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Minister Harmon meets with new Chinese Ambassador Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3105

P10

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, January 26, 2017

PRICE

$28B lawsuit

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Not a dime for Banks DIH – AG declares

Trotman, Nagamootoo also in AFC leadership P7 race

Bandits Page 2 terrorise Chinese national, rob supermarket

Omar Shariff is special prosecuting team’s 1st P17 case

Page 3

… GRA says no statement of claims filed, Govt to fight case

Missing fisherman found dead at Charity

Page 17

Parking meter burden Teens nabbed after WCD robbery P7

City Hall demolishes private parking lot In a deliberate attempt to have citizens pay for parking, the Mayor and City Council demolished the ramp to Teleperformance Call Centre employees’ parking lot at the intersection of North Road and Camp Street, Georgetown

Topco juice contract

Page 2

Education Ministry yet to decide the way forward – PS

Bartica Massacre trial

Co-accused wants Attorney off the case P11

UG administration accused of P17 hindering advances for law programme

2 news

thursDAY, January 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Topco juice contract

Education Ministry yet to decide on the way forward – PS

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ollowing a recent ruling by the Bid Protest Committee (BPC) ordering that a contract with a Surinamese subsidiary supplying beverages for the school feeding programme be annulled, the Education Ministry is currently in discussions on the next step forward.

Contacted on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Delma Nedd, told Guyana Times that discussions have commenced and are ongoing.

“I can’t say how long it will take… but no steps have been taken with regards to that decision (by the BPC),” she indicated. Further asked whether a contact was made with the Surinamese company on the ruling with the intention of putting on hold obligations under the contract signed last year, Nedd related that the Ministry is still discussing the issue.

The Bid Protest Committee ruled this week against Government’s decision to award its supply contract to the Suriname Company.

Tropical Orchard Products Company (Topco), which is a subsidiary of

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), was a long-time supplier of juices to the Guyana Government for its national school feeding programme until the Education Ministry deemed its bid for a continuation of the contract unsuitable, based on performance, and handed the contract to

Caribbean International Distribution Inc (CIDI), a subsidiary of Rudisa Beverages out of Suriname.

This prompted the local fruit juice company to appeal the decision to the Bid Protest Committee, which has since ruled that the Ministry breached sections of the Procurement Act and therefore ordered that the evaluation of the tenders be annulled because the Ministry’s

evaluation committee “used an unlawful procedure to assess the bid of (Topco)”.

The Committee pointed out that the Education Ministry failed to make known that past performance was a criterion for selection beforehand. “The non-disclosure of past performance as

an evaluation criterion in the solicitation documents prevents and precludes the procuring entity from belatedly relying on such criterion in the evaluation and determination of the bid,” the Committee said in its ruling.

It went on to rule that “The procuring entity failed, refused and/or neglected to consider only such evaluation criteria as set forth in the solicitation and tender docu-

ments contrary to sections 5 (3), 39 (2) and 39 (4) (c) of the Procurement Act, Cap 73:05.”

The Bid Protest Committee further ordered the Ministry to compensate Topco for the cost of the preparation of its bid.

The evaluation committee has a specific remit from which it should not deviate.

Firstly, it must only use the evaluation criteria that are in the tender documents to evaluate the bidders. Secondly, using these criteria, it determines the lowest evaluated tender and “Thirdly, it conveys its recommendation to the procuring entity in a timely manner. No scope is given to the evaluation committee to use any criteria other than what is set out in the tender.”

Six companies, Surinamese subsidiary,

Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd

had bid for the contract and Topco reportedly submitted the lowest bid of $506.6 million. Citing issues with performance such as expiration dates being breached and spoilage, the Ministry wrote Topco a letter to inform the company that it had been un-

successful.

Despite Topco responding and asking for its bid to be reviewed in accordance with the criteria set out in the bid documents, Government did not reply. This stance continued until Topco complained to the Bid Protest Committee, after which the Education Ministry revealed it had felt compelled to invite the juice company.

At the hearing, which was held on November 29, 2016, Topco requested that the Ministry annul its decision against Topco and re-evaluate the company’s bid according to the bid documents. In addition, a request was made for a full refund of its registration fee. Present at the hearing was the Education Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd.

Bandits terrorise Chinese national, rob Supermarket

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The Chinese owned Convenience Supermarket at South Ruimveldt that was robbed on Wednesday

our men pretending to be customers tied up and robbed the proprietor of the Chinese owned Convenience supermarket at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Wednesday morning.

The men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, entered the supermarket at about 09:35h, locked its doors and held the proprietor and cashier at gunpoint as they demanded cash.

The Chinese national proprietor handed over a small amount of cash that he acquired from the morning’s sales but the men demanded more.

This newspaper was told that the unsatisfied bandits took the proprietor to the up-

per flat of the building and threatened to shoot him if he did not hand over more money. He was gun butted and beaten about the body as the bandits made their demands.

Guyana Times was told that the man then handed over close to a $1 million more in cash after which the men made good their escape.

When this publication visited the supermarket, the establishment was closed to the public as Police ranks were seen taking statements from the employees and a few customers who were in the supermarket at the time of the incident. One man recalled that he stopped at the supermarket to purchase an item but realised the door was locked.

This, he stated, was abnormal, noting that since the supermarket opened about a month ago, it always opens on time. Nevertheless, he said that he saw movements but at that time, he did not know that a robbery was in progress.

It was after the men rushed out of the doors, he realised what was happening.

Soon after, an employee ran out of the building and raised an alarm. Guyana Times understands that the gunmen took close to $1 million in cash and other items.

The Police are reviewing the surveillance footage that was taken from the supermarket. No arrests were made.

news

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THURSDAY, January 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: January 26 – a night retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h Friday, January 27 – a night retraction at 05:00h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the morning, while light rain showers are expected in the afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions are expected to give way to clear skies in the evening with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 03:31h and 15:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.40 metres and 2.54 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:18h and 21:44h reaching minimum heights of 0.80 metre and 0.64 metre respectively.

wednesday, January 25, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS 05

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FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 2 4 16 18 LUCKY 3 0 7 2

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Afternoon Draw

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Not a dime for Banks DIH – AG declares … GRA says no statement of claims filed, Govt to fight case

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The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 26 – 15:20h-16:50h and Friday, January 27 – 15:45h-17:15h.

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$28B lawsuit

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

ttorney General Basil Williams declared Banks DIH Limited will be fighting a lost cause against the country’s tax authority, guaranteed that all efforts will be exhausted to ensure not a dime comes out of the national treasury to refund the beverage giant, which has filed a $28B lawsuit against the GRA to be given the same tax treatment as its competitor DDL. Williams at a press conference on Wednesday contended that the time has passed for the beverage company to take any actions against the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), even in light of the extravagant tax write-off granted to the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) last year.

“You must always remember in tax matters, there is a statutory limitation, you can’t sit on your rights and hope that the cost

in a significant depletion in the Treasury’s balance, the Attorney General said he would lend his assistance to ensure the GRA wins the case.

“I will give all and every assistance that is necessary in protecting the Government’s coffers, the taxpayers’ coffers,” he stated.

GRA’s take

Meanwhile, the Guyana Revenue Authority in a statement late Wednesday evening stated that CommissionerGeneral Godfrey Statia has indicated that the tax body was served with a Writ of Summons dated December 16, 2016, by Banks DIH Ltd. The statement added that the beverage company is seeking declarations that Consumption Tax paid for periods 2001 to 2006 were paid under a mistake of law.

Banks DIH Limited

keeps increasing and then you come 10 years later. You have three months within which you must bring an action,” the Attorney General asserted.

Moreover, Williams argued that he was wrongly named co-defendant in the matter because the settlement of tax cases falls outside of his jurisdiction.

“The GRA is an independent institution and not a Government department so the Attorney General whose remit is to represent the Government departments and the aspects of Government sectors, Ministries, etc, would not come under that,” he explained.

Nonetheless, given that the legal proceedings filed

by Banks DIH could result

Alternatively the Company seeks an Order for repayment by the Government of Guyana of the said taxes. To date the Company has not filed its Statement of Claim in the matter, the GRA said.

According to the revenue authority it will respect the Court’s jurisdiction by not litigating issues of law in the public domain.

Lawsuit

Banks DIH on December 16, 2016, filed legal proceedings against the Attorney General and the GRA, claiming over $28 billion in repayments in light of the $3.8 billion tax write-off granted to its competitor, the DDL. DIH paid some $12.8 billion in taxes over the period 2001 to 2006. But in light of the DDL tax write-off last

year, the beverage giant calculated that it should have only paid some $3 billion.

The company argued that the Government would be “unjustly enriched” if it retained the approximately $9 billion (the difference between the paid amount in taxes and the net figure Banks DIH estimated it should have paid).

In this regard, Banks

formula for the calculation of the consumption taxes.

The Court prescribed a formula to be used.

In 2009, the Commissioner General, utilising the court-recommended formula, assessed DDL’s consumption tax liabilities for the period 2001-2007 (since after 2007 Consumption Tax was abolished with the introduction of Value Added Tax).

Demerara Distillers Limited

DIH claims that it is entitled to some $9 billion plus 10 per cent interest compounded over the period 2001 to 2006 resulting in a total of some $28 billion after taking into account the settlement figure payable by DDL of $1.5 billion.

In 2002, a legal challenge was launched by DDL against the GRA over its assessment by the Commissioner General of consumption taxes owed by that company in a sum exceeding $1 billion, for the period January 2001 to September 2002.

It was eventually quashed by the High Court on February 1, 2005. The GRA appealed that decision in the Court of Appeal.

On July 31, 2008, the Court of Appeal dismissed this appeal on the ground that the Commissioner General had used a wrong

The newly assessed liability of DDL for that period was some $5.3 billion.

Again, DDL filed legal proceedings challenging this assessment.

According to the records, the GRA then retained an external Senior Counsel and was steadfastly defending this challenge when the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition assumed office.

Instead of continuing to defend Government’s case against DDL, the beverage company was granted a $3.8 billion tax write-off, having only to pay $1.5 billion.

Therefore, after about 15 years of litigation, with DDL having the use of several billion dollars of State funds, interest-free, the APNU/ AFC Government settled for $1.5 billion.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thurSday, January 26, 2017

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

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

People vs parliamentary sovereignty

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e live in interesting times. It had been an article of faith as former colonies of Britain, we were tutored for hundreds of years so that we could imbibe the principles of the “rule of law” – contraposed to the always precarious “rule of men” – to govern ourselves. But today, not only are some of those rules and traditions that undergird the “rule of law” under pressure here, but even at the fount of it all, in Britain. This is exemplified most recently by cases from the appellate division of both countries that hinge of the notion of where “sovereignty” resides.

Sovereignty, of course, is a foundational concept in the British notion of the rule of law since it had to do with where ultimate power was located, starting from the Monarch (“Sovereign”), who originally had absolute power. The famous statement of Louis XIV “I am the state!” exemplifies this latter condition: it was no different in Britain. The history of sovereignty is one of a gradual whittling down of that power, starting from the 13th century when the nobility forced King John to accept the Magna Carta to the Glorious Revolution of 1688 after which the earl of Shaftesbury could declare, “The Parliament of England is that supreme and absolute power, which gives life and motion to the English Government.” Sovereignty was in the representatives of the people, not in the people.

A century later, however, when the US was launched, their founding fathers explicitly declared sovereignty resided in the people, with aspects of it – as specified in a written constitution – delegated to the organs of the State, including the Government. Some think it is because Britain does not have a written constitution that Parliament is supreme but the conventions that govern its present workings could easily have been broadened to encompass that further devolution of sovereignty.

When Guyana and most of the former colonies became independent, they were given, or enacted constitutions that followed the US view of the geography of sovereignty and located it in “the people”. Unlike the case in Britain, where the court cannot overturn an act of Parliament, here in Guyana, with its delegated sovereignty from the people as co-equal to Parliament, this can be done under the principle of Judicial Review, if the law violated the Constitution.

In the past, this application was confined to specific stipulations of the Constitution that purported to spell out areas of national life with which the executive could not transgress: negative freedoms. In the US, however, their Supreme Court actually increased such areas on their own cognisance, for instance the “right to privacy” which they discerned in the “penumbra” of the stated Bill of Rights. More pertinently, that court and several others in former British colonies, followed the logic of sovereignty residing in the people and insisted certain decisions of the Legislature should be ratified by the people in referenda, when those decisions are fundamental to the ethos of the constitution as a whole.

It was from this perspective that Justice Ian Chang, determined our Parliament cannot restrict the choices available to the sovereign people as to who they may chose as their President as Article 90 by Act No 17 of 2001, which it passed, did. He ruled that the people themselves should make such a decision via a referendum.

In Britain, however where Parliament is supreme, as their doyen of constitutional law summarised, Parliament had “the right to make or unmake any law whatever; and, further, that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament”. Thus, if their Parliament passed a law signing Britain up to the EU, which it did in 1973 – and in the process changed some fundamental aspects of their Constitution such as creating a new source of British Law – then they need to pass a law undoing it, as their Supreme Court just declared.

Roraima Airways on Wednesday officially launched Wedding Expo 2017 themed “Magnificent Beginnings” at the Roraima Duke Lodge, Georgetown. In photo, employees of the Roraima family display different cultural wedding attire as the Expo will seek to promote diversity this year

Working for the good of Region 2 Dear Editor, In another section of the media on January 13, 2017, a story under the caption ‘REO blamed for flooding in Region Two”, in which paragraph two detailed the reason why he was blamed and by whom the comments emanated from.

On January 12, 2017 statements were made by the Senior National Drainage Agriculture Official indicating that he was to a great extend satisfied with the efforts made to reduce flooding in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), so who are we to believe?

It is public knowledge that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), which is the highest decision-making forum in the Region, the Regional Executive Officer (REO) is the clerk of the RDC and can be described as the Regional Finance Officer also, was he at the meeting (Council Meeting) where I supposed his issue was discussed after which a press release was made, or was

the story reported by a reporter who was at the meeting, because nothing is mentioned about the REO’s side of the story, or what may have caused the flooding, and I am certain that if given a chance he may have rebutted strongly the negative things that were said about him.

There was never a coin with one side, and no matter how thin you try to slice anything they are bound to be two sides; whatever the circumstances or situation is the right of the person or persons to be heard must at all times be respected.

I served as a member of the Region Two RDC for seven consecutive years until I resigned in 2013, and during that time I was always a member of the Works and Agricultural Committee, a Statutory Committee of the RDC, a committee that was always chaired by no less a person than the Regional Vice Chairman, a Senior Member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and includ-

ed senior officials from the Drainage and Irrigation Department (D&I), the Rice Producers Association (RPA) and the Water Users Association, and at all of our monthly meetings pertaining to maintenance of dams, clearing of trenches, de-silting of trenches, and clearing of outfalls, so as to stop or reduce the flooding, would account for more than twothirds of the discussion, but unfortunately we never got the kind of result we all would have wanted. It is relevant to mention that during those seven years, they were two Chairmen and four REOs, all elected or appointed by the PPP. The RDC of Region Two is a Council where for decades the PPP have a twothirds majority, the REO. It is not just because this REO was appointed by the Coalition of the APNU and AFC, does it mean that a close and harmonious relationship cannot exist and while there are persons that will always be looking for place and space, it should

not be done at the expense of other persons including people of the Region.

I am not an apologist for the REO, I have openly criticized him a couple of times using strong language, but to lay the blame squarely at his feet from the recent flooding as the story informs, is evil. My father was a rice farmer and I was with him in those days when we used to plant it, cut it, drug or slide it, mash it, wind or sift, bag it, before you sell it, so I know what it means to the farmers. Rice in Region Two, and by extension the whole country is and will always be equivalent to what oil means or is to Arabia and the rest of the Arab world. It is time all, the stakeholder, the officials, and the administration at both levels -regional and national - work in tandem for the good of the industry.

Sincerely, Archie W Cordis Former AFC Councillor Region Two

Pension Readiness Programme implemented Dear Editor, Reference is made to the letter published on January 23, 2017, the National Insurance Scheme has noted

with concern the discrepancies mentioned therein.

Please be advised that the management of the Scheme is now adequately equipped

to urgently address these concerns since the Pension Readiness Programme has been implemented to accommodate such issues.

Yours truly, Dianne Lewis-Baxter Publicity & Public Relations

guyanatimesgy.com

thurSday, January 26, 2017

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

We stand in solidarity with all child AFC has lost survivors of sexual offences its voice

Dear Editor, The disappearance of the medical reports and birth certificates of the nine boys who were allegedly raped from the court files warrants an immediate and through investigation, including enquiry as to all who had access to the files and thus the opportunity to remove evidence. No one must be exempt from the investigation.

The fact that this sexual offence case has languished in the court system for so many years, in effect denying these nine young child survivors of sexual assault their right to a fair trial within a reasonable time, is a violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

which Guyana has signed and ratified.

The Sexual Offences Act paper committals provisions have been under appeal for a number of years since former (now retired) acting Chief Justice Ian Chang twice ruled in favour of the accused in two sexual offence cases and found that the provisions violate the constitutional rights of those charged with sexual offences to confront their accusers.

It is well known that rape and other sexual offences leave survivors physically and psychological traumatised, many never fully recovering from the brutality and horror of what has been

perpetrated against them.

The fact that these nine child survivors now stand to be denied their right to justice is in itself criminal, points to corruption in the court system and exposes Guyana as a country where access to justice and justice itself can apparently be perverted.

We will not stand by and allow the rights of Guyanese children to be trampled on by the executive, legislative or Judicial branches of the State. We stand in solidarity with these nine boys and all other child survivors of sexual offences who continue to be denied justice and the right to a life free from violence.

We call on the UN agencies in Guyana, and in particular UNICEF and all rights organisations to speak out publicly against the violation of the rights of child victims of sexual violence and to do all in their power to ensure that such rights are effectively protected.

Yours faithfully, Danuta Radzik – Help & Shelter Karen de Souza – Red Thread Patricia SheerattanBisnauth – GRPA Andaiye Vidyaratha Kissoon

Dear Editor, Suddenly the Alliance For Chance (AFC) has lost its voice in the scheme of things in Guyana. Things that Nagamootoo and Ramjattan would have railed about are suddenly acceptable to them. Drug bond fiasco, undemocratic parking meter decision for Georgetown (this is most telling as the AFC’s Sherod Duncan is being hung out to dry), schol-

arships for Ministers. Now Ramjattan is seeking a third term, maybe because he is getting milk in his tea courtesy of the People’s National Congress. Nagamootoo who seems only too happy with touring the world but abandoning the 10 per cent that he courted and which helped APNU to get power.

Yours truly, Shakuntala Mazir

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thursday, January 26, 2017

Page

Foundation

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n recent years resiliency and grit have become buzzwords in education. There has been a growing sense that character building is a critical part of education and supports classroom learning. The University of Chicago has positioned themselves as a leader in research for Resiliency, Grit Education.

They have found that the most effective methods are those that are focused on the skill development coupled with supporting a growth mindset. As educators, it is critical for us to develop the tool box for students, because we know those tools lead to improved academic performance. (To learn more about the noncognitive factors involved use the following link for the paper published by

off-base. These are small moments to encourage students to take risks •In what form is feedback delivered to students: Is feedback auxiliary to the class or is it a core component. How do you hold students responsible for using the feedback and promote

M

Resiliency: Capable of with standing shock without permanent deformation or rupture; tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change –MerriamWebster Dictionary the University of Chicago. https://consortium.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/ publications/Noncogn...)

So, how does one teach the general ability of being able to recover from misfortune or change? As educators, we often are focused on a student’s ability to recover from a poor grade, but does this truly represent resiliency? There certainly is an aspect of resiliency in these moments, but how reasonable are our expectations for how a person responds to major disappointment.

When incorporating ways to develop student grit and resiliency, their ability to overcome disappointment or change, teachers look at the lower stakes moments that occur in classes. Some of these questions to consider are: • Do you celebrate failure in the class and encourage risk-taking: How do you respond when a student gives an incorrect answer or an interpretation that is

growth i n their work? How does constructive criticism flow in the class- teacher to student? student to student? student to teacher?

• Do you model resiliency in class?

How do you respond to adversity in the class? If a part of the lesson is not flowing as anticipated do you show frustration? If some piece of technology is failing, what is your response? Are you as aware of your body language as you are of the words you choose?

• What is the role of revisions? Can students rewrite essays and papers? Do students receive an opportunity to run an experiment another time? Can you promote opportunities to renew or revise that will help develop these habits of mind.

• Are you explicitly developing the skill? Are you looking at teaching and

guyanatimesgy.com

assessing resilience in a traditional manner or are you considering this to be a skill that needs to be practised honed?

Our students are growing up in a society where information is available at their finger tips in unprecedented ways.

Considering how often an adult may get annoyed if the internet is running slow or if there is a bad cell phone reception, think about the kids that are growing up in this type of fast-paced era. It is our responsibility, more so than ever, to help provide the scaffolding for students to develop the ability to overcome adversity and be flexible when they face change. The research shows that this is a duel approach and the development of a growth mindset is critical to this work.(edutopia.org)

ore recently, researchers Students don’t learn to using variread on time, because ations on Anda and Felitti’s ace scale have it is harder for them found that an elevatto concentrate on the ed ace score also has a negative effect on words on the page. They the development of a executive funcdon’t learn the basics of child’s tions and on her abilnumber sense, because ity to learn effectively in school. A study they are too distracted conducted by Nadine by the emotions and Burke Harris, a paediatrician and trauanxieties overloading ma researcher in San found that their nervous systems. Francisco, just three per cent of As academic material children in her clinic with an ace score of becomes more zero displayed learnor behavioural complicated, they fall ing problems. But among further behind children who had an ace score of four or more, 51 per cent had learning or behavioural problems. A separate national study published in 2014 found that children with two or more aces were eight times as likely as children with none to demonstrate behavioural problems and more than twice as likely to repeat a grade in school. According to this study, slightly more than half of all children have never experienced a serious adverse event – but the other half, the ones with at least one ace, account for 85 per cent of the behavioural problems that children exhibit.

For children who grow up without significant experiences of adversity, the skill-development process leading up to kindergarten generally works the way it’s supposed to: Calm, consistent, responsive interactions in infancy with parents and other caregivers create neural connections that lay the foundation for a healthy array of attention and concentration skills. Just as early stress sends signals to the nervous system to maintain constant vigilance and prepare for a lifetime of trouble, early warmth and responsiveness send the opposite signals: You’re safe; life is going to be fine.

Let down your guard; the people around you will protect you and provide for you. Be curious about the world; it’s full of fascinating surprises. These messages trigger adaptations in children’s brains that allow them to slow down and consider problems and decisions more carefully, to focus their attention for longer periods, and to more willingly trade immediate gratification for promises of long-term benefits.

We don’t always think of these abilities as academic in nature, but in fact they are enormously beneficial in helping kids achieve academic success in kindergarten and beyond. Without them, the transition from home or day care to kindergarten is likely to be fraught, and the challenge of learning the many things we ask kindergarten students to master can be overwhelming. In the classroom, neurocognitive difficulties can quickly turn into academic difficulties. Students don’t learn to read on time, because it is harder for them to concentrate on the words on the page.

They don’t learn the basics of number sense, because they are too distracted by the emotions and anxieties overloading their nervous systems. As academic material becomes more complicated, they fall further behind. The more they fall behind, the worse they feel about themselves and about school. That creates more stress, which tends to feed into behavioural problems, which lead to stigmatisation and punishment in the classroom, which keep their stress levels elevated, which makes it still harder to concentrate—and so on, throughout elementary school. (Excerpt from the Atlantic)

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thursDAY, January 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Trotman, Nagamootoo also in AFC leadership race A

lliance For Change (AFC) Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo and former party leader Raphael Trotman will be vying against incumbent Leader Khemraj Ramjattan for the highest position in the minority partner in the governing alliance at its National Executive Conference (NEC) this weekend.

Though the Constitution of the AFC stipulates that an office holder should not hold the same position for more than two consecutive terms, Ramjattan will be running for a third term – having been appointed as leader since 2012. Even though he has argued against a third term for former President Jagdeo Ramjattan has since claimed that the AFC constitution is not mandatory.

But Trotman, who is one

Raphael Trotman

Khemraj Ramjattan

tution unless the delegates feel otherwise,” the AFC Executive Member explained.

Trotman, who also aided in the crafting of the party’s constitution, noted that the spirit of the constitution was to ensure that the leadership

gates would have to ponder and make a decision on,” he stated.

This position was also supported by Attorney-atLaw Chris Ram, who claimed he was there when the constitution was drafted and even

rently vacant following the resignation of Nigel Hughes.

Nagamootoo is currently acting Chairman.

Also vying for this spot is Executive Member Catherine Hughes.

Vice Chairman is being contested by Nagamootoo, Trotman, Hughes, Valerie Garrido Lowe and Audwin Rutherford.

Additionally, David Patterson is being challenged for the General Secretary post by Michael Carrington, Alison Mohamed and Marlon Williams.

A major shakeup in the AFC’s leadership structure is expected at its NEC which will be held at the Vreed-enHoop Secondary School on January 28.

At the NEC, the AFC will

Moses Nagamootoo

David Patterson

of the founders of the AFC, strongly objected to the notion of one member holding the same position for more than two consecutive terms.

“The constitution says it ought to rotate and I believe that we should, unless there is some extraordinary situation. The delegates will of course, have a right to choose.

But I believe that we should try to adhere to the consti-

is constantly rotated.

“So definitely, it does not say ‘shall’ like the constitution, but I believe the intention of the framers of the AFC constitution – and I was certainly one of them – was to ensure that there was movement. And we should do our best to ensure that we honour the spirit of the (AFC) constitution… I believe that this is something the dele-

assisted in the process.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has since observed that the differences among the party’s senior members regarding the interpretation of the AFC constitution points to the “implosion” of the AFC. Meanwhile, Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and Trotman are also contesting for the post of AFC Chairman, which is cur-

Supenaam) – 20 delegates, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) – 15 delegates, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – 75 delegates, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) – 20 delegates, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) – 40 delegates, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) – 10 delegates, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) – 10 delegates, Region Nine (Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo) – 10 delegates, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) – 20 delegates, Women For Change (WFC) – 10 delegates, Youths For Change (YFC) – 10 delegates, USA Chapter – nine delegates, Canada Chapter – six delegates, Caribbean Chapter – six delegates and United Kingdom Chapter – four delegates.

Teens nabbed after WCD robbery

S

Nigel Hughes

also appoint its 12 National Executive Committee members from a total of 73 nominees.

In addition to the 12 elected members of the National Executive Committee, each Regional Management Committee and overseas chapter, along with Women For Change and Youth For Change are entitled to send a representative to the Executive Committee meetings.

In addition, the Executive Committee can co-opt up to five members if the need arises for additional representation in particular areas.

The party has an electoral college system comprising of 275 delegates which are allocated as follows: Region One (Barima-Waini) – 10 delegates, Region Two (Pomeroon-

wift action by member of the Guyana Police Force has led to the apprehension of two teenagers early Wednesday morning following a robbery at Crane Village, West Coast Demerara on Tuesday evening.

Reports are at about 20:20h on the night in question, 24-year-old Hanson Forde and his 40-year-old mother, Dawn Martin, were in the bottom flat of their two-storey home when four men, two of whom were armed with handguns en-

tered.

They reportedly gained entry through a window that was left open.

The duo was reportedly held at gunpoint as the bandits made their demands.

Based on information gathered, the bandits demanded jewellery, money and raw gold that the family kept at home. The young man is an excavator operation at an interior location.

However, after making their demands, the bandits ordered the victims into the upper flat of the house where they continued to make their

demands.

In so doing, one of the men discharged two rounds hitting the ceiling after which they relieved the duo of several pieces of gold jewellery, two ounces of raw gold, two cellular phones and $60,000.

Meanwhile, the Police have confirmed that one of the teenagers who was arrested is known to the Police.

The suspects are both 19 years sold. At the scene, the Police retrieved two .32 spent shells.

Investigations are ongoing.

8 news

thursDAY, January 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rio girls charged for overstaying, forgery F

our Spanish-speaking women made their appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts on Wednesday, to answer to a series of immigration charges.

The women were arrested on January 20, during a raid conducted at the Rio Night Club.

It is alleged that the first accused, Valine Ferreira of the Dominican Republic, with intent to defraud, conspired with persons between November 12, 2016 and January 20, 2017 to forge a Guyana immigration arrival stamp and a tourist visa in her passport, purporting to show that they were issued by the Guyanese immigration department.

It is also alleged that on November 12, 2016, the accused, at Springlands, Corentyne, made her entry into the country and did not present herself to Guyanese immigration officials. The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges and was fined $30,000 for the latter and $50, 000, with an alternative of six weeks’ imprisonment for the conspiracy charge.

Next, Yasmin Baeza,29 , of Havana, Cuba, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that between November 29, 2016 and January 20, 2017, she overstayed her

The four women who appeared before the court on Wednesday

time in this country. The second charge stated that between December 30, 2016 and January 20, 2017, she conspired with persons to forge an immigration arrival and departure stamp in her passport purporting to show that it had been issued by Guyanese immigration authorities. She also pleaded guilty to this charge and was fined $30,000, with an alternative of four weeks in prison for overstaying and $50, 000, or six weeks’ imprisonment, for the charge of conspiracy.

Carmen Martano, the third defendant, a national of the Dominican Republic, allegedly conspired with persons to forge an arrival and departure stamp. She had also overstayed her time in the jurisdiction and was

fined $30,000, with an alternative of four weeks imprisonment, and $50,000 or six weeks in prison for the former charge after she entered a guilty plea.

Finally, another Dominican national,33, was fined $30,000, with an alternative of four weeks in prison after she pleaded guilty to a charge which stated that between November 12, 2016 and January 20, 2017, she overstayed her time. She also allegedly conspired to forge arrival and departure immigration stamps on her passport and was required to pay a fine of $50,000 or with an alternative of six weeks’ imprisonment after entering a guilty plea.

According to the prosecution, these matters came to

light after the women presented their documents and checks were made with the Guyana immigration authorities, subsequent to the Police raid at the city nightclub.

The defence counsel for the women argued that his clients, none of whom spoke English , had legitimate expectations when they had presented themselves to persons dressed as immigration officials to stamp their documents and in no way could have known or suspected that the said stamps were not genuine. He further stated that the women were willing to pay the fines imposed and requested to return to their countries of origin, as soon as possible.

After considering the prosecution’s evidence and the defence’s case, Chief Magistrate McLennan ruled that defendants would be escorted to the nearest port of exit after they comply with the imposed fines, or they will serve their time.

Man gets 4 years for gun, ammo possession

A

man was on Wednesday sent to prison for the next four years after he was found guilty of unlawfully having ammunition and a firearm in his possession.

Raul Franklin, who was charged on numerous occasions for multiple offences, originally denied this allegation.

Making his appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman, the man was told that the evidence against him was sufficient and the Court believed that he was guilty of the offences.

The charges alleged that he had one .04 pistol and four rounds of ammunition in his position, without being the holder of a firearm or ammunition licence.

Franklin was arrested at Middle Street, La Penitence by ranks after he was observed acting suspiciously.

He was sentenced to four years for each of the two charges, but the sentences are to run concurrently. He was also fined $60,000.

Between 2013 and 2015, Franklin was charged on several occasions at the Sparendaam Court for at least six counts of robbery under arms involving the use of firearms; three counts of discharging loaded firearms – in two cases it was at the police patrol; one case of attempted murder and two cases of serious wounding.

Oleaginous…

T

…planning on oil here’s so much hype on our oil prospects by this Government, your Eyewitness has already predicted they will be caught with their own BS. Unfilled expectations can be a bitch! Raphael Trotman, even as he threw his hat into the leadership sweepstakes of the AFC, armed with his signing of the Nassau Protocol, once again has announced the “slew” of legislation he’s going to introduce for “the oil sector”.

That’s right: “slew”!

The “slew” included: Oil and Gas Policy; the Revised Petroleum Act and Regulations; Local Content Policy and Regulations; Petroleum Commission Bill; Petroleum Taxation and Fiscal Legislation; Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Regulations; and a Bill to provide for Sovereign Wealth/Generational Savings, Stabilisation, Infrastructural Social Welfare and Citizens Participation Fund. Whew! What a “slew”!!

But hold it! Wasn’t this “slew” of “legislation supposed to be submitted since last year? Or was it hijacked and “slain” since then? The Huffington Post had carried a story with the headline boldly announcing “‘Conflict: Tillerson would Write the Rules for Exxon’s Major Oil Find in Guyana”. Tillerson, of course, was until he was just nominated for the US Secretary of State gig, the head of Exxon and the story was referring to the “United States’ Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI)” that had been working along with Trotman’s Natural Resource Ministry.

Trotman, of course, denied the claim but hasn’t offered any plausible reason for the delay in submitting the “slew” of legislation. All he said was EGCI had been in touch with the GoG since 2009 – implying they’d been “advising” on legislation since then. What a crock! Oil was only struck last March – just before the elections and there would’ve been as much need to draft oil legislation as to count the number of angels who could fit on the head of a needle!

Point of the matter, after declaring he and his Ministry would “renegotiate” with ExxonMobil, all that was done was to confirm the PPP’s 1999 agreement to just split the profit – rather than also imposing a 15 per cent royalty as Uganda had done. Point being that after taking out expenses – including exploration and development costs – precious little profit would be available to be split. Now the HuffPo article had specifically mentioned EGCI was working on “profit sharing agreements” with Guyana – where Exxon would receive up to 65 per cent of the profits because the Guyanese officials were absolutely clueless! Guyana, they declared was a “frontier” country – which is how they describe the home of modern “natives”! …on Sovereignty Fund Now even before he started talking about legislation for managing the oil industry, Trotman had bigged up a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) at a seminar in November 2015 specifically on that subject. The legislation for the SWF – which had been on the PPP’s manifesto in the elections earlier that year – was promised “soon”.

At that time, he’d promised continued “consultations” across the country to flesh out the legislation. The SWF was to focus on three key areas, namely savings for future generations; budget support in times of economic downturns; and infrastructural development.

But without a single subsequent consultation, we now see that the goals of the SWF have now ballooned into a “Sovereign Wealth/Generational Savings, Stabilisation, Infrastructural Social Welfare and Citizens Participation Fund” – including budgetary support!!!

Now of the scores of SWF’s in the world – especially blossoming in the post OPEC era, the major goal’s to save for tomorrow – not to spend the windfall as Burnham did with the sugar levy on funding Government’s harebrained schemes and jobs for the boys.

From Trotman’s explicit rejection of the paradigmatic SWF, it’s clear they’ll just “follow the leadah” and return Guyana into perdition. …alternative facts Thankfully, the Trump Administration’s clarified their new epistemological nugget of “alternative facts”.

The White House spinner…ooops!...spokesperson, said these are similar to “weather reports”. One fella says “chance of rain”…another says “chance of sunshine” – alternative facts!!

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

news

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thursday, January 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

The consequences of delay in hearing the elections petition

– delay and silence have effectively sanctioned postelectoral violence at the next election

By Charles S. Ramson

City Hall demolishes private parking lot I

n a blatant move to have motorists pay for parking, workers attached to the Mayor and City Council on Wednesday demolished the ramp to a private parking lot which was paved for workers attached to Teleperformance Call Centre.

The ramp – which was set aside for vehicles to en-

I

n a few months, it will be almost two years without even a hearing of the election petition filed in Supreme Court of Judicature while in contrast, for example, Trinidad and Tobago has not only had a hearing but a ruling with a written decision and an Appeal filed and the dismissal of that Appeal by their Court of Appeal. The excessive Charles S. Ramson Jr delay in Guyana has damaged seriously the credibility and legitimacy of the judicial process as a non-violent means of settling election disputes.

The consequences of this damaged process is extremely grave indeed. Disputes are inevitable in life and a non-violent means of solving those disputes is absolutely critical to our civilization. Courts have been the universal institutional creature specifically created, accessed, and applied for that very purpose - a non-violent means of dispute resolution. But, essential to its operation is the pillar of credibility, i.e. people believing that this institution will yield a result which is both impartial and expeditious.

The excessive delay in hearing the election petition has the consequence that should there be another dispute arising out of a future election the people and its leaders will be less willing to initiate the judicial (non-violent) process resorting instead to the visceral mob response of taking to the streets in a violent expression of discontent.

The likelihood of such is increased when one considers the historical fact that the only time we have never had post-election disturbances and/or riots post-1991 was when the APNU-AFC were declared the government by GECOM in May, 2015.

Equally grave, however, is the silence of the NGOs, the political activists, political parties (excluding the PPP but including those of the parties in the coalition government), and the international community representatives. Why? This silence has effectively sanctioned post-election violence after the next election regardless of which side wins as the people have been imbued with the feeling that not only has the judicial (non-violent) option effectively been rendered otiose by virtue of excessive delay, but the representatives are not voicing their concern over this delay so as to put pressure on the judicial powers to expedite the hearing.

In particular, the ubiquitous international representatives who made it their mission to be present and to issue statements and directives during and immediately after the May 2015 election such as “take your seat in parliament…” or strong statements to stop publicly complaining and have the claim of a fraudulent result heard in court have gone mute on the issue of the excessive delay quite possibly without appreciating the grave potential consequence of their silence.

This delay along with the an un-concomitant silence should worry all Guyanese and all interested in the welfare of the Guyana especially now that Guyana is on the verge of being a significant oil and gas producer in the world. Global events in the last few years such as the Arab spring and post-election protests in the USA have shown what an angry mob can do to a country and how difficult it can be to control or predict outcomes.

So any unrest and political destabilization in Guyana can destroy investment (both foreign and local) and investor confidence but also disrupt future oil supply to the world. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” Martin Luther King Jr.

The dismantled ramp reportedly removed by workers attached to City Hall

The recently constructed parking lot that was partly demolished

by City Hall on Wednesday

ter the parking lot located at the intersection of North Road and Camp Street, Georgetown – was broken to pieces by an excavator while a section of the fence was destroyed.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, no explanation was proffered by the Mayor and City Council for this act. When this newspaper visited the area, Teleperformance representatives were still trying to make sense of what had transpired. An employee however told the media that the company will be issuing a press statement on the matter as soon as they are informed by City Hall why such as move was taken.

In December 2016, a source attached to the call centre had disclosed that the decision to have a parking lot established was taken due to the large number of workers employed with the company headquarters at Camp and Robb Streets.

Media operatives were told that the entity had been searching for a suitable space to provide secured parking for its employees and had been negotiating with the owner of the plot of land at the corners of North Road and Camp Street. It was also disclosed by the representative of Teleperformance that permission had been granted by the M&CC. At the time, City Engineer Colvern Venture had stated that while he was certain an application was submitted, he could not be certain whether the application was filed by the owner of the land or the call centre.

The parking meter initiative was rolled out and implemented only on Tuesday. Persons parking

their vehicles near to parking meters are now obligated to pay $50 per every 15 minutes of parking.

However, since its official start date, Georgetown has seen a significant decrease in parked vehicles.

10 news Minister Harmon meets with new Chinese Ambassador C thursDAY, january 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

hina’s new Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, on Wednesday met with Minister of State Joseph Harmon at the Ministry of the Presidency to discuss areas of collaboration and mutual interest between his country and Guyana.

This is the first meeting between the Minister and the Ambassador, who was accredited by President David Granger on January 4, 2017 and who replaced Ambassador Zhang Limin.

Among the issues discussed were several infrastructural projects aimed at collaboration for the development of Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda, as well as other areas of cooperation inclusive of trade, education and capacity building, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Minister Harmon, in welcoming the Ambassador to Guyana at the Ministry of the Presidency, said the two countries have enjoyed cordial, friendly relations for many years and it is his hope that this can be further advanced through his appoint-

try of realities for our younger generations,” Minister Harmon told the Ambassador.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador has committed to exploring ways in which the Government of China can collaborate with the Government

of Guyana for the good of the peoples of both countries. As the countries celebrate 45 years of diplomatic ties this year, the Ambassador noted that this is an opportune time for the exploration for the development of partnerships on

projects and opportunities, which can solidify the relationship between the two nations. “We can use the anniversary as an opportunity to do something for both countries,” he said.

Guyana’s law school will not be subjected to zoning – AG Minister of State, Joseph Harmon in discussion with Ambassador Cui Jianchun at the Ministry of the Presidency, on Wednesday

ment. “China has been a generous friend to Guyana since the early days. Throughout all of it, it has always been a great relationship and it goes beyond projects and opportunities and that is something that is important to us… This is an exciting time for you as Ambassador and we see a long and fruitful relationship between our countries,” Minister Harmon said.

Minister Harmon said that the Government is focused on working with international partners for the development of the country’s vast resources.

“For too long we have heard about our potential. We are at the point of transitioning from potential to reality and that is the job we have as the Government. We have simply heard about it for too long…

We must now create a coun-

A

s he gears up to discuss the ambitious venture of establishing a law school in Guyana with the Council of Legal Education, Attorney General Basil Williams explained that the local law school will not be subjected to the zoning regulations applied to other law schools in the Region.

The Attorney General told media operatives during a press conference on Wednesday that the JOF Haynes Law School – to be established in Guyana – will not be zoned as the other legal institutions in the Region that are operating under the CLE. “Everybody in the Region it (the law school) will be opened to,” he stated.

The three law schools operating under the CLE are categorised into different zones, whereby students who reside in territories within a particular zone can only study at the schools which fall under their zones.

But when asked by Guyana Times, the Attorney General indicated that Guyana will not be subjected to the zoning regulations.

Attorney General Basil Williams and representatives of UCC/LCA signing the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the law school in Guyana

Williams will be attending the Meeting of the Executive Committee of the CLE in Jamaica between January 27-28 and among the agenda items will be discussions on the establishment of the law school in Guyana.

He said this discussion would fall under “other business”.

The Guyana Government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with

two law institutions out of Jamaica for the establishment of a law school here – which is expected to eliminate the difficulties faced by law students across the Caribbean in pursuing their furthering their studies in the legal field.

The two law schools are the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) and the Law College of the Americas (LCA). turn to page 17

thursday, January 26, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News Bartica Massacre trial

Parking meters…

Perhaps a little before their time?

N

one of us can deny the severity of the congestion problem in Georgetown and it is only fair that citizens consider the need for action to appease the situation and the Governments’ effort in doing so.

The introduction of parking meters is indeed a valid move forward in these efforts to reduce traffic and generate some much needed revenue, and has Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal obviously been successful in many other countries around the world. However, there are too many other developments needed before Guyana can sit behind the argument that they work in neighbouring Caribbean countries and the rest of the world.

In cities where there are parking restrictions to ensure regulated turnover of parking spaces, there are usually alternative parking solutions for long stay car parks to cater for those working full days or long shifts. Wages elsewhere can allow parking costs to be factored into weekly outgoings, but here in Guyana, when we consider the average wage, the cost of parking under present conditions would eat such a huge chunk out of the salary there would be little point in going to work in the first place.

In effect, what we will be experiencing is that after working hard and saving to own a car for the convenience of ourselves and our families, we will be forced to leave that convenience at home. What effect will that have on the motivation of our young people aspiring to provide themselves with a better lifestyle?

In these other countries, people have access to safe, reliable, public transport that runs mostly to schedule and allows you to arrive at work on time and reach home at a reasonable hour afterwards. We are all too aware of the dangers of travelling in public transport here in Guyana and also of the irregularity of arrival times.

Taking taxis will no doubt be the only solution for many but those costs will also bear much weight on the average earner.

A trip from work to home and back will already be a financial strain, add to that a school pick up or a lunch time shopping trip and it will rack up costs higher than the parking. Taxis themselves are now under pressure to park in strategic spots around the city to be available for those leaving there cars home. Maybe the introduction of more taxi ranks should have been on the agenda before the parking solutions discussions.

The arduous waiting when we go into the bank, to pay a phone bill or buy something from a store means we will be forced to overpay to be secure in the knowledge we will not have to abandon our spot in the queue after an hour to re-feed the meter. Let’s be realistic, how much business or shopping can we take care of in 15 minutes, or even half an hour? The real deal here is that money can be made on those who fail to adhere to the time restriction; those stuck in queues!

There are many areas that have to be developed in order for the parking meters to be a viable option. This is an inevitable part of the development of Georgetown but it has come out of sequence and unless stringent concessions are made, there will no doubt be severe detrimental effects to businesses, education, and morale. Thankfully, talks are underway and the company responsible has solutions in place for those members of society who should be entitled to concessions and they seem open to further talks to iron out other concerns that are being raised.

Of course I have to voice the somewhat sceptical sentiments of those angry enough to rebel. If the majority of the public decide to vote now, as they were unable to do before implementation, by not paying, how will the company manage to enforce their penalties? There are over 3000 parking spaces, it would be interesting to know how many clamps they have and how many personnel it will take to Police the operation?

It also has to be asked, how many of these personnel will be up for bribes and how many will be happy to pay to avoid the $8000 penalty?

The system is a move towards development, but without a solid infrastructure of good public transport, higher wages, alternative parking solutions and fair concessions, there will be a myriad of hiccups and crisis to overcome. Let’s hope this pushes forward developments in the other areas, which are no doubt already on the table, and that it is the catalyst for better future solutions; despite being ill-timed.

Co-accused wants Attorney off case I

n another twist to the ongoing Bartica massacre trial, co-accused Dennis Williams has moved to have his attorney removed from representing him. In the defendant’s absence at Wednesday’s hearing at the Demerara High Court, Defence Counsel Shaphier Husain informed the court that his client has discharged him from the matter. Husain further explained that earlier that morning, there was “some difficulty with the prison” and as such the co-accused could not attend court.

In response to the attorney’s disclosure, presiding Judge, Justice Roxane George, SC, ruled that Husain still has to attend court so that the threemonth trial is not delayed.

In fact, the Judge stated that upon consultations with the Chief Justice, Husain may be re-assigned to his client by the State.

Man fined $15,000 for immigration charge

T

imothy Sinclair, 35, of New Amsterdam, Berbice, appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday to answer to an immigration-related charge.

It is alleged that on January 15, 2017, and January 23, 2017, he failed to present himself to the relevant immigration authorities after he entered the country.

Sinclair was arrested on January 23, 2017 for robbery under arms and while in custody, checks were made at the central immigration office in Georgetown, which revealed that the defendant left Guyana on January 15, 2017, through Moleson creek using his passport and never reported to the Immigration Office upon his return. He also failed to present his passport to the Police.

The defendant explained that on January 15, he left the country for Suriname, where he misplaced his passport and returned on January 16. He further stated that he did not present himself to immigration officials nor did he report the lost document.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan then advised him to report stolen/missing documents in the future and was fined him $15,000.

Mark Royden Williams, Dennis Williams and Roger Simon are the three standing trial for the massacre at Bartica

“We can’t wait for another counsel to be assigned,” Justice George revealed.

It was only Monday that the presiding Judge cited Defence Counsel Husain for lateness and fined him $10,000. Later in Monday’s trial, the lawyer applied to be withdrawn completely from the matter, but Justice George had however rejected the application on similar grounds that Williams would have to retain counsel at a late stage. It was disclosed that the court will adjourn Williams’ case and move forward with hearing the

testimonies of witnesses called on behalf of co-accused, Roger Simon.

Simon, Dennis Williams and Mark Royden Williams are the three standing accused for the February 17, 2008 massacre at Bartica where 12 persons including three Policemen were slaughtered. Two other accused, Clebert Reece and Michael Caesar pled guilty to manslaughter late last year and were sentenced to 420 and 1080 years respectively. Caesar’s sentence carried more years as he admitted involvement in the January 2008 massacre at Lusignan which oc-

curred nine years ago today. Mark Williams is also implicated in that attack.

The men along with others, many of whom were shot and killed by law enforcement ranks, were part of the infamous Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins gang that allegedly carried out attacks at various locations. While the true motives behind the crimes are not clear, 23 persons lost their lives in the Lusignan and Bartica attacks.

Additionally, then teenage gang member, Dwane Williams, had testified that the “Fineman” gang was also responsible for the July 2008 attack at Lindo Creek where eight more persons were murdered.

Those killed in the Lusigan massacre were; Clarence Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas, 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Seegobin Harilall, 4; Dhanwajie Ramsingh, 52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; Shazam Mohammed, 22; and Shaleem Baksh, 52.

Meanwhile, the Bartica massacre trial continues at the High Court in Georgetown.

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THURSDAY, January 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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thursDAY, janUARy 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, January 26, 2017

Regional

Donald Trump: “We will build Mexico border wall” D

onald Trump has said a “big day” is planned on national security, including an announcement to build a wall on the border between the US and Mexico.

The new Republican President is expected to sign several executive orders on immigration and border security this week. They are likely to include the “extreme vetting” of people coming from seven predominantly Muslim countries in the

Middle East and Africa.

This would restrict refugee access. Trump tweeted: “Big day planned on national security tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!” Meanwhile, the Dow Jones traded above 20,000 for the first time, as traders bet that Trump’s policies will boost the economy.

Building a 2000-mile wall along the Mexican border was one of his key proposals during the presidential election campaign. Trump

said Mexico would pay for the wall, which he estimated would cost about US$8 billion (£6.4 billion).

He has since said the US would recoup the costs from its neighbour at a later date.

But Mexico’s president and senior officials have said that they will not pay for the wall, despite Trump’s campaign pledge.

There could also be measures that force so-called sanctuary cities in the US to co-operate with the authori-

President Trump is expected to sign several executive orders on immigration and border security this week. He estimates building the wall would cost about US$8 billion (£6.4 billion)

ties on deporting illegal immigrants. “Sanctuary cities”

are places that do not arrest or detain immigrants living

in the country illegally.(Excerpt from BBC News)

Regional exams body begins E-testing

T

he Barbadosbased Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) reported success as it officially launched its Electronic Testing Service to the region yesterday.

Some 500 candidates from seven countries – Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Cayman Islands, Anguilla, St Lucia and Montserrat and St Lucia – tested the online initiative which allowed students to use a computer or an electronic device to sit their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Paper 1 (Multiple Choice) examination in more

than a dozen subjects.

Barbados’ Education Minister Ronald Jones gave thumbs up to the initiative which CXC said “would bring regional learners up to speed with worldwide test-taking practices and provide them with the flexibility to interact with images, video, audio and other resources during their examinations”.

Jones noted that candidates, invigilators and education officials were happy with the results and he was confident it would be embraced as more countries get on board.

CXC registrar Glenroy

Cumberbatch said the move to embrace technology was a step in the right direction for the Region. He was confident that Caribbean students and teachers would appreciate the initiative.

Stressing that technology was the way of life, Cumberbatch said it was imperative that students be allowed to exploit its benefits in the classroom and not just for social networking or leisure.

CXC has assured that its e-testing platform will adhere to world-class security standards, which will guarantee the integrity of the test taking. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Suriname calls for military spending to be channelled into development

O

n Monday, S u r i n a m e ’ s Ambassador to the United Nations, Henry MacDonald, joined with the permanent missions of Belarus, Kazakhstan,

“Responsible Governance, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation for Progress and Sustainable Development”, the primary objective of the “brainstorming session” was to identi-

Suriname’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Henry MacDonald

and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in calling for a portion of military spending to be channelled into financing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

In jointly organising a meeting entitled

fy how to help shape the financing of the UNSDGs for the remaining 14 years, in tandem with collective defence spending.

Suriname, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the UNDP hope to convince major powers to invest a small percentage of their military

expenditures into the implementation of the UNSDG. This initiative builds on Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev’s proposal for countries to donate one per cent of their military budgets towards achieving the UNSDGs. MacDonald said that 194 UN member states collectively spend approximately US$1.747 trillion on defence annually – almost US$2 trillion on military expenditure; however, their collective official development assistance amounts to US$30 billion.

According to MacDonald, the UN budget for the year 2016-2017 is about US$6 billion and the budget for the year 2016-2017 with regard to peacekeeping operations, amounts to almost $8 billion. But ironically, “the Fifth Committee fell short to even provide a mere $5 million for the development account in support of the 2030 agenda for this year,” he pointed out. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

thursday, January 26, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Italian court modifies election law, could open way for 2017 vote

Somalia: Al-Shabab attack at Mogadishu hotel kills 28

I

taly’s constitutional court on Wednesday overhauled a contested electoral law, presenting a new system based on proportional representation that could open the way for early elections in 2017.

In a written ruling, the court rejected a core part of the original law, which had envisaged a run-off ballot in future national elections, saying instead that the vote should be held in just one round.

However, it endorsed a clause that would award an automatic parliamentary majority to any party that wins 40 per cent of the vote. No opinion polls put any of Italy’s plethoras of parties anywhere near 40 per cent at present.

That means the new system will almost certainly lead to a coalition government, something that may benefit traditional parties and penalise the main Opposition 5-Star Movement, which has always refused to form alli-

Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi gestures during the bell ceremony, to signify the start of the first Cabinet meeting of the newly appointed Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, at Chigi Palace in Rome, Italy, December 12, 2016

ances.

The court said the amended law could be used immediately if elections were called.

A vote is not scheduled until 2018 but former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who heads the ruling Democratic Party, has said he wants a ballot this year.

Within minutes of the court’s verdict being released, the 5-Star Movement also called for an immediate

election, saying its objective would be to win 40 percent backing nationally.

The law reviewed by the constitutional court only relates to the lower house of Parliament. A separate law covers the vote for the upper house, and President Sergio Mattarella has said the systems must be harmonized before the next election. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russian MPs back bill reducing punishment for domestic violence

R

ussian MPs have backed a controversial bill reducing the punishment for some forms of domestic violence in a crucial second reading, despite protests from rights groups.

The amendments reduce the penalty for violence against family members, including spouses and children, as long as it is a first offence and does not cause serious injury, making it punishable by a fine of up to 30,000 rubles (£400).

Violence against a family member that does not cause serious physical injury is currently defined as battery and punishable by up to two years in jail. Last week Amnesty International appealed to Russia’s parliament not to pass the bill, condemning it as a “sickening attempt to trivialise domestic violence”.

Moscow city authorities this week refused permission for a rally organised by opponents of the bill with the slogan “Stop violence in the fam-

ily; monsters should go to jail”.

After Wednesday’s passing, the bill needs to get through a third technical reading, expected on Friday, before it goes before the upper house and then to President Vladimir Putin for a final signature.

The bill’s authors say the new measure removes a legal anomaly and will reduce domestic violence by giving first-time abusers a chance to reform. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Trump could reinstate CIA’s secret ‘black site’ prisons−US officials

U

S President Donald Trump is expected to order a review that could lead to the reinstatement of a CIA programme to hold terrorist suspects in se-

rorism” launched by former President George W Bush after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The now defunct programme’s Enhanced

The exterior of Camp Delta is seen at the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, March 6, 2013

cret overseas “black site” prisons that used interrogation techniques often condemned as torture, two US officials said on Wednesday.

The black sites were used to detain suspects who were captured in the “war on ter-

Interrogation Techniques, which included simulated drowning known as water boarding, were criticised around the world. Former President Barack Obama and other senior US officials denounced water boarding as

torture.

The officials said Trump is expected to issue an executive order in the next few days. It would call for a high-level review into “whether to reinitiate a programme of interrogation of high-value alien terrorists to be operated outside the United States” and whether the CIA should run the facilities,” according to a copy of the draft published by the Washington Post.

There is widespread opposition in Congress, in US intelligence agencies and within the military to reopening black sites and revisiting the use of harsh interrogation techniques, according to the serving officers.

“The President can sign whatever executive orders he likes. But the law is the law.

We are not bringing back torture in the United States of America,” Senator John McCain, a Republican, said in a statement. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Dozens of people, including members of Somalia’s Parliament, were thought to have been in the hotel at the time of the attack

A

t least 28 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a coordinated gunand-bomb attack carried out by al-Shabab at a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, according to officials.

The assault on Wednesday morning began when attackers rammed an explosives-packed car into the gate of Dayah Hotel, which is near Somalia’s parliament in central Mogadishu, and then stormed inside exchanging gunfire with security guards.

A second massive car bomb blast went off after ambulances and jour-

nalists had arrived at the scene, leaving at least four reporters wounded, according to AFP news agency.

“We have confirmed 28 people died and 43 others were injured in the two blasts at the hotel,” Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of the capital’s ambulance services, told Reuters news agency.

Security Minister Abdirizak Umar told reporters at the scene that 51 people were wounded in the two blasts at the hotel. Colonel Abdiqadir Hussein, a Police Officer, told Reuters that security forces eventually managed to secure the building.

“We have rescued the

people and concluded the operation at Dayah Hotel.”

Witnesses said the powerful explosions caused extensive damage in the area near the hotel, shattering dozens of windows and damaging parked cars.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a report by Andalus radio, which is linked to the armed group.

Dozens of people, including members of Somalia’s Parliament, were thought to have been in the hotel at the time of the attack, Captain Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press news agency. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16

thursday, january 26, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Marlon George: “From one awesome business to another …creating an awesome system”

O

ur vision is to build an awesome business that supports other awesome businesses… by providing business efficiency through outsourcing.”

Marlon George is on a mission to save every local business owner or self-employed person from the tedious but necessary tasks of back office work – doing the accounts, ensuring NIS and GRA compliance, etc, so that they can focus on doing more of what makes them great – their core business.

Solutions Pro, the business support outsourcing company he owns with his business partner, offers a risk-free, money-back guarantee that all of its clients’ accounting, administrative and financial documentation needs will be met, so business owners can let go of those tasks with confidence they are being done competently, efficiently and

with accuracy.

George sees Solutions Pro as a flexible and responsive strategic partner to each client, as its worry-free back office services provide cost savings and a competitive advantage by putting information in businesses’ hands to help them make informed decisions for growth, as well as time savings in providing freedom from most paperwork.

For the father of two, organisation and meticulous care and thought underlie every faucet of his life.

“I continue to look for more efficient ways to get things done. I work with a schedule.” He cites as his influences motivational speaker Anthony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame, business thought leaders John Maxwell and Stephen Covey, and Vishnu Doerga on the local front.

The Georgetown native’s journey into business own-

ership has been a challenging one, but one he does not regret. For those of us who do not have business DNA – no history of business ownership in our families – entrepreneurship is fear-inspiring, he says. But a quote used by John Maxwell inspires him: “There are two important days in a person’s life – the day you are born and the day you discover why”.

George, Karateka added: “Fear is excitement with brakes… [it] stands for Fail Early And Responsibly, then pick yourself up and go again.”

“You need to get fed-up of your current situation (whether it’s the paycheque that’s done two weeks into the month) to enable you to realise your purpose and give you lasting reason to do what you need to, to grow (into business or better employment),” he stressed in citing the first of the lessons he has learnt along the

Business News

Jamaica ready to go mobile with Govt payments

P

ayment systems expert, Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Deputy Governor Livingstone Morrison, says that Jamaica – for which payment systems are much more advanced than some of its neighbours – is now ready to provide Government payments on a mobile platform.

The banker – who was

last week re-elected for a third term to the position of Vice President of the Working Group on Payment System Issues of Latin America and the Caribbean (WGPS-LAC) – says the island has been setting an example for the wider Region.

The Deputy Governor is one of several bank personnel who have been engaged

in knowledge sharing at the regional level, with others seconded to help in payment systems reform.

He is Chairman of the National Payments Council (NPC) which plays a role in facilitating the contribution of industry participants in the oversight and development of a modernised National Payments System Infrastructure. (Jamaica Observer)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, January 25, 2017

Selling

USD

$1203.50

GBP

$258.80

$262.09

Gross

$232,511

CAN

$156.90

$158.72

Net

$216,291

USD

$205.98

$208.44

$ 221.33

$224.17

Indicators as on January 25, 2017

EURO

Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$55.08

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$217.14/ton

London Sugar

$540.90/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

-0.36 Change %

+0.71 0 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1200.90

$1208.50

Low/High

$1192.70

$1208.50

Change

+0.20

+0.02%

Business Concept – Business Support Service Outsourcing When you outsource, you are only charged for the work being done rather than hiring someone full-time and in-house. In addition, as you can bring in specialised professionals who are dedicated to that single task or activity, you can also make your business a production line of increased productivity and efficiency – all of this at the fraction of the cost of hiring full time workers to undertake multiple work activities.

(Itlgconsulting.com)

Marlon George

way. Second, remove your limitations – the thoughts of you’re not bright enough, good enough; you don’t have enough money, get rid of them. “The most powerful capital that you need is between your ears – your brain….talk to the right people – those who are doing what you want to – ask for their advice. The third lesson George shared builds on the second: “It is important that you do the learning for whatever you want to do so that you can do it well and set the standard.

[Then], you just need to do” – execute your plan.

The MBA graduate con-

tinued, “Understand that you need to be persistent and have patience. Success does not happen overnight: it is a process.”

He further advised entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs that they needed to understand what their clients were looking for and to speak their language.

In forecasting Solutions Pro’s path in the current economy, George says because his business is service-oriented and a business-to-business provider, its trajectory is firmly upwards as he anticipates an explosion in demand.

When asked what could be done to assist entrepreneurs, especially when starting up their businesses, the independent contractor said organisations and Government need to continue providing practical business training – but across the length and breadth of Guyana. In acknowledging the Small Business Bureau, IPED, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry and ScotiaBank for providing practical help as well as loans or grants, George suggested that these entities widen their scope to capture more budding entrepre-

neurs while popularising their offerings so that the populace will know where specifically to get help. He stressed that Government should start a national conversation on entrepreneurship to have discussions on what support is needed – possibly tax breaks for small businesses— and the ideas Guyanese have that may change the world and how to make them work.

However, he highlighted that belief in one’s self is the most important trait of an entrepreneur.

“A lot of dreams have died with a lot of people, because they weren’t confident and never allowed themselves the possibility to realise that dream for whatever reason. I think it’s criminal when there is an absence of systems and discussion to help make that [entrepreneurship] happen and people make a contribution.” “Success is relative…

It is whatever you idealise it to be. I believe success is being able to impart value from your experience to impact the lives of others positively and leave a legacy.”

Contact: 51 Princess Street, Wortmanville; 6007350, 231-8660; ww.facebook.com/pg/solutionspro. gy

Investors’ Guide

Dow tops 20,000 on revitalised Trump trade, earnings

U

S stocks climbed on Wednesday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed atop the 20,000 mark for the first time as solid earnings and optimism over President Donald Trump's pro-growth initiatives revitalised a post-election rally.

Trump has made several business-friendly decisions since taking office on Friday, including signing executive orders to reduce regulatory burden on domestic manufacturers and clearing the way for the construction of two oil pipelines.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite indexes also closed at record highs for a second consecutive session.

The Dow came within a point of the historic mark on January 6, as investors banked on pro-growth policies and tax cuts many expect from the new administration.

However, the index had struggled in recent weeks as investors awaited clarity on the new Administration's policies grew cautious.

"It was definitely a milestone that the market has been focused on for really the better part of two months and you were starting to get a little bit of anx-

iety as to whether it was going to be surmounted or not," said Julian Emanuel, equity strategist at UBS in New York.

"We are particularly encouraged to see financials acting well again because they have been the leadership."

Sentiment was also lifted by better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings. Of the 104 S&P 500 companies that have reported results through Wednesday morning, nearly 70 per cent have beaten expectations, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/ E/S. Earnings are expected to show growth of 6.8 per cent for the quarter, the strongest in two years.

The 42-session surge from the Dow's first close above 19,000 marks the second-shortest length of time between such milestones.

The most rapid rise was between 10,000 and 11,000 from March 29 to May 3, 1999, which took 24 days.

The rise from 18,000 to 19,000 took the Dow 483 trading sessions.

The surge since November 22, when the index closed above 19,000 for the first time, has been spearheaded by financial stocks, with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan accounting

for roughly 20 per cent of the gain.

On Wednesday, Boeing hit a record high of US$168.65 on strong earnings, giving the Dow its biggest boost before closing up 4.2 per cent at $167.36 per cent gain.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 155.80 points, or 0.78 per cent, to close at 20,068.51, the S&P 500 gained 18.30 points, or 0.80 per cent, to 2298.37 and the Nasdaq Composite added 55.38 points, or 0.99 per cent, to 5656.34.

A 1.7 per cent rise in financials paced the advance for the S&P 500, while names sensitive to a climb in interest rates – utilities, real estate and telecoms – lost ground.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.82-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 2.38-to-1 ratio favoured advancers.

The S&P 500 posted 81 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 201 new highs and 13 new lows.

About 7.03 billion shares changed hands in US exchanges, higher than the 6.37 billion daily average over the last 20 sessions.

(Reuters)

news

17

thursDAY, janUARY 26, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Missing fisherman Omar Shariff is special found dead at Charity prosecuting team’s 1st case

T

he partially decomposed body of missing fisherman Collin Nickleson was on Wednesday morning found floating in the Pomeroon River, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The body was recovered from the river by detectives attached to the Charity Police Station.

Reports are the body was immediately autopsied and it was revealed that the 63-year-old man died as a result of drowning. The post-mortem was conducted

by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh at the Suddie Mortuary.

Nickleson, a fisherman of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, went missing on January 23. His son, Collis Nickleson, identified his father’s body on Wednesday.

Collin Nickleson was last seen at Charity. Reports

T

are on January 23, another fisherman reported to the Charity Police Station that Nikleson had fallen overboard from a fishing vessel. This newspaper was told that the man related to Police that at about 21:00h he was in his fishing boat when he heard someone saying that a man fell over-

board from another boat.

He said he then learnt that it was Nikleson, who fell overboard from "Big Bird" wharf. The fisherman had journeyed to Charity to work on a fishing vessel.

Following the autopsy, the body was then handed over to family members for burial.

UG administration accused of hindering advances for law programme

A

s Guyana prepares to establish a local law school, outgoing Head of Department (HOD) at the University of Guyana’s Law Department, Ronald Singh has accused operatives within the institution’s administration of executing an orchestrated move to force him out of his post.

He premised this belief on the opposition he faced when he had highlighted and recommended sweeping changes to the Law Department.

He further revealed that among the changes were a revamp of the grading system, assistance for elderly lecturers, his complaints over the high failure rate of key courses, salary woes, the lack of an assistant administrative officer and deficiencies in the second marker’s system. He raised the issue of the slothfulness of UG’s Examinations Division and of some lecturers in returning grades in a timely manner to the Registry which affected placements at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago.

He noted too that he rec-

cer in the department. He later revealed that he did at one point refuse the UG administration’s instalment of the officer due to previous allegations levelled against the individual which included the selling of exam papers.

JOF Haynes Law School

Outgoing HOD at the University’s Law Department, Ronald Singh

ommended and repeatedly advocated for several new courses to be offered at UG, especially in Competition Law, highlighting its importance in light of a local beverage company filing a motion against the revenue agency over a multibillion-dollar tax write-off to its competitor.

Singh also lamented the added strain he was under due to the non-appointment of an Assistant Admin offi-

Meanwhile, the outgoing Law Department head welcomed the institution’s prospective law school, due to take its first batch in 2018.

He noted that the school would bring tremendous benefits to the country.

“I am happy to know that that programme is coming on stream because for the last five years I have been fighting for something similar,” the HOD noted.

He, however, argued that Guyana should focus less on Caricom (the Caribbean Community) and concentrate its efforts on joining partnerships with its South American counterparts. To this end, Singh called for Guyana to move away from Common Law and replace it with Civil Law, which neighbouring Suriname follows.

Guyana’s law school will not...

from page 10

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has since expressed concerns over these two institutions, contending that they are “virtually unknown”.

Nandlall had also raised concerns over the accreditation of the school and the quality of education to be offered.

But the Attorney General is assuring on a number of occasions that the Council of Legal Education will be governing the operations of the local law school, and that the institution and its programmes will be accredited and recognised across the

entire Region.

It was pointed out that the cost would be incredibly cheaper given that students factored in living expenses in addition to their tuition when they were studying abroad.

Assurances were also given that the lecturers contracted will be of high standards to ensure that the students are offered quality legal education.

It is also the vision of the partners involved for the school to go beyond training students to be called to the bar.

Deputy Vice Chancellor

of the University of Guyana (UG), Dr Barbara Reynolds expressed the hope that the law school will broaden the horizons for students studying law.

Dr Reynolds stressed that there is not sufficient study of the law from an academic perspective as opposed to a practical perspective.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General hopes that the law school will become operational next year in order to accommodate Guyanese law students desirous of pursuing their legal studies.

he team of special prosecutors appointed by Government to pursue cases made out by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) will be prosecuting its first case, which is against former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff, and his wife Shabita Hardeo.

Shariff, who was fired in December 2016, is currently under investigations

by SOCU following the alleged discovery of several billions of dollars in a number of local bank accounts in his name and the names of persons, who worked close to him, including his wife.

Head of SOCU, Sydney James, had stated last year that the MOTP Permanent Secretary Shariff was being investigated for money laundering and tax evasion.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Basil Williams at a press conference on Wednesday disclosed that six special prosecutors appointed by Cabinet have been issued with fiats by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack and of these, a selected team will be appointed to prosecute the case against Shabita Hardeo and Omar Shariff which is being tried in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

“This is the maiden tri-

Former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Presidency Omar Shariff

al for the special prosecutorial team, whose members could only prosecute matters with the concurrence of the DPP, except where a private criminal matter is filed,” he noted.

In addition, members of the team are assisting SOCU in its preparation of cases to be prosecuted, Williams added.

Government has budgeted some $100 million for the appointment of special prosecutors – who will be tasked with leading the cases against those found to be culpable of crimes as detailed in the forensic audits conducted over the past two years.

However, this recently attracted much criticism since most of the special prosecutors hired are from law firms owned by sever-

al Government Ministers.

According to reports, the six Attorneys retained as special prosecutors are Michael Somersall, Hewely Griffith, Lawrence Harris, Patrice Henry, Trenton Lake and Compton Richardson.

When asked about the criteria used to select these persons, the Attorney General pointed out that these are persons who are “well qualified” and have experience in prosecution.

“So we have people who have been practicing at the criminal bar,” he asserted while adding that “…You have to understand that we have to use people who are willing, who are available and who have the skills set.”

Meanwhile, two of the forensic audits which are considered to be Government’s focal priorities – Sparendaam Housing Scheme and the operations of the Guyana Cricket World Cup Inc. Attorney General Williams indicated to reporters on Wednesday that it likely another set of special prosecutors, this time overseas professionals, will be sourced for these cases.

“We also have identified persons from abroad who will come in certain matters… when the time comes, we will make that disclosure,” he posited when probed further.

EBE trio remanded after robbery spree

T

hree men, all of the East Bank of Essequibo, were sent back to jail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when they appeared before her charged with the offence of robbery under arms.

Calvin Reid, Raymond Reid, and Leron Blaize, of Salem, East Bank Essequibo, all denied the allegation.

It is alleged that on March 24, 2016 at Arrow Mountaintop, Essequibo, while being armed with a gun, they robbed Carlotta Harris of one yellow metal chain valued $50,000, a yellow metal ring valued $40,000, yellow metal earrings valued $30,000 and one cellphone valued $80,000, a total value of $200,000.

The second charge against them read that at the same day at the same location, they robbed Gavin Andrews of three pennyweights of raw gold valued $30,000, and one G-Shock watch valued $30,000, a total value of $60,000. And the final charge stated that on the same day at the same location, they robbed Caleb Trim of a Stephen shotgun valued $150,000, 4 ounces and 5 pennyweights of raw

Calvin Reid, Raymond Reid, and Leron Blaize

gold valued $1.1 million, a pair of long boots valued $4000 and one torch light.

Raymond, 25, and Calvin, 24, who are brothers, were both represented by legal counsel.

The Attorney told the court that the number one accused, Raymond, a parttime miner and basket maker for his family business, was not at home when Police Officers visited his home to arrest him. She explained that upon his return, he was told of what had transpired and reported to the Police Station where he was arrested and charged with the present offence. The number two accused, Calvin, denied any involvement in the charge brought against him.

Blaize, 27, who was un-

represented, told the court that he had been living in the interior for the last four years.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers opposed to bail owing to the gravity of the offence.

He told the court that the number two accused was presently on remand for possession of narcotics.

Blaize is also charged with a similar offence and was also on remand.

He further stated that the Reid brothers were both employed by Trim, one of the Virtual Complainants (VCs), during the time of the robbery. As such, bail was denied and all defendants were remanded to prison to return to the Kaikan Magistrate’s Court on March 21, 2017.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, janUARY 26, 2017

ARCHIE

Handle important partnerships with care. Listen (March 21- to complaints and suggesApril 19) tions, and look for a way to compromise. It’s best to keep the peace to avoid emotional backlash.

ARIES

Share your thoughts and TAURUS collaborate with people heading (April 20- in a similar direction. A chance May 20) to travel or communicate with people who have something to offer will be enlightening.

Romance is highlighted.

dilbert

Learn from watching GEMINI what others do, not by oppos(May 21June 20) ing those who will never do or see things your way. If you want change, it’s up to you to make it happen.

Partners and children will be demanding. Before you think (June 21- about giving in, set down some July 22) ground rules. Don’t overspend just because someone makes you feel guilty. Offer love, consideration and understanding.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Changes at home will come as a surprise if you haven’t been paying attention.

Don’t neglect the little things.

Pay close attention to detail, especially where personal relationships are concerned.

Don’t sign any contracts VIRGO (Aug. 23- until you negotiate the deal Sept. 22) you want. Your ability to persuade others to see and do things your way must not be wasted.

Calvin and Hobbes

It will be difficult to choose LIBRA between an emotional and an (Sept. 23intelligent response. Don’t let Oct. 23) anyone goad you into an argument you aren’t prepared for.

Gather facts and make your point clear.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Plan to have some fun or SCORPIO find a creative outlet that (Oct. 24will give you the platform you Nov. 22) need to display your talents, skills and foresight. Engage in romance to celebrate your achievements.

Added responsibilities can SAGITTARIUS work for or against you, de(Nov. 23- pending on how you handle Dec. 21) matters. Dig in and get the work out of the way fast in order to garner praise and avoid criticism.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You’ll discover a unique CAPRICORN way to use your knowledge, (Dec. 22expertise and skills to bring Jan. 19) in extra cash. Don’t reveal your plans until you have every detail in place.

Disciplined actions will be AQUARIUS rewarded. Put your energy (Jan. 20into setting goals and reachFeb. 19) ing your destination. A personal change will do you good.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES A romantic gesture will be (Feb. 20- met with an interesting reMarch 20) sponse. Don’t feel pressured to spend too much. You can have fun doing something simple or entertaining at home.

thurSDAY, january 26, 2017

19

Australian Open 2017

Rafael Nadal

S

ri Lanka spoiled AB de Villiers’ comeback by

slower ball and sent it over longon for six. He did not g e t hold o f the

tion run-charts, Hendricks had the composure for a longer stay and formed one half of the hosts’ major partnership on the night After Smuts was given out lbw, Hendricks was joined by de Villiers and was happy to cede control to the senior man, but not before a third perfectly timed offside drive to the end the PowerPlay strongly.

De Villiers initially played within himself before giving making room to drive through point for his first boundary. He did not focus on finding the rope too many more times early on, though, and strike-rotation with a partner who was as speedy as him formed the foundation of their scoring. Every single was cheered loudly, twos and a solitary three were even more appreciated but there was no doubt the crowd was expecting more.

When de Villiers danced down the track to meet a Lakshan Sandakan delivery on the full and send it straight back over his head for six, Newlands erupted.

Their superstar was back.

snatching the T20 series from South Africa to claim the first silverware in the country in their history. Niroshan next Dickwella’s career-best 68 one, overshadowed de Villiers’ losing 63, in his first international his bat as outing in six months, as Sri he swung, Lanka chased down 170 with but finished one ball remaining but it the over with was Seekkuge Prasanna’s a ramp over 16-ball 37 which completthe Mangaliso ed the second highest sucMosehle’s cessful chase at Newlands. head to leave South Africa Paterson AB de Villiers came were without their with 11 to back with a bang newest spearhead, defend off 20-year-old Lungi the last Ngidi, for most of their time over. in the field after he bruised Gunaratne took the preshis hip, and he could not sure off the final passage of bowl his final two overs, but play with a scoop over fine had a tardy fielding effort leg for four and took quick rather than lack of resourc- singles before he swung es to blame for their inabil- across the line and topity to defend the total. They edged over Mosehle to levput down five catches in to- el scores. In his excitement, tal and saw several more ae- Gunaratne thought the (ESPNcricinfo) rial chances go unclaimed to match was over and allow Sri Lanka some lee- grabbed a stump out way in what was a tough of the ground in celtask. ebration only to be South Africa innings (20 overs maximum) Still, it took cool heads told he needed one JT Smuts lbw b Prasanna 19 for Sri Lanka’s batsmen to run was still needed.

RR Hendricks st †Chandimal b Sandakan 41 cross the line, especially af- He drove the penulAB de Villiers c Tharanga b Kulasekara 63 ter Imran Tahir removed timate ball through DA Miller c Sandakan b Gunaratne 1 their stand-in captain the covers and this F Behardien* run out (Mendis/†Chandimal) 6 Dinesh Chandimal early on time could keep the M Mosehle† not out 32 and then removed Dickwella stump.

3 WD Parnell not out and Dhananjaya de Silva in South Africa (lb-2, w-2) 4 Extras the same over. Sri Lanka might blame their (5 wickets; 20 overs) 169 Total had to rebuild their innings middle-order probDid not bat AL Phehlukwayo, D twice and eventually need- lems for not postPaterson, Imran Tahir, L Ngidi ed 26 runs off the last two ing a big enough toFall of wickets 1-36 (Smuts, 4.2 ov), 2-107 (Hendricks, 13.2 ov), 3-117 overs. Against the inexperi- tal. They lost 4 for 28 (Miller, 14.4 ov), 4-133 (Behardien, ence of Andile Phehlulwayo runs in 25 balls be16.4 ov), 5-135 (de Villiers, 17.1 ov) and debutant Dane tween the 14th and Bowling ST de Silva 1-0-10-0, KMDN Paterson, Prasanna and 18th over, including Kulasekara 4-0-30-1, I Udana 4-0-49-0, S Asela Gunaratne got there de Villiers which may Prasanna 3-0-21-1 (w-1), PADLR Sandakan 4-0-23-1, DAS Gunaratne 4-0-34-1 (w-1) to seal a memorable win. have been the differBy the time the 19th over ence.

Sri Lanka innings (target: 170 began, Prasanna already South Africa triruns from 20 overs) had 23 off 10 balls - hav- alled a new opening N Dickwella c Behardien b Imran Tahir 68 ing brought the target down partner for Smuts in WU Tharanga c Behardien b Parnell 20 from a daunting 50 off 21 Reeza Hendricks and LD Chandimal*† b Imran Tahir 5 balls - but Gunaratne had it proved a good dest †Mosehle b Imran Tahir 19 DM de Silva yet to score a run and only cision. While Smuts 37 S Prasanna not out faced one ball after Kusal continued to show 2 BKG Mendis run out (Paterson) Mendis was run-out in the nothing more than DAS Gunaratne not out 11 previous over. The pair ran glimpses of the poExtras (b-2, lb-3, w-3) 8 hard off the first and second tential that took him 170 Total (5 wickets; 19.5 overs) deliveries before Prasanna to the top of the doadvanced on a Phehlukwayo mestic T20 competi-

Scorecard

R

afael Nadal reached his first Grand Slam semifinal since 2014 with a superb 6-4 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 victory over Canada’s third seed Milos Raonic.

The 14-time Grand Slam winner, who has been troubled by injuries in recent years, saved six set points in the second set before dominating the third.

Nadal, the 2009 champion, faces 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov on Friday after the Bulgarian beat David Goffin.

The Spaniard, 30, remains on course to meet Roger Federer in Sunday’s final.

Federer, 35, will play his fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the first semi-final on Thursday.

Nadal is attempting to become the first man in the Open era - and only the third man in history after Roy Emerson and Rod Laver - to win each of the four Grand Slam titles twice.

The ninth seed’s victory means six of the eight players in the men’s and women’s semi-finals are over 30.

Nadal last reached a Grand

Slam semi-final when he won the French Open - his last major title - three years ago.

A wrist injury in 2016 raised serious concerns about his future but he looked close to his very best against Raonic.

He broke the big-serving Canadian once in the first set to take the lead but Raonic, who was the highest seed left in the men’s draw, looked like he would level the match in the second.

Raonic needed a medical timeout midway through the set for an abductor problem, but seemed to come back stronger and had three set points on Nadal’s serve at 5-4.

Nadal saved them all, then saved two more in the tiebreak before Raonic doublefaulted on the sixth set point, and the former world number one took the set with his first chance.

Nadal took advantage of Raonic’s lack of mobility in the third set to wrap up an impressive victory, his 50th since making his debut in the tournament in 2004, with a hold to love.

His win came after two hours and 44 minutes on court and he celebrated with a huge leap before falling to his knees as emotion took over.

Federer, who won the last of 17 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon in 2012, has only just recovered from a knee injury that kept him out for six months.

Dimitrov, who works with Dani Vallverdu, former coach of Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych, had earlier beaten 11th seed Goffin 6-3 6-2 6-4.

The 25-year-old began the year with a title in Brisbane and has now won 10 matches in a row.

“The last two years have been a rollercoaster for me, but I’m happy with the way it happened,” said Dimitrov.

“I’m appreciating things much better now. To be back in the semi-finals of a Slam means too much for me right now.”

He will be appearing in his second major semi-final, having made it to the same stage at Wimbledon in 2014.

(BBC Sport)

Serena inches closer to record feat after beating Konta

S

ix-time champion Serena Williams outplayed Britain’s Johanna Konta to reach the Australian Open semifinals.

The American, 35, won 6-2 6-3 and will next play unseeded Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who beat fifth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Konta, seeded ninth, went into the quarter-final on a ninematch and 18-set winning streak but came up short in her first meeting with Williams.

Williams is now two wins from claiming an Open-era record 23rd major title.

Konta described facing Williams as the “best experience of my life”.

In a match of big hitting and small margins, it was Williams who established an early control she would not relinquish.

The American’s usually dominant first serve faltered as she made just 45%, but she returned brilliantly to break the Konta serve - the best on tour this season going into the match - four times.

Lucic-Baroni won the Australian Open doubles title in 1998

World number 79 LucicBaroni upset Pliskova to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne 18 years after she reached the same stage at Wimbledon.

The 34-year-old hardly played in the early years of the century because of a series of personal issues.

“I can’t believe this, this is crazy,” said Lucic-Baroni.

“The only thing I can say is God is good. I can’t believe I’m in the semi-finals again. I feel a little bit in shock right now.

Lucic-Baroni was a tennis prodigy, winning junior titles at the Australian and US Opens, and winning the Australian Open doubles with Martina Hingis in 1998.

She went on to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon the following year, losing to Steffi Graf.

Lucic-Baroni and Williams will meet for the first time since Wimbledon 1998 in Thursday’s semi-final, which begins at 03:00 GMT. “It is really happening for the mid-30s,” said Williams.

“Mirjana - it is so good to see her back out and inspiring to see her in the semi-finals. Whatever happens there will be someone in the final in their mid-thirties.”

Serena’s sister Venus takes on fellow American Coco Vandeweghe in the other semifinal.

20

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thursDAY, january 26, 2017

Bolt

loses Olympic gold

Moeen withdraws from PSL for Mecca pilgrimage

as Carter tests positive U sain Bolt will have to hand back one of his nine Olympic gold medals after Jamaican team-mate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance.

Carter was part of the Jamaican quartet that won the 4x100m in Beijing in 2008. His was one of 454 selected doping samples retested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year, and has been found to contain the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine.

Bolt, 30, completed an unprecedented ‘triple triple’ in Rio last summer.

He won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay to add to his successes in the same events in 2008 and 2012.

Carter, 31, was also part of the squad that won the event in London five years ago and helped Jamaica win at the World Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

He ran the first leg for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team in Beijing, which also included Michael Frater, Asafa Powell and Bolt.

The team won in a thenworld record of 37.10 seconds, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and Japan, who could have their medals upgraded. Brazil would then receive bronze.

Russia’s Tatiana Lebedeva has also been stripped of her Beijing long jump and triple jump silver medals after dehydro-

chlormethyltestosterone was found in one of her samples.

Carter was tested on the evening of the Beijing final in 2008 but that was found at the time to contain no “adverse analytical finding”.

More than 4,500 tests were carried out at those Games, with nine athletes caught cheating.

An anomaly was discov-

on the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) prohibited list since 2004.

It was reclassified in 2011 as a “specified substance”, meaning one that is more susceptible to a “credible, non-doping explanation”. Sold as a nasal decongestant in the United States until 1983, methylhexanamine has been used more recently as an ingredi-

Nesta Carter was told of the adverse finding in May - before the Rio Olympics

ered in Carter’s submission following the IOC’s decision to retest 454 samples from Beijing using the latest scientific analysis methods.

Carter and the Jamaican National Olympic Committee were told of the adverse finding in May - before the Rio Games - and told his B sample would be tested. It was reported by Reuters in June that Carter’s A sample had been found to contain methylhexanamine, which has been

ent in dietary supplements.

Speaking in June, Bolt said the prospect of having to return the gold was “heartbreaking”.

He told the Jamaica Gleaner: “For years you’ve worked hard to accumulate gold medals and you work hard to be a champion, but it’s one of those things.

“I’m more concerned about the athlete and I hope he gets through it.” (BBC Sport)

Moeen Ali

M

oeen Ali has opted out of participating in the second season of the Pakistan Super League for what the league said was for a pilgrimage for Umrah although the official line stated just “personal reasons”.* Moeen, who is currently in India with England’s limited-overs squad, was named yesterday as a replacement for Carlos Brathwaite in the Quetta Gladiators squad.

He had been negotiating through his agent as to his exact availability when the clash of priorities became apparent.

Quetta were quickly informed of his change of plans, and Moeen has now been replaced by the veteran Australian, Brad Hodge, who represented Peshawar Zalmi in last season’s inaugural tournament.

“Moeen Ali is a top player and a great person,” read a tweet from the franchise.

“We respect his decision to honour his family commitment first. Good Luck Moeen.”

Faisal Mirza, who is in charge of player recruitment for the PSL, tweeted on Tuesday: “Between the time he declared availability and the Draft his plan to MashaAllah go to family Umrah got finalised. Naturally the team said ok.”

It is not the first time that Moeen has performed a swift U-turn when it comes to T20 league availability. Last year, he put himself forward for the IPL auction, only to withdraw hours later after the ECB expressed concerns about his workload.

As England’s premier spin-bowling all-

rounder, Moeen played 41 matches for England across all three formats in 2016, including all 17 of their Test matches. He faces an even more intense workload in 2017, with England hosting the Champions Trophy in June, as well as multi-format series against South Africa and West Indies ahead of the Ashes tour in October.

Moeen, a devout Muslim, first performed umrah in November 2009, and credited the “inspirational’ experience for a flying start to his county season with Worcestershire the following year.

“I think I came back nice and fresh after that,” he said at the time. “It makes a person strong and it was a chance to just get away from cricket.”

The second season of the PSL gets underway in the UAE on Feb 9, with the final scheduled to take place in Lahore on March 7. (ESPNcricinfo)

Tahir reprimanded for Junaid WICB has special plan for Cornwall A Jamshed t-shirt I mran Tahir, the South Africa legspinner, has been reprimanded by the ICC for a wicket celebration in which he revealed a t-shirt under his playing kit with an image of the late Junaid Jamshed, a one-time Pakistani pop icon and latterly a religious preacher, who was also popular among some former Pakistani cricketers.

After dismissing Asela Gunaratne in the second T20I at the Wanderers, Tahir took off into one of his typical celebratory sprints and then pulled his playing shirt over his head to reveal the image. Jamshed was one of the victims of a Pakistan International Airlines plane crash en route to Islamabad in December. Jamshed was photographed earlier that day with Saeed Anwar in Chitral,

in northern Pakistan, from where the plane took off.

Tahir’s reaction was quickly picked up on social media and there was initially no response from the ICC. But they have since reprimanded him for a procedural breach under section G1 of their clothing and equipment regulations which relates to displaying personal messages without approval.

The regulation states: “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through arm bands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment (“Personal Messages”) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s Board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department.

Approval shall not be grant-

Imran Tahir was having a good match up until the forgettable incident

ed for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes”.

Tahir admitted the offence and accepted the sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing. (ESPNcricinfo)

special program has been developed for Leeward Islands all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), with the aim being to unlock the talented player’s full potential.

The 23-year-old has emerged as one of the most talented all-rounders in recent times, claiming 23 wickets during the West Indies A tour of Sri Lanka.

The performance included a career-best eight of 108 in the opening game in Colombo last October. Since returning to the region the player has also had a strong performance in the Regional first class tournament after registering three half-centuries.

The towering Cornwall has, however, often had to face questions relating to his fitness and agility due to his oversized frame. Chairman

Rakheem Cornwall

of selectors Courtney Browne insists that work would be done in order to help develop the player.

“We’re actually putting a programme in place for Rahkeem where we are actually going to have someone to manage him overall,” Browne told Line and Length Network.

“We are looking at the various components of him

playing cricket where we are looking at coaches, dieticians, and just getting everybody to come together to help this young player because he’s a special talent.”

Browne revealed that WICB player relations officer, Ayanna Cooper, would lead the charge in ensuring the right team was in place to help Cornwall in every area of his game. (Sportsmax)

sports

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eyes Sunshine Grand Prix

By Romario Samaroo

G

uyana Overseas Rider of 2016, Geron “Lone Rider” Williams is on a different journey for this season of cycling as he looks to take over the longer version of the sport.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, the Guyanese speedster related that, like every year his schedule of balancing work and his career as a rider as well as personal life is always busy.

However, he is expected to take to the United States of America circuit which sees him competing more than once on a weekly basis, far more than what is afforded on the local arena.

But this year, according to the cycling star, will bring about a change in focus for his New York based club, CRCA/Foundation who will be aiming to tackle the longer races such as one day classics and stage races, rather than criterion racing which is a shortened form of road racing.

Williams was adamant to highlight the efforts made by DeSinco Trading and his club CRCA/ Foundation who make the trips possible and give him the opportunity to wear the Guyana colours. The well-spoken cyclist also praised the unwavering support from his family, especially his mother, father and sister who continue to motivate him and encourage him with their presence at all of his races.

While January is usually a slow month for Williams, he is nevertheless preparing for the journey ahead, taking into con-

Geron Williams

sideration his diet and gym time to remain in competition shape prior to pedal-off which he hopes will be in February. Williams pointed out that he will like to make an immediate impact on the local scene.

“January is usually a slow month for me as I prepare to begin my season.

With my training schedule taking shape and form slowly coming around, I’m looking forward to starting my campaign locally in February providing there are races,” Williams stated.

The following month, Williams will be heading to Florida where he is eyeing to compete in his first major event, the Sunshine Gran Prix in Tampa. “Early March I am hoping to head to Florida where I would be focusing on building up to my first major event which is the Sunshine Grand Prix scheduled to take place in Tampa Florida,” the Foundation rider pointed out.

On the domestic arena, “Lone Rider” has indicated his priority, pending his schedule, in winning the National Championships, a title that paper thinly eluded him in 2016 and captured by Shaquel Agard.

“I’m planning to return to Guyana to compete at the National championships.

The annual Independence Three-Stage is an event I would also like to attend providing my schedule allows it,” Williams said.

Generally, the natural-born cyclist is looking to improve on his overall career with some outstanding performances that could see him taking title after title on both the domestic and international circuits.

“Like every year I’m looking to aim to improve on my overall cycling career, by adding creditable and outstanding performances. Not forgetting to focus on my own personal growth on and off the bike” Williams highlighted.

Lawrence Simon returns as LABA President

T

he Linden Amateur B a s k e t b a l l Association (LABA) will be led by Lawrence “Larry” Simon for another two years after being re-elected unanimously to serve when the six affiliated clubs voted en bloc for his slate at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Biennial Elections last Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Lounge.

Others returning to serve are second Vice President Eze Wilson, Secretary Joseph Chapman and Organising Secretary Christopher Pollydore.

Abdulla Hamid who headed the association a few years ago is back as the first vice

Lawrence Simon

president while Tandica Fraser is the Treasurer and Kevin Sullivan the assistant treasurer with Joel Webster as assistant Secretary.

The Public Relations Officer is Tracy Liverpoole with Kevin “Two Feet” Joseph and Eusi Francis returning as Committee members along with Hubert Wade of Kwakwani.

The clubs that attended the AGM were Retrieve Raiders, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Bankers Trust Falcons, Kwakwani and Victory Valley Royals. The only club which failed to turn up were the Half Mile Bulls while Wismar Pistons who were absent from competitive basketball recently is set to be affiliated once again.

The association has set Saturday for their first executive meeting at a venue to be named.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, january 26, 2017

Petra/Limacol Round Robin Knock-out Football…

Another double-header on tonight at GFC –Western Tigers favoured against NA United

The first night was certainly entertaining and it seems all teams are going all-out for a top two group spot (Marceano Narine photo)

T

he second annual Petra Organised Limacol round-robin knock-out football tournament is now in full swing after an exciting start on Monday and will continue tonight at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Bourda, with yet another double-header.

The fixture will see Georgetown Football Association’s top side, Western Tigers battling New Amsterdam United from 18:30h followed by the youthful Santos FC suiting-up against Ann’s Grove United from 20:30h.

Monday’s opening night at the aforementioned venue proved to be a thriller, with

the two matches producing tantalizing draws.

In the first encounter, Mahaica Determinators brilliantly drew with Guyana Police Force FC 2-2.

Eion Abel with a brace led the way for Mahaica while Dwayne Charles and Quincy Holder were on point for the lawmen.

The boisterous in attendance then had their nerves rocked gain as with two minutes remaining before full time, Jason Williams scored a stunning goal to pull his side from the jaws of defeat after Teon Jones had put Riddim Squad ahead in the 82nd.

The group structure

sees Group A comprising of defending champions Milerock, top Linden side, Winners Connection, East Bank Champions, Grove Hi Tech and Northern Rangers.

Group B teams are Western Tigers, Uitvulgt, Eagles United and New Amsterdam United while Group C consists of Santos FC, Pouderoyen, Den Amstel and Ann’s Gove United and Group D teams are Police FC, Riddim Squad, Campton FC and Mahaica Determinators.

The tournament which takes a round-robin knockout format will see, the top teams complete for a $500,000 first place prize while second to third will receive $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.

In addition, the top teams in the groups will be rewarded $100,000, $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000.

Other than title sponsors Limacol, the organisers have also managed to gain the support of Bank DIH under their GT Beer brand, Star Party Rentals and Trophy Stall.

Round One Fixtures Date

Time

Match

Ground

26-Jan-2017

18:30 hrs

Western Tigers v New Amsterdam

GFC

20:30 hrs

Santos FC v Ann’s Grove

GFC

18:30 hrs

Uitvlugt v Eagles United

Leonora Stadium

20:30 hrs

Pouderoyen v Den Amstel

Leonora

18:30 hrs

Winners Connection v Grove Hi Tec

GFC

20:30 hrs

Milerock v Northern Rangers

GFC

27-Jan-2017 28-Jan-2017

Let there be lights!

I

n an effort to upgrade the leading outdoor basketball facility in Georgetown, the Burnham Basketball Court, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) installed a second light at the facility on Wednesday.

The second installation follows the initial 1000-watt light that was installed in place in December 2016. A third light fixture has already been purchased and is waiting modification before installation according to President of GABF Nigel Hinds.

Hinds said they (GABF) decided to install the lights for various reasons, among them, provision of opportunities for clubs and youths from the area to have access to a lighted court in the evening and to cut cost for the

GABF President Nigel Hinds

federation whenever events are hosted.

The President is optimistic that the installation of the lights will go a long way and it will have an impact on youths who have to attend classes and the facility will be open to all free of

charge in the dark hours.

All of the 12 clubs in Georgetown are set to benefit from works being done at the facility, with the top two clubs Pacesetters and Colts set to use it on a weekly basis. Since both clubs consist of more than 50 members

O

n the night that BBL’s sixth season’s millionth fan came through, the competition served up a cap-

tivating classic, with a Super Over being required to separate Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers at the Gabba.

After both teams made 167, Sixers won the shootout by seven runs, with Moises Henriques - having made 64 off 34 earlier flaying two sixes and a four in setting 23 for a Brisbane win.

Sean Abbott, who earlier took his tournament wicket tally to 20, was up to the task of defending it.

It should never have been so close. Sixers had been cruising, with eight wickets in hand and 36 needed off 32.

But they lost six for 31 and needed six runs off the last over - Ben Cutting allowed just five. But it was Cutting who conceded 23 from the Super Over - and he and Brendon McCullum could not chase it down.

As a result, we will see a Scorchers v Sixers lineup in both the men’s and women’s editions of the Big Bash League. So how on earth did it make it to the last over, let alone a Super Over? Well, Hughes skied, then Michael Lumb ran past Swepson, who had recovered from Henriques’ mauling. Henriques saw midoff up, but was caught well.

Brad Haddin, most careless of all, ran himself out. Abbott picked out long-on, trying to win it in one shot.

Cutting to bowl the last; six required. Botha missed, then scrambled a single. So did Dwarshiuis. Botha went to paddle over the keeper, but was caught behind - or was he? Upper arm! Given! Four needed off two. Lyon sprint-

ed through for a single. Three off one. Dwarshuis to face.

Cutting dug it in, Dwarshuis swung hard and high; they ran two.

Why not turn for

Moises Henriques

a third, just to try? Scores level. Super Over.

The Super Over

Cutting’s luck was up.

Three came from the first two, then Henriques whacked six over cow. The next was a noball, with a single. Free hit, and a hurried bye. Six more for Henriques, then a four behind square. Twenty-two.

Cutting refused to leave the fray. He joined McCullum, who was fooled

by Abbott first ball with a slower bouncer. Then there were two, and a wide. 20 off four. Four through Johan Botha’s hands, sprinting at long-on. Next, a single. 15 off two, with Cutting on strike.

One to long-off, and the fans at the Gabba streamed out.

McCullum smashed the last for six, but it mattered not.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD at least 100 players a r e expected to train at the facility on a weekly basis.

In total there are six poles and the GABF wants to make the court the central outdoor venue for basketball. In order to complete the installation they would need three more lights, so they are opened to assistance.

The first three lights were purchased by the GABF. Hinds said when all the lights are in the venue could host international matches once the other aspects of the facility are up to standard as well.

Subsequent to the light project, the administrators of GABF next aim would be to resurface the playing area.

Brisbane Heat innings (20 overs maximum) JJ Peirson†c †Haddin b Abbott 19 BB McCullum*c Abbott b Lyon 46 SD Heazlettst †Haddin b Lyon 0 AI Ross c Abbott b Lyon 17 JA Burns c †Haddin b Dwarshuis 20 0 BCJ Cuttingc Lumb b Lyon M Labuschagnec †Haddin b Abbott 20 JD Wildermuthc Lyon b Abbott 29 MT Steketeec Lyon b Abbott 0 MJ Swepson not out 0 S Badree not out 6 10 Extras (lb-2, w-6, nb-2) Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 167 Fall of wickets 1-24 (Peirson, 2.5 ov), 2-30 (Heazlett, 3.4 ov), 3-83 (McCullum, 11.2 ov), 4-102 (Ross, 13.1 ov), 5-103 (Cutting, 13.3 ov), 6-109 (Burns, 14.5 ov), 7-160 (Wildermuth, 19.1 ov), 8-161 (Steketee, 19.3 ov), 9-161 (Labuschagne, 19.4 ov) Bowling JM Bird 4-0-36-0 (nb-1, w-1), BJ Dwarshuis 4-0-34-1 (nb1), SA Abbott 4-0-40-4, NM Lyon 4-0-23-4, J Botha 4-0-32-0 (w-1)

Sydney Sixers innings (target: 168 runs from 20 overs) DP Hughes c Labuschagne 46 b Steketee NJ Maddinson b Burns 1 C Munro c McCullum b Badree 23 MC Henriques* c Burns b Steketee 64 MJ Lumb st †Peirson b Swepson 2 BJ Haddin† run out (Badree/†Peirson) 7 J Botha c †Peirson b Cutting 16 SA Abbott c Labuschagne b Wildermuth 2 BJ Dwarshuis not out 3 NM Lyon not out 0 Extras (lb-1, w-2) 3 Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 167 Did not bat JM Bird Fall of wickets 1-3 (Maddinson, 0.5 ov), 2-34 (Munro, 3.6 ov), 3-133 (Hughes, 14.5 ov), 4-137 (Lumb, 15.4 ov), 5-142 (Henriques, 16.2 ov), 6-145 (Haddin, 17.1 ov), 7-162 (Abbott, 18.6 ov), 8-164 (Botha, 19.4 ov) Bowling JA Burns 2-0-17-1, S Badree 4-0-32-1, MT Steketee 4-0-21-2 (w-1), MJ Swepson 4-0-31-1, JD Wildermuth 3-033-1, M Labuschagne 1-0-180, BCJ Cutting 2-0-14-1 (w-1)

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thursDAY, january 26, 2017

WI-19s fall short against Volcanoes –Yadram, Paul are standouts for youth side

W

est Indies U-19s fell short of completing an upset against Windward Island Volcanoes despite brilliant performances from Guyanese duo, Bhaskar Yadram and Keemo Paul on Wednesday at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

Yadram top scored for the youth side with 52 while Paul hit 22 and took four wickets in their failed attempt which saw them finished 22 runs short of victory.

Earlier, the U19s won the toss and inserted the Volcanoes, who were dismissed for 221 in 46.2 overs.

The youth side started well with the ball as Volcanoes slipped to 55-4 before Sunil Ambris (54) and skipper Liam Sebastien (31) added 70 for the fifth wicket.

Sebastian’s dismissal off the bowling of Yadram, stifled the scoring rate of the Volcanoes before they were eventually routed for the par score. Kyle Mayers and Delorn Johnson made 28 and 26 respectively in the latter part of their innings.

Paul was the main bowler for the World U19 Champions, finishing with

Bhaskar Yadram

figures of 4-31 from 8.2 overs. Joshua Bishop supported with 2-34 from his quota of 10 overs while Obed McCoy, Te-Shawn Alleyne, Shemar Springer and Yadram picked up one wicket apiece.

In their chase, the U19s started slowly as they lost three early wickets.

Yadram was the only batsman to reach double figures as Shian Braithwaite (02),

skipper Emmanuel Stewart (03) and Alick Anthanaze (01) failed.

When Yadram, who struck seven boundaries in his top knock fell with the score on 79 it looked like West Indies was heading for a big defeat. However, Kirstan Kallicharran (25), Paul (22) and Bishop 22 not out revived the innings to give their side a chance at four points.

Blairmont CC to host fun day on Sunday

T

The victorious Blairmont CC at last year’s Roy Fredricks Cup

his Sunday, Blairmont Cricket Club (BCC) will be hosting a day of fun which will comprise of activities including 10/10 cricket, Table Tennis, Volley ball, football and domino competitions.

The activities will commence at 09:00h with six teams competing for supremacy in the annual Roy Fredricks Cup. The home side are the defending cricket champions and will face a stiff challenge DeEdward Sports Club, Young Warriors, Cotton Tree Die Hard, Metamorza CC (WBD), Zeelust (WBD) and Blairmont under-19.

The table tennis competition will have 3 different tournaments: under 15, un-

That hope was destroyed by experienced fast bowler Mervin Matthew, who collected three quick wickets in the latter stage of the run chase to seal the win for the Volcanoes.

Matthew was also his side’s leading bowler with 4-38 from 10 overs and was mainly assisted by Johnson, who captured 2-33.

West Indies U-19 next assignment is against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the same venue while Volcanoes will tackle defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in a Day/ night encounter at Coolidge Cricket Ground. It will be the reigning champions’ first match of the season.

der 19 and open while the volley Ball will be a 4-aside tournament and the football a five-aside small goal spectacular.

Interested individuals who want to be part of the activities may contact Shabeer Baksh on 628-6767 or Greens Massive on 6275215.

Other attractions include BBQ sale, tassa dumming, bouncy castle, cartoon characters walk around, ice cream and air horn giveaways. There will be live commentary through the public address system in the ground throughout the event.

The aid for the day of fun is to secure means to maintain, control and improvised

for the best interest of its members and club.

The club has grown over the years to be recognized to be one of the best clubs in the ancient county, Berbice.

They are not only creating a proper opportunity to have youths and other individuals involve in a positive environment during the dry and wet seasons which sees numerous players qualifying for the Berbice and the national teams.

The event has gained the support of Banks DIH, Baksh Travel Service, Imran Barber Shop, Green’s Massive, Big B’s Restaurant, Sign Art Grahics, A & A Variety Store, Gavin’s Fashion World.

23

SCOREBOARD Volcanoes Innings (Maximum 50 Overs) J Charles c wkpr Stewart b McCoy 12 D Smith c wkpr Stewart b Springer 8 T Theophile c Athanaze b Paul 10 A Fletcher+ c McCoy b Paul 4 S Ambris c Springer b Bishop 54 L Sebastian* c wkpr Stewart b Yadram 31 D Sammy c Yadram b Bishop 1 K Mayers b Paul 28 S Shillingford Not Out 19 D Johnson c McCoy b Alleyne 26 M Matthew c wkpr Stewart b Paul 0 Extras (lb-6, w-22) 28 Total (All out, 46.2 Overs) 221 FOW: 1-29, 2-30, 3-45, 4-55, 5-125, 6-126, 7-167, 8-189, 9-221, 10-221 Bowling McCoy 5-0-36-1 (w-5), Springer 5-1-17-1 (w-7), Paul 8.21-31-4 (w-3), Alleyne 9-0-52-1 (w-2), Bishop 10-0-34-2, Yadram 7-0-31-1 (w-1) Patrick 2-0-14-0 West Indies Under 19 (Target 222, from 50 Overs) S Brathwaite c Sammy b Johnson 2 E Stewart*+ c Wkpr Fletcher b

Matthew 3 B Yadram LBW b Shillingford 52 A Athanaze c Wkpr Fletcher b Mayers 1 S Springer c Wkpr Fletcher b Sebastian 13 K Kallicharran c Wkpr Fletcher b Johnson 25 K Paul c Wkpr Fletcher b Matthew 22 M Patrick c Hodge (Sub) b Matthew 15 J Bishop Not Out 22 T Alleyne b Mathew 11 O McCoy Not Out 2 Extras (nb-3, w-21, b-8) 32 Total (For 9 wickets, 50 Overs) 200 FOW: 1-4, 2-22, 3-34, 4-79, 5-89, 6-129, 7-147, 8-161, 9-197 Bowling Sammy 5-0-21-0 (nb1, w-2), Johnson 10-0-33-2 (w-6), Mayers 7-1-28-1 (w2) Matthew 10-2-38-4 (w-6), Shillingford 10-1-34-1 (nb-1, w-1), Sebastian 8-0-38-1 Result; Volcanoes won by 21 runs Player of the Match Mervin Matthew Points: Volcanoes 4, WI-19 0

Farfan & Mendes Ltd enters 21year partnership with RHTY&SC

F

arfan and Mendes longstanding relationship with one of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S was renewed for another the year on Friday last.

The company and the club have enjoyed a close and cordial relationship of 21 years which started in 1997, when Farfan and Mendes Ltd came on board as the official sponsor of the RHTY&SC under 15 team.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster noted that Farfan and Mendes Ltd is currently the longest serving official sponsor of the club and over the last twenty one years has played a major role in the development of the club into Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation. The RHT Farfan and Mendes U-15 team are the current defending Berbice Under 15 champions and over the years has won the Berbice championship five times under the sponsorship.

Foster hailed the assistance of the company over the last twenty years and expressed confidence that the relationship would continue to develop in the future. The company’s sponsorship over the years, the long serving Club official stated, has allowed players to concentrate on playing the game without worrying about the high cost associated with cricket.

The sponsorship for 2017 is worth $240,000.

The sponsorship over the years has produced 17 national Under 15 cricketers and a total of 43 for Berbice at the Under 15 level. The players include Assad

Tameka Hiles of Farfan and Mendes hands over the sponsorship to Mark Papannah. Looking on are Club Members Sohan Harry and Simon Naidu

Fudadin, Abdel Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Royston Crandon, Shevon Marks, Shawn Perriera, Shemaine Campbelle, Plaffiana Millington, Dominic Rikhi, Naresh Mahadeo, Parmanand Narine, Murphy La Rose, Arif, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson and Sylus Tyndall.

Campbelle, Crandon and Fudadin have since gone on to represent the West Indies at different levels over the years. The sponsorship covers balls for game and practise, transportation cost to venues, snacks and cricket gears for 2017.

Every year the co-sponsors the RHTY&SC, M.S Youth Review Magazine, Cricket academy, award ceremony, Say No/Say Yes Programme, Charity programme and Christmas Outreach. Last year, the RHT Farfan and Mendes Under 15 team also successfully completed 57 programmes off the cricket field as part of their social development campaign.

Special gratitude was ex-

tended to the Management of the company especially Marketing Executive Onai Vasconcellos and former Club Patron, June Mendes.

Vasconcellos in brief remarks stated that his company was pleased to be associated with the RHTY&SC, M.S as it has successfully represented the Farfan and Mendes brand with pride, passion and discipline. The Marketing Executive expressed confidence that the RHTY&SC, M.S would uphold the high standard it has always set itself and that the relationship between the two entities would be strengthened and expanded in the future.

Lucas Arthur has been appointed as captain of the Farfan and Mendes U-15 team for the 2017 season while Jonathan Rampersaud would serve as his deputy. As part of the club’s plan to expose younger members to leadership duties, Simon Naidu would serve as Manager while veteran RHTY&SC member Delbert Hicks is the Coach.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

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

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Pg 22

Let there be lights!

Bolt loses

Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President Nigel Hinds, and Vice President Michael Singh supervise the works at Burnham Court on Wednesday

Pg 20

Olympic gold as Carter tests positive From left: Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Usain Bolt and Michael Frater celebrate in Beijing

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