports Club and Buxton Youth Developers was basically over at the end of the first half.

Ingram Charles opened the scoring with a ninth minute strike before Colin Hendricks doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute.

Tichard Gordon got into the scoring a 30th minute conversion before laying on the second in the 40th minute to push the score to 4-0.

Complacency highlighted the second period for Bachelors/Adventure Paradise Sports Club as they took their foot off the gas,

allowing the Buxtonians to record consolation goals in the 57th and 75th minute through Jaffarel Williams and Akeem Adonis respectively.

Over in the West Demerara leg, Den Amstel and Slingerz produced a seven goal thriller with Den Amstel winning 4-3. Ruben Danty and Keshwar Russell recorded doubles to lead the host victory. Danty opened the scoring in the 2nd and Russell followed suit with another goal in the 3rd.

The hosts continued to look the dominant team until some brilliance from Odell Duncan in the 6th minute reduced the lead for

Slingerz in the 6th minute.

Danty, added another goal next to his name in the 35th but the seesaw battle continued when Duncan fond the back of the net in the 42nd.

Just moments after halftime Ronaldo Massy found the equalizer in the 57th as both team had the momentum going for them. When it seemed a draw was looming, Russell etched this name on the score sheet for the second time in the 70th and sealed the win.

On Saturday, Wales claimed three points without breaking a sweat as they defeated Beavers FC via walkover.

Wolf’s Challenge Cup…

Parika Defenders topple Wellman XI

A

s the Wolf’s Challenge Cup closes in on the quarter final stage, four exciting games unfolded at the Malteenoes Sports Club on Sunday with Parika Defenders toppling Wellman XI. In the other three matches, Savage Masters defeated Albion Masters, but were later were trumped by Tropical Springs XI. In what turned out to be the last match of the day, it was Oswald Chandiler who led the Defenders to 184 off their allotted overs, batting first. It was opening batsman, Chandiler, who steered the innings with an impressive 71.

Chandiler clubbed 8 sixes in that innings and 4 fours, while Doubraj Singh supported with a well composed 37.

Latchman Kallicharan was the pick of the bowlers, skidding out four of the Parika Defenders’ batsmen for just 19 runs off his quota.

In reply, Wellman XI crawled to 165, having been bowled out in the 19th over.

By the sixth over of Wellman’s innings, they had already lost four scalps with 55 runs on the board.

It was Dinesh Viveknand who inspired Wellman to reach the 165 mark, having blasted 5 sixes and 2 fours on his way to 43 and looked to be taking the game away from

Oswald Chandiler led Parika to victory with a knock of 71

Parika, but D Singh broke through the defence of the resistance and snatched the game from Wellman.

Singh eventually finished with figures of 5-19 from his four overs.

Ramo Malone’s all-round performance sealed the game for Savage Masters as they eased past Albion Masters.

Albion batted first and posted 147 for the loss of 10, with Jadesh Bojh top scoring with 30 and Verpen Moonsammy contributing 25, but it was Ramo Malone who destroyed the batting line up of Albion, walking away with figures of 3-32 from his four overs.

Malone later returned with the bat and struck 60 not

out while Nadir Baksh scored a fine half century as the team reached their target with seven wickets in hand. Da Silva was the key bowler, taking 2-32 and Bojh chipped in with 1-26 from their four overs.

However, Savage Masters were unsuccessful when they faced Tropical Springs XI in their second match of the day. Malone and Baksh were again both top scorers carving 60 and 40 (not out) respectively as Savage managed to reach 175-3 from the allotted overs. Tropical Springs, in reply, raced to 179.

In the clash between HS Masters and Fisherman XI, Travon Emmanuel’s fivewicket haul restricted HS Masters for 116 from their 20 overs.

Masters, batting first, were led by C Hoyte, who top scored with 38 and Rudy Sonaram chipped in with 19.

Emmanuel carted off with figures of 5-20 from his four overs while A Rambaran finished with 2-24 in his allotted overs. Pooran Persaud and Jagdesh Persaud took one wicket a piece.

Fisherman XI then chased the target having only lost one wicket. Jagdesh produced a spectacular 50, having played as if it was a different wicket from what HS Masters were batting on. Rambaran also contributed 30.

monday, september 19, 2016

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

Jeffrey leads ‘Duracel’ in 10lap mountain bike race Pg 22

The 15-man race goes off in a huddle

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U-17 League…

Pg 23

Fired Windies Coach Simmons mulls legal action

Plaisance Panthers, Den Amstel notch wins Pg 20

Victoria Kings (green and white) went down to Plaisance Panthers by 2-1 score line Phil Simmons

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