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Issue No. 2835

Saturday, April 23, 2016

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Deadly prison Riot

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Christopher Ram’s displayed tantrums of 5-year-old – CoI Chairman

$100M to rectify turnkey homes

“Something’s fishy” – P10 Irfaan Ali

Page 9

Wanted Drug addict man shoots confesses to killing mother Police rank Page 9

Mahaicony murder

Page 7

Child father arraigned with murder of P8 Sophia woman

Mabaruma Mayor, 5 NDC Chairmen battle

AG say court P11 has no jurisdiction to hear application

Gender bias still evident P13 in workplaces – Lawrence

Immigration, birth certificate services soon for Berbice … Govt team meets Berbicians Minister of State Joseph Harmon and his staff listening to the concerns of one of the residents of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) who turned up at the ‘Meet the Public’ Day forum on Friday in New Amsterdam

Bandits beat, rob East Canje family Page 16

Deadly prison riot

Human filth P3 hurled at prison wardens –– cross-examination CoI hearsteam avoids proceedings

LBI Estate closure

No decision was made to close full operations in 2011– Fmr HR Director

Page 7

GTU continues call for 40% salary increase P7

– awaiting debunching payment

West Berbice Man jailed P17 for breaking into church

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saturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, April 23 – 05:30h-07:00h and Sunday, April 24 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, April 23 – 05:00h-06:30h and Sunday, April 24 – 05:20h-06:50h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and thunderstorms can be expected in the morning hours, while light rain showers can be expected in the afternoon. Clear skies with thundery showers are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:01h and 17:23h reaching maximum heights of 2.72 metres and 2.65 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:58h and 23:10h reaching a minimum height of 0.47 metre and 0.59 metre respectively.

LOTTERY NUMBERS

he had heard officers instructing inmates to proceed through the hole which they had created at Capital B. The witness, who once was attached to Camp Street, recounted that the entire ordeal was “confusing” and noted that, “the place was filled with smoke”.

He further related that the scenes he witnessed left him “traumatised” especially since he could have heard the prolonged screams of inmates as he and fellow officers employed efforts to open the locked door.

“I could recall the inmates screaming – screaming as if they was like lying there in the fire. Even though I tried to assist in getting the doors opened, inmates sent threats at me as if I was the fault that they

Bonus Ball

Friday, April 22, 2016

Daily Millions

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LUCKY 3 4

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Draw De Line 05 11

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n a day that saw the absence of cross-examination of witnesses, the Commission of Inquiry into the events surrounding the Camp Street prison riots, on Friday heard that urine and faeces were thrown at officers on a regular basis.

This was revealed by Udistair Holigan and Patrick Crawford as they told Commissioners of continued threats prison wardens faced.

Holigan, a Task Force Commander attached to Timehri was first to take the stand. He recalled that

lit the fire and got burnt,” Holigan recounted.

He also recalled the horror of being the recipient of human filth.

“They even throw urine and faeces at me and at that point, I couldn’t even come to grips that it had actually happened,” the officer noted. Holigan further observed that the situation went from a controlled environment to an uncontrollable environment. He told Commissioners that often times when he sits in his quiet moments, he could still hear the screams of inmates, the expletives hurled and threats they issued to

Task Force Commander Udistair Holigan

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– cross-examination team avoids proceedings

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

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Human filth hurled at prison wardens – CoI hears

By Shemuel Fanfair

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Deadly prison riot

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responding officers.

With his eight years of experience, Holigan testified of his fear that he would not be able to deal with such a situation if it ever were to resurface.

“It’s kind of hard to cope with what went on that day and I wondering if something like this should happen, how would I be able to cope with it because you’re in fear that if this thing goes to this level again, how can you assist somebody, how can you preserve a life that is already lost?” questioned the responding prisoner officer in a sombre tone.

Under examination by the Commission’s Counsel, Excellence Dazzle, Holigan confirmed the account of other witnesses that indeed

Duty Officer Patrick Crawford testifying

some prisoners did assist in evacuating their fellow inmates. Holigan also stressed that at this point he was not afraid. However, under questioning by Commission Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson, the witness admitted that he became fearful in the days afterwards.

“I was afraid after the incident got contained and the inmates throwing their threats that they would take my life, take my spouse life, they know where I live… and they will burn down my house,” Holigan stressed.

Later on, the CoI heard that urine is often found stored in bottles, sometimes mixed with pepper or other liquids when searches are carried out in prison cells.

Duty Officer at the prison Patrick Crawford told Commissioners that since the riots, the vicious threats have continued. Crawford confirmed that indeed human waste was thrown during the riots, and all officers had were their shields to protect them.

Crawford further stated that as he rushed to scene, he was in civilian clothing and in attempt to rescue inmates, the bottom of his footwear started to melt which caused him to retreat. The officer further related that he attempted to assist in opening the side door but observed that this proved futile.

In recounting what he heard at that point, he revealed the pleas of one trapped inmate: “Mr Crawford, if you get we out, God gan bless yo.”

He also told Commissioners than when “ring leaders” of gangs are extracted from a block, they are not returned to the same division and in March, the intention was in fact to extract the ring leaders. This extraction involved the removal of prisoner with the given name of “Allicock” and the now infamous, Collis Collinson, whose removal created an uproar.

Commissioner Merle Mendonca opined that Crawford’s Mock Prison Riot training in West Virgina in the United States and other overseas training measures may not always be suitable to the local context.

Justice Patterson thanked the witness for his courage in performing his duties in battling the trials encountered on a daily basis.

Just before the session closed, Crawford was asked to tell the CoI just how much sleep he had throughout the ordeal.

“For the first three days, I had 15-20 minutes per day. I never saw my family until the fifth or the sixth day,” he stated.

The hearings are slated to resume on Monday, April 25.

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Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

Editorial

Immunisation Week

T

he last week of this month (April), has been set aside as World Immunisation Week. Every year there are a number of activities usually planned in more than 180 countries, including vaccination campaigns, training workshops, round-table discussions, public information campaigns, etc to raise awareness about the importance of being immunised.

For us in Guyana, this special Week provides an opportunity to remind families and communities in general how effective vaccines can be, and to encourage people to take action to ensure that more children, and increasingly people in other age groups, are immunised against deadly and debilitating diseases.

Immunisation is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. In essence, immunisation is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases.

It is also one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions and prevents between two and three million deaths annually from diseases such as diphtheria, measles, pertussis, pneumonia, polio, rotavirus diarrhoea, rubella and tetanus.

According to World Health Organisation, last year, immunisation led to some notable wins in the fight against polio, rubella and maternal and neonatal tetanus, but these were isolated wins. Polio was eliminated in one country, tetanus in three, and rubella in one geographical region, hence the challenge now is to continue building on these successes.

However, the WHO has pointed out that an additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided if global vaccination coverage improves. Today, an estimated 18.7 million infants – nearly one in every five children – worldwide are still missing routine immunisations for preventable diseases, such as diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.

Also, according to WHO, despite challenges imposed

by Ebola, including for routine immunisation coverage, the African Region became one step closer to being certified poliofree with the removal of Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries. As recently as 2012, the country accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide. Now, only two countries – Afghanistan and Pakistan – remain polio-endemic.

New vaccines against dengue, Ebola and malaria have the potential to be game-changers in immunisation in the near future. And, the new polio vaccination regimen, with the withdrawal of type 2 oral polio vaccine in 155 countries this month, represents a critical step towards a polio-free world.

One important driver of the progress that we have seen so far has been the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). The EPI has been established in all countries. At the global level, EPI brings together partners to work towards ensuring that everyone has the chance to be fully immunised.

When EPI was established, just five per cent of the world’s children were receiving basic immunisations. Now this figure stands at more than 80 per cent.

This is quite a remarkable achievement made as a result of the intervention from WHO and other health partners which must be applauded. However, there is still much work to be done as more than 22 million of the world’s children (about one-fifth of infants) are still not being immunised with basic vaccines.

To improve vaccination coverage, WHO is urging countries to reach more children missed by the routine delivery systems, “especially those living in countries, districts or areas where less than 80 per cent of them are receiving vaccines or those living in countries affected by conflicts or emergencies.”

Equally important is that when a child or adult who is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated visits a health facility for any reason, their vaccination record should be checked by healthcare workers and they should be given all the vaccines they are missing.

That said, Guyana’s immunisation programme has been largely successful and has resulted in the eradication of illnesses such as polio, yellow fever, and measles, among others diseases. We urge all stakeholders to utilise the coming Week which is dedicated to immunisation to spread the message of the need to be vaccinated, especially in Guyana’s remote areas where health officials still seem to be facing some challenges.

Members of the Euphoria Dance group practicing their moves in the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown on Friday

More political advisers than Ministers, time to get it right Dear Editor, It is quite unfortunate that Guyanese have had to deal with so many shortcomings of the new administration in the last 11 months. I think it’s safe to say that the damage done has been extensive.

What is more alarming is that the new administration does not feel the need to address the people adequately on these issues. Where is the president? Where is the man the people elected to lead this country? Where there is so much contradiction between members of his cabinet on various issues why has he not addressed the people in a timely and appropriate manner?

I wish to make specific reference to the recent controversy surrounding the appointment of Brian Tiwari as an Advisor. While this recent issue is surrounded and engulfed with problems, there is something more alarming we have not examined. Over the last 11 months, a number of advisors have been appointed to ministers and the President. As a matter of fact I believe there are more advisors than ministers with some ministers retaining two advisors.

It is quite strange that there was a recent war between members of the government in relation to the appointment of Brian Tiwari. First, the Guyanese people were not made aware of his appointment. Secondly, according to Tiwari he was not appointed as Advisor to the Government but as advisor to Minister Joseph Harmon

and he was not being paid.

I am not sure we understand. If Tiwari was appointed as advisor to the minister was he not inadvertently appointed as an advisor to the government since Minister Harmon is a part and a major part of the government? Thirdly, why is there so much contradiction between Minister Harmon, the President and members of the AFC as it relates to the appointment? Even as they try to clear up all the questions, they seem to be creating more confusion.

I think the members of the new Government need to get their act together. Appointing advisors as they and they alone see fit will not fly with the Guyanese people. While some Guyanese may be unwilling to see through the nonsense being spewed, there are other Guyanese who are paying keen attention to every little thing being done and said.

I turn my attention to Raphael Trotman who has not made any significant contribution to the sector he is responsible for in the last 11 months. As a matter of fact, he has spent his time acting as the PR boy for the government.

I am starting to think he wants Minister Harmon’s job. As a matter of fact I am almost certain he is indeed gunning for the position and hence all the recent disagreements and controversy surrounding the appointment of advisors.

Many Guyanese may not be aware but Minister Trotman appointed a man by the name of Clayton Hall upon becoming minister.

This was so when he was Minister of Government and now Minister of Natural Resources. Not only has he been appointed as an advisor but he has also been appointed as director on various boards around Guyana where he seems to be creating havoc and more or less micromanaging all board meetings even though he is not the chairperson of those boards.

Because of his closeness to Minister Trotman, the members have also been allowing him to carry on.

Clayton Hall is a member of the AFC. He was also attached to the forestry commission some time ago where his performance was nothing commendable. Hall is also of age. He nevertheless sits down at the ministry and collects a fat salary monthly with benefits and travels throughout the world for various meetings.

A few months ago I wrote that Minister Trotman may not be well advised or knowledgeable of various things he should be aware of and now I am almost certain that this is as a result of the incompetence of his advisors.

Editor, there are persons within the ministry capable of advising Minister Trotman and there was no need to appoint so many advisors and waste taxpayers money. Additionally, if an advisor was to be appointed, the minister should have appointed someone more capable. He should have given the young people who voted for him an opportunity to fill the position.

I fail to understand why the minister would appoint

an older, retired and seemingly unqualified individual to advise him. Is it because Hall has taken up the task of hounding businessmen into contributing towards the AFC or is it because he has over the years worked for the AFC and now it’s payback time?

Editor, advisors are being appointed and the Guyanese people who voted are not being informed.

They are not being allowed an opportunity to voice their opinions. The new government needs to remember that their term in office is only five years and they should be cautious.

Guyanese will not give them another chance if they continue to incompetently run this country.

All appointments of advisors should be made public.

There should be a transparent process. These advisors are being paid by taxpayers and not ministers. All Guyanese and especially the young Guyanese should be given an opportunity to fill these vacancies.

It would be wise for the new government to remember that the people of Guyana put them there and pay their salaries and they have a duty to do the people’s work. If they are not competent and if the people are not in favour of them or have confidence in them then the President who has also been appointed by the people has a duty and an obligation to the Guyanese people to ask them to leave and fill those vacancies with competent persons.

Sincerely, Tiana King-David

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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

Freddie lacks independence Severe laws need to curb of thought crime in Guyana

Dear Editor, My very good friend or “Mr gharpoochna” as Indians call him, Freddie Kissoon lacks independence of thought and mind and therefore his writings cannot be taken seriously.

Freddie recently wrote that he “campaigned for the AFC and PNC because he feared for his life under the PPP”. He used as an illustration the scene in the James Bond movie “Thunderball” in which Bond slept with a female enemy agent. Later in the movie, Bond told her that he only did it for her Majesty’s government (to save the nation or the world). This was the kind of justification Freddie gave to campaign against the PPP. It is rather ruthless, and it is a part of his personality. Freddie does not care who governs Guyana or what becomes of the nation or what happens to Indians or other ethnic groups as long as the PPP is kept out of office. He does not care if the election has to be rigged (as feared happened in May 2015) to prevent a PPP victory.

Freddie’s objective is to prevent PPP from winning an election regardless of the consequences and it is done – just keep the PPP out even if democracy is thrown out the window.

This leads to the inescapable conclusion that all of his commentaries on the PPP, Indians, Ramotar, Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, and Jagdeo were tainted with bias and hatred. They lack objectivity. His claims

about the PPP government and its policies (during the period 1992 to 2015) were not truthfulness and accuracy. They were based on dishonesty to malign and bring down the PPP. In a subsequent column, Freddie wrote that he will never write anything negative against the PNC-AFC coalition because he does not want the coalition to lose power, and furthermore, he does not want PPP to return to office. So Freddie sacrifices his integrity and professionalism (not that he ever had any of both).

Read his column grovelling to Raphael Trotman – now people can understand why Indians praise him as “Mr gharpoochna”. In other words, Freddie is willing to accept abuses and wrong doings of the coalition government just to keep out the PPP from government.

Isn’t that what the US and Britain did for 28 years?

They turned their eyes away from human rights abuses because the PNC did their bidding to keep out the communist PPP from office.

It is noted that Freddie quite frequently accused Indians (in Guyana and the diaspora) of being political slaves to the PPP. Is his behaviour any different from those Indians? Is Freddie not a political slave to the coalition? Has he been objective and balanced in any of his commentaries? Where is independence of mind, balance and thought in his columns?

Freddie has been hegemon editor of the let-

ter pages of his paper since December. He is now an oligarch at KN abusing his powers no different from those he accused of abusing powers when they ran the nation. Is he any different from those PPP leaders he accused of hegemony? He is worse than them. Freddie always wanted the position at that paper so he can block objective critics from writing on him.

Freddie recently pointed to Indian (from India) and European state officials who resigned after they were found embarrassing their government. When will Freddie resign to end embarrassment at his newspaper? Is it that he cannot resign because he won’t have money to buy food? And so he willingly accepts the tarnishing of any integrity remaining in his character. It is no wonder that the University of Toronto denied him a PhD and sent him back to Guyana.

People like Freddie are responsible for the depraved, suffocating political culture of the nation. He recently wrote that God spoke with him to keep out the PPP from office - he must have gone mad (not that he has been sane). He committed so many egregious, repugnant and culturally debasing things. He does not belong as editor of any publication because he lacks independence of thought and unwilling to accept critique of his poor writings.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, The constant rise of crimes in our country is now a concern for all Guyanese citizens.

The recent burning to death of two elderly couple, the brutal murder of a beautiful AfroGuyanese girl and the shooting to death of a 26-year-old businessman just within a few days should be something our present administration should be worried about.

This gruesome list of heinous crimes in Guyana since the past and present administrations have now crippled our society with constant fears, it’s no wonder the lines at our immigration and passport office getting longer daily.

By just observing the people in the market and conversing with vendors tell the whole picture of the massive migration daily of our Guyanese people. I wonder in about five years if this nation will still be existing; a country with less than a million people is plagued by crimes daily, highest suicide rates, drugs, prostitution, blackouts, poor internet access, thousands of potholes on our roads, daily accidents by drunk driving and worst of all most of our people in our nation dying young most of whom barely reach the age of thirty.

Our country is plagued with high-profile murderers, these people don’t just rob people on the streets and in their homes they kill them. I wonder in my mind what kind of people will want to burn two elderly people in their homes alive after failing to robbing them.

I wonder who would want to snuff out the life of that beautiful Afro-Guyanese girl from Sophia and what kind

of a robber would want to just shoot a 26-six-year-old man just married a month ago after taking away a bag of money from him.

Yet many of these criminals when caught will be given light sentences and can easily be freed if they hire some high-profile lawyers.

I would agree with former President Desmond Hoyte when he said: ‘’to hang them high.’’ I firmly believe the death penalty should be reimplemented in our courts to deal with these criminals once and for all, and the courts should not waste time and taxpayers money, these cases should be tried quickly and justice should be given to our crying citizens.

Our President should stop freeing criminals and thieves from prison; in law it’s a simple philosophy once you: ‘’Do the crime, you do the time.’’ The courts also need to introduce the Cat ‘o nine tail to give thieves and criminal some severe strokes when they enter prison and when they leave prison.

When more severe penalties are implemented the crime will cease. For criminals must face the firing squad or the electric chair.

Our leaders only talking about crimes but they have not implemented severe laws in Guyana to curb crimes; they have implemented severe Taxes, it’s quite the opposite.

The recent prison incident where 17 prisoners were killed all of whom were high profile criminals. The prison officers didn’t set them on fire, they set the prison on fire to escape but they eventually killed themselves.

What would have happened if they would have man-

aged to burn down the prison and escape? Some of them escaped once on Mashramani Day 2002 and created havoc in the country. It’s not impossible for them to plan another escape.

If we can implement better laws to protect our citizens and better living and working conditions and give workers better wages and salaries they will not migrate, they will stay. It’s so sad that after 50 years of Independence we still haven’t reached one million people with over three million of our Guyanese people living abroad.

While we contemplate to celebrate the 50 years Independence we should reflect on those whose lives were snuffed out by the hands of criminal elements who are on the streets who will soon kill again; we should reflect on the grieving widows; we should reflect on the grieving children and grandchildren whose parents were burnt alive and the heart-broken father whose daughter was brutally killed just a few days before attending her sister’s wedding as a maid of honour.

People are no longer safe in their homes and businesses, that’s why they are leaving Guyana like sandflies daily.

It’s about time our President get serious about this crime situation in Guyana and implement more serious laws.

We should remove bail from thieves and criminals. VS Naipaul wrote a book called: ‘’An Area of Darkness’’ We have now become a nation of darkness plagued by criminal elements.

May God help us!

Yours truly, Rev Gideon Cecil

GuySuCo engaged in acrobatics on Wales Estate

Dear Editor, Reference is made to the news on April 19, 2016 entitled “105 workers opted for severance not fired - GuySuCo raps GAWU” The article went on to say “GAWU has alleged... 105 workers were fired”. Premised on an allegation, the article then quoted GuySuCo which said in a statement “this release by GAWU is the epitome of GAWU mischievousness, and can be construed as being provocative...”. The truth is that GAWU has not ever said or written that 105 workers have been fired from

Wales Estate.

GAWU and NAACIE through their press statement of April 14, 2016 referred to: “105 workers are to be made redundant” which is identical to what GuySuCo wrote to the union on March 22, 2016 in which it said: “105 workers would be made redundant”.

With someone from either GuySuCo or the Chronicle

substituting “fired” for “redundant” in turn has taken objection and true to form points an accusing finger at GAWU. The union considers this as mischievous and deceptive. With the clarity offered, the union is expecting a public correction

by GuySuCo. Also, GAWU is calling on the board or the proper body in GuySuCo to

assess those who make media releases which are unfounded and which embarrasses the leadership at the helm of the Corporation which is beset by persistent troubles.

The Chronicle in the story also stated that: “The Wales Estate will not be closed, GuySuCo said in its attempt to set the record straight”.

Isn’t the non-operation of the

Wales Sugar Factory and a cessation of cane cultivation a closure of the Estate?

GuySuCo is, seemingly, embarking on some type of acrobatics regarding the positions - the closure of Wales Estate and “the Wales Estate will not be closed”.

It is worthy to note that the Corporation failed to inform the public why it keeps

violating the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act which requires that it interacts directly with officials of the union about the workers who are identified for redundancy, etc.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine, General Secretary

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BY TRACY ENRIGHT

S

elf-motivation is a trait that is often underrated. It’s more than just getting out of bed in the morning; it can have a huge impact on how well your child does in school.

Children are naturally motivated to learn until they’re about seven years old. After this time, they’ll need the ability to motivate themselves, a vital skill if they are to succeed. It’s true that selfmotivation can only come from within, but there are ways you can help your child nurture it, giving them an advantage that will pay off in later life. Here are eight ways you can help.

Encourage optimism

Focusing on solutions to problems rather than dwelling on setbacks, combined with having a positive outlook on life. This will encourage your child to adopt the same approach.

Encourage persistence

Reward effort rather than just success. You will help your child to develop the resilience they’ll need to face failure and to keep try-

guyana-times.com

Foundation

ing until they do succeed.

Deal with failure

Teach your child to accept that sometimes they will fail. Showing them how to lose or win gracefully, will give them the ability to deal with, and move on from, setbacks later in life.

Encourage interests

Children who have a range of interests will be exposed to different opportunities. Combined with a good work-life balance, this will make the less-interesting tasks they face less demoralising and easier to face.

Celebrate achievement

Knowing how to celebrate and enjoy success, both their own and others’, will give your child something positive to aim for.

Make success possible

Give your child the op-

portunity to be successful and experience the positive emotions that go with it. Supporting and guiding them will help build the selfesteem that is vital to selfmotivation.

Foster their interests

Encouraging a child to learn about things that interest them will allow them to better understand the concepts they learn at school, especially if you’re creative about the way you link their interest to learning.

Pacing out the length of their favourite dinosaur or measuring ingredients for baking will help them understand size or volume without it feeling like another math lesson.

Adapt to their learning style

Some children will sit and listen to new information. Others want to pick things up and use them straight away. Adapting to their preferred way of learning will keep learning fun and not a chore.

Parents want to help improve their child’s chance of success at school, and later, as adults. By starting early and encouraging your child in the right way, you can help them develop a trait that will be useful to them for the rest of their lives. (child-

developmentinfo.com)

BY PAM MYERS

H

ave you ever wondered what those highly successful people have that you don’t seem to? Or maybe you are one of the successful people and you’re curious as to how your personal habits and outlook have influenced your success.

Here are some of the habits of highly successful people.

Independence, interdependence, and dependence

Successful people tend to know the difference between these three concepts, and recognise that interdependence is the key place to be. Too much independence can inhibit success, because inevitably we need others to help us on our way.

Excessive dependence prohibits success, too, but in a different way. Dependence means total reliance on others, which can rapidly turn you into a burden!

In contrast, interdependence is the healthy recognition that you need others to succeed – you need for people to buy your product, or approve your work, or give you some much-needed encouragement. But interdependence recognises that you have an active role in your success. Interdependence is

not passive.

Taking action

Highly successful people tend to be proac-

ing up with ideas and forming personal ethics and principles, and then stopping there. Being successful means getting something done, so eventually those ideas and principles will need to be put into action. People who succeed think through their goals first, but they get beyond the thinking stage and move into the proactive realm.

Goals

tive.

They don’t spend all of their time com-

Setting out to accomplish something without a goal in mind is not very conducive to success. As noted above, successful people do think things through before taking action. So setting goals and seeing that they are doable is a good first step toward success.

It’s also important to note if those goals really fit what you value personally. You may lose your motivation to succeed if you aren’t working toward something you value.

Prioritise

Yes, successful people know how to prioritise.

Putting “first things first” helps propel people toward success. There is, after all, an order in which things are done most effectively and efficiently. Successful people recognise what’s really important, and concentrate their energies there first.

Understanding others

These days, many people are slow to seek understanding and quick to “flame” others. Sources say that success depends, in part, on seeking to understand others before you try to get others to understand you. This is probably because people appreciate being “heard” and understood, and will be much more likely to help you in your efforts.

Remember, you need others to succeed! (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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saturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

LBI Estate closure

No decision was made to close full operations – fmr HR Director – decision in 2011 restricted to merger of LBI, Enmore factories

F

ormer Human Resources director of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Jiram Petam has said there were never any discussions in 2011 to close the entire La Bonne Intention (LBI) Sugar Estate, contrary to claims by management of GuySuCo. Pitam, director of Human Resource in 2011, tasked with the responsibility of dealing with all the HR and labour relations issues surrounding a successful merger of the LBI and Enmore factories, made this disclosure in a Letter to the Editor on Friday, after GuySuCo had claimed earlier that the decision to close the entire operations was made under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration in 2011.

The Sugar Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Errol Hanoman said last week that in 2011, when the LBI factory was closed, the operations there were to be integrated with those at Enmore.

However, he noted that the integration process had been stymied for a number of reasons over the years, and this led to there being two operational departments at the estates.

These included the field workshop, mill dock, field lab, stores, and administra-

Former HR Director of GuySuCo, Jiram Petam tive office.

“In 2011, the estates should have been properly integrated… so therefore, our move to close one of each of those listed things is just a continuation to the integration process which started in 2011,” Hanoman said.

But Petam dispute Hanoman’s claims and noted that all discussions and decisions at that time were related purely to the merger of the factories at LBI and Enmore “Let me state before outlining the details that expose the reality of 2011 that it was never the intention of the company in 2011 to close any other operation beyond that of the LBI factory. It’s plainly misleading for the company to state that the ‘integration of the two es-

tates was done in a haphazard manner, and as such was not properly implemented’, and that the integration process of the departments other than the factory started in 2011,” said Petam, who was well-respected by sugar workers during his tenure.

He added that neither of the workers unions Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) nor the National Association of Commercial Agricultural, and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) was engaged in any discussion other than that pertaining to the merger of the two factories in 2011.

Petam explained that Paul Bhim, then CEO of GuySuCo (current Finance Director) on February 9, 2011, the “consolidation/ merger” was discussed.

During that meeting, he said, Yusuf Abdul, General Manager Technical Services sought through a documented presentation the board’s approval for “the deployment of the LBI factory staff after the factory ceases grinding operations to locations described in the foregoing”.

The board then approved “the consolidation of LBI and Enmore Factories after the closure of the current crop at LBI. It is optional for employees to accept early retirement benefit. There shall be no im-

position of severance or early retirement…” Petam said, reiterating that no decision was made to go beyond the factory.

Petam said Bhim told another board meeting on March 22, 2011 that a decision was made at the time not to dismantle the LBI Factory until Enmore was operating well, highlighting that the then CEO did not venture beyond the factory.

Union assurance

He said the assurance to the unions that only the factory will be affected by the merger was in accordance with the board’s decision and was given at the February 22, 2011 meeting with GAWU an NAACIE. Petam said that if there was a need to merge all the other operating departments so that “the integration process” would not lead “to the detriment of the economics of EDE (East Demerara Estates)”, as claimed by the corporation, then Bhim, as CEO in 2011, and who is now a member of the Interim Management Committee, should have insisted that the board approved beyond the merger of the LBI Factory to include all the other operating departments. He did not.

Mahaicony murder

Drug addict confesses to killing mother

A

53-year-old drug addict who was arrested for the murder of his mother, Celelia Madray, 75, of Good Faith, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara has since confessed to the heinous crime during interrogation on Friday.

The pensioner was on Thursday evening found lying in a pool of blood with a gash to her head and her body covered with a mosquito net. The woman was reportedly heard screaming on Monday evening by residents and was not seen since.

This led to members of the community to conclude that something was amiss and as such, they contacted the policing group in the area.

As members of the Community Policing Group went to enquire, several calls for the woman went unan-

swered; hence, they were forced to break the door to gain entry into the house. It was then they found the woman lying on the ground in a motionless state.

Her son, who is a drug addict, was at home at the time of the discovery and was taken into Police custody. However, the head of the Criminal Investigations Department told Guyana Times that during the murder suspect’s interrogation, he told ranks that he “smoke up” on Monday then went home.

He added that while at home and not in his right senses, he got into an argument with the now dead woman during which he picked up a chair and dealt the woman one blow to the head. The elderly woman, he told investigations, fell to the ground but he refused to assist or call for

assistance, despite the woman crying for help.

Although the woman sustained the injury to the head, she was still alive but took her last breathe on Thursday evening, moments before the CPG members arrived at the house.

Meanwhile, this publication understands that the woman was frequently physically abused by her son. From reports received, he was previous arrested for allegedly raping the now dead woman who at that time did not want to pursue the matter and refused to give the Police a statement.

After the woman refused to give the statement, he was released but continued assaulting her. Residents in the neighbourhood noted that they were not too surprised at the manner in which the

woman met her demise. Some accused her of “protecting” him whenever he did something wrong.

The man is expected to make his court appearance at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

GTU continues call for 40% salary increase – awaiting debunching payment

T

he Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) – with the aim of bargaining for increased wages for its public school teachers – is awaiting the Education Ministry to restart its salary negotiations so that teachers will, in the near future, be able to benefit from a 40 per cent increase in their current income.

Due to undisclosed reasons, the Ministry had postponed the negotiations until further notice, but the Union is hoping that these discussions resume in the near future so that the teachers could get a significant salary increase from what they have been subjected to over the years.

GTU General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, during an interview with Guyana Times, said there has been no indication from the Ministry thus far on whether the proposal for the increase has been agreed on.

Recently, the Union held the belief that the Ministry had postponed the negotiations because of the Local Government Elections held in March; however, a month has since passed following the elections and there still has been no indication of a decision being made.

The subject had initially been delayed in January due to the reading of the 2016 National Budget, however, with this current delay, it is being speculated by some that the Ministry is intentionally dodging the discussions.

It is worthy to note the statements made by Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine in the media, downplaying there being negotiations between his Ministry and the GTU over the 40 per cent salary increase. He essentially cited that both par-

ties were basically discussing this issue. He also indicated that should the possibility of a 40 per cent salary increase be considered for teachers, then the nurses would then expect to be facilitated as such.

The Union has proposed for the year 2016-2020 a series of increases.

This, they say, is being projected with the aim of improving the financial stability of its teachers, who are the most significant figures within society.

The 40 per cent salary increase for public school teachers is proposed for the year 2016. Overtime, the percentage will be increased for all categories of its represented teachers.

For the year 2017, the Union is hoping to have bargains for a 45 per cent increase, which will then increase to 50 per cent for the remainder of the years indicated in the agreement (20182020).

Meanwhile, in regards to the debunching payment, where teachers will be eligible for one per cent of their salaries for each year beginning from 2011 to 2015, the Education Ministry had indicated to the Union that the lump sum cash would be paid at the end of the term. However, this proposal is still awaiting approval from Cabinet.

Among its list of proposals that are still in queue for a response are the duty free concessions that the Union has been making pleas for over the past few years.

The proposal had been reapproved by the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, earlier this year but since then there had been no further discussions on when or if this would be implemented.

8 news

saturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Child father arraigned with murder of Sophia woman

L

ess than 24 hours after confessing to murdering the mother of his child, Clevon Hamilton was arraigned for the heinous crime at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Friday. He was not required to plead to the indictment when it was read by Magistrate Zamina Ally-Seepaul.

The Police stated that between April 16 and 19, at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, the 37-year-old man murdered Simone Hackett. During his courtroom appearance, the suspect whose feet and hands were shackled told the court that he hails from Lot 96 Katherine, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, and is a father of two, showing some remorse for the crime.

The Police prosecution told the court that between the aforementioned dates, the suspect contacted the now dead woman and instructed her to collect a package for his son from a friend at UG Access Road, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. However, the woman went to the location only to see Hamilton instead of the friend.

The Police added that the suspect then lured Hackett into the Cummings Lodge area where he stabbed her several times and slashed

Murder suspect, Clevon Hamilton

her throat after which he disposed of her body in the trench. The prosecutor also told the court that the suspect admitted to the crime during interrogation.

It was reported that the mother of one left home on Saturday evening at about 20:30h to uplift a package but never returned home.

She was due to be maidof-honour at her sister’s wedding on Sunday last and she also missed her son’s birthday on Monday.

The woman’s body was discovered in a trench among the vegetation by two school boys on their way to school.

Hours after the discovery, the Police arrested Hamilton in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). He was transported to the CID headquarters where he was interrogated during which

he caved under pressure, admitting to committing the crime.

According to reports received, the man told investigators that he travelled to Georgetown on Saturday and stayed at a city hotel. On the night the woman went missing, he reportedly contacted Hackett and made arrangements to meet at the University of Guyana access road.

He then contacted a close friend who collected him from the hotel and dropped him off at the bus shed where he met the woman. At the time, he was carrying a haversack in which the murder weapon was concealed.

The suspect went on to tell the Police that during the meeting, an argument ensued between the two, after he accused Hackett of being unfaithful.

The man, who also admitted that he was jealous, explained that despite them being separated for some time, he was still in love with her.

Added to his jealousy, the man also stated that the woman wanted to take his son away from him; hence he knew he had to get rid of her.

Hamilton admitted that during the argument, he choked the woman after which he pulled out the

Case of the missing...

Y

Dead: Simone Hackett

knife and inflicted the fatal injuries. He then toss her body in the trench, got rid of the murder weapon, boarded a taxi and travelled back to Mahdia.

Meanwhile, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Friday confirmed that the car that was used to transport the murder suspect to Mahdia was found abandoned in a bushy area in the mining district.

During an inspection of the car, blood stains were found on the seats. It is believed that after stabbing the woman, Hamilton boarded that vehicle with blood on his clothing.

While the Police continue the hunt for the driver of the car, the suspect was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on May 18.

Cutlass wielding husband jailed

A

carpenter from Paradise Village, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment after he was found guilty of threatening behaviour.

Andeshwar Boodha, 52, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna

Regina Magistrate’s Court charged with threatening behaviour towards his wife.

He and his wife share a relationship of 31 years.

According to Prosecution’s case on 19 April, 2016 at Paradise, he made used of threatening behaviour towards Linda Singh thereby breaching

the peace. He however denied he threatened his wife and a not guilty plea was recorded.

The court heard that on the day of questioned, the defendant went home and told his wife that that night was the last night for her to live. He then picked up a cutlass and ran her

Eyew tness

and threatened to burn the house down. The wife in fear ran to her room and locked herself in. She then called her daughter, who sent the police to the house.

The defendant was arrested and charged. On Wednesday Boodha was found guilty of the offence and jailed.

...US$5M

our Eyewitness loves “who dunnits”..mysteries with all kinds of red herrings are introduced to throw the Police (and readers) off the scent from figuring out “who did it”. He’d read all those Hardy Boys – and even his sisters Nancy Drews then the Perry Mason court potboilers, like “Case of the Missing Button” - back in his dissolute youth. And now he was getting that same tingly feeling as he read the daily releases on what he decided was “The Case of the Missing US$5 million.”

That US$5 million could buy a whole lotta buttons!

What your Eyewitness absorbed from his “detective immersion”, is to solve a mystery, you gotta start at the very beginning. So with the GTT shares...where do we start? From 1990 when the People’s National Congress (PNC) gave away 80 per cent of our Guyana Telephone Company (GTC) in a “fire sale” for US$16 million to a newly-formed company ATN? GTC had enough receivables (bills that had to be paid) to cover that US$16 million and then some!

And to rub salt into the wound, ATN also received a monopoly on telephone service for Guyana for 20 years.

Which we still can’t throw off even though GTT’s mega profits from Guyana within the first decade generated so much profits, ATN was able to finance its expansion in several other jurisdictions – including the USA. There ought to be a CoI to find out which high PNC Government officials benefited from the giveaway.

Anyhow, the PNC did retain 20 per cent of GTT’s shares – and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government decided to sell it off after 2011 – evidently to help fund the Marriott Hotel. Dozens of advertisements were placed in domestic and foreign newspapers but no serious takers. And through the good offices of Ambassador to China David Dabydeen, the PPP sold the 20 per cent shares off for US$30 million in 2012 to Chinese telecom giant Datang. So far, so good, no? No. The fly in the ointment was the buyer paid US$25 million up front and agreed to pay the balance in two years.

Kinda like what Tony Yassin and Glen Lall did on Guyana Stores.

But while everyone has publicly spoken and written about the past-due $5 million for the last four years... and Harmon had gone to China to collect it and then said he might have to go to court to do so, up comes Minister Trotman who claims the money’s been already paid!! Is he trying to embarrass Harmon?

And then the Muckraker makes heavy going about the company mentioned by former President Ramotar as the buyer not being Datang.

Has the Mook ever heard about Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV’s)?

...debt

As April draws to a close, your Eyewitness usually gets all gloomy and crotchety ...but this year it’s different!

Why? Well the source of his annual angst – the GRA – had just announced a radical new approach to past due taxes. Every year, your Eyewitness’ accountant (well... actually his accountant brother who took payment in beer) would file his taxes and he’d have to shell out a pretty penny to the GRA. Which could’ve been better spent on the aforementioned beer to stimulate the economy.

But since your Eyewitness was always short for cash, he’d end up paying his taxes late – and be slapped with such a draconian late-payment penalty as to make his head spin. But in explaining why the tax-debt owned

by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) didn’t earn late payment penalties, the GRA adumbrated the new policy that made your Eyewitness’ heart soar!

Henceforth, when you owe taxes, after the first year, it will be DISCOUNTED rather than earn a penalty!! The GRA would now be owing your Eyewitness yearly!

...”political investors”

OK...the Govt’s shelling out $160 million just to FINISH OFF the Durban Park Jubilee Coliseum. But we’re still in the dark how much the “political investors” – in the inimitable words of Minister Trotman – invested. Or who’re they.

Their modesty’s quite fetching.

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

news

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saturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Christopher Ram displayed tantrums of 5-year-old – CoI Chairman

By Shemuel Fanfair

C

hairman of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Camp Street Prison riots, Retired Justice James Patterson has described the actions of Guyana Bar Association President Christopher Ram as “outrageous” after he walked out of the CoI on Wednesday.

In a strongly worded statement issued late Friday afternoon, Justice Patterson said the attorney “displayed the tantrums of a five-year-old who cannot get his way on the ball field”.

“This he did on the 20th March, 2016 ultima by throwing tantrums and slamming the door to the CoI Hearings Room and made off with his bat and ball because he was not allowed to bat first,” the statement added.

Attorney Christopher Ram departing Commission hearings on Wednesday

The CoI head noted that he has not seen such “petulance and disrespect” in his nearly 55 years since being called to the Bar. Justice Patterson further added that “Mr Christopher Ram’s conduct widely reported in the press reflects the very nadir of ethical display in

the practice of what has always been known as ‘the noble profession’… It is unfortunate that practitioners like [Ram] have traduced this glorious heritage and lofty in exchange for the standards and mores of a cad and bounder.

The linguistic and behavioural glory that once pre-

Wanted man shoots Police rank

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earing a bulletproof vest on patrol proved to be a life saver for an officer within B Division (Berbice) who narrowly escaped death after a wanted man took away his service gun and discharge several rounds at him. The incident occurred sometime around 15:15h on Thursday at New Market Street, Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to police reports, Constable 20060 Randy Claxton and another rank were on anti-crime

patrol on motorcycles at New Market Street, when they saw suspect Keno Thomas, who is wanted for questioning in pending investigations into an armed robbery.

During efforts to arrest him, the suspect resisted and struck Constable Claxton to his face with a beer bottle.

Thomas then took away Claxton’s service firearm and discharged several rounds at him while was fleeing with the firearm.

Constable Claxton, who was luckily wearing a bul-

letproof vest, was hit to his back but did not sustain any injury.

Nevertheless, he was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was treated for the injuries to his face and sent away.

Meanwhile, police conducted searches in the community during which three men and a woman were arrested.

Further information led investigators to recovering the Police Force’s .38 revolver.

vailed, yes, right here in Guyana, have yielded to the conduct and manners of the gutter… we can disagree without being disagreeable while submitting with grace to lawful and established authority.”

Ram was however commended for offering his services to the Commission, “pro bono” – free of charge.

The statement further explained that attorney representing the Joint Services, Selwyn Pieters was also upbraided for some of his statements.

Justice Patterson also observed that Pieters profusely and sincerely apologised for his actions.

It was also noted that the Commission has been “hamstrung” by time constraints to fulfil its mandate to conclude the CoI in “a matter of weeks”.

“Unfortunately, counsel on both sides of the Bar table ostensibly in pursuit of the interests of their respective clients have rebelled against the imposition of

time constraints imposed by the Commission. This guillotine on the time given to counsel to conclude

withdraw, citing time constraints in examining witnesses and what Ram described as “improper,

Chairman of the CoI into the Camp Street Prison riots, retired Justice James Patterson

cross examination, especially where irrelevance infiltrates, is necessary for otherwise counsel would proceed inexorably on,” the release stated.

It was during the cross-examination of Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels that the Bar Association opted to

unethical and unprofessional” objections being raised by the attorney representing Joint Services.

“Mr Chairman, I am not going to take this interruption from the other side unless it’s a proper point of objection, we had enough from that side,” Ram had expressed.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, april 23, 2016

News

$100M to rectify turnkey homes

“Something’s fishy” – Irfaan Ali F

ormer Housing Minister Irfaan Ali has taken to task Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Hamilton Green who declared recently that some $100 million is to be spent on rectifying defects on Turnkey Homes built under Ali’s watch at Providence and Perseverance, East Bank Demerara.

Green told a news conference Thursday that the CH&PA board visited the two communities and were taken aback by the magnitude of defective houses handed over to persons.

“Two Saturdays ago we met allottees of Perseverance here and there was a series of tears and stories of trials and tribulations.

Bad roofs, leaking roofs, doors that don’t function as doors, paint peeling, sanitary facilities which don’t provide the basics, septic tanks which were porous and ineffective, floors that were doing a special dance,” recounted Green. He described the housing programme initiated under the former

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration as ill-conceived.

“Members of staff who we questioned about this unhappy situation said to us openly and privately that they were instructed by the previous administration to build houses. The impression I get is that there was no planning, no technical input and a lack of professionalism which resulted in the horror stories.”

However, Ali the Minister behind the massive housing boom in Guyana, described Green’s statement as “shocking”.

In a post on his facebook page, the former housing

minister also questioned the $100 million Green said will be spent on fixing the ‘defective’ homes, noting that CH&PA had previously stated that corrective works on the Turnkey Homes would have cost about $20 million.

“How is this now estimated at $100 million plus?” Ali asked.Ali explained that new works in the 1000 Homes Project was projected at just over $50 million, which included the completion of more than 200 homes that were delayed for a substantial time by the current administration which was in opposition at the time.

“Something fishy seems to be afoot with these numbers.

The CHPA chairman should immediately release full details of this purported $100 million spending.

Let them release full details. We should work with facts,” the former housing head urged.

Ali further contended that some of the homes were completed almost three to four years now, while each of the homes

CH&PA Chairman Hamilton Green

had a defect liability period of one year in which the beneficiary can report any faults.

Homes and the 1000 Homes Project are two completely different projects.

“The 1000 Homes were still under construction when I left office. After the elections massive vandalism took place by invaders who even went in and occupied the homes. 200 homes under the 1000 Homes were still under construction,” he stated.

Guyana’s housing programme was on several occasions hailed by many including regional leaders as the most revolutionary in the Caribbean.During a visit to Guyana in September

and expressed hope that the private sector would assist with the investment programme for housing in his country. Ali, as minister had taken Gonsalves on a tour of the East Bank Housing Development.

“I don’t know of any programme of this magnitude anywhere else in the Caribbean… in the Eastern Caribbean certainly in the OECS, we in St Vincent and the Grenadines are reputed to have the best housing programmes, but this one, the scale of it because of the vacant land is just extraordinary and the prices are very good… the

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves visited one of the turnkey housing developments during his visit to Guyana in September 2013 “The contract then provides for the contractor to take corrective work,” he stated. He further lamented that the Turnkey

2013, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves lauded the local housing programme as extraordinary

people of Guyana I don’t know if they fully appreciate what they have here,” Gonsalves had said.

GTT makes $2M donation to GuyExpo

GTT Director (Marketing) Daniel Jilesen hands over the cheque to Chairman of the GuyExpo Committee Dawn Holder

G

TT on Friday again threw in its support for celebrations to mark the nation’s jubilee anniversary programme, this time through the presentation of a $2 million cheque to the GuyExpo 2016 Committee at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia.

Chairman of the GuyExpo Committee Dawn Holder who accepted the cheque on behalf of the Committee expressed great

satisfaction at GTT’s continued support.

GTT’s sponsorship of GuyExpo comes two weeks after the company donated $1 million to the Telecommunication and Tourism Ministry, in support of Guyana Festival Fashion Extravaganza – one of the events planned as part of the golden jubilee.

GTT’s Director (Marketing) Daniel Jilesen stated that as a company,

GTT is pleased to contribute in a major and demonstrative way to the national and significant celebration in the country’s history.

He also indicated that GTT will participate as an exhibitor at the expo, adding that visitors can look forward to very exciting offers. The company promises to announce several new initiatives in the weeks to come.

saturDay, APRIL 23, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

Mabaruma Mayor, 5 NDC Chairmen battle

AG says court has no jurisdiction to hear application

T

he Attorney General Chambers on Friday filed affidavits in answer to the court action challenging the appointments of the Mayor of the new Mabaruma municipality and five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC).

Two weeks ago, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary Zulficar Mustapha filed six ‘Writs of Certiorari, Prohibition and Mandamus’ at the High Court after Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan stepped in to select five NDC chairmen and a mayor for Mabaruma following ties in the local government elections of chairmen and a mayor.

The court actions seek to nullify the selection of Kervin Crawford as Chairman (and Gail Thomas as Vice Chairman) of the GibralterFyrish NDC; Audrey Thomas as Chairman of the IndustryPlaisance NDC; Peter Livingstone as Chairman (and Royan Junior Thomas as Vice Chairman) of the Malgre Tout-Meer Zorgen; Carol Nurse as Chairman (and Wilbert Vhypius as Vice Chairman) of the WoodlandsBel Air; Gershon Clarke as Chairman of the WoodlandsFarm; and the selection of Rupert Henry Smith as Mayor (and Astrille Gammell

Attorney General Basil Williams

as Deputy Mayor) of the Municipality of Mabaruma.

The matters were heard

by Justice Diana Insanally during which she granted a series of Orders requested including an Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari quashing the decision of Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan to select the above persons.

The orders were granted on the grounds that it is contrary to and in violation of Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01 and the Local Government Act Chapter 28:02, and is in excess of and without jurisdiction, made in bad faith, is unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious, based upon irrelevant and improper considerations, mala fide, malicious,

vindictive, unlawful, ultra vires, null, void and of no legal effect.

However, in the Affidavit in Answer filed by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities, Emil McGarrell, it was stated that the Court had no jurisdiction hearing the matter since it was not filed in the proper form.

“I am advised by my Attorney-At-Law and verily believe that this Honourable Court has no jurisdiction to hear this application which is by Notice of Motion and not by the prescribed form of Elections Petition,” he stated.

The Permanent Secretary supported his claim by making reference to Section 28 of Chapter 28:02, which incorporates the provisions of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03. This piece of legislation outlines that “the proper procedure to determine whether a Chairman has been validly elected is the same as that of Councillor which is by way of Election Petition to the High Court”.

He also cited Section 13(9) of Chapter 28:01 of the Local Authority Act, which says any questions on the validity of the election of a Mayor or Deputy Mayor shall be determined by the Court, and Section 146 of Part IV of the Local Authorities

(Election) Act Chapter 28:03 (2), which states that every such reference shall be by an Elections Petition.

According to McGarrell in the legal documents, in an application of Prerogative Writ the applicant must disclose all material facts to enable the Court to determine whether to grant the Orders Nisi being requested. He noted that in relation to Clarke, Nurse (as well as Vyphius) and Crawford (as well as Thomas), Mustapha failed to disclose to the

court that they had already commenced performing the functions of Chairman (as well as Deputy Chair).

While he further failed to disclose that Livingstone (as well as Thomas), Audrey Thomas and Smith (as well as Gammell) had already taken their respective Oaths of Office prior to the granting of the Orders Nisi.

The Permanent Secretary went on to state that even if the court finds that Bulkan acted ultra vires the provisions of the Local Government

Act Chapter 28:02 in these appointments, it does not prevent these persons from performing functions in their respective offices de facto.

McGarrell added too that even if the court were to find that the Overseers and Town Clerk acted ultra vires the provisions of Section 13 in summoning a second meeting of the Councillors to resolve the equality of votes of the first meeting, then “they acted on the ground of necessity”.

12 news

saturDay, APRIL 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Guyana signs on to Paris COP Guyana receives Reparations 21 climate change treaty Baton, torch

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s the world joined in the celebration of World Earth Day, Guyana also joined over 150 countries in the signing of the climate change agreement in Paris on Friday.

President David Granger joined hundreds of world leaders to sign the 2015 agreement, which was crafted in December last year in Paris.

The expected key result of the agreement is to set a goal of limiting global warming to less than two degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. The agreement calls for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to be reached during the second half of the 21st century.

Parties to the agreement will also pursue efforts to limit the temperature in-

According to him, Guyana, through the pursuit of a green economy, will spare no effort to contribute to both a sustainable future and to an effective global response to climate change.

Guyana is a net carbon sink, he said, as its forests seize more carbon than the country’s human activities generate. He said Guyana, with the world’s second highest percentage of rainforest cover, commands important carbon stocks.

It nevertheless, is fully committed to contributing to limiting the rise in global temperature to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The President said Guyana intends to implement initiatives in the forest and renewable energy sectors, including through the Reducing Emissions from

Granger, Guyana is prepared to sustainably manage, conserve and protect our national patrimony and place our ecological resources at the service of humanity.

He said Guyana in the short-term, up to 2020, will improve timber monitoring and maintain a high level of timber legality; increase value-added activities in the forestry sector so as to augment carbon storage in long-use wood products; intensify the sustainable management of our indigenous communities which own and manage 14 per cent of our national territory; introduce a national Emissions Reduction Programme (ERP) to add two million hectares under conservation, encourage more efficient mining and logging activities and im-

President David Granger joined over one hundred world leaders to sign the Paris COP 21 climate change treaty

crease to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The 1.5 degrees Celsius goal will require zero emissions sometime between 2030 and 2050, according to some scientists.

President Granger, delivering at the session, said Guyana has signed the Agreement on account of its recognition of the need for resolute action to combat the challenges of climate change. He said his country will ensure the deposit of the instruments of ratification this year.

Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus programme.

“We will move closer towards a 100 per cent renewable power supply by 2025, conditional on appropriate support and adequate resources. Our proposed commitments, through avoided emissions, can contribute the equivalent of up to 48.7 million metrictonnes of carbon dioxide to the global mitigation effort”, President Granger said.

According to President

plement Reduced Impact Logging(RIL); invest in solar power, wind power and hydropower to transition more rapidly to renewable sources of energy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

The Paris Cop21 Agreement came into being in December of 2015 in Paris, France. The agreement was adopted by all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on December 12, 2015. It has been hailed as the most ambitious international environmental agreement in history.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) played a significant role in the crafting the agreement with a set of negotiating positions articulated in the Barbados Declaration of Climate Change which was later adopted by the Caricom Heads of Government in July of 2015.

For the agreement to be entered into force and be legally binding at least 55 countries, which account for 55 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions must ratify or approve the agreement through their own domestic legal systems.

– massive May month activities planned

I

n keeping with the Caribbean Reparation Commission’s (CRC) International Reparations Relay (IRR), the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday received the Reparation’s Baton from its Barbadian counterpart.

The baton and torch will be presented to the national reparations commissions across the region at youth rallies organised under the banner ‘Roots, Rock, Reggae, Reparations’ which will celebrate the principles and programmes of the Caribbean and global reparatory justice movements.

From Guyana, the baton will be taken to other Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries during the course of the year.

Magnificently carved from fine Barbados mahogany wood, the baton is a symbol of justice, that has engraved on it, a map of Africa, the words “Reparations Now,” representing the 15 Caricom countries. The relay will culminate in Jamaica later this year where the Emancipation Rebellion, led

by Sam Sharpe, will be remembered and celebrated.

Chairman of the Guyana Reparation Commission, Dr Eric Phillips told Guyana Times on Friday that there are about a dozen different activities planned for May that will be centred around the torch. He spoke of a massive youth rally, which will see the baton being taken to several villages throughout Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo.

“We are now looking at a three-week programme beginning around May 13 and ending around the 28, mainly weekend driven. The programme is contextualised in the International Decade of People of African Descent in recognition of justice and development and we are looking to have global interest during the Guyana’s programme”. He said further details on the plans by the Reparation Commission here, which is also working in concert with the Caribbean Reparation Commission, will be made available as the time draws closer.

Guyana, like the other Caribbean countries, remains steadfast in its calls for Britain to make its due payment to the descendants of those who suffered in the massive slave trade which spread between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Earlier this month, the Caribbean Diaspora was called upon to support Caricom’s calls for the UK to pay reparations as compensation for its involvement in slavery and the slave trade.

So far, there has been

Professor Pedro Welch, Chairman of the Barbados Reparations Task Force, with the Reparations Relay Baton before it was handed over to Guyana

no definitive outcome of the reparation issue to date, as regional leaders are still awaiting answers from Britain authorities concerning reparation for slavery. The Region recently pushed their campaign further, when, on behalf of the 15-member countries of Caricom, Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who is also the Chairman of Caricom Reparation Commission formed in 2013, wrote and sent a formal letter of complaint to the British Foreign Office seeking reparation. Stuart called on London to formally acknowledge the Region’s demands for payment for the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The Caricom Reparations Commission, which was launched in July 2013, had set a number of demands to the former European slave trading nations.

These include that those countries providing diplomatic help to persuade countries such as Ghana and Ethiopia, to offer citizenship to the children of people from the Caribbean who “return” to Africa; devising a developmental strategy to help improve the lives of poor communities in the Caribbean still devastated by the aftereffects of slavery; supporting cultural exchanges between the Caribbean and West Africa to help Caribbean people of African descent rebuild their sense of history and identity; supporting literacy drives designed to improve educational levels that are still dire in many Caribbean communities; and providing medical assistance to the Region, which is struggling with high levels of chronic diseases such as

hypertension and Type Two Diabetes that the Caricom Reparations Commission links to the fallout from slavery.

Caricom Reparations Committee Chairman, Sir Hilary Beckles had said that the plan was also to set out areas of dialogue with former slave-trading nations including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

The claims are being channelled through the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and processed with the help of the London law firm Leigh Day. The economies of Caricom Member States reportedly total close to US$78 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which would place the Region at 65th in the world if it were a single country.

Reports are that the Region cannot claim much in the way of the economic blow. However, after having suffered over 400 years of slavery and colonialism at the hands of European powers, its demands for reparations possess enormous moral authority.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade brought over 10 million captured Africans to work as chattel slaves in sugar and cotton plantations throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. It was the largest forced migration in human history.

Today, Caricom nations have a population of 16 million, and the Diaspora in the United States, Canada and Europe totals about five million people.

News

Gender bias still evident in workplaces – Lawrence

T

he importance of Occupational Safety and Health in the workplace was the highlight as the Linden Electricity Company Inc (LECI) and the Linmine Secretariat hosted the annual workshop at the Watooka Complex at Mackenzie, Linden on Thursday.

For Occupational Safety and Health Month with

21st century in eliminating these issues, which lead to negative impacts on individuals as well as work output.

“We are cognizant of the challenges that are presented on a daily basis in our working environment. Our work force is exposed to conditions and hazards which may be biologically, chemical, environmental… and for which safeguard and pre-

different individuals will bring certain differences to the working environment.

In the absence of such mechanisms, she noted that this may lead to workers becoming risk factors to their environments.

Issues such as gender bias are cause for concern since more women are entering the workforce. Not only is it a concern for women, but

Some of the participants at the LECI, Linmine Secretariat workshop

theme ‘Workplace Stress: A Collective Challenge’, the workshop saw workers from various organisations, including the LECI, Linmine Secretariat, Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) participating.

During the feature address, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence highlighted various issues affecting employees in the general workplace. The minister alluded to the need for much more to be done in the

ventative measures must be in place…”, she stated.

In examining some causes of workplace stress, Lawrence said while each workplace is unique, there are various commonalities, as she pointed to the fact that each workplace there are people from different backgrounds who share a particular space. She said it is important that there are mechanisms in place to address the emotional needs and issues, in realising that

she related that both men and women are affected.

“The gender bias in some work places are so ripe that it interferes with the smooth running of the company or institution,” the minister noted.

Furthermore, she indicated that too many have fallen prey to this scourge and are forced to quit or suffer in silence, noting that the prevalence of sexual harassment needs to be addressed. Minister Lawrence

Drainage and irrigation should be given priority in Region 2 – Chairman – D&I workers request more funding

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

R

egion Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt has said that drainage and irrigation should be given top priority as the rainy season is closely approaching.

At a recent meeting organised with the Drainage and Irrigation contractors, the Regional Vice Chairperson, RDC Councillors and staff from the Regional Administration, Ramdatt highlighted the need for the enhancement of the drainage

verification of works completed, need for a review of price offered to the contractors, outstanding payments, disposal of garbage and carcasses in waterways, and illegal occupation of reserves.

At the meeting D&I cleaners expressed satisfaction that an opportunity was provided to them to raise issues affecting them, since such a meeting was not held for a long time.

They requested more money be given to clean the trenches as the current payments are meagre and insuf-

After listening to the D&I cleaners’ request, Ramdatt maintained that stakeholders’ participation is needed for the region’s progress, alluding to the fact that D&I workers are one such stakeholder and every approach must be taken to support rice farmers.

The Drainage and Irrigation staff were advised to have closer monitoring and reporting systems so that timely interventions can be made in addressing complaints.

Staff were also encouraged by the Regional Chairman to

ficient for them to maintain their families. Currently they are paid $35 per rod and they explained that such payments sometimes take forever to process. The D&I cleaners are therefore requesting an additional $20 per rod.

“If we are given $60 per rod to clean the trench that will help us support our families, we will be able to do more and live longer” a D&I cleaner lobbied.

engage farmers and residents in discussions during field visits so that public confidence can be achieved and plans can be developed to address the needs of the people.

At the end of the meeting those who attended agreed they were satisfied since such meetings were not held in a while and they think their views should be aired when issues are affecting them.

D&I workers at the meeting

system along the coast.

At the meeting held at the Regional State House, Ramdatt said the meeting was specially convened to examine ways in which systems can be implemented to enhance drainage and irrigation, all in the interest of farmers and residents as the rainy season approaches.

Key matters discussed included adherence to contract specifications, monitoring and

said relevant policies and Legislation need to be put in place so that complainants can make reports and perpetrators penalised accordingly.

Single-parent related issues, the minister mentioned, can also lead to stress in the working environment, as she painted various scenarios. Noting that coping with on-the-job demands and family life may become hectic, the minister said we cannot turn a blind eye to the challenges faced by single-parents.

As such, she noted that heightened awareness through workshops and other means is necessary, since all must be involved to ensure workplace stress is kept at a minimum.

In her presentation, Dr Green-Braithwhaite engaged the attendees on types of stress, factors which may lead to it, its effects, including physical and mental, as well as how it can be dealt with.

During an interactive session, attendees were also involved in sharing issues affecting them at the workplace.

A number of employees were also awarded tokens of appreciation for years of hard work and dedication to promoting workplace health and safety.

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saturDay, APRIL 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Occupational Health and Safety Month

Essequibians walk against unfair workplace practices

Persons walking in observance of Occupational Health and Safety Month

H

undreds of persons from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) joined the Social Protection Ministry on Thursday for a health and fitness walk. The event was organised in observance of Occupational Heath and Safety Month with theme, “Workplace stress: A Collective Challenge.”

Over 120 persons from the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, Ministry of Health and Caricom Rice Mills participated in the walk

which commenced at 07:30h from Mainstay Village to Anna Regina.

Despite the pouring rain persons marched against the unhealthy and unfair practices at the workplace and also in awareness of the upcoming Vaccination Week (next week) celebrated worldwide.

At the end of the walk everyone converged in the compound of the Anna Regina Health Centre where essential information was shared by workers of the Public Health Ministry.

14

guyana-times.com

saturDay, april 23, 2016

News

Immigration, birth certificate Vaccination Week to be observed throughout Guyana services soon for Berbice …as Govt team meets Berbicians

A

team of government officials met with residents of Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), in the first “Meet the Public” engagement in that region.

The team headed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon included acting President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Citizenship Minister Winston Felix. The team met with scores of residents on the lawns of State House, New Amsterdam.

Addressing the gathering prior to the one-on-one engagement, Minister Felix disclosed that immigration and birth certificate services will now be accessible in the region.

“We know that you have an office in New Amsterdam, but we are not satisfied that the office can sufficiently deal with all of Berbice. You will now be able to make an application in Berbice for a passport and which will come back to you in the region, and the same thing for the birth certificate,” he stated.

This was met with loud cheers as the Minister further advised that government is determined to bring the services to the people of the region. Discussions he noted, were held with the

regional officials and “the region is excited about the services.”

In his address to Berbicians, Minister Harmon stated: “We have decided to bring the offices of the Government to you. We are not only taking complaints, but we are making governmental decisions on the ground here today (Friday).”

Minister Harmon reminded the gathering that

velopment of all Guyanese, in every community and in every region.

Following the official opening, persons flocked the officials and immediately started to discuss their concerns. During the oneon-one interactions, several issues were brought to the fore, some of which were addressed immediately, while others will be passed to the relevant authorities.

Friday’s engagement

Staff of the housing department attending to Region Six residents’ concerns

Guyana will be celebrating its 50th Independence anniversary next month and, “it gives us the opportunity to demonstrate unity as a people and leave sound legacy for the generations to come.”

The Minister of State reaffirmed and reassured that the administration remains committed to the de-

was for residents from Whim to Mara, East Bank Berbice including Canje and New Amsterdam.

The engagement continues today for residents from Lancaster to Moleson Creek. The meeting will be held at the Azad Latiff land, Public Road, 78 Corriverton, commencing at 10:00h.

G

uyana will once again join the Caribbean and Latin America in observing Vaccination Week with a series of activities across the 10 Administrative Regions.

Vaccination Week in the Americas commences on 23 April and runs until 30 April, 2016 with the theme “Go for the gold! Get vaccinated.” Vaccination Week observances have become one of the largest multinational events with all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean participating, accounting for the vaccination of over 400 million people within the region over the last 12 years.

During the 2016 observance locally, all primary healthcare staff involved in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) will utilise the time to participate in catch up campaigns for their defaulters and hard to reach population. Remote regions in the hinterland will also be a focused area of these campaigns.

Healthcare providers will also vaccinate the general adult population and have simultaneous “in school” vaccination campaigns countrywide. The opportunity is also provided for the public to give feedback on the programme and ways in which immunisation in Guyana can be improved.

Other activities include the engagement of schools in art, poetry and essay

competitions, religious activities, and walks.

The EPI is one of the most successful Public Health Programmes in Guyana with vaccination coverage of over 90 per cent of all antigens given to the under-five population.

The Government of Guyana’s Policy on the Expanded Programme on Immunisation is to provide immunisation for all target populations in order to eliminate the occurrence of vaccine preventable diseases The programme currently administers vaccines for 17 antigens: Whooping Cough, Measles, Poliomyelitis, Tuberculosis, Yellow Fever, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Mumps, Rubella, Haemophilus Influenza Type b, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal, Meningococcal, Human Pappiloma Virus, Varicella, Rota Virus, and Pertussis.

There is provision for special populations such as children who live in orphanages, our elderly population in senior homes and healthcare providers.

It is necessary that all children under the age of five receive vaccines because they are susceptible to acquiring vaccine preventable diseases that can result in death. They are the most vulnerable because their bodies have not developed an immune system that can prevent them getting these diseases.

Vaccines work with our

immune system to prevent diseases by causing the body to produce antibodies to fight against the germ, so when or if that germ enters the body it will not cause us to become ill.

In 2014, Guyana was awarded third place out of 75 countries for effective vaccine management.

Our primary healthcare providers are the faces of this programme and special mention must be made of their tireless contributions in making it a success.

Guyana, as we know, has a unique terrain with at least 30 per cent of our population living in the hinterland Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.

The terrain of these regions contributes greatly to the challenges of this programme, from the many rivers of Region 1 and 8 to the mountains of Region 7and 9. The challenge of these regions is also due to the lack of infrastructure to support cold chain equipment which is a necessity of the vaccination process.

The Ministry of Public Health takes this opportunity to express gratitude to all mothers and fathers who diligently work along with our healthcare workers in ensuring their children are vaccinated.

The theme for Vaccination Week 2016 is very fitting, and has a very significant meaning for Guyana, since this is our Global Jubilee Year.

saturDAY, april 23, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the world

India landslide in Arunachal Pradesh kills 15 workers

Obama: Brexit would hurt Britain's trade with US A

landslide triggered by torrential rains in the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh has killed at least 15 people, officials say.

Rescue workers are searching for other people feared trapped in the debris.

The landslide hit a camp housing construction workers in Tawang district, a tourist spot in the state, early on Friday.

U

S President Barack Obama has warned British voters that the UK would find itself "at the back of the queue" for a trade deal with the US if they vote against staying in the European Union in the June 23 referendum.

Obama said on Friday during his three-day visit to London that the UK's influence on the world stage was "magnified" by its membership of the 28-member bloc.

"I think this makes you guys bigger players," he said at a joint news conference with David Cameron, the British Prime Minister.

"It's fair to say that maybe some point down the line there might be a UK-US trade agreement but that's not going to happen anytime soon because our focus is negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement done."

In an op-ed published by The Telegraph shortly af-

T

U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron hold a news conference following their meeting on Friday

ter his arrival in the British capital on Thursday, Obama said that the UK should be proud that the EU has helped spread British values and practices – democracy, the rule of law, open markets – across the continent and to its periphery.

In his article, Obama argued that the UK had ben-

efited from being inside the EU in terms of jobs, trade, financial growth and security.

Obama and his wife Michelle congratulated Queen Elizabeth, who celebrated her 90th birthday on Thursday, before he proceeded to Downing Street for talks with Cameron. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Between December 1214, 2015, more than 350 men, women and children belonging to the Shia sect are thought to have been killed in the town of Zaria in Kaduna state. Violence erupted after IMN supporters – some of whom were armed with batons, knives and machetes – refused to allow an Army convoy to pass along a road close to the group’s headquarters.

After the initial clash, the military is alleged to have surrounded areas in which IMN members had gathered and begun to fire at them both deliberately and indiscriminately. Mobile phone

footage thought to have been taken by IMN supporters shows bodies with gunshot wounds as well as charred bodies strewn around the compound.

Amnesty has identified and visited the location of a possible mass grave in the Mando area, near the city of Kaduna. Satellite images of the site taken the month before the attack and 10 days after show “disturbed earth spanning an area of approximately 1000 square metres”.

They also reveal the complete destruction of buildings and mosques. (Excerpt from The

Guardian)

China's Xi Jinping takes commander in chief military title

C

hina's President Xi Jinping has taken on a new military title, in his latest move to exert greater control over the armed forces.

Xi is now Commander In Chief of the military's Joint Operations Command Centre.

State media showed him visiting the centre wearing camouflage fatigues.

China's foreign policy has become increasingly assertive in recent years, especially on its claims to disputed territories in the South China Sea. Xi is already General Secretary of the Communist Party, and chair of the Central Military Commission, which manages the People's Liberation Army.

Correspondents say that,

minor injuries. A total of 20 workers were at the spot when the massive landslide struck the construction site," Anto Alphonse, superintendent of police for Tawang, told AFP news agency. There have been heavy rains in the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, which lies on the Tibetan border and is claimed in part by China.(BBC News)

Quake toll reaches more than 600 as aftershocks spook Ecuador

Nigerian army killed 350 and secretly buried the bodies, Amnesty says he Nigerian military has been urged to “come clean” over the deaths of 350 civilians who are alleged to have been shot or burned alive and then dumped in a mass grave following a confrontation in the north of the country last December.

A new report from Amnesty International, which includes witness testimony and satellite images of a possible mass grave, accuses the military of illegally attacking members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and then trying to cover up the atrocities.

Landslides are common in parts of India but usually occur during the monsoon rains from June to September.

The workers, who were building a hotel, were asleep when the landslide hit their camp in Tawang district, located at an altitude of more than 3000 metres (9800 feet).

"Three labourers survived and have received

T

he death toll from Ecuador’s devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake rose to 602 people on Friday, as dozens of aftershocks shook cities and towns around the country, spooking residents but causing no further damage.

Last Saturday’s quake, the worst in nearly seven decades, injured 12,492 people and left 130 missing, emergency management authorities said in a bulletin.

Survivors were shaken again late on Thursday night when a powerful 6.0 magnitude quake struck off Ecuador’s coast about 100 km (62 miles) North-North-west of Portoviejo and at a depth of 10 km (six miles).

“When it started to shake last night we started to pray,” said Alex Bachon, 43, a construction worker repairing

A rescue team member from Spain (C) and others rescuers search for victims at a collapsed store and buildings at the village of Manta, after an earthquake struck off Ecuador’s Pacific coast, April 21

damage from Saturday’s quake at a hotel in Guayaquil.

“I have never seen anything like this, it’s been so bad.”

There were more than 70 aftershocks throughout Thursday night and Friday, the country’s geology institute reported. There have been a

total of 700 aftershocks since Saturday’s quake.

The tremors will continue for several weeks, emergency management official Ricardo Penaherrera warned on Friday, and he called on Ecuadoreans to stay calm.

ports was categorised as sexual abuse,” the CATT said, adding the majority of sexual abuse cases brought to its attention involved female children (86.8 per cent), while 13.2 per cent of sexual abuse cases involved male children.

The CATT said that 18 per cent of all children involved in sexual abuse cases were between the ages of 16 to 17 years old.

The CATT said that while girls are predominately reported as the victims of sexual abuse, dur-

ing the Authority’s first nine months of operations there were 148 cases of boys who were sexually abused in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Authority also noted that during the nine month period, 2.8 per cent of all reported cases of sexual abuse against children occurred in Tobago.

Overall, the CATT said that there were 195 cases of children committing sexual offences against other children -child on child abuse – during the nine month period. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

behind the attacks on the Radisson, the Hotel Nord Sud, the La Terrasse restaurant and the Hotel Byblos,” he said.

He said Ould Ahmed was a member of al Mourabitoun, a militant group allied to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Beginning with an attack on La Terrasse in Bamako in March last year that killed five people, the two groups have teamed up to target civilians at locations frequented by westerners.

Seventeen people died in the attack on the Hotel Byblos in the town of Sevare

in August and 20 in the November raid on the luxury Radisson Blu in the capital.

Attacks on a restaurant in neighbouring Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou and a beach resort town in Ivory Coast in January and March of this year left dozens more dead.

There were no casualties in last month’s attack on Bamako’s Hotel Nord Sud, which serves as the headquarters of the European Union’s military training mission in Mali. (Excerpt from

(Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T authority says more than 900 children sexually abused during 9-month period

T

he Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (CATT) says more than 900 children have been sexually abused during a nine-month period.

In its “Statistical Report on Sexual Abuse against Children in Trinidad and Tobago,” the CATT said that for the period May 18, 2015 to February this year, 4158 children in need of care, protection and rehabilitation were brought to the attention of the authority.

“Of this, approximately 915 cases or one in five re-

Mali reports arrest of suspect in hotel and restaurant attacks

A Xi Jinping (right) said the military should be "absolutely loyal"

given Mr Xi's consolidation of power in China, the move will be interpreted by some as a propaganda message that he is now in absolute control.

During his visit to the centre on Wednesday, which was widely publicised in state media, xI said the armed forces should be "absolutely loyal" and "capable

of winning wars".

Experts say his appearance in military fatigues may also be a display of strength aimed at China's rivals.

China and several of its neighbours are locked in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. (Excerpt from BBC News)

uthorities in Mali said on Friday they had arrested a member of a group linked to al Qaeda that has claimed responsibility for attacks that killed dozens in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

Fawaz Ould Ahmed was captured by security and intelligence services in Bamako on Thursday as he was preparing to carry out another attack, said Security Ministry Spokesman Amadou Sangho.

“We found him with grenades and a small suitcase containing weapons. He was

France24)

16 news

saturDAY, april 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Bandits beat, rob East Canje family A

n East Canje, Berbice, family is left traumatised after they were robbed by armed bandits who barged into their home as they were closing up on

tell he open; so he had to allow them to come in. When they come in, me son was lying down watching TV… They take he phone charger cord and tie he up and take

ther revealed to Guyana Times that several small sums of money were handed over to the perpetrators estimated to be in the sum of $300,000, which includ-

The house at Adelphi, Canje that bandits stormed on Thursday night

Thursday night.

Reports are that about 22:00h, two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun and the other with a knife, went to the Lot 16 First Street, Adelphi, East Canje, house, which had a shop attached. At the time, five persons were at home and the bandits tied them up as they ransacked the house searching for valuable items.

According to one of the occupants, Kamaldai Balram, she and her husband were closing up the house when the men scaled the fence and

me daughter iPhone charger cord and tie up me husband,” the woman recounted to Guyana Times on Friday.

Balram said she tried to escape but was caught by the other man carrying a knife and was bounded with a hand towel. She said one of the men stood guard over her husband and son while the other went to the upper flat of the building and ransacked it in search of valuables. However, he only found a wallet belonging to her son with an undisclosed sum of cash.

According to the trau-

ed money her daughter was saving to visit the dentist.

She added too that the finger ring she was wearing at the time was also taken.

“The phone downstairs been ring one time and it ring back again, and the one downstairs tell the other one is time to go. He (upstairs bandit) then take a bag and put all the cellphones inside (six in total) and some cigarettes and coffee and juice from the shop and then jump back over the fence same time the Police coming,” she recalled.

The woman told this

One of the rooms that bandits ransacked during the 45-minute ordeal

prevented them from securing the door. She recalled that her husband was at the door about to secure the lock when the gun wielding bandit confronted him.

“He (husband) pull the grill door in lil bit more to shut it, when one (bandit) run and reach right up to the door and push he hand through the grill and put the gun to me husband face and

matised woman, the armed man then returned to her and told her that he will have to accompany her upstairs since she knew where the money and jewellery were. “I tell he that I aint get no jewellery only this ring on me finger and I get some money upstairs, ah gon give you,” she recounted to this newspaper.

Meanwhile, Balram fur-

publication that the entire ordeal lasted about 45 minutes. She noted that the Police arrived just as the men made their way out of the house but were unable to make an arrest, despite searching the area for several hours.

Nevertheless, investigators later returned to the scene where they were able to obtain fingerprints.

17

news

saturDAY, april 23, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Trade Unions renew calls DDL, GRA tax settlement for Labour Ministry PSC urges similar engagement with other delinquent companies -sends letter to Opposition Leader and Speaker concerning issue

T

he Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) along with the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Guyana (FITUG) met on Friday to renew their call for the reintroduction of the Labour Ministry to deal with the affairs of the workers.

During a press conference at the Guyana Trade Union Congress headquarters, the trade Unions laid down a number of demands that have been proposed to the Government, but pri-

Administration of the Social Protection Ministry. The Head of State had said that if he felt there was a need for a Labour Ministry then he would have created one.

“I think the labour portfolio is well placed. I think the duties within the Ministry of Social Protection are clearly defined and had made it clear why I felt that the name social protection is more appropriate,” he further stated.

Though the Ministry is still technically in exis-

a Labour Ministry is to the economical growth of the country, primarily because it deals with the human resource, the labour force.

Lewis added that is it abnormal that the Government would introduce a Ministry of Business and would not even consider the labour conditions in Guyana, though the two go hand in hand theoretically.

As the Government has continued with its “rhetoric” regarding inclusion and national unity in Guyana, the

GTUC’s General Secretary Lincoln Lewis during the conference along with other representatives of GAWU and FITUG

mary on the list was the reintroduction of the Labour Ministry which had been subsumed under the Social Protection Ministry after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) assumed office in 2015.

Speaking on behalf of the trade unions inclusive of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) was Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC), who said the Unions are very much aware of the remarks by the President on the issue, but they are still maintaining the point that the Ministry is an essential part in the building of the labour sector.

“We have heard President Granger and we respect his position but we are saying that we have justification,” Lewis made clear.

President Granger had made his position clear during an edition of the “Public Interest” that there is no need for the Labour Ministry, since it is suitably placed under the

tence but listed under the administration of the Social Protection Ministry, the Unions are arguing that this proves how “insignificant” the Government is deeming the labour sector of Guyana.

Noting the accomplishments of the trades unions over its years of existence which have been contributory factors to the progress of Guyana, Lewis cited that there should be enough emphasis placed on the sector to highlight this.

Making reference to the current issues manifesting in the labour sector, Lewis concluded that these are subsisting due to the absence of the Ministry.

Lewis cited that in 1982 there had been a similar occurrence where the Labour Ministry was replaced by the ”Ministry of manpower, labour and cooperative” but due to unwavering demands by the labour movement this was adjusted by the then President Linden Forbes Burnham.

The Unions are hoping that this Government will also listen to their demands and realise how significant

Unions have sent out letters to the President, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, as well as the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland, in order to have their proposals recognised broadly.

Questioned on what planned actions the Unions have collectively, if these demands are not met, Lewis stated that there have been no discussions on this since the Unions believe that its proposals are just and should be agreed upon by the Government.

“We believe that our proposals are just and as such we have not come up with any strategy to fight but to ensure that they consider them objectively.”

As the labour sector gears toward the celebration of its accomplishment through a unified Labour Day rally and the country is preparing for its Golden Jubilee anniversary, the Unions believe that this is the time that the Government should give attention to the labour sector and more so the Ministry.

West Berbice man jailed for breaking into church

A

West Berbice man was on Friday jailed for four months by city Magistrate Fabayo Azore for breaking and entering a church.

The accused, Raul Ramsaywack, told the court he is 25 years old and originally from Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice.

He pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on

April 21, at Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, he broke and entered the Bethel Full Gospel Church with intent to commit a felony.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne told the court that on the day in question, the defendant was seen hiding behind a piano in the church when he was caught.

The Police were summoned to the scene and the

man was told of the allegation. According to Prosecutor Payne, he remained silent during questioning and was taken to the Police station.

When given a chance to speak, the defendant told the court that someone took him to the church but ran away and left him when he was caught.

As such he was sentenced to four months in prison.

I

n light of the recent $5 billion tax settlement between the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is urging that similar procedure be adopted with other delinquent companies.

“From the point of view of the Private Sector Commission, we wish to urge that the Guyana Revenue Authority now engage other aggrieved companies to apply similar formulae to correct the distortions in the market place resulting from this action,” the Commission said in a statement on Friday.

Furthermore, the PSC applauded GRA and DDL on the settlement and compromise over the long outstanding consumption and excise taxes. “We wish to congratulate the Company on the amicable resolution of this issue, which has been ongoing since 2002 – that is an achievement which took fourteen years and is also a credit to all concerned,” the brief statement added.

Last week, DDL announced that it has reached an “amicable” settlement with GRA thus resolving the longstanding legal battle between the two, which arose out of a Consumption Tax assessment levied against DDL by former Commissioner

General Khurshid Sattuar in January 2009 to the tune of $5,392,020,753.

However, the legal battle dated back to 2002, when the local beverage giant raised a legal challenge against the GRA on the methodology adopted by the latter for the assessment of Consumption Tax. In February, 2005, the High Court found in favour of DDL. The GRA subsequently appealed that decision and on July 31, 2008, the Guyana Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the GRA’s Appeal.

But the following month, GRA commenced a new assessment, this time issuing a new claim, billing the company a crippling $5.392 billion. This was again challenged by DDL in 2009 and the High Court had issued an Order Nisi pending the hearing of the matter.

“DDL and the GRA were able to recommence negotiations for a resolution of the methodology for a calculation of Consumption Tax (and its successor, Excise Tax), and have now been able to arrive at consensus to fully and finally settle all claims by the GRA and liability by DDL for both Consumption and Excise tax up to March 9, 2016 in the sum of $1,500,000,000.

This sum is payable over 12 months. DDL, in good faith, very recently effected

payment of $100,000,000 in compliance with the settlement terms,” a statement from the company on 12 April, 2016 stated.

However, while the PSC has lauded the settlement, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has strongly condemned the transaction, calling it a “scandalous out of court settlement” that has cost the State billions of dollars in revenue.

“The settlement sends the wrong message to the business community; that a company can unilaterally decide to stop paying taxes, while other companies comply with the law, take the matter to court and drag it out until a sympathetic government comes to power and settles its debts to the State,” the former Guyanese President stated.

Jagdeo further outlined that the settlement has opened the door for other companies to seek refunds on taxes paid: “There have already been reports in the private sector of other major companies consulting lawyers about this possibility.

Management officials from a major local alcohol and beverage producing company have made it clear, in the past when I was President, that the company would be seeking a refund depending on the outcome of the DDL matter,” he noted.

18

guyana-timesgy.com

saturday, April 23, 2016

ARCHIE

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CANCER

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Take a chance on something or someone who offers an experience you’ve never had before. Learn as you go and incorporate what works for you into your everyday routine.

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saturDAY, aPRIL 23, 2016

19

Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians, IPL 2016, Delhi…

Daredevils target rare hat-trick of wins W

hen they take on Mumbai Indians at Feroz Shah Kotla today, Delhi Daredevils will have a chance to do something they haven't done since IPL 2012 - win three successive matches.

The win against Royal Challengers Bangalore put the focus on Daredevils' batting. Quinton de Kock, who played only three matches in IPL 2015, is now their batting lynchpin with 184 runs in three innings so far, including the 51-ball 108 in Bangalore. Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair and Sanju Samson complete a young top order that has been given the freedom to play uninhibited cricket.

Daredevils' results, however, have been masterminded by the bowlers.

Amit Mishra's four-wicket haul against Kings XI Punjab handed the side its first win. Tactful end-overs bowling by Mohammed Shami and Chris Morris restricted Royal Challengers to 192, when they looked set for 220, and the batsmen rode on that momentum in the seven-wicket triumph.

Zaheer Khan may not be the

force he once was, but he has exhibited his mastery with the new ball.

As captain, Zaheer has not been afraid to challenge the youngsters. One such move against Royal Challengers promoting Nair ahead of Carlos Brathwaite or JP Duminy in a steep chase- paid off.

With a stretch of three home matches over the next week, the bowlers will be key for Daredevils on surfaces that are expected to remain slow.

Mumbai averted a third successive loss by beating Royal Challengers at home on Wednesday. Rohit Sharma's return to the opening slot and Ambati Rayudu's move to No. 3 have given the batting order a settled look. Krunal Pandya's utility and Kieron Pollard's form in an unbeaten 19-ball 39 augers well for a team that was missing firepower in the middle. Mitchell McClenaghan and Tim Southee's pace and swing gives them variety.

One grey area is Parthiv Patel's position. The wicketkeeper's dot-ball percentage of 52.24 is the highest among batsmen who have

faced 50 deliveries or more in this IPL. Will Mumbai want to tamper with a winning combination, though?

In the spotlight

Shreyas Iyer, Daredevils' highest scorer last season, has lasted 12 balls with scores of 0, 3 and 0 in three innings so far. Against Kings XI, he was wrongly adjudged caught behind down the leg side. Against Royal Challengers, he was dismissed by Shane Watson and David Wiese's tag-team effort at long-on. Iyer's return to form will boost Daredevils' top order, which is now largely reliant on de Kock.

Rohit Sharma has two match-winning half-centuries as an opener this season in chases of 188 and 171, against Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers. His 44-ball 62 against Royal Challengers at the Wankhede Stadium help Mumbai snap out of a couple of early losses.

Team news

Having won two matches on the bounce, Daredevils are unlikely to make any

Quinton de Kock has been the form man for Delhi Daredevils this season

changes to the XI that beat Royal Challengers. If the surface aids turn, they could consider playing Imran Tahir in place of Carlos Brathwaite.

Delhi Daredevils (probable) 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 Shreyas Iyer, 3 Sanju Samson, 4 JP Duminy, 5 Karun Nair, 6 Pawan

Negi, 7 Chris Morris, 7 Jayant Yadav, 9 6 Carlos Brathwaite/Imran Tahir 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Amit Mishra.

Mumbai have fielded two wicketkeepers in their XI in four matches. If Jos Buttler takes the gloves, Mumbai have the option of playing a pure batsman - possibly

Unmukt Chand - in place of Parthiv. Mumbai Indians (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma 2 Parthiv Patel/Unmukt Chand 3 Ambati Rayudu 4 Jos Buttler 5 Kieron Pollard 6 Hardik Pandya 7 Krunal Pandya 8 Harbhajan Singh 9 Tim Southee 10 Mitchell McClenaghan 11 Jasprit Bumrah (Cricinfo)

Barcelona boss wants Day-night Test in India not finalised – NZC maximum wins going forward

A

B

arcelona boss Luis Enrique says his side need to win all four of their remaining games in La Liga, after letting a ninepoint lead slip.

The champions, who host Enrique's hometown club Sporting Gijon today, saw that lead collapse in less than a month and are only above Atletico Madrid on head-to-head record.

Real Madrid are one point behind the pair.

Barca beat Deportivo La Coruna 8-0 on Wednesday to stay top.

"Of course we have let a big lead slip but we are still set to win all four remaining matches," said Enrique.

"To attack, we need the help of the whole team, including the goalkeeper and the defenders. The merit for everything good and for everything bad comes down to the whole team. But what Luis Suarez did against Deportivo, scoring four goals and giving three assists,

Barcelona’s run of two wins in seven games has seen them knocked out of the Champions League

there aren't many players who can do that kind of thing.

"I am very happy with the whole squad, I have no complaints. And we have the perfect fans who always get

behind us.

"Lionel Messi was unfortunate with the knocks he took at Riazor but he has trained fine and is perfectly fit." (BBC Sport)

day after BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said India would host a day-night Test against New Zealand later this year, New Zealand Cricket has stated that a number of factors need to be finalised before the fixture could be confirmed.

Head of cricket operations at NZC, Lindsay Crocker, said the board had hardly had discussions about a day-night Test in India and had first heard of it only on Friday.

"The first I heard of it was the news that broke overnight, but [NZC chief executive] David [White] maybe a little closer to it because he is in Dubai at the [ICC] chief executive's conference," Crocker told Stuff.co.nz on Friday.

"Alphabetically, India traditionally sit next to New Zealand at these conferences so David would have no doubt talked to his Indian equivalent about the concept, but it would have been relatively fresh news to him as well because it certainly

New Zealand had played the inaugural day-night Test against Australia last November

wasn't a discussion we were having when David left a couple of days ago.

"India are quite definitive, which is quite exciting because they seem quite committed to the idea. We hadn't considered that would be an option, so there is a bit of water to go under the bridge from our side. It is certainly very exciting for us to potentially be involved in the first Asian day-night [Test]."

Among the factors to be considered before a confirmation from the NZC are the choice of venue, its floodlights, the playing conditions, and practice opportunities available to the New Zealand players before the

match.

White was expected to return during the weekend from Dubai and Crocker said discussions about the match could progress "fairly quickly".

Thakur had said on Thursday that India were set to host a day-night Test using the pink Kookaburra ball. He also said the Duleep Trophy, an inter-zonal firstclass tournament, would be used as a dress rehearsal before the fixture. Though the tournament was omitted in the 2015-16 season, it was likely to be played at the start of the next season in which India are set to play 13 Tests at home. (Cricinfo)

20

guyana-times.com

saturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

GCB/Hand-In-Hand U-19 Inter-County 3-day...

Chinkoo, Fernandes keep Demerara at bay

By Akeem Greene

A

gutsy sixth partnership worth 80 between Looknauth Chinkoo and Jonathan Fernandes rescued Essequibo after they were precariously placed at 101-5 on the second day of their Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Hand-In-Hand Under-19, Inter-county, Three-day competition match against Demerara on Friday.

Playing at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Chinkoo made flamboyant 52 and Fernandes with 37 put the pressure back on

Demerara with some smart batting. Essequibo eventually made 196.

At close of play, Demerara reached 16 without loss with Ronaldo Renee and Raymond Perez both on seven and their team trailing by 182 runs.

When play began at 11:40h, Essequibo won the toss and elected to bat, but only reached 14 when Nathan Persaud went for four off the bowling of medium-pacer Sherfene Rutherford.

Left-arm spinner Keshram Shabodan then trapped Siddiq Mohammed (11) plum leg before wicket

and Essequibo were now 352.

The incoming Keemo Paul struck his first ball for six off the bowling of Shabodan, but leg-spinner Darshan Persaud got one to turn which bowled the West Indies Under-19 player for seven and Essequibo slipped to 48-3.

Despite the steady fall of wickets, hard-hitting opener Mark Williams continued to bat positively, striking the ball over the in-field constantly.

Williams was dropped at slip by Rutherford off the bowling of Shabodan on 32, and then gave the same

bowler a difficult return catch which he floored.

Soon after, the left-arm spinner got his man out leg before for an attractive 46 (7x4s) at 78-4.

The pair of Akini Adams and Looknauth Chinkoo sought to repair the early damage with good rotation of the strike and picking up the boundaries off bad balls, but the crafty partnership came to an end when Adams played back to a delivery from off-spinner Travis Persaud and was bowled for 13 at 101-5.

Demerara missed out on further strengthening their position as wicketkeep-

er Ronaldo Renee missed a stumping chance against Jonathan Fernandes off the bowling of Malcom Hubbard when he was just on one.

Fernandes capitalised on the chance and his next three scoring shots were six, four and six.

The change of bowling did not work as Persaud faced the same faith as he was dumped into the pavilion for a massive six.

Both batsmen continued in their attacking fashion as Essequibo reached tea at 155-5, with Chinkoo on 36 and Fernandes on 28.

The stand was broken when Fernandes was bowled

Shabodan, striking two fours and three sixes.

Chinkoo carried on his flamboyant fashion, but was bowled by Rutherford just after reaching his century.

Chinkoo hit nine fours in his innings and fell with the score on 181-7, and in a dramatic twist to the match, the remaining wickets fell for just 16 runs. Rutherford led the way with 4-27 and Shabodan took 3-37.

Over at Wales, the Under-17s were 21 without loss when play came to a close. Earlier, Berbice were bowled out for 73. The final day's play will begin today at 09:30h.

De Villiers, Kohli set up Royal Challengers win

P

rior to this match, 14 of 15 games in IPL 2016 had been won by the team chasing. Royal Challengers Bangalore bucked the trend again by defending 185 against Rising Pune Supergiants and securing a 13-run victory. They had earlier defended 227 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Virat Kohli played an un-Virat Kohli innings of 80 and struggled for timing, particularly in the middle overs. AB de Villiers, though, was his usual self, swatting and even reverseswatting his way to 83 off 46. The pair produced their third 100-plus stand in four matches, adding 155 runs to take the side to 185, a total that Supergiants captain MS Dhoni described as "par-plus". Thisara Perera blitzed 34 off 13 to give Royal Challengers a late scare, after claiming three wickets with the ball, but

Shane Watson dismissed the Sri Lanka allrounder and R Ashwin in the space of three balls to snuff out the chase.

Supergiants lost Faf du Plessis in the second over when he stepped out and chipped a catch to mid-off.

A ball later, they suffered a bigger jolt. Kevin Pietersen set off for a quick single and seemed to have hurt his calf while turning back.

Moments later, he limped off the field. In the next over, Steven Smith slipped near the middle of the pitch and was run out for 4.

Ajinkya Rahane went on to make 60 off 46 balls, but his knock was offset by Dhoni's patchy 41 off 38 balls. This meant that Supergiants limped through a large part of their chase before Perera gave it a leg-up.

When Perera came out to bat at 109 for 3, the asking rate was close to 15 an over. He survived a close lbw shout off his first ball

and then mowed South African chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi over midwicket for a six. He hit full tilt when he bashed four successive boundaries off Harshal Patel in the 18th over. Perera's blows reduced the equation from 50 off 18 balls to 25 off 12, but Watson and Kane Richardson combined to seal the deal for their side.

Royal Challengers' batting was once again led by Kohli and de Villiers, after KL Rahul skied a catch to third man in the fourth over. De Villiers marked his arrival with a crunching cut off left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma that pierced the gap between cover and cover point. Kohli, too, began positively, thanks to a steady supply of leg-stump balls from Ishant Sharma.

Rajat Bhatia's assortment of cutters and Ankit's darters, however, squeezed Royal Challengers.

R Ashwin was also economi-

cal, though he did not complete his quota again. He could have dismissed Kohli on 50 had Ankit hung on to a catch at mid-off.

De Villiers tucked into M Ashwin, hitting the rookie legspinner for two sixes in his first over. He followed it with swept and reverse-swept fours in the bowler's second over. The South Africa batsman continued to showcase his gallery of shots even as Kohli was tied down. Kohli's frustration was evident when he whacked himself on the pad with the bat after mistiming a slower ball from Bhatia to deep midwicket and then jammed his bat onto the helmet when he holed out in the last over of the innings. A ball later, De Villiers was undone

by Perera's legcutter. Kohli had played out 17 of Royal Challengers' 28 dots, which incidentally was the jointthird least in an IPL innings. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (20 overs maximum) V Kohli* c Rahane b Perera 80 KL Rahul† c Sharma b Perera 7 AB de Villiers c Ankit Sharma b Perera 83 SR Watson not out 1 SN Khan not out 2 Extras: (w-11, nb-1) 12 Total: (3 wickets; 20 overs) 185 Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Rahul, 3.4 ov), 2-182 (Kohli, 19.3 ov), 3-182 (de Villiers, 19.4 ov) Bowling: I Sharma 4-0-470 (1-nb, 2-w), NLTC Perera 4-0-34-3 (2-w), Ankit Sharma 4-0-31-0 (1-w), R Bhatia 3-022-0, R Ashwin 3-0-22-0 (2w), M Ashwin 2-0-29-0

Rising Pune Supergiants innings (target: 186 runs from 20 overs) F du Plessis c Patel b Richardson 2 KP Pietersen retired hurt 0 SPD Smith run out (Kohli) 4 MS Dhoni*† c de Villiers b Patel 41 NLTC Perera c Mandeep Singh b Watson 34 R Bhatia c Watson b Richardson 21 R Ashwin c Patel b Watson 0 Ankit Sharma not out 3 M Ashwin c de Villiers b Richardson 0 I Sharma not out 0 Extras: (b-1, w-6) Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 172 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (du Plessis, 1.4 ov), 1-12* (Pietersen, retired not out), 2-18 (Smith, 2.3 ov), 3-109 (Rahane, 14.4 ov), 4-120 (Dhoni, 15.5 ov), 5-164 (Perera, 18.3 ov), 6-165 (R Ashwin, 18.5 ov), 7-169 (Bhatia, 19.3 ov), 8-169 (M Ashwin, 19.4 ov) Bowling: STR Binny 2-0-23-0, KW Richardson 3-0-13-3, HV Patel 4-0-46-1 (3-w), SR Watson 4-031-2 (2-w), T Shamsi 4-0-36-1, Iqbal Abdulla 3-0-22-0 (1-w)

Day of athletics set for May 22

T

o commemorate Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) and former athletes based in North America will team up to host a day of athletics on May 22.

According to the organising committee of the venture, a 5km, a 10km and a track and field event will be staged four days prior to Independence Day, May 26.

The GNS Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground will have a hive of activity and lots of cash prizes and trophies will be up for grabs.

The 5km (for athletes 14-16 years) and the 10km (open) events will start at 06:00h at the Sports Complex and end at the same venue. The official

Jubilee

route will be published in a subsequent release.

Five hours later, the youth, junior and senior track and field athletes will swing into action at the GDF ground. They will compete in the 4x100m, the 4x400m relay races along with the 100m, 200m, 800m and 1500m and long jump events.

Sixty and 80m events will also be contested for

athletes 12 and under.

While the top three finishers in the Under-16 and Under-20 events will take home bicycles, the top five seniors will pocket $40,000, $30,000, $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

The top three Master’s male and female finishers will be rewarded with cash prizes of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 in that order.

Admission is free.

21

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Fidel Edwards has played 55 Tests for the West Indies

Edwards has played both Hampshire games this season, taking three wickets against Warwickshire in the opening game earlier this month. He went wicket-less from 23 overs in the first innings against Yorkshire but was ruled out of action in the second innings.

Hampshire’s coach Dale Benkenstein said the injury came about in a freak accident during a game of football prior to the start of play.

“We were only 45 seconds away from the end of the game when Fidel went to kick the ball,” the South African said.

“I was just about to

get the mitts on for fielding practice when his foot got stuck in the turf and all his weight went over on it.

There was no-one near him, it was a really freakish fall and there was a loud crack.

“It was clear it was bad when he started calling out for T (Hampshire physio Thihan Chandromohan).”

Edwards was Hampshire’s leading wicket-taker last season with 45 wickets from just eight games, and was rewarded with a contract for the new season.

He has played 55 Tests for West Indies, taking 165 wickets. (windiescricket)

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ormer West Indies and Barbados speedster, Fidel Edwards, was facing a long spell on the sidelines after fracturing his ankle during warm-ups on the final day of Hampshire’s County Championship game against Yorkshire on Wednesday.

Hampshire confirmed the injury on Thursday and said Edwards would undergo tests to determine the extent of the damage and his recuperation period.

“Hampshire Cricket can confirm that fast-bowler Fidel Edwards has suffered a fractured right ankle which was sustained during the warm-up on day four of the Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire at Headingley,” the club said in a statement.

“Fidel will see a specialist [Thursday] which will help determine the predicted length of time that he will be out of action for.”

The loss of the 34-yearold Edwards will be huge for Hampshire who are already stricken with an injury crisis that has claimed Reece Topley, Ryan Stevenson, Gareth Berg, Liam Dawson, Chris Wood and Sean Ervine.

Frater looking for final Olympic hurrah

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eteran Jamaican sprinter Michael Frater will hope to finish his career on a high come this summer’s Rio Olympics, which is expected to be his last.

Despite claiming a silver medal behind Kittitian Kim Collins at the 2005 World Championships, it is as a relay specialist that the sprinter has made his mark in recent seasons.

Frater was part of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and 2009 and 2011 World Championship gold medal winning relay teams. On two of those occasions, 2008 and 2012, Frater was part of a team that broke the world record.

“A lot of the guys are getting closer to the end of their careers and Usain is saying he’s going to do this for about two more years,” Frater told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s the last go-around for most of us and we’re looking to continue our winning trend and end on a high.”

Michael Frater was part of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and 2009 and 2011 World Championship gold medal winning relay teams

“We’re looking to do the same thing we did at the last Olympics and the one before that,” said Frater.

The athlete will, however, have his hands full se-

curing a spot on what has become an increasingly competitive Jamaica team having been hampered by injuries over the last couple of seasons. (Digicel Sportsmax)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

saturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

World Cup champs Campbelle Wolf’s memorial softball cricket...

Regal Masters crush Parika and Smartt honoured

Defenders by 129 runs

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), M.S, on Sunday last specially honoured West Indies 20/20 female players Shemaine Campbelle and Tremayne Smartt for being members of the victorious World Cup squad.

President David Granger, who is Patron of the Club, along with immediate past Patron Beverly Harper joined members of the club to honour the duo of making the Ancient County of Berbice proud.

Campbelle, a member of the RHTY&SC, M.S, received an airline ticket to the United States of America, compliments of Caribbean Airlines and also received a gold medallion from the RHT Female team official sponsor, Metro Office and Computer Supplies.

Smartt, a member of the Tucker Park Cricket Club, and Campbelle received a large trophy and an airline ticket to the U.S.A., compliments of a Berbice businessman, who wishes to remain unknown.

Ansa McAl Trading’s Chief Executive Officer, Beverly Harper, presented special hampers to two champions and also disclosed that the duo would be unveiled shortly as the official faces of the company’s “Act as a Girl” promotion on billboards and television advertisements. Harper encouraged the attentive cricketers to remain focus to always strive for excellence.

Club Secretary/CEO,

Champions! President David Granger with World Cup champions Shemaine Campbelle (right) and Tremayne Smartt

Hilbert Foster, praised Campbelle and Smartt for being perfect sport ambassadors and stated that the RHTY&SC, M.S, was proud to honour them. Female cricket, the veteran cricket administrator noted, needs special attention from all administrators across Guyana as too few females are involved in the game at the club level.

Foster praised Caribbean Airlines and the other donor for the North American tickets and for the major role they played in honouring the female cricketers.

The Secretary/ CEO, whose work at the club was praised

by Club Patron, President Granger, urged the two cricketers to maintain discipline at all times and to remain humble despite how successful they become in life.

President Granger congratulated Campbelle and Smartt on their personal achievements of being world

champions and stated that Guyana was proud of them.

The Head-of-State also complimented RHTY&SC, M.S, for honouring the duo as it is important to recognise the country’s heroes. Both Campbelle and Smartt, in invited comments after the ceremony, expressed gratitude to the club for honouring them and stated that the presence of President Granger made the event more special for them.

Campbelle presented a souvenir cricket bat with the signatures of the West Indies female 20/20 team, while Beverly Harper and Avie Lindee received a West Indies player’s shirt.

The RHTY&SC, M.S, would like to express gratitude to Caribbean Airlines, Dion Inniss, Colin Bynoe, Ansa McAl Trading, Beverly Harper, Avie Lindee, Manoj Singh and Metro Office and Computer Supplies for their role in honouring the champions.

Mahesh Chunilall

T

he Wolf’s memorial softball cricket competition continued recently with several teams recording victories.

The highlight was a 129run thrashing that Regal Masters inflicted on Parika Defenders.

Below are the summarised scores of the games.

Regal Master defeated Parika Defenders by 129 runs. Regal 211 off 20 overs (Eon Abel 59* Mahase Chunilall 58) Defenders 82 all out (Tony Singh 5-38).

Superior Woods defeated Floodlights by 31 runs.

Superior Woods 202-3 off 20 overs (Mohamed Rafeek 101*, Dennis Mangru 59) Floodlights 171 (Ricky Deonarain 31, Imtiaz Mohamed 30, Rabindra Singh 30, Uniss Yusuf 28,

Rudolph Mayers 4-28).

Wellman defeated Wolf Warriors Masters by 10 wickets.

Wolf Warriors Masters 81 all out (S. Narine 20, Greig DeFranco 4-12, Lakeram Singh 2-10) Wellman 82-1 off 9.5 overs (Greig DeFranco 37*, Latchman Kallicharran 24*).

Tropical Springs defeated Enterprise Legends by six wickets. Enterprise 165-7 off 20 overs (Narine Roopdeo 57, Nirmal Singh 34, Rahaman Khan 3-16) Tropical Springs 166-5 off 18 overs (Baldeo Muller 43, Sahadeo Budhu 39*, Lalta Gainda 22, S. Mohamed 2-23).

Wolf Warriors defeated Untouchables by 94 runs. Wolf Warriors 137 all out (Safraz Karim 85, Asif Illahi 2-44, Sadique Yusuf 2-24) Untouchables 43 all out (N. Bailey 2-9, Diaram Ramnauth 2-12, Ricky Sargeant 2-17).

4R Lioness defeated Enterprise Divas by 75 runs.

4R Lioness 177-3 off 15 overs (Tenesha Trotman 80*, Tamica Wilson 62*, Nafiza Mohamed 3-8) Enterprise 102-6 off 15 overs (Ashley Singh 17).

Speedboat defeated Regal by 105 runs.

Speedboat 181 all out off 19.4 overs (R. Persaud 41, A. Bharat 27) Regal 76 all out in 12.4 overs (Greig Singh 3-15).

Wellwoman defeated

Eon Abel

Blue Divas by seven wickets.

Blue Divas 80 all out in 14.1 overs (Haseena Mohamed 3-22, Susan Davanand 2-12) Wellwoman 81-3 off 7.1 overs (Joann Vansertima 43*).

Albion Masters defeated Fisherman Masters by 13 runs. Albion 194-8 in 20 overs (Verapen Moonsammy 40, John Sumir 30, Jaga Bojh 24, Ishwar 3-28, Lionel Persaud 2-30) Fisherman 181 all out in 20 overs (I. Persaud 30, R. Persaud 29, V. Moonsammy 3-30, J. Bojh 2-23).

H.S. Masters defeated Savage Masters by 10 wickets. Savage 87 all out (Ricky Persaud 3-9, Eddie Barlow 2-16) H.S. Masters 88-1 in nine overs (Danny Mohanram 40, Eddie Barlow 39*).

Stag /EBFA Senior League…

Grove Hi Tech win; KK Warriors, Herstelling Raiders draw

D

efending champions Grove Hi Tech have restored their quest to retain championship honours with a 4-0 win over a game Diamond United when the Stag sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Senior League continued on Sunday last at the Grove Playfield.

The opening match saw Herstelling Raiders squandering a spot kick early in the second half as they settled for a draw with Kuru Kuru Warriors.

Diamond though, with their young guns, kept Grove at bay for the entire first half whilst creating a few chances but could not convert the few opportunities they created. Grove, on the other hand, were patient knowing that once they cracked the Diamond defence, it would have opened the flood gates that that is exactly what occurred.

Denzil Crawford opened the champion’s account two minutes into the second half while the advantage was doubled in the 62nd minute, compliments of a Delroy Dodson effort. As the home team continued their

Grove Hi Tech goalscorers! From right: Delroy Dodson, Denzil Crawford and Nickolai Matthews

grind, Nickolai Matthews increased the advantage in the 73rd minute, while the sealer came five minutes later through a John Matthews goal. Grove Hi Tech have now taken back sole leadership at the top of the points table.

Herstelling Raiders continued their dream run, but spoiled the chance to register yet another upset win, this time against another formidable opponent, Kuru Kururu Warriors.

The Raiders, already with the scalps of Soesdyke and Agricola via similar 2-1 margins, drew first blood against the Warriors when

Eric Williams netted in the 13th minute. But the Warriors, who handed Grove their first and only defeat to date, bounced back in a matter of minutes to draw level.

One of their most reliable scorers, Cordel Johnson, pulled KK Warriors back when he slotted home in the 21st minute.

Back and forth exchanges continued until the Raiders were awarded a penalty early in the second half which was subsequently missed

by Seon Alfred much to the dismay of himself and teammates. Both the Warriors and the Raiders had to settle for a point each.

guyana-times.com

SaturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

23

More corporate support West Berbice League…

Mahaicony beat Hopetown for national rifle team in clash of newcomers A I s the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) continues to piece together finances to ensure it is presence in Antigua and Barbuda next month to defend its Caribbean Short Range and Individual titles at the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Championships, three more corporate entities have presented cheques.

Association Secretary Ryan Sampson has disclosed that Mohamed’s Enterprise, Sterling Products Limited and Starr Computer have all contributed towards the Caribbean champions being present at the event.

“We are very grateful to the management of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Sterling Products and Starr Computers for their support. We wish to also thank Minister Nicolette Henry for assisting the Rifle Team to acquire the requisite tax waivers from the Guyana Revenue Authority,” Sampson stated.

Gratitude was also extended to Caribbean Airlines and LIAT for assisting with procuring flights for the team.

Meanwhile, the GNRA, as part of Guyana’s 50th Jubilee Anniversary celebrations, will be hosting a Jubilee Pairs Match, which will be the first of its kind in Guyana and possibly the

Caribbean. This format of shooting which is used at

Ryan Sampson

the Commonwealth Games will see competitors also coaching whilst competing in turn.

The pairs are: Lennox Braithwaite/Ryan Sampson; Mahendra Persaud/Dane Blair; Ransford Goodluck/ Sherwin Felicien; Dylan Fields/Peter Persaud, Leo Romalho/Terrence Stuart.

According to national captain, Mahendra Persaud, the names of the five X-Class shooters were put into a bag with each of the five junior shooters pulling one of the X-Class names to be their partner on Sunday.

This format Persaud said would enhance the abilities

Road to Mecca rematch set for tonight

By Treiston Joseph

T

he Bounty Colts and the Retrieve Raiders will clash for a second time for a chance to be National Club Champions tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

The two squads faced off on March 19 for the title, but the game was quashed in the fourth quarter with the Bounty Colts leading 54-51 in the final period with nine minutes left to play.

The game was abandoned because the Raiders felt jilted by what they believed to be biased calls against them.

Nevertheless, the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and the relevant stakeholders of the game decided to replay the final instead of rewarding the game to the Colts in order to help with the development of the game.

The Bounty Colts will look to their perimeter game and hive of guards to run all over the Raiders with the likes of Shelroy Thomas and Dave Causway set to ex-

plode for a second time.

The inside presence of Shane Webster will also be key for the Colts to win the game and his play tonight might be deciding factor for any team to lay claim for the title.

However, the Raiders will be hoping that their veteran players Dwayne Roberts and Neil Marks, who were having sub-par outings in the first encounter between the two squads have better games the second time around.

As is the case with star players, the Retrieve Raiders will go where Roberts take them and his pivot game will need to be on point if they are to stand a chance against a much faster Colts that can also light it up from beyond the arc.

The final brings together two opposite teams facing off for the grand prize in basketball from two different towns that have always had a historic sports rivalry. Tip-off is 19:00h with Plaisance Guardians facing the Pepsi Sonics in the supporting clash.

of the junior marksmen as wind coaches since the senior shooters would not be shooting with scopes.

“They (eniors) would be depending on their counterparts to read the wind efficiently which should be an interesting scenario as the pairs seems evenly matched on paper,” Persaud noted.

Persaud also noted that with the winds switching left to right rapidly over the past few weeks of practice, Sunday’s match would test the skills of the best wind coaches.

The first sighting shot will be fired at 10:30h from the 300 yards range; the 500 and 600 yards ranges are also of the competition. The Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier General Mark Phillips is expected to be on hand for the presentation ceremony, as well as Trevor Williams of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, who will represent the Minister.

n what was a clash of newcomers in the Berbice Football Association’s (BFA) West Berbice League, Mahaicony defeated Hopetown United Rangers 2-0.

Enjoying home advantage, Mahaicony scored both goals before the half time break, with Keyon Halley slotting home the first in the 31st minute. Twelve minutes later, Delbert Peters doubled the lead.

However, the match ended 15 minutes from the full time when Lwon Garraway of Hopetown United Rangers was given a red card for leaving the pitch without permission and abusive language.

In the other game of the competition to date, Rosignol United and Paradise Invaders played to a nil-all stalemate although Rosignol had two failed attempts at scoring through

Akeem Rigby and Marlon Nicholson.

The competition will continue today with host Mahaicony playing Rosignol United from 16:00h. On Sunday, the Rosignol ground will feature a double-head-

er with Hopetown United Rangers tackling Paradise Invaders at 16:00h and Rosignol United Under-16 playing Paradise Invaders Under-16 in the curtain raiser at 14:00h.

Admission is $500.

saturDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

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

GCB/Hand-In-Hand U-19 Inter-County 3-day...

Road to Mecca rematch set for tonight Chinkoo, Fernandes Pg 23

keep Demerara at bay Pg 20

Dwayne Roberts of the Raiders sinks an easy jumper

Jonathan Fernandes (left) and Looknauth Chinkoo

Rising Pune Supergiants v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2016…

De Villiers, Kohli set up Royal Challengers win Pg 20

Virat Kohli was far from his fluent best, but he still managed 80

AB de Villiers' 83 off 46 balls led Royal Challengers Bangalore to 185

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