Guyana Times Daily - September 24, 2015

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

Issue No. 2626

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, September 24, 2015

PRICE

Rising border tensions...

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

No increased deployment of GDF troops at border –– Guyana Chief-of-Staff stands ready to combat any acts of aggression Page 3

Gunmen hit Budget Supermarket Page 16

Technocrat Ministers Felix & Scott Issue

Court will P7 consider jurisdictional and substantive issues concurrently Woman P8 sentenced to 4 years on narcotics trafficking charge Police get copies of “Rights of Arrested P12 Persons”

Australian High Commissioner offers expertise on border P12 security

– during meeting with Public Security Minister

Guyana joins China in celebrating 66th Republic Anniversary Guyana on Wednesday evening joined Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin in celebrating the 66th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China during a simple ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy, Botanical Gardens, Georgetown

Election petition case

PPP/C files for release of key documents

by GECOM Page 7

Ultrasound misinterpreted ...no second baby – Page Doctor 13

Police looking for trio who Page escaped 9 from Lethem Station

P14 Junior Communities Minister “unavailable” – Citizens storm Ministry, protest high-handedness on house lots

Berbice water taxi service extended indefinitely P15 – Govt ...bus service adversely affected

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 24 – 14:00h-15:30h and Friday, September 25 – 14:30h-16:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 24 – 13:10h-14:40h and Friday, September 25 – 14:10h-15:40h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

Sunny weather with light rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with clear skies expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 3.57 and 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 12:53h and 13:34h reaching maximum heights of 2.33 metres and 2.39 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 06:59h and 19:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.81 metre and 0.82 metre respectively.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

LOTTERY NUMBERS 08 11 12 15 20 28 23 Bonus Ball

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No increased deployment of GDF troops at border – Chief-of-Staff – Guyana stands ready to combat any acts of aggression

WEATHER TODAY

K

Rising border tensions

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

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hief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Mark Phillips said there was no increase in the number of Guyanese troops being deployed at the border Guyana shares with Venezuela although the GDF stood ready to define aggression on the country’s border in response to Venezuela’s aggression and incursion.

Over the past week, Venezuela has been intensifying its military operations at the border, deploying heavily armed boats in the Cuyuni River inside Guyana.

In addressing Journalists at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday in the presence of the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, the Chief-of-Staff explained that even as Guyana continues to monitor the situation, troops have been deployed at key locations such as Eteringbang and Kaikan with observational posts established along the Cuyuni River.

“Our deployment is geared to define aggression and acts of incursion, and we remain ready to deploy additional troops and equipment, if need be to those locations. Our troops at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri, Camp Ayanganna and other coastal and inland locations have been briefed and alerted and remain in a state of readiness,” Brigadier Phillips informed.

In reflecting on the initial stage of this new development, he explained that over the past week there was a build-up of military personnel at the border by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela.

The situation intensified

Army Chief-of-Staff , Brigadier Mark Phillips

over the weekend with the deployment of over 200 troops between San Marten – a small town on the border and Ankoko Island. The GDF was also able to pinpoint missiles at a town named El Dorado which is approximately 57 kilometres inside Venezuela.

“What is (also) unusual is the deployment of military boats with machine guns in the Cuyuni River, and I wish to say that the Cuyuni River is inclusive of Guyana’s border. To deploy armed boats in the Cuyuni River is affront to our sovereignty,” the Chief-of-State made clear.

Governance Minister Trotman, however, said Guyanese ought not to be alarmed or panicked into believing that the country would be invaded by the Venezuelan Army or faced with guns and missiles. “When there is conflict, there are three stages: the show of force, the threat of force and then there is the use of force…

What we are seeing is just the show of force; there has

been no threat or use of force; however, Guyana has been alerted…Venezuela is well aware that the world is watching… (and) we do not anticipate any use of force,” Trotman said.

The Minister of State assured the press that President David Granger was on top of the situation, pointing out that meetings were continuously being held to discuss this new development and the way forward.

“It is a matter which is of tremendous concern to the President and he has given some clear directions as to what our response should be. Clearly, he recognises

that there are political considerations, strategic considerations for this build-up of troops on our border, and it is a matter which will be aired at every forum where Guyana is represented.”

Guyana has activated all of the mechanisms it currently has available, and as such has informed the United Nations; Caricom; the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), in its quest to address the issue.

Describing the situation as very provocative, President Granger on Tuesday said the Government believed that “Venezuela is treading a very dangerous course at this point in time”, adding that “rather than seeking a peaceful resolution of the matter, Venezuela seems to be pursuing a very offensive and aggressive course” According to Venezuelan media, that country’s Minister of Defence, Vladimir Padrino López announced shortly after President Granger alerted the public to the intensified military presence, that its military officers are holding “operational exercises”. He did not elaborate on the number of soldiers and equipment involved in the operation. (smarshall@ guyanatimesgy.com)

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Views Sunrise in Enmore Editor(ag): Michael Younge Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

For Perpetual Peace A

s the violent 18th century drew to a close, Immanuel Kant, not known for his humour, wondered in his essay, "Perpetual Peace": "Whether this satirical inscription on a Dutch innkeeper's sign upon which a burial ground was painted had for its object mankind in general, or the rulers of states in particular." There is, of course, the peace of the dead, but it is not the one that leaders and politicians - and of course, long suffering humanity, including citizens of Guyana, hopefully aspire to.

While Kant had in mind peace between the newly formed but fractious nation-states in Europe, the peace between individuals was one of the reasons for the formation of the said nation states to begin with. One of the seminal proponents of a strong state was Thomas Hobbes who reasoned that only such an institution could remove man from his otherwise, "nasty, short and brutish" life.

In Guyana today, we appear to be challenged to achieve "perpetual peace" from both without and within. Over in the west, Venezuela is rattling swords after they wielded their pens to arbitrarily demarcate all our waters off Essequibo as theirs. Evidently, the Geneva Agreement they signed in 1966, which forbade them from extending the controversy they precipitated over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, means as little to them as that original award. Maybe Guyana would now claim the basin of the Cuyuni, which we relinquished in 1899, but which as a tributary of the Essequibo River is geographically part of Essequibo.

But the question, of course, is whether this sort of tit for tat would lead to, if not perpetual peace, then at least relative calm within which we could develop our resources for our future national happiness. We do not believe it does.

We commend the previous and present administration for requesting that the UG Secretary General, into whose hands the Geneva Agreement places the controversy, move away from the sterile "Good Offices" process and transfer it to the International Commission of Jurists - ICJ - (or "World Court") for a full and final decision.

Internally, the quest for "perpetual peace" has surfaced consistently since "war" was incited between the two major races - Indian and African Guyanese - by the CIA in the heat of the Cold War in the 1960's. Not coincidentally, the spark for the external conflict also came from the same source at the same time. After the dust had settled, an early observer of our politics, Caribbean Nobel Prize winning economist Sir Arthur Lewis - who was to become an early Chancellor of UG - passed on some advise for "perpetual peace" gleaned from his study of West African societies.

Agreeing with his Jamaican anthropologist counterpart, MG Smith, that those societies as well as Guyana's were "plural societies" - where culturally defined groups were institutionally distinct - and prone to polarised politics, he advised that the solution was "federalism and coalitions".

Europe had also faced identical problems in its nation building efforts and in fact these were the mechanisms used for creating "perpetual peace" in such plural societies such as Switzerland and Belgium.

In the early years of this millennium there was a healthy debate in our newspapers as to the merits and demerits of the two mechanism. The conclusion was that they were not necessarily contradictory but because of the confusion in the minds of many that "federalism" was a new incarnation of Eusi Kwayana's 1960's last ditch effort create perpetual peace through "partition", the latter did not take root.

From 1980, however, the PNC introduced a Regional System, that attempted to generate some of the benefits of federalism through strong decentralisation, but like most compromises, failed to resolve the systemic contradictions.

Today there is now talk of furthering the principle of "subsidiarity", which is governance at the lowest possible level, to the villages along with "shared governance", "unity Government" and "inclusive governance".

Are we going to finally achieve "perpetual peace"? We can only hope.

The sky was a tapestry of burnished gold clouds over Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara as the sun rose on Wednesday (Avenash Ramzan photo)

Minister Trotman should set the example of good governance Dear Editor, Recent media reports have shown Minister Trotman visit to Barama.

The media also reported that he and a team of officials visited the location of Buck Hall. To my surprise the team that visited was comprised of new recruits.

Upon examination, these recruits are all affiliated with or are related to the APNU/ AFC coalition and its members.

Can Minister Trotman indicate the transparent process that was used to employ these people who all seem to be party hacks?

Were these people part of a selection process? This information should not have been withheld from the public to allow an equal opportunity for all to access these positions.

With the reduced production of gold and forest sectors, why are we filling up

the Ministry with seemingly seat warmers at the expense of taxpayers’ dollars? This is resounding of nepotism, cronyism and waste of taxpayers’ monies.

The Ministry should provide a list of all persons employed from June 2015 to now. In his capacity as the Minister of Governance, Minister Trotman should provide good governance in the public system, which includes transparency. People

look to him for leadership since he has the making of a new leader for this country.

Many young people believe him to be fair and trustworthy, and therefore, he should not breach this trust. After all, he was the one who said that the PNC should apologise to the people for some of the ills they committed during their time in office.

Yours sincerely John Williams

The City Hall PRO should get on with her work Dear Editor, Recently, I have noticed increasing calls for a comprehensive audit to be undertaken at the Georgetown City Council; calls I believe every taxpayer and indeed every citizen should join if they want to see their city properly managed.

Let me first debunk this claim by Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma who asserted that because the City Council is a part of the local Government system, therefore it is, beyond the control of Central Government. That is nonsense. The Government had over the years pumped hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into the City Council in addition to its yearly subvention and therefore has a right and obligation to see that this money was prop-

erly spent. Additionally the Auditor General of Guyana has a responsibility to audit the accounts of all public agencies, including ministries and other Government bodies including local Government to ensure that all monies are spent responsibly and for the purposes intended. The Audit Office can conduct financial audits of all publicly funded entities, including donor-funded entities, local Government agencies and trade unions in Guyana, if they believe all is not well within that agency as we all know is the case at City Hall for years now, without being invited to do by the particular agency, in this case the Mayor and City Council.

Second there is a most absurd letter in the press that has been authored by the Georgetown City

Council’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), in which she has clearly overstepped her mandate as she seeks to represent her bosses at City Hall.

In this letter she is calling for an audit to be done on the spending of the five hundred million dollars that was handed over to the Ministry of Local Government under the watch of then Minister Norman Whittaker, for cleaning of Georgetown under the clean up my country project and for which she says there is not much credible evidence of works done in the City. Yet I see this very administration using numerous skip bins that were made available through this ‘Clean up my Country Initiative’, some of which they have painted over with the new ‘Green City’ slogan,

deliberately of course, trying to misleading citizens into believing that these are new resources.

She then goes on to list what she considers to be indiscretions committed by the former Town Clerk - all the more reason why there should be a forensic audit conducted at City Hall for then and now.

The role of the City’s PRO should be to promote the image and identity of our capital rather than to get involved into politics and to seek to denigrate the previous administrators.

Just stop playing the blame game and get on with your work, providing the tax payers with a proper service, to which they are entitled.

Sincerely, Debra Gibson

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Canadian PM lauds Proper rehabilitation facilities needed for criminals Indian Diaspora Dear Editor, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently hailed the immense contribution of the Indian community (inclusive of Guyanese, Trinidadians and Fijians) in building a stronger, better and more prosperous Canada.

The Indo-Canadian population is about 1.2 million strong, including some 250 thousand IndoCaribbeans and 50,000 Fijians. In a recent commentary, Harper recognised people of Indian origin for making a lasting contribution to Canada's prosperity and cultural diversity. The PM visited Hindu temples including Guyanese temples in Ontario. He visited India several times. And he has honored several prominent Indians, including Guyanese, for their service and commitment to community development and contributions to Canadian society.

As reported in Indian media, Harper said: "In 1893, Swami Vivekananda arrived in British Columbia and ever since Canadians of Indian origin have helped to build a vibrant economy and a dynamic society in British Columbia”. He noted that

elsewhere in Canada, hundreds of thousands of Indian immigrants have also made a lasting contribution to Canada's prosperity and cultural diversity".

Harper said the Indian diaspora in Canada is among the most successful in the world serving in academia, business, construction and health centers. They are among the highest income earners in that country. In a speech to the Indian community last April, Harper noted: "There are more Indian men and women serving in Canada's Parliament than any time in our history”.

He added: “The relationship between Canada and India is important because of trade and investment but it is strong because of people and families”.

Harper noted that “the first immigrants arrived in Canada over a century ago through ambition, ingenuity, hard work, and the Indo-Canadian community has grown in size and prominence. He also pointed out that “Canada is home to one of the largest and more successful Indian diasporas on earth”.

Sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, For the last 7 years every day, at least one of the daily newspapers in Guyana carried a crime related story.

Most of those articles either revealed, reported on or was related to a criminal act, related a criminal act. However, it is very rare that suggestions are made on how to eliminate or reduce such criminal behaviours. And this dearth of solutions is understandable.

Many of the persons commenting or reporting on the issue of crime do not have the requisite knowhow to deal with the subject matter and those in the Law enforcement fields are not permitted to freely comment on such matters.

So what we have is a populace that is frustrated to their wits end, for there is hardly anything that they could do and those who are hired to do something seem just as clueless as they. I would like to say to the most frustrated amongst us, “Take heart”.

I believe that this new administration needs a little more time to get their act together. Prior to May 11, the main focus was the escalating street crimes.

This current administration seems willing to go after both street crimes and office crimes. If the last ad-

ministration with 23 years of expertise, struggled so badly to control only the one kind of crime, then the enormity of the undertaking that the Granger-lead administration faces is understandable.

What further makes the crime problem appear insurmountable, for both the previous and the current administration, is the fact that Guyana does not have a post-release rehabilitation program. There are many ex-offenders in Guyana who would benefit from a formal transitional program, which will aid with alleviating their criminogenic needs. It is reported that higher than 60% of all crimes committed in Guyana are perpetrated by career criminals. It is also a fact that more than half of the prison population is made up of repeat offenders. Through my work with the offender population I am informed that the majority of new criminals practice behaviours learnt from seasoned criminals.

This would suggest that a great number of persons creating the crime headache for the country are

those been drawn from the same saturated pool of criminals. Our prison is a revolving door and those who are new to the prison system, are being trained by those who were there before.

What the statistics are suggesting is that our real nemesis is that of rehabilitation. It is our repeat offenders who are training the young criminal as recruits, providing them with the weaponry, then sending them out, or otherwise teaming up with them on these crime sprees.

The Government should therefore add to its crimefighting arsenal, the aspect of a post-release rehabilitation program, for those formerly incarcerated. I am thinking that if we could find ways of reducing the factors which cause the exoffenders to re-offend), we might be up to something.

Every day ex-offenders and career criminals are being released from our prisons. What are they expected to do now that they have been designated “criminals”? Some will try to move on with their lives and become law abiding cit-

izens. Sadly, however, the statistics show that over 60% reengage in criminal behavious.

In the developed countries programs are designed to connect with these ex-offenders and formally engage them. They are provided with temporary/ transitional housing, academic and vocational training, drug rehabilitation and spiritual formation. These rehabilitated ex-offenders are then used as mentors and “big-brothers” to wannabe gangsters.

The immediate and long term effects of this best practice approach, is that you reduce the rate of those returning to prison and you also mitigate the recruitment of new criminals. The resultant effect is that your crime problem subsides.

This proven approach to crime reduction is yet to be tried here in Guyana and when it is implemented, the statistics will show that the crime situation would abate and the programme will take on a life of its own.

Sincerely, Pastor W. P. Jeffrey

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By Christine Field

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he irresponsible teenage boy has become a caricature of modern adolescence: He can’t find his schoolbooks to do his homework. He regularly runs out of clean underwear. He has to borrow money from Dad to go to the mall. “Cooking” consists of operating a microwave oven. Teen girls often do not fare much better. These young people are at the age when they will soon launch into the real world, but have they been equipped to handle it?

During my early years of parenting, I had a mistaken notion that childhood was a time of endless fun, and that parents were kind of like cruise directors for their children. Now I have two young adults and two teens, and I’ve come to realise that childhood is a training ground for the real world.

Imagine your child at her first job or in her first apartment. What skills do you want her to bring to these settings?

Do you want her to understand how to interact with others? How to manage her time, money and belongings? Maybe you want her to figure out a few basic skills like doing her own laundry.

Foundation down.

Time management

Consider tracking how your family spends time over a typical week to give you perspective on all the little time wasters that are not productive or beneficial. Too much television or shopping could signal neglect in relationships.

You may also introduce your toddler to time sequences: morning, noon, evening. Today, tomorrow, yesterday.

Cut out or draw pictures to make a visual timeline of his daily routine.

pace required for her daily commitments.

If your child is feeling rushed, find ways to alleviate stress through family time and adequate rest. Your child’s timemanagement skills will be a cardinal asset as he enters adulthood and the workforce.

Money management

When our children were still young, we allowed them to make financial decisions. They were able to learn and make mistakes with small sums and small stakes. Our children had to agree on how

zipper bags to separate each category.

This has the advantage of children being able to see the money as it accumulates.

Organising and decluttering

Having children means having stuff – lots of stuff. Both parents and children need to be “stuff-savvy” to keep their possessions organised.

Keep clutter at bay by involving your children in paring down belongings and donating long-forgotten toys. Work together to sort and store items, disposing of any broken or damaged toys. Consider creating a “memory box” for each child to store treasured pieces of artwork. The box could also serve as the repository for cards, letters and other mementos.

(Continued from Wednesday)

Repair and maintenance

Interactions with others

Chances are excellent that your son or daughter will someday land a job, get married and encounter various conflicts and disagreements. Can your child handle that tension? He’ll be better equipped if he’s had to deal with and resolve conflict in his formative years.

Sibling interactions are great practice for the inevitable conflicts in marriage and employment. Quarrels are a part of family life. Learning to disagree while maintaining self-control and respect for the other party may take years, but it’s worth the effort.

During one season, my children were particularly brutal to one another.

Without disclosing the reason, I had them trace their bodies on large sheets of paper, and I hung them up. Each time they hurt their sibling, they had to go to that child’s tracing and tear off a piece of the drawing. This had a great impact on teaching them not to tear one another

guyanatimesgy.com

As your child matures, he should have his own alarm clock. This shifts responsibility to your child, and the morning battle becomes between child and the clock and not between child and Mom and Dad. Encourage your child to stay organised with schoolwork. Your child may be noting daily responsibilities in a planner, especially if her school encourages students to track homework assignments and long-term projects. Make sure she’s also turning in her assignments on time and that she stays on task while searching the Web for class projects.

From time to time, compare the pace at which your child operates with the

and when to spend the money. If there were conditions to that privilege, we spelled them out. For example, we set a weekly budget for treats. When the money was spent, it was gone for the week.

Set goals for long-term savings, such as paying for summer camp, and shorterterm savings goals for things they want in the near future, such as a new toy.

Provide a way for them to divide their earnings or allowance into different categories. For example, their tithe could be 10 per cent, long-term savings could be 30 per cent, short-term savings 30 per cent and everyday spending 30 per cent.

Try using jars, paper envelopes or plastic

Once your children have proven they can take care of their belongings, they can help with the big things that require regular maintenance. Include your children in everyday household and vehicle upkeep, preparing them to be more self-reliant.

Each of our children has enjoyed trips to the hardware store holding Dad’s strong hand. Because my husband and I quickly discovered that we possess few repair skills between the two of us, we’ve learned the following lessons about home ownership: * Have a sense of humor. Something always breaks. Cleaning three inches of water out of the basement might not be your choice for the day, but it can be an opportunity to teach teamwork * Be willing to learn. When your children see you try something new, like how to apply caulk, they learn that it’s possible to acquire new skills, even if those abilities aren’t in their area of strength. * Be willing to ask for help. If a home project is over your head, you can teach your children a valuable lesson by simply asking for help and then working together to accomplish the task.

Beyond home repairs, remember that basic tasks such as mowing the lawn or weeding the garden can be great learning experiences for your children. (www. focusonthefamily.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

BY DEBBIE PINCUS MS LMHC

Here’s the good news: Knowing your own internal triggers and recognising, acknowledging and soothing your emotions, will keep them from controlling you. If you control them and keep them calmly settled inside you, rather than having these negative emotions spilling outward, you will be able to parent more effectively. The best part is, you can learn how to do this with practice.

Remember that when your emotional brain is in control, you’ll be most likely to react by yelling and screaming. Other forms of reactivity can include: shutting down, distancing, ignoring, and turning a blind eye to behaviour. Responding, on the other hand, is when you avoid saying anything until the internal fire is out. You can then go upstairs to the logic room and think of the best way to respond to your child and the situation.

Can you recognise your own triggers? Typical ones for parents are feelings of: * Hopelessness * Helplessness * Inadequacy * Fear * Guilt If your child rolls his eyes at you, for example, it may trigger a feeling of being disrespected.

This may cut deeply in to your childhood memories of being disrespected by a parent or peers. This feeling, when it gets triggered, might cause your heart to race, anger to rise and internal heat to set off alarms, shutting down logic... and your emotions take over.

As much as the better part of you knows your child is just behaving as most teenagers would – it’s not personal – your emotions register it as personal and threatening, and emotions get heated as a result. You start shouting and calling your child a spoiled brat. Why? Because she triggered unhealed feelings in you. If you do not know how to soothe and heal your feelings, you are likely to instead blame others. You still need to address the disrespect, but once you recognise why you get so triggered, you’ll be able to talk to your child with less emotionality. (www.empoweringparents.com)

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Election petition case

PPP/C files for release of key documents by GECOM P

eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Ganga Persaud filed a summons in the High Court requesting that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) present several documents that can aid in countering the summons filed to throw out the election petition case.

On Tuesday, the election petition was finally heard in acting Chief Justice Ian Chang’s Chambers.

Since the petition was filed on June 24, several summonses were counterfiled asking the Court to dismiss the petition on several grounds. GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, Attorney General Basil Williams and Representative of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) List of Candidates, Professor Harold Lutchman all filed summonses claiming that the petition did not have sufficient facts to engage the court’s attention.

As a result, the PPP/C has since filed a summons, asking the Court to order GECOM’s CEO to provide certain information that can prove that the election petition was worth a fair trial.

In the summons, the Party is asking that GECOM produce for inspection and examination for the purpose of the election petition all election papers and documents including those received from the Returning Officer of each electoral divi-

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang sharing a light moment with Attorneys Anil Nandlall and Roysdale Forde (Attorney-at-Law representing GECOM CEO) after the hour-long hearing in Chambers on the election petition case

sion. These include all electoral lists containing the names of the persons entitled to vote at the said polling division; all issued ballots; all unused ballots; all the votes cast by electors at each polling division; all statements of poll issued at the said polling division; all certificates of counting issued in respect to the votes cast at each and every polling division and all poll books used at each and every polling division, among others.

In the court document, the Party stated that the papers and documents were voluminous and would naturally take up considerable judicial time in examining each and every paper and document, but it noted that the inspection of these documents would facilitate the presentation to the court of

the election papers and documents including the issued ballots, the statements of poll, the votes cast and the votes rejected which is the validity of which the petition requires the court to rule upon.

Moreover, the Party highlighted that the documents requested were all public documents, which, therefore, by law, should be available for inspection and examination. Additionally,

the Party said in the summons that the GECOM CEO could not be “embarrassed nor suffer any injustice if the reliefs prayed for in the summons are granted”.

Following the declaration of the results of the May 11 General and Regional Elections, Ganga filed the petition asking the court to grant a number of orders including the nullification of the May 11 Elections results, as well as an order for new elections to be held.

During its first hearing on Tuesday, the parties involved argued whether or not the petition had sufficient facts to engage the court’s attention.

The matter was adjourned to next Monday when the parties will continue with arguments on the summons filed by the GECOM CEO. While the acting Chief Justice continues to hear the summonses, this will impact the substantive election petition case by delaying it.

However, should Justice Chang uphold any of the summonses on the grounds proffered, he can strike out the petition.

Technocrat Ministers Felix & Scott Issue

Court will consider jurisdictional and substantive issues concurrently

T

he legal case filed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) against Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs challenging the appointment of two Government Ministers as Technocrat Members of Parliament, came up for hearing before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang on Wednesday at the High Court.

This hearing was set for the ruling on a threshold matter of jurisdiction that was raised previously by the Attorney General who had argued that the court did not have any jurisdiction to preside over the case, because the PPP/C was challenging the Ministers’ right to sit in the National Assembly as elected members. Therefore, he pointed out, the Opposition needed to challenge the matter via an Elections Petition and not a motion as was done.

Both the AG and the PPP/C had presented preliminary arguments on this matter at the previous hearing in August and Justice Chang was expected to rule on this before proceeding to hear the substantive case.

Attorney General Basil Williams

However, when the matter came up on Wednesday, Justice Chang informed the court that he believed the matter of jurisdiction was interlinked with the substantive case. As such, “out of an abundance of caution”, he would proceed with the challenge and will make a final ruling on the entire matter after hearing arguments on all sides.

During Wednesday’s session, Attorney General Williams was present along with his team from the AG Chambers, while Attorney Anil Nandlall represented the PPP/C. Turn to page 11

8 NEWS

thursday, september 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Eyew tness Woman sentenced to 4 years on narcotics trafficking charge

P

enny Smith who also goes by the name “Avril Laurine Crouter”, 54, of Cross Street, Georgetown, was Wednesday sentenced to four years in prison by Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty in Courts Eight and Nine of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after she was found guilty of a trafficking in narcotics charge.

The woman had initially pleaded not guilty to the

Fifty-four-year-old Penny Smith was sentenced to four years in prison on a narcotics trafficking charge

charge which read that on Wednesday, July 22, she was found in possession of 17 grams of cannabis sativa for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Seon Blackman stated that the narcotic was found in her hands when Police searched her after they saw her acting in a suspicious manner. During her trial, the woman alleged that the Police assaulted and ex-

ploited her when she was obliged to take her clothes off at one time during her incarceration. After reviewing the evidence and testimonies presented in court during the trial, Magistrate Mc Gusty found the woman guilty as charged, telling her that the Prosecutor had proven his case beyond reasonable doubt. She was sentenced to four years in prison.

Labourer remanded for robbery, escaping lawful custody

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labourer was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore in Court 10 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with escaping lawful custody and robbery.

Delon Joseph, 21, of 3728 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, denied the charge which read that on Tuesday, September 1 at North Ruimveldt, he robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC) David Christian of one cellular phone valued at $99,000.

The accused also denied the charge

which read that on Monday, September 7 at the East La Penitence Police Station, while being in lawful custody, he unlawfully escaped from Detective Constable #20904 Major.

According to the particulars presented by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Shawn Gonsalves, the VC and the accused are known to each other. He stated that on the day in question, the VC was walking home when he was accosted by the accused who demanded that he hand over his cellphone. The VC became afraid for

his safety and the accused snatched the phone and escaped. He was later arrested and charged; however, on Monday, September 7 while in custody at the East La Penitence Police Station he escaped but was subsequently apprehended and charged. The court was informed that the investigation is incomplete.

Bail was refused and Magistrate Moore remanded the accused to prison until October 10 when the matter will return for a report of the progress of the investigation.

On the western front...

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...no quiet??

ost Guyanese seem to've forgotten that Guyana isn't quite 83,000 sq miles. That's what we were at independence on May 1966, but in October, Venezuelan troops rolled over our side of Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River and have been occupying it ever since.

We had to've lost even a couple of square miles, no? But you don't hear anybody complaining about it do you?

And that's because we've evidently forgotten our loss of territory through force.

Your Eyewitness doesn't want to scratch any scabs unnecessarily but as new reports surface of Venezuelan troops and missiles massed on our western border, we can't let history repeat itself, can we? What most Guyanese don't get is how much of an emotional and nationalistic issue the Essequibo is to Venezuelans because they believe they were "robbed by the imperialists". For a nation that defines itself through the legacy of Simon Bolivar - THE LIBERATOR - that legacy is stained if the "liberation" is compromised. And that's how the border controversy is taught to schoolchildren from nursery upwards.

The claim to the Essequibo is also part of their Constitution - which no politician - no matter how "friendly" to Guyana, can alter. Within the ambit of their internal politics, then, Venezuelan politicians will always be vulnerable to accusations that they're soft on Essequibo".

And will have to toughen their responses - which can always take on a life of its own.

Compounding matters is the traditional independence of their army and navy. Those institutions' duty is to defend their constitution - including the Essequibo - by any means necessary. So while we may want to give Maduro and his Government the benefit of the doubt as to how far they'll go with their sabre rattling, Guyana cannot afford to take any chances.

President Granger should be fully aware of these issues since he'd just returned from Mons to be an officer in the new army that was overrun so precipitously before they were even wet behind their ears. He wouldn't want to be party to another displacement. He's at the UN General Assembly and he has the opportunity to repeat the Government strategy in 1966 - to use its network in the third world to isolate Venezuela and define it as the "new imperialist".

Venezuela didn't like the tag then and likes it even less today, when it so wants to be seen as "progressive".

Guyana must mount a diplomatic initiative immediately.

Is Carl Greenidge up to the challenge?

...rice roils

Even as Venezuela casts its border shadow on Essequibo, its earlier decision to abrogate its 200,000 tonne contract for rice and paddy for oil, had cast a longer shadow on the region that's totally dependent of rice. Apart from the 35,000 acres of cultivated rice, what else can Essequibians depend on?

There's the coconuts that were a mainstay from places like the Pomeroon - but after the number the US did on us to convince one and all that coconut oil was "bad for you", it's going to take some time to get that sector up and running. So we return to rice - where the farmers are reportedly getting just $1800 per bag of paddy when it costs them at least $1000 more. Obviously ruination's staring them in the face.

An interesting scenario's developing that'll test party loyalty versus survival. The AFC snagged a hefty number of votes from Region 2's rice farmers. These farmers were quite vociferous in condemning the PPP for "deserting them". One even stripped to the buff to express his displeasure.

Let's see what they'll do this crop with their party in power.

...officially

After the Government moved to reduce tolls for Berbicians, folks from Essequibo Coast and NWD asked "what happened to us? Are we chopped liver."

But the Minister wants them to express their displeasure "officially".

They have to protest, like the Reg 2 AFC fella on rice: in the buff!

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

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thurSday, september 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Surinamese woman busted Police looking for trio who with cocaine at Ogle Airport escaped from Lethem Station

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Surinamese national is in Police custody after she was intercepted at the Ogle International Airport (OIA) with a quantity of cocaine in her possession.

According to Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker, the woman was busted around 19:20h on Monday while an outgoing passenger.

It was reported that ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch were conducting routine checks on female Surinamese nationals when they made the discovery. A total of 902 grams of cocaine were found on her body.

The ranks suspected that the woman had also ingested pellets containing the illicit substance, so she was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was given a laxative to expedite the excretion of the drug.

By Wednesday morning, the woman had, so far, excreted 15 pellets containing cocaine that amounted to a total of 154 grams.

The Surinamese national remains a patient under

guard at the city hospital.

Although Guyana’s anti-narcotic smuggling activities have been capped by frequent interceptions, which reveal the creativity of persons engaged in the illicit trade, would-be smugglers are still not being deterred as there continues to be frequent busts.

Earlier this month, on September 4, a mother of one, who was allegedly trying to make ends meet, was arrested while attempting to smuggle 500 grams cocaine out of Guyana. Shanda Nichols of Albouystown, Georgetown, was about to board a LIAT flight to Barbados when she was busted by members of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU).

According to information received, the passenger had a portion of the cocaine strapped to her girdle while another portion was in her genitals.

She was taken into custody and patted down after she was seen acting in a suspicious manner.

During the pat down, the cocaine was found and she was immediately arrest-

22-year old gets bail for aggravated robbery

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22-year old man was on Wednesday placed on $30,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore in Court 10 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with aggravated robbery.

Esra Evans, also called “Blackboy”, 22, of 67 West Front Road Ruimveldt, Georgetown, denied the charge which read that on Monday, September 21, at Seawall Road, Georgetown, while in the company of others, he robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC) Eon Peters of one cellular phone valued $4500 and $900 cash.

According to the particulars presented by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Shawn Gonsalves, the VC was at the seawalls with a friend on the evening of Sunday, September 20. He stated that on the day in question, at approximately 00:30h the VC was heading home when he was accosted by the accused along with six other suspects.

The perpetrators then conducted a search of the VC’s person and relieved him of his phone and cash.

A mobile Police patrol arrived shortly after the incident and the VC pointed

Esra Evans was placed on $30,000 bail for aggravated robbery

them in the direction that the accused and the other suspects fled. When the Police approached the accused and those in his company, they ran in an attempt to evade Police. The accused was apprehended and taken into custody, and the charges were subsequently laid. While being questioned, the accused admitted to being present at the scene of the robbery but denied the allegations being put against him. The investigation is still ongoing. Bail was granted in the sum of $30,000 and the matter will return for a report of the progress of the investigation on October 19.

ed and taken to the CANU headquarters.

Nichols reportedly told drug enforcement officers that she was desperate to make fast money, since her only daughter has a heart complication and was in need of urgent surgery.

Meanwhile, back in August, Lovern Hendricks, 39, of Lot 3592 Westminster Phase Two, West Bank Demerara and Angel Smith, 23, of Lot 945 Westminster Phase One, were outgoing passengers at the OIA when they were intercepted with more than two kilograms of cocaine strapped to their bodies.

Hendricks was busted with six parcels of cocaine (1.372 kilograms), while Smith was found with six parcels (976 grams).

They were about to board a LIAT flight destined for Barbados.

Wanted: Don Peters

Wanted: Michael Mc Donald

Wanted: Tiagio Da Silva

he Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for three persons who it said escaped from custody last week.

According to Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker, Don Peters, Michael Mc Donald and Tiagio Da Silva are wanted for escaping from lawful custody while being kept at the Lethem Police Station on September 17.

Peters is 28 years old

and of mixed race. His last known address was St Ignatius, Central Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) as well as Bom Fin, Brasil. Twentyyear-old Mc Donald is also of mixed race. His last known addresses are the same as Peters.

Meanwhile, Da Silva is said to be 19 years old. He is of mixed race and gave his address as Boa Vista, Brasil.

The release did not say what offence the men were under

arrest for.

The Police Force is asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of the three escapees or has information that may lead to their arrest to contact the Police on telephone numbers: 226-1333, 225-2722, 225-6411, 2258196, 772-2087, 772-2005, 911 or at the nearest police station.

The Police assure that all information will be treated with strict confidence.

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thursday, september 24, 2015

News

St Rose's High cops first place in Demerara water-taxi operators round 1 of JOF Debate Competition get customer service training

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Chief Education Officer Olato Sam

t Rose's High School on Wednesday emerged victorious as the first round of the annual JOF Haynes Memorial Inter-Secondary Schools debating competition commenced at the Theatre Guild, Kingstown, Georgetown.

The debating competition commenced with the moot “Caribbean territories have not done anything of significance to mitigate the effects of climate change”, in which St Rose's battled against the Aurora Secondary School from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) which opposed the aforementioned moot.

Otto Harris, second speaker for the St Rose's team, emerged as the Best Speaker for the competition in his argument for the affirmative of the debating topic, and his group members praised him as being the one that helped them along the way.

Chief Education Officer Olato Sam stressed that such activities within the education sector

need to be expanded to further youth development across the country. He shared that he believes that the debate competition is the “most wonderful” activity on the Education Month Calendar, as this event in particular, holds tremendous value for those who are both participating and observing.

“In a time when different ideologies tend to divide us in society and bring out in some events, the worst in us, it is good to see you people debating and hating,” Sam mentioned.

Other schools still to debate in the first round include Novar Secondary, Christianburg Secondary, St Ignatius Secondary, Skeldon Secondary, Zeeburg Secondary, President’s College, Paramakatoi Secondary and Santa Rosa Secondary.

Carol Benn, a Senior Education Officer, shared that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the debate competition in Guyana which is held annually to celebrate the “oratorical expertise of the late JOF Haynes, who in his day, was identified as the most brilliant and eminent lawyer of his generation.

Born in 1912 in New Amsterdam, Haynes successfully wrote the Pupil Teachers’ Examination at the age of 14.

At age 20, he obtained a firstclass Teachers’ Certificate and also passed the London Matriculation Examination.

He was appointed a Teacher of the Scots School in New Amsterdam, and later the Head Master of Mara Primary in the

Berbice River.

By correspondence, Haynes through London University read for the Bachelor of Arts and the LLB degrees. After his successes, he resigned his position in the Education Ministry to pursue what was to be, his life long career in law.

He became known as the most complete lawyer of this generation, the most universal in scope. He was also regarded as a complete master of the mechanics of presentation, and Speedboat operators underwent customer service training

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Otto Harris

one of his greatest assets was his ability to elucidate synthesise the most perplexing proposition and to unravel multilateral issues.

Haynes started the intersecondary school debating competition 25 years ago and the Education Ministry, shares that they continue to use him as a patron for the yearly event, as they are proud to be associated with someone of such impeccable calibre.

peedboat operators who ply the Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown route recently underwent a customer service training session, which was facilitated by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

The 40 speedboat captains and bowmen were drawn from the Demerara River Speedboat Association and attended the session, which was held at the West Demerara Secondary School on September 20.

The three-hour session was conducted by GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh who briefed the operators on effective communication techniques, characteristics of good service, safety measures and the role of delivering good customer service and expectations. After the training, the operators were given a pop quiz and won prizes for answering correctly several of the questions. Prizes included tours around the country.

Meanwhile, the GTA Director commended the operators for having a good safety record on the route where more than 8000 persons com-

mute via water taxis on a daily basis.

Customer service training has been offered by the GTA for a number of years – a recommendation which was made by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).

According to a release from the Authority, it will continue to conduct training for service providers who interface with members of the public on a daily basis to ensure that they are knowledgeable of what good customer service entails which would aid in the delivery of quality service.

Therefore, the GTA will be conducting a similar session in Bartica with boat operators there on September 30.

Also, the GTA will be conducting conversational Dutch language training for Customs and Immigration Officers at the Canawaima Ferry Crossing in the first week of October.

Other training programmes to be conducted for the remainder of the year include city tour guide training, customer service training for hotels in Georgetown and Linden and culinary training for restaurants.

thursday, september 24, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Govt to ‘clamp down’ on delinquent contractors T

he David Granger-led Administration will soon begin clamping down on contractors who appear to be swindling monies out of the Government by requesting extensions on their contracts.

In situations where extensions were previously granted, it was discovered that the additional monies contractors received have taken the costs of the projects sky-high.

This has proven to be too costly, with totals much higher than other bidders would

have put forward during the tendering process.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, while addressing the media at a post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday stated that the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition will be scrutinising all existing contracts for areas of substandard work.

He explained that the Public Infrastructure, Business and Finance Ministries have been appointed to create new guidelines for

Court will consider...

From page 7

Following the session, the AG updated the media on the hearing. He explained that he had contended from the onset that Attorney Nandlall did not contain himself by arguing on the matter of jurisdiction, which was a preliminary point of law. Instead, Williams said, he went on to argue the substantive issue.

“So the Chief Justice said today (Wednesday) since the whole thing is tied up, he will continue to hear the substantive issues and then make one final ruling on the question of jurisdiction and the substantive matter. He is contending that’s the new practice,” the AG detailed.

Nevertheless, Minister Williams reiterated that the claim being made by the PPP/C was “erroneous”.

Meanwhile, Attorney Nandlall remains confident that the court will uphold his position on the matter and rule that the appointment of the Ministers as Technocrat MPs is unconstitutional. “This case is very important because it concerns the unlawful seating of two Members of Parliament – the highest lawmaking decision institution in the land – and if the highest law making institution is violating the law and is violating the Constitution, then that is a sufficiently serious matter to be heard and determine as

early as possible,” he posited.

Nandlall further outlined that he was ready to proceed with the next stage of the matter, which was to relay arguments. However, he noted that the AG seemed to be unprepared and was “deliberately” delaying the case.

“I tried to persuade the Judge for an early date but Mr Williams is stalling as usual and he is not prepared to have the case heard and determined early. I am prepared to continue my case as early as Friday but he has raised objections and has asked for October 14,” the PPP/C Attorney stated.

When the case resumes on that day, the parties will present their arguments on the challenge against the Ministers’ appointments.

In the legal proceedings filed, the PPP/C is claiming that Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix and Minister within the Ministry of Communities Keith Scott are illegally present in the National Assembly, since they are technocrats. The motion states, “Winston Gordon Felix and Keith Winston Harold Scott are not lawful members of and cannot sit in the National Assembly of the 11th Parliament of Guyana.” (smarshall@guyanatimesgy.com)

Kato Secondary School

all contractors. These guidelines will notify contractors of the penalties which they would face should they breach any contract awarded to them

by Government.

Guyana Times was told that in order to ensure that Guyana receives value for its money, an inspectorate division will be established by the Public Infrastructure Ministry. The aim of this di-

vision is to inspect all projects which are being funded by the Administration.

According to Minister Harmon, Cabinet has some “very firm words to say” in relation to the manner in which contracts were being executed under the previous Government, specifically making reference to instances where contracts were being repeatedly extended beyond

the sum that was catered for in the awarding of the contract.

He said that it is the Cabinet’s view that some of these contracts were “deliberately under-bid.”

“People were bidding low and knowing fully well that they were going to come later on for variations so that in a process like that, tenderers who could have done the work, they were actually cheated out of the contracts…

Some persons deliberately bid low… The contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder, knowing fully well that they will come back for variations which eventually took the contract sum beyond what was the engineer’s estimate,” he told the media.

Guyana Times was further told that one such situation is that of the Kato Secondary School. “This is a primary school that started at about $500 million and it is almost at $1 billion now and it’s still not finished… The company

that is supervising the work of that contract, they’ve actually now come back to Cabinet to ask for an extension… This will cost another $4.2 million on the construction services that are being provided,” the Minister of State said.

He further explained that Cabinet has instructed Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to have a meeting with the contracting service in order to have some “very firm words” with them to the effect that Government will no longer tolerate any further extensions.

“It’s basically becoming a travesty, the way in which these matters are dealt with…

What you’re finding here now is that you probably have a consultancy service that is approving extensions after extensions on the original contract… They themselves have now come to Cabinet to ask for an extension of their own contract.” (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

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thursday, september 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Australian High Commissioner offers expertise on border security – during meeting with Public Security Minister

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n light of the recent move by neighbouring Venezuela to increase its military presence at its border with Guyana, newly appointed Australian High Commissioner Ross Tysoe has offered to provide the Government of Guyana with expert information on border security matters.

This proposal was put forward during a courtesy call on Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan at his Brickdam, Georgetown office on Wednesday morning.

The meeting was held to discuss various security related issues. The Vice President and the Australian High

Commissioner also engaged in discussion on areas where assistance was needed by Guyana and possible solutions which could be utilised.

The Public Security Minister expressed his appreciation to High Commissioner Tysoe for his visit and the parties agreed to maintain communication with the prospect of collaboration in the future.

The Public Security Ministry said it would continue to work together with international partners to seek areas of collaboration that would enhance the effectiveness of the security sector in Guyana and

maintain the safety and security of the country’s citizenry.

That meeting was the first of a three-day round of interactions High Commissioner Tysoe will have with Government officials. Later on Wednesday, he met with Minister of Governance, with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, at his office on Brickdam.

Tysoe is a Senior Career Officer at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Based in Trinidad and Tobago, he is also Australia’s High Commissioner to Caricom

as well as the non-resident envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas,

Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and

Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.

Police get copies of “Rights of Arrested Persons”

Guyana Bar Association President Christopher Ram handing over a copy of the “Rights of Arrested Persons” to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud in the presence of other senior officials

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he Guyana Police Force on Wednesday received copies of the “Rights of Arrested Persons” to guide them in the execution of their duties.

The documents were handed over by Guyana Bar President Christopher Ram to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, at the Commissioner’s Conference Room, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary. Also present at the simple handing-over ceremony were senior officers of the Police Force, including Assistant Police Commissioner (Operations) David Ramnarine and

Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Wendell Blanhum.

In brief remarks before handing over the documents, Ram stated that the Bar Association was committed to the improvement of general conditions in Guyana such as ensuring that justice was better served. He noted that the Association recognised the tremendous work being done by the Guyana Police Force and stood available for any necessary assistance.

After receiving the documents, Police Chief Persaud remarked that this step was

taken as a result of an earlier positive engagement with the Bar Association. He went on to express his gratitude for the delivery of the “Rights of Arrested Persons” documents in a timely manner.

The Police Commissioner further indicated that the laminated documents would be placed at conspicuous locations in the Enquiries Office at Police Stations for the information of the public, and would also serve as a reminder to Police ranks.

Persaud noted that this would greatly assist in improving the quality of service delivered to the public.

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thursday, september 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Ultrasound misinterpreted ...no second baby – Doctor

But the management of the Hospital is maintaining that only one child was conceived by the patient and that she never carried twins, claiming that there was a misunderstanding with respect to the interpretation of the ultrasound.

When contacted for a detailed explanation, Dr Anamayah stated that such cases are “normal” in the medical field, though he assured that nothing of this nature ever occurred at his Hospital.

Dr Anamayah said the situation is called a “mirror artifact” where the ultrasound shows a highly reflective image cre-

Omawattie Samaroo and her newborn baby

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espite 37-year-old Omawattie Samaroo’s insistence that she gave birth to twins, the Anamayah Memorial Hospital in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and its owner, Dr Ryan Anamayah, is strongly denying the mother was pregnant with, and delivered twins, though it is alleged that that was the initial expectation of the entire hospital staff.

Alarming media reports recently surfaced exposing the plight of a desperate mother seeking answers as to why she delivered a single baby when her medical records proved she was pregnant with twins.

The mother even insisted that the doctors continuously congratulated her about her twin pregnancy.

Misunderstanding

Medical records confirming that Mrs Samaroo was pregnant with twins

ating the illusion of a “ghost” twin. According to the doctor, the first ultrasound which was done on May 25, showed that the patient was carrying a single foetus. However, the

doctor claimed that the next two ultrasounds; conducted in August and in September – less than a week before delivery – showed the patient pregnant with twins. This being

the case, Dr Anamayah said the first ultrasound was definitive while the interpretation of the other two was a mistake and oversight on their part. turn to page 14

14 news

thursday, september 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Junior Communities Ultrasound...

Minister “unavailable” – Citizens storm Ministry, protest high handedness on house lots

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ecurity personnel at the Ministry of Communities, formerly known as the Housing Ministry, on Brickdam, Georgetown were unable to keep a growing crowd outside the gates at bay, as those gathered attempted, out of frustration, to meet with the Minister within the Ministry of Communities Keith Scott.

Persons have complained that they have been seeking an audience with the Minister, but have not been able to do so. The Minister had set aside every Wednesday of each week to meet with the public, to hear from them on matters relating to housing.

However, on Wednesday, the Minister was unable to meet with a crowd of almost 70 persons who stood outside the gates of the Ministry.

One woman, who wished not to be named, told Guyana Times that she had applied to the Ministry from as far back as 2002, and has up until now been unable to hear from the Ministry on the progress of her application. Another explained that she is being given the royal runaround because she wanted to make a shift from paying for a turnkey home.

Speaking with this publication, Minister Scott’s Personal Assistant Remington

The small crowd outside the Ministry of Communities on Wednesday

Nelson said the Minister fully understands the issues, but is seeking to address the backlog of cases he has before him.

“There is a backlog of persons waiting to see him. That was due to him having to go to Parliament and other ministerial duties”, Nelson told this newspaper. He explained that during the Minister’s meeting last week, he saw at least 58 persons. On Wednesday, he explained that the list before the Minister had reached some 65 persons and there was a possibility of it going up to 73.

“With that said, there are a number of persons when they were told that the list was full, became irate”, he said, explaining the situation of frustrated persons outside. Nelson

stated it was very unfortunate that persons had to be locked outside of the Ministry, further adding that it is a normal practice for the Minister to meet with persons who have issues to clarify.

“The frustration is there, there are persons who applied since 2000 for house lots and [the] Minister is aware of this... He has set himself to address that as quickly as he can,” Scott related to Guyana Times.

On Wednesday, those gathered outside of the Ministry were asked to write down their names and phone numbers so that they could be contacted. There was also another crowd sitting awaiting their turn to voice their concerns with the Minister.

“Even though you can have an ultrasound showing twins, it is not possible for you to move from one at 20 weeks and subsequently have it double at 30 weeks… the accuracy is higher in the first and second trimester but the level of accuracy decreases in the other trimester,” he stated, noting that the Hospital staff blundered when they based their expectations on the results of the last two ultrasounds.

He said even though he was aware that it is highly impossible to detect a single foetus at 20 weeks but then detect twins 10 days later, the doctors still went ahead, expecting to deliver twins.

Dr Anamayah then explained on the day of delivery, September 12, only one child was born. “They delivered one single foetus with a cord around her neck… the baby was blue,” he related, noting that the doctors then had to “resuscitate” the child. He added that the Radiologist was summoned to explain why one baby was delivered when the ultrasound showed twins.

“We didn’t know at the time (that it was a condition of mirror artifact)… if our doctor is saying it is twins, we have to go with what he is saying,” Dr Anamayah related.

Therefore, the doctor insisted that “no baby was stolen” and “no baby died”.

Dr Anamayah was emphatic that that the family was provided with a detailed explanation as to why the patient delivered one child instead of twins.

from page 13

Mother’s side of the story

However, the distraught mother is insisting that she was carrying twins and strongly believes the hospital “killed” her baby and that they were trying to cover it up.

“The last ultrasound I did showed all two babies and Dr Anamayah himself read it out to we... he told us in kilo how much they got [weighed] and so my mother told he that she nah understand like that, let he read it out in pound.

So Dr Anamayah read it out and said one baby get 5 1/2 lb and one baby get 5 3/4 lb. He tell me that the baby them ready,” the mother related, noting that being pregnant with twins is hereditary in her family.

Then on the day of the operation, the mother said Dr Anamayah continued to tell her that she was having twins.

“They did not do back an ultrasound to see how the baby them deh, nothing. Anyways, Monday when me did the ultrasound, they explained to me that one baby deh down at the bottom. So they say we could make one normal just so but one deh crossway. Them explain that it don’t make sense that I get one just so and then do the caesarean for the next one.

So they did the caesarean for all two,” she explained.

The mother, upon waking up, said she saw two nurses, fetching away two sets of clothing, presumably for the two babies she delivered. However, she

was only presented with one baby.

“So me husband came and I ask him what happened there, and he said he aint know, that they read the ultrasound wrong but I tell him no because I know what I was feeling… for nine months me fetch them two so me know what me been ah feel,” the mother insisted.

The emotionally distraught mother said she is still seeking answers and is actually considering pursuing legal actions to get some form of justice.

“This baby that me got here, she nah sleep at night. If you hear how she ah cry for this next baby…,” the mother related.

Hospital track record credibility

Meanwhile, Dr Anamayah said his Hospital only ever delivered twins once before, adding that there was never any misinterpretation of ultrasounds before.

Moreover, he said he is extremely concerned about the image of the Hospital.

“The credibility is in jeopardy,” he conceded; however, Dr Anamayah said he is confident that one baby was delivered. He noted too that the Hospital will provide its full cooperation with the Health Ministry whenever it intends to launch a probe.

Health Minister, Dr George Norton assured that a thorough investigation will soon be conducted into the matter. (devinas@guyanatimesgy. com)

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thursday, September 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Child advocacy centre Miss Guyana makes grand entrance at Miss Global International opens in Region 5

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new Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) has been opened in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), making it the third such facility in Guyana and the only ones in the English-speaking Caribbean – the next closest one being in Puerto Rico.

In Guyana, where a high percentage of the population is below the age of 18 and the highest reported cases of child sexual abuse originate in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (DemeraraMahiaca) and Five (MahaicaBerbice), Wednesday’s opening of the new centre at Fort Wellington is a welcomes gesture and adds to the centres at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara and Georgetown.

The Fort Wellington centre which was declared open

by Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence will provide services for children who have been sexually abused.

It will offer services for the family and caregivers of those children, and see that they are educated in areas of parenting skills.

The CAC will operate under the Social Protection Ministry’s National Child Care Programme, with oversight from the Child Protection Agency, so as to ensure that it provides a safe, child-friendly space where a trained forensic in-

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence speaking at the opening of the Child Advocacy Centre at Fort Wellington

terviewer speaks with children who have been sexually abused.

The establishment of the Fort Wellington centre is a collaborative effort of ChildLink Inc, the Ministry of Social Protection and the European Union Delegation.

Speaking at the opening of the Centre on Wednesday, Minister Lawrence noted that it signalled a decentralisation of critical agencies.

Safe haven

Minister Lawrence stated that the Centre will provide a specialised environment and experts to conduct forensic interviews with young victims who should really never have to endure the

Berbice water taxi service extended indefinitely – Govt ...bus service adversely affected

A

mid continuous protests by Berbice minibus operators, Government on Wednesday announced that given the success had so far, there would be an extension to the river taxi service operation between the East and West Coasts of Berbice.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon applauded the work of the operators, noting that Government has been receiving positive reviews of the service.

With these reviews, Harmon said Government would be moving to have the service extended beyond the one-month trial run.

He maintained that the operation of the river taxis, which began on Monday, is aimed at assisting the elderly and schoolchildren who have for years been burdened by the high cost to cross the Berbice River Bridge.

Currently, Harmon reported boats were making at least 16 trips per day, beginning work from 06:00h.

The move to reintroduce water taxis to cross the Berbice River was made after Government was unsuccessful in getting the Berbice Bridge Company

Inc (BBCI) to reduce the toll to cross the Berbice River Bridge by $300.

The reintroduction of the boat service across the Berbice River has also seen hire car operators on the New Amsterdam side of the river re-establishing a service from the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling, which is considered a lucrative route to operate. Hire car operators around New Amsterdam charge $100 per drop, but those operating from the Stelling charge $140.

Some had anticipated that the reintroduction of the boat service would bring to a standstill minibus operations along the Number 56 route (New AmsterdamRosignol). That was not evident on Monday at New Amsterdam, where business had slowed down by approximately 30 per cent.

The drivers have expressed concern over this, saying that all of the 49 buses that are registered to operate along that route cannot work each day since the association took a decision to allow operators to work only five days per week to enable all of the drivers to make a day’s pay when they work.

pain of such heinous crimes.

She questioned why such a centre was not set up before and challenged the partners to take the service to other regions.

The Minister said Government cannot address social issues by itself and must partner to address the issues which plague children. “We recognise that the Government alone cannot protect our children, we acknowledge the role of the family, community, civil society, Non Governmental Organisations and international agencies in ensuring that our children are safe and happy.”

Lawrence added that children’s rights should be enjoyed by every child and should be protected by every adult. “We have numerous laws and have signed international instruments and obligations such as the Rights of the Child Convention but still many children are being sexually violated daily.”

G

uyana’s representative to the Miss Global International Pageant , Alicia Bess has arrived in Trinidad and Tobago ahead of the grand coronation set for Friday evening.

Bess was the last contestant to arrive in the twin-island republic joining 21 other delegates from around the world to compete for the international title. Without a doubt, she made a grand entrance causing heads to turn and buzz all over.

Upon her arrival at the Metro Hotel in Couva, Trinidad with her directors Hashim Alli and Melissa Pertab, the six-foot beauty said she was ready to compete.

She told Guyana Times that this was another pageant which gave her the opportunity to showcase Guyana and its diverse cultures.

Bess also stated that

Miss Guyana Alicia Bess upon arrival at the Metro Hotel on Wednesday

win or lose, the pageant would be used to build everlasting relationships. She disclosed that she would be representing Guyana to the fullest with the hope of outshining the other delegates.

She also intends to have fun with the other delegates while keeping her eyes on the prize.

However, with just a few days to go before coronation night, the delegates have already been judged in their swimsuits.

The delegates, this evening (will be participating in the talent segment at Carnival City, San Fernando.

Each delegate will have three minutes to perform their talent piece.

On Friday morning, the delegates will be interviewed by a panel of judges as part of the intelligence segment. The crowning will be done at the Couva Convention Centre before a packed audience.

16 News

thursday, september 24, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Investigations into fake SoPs

Dr Surujbally’s comments bordering on insanity – Nandlall

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he drama continues between the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the former Administration over the fake Statements of Poll (SOPs) which were discovered during the recent Regional and General Elections held on May 11.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, on his Facebook page, has come down hard on GECOM’s Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally for his recent comments to the press, stating that it was impossible to prove who introduced the fake SoPS. According to Nandlall, such a position adopted by Dr Surujbally is ‘very bizarre’ since the Chairman has publicly stated that he could not fathom why an investigation should commence when the culprits would not be identified.

“Really? Should that not

be the very reason for an investigation to be launched ?

And how did the Chairman know that it’s impossible to prove who introduced the fake Statements of Polls without an investigation?” questioned Nandlall.

The PPP/C Member of Parliament further questioned if that conclusion which Dr Surujbally arrived at was “simply capriciously arrived at” by guesswork.

“GECOM is a public authority funded by public funds and entrusted with the fundamental responsibility of administering and supervising general and regional elections in Guyana . Forged documents have penetrated the system and may have affected the integrity of the entire electoral process and the results of those elections…

Its Chairman is refusing to hold an investigation on the

basis that he does not know how that breach occurred and who is culpable?”

Guyana Times understands that Nandlall is of the view that this is “absolutely unacceptable” and borders on insanity.

Dr Surujbally recently told the media that following the discovery of the fake SoPs, there would now be stricter scrutiny measures in relation to the number of persons having access to the command centre where ballots are submitted during future elections.

With regard to the investigation into the fake SoPs, he stated that there was simply ‘no proof’ and that circumstantial evidence still remained.

However, he contends that circumstantial evidence cannot be used in a court of law. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Gunmen hit Budget Supermarket

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wo gunmen stormed the Budget Supermarket, Sheriff Street, Georgetown on Wednesday evening, robbing the store and the customers of an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables.

The incident occurred around 20:00h.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, traumatised customers were being questioned by Police Officers who responded promptly to the emergency call.

According to information received, the perpetra-

tors posed as regular shoppers and entered the supermarket.

Eventually, they pulled out their guns and demanded that everyone lay low on the floor.

During the ordeal, Buddy’s Night Club was packed with partygoers, completely oblivious to the robbery taking place next door. One of the customers told this newspaper that he was robbed of his gold chain and cash.

“I was there at the register buying milk and some juice and they just snatch my chain and took my money,” the father related, still completely in shock.

A woman and her son were also seen in tears outside the supermarket as they waited on a taxi to take them home.

This publication understands that the store owner was reluctant to hand over the surveillance footage of the entire ordeal.

According to the store’s security guard, the men’s identity could be exposed in the footage as they were not wearing the masks when they entered the supermarket. The store owner also could not at the time disclose how much money was stolen.

Message of Eid-ul-Adha is example – Govt

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n the occasion of Eidul-Adha, we are reminded of the value of sacrifice and obedience to God. The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana recognises the importance of this sacrifice which symbolises selflessness and faith and wishes our Muslim brothers and sisters Eid Mubarak.

Eid-ul-Adha is a time when Muslims reflect on the values of self-denial by making a sacrifice in honour of God Almighty. Prophet Abraham’s great act of submission is thus regarded as an example of genuine sur-

render to the will of God. In today’s society brotherhood of humanity can advance further if there is a greater appreciation of the need to incorporate the lessons of this great sacrifice into our daily lives.

The Government would like to thank the Muslim community for all their contributions and charitable work towards the betterment of Guyana and looks forward for their continued leadership in this regard.

This is also an appropriate occasion for us to reaffirm the call for national unity among our people. We are a people of diverse origins but a com-

mon destiny and it is imperative that we cooperate for the purposes of national advancement.

We face challenges of living in a globalised world and unjust threats to our national sovereignty and we need each other to overcome these challenges. The onus is on us as a nation to work hand in hand with people who have faith in the essential goodness of humankind.

The message of Eid-ulAdha is an example of the discipline and commitment needed, if we are to build Guyana into a nation which affords a good life for all Guyanese.

Be beacons of sacrifice – GAWU

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ven as mankind is caught up in continuous lifelong efforts to achieve personal and international peace; to acquire material and economic well-being based on education, good health and security, the peoples of the world realised that spiritual understanding and the solace it brings, can contribute to the bedrock for all peace and progress – mankind’s very survival.

World religions provide guidance through their proph-

ets and holy literature. Islam is unquestionably now a worldwide faith guiding the destiny of millions.

Against those reflections, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is again pleased to share in the Eid-ul-Adha joy of our Islamic community as it observes the feast and festival of the sacrifice.

The willingness of Ibrahim to obey God’s (Allah’s) command to sacrifice his dearest “possession” – his only son –

must be a spiritual inspiration to all Muslims in terms of both obedience to their God and submission to a highest form of sacrifice – a pillar of the Islamic faith.

GAWU enjoins Guyana’s Muslims to be beacons of sacrifice and services in all areas of national life. Festivals such as this particular Eid can inspire all of us to higher selfless service.

A happy Eid-ul-Adha to the Muslim community from GAWU.

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news

thursday, september 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

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o d

Almighty had appointed rites of sacrifice for every nation “And to every people We appointed rites of sacrifice, that they might mention the name of Allah over the quadrupeds of the class of cattle that He has provided for them. So your God is One God; therefore submit ye all to Him. And give thou glad tidings to the humble, (Surah-AlHajj Ch. 22:34/35) Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) was also commanded by Allah in following words: “So pray to thy Lord, and offer sacrifice”. (Surah-AlKausar Ch. 108:2/3)

How must the meat of sacrificial animals be consumed?

“And among the sacred Signs of Allah We have appointed for you the sacrificial camels. In them there is much good for you. So mention the name of Allah over them as they stand tied up in lines.

And when they fall down dead on their sides, eat thereof and feed him who is needy but contented and him who supplicates. Thus have we subjected them to you, that you may

(Festival of Sacrifices) be thankful. (SurahAl-Hajj Ch. 22:36/37) The Holy Quran briefly describes the significance of animal sacrifice: Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him.

who is most righteous among you. (49:40)

Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the 10th of the month of Zul-Haj.

All Muslims – men, women, and children – join in the congregational two Raka’at Prayer held in the open outside a village or town, if possible. Early in the morning,

Abraham’s preparedness to sacrifice Ishmael was perpetuated in the Islamic institution of “sacrifice” which forms an integral part of the ceremonies of Hajj. On the 10th day of Dhu’lHijjah (the 10th day of the Islamic month Zul Ha), goats and rams are slaughtered in hundreds of thousands in Mecca and all over the Muslim world in commemoration.

(22:38) Allah accepted the devotion and obedience of Ibrahim and Ishmael and directed that a lamb be sacrificed instead.

The act of sacrifice is symbolic reminding the person who offers it that as the animal is inferior to him so he, also, is inferior to God and should, therefore, be ready to sacrifice himself and all his interests and inclinations for the sake of God. The attainment of righteousness should be the goal of every Muslim.

The Holy Quran states: Verily the most honourable among you in the sight of Allah is the one

after taking a bath, Muslims put on their best clothes.

Children especially wear new garments. Perfume is worn by men and women alike. Special dishes are prepared on Eid days in Muslim homes.

As was the practice of the Holy Prophet ( peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Muslims generally go to the Eid-gah by one route and return by another route.

The time for Eid Prayer is before noon. Like Friday Prayer, Eid Prayer is always offered in congregation. No Athan or Iqama is called for Eid Prayers.

After the Eid Prayer, the Imam delivers a two-part ser-

mon. After the two Rak’at Eidul-Adha Prayer, the Imam and the congregation recite the following words of glorification of God in an audible voice: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilahaillallahuwallhuakbarAllahu Akbar, walillahilhamd.

Allah is the Greatest; Allah is the Greatest. There is none worthy of worship except Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and all

Praise belongs to Him. Similarly, from the time of Fajr Prayer on the 9th Dhul Haj till the ‘Asr time of the 13th of DhulHaj, loud recitations of the above verses are made after each congregational Fardh Prayer service.

Eid-ul-Adha also marks the completion of the pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims. It is an occasion on which Muslims everywhere are encouraged to make every kind of sacrifice for the spiritual, moral,

social, and economic uplift of mankind and especially their own. If they make it a common cause and strive to manifest in themselves the attributes of God in accordance with the teachings and guidance of the Holy Quran and teachings of the Holy Prophet then, indeed, the message of Eid-ulAdha would have borne fruit.

EID MUBARAK! Ahsanullah Mangat Mubligh-in-Charge Guyana

Some two million pilgrims packed should-to-shoulder for an emotional day of repentance and supplication. Many wept as they raised their hands toward the sky, asking for forgiveness and praying for loved ones

18 news

thursday, september 24, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Rice crisis...

“Palms old people” running rice industry – Agriculture Minister “incompetent”, “mis-fit” – Dr Doerga

By Kristen Macklingam

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ice farmers and millers throughout the country are far from pleased with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s ‘lack of actions’ as it relates to their present woes, revolving around low paddy prices.

To date, the Administration is yet to give a satisfactory response to those affected as the plight continues to blight Guyana’s rice industry. Co-Chairman of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Action Committee, Dr Turhane Doerga, in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times recently stated that the only plausible reason for this is because the hierarchy in the agriculture sector is ill-informed about the crisis rice farmers and millers are cur-

rently facing.

In fact, Dr Doerga is of the opinion that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder does not understand his function as the head of his sector and is “out of touch” with the reality of the crippling rice industry.

“The Minister continues to demonstrate that he is indeed a mis-fit, that he doesn’t know anything about the rice industry and it is clear that he has no interest in rice farmers. His function to protect the people of Guyana including the rice farmers, he has clearly misunderstood his role. As it relates to the Rice Board, Holder went to the Palms and bring out all them old people and put them there to run the industry,” the RPA Co-Chairman stated.

According to Dr Doerga, with regards to Minister Holder declaring that the Guyana Rice Development

Turhane Doerga of the Rice Producers Association Action Committee

Board (GRDB) is not mandated to secure markets for the country’s rice farmers and rice millers, this is ‘unacceptable.’

“Now he is saying the millers have to find their

own markets but what he has to understand is that when he brought these Palms old people out, he put them in positions in the rice industry and they don’t have a clue about this at all.

So this is the result we have and there is going to be turmoil… you cannot treat the people who are driving the economy of this country, the way they are treating the rice farmers,” he posited.

Dr Doerga told Guyana Times that the GRDB is supposed to assist the rice millers in securing markets for the produce even though rice millers are free to find their own markets.

GRDB authorisation needed

However, should millers locate markets off of their own; they still cannot proceed with their documentation without the authorisation of the GRDB. “We cannot sign any con-

tract without the GRDB authorising it because they are in charge. Anything such as international contracts between millers and other countries have to first be signed by the GRDB before we can sign it. I wonder if Minister Holder ever read the GRBD Act because it is either he is senile or he didn’t read it,” the RPA Action Committee member emphasised.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Essequibo Farmers Association, and AFC organiser Naithram, who was appointed to the GRDB board also told this newspaper that while the main responsibility of securing markets for rice falls on the shoulders of the millers, there should be Government interventions.

“Yes it is the job of the miller, it a private entity, but it is the responsibility of the Government to assist… they have Foreign Affairs Minister overseas who can participate and tie up arrangements of the millers and the Government… The whole idea is that you have to seek markets on your own but the Government can assist and link you up with that country,” he explained.

According to Naithram, the GRDB is to ensure that the specifications required by particular countries for shipping rice is met by the millers and the rice board is mandated as to pay keen attention to the quality of rice being exported.

However, regardless of the roles which the GRDB has or does not have, Naithram emphasised that if the Government through the GRDB wants to intervene and/or assist then it can.

“Rice in general, not just Essequibo, is in a critical situation right now… in Essequibo the price offered by millers here is from $1600 to $2000 which is far below cost of production.

To produce a bag of paddy, the cost ranges from $2500 to $2700 and it depends on location, so realistically the breakeven to make a profit is for a bag to be at least $3000 which we were anticipating but sadly this didn’t come through,” Naithram lamented.

As such, he said that the millers would have to seek help from Government through the GRDB. A number of farmers in Region Two are beyond frustration because they cannot afford to plant or harvest the next crop.

“There will be protesting with regards to rice prices being offered by millers because the prices are unacceptable. Based on the present prices farmers cannot afford to go back and plant next crop and those who leased lands for this purpose will have to leave the lands because they cannot afford to continue with these low prices. In fact, because of the non-payment to farmers and low prices, business in Essequibo has slowed down drastically and since the last crop when farmers cut their rice, they haven’t been paid as yet and it is over $400 million sold for last crop,” the man also explained.

Guyana Times was further told that the situation in Essequibo is “very critical at this juncture” and a number of farmers have many financial problems due to the present rice crisis. Some of them are unsure as to how they will be able to provide for their children and families should the low prices continue to be offered for their produce.

Many are awaiting the next move by the APNU/ AFC Government since prior to the May General and Regional Election, the coalition was on the campaign trail promising ‘a good life’ for all, inclusive of rice farmers and millers. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

UK Prime Minister to visit Jamaica next week

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he Jamaican Government is currently making plans for the official visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron next week. As part of his visit, Cameron is expected to make a presentation to a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament at Gordon House on Wednesday.

Government officials are tight-lipped about the visit of the British Prime Minister, but a well-placed Government source told The Gleaner that final plans are being put in place to host the UK leader.

Cameron’s Conservative party romped to victory in the May national polls in the United Kingdom.

It is believed that while in the island, the British Prime Minister will revisit the issue of seeking to get Jamaicans incarcerated in Britain to serve their sentences in Jamaica.

The Daily Mail reported in 2014 that the Justice Ministry in the United Kingdom had made repeated attempts at trying to persuade successive Jamaican Governments to allow more than 700 prisoners at the time to be returned to the island to serve sentences for crimes committed in the UK. Taxpayers in Britain have had to dole out approximately £27 million annually to look after Jamaicans jailed in that country. (Excerpt from Jamaica Gleaner)

thursday, september 24, 2015

19

Youth teams unveil Drakes wants Rose Hall anniversary standardised coaching in Caribbean brochure, billboard W

est Indies Academy Bowling Coach, Vasbert Drakes wants to have standardised coaching throughout the Caribbean.

The former West Indies fast bowler believes standardised coaching will allow players in each territory to be at a certain standard at various junctures throughout their development. Drakes was in Trinidad with West Indies Academy Director, Graeme West to assess the Trinidad and Tobago players short listed for the West Indies Under-19 team.

“Basically we were looking to see where they were at with their game. They just came out of a domestic tournament where we identified these players as future West Indies cricketers and one of the things we said when we left home is to have standardised coaches in the Caribbean who operate with one basic genetic setup,” said Drakes.

He continued, “The importance of having that is it gives us a better opportunity to understand where we are at as coaches so when we prescribe certain medicine for players at least everyone will be aware of what we are trying to achieve from a holistic point of view.”

He was adamant that a standard coaching protocol throughout the Caribbean would make it easier to evaluate players select-

Vasbert Drakes

ed for West Indies Under-19 duty from the different islands.

“It gives us the opportunity to see how far they have progressed. When we assessed them from four weeks ago we would have assessed some in the Easter camp and some did not meet the requirements the selectors wanted to see. So come December there will be another assessment before we go on to Bangladesh.

So it is a matter of keep things up to speed in terms of the global practices that is required to play at the highest level and the work they need to put in before they enter the competition. That is one of the areas that probably we were a little bit slow on,” said Drakes. (windiescricket)

RHTY&SC cricket teams... from page 20

Among the residents featured at the exhibition were the late Clarence Hughes SC, Test cricketer Assad Fudadin, cricketer Andre Percival, youth leader Alex Foster, businessman Imran Hamid, Director of Protocol Vic Persaud and Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine.

The Medical Outreach programme was also coordinated by the cricket teams of the club.

Dozens of residents visited the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School on Sunday last to be treated for a wide range of illnesses and received supplies of the necessary medicine. The New Amsterdam Hospital also used the opportunity to host a blood drive.

A large crowd of residents also turned out at the Arch Square on Sunday evening to be part of the evening of music organised by the cricketers. They were richly entertained by the Guyana Defence Force’s Musical Band under the command of Major Burns for over three hours.

Foster praised the cricketers

and club’s execution for working beyond the call of duty to make sure that the three events were properly coordinated and executed during a 24-hour period.

He also expressed gratitude to several donors who contributed to the success of the events, especially Republic Bank, Scotiabank, Bobby’s Boutique, Imran and Son and Guyana Beverage Company among others.

The main aims of the RHTY&SC cricketers personal development programme are to make sure that all members fully understand their roles as sport ambassadors, to develop skills to properly represent themselves and club, and to make a special difference in the lives of others, less fortunate than them.

West Indies female player and Metro captain Shemaine Campbelle stated that the teams are proud to be associated with the township of the Rose Hall, and the three programme were dedicated to residents as a thank you gesture for their support over the years.

One side of the billboard is dedicated to the Independence Arch and the Rose Hall Primary School

West Indies cricketers from the village are featured on one side of the billboard

he management and members of the Rose Hall Town Pepsi Under-19 and the Intermediate cricket and Bakewell Under-17 cricket teams over the last weekend unveiled a full-colour information brochure and a ‘6x4’ billboard to mark the township of Rose Hall’s 45th anniversary and the club’s Silver Jubilee.

The Pepsi Under-19 and Bakewell Under-17 in collaboration with their fellow RHTY&SC cricket teams have been undertaking numerous activities to make the two anniversaries, and on Saturday last placed dozens of the billboard, with one side proudly hailing the anniversary of the

Hall village, history of Rose Hall town, Mayors and Town Clerks of the town from 1970 to 2015, profile of Vic Persaud Director of Protocol, important telephone numbers in the township, and outstanding residents of the township. The brochure also features photos of Test batsman Fudadin, the Independence Arch, Demerara Bank and Republic Bank.

Foster hailed the Under-19 and Pepsi Bakewell Under-17 teams, which include players like Brandon Prashad, Kevlon Anderson, Plaffina Millington, Junior Sinclair, Brandon Clerlette, Denzil Sinclair, Jason Anderson and Azam

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township and the other, the 25th anniversary of the RHTY&SC. The five RHTY&SC members who represented the West Indies at the different level - Assad Fudadin (Test, ‘A’ team, Under-19, Under-15), Royston Crandon (ODI), Esuan Crandon (Sixes), Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings (Female) are featured on one side of the billboard, while the Independence Arch and the Rose Hall Town Primary School are featured on the other, under the theme “Unity In Strength.”

The brochure features a message from RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, profile of Rose

Khan for their hard work off the cricket field and for completing dozens of projects to make a positive difference in the lives of their peers.

National Under-15 player Kevlon Anderson stated that the cricket teams are extremely proud to be associated with the RHTY&SC, as they are not only taught how to play cricket, but also to develop skills of management, public relations and the ability to make a positive difference in the lives of those who need assistance.

The cricketers funded the cost of the brochure with their own finances, while Bakewell sponsored the anniversary billboard.

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guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, september 24, 2015

TGIF at Everest…

RHTY&SC cricket teams relive Rose T&T take on Everest; Media Boys tackle Laluni Hall’s history through exhibition

Funds raised would go towards the development of cricket at Everest (Marceano Narine photo)

E

verest Cricket Club is continuing its developmental work at the historic venue and has planned a fun day to raise funds. To assist in the venture the Camp Road club will be hosting the Trinidad and Tobago based Central Renegades Sports and Cultural Club from September 24-28.

On Friday there will be two exciting cricket matches beginning at 09:30h. In the opening fixture, the red hot Guyana Media XI will take on newly crowned Amerindian Heritage Sports cricket champions Laluni Sports Club, then the Trinis will play Everest Masters in the feature match of the day from 13:00h.

Added attraction includes music by a live band and an after party from 17:00h. On the Saturday from 14:00h, the T&T boys will come up against the Enterprise Busta Sports Club at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara.

Everest will be using this event to raise funds for their

continued work on cricket development at the club, with emphasis on two indoor batting strips. Below is the composition of the teams for Friday’s games.

Central Renegades Sports & Cultural Club (T&T): Ravi Ramsaran (Captain), Sheldon Sanchez, Narine Bidhesi, Joel Poliah, Junior Poliah, Clifton Rajkumar, Sharaz Mohommed, Christopher Balchan, Anthony Ragoo, Anthony Ramroop, Deodath Pragg, Nelson Roodal, Matthiew Alexander, Anthony Narrie Jr., Vishnu Ramrattan, Rawle Joggie, Ryan Myrah, Vijai Ramkelawan and Vishan Harrilal.

Everest Cricket Club (Masters): Rajesh Singh (Captain), Sahadeo Hardaiow, Shaheed Mohamed, Hemraj Garbarran, Rabindranauth Seeram, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sunil Dyal, Rohan Sarjoo, Rakesh Gangaram, Ronald Jaisingh, Anwar Rahaman, Saeed Khan, Jameel Ali and Daniel

Singh.

Guyana Media XI: John Ramsingh (Captain), Avenash Ramzan, Shahrukh Imran, Ishaka Jackman, Treiston Joseph, Akeem Greene, Kizan Brummel, Clifton Ross, Orlando Charles, Ravi Persaud, Diquan Murray, Rawle Toney, Jermaine Neblett and Merthel Sammy Laluni Sports Club: Julian Mohabir (Captain), Alex Dundas, David Francis, Elroy Henry, Jared Persaud, Troy Domingo, Sunil Sarjoo, Collen Ben, Alvin Williams, Reon Shuman (Manager), Derick Teyjnarine, Romel Kehdu, Ruel Allyen and Glen Campbell.

Enterprise Busta Sports Club: Seemangal Yadram (Captain), Chatterpaul Singh, LatchmanYadram, Jitlall Jowahirlall, Karan Ramdoon, Mankat Balkissoon, Rohan Mangal, Tameshwar Ramkarran, Rajesh Balram, Kaleel Mohamed, Nandalall Seebarran, Roopdeo Narine and Vishnauth Gobin.

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Some residents taking a tour of the booth at Rose Hall

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) and its cricket teams continue in a special way to observe the Club’s Silver Jubilee by hosting several programmes for the residents of Rose Hall Town and surrounding environment.

The club’s cricket teamsRose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-21 and the First Division- organised three major events over the last weekend as part of the club’s Silver Jubilee celebrations and the township of Rose Hall’s 45th anniversa-

ry.

The three events were the hosting of a massive public exhibition on the history and development of the club and township, a free medical outreach programme for the residents in conjunction with the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, and an evening of music featuring the steel pan and musical band of the Guyana Defence Force.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, stated that with the completion of the three projects, the RHTY&SC has successfully completed 185 of its project target of 200 for the Silver Jubilee.

The public exhibition, the first of its kind to be held

in Rose Hall Town, featured trophies and awards won by club and 10 huge banners featuring the history of Rose Hall Town.

There were also a profile of Rose Hall village, Mayors and Town Clerks from 1970 to 2015, names of the 57 slaves who brought the plantation of Rose Hall in 1842, outstanding citizens produced by Rose Hall Town, places of interest in the township, and a pictorial review of the village and township over the period 1940-2015.

The club also launched a brochure on the township, and it was distributed free of cost to the residents who visited the booth. turn to page 19

sports

YELLOW PAGES

“Brawl at the Mall” postponed

thursday, september 24, 2015

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21

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Iwan Azore

By Avenash Ramzan

T

he much-hyped “Brawl at the Mall” boxing card being put on by the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) in partnership with the Giftland Mall has been postponed indefinitely.

That’s the word coming out of the GBBC, whose Match-maker Eion Jardine informed this publication on Wednesday afternoon that the card, which was slated for Saturday evening, has suffered a major setback.

A disappointed Jardine stated that the organisers will host a press briefing on Friday to divulge further details.

However, this newspaper was reliably informed that Iwan Azore, who was slated to face Dexter Gonsalves in the main title fight, has reportedly pulled out with an ankle injury. Azore, who is based in Trinidad and Tobago, is expected to be out of action for two weeks, upon advise of his medical team.

It has left the GBBC in a tricky situation. Are they going to wait on Azore or would they seek another opponent for Gonsalves? That is unclear at the moment.

A usually reliable source close to the organisers pointed out that they are still to confirm whether Azore would be fit and ready in two weeks, while speculation is rife in some quarters that the boxer, who was set to put his national welterweight belt on the line, might be using delaying tactics to avoid a hungry, fit and ready Gonsalves.

This sudden turn of

Eion Jardine

events has no doubt come as a huge disappointment for members of the Giftland Mall team, who were working overtime to get the venue in peak condition for what was sizing up to be a mega evening of professional and amateur boxing.

The organisers had boasted of bringing the “Las Vegas outlook” to local soil.

However, boxing fans, many of whom had already secured their tickets, will have to wait a little longer to enjoy that experience. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Everest beat GNIC by 49 runs

By Akeem Greene

A

ction in the Youth T20 competition, which is in being held to coincide with Coach Garvin Nedd’s birth anniversary, continued at the weekend with Everest Cricket Club (ECC) defeating the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) by 49 runs.

Batting first at the DCC ground, Everest made 112-8 from their allotted overs. The Camp Road side was led by Under-15 batsman Darshan Persaud, who hit with a shotfilled 46. His innings included eight fours and one six.

Support was rendered

by Ushardev Balgobin (27, 4x4s). Bowling for GNIC,

Darshan Persaud

F. Haza took 4-20 from four overs. When the Woolford Avenue side took strike, they were skittled out for 63 in 18.4 overs.

Only Dwayne Dick 14 (1x4, 1x6) offered any resistance. Zacharie Mootoo

4-17 (3.4 overs) and Richie Looknauth 3-5 (four overs) were the chief wicket takers for Everest.

The ECC currently leads Group B with a maximum of six points with two wins.

DCC is in second with three points from one win.

GNIC and MSC are yet to register a win in that group.

In Group A, GYO leads with three points from one win, as GCC, TSC and Bel Air have failed to get off the mark.

Games will continue today at the DCC ground and the semi-finals and final are billed for Sunday and Monday respectively under lights. Trophies and medals are up for grabs. (akeemg@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Jamaica trial called off prematurely due to unfit pitch

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T

A section of the pitch at Sabina Park on Wednesday

he Four-day Jamaica Franchise cricket trial match was called off after only four balls were bowled on Wednesday’s second day at Sabina Park.

The umpires deemed the pitch unfit for play and after consulting the coaching staff the players were asked to leave the field.

A few batsmen suffered

knocks due to the uneven bounce on Tuesday, but the pitch appeared even more dangerous Wednesday morning.

The fourth ball of fast bowler Jason Dawes’ first over bounced steeply from a full length and nearly struck batsman Kemar Marshall as he leaned forward to play.

At that point the um-

pires decided they had seen enough.

At the time, Paul Palmer’s XI were 86-1 in reply to John Campbell’s XI 124 all out.

Shacoya Thomas, who was struck on the helmet twice late on Tuesday, was left unbeaten on 57.

Kemar Marshall, also the victim of a few blows, was not out on three. (Jamaica Observer)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, september 24, 2015

Registration commences for Guyana Open golf tournament – Preparation moving apace, says Ramroop

By Rajiv Bisnauth

R

egistration for the Guyana Open golf tournament is underway, and interested golfer, both local and overseas, can confirm their participation by registering via the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) email address, lusignangolfclub@hotmail.com or can make contact with the LGC on telephone number 2225660.

The two-day tournament, described as one of the most prestigious tournaments on the local golf calendar is billed for October 31 and November 1 at the country’s lone golf course at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

In an invited comment on Wednesday, President of the LGC, Oncar Ramroop, confirmed that registration is moving apace, with a number of golfers already indicating their interest in competing in the two-day event.

Ramroop further pointed out that the club is optimistic that the annual showpiece golf tournament will attract close to 100 golfers from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname, French Guiana and North America.

Regarding plans for the event, Ramroop indicated that most of the logistics are being coordinated at the mo-

Oncar Ramroop

Former LGC President David Mohamed is expected to be among the starters

ment.

Meanwhile, apart from the usual categories: First Flight (0-9 handicap), Second Flight (10-18), Third Flight (19-28) and Ladies Flight, the club has decided for the first time in its history to introduce a Senior Flight.

Like the previous years, the overall champion in the Men’s division will be judged by the player with the Best Gross, while on the distaff side, the winner will come from the person with the Best Net. In 2014, Avinash Persaud was easily the top

golfer, winning the event for a fifth time.

Persaud led from start to finish, relegating his sibling Avinda Kishore, who was the 2013 winner, into second place, after finishing with a superior overall Gross of 144.

Kishore occupied the second spot with an overall Gross of 153, while Rishi Suknanan finished third with an overall Gross of 160.

On the distaff side, Joann Deo created one of the biggest upsets when she defeated Christine Sukhram as the top female golfer. Deo made an array of focussed shots to register a Net of 141 for the big win.

Shanella Webster finished second with Net 146, as 2013 champion Sukhram fell all the way to third with Net 149. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, september 24, 2015

23

GVF partners with Buxton Youth Developers

T

John Flores

he Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) continued its drive to expand the game throughout Guyana as it kept good its promise to make the village of Buxton the next stop.

Speaking at a small presentation ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at the Buxton Youth Developers School, President of GVF, John Flores, said he was excited by the prospect of what can happen as result of this initiative by his federation.

On behalf of the GVF, Flores presented a quantity of

equipment to the East Coast Demerara group.

He pointed out the possibility of the sport developing within the community to the point where the village is able to field senior and junior teams at local competitions.

He also expects that youths especially will benefit from the donation.

Receiving on behalf of the institution was Robin Phillips, who was also visibly elated by the gesture of the GVF to present balls and a net, which will replace and expand the old equipment currently in use by the 94 children at the institution.

Phillips explained that of the six-day school week (Monday to Saturday), Fridays and Saturdays are set aside for sport, and it was clear that the boys and girls ranging from ages six to 18 will begin benefitting from the donation as soon as this Friday.

“The GVF intends to continue its expansion drive, but is yet to announce the next

GFF invites interested persons to serve on GFA, GBFA

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Congress at its June 26 Extraordinary Congress, held at the Marriott Hotel, voted to include two new members under its umbrella- the Guyana Beach Football Association (GBFA) and the Guyana Futsal Association (GFA).

The mandates of the two Associations are outlined in Article 2 of the Statutes of the respective organisations, which is to foster and promote the game of Futsal at all levels, providing opportunities for recreation, representative matches and elite competitions, for players, coaches and other members of the sports community.

Through the Normalisation Committee, the GFF is inviting interested individuals who are desirous of serving on the Executive Committee of these Associations.

Those willing to serve must be 18 years or older with prior involvement in or-

ganised football and much come with no criminal background. Submissions must be received on or before Thursday October 1, 2015.

The elections of the Executive Committees will be conducted on October 23, 2015 in accordance with the Statues of the respective Associations.

Copies of the Constitutions can be uplifted from the GFF General Secretariat at lot 17 Dadanawa Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, Guyana or a request can be sent to email: gff@networksgy.com to receive a digital copy.

ECCB 40-over cricket continues on Sunday

T

he East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) sponsored Elizabeth Styles 40-over competition continues this Sunday with four games.

Enterprise Busta Sports Club ‘B’ will host Golden Grove Cricket Club; Buxton “Carl Hooper” Sports Club will oppose Enterprise Busta Sports Club ‘A’ at Buxton Community Centre; Lusignan Sports Club ‘A’ will play host to Mon Repos Sports Club ‘A’ and Better Hope ‘A’ will play Better Hope ‘B’ at Better Hope Community Centre ground.

The club of the tournament will take home $350,000; while there will be prizes and

trophies for the runner-up and player-of-the-final.

Meanwhile, a date for the ECCB trophy second division final between Better Hope Sports Club ‘B’ and Bravados Sports Club will be announced shortly.

Please note that all matches will be played strictly in accordance of the rules and regulations of the ECCB, with regards to the preparation and availability of the host facilities.

More information can be obtained from Raymond Barton on 626-0223 or Davteerth Anandjit 6178502.

stop as they now have to give significant attention to the remaining events on their

calendar for 2015,” a release from the federation noted.

A premier league for

elite male and female teams and the Tradewind Tankers International tournament

are scheduled for October and November respectively, the GVF said.

thursday, september 24, 2015

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

Registration commences for Guyana Open golf tournament

Drakes wants standardised coaching in Caribbean Pg 19

– Preparation moving apace, says Ramroop

Avinash Persaud is the defending champion of the Male category

By Rajiv Bisnauth

R

egistration for the Guyana Open golf tournament is underway, and interested golfer, both local and overseas, can confirm their participation by registering via the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) email address, lusignangolfclub@ hotmail.com or can make contact with the LGC on telephone number 222-5660. please see full story on page 22

Joann Deo won the Female division for the first time last year

Vasbert Drakes (left) and Graeme West have been moving around the Caribbean assessing the region’s youth players

“Brawl at the Mall” postponed please see story on page 21

GVF partners with Buxton Youth Developers

President of Buxton Youth Developers, Robin Phillips (left), receives the donation from GVF President John Flores. Sharing the moment are students of the facility

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, Tel: 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230, 223-7231, Fax: 227-0685 - SALES AND MARKETING - sales@guyanatimesgy.com PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

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