Guyana Times Daily - June 30, 2015

26 power poles broken during Sunday’s freak storm

Sunday’s freak storm did not only damage homes across the country, but also destroyed some 26 power poles and affected the electricity network in Berbice and Demerara.

In a statement, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said that as a result of the storm which affected the coastal areas in Demerara and Berbice, its primary and secondary networks sustained extensive damage. While the major effect of the stormy weather was the uprooting/breaking of both primary and secondary poles, the power network was also affected by roof sheets and trees falling onto it.

A total of 21 broken poles have been recorded in Demerara while Berbice has recorded five thus far. In addition, the GPL said it has also confirmed six precariously leaning poles in Demerara and one in Berbice. Consumers in the affected areas experienced outages and fluctuating voltage of varying durations while emergency crews continue to effect repairs to the network.

“Much success has been achieved since last evening (Sunday) as several communities were repowered owing to the strengthening of emergency services by almost triple the usual number. Additionally, our company received machinery support from the management of Demerara Harbour Bridge and to this end, we extend our appreciation,” the GPL said.

According to the power company, the most critical

confirmed report emanating from Berbice is a broken pole at Ithaca which supports a critical transmission line linking East and West Berbice thereby affecting East Berbice residents. “The technical work required to replace this pole could not have been executed yesterday owing to the location of the pole and unfavourable weather conditions. However, works are ongoing and electricity should be restored by 18:00h today to those affected customers. Crews are currently working along the East Bank Demerara corridors replacing damaged line hardware and securing leaning poles and replacing broken ones. This too is likely to be completed by 18:0h today (Monday),”the GPL said.

The company said its approach to emergencies has

been segmented into high risk and low risk for which it had distinct skilled crews to address same. According to the GPL, numerous crews are currently engaged in mopping up operations and addressing isolated cases where individual consumers may have had service interruption caused by the high winds, while the very highly skilled crews were engaged in pole replanting and fixing damaged line hardware.

“As work progresses today and during tomorrow, we solicit your patience and ask that you exercise due caution around fallen poles and lines.”

High winds

High winds accompanied by rains Sunday afternoon tore off the roofs of several houses in South Georgetown as well as in Parfaite

Body of 19-year-old found floating at Cozier canal

Nineteen-year-old

Adrian Albert of Cozier Canal, Lower Pomeroon, in Region Two (Pomeroon Supenaam) unfortunately lost his life while trying to swim over the Cozier canal.

His body was discovered around 08:00h on Monday morning by farmers. According to information reaching Guyana Times,

the teenager was last seen on Sunday evening consuming alcohol at a nearby shop over the river. Reports indicate he was under the influence of alcohol and may have drown in his attempt to swim over the canal. Although he called for help, no one came to his rescue.

He was said to be swimming over the canal in an attempt to go home. His body

was recovered by Police and taken to the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital mortuary. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young man’s death.

Only recently, Orton Benjamin, age 47, lost his life after a boat attached to the coast guard crashed into his in Liberty, Lower Pomeroon.

Harmonie and other parts of West Bank Demerara. The freak storm passed around 15:00h and simultaneously caused destruction in Georgetown and the West Bank. Accompanied by heavy rain, the wind ripped zinc sheets from many houses at Parfaite. In Georgetown, the storm also damaged a GPL transformer as it uprooted a utility pole. In late Sunday afternoon, several homes were without power in the South Ruimveldt area even as their occupants were scrambling to replace their roofs before night fell. “This is terrible ... the breeze was really strong,” a resident of one of the houses affected in the Joint Services Scheme at Lamaha Springs told this newspaper on Sunday.

When Guyana Times visited the area, residents reported that a number of vehicles were also damaged when the rafters and zinc sheets were sent flying from the roofs. “A lot of cars that were on people bridge get damage ... it was real frightening,” another resident who asked not to be named said.

Around the Festival City entrance, Guyana Times observed GPL power poles lying across the street. Broadcaster Alex Graham told Guyana Times he was home when he heard the howling of the winds and when he looked out, he saw zinc sheets flying. “I heard the slamming of sheets, the howling of winds. A lot of trees were bent. Potted plants blown over, zinc

sheets flying; all of these were happening.” Graham said in his neighbourhood several houses lost roofing sheets and one woman lost about half of her roof. “A lot of trees shed their branches and fruits. It was chaos; it was frightening,” Graham related.

He said in the aftermath of the storm, he drove around the community to survey the damage done and from what he noticed, some people were able to retrieve the zinc sheets that blew off their roofs and were able to replace them. Graham told this newspaper that during the storm there was also a power outage, noting that for most of the afternoon there were severe power fluctuations.

Bandits blitz Diamond store twice in 5 days

Bandits have carted off close to $100,000 after breaking and entering the variety store of a Diamond businessman on two different occasions, all occurring within a five-day period.

Safraz Baig, 33, of Lot 753 Section B Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was first robbed of over $70,000 on Thursday and was again robbed on Monday of over $25,000.

In 2008, Baig, who is also a taxi driver, had endured a terrifying ordeal when three of his passengers forced him into the trunk of his car at gunpoint and hijacked his car.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Monday, Baig related that on Thursday morning, he woke up around 05:00h to attend the neighbourhood masjid when he noticed the shop was broken into.

On Monday morning, it was like déjà vu all over again for the businessman.

“I woke up early to go to the masjid right, and I see the shop door open and I went and check and I notice a whole set of stuff missing. And this morning (Monday)

is the same thing again. I don’t understand this,” he lamented.

The father of three expressed grave concern over the incidents, particularly over the short time in which they occurred.

“I have a family, three young children and a wife. I am just lucky I guess, because they didn’t come in the house. But let’s say they come again and the shop don’t have anything, they will have to come in the house,” he feared.

For years now, residents of the Diamond-Grove Housing Scheme have been

complaining of the frequent robberies that occur in the area.

Several residents who spoke with this newspaper expressed their disgust over the situation, pointing out that their complaints to Police in the community seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

Newly appointed Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan recently assured that the new Government would implement effective strategies which would guarantee to lower the crime rate.

There has been a recent upsurge in crime in the country, which has definitely taken the entire nation by shock.

The business community already registered its concern over the crime wave, calling on the authorities to address the matter with urgency.

Although Ramjattan admitted that he could not pronounce on the causes of the criminal activities, he believes some of the underlining reasons include poverty, a deficit in moral values, drunkenness and drug abuse.

Uprooted power poles in the South Ruimveldt area

Safraz Baig

tuesday, june 30, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, June 30– 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, July 1 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, June 30– 15:15h-16:45h and Wednesday, July 1 – 16:05h-17:35h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Winds: South-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:57h and 15:38h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.50 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:00h and 21:16h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.71 metre respectively.

APNU-PNC power struggle

Linden, Bartica fresh battleground

APartnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)

Executive Member and Chief Whip Amna Ally is predicting fireworks in Linden and Bartica over the snubbing of Sharma Solomon and the retention of controversial Region Seven

Chairman Gordon Bradford when the two regions hold their elections today to elect officers to sit on the respective Regional Democratic Council (RCD).

Solomon’s name was left off the list for the Region 10 RDC, while despite daily protests, the APNU+AFC will be going ahead with Bradford. Guyana Times was told that Bradford’s candidacy has been pushed by influential members of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the major partner of APNU, although he did not find favour with top executives of the larger APNU coalition.

Elections for the Regional

Chairs for all the 10 administrative regions across Guyana are scheduled for today. The 2015 General and Regional Elections results revealed that APNU+AFC won seats in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Protests

Despite intense protests from vexed Bartica residents, the APNU+AFC Administration is moving ahead with the reelection of Bradford as Regional Chairman for Region Seven. Ally predicts major unrest against this decision in the region though maintaining that a majority of the population is in favour of the return of Bradford as Regional Chairman.

During the course of last week, several angry Barticians took to the streets with placards, expressing their utmost dissatisfaction with Bradford as Region Seven’s leader. “We don’t want him. He don’t do anything for we. We want someone young and dynamic to fill the position,” one resident told this publication.

The disgruntled citizens complained that Bradford did not live up to their expectations of leadership they needed and deserved. “There is no representation. We have all sorts of problems within the small communities that nobody knows about and there is nothing being done,” another resident expressed.

Residents insisted that they voted for a Government of their choice and that it was the Government’s right

to listen to the people’s concerns and yield to their desires.

“If they put back Bradford, then we will know that this Government don’t care about change either and that they just in it for power and to help them friends out,” she concluded.

Politically driven

However, Bradford, in an invited comment to this newspaper, made it clear that he was not bothered by the few disgruntled citizens and that he would serve his community if asked to do so by the Government of the day.

Bradford also noted that he believed the protests by the “handful” of individuals were politically driven. “I don’t really understand why they are out doing this. It’s a few

questionable people doing it and I am questioning the real motive behind these actions,” he said. Bradford said he was aware of numerous people who threw their support behind his return as Regional Chairman, noting that the minute groups who were

protesting for his removal did not have a strong case to get their desired results. Meanwhile, over in Region 10, Ally indicated that protest actions were likely to take place in Linden over the removal of Solomon as the region’s leader. Ally disclosed that former parliamentarian Renis Morian will be elected as the new Regional Chairman of Region 10. Since reports began emanating that Solomon would be replaced, the mining town of Linden launched several protests, calling for the decision to be reversed since residents were of the belief that Solomon worked assiduously for the welfare of the people and the entire town. Solomon had also faced accusations of financial impropriety- which he had denied. He had openly challenged President David Granger for the leadership of the PNCR recently and had fallen out with Congress Place over his often-times radical stance on issues that affected the party. Observers said that his snubbing can come back to hurt the party if he decides to run for Mayor at the promised Local Government elections.

Renis Morian is tipped to become Region 10 Chairman

Former Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon

APNU Executive Amna Ally

Gordon Bradford is tipped to remain Region Seven Chairman

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Reparations

Once again, CariCom will be meeting to push the European countries on the issue of reparations. It is to their credit that the Caribbean leaders have withstood great pressures and not backed down from pressing on with a matter that goes to the essence of asserting the humanity of the descendants of slaves who were told that they did not possess. We repeat points that have been made before in this space because there are those who would deny the contributions of others for the sake of political expedience.

It could be recalled that representatives of governments, civil society and academia, and individuals fighting the cause of reparations for native genocide and slavery met during September 15-17 2013, for the first major event on reparations following the 34th Conference of the Heads of Government of Caricom in Trinidad and Tobago in July.

At the summit, heads of government agreed to the establishment of a National Reparations Committee in each member state with the chair of each committee sitting on a Caricom reparations commission. Already these countries have started legal proceedings against the governments of the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands over what they say is the “lingering legacy of the Atlantic slave trade”. The lawsuits – which are likely to amount to a lengthy battle – will be brought to the UN’s International Court of Justice, based in The Hague in the Netherlands.

The countries are expected to focus on Britain for its role in slavery in the English-speaking Caribbean, France for slavery in Haiti, and the Netherlands for Suriname. They have hired British law firm Leigh Day, which waged a successful fight for compensation for hundreds of Kenyans who were tortured by the British colonial government as they fought for the liberation of their country during the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s and 1960s.

Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has been one of the most vocal Caribbean heads of state and has been engaged in intense lobbying efforts at various levels. At a speech at the UN General Assembly, he was quoted as saying that the awful legacy of these crimes against humanity – a legacy which exists today in our Caribbean – ought to be repaired for the developmental benefit of our Caribbean societies and all our peoples.

Guyana has also weighed in on the debates and has sent a strong message that it supports reparations for affected Caribbean countries. Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, during a presentation at the Regional Conference on Reparations held in St Vincent, had expressed this country’s commitment to the cause and made it clear that Guyana was prepared to join with the rest of the Caribbean in representing this case to the world at large. Of note too is that he had pressed the need to build an international alliance through coordination of foreign policies to articulate the call at the multilateral levels.

This is certainly a recommendation that must be taken seriously by those involved in order to further step up the momentum for reparations. It could be recalled too that former President Bharrat Jagdeo was one of the first heads of state to have highlighted the issue of reparations after it had disappeared into thin air for some time in the region.

In 2007, while addressing a commemorative ceremony for the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic trade, the President Jagdeo suggested that now that some members of the international community have recognised their active role in this despicable system, they need to go one step further and support reparations.

Also, in 2011, during the launch of a year of celebratory activities commemorating the International Year for People of African Descent, Jagdeo restated his claim for reparations, noting that “the international community was quick to recognise the Jewish holocaust, rightfully so, therefore, they must also now recognise that there was an African holocaust”. We hope that the present CariCom leaders continue with the effort started by their predecessors.

Private bank accounts

Dear Editor, I have been following the debate on the so-called private bank accounts.

As I understand it, these are bank accounts held by statutory bodies and state agencies at commercial banks instead of at the central bank in the consolidated fund.

If I understand the arguments correctly, the PPP/C government had argued that it is within the law for these entities to hold their bank accounts in the commercial

banking system.

In contrast, the APNU/ AFC government has argued strongly that this is illegal and that all the balances held by all statutory bodies and public entities should be transferred to the consolidated fund.

Given that the APNU/ AFC is now in government, and given my understanding of their position, there is now nothing stopping them from transferring all these accounts to the consolidated fund at the central bank.

In fact, I am advised that there are balances totalling more than $20 billion sitting in these commercial bank accounts, belonging to entities like GGMC, GFC, NFMU, and others.

If this $20 billion is transferred from the commercial banks to the consolidated fund at the central bank, the government will immediately be able to finance all of its manifesto promises.

I urge them therefore, given their strong arguments on the illegality of

these so-called private accounts, to proceed and transfer all balances held by these entities in commercial bank accounts to the consolidated fund immediately and to proceed to meet all their manifesto promises without delay.

Their supporters and the entire nation are waiting anxiously.

Concerned APNU/AFC supporter (Name and address withheld)

Last opposition disapproved all major PPP/C economic initiatives

Dear Editor,

Around the world, there are unique differences between political parties. In Great Britain, there has been, until recently, three major political parties. In the 2010 elections, two of them, the rightist Conservatives and the leftist/middle of the road Liberal Democrats came together to form a coalition government.

At the recent UK general election, the Liberal Democrats were punished by the electorate and were almost wiped out.

Many commentators put this down to the Lib Dem supporters being disenchanted with leaders of the party for compromising their deeply held beliefs and joining a party whose view on a wide range of issues

were diametrically opposed to liberal democracy.

In so doing, the party had lost the trust of the people who had previously voted for them and their unique identity.

Our immediate neighbours, Trinidad and Tobago, will have General Elections in September. The current ruling coalition versus the pposition party which is still divided among racial lines for the most part.

All other Caricom countries have two major political parties that go back and forth at an election.

Here in our own nation, we somehow feel that it is now important for all of us to work together, citing national unity, and ditch our principles. Why is this? I would concede that national issues such as Venezuela’s

potential aggression and major economic structural changes should be debated and supported.

What we saw in the 10th Parliament by the then opposition which is now the government was truculence and a lack of cooperation. They disapproved all major economic initiatives and completely failed to demonstrate any political unity with the then PPP/C Government.

Now that they are the administration and in order to show immediate success they have embarked on supporting the very projects which they had so vehemently opposed because, as we all know, they were the right projects for Guyana.

At least, this validates that the PPP/C’s economic programmes were sound and effective.

Political power is what elections are all about and all our citizens are fully aware of this. They vote for a party that best reflects their beliefs and aspirations. Ideology is a major backbone of political parties; it guides their vision for how they wish to govern. To compromise strongly held views with idle talk of working cocooperatively for the good of the nation is a confidence trick which should be identified as such.

APNU supporters for the most part are attempting to differentiate themselves already from the AFC. A recent online publication detailed the election results and concluded that the AFC did not deliver the results that were expected.

Every year thousands of locals and tourists climb a mountain in the northern Spanish province of La Rioja to celebrate St Peter’s day covering each other in red wine while tanker trucks filled with wine distribute the alcoholic beverage to water pistols, back mounted spraying devices, buckets which are randomly poured on heads and into any other available container. More than 9000 people threw around 130,000 litres of wine during this year’s Haro Wine Festival (Telegraph)

The PPP/C should have ordered a recount in 2011 Humans are main cause of suffering animals

Dear Editor,

At the close of the 2011 polls the results - according to GECOM - showed the PPP/C losing the election by one seat.

However, as a single party they commanded the plurality in having the largest percentage of votes. Thereafter Mr Ramotar was called upon to form the new government. He was somewhat reluctant to form the new government knowing fully well that something was amiss in this whole scenario.

In the first place, elections in Guyana are never close encounters. Every free and fair election held in Guyana has always shown a clear cut winner, and 2011 was no different. Against this backdrop, he had his grave misgivings that the results fed to him were bogus.

You must remember this was an election when some 19 boxes of ballots were rejected because some electoral agents had bouts of amnesia and could not remember how to do their job.

In addition to that, the

Chief Elections Officer Dr Gocool Boodhoo was sabotaged by that clique of persons who saw to it that “no PPP/C” person was around at GECOM when the shenanigans took place.

With this mountain of suspicion around him, Mr Ramotar called for a recount. He emphatically stated that he would prove to the people that the PPP/C won the elections convincingly.

When faced with the reality of a recount and the strong possibility of an outright win for the PPP/C, GECOM’s Chairman gave Ramotar an ultimatum.

That ultimatum was in effect a threat: carry out a recount and risk Georgetown being razed to the ground. With the fear of the usual looting and shooting and the untold damage it would cause, Ramotar reneged on his promise of a recount.

This is the point where I believe the PPP/C erred badly, because you were in government and should have insisted on them going into those boxes irrespective of the threats. Because here we are in

May 11, where GECOM is telling the party that it has lost the election by the same one seat; a very strange coincidence.

By not challenging the results of the 2011 elections it gave the PNC cabal at GECOM the free range to concoct a result on May 11. GECOM got away with a lie then and in like manner in 2015 they think they can get away with another.

The truth of the matter is that GECOM expected the PPP/C to accept the results under duress just as they did in 2011. They expected the PPP/C to calmly accept the results and move on.

However, we are sticking to our claim, we are not going to back away from it. Count the ballots now!

There is no question in my mind that the PPP/C won the 2011 as well as the 2015 elections in an outright way. The proof is in those boxes and this we are going to prove. The problem is, would the PNC/APNU accept it?

Neil Adams

The practice of stealing countries

Dear Editor, Driven by APNU, some believe that the PPP/C has been the worst thing ever happened to Guyana mainly in the form of corruption.

But this time we will be hit with scientifically charged, institutionalized corruption massaged into a military-like strategy, making corruption almost impossible to recognize until you actually feel the heat in your face.

This type of corruption is what I call the practice of stealing countries, murdering moral leaders and free thinkers, and driving entire generations into poverty.

As we begin to see the true potential of our natural resources realized,

you will simultaneously see a rapid change in Governments, as one puppet becomes wise another will replace them. For specifics, let us simply remove the veil from the “Arab Spring” and the African never ending turmoil. It is no accident that nearly all of these countries that are in either perpetual wars or abject poverty are the countries with the most natural resources on earth.

Now Guyana’s time has come and the PPP/C was a little too wise, so here comes APNU with their version of MLK. We have a government that rigged their way to power from their congress all the way

to the general elections. Now suddenly they are saints and saviors.

The very design of the new ministries is signs of a government that is positioned to deceive its people. They are creating ministries that are heavily focused on social issues and creating a perception of appeasement and care for the poor, because they know it is easier to rob a country when you can make everybody happy.

Those who do not have veil over their eyes will watch this whole game play out, while the blind will waddle in their sorrows to come.

Malcolm Watkins

Last opposition disapproved...

The negotiated Cummingsburg Accord between APNU and AFC has already been breached. The key aspect is the AFC’s leading candidate Moses Nagamootoo not being able to chair the Cabinet, which is in conflict with the Constitution.

Top lawyers of the AFC, including Nigel Hughes, negotiated the Accord and would have known there was a conflict.

Yet they signed it in order to hoodwink the elector-

ate as an election gimmick. At the end of it all, the duties of the PM have been diminished which in political terms may not matter, as one who holds the title gets the privileges. Political prestige takes precedence from what was expected.

“Racial unity” in its truest sense does not exist around the world. What is attempted is equality of treatment for all through the creation of laws and institutions which pre-

Dear Editor,

As I drive or walk around the city and its neighborhoods, I am always on the lookout for suffering animals and I seldom fail to spot one or more.

When I’m at home, there is seldom a day that good people don’t call informing me of animals they have seen in need of help.

On the morning of June 21, I was coming out of the Botanical Gardens when Fazal, a horse owner, stopped my car to tell me the cruel story about what someone did to his horse.

Fazal lives in East Ruimveldt, across from a large fenced nursery school with lots of overgrown grass, where he usually ties his horse (away from the school).

On the night of June 20, just before 21:00h, he made his rounds to make sure his horse was tied and ok. He fed his horse some meal and retired for the night. The next morning he went to check his horse and found that rope and horse had been moved to another end of the yard.

Someone had tied the neck of the horse tightly to the left front leg and then to the fence, nearly strangling

the horse. The other leg was broken.

Fazal quickly did what he could to reduce the horse’s suffering. He was overcome with emotion. The horse, his only source of income, was loved like a member of his family.

With immense sadness, Fazal said that “the next day was worse, someone cut the horse above its knee and it lay dying”. The GSPCA was called and they arrived to end the suffering of the horse, but there was no one to stop the suffering Fazal was feeling; and he still had to dispose of the body.

Fazal also told me that several times in the past his cart tyres had been punctured. He said he has no problems with anyone in the community and doesn’t know who the culprit is.

In the 18 years I have been trying to help animals, this is the worst case of sick intentional animal cruelty I have seen.

On a happier note, on the morning of June 25, just before entering the Botanical Gardens, I saw a three-toed sloth crawling outside the entrance. There were several persons looking on.

I stopped my car, took out a towel and dog kennel,

I wrapped the small sloth in the towel and put him/her into the kennel. I took it to the Zoo where the Zoo Supervisor Ms Adonika Spellen, made contact with Ms Alona Sankar, of the EPA Wildlife Division.

They decided in the best interest of the sloth it should be released back into the wild since threetoed sloths only eat certain leaves. Within 30 minutes, the Wildlife division came and picked up the sloth and made arrangements to have it released in an appropriate location.

Kudos for quick actions by all those involved.

To your readers: When you see wildlife on the streets of Georgetown, get help in rescuing and delivering it safely to the EPA (223-0940), GSPCA (2264237, or Guyana Zoo (2259142), or call them for assistance/advice and please do not remove any wildlife from their natural habitat. If you are on the highway and you see a sloth crossing, please help it to cross the road safely. Do not pick it up!

Syeada Manbodh 227-7800

Forensic audit would be good for wood working establishment that collapsed

Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to an article published on June 21 titled, “US$500 variance in price of exported Wamara logs points to customs fraudBulkan urges forensic audit.”

The exportation of all logs from Guyana is subject to the national log export policy. Harvesting, transportation and exportation of forest produce are guided by a series of processes and documentation that are systematically checked at each stage of the forest monitoring system.

If there is a detection of non-compliance, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) takes the necessary corrective action.

from page 4

vent discriminatory actions based on race.

Even with a “Black” President in the United States, for the last seven years, racial tensions have been at an all-time high.

Racial unity is about respect for each other that is the end of it.

Those that call for racial unity are hoodwinking the population. We need institutions that ensure equal access as a must.

Dr Peter R Ramsaroop

The forest sector has in place a graduated scale of export commission computed on the free on board export price for logs.

These prices are continuously revised, taking into consideration local and international rates. The log export policy consists of two schedules: A & B with rates of 15-17 per cent on the export of main log species.

Most of the species exported by Baishan Lin and the joint venture partners attract these high rates. These rates are among the highest rates in the world, in tropical timber producing countries.

The Wamara species attracts a rate of 15 per cent. Prior to 2009, the rate for

all species of logs was two per cent. Five years ago many of these species such as Wamara were deemed as lesser utilized wood species.

However, with emerging markets in India and China for these species, they are now harvested in commercial quantities. This has been of significant benefit to local operators at the small and medium size level whose concession may not have an abundance of the traditional commercial species, such as green heart and purple heart.

It is therefore important for the forest expert Janette Bulkan to know that the exportation of Guyana’s logs in subject to its national log export policy and not by unfounded perceptions caused by personal axe-grinding against Guyana’s forestry sector.

It is a pity that Bulkan did not recommend a forensic audit for a wood working establishment in Ruimveldt that collapsed.

Rita Culpepper

Page Foundation

6 ways to handle behaviour issues in public places

BY ERICA PATINO

Learning and attention issues can involve social challenges like talking out of turn or getting impatient in long lines. Here’s how to deal with common behaviour issues in public places.

Behaviour issue number

one: Getting upset by unexpected changes

While some children can go with the flow, children with learning and attention issues may get upset by the unexpected – such as going to a restaurant and being given the wrong order or going to the movies and discovering the one they want to see is sold out. Your child may not realise how upset he’s getting. It can help to talk to your child about his “emo tional thermometer” and ask, “Is your emotional thermom eter rising?” You may also want to suggest he count to 10 or take deep breaths when he begins to get upset.

Behaviour issue number

two: Begging and nagging for things at the store

“But Mom, I want that toy! I want it!” Children with learning and atten tion issues may contin ue to whine and beg because they have trouble picking up on social cues. Your child might not notice or un derstand that you’re getting annoyed. You can respond to the nagging by saying firmly and calmly, “We’ve already discussed it, and you can’t

get the toy today.” Then stop talking about the subject and keep moving through the store. Don’t back down. If you do, you may confuse your child or end up encouraging him to repeat the negative behaviour.

Behaviour issue number three: Fidgeting during quiet events

Piano recitals, school talent shows, religious ceremonies – there are many events where your child is supposed to sit still. But he may do a lot of fidgeting or getting out of his chair. That can be disruptive to others. While you may wish your child would just sit still, studies show that children with attention issues are actually better able to focus when they fidg-

Behaviour issue number four: Getting angry while waiting in line

You want to go to the zoo or ride the roller coaster at an amusement park. But there are long lines everywhere. Some children with learning and attention issues lack impulse control, so waiting in line can be tough. Try bringing comic books or a tablet computer to keep your child busy while waiting. Or play a game where he runs to a signpost and back as you time him, so he can keep moving. Also try going to child-friendly places at off-peak times when the lines are shorter.

Behaviour issue number five: Talking too loudly or

ies, museums and other places. But children with learning and attention issues may blurt things out or not realise they’re talking too loudly. Try to work out a signal that means “Please lower your voice.” You might touch your child’s shoulder or tap your cheek. If he keeps talking loudly, take him outside to let him talk for a bit. Or if he has lots of questions for the tour guide, have him ask you quietly and write them down so he can get answers later.

Behaviour issue number six: Having a meltdown

Some children with learning and attention issues can be extra-sensitive to noise, light and lots of people. Depending on your child’s needs, you might want to bring headphones. You may also want to find the nearest bathroom or exit so your child can get away for a few minutes and calm down. (Keep in mind that if your child has sensory processing issues, a public restroom might not be a good place to escape to. The bright lights and automatic flushing toilets could make a meltdown worse.)

Getting to an event early and carefully choosing activities could also help him feel more comfortable. Get tips on making family entertainment fun for everyone. (www.understood.org)

When your child misbehaves: Tips for positive discipline

Discipline is a form of teaching your child. When discipline is positive, its goals are to:

* Protect your child from danger

* Help your child learn selfcontrol

* Help your child learn a sense of responsibility

* Help instil values

As a parent, you have a unique bond with your child. If you discipline your child with respect and make sure that it’s consistent and fair, you’ll have lasting positive effects.

The Canadian Paediatric Society strongly discourages the use of physical punishment on children, including spanking.

What makes discipline work?

The best way to deal with challenging behaviours is to prevent them. But there will be times when your child acts in a way that is not okay. When this happens, your child needs to see discipline as fair. Discipline that’s not consistent (the same whenever possible) is confusing to children.

How can I help my child learn good behaviour?

* Offer praise and affection regularly

* Know what to ignore

* Plan transitions from one activity to the next, and talk to your child so he knows what to expect

* Offer limited and realistic choices you can live with

* Accept mistakes

* Be a role model

Let your child know what you expect and the rules for good behaviour. Remind her regularly about rules and limits. A good limit:

* Is appropriate to your child’s age and stage of development

* Helps your child learn self-control

* Protects your child and others

* Is explained using simple language

* Is enforced firmly, respectfully and kindly

How can I deal with misbehaviour?

How you discipline will depend on your child’s age, stage of development, personality and many other factors. Here are some strategies to help:

Redirect to another activity

* Redirection – switching from one activity to another –works well with toddlers and sometimes older children.

* When you redirect your child, be sure to explain with words that teach her what you don’t want her to do.

Use logical consequences

* Apply clear consequences for your child’s action that relate to the behaviour. For example, if your preschooler throws food on the floor, make sure she helps you clean up the mess. When the mess is cleaned up, the consequence is over.

* When there isn’t a clear consequence, you can take away a privilege. For young children this must happen right away. For example, a child who is playing too roughly can be made to play away from other children for a short time.

Encourage problemsolving

* Solving problems helps your child learn about the consequences of her actions. Allow your child to help find a solution to misbehaviour and she will be more likely to make it happen.

Use a time-out

* A time-out is one way to take your child out of a situation where he is doing something unacceptable. They are best for children who are at least 2 years old. The CPS has tips and suggestions on how to use time-outs.

What do I do if my child throws a temper tantrum?

Tantrums are a normal part of child development. They are caused by strong negative emotions that your child isn’t able to control or express in other ways. You can prevent some tantrums by:

* Praising good behaviour

* Reducing triggers whenever possible, such as being hungry or overtired

* Distracting and redirecting with other activities

* Asking your child to express herself in another way: “Do you feel angry?” Tantrums can often be shortened by:

* Stepping in before your child loses complete control

* Speaking in a calm voice and acknowledging her frustration. For example: “It is okay to be angry, but you can’t hit”

* Helping your child work out a problem or frustration (www.caringforkids.cps.ca)

Govt implores UK’s help as crime soars

Amid soaring levels of crime President David Granger on Monday announced that his Government was seeking to have the United Kingdom designed Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) revived and has approached the British Government for assistance in this regard.

The US$4.7 billion programme was scrapped by the UK some years ago after major disagreements with the then Bharrat Jagdeo Administration over some of the conditions of the plan. Granger made the announcement while addressing members of the diplomatic corps; executive members of the Private Sector Commission (PSC); and members of the business community, at the PSC’s 23rd Annual General Meeting at the Savannah Suite in Pegasus. Back in 2009, Guyana virtually walked away from the security reform programme, saying that aspects of the pro-

ject threatened to encroach on this country’s sovereignty.

However, the British had contended then that the Guyana Government proposed a “fundamentally different” programme, focused on Police modernisation rather than the holistic reform originally requested.

The UK’s proposed project had aimed to build a sustainable foundation for improving national security and reducing serious crime in Guyana by 2011. To this end, it spoke to the need for implementation of a national security plan and the security sector reform and to increase public confidence in Government’s response to security issues.

National security policy

It had also explained that developing a national security policy, as well as establishing management and oversight structures and building capacity within the Police Force were all

crucial to responding to serious crime. The proposal had set out almost three dozen activities with detailed milestones and specific timelines until 2011. Towards the development of the security reform strategy, the targets included a series of public stakeholder consultations and training to strengthen parliamentary oversight, throughout the lifetime of the project. These were aimed at building government capacity for managing the reforms, developing a national security policy and a reform strategy, establishing accountability and oversight of the security sector, strengthening the professional standards and service delivery of the Police Force and establishing an effective structure for managing the reform project.

The proposal listed specific activities to be carried out in each area, ranging from the recruitment of staff, the design of legisla-

Soesdyke man died of fractured spine – autopsy

An autopsy performed on the body of Marlon Forde who was killed in a two-vehicle collision on Friday last along the Coverden, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road died of a fractured spine which caused a severed spinal cord.

The autopsy was done by Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday who also confirmed that Forde died of haemorrhaging. The body was subsequently handed over to the family to make funeral arrangements.

Meanwhile, Clarence Schwartz of Ice House Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, was remanded to prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on June 26, he drove motor car HC 4030 in a manner dangerous to the pub-

lic resulting in the death of Forde. He was also slapped with two other charges –driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to render assistance. He will make his next court appearance on July 9.

However, Guyana Times understands that on the night of the accident, Forde was the driver while Schwartz was in the back passenger seat with a female. After the accident, Forde reportedly told Schwartz that he was fine despite having a concussion. A source told Guyana Times that Schwartz was having an extramarital relationship unknown to his wife, so he made a decision to take the rap for the accident after he thought that everyone involved in the accident was okay.

Schwartz reportedly took his female companion to the hospital to seek medical attention in another vehicle leaving Forde in the back passenger seat. After he

would have told Police ranks that he was the driver, he learnt of Forde’s death. Forde, a contractor of Lot P Adams Road, Soesdyke, EBD, was killed and two others received injuries following a head-on collision involving two cars at about 04:00h.

The injured were listed as Esther Meertins, 28, of Soesdyke Back Road, and Sheldon Mc Lennon, 41, of D’Anrade Street, Kitty, Georgetown. Meertins sustained a fractured jaw and a laceration to the head, and was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, while Mc Lennon suffered a complete fracture of one of his knees. According to information received, Forde, Meertins and Schwartz were heading home after partying at Bamboo Bar, Garden of Eden, EBD. The other car, a taxi attached to the India Chief Taxi Service, driven by Mc Lennon, was reportedly heading to Georgetown when the accident occurred.

or when they hear persons returning to attend some wedding and being shot at, they don’t want to come to Guyana,” Granger said, continuing that “we need to deal with this public security problem. We are part of the continental landmass and we are not going to get rid of transnational crime overnight...Our borders are susceptible to gun running, trafficking and we need to ensure that our Police Force and Defence Force are effectively deployed,” the Head of State said to a rousing round of applause.

Looking to see

tive strategies, parliamentary programmes to public consultations and workshops. The proposal also had identified potential risks to these processes, including “weak” Government and Police Force commitment to and ownership of holistic reform; the unwillingness of civil society to participate in consultations and/or consultations that are not inclusive and therefore compromised; and a lack of commitment by Members of Parliament (MPs) to their oversight role.

Granger’s plea

At the PSC’s forum, the Head of State said the programme must be reintroduced since the country needed to be safe. “When people overseas hear about pirates killing fishermen and miners being robbed

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn told media operatives just after the ceremony on Monday that the SSRAP is a long historical agreement which came to fruition in 2007 and which was cancelled in 2009, because the then Government had thought that it “did not meet the requirements that they wanted”

He related that Guyana’s Government has asked his Government to resuscitate the agreement. “What we are actually doing is looking to see if the agreement as it was nine years ago is still relevant and does it need updating. Then how do we go about meeting the requirements of Government in terms of updating the original plan?” he said.

Asked how soon the plan could “swing into action”, Quinn said he could not say, but much work needed to be

done including finding the person or team that had carried out the original assessment, then seeking to ascertain if they were available to do another such assessment of the programme. He could not say too if the money was still available from the previous project. And while funding will be provided for this new project, he could not say on what basis this will be done.

20/20 vision Meanwhile, Granger told the gathering that he has laid out his plans for what he called the “2020 vision” for the life of the 11th Parliament. “This will take us from now until 2020, when, without prorogation and without dissolution, Parliament should come to its natural end.” He said his mission over the next five years was to implement those plans with the support of all sectors of society. He restated that the business community remained an integral part of development and that many of the plans he has for the next five years would not be accomplished without the help of the PSC. The Head of State said he wanted to see improved infrastructure across Guyana, noting that all of the natural resources Guyana possessed could not be developed without proper infrastructure. High on Government’s agenda, Granger stressed, was security, not only for the Private Sector and its members, but for all Guyanese.

President David Granger addressing the gathering at the PSC AGM on Monday

LGE, Iwokrama among key areas of discussion between Trotman, Commonwealth SG

Following meetings with Guyana’s Head of State David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Monday morning, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma, sat down with Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman to discuss mutual areas of collaboration.

The Secretary General who is in Guyana on a three-day working visit pushed for Local Government Elections. “If the grass root structure is not strong, then the super structure cannot be strong”, he said. Minister Trotman assured him that Local Government Elections continue to be a priority for the Administration and he is hopeful that they will be called before the end of the year. Minister Trotman indicated that Government is looking forward to the Commonwealth’s report on the recent General and Regional Elections.

The Commonwealth Secretary General said that it is worth noting that election results which came after a delay of five days with only a difference of about 4000 votes have been sustained and now is the time to build that. The

Commonwealth is interested in working to support improvements in the election process and has developed a compendium of best practices within member states in the Region and this will be shared with Guyana.

The future of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and

Development was another area that received attention at the meeting. Minister Trotman said that Government is trying to determine a way forward for the Centre, which almost 20 years after its establishment, remains financially dependent on Government subsidies. SG Sharma said that Iwokrama has been the longest and most ex-

pensive project that the Commonwealth has embarked on.

He noted that, Iwokrama was supposed to be self-sustaining and has instead cost the organisation £3.5 million. However, the Commonwealth is prepared to support the development and implementation of a results based management approach that is built on the original principle of a sustainable business model for the Centre. The Secretary General said that they can provide technical and financial support for crafting that model.

The Minister of Governance also indicated during the meeting that one of the key areas Government would like the Commonwealth to support is the development of a code of conduct for Government Ministers and officials. Other key areas of discussion at the meeting for potential and expanded cooperation were the Integrity Commission, debt management, trade, anti-corruption initiatives and access to climate change financing. Minister Trotman said that the Government is pleased with the Secretary General’s visit and looks forward to working closely with the organisation. (GINA)

Miner remanded to jail for stabbing man in the eye

AMiner was refused his pre-trial liberty on Monday when he made his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Levi Williams stands accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Jermaine Sampson on June 17 at Norton Street, Georgetown.

He was not required to plead to the offence as it was made indictable.

However, Police

Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones detailed that the Virtual Complainant (VC) was still in the hospital as he was stabbed twice, once in one of his eyes and the other in another section of his body.

Only a year ago, Williams had been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond after he admitted to stabbing another person with whom

he had gotten into an argument with.

According to the Prosecutor, during that trial, Jomo Nicols and Paul Hamilton went to a shop on D’Urban Street, Georgetown at about 02:30h on May 22 and got into an argument with Williams.

Williams said Hamilton cuffed him and in retaliation he took a knife and dealt the accuser several stabs about the face and

neck.

Also, Williams was given two three-month sentences for two charges that he had escaped prior to the charge that was laid against him. They ran concurrently with the 12-month sentence.

Presiding Magistrate Ann McLennan remanded Williams to prison.

He is expected back on July 7 where he shall be placed before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Eyew tness

Bombast...

...on crime

This crime business - and it is a business - has gotten out of hand. And National Security Minister Ramjattan seems completely lost at sea. His responses to the crisis are so jejune that they embarrass this Eyewitness to even repeat them. The Opposition’s Muckraker mouthpiece published Ramjattan’s speech to Parliament - and we can now understand why the PPPC absolutely refused to subject themselves to such banalities.

Ho w could a grown man say - in tones reminiscent of Archimedes discovering the principle of flotationthat he found greed as a NOVEL connection between white collar crime and the regular street crime variant. So in all the the millennia since we crawled out of the caves and started acquired property, greed wasn’t the motivating factor for filching the belongings of others?

Heck...even when we WERE in caves hunting and gathering and all that...why did Ramjattan think our forefathers were bopping their erstwhile comrades over the heads to grab their berries or whatever? So to fight crime, Ramjattan’s going to address the sin of greed?

Exactly how does he plan to do this?? Have the police force start preaching the word of the brotherhood of man? But even more eye-popping was after he repeated all the promises President Granger had made in his “throne speech” on improving security in the country - Ramjattan confessed he was “embarrassed” about the situation but like a “good soldier” he would give it a shot. He damn well should be “embarrassed” ...but why did he take the job if he thought it was beyond his abilities? Just because the AFC negotiated for the Security Portfolio, it had to go to him? Good soldier? He can’t even walk straight much less keep his shoulders upright! In what had to’ve been a fit of bravado, Ramjattan boasted in street lingo that his experience “runs from suits to the streets”.

More expansively he expanded that he’d “been to some of the lavish hotels in the city and have been in the streets.” Now this Eyewitness knows Ramjattan’s long been a habitué of the Pegasus - owned by his client and party contributor Badal. But “steets”??? Which streets?

He should know that he left the streets of #47 village ages ago - and even those don’t give him “street cred”. Now if he could say he grounded with the brothers in Tiger Bay or Agricola or Buxton, we might cut him some slack. But the streets of Campbellville just don’t impress. So cut the crap Ramjattan. And look at Rohee’s 15 point plan for some pointers to fight this crime wave.

...on sugar

For years the Opposition’s been going after the PPPC for “mollycoddling” sugar. Of course, much stronger language was used. We’re not even going to rehash the threats to “close down” the industry.... but chalk that up to frustration. But now that they’re in office and in power (which as Cheddi pointed out - ain’t necessarily the same thing!!) we’re hearing a different tune.

But is it? While on one hand they’re talking about injecting funds to “bail out” the industry - in the big picture that’s merely a drop in the bucket if the industry’s going to be saved. But more ominously, when you look at the fellas they’ve picked to “Inquire” into the sugar crisis, you know the exercise’s “outcome determinative”.

The Commissioners are all from the “old days”when fellas were paying bribes to the “overseers” and “drivers” to get “canecutter’s wuk”. Those days are looooong gone! And they ain’t coming back. So what are these stalwarts going to tell us? We know the answer...and it was written into the terms of reference of the COI.

...on bananas

Someone questioned why Guyana’s shipping “rice” in exchange for oil in the PetroCaribe agreement with Venezuela. Why not “bananas” or “coconuts”? Maybe because Venezuela produces bananas and coconuts but not rice? Which they crave?

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman greets Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma

Attorney General holds talks with Bar Association – law students’ entry to Hugh Wooding among issues discussed

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams on Monday met with members of the Guyana Bar Association at his office in Carmichael Street, Georgetown, to discuss a number of priority legal issues which have been gaining traction over the past weeks.

Bar Association

President Christopher Ram, speaking to the media, said that the agenda items included amending the agreement establishing the Council of Legal Education and the Bar Association’s concerns over the now seeming annual issue of the admission of Guyanese students to the Hugh Wooding Law School.

Ram explained that the Attorney General had passed the amendments to the Council of Legal Education to the Bar Association and it has been circulating the document among its members. He said that the question of putting on a firm basis the admission of Guyanese students to the Hugh Wooding Law School is also on the Bar Association’s agenda, because “the profession always needs to keep renewing itself, renewing its membership, so it is important that we have new members coming out every year and it is also important we remove that uncertainty that always seems to characterise the Turkeyen Campus around this time of the year.”

Questioned about the Bar Association’s position on the current Administration’s plans to build a local law school to rise above the issue of the Guyanese students’ admission to the Hugh Wooding Law School, Ram noted that

this is a very major step that would require lots of resources. “… it would take some time, it would take some planning, but I am very optimist that we can make this into a very lucrative type of operation,” he said. He noted that it was a venture that had with it the potential for Guyana to become a centre for the teaching of law in the Caribbean.

“… it means that we have to get lots of pieces into place, we have to have the resources and also very importantly we have to have the support of the Government of the day to ensure those resources (land, buildings, judges ) are available,” he said.

Minister Williams explained that he just recently met with the Hugh Wooding Law students and they were sharing with him their problems, among which was the sudden change in the policy of the law school to have them pay, from the onset of the year, the entire 100 per cent fee, (which amounts to about US$11,000). Minister Williams explained that what obtained previously was that the students were expected to pay 50 per cent of their fees before ad-

mission and 50 per cent by January of the following year. This is among the issues that he plans to take up with the Council of Legal Education at its meeting in September, the Minister said. He will also seek to address having a temporary fix to the automatic entry, an issue that the previous Government had made representation for at the level of the Heads of Caricom meeting, last year.

Despite the previous Government’s saying that it had made representation, Minister Williams said that he could not find in the Attorney General Chambers, a file that spoke to an updated position on the issue. In light of this, the Minister said that he had to write to the Council of Legal Education for an update. He explained that in responding, the Council noted that there was an agreement in 2013, that in 2014, they would take the 25 students automatically. “There was no mention in that email of 2015; what they spoke about is that there is an ongoing negotiation in relation to the collaborative agreement among

Corlette to be replaced as Region 4 Chairman

Two-term Regional Chairman for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Clement Corlette will be replaced by Region Four Vice Chairman

Genevieve Allen today at the Regional Democratic

Council (RDC) election.

This is according to A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Executive Amna Ally, who made the disclosure to Guyana Times on Monday, hours before the election.

Corlette was elected by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in 2006 and was again reelected in 2011.

Since Corlette’s appointment as Regional Chairman, criticisms were thrown in his direction from several sections of society.

In 2006, reports alleged that Corlette constantly misunderstood the laws, his role, his functions and his responsibilities as Regional Chairman; allegations he denied.

The issue started when

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) member Kwame McCoy, during one of the RDC meetings, questioned Corlette’s authority to resuscitate a bank account which was closed.

UWI, UG and the Council of Legal Education, and suggested that a new proposal by the University of Guyana was what was stalling any consensus being arrived at.”

Asked for clarity on the new proposal, Minister Williams said that he had no idea and had been trying to reach the University’s Vice Chancellor and the Dean of the Faculty, to get a position on it. “I would attend the Council of Legal Education meeting coming up in September, to really have a greater insight into what the situation is and that is where I am trying to get insight into this problem,” he pointed out. Other issues that were slated to be tackled during the discussion between the AG and the Bar Association include the pending litigation matter between the Guyana Bar Association and the Attorney General Office and a number of legislations that the Bar Association considers very fundamental that it would like to see passed and enacted. Ram pointed to the Judicial Review Act that was passed in 2010.

Clement Corlette

Genevieve Allen

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams meeting with the members of the Bar Association

PPP/C selects “strong” MP team

...says list reflects experience, youth

By Michael younge

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic has selected 32 individuals who will represent the party in the 65-seat legislature whenever it decides to put in an appearance in the Government-controlled Parliament.

The list seen by Guyana Times on Monday, which still remains unconfirmed, boasts several surprises as it is reflective of a strong youth corps balanced with experience and several political heavyweights who have served in various advisory positions to the Party while in Government.

This newspaper understands that former President Bharrat Jagdeo is still being courted by the Party to accept the position of Chief Parliamentarian and Opposition Leader in the 11th Parliament.

Additionally, former President Donald Ramotar who was the Party’s 2015 Presidential Candidate will not return to the Parliament to serve at that level.

The Party’s Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper through engaged with its Executive at this level will not join its parliamentary core group. This newspaper managed to confirm that former Government Ministers Robert Persaud, Dr Ashni

Singh and Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul will not feature on the Party’s‘reelected’ list.

PPP/C Executives likely to return are Irfaan Ali, Priya Manickchand, Bishop Juan Edghill, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Pauline Sukhai, Gail

Teixeira, Anil Nandlall, Dr Frank Anthony, Dr Vindya Persaud and Clement Rohee.

New faces which could represent the PPP/C in Parliament are Ronald Harsaywack, Charles Ramson Junior, Dr Clive Jagan, Shyam Nokta Junior, Colin Croal and Nigel Dharmalall.

Several other young people and others with a wealth of experience have featured on various lists for parliamentary appointment.

Not finalised

A source close to the Party’s Executive Committee, speaking during an invited comment, said “there is still time for the sanitisation of the list. The final list has not been finalised”.

The source would make no other comment except to say that “Guyanese will be pleasantly surprised, because the team we will field will be a fighting team”.

Pressed by the media on Monday at his weekly press conference,

Party General Secretary Clement Rohee confirmed that the Members of Parliament have been selected. However, he continued to maintain that all the necessary information would be revealed whenever the Party went to a Parliament.

The Party has been crying foul on the decision taken by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare that the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition had won the General and Regional Elections which took place on May 11 last, claiming that the electoral process was rigged thorough a collaborative effort between the APNU+AFC and the elections body.

“We have our own agenda. Not so much the Opposition Leader, but what will be required of the Party in the next few months and years ahead. We will have to go in there in fighting force in a combative way within the confines of the Standing Orders, defending the poli-

cies and programmes of the PPP/C Administration, exposing the Government in all their shortcomings and showing supporters and the general Guyanese public that we have an interest in following our modus operandi in Parliament that we are a force to be reckoned with inside and outside of Parliament, because we are committed to parliamentary as well as extra-parliamentary struggle”, Rohee said of the PPP/C’s commitment to the work of Parliament.

Rohee said his Party, in the National Assembly, will reveal its Leader, Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip.

During the second sitting of Parliament last Thursday, APNU+AFC MPs began debating the speech delivered by President David Granger at the opening on June 10. The following day Government was also able to pass the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill (AML/ CFT), which was stalled in the 11th Parliament.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

2012 Census Report for 2016 release – Finance Minister

Finance Minister Winston Jordan has disclosed that the Report of the 2012 Census will now be released next year.

“I am told that it will be available in 2016, almost half the time when the next Census will be due,” he told the House during a parliamentary sitting last week. Addressing the members of the third sitting of the 11th Parliament on Friday, Jordan reported that the long awaited report has been further delayed due to the inefficiency of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

To this end, Jordan has promised a major overhaul and centralisation of the GNBS so as to ensure that proper surveys and the National Census are produced to assist the Government in policymaking.

“I have moved to the State to put the Bureau on the footing befitting of it. The Bureau is scattered all over the place, three places to be exact so it makes management and accountability difficult. The Bureau will

soon find its own building properly accessorised creating an atmosphere in which work can advance. It will be fully equipped and training for staff will be provided. We will also look at the legislative aspects to strengthen its capabilities,” Jordan said.

He noted that at present, the instability of the Bureau is having an negative impact since if the Government

want to focus on certain areas, it cannot be fully done since planning and allocation would mean nothing if the accurate data is not available for a conscious decision to be taken.

“Planning and policy formation will be nothing if we do not have proper information and proper data. Our statistical growth has languished in the vineyard of thorns over the past 20 years to such an extent that it has become an unreliable institution as it relates to data. One only has to think of the census which was taken since 2012, this is 2015 and most of the information is not there. We cannot continue like this,” Jordan expressed.

“There is an absence on unemployment data, there is an absence of surveys, income and expenditure surveys were done just under 10 years ago so there is no data in which proper planning can take place. This Administration has recognised this and this is not a situation which can be allowed to continue,” the Finance Minister further

Govt taps Prof Nigel Harris as next UG Chancellor

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has announced that it is the Government’s intention to have Professor E Nigel Harris nominated through its representative on the Council to serve as Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG).

The University of Guyana has been without a Chancellor since Professor Compton Bourne resigned from the post in 2012. The Education Ministry said in a release that Professor Harris served as Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) from 2004 to 2015. Prior to serving as VC at UWI, he was Dean and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He has

held several leadership posts including Chairman of CXC (2006 -2014), Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (2011-2013), and he is currently President of the Caribbean Association of Universities, Colleges and Institutes (UNICA) and administrative board member of the International Association of Universities (IAU) – a consortium of over 600 universities around the world

He is a Rheumatologist who is best known academically for identifying with collaborators a disorder called Antiphospholipid Syndrome and for developing the test for its diagnosis – he has published extensively on these subjects. While he was Vice Chancellor, UWI sent several teams to UG to as-

sist in areas such as strategic planning, updating the library and ICT system, an audit of UG’s finances, restructuring the Human Resource Department, and curriculum reform. UWI also collaborated with UG to win grants from the Europe Union and to deliver a few postgraduate programmes. Professor Harris is Guyanese by birth and was educated at Queens College (1955-1964); Howard University (BSChemistry (1965-1968)); Yale University (M PhilBiochemistry (1968-1970)); University of Pennsylvania (MD (1973-1976)) and the University of the West Indies (DM - (1977-1981)). He is married to Dr Yvette Williams-Harris, who is Guyanese by birth and they have three children and five grandchildren.

added.

The Census includes data on unemployment levels in Guyana and should give a clear idea of where more funds need to be channelled for effective development in several areas, including infrastructural and human resource development. In June 2014, it was revealed that Guyana’s population has dipped by 3339, as the Guyana Bureau of Standards unveiled the preliminary findings of the 2012 Population and Housing Census.

The findings, unveiled by Deputy Census Officer Vanessa Profitt, indicate that Guyana had a population of 747,884 persons on

Census Day, September 15, 2012 compared to 751,223 persons when the previous census was taken in 2002. This represents an annual negative growth rate of -0.04 per cent.

However, Guyana would have to wait until the second quarter of 2016 for the final report when disclosures will be made on the ethnic makeup of the country and data on the employment and unemployment rates within the country.

In her presentation at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Profitt disclosed that the coastal regions accounted for 89.1 per cent of the population while the hinterland regions, such

Corlette to be...

McCoy had pointed out that the Financial Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) only permits the Regional Executive Officer (REO) as the one with authority to reopen the account, and the Chairman did not take kindly to his objection.

Meanwhile, former Parliamentarian Genevieve Allen, who is also the Chairman of the Women’s

as Region One (BarimaWaini); Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine Region (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu) accounted for 10.9 per cent of the population.

Though Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) constitutes just one per cent of the land mass of Guyana, it accounts for 41.9 per cent of the population, the Deputy Census Officer said, noting that it was followed by Regions Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), which account for 14.6 per cent and 14.4 per cent of the population respectively.

From page 9

Affairs Committee (WAC) in Guyana, has been actively involved in promoting women’s rights.

In 2014, the WAC, under Allen’s leadership, organised and hosted an exhibition called “Women’s Space” which signified the act of women taking action and not sitting around waiting for things to be done.

It was geared towards enabling women to show-

case their goods and sell them to generate income. The election of new Regional Chairmen for all 10 administrative regions across Guyana is scheduled for today. The 2015 General and Regional Elections results reveal that APNU/ AFC won seats in Region Four (Demerara- Mahaica), Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Professor E Nigel Harris and Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

tuesday, june 30, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana, Commonwealth cement ties

...as President meets with organisation’s SG

President David Granger on Monday met with Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma and delegation, during which discussions were held on the strengthening of the Commonwealth’s partnership with Guyana.

The delegation included Simon Gimson, Director of the Secretary General’s Office; Albert Mariner, Head of Caribbean/Pacific Political Division; and Natricia Duncan, Communication Officer. Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally was also present at the meeting held at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Secretary General said his meeting with the Guyanese Head of State saw him being advised on areas in which the organisation and Guyana can collaborate to strengthen the work of the Commonwealth. Sharma added that already, Guyana and the Commonwealth are working in many areas, including governance, trade, financial services, and elections; all of which the Commonwealth is happy to build on.

During the meeting, President Granger was briefed on the substance and theme of the next Commonwealth summit.

“It is going to be a summit of Commonwealth Heads, with a particular focus on small states, the contribution which Commonwealth can make to small states, in diverse areas, of debt, trade, climate change, technical collaboration, advocacy, cre-

ating bodies, and institutions.”

Going forward, the Secretary General stated that there is now a larger area which is “happily” being covered by the Commonwealth. The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Malta, from November 27 to 29 this year. Heads welcomed the offer of Malta to

US holds disaster management confab at Timehri

The United States Embassy’s Security Cooperation Office, together with representatives from the Florida National Guard, sponsored an Emergency Operation Disaster Management Conference at the newlycommissioned Emergency Operation Centre located in Timehri, Guyana.

In a release, the US Embassy said the Emergency Operation Centre was a gift from the US Southern Command and opened in April 2015. This year’s Disaster Management Conference was the first event of its kind to be held at the Emergency Operation Centre. Participants of the Conference included members of the Florida National Guard, Guyana Defence

Force, Guyana Police Force, Civil Defence Commission, Guyana Fire Service, Health Ministry, and Guyana Prison System. The objectives of the Conference were to exchange US and Guyanese information on disaster response mission sets along with enhancing Guyanese interagency partnerships knowledge of disaster risk management. The Conference included a table top exercise (TTX) with a scenario that guided participants through a collaborative discussion on disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery for local and country-wide disasters within Guyana. The TTX scenario’s presented a myriad of realistic threats such as fire, drought, flooding, and oil spill disas-

ter in different regions within Guyana.

This is the second time a State Partnership Programme conference like this has been held in Guyana. The outcome of the Conference improved internal collaboration between Civil Defence Commission and supporting agencies. Participants left with a better understanding of partner agency relationships and roles in disaster response using a worst-case scenario TTX with multiple threat response requirements. This event also strengthened the relationship between the US and Guyana by setting the stage for a more robust Emergency Disaster Management Conference for next year.

host CHOGM when they met in Sri Lanka in 2013. Meetings will take place at a number of historical venues around Malta, while the Heads of Government retreat would be held at Fort St Angelo, situated in Vittoriosa.

CHOGM is held every two years, and is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policymaking body. Sharma is on a three-day visit to Guyana during which he is expected to pay courtesy calls on a number of top Government officials including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General reiterated that the Commonwealth stands in

solidarity with Guyana with regards Venezuela’s maritime claim, and the matter will be deliberated upon further at an upcoming meeting with Foreign Ministers in New York. In a statement issued on Saturday, Sharma stated that “the Commonwealth stands as one and speaks with one voice in our commitment to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are an association of 53 member states worldwide accounting for one quarter of the United Nations membership. Commonwealth member governments, individually and collectively, are also committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes and to the rule of law.”

Simpli Royal launches 15th edition of teen pageant

Simpli Royal on Sunday evening officially launched their 15th edition of the Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant and the 3rd edition of the Mr Guyana Talented Teen at a gala affair held at the Pegasus Hotel.

The event took the form of a cotillion. The cotillion has been a component of the pageant for a number of years and the aim of it is to provide etiquette training for teens. In simpler terms, a cotillion is ‘a dance party with manners’. Wazim Khan, in his remarks, highlighted the history of the cotillion. He has been a committee member for the pageant for many years.

Another Simpli Royal committee member, Jacquline Sookram, in her opening remarks thanked all pageant supporters for their contributions throughout the 15 years of its existence. Sookram has been responsible for many of the fundraisers hosted by the Simpli Royal team.

The Guyana Talented Teen Pageant was endorsed by the Minister within the Education Ministry

Nicolette Henry, since she is responsible for the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport. Minister Henry was present at the event and offered a brief speech. She began by congratulating the delegates for taking such a bold step to being a part of the competition. She also said that the Ministry intends to support more activities like the pageant.

The cotillion continued and saw performances from Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2013 and First RunnerUp in the 2014 Mr Guyana Talented Teen Daniel Ifill.

The current “Teen Queen” Reesa Sooklall gave a short speech thanking all the sponsors and stakeholders in the pageant for putting the event together. The stunning Queens College student wished all the delegates the best. She will hand over the “Talented Teen” crown to her successor in July.

The evening proceeded with the delegates introducing themselves to the media and persons present at the event. The young ladies all looked amazing but when

it came to introductions, ‘The Amerindian Empress’ Keisha Hunter was definitely the crowds’ favourite. The well spoken young lady definitely impressed everyone present and she will indeed be the force to be reckoned with. Hunter and Gabriella Whittington delivered their speeches exceptionally well. This year, there are only two young men vying for the Mr Guyana Talented Teen crown and they are both talented young men. The evening of elegance made those in attendance eager to see the delegates showcase their grace as they danced to a beautifully choreographed ballroom routine. The audience was very impressed by the teens’ performance. The finals for this year’s Mr And Miss Guyana Talented Teen will be held at the National Cultural Centre on July 18, commencing at 20:00h. Tickets will be made available soon and can be purchased from any one of the delegates or committee members. Interested persons can also make contact with Pamela Dillion on Facebook for more information.

President David Granger and Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma along with Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally shortly before the convening of the meeting

The delegates in this year’s Guyana Talented Teens along with Pamela Dillion and the reigning Ms Guyana Talented Teen

Participants of the conference pose for a photograph

President Granger swears in 2 new judges

After a long wait, former Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry and former Deputy of Public Prosecutions JoAnn Barlow were finally sworn in as Puisne Judges in the High Court by President David Granger on Monday.

In a momentous occasion in the lives of both women, Sewnarine-Beharry and Barlow both pledged to serve their country with due honour and dignity.

“I will bring what I have been doing for the last 10 years; I promise to serve my new office without fear or favour,” Sewnarine-Beharry told media operatives shortly after being sworn in.

Meanwhile, Barlow, a Victorian and wife of Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland, said: “There is no one feeling that I can tap into because as happy as I am about today, I am also sad about leaving where I work for most of my working life and that is in

the chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions but, I am sure that in the days ahead, my feelings will find balance.”

Both women had received their confirmation letters last year, but were told that because of limited space in the courts, they were yet to be assigned to relevant areas. It is rumoured that Sewnarine-Beharry will preside over the Family Court –which is yet to be operationalised. It is unclear whether Barlow will also be placed at the Family Court.

The High Court in Demerara only has eight courtrooms a few of which are shared by Judges, while the Berbice High Court has two courtrooms that are served by two separate Judges, a civil and a criminal judge. However, in Essequibo, there is only one judge who presides over both criminal and civil cases.

In February 2014, President Donald Ramotar

had increased the number of Puisne Judges from 12 to 20. This change to the more than 50-year-old High Court Act was done following consultations with the judiciary sector. He signed the order under Section Three of the High Court Act, Chapter 3:02 and it was published in the Official Gazette last February 8. It was felt that the previous complement of Puisne Judges was inadequate to deal with the increasing number of cases engaging the justice system.

Meanwhile, in attendance at the simple swearingin ceremony were Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams; acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Speaker of the National Assembly, Barton Scotland; Director of Public Prosecutions, Bibi Shalimar-Hack, and family members of the new judges, among other officials.

Essequibo rice farmers stage protest over delayed payment

...want urgent meeting with Agriculture Minister

By

Although over $800 million has been released by the Government of Guyana to pay millers, Region Two rice farmers and members of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association staged a peaceful protest on Friday, requesting a meeting with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder. The rice farmers protested poor drainage and irrigation, while demanding the resignation of the heads of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) and the Rice Development Board (RDB).

The protest commenced at 10:30h from the Anna Regina high bridge and proceeded to the front of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Freedom House in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Over 40 rice farmers armed with placards bearing slogans “Investigate the PetroCaribe Deal

Fund”, “Corrupt officials must be jailed”, “NDIA board must go”, “Lionel Wordsworth not doing his best, more drainage needed”, and “Seeraj and Jagnarine must go” took part in the protest action.

Speaking on behalf of rice farmers, Chairman of the Essequibo Paddy Farmer’s Association, Naithram said that rice farmers have many issues affecting them and requested an urgent meeting with the Agriculture Minister. Naithram called for the immediate resignation of the RDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh and General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj of the RPA.

This publication was reliably informed that Jagnarine Singh had already submitted his resignation which is pending before Minister Noel Holder. When asked who they have in mind to head the Guyana Rice Development Board,

2 held for execution of Corentyne businessman

As Police in Berbice continue their investigation into the execution of Corentyne businessman Rampersaud Shivcharran on Sunday evening, two persons have been taken into custody.

According to a source close to the Police, the dead man’s wife, Debbie Rampersaud arrived in Guyana from the United States on Monday at 06:00h and provided information which led to the arrest of two brothers who are business owners of Port Mourant, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The two businessmen , who had reportedly owed a large sum of money to Shivcharran, are assisting Police with the investigation.

Following Sunday evening’s shooting at Managers Compound, Port Mourant, family members of the dead man had pointed an accusing finger at his wife claiming that she planned the ‘hit’. At the time of the shooting, his wife was in the United States.

Shivcharran, who operated Debbie’s Grocery and Off-licence,

was shot once in his torso execution style. Reports are that two armed men went into the shop and ordered the two customers present to leave. Immediately after, the US citizen started a scuffle with the men and shortly after, a loud explosion

was heard. At the time of the shooting, there was a power outage in the area. Residents in the area who heard the explosion reported that it was too dark to see anything.

Relatives of Shivcharran say that the couple did not have a good relationship and had frequent fights, an accusation his wife denies. The relatives say that they have never been allowed to get to meet the dead man’s youngest two children who both attend primary school, but his wife says that her motherin-law never speaks to her. The couple had been married for 20 years and shared three children. They returned to Guyana six years ago and set up a business.

At the time of the shooting, two of Shivcharran’s children – a sixyear-old and an eight-year-old were at home, but when the gunmen arrived, they hid under a cupboard towards the back of the lower flat of the two-storey building. The children later discovered their father lying in a pool of blood with what appeared to be a gunshot wound in his

chest, and reported the incident to a group of women who were standing in front of a shop one corner away. According to one person who asked to remain anonymous, they were standing about a block away when two boys ran up saying that two men had just killed ‘Uncle Rakesh’.

When persons arrived on the scene, he was seen lying on the floor in a pool of blood and still wearing a gold chain.

A drawer containing money was also visible and accessible. Police subsequently arrived and cordoned off the area. Undertakers later removed the body. One spent shell from a shotgun was found on the ground about 10 feet beyond the front fence.

The dead man’s mother, Chitra Shivcharran, said she last spoke with her son on Sunday morning when she called him to wish him a happy birthday. “But he tell me that I getting old; that is tomorrow is his birthday and forgetting the day.”

Police are continuing their investigation. The matter is being treated as a murder and not as a robbery as reported in sections of the media.

Naithram said farmers themselves will select. Further information reaching Guyana Times stated that Singh has a wealth of knowledge in the industry and over the years had managed to put the Board where it is.

Meanwhile, Naithram continued to argue that sowing is presently in full swing in the Region and some farmers are still owed. He said farmers are frustrated and the issue need to be address promptly. He said that the Region has a poor drainage and irrigation system and many farmers are battling flooded fields, “although we going through so much, no relief or nothing is given to us, nothing, we are always loosing big time every time”.

Naithram added, “the NDIA board must go including Lionel Wordsworth... they serve no purpose... more damages than ever”. He said that the farmers also want answers as it relates to the PetroCaribe Fund and want answers why it is empty, adding “at a recent meeting, former President Jagdeo told farmers $15 million was used for construction of Hope canal, however the fund is empty, who must we believe?”.

Naithram also highlighted that farmers need accountability for the excavator that is in the region, noting that often, excavators are being rented to private individuals, a practice he described as corrupt. Farmers also called for the Henrietta state land to be returned to cattle farmers use. One farmer, Prince Holder said he is owed some $3 million for paddy he sold to Wazeer Hussain in March, and to date, he has not received payment. He said he called the miller only to be informed that the miller is out of the country and that payments will be made soonest Monday.

Former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh, President David Granger and former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Jo-Ann Barlow

IndrawattIe natram

Essequibo paddy farmers have been protesting for their payments

Debbie Rampersaud and Rampersaud Shivcharran in happier times

Pope plans to chew coca leaves during Bolivia visit

Pope Francis has requested to chew coca leaves during his forthcoming visit to Bolivia, according to Bolivian Culture Minister Marko Machicao. Coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine, has been used in the Andes for thousands of years to combat altitude sickness and as a mild stimulant.

Machicao said the Government offered the Pope coca tea and the pontiff had “specifically requested” to chew coca. The Vatican has not yet commented. The Pope travels to Bolivia on July 8.

Coca leaves were declared an illegal substance under the 1961 UN convention on narcotic drugs. But the growing of coca leaves for religious and medicinal purposes is legal and licensed in Bolivia.

Many indigenous Bolivians consider the coca bush a sacred plant and chewing its leaves or brewing them into a tea is very popular. Bolivia’s 2009 Constitution even declared the coca leaf “a cultural patrimony”.

President Evo Morales, who used to be a coca grower, has long campaigned to decriminalise the consumption of coca leaves. If the Pope were to chew coca leaves during his visit to the Andean country it would provide strong backing for Morales’s campaign.

“We will be awaiting the Holy Father

The Pope’s visit to Bolivia is part of a larger tour of Latin American countries which will also take him to Ecuador and Paraguay

with the sacred coca leaf,” Machicao said.

The Pope’s visit to Bolivia is part of a larger tour of Latin American countries which will also take him to Ecuador and Paraguay. (BBC News)

Caricom denies moving slowly on DR-Haiti crisis

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) says it disagrees with statements that the 15-member regional grouping “has been slow” to deal with the unfolding situation in The Dominican Republic, where people perceived to be of Haitian descent are being deported from the Spanishspeaking Caribbean country. “I disagree, I fundamen-

tally disagree,” Caricom Secretary General Irwin La Rocque told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) ahead of the July 2-4 summit of regional leaders in Barbados.

The Dominican Republic gave a deadline of June 17 for people of Haitian descent to apply for legal residency. Hundreds of people, mostly low-wage workers from

neighbouring Haiti, waited in line for hours to submit residency applications under a registration initiative that began last June.

The Dominican Republic has said migrants who can prove they entered the country before October 2011 can qualify for legal residency. Otherwise, they could face deportation. The move by The Dominican Republic has drawn criticism worldwide, with Caricom urging DR to halt the policy of deportations.

La Rocque said that the issue will be among agenda items to be discussed by the Caricom leaders and told CMC regarding The Dominican Republic matter “not everything you do is in the public limelight. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Brazil’s Rousseff slams graft informants, denies illegal donations

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff on Monday drew on her own experience as a political prisoner during the country’s dictatorship to denounce informants in a corruption scandal that has pummelled her popularity. Rousseff also forcefully denied her campaign had received illegal donations originating from the scandal, which involves kickbacks allegedly paid by construction companies to politicians and former executives at state-run oil firm Petrobras.

Speaking to journalists in New York, Rousseff contrasted her experience in

jail in the early 1970s opposing Brazil’s dictatorship with that of informants cooperating with prosecutors investigating the Petrobras scandal.

“I do not respect informants because I know, I was jailed in the dictatorship and they tried to turn me into one,” she said following a speech to investors focused on infrastructure projects. As a young Marxist, Rousseff was jailed, hung upside down and tortured with electric shocks.

Many of the key informants in the Petrobras corruption scandal have turned state’s witness after serving lengthy pre-tri-

al jail terms. Rousseff spoke after Veja magazine reported on Friday that Ricardo Pessoa, an executive linked to the scandal, had said in plea bargain testimony that part of the money resulting from the overpricing of contracts was donated to the campaigns of several politicians, including for Rousseff’s 2014 re-election.

Pessoa, the head of Brazilian construction firm UTC Engenharia, is under house arrest. He was jailed last year and Prosecutors say he may have led the cartel. Veja did not say how it obtained the details of his testimony.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

OECS opens new cancer treatment centre in Antigua

Residents within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sub-grouping will no longer have to travel abroad for treatment of cancers and other chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs).

This as the grouping on Friday formally opened its OECS Eastern Caribbean Cancer Centre in St John’s Antigua. The Centre is the brainchild of former Prime Minister now Opposition Leader Baldwin Spencer took three years from ground breaking in April 2012 to formal opening in June 2015 and is patterned after a similar centre in The

Bahamas.

Although based in Antigua and Barbuda, the centre will be jointly owned by all OECS member states. Addressing the formal opening, Spencer pointed out that “for the first time a large number of persons would have the opportunity for cancer care at affordable cost and accessible at their doorsteps.”

According to him, “The Cancer Centre will improve the provision of accessible cancer treatment services throughout the sub region, since the centre will provide high quality medical radiation and surgical oncology services which will be markedly discounted for govern-

ment supported patients.” Cancer services at government hospitals throughout the sub region is expected to be boosted through regular oncology clinics, developing cost effective and safe chemo therapy services providing oversight and expertise in the various islands and by providing major cost savings to partner governments.

Current chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and prime minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie, highlighted the fact that every year more than 1,000 persons are diagnosed with cancer in the OECS. (Excerpt

Smart patch can automatically release insulin for diabetics

Researchers have unveiled a smart patch for diabetics that can detect increases in blood sugar levels and automatically release the correct amount of insulin when needed, paving the way for painful insulin injections to be relegated to history.

The study, which is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that the new, painless patch could lower blood glucose in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes for up to nine hours.

More pre-clinical tests and subsequent clinical trials in humans will be required before the patch can be administered to patients, but the approach reportedly shows great promise.

“We have designed a patch for diabetes that works fast, is easy to use, and is made from nontoxic, biocompatible materials,” said co-senior author of the study Zhen Gu.

“The whole system can be personalized to account for a diabetic’s weight and sensitivity to insulin, so we could make the smart patch even smarter.”

The eventual goal is to develop a smart

These “microneedles” are packed with microscopic storage units for insulin and glucose-sensing enzymes

insulin patch that patients would only have to change every few days, Gu added. The patch – a thin square no bigger than a penny – is covered with more than one hundred tiny needles, each about the size of an eyelash.

These “microneedles” are packed with microscopic storage units for insulin and glucose-sensing enzymes that rapidly release their cargo when blood sugar levels get too high. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

3 killed in St Vincent accident after leaving funeral

ALime employee and two of his relatives, including a 91-year-old man, were killed when the car in which they travelling went over a cliff in the western parish of St David last night.

Telecoms worker Denzil Johnson; George Johnson, 91; and Icyna Johnson were heading back to their Spring Village community in St Patrick, from

a funeral in the fishing village of Chateaubelair on the Leeward coast of the island, when the tragedy occurred, according to local media reports.

The car plunged over a cliff in Troumaca, landing hundreds of feet below on another section of the road.

The fatal accident occurred almost six months after five

schoolchildren were killed when a minibus carrying 23 passengers ran off the road and plunged into the sea at Rock Gutter in north-eastern St Vincent.

Most of the passengers were hospitalized following the January 12 accident and two other girls whose bodies were never recovered, are presumed dead.

(Caribbean360)

Calls being made for pension contributions to be mandatory in Jamaica

Director of the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre, Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer, has called for pension contributions by Jamaicans to be made compulsory.

She made the call in light of statistics which indicate that while Jamaicans are living longer, most persons have made no plans for their financial security during their re-

tirement years.

“Today’s older person has changed and will live at least 20 to 25 years after retirement and will need the financial assistance that a pension provides,” she said.

Professor EldemireShearer’s comments came at the National Council for Senior Citizens’ (NCSC) Ageing Conference on June 25 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New

Kingston under the theme: ‘Ageing and DevelopmentEnsuring an Enabling and Supportive Environment’. In presenting the findings of a 2012 study titled Solid Start Ageing in Jamaica, Prof Eldemire-Shearer noted that 60 per cent of the persons surveyed did not have pensions and never contributed to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).(Excerpt from Jamaica Gleaner)

Around the World

Car bomb attack kills Egypt’s top Public Prosecutor

Egypt’s top Public Prosecutor was killed by a car bomb attack on his convoy on Monday, the most senior state official to die at the hands of militants since the toppling of an Islamist President two years ago.

There was no confirmed claim of responsibility. Security sources said a bomb in a parked car was remotely detonated as Hisham Barakat’s motorcade left his home, after saying earlier a car bomber had rammed into the convoy.

Judges and other senior officials have increasingly been targeted by radical Islamists opposed to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and angered by hefty prison sentences imposed on members of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Last month, the Islamic State militant group’s Egyptian affiliate urged followers to attack Judges, opening a new front in an Islamist insurgency in Egypt.

Chief Prosecutor Barakat was the highest-ranking state official to die in a militant attack since Sisi, a former army chief, ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in mid-2013 after mass protests against his rule.

Mursi, a Brotherhood leader who was freely elected as Egypt’s President in 2012, was sentenced this month to death over a mass jailbreak in 2011.

Monday’s attack stirred fears of yet more turmoil in Egypt, which has been struggling since the 2011 popular up-

rising that toppled Hosni Mubarak to regain full-fledged stability and revive the economy of the Arab world’s most populous country.

The bombing also showed the risk of militant Islam threatening the Egyptian state leadership, as it did in the 1980s and 1990s. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Voting delays in Burundi after poll stations attacked

Voters have been trickling in to polling booths across Burundi for legislative elections, amid a tense climate after two months of protests sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term.

The polls opened at 06:00h local time (04:00 GMT) on Monday.

Some 3.8 million Burundians are eligible to vote in the polls, which the Opposition and civil society groups are boycotting, claiming they will not be free and fair. Burundian authorities have refused to delay the elections despite calls from the international community.

Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from a polling station in the capital Bujumbura, said the atmosphere was filled with fear and tension on Monday morning, with many fearing a continuation of the vi-

Several polling stations were attacked and there was

olence that has marred the lead-up to the elections.

She said there were delays reported at several polling stations across the country, following violence.

“There aren’t many people here, I would say around 50. Several polling stations were attacked and there was gunfire overnight,” she said, adding extra Police had been brought in to conduct searches on those voting.

“Polls will open late in many places because some people have thrown grenades and Police are sorting things out.

“When asked, people say all they want is politics out of the way and out of their lives, they fear there could be potential for a lot of violence after the elections. Many people are crossing the border out of the country as we speak. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Hong Kong student leader injured in “chilling” assault

Hong Kong student leader Joshua Wong, the teenage face of the city’s recent pro-democracy protests, has been assaulted in the street, along with his girlfriend, in an attack that he said sent a “chill to my heart”.

“Being attacked on the way home after going on a date, and even attacking my girlfriend, it’s shameful,” Wong wrote on Monday on his Facebook page.

Wong, 18, was leaving a cinema near Mong Kok – the scene of some of the most bitter clashes during the territory’s street rallies – with his girlfriend late on Sunday

when the assault occurred.

The male attacker punched Wong in the face, and when he and his girlfriend gave chase, both were assaulted, Wong said.

A photo published by the Reuters news agency on Monday showed Wong with a wound in the left side of his nose, and swelling below his left eye.

The motivation for the assault is not known, but previous attacks against prominent media figures have raised concerns that tensions from Hong Kong’s deep political divisions could turn violent.

Police said on Monday

that they had yet to make an arrest, confirming that Wong had “suddenly been attacked” by a suspect in his 20s and had sustained injuries to his eyes and nose.

The incident comes just days before a major pro-democracy march on Wednesday, when thousands are expected to take to the streets.

Last year’s mass protests were sparked after Beijing insisted that candidates for Hong Kong’s next leader must be vetted by a loyalist committee, a decision campaigners, including Wong, derided as “fake democracy”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

EU chief feels “betrayed” over Greek debt talks

European Commission

President JeanClaude Juncker has said he feels betrayed by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ surprise call for a referendum last weekend and said that “playing one democracy against 18 others is not an attitude worthy of the great Greek nation”.

After months of good relations with Tsipras as the bailout negotiations dragged on, Juncker turned against the Greek leader on Monday, complaining that “egotism, tactical games, populist games” took over from cool-headed economic analysis.

The Greeks will vote on reforms that the country’s creditors had proposed in exchange for loans. However, the deal is, in reality, no longer on the table, adding to the confusion around the referendum.

Juncker said that ahead

of the vote “it would be advisable to the Greek Government to tell the truth to the Greek people instead of simplifying its own message to a no-message,” the AP news agency reported.

Also speaking on Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that if Greece wants to resume talks after its referendum, “we will of course not refuse such negotiations”.

Merkel said that Europe can only function if it was ready to compromise and “no one can get 100 per cent”.

She said that the “generous offer” made by creditors “was our contribution to a compromise” and the will to reach one was not there on the Greek side.

The Chancellor said there will be a debate on Greece in the German parliament on Wednesday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Gaza-bound flotilla vessel seized by Israeli navy

Israel has boarded and taken over a vessel attempting to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, officials said.

In a statement, the Israeli army said on Monday that it did not use force in redirecting the main boat Marianne to the Israeli city of Ashdod.

Petros Stergiou, a spokesperson for the flotilla, told Al Jazeera that organisers lost contact with the Marianne at around 02:00h local time on Monday morning, as three military boats approached.

“What we learned is that the Israeli Navy attacked the Marianne around 100 nautical miles from the shore of Gaza,” Stergiou said.

“They said they could see three military boats approaching them that had identified themselves as being military.

“Once again, the Israeli Government and its military has acted like state pirates and attacked our boat in international waters.”

Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said the seizure of the ship was “uneventful” and it would now be escorted to Ashdod in southern Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the Israeli navy for detaining the passengers on the ship.

“This flotilla is nothing but a demonstration of hypocrisy and lies that is only assisting the Hamas terrorist organisation and ignores all of the horrors in our region,” Netanyahu said.

The vessel is part of the Freedom Flotilla III – a convoy of four ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists including Arab Israeli lawmaker Basel Ghattas, Tunisia’s former president Moncef Marzouki and at least one European lawmaker. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Uber managers arrested in France over ‘illicit’ taxi service

Two managers of the taxi-ordering app Uber have been arrested in France.

A spokeswoman for the Paris Prosecutor said they were in custody for questioning over “illicit activity”.

Uber, which puts vetted drivers in touch with passengers, is unpopular with registered drivers in many cities because they tend to

undercut prices. A recent French taxidrivers’ strike turned violent. The US company is banned in some places, but it says it will keep operating in France.

Last week, France’s Interior Minister ordered a ban on the low-cost carsharing service UberPOP after a day of nationwide protests by taxi drivers.

Bernard Cazeneuve said the service was “illegal” and ordered Police and Prosecutors to enforce its closure.

Uber says it will stop operating if ordered to do so by a court. Last week’s protests saw US singer Courtney Love Cobain caught up in the unrest, which she compared with a war zone. (BBC News)

Policemen secure the site of a car bomb attack on the convoy of Egyptian Public Prosecutor Hisham Barakat near his house at Heliopolis district in Cairo, June 29

gunfire overnight

In a statement, the Israeli army said on Monday that it did not use force in redirecting the main boat Marianne to the Israeli city of Ashdod

BK Int’l claims Govt owes it

millions for Haags Bosch project

… condemns Bulkan for attacks, criticisms

BY JILLICIA PINDER

Construction giant BK International on Monday said that it felt like the company was being attacked following comments made by Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan on its work on the Haags Bosch project. The company said Government owes the group millions for the Haags Bosch landfill project, to which the Minister had recently referred to as an “environmental hazard… ticking timebomb”.

The group stated that it felt compelled to issue a statement of clarification in face of the criticisms and attacks it has received from the Minister of Communities and felt that the situation needed to be addressed formally.

Alex Graham, the company’s Public Relations Consultant, stated that the most significant and distressing matter is that the group was having discussions with Government, which they believed was taking place in an atmosphere

of good faith, and therefore found it disconcerting that the Minister’s comments would be made at such a time. Hence, the group was compelled to provide some clarification to the matter.

BKI signed the agreement for the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Project in November of 2009 and operations commenced during February of 2011. There has never been a landfill of this size and complexity in Guyana. The landfill was designed to process an average of 80,000 tons of waste per annum.

Since the inception, the contract between BKI and the Local Government Ministry had many shortcomings. The contract was extremely vague, not providing clear instructions and in some instances, insufficient instructions to BKI on various key aspects of the project.

The Site Manager of the Haags Bosch Landfill, Lionel Kandasammy, told media operatives that after having the responsibility for the management of the landfill project from July 2014 to

present, the reality of the shortcomings of the contract and cause related problems, became very acute as clearly this project could not be managed in the conventional manner of planning, organising, integrating and measuring results, but one of crisis management based on vague instructions through the contract and the daily stress of having cordial working relationship with the Ministry’s personnel.

Kandasammy stated that despite whatever challenges, BKI has stayed committed to providing the best possible service at the Haags Bosch Landfill Site Facility, but as of July 2014, BKI was not paid for operational invoices for the period January 2013 to June 2014.

He added that it is very difficult to manage an operation of this nature without cash flow on a monthly basis as stipulated by the contract, and the group had to expend to maintain and improve operational performance with the uncertainty of due payments by the Ministry.

The Site Manager not-

ed that BKI was paid in December 2014 for the period January 2013-May 2014 and outstanding payments remain from June 2014 to present which is a few days short of one year. He added that again, having to expend to maintain and improve operational services with the uncertainty of timely payments adds further burden to the success of the project.

Originally, the landfill was designed to process 80,000 tons annually but has averaged 140,000 tons annually for the last two years, which has been further increased from 320 tons daily average to 500 tons daily average from May 18, 2015. The present trend will be seeing 15,000 tons per month or 180,000 tons being processed annually.

Director of BK international, Brian Tiwari, stated that he feels that

this should not be so as they are many other contractors who have been given local projects in which they failed miserably and the Government has not once chastised or condemned these companies.

Tiwari stated too that he knows the Minister is new and runs his own business, but he should go through old articles and records and see what BKI has accomplished. He added that his company was the first contracting company in Guyana to do international projects, so he cannot understand how the Minister is attacking his people and capabilities and only speaking negatively about the group. The Director added that he is going to work on challenging the Minister’s allegations in the court of law and let the court decide.

Workers at the Haags

not claim to be negotiating in good faith while he continues these vitriolic attacks in the newspapers daily. In that section of the media referred to by the company, Bulkan is quoted as stating that the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill at Eccles, East Bank Demerara is a disaster and a “ticking time bomb”, declaring that BK International has failed in its management of the site, and as such, the Government wants it gone. “We are looking to have a parting of ways, a separation and a divorce in the Central Government, and BK operating or responsible for management of that site, because they have failed and we want them off of the site,” Bulkan told the other entity. The bone of contention between the Ministry and the company arose after Bulkan reportedly indicat-

the Minister is very much against him and his company as they had shared a lot of concerns about him before he even came into power. Tiwari mentioned that the Minister’s attack on him seems personal, since all of his attacks and criticisms are directed towards his company, despite their hard work. He stated that

Bosch Landfill told media operatives that they greatly believe that Bulkan has a personal vendetta against the company as they believe they have accomplished more than any other operation could have since the landfill project was launched.

BKI had recently stated that Minister Bulkan can-

ed that the Inter-American Development Bank, which funds the project, wanted BK removed from managing the site.

He said that the bank would not have expressed dissatisfaction with the contracting firm specifically, but rather with the manner in which the site was being managed.

3 charged for murder of Rubis Accountant

“Murderers, you destroyed my family, we’re gonna get justice, you should be ashamed of yourselves,” were just some of the expressions of condemnation and hurt that were hurled at the three accused alleged to have killed Rubis Account Executive Jason

Cort on Monday as they exited Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Twenty-three-yearold Loynton Eastman, 27-year-old Stancy Rodney and Clifton Gibson made their first court appearances before Magistrate Ann McLennan where they were

remanded for the murder charge.

They were not required to plead to the charge which state that on July 17 at 262 Jamoon Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, they murdered Cort in the course of committing a robbery at his home.

Cort’s family showed up in their numbers to support each other, as well as to condemn the supposed killers who killed a son, a nephew and a fiancée. Guyana times observed that it was difficult for the family to contain their tears and bitterness towards the three men. Cort’s mother broke down in tears after they were brought into the courtroom to face the charges.

Attorney Peter Hugh was present in court to represent Clifton Gibson. He told the court that his client has a fixed place of abode in

991 Perry Street, Tucville, Georgetown; is not married and has no previous convictions to his name.

Rodney, on the other hand, was not. He told the court that he is a Jack-ofall-Trades as he does carpentry, masonry and mining. Eastman is a Miner.

Magistrate McLennan refused bail for the trio and ordered them to return to court on July 17 for reports to be made as Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones had informed the court that the case files were not completed.

Reports show that Cort was gunned down moments after returning home with his fiancée Shauna Garraway.

The Rubis Account Executive was shot once to the chest while he was about to place coconut water into the freezer. While in

the lower flat of the two-storey home, he was confronted by a group of men armed with handguns who relieved him of his own licensed firearm, a sum of cash and his cellphone.

The defendant’s fiancé Shauna Garraway had gone upstairs only a few min-

utes prior to grab a coat as the couple had intentions of going out again. In prior reports, she is recorded as saying that she was in the upper flat of the house when she heard an explosion followed by a male voice inquiring about money. Garraway rushed back into the room, where she hid and called 911, as well as several family members and friends. A close friend of the family then arrived at the scene, checked the area and informed the young lady that the coast was clear to come out. It was then that she came downstairs and found the father of her child lying unconscious with a bullet wound to his chest. He was rushed to the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A portion of the Haags Bosch Landfill Project located in Eccles, East Bank Demerara

From left: Haags Bosch Site Manager Lionel Kandasammy, PRO Alex Graham, company Director

Brian Tiwarie and others

Alleged murderers Stancy Rodney and Loyton Eastman

Remanded on murder charge Clifton Gibson

Rohee urges end to alleged political witch-hunting

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee said Government’s continued witch-hunting spree would have far-reaching consequences for Guyana’s economy.

“The PPP warns that the current political and economic situation is fraught with serious dangers for the future of our country. The solution will not be found in the current confrontational approach adopted by the APNU+AFC [A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change]. On the contrary, what is required is an end to the witch-hunting and the arbitrary dismissals of public servants as well as the reign of intimidation and fear now gripping the country,” Rohee said on Monday.

He said under the circumstances, warnings have already been sounded from certain quarters about the “early signs of arrogance of the ministerial level of the Granger Government”. He said as the “witch-hunt” continued unabated, insensitive chatter about “not being distracted” by the Jordans of this world would only serve to throw salt in the wounds of the thousands who were still traumatised of them being ‘cheated electorally’.

“Claims that they will not be distracted by claims

of witch-hunting. If the witch-hunting which Jordan said will not allow them to be distracted continues and the dismissal of persons continues, obviously, the atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the country will prevail, especially in a small economy like Guyana.”

He said it was quite obvious that the productive forces which predominate certain sectors of the economy will not feel a sense of security to produce. “When that happens, we will have less to export and earn less foreign exchange.”

According to Rohee, whatever is said or done politically will always have an impact on the economy and if Government feels that

what it says have no effect on the economy, “they have their analysis wrong; they will end up with wrong results”.

Meanwhile, Rohee said the Party was appalled at the extent to which the President David Granger-led “de facto” Administration was misleading Guyanese into believing that Guyana under the PPP/C Administration had experienced a mismanaged economy and increased poverty and crime, while portraying those who hold the reins of power as politically spotless compared to others.

“The Party is convinced the current anti-PPP smear campaign is a continuation of the vicious campaign by the APNU+AFC supported sections of media while the former was in the Opposition, while this time for political purposes will transform into facts”. He said the campaign was aided and abetted by the unmasked anti- PPP/C sections of the media who continued to “lap up rumours and allegations, reporting them as if they were true, all aimed at protecting the Government as spotless”. He noted that Guyanese continue to be fed with information that was embellished as facts and realities, “when they are in fact” not.

CANU loses case against suspected narco trafficker

Guyana’s narco fighting entity, the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) lost its case against a suspected narcotics trafficker on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Magistrate Judy Latchman, who presided over the matter, ruled that CANU has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that 38-year-old Ron Reid is guilty of being in possession of 70 grams of cocaine.

The 142 Fourth Street, Albertown, Georgetown resident was read the charge for the first time by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on March 11. It stated that Reid was found with 70 grams cocaine at his home, trying to wash the illicit substance down a sink.

However, his Attorney Peter Hugh had argued that the cocaine was found in the accused sink but he was nowhere near it.

During his submission before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday, Hugh reiterated this, adding that his client had neither control nor possession of the substance. The Attorney said that the prosecution had even been unable to prove that his client had placed the cocaine near

the sink it was found on.

The only issue the Prosecution’s case appear to focus on, the Attorney said, is on the discovery of the illicit substance. He said this does nothing for their case against Reid, other than place him in the “proximity of narcotics and proximity alone cannot prove a case.”

Hugh urged the court to consider each detail of the defendant’s case before making a decision. However, he said that if the court is unable to believe what was proffered by the defence, he asked that it go back to the prosecution’s case and analyse it carefully for its strengths and its weaknesses.

Prosecuting the case for CANU was Prosecutor Oswald Massiah, who responded to Hugh’s confident submission. He asked the court to pay attention to the testimony that had been given by two of CANU’s Officers relating to how the cocaine had been found, emphasising on the evidence on Andrew Yarde.

However, Magistrate Latchman brought it to the court’s attention that Yarde had also disclosed that he could not recall several important premises that were instrumental to the prosecution’s case. Thus she

Felix, Scott trespassing in Parliament – former AG

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has again expressed concern over the selection of Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott and Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock as technocrats to serve in the 11th Parliament.

According to former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who was at the time speaking to a small gathering at the Red House, Georgetown, at a forum organised by the Party to discuss parliamentary issues, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) parliamentarians are taking up posts that have been allocated in an unconstitutional and unlawful way. To this end, he noted that the Party would consider taking the necessary court action if the matter was not soon addressed.

ruled that the court cannot “equate ownership with possession” as the prosecution had not proven their case beyond doubt to the court.

Magistrate Latchman said that the prosecution had left areas of doubt in their case, particularly if the accused even knew of the cocaine.

With this Reid, walked out of Court Three a free man. His reputed wife Sheneza Bacchus expressed her gratitude to the court in a heartfelt “thank you.”

He noted that pursuant to Article 103 of the Representation of the People Act, Felix and Scott were taking up positions which were unlawfully given.

“There are Ministers of Government who have taken and subscribed to the oath of office as Members of the National Assembly and are sitting Members thereof, but who are not lawfully and constitutionally qualified to be Members of that august body. Their presence in the National Assembly is, therefore, unlawful and unconstitutional. It is the Constitution and to a lesser extent, the Representation of the People’s Act, Chapter 1:03 that determine who is

qualified to be a Member of the National Assembly. By virtue of Article Eight, the Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana, and any other law which is inconsistent with it, is void to the extent of that inconsistency. So, if there is a conflict between the Constitution and the Representation of the People’s Act, the Constitution shall prevail,” Nandlall said.

The Ministers, who have no voting rights as technocratic Ministers, as only the allotted 33 can vote in the National Assembly, are two of four technocrats which can be appointed by the President to represent his

Government.

However, the PPP/C deemed the appointments of the technocratic Ministers a violation of the Constitution. Nandlall pointed out that the three Ministers are on the coalition’s Lists of Candidates for Members of Parliament that were submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by the Representative of the APNU+AFC lists.

“The PPP contends that Articles 103 (3) and 105 of the Constitution and laws pronouncing on the eligibility of appointment of Technocratic Ministers do not confer technocratic status on these three Ministers already sworn in by President David Granger as Ministers,” the Opposition highlighted in its statement. Article 103 of the Constitution states: “Subject to the provisions of Article 101 (1), Vice Presidents and other Ministers shall be appointed by the President from among persons who

America-based Guyanese fined

are elected members of the National Assembly or are qualified to be elected as such members”.

While Article 105 states: “A Minister who was not an elected member of the Assembly at the time of his appointment shall (unless he becomes such a member) be a member of the Assembly by virtue of holding the office of Minister, but shall not vote in the Assembly.”

Nandlall said that it was under these provisions that a technocratic Minister holds a seat in the National Assembly as a non-elected non-voting Member.

“In other words, a person who was on a list of candidates that won a seat in the Parliament and who is, therefore, “an elected Member of the National Assembly” cannot become a technocrat minister and hold a seat in the National Assembly under Articles 103 (3) and 105…In short, Winston Felix and Keith Scott are constitutional trespassers in the National Assembly,” the former Attorney General said. However, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs had told Guyana Times that the PPP/C’s position and interpretation of the law was incorrect. The Clerk said he was informed of the PPP/C’s position and immediately consulted with the former Clerk of the National Assembly, Frank Narine, and also referred to the Constitution. Based on that, Isaacs explained that those persons on the lists that are not extracted by GECOM to be Members of Parliament can be appointed technocratic Ministers. “The PPP/C is wrong.”

$17M, sentenced to 4 years for trafficking cocaine

An outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was fined $17,020,800 and sentenced to four years in prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday for attempting to smuggle cocaine out of the country.

Keon Brewster, a 21-year-old Mechanic of B’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was sentenced in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he admitted

to trying to smuggle 6.304 kilograms of cocaine to the United States of America.

Brewster, who made his third appearance in court on Monday morning, threw himself to the mercy of the court by changing his plea from that of not guilty to guilty.

On his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on June 1, the court heard that he was an outgoing passenger at the international airport (CJIA) when a routine

search was conducted on his luggage and person.

Thus, the three bottles of unusually thick El Dorado Five Year Old rum was discovered and when tested, proven to contain a high level of cocaine. When the defendant was apprehended, he admitted ownership of the illicit substance, even fingering two accomplices who were employed at the airport.

The two – Chris Douglas of X Alliance Street, Timehri, East Bank Demerara and

24-year-old Loric Williams, of 51 Prospect Village, East Bank Demerara, are AC technicians – were accused by Brewster of giving him the cocaine in a bathroom at the airport.

A review of the CCTV footage revealed the men going into the same washroom together at the airport. They were subsequently arrested and taken into custody. However, on June 2, when he appeared in court, Brewster had denied the charges.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix

Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Put your energy to good use tying up loose ends or finishing projects. You will be able to take on extra tasks if you are organized, making you popular with those counting on you.

Stick to your duties. Working alone will allow you to get more done. Others will take advantage of you if you are too easygoing or readily available.

Don’t be put off if others want to do their own thing. Do something you can enjoy alone, or reflect on the past in order to improve your future.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Unforeseen events in the workplace will allow you to show off your grace under fire. Your skills and loyalty will be recognized and rewarded.

Look into ways to make yourself look and feel better. A positive self-image will help you project confidence, and both your professional and personal lives will benefit as a result.

Expect friction at home if you haven’t been fulfilling your responsibilities. You can avoid heated debates by living up to your promises without complaints or excuses.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Your versatility and talents are being noticed. If you keep presenting your innovative ideas, you will win favor from those in a position to help you out.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Business meetings or seminars will highlight your drive and determination. You will be given the chance to use your excellent communication skills to full advantage when dealing with colleagues or superiors.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You will increase your knowledge through travel. Interesting things can be found in exotic locations or unfamiliar places closer to home. Get out and do some exploring.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

A misunderstanding with a colleague will cause an uncomfortable environment in the workplace. You can rectify the situation if you deal with issues honestly and without argument or faultfinding.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Your fine performance at business meetings or organizational functions will result in positive feedback, giving you the inspiration and confidence to move ahead. Don’t be afraid to accept a leadership position.

Putting in long hours at work will win points with your boss, but those you care about will not be impressed. Spend quality time with loved ones to avoid relationship problems.

GEMINI

Peanuts

Calvin and hobbes

dilbert arChie

Though 37 years of age, Kumar Sangakkara has recently been in the form of his life. In 2014, he played Tests against Pakistan, England, South Africa, Bangladesh and New Zealand to hit 1438 runs at an average of 71.90. In the 12 months, he hit more international runs, across formats, than have ever been struck in a calendar year. In March, he became the first batsman to hit four ODI centuries on the trot, at the World Cup. And as his catching in the Pakistan series have shown, he remains as sharp as anyone in the Sri Lanka side.

So why is he quitting now? Sangakkara said it was his father, who has been a well of advice to him throughout his career, who first suggested it may be time to step away.

“My father, when I was at home with him a couple of years ago in Kandy, asked me: ‘Don’t you think it’s time you started thinking about retirement?’ I got a shock. I thought, ‘What are you trying to tell me? That I’m not good enough?’ But then speaking to my mind, it actually made some sense. It was back in 2012 or 2013 when he asked me that, and it struck home. I thought, ‘Maybe it was time I paid attention to what’s happening.’

“Then when I had my back injury against India in October last year and I came back, it just kind of felt right. The voice in my head was there from maybe that July South Africa series when Mahela decided to retire. It was strange because I had decided before him to start writing a letter, when he called me and told me that he was

retiring. I said, ‘Okay, that’s fine. We can’t have two people going at the same time.’

“But I spoke to my father, and I spoke to my family. My wife told me that playing for Sri Lanka would be great for us as a family, because that meant I’d be spending a year at home. But even she felt that it was time for me to call it a day. When I heard that, I realised it was absolutely the right decision for me to make.”

Had Sangakkara stayed on, he would have had several Test milestones on his horizon. He is fifth on the Test run-scorers list now, but on form, he might have conceivably finished with close to 14000 runs. He is also two short of 40 Test hundreds, though, in the five potential innings that remain, there remains a chance he could hit one more double-century to match Don Bradman’s tally of 12.

“I’ve been told if I play another year or two years, I could score another 1000 runs. I might be the second highest run scorer, or I might be able to break the Don’s double-century record,” Sangakkara said. “But if you really think about it, if that’s the only reason you want to prolong your career, then it is really time to say, ‘Thank you very much.’

“I’ve always prided myself on performing well for the side as an individual, but at the end of the day I want to be able to look my teammates in the eye and say I went out there because I really wanted to do well for the side, and it was nothing to do with individual records. I can do that right now. Extending my career for a year

Kumar Sangakkara had a stellar 2014, scoring more international runs than have ever been struck in a calendar year

doesn’t make a lot of sense. Two to three years maybe, but then I’ll be 40, which is too long.

“I still remember what Muttiah Muralitharan told me when he was retiring. When the selectors sat with him, and he said he’ll be playing only one Test in the India series, but he still needed eight wickets to reach his 800 wickets mark. We told him to play more matches and go for that 800 wickets. He said, ‘If I can’t take eight wickets in one match, there’s no point. If I take eight, we’re going to win that match.’ I’ll play my

No sense in extending my career for a year – Sangakkara

last two Tests the way I get them. I consider myself very fortunate to play for my country for 15 years.”

Sangakkara said he took particular satisfaction from the runs he made overseas. He averages over 60 in Australia, New Zealand and the UAE, and more than 40 in England, with Test hundreds in all nations apart from the West Indies, where he’s played only seven innings.

“In Sri Lanka, we take pride in winning away from home and scoring runs away from home in conditions that are tough. So I’ve enjoyed every hundred I’ve scored, but the ones away from home are special.

“The third Test against South Africa in Centurion in my second Test series, I was batting on 98and I hope I don’t get in trouble with the ICC - but I got a pretty bad decision. I was on 98 batting with Ruchira Perera at the other end. That was a really important innings for me because I played against a really tough pace attack - quick wickets - and that was probably the first time I thought I can become a Test player. My first Test series in Sri Lanka, I had had a terrible time.

“Then scoring a century against Australia was special. I had a grade two hamstring injury, and I managed to get back in 16 days and score a century in Hobart, in a losing cause unfortunately. Everyone wants to score runs against Australia, because you consider them the toughest side.

“Then there was the hundred in England at the Rose Bowl, which was very, very satisfying.

I’ve found England very hard to bat in. I’ve watched Marvan score runs there, Dilshan, Mahela, Aravinda, Sanath all got runs. I watched all these players, and when I found it difficult, I had to come to terms not only with conditions, but also my own expectations.”

Sangakkara’s major disappointments were no surprise. He was captain when Sri Lanka were runners up in the 2009 World T20 and the 2011 World Cup. He also played in the 2007 World Cup final and 2012 World T20 final, both of which Sri Lanka lost. He is part of the reigning World T20 champion team however, having hit an unbeaten fifty in the final of that tournament, in Dhaka.

“I think there have been about four sad days - all the World Cup finals where we didn’t cross the line. You wish you’d been on the other side, but you can’t help it. Imagine if I’d been able to walk away with two 50-over World Cup wins and three T20-over World Cup wins. That would be amazing.

“But I’ve been a part of some very special teams. I’ve watched Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu bat. I’ve watched Murali and Chaminda Vaas bowl amazing spells - Vaasy especially on the dirt tracks in Sri Lanka. Rangana Herath - who would have thought, looking at Rangana, that he’d have the record he has? It’s unbelievable. I’ve been part of some special teams and some special wins. There are sad days, but a lot of better days that I remember.”

Karunaratne, Mathews steer SL to series-levelling win

Sri Lanka negotiated a 153-run target, the threat of rain and a brief batting stutter to eventually ease to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Test at the P Sara Oval, levelling the series with one match to go. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s fifty and his 72-run partnership with captain Angelo Mathews for the third wicket was the calming influence in a chase that had got off to a frenzied start.

A wet outfield, the result of heavy overnight rain, had delayed the start of the day’s play by half an hour and with the threat of rain looming over the final day, Sri Lanka played a gambit, pushing the aggressive Kithuruwan Vithanage to open the innings with Karunaratne.

In the first innings, Vithanage had fallen at-

tempting an unnecessary reverse sweep at a crucial juncture. In the second, he did the job he was sent out to do, starting with his first ball off Junaid which was confidently flicked over midwicket for four.

By the time the lead spin pair of Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar was introduced into the attack, Sri Lanka had raced away to 28 off four overs, with Vithanage contributing 18. In Babar’s second over,

Vithanage smacked a towering six straight down the ground and followed it up with a slog-sweep for six over midwicket off the next ball. Three deliveries later, he holed out to deep midwicket attempting a similar

shot.

Off the next ball, the first of Yasir Shah’s second over, Kumar Sangakkara was done in a delivery that spun in and took a deflection off the glove to short leg. The wickets would have raised Pakistan’s hope of making Sri Lanka’s chase a little tougher but Mathews and Karunaratne restored calm with their partnership.

There were a few opportunities for Pakistan with run-out chances created but the pair motored along smoothly, at a scoring-rate of 5.46 an over. Karunaratne fell two balls after scoring a fifty off 55 deliveries but Sri Lanka were only 32 runs adrift of the target at the time. Mathews’ unbeaten 43 off 57 ensured there were no further hiccups for Sri Lanka.

The third Test begins in Pallekele on July 3. (Cricinfo)

Angelo Mathews congratulates Lahiru Thirimanne

First day-night Test set for Adelaide Oval

New Zealand Cricket has agreed to play a day-night Test against Australia as part of a deal that will resume regular cricket between the two neighbours after a gap of four years and provide a significant financial leg-up for New Zealand.

The inaugural, experimental day-night Test will be played at Adelaide Oval with a pink Kookaburra ball in the third match of the series between Australia and New Zealand, between November 27 and December

ty and apprehension,” Mills said. “However, whilst the players have reservations about the concept, they can see the bigger picture in the new agreement, and the greater good it brings to all levels of the game.”

Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has been a vocal supporter of the concept. Alongside former captain and now CA board member Mark Taylor, Lehmann has been an advocate for day-night Tests at the ICC cricket committee discussion table.

1. The match will go ahead much to the delight of the CA chief executive James Sutherland, who has championed the concept for more than seven years. It will also be a source of rich dividends for the host broadcaster Channel Nine, whose chief executive David Gyngell expects television ratings and by extension advertising revenues far in excess of those offered for standard Test match days.

However the views of the players can best be summed up as a combination of nervousness, apprehension and scepticism. While most agree the concept is great in theory, there is far less certainty about details such as the pink ball and its behaviour, the adjustment from day to night, and the effects the concept will have upon a format all players rate highly as the fairest and truest test of prowess with bat or ball.

New Zealand’s players have been loudest of all in their worries about the concept, and their players association chief Heath Mills said an agreement had ultimately been reached because Brendon McCullum’s team could see the “bigger picture” benefits of regular cricket against Australia. The two nations have not played a Test series since November 2011, and only contested the ChappellHadlee Trophy for ODIs at ICC events.

“It’s fair to say our players are nervous about the day-night Test. It’s uncharted territory and because of that there will be uncertain-

“I’m looking forward to it to see what it brings, looking forward to seeing how both teams perform under lights, looking forward to seeing a massive crowd,” Lehmann said of a match to be played at his former home ground in Adelaide. “I think it’s going to be exceptional to see everyone turning up for the first one ever in Test match cricket, I’m excited, and I know the players are excited and looking forward to the challenge.

“Recommendations to the ICC committee were to make sure we are pushing the boundaries if you like and trying to get day-night Test matches, evening Test matches, to try and get people coming to watch it in different parts of the world in different countries, and versus different countries. We think it’s a really important way to go and only time will tell if it’s right or it’s wrong, end of the day we’ve got to give it a crack and I think it’s important for the game.

“It’s very special for everyone involved, players, staff, everyone at CA, and New Zealand Cricket so it’s going to be a really interesting time. Looking forward to what the challenges the ball brings for example and how it reacts on the pitch. I’m sure it’s going to be okay.”

For Sutherland, the push for day-night Tests has been one of the few consistent running themes of his long tenure as CA chief executive. Other ideals such as the Test Championship have fallen by the wayside, and the advent of Twenty20 has brought major new

sources of revenue to the game, but he was always determined to open up Test cricket to larger attendances and stronger television ratings.

“One of the global challenges with Test cricket is that most of the matches outside holiday periods are played on week days, in the middle of the day when people are at work and kids are at school,” Sutherland said. “By shifting the playing times each day’s play can go into the evening and allow people to come in after work or after school to attend the last few hours of play, but also when they get home in other parts of the world or other parts of the country, they can watch the game on TV.

“The Perth Test match is a great illustration of that. It’s fanatically watched on the eastern seaboard of Australia every year because of the time difference. Our television ratings are something like 40 per cent more for the whole country.

“We’re really confident with the work that’s been done over the past few years. We’ve had two successive seasons of Sheffield Shield cricket where pink balls have been trialled. We’ve worked very closely with the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Kookaburra in the development of the ball and its continued upgrade to make it ready.

“We’ll make sure that the players from both teams are well prepared. We’re working really closely with New Zealand Cricket in giving them the right tour matches and preparation before the ultimate daynight Test, which is the last of the series. And similarly with our players.”

It is believed that New Zealand’s players will play two tour matches under lights before the Adelaide Test, while Australian players will have one day-night Sheffield Shield round following their return home from a short tour of Bangladesh, and perhaps another between the second and third Tests.

As for Gyngell, the Nine Network’s chief cannot wait to see the ratings. “Evolution is everything in elite sport and its coverage, and it’s up to us all to think outside the square and meet these challenges,” he said. “My congratulations to James Sutherland and Cricket Australia and our friends at New Zealand Cricket for having the foresight and mettle to take it on, and for the support of team captains Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum.

“Let’s give it a red-hot go and see what develops.”

(Cricinfo)

Serena and Djokovic up and running at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams made strong cases for the less is more approach to Wimbledon build-ups with resounding victories at a sunny All England Club on Monday.

Defending men’s champion Djokovic, who has been training in the south of France rather than finetuning the grasscourt arts since his French Open title quest turned to dust, swept past Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 6-4 6-4.

American 20 times grand slam champion Williams, who like the Serb rarely schedules in any grasscourt tournaments before Wimbledon, also proved impressive after a slow start, beating Russian debutant Margarita Gasparyan 6-4 6-1 on Court One.

The reigning U.S. Open, Australian Open and French Open champion is now half way towards a rare “calendar” grand slam last achieved by Steffi Graf in 1988 and only six wins away from holding all four majors at the same time.

“Honestly, I don’t think about it. But every time I come into press, you guys talk about it,” Williams, like her sister Venus bidding for a sixth Wimbledon title, told a news conference when asked about a possible repetition of the “Serena Slam” she completed in 2003.

“Naturally it’s definitely getting more on my mind than I want it to be. But it’s also six matches away.”

The only blot on her copybook was a code violation for an audible obscenity early in the first set.

World number one Djokovic’s hopes of completing his own “career slam” were scuppered by Stanislas Wawrinka in the Roland Garros final earlier this month, but the Serb showed

Aruba will progress to the next round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying at Barbados’ expense after the latter fielded an ineligible player.

Barbados have been thrown out of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying by FIFA after fielding an ineligible player in the second leg of their victory over

no lasting effects as he dispatched Kohlschreiber in clinical fashion.

Knowing exactly when to squeeze the throttle, Djokovic broke serve in the 10th game of each set to safely negotiate what had looked like a dangerous opening obstacle.

“That’s where maybe I can have a mental edge

thing I had in the tank. I certainly did that,” Hewitt, who will retire after his home grand slam in Melbourne next year, said. It was a good day for seeds.

Fourth seed Wawrinka, looking to emulate the likes of Bjorn Borg and Rafa Nadal by claiming a French Open/Wimbledon double, cruised past Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-2 7-5 7-6(3).

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, seeded five, scraped past Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-3 6-7(4) 6-2 3-6 6-3 while bigserving Canadian Milos Raonic, the number seven, ousted Spain’s Daniel Gimeno-Traver in four sets.

Croatia’s Marin Cilic, who joined the elite by winning the U.S. Open last year, beat Hiroki Moriya of Japan 6-3 6-2 7-6(4).

Russian Maria

over him. He missed a couple shots,” Djokovic, bidding to emulate his coach Boris Becker and win a third Wimbledon title, said after easing past the world number 33 on Centre Court.

“Overall a great performance against a quality opponent.”

GRITTY HEWITT

Djokovic might have expected to be playing 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt in round two but the gritty Australian’s Wimbledon career was ended by Jarkko Nieminen.

Not that 34-year-old Hewitt went down timidly, rather scrapping tooth and nail as he has done throughout a career that took him to the summit of the sport.

Nieminen, one of 37 men aged 30 or over in the singles draw -- a Wimbledon record -- won 3-6 6-3 4-6 6-0 11-9.

“I was always going to leave it all out there, every-

Sharapova screamed back to full volume after she coughed and spluttered out of the French Open a few weeks ago, the fourth seed looking revitalised in a 6-2 6-2 defeat of British wildcard Johanna Konta on Centre Court.

“The first match of Wimbledon is never the easiest and especially against an opponent who has had a good few weeks and is a crowd favourite,” Sharapova said.

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion, powered past China’s Xu Yifan 6-1 6-1 while Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, another of the nine women’s grand slam champions in the women’s draw, beat Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 6-2 6-1.

Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro became the biggest name to fall, the ninth seed thrashed 6-2 6-0 by Latvian Jelena Ostapenko. (Reuters)

Aruba.

Already two goals up from the first leg, Barbados beat Aruba 1-0 at home in the return meeting on June 14 to book a place in the next round of qualifiers.

However, Hadan Holligan - Barbados’ goalscorer in the second legplayed when he should have been serving a one-match

suspension for picking up two previous yellow cards. FIFA announced on Monday that Aruba had been awarded a 3-0 victory in the match, giving them a 3-2 aggregate win and qualification at Barbados’ expense. Barbados have also been fined CHF 6,000. (Digicel Sportsmax)

The pink ball that will be used for the day/night Test match

Serena Williams

Novak Djokovic

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Boxing Hall of Famer and former Olympic champion Oscar De La Hoya, after pondering a return to the ring, said on Monday that he would remain retired.

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“But I am retired, and after speaking to my family and following a great deal of introspection, I have decided to stay retired.”

Nicknamed “Golden Boy”, the 1992 Olympic champion won world professional titles at six different weights and founded Golden Boy Promotions in 2002. He said he was only interested in either a rematch against undefeated welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or a bout against hardhitting Kazakh middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

Oscar De La Hoya

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De La Hoya, who recently spent two spells in rehab to battle substance abuse, told ESPN last Monday that he was “50-50” about fighting again.

He had quit boxing soon after retiring on his stool at the end of the eighth round

of a lopsided 2008 defeat against Manny Pacquiao, but told ESPN: “I am so hungry and so determined. I am young, I am healthy and I feel great... 42 is the new 32.”

“You can rest assured that I will spend the rest of my days around this wonderful sport, even though those days won’t be spent inside the ropes.” (Reuters)

Alberto Salazar: Truth will come out, says athlete Kara goucher

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An athlete who made doping allegations against leading coach Alberto Salazar in a BBC investigation says more people have come forward with information since the claims were broadcast.

American Kara Goucher, 36, said she was approached by “multiple” people and has urged them to go to the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) with their concerns.

Salazar, 56, last week issued a detailed denial of the allegations.

“I believe the truth will come out,” middle distance runner Goucher said.

Speaking at a US Athletics world championships trials meeting, Goucher, who used to be coached by Salazar, added: “I had constantly all day long people passing me information and wanting me to bring it forward.

“I really want to reach out to all the people who reached out to me, to reach out to Usada. To please come forward, I pass everything along that you give me but the case is much stronger if it comes from you.”

The allegations were made in a BBC documentary in collaboration with US journalism website ProPublica.

It was claimed that Salazar violated various an-

ti-doping rules and used testosterone medication on American long-distance runner Galen Rupp in 2002 when he was 16.

The BBC understands Salazar is being investigated by Usada to determine whether anti-doping rules may have been violated.

Both Salazar and Rupp, who was the silver medallist in the 10,000m at the London 2012 Olympics, deny all the allegations.

Salazar has issued a 12,000-word rebuttal, backed by emails and other documents, saying he “will never permit doping” at his Nike Oregon Project training base.

Shabazz unfazed by...

He added, “Failure is relative to where you are, where you started and what realistically was your objectives and possibilities. We did not achieve our objective to advance so we failed to do that. But maybe advancing would have given us a false sense of comfort that things are properly in place for our football development. We advanced in 2011 and look at where we ended up after that. So is it about hype and illusions or building a programme that could have proper facilities for training?”

Being booted from both the World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers has inevitably brought Shabazz’s job into focus, something the Trinidadian said he was not at all concerned about.

“The people who want me to resign are within their rights, but they are the same people who did not want me to return. They see my spirit to bring people together as a threat to their negative agenda to steal the football and suppress individuals or

Salazar’s former assistant, Steve Magness, said the American coach’s lengthy response to claims in the BBC investigation “reeks of desperation”.

However, British athlete champion Mo Farah, who trains with Salazar, has said he will remain with the coach. There is no suggestion the world and Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion has broken any rules. Speaking at the same meeting as Goucher on Sunday, Rupp said he “had nothing to hide” and would “do whatever I need to do to co-operate with” Usada. (BBC Sport)

from back page

groups who see things differently,” Shabazz told the website.

He added, “I have been through highs and lows in my life, ups and downs, and this period is yet another test for my character, the faith in my Lord and the belief in me giving my best for my country. Yes, my country. When my contract is up, they will see my back. In the meantime, dem ah go tired fuh see meh face. I am not a mouse; I am a jaguar. And a jaguar for life – Roarrrrrrrr.”

Alberto Salazar

NBS lends support to BCB Caricom Championship

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Caricom Championship is just a matter of days away and the inaugural event continues to receive support, with the New Building Society (NBS) being the latest agency to embrace the fundraising event.

At a simple ceremony held recently, Supervisor of the NBS New Amsterdam branch, Bryan Baker, said his company provided a very important service to the citizens of Guyana with its head office in Georgetown and six other branches across the country.

He added that NBS was always cognisant of its corporate responsibilities and willingly gave back to charities and charitable organisations. Baker mentioned that sport played an important role in nation-building and encouraged young sport personalities to take full ad-

vantage of the opportunities available today.

Speaking on behalf of the BCB was Angela Haniff, who thanked the mortgage institution for its confidence

in the Board and its continued support over the years. She promised that the competition would be well conducted with good mileage for all sponsors. Haniff said that the Board has a history of good accountability and would continue with the practice.

She also used the opportunity to call on other companies and private individuals to join the Board in its effort to return threeday First-Division cricket to Berbice after years of absence. Proceeds from the Caricom Championship will be used mainly to organise that competition.

The Caricom Championship will be played at the historic Albion Sports Complex on Sunday and will see eight top First-Division teams in Berbice competing in a 10over knockout competition with the final of 20 overs to

be played under lights for a top prize of $80,000 and a trophy.

The runner-up will receive $40,000 and a trophy with the losing semi-finalists collecting $15,000 each. The Man of the Match in every game will be rewarded. The teams will don coloured clothing and white balls will be used. Action will commence at 10:00h sharp.

Game one will bring together Young Warriors/ Rose Hall CC/Edinburgh Combined vs UCCA/ Skeldon Combined, followed by Albion CC versus Bermine/Police Combined, Port Mourant against Bush Lot/D’Edward Combined, and Blairmont/West Berbice Combined versus Rose Hall Town.

The winner of games one and two will play in the first semi-final, while the winners of games three and four will play in the other.

Malta Supreme cycling set for Saturday

Arsenal sign Petr Cech from Chelsea in £10m deal

Arsenal have signed Petr Cech from Chelsea in a deal worth about £10m.

The Czech Republic goalkeeper, who played more than 400 club games in 11 seasons at Stamford Bridge, has joined the Gunners on a four-year contract.

Cech, 33, made only seven league appearances last season after losing his place to Belgian Thibaut Courtois.

In a letter to Chelsea fans, Cech said he thought he would retire at Stamford Bridge, but added: “Life doesn’t always turn out the way you think it will.”

He wrote: “Last summer, things changed and I understood I was no longer the first-choice keeper, but I felt it was not the right time for me to go.

“During the season, it be-

came clear that my situation would not improve and - as I know I am not at the stage of my career where I want to be on the bench - I made my decision to move and look for new challenges.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: “Petr Cech is a player I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased he has decided to join us.”

Cech, brought to Stamford Bridge from French club Rennes in July 2004, won 13 trophies with Chelsea - including one Champions League and four Premier League titles.

He also set a club goalkeeping record of 228 clean sheets in all competitions, beating the previous highest total of 208, set by former England international Peter Bonetti between 1960

and 1979.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey responded to Cech’s arrival by posting on Twitter: “Wow, what a signing. One of the best Premier League keepers ever.”

Gunners forward Theo Walcott tweeted that he scored his first Arsenal goal against Cech - in the 2007 League Cup final - to which his new team-mate replied: “Happy it won’t happen again.”

And Arsenal’s current number one Wojciech Szczesny, said: “Delighted to have a chance to learn from one of the best GK’s in the world.”

Cech, Arsenal’s first signing of the summer, could face Chelsea as early as 2 August, when the two sides meet in the Community Shield at Wembley. (BBC Sport)

Now that the respective national champions of the various categories have been crowned following the hosting of the National Championship last weekend, local riders will return to the inner circuit of the National Park this weekend to compete in the fifth annual Malta Supreme 11-race programme.

Sponsored by Banks DIH Limited, the event will pedal off at 09:00h and will cater for all categories of riders.

The day’s activities will roll off with BMX races, which will cater for the 6-9, 9-12, 12-14 and Open riders, while there will also be races for Juvenile, Mountain Bike and Veteran Over-45 and Under-45 cyclists.

The main race, as has

been the norm over the years, will be the gruelling 35-lap School Boys and Invitational, which is set to attract the cream of the country’s riders, who are in prime form coming off the National Championship. Akeem Wilkinson is the defending champion of the feature race, having won last year’s event in a time of one hour, 17 minutes, 24.94 seconds (01: 17m: 24.94s). The other winners last year were Michael Anthony (Junior); Shameer Baksh (Veteran); Jaleel Jackson (12-14 Boys and Girls); and Keon Thomas (Mountain Bike). Representatives of Banks DIH Limited are expected to witness the races and assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion. (Avenash Ramzan)

Metro boys win domino competition

Angela Haniff, BCB representative, collects the sponsorship cheque from Bryan Baker, Supervisor of NBS’ New Amsterdam branch, while other staff members look on

The boys from Metro Office and Computer Supplies emerged champions over Ogle and Good Hope when they faced off in a three-way domino competition last Friday. Metro chalked up 82 games, with Ogle managing 65 and Good Hope, 63. The top players were M Persaud (18 games); A Baksh (15) and Alfred (14), while the loverbirds were Bob, Ali and Jagdesh Singh. In photo, the Metro boys receive the winners’ trophy.

Flashback! The top performers of the 2014 race

Digicel Nationwide School Football Competition

Ascension escape with close win against Business School

Ascension Secondary School pulled off a close win against the Business School on Monday when the Digicel Nationwide School Football tournament continued at the Tucville Ground.

The Business School who had a number of chances more so than Ascension lost 2-3 in the thriller of a match.

Playing in soggy conditions, Ascension took the early lead three minutes into the game with a goal from Oslin Lewis, who chested in a cross from the left wing.

Annan Profitt then delivered another goal for Ascension in the 19th minute with a high arcing shot that eluded Business

School’s custodian who made another error in judgement .

In search of more goals, Ascension gained a threegoal cushion in the 23rd minute through Anthony Roberts whose cracker screamed past the opposing custodian.

However, Business School responded in the 25th minute with Quincy Aldridge hitting a firm shot to rock the net and end the half with Business School trailing 3-1.

On resumption, Business School continued to waste precious chances with balls being sprayed either over the crossbar or just outside the uprights.

Nevertheless, their ur-

gency seemed to get the better of Ascension and another goal was scored in the 60th minute when Kevyn Murray scored a sweet header.

It was now nervous moments for Ascension as Business School nearly got the equaliser when a rasping drive from the right side slammed on to the right upright and got stuck in the mud inches short of the goalline. An unfortunate end for the Brickdam-based institution.

Meanwhile, home side St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary inflicted a 5-0 thrashing on the Canadian School of Arts Science on Sunday in wet and soggy conditions at the St Cuthbert’s Community Centre Ground.

Tridents won’t be daunted by defeat, says Drakes

Barbados Tridents assistant coach Vasbert Drakes says the reigning Caribbean Premier League champions can still be proud despite seeing their winning streak halted by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Playing at Kensington Oval last Saturday, Tridents plunged to their first defeat in four game in a thriller, losing to the previously winless Patriots by a single run of the last ball of the game.

“I think it was a fantastic game of cricket. Obviously we’re a little disappointed that we didn’t bring it home at the end there,” Drakes said.

“Like anything else, the margin for error is so small in these T20 games. The minute you’re behind the eight-ball it’s going to be very difficult. At the end of the day, I think we’re very happy that even though we lost the game, we still competed.”

Tridents entered the game on the back of victories over last year’s losing finalists, Guyana Amazon Warriors, 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

They limited Patriots to 143 for eight but then slipped to 14 for three after five overs and then strug-

Benjamin’s double fails to save Tutorial from NA Multilateral

New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS) outplayed powerhouse Tutorial Academy Secondary School (TASS) to advance to the second round of the Region Six leg of the fifth annual Digicel School Football Tournament.

NAMS put aside the former Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) champions 3-2 when the two teams met at the Burnham Park Ground on Monday.

Ranaldo Cassiono sent the underdogs ahead in the fifth minute when he put a shot wide of goalkeeper Stephan Hosannah.

Bryton Murray made it 2-nil when he found the back of the net in the 25th minute.

Murray received a pass from Trevette Grimond

just inside the 18-yard box and went around defenders Lewis Carter and Fedelle Rose before sending a low shot between the uprights from the top of the six-yard box.

TASS were in with a chance when Yonnick Benjamin put in his first of two goals in the 43rd minute. Benjamin took on the defenders and used his speed to get ahead before giving goalkeeper Tavell Simon no chance.

In the 72nd minute, NAMS were awarded a shot from the penalty spot and Shamar Donald made no mistake to increase the lead to 3-1. However, Benjamin answered that goal two minutes later.

With the players tiring on the heavy waterlogged

outfield, TASS tried to steal the advantage as NAMS desperately held on and depended on their defence.

With only a few seconds left in the game, Keston Henry made a quick move down the wing and sent a perfect pass to a lurking Shavas Thomas inside the 18-yard box, but Thomas failed to score what would have been one of the easiest goals of the game which would have been the equaliser. NAMS will now take on Berbice Educational Institute on July 12 at the Kildonan Ground.

Meanwhile, the knockout competition in Region Six continues today when Tagore Secondary take on Manchester Secondary at the Skeldon Community Centre Ground.

gled to recover despite a brilliant 82 from captain Kieron Pollard.

He put on 93 for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik who scored 35, and Drakes said the partnership nearly won Tridents the game.

“I don’t think anything really went wrong. I thought they bowled really well up front and put us under pressure,” the former West Indies player said.

“They took the wickets and we had to consolidate. Pollard played a fantastic innings and got us back into it along with Shoaib, who also got us back into the game.”

Barbados will now go on the road where they face St Lucia Zouks in their first game on Wednesday and Drakes believes the side can extend their success.

“We have momentum so we just need to build on it,” he stressed. (CMC)

The three marksmen for Ascension pose for a photo on Monday

– St Cuthbert’s cruise to next round

(Andrew Carmichael)

NAMS goalscorers (L-R) Shamar Donald, Ranaldo Cassiono and Bryton Murray

Vasbert Drakes

Dilshan available and ready for Friday’s game

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Sri Lankan signing Tillekaratne Dilshan is fit and ready to face off against newcomers St Kitts Patriots in Match 11 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Friday at Warner Park, St Kitts.

Playing against the St Lucia Zouks last Friday, opener Dilshan suffered a nasty blow to the head from a Kemar Roach delivery, resulting in a cut above the right eye.

Team Operations

Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, in giving an update on the batsman’s condition on Monday, said Dilshan was on course for full participation in the upcoming game.

“Dilshan is recovering well – he had six stitches on the cut above his right eye and will be ready for Friday’s game,” Khan confirmed.

In other team-related news, Khan said the team had an “extensive training session” on Monday in preparation for Friday’s game. Pakistan’s Umar Akmal will join the squad on Wednesday, and for the first

time this season the Amazon Warriors will have four international players at their disposal.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera will no longer join the squad, according to Khan, but the versatile South African David Wiese will link up with the franchise on July 9 in Jamaica.

Guyana Amazon Warriors, two-time runners-up of the tournament, will look to regroup and get their campaign back on track on Friday against the Patriots, following back-toback defeats in the opening

two games.

In the opening match, the Warriors lost to reigning champions Barbados Tridents by 49 runs, while they lost by two runs to St Lucia Zouks in game two.

Khan said, “The team is looking to start winning from Friday so as to bring joy to all our fans and supporters in Guyana and around the world. The guys clearly understand what is required from them and they are really committed to doing well for the rest of the tournament.”

Friday’s game will start at 16:00h.

Shabazz unfazed by defeats

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“When my contract is up, they will see my back”

B y A ven A sh R A mz A n

Despite a tough past few months, Head Coach of the Guyana national football set-up, Jamaal Shabazz, remains unfazed by his detractors, noting that “when my contract is up, they will see my back”.

Shabazz, who previously served as Technical Director of Guyana’s football on two occasions, only this year commenced a third stint, this time as Head Coach of the senior national men’s team, the Golden Jaguars, and the national Under-23 men’s team.

Both teams have been on the negative side of the results with the Golden Jaguars being booted from the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers earlier this month, and the Under-23s failing to get past Group

Two of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the Olympic Qualifiers last weekend.

In the senior team’s World Cup qualifiers, the Golden Jaguars drew both home and away games with St Vincent and the Grenadines (2-2 away and 4-4 home), missing out on qualification on the away goals rule.

In the Under-23 Olympic Qualifiers, the young national ball weavers suffered 2-0 losses at the hands of Cuba and hosts Antigua and Barbuda, but salvaged some pride in a bottomof-the-table clash against Aruba, winning 5-0.

“But, trust me, I am stronger than to be moved by a string of results that did not go our way and preparation that can be described as far from adequate. The dream of wanting to move from zero to

hero must be tempered by the reality of how far we have come after two and a half years of dormancy. If you put 200 in the bank and you push your card to withdraw 500, you will get a slip stating this cannot happen. Football is no different,” Shabazz reasoned.

Shabazz was at the time speaking to www.gffonline. com, when he mentioned that the Guyana Football Federation’s Normalisation Committee, headed by businessman Clinton Urling, must be commended for initiating the process of having the national teams up and running.

“The foundation is being laid and the seeds are being planted. With Allah’s help and more work collectively, we shall see the fruits of our labour in two years,” Shabazz reckoned.

Best still to come from Patriots, warns skipper Samuels

Skipper Marlon Samuels has promised there is more exciting cricket to come from St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, following their first win of the Caribbean Premier League last weekend.

Patriots, the new franchise in this year’s competition, upset the previously unbeaten Barbados Tridents last Saturday at Kensington Oval when they bowled brilliantly to pull off a one-run victory.

“There’s still a lot of room to improve and this team hasn’t played to their full potential as yet, and you’re going to see some brilliant cricket from the Patriots,” said Samuels.

“We’re coming together, putting everything in order so the team is definitely gelling and the dressing room has been wonderful.”

Patriots opened the tournament on a losing note last week, going down to hosts St Lucia Zouks in Gros Islet by seven wickets.

Sent in by the Tridents in their second match, they posted 143 for eight and then defied a top score of 82 from captain Kieron Pollard, to inch home off the last ball.

They reduced the Tridents to 14 for three in the fifth over before drying up the runs during the middle overs, and forcing the required run rate up to nearly 13 at one point.

Samuels said he had been forced to make several adjustments, but was always in control of the situation.

“I backed my spinners to bring me through the middle overs but the conditions changed where the spinners couldn’t grip the ball so I had to bring back [seamer] Orlando Peters,” the Jamaican explained.

“At the 17th over, I knew I had [Sohail] Tanvir with all that experience to

come and give me a couple dot balls, maybe give me a wicket here and there and that’s how I looked to finish off the game.”

With 28 runs required from the last two overs, left-arm seamer Tanvir sent down the penultimate over which cost just nine, leaving 19 to get from the last over.

Peters then held his nerve to restrict the Tridents, and Samuels said keeping calm had been key to the win in the late stages.

“That’s the most important thing and we keep talking about it in the dressing room, just going to play freely and not panicking,” he pointed out.

“We’ve got seven games at home [now]. We played two practice games and the wickets were spinning and doing a lot of things. Hopefully there will be no rain and I will back my three spinners to come up wonderful in this tournament.”

Patriots face Jamaica Tallawahs in their next game on Tuesday at Warner Park. (CMC)

Marlon Samuels

Tillekaratne Dilshan Umar Akmal David Wiese

Omar Khan

Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz is in no mood to pack up and leave