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Exhibition to honour Dr Cheddi Jagan opens at National Library

P10 THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Issue No. 3159

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

PRICE

$605M ANSA McAL "emergency" contract

GPHC’s CEO reportedly gamed bids for favoured company See stories on pages 3 & 7

…as PPP calls for proof that decision to award came from GPHC Board

Bandits Teen stabbed create havoc to death by brother in Berbice 50% off tuition for all Guyanese at Texila University’s new Providence Campus

Page 17

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Enmore vendor nabbed withP11 guns, ammo Sand truck P2 operators moved again

…complain of abrupt removal from EBD highway

Businessman charged for soliciting hitP8 man

Page 7

See stories on pages 14 & 17

... as institution plans to open local specialty hospital Texila University’s new Providence Campus, an investment to the tune of US$10 million, boasts six modern labs including biochemistry, pathology, skills, anatomy and Information Technology (Marceano Narine photo)

Estate closures

Parking meter burden

Page 9

Statutory meeting unfruitful as M&CC Councillors disagree

Page 16

East Demerara Estate soon to be closed – GAWU

…as cane planting comes to an end

Immigration officers warned about corruption ahead of UK training programme

P11

Region 1 man jailed for killing father-in-law

P8

Policeman P2 charged for threatening to kill Constable …released on $120,000 bail

2 news Sand truck operators removed from EBD Highway tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…complain of abrupt removal

S

and truck operators who traverse the East Bank Demerara Highway have been hit with a seemingly abrupt decision to prohibit them from plying their trade along that corridor.

Life has just gotten harder for them, their already having complained of having to grapple with low prices for their commodity and reduced working hours owing to the restriction barring them from travelling on the roadways between 6:30am and 9:00am on weekdays.

The sand truck operators are especially upset over the inadequate notice given them in regard to this apparently sudden decision. When some truckers arrived at their usual area, right around the turn from the DSL Supermarket, they were greeted with “No parking for lorry” signs freshly painted on the sides of the road. When police ranks were painting the new sign on the road, some of the

ply their trade.

“When customers come to buy a load (of) sand, they does want see the truck. If they put we in a hole, we ain’t doing no business. So it got to deh on the public road.

If they put we in a street, we

moved to a lonely street.

“It is putting our lives at risk, because people might be coming (to) rob (we) in a small street. If we in a street where people don’t pass, it is dangerous for we. We might get robbed (of) $2000; (and)

Sand trucks line the road where the freshly painted “No Parking for Lorries” sign is marked

truckers were already there “conducting their hustle”.

Most sand truck operators complained that they had not been afforded prior notification of the decision to stop their trade at that location. They noted that they were not given enough time to remove or notify their customers of the change being implemented. The operators feel that they are being treated with little respect, and are annoyed that the Government keeps shuffling them around the place without finding a permanent place for their operation.

“This morning (Monday) they come and starting painting “No Parking”, and they telling we that we got to move; but they ain’t putting we nowhere where we can do we business,” one of the operators complained.

The operators have voiced their displeasure at not being made aware of where they are being relocated, but they told Guyana Times that it might be in some “side street”, in order to ease traffic congestion.

They were displeased at the thought of moving to a practically deserted street to

Operators “hustling” a customer who pulled up on the road to inquire about purchasing sand

nah gonna do no business,” another driver lamented.

The operators were also concerned about their safety when it comes to being

some people might get killed for $5000,” one of the drivers reasoned.

The operators have said they are uncertain about

where to go, because they were not properly briefed on the relocation. “All they tell we is that we got to move.

We come this morning and they paint the road and tell we that we gah move,” they said.

The sand truck operators formerly plied their trade on Lombard Street, but were removed by authorities in 2014 to ease traffic. They were placed in front of a paint supplier on the East Bank Highway, but were subsequently removed to the opposite side of the road after the owner complained about dust particles getting into the paint. Now the operators are being removed once again, much to their annoyance and frustration.

Efforts to contact officials of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), which has oversight over the area where the sand truck operators ply their trade, proved futile, so there is no clarity on the relocation of sand truck operators.

Police Officer charged for threatening to kill Constable …released on $120,000 bail

A

s s i s t a n t Superintendent of Police Frank Thompson, 29, of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, was arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday morning on charges of verbal assault and threatening language.

The first charge detailed that on February 27 last, at Broad Street, Georgetown, the accused used abusive language to the VC, Harrichand Budhai, and threatened to kill him and other occupants of his vehicle when Budhai approached him because he had crashed his vehicle into the motor vehicle Budhai was driving.

The court heard that the VC reported Thompson to Police Constable Leandre Gillis, who was then on duty in the area. Upon his arrival on the scene, Gillis spoke with Budhai, after which they proceeded to Thompson’s vehicle.

Budhai’s allegation was related to the accused, who then asked the constable, “What the F**k you gon do about it?!”

The conduct the accused displayed in dealing with Constable Gillis constituted the second charge of abusive language.

Constable Gillis reported the incident to his superiors, and Thompson was escorted to the Brickdam Police Station by Gillis and a Police Corporal.

The Police prosecutor did not object to bail being granted the accused

Frank Thompson

Thompson, thus he was placed on $120,000 bail ($60,000 for each offence) by the magistrate.

And questioned by Magistrate Latchman, Thompson disclosed that he has another matter alleging careless driving before the courts. The ASP was escorted out of the courtroom and into the Police outpost by fellow members of the GPF. The incident had gone viral on social media, which showed the ordeal between the ASP and the constable, causing much controversy and attracting criticism from members of the public.

The Police prosecutor at Monday’s sitting related that a file has been sent to the Police Office of Professional Responsibility for review. This particular case will continue before the magistrate on March 27.

news

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tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

GPHC’s CEO reportedly gamed bids for favoured company

Tuesday, March 21 – 12:00h-13:30h and Wednesday, March 22 – 13:00h-14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 21 – 10:30h-12:00h and Wednesday, March 22 – 12:05h-13:35h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy conditions in the early morning hours will be followed by thundery and heavy rain showers throughout the day, with light cloudy conditions returning in the evening. Temperatures will range from 24 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to East South-easterly at 2.23 metres per second to 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:29h and 23:25h reaching maximum heights of 2.12 metres and 2.05 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:56h and 16:43h reaching minimum heights of 1.16 metres and 1.08 metres.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

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24 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Monday, March 20, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 03 07 20 23

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DRAW DE LINE

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$605M ANSA McAL “emergency” contract

10 13 20

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

…as multiple investigations launched

M

ultiple investigations, including Police probes, have been launched into a number of the drug procurement scandals under the Public Health Ministry, including the most recent $605 million contract which was awarded to ANSA McAL. This was disclosed by the Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence during a live press conference on the National Communications Network (NCN) on Monday where she addressed the issue of the suspicious multimillion-dol- Public Health Minister ANSA McAL’s Country lar contract to ANSA McAL Volda Lawrence Director Beverly Harper in light of an emergency drug confirmed that not all of the called a meeting with the shortage at the Georgetown drugs were delivered.

Directors and senior manPublic Hospital Corporation When asked, she dis- agement, along with the (GPHC), which many believe closed that only a “large Chief Executive Officer was contrived. quantity” was delivered.

(CEO), of the Georgetown Lawrence saved herself Meanwhile, other investi- Hospital after she was infrom answering some of the gations have been launched formed of the drug shortage pertinent questions in re- into instances of delinquent crisis. lation to the controversial matter by claiming that the information would be provided in the re“Then I was called one morning indicating that there port following the was a contract for ANSA McAL in the sum of $600 investigation into million…I wanted to know why ANSA McAL is being the $605 million contract to ANSA given that amount,” Public Health Minister Volda McAL. Lawrence said. Upon inquiry, the Minister said the In defendGeorgetown Hospital CEO indicated that “this was ing herself, the Minister said she the bid they had sent out and this is what they had wrote a letter responded to.” to the newly-installed Board of the Georgetown Hospital ordering an inves- suppliers.

She said there was a tigation into the matter in “The Ministry is in the shortage of some 287 drugs light of the storm created on process of investigating sev- for several reasons, includthe issue by the media. eral matters with regards of ing failure of the suppliers to The investigation will supply of various medicines seek to determine if or how and drugs,” she said. the National Procurement In some cases, the invesand Tender Administration tigations are engaging the Board (NPTAB) was involved attention of the Police. This in the process, how the short- newspaper was told that listed companies were eval- that several senior manageuated, if all the drugs were ment staff including CEO supplied by ANSA McAL on Allan Johnson and Assistant time, among other aspects.

Director Finance, Karen Although ANSA McAL Cumberbatch are among was awarded the contract in those being investigated. order to fast-track the supThe Minister explained ply of drugs, the Minister that on February 3, she

provide the drugs they were contracted to supply.

“Some of them indicated inability to fulfil contractual arrangements. Suppliers supplied a few items and since indicated their inability to supply those drugs listed on the contract,” she said.

As a result, she instructed the Georgetown Public Hospital to review the shortlisted companies in order to have the drugs supplied in a timely manner.

Lawrence explained that she intervened because at the time, there was no Board in place at the Georgetown Hospital.

She explained that most entities have shortlisted contractors, whereby suppliers would apply on a yearly basis to be shortlisted as contractors.

But she was unaware if there was a difference between prequalified contractors and shortlisted contractors.

“We further discussed what would be the mechanism for us to fill that gap (shortage), since 2017 tenders have not gone out and even if they had gone out, the process and time span for the Hospital to begin to receive those drugs that it would take somewhere between six months for a turnaround in acquiring those drugs,” Lawrence explained. turn to page 9

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tuesDAY, march 21, 2017

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

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

Eliminate racial discrimination

T

oday Guyana joins the world in observance of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This year’s chosen theme: ‘Racial profiling and incitement to hatred, including in the context of migration’, is significant, since in many parts of the world discriminatory practices are still widespread, including racial, ethnic, religious and nationality-based profiling and incitement to hatred.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21. On that day in 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa, Police opened fire and killed 69 people who were participating in a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid “pass laws”.

Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination (Resolution 2142 (XXI)).

In 1979, the General Assembly adopted a programme of activities to be undertaken during the second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (A/RES/34/24). On that occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination, beginning on March 21, would be organised annually in all States.

The apartheid system in South Africa has since been dismantled; racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries; and, guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the UN has built an international framework for fighting racism.

The Convention is now nearing universal ratification; yet, in all regions, too many individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings. Racial and ethnic discrimination occur on a daily basis, hindering progress for millions of people around the world. Racism and intolerance can take various forms — from denying individuals the basic principles of equality, to fuelling ethnic hatred that may lead to genocide — all of which can destroy lives and fracture communities.

Quite recently, we have witnessed firsthand the impact that such racial incitement can have. A little over a week ago, two men were beaten in Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara by residents of the community who claimed the men had stolen two rear view mirrors.

Immediately following this incident, there was a public outcry, precipitated by media reports that insisted the action was “racist vigilantism”, since the beaten men were African Guyanese and the residents who had beaten them were Indian Guyanese. What is worse, several public officials were unfortunately quick to make irresponsible comments in this regard.

Another Government official, on his Facebook page, came to a similar conclusion – that the incident was “racially” directed – without waiting for the Police report, and without situating the Canal incident as the unfortunate reaction from communities that have been subjected to depredations from bandits with no respite in sight.

Only the week before, there was a well-publicised armed robbery in that very area. In fact, the Police statement issued the very next day rejected a racist or vigilante motive, yet we saw Government officials being quite outspoken in fuelling racial divisions, with no obvious fear of sanctions or reprimands.

This comes at a time when the international community has intensified its struggle against racism, and continues to place obligations on States and task them with eradicating discrimination in the public and private spheres. The principle of equality also requires States to adopt special measures to eliminate conditions that cause or help to perpetuate racial discrimination.

On whom does the accountability rest in this case?

While there were calls for the general populace to remain committed to co-existing in an environment of unity and peace as we strive to deepen social cohesion, there were no public sanctions for the officials who were quick to make irresponsible comments.

We look to our leaders, particularly in these tumultuous times, to defend our rights and safeguard us against instability and social conflict, not to foster societal fractures.

The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) on Monday launched a Book Exhibition in honour of former President Dr Cheddi Jagan, who until his death in 1997 served as the nation’s third Executive President. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the death of this iconic Guyanese, whose life and works have since been celebrated annually. On display at the exhibition, which forms part of the series of activities in honour of the Jagan legacy, were snippets of the life, work and accomplishments of this outstanding leader (see story on page 10)

Minister Lawrence’s justification of the $605M sole-sourced contract incredulous Dear Editor, Even Cabinet members find Minister Volda Lawrence’s explanation for sole-sourcing the $606M no-tender emergency purchase of medicines from ANSA McAL incredulous.

She is being asked to make a second attempt at explaining herself.

On Monday morning, she gave another scandalous explanation. Clearly, Minister Lawrence and the APNU+AFC are twisting like pretzel to explain another scandalous, corrupt deal.

Who is responsible? The buck has to stop somewhere.

The first stop is the Minister of Public Health, the final stop is the President.

The President insists that people would be disciplined if wrongdoings were committed. There is now no question that wrongdoings had been committed.

So, will Minister Lawrence be disciplined? Or will the “moles” and other staff be the fall guys, taking the rap for corruption that at least Minister Lawrence, by her approval of the sole-sourced contract, is totally complicit in.

Minister Lawrence cannot be serious when she justifies the ANSA McAL contract on the basis of a donation of refrigerators worth a few hundred thousand dollars for a transaction of more than $606 million, with overpayment of almost $300M. It is apposite to note that for over a decade, the NEW GPC had provided, for free,

warehouse space of thousands of square feet, including cold storage worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

For good measure, Minister Lawrence defended the high prices charged for the medicines by saying that the supplier had to air-freight the medicines.

Again, this cannot justify sole-sourcing, and cannot justify the absurdly inflated prices. The resort to a petty donation as justification for a $606M contract is obscene and insulting.

Minister Lawrence insists that she had to approve the contract because of the shortage of supplies, and was therefore acting in the interest of the people. But these shortages have been chronic since June 2015. In fact, George Norton, the former Public Health Minister, confessed this past week that the Public Health Ministry has been plagued with medicine shortages since June 2015. In early 2016, Norton had explained that the shortages had to do with the implementation of a more accountable procurement arrangement.

This makes Minister Lawrence’s explanation an unholy smokescreen, deliberately thrown up as she tries to spin the corrupt transaction as a response to an “emergency”.

While rampant chronic shortages of medicines have existed in the public health system since June 2015, the “emergency” claimed

by Minister Lawrence was

not driven by those shortages, but was an engineered “emergency” designed to provide “rewards” to chosen beneficiaries.

The Minister identified “moles” as part of the problem, but “moles” did not cause the shortage; cancellations and delays of tenders compounded chronic shortages. Moles did not sole-source items for an “engineered” emergency worth over $606M; the Minister approved the contract. The “moles” did not transact a corrupt deal; the GPHC and the Ministry of Public Health, part of the APNU+AFC machinery, committed a corrupt deal.

Lawrence further cast blame on rogue staff of the GPHC and the Public Health Ministry for complicity in creating the “emergency”, but shortages of medicines and delays and cancellations of tenders have been ongoing for now almost 20 months, while APNU+AFC have stoutly denied shortages in Parliament and to the public.

Minister Lawrence also equated the “emergency” with the non-delivery of medicines by contractors who failed to supply medicines, even though they were given contracts and paid.

She neglected to provide information about the delinquent suppliers. Information is available that certain suppliers bid low prices in 2015 and 2016, some through solesourced contracts; and they failed to deliver, seeking to

renegotiate the prices. One even brought in medicines from questionable sources, only for the Analyst Food and Drug Department to refuse the medicines entry.

But these are not reasons for sole-sourcing, unless the Minister is now saying that only ANSA McAL is qualified to supply medicines to the Public Health system.

Unfortunately, solesourced contracts have become a well-entrenched form of procurement under the APNU+AFC. As the corruption of this deal is further exposed, APNU+AFC and its allies are busy trying to distract and obfuscate. A fake news story in one section of the media charged that the NEW GPC did not deliver all its supplies in a 2015 contract. The New GPC has offered proof in the form of delivery notes to show that the Ministry of Health had received all medicines for which the NEW GPC was contracted to supply.

Another fake story claimed that of another $900M worth of sole-sourced medicines, the New GPC got a $400M contract. The NEW GPC insists its officials were approached in early March to supply $20M worth of “emergency” medicines, which was supplied within 24 hours!

This is plain and simple corruption, nothing less. The Guyanese people must show unreserved revulsion at the abuse of tax payers’ money.

Sincerely, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Indo-Guyanese need to embrace literature to document life, challenges Dear Editor, An editorial titled "Indentureship abolition" appeared in the local media recently. It adds to the celebration of the centenary of

the abolition of indentureship of East Indians, and is timely.

If I may, allow me to add a few remarks regarding its comment about East

Indians and their contribution to Guyana's "plural society." It is right to note that textbooks in our schools have failed to provide schoolchildren with something

"substantial about the contribution of the Indian foreparents to our society." continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017

5

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

GuySuCo's position on payment of severance

Dear Editor, The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) wishes to explain its position relative to the payment of severance or redundancy allowance for the Cane Harvesters and Cane Transport Operators. There is a current debate as to whether these two categories of employees should be paid severance or redundancy allowance.

It is important to note that the Cane Harvesters and Cane Transport Operators could become entitled to the payment of severance or redundancy allowance only if their contracts were terminated in accordance with sections 12 and 21 (1) of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). The question of whether the contract of employment of an employee is to be terminated by reason of redundancy is a determination which must be made specifically by the employer, pursuant to section 12 of TESPA. On the other hand, the employees -- in this case the Cane Harvesters and Cane Transport Operators -- cannot unilaterally decide that they are redundant. In the absence of the termination of the contracts of em-

ployment of these two categories of employees, the Corporation is under no legal obligation to pay severance or redundancy allowance. Additionally, these employees’ services are currently being retained at the Wales Estate, and they were offered work at the Uitvlugt location.

The issue of Uitvlugt Estate being outside of a ten-mile radius from Wales does not invoke the provision of section 21 (4) (b), in the absence of there being any termination of the contracts of employment of the Cane Harvesters and Cane Transport Operators.

Importantly, the section does not create an entitlement to the payment of severance or redundancy allowance where the employee is merely being offered work at another worksite outside of a tenmile radius.

The Corporation also intends to transport these employees daily from Wales to Uitvlugt Estate for work, and to pay them a disturbance allowance, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement (CLA) entered into in 2004 by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Corporation. This

arrangement is not a peculiar one within the industry.

The practice of transporting employees to other Estates for work is addressed under Clause 26 of the CLA, which makes provision for the payment of a disturbance allowance where field and factory workers are required to work on an Estate other than their base Estate. In light of the customary practice of the Corporation of transporting workers to the Estates for work, the Corporation’s undertaking to transport the Cane Harvesters and Cane Transport Operators from Wales to Uitvlugt Estate is not a novel situation.

Part of the current debate makes reference to the abandonment in 2009 of the Diamond Estate Cultivation and severance being paid to the same categories of employees. However, it is important to note that it was not until 2010 that the question of severance was raised.

Due to an intervention by the Government of the day, there was, in 2011, a final settlement in terms of severance to the employees, after they had been employed at LBI Estate for 18 months.

It is to be noted that this arrangement was quite different from the normal industrial relations engagements.

The transferred employees were paid a disturbance allowance, and were transported to LBI Estate on a daily basis. This position was supported by the then Chief Labour Officer, who had acted as conciliator between the Corporation and GAWU. The situation involving the employees from the Diamond/LBI Estates and those from Wales Estate is different, since in the Diamond/LBI case the services of the employees were actually terminated for redundancy, hence they were entitled to receive a severance or redundancy allowance.

GuySuCo wishes to stress that the offer of employment remains open to the Cane Harvesters and Cane Transport Operators from the Wales Estate to go to the Uitvlugt Estate.

In the current circumstances, it is therefore arguable that, should the employees voluntarily terminate their services, consistent with TESPA, they would not be eligible for benefits.

Regards, Audreyanna Thomas Senior Communications Officer

Welcomed pedestrian overpass on EBD road Dear Editor, I would like to offer my commendation to the Minister of Public Infrastructure (MPI) and the Cabinet for the soon-tobe-constructed pedestrian overpasses on the East Bank Demerara public road.

This was a suggestion I offered ten years ago, and many then had felt it was

not needed and was not necessary. For me, the usefulness of these overpasses would best be seen during the morning commute, as the crossings at Houston and Agricola cause the north-bound traffic to back up. The slowdown is: ‘for every second, three vehicles back up’.

While after peak morn-

ing hours these structures may not be well utilized, the greater public good would accrue from the better morning traffic flows into the city, resulting in huge savings in man hours and fuel, while the lives of our children and workers would be less endangered.

I, however, have one concern – regarding where these

overpasses would be located.

I feel that the Eccles overpass should go close to the school at Agricola, as this is where there are more pedestrians crossing the road than at Eccles. I trust that the MPI would relook at the location I suggest.

Sincerely, Manzoor Nadir

Indo-Guyanese need to embrace...

In that vein, a long time ago, writing a master’s thesis on Salman Rushdie’s controversial novel, the “Satanic Verses” – which includes a few Caribbean characters – it became clear, after having examined a substantial amount of post-colonial literature that emerged from the English-speaking Caribbean by that point in time, that only a handful of East Indians had been published.

Later, I wrote a letter in our media about the failure; for example, regarding compilations of Caribbean poetry, to adequately include the works of East Indian poets.

Mr Jeremy Poynting of the Peepal Tree Press, to whom East Indian authors owe appropriate gratitude, objected to this observation by noting that Peepal Tree had published a number of East Indian writers.

Part of the problem exists with East Indians themselves. In regard to the

centenary of the abolition of indentureship of East Indians, I wish to respectfully recommend that the East Indians continue their forward journey with a greater embrace of literature, in order to better document their lives and their primary challenges, especially in regard to crime.

There is a greater need for documentation and an embrace of literature; meaning more writing, more storytelling, poetry, journals, reports, essays. And publication is essential if they are to exist with respect in the "plural society" identified in the editorial; existence without respect is not enough.

There is an extraordinary need to document the legacy of criminal disobedience that has confronted, and continues to confront, East Indian life.

I am referring to all sorts of crime; here there is no exception. Without this, there

will be no respect for East Indians.

East Indian professionals in Guyana – especially doctors, lawyers, accountants, auditors, former judges, and economists – have failed to participate in this process.

The journey forward has little room for professionals who ride for free. They must begin to produce literature from their experiences in dealing with crime and its varied effects. Historians need to reveal the history of criminal disobedience in Guyana; economists need to

from page 4

produce reports about the effects on the economy historically.

Otherwise, crime will continue to be the destructive force it is against the contributions of the indentured servants to the Guyanese society, such as the almost extinction of the use of certain jewelry in East Indian customs. And, of course, it will continue to destroy other sections of the Guyanese society also.

Sincerely, Rakesh Rampertab

GuySuCo’s 2017 1st Crop makes disastrous start

Dear Editor, Readers would recall that the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and Board of Directors of GuySuCo took credit for 2015’s performance despite taking the reins of the industry in June of that year. That performance was attributed to the IMC’s leadership and zero political interference in the Corporation. After one and half years at the controls, production at the end of 2016 plummeted to a 25year low. The reasons proffered for that abysmal performance were weather and labour, not IMC’s leadership.

We now come to 2017.

The first crop of this year commenced during the week of February 12 and after four weeks of operation, sugar production is a disaster. One wonders whether GuySuCo’s Board or Government is monitoring performance indicators for the Corporation or if they place total trust in the utterances of the inept CEO. At this juncture, efficiency is of utmost importance to reduce cost and ultimately dependence on the treasury. I say this because af-

ter four weeks of operations, a mere 132,000t cane was milled producing 10,137t sugar with five factories operational. This translates to a conversion rate of 13t of cane to 1t of sugar for the entire industry. What is even more troubling is some factories are taking 14+ tonnes cane to make 1 tonne sugar.

A quick comparison of the Corporation’s production estimate shows a dismal 49 per cent achievement of target after four weeks. Such performance level translates to an astronomical unit cost of production. The present performance raises the question whether there is any benefit from the large group of executives, technical managers, engineers and assistants that the inept, arrogant CEO employed recently. I am almost certain that whenever GuySuCo’s communications unit surfaces to defend this shameful performance, it will cast blame on run-down assets, weather and workers.

Management will take zero responsibility.

Sincerely, Sookram Persaud

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Foundation

…punitive discipline can be harmful and unfair - restorative practices offer hopeful solutions

By Maurice J Elias

D

id you know that a significant percentage of the achievement gap between students is caused by punitive discipline?

As a response to this inequitable school model of punitive discipline measures, restorative practices are growing in schools across the nation.

I asked Brian H. Smith, PhD, a research scientist with the Committee for Children, to share his perspectives on the current status and future directions of discipline in schools.

Edutopia : What is the current status of the discipline system and such practices as zero tolerance?

Dr Brian Smith : Suspension and expulsion disrupt students’ learning and erode their connection to school. More than that, however, recent research conducted by sociologists Brea Perry and Edward Morris shows that exclusionary discipline also harms the “academic achievement of non-suspended students” (American Sociological Review, December 2014, vol.

79, no. 6, 1067-1087).

Suspension rates increased dramatically in the 1990s as schools embraced zero-tolerance discipline policies. But these are approaches that criminalise misbehaviour without reducing it. This kind of punitive discipline is a failed strategy that harms the education

of millions of students, especially the most disadvantaged.

Edutopia: Why do you think these practices persist?

Dr Brian Smith: Part of the value of research is it helps us question and test things that seem obvious but might not be true. Removing students when they are struggling to behave can appear successful because students don’t cause difficulties in school if they’re not there.

But this new research clearly shows the longer-term negative effects of this punitive approach, particularly

on students who particularly need strong connections to school and who often face multiple challenges to school success.

Edutopia: There has been a growing emphasis recently on preventive and restorative approaches. What are they and how do they work best?

Dr Brian Smith: We’ve only recently begun to understand how childhood stress

and adversity powerfully affect development and impair students’ ability to behave and learn in school. We also increasingly understand the importance for all children, especially those who struggle, of having supportive school environments where they feel accepted. Research shows it is effective to provide clear expectations for behaviour, teach skills needed to succeed in the school environment, and respond to problems with strategies to strengthen connections and relationships, rather than push students away.

Schools seeking to create a positive school community and respond in an effective way when problems do arise are increasingly turning to restorative practices. According to the International Institute for Restorative Practices, “The aim of restorative practices is to develop community and to manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm and building relationships.”

Restorative practices strengthen students’ connections to both staff and other students, and that’s why restorative practices support both prevention and response. Focusing on positive connections and support contributes to a positive school climate. Repairing harm and restoring relationships after transgressions helps keep students connected to a positive school community.

Edutopia: How do these practices relate to social-emotional and character development?

Dr Brian Smith: These approaches fulfil two key character education principles: providing students with opportunities for moral action and creating a caring school community.

Clear expectations, fair consequences, and restorative conversations and agreements only work when students have self-regulation, emotion knowledge, and social skills – competencies taught through social-emotional learning (SEL). Socialemotional competence prepares and supports all children for the intellectual and interpersonal challenges of the formal school environment.

Restorative practices that build positive school climate and healthy relationships depend on the foundation provided by SEL: students’ abilities to take other’s perspectives, be aware of their own thoughts and feelings, communicate effectively, and solve problems. (edutopia.org)

W

e all know that regular physical exercise is good for a girl’s body, mind, and spirit. But you can get your daily dose of endorphins from a jog around the block.

So why play sports?

The Women’s Sports Foundation has discovered that sports offer some extra benefits for girls in addition to having fun and getting fit.

Here are a few:

Girls who play sports do better in school

You might think that athletics will take up all your study time. But research shows that girls who play sports do better in school and are more likely to graduate than those who don’t. Exercise improves learning, memory, and concentration, which can give active girls an advantage when it comes to the classroom.

Girls who play sports learn teamwork and goal-setting skills

Working with coaches, trainers, and teammates to win games and meet goals is great practice for success later in life. Being a team player can make it easier to work with others and solve problems, whether on the field or in the workplace.

Sports have hidden health benefits

Some benefits of sports are obvious — like improving fitness and maintaining a healthy weight. But girls who play sports are also less likely to smoke and have a reduced chance of getting breast cancer and osteoporosis later in life. Sure, you can get these benefits from any type of exercise. But if you have trouble getting to the gym, there may be more incentive to show up and play if you know your coaches or teammates depend on you.

Playing sports builds self-confidence

Girls involved in athletics feel better about themselves, both physically and socially. It helps to build confidence when you see your skills improving and your goals becoming reality. Other esteem-boosting benefits of sports participation include getting in shape, maintaining a healthy weight, and making new friends.

Exercise can cut the pressure

Pressure is a big part of life. Playing sports can help you deal with it, since exercise is a natural mood lifter and a great way to relieve stress and fight depression. Plus, when you are on a team, you have friends who support you both on and off the field.

(KidsHealth)

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tuesDAY, march 21, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

$605M ANSA McAL "emergency" contract

PPP wants proof decision to award came from GPHC Board …accuses Lawrence of “ministerial interference”

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has made a forceful call to the governing board of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for it to provide information, by way of minutes of its meeting, to show who gave the go-ahead for the $605 million medical supplies contract to ANSA McAL. The call was made on Monday by PPP Member of Parliament (MP) Bishop Juan Edghill, who said that should the minutes show that the order was given

by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, then it would only prove that the new Minister, who he said knew much about the pros and cons of procurement, had overstepped her boundaries.

“This cannot be right; everybody has cried out against it,” Edghill told a news conference on Monday.

“If there is a crisis at the GPHC, it is not for the Minister to intervene, it is the Board. So if this is not an act of corruption, I call on the Chairman of the Board to make available the minutes of the meeting where this was disclosed to them and what was disclosed to them to act in remedying the emergency situation.”

Edghill said the situation was a case where a political decision, after which it would seem that the offi-

PPP Member of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill

cer of the tender board was expected to comply administratively to facilitate “an improper transaction”.

He said the GPHC has a board that has responsibility for the affairs of the hospital.

Meanwhile, Edghill claimed that the Public Health Ministry has pumped a considerable amount of money into ANSA McAL, which was in fact purchasing the items from the very source Government moved away from, resulting in much higher charges to the public purse. He explained, for instance, that the 200mg ibuprofen pill, which was before bought from the NEW GPC INC for $1.55 each, with a procurement of 154,000 had cost some

$238,700. The same 200mg ibuprofen he said, now being bought from ANSA McAL at $6 each and with a procurement of 270,000 is costing Government $1.62 million. According to Edghill, this allows ANSA McAL to purchase the tablets from the NEW GPC at $1.55 and sell to the GPHC for $6, “as against the lowest responsive bidder supplying to the entity and in the long run preserving the public purse”.

The same was done with the drug Metformin 500mg, supplied by the NEW GPC for $2.5 each and from ANSA McAL for $8.

“It, therefore, means that if you call ANSA McAL and say I need these drugs urgently, all ANSA McAL has to do is go to NEW GPC and buy it,” Edghill said.

He recalled that Minister Lawrence had said that it was only ANSA McAL which would have been able to provide the drugs with the level of immediacy that was required.

“How she knew what NEW GPC stock is? How she knew what ANSA McAL stock is? What method was used to determine that?”

Edghill questioned.

He related that the Minister and the Georgetown Public Hospital were procuring items for four and eight times higher than what it would cost from other suppliers, and noted that had they gone

Teen stabbed to death by brother

A

drinking spree in the Corentyne community of Black Bush Polder in East Berbice turned deadly on Sunday evening when a teenager was stabbed to death by his brother after he refused to lend him his motorcycle.

Dead in 18-year-old Vishaul Zakaroo of Lot 85 North Yakusari, Black Bush Polder. Reports are that the two brothers were among

others imbibing when the 22-year-old suspect requested to borrow his younger brother’s motorcycle. Due to his drunken state, the victim reportedly refused to hand over the keys to the vehicle, and this resulted in an argument between the brothers, during which the elder brother whipped out a knife and stabbed his younger brother once to his stomach.

Rushed to the Mibicuri Public Hospital, the injured teen was treated, but later succumbed to the injury he had received. The murder weapon was recovered while the suspect is in Police custody assisting with investigations.

The body of the teenager was taken to Ramoo’s Funeral Home, and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

the way of prequalification, or even public tender in an emergency, the public purse would have been saved billions of dollars.

According to Edghill, this is not a coincidence, merely because of the person involved. He said Minister Lawrence was no stranger to procurement and the concerns of the Auditor General as it relates to sole sourcing.

“She chaired the committee and was a high-ranking member of the previous PAC [Public Accounts Committee], even while it was being chaired by now

Minister (of Foreign Affairs) Carl Greenidge…She’s knowledgeable: she knows the Procurement Act; she knows the regulation and system and then you’re going to make a smokescreen to talk about how bad the staff is, how the system has been penetrated? If there is corrupt staff in the system, why have they not been terminated?” he questioned.

Earlier this month, the media broke the story about the management of the Georgetown Public Hospital deliberating creating an emergency situation in order to sole-source drugs from its preferred supplier.

Within the last four months, the Public Hospital has cancelled or delayed four of its five public tenders, thereby creating a situation wherein

there was a massive shortage of pharmaceuticals. In a letter dated February 28, 2017, GPHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Allan Johnson thanked the Public Health Minister for authorising the procurement of medical supplies from ANSA McAL to the tune of $605,962,200, even though local firms could have supplied the same quantity and quality of drugs at better prices.

Questions are now being raised regarding why local firms which could have supplied the pharmaceuticals at cheaper prices had been sidelined. It raises the issue of motive and possible corruption, which is reminiscent of the earlier decision to rent an at-the-time non-existent pharma warehouse.

8 news

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Region 1 man jailed for killing father-in-law

A

t a retrial at the High Court on Monday, Alvin Gounga, called “Orvin” and “Captain”, was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

This comes five months after a 12-member jury could not reach a verdict in October 2016 when Gounga had initially said that he was not guilty of killing his father-inlaw.

However, when he appeared in court on Monday, he changed his story and admitted that on May 14, 2005 at North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini), he murdered Desmond Henry, who was his wife’s father. Reports

Alvin Gounga was sentenced to 11 years for killing Desmond Henry

had indicated that two men were involved in a row over

gold after which Gounga shot Henry with a bow and arrow.

At the time of the incident, Gounga was 22 years old.

When Gounga addressed the court, he did so in a very soft tone, saying “I’m so sorry”, to the Judge on Monday.

His Attorney, Dexter Todd in appealing for a reasonable sentence, told the court that his client had no prior brushes with the law, has been a disciplined inmate and has reflected upon on his action and was sorry for what happened. Todd added that there was “no doubt” that his client would contribute to society, but the prosecution reminded the court that the accused killed his father-in-law.

Trial Judge Navindra Singh, in handing on the sentencing, took into account the accused’s prison report that reflected well on him and that he enrolled in several programmes offered by the prison service.

Justice Singh told him to remain in these programmes as he was eligible for parole next year. Meanwhile, the years he spent awaiting trial were deducted from his sentence.

State Prosecutor Tuanna Hardy led the case and was assisted by fellow Prosecutor Siand Dhurjon.

No relatives of the accused or the deceased were present at Monday’s sentencing.

Businessman charged for soliciting hitman

A

businessman was on Monday slapped with a charge of inciting another to commit murder by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and released on $1.5 million bail.

The charge read that Ganesh Rajkumar, 65, on August 26, 2016 at D'Urban and Henry Streets, Georgetown, allegedly solicited Mark Sandy to murder Roger Conners.

Rajkumar was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

Attorney-at-Law Neil Boston successfully made an application for bail on behalf of the accused, relating that his client permanently resided at Lot 16 D'Urban and Henry Streets, Georgetown.

He added that Sandy was previously employed by the businessman as a security guard, and contended that the man concocted the story against Rajkumar following a failed extortion bid.

Boston related that Sandy had planned to extract money from his client after receiving

Accused: Ganesh Rajkumar

information that he was to receive a sizeable sum of money

from a city commercial bank.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail based on the gravity of the charge and penalty attached to same.

Jones added that the defendant was the mastermind behind the plot to kill Conners and asserted that he was a flight risk. The court heard that Rajkumar was the proprietor of Arawak Hotel and Night Club located at Upper Corentyne, Berbice. Attorney Boston assured the court that Rajkumar would attend every hearing pending trial.

Taxi driver jailed for causing death by dangerous driving

A

r e m o r s e f u l Charlestown, Georgetown taxi driver will spend the next four years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving after he accepted responsibility

for his actions on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan was Fazal Mohammed, 53, who on February 19, 2017,

at Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown, allegedly drove a motor car in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Gregory Nedd.

The prosecution con-

tended that on February 19, Mohammed, after purchasing food, entered his car, which was parked on the western side of Fort Street, and quickly reversed. In the process, he reportedly struck Nedd, who was at that unfortunate time reclined in a chair at the edge of the road.

An ambulance was summoned by public-spirited citizens, and Nedd was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries almost a month later.

The accused on Monday accepted responsibility for his actions, relating that he had been incarcerated since his arrest on the day of the incident and was unaware of the victim’s demise. He told the court that on Monday morning he was informed of Nedd’s death. Mohammed begged for the leniency of the court, contending that the killing was an accident and not one of premeditation.

The prosecution bashed the defendant for not including in his story, the results of the breathalyser test, which revealed that he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.

Having taken several factors into consideration, including the accused’s guilty plea, the fact that a life was lost and the need to deter future offenders, the Magistrate then dispensed a prison sentence of four years.

Still waiting…

T

…for Code of Conduct?

here’s still some idealism in Guyana. The GHRA’s evidently disappointed the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition hasn’t come out with the Code of Conduct it promised within 100 days of getting into office. Well, it’s now coming on to 700 days, and all the Guyanese people’s been getting is “ole talk” and “mamaguy”!

Early in the day, Raphael Trotman, who was then running the “governance” portfolio, announced some supposed parameters of the Code. However, they were pitched at such a high level of generality, they might as well been lifted wholesale from some UN declaration on bringing peace on earth and goodwill among men! Folks were requested to make recommendations – and the GHRA actually did so with the expectation of them being incorporated!

Like we said, idealism isn’t dead! But what Trotman actually did was to hand his anodyne proposals to PM Moses Nagamootoo – who they suddenly discovered – was supposed to be in charge of “governance” and chair the Cabinet towards this purpose. Well…Nagamootoo never got to chair the Cabinet – and now we can see, he wasn’t allowed to do anything substantive with the Code – even if he were so inclined!

What Nagamootoo did, was to indicate he’d “integrate” Trotman’s “draft code” within the PPP’s integrity legislation that was already on the books. Now this was the same legislation he and the rest of the Opposition refused to comply with for over a decade to submit details of their income and assets to the Commission. But now Nagamootoo informed the nation, the matter of coming up with a Code of Conduct rested with the drafting department of Parliament! And there it’s since remained in hibernation.

In the meantime, of course, the country’s been reeling from one corruption scandal to the next from Ministers and members of the Government. Do we really need to count the ways and byways of these corrupt acts?

Jubilee Park? Pharma Warehouse? Pharma emergency contract? Ahhhh…lists are so tedious!

Anyhow, back to the idealists in the GHRA who still expect something to come out of this exercise in misdirection. They’re now complaining that the recommendations – which we’d criticised two years ago as pitched to such a high level of abstraction as to have absolutely no connection on earth, much less Guyana – are too “bland”.

That’s right – the GHRA actually said “bland”! In addition to being idealistic, they’re obviously so polite they won’t call out the entire exercise for what it is: sticking it to the Guyanese people!

For a PNC-led government to issue a meaningful Code of Conduct is like having City Hall negotiate a parking meter contract!! We’ll get it in the end!

…for decolonisation

With the world observing International Day for the Day of Racial Discrimination today, we’re so far ahead of the pack, we can all strike that Usain Bolt pose! And why is that, you ask, Dear Reader? Well, last Friday night, if you weren’t one of those homebodies locked away, wondering if Ramjattan’s ACTUALLY gonna close bars at 12 midnight, you’d have known most of the bars in Georgetown had sponsored St Patrick’s bashes!

That’s right…here it is – with nary a single Irish but possibly Sean O’ Grady in sight and we’re drinking green beer and all! Isn’t it wonderful? So what’s the connection with “racial discrimination”? Well, back in the days of slavery and indentureship, the British imported a whole slew of Irish (and Scottish) overseers.

And after taking out their frustrations on our forefathers in the beds of the fields in the day, they took out their lust with our foremothers in their beds at night!

And now we’ve even painted OP green!!

…for the war?

Last year, our fighting men practised the Lizard Crawl in GT when they suspected the Venezuelans were coming.

So do the 500 body bags GPHC ordered for an “emergency” mean our intel’s predicting an imminent strike by Maduro’s hordes??

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

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tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Estate closures

East Demerara Estate soon to be closed – GAWU …as cane planting comes to an end

T

he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) may soon close another estate as challenges in the sugar industry persist.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), having met with more than 40 workers attached to the East Demerara Estate (Enmore and LBI Estates), has been informed that the GuySuCo management has instructed that workers must proceed with cane cutting operations at those estates, but this directive followed the disclosure that the East Demerara Estate will no longer offer work for cane planting. Some of the workers are therefore calling for severance payment, as their traditional tasks are no longer required.

A delegation of sugar workers meeting with GAWU representatives on Monday

Guyana Times has been told that as per norm, 20 percent of each plot is planted with new canes, and the remainder of the plot is reserved for the regrowth of

GPHC’s CEO reportedly...

The Minister said documents were prepared and four of the shortlisted companies “uplifted the documents, paid their monies and bid on the list of items”.

“Then I was called one morning indicating that there was a contract for ANSA McAL in the sum of $600 million…I wanted to know why ANSA McAL is being given that amount,” she said.

Upon inquiry, the Minister said the Georgetown Hospital CEO indicated that “this was the bid they had sent out and this is what they had responded to”.

Subsequently, the issue began to make headlines in the local dailies.

However, the Minister was unable to say what happened after she passed the instruction for companies to be shortlisted to fast-track the process.

“The Minister is not involved in the process; the

old canes. However, GAWU feels that since cane planting activities have ended, GuySuCo is clearly gearing to close down operations at the East Demerara Estate.

from page 3

Minister’s involved in declaring that there is an emergency and implement the mechanisms in place,” she explained.

Lawrence noted too that Cabinet was aware of the shortage of drugs but not that it was being awarded to ANSA McAL. Moreover, the Minister disclosed that part of the reason the drug tenders were cancelled by the Georgetown Hospital was because suppliers said they were unable to supply the drugs.

“I met with suppliers and some of the suppliers indicated to me that they had issues with the quantities and what was within the lots which they bid on and received, and many of them had issues with the time in which they received their contracts and the turnaround of that,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the Minister did not address the issue that for the entire 2016, a

similar method was used to procure medical/pharmaceutical supplies.

Management of the GPHC has been accused of deliberating creating an emergency situation in order to sole-source drugs from its preferred supplier. Within the last four months, it has cancelled or delayed four of its five public tenders, thereby creating a situation wherein there was a massive shortage of pharmaceuticals.

In a letter dated February 28, 2017, GPHC CEO Allan Johnson thanked the Public Health Minister for authorising the procurement of medical supplies from ANSA McAL to the tune of $605,962,200, even though local firms could have supplied the same quantity and quality of drugs at cheaper prices. Questions are now being raised regarding why these local firms had been sidelined.

“The decision by the Corporation to end cane planting is testimony that the Estate is being geared for closure,” GAWU contends. “Interestingly, so far, no official announcement to that end has been made, either by the Government or by the GuySuCo, yet the Corporation is implementing steps indicating the estate’s closure,” GAWU said on Monday.

The union says it has learnt -- by way of the Sugar Corporation CEO’s request for an urgent meeting with the union to discuss the development -- that GuySuCo is proceeding with plans to end cane planting at the East Demerara Estate and at the Rose Hall Estate in East Berbice.

GAWU is emphasising that moves to end operations at either entity con-

tradict the reported statements of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo when he said that sugar will not die.

Earlier this month, Guyana Times was told that Enmore Estate would allegedly be closed. “Them give us a white paper at the Ministry of Agriculture, and de white paper mark that them gon close Enmore Estate after harvesting crop 2017,” a worker had informed this newspaper at one of the many protest exercises against estate closures.

The operations of the LBI Estate were in 2016 amalgamated with those of the Enmore Estate, in a move which was slated to save the cane operations, according to GuySuCo. “Now, just months later, the closure of the estate operations has been initiated. It demonstrates that partial political consideration has been given by the Government towards the industry,” GAWU has claimed.

Livelihoods affected

GAWU noted that the East Demerara Estate employs some 2,200 employees in the field, factory, security, administrative and managerial sections.

“They and their families, among many others, stand to be affected by the harsh closure decision. We once more urge the Government

to abandon this consistent anti-worker direction, given the dire consequences to a major segment of the Guyanese working-class,” GAWU admonishes.

The experiences at Wales “are fresh in our thoughts, as hundreds have been placed on the breadline and have fallen into a state of despair”, GAWU declares. “Hundreds more again on East Demerara Estate seem to be destined also to go this way; and worse too, seemingly at this time are being denied their severance entitlements,” GAWU stressed.

Meanwhile, workers attached to the now defunct Wales Estate gathered outside the factory gates on Monday to reiterate calls for payment of outstanding severance package benefits.

This comes mere days after the workers had departed en masse from a meeting with several Government Ministers after Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had disclosed that GuySuCo could not afford to pay workers severance benefits.

Government has said the Wales Estate was closed after billions of dollars were accrued in losses over the years. At high level sugar consultations held last year with GuySuCo, the union and the Opposition, Government disclosed that only three estates would be kept functional.

10 news

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Exhibition to honour Dr Cheddi Jagan opens at National Library

Hydar Ally and other organisers of the Cheddi Jagan Book Exhibition

T

he Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) on Monday launched a Book Exhibition in honour of former President Dr Cheddi Jagan, who until his death in 1997 served as the nation’s 3rd Executive President. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the death of this iconic Guyanese, whose life and works have since been celebrated annually.

On display at the exhibition, which forms part of the series of activities in honour of the Jagan legacy, were snippets of the life, work and accomplishments of this outstanding leader.

The exhibition features books, posters, pictures and stories of the founder of the People’s Progressive Party

(PPP) dating back to his life prior to politics, as well as his journey and contributions as the Head of State of Guyana.

Chairman of the CJRC Management Committee, Hydar Ally, pointed to some of the significant contributions of Dr. Cheddi Jagan and stressed the significance of the works displayed. He said, “Dr. Jagan has been very instrumental in laying the foundation for a free, democratic, independent and modern Guyana.”

Ally alluded to Jagan’s influence in the fight for Independence, as well as his move towards Universal Adult Suffrage in then British Guiana. He also alluded to several important moments in the career of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, particular-

ly the moment when he entered politics in 1940, his role as a Legislature in 1947, and the part he played in forming and subsequently leading the Peoples Progressive Party to a landslide victory in 1953, winning 18 of the 24 seats in Parliament.

Ally reiterated the CJRC’s commitment to the preservation of the work of the former President, and said that this showcase provides the opportunity for others, especially

former President. These include the already concluded memorial ceremony at Babu Jaan and a fitness walk on Saturday. A lecture is set for Wednesday at the Red House, and this will be led by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. The discussion will focus on the relevance of the 20th century leader in 21st century contemporary Guyana. The lecture will develop one of the themes highlighted at the launch: “Cheddi

Books on display at the Cheddi Jagan Book Exhibition

young Guyanese, to observe and be inspired by the life and works of Dr. Jagan.

A number of activities are on the cards for the month of March, and they are all designed to pay tribute to the

Jagan’s Vision, Our Living Guide.”

The Book Exhibition will remain open to public viewing for the remainder of the week at the National Library.

Essequibians urged to observe road safety, traffic rules

T

he new Head of Traffic in G Division (Essequibo CoastEssequibo Islands), Alfred

Park is calling on road users traversing the Essequibo Coast roadways to be more cautious, more patient and

to avoid speeding.

Park, who recently replaced Arunnauth Ramnauth, assured that he

G Division’s new Head of Traffic, Alfred Park

would be working along with the Divisional Commander Khalid Pasheram, and other traffic ranks to ensure that road safety and traffic rules were adhered to within the region.

Ramnauth was transferred to C Division (East Coast Demerara) weeks ago.

During an interview with this publication, Park further explained that drivers needed to slow down and place more value on lives while they use the roadways. Since he assumed office, there have been two accidents, which he explained, were too many for a small county like Essequibo. He also pointed to the far-reaching effects of accidents, particularly on the lives of the families involved. Only recently, Roy Lowe from Zorg was hospitalised after a motor car drove into his path on the Zorg Public Road. Lowe suffered a dislocated hip and bruises to his eyes.

Is Guyana moving towards ethnic supremacy or ethnic decadence?

W

e welcome the plethora of activities and events, namely to commemorate 100 years of indentured emancipation and Holi, in the month of March.

The Public and Private Sectors, as well as various religious organisations and associations, should be commended for organising, promoting and hosting these cultural activities and events.

However, that the above cultural events have received narcissistic doses of insensitivity mainly from some supporters of the PNC-dominated coalition should be a critical concern to all and sundry. The mere fact that a Minister within the Government and some wellknown extremist cats were involved in ethnic splurging is most disappointing. These social scourges will continue to tarnish any meaningful attempts at rebuilding Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine ethnic solidarity in the most ethnic divided country in the Caribbean, if not the Americas.

If you have missed what transpired last week on the most celebratory events in the Indian Guyanese community, may I remind you that the Minister of Culture, Ms Nicolette Henry, who apparently has received a loaded financial scholarship from this regime to pursue a PhD degree unrelated to culture, in a public speech repeatedly conflated Holi with Diwali, two Indian customs. Perhaps this was happenstance, but I argue that the Minister has developed a reputation for being culturally insensitive and conflict- habituated. That this individual still serving in her post at the expense of the public coffers reveals the depth of ineptitude and blind loyal ethnic clientelism that so permeate this regime? Is this tribalism? Is this ethnic supremacy? It is difficult for me to withhold these questions from the public when considering that at the highest level of this regime there is one permanent secretary of Indian background.

Added to this disappointment were some supporters from the current regime peddling views that Indian presenters at one symposium were encouraging ethnic separation and violence when, in my judgement, they were speaking frankly on issues affecting Indians in Guyana. Suddenly, these individuals have become blinded to the fact that other ethnic groups also speak out, but do not necessarily receive the same level of chastisement. Equally harmful is that not a word of positivity emerged from these individuals, an unhelpful pattern and practice they continue to spew in their daily misguided missives.

Space does not permit me to get into the heads of these individuals but I will venture out and say that one would think that in a country like Guyana which has been reeling from ethnic tensions since colonial times that some who have hogged the national print and public space would, by now, try to avoid rancorous and reckless statements. I have come to the realisation that leaving these individuals alone will not solve the problem even if they are looking for attention. They must be called upon for their twisted intentions.

I do wonder also what goes through the mind of our President when he has invested so much in his Ministers only to find out that they are not performing to meet basic expectations. Mismanagement is the defining feature of this regime. This is equivalent, on the face of it, to parents who have invested in their children but have received dismal results. The disappointment can be difficult to take, but it comes to a point where parents realise that their children have to go on their own journey. The time comes for them to shape up or ship out.

I am of the opinion that a responsible President, which I think David Granger is, would take immediate action not to please the public and reshuffle under-performing Minsters but to ensure that ethnic insensitivity should not become a norm of his regime. So far, the President has not offered or uttered a word.

I believe also that individuals should have the freedom to express their thoughts, but by the same token that the extremists and propagandists in Guyana should be more cautious in their anchored ways since what they peddle daily might yield mayhem and disorder. In moving forward, their rants must be challenged with firm boundaries.

The larger question here, of course, is what ought to be done to avoid ethnic supremacy and how to slow down the march towards permanent ethnic dissonance and decadence.

I turn these questions over to the Ministry of Social Cohesion and ask what are you going to do now since some damage has been done to rebuild ethnic solidarity during one of the most festive times for Indians in Guyana and some of their leaders have been chastised for merely sharing a difference of opinion.

Do you think Indians will simply push this experience under the rug and go on with their lives? I do hope they do. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu)

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tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Immigration officers warned Enmore vendor nabbed about corruption ahead of with guns, ammo UK training programme M

UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn

C

orrupt immigration officers were placed on alert by Citizenship Minister Winston Felix ahead of a training initiative being offered by the United Kingdom as part of the Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP).

Felix told reporters on Monday after the opening ceremony of the training at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Training Centre that Government was committed to probing every instance where an immigration officer might be out of order.

“It is possible that members of the immigration department may be involved in illegalities and when we find them, we are committed to dealing condignly with them,” he stated.

Despite concerns about the rate of Trafficking In

Persons (TIP) in the country and the illegal passage of foreign nationals through Guyana, the Minister said he was not aware of any investigations into incidents where immigration officers aided in any acts of wrongdoings.

“We have discovered a number of different nationalities using our borders generally…The immigration department, in some instances, has been able to detect these persons…Some persons were arrested last year crossing the (Takutu) Bridge illegally,” he explained.

In this regard, the Minister underscored the importance of training programmes for immigration officials in enhancing the efficiency of the immigration department in order to maintain a balance between welcoming genuine tourists and keeping out persons with ill intent.

“In the world over, there is frequent movement of persons between territories and in that movement we have good people and we have bad people. The role of the immigration department is to provide a service, which is courteous and effective in terms of identification of those who should not enter the country,” Felix said during brief remarks at the opening ceremony of the training.

Local immigration officers will undergo the Risk and Liaison Overseas Network (RALON) training being conducted by the UK’s Immigration Enforcement

oments after a market vendor of Newtown, Enmore had threatened to shoot a patron at a popular entertainment spot in that East Coast Demerara community, the police were able to establish that both the weapon and the ammo he was carrying were illegal.

Based on reports received, the vendor threatened to shoot another man at about 1:10h on Monday, March 21, but other patrons of the nightspot subdued him and handed him over to the police, who searched his person and unearthed an unlicensed .38 Taurus revolver along with

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix

International.

The training will cover three fundamental issues: the overview of human trafficking, the enhancing of interview skills when dealing with arriving passengers and overall increased awareness of the latest trends and concerns in the wider Caribbean.

UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn explained that the Security Sector Reform Adviser to President David Granger, Russell Combe during his tenure in Guyana would be gathering information and subsequently making recommendations for improvement in the sector.

The UK envoy expressed hope that the recommendations would be implemented instead of “just sitting on the shelf”.

five live rounds of ammunition and one spent shell.

At about 09:30h that day, police escorted the suspect to his home, where another search was conducted and an unlicensed twelve-gauge single-barrel Stephen shotgun and six live cartridges

were found concealed in a wardrobe.

The suspect has, however, admitted to owning only the weapon and ammunition found in his home, but is nevertheless cooperating with investigators.

Lethem man still on run after killing cousin

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evon Stephen, the prime suspect in the murder of his cousin, Arnold Gordon, who was found dead in a shallow grave in Kaum, South Rupununi on Saturday is still on the run but the Police are making every effort to apprehend him.

The partially decomposed body of the 24-yearold labourer was found with an arrow stuck to his right armpit while the bow that purportedly fired that arrow was found in close proximity to the shallow grave which measured about two feet

deep.

Based on reports received, on March 16, the now dead man, his cousin and another man left their homes and were heading to Tiger Place to catch fish.

However, a heated argument erupted between the two cousins and it was at this time that Stephens reportedly got a piece of wood and iron and dealt several blows to the now dead man’s body.

The individual who was with the two cousins rushed to the village to get help.

He reported what oc-

curred to family members and a team was mobilised; after searching for the two cousins for close to two days, they came across a shallow grave and as they dug, they saw a hand and immediately contacted the Police.

After the Police arrived on the scene, they dug up the area and found the partially decomposed body of Gordon.

The body was taken to the Lethem Hospital mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem examination. There was no sign of the murder suspect.

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tuesDAY, march 21, 2017

News

50% off tuition for all Guyanese at Texila University’s new Providence Campus shelves of the three-storey building.

More than 400 students are currently studying at this elite institution, including locals and international students. However, the campus has a capacity to accommodate 1500 students.

Dorms, provided by investors, are available on campus for international students.

The staff complement stands at 100, including teaching and non-teaching

Officials and members of the media on a tour of the institution

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s the Texila American University prepares to operate its brand new facility at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Guyanese students can look forward to paying just half the cost for flagship programmes being offered by the prestigious institution.

President and Founder of the University, Saju Bhaskar, told media operatives during a tour of the facility on Monday that the medicine programme is being offered at US$10,000 per annum, but locals can qualify to get as much as a 50 per cent reduction in fees.

The University offers other programmes in the field of medicine, and hopes to expand and offer courses in areas of business as well as information technology before the end of the year.

Texila University is currently waiting for

The biochemistry Lab of the Texila University

Government to confirm the date for the official opening of its brand new and modern campus, in which all its local operations have become centralized.

With an investment of US$10 million, the new facility boasts some six modern labs, including those for biochemistry, pathology, skills, analogy and IT. Students can put their

knowledge to the test in the skills lab, where various medical procedures are practised on dummies.

The University also has a library, which focuses heavily on e-books, since more students prefer to read on their electronic devices. In addition to some 48,000 electronic copies of books, there are several hundred hard copy books on the library

personnel, with the majority being Guyanese.

Already recognized by the Guyana National Accreditation Council (NAC), Texila University will apply to the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for recognition of Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), in order to further boost its in-

Brazil’s rotten meat scandal prompts major import bans

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hina has suspended meat imports from Brazil over its rotten meat scandal while the European Union has called for a partial ban, deepening the crisis in the world’s biggest beef and poultry-exporting nation.

The allegations that major meat-packing businesses bribed inspectors to get health certificates and masked tainted meat as fit for consumption prompted the decision by China, which with Hong Kong is Brazil’s biggest meat-export market.

“Until it receives more information, China will not unload meat imported from Brazil,” the Brazilian agriculture ministry said on

Brazilian meat is exported to more than 150 countries [Eraldo Peres/AP]

Monday in an online statement.

Also on Monday, the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, called on Brazil to immediately

halt exports by four companies implicated in the scandal, the bloc’s spokesman Enrico Brivio said in Brussels.

Chile’s Agriculture

Minister Carlos Furche said on Twitter that his Government was also imposing a “temporary” ban on meat imports from Brazil.

It said the ban would stay in place until Brazil confirmed that companies exporting meat to Chile had been correctly vetted.

President Michel Temer sought to calm the situation, saying Brazil’s meat industry should not be judged by this one investigation.

“The agro-business for us in Brazil is very important and it should not be marred by a small nucleus [of bad actors], a small thing,” he said, speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

St Lucia Government and Opposition at odds over controversial development

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he St Lucian Government appears set on a collision course with the main Opposition St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) and other interest groups over a controversial development.

Outrage has been building almost a week af-

ter Prime Minister Allen Chastanet signed off on the multi-billion-dollar deal to kick start phase two of the Desert Star Holdings Pearl of the Caribbean project set for Vieux Fort. And the SLP last week began a series of public meetings to mobilise support in preparation for

mass demonstrations.

In a strong statement, the Party accused the ruling United Workers Party (UWP) of being “insensitive to the cries of the people”, warning that the project will “bring untold hardships on the people of the south in particular, as well as our

fragile eco-system.”

The project includes a marina, a racecourse, a resort and shopping mall complex, casino, Free Trade Zone, extensive entertainment and leisure facilities, eco-tourism as well as villas and apartments.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

The University’s library

tegrity.

CAAM-HP, the legally constituted body, was established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and is empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programmes of medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions education on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM. CAAMHP will serve as the means of providing the assurance of quality that generates confidence in the principal stakeholders, students and the public.

Another major plan the University has is for solar energy to power some 80 per cent of its operations.

The Texila American University is part of a global conglomerate, Texila American University Limited Hong Kong (TAUHK), which also owns Texila Education Management Services (TEMS), USA; Texila Global Consulting Services, United Arab Emirates; and SAKSHI Education and Consulting and Training Limited in India.

The university began operating here in 2010 with seven students, operating out of the Critchlow Labour College on Woodford Avenue in Georgetown, before moving to establish a campus at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, due to a growing student population.

Guatemala youth jail riot leaves 2 guards dead

Inmates climbed onto the roof of the detention centre as others set mattresses alight

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wo guards have been killed in a riot at a youth detention centre in Guatemala, Police say.

Five more have been injured and are being held hostage at the Etapa II centre in the capital, Guatemala City.

The inmates are demanding that they be allowed to receive food parcels and be given permission to cook their own meals.

Riot Police surrounded the jail and fired tear gas, but have so far failed to regain control of the prison.

Officials said the riot was started by members of the 18th Street Gang, one of Central America’s most notorious gangs.

Among their demands was that fellow gang members held at other jails be transferred to Etapa II. Witnesses said inmates

from the 18th Street Gang also threatened to kill members of rival gang Paisas if they refused to take part in the riot.

Members of violent street gangs make up the bulk of Guatemala’s prison population and deadly conflict inside prison walls is not uncommon.

Hours after the riot started on Sunday, smoke could still be seen coming from parts of the detention centre.

The incident comes less than two weeks after 40 girls died in a fire at a State-run children’s shelter, also near Guatemala City.

That fire, too, is believed to have started when a mattress was set alight. The two cases have highlighted the poor state of children’s and youth services in Guatemala, activists say. (Excerpt from BBC News)

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

FBI confirms Trump- PM May to trigger Brexit Russia investigation process next week

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BI Director James Comey has confirmed for the first time that the FBI is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

However, Comey said his agency had seen no evidence to back up President Donald Trump’s claim that his phones had been tapped by the Obama Administration.

He was giving evidence to the congressional intelligence committee.

The Trump Administration said nothing had changed and there was “no evidence of TrumpRussia collusion”.

Russia has always denied attempting to influence the US presidential election.

The FBI investigation would examine possible links between individuals in the Trump campaign and the Russian Government and whether there was co-

FBI Director James Comey

ordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey said.

The FBI would also assess whether crimes were committed, he said.

Comey said the investigation was “very complex” and he could not give a timetable for its completion.

“We will follow the facts wherever they lead,” he said.

But White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer suggested the Administration was not concerned, saying: “You can continue to look for something, but continuing to look for something that doesn’t exist doesn’t matter.”

National Security Agency (NSA) chief, Admiral Mike Rogers also appeared before the committee.

He said the NSA stood by an intelligence community report published in January, which said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a campaign to harm the campaign of Trump’s rival, Hillary Clinton.

Comey said he had no information on unsubstantiated claims tweeted by Trump this month that former President Barack Obama had ordered a wiretap on Trump Tower. (Excerpt from BBC News)

McDonald’s India delivery app ‘leaks user data’

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cDonald’s delivery app in India leaked personal information about 2.2 million users, a security firm has found.

A poorly configured server gave anyone access to the names, emails, home addresses and phone numbers of users, said Fallible.

Sending a simple request to the server produced lots of information about users, it said.

McDonald’s India said it had fixed the app and urged users to install the updated version.

The McDelivery app is operated by Westlife Development which oversees McDonald’s restaurants in south and west India.

In a statement sent to the Times of India, McDonald’s India said the app did not store any “sensitive financial data” such as credit card numbers, passwords or bank account details.

“The website and app have always been safe to use and we update security measures on a regular ba-

sis,” it told the newspaper.

Fallible said it had checked after the app was updated and found that it was still leaking information, but gave no details about the extent of this leak.

It added that it had told McDonald’s about the more recent problem it discovered and was awaiting a second response.

One app user is believed to have already started legal action over the leaky server, reports The Hindu.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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rime Minister Theresa May is to officially notify the European Union next Wednesday that the United Kingdom is leaving the bloc.

Downing Street said she would write a letter to the European Council, adding that it hoped negotiations on the terms of exit and future relations could then begin as quickly as possible.

An EU spokesman said it was “ready and waiting” for the letter.

May’s spokesman also

rejected reports an early election may be held, saying: “It’s not going to happen.”

Under the Article 50 process, talks on the terms of exit and future relations are not allowed until the UK formally tells the EU it is leaving.

If all goes according to the two-year negotiation allowed for in the official timetable, Brexit should happen in March 2019.

A No 10 spokesman said the UK’s Ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, informed the European

Council, headed by President Donald Tusk, earlier on Monday of the date that Article 50 would be triggered.

May is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday shortly after invoking Article 50, setting out her aims.

A spokesman said the Government wants negotiations to start as soon as possible but added that they “fully appreciate it is right that the other 27 EU states have time to agree their position”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

S Korea complains to WTO about China

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outh Korea has appealed to the World Trade Organisation to determine if the Chinese Government is treating South Korean companies unfairly.

Seoul claims Beijing is retaliating economically over its deployment of a US anti-missile defence system.

South Korea’s Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan told Parliament that China “may be in violation of some trade agreements”.

China opposes the deployment, saying it will affect the regional security balance and allow the US to spy on it.

Washington and Seoul say the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) system is designed to protect against threats from North Korea. But it has caused significant ten-

The US THAAD missile system being deployed in South Korea has angered China

sion with China, which is South Korea’s largest trading partner.

“The Chinese Government may not admit that they took retaliatory measures against the Thaad decision, but we have to point out the possibility,” Joo said according to

Yonhap news agency.

“We are collecting evidence and will also deal with issues that South Korean companies are treated unfairly in China.”

South Korea complained about China to the WTO over the issue on Friday, Joo said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Norway is the happiest US billionaire philanthropist place on Earth David Rockefeller dies at 101

Happy Norwegian fans at an international football game in 2009

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orway is the happiest place on Earth, according to a United Nations agency report – toppling neighbour Denmark from the number one position.

The World Happiness Report measures “subjective well-being” – how happy the people are, and why.

Denmark, Iceland,

Switzerland and Finland round out the top five, while the Central African Republic came last.

Western Europe and North America dominated the top of table, with the US and UK at 14th and 19th, respectively.

Countries in sub-Saharan Africa and those hit by conflict have pre-

dictably low scores. Syria placed 152 of 155 countries – Yemen and South Sudan, which are facing impending famine, came in at 146 and 147.The World Happiness Report was released to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness on March 20.

It mainly relies on asking a simple, subjective question of more than 1000 people every year in more than 150 countries.

“Imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top,” the question asks.

“The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?” (Excerpt

from BBC News)

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illionaire philanthropist David Rockefeller has died in his sleep at his home in Poncantico Hills, New York, a spokesman said. He was 101 years old.

Rockefeller, the last of his generation in the famed American family, was the grandson of Standard Oil co-founder John D Rockefeller.

The centenarian was at the helm of his family’s fortune, controlling both philanthropic and business interests.

He was the youngest of five sons of John D Rockefeller Jr. Though he never sought political office, he had two brothers who served in Government.

Nelson Rockefeller served as Governor of New York and briefly as

David Rockefeller was the youngest of five sons of John D Rockefeller Jr

US Vice President while Winthrop Rockefeller was the Governor of Arkansas.

David Rockefeller graduated from Harvard in 1936 and received a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago in 1940.

He then served in the army in World War Two before working at Chase Bank, which later became JP Morgan Chase.

He was named President of the company in 1961 and Chairman and Chief Executive in 1969.

The renowned capitalist supported the assistance of economies abroad, arguing that it would create customers for American products.

Under his leadership, Chase was the first US bank to open offices in the Soviet Union and China.

In 1974, it was the first to open an office in Egypt after the Suez crisis of 1956.

He was also behind the project that led to the World Trade Center in New York City.

Rockefeller retired in 1981 aged 65. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 News

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parking meter burden

Statutory meeting unfruitful as M&CC Councillors disagree T

he special statutory meeting convened on Monday by the Mayor & Councillors of the City of Georgetown to discuss issues regarding the parking meter contract did not yield much result, as councillors could not agree on whether or not to adhere to Central Government’s advice to suspend the parking meter project.

Via letter late last week, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had directed the Mayor and City Council to have the by-laws governing operation of the parking meters suspended for a three-month period, pending review. However, he received a letter from Town Clerk Royston King advising that such a suspension would constitute a breach of contract.

The councillors were expected to vote on the Minister’s request at this special statutory meeting, which was chaired

by Acting Mayor and substantive Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, on Monday.

However, tensions rose as councillors cross-talked and heckled each other.

Councillors attached to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) moved to have decision on the Minister’s request postponed, since, according to them, the council needed time to study the legal advice received in regard to the Bulkan order. APNU Councillor Heston Bostwick

A few protesters, led by the Water Street Mourners, braved the weather to call for a revocation of the contract

moved a motion to this end: “…thereafter, we would be in a better legal frame of mind to determine the way forward.”

The final tally after two rounds of voting was 17 councillors in favour of the motion, while seven were against. Two abstained from voting.

Counsel representing City Hall, Attorney-at-Law Roger Yearwood, in his legal interpretation, said that before issuing his order on March 17, 2017, the Minister had failed to hold an inquiry. “The Act contemplates that an inquiry must be held by the Minister in order to establish that the Council is in default in the performance of any duty imposed on it. This inquiry naturally necessitates a hearing, at which the Council must be afforded an opportunity to

be heard, in accordance with the rules of natural justice, which militates against a person being condemned without being afforded an opportunity to be heard in his own defense,” the document stated.

The attorney further asserted that if the Mayor and City Council adheres to the Minister’s directive, a breach of contract with the parking meter contractors, Smart City Solutions, would result, and this could prove to be very costly for the City.

Another Councillor, Khane Sharma, moved a motion to have the motions brushed aside, since, according to him, the order from the Minister was clear. This suggestion resulted in several councillors heckling their colleague. However, his motion was favoured by six, while 14 were against it, and

seven abstained.

As a two-hour debate continued into Councillor Bostwick’s motion, with many interruptions from the councillors, a visibly annoyed Duncan adjourned the meeting, noting that he does not see himself chairing another meeting of this nature, and advised the councillors to utilize the period they have until the next statutory meeting to review the legal advice. Thus the meeting was adjourned to next Monday, when incumbent Mayor Patricia Chase Green would have returned from an overseas trip.

Since its rollout in late January, the parking meter project has attracted widespread criticism. After it had initially been rolled out and had been the subject of numerous criticisms from civil society, the business community and from citizens, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had sought to have the matter debated in Parliament.

However, APNU/AFC refused to support the parliamentary Opposition’s request to have the contentious enterprise debated.

However, after several protests had been mounted in the capital city, Cabinet recommended a three-month suspension pending a review.

Protest

And as City Council operatives were considering whether or not to follow the minister’s orders, a few of the Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) protestors braved the weather to sound the clarion call that City Hall must revoke the contract.

Additionally, on Monday, the High Court case regarding the legality of the project was heard in cham-

“Revoke the contract!” says Transparency International member George Fraser

bers by Justice Brassington Reynolds. At those proceedings, by way of the judge’s consent, Mexican company Smart City Solutions was added as a respondent in the Mohendra Arjune legal challenge against the contract.

Arjune’s attorney, Kamal Ramkarran, has the next several days to file an affidavit in reply to SCS and another affidavit in defence filed by Town Clerk Royston King. The matter will again be heard on April 10 at 09:15, for reports and submissions.

Blygezigt Gardens shooting

Top Cop urges citizens to follow suit

I

n light of the recent shooting to death of an alleged bandit by a businessman during a foiled robbery at Blygezigt Gardens, Greater Georgetown, Acting Top Cop David Ramnarine believes that other businessmen should follow suit.

He was at the time responding to media operatives at the Police Training Centre about the shooting that has left one bandit dead and another man nursing a gunshot injury to his elbow.

The acting Police Commissioner commended the occupants of the car for their courageous response to the bandits which led to them stopping the men from committing a major crime in the area.

He added that more citizens should look at the recent incident and develop an attitude of “just that”.

Ramnarine, nevertheless, stated that all efforts would be made to apprehend the second suspect, who managed to escape.

The now dead man, who was initially identified as Alton Bowen of Lot 165 Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown by the Police, was subsequently identified as 32-year-old Ray Goulding.

The Police have also confirmed that the man had several addresses. These in-

One of the parked cars that were damaged while the businessman and his driver were attempting to evade the armed bandit

clude La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara; Albouystown, Georgetown and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara. He was shot and killed in the wee hours of Sunday during a gun battle at Belvoir Court, Blygezigt Gardens, after a foiled robbery on a group of men returning from an evening with friends.

Based on reports received, Goulding was shot by the businessman, who is a licensed firearm holder. It was reported that the businessman went to drop home his two friends following an outing and they were confronted by the now dead suspect and an accomplice.

The suspect and his accomplice reportedly drove their car so as to block the roadway. As the business-

man and the other men in their vehicle approached the parked car, the suspect opened fire, and the businessman returned fire, fatally wounding the alleged bandit. The suspect’s accomplice fled the scene, leaving the wounded man on the road to die.

An occupant of the businessman’s car was also shot during the cross fire. He is reportedly in stable condition. Investigators have since retrieved a .32 pistol that allegedly belonged to the deceased bandit.

The Police have confirmed that the now dead man was previously charged for robbery under arms and possession of an illegal gun and ammunition. He was also wanted for a series of armed robberies.

news

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tuesDAY, march 21, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Texila University plans to open Bandits create havoc in Berbice specialty hospital in Guyana ...rob 6 families

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andits went on a rampage at the Glasgow New Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Berbice (Region 6, East BerbiceCorentyne) over the weekend, creating havoc for residents as they attempted to enter, or were successful in entering, six homes.

Four homes in the scheme were broken into on Sunday morning. In the previous week, two other homes were broken into, and victims had harrowing encounters with the bandits.

In the wee hours of Monday, bandits invaded Lot 1724 Cracks Ville, Glasgow New Housing Scheme, EBB. Owner of the home, Clement John, explained that all of the rooms

continued to force their way into the building, which houses a shop. Fortunately, they could not penetrate the grill door that prohibits entry into the building, although they had wrenched open a door leading to the lower flat of the building.

And the intruders fled after several residents responded to the cries of the besieged home occupants.

The shop owner said the family had received information in December that persons were planning to burgle their home, and on the night they had received that information a vehicle was observed passing the home ten times, but vanished when police arrived in the area.

The bandits could not gain entry into this home

in the house are sealed, so no one heard when bandits prised open the back door with a crowbar. He gave no details of what was taken.

At Sohan Ramdeen’s Lot 890 Glasgow New Housing Scheme home, louvre panes were removed but the bandits were unable to gain entry into the home. One occupant explained that he had heard the dogs barking and had thought that another animal was in the yard. According to reports, a can of sardines had been punctured and placed in the yard to distract the dogs.

Ramdeen explained that it was not until sunrise that he discovered the louvre panes missing from his home.

At about 00:30h on that same Monday, bandits attempted to hammer their way into another Cracks Ville home, despite screams from the occupants. “I jump up from my sleep when I hear. So I listened to hear if (there was) any other sound; but the next noise wasn’t so hard.

Then I wake up my son and tell him that (bandits attacking) this house, and he say, ‘No, is cat.’… He decided to go and check the cameras, and then he see that three of the cameras turn in different directions, and so he go to the bedroom window and start screaming,” the homeowner said.

Despite hearing the occupants of that home raising an alarm, the bandits

The early Monday morning bandit rampage also included an attack on teacher Debra Ward’s home. She said she was aware that at least one person was in her home at about 2:30h on Monday. She said the intruder pushed open her bedroom door, but she sprang out of bed and armed herself with a cutlass, causing the male intruder to escape through the front door.

She later discovered that one Government laptop, a

cellular phone and approximately $6000, most of which belongs to the school, had been taken from her home.

She also discovered that a crowbar had been used to prise open the back door and grill of her home.

Two other homes in the East Bank Berbice community had last Wednesday been broken into. Businessman Chris Hicks said the bandits had managed to make their way only into the lower flat of his home, from whence they removed almost $2M worth of equipment.

He explained that during that attack, the bandits’ efforts to gain access to the upper flat of his home were thwarted because of the way the building is constructed.

However, a masked man had climbed onto a part of the roof and had come faceto-face with him; and there was only a glass window separating the two men.

According to Hicks, the man and his accomplices immediately fled the scene.

And even as police responded to the Hicks report, three masked men burgled an unlicensed liquor restaurant that is situated in the same street where Hicks lives. Reports are that the bandits confiscated close to $200,000 in cash and a similar amount in jewelry from the shop owner and her school-age daughter before fleeing the scene.

Having broken into that residence, the bandits allegedly woke up the sleeping occupant, Nadira, and told her not to sleep so soundly in the future, even as they demanded more cash and valuables.

Police are investigating all these reports. Several persons have already been arrested.

Texila University President Saju Bhaskar

A

lthough the Guyana Government has scrapped its plans to establish a specialty hospital in Guyana, Texila University is currently conducting a feasibility study with the aim of opening a similar health institution.

Founder and President of the University, Saju Bhaskar, when asked by Guyana Times, explained that the project was still in the very initial stages and it would take about six months before the plan could be sorted out.

According to Bhaskar, if the project comes on stream, Texila is hoping to open the hospital with an initial capacity to house 100 patients.

Once information is gathered from the feasibility study, Texila will make a decision on how to proceed.

After much time and effort had been invested into developing a specialty hospital locally, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration called off the project.

The Government of India, which was funding the project via a US$18 million Line of Credit, had indicated that it was ceasing

worldwide business with the identified contractor India-based Fedders Lloyd Corporation Limited, after the company was blacklisted by the World Bank until 2020 over fraud and corruption practices.

The donor country had also expressed preference for a fresh tendering process to be conducted, to select a new India-based contractor to execute the project.

The coalition Government came under fire following the announcement that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fedders Lloyd to complete the controversial project, which was left on hold after the Donald Ramotar Administration sacked and sued the first contractor, Surendra Engineering Inc, for failing to honour its obligations.

Guyana is yet to recover close to $1 billion from that company.

The APNU/AFC had justified the handpicking of Fedders Lloyd to complete the project, saying that the

plete the Specialty Hospital using the remaining US$14 million. Hence, it approached Fedders Lloyd without any tendering process and the company accepted the contract to construct and fully equip what was expected to be a stateof-the-art medical facility.

However, this caused much uproar and controversy after it was revealed that the Indian company was never the second best bidder in the tendering process back in 2012, as claimed by the coalition Government.

In fact, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Opposition had stated that the company was disqualified because of certain inconsistencies in its submission to the local tender board.

Evidence obtained by the media even validated the previous Administration’s contentions, but Government maintained that Fedders Lloyd remained a valid contender.

Fedders Lloyd is said to have close ties with Public

The site where the Government intended to construct the country’s first Specialty Hospital located at Pattensen on the East Coast Demerara

company was one of the original bidders in the 2012 tendering process.

It noted too that after examining the merits of the proposal and in the interest of time, it began searching for a willing partner to com-

Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who had legally represented the company back in 2012 when it claimed that it was cheated out of the contract to build the Specialty Hospital.

(Devina Samaroo)

Possible relationship hiccups identified between India, US

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hief of the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party (OF-BJP) of India has identified possible hiccups in the relationship between India and the United States of America following the succession of Donald Trump to the White House.

The General Secretary of OF-BJP recently wrote that the India-US association will be more "transactional" under the current administration, as compared to when Obama was on the frontline. He indicated possible contentions on trade policy and with the issuing of H1B Visas (Work Permits), but said the party hopes for positive ties during the Trump Administration; and he noted that the Trans Pacific Partnership will provide leeway for bilateral negotiations with countries, including the US. Vijay Chauthaiwale was at the time speaking to a journalist of the Business Statement (a local daily newspaper) regarding several mat-

ters of diplomatic relationships between India and their geographic, economic and political ties. The member of the powerful overseas support group of the leading party also addressed the Prime Minister’s impending visit to Israel and the Party’s position regarding current international affairs.

Chauthaiwale noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been able to make significant strides in his foreign policy agenda with just the first half of his tenure completed. Given his domestic popularity, the PM has been compared to other successful leaders, such as Indira Ghandi, probing questions of his intentions to solve intractable problems with neighbouring territories such as China, and the longstanding feud with Pakistan. The Chief of International Affairs pointed out that India-China relationship remains civil, while matters with the Muslim nation rest in the hands of Islamabad and that country’s an-

ti-terrorists measures.

The Prime Minister is set to go to Israel for an anticipated historic visit, as Vijay Chauthaiwale made mention of the good personal equation between the Prime Minister of Israel and PM Modi.

The journalist also inquired about the recent fall-out with India and West Asian territories. As questions were raised concerning a possible visit to Palestine. The party representative stated, “It is not for me to say whether he will visit Palestine or not.” He went on to say, “I think we need to build strong relationship with all major countries in West Asia.”

Chauthaiwale affirmed: “Even though the countries have conflicting interests with themselves, India has been deftly able to manage the equations and look out for furthering India’s interests.”

Commenting on the Brexit Situation, Vijay Chauthaiwale was noncommittal, noting that it is bet-

ter to wait to see how matters unfold. However, he did mention that it may open new avenues for interactions between India and UK, but highlighted the anti-immigration trend as being one of several issues that can emerge.

The politician shed light on India’s position as a nation, and indicated possible changes which the party has already taken or may possibly take. “Our nationalism is not exclusive,” Chauthaiwale said, as he explained that the leaders of the party share no particular commonality with other nationalist leaders emerging in the world. However, he did say that the situation is evolving.

The party has embarked on advocacy initiatives pertaining to the interest of the India Diaspora in foreign countries. Efforts to protect Indians in the US and Australia were highlighted, especially given that this approach has never been taken before.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017

ARCHIE

Don’t run away from controversy. Dig up the facts you (March 21- need to back your position.

April 19) Your strength and courage will impress someone influential.

ARIES

Make travel plans, set up TAURUS meetings and take the initia(April 20- tive to bring about the changMay 20) es you want to see happen.

Deal with matters pertaining to education, children and information sharing.

dilbert

Don’t let money slip GEMINI through your fingers. If (May 21you are going to spend on June 20) something, invest in yourself. Gaining experience and knowledge will boost your confidence and reputation.

Try not to let your emotions take control, especially (June 21- at work or when you’re dealJuly 22) ing with partners. It’s important to see all sides of a situation and to refrain from making assumptions.

CANCER

Peanuts

Think before you let your LEO emotions lead you down a slip(July 23pery slope. Say less and do Aug. 22) more in order to avoid criticism. Don’t let anger or excessive behavior take the reins.

Calvin and Hobbes

Keep close tabs on your VIRGO spending, expenses and over(Aug. 23Sept. 22) head. Cut corners where possible. Networking will be informative. Put more energy into learning and gaining experience.

Don’t jump to conclusions.

LIBRA Bide your time and use your (Sept. 23intelligence and logic to help Oct. 23) control emotional situations.

Don’t give in to unreasonable demands. Offer peace and love, not discord.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — BIMANUAL (BIMANUAL: by-MAN-yoo-uhl: Done with or requiring the use of both hands.)

SUDOKU

Someone oblivious to your SAGITTARIUS situation will unintentionally (Nov. 23- give you an ideal way to recyDec. 21) cle an old idea. There is money to be made if you put in the time and effort.

Average mark 18 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 31 or more words in BIMANUAL? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — UMBRAGE

umber umbra urge mare bare barge barm beam bear

beau begum berg berm brag bream brume rage ream

rumba ager ague amber argue auger game gamer garb

gaur gear germ grab gram grub guar

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

It’s in your best interest SCORPIO to keep busy and concentrate (Oct. 24on what you can accomplish Nov. 22) instead of stewing over what others are doing. Jealousy isn’t the way to go.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Ignore an urge to travel or CAPRICORN take on something that might (Dec. 22harm your reputation. What Jan. 19) may appear to be an opportunity is likely to be riddled with uncertainty and complex requirements.

Don’t let frustration lead AQUARIUS to anger or a confrontation (Jan. 20with someone who doesn’t see Feb. 19) things your way. Ignore what others do and stay focused on what works best for you.

PISCES Get involved in things that (Feb. 20- matter to you. Community March 20) organizations that strive to make your environment healthier, safer and more convenient will give you a platform to air your opinions.

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017

19

Patriots move was right Handscomb, Marsh for me - Miller deny India series lead C T hris Gayle wasn’t the only talent the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots lured away from the Jamaica Tallawahs before the start of the 2017 Hero CPL season that begins in August.

The Tallawahs’ bowling coach Donovan Miller has joined the coaching staff there as the assistant coach.

Miller, in addition to being on the coaching staff of the winning Tallawahs team last season, also won the Division II title in English County Cricket with Essex County.

Essex will play in Division 1 in the coming season this summer.

Miller, the coach at the Chris Gayle Academy in the United Kingdom, tells SportsMax.TV that there were several reasons he decided to make the move to St Kitts.

Chief among them was the opportunity to work with his childhood hero, former West Indies opener and coach, Phil Simmons.

“That I had an opportunity to work under Head Coach Phil Simmons, who I have been a fan of since I was a kid, was impossible to turn down,” Miller said.

“St Kitts have a very strong squad with the likes of Chris Gayle and Chris Morris and Ben Cutting so it is exciting times.”

But it was more than just working with Simmons and Gayle that made Miller sign on the dotted line for the Patriots.

“At that time I was just trying to sort out my position and work out which option was better for me. The St Kitts one was on the table and it was really a good one. I liked the idea about how they are looking to go over the next couple of years and where they see the franchise going,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the Tallawahs were keen to have me back but I didn’t burn any bridges. I had a really good conversation with the General Manager Mohammed Khan and also spoke to the owners and after

Donovan Miller

a chat with them I made them know my intentions.”

He said he believes he made the right decision.

“There was just more clarity and understanding about my role and they were quite keen for me to sign as early as possible and get me involved in everything that has been happening with the draft and everything,” he said.

“With Jamaica, things were slightly different. They were in the middle of sorting out things with Chris and the issue with Andre Russell, and those were top priority issues for them to sort out.”

He also had his schedule with Essex to consider.

“July sounds like it’s a long way off, but for me it’s not because I have a full English county season that I have to commit to plus family as well. So I had to go where there was a bit more clarity,” he explained.

“By the time I got round to speak to Mohammed Khan and we had a chat, my mind was about 75 per cent made up already. At this time in my development I think it was the right move.” (Sportsmax)

West Indies trio, Thomas out of Scorpions squad C

hadwick Walton, Rovman Powell and Jerome Taylor will not be available for the Jamaica Scorpions for their match against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force beginning on Friday.

The trio and Shacaya Thomas, who has withdrawn from the Scorpions squad because of personal reasons, have been replaced by John Campbell, who is being recalled to the squad, Oraine Williams, who is getting his first call to the national senior squad, Trevon Griffith and Derval Green.

Walton, Powell and Taylor have been called to the West Indies team to play Pakistan in three T20 Internationals starting March 28.

The absence of the three senior players does not augur well for the Scorpions, who have lost consecutive matches in the Digicel Regional Four-Day series against the Guyana Jaguars and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Sabina Park.

They will be hoping for a turnaround when they travel to Trinidad and Tobago to play the Red Force.

Nikita Miller will continue to lead the squad that includes Fabian Allen, John Campbell, Jermaine Blackwood, Brandon King, Andre McCarthy, Oraine Williams, Devon Thomas, Damion Jacobs, Trevon Griffith, Derval Green and Paul Palmer Jr.

Trevon Griffith

The team departs on Tuesday March 21 for the game scheduled to begin on Friday.

(Sportsmax)

hirty minutes before lunch, Peter Handscomb joined Shaun Marsh amid a Ranchi tumult. Their captain Steven Smith had just shouldered arms to let Ravindra Jadeja bowl him, symptomatic of a tired mind, the over after Matt Renshaw had also fallen. Australia were still 89 runs short of making India bat again; the hosts were circling hungrily.

Five hours later, Handscomb was still there and Marsh not long departed.

The Test match was drawn, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy bout remained locked at 1-1. Through batting of commendable calm and sure-footed technique, the Australian duo had thwarted India in a manner that will be a source of enormous satisfaction to the tourists. By getting out of a predicament few expected them to survive, they took the series to its final match.

Equally, India will be left to ponder why they were unable to close out this match in the manner of others during this elongated home season after the sublime innings by Cheteshwar Pujara. Certainly the Ranchi pitch stayed playable, but R Ashwin was unable to find a way through the Australian batsmen to provide the counterpoint to Jadeja’s danger.

Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav both bowled useful spells, but could not follow up Renshaw’s wicket.

Before this match the visitors had gone 38 Test innings without a fifth-wicket stand worth 100 or more.

In Ranchi, they managed to do it twice. Marsh and Handscomb’s stand was worth 124, soaking up 62 priceless overs.

Smith and Renshaw had begun simply trying to bat for as long as possible, taking occasional scoring opportunities but stripping their games of risk. India’s captain Virat Kohli began with Jadeja at one end and Yadav at the other, not calling on the offbreak’s of the world’s No. 1 ranked bowler Ashwin until the ball had lost much of its earlier hardness.

The plan to Smith appeared to be bowling wide of the stumps while trying to test the Australian captain’s patience. He was comfortable in leaving plenty of balls alone while scoring from the occasional ball that strayed onto the stumps. Renshaw had a few awkward moments against Jadeja but overall held his shape well in dealing with the left-arm-

Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb run between the wickets

er’s variation between sharp turn and skidding straight balls.

Kohli replaced Yadav with Ishant, and he found a hint of movement from around the wicket.

Renshaw’s decision to pull away from the first ball of the 29th over of the innings seemed to raise Ishant’s ire, and he hurled down a pair of bouncers in the same over to push the opener back, before thudding one into his front shin for the lbw verdict.

Smith had been safe in padding away anything Jadeja served up from over the wicket, but next over he failed to get his front leg far enough down the pitch or in line and heard the sickening noise of the off stump tumbling over.

A key over arrived midway through the session when Handscomb took 13 from an Ashwin over, compelling Kohli to take him out of the attack and switch Jadeja away from the end from which he had found spiteful turn to defeat David Warner and Nathan Lyon on the penultimate evening.

A pair of lbw appeals were referred by India but the day was going with Australia: Handscomb was struck on the back foot but the ball was not striking enough of the bails to avoid being deemed too high, and Marsh’s miss of a flatter Ashwin delivery was not fatal because the ball had not quite straightened enough to strike leg stump squarely.

Both batsmen went on to half centuries and negotiated the early passages with the second new ball - India’s

last real hope of securing the rush of wickets they needed. Finally, Jadeja added a fourth victim when Marsh bunted a catch to short leg, and Glenn Maxwell soon squeezed Ashwin to silly point. But by then the match had all but petered out.

Kohli kept his men going beyond a point that others might not have, perhaps still believing in a miracle.

Handscomb, though, was unperturbed, leaving Kohli to finally seek his hand in a gesture of concession and so send these sides to Dharamsala for the decider.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Australia 1st innings 451 India 1st innings 603/9 dec Australia 2nd innings DA Warner b Jadeja 14 MT Renshaw lbw b Sharma 15 2 NM Lyon b Jadeja SPD Smith* b Jadeja 21 SE Marsh c Vijay b Jadeja 53 PSP Handscomb not out 72 GJ Maxwell c Vijay b Ashwin 2 MS Wade† not out 9 Extras (b-9, lb-4, nb-3) 16 Total (6 wickets; 100 overs) 204 Did not bat SNJ O’Keefe, PJ Cummins, JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets 1-17 (Warner, 5.1 ov), 2-23 (Lyon, 7.2 ov), 3-59 (Renshaw, 28.4 ov), 4-63 (Smith, 29.1 ov), 5-187 (Marsh, 91.2 ov), 6-190 (Maxwell, 94.4 ov) Bowling R Ashwin 30-10 -71-1, RA Jadeja 44-18-544, UT Yadav 15-2-36-0, I Sharma 11-0-30-1 (nb-3) Player of the Match: Cheteshwar Pujara (India)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, march 21, 2017

GHB Outdoor League 2017…

OSCL team in doubt for Guyana Cup 7

By Ravi Madholall in Toronto

T

he Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) held its Annual General Meeting on Sunday at the Agincourt Community Centre in Scarborough and president of the League Albert Ramcharran stated that OSCL may not participate in the annual Guyana Cup later this year.

In his message, the

Guyana Cup 7 which will be run under the auspices of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association is slated to be held in early November.

Notwithstanding that, Ramcharran is very optimistic though an OSCL’s side will be competing at home in the Toronto Cup 2 which will be played the very first weekend in August.

This whiteball competition will be hosted by the

based Guyanese Fredrick Halley is still the Secretary while Kim Sue is the Treasurer. Vish Jadunauth and Patrick Prashad are the Competition Coordinator and Statistician respectively.

Mathura, who managed the OSCL’s team in the Toronto Cup 1 inaugural tournament, also mentioned that is quite disappointing for not taking part in such a softball extravaganza but is

- SJH boys prove their worth with 2 wins

St Joseph High U-18 boys defeated Hikers 2-0

By Romario Samaroo

A President Albert Ramcharran (seated at centre) is flanked by the new members of the executive

Canadian-based Guyanese pointed-out that lack of commitment from the players and financial difficulties are the two main factors that may result in the team not making it to Guyana in November.

“We don’t get the commitment from the players and the trip is very costly, so I don’t think we would able to make it again this year,” Ramcharran declared to the gathering.

In 2014, the OSCL did take part with limited success while Dant Cricket Club which is affiliated with the League, participated the following year. They too also failed to make an impression.

Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs and teams are expected from Guyana, New York, Florida and plethora of teams from Canada for both the All-Stars and Masters Categories.

Meanwhile, at the meeting, Vice-President Terry Mathura retained his position unopposed while Bobby Ramlagan also returned as the Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.

The other Canadian-based Guyanese executive holding on to his position unopposed was Ranjan Persaud as the Assistant Statistician and West-End Coordinator.

Veteran Sports Journalist and Canadian-

still very hopeful things can be arranged to make the trip possible given the lengthy time remaining.

Since the formation of the League in 1996, a large number of Guyanese cricketers would have featured in various versions, 10, 15 and 20-overs.

Some of those names are; Sunil Dhaniram, Troy Gobin, Eon Katchay, Zaheer Haniff, Hemnarine Chattergoon, Damodar Daesrath, Krishna Arjune, Krishna Deosarran, Shiv Seeram, Rovendra Mandolall, Ejaz Mohammed, Troy Gonsalves, Trevon Garraway, Harrienarine Chattergoon, Shaun Deodonand and Riaz Kadir.

t the Saint Stanislaus College Ground on Carifesta Avenue last Sunday, the Guyana Hockey Board’s (GHB) Under-18 and second division outdoor league continued with some impressive low scoring contests and a sound thrashing to Old Fort at the hands of the GCC U-18 boys.

GCC raced to a whopping nine goal assault on a hapless Old Fort who failed to secure a goal in the 40-minute contest. Surprisingly, regular goalkeeper, Rahim Oliver was the shepherd, leading GCC with a brilliant hat trick thanks to some tactical plays. Oliver scored in the 7th minute before scoring again in the 13th and the 24th.

Oliver was well assisted by arguably the best player in the U-18 Boys category, Kareem McKenzie who scored yet another double.

McKenzie scored in the 2nd minute of play as well as the 10th. John Phang and Tariq Nelson were the architects of the second half of play as they further added to the woes of Old Fort. The pair

scored twin goals within 10 minutes to complete the 9-0 clobbering.

Meanwhile, St. Joseph High School’s (SJH) Hockey team took the fight to Hikers to come out on top in a 2-0 contest. The match looked to be evenly poised under the intense afternoon sun but the battle was based on stamina with Hikers looking tired late in the second half and opened the door for Warren Williams to score in the 37th minute and Lavane Braithwaite to add the second goal in the last minute of play.

SJH then completed a perfect day with their second straight win in the U-18 category when the boys snatched another 2-0 victory this time over Old Fort.

Theodore Terrance was the hero of that match up scoring both goals in the 23rd and 35th minutes.

In the second division category, Old Fort found better luck with their men’s team beating Hikers 2-1.

Jason Chander and Ronaldo Simmonds scored in the 21st and 38th minute respectively while George Melville was the only scorer for Hikers.

In another men’s second division clash, Saints and GCC A played to a 2-2 draw.

Taise Seepal (21st) and Parmanand Dindial (29th) scored for Saints as Kareem McKenzie (15th) and Eric Hing (40th) penetrated the net for GCC A. Additionally, in the women’s second division matches, Saints also recorded a draw against Old Fort with Cherub Autar (39th) and Romichelle Brumell (15th) scoring for Saints and Old Fort Respectfully.

GCC women recorded a 3-2 win over Hikers in a thrilling contest that seemed to have the possibility of going in any of the team’s favour. Jessica Mittelhoizer was the first to record her name on the score board in the 3rd minute before Tricia Fiedtkou made it two goals for GCC one minute later.

Kenisha Wills (12th) and squash champion, Nicolette Fernandes (16th) then brought the game back and leveled the scoreboard but it was Corina Moller’s goal in the 26th minute that decided the game in favour of GCC.

70 enjoy West Dem grassroots session

A teacher guiding some participants of the Region 3 grassroots session facilitated by the MoE and GFF

B

oys and girls in West Coast Demerara benefited from a lively morning of grassroots football courtesy of the Guyana Football Federation and the Ministry of Education on Saturday, March 18 as part

of national efforts to build capacity for football coaching in schools.

More than 70 children between the ages of eight and 11 from primary schools in the region took part in fun football drills, exercises

and games with 22 trained school teacher-coaches at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora, bringing a three-day coaching education course to a productive end.

The course, made possible with technical and equipment support from the GFF and facilitated by the Ministry of Education, was designed to further the development of teachers who took part in a GFF/ CONCACAF Grassroots License course in December.

“This collaboration between the government and the Guyana Football Federation has been a fantastic opportunity to build football training capacity within schools and to encourage more boys

and girls to play football around the country,” said GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood.

“It is part of our longterm plan to increase participation in football and raise standards in coaching from grassroots level all the way to the elite.”

The course at Leonora was designed by the GFF Technical Department, coordinated by National Track and Field Centre Coordinator Roy McArthur, and delivered by GFF Coach Education & Development Officer Lyndon France and GFF Youth Development Officer Bryan Joseph, with support from Nicholas Fraser of the Ministry of Education’s Allied Arts Unit.

Participants of the Region 3 grassroots session facilitated by the MoE and GFF

“I’m extremely happy to see that we have 70-odd kids being fitted out with uniforms from CONCACAF, and they’re so excited about this programme,” said

McArthur. “You can see them enthusiastic in terms of learning how to dribble, how to control the ball, how to throw a ball, how to pass a ball.”

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too close to call

Edmond Declou (left) will go toe to toe with Winston Pompey in the super middleweight category over six rounds

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s the rivalry between Winston Pompey and Edmond DeClou is renewed at the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), World Boxing Council (WBC) “Locked and Loaded,” both fighters are putting the stakes of their career on the line.

At the contract signing for the bout on Friday, the two punchers were not short of words as they look to get the early scare on their opponent for the important psychological edge.

Both fighters were out of the country and clashed in a series of bouts with Declou over in Jamaica competing but unfortunately suffered a broken jaw and is now recovered while Pompey was over in French Guiana competing and is now home seeking to dominate.

While the two pundits had taken different paths, they are no strangers to each other and definitely not short of bad blood, having faced each other twice.

The first time they matched gloves it was neck and neck and in the end the bout was declared a technical draw.

The second time, though marginally, Declou was declared the winner and can be said to have the edge on Pompey.

A glance at Declou’s colourful career shows 21 professional fights with 16 wins and a draw under his belt while Pompey has 17 fights, with three wins and three draws.

When asked on his take on the match, Pompey referenced his overseas exposure but highlighted that he has a lot of fans locally that want to see him back just as much as he wants to be fighting in Guyana. He further stated that “this is my time, I don’t care who it is” while acknowledging his op-

ponent’s talent as being a good fighter but reiterated his confidence.

On the other hand, Declou seemed unfazed by the words of Pompey, brushing off the gestures and slapping of tables to a simple smirk, claiming he has already proven what he is capable of by defeating Pompey and also saying that he would view the first fight that ended in a draw as a win. The two renew their rivalry in a six-round super middleweight event.

Looking at the fights carded for the night of action, three amateur bouts are set to be staged, with the first match, being in the 120-pound category, pitting Rewinne David vs Akeela Malazon in a four-round punchfest.

In the second matchup (140lbs), Kelon Isaacs will go toe to toe with Euel Augustin, before Stephan Gouveia faces Jackford Joseph in the 145lb class.

Both fights will be for three rounds.

Also, Imran “Magic” Khan will face Keeve Allicock in a lightweight bout.

Dexter Marques will feature in the main event as he makes his comeback to the ring over 10 rounds against Luis Alberto Requena Zarraga out of Venezuela.

Marques is touted to be, if not the best, one of the best flyweight boxers in the Caribbean and is road mapped to make it to a WBC world title fight.

Marks has won 15 fights, compared to eight for Zarraga, and both men have contested in 17 fights.

However, Marques’s loss has been blamed on his fighting out of his natural weight class.

The fight will see patrons able to purchase tickets at a cost of $1,000 general admission and $2,000 ringside.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, march 21, 2017

Carib added to the

ment League…

Develop Smalta U-14 Indoor Hockey

Biggest Party in Sport T he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are delighted to welcome Carib Beer as the Official Beer of the biggest party in sport for the next three years at a launch in Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain on Monday evening. In addition, this year fans across the Caribbean can relish specially themed ‘tailgating’ parties, which will hype up the colour and carnival atmosphere off the field even further.

Welcoming the announcement, Damien O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer of the Hero CPL, said: “Carib are passionate about this partnership and they are an innovative and socially aware company who have strong core values, such as leadership, accountability and going the extra mile, which are also a big part of the Hero CPL’s own values. Carib Beer has a long-standing association as the number one beer in the Caribbean and we are delighted to team up

together for the next three years.

We believe that this association will enable both brands to ramp up the biggest party in sport this summer, in this, the Hero CPL’s fifth year.”

Ian MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer at Carib Brewery, said: “The importance of cricket to Caribbean people is beyond doubt and at Carib Brewery we have, over the years been at the forefront of supporting local, regional, cultural, sporting, charitable and social activities throughout the diaspora. Carib beer and cricket are firmly rooted in the way of life of our people and with T20 being the most exciting form of modern day cricket, it gives us great pleasure to come on board as the Official Beer of the Hero CPL.” Headquartered in Trinidad, Carib is established across the Caribbean and overseas and will work together with the tournament’s marketing and sponsorship team this summer to deliver outstanding fan-centred events around the various stadia.However, Providence in Guyana has not been included in the themed parties.

Brian Lara Stadium & Academy opens in May

T

The fully functional Media Centre awaits occupants

rinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Darryl Smith announced that May this year will be the official launch for the

the project was plagued by a series of issues ranging from poor workmanship to billions of dollars in cost overruns.

Ten years after its ini-

cricket, the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The outfield was redone with lush grass imported from the United States and the practice nets on the outside await their users. The security and electronic operations at the facility is second to none in Trinidad and Tobago.

Minister Smith assured that Lara himself will be an integral part of the activities and programmes that will be held at the venue.

A cricket academy, starting with the Trinidad & Tobago Under-15 team taking up residence at the venue will be the first of many developmental cricket programmes at the facility. The Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board is certainly looking forward to facility being ICC certi-

D

ay five of the Smalta Under-14 indoor hockey development League continued with action at the Marian Academy facility which saw 10 matches with the highlight being the 11-0 destruction by GCC Challengers on Hikers in the girls category on Friday.

Both teams had shown tremendous fight in the tournament to date but last Friday it was Aboside Cadogan that separated Challengers from Hikers with a total of nine goals out of her team’s 11. In the 20-minute affair, the half time mark seemed a long way for Hikers as they were lost on a familiar turf with six goals already scored on them by 10 minutes of play, five of which came from the stick of Cadogan and Riley Nurse scoring the other goal.

In the second half, Cadogan picked up where she left off with four more goals as well as one from Tamar Bhagwandin to seal off the devastating afternoon of hockey for Hikers.

Challengers had earli-

er in the day faced St. Joseph High School (SJH) where they were tested but came out victorious 4-2 in the contest.

Cadogan and Bhagwandin scored doubles for the Challengers.

Also in the girls division, Marian Academy made use of the home advantage with a 5-1 victory over Saints Hockey Club (SHC) Sensations. Sarah Klautky showed her experience to score a hat trick and see her side to victory.

SHC Silencers fought valiantly against GCC Warriors to end the contest in a 1-1 stalemate. Meanwhile, in the Boys category the SJH boys proved to be in better standing than their female counterparts as they hammered Wardogs 8-0. Jaheim Jardine lead from the front with three goals of his own while gathering support from Daniel Baldeo and Jonathon Williams scored doubles and a lone goal from Brandon Abrams.

Old Fort secured a rare win against GCC Thunderbolts 4-2 while SHC Samurai defeated Hatchets 5-1 and Garnett Street played to a 3-3 draw against SJH. In the final contest of the day, SHC Scalpels showed why they are the best team in the boys’ class with a 7-3 win over SHC Scorchers.

Currently in the points standings, Scalpels are on the top of the table followed by SJH in second and Garnett Street in third for the boys division.

In the girls’ division SHC Silencers are the table toppers as Marian Academy trail in second and GCC Warriors in third.

The action continues at St. Stanislaus College on Friday.

GT Beer/Petra Futsal Championships…

Bent Street vs Broad Street headlines colossal clashes

It was high intensity thus far which will only explode when the group stages kick off tonight at the National Gymnasium

T

A view of the lush outfield and the main pavilion of the newly constructed Brian Lara Stadium (Photos and info courtesy Naasira Mohammed)

long overdue Brian Lara Stadium and cricket academy. Construction of the stadium began in 2006 with the first use carded for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup but

tial due date, approximately 10,000 new seats which spell out B.C LARA 400, still under plastic decorate the stadium which can certainly rival the Mecca for Caribbean

fied, which will then allow the country to host international and regional matches in the southern part of Trinidad where cricket rules supreme among the inhabitants.

he group stages of the second edition of the Petra Organised GT Beer Futsal Championship will commence tonight at the National Gymnasium from 19:30h with six matches.

The feature clash will certainly be explosive when inaugural champions Bent Street clash with the powerful Broad Street Bullies from approximately 21:45h. Both sides have some extremely talented players and would have been coming off some thumping victories during the play-offs.

Sparta Boss will also be in action when they face Agricola Balllers while West Front Road and West Back Road will entertain fans in

the final match of the night.

The earlier matches pit Tiger Bay against Back Circle just after Albouystown face Sophia. The compact Tucville will also come up against North East La Penitence.

Upon the conclusion of the round-robin stage, the top two finishers and the best two third ranked teams from the respective groups will prog-

Time 19:30h 20:15h 21:00h 21:45h 22:30h 23:15h

ress to the quarterfinal phase.

The winner of the tournament is set to pocket $400,000 and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $200,000, $1 00,000 and $50,000 respectively and the correspondingly accolade.

See tonight’s fixtures for Round Robin 1;

Teams Tucville vs North East La Penitence Sophia vs Albouystown Tiger Bay vs Back Circle Bent Street vs Broad Street Sparta Boss vs Agricola Ballers West Front Road vs West Back Road

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

23

CWI/Digicel PCL Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Jaguars race to 10-wicket victory -Shiv

returns for Pride clash S himron Hetmyer hit seven fours and a six to finish on 44 not out from 40 balls as the two-time defending champions, Guyana Jaguars wasted little time to complete the 10-wicket victory early Monday morning in round seven of the Digicel Professional Cricket League Regional Four Day Tournament.

The Jaguars, set 56 to win resumed the final morning on three without loss and raced to their target using just 52 balls in under 40 minutes of positive batting.

Hetmyer was especially severe on debutant fast bowler, Anderson Phillip with 19 runs coming off his only over of the morning. Recalled opener, Rajendra Chandrika played the supporting role to finish on 10 not out as his left handed partner flayed the ball to all parts of the lightning fast Queen’s Park Oval outfield.

The Jaguars fourth win of the tournament was centered round a Man of the Match performance from Veerasammy Permaul who picked up nine wickets in the match for 107 runs in-

cluding 7-48 in the second innings. In the Jaguars first innings, Assad Fuadin hit 57 on his return, Raymon Reifer continues to be consistent with 55 while in his second match at this level Romario Shepherd made 53 and Keemo Paul 27 not out.

Paul and Shepherd put on 57 runs for the last wicket.

After taking 18.4 points, the defending champions remain on top of the points table with 103.2 points and will travel to Barbados for the clash of the table against the Pride at the Kensington Oval. The Pride

beat the Windward islands Volcanoes by 9 wickets to move to displace the Scorpions with 87.4 points. In the final match of the round, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes blew away the Jamaica Scorpions by 34 runs in a low scoring rain affected day night match at Sabina Park. The Scorpions who were on top of the table at the break after five rounds have slipped to third with 78.6 points without after suffering Veerasammy two consecuP e r m a u l tive defeats. who will join Hurricanes the West have jumped Indies T20 two places Squad while up the ladShivnarine der from the Chanderpaul cellar position who did on 63 points not play in ahead of Red Force on 58.4 Shimron Hetmyer drives powerfully and Volcanoes on in his rapid innings on day four at 53.4. the Queen’s Park Oval (WICB Media photo) Other round eight matches are Trinidad Hurricanes hostfor personing Volcanoes at al reasons Warner Park in will reSt. Kitts and Red join the Force taking on the squad.

Scorpions at the Keemo Queen’s Park Oval.

P a u l The Jaguars will be

who had an impact in his debut match despite bursting a webbing on his right hand will stay with the squad and travel to Barbados while fast bowler, Keon Joseph who has an injured knee is replaced in the squad by Clinton Pestano.

SCOREBOARD Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 1st innings 202 Guyana Jaguars 1st innings 330 Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 2nd innings 183 Guyana Jaguars 2nd innings (Target 56; overnight 3/0) R Chandrika not out 10 S Hetmyer not out 44 Extras (w-2) 2 Total (For no wicket; 12.4 overs) 56 Did not bat LR Johnson*, VA Singh, AB Fudadin, RA Reifer, A Bramble†, D Bishoo, R Shepherd, V Permaul, KMA Paul Bowling MKA Richards 5-118-0 (w-2), A Phillip 3-219-0, BNL Charles 3-0-9-0, K Pierre 1.4-0-10-0 Player of the Match: Veerasammy Permaul (Jaguars) Points: Guyana Jaguars 18.4 (12 points for victory + 2 batting points + 3 bowling points + 1.4 pace bowling points), T&T Red Force 4.8 (1 batting point + 3 bowling points + 0.8 pace bowling points)

Mohammed’s Enterprise shifting motor racing up a gear “I love that pressure of being at the top, it is mostly having fun and being able to set the bar high for everybody that is what moves the sport forward as it promotes everybody to try to be better than the next guy,” he stated.

Ramsey further explained that it is not just the twin-turbocharged V6

fact that it has lots of technological advancements.

“The car has got a lot of technology behind it that you won’t have in a normal car, even the computer, the whole design is to maximize what is desired to do, so we put good tyres on the car and we are able to watch wheel speed and traction, so as much power we are able

Ramsey responded saying, “Being in one these cars is a little bit different, what you feel on a normal car, shifting in couple gear, with this it feels like that all the way to a 160 kph and more where it is just holding you down.”

In a sport which dates back to 1950s, the investment to be best should be welcomes by all participants

The power of the GT-R has been unstoppable thus far (Photo courtesy of Rohindra Mahase)

T

eam Mohammed Enterprise under the leadership of Azurdeen Mohammed over the last few years has created a paradigm shift in the way both investment and competition is done I regarding Motor racing in Guyana.

Most notably, they have two extremely fast Nissan GT-R cars, one of which is nicknamed “Godzilla,” which has decimated any close rival on the quarter-mile strip. More so, last year the team managed to acquire the services of Moto America Champion Bryce Prince and British rider Matt Truelove

who taught their Caribbean counterparts at forgettable lesson at the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) at the South Dakota Circuit, winning the Super stock and Superbike category respectively.

Though the likes of cousins Elliot, Matthew and Stephen Vieira attempted to pose a challenge, their machinery was undoubtedly no match for that of the foreigners. It has already been rumored that the two foreign riders along with a motor car is expected for all four countries of CMRC which

will certainly bring about intense competition among drivers and riders.

On Sunday, the team once again, entered the record books as the GT-R sped to a time of 7.569s to win the unlimited (7-seconds) category ahead of their other car, the Nissan Nismo which had a time of 8.906s.

Josh Ramsey, the American who drives the GTR told this publication that he loves the pressure since everyone will always be aspiring to be beat him but hopefully it also prompt the other competitors to improve their standard.

Team Mohammed’s Enterprise owner, Azurdeen Mohammed (centre) strikes a pose with his drivers. Josh Ramsey is at the left

engine that makes the car produced some remarkably fast times as compared to its competitors but also the

to deliver we are able to maximize,” he revealed.

Asked the feeling of driving such a beast of a car,

since from a holistic viewpoint, it can only auger well for the development of motor racing in Guyana (Akeem Greene)

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/Digicel PCL Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Jaguars race to 10-wicket victory

Pg 23

- Shiv returns for Pride clash Veerasammy Permaul was named Man of the Match after picking up nine wickets in the match

Guyana Jaguars celebrate another victory in this year’s tournament (WICB Media photo)

Mohammed’s Enterprise shifting motor racing up a gear Pg 23

These two Nissan GT-Rs have become the forefront of drag racing in Guyana since they have yet to be officially beaten (Marceano Narine photo)

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