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First Lady attends "Celebration of Mothers" tea party P13 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3211

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, May 15, 2017

PRICE

Long road ahead in fighting drug scourge

Guyana remains drug trafficking transit point

– US State Dept report

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Hundreds stranded at Supenaam Stelling P2 – as ferry runs out of fuel

Page 3

Corrective works at Kato School

MPI defends hiring P7 VIKAB as consultant – says no other company responded

Border controversy with Venezuela

Guyana looking for moral P8 leverage Heather Gonsalves and her daughter Renee copped the coveted crown in the Senior Category of the Mother and Daughter Pageant, when its 26th edition was held on Saturday evening at the National Cultural Centre. The winners in the Junior Category were Dacia Fraser and her daughter Samacia, while the Middle Category winners were Kenciola Craig and her daughter Ashanti (Carl Croker photo)

$500M cocaine bust

Page 12

CANU hunting motor racers, sawmill owner

– says former Foreign Affair Minister

GWI installs new service connections in Mahdia P11

– almost 100 leaks repaired

Was it shock?

Wife dies 2 P17 days after husband jailed for 2 years

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monDAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hundreds stranded at Supenaam Stelling – as ferry runs out of fuel

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The MV Kanawan leaving the port after the captain told passengers the vessel had no fuel

undreds of passengers scheduled to depart the Supenaam Ferry Stelling in Region Two at 16:00h on Sunday were left stranded after the captain of the boat announced that the boat was out of fuel.

Passengers were inconvenienced, frustrated, and therefore angry. Most of them, having already made plans to journey with the boat to Region Three, questioned how the ferry was being managed, and why it is that the boat was not fuelled before the journey had commenced. Several persons, in-

at 16:00h on Sunday but the passengers said that they were told that the vessel have no fuel and as a result they were debarred from boarding. They told this publication that the information from the stelling authorities were not forthcoming and as such they are unable to make alternative arrangements.

One passenger, Rado Persaud, said he along with another passenger is willing to provide fuel for the vessel providing it is discounted from their fares. “We willing to fuel up this boat but the people (stelling officials) nah

Some of the stranded passengers

cluding those who had babies onboard, had to resort to using speedboats to continue their journey, while truck owners were forced to stay onboard the ferry.

A truck owner who told Guyana Times that he was transporting “perishable goods” questioned whether he would be refunded the cost of his goods. And a businessman said he was due to make a delivery within a certain time, but with the ferry being out of operation he cannot honour the deadline.

Passengers generally said they were quite fedup with the ferry service.

"If the boat engine doesn't have issues, it's high tide.

If it's not high tide, then it's (the boat being) out of fuel.

If Government is providing a service to the people, then that service must be prompt and reliable," one passenger lamented.

Confusion

The passengers were left in a state of confusion after they were told they would not be able to board the MV Kanawan, from Supenaam to Parika, because its fuel tanks were empty. However, the same vessel started its engine and left the port approximately an hour after.

The MV Kanawan was expected to depart Supenaam

come forward and say nothing…we have goods to take to Georgetown because tomorrow is Monday and is the day for us to do business,” he said.

Persaud said that he has been travelling the Supenaam-Parika route almost daily for a number of years but this is the first time he ever encountered such a situation. “I does use this boat almost every day

all will suffer,” Persaud added.

However, at around 17:30h the MV Kanawan started its engines and moved out of the loading dock to allow the MV Sabanto to discharge passengers as well as cargo. This left the stranded passengers both confused and angry as to the reason they were not allowed to board the vessel.

Another passenger, Dayal (only name given), told the Guyana Times that he is transporting perishable goods and as such it is imperative for him to reach his destination at the allotted time. “I have ‘goods’ to take to my customers and I will lose if they keep we here till tomorrow…they nah tell you anything and nobody nah look like them care,” the irate man said.

He noted that there are approximately seventeen trucks with ‘goods’ to be delivered within an allotted time or they stand to lose their customers to other suppliers. However, at around 18:30h passengers were able to board the MV Sabanto with no explanation or apology from the officials. They are dubbing the way they were treated as inhumane and inconsiderate and are calling on the relevant authorities to launch an investigation into the matter.

They are also hoping that such an incident never occur again.

When the Guyana Times contacted General

Some of the trucks transporting goods from Supenaam to Parika and other parts of the country

and every trip I make is $35,000. I does have to pay for my truck…right now my truck sitting down there with rice from the millers waiting to go to Georgetown,” he informed. “…if this rice don’t meet the customers then the millers will lose their contracts and they nah go be able to pay the farmers and then we

Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Marcelene Merchant, she indicated that she is on vacation leave but promised to return a call with clarifications.

However, up until press time the call was not returned and subsequent efforts to contact her proved futile.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 15 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, May 16 – 08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 15 – 06:30h-08:00h and Tuesday, May 16 – 07:10h-08:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers in the early morning followed by heavy rain showers throughout the day can be expected, while partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 06:50h and 19:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.39 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:53h reaching a minimum height of 0.68 metre.

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Long road ahead in fighting drug scourge

Guyana remains drug trafficking transit point – US State Dept report

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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key report on the global fight against narcotic trafficking and money laundering has been released by the United States Department of State.

Entitled the “International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)”, it shows that Guyana has a long road ahead in combating the drug scourge.

According to the report, which was released recently, Guyana is still a transit point for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa. The report also mapped out the route for cocaine coming from Colombia, noting that it was smuggled to Venezuela, thence to Guyana via sea or air.

“Smugglers also transit land borders with Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname.

Cocaine is often concealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport, human couriers, “gofast” boats or various postal methods,” the report added.

In a domestic context, the report states that “the influence of narcotics trafficking is evident in the country’s criminal justice systems and other sectors”. Traffickers, it noted, “are attracted by the country’s poorly monitored ports, remote airstrips, intricate river networks, porous land borders, and weak security sector capacity”.

In an analysis on Trinidad and Tobago, the report states that the islands’ production of marijuana is concentrated in the heavily forested mountains. However, it was observed that marijuana cultivators in the twin-island republic compete with imports from other countries, including Guyana.

Drug enforcement

Guyana, the report noted, has a drug enforcement presence at its international airports, post offices, and, to a lesser extent, at port and land-border entry points. It

acknowledged the five major agencies involved in the anti-drug fight: the Guyana Police Force (GPF); Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU); the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU), and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

“The GDF supports law enforcement agencies with boats, aircraft, and personnel, but has limited capac-

seizure of 48 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and in June, 579 kg of marijuana.

“Through the first six months of 2016, the GPF reported seizing 16 kg of cocaine, a significant decrease from the 134.2 kg of cocaine that was seized over the same period in 2015. CANU reported seizing 60 kg of cocaine over this period (down from 568.3 kg in 2015), and the GRA did not report any

Some 1276lbs of marijuana, which were part of a drug bust at John Fernandes Wharf in 2016

ity and lacks law enforcement authority. The Guyana Coast Guard (GCG), a GDF sub-component and US partner in maritime interdiction, patrols Guyana’s territorial waters and conducts humanitarian search-and-rescue missions.”

In 2012, with US funding through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Container Control Programme (CCP) established “a multi-agency CCP Port Control Unit at the John Fernandes Wharf, Guyana’s most active port”.

The report acknowledges some success that initiative had, such as the April 2016

seizures. Guyanese authorities convicted 46 persons on drug-related charges during 2016,” the report said.

Drug rehabilitation

But the report paints a bleak picture of the Government’s commitment to drug rehabilitation schemes. It states that Guyana lacks a comprehensive strategy to reduce demand and adequately address drug rehabilitation.

It notes that marijuana is the most widely used drug in Guyana, followed by cocaine. But the report observes that there is only one Government body responsible for drug rehabilitation.

“The Guyana National

Council for Drug Education, Rehabilitation, and Treatment, within the Ministry of Public Health, is the single Government body responsible for addressing demand reduction. Nongovernmental organisations also offer rehabilitation services.”

The report acknowledged that the University of Guyana (UG) had initiated a demand reduction curriculum through funding from the Organisation of American States/InterAmerican Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/ CICAD).

Other means of rehabilitation, the report noted, was the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) project, which the US supports as part of the CBSI. “This provides vulnerable youth with training, mentorship, job placement and other support to increase their chances of success and to reduce youth involvement in crime and violence. The programme also supports increased use of alternative sentences, so that youth who commit minor crimes are given an opportunity to rehabilitate outside penal facilities,” the report stated.

However, the report emphasises that the US is welcome to increasing its cooperation with the Government of Guyana “to advance mutual interests against the threat of international drug trafficking”.

Noting that Guyana has shown an interest in furthering collaboration under the CBSI, the report said the US was looking forward to more progress on investigations, prosecutions, extraditions and security sector capacity enhancement.In addition, the report spoke of the US Government’s expectation that Guyana would continue engagement with at-risk communities, as well as enforcement of laws against money laundering and financial crimes.

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

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

Whose Mother’s Day?

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ne of the tragedies of the neoliberal paradigm that was ushered in by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s was the justification for privatising most of the traditional functions of the state. Electricity, water, transportation, and even the roads, for the latter were now to be provided for by “the market,” and of course had to show profits.

Even in countries like Guyana, which spent their first centuries of existence being exploited for colonial empires, the commitment to social justice by the independence generation leaders was abandoned.

We therefore have the irony of an economist, Clive Thomas, who powerfully pleaded the case against neoliberalism for “The Poor and the Powerless” in the book of that name as recently as 1990, now becoming the main proponent of throwing 7000 sugar workers out of work, in line with neo-liberal policies of the PNC-led APNU/AFC government.

Referring to policies that included “people” and not only “markets” in their calculus, Dr Thomas had written: “First, in direct contrast to what prevails, development for me takes place when production is oriented towards satisfying the basic needs of the masses at large. By “the masses” I simply refer to all those “who do not have any power in society derived from property, book wealth, religion, caste, expertise or other sources not widely shared”.

He could be describing the sugar workers now being made “redundant”; but, for some reason, he now chooses to erase them from his plea for justice.

Dr Thomas continued, “In this way, the concerns of the poor and the powerless become the central focus of development, and not an incidental item on the agenda of export competitiveness, industry, new technology, or any such disembodied abstraction. That is to say, production for the basic needs of the masses implies a systematic, CONSCIOUS, deliberate, and planned attack on poverty, for the deliberate removal of poverty becomes a determinant of what is produced. In other words, the elimination of poverty is not treated as an incidental consequence of production, as when profit is the main determinant of output.”

How then can Dr Thomas, as the Chairman of GUYSUCO, justify the actions of the Board he now heads in placing “profits” before basic needs, as well as lives? Is the closure of Wales, Rose Hall, and Enmore a “planned attack on poverty”?

Dr Thomas was not finished, but went on to emphasis the fundamental right to work: “Second, development in the region can only take place when it is planned that the satisfaction of these basic needs are to be generated through the effective exercise of the right to work. By this I mean not only that all those who want jobs should have them, but also the right to a job without coercion as to place or type of job, given the particular skills.”

Yet he now demands workers from Wales have to work 22 miles away, at Uitvlugt; and cane planters become cane cutters.

Dr Thomas expanded on “the right to work” as including “a framework of industrial relations which permits free collective bargaining and effective representation, (as distinct from nominal) within bargaining units; a work process that allows for effective worker involvement and control; the protection of health, and guarantee of education and training for all workers for the tasks they are engaged in. The objective here is to situate work in a selfrealization process. In other words, work is seen here as both an end and a means of development.”

Yesterday was “Mother’s Day”, and most of the media went into a frenzy on the neo-liberal expropriation of “mother’s love”. Sadly, no one remembered at least 1300 of the 7000 sugar workers fired were mothers, as were 5300 wives of the fired male workers. They have now been plunged deeper into the ranks of the “poor and the powerless”. And has been the case since slavery, indentureship and beyond, they will have to ensure the survival of their families -- sadly, by any means necessary.

Scarlet ibis fly near the banks of a mangrove swamp located at the mouth of the Calcoene River on the coast of Amapa state, northern Brazil (Reuters/Ricardo Moraes)

When hunting elephants, do not be distracted by rabbits

Dear Editor, I refer to a letter written

by Mark Benschop and published in the Kaieteur News of Sunday, May 14, 2017.

What a venomous and vituperative outpouring of ad hominem diatribe that was!

Upon reflection, I am happy that I provided an outlet for the toxicity. Any receptacle of such level of poison must contaminate itself after a while.

Mr Benschop used the occasion to heap at my feet every allegation of wrongdoing ever made against the PPP government. The fact that I was in government for only two and a half years was de-

liberately omitted.

As regards the allegations made against me personally, he must recognise that despite all his rantings of wrongs which I allegedly committed, all the coalition government can charge me with is US$2000 worth of law books -- a charge which the prosecutors, in effect, conceded was instituted without evidence, and one which they are now fishing for evidence to support. That the charge will be dismissed I am in no doubt.

Rather than accept that the treason charge against him was a product of his

foolish and clumsy bravado, Mr Benschop blames the world. I maintain that in a normal society with a fair and unbiased jury, Mr Benschop would not only have been convicted of treason, but he would have been charged and convicted of manslaughter in respect of the person whom he aided, abetted, counselled and procured on a loud hailer to “break down the gates [Office of the President gates] and take over the place”. The evidence was clear, cogent, compelling and uncontroverted.

Mr Robert Corbin was so right when he warned

this nation to beware of “certain wild men” -- who are not only public nuisances, but whose agenda is only to cause social unrest and public disorder in this land.

I have neither the energy nor the time to further engage lumpens like Mark Benschop, so this will be my final response in this matter.

I will adhere to the advice of a former U.S. President, who said, “When you are hunting elephants, you must not be distracted by rabbits”.

Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

Saints go ‘arching’ in Dear Editor, It has become increasingly frustrating and difficult to deny the fruitlessness of the over-politicisation of every visible development in our nation.

The $20M arch is, in my opinion, arguably one such development. I venture to guess that the most objective among Guyanese have grown progressively tired of the partisan discourse that seems to surround marginally impactful events. On the spectrum of addressable issues for concerned Guyanese, I humbly submit my opinion -- that the construction of this arch is hardly worth top prioritisation in civic engagement.

The response to such things has usually been driven by deeply divisive and partisan rhetoric, and undeniably by the disruptive politics of yesteryear. That is not to say that these fac-

tors are not at all relevant in today’s political climate, but the prosperous future of the nation is dependent on their increasing irrelevance. This criticism can be levelled equally at both sides of the Guyanese political debate.

On the one hand, the construction of the arch has been described by the current administration as everything: from a depiction of Caribbean engineering talent to a reflection of the vibrancy of the Caribbean economy, to a visible illustration of the relationship between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago, to the symbolism of our destiny as a people, to a reflection of Guyana’s “green” agenda, to a metaphoric representation of the uniqueness of Guyana, to a signpost to define the boundaries of Georgetown; and, of course, also as a gesture of goodwill from ANSA McAL.

Although symbols mean many things to many different people, it is hardly likely that the inspiration came before the gesture. The disparate and opportunistic symbolism being promoted for association with this arch aspires to clever optics, although the argument can be made that it has had the opposite impact.

On the other hand, the strong criticism levelled against the temporary inconvenience created by the arch’s construction is extremely and transparently one-sided, and wastes valuable time and effort. More importantly, the supposition of a connection between the gifted arch and preferential treatment towards ANSA McAL is simply an ineffective misuse of political voice.

Objectively, there are arguably many more effective ways to buy favour -- including sole sourcing – than gift-

ing an arch. Taken from this vantage point, the optics are indeed admittedly terrible.

Focusing on connecting these dots in this instance does nothing for the good of Guyanese people.

At the end of it all, the debate serves as a fervent but pointless distraction from the consequential issues to Guyanese people.

In fact, the arch does little more than remind the poorer people of the nation that, even in times of dire need, scarce resources are seldom effectively utilised in consequential ways.

It would be hard to imagine an argument that distorts the simple truths. The political discourse needs to be better, the Guyanese people deserve better.

Rene Azeez, Senior Healthcare Strategist, Toronto, Canada

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

Warning signs on roadside parking needed

Dear Editor, In recent road travels on the coast from Charity to Springlands, I noticed several potential dangers that could be causes of accidents: parking of vehicles and heavy equipment on the sides or parapets of roads (some even protruding onto the driving lane of the highway); sun-drying of daan (paddy); and burning of chafe (or dried vegetation) on or near the roadway (with billowing black smoke blinding drivers).

There were near-accidents, evoking fear of driving on the roads. In fact, I was informed that, over the years, many accidents -- some fatal -- have already occurred as

a result of the preceding related causes; and those accidents have caused too many lives and limbs to be lost.

Some form of control is needed, and this may require Government as well as traffic police intervention. In Guyana, there are no hazard alerts of danger ahead. This should be mandatory, or a fine should be imposed for this violation.

Owners of vehicles and heavy equipment, and farmers also, need to be considerate of others using the roadway and display utmost regard for life. They should exercise some common sense when parking equipment, or drying daan, or burning garbage. They cannot occupy

large stretches of the roadway (especially in residential areas) to dry grains, and they cannot burn waste near roadways; because it creates a situation in which drivers cannot see in front of them, and this leads to head-on collisions.

Also, when parking vehicles and equipment -- cars, trucks, buses, minivans, combines, ploughs, tractors, trailers, draglines, and other heavy equipment – they should ensure that no part thereof extends onto a parapet or roadway, as this can constitute a fatal accident waiting to happen.

In cases when accidents have occurred because of any of the foregoing reasons, the

person or persons responsible for setting the stage for the accident to happen by engaging in any of the foregoing practices should be charged and/or sued for contributing to the cause of an accident. These cases should be used as examples or precedents set to prevent potential disasters.

In the US, police are known to have levelled manslaughter charges and/or fines on owners of parked vehicles if it was determined that the manner in which their vehicles or equipment were parked contributed to the cause of accidents (resulting in loss of life, property, limbs, etc). It is known as reckless parking and de-

praved indifference to potential loss of life, and the charges have been justified.

In the US, heavy equipment cannot be parked on roadways, except when construction is ongoing; and they have to be kept in a secluded (gated) area where they do not pose any possibility of causing an accident.

The same should be done in Guyana, since land space is not an issue. Also when not in use, heavy vehicles should mandatorily be kept off the road.

Also, in the US, when there are hazards on the road, there are warning signs and bright visors or reflectors attached to the parked equipment or vehicle, so that

motorists are forewarned from some distance away.

The same can be required in Guyana.

Road construction is also a problem, with no signs being erected warning of holes or trenches or (heavy) equipment ahead on the road.

High visibility safety materials (apparel) should be posted on the equipment to alert motorists to slow down and be aware of the danger.

With traffic congestion steadily increasing, people need to become safety conscious and use some amount of common sense to prevent potential accidents.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

AFC was placed there to get the PPP/C out of office Dear Editor, I begin my discourse by asking my readers the question: Was there ever a party called the AFC? The honest answer is: No! In theory and on paper, there seems to have been a political entity called the AFC; but in reality, this is not so. If you go through the metamorphosis of that party, you will get the true picture of what I am talking about. From the onset of that group of persons comprising of Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and the “man of no ethnicity,” Moses Nagamootoo, you get the stark reality that here we have a party that was simply an appendage to the PNC. Trotman was always a PNC-ite and nothing but a “PNC-ite; Nagamootoo and Ramjattan vowed to their party (PPP) leadership that they would get them out of office “at all costs.” This they eventually did in the most brutal and degrading of ways. So matters of state interest that were hatched

by corrupt backstreet machinations were bound for the dung heap of history. The rest is history.

Nagamootoo openly denounced his ethnic ancestry, stating that he is “not Indian”, knowing fully well that he was about to enter the “bullying world” of the PNC, where Indians and the mention of the word “Indian” should be wiped out of his vocabulary.

Maybe, and only maybe, Nagamootoo was cognizant of the fact of a Vincent Teekah, and this corralled him into making the declaration that he is not Indian. Who knows?

Only time will tell why this man made that statement.

And should I say I would like to be part of that team when the history books of this country would have been written, so that an answer would become apparent?

So, this “organization of sorts” called the AFC, knowing fully well that the “powers that be” were about to install a PNC Government, jumped on to the gravy train as a party. The external pow-

ers were working assiduously behind the scenes to get the PNC into power, but that was an uphill task, seeing that the PNC cannot -- I repeat: cannot -- command a majority at any election. So concoct a party and say to the people that they would coalesce to prove their theory that the PPP/C can be voted out of office by legal means.

Hogwash!

In this regard, they set these two to campaign in the PPP districts to capture their votes. It is all on YouTube, so there is no need for either party to even attempt to refute the allegations. The strategy did work, thus setting up the marriage that never was. It was a parasitic union, the sordid results

of which are vividly captured each day with the pitiful excuses by these two leading AFC figures. They lied to the people of this country at every available opportunity, in the rice and sugar industry, in commercial business and construction. In all the possible areas of Indian dominance, the “super powers” used and abused these two individuals to good advantage.

So I return to my original question: Was there ever a party called the AFC? And the answer comes back: Absolutely not! There is no such party, only a conspiracy hatched and delivered by corrupt First World politicians to get the PPP/C out of office.

The AFC represents a mishmash of persons who

were put there to act as a buffer, if not to shore up the atrocities of the PNC.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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Foundation

(Conclusion)

By Seth J Gillihan, PhD

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his pattern is a common one in research on parenting, with mothers in heterosexual couples more likely to experience negative effects of parenting – and less likely to experience positive effects – than fathers. A recent review in this area included studies showing that, compared to fathers, mothers tend to experience: * more stress and lower satisfaction with their personal life and family life * fewer positive effects of being a parent * lower satisfaction with being a parent * a greater decline in marital quality and increase in marital distress * greater depression (consistent with the greater incidence of depression among women in general) * a greater decline in total sleep time (fathers’ did not change significantly) * fewer positive emotions when interacting with kids, probably in part because dads are more often involved in play while moms tend to be in charge of the less fun activities like getting children dressed and fed * less consistent “social rhythms” – things like wake and sleep times, meal times, etc. * more time in child-related activities * not enough time for themselves (nearly 4 out of 5 moms) * much more financial strain as single parents (78 per cent of mothers vs 18% of fathers) These findings are in line with a groundbreaking book called The Transition to Parenthood by Jay Belsky and John Kelly, which followed couples from pre-children to three years post-baby. They noted that there are in fact two transitions to parenthood for most couples: His and hers. As Belsky and

Kelly described, the majority of men fairly quickly reclaim many parts of their prechild life: They return to work as before, their sleep improves, they make time for pastimes and friends, they exercise, and so forth. In contrast, mothers’ lives on average change a lot more, with a more fundamental realignment of their time and energy toward caring for the child. Accordingly, fathers are more likely to be getting their psychological needs met, whereas mothers more often sacrifice their needs for those of the child.

(Obviously, there are exceptions to these general trends.)

Much of the conflict that follows the arrival of a child comes from these different experiences, and disagreement about where each parent focuses his or her time and energy. Moms tend to see their partners as too self-focused, whereas dads often see their partners as too child-focused.

It’s not hard to understand the greater toll parenthood can take on mothers’ needs.

A mother who’s working a longer “second shift” (or third) at home will have less time to devote to other relationships. Stay-athome mothers might miss the satisfaction of exercising their competence at work, and

discount their current occupation as being “just a mom” (even while recognising there’s no harder or more important job). Mothers who work outside the home can feel like they’re letting people down on two fronts, as their bosses and their families pressure them for more time. They’re also more likely to have to call out from work to care for a sick child, leading to greater role conflict.

Hope for parents’ well-being?

Part of the value of Ryan and Deci’s research on fundamental human needs is that by understanding what our needs are, we have a better chance of satisfying them. If you’ve found that your sense of relatedness, competence, or autonomy have suffered after having kids, consider trying one of these evidence-based strategies to better meet your needs: Play to your own parenting strengths.

In a recent study, parents identified their top strengths as parents, as well as less well-developed strengths they wanted to work on. They subsequently felt a greater sense of competence as parents.

Play to your children’s strengths. In the same study, parents who practised identifying and appreciating their child’s strengths also felt more competent as parents, and experienced more positive emotions.

Reflect on what you did well. It’s easy to remember our disappointments as parents, and probably harder to recall our successes. Consider writing down at the end of the day three things you did well as a parent, no matter how large or small. This type of exercise has been shown to be helpful for everyone, including parents.

Practise mindfulness. Being in the moment with non-judgmental openness is linked with greater need satisfaction, as well as greater awareness of our needs.

It doesn’t have to take a lot of time – no extended meditation sessions are required.

By pausing even for a moment now and then and taking an internal inventory of our thoughts and emotions, we lower our stress and give ourselves a chance to identify what we might need – and possible ways to fulfil

our needs. You might start with this One-Minute ***Breath Meditation. In fact, mindfulness practise can require literally zero extra time when we practise simply focusing our attention on whatever we’re doing.

Challenge your thinking.

Sometimes our thoughts can lead us astray. For example, we might believe implicitly that “I must always put my child’s needs ahead of my own.” Living in line with this belief not only can interfere with meeting our own needs, but can lead to resentment from sacrificing our own well-being, or guilt if we feel like we’re not doing it perfectly.

Make a plan. If you recognise that you’re struggling to fulfil any of the three basic psychological

needs, take a few minutes to brainstorm ways you might fulfil one of your needs this week. If you’re in a relationship, consider involving your partner in the process. Make a specific plan for life-giving activities you want to add to your schedule, and put the plans in your calendar (and protect that time).

For parents who are intimately involved in their children’s lives, parenting will never be an easy or sacrificefree endeavour – nor should it be. Continuing the chain of life is no small thing. And when we’re willing to consider our own needs alongside those of our children, everyone will benefit: our partners, ourselves, and even our kids. (psychologytoday.com)

(Continued from Saturday)

By Susan Albers

I

4 Clean-up crew trap t’s frustrating when kids take one bite of their peanut butter sandwich and leave the rest completely untouched.

Moms often find themselves eating their kid’s leftovers to prevent it from going to waste or grazing on it just because it is there.

The Mindful Mom: Invest in small snack sized containers designated specifically for leftovers. If it is something you just can’t save, remember that endangering your health isn’t a good alternative to throwing away food. Feed the remainder to the birds or use it for compost.

5 Exhaustion trap If you are a new parent, you know what it is like to feel completely and utterly exhausted. Be cautious of using food as an energy replacement. Lack of sleep negatively impacts your appetite hormones that regulate satiety and fullness cues.

The Mindful Mom: Notice whether you are in the habit of eating for an energy boost instead of to quiet a rumbling stomach. More sleep would be ideal. Until your child turns the corner and begins snoozing through the night, be sure to regulate your blood sugar with healthy, whole grain foods (oatmeal, 100% whole wheat, fruits etc.).

If you can’t get more sleep at the moment, try a few moments of simply resting and allowing yourself some down time. Play quietly on the floor with your baby. On the flip side, exercise can also be energising. Put the baby in the stroller and go for a brisk walk to get your blood moving and pump oxygen to your brain. Or, use your baby as your dance partner.

6 Kid food trap Foods marketed to children can be extremely deceptive. Don’t assume that it is healthy because it’s packaged for tots. Drink boxes and packaged snacks are often filled with sugar and artificial colouring to attract kids.

The Mindful Mom: Stick to foods that are as close to nature as you can find. A whole piece of fruit is a good bet and very portable.

If you buy snack foods in a bag, be sure to carefully check the label to ensure that the snacks aren’t pumped up with flavouring and unnecessary sweetening.

7 Pajama pants trap If you are a stay-at-home mom or stick close to home with your tots, it’s easy to spend the morning in your sweats. Clothing helps us to be more aware of your body. The way your clothing fits is often your first clue that you are gaining or losing weight.

The Mindful Mom: Although it sounds simple enough, getting dressed first thing in the morning can help you to eat better. Wearing your everyday clothing can make you feel good about yourself and alerts you right away to any changes in your body.Remember that taking care of yourself ultimately makes you a better mom. Happy Mother’s Day to new moms everywhere! (psychologytoday.com)

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monDAY, may 15, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Corrective works at Kato School

MPI defends hiring VIKAB as consultant

– says no other company responded

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overnment has defended its decision to sole-source VIKAB Guyana Ltd to supervise corrective works that are to be undertaken on the edifice of the troubled Kato Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The Trinidad-based consultancy firm has had a series of problems overseeing construction works on several local projects, including the rehabilitation of the Supenaam Stelling over a decade ago.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry (MPI) has, however, sought to provide an insight as to how the supervisory contract got into the hands of the Trinidadian firm, saying on Sunday that VIKAB was the only company to respond when the bids for the consultancy service were closed.

It was explained that at meeting back in February, representatives from the Ministries of Public Infrastructure, Indigenous People’s Affairs, Communities, Education, and Social Cohesion decided that the Kato Secondary School, which had several structural defects, should be repaired and completed.

That meeting also decided that the contractor Kares

disbursement targets for this project,” it stated.

“The Ministry, through peer review and consultations with the Ministry of Education, is acquainted with the performance of the consultants who demonstrate the capacity, reserve resources, and availability to tender for

Guyana.

Refusal

It was noted, too, that among the six proposed consultants was Rodrigues Architects Ltd. (RAL), the company which executed the independent technical audit of the New Kato Secondary School Complex last year.

Kato Secondary School

Engineering Inc should complete all corrective works on the school and bear the cost of the remedial works. The works will have to be subjected to strict supervision, and this was agreed to by the contractor.

The Public Infrastructure Ministry was duly asked to recruit an independent supervisory consultant to oversee the project. In addition, an independent four-person committee comprising one member from the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), two from the Kato community and one from the region was ordered to provide periodic oversight, in addition to the independent supervisory Consultant.

No response

The Public Infrastructure Ministry pointed out that in

its effort to recruit the supervisory consultant for the remedial works, the president of GAPE was approached for assistance in shortlisting the consultant and reviewing the proposed terms of reference.

“Unfortunately, no response was received from that organisation, and as a consequence, six consultants were identified in a restrictive tendering method for the selection of the supervisory consultant,” the MPI said.

It noted that this method was chosen in order to avoid any risks of time loss during the normal open-bidding procurement process. “This process is protracted and presents a challenge to meet the urgent growing intervention needs and

The architect examining a gaping hole on the second floor corridor of the Kato Secondary School during a visit last year

these services. The consultants proposed were selected on the basis of having access to financial resources that would allow swift mobilization response to the project site, if awarded,” MPI added.

The MPI also pointed out that the listed consultants possess the adequate experience of having similarly served in the remote regions of

However, the company has asked not to be considered for the Supervisory Consultant position, since its representatives believe that the best interest of the project would be served by engaging another consultancy company.

RAL reasoned that it wanted to avoid any objections or claims by Kares Engineering Inc., since its assessment was biased,

thereby challenging the company’s integrity. It said these may lead to frustration in completing the corrective works.

“Further, such claims may prejudice any future proceedings between the Government of Guyana and Kares Engineering Inc. for a satisfactory conclusion to the dispute… In the event that Kares Engineering Inc. is allowed to rectify the works, RAL did not have the necessary confidence or trust for a harmonious contractor/consultant relationship,” RAL has said to the MPI. Nevertheless, MPI outlined that, at the time of closing of bids at National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), on May 9, 2017 at 09:00h, there was no response from any of the listed consultants except Vikab Guyana Ltd. The company has notified the MPI of its willingness to participate if a one-week extension of time were given to facilitate submission of its proposals.

According to the MPI, this request was granted and the VIKAB Guyana Ltd. submitted its financial and technical proposals. turn to page 11

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mondAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Border controversy with Venezuela

Guyana looking for moral leverage – says former Foreign Affairs Minister

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ver since the discovery of commercial quantities of oil and gas offshore Guyana, the border controversy with Venezuela has received widespread attention; but one question remains: Will the two South American countries come to an amicable solution to the longstanding issue?

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Henry Jeffery is of the strong opinion that in events leading up to the border controversy possibly being referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Venezuela would not readily accept arbitration for resolution of the controversy, mainly because the process that employs facilitators has been ongoing for some time without managing to resolve the controversy, and placing the controversy in the hands of another facilitator would not lead to a different result.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey

And he does not think the border controversy would be settled if the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules in favour of Guyana.

“The Venezuelans don’t want to go to any court.

The Venezuelans feel that this is a matter for negoti-

ation. They are bigger than (Guyana and) larger than (Guyana), and (Venezuela is) not even (a) member of the International Court of Justice; so we can expect them not to take serious what (the ICJ) says,” he explained.

He further reasoned: “Although they (Venezuela) wouldn’t want (the ruling) to come out against them -- because it then gives Guyana some moral leverage -- I don’t think (that ruling would) solve the issue.”

Arguing that border issues are not solved effortlessly, even when the matter is taken to the International Court of Justice, Dr Jeffrey declared that both sides of the political divide in Venezuela are united on the issue.

“So I believe what we are struggling here for is some kind of leverage and moral authority. I doubt it would solve the problem in any

sensible way, or in a way we would like to see it solved,” he added.

However, he told Guyana Times that, as a Guyanese, he would hope that this time around the issue would get the attention it deserves, so that Guyana’s development can move ahead peacefully.

Asked whether he thinks Venezuela would continue to show its military strength and/or would contemplate invading the Essequibo which it is claiming, Dr Jeffery said he believes the days for such action are long gone and Venezuela wouldn’t risk making such a move.

“Maduro (Nicolas) is in enough trouble, and some may want to suggest that he would want to take away that (the Essequibo from Guyana). I don’t think he has the time to do that sort of thing without falling altogether. continues on page 9

More “accomplishments”…

Y

…and nation sinks our Eyewitness blew a fuse when he saw the pic of the “EC Independence Arch” being “commissioned”. Here’s the reason thousands of workers were stuck in traffic for hours; dozens of students were late and stressed out in their CSEC and UG exams and planes had to reschedule their flights, last Thursday: A photo-op of the head of ANSA McAL and his loyal country head handing over the arch to Prezzie and his Infrastructure Minister, Patterson.

How low can we sink?? Maybe it’s something woven into our cultural roots?? From the time Columbus came with baubles and pieces of mirrors to exchange for our land and our labour?? When will we learn? So ANSA gives us a $20M shiny Aluminium arch – after the $605 million contract for pharma at TWICE the going price – and we have to spread wide? ANSA’s been making oodles of profits from their operations in Guyana – just check their Balance Sheet on the web? While the Trini economy has been tanking, guess where the profit’s been coming from? But have they made any investment in our manufacturing capabilities?? Not in this life!!

How different are they from the old British colonial Bookers that had over 22 companies selling everything from needles to motor cars, but never put down a sugar refinery here to raise the value of our raw sugar. No! That was reserved for Britain just as ANSA’s manufacturing is reserved for Trinidad and elsewhere. We’re just a market into which the Caricom tariffs allow their goods to be dumped. No wonder their name here is ANSA McAL TRADING (GUYANA)!! They’re just traders – same as the Guyanese ones they used to hassle at Piarco Airport – save they ship their goods in containers and know folks at GRA!!

Then, of course, there’s their purchase of a radio station – the ownership of which ceased to be questioned by the Government!! All other radio stations were “giveaways” – but this one!! It seems to have gone unnoticed that the moment they took over ownership, ANSA eliminated the diversity in musical genres that used to be aired into its own Trini notion of what is “proper” music.

What’s scary about the ANSA Arch is it exposes what’s ahead with our present political leadership and the coming oil production.

…in State broadcasting One of the “125 accomplishments” of the Government, the Director of Public Information (can you think of a more Orwellian totalitarian name??) – but more familiarly known as the PM’s Shill – boasted about was the “$250M subsidy for NCN”!! Yes, the nitwit actually boasted about plunking all this money into broadcasting the Government’s propaganda – but can’t remove VAT on private education which amounts to less than this!! So what if this means stifling variety in the delivery of education – away from demotivated public school teachers??

Anyhow, what does NCN need $250 million for?

It’s not as if they’re a commercial-free broadcasting unit like the BBC in Britain or PBS in the US. NCN’s rates for TV are higher than all the other TV stations.

What are they doing with all those revenues??

What the humungous subsidy means, however, is the Government is subsidising mediocrity.

If the programming of NCN was even half-way decent, they could cover their costs. They need the subsidy to reward their propagandists! …in salaries?

Another of the shill’s “accomplishments” was a $50,000 bonus to public service workers. But by giving the 10 per cent salary increase “prospectively” – FROM the announcement in August rather than for the year — the raise was LESS than the bonus!!

Ouch!!

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

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monDAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Outside of implied biases

Inappropriate recusals of Judges have potential to be damaging – Ramkarran

bility that the tribunal was biased.

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ormer Speaker of the House, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran has weighed in on the subject of Judges and recusals, a topical issue since the recusal of Justice Franklin Holder from a High Court case after requests for an apology from Attorney General Basil Williams were refused.

In his latest “Conversation Tree” blog post, Ramkarran cited the postulations of internationally known legal experts to make the case that Judges should be careful about recusing themselves from a case because of implied biases. These experts also posited that Judges should not give in to attempts to drive them from their own courtrooms because of assertions of bias.

Ramkarran, a former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stalwart, cited notable Professor of Law, Abimbola Olowofoyeku, who had posited in 2016 that inappropriate recusals have the potential to be very damaging.

“The main basis for recusals by Judges, or other adjudicators, including Magistrates, is actual or potential bias or the appearance thereof. It is in the Judge’s discretion to do so,” Ramkarran stated.

He acknowledged that there have been decisions outside Guyana which suggest that when acting Judges hear matters where the Government is a party, there is a potential for bias.

He said this was “because the Judge or Judges rely on the Government or a mem-

Resistance

Ralph Ramkarran, SC

Justice Franklin Holder

ber of it, such as the Head (of State), for confirmation of their appointment. Where the Chancellor and Chief Justice continue to hold acting appointments, it is inevitable that an enterprising lawyer will make an objection in a case in which the Government is a party.”

Citing the case of Chile’s former Head of State, General Augusto Pinochet, Ramkarran observed that during his hearing there was an allegation of potential bias in relation to one of the Judges. It was argued that because of the Judge’s wife’s position with Amnesty International, a party to the case, he should recuse himself.

“Professor Olowofoyeku suggested that recusal is inappropriate on such grounds as appeasement of a party, allegations by a party, personal attacks against the adjudicator, intellectual difficulty with a matter, pragmatism or avoiding a conundrum unrelated to bias.”

“Some principles to be considered are: objectively

justifiable grounds; whether litigants are judge-shopping or Judges are case-shopping; a real possibility of bias as apprehended by an informed observer and not a fanciful, tenuous, fantastic or superficial possibility,” he stated.

As such, the SC said Professor Olowofoyeku urged that recusals ought only to be resorted to so that justice is done and is seen to be done so as to maintain public confidence in the impartiality of Judges and to help maintain impartiality as a matter of fact.

“Judges, he said, need to respond to allegations of bias very carefully and with great care and circumspection. But they must show some (fortitude) in the process, (being) robust and strictly objective in their application of the jurisprudence.”

Ramkarran said that the test, as stated by the Professor, was whether the fair-minded and informed observer, after considering the facts, would conclude that there was a real possi-

The Professor, according to Ramkarran, said that the Judge must ask whether or not there was a real possibility that the fair-minded and informed observer might think that there was a real possibility of bias. He concludes that “a robust application of these standards, which all postulate a high threshold, should assist adjudicators to avoid acceding too readily to recusal applications”.

“Professor Olowofoyeku, adopting a statement made

by Justice Slade in 1955, said adjudicators ought to avoid ‘the erroneous impression that it is more important that justice should appear to be done than that it should in fact be done.’”

According to Ramkarran, the legal expert had said that “Judges should resist being driven from their courts by the conduct or assertion of parties, including assertions of actual or imputed bias”.

Ramkarran’s column, which advocates that Judges exercise fortitude when dealing with requests for recusal, comes in the wake of Justice Holder’s voluntary recusal. He recused himself from hearing former Public Service Commission Chairman Carvil Duncan’s challenge to his removal from that post.

Duncan had moved to the courts to block the work of a presidential tribunal set up to determine whether he should be removed. This was in light of criminal charges brought against him, one of which has since been dismissed at the Magistrate’s Court. And

while this case was ongoing, President David Granger had trade unionist Patrick Yarde sworn in to the position.

Justice Holder was quoted in sections of the media as saying on the date outlined for the hearing of the case that “I find that it will be prudent, judicious and in the interest of the administration of justice that I recuse myself from the case”.

This announcement by the Justice came on the heels of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo requesting that Holder disqualify himself from the Carvil Duncan case in light of the brewing tension with Williams over the accusation of misconduct at the last hearing back in March.

It is this misconduct that Holder had requested an apology for. Williams was also a ‘no show’ at the last hearing.

Guyana looking for...

“Some people are saying that the people who take over from Maduro might be more rabid about the border issue,” he warned.

With a territory that is several times bigger than Guyana’s, and a population that is almost 40 times that of Guyana’s, Venezuela, in 1968, claimed the entire territorial sea of Guyana by means of the Leoni Decree, which has never been withdrawn. For decades now, Venezuela has occupied the Guyana side

of Ankoko Island, objected to the development of hydro power stations in Essequibo, and has been staunchly opposed to Guyana exploring for oil offshore and onshore its Essequibo territory.

The Venezuelan Navy had, in 2013, intercepted and detained a Malaysian seismic vessel that had been conducting surveys in an offshore concession granted by Guyana to the United Statesbased Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, causing that

from page 8

company to leave and never return.

There have also been incidents inland Guyana, with Venezuelan aircraft attacking vessels operating on the portion of the Cuyuní River that the arbitration court has awarded Guyana.

Guyana is now seeking relief through one of the options in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter. Those options include arbitration and juridical settlement of the issue.

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monDAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Environmental tax

ANSA McAL, GraceKennedy among next in line to sue – former AG

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overnment could have saved millions of taxpayers’ dollars by avoiding litigation against beverage company SM Jaleel.

Last year, the Trinidadian company and its local subsidiary, Guyana Beverages Inc, had filed proceedings in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) seeking a refund of the now repealed environmental tax that was paid in Guyana over a seven-year period in light of a CCJ ruling in 2015 in a similar lawsuit filed by Surinamese company Rudisa Beverages.

At the time of the announcement, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams was adamant in fighting the matter and was confident that Guyana could have won the legal battle against SM Jaleel.

“In the Rudisa matter, it was noted that the Government of Guyana did not lead evidence to show that the tax was transferred.

We intend to lead such evidence in this case…we are confident that the team of persons we have assembled, to be able to testify before the CCJ on this, questions whether the environmental tax was transferred to the consumers,” Williams had told reporters.

However, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall lamented that not only did the Government, on the advice of its Attorney General, waste millions in hiring “experts” and for litigation purpos-

Attorney General Basil Williams

es, it would also lose more funds when it has to dip into the treasury to refund the beverage giant as ordered by the CCJ. Nandlall, in his weekly column “The Unruly Horse”, said Government, instead of going to the court, should have worked out an out-of-court settlement with SM Jaleel.

“A prudent Attorney General, with a sound understanding of the

Rudisa’s ruling, would have never contested the SM Jaleel case. He would have recognised, very early, that the CCJ would not depart from its previous ruling lightly and in the Jaleel’s case, there were no exceptional facts for them to do so,” Nandlall outlined.

He posited that a “tactful” Attorney General would have approached the company and worked out an amicable resolution, including the payment of a reduced sum and a generous payment plan.

According to Nandlall, Government has just opened the floodgates for more lawsuits to come from other beverage companies.

“ANSA McAL, GraceKennedy and others are next in line to sue.

I have no doubt that the blundering will continue,” he stated, noting that he had received letters from those companies while he was AG. Moreover, the former Attorney General emphasised again that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) were to be blamed for the Rudisa case against Guyana in the first place.

Nandlall highlighted that before Rudisa filed its claim, then Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, tabled an amendment to the Customs Act to remove the offensive provision contained therein, which ran afoul of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

“I made public that unless this Bill is passed, Guyana will be

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

forced to refund all the taxes levied under this provision of the Customs Act. By this time, I had already received a letter from Rudisa threatening litigation. I made the letter public,” he reminded.

Nandlall further reminded, however, that the joint Opposition used every opportunity to dally and when the Bill was eventually debated, they voted it down even though they were aware of the con-

sequences.

“By this time, Rudisa filed its claim at the CCJ. I appeared and extracted an undertaking from Rudisa’s lawyers that were the Government able to pass the Bill in a second attempt in the National Assembly, the company will withdraw its claim. As a result, Rudisa’s lawyers were magnanimous enough to join me in an application to adjourn the matter for a period of three months to facilitate the Government of Guyana to put the Bill before the National Assembly a second time,” he explained.

Nandlall noted that the joint Opposition again voted down the Bill when it was presented for the second time.

“In my presentation in the National Assembly, I painstakingly explained all which transpired before the CCJ; I emphasised that this is Guyana’s last opportunity to enact the Bill; I warned that a failure to do so would result in drastic financial consequences. All the speakers on our side advanced similar presentations. Like the first time when the Bill was debated, our plea fell on deaf ears. Mr Carl Greenidge led the onslaught for the APNU. He boldly asserted that the CCJ could not dictate for the Guyana Parliament. Mr Khemraj Ramjattan argued along the same vein, “the CCJ does not run this Parliament, we do!” he declared.

They, eventually, voted the Bill down,” Nandlall stated.

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monDAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt explains reason for delays GWI installs new service in India-funded projects connections in Mahdia

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Finance Minister Winston Jordan

uyana has managed to secure funding from India for several major infrastructural projects, but the release of funds for those projects has been delayed by Guyana’s inability to satisfy certain stipulations set by India.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan explained that one of those stipulations is that both the contractors and consultants for these projects must come from India.

This, however, serves as a major impediment, as Guyana is finding it difficult to hire Indian contractors because the contracts are comparatively small.

“We are experiencing

grave problems in getting movement – traction -- in getting these contractors on board. There is a new system in place in India; a new procurement tendering system which, according to (the) High Commissioner of India, everybody is still trying to get familiar with,” Minister Jordan told the media.

Guyana has already received funding from India for several projects, among which are the US$50 million East Coast/East Bank Demerara road project; US$4 million for drainage pumps; US$10 million for a North West District ferry, and US$17.5 million for the modernisation of three health care facilities.

Minister Jordan has said that Government cannot be blamed for the delay in implementation of the projects to be funded by India, especially the East Bank/ East Demerara road project which was signed one year ago. He said that while the cost of the projects may appear substantial in Guyana dollars, they are considered small by “Indian standards.”

“It’s big for Guyana but it’s very little for the Indians; so to get (Indian) contractors who are interested is ‘a bit of an issue really’, that is part of the problem that we would have been having,” he explained.

Jordan has indicated that Government may use other approaches to clear that issue.

“The money is there, and people are excited that we have got the money and so on; but this is the other hurdle that is challenging, and we’ll have to find creative ways to get around what seems to be a logjam,” he explained.

He disclosed that Government has, on several occasions, written to the Indian High Commissioner on the issue. It is his hope that both parties would meet to find a solution to the problem.

MPI defends hiring...

“The utilisation of the single source selection process is the most efficient method of procurement regarding this consultancy. Pursuing a process that allows for bidding, evaluation, etc, before award will, of course, delay agreement with the consultant; and with a scheduled opening date for the school set for September 2017 – the beginning of the new school year – expediency is important, hence the need for single source selection,” the MPI explained.

Furthermore, it outlined that the financial proposal provided by the consultant is below the MPI’s estimation for these services; the daily rates are below that estimated to be “fair market rates” for local consultancy services in such remote Regions of Guyana. As such, the offer is deemed acceptable.

Contract awarded

Against this backdrop, the Public Infrastructure Ministry said, after the Evaluation Team had carefully examined all aspects of efficiency, economy, and the fair market price submitted by the consultant, the committee recommended to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board that VIKAB Guyana Ltd be awarded the contract for providing supervisory service for completion of remedial works at the New Kato Secondary Schoo in Region 8 in the sum of Gy$29,229,410, and this recommendation was approved.

The contract for construction of the Kato Secondary School was awarded in late 2012 to Kares Engineering Inc., and work commenced in 2013 with a completion date set for April 2015. However, the project was delayed on two other occasions.

from page 7

The technical audit conducted in February last year found that approximately 60 per cent of the project was defective, and another 30 per cent was just over the borderline. Only about 10 per cent of the project was structurally sound.

Among the issues highlighted in the report was the prioritising of cost effectiveness over professional competence, and the use of inadequately qualified consultants for the project.

During a media tour of the school back in August, architect Davendra Doodnauth of Rodrigues Architects pointed out numerous construction defects, including bad timber, exposed electrical outlets, cracking stairways, and exposed steel.

It was estimated that remedial works on the Region Eight school could rack up a bill of more than $140 million.

– almost 100 leaks repaired

T

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is currently carrying out works at Mahdia, Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), to improve access to potable water for residents there. Thirteen new service connections have, to date, been added to those already in the area.

A setback to the ongoing works is the constant rainfall, which, coupled with the lack of screens at the catchment area, has been responsible for GWI workers and contractors having to constantly revisit the catchment to clean it. The team will therefore be installing replacement screens, since the catchment has to be subjected to regular cleaning because of damaged screens.

The team also conducted works to expose the pipelines from Salbora to the Airstrip at every 2km. This was done to allow for the ultrasonic testing and pressure testing of that portion of the line, in order to calibrate the system so as to provide an improved design.

In addition, three 6-inch leaks were repaired on the Salbora transmission line, while close to 100 leaks were fixed within the Mahdia community over the period of a month.

Mahdia residents can now testify to having improved access to two sources of potable water -- rainwater harvesting and the Salbora Creek -- being supplied by GWI. Many sections within Mahdia were without water due to the existence of several leaks on the pipelines and

One of the transmission lines that were repaired in the area

high demand on the water supply system. Constant disruptions and low level of service due to pipelines being broken during road works and by miners; besides clogged lines, unauthorized connections and the dry season, had contributed to the lack of water supply in the community.

The model being used to address the water situation is the formation of a Community Water Group representing Central Mahdia, Campbelltown, Seven Miles, Danjou Hill, and the Airstrip -- all of which make up the entire community.

A management contractor has been retained to manage and maintain the water system at Mahdia, and GWI has said it will continue working to further im-

prove the water supply system in Mahdia and other areas across Guyana.

12 news

monDAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Taking an anti-nationalist position

$500M cocaine bust

Govt deliberately putting welfare CANU hunting motor racers, sawmill owner of Guyanese in jeopardy

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ormer President Donald Ramotar has accused the David Granger-led Administration of taking an anti-nationalist position on several issues and stubbornly refusing to act in the interests of Guyanese.

Ramotar told Guyana Times recently that the actions of the coalition Government were deliberately setting out to put the welfare of Guyanese in jeopardy.

The former Head of State recalled that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) when they were both in Opposition voted against several major developmental projects.

Their anti-nationalism, he said, became more evident every year, as they sought to stymie projects designed to promote economic and social development in the society.

“I would be harsh to say that the positions they took were all anti-national. The position they took on Amaila; the position on the Money Laundering Bill when they voted it down hoping that Guyana would become blacklisted; and the position they took to vote against the Environmental Bill that is now costing Guyana billions of dollars,” the former President asserted.

According to him, however, today is no different, be-

the top who are only using their State apparatus to enrich themselves by increasing their benefits and by a lavish amount of corruption that we see speeding all over this country unchecked,” he remarked.

Overtaxed

Former President Donald Ramotar

cause Guyana is currently experiencing economic stagnation. “They are now destroying the management of the economy,” he said.

Ramotar recalled that while in Government, the Opposition voted twice against proposed amendments to the Environmental Bill, which in his view would have saved Guyana from paying hefty penalties.

“They are now in that position, largely because of their vindictiveness and anti-nationalist stance; their philosophy of trying to vote for something bad for this country. And now we are seeing the chickens coming home to roost in that regard,” he remarked.

While conceding that the new Administration has managed to collect more taxes, Ramotar claimed that it has done this at a time when the economy is performing badly.

“They have collected it by

squeezing people by placing Value Added Tax (VAT) and other taxes on water, electricity, pensioners’ benefits removed, etc,” he lamented.

Ramotar made reference to the VAT on education policy which he believes is another anti-nationalist move, and one that has far-reaching effects on the development of Guyana.

“They want to keep us in perpetual poverty, because there is an established direct link between education and development in a country. And when a government taxes education, it shows you the nature of the government,” he added.

Ramotar, an economist, said he has no confidence in the Government’s ability to manage the economy and claimed that everything that it has managed has done poorly.

“So, we have a government which is managed only for the elite. The people at

The former President also criticised Government for its move to increase taxes in several critical areas.

“The economy has slowed, practically grinding to a halt. But yet these people are collecting more money by squeezing people and taxing even the donkey cart operators. They are more interested in preserving a lavish lifestyle for the elite rather than creating conditions for wealthier generations,” he explained.

Recently, Opposition Member of Parliament Nigel Dharamlall also criticised Government for “overtaxing Guyanese”, urging citizens to brace themselves for new taxes in the coming year.

The coalition Government has prided itself on the expansion of tax collection, saying it is a major contributor to revenue for Government.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had reported that there was an increase in VAT, which totalled $2.4 billion in February 2017.

This brings tax collection to date to $6.1 billion, which is a 5.5 per cent growth in the value of imports.

Sophia man arrested for attempting to bribe cop

A

Sophia resident is expected to be arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court sometime this week after he allegedly attempted to bribe a police officer to have his son released from custody.

Based on reports received, five live

rounds of ammunition and a .32 pistol fell from the body of a 19 year old, just as he attempted to flee from ranks on a motorcycle. He was reportedly in the company of another male at the time of the incident. After leading Police on a chase for a while, the duo was apprehended.

They are currently still in

Police custody.

However, a rank was approached by the father of the teen, who offered a bribe of $500,000 in cash in order to secure his son’s release and have all charges dropped against him. The officer reportedly i n -

formed his superiors and a sting operation was set up to reveal whether the father was indeed trying to pay off an officer of the law.

On Friday last, the 19-year-old’s father was arrested after he showed up with the cash, ready to pay the Police Officer.

Both the teen and his father are expected to face different charges this week at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Some 187 pounds of cocaine, carrying a street value of $550 million, was found concealed in lumber being prepared for shipment to the USA

Naraine Lall

Stephen Vieira

In custody: Nazim Gafoor

Tazim Gafoor

anks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are seeking to locate local biker Stephen Vieira, West Coast Demerara businessman Tazim Gafoor, and sawmill owner Narine Lall for questioning in relation to Friday’s 187-pound cocaine bust.

According to reports, CANU officers received a tip about the operation and swooped down on a lumber yard at Lot 227 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, where they conducted a search on a truck that was laden with several pallets of 1x6 dressed lumber being prepared for export to the United States.

“Several boards were drilled randomly and revealed a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine…

Discovered was a total of 84.986 kilograms of cocaine, equalling a landed US street value in excess of 550 million Guyana Dollars,” CANU said.

At the time, several workers at the lumber yard were taken into police custody, where they remained throughout the weekend, as-

sisting with the investigations.

“The truck, its driver and porters were escorted to CANU Headquarters, where a detailed search of the cargo was completed. The said search revealed cocaine found in random boards scattered among genuine boards in each pallet, each of the compromised boards had a dugout cavity with vacuum sealed plastic packets containing cocaine pasted therein,” the anti-narcotics agency revealed.

Further investigations by the CANU ranks led to the arrest of popular race car driver Nazim Gafoor.

He also remained in custody over the weekend, pending investigation.

A CANU statement issued on Sunday has indicated that Vieira, Lall, and the other Gafoor brother are wanted for questioning.

CANU has said that Vieira is listed on the shipping documents as the representative of Naraine Lall, who is the shipper of the consignment. Searches for Vieira have thus far proven futile.

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news

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monDAY, May 15, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

First Lady attends "Celebration of Mothers" tea party

– at Promenade Gardens

First Lady Sandra Granger about to present 84-year-old Elaine Bettencourt with the prize for being the mother with the most children at the event. Ms Bettencourt gave birth to 17 children, three of whom are deceased.

F

irst Lady Mrs Sandra Granger joined Food for The Poor (Guyana) Incorporated (FFTP) in Georgetown’s Promenade Gardens on Sunday afternoon for the entity’s first fundraising tea party, titled ‘Celebration of Mothers She’s my cup of tea’.

The First Lady said she was pleased the charity had invited her to be the patron of an event that recognises mothers. “On this Mother’s Day, I would

like to take the opportunity to salute all those who have nurtured, and guided, and inspired generations of younger ones. Here I speak not only of the biological mothers, but other women and men who have been, and continue to be, positive forces in the lives of the children who are given into their care,” Mrs Granger said.

Chief Executive Officer of Food for The Poor, Mr Kent Vincent, said that in the more than 25 years of

FFTP recording a presence in Guyana, the charity has widened its scope from the distribution of food and personal-care hampers to home construction projects; the provision of furniture for schools; and the spearheading of several sustainable livelihood projects, such as livestock and chicken rearing projects.

The charity also operates an Angel of Hope project, which provides for 12 children’s homes; and a Meals on Wheels project,

These patrons admire this model as she displays a locally made outfit and hat at the Food For the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated ‘Celebration of Mothers - She’s my cup of tea’ party

which provides daily meals for school children.

The event opened with a glowing rendition of “Footprints in the Sand,” sung by Ms Leanna Allen; and this was followed by a solo dance by Ms Atalia Bookie to international singer Ms Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me”.

There followed a solo saxophone rendition of “Always on My Mind” by Mr Roy Stewart, and the recital of poem “Masterpiece” by Ms

Jemima Holmes, a member of the K. Slowe Talent Group, all of which set a warm tone to the programme and were greeted with loud applause.

The event also featured a children’s fashion display which charmed the audience, and several adult fashion displays with models from the Storm Talent Agency.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, many of the

patrons also visited several booths that had been erected on the grounds, including Ms Juliana Hughes’s Jah Works, which featured handmade beaded jewellery; Ms. Paulette Mohan’s Women of Faith booth, which had painted kitchen towels and other items; and the Mahaica Women’s Group, which had locally made organic scented candles and other items for sale.

Public Health Minister visits mothers at GPHC – urges them to be active in children’s upbringing P

ublic Health Minister Volda Lawrence took some time from her busy schedule on Sunday – Mother’s Day – to visit mothers in the Maternity Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Accompanied by Allan Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, as well as a few other Administrative staff members from both the hospital and the Public Health Ministry, Minister Lawrence mixed and mingled freely with the mothers, and cuddled and played with some of the newborns.

She enquired about their welfare and what they thought of the treatment they were receiving at the hospital. Importantly, as part of the visit, the minister presented the mothers with hampers.

Minister Lawrence told her happy audience, “It would be remiss of me not to come and congratulate the new mothers who have given birth, and to let them know how proud we are; and they are truly an asset to Guyana.”

She deemed it heartening to –in her own words -- see the country’s popula-

process starts, it’s there for life; and so my advice for them is to plan, ensure they are aware of all the services that are available,” she stated.

“Even those who are already mothers should seek out the services and medical advice, to ensure that they space their children out so that they can be in a position to properly care for, nurture, protect, and be around the children in their

upbringing,” Lawrence noted.

Speaking to those children who do not have mothers, the minister said that in a cultured society such as Guyana’s, they can find mothers in just about anyone – aunts, neighbours, and even co-workers.

“That is our culture, so I want them to know that they, too, are loved… And whatever pain they may feel, just know that God is

A Public Health Ministry staffer presenting this mother with a hamper of goodies for her newborn

tion being increased, and reminded the women that their children will ultimately become the future of Guyana, so it is imperative that they receive a good upbringing.

“Nurturing does not only mean providing food and clothing and shelter, but it also means giving your child the best moral teaching and upbringing, because whatever Guyana is in the next 10 to 20 years lies in their hands,” she said.

The Public Health Minister also sought to raise

with her audience issues such as family planning and planned parenthood.

She urged women to seek counselling services from the various agencies within the Public Health Ministry, promising they would be given assistance in their quest to be mothers; and advised that mothers should be in the position -- financial and otherwise -- to take care of their children.

“Ensure you are in a position to become a mother, because you cannot reverse being a mother. Once that

Minister Lawrence interacting with one of the newborns

in charge,” she admonished.

Minister Lawrence also took time to interact with the hospital staffers, expressing her appreciation for their service. “I also want to congratulate the nurses and the doctors working today, because everybody wants to be home with their families, but they are here with smiles on their faces, taking care of the mothers and their babies,” she stated.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, may 15, 2017

Regional

Venezuelans clog roads Former Bahamas PM loses constituency recount by 4 votes in new protests F

V

Tens of thousands of protestors have turned out for near-daily protests in the country for weeks

enezuelans in cars and on motorcycles, bikes and horseback have clogged roads in the latest protests over the weekend in more than a month of nationwide marches against President Nicolás Maduro.

Security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters in the northern city of Valencia and soldiers blocked the procession from reaching its intended destination.

In the capital Caracas, protestors hoped to fill 25km of road leading to the coastal state of Vargas.

The protests were the latest in more than a month of unrest sparked by the country’s deepening political and economic crisis.

“You have to keep finding ways to protest,” Rafael Galvis, 46, told AFP news agency as he drove a truck carrying a dozen protestors waving the red, blue and yellow Venezuelan flag and banners with slogans criticising Maduro.

“We are going to stay in the street, building a way out of the crisis,” Opposition politician Freddy Guevara said at Saturday’s Caracas rally.

In the central state of Cojedes, groups of people riding horses joined the procession of protest.

Government supporters also rallied in downtown Caracas on Saturday to support the President.

Tens of thousands of pro-

testors have turned out for near-daily protests in the country for weeks, seeking to remove Maduro and put an end to a devastating economic crisis that has caused widespread food and medicine shortages.

The unrest has killed at least 38 people since early April, including protestors, Government sympathisers, bystanders and security forces. Hundreds have also been hurt or arrested.

Al Jazeera’s John Holman, reporting from the Colombian city of Cucuta on the Venezuelan border, said the situation is becoming “increasingly desperate” in Venezuela. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ollowing an exhaustive recount that lasted just over 24 hours, Free National Movement (FNM) candidate Reece Chipman won the Centreville constituency by four votes, taking down former Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, who began his career in frontline politics before Chipman was born.

Chipman, 36, got 1909 votes. Christie, 73, received 1905 votes. The MPelect said he was ecstatic and pledged to represent the people of Centreville with dignity.

It was unclear on Friday whether the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would take the case to Election Court, but Chipman said he would be surprised if Christie pursued it further.

Chipman added: “It is a close race and if he endeavours to pursue the developments of this community for the next five years, then so be it. I’ll see him in Election Court.”

Christie, who remains the leader of the PLP, was not at the recount on

Free National Movement (FNM) supporters surround Member of Parliament for Centreville Reece Chipman (third from the left) after the recount of ballots for the Centreville constituency on Friday. Chipman defeated long-time Centreville MP and former Prime Minister, Perry Christie during Wednesday’s general election (Ahvia J Campbell photo)

Friday and has not made a statement about his political future. However, PLP trustee Valentine Grimes said Christie is “very upbeat”. “[Christie] accepts the decision of the Bahamian people,” Grimes added.

Although Chipman is not a first-time candidate, his story is being likened to the story of David and Goliath. Christie has

represented the constituency since 1977 and was considered to be virtually untouchable.

Shedding a few tears as he hugged supporters, Chipman said now that the recount was behind him, the real work could begin.

“There’s a lot of work to do and we’re ready and up to the challenge,” he said as his supporters cheered.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Ecuador “concerned” Udecott Chairman Haiti announces fuel over lack of progress wants name cleared price increases to help on Assange case public finances

E

cuador has voiced concern over the "serious lack of progress" by the Swedish Government in dealing with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

It said there had been a "serious failure" by Sweden's Prosecutor to complete an inquiry into sexual assault allegations dating back to 2010.

Assange has been confined to the Ecuadorean embassy, where he has asylum, for nearly five years.

He fears he will be extradited to the US if he leaves the building.

The Australian national is concerned the US may seek his arrest over WikiLeaks' release of 500,000 secret military files on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

The sex assault accusations – which Assange denies –- relate to a visit he made to Stockholm to give a lecture in 2010.

He is accused of raping a woman, named in legal papers as SW, at her home in August that year. But Assange says the sex was consensual and believes the allegations are politically motivated.

In December last year, Sweden's Chief Prosecutor travelled to London to question the WikiLeaks founder for the first time over the case, although no details of the meeting were released.

In a letter sent to the Swedish Government this week, the Ecuadorean authorities accused the Chief Prosecutor there of a "lack of initiative". (Excerpt from BBC News)

C

alder Hart, the former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), wants the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Las Alturas housing development quashed and his name cleared because he believes those findings are “illegal”.

Hart claimed he was denied “natural justice and due process” by the Commission because he was not provided with “adequate notice of the contemplated adverse findings” that were made against him.

In its report which was laid in Parliament last September, the Commission identified Hart as being “accountable and liable” for the losses incurred with the Las Alturas housing project and recommended that civil action be taken against him.

In response, however, Hart has sought legal action against the Commission of Inquiry; its chairman, Justice Mustapha Ibrahim and the two other Commissioners, Dr Myron Wing-Sang Chin and Anthony Farrell.

The Attorney General has been named as an interested party in the matter.

On March 22, High Court Judge Eleanor DonaldsonHoneywell granted leave to Hart to seek judicial review of the inquiry’s findings.

Because the inquiry has ended, the three Commissioners, who have all been named as defendants in the matter, have been given substituted service. The Commissioners have until June 1 to respond if they desire to defend the legal action. (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

H

aiti's Government announced on Sunday fuel price increases of up to 20 per cent in an effort to shore up the country's disastrous public finances. People in this destitute Caribbean nation rushed to gas stations to top off their tanks before the price rises take effect today.

The Government had been negotiating with transport unions for more than a week so Haitians knew an increase was in the works.

Haiti exports only about a billion dollars worth of goods each year and imports more than three times that.

With that kind of deficit and meagre tax revenues, the Government cannot even keep up with interest payments on debt it has with Venezuela, for instance.

For the past 12 years, Haiti has benefited from a programme instituted by the late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chávez under which Caracas provided some countries of Latin America and the Caribbean with petroleum products at cut rate prices, with the bills payable over 25 years at an interest rate of one per cent.

Since 2008, Haiti has in effect received two billion dollars in loans from Venezuela.

But it has failed to invest that money in economic development policies – the idea behind the Chávez plan – that would raise living standards and put the Government in a position to pay back the debt. (Excerpt from

AFP)

Nicaragua: Dozens of shops lost to blaze at traditional market

A

fire in Nicaragua has destroyed part of a traditional market in the centre of the capital, Managua.

More than 60 stalls and shops at the Mercado Oriental have been lost to the blaze, which began in the early hours of Sunday.

Shopkeepers and market workers rushed to the area to try to rescue their belongings and minimise their losses.

It took firefighters four hours to control the fire. There were no casualties, the author-

ities said.

The fire began before 06:00 local time (13:00 BST).

Firefighters struggled to reach to the central area of the market, according to Nicaragua's Disaster Prevention Agency.

Access to many hydrants has been blocked by shops built illegally over the years as the market expanded without proper planning, local media reported.

An estimated 100,000 people visit Nicaragua's biggest market every day. (BBC News)

Mercado Oriental is one of the biggest markets in Central America

monDAY, may 15, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Ransomware cyber-attack threat escalating – Europol

F

riday’s cyber-attack has affected more than 200,000 victims in 150 countries, Europol chief Rob Wainwright says.

He told the BBC the act was “unprecedented in its scale” and warned more people could find themselves affected on Monday morning.

The virus took control of users’ files, demanding payments; Russia and the United Kingdom were among the worst-hit countries.

Experts say another attack could be imminent and have warned people to ensure their security is up to date.

Wainwright said that the ransomware – software that blocks access to data until a ransom is paid – was combined with a worm application – a programme that replicates itself in order to spread to other computers.

This, he said, was allowing the “infection of one computer to quickly spread across the networks”.

He added: “That’s why we’re seeing these numbers increasing all the time.”

Although a temporary fix earlier slowed the infection rate, the attackers had now released a new version of the ransomware, he said.

Companies need to make sure they have updated their systems and “patched where they should” before staff arrived for work on Monday morning, the EU law enforcement agency head said.

How to protect yourself online

In England, 48 National Health Service (NHS) trusts reported problems at hospitals, GP surgeries or pharmacies, and 13 NHS organisations in Scotland were also affected.

The virus exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows software, first identified by the US National Security Agency, experts have said.

After taking computers over, it displayed messages demanding a payment of US$300 (£230) in virtual currency Bitcoin to unlock files and return them to the user.

Microsoft released security updates last month to address the vulnerability, with another patch released on Friday.

It was very important for people to patch their systems

as soon as possible.

How to protect yourself

The WannaCry virus infects only machines running Windows operating systems.

If you do not update Windows, and do not take care when opening and reading emails, then you could be at risk.

However, home users are generally believed to be at low risk to this particular strain.

You can protect yourself by running updates, using firewalls and anti-virus software and by being wary when reading emailed messages.

Regularly back up your data so you can restore files without having to pay up should you be infected, as there is no guarantee that paying the ransom will result in your files being unlocked.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

North Korea tests nuclear-warhead missile

N

orth Korea said today it had successfully conducted a newly developed mid-to-long range missile test on Sunday supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, aimed at verifying the capability to carry a “large-scale heavy nuclear warhead.”

Kim warned the United States should not misjudge the reality that its mainland is in the North’s “sighting range for strike”, the North’s official KCNA news agency reported.

The North fired a ballistic missile that landed in the sea near Russia on Sunday in a launch that Washington

called a message to South Korea, days after its new President took office pledging to engage Pyongyang in dialogue.

The missile was launched at the highest angle so as not to affect the security of neighbouring countries and flew 787 kilometres (490 miles) reaching an altitude of 2111.5 kilometres (1312 miles), KCNA said.

“The test-fire aimed at verifying the tactical and technological specifications of the newly developed ballistic rocket capable of carrying a large-size heavy nuclear warhead,” KCNA said.

North Korea is believed to be developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching the mainland United States.

The US military’s Pacific Command said the type of missile that was fired was “not consistent with an intercontinental ballistic missile”.

The United Nations Security Council is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launch, diplomats said on Sunday, which was requested by the United States and allies South Korea and Japan.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Macron vows to restore France’s global status

E

mmanuel Macron, France’s youngest president, has promised to restore the country’s lost confidence and re-launch the flagging European Union.

Macron, a 39-year-old centrist, took over the reins of power from President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace on Sunday.

In his first speech as President, Macron said his main priority would be “to give back to the French people the confidence that for too long has been flagging”.

“I will convince our compatriots that France’s pow-

15

er is not in decline, but that we are at the dawn of an extraordinary renaissance because we have all the qualities which will make ... the great powers of the 21st century,” he said.

While France’s place was in the European Union, the 28-member bloc needed to be “reformed and relaunched”, the new President said.

Macron assumed power after an hour-long private meeting with Hollande in which official access to France’s nuclear missile launch codes was handed over.

After the formalities, a 21-

gun salute rang out from the Invalides military hospital on the other side of the River Seine.

Macron met with predecessor Hollande before the ceremony to discuss the most sensitive issues facing France, including the country’s nuclear codes [Yoan Valat/AP] Later, the new President paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe, where he stood in a downpour, without a raincoat or umbrella, to light the flame in honour of France’s war dead.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Ivory Coast: Army launches operation ‘to restore order’ after mutiny

I

vory Coast’s military says it has launched an operation to “restore order” after three consecutive days of protests by mutinous soldiers.

The soldiers took to the streets in several cities over a pay dispute and blocked off the second largest city, Bouaké, on Saturday.

They have said they are willing to fight if the army intervenes.

Popular opposition to the rebellion has been growing, culminating in a march against the soldiers in Bouaké.

Six people were wounded when the soldiers opened fire on protestors during

Saturday’s demonstration.

In a statement released at 1700 GMT on Sunday announcing that a military operation was underway, the armed forces’ Chief of Staff General Sékou Touré said many of the mutinous soldiers had listened to earlier calls for them to stand down.

But he said that some soldiers were continuing to disobey orders, which is why the operation had been launched.

Troops are advancing towards Bouaké, Reuters news agency reports.

In January, the soldiers forced the Government into paying them about US$8000 (£6200) each in bonuses to end a rebellion.

They were due to receive a further payment this month and several thousands of mutineers had been unhappy they were not consulted when on Thursday a spokesman for the group said they would drop their demands for the remaining money.

The government has said it will not negotiate with the disgruntled soldiers.

The mutiny has raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast’s 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.

Many of the mutineers in January are former rebels who joined the army after the conflict. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China pledges US$124B for new Silk Road as champion of globalisation

C

hinese President Xi Jinping pledged US$124 billion on Sunday for his new Silk Road plan to forge a path of peace, inclusiveness and free trade, and called for the abandonment of old models based on rivalry and diplomatic power games.

Xi used a summit on the initiative, attended by leaders and top officials from around the world, to bolster China’s global leadership ambitions as US President Donald Trump promotes “America First” and questions existing global free trade deals.

“We should build an open platform of cooperation and uphold and grow an open world economy,” Xi told the opening of the two-day gathering in Beijing.

China has touted what it formally calls the Belt and

Chinese President Xi Jinping

Road initiative as a new way to boost global development since Xi unveiled the plan in 2013, aiming to expand links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond underpinned by billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.

Xi said the world must

create conditions that promote open development and encourage the building of systems of “fair, reasonable and transparent global trade and investment rules”.

Hours before the summit opened, North Korea launched another ballistic missile, further testing the patience of China, its chief ally. The United States had complained to China on Friday over the inclusion of a North Korean delegation at the event.

Xi pledged a major funding boost to the new Silk Road, including an extra 100 billion yuan (US$14.50 billion) into the existing Silk Road Fund, 380 billion yuan in loans from two policy banks and 60 billion yuan in aid to developing countries and international bodies in countries along the new trade routes. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel dismisses US concern over Jerusalem embassy move

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has challenged US concerns over moving the American embassy to Jerusalem and said a move will help the peace process progress.

During his election campaign, US President Donald Trump promised to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, whose status is one of the thorniest issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The transfer of the American Embassy to Jerusalem not only will not harm the peace process, but the opposite,” Netanyahu said in the statement on Sunday.

“It will advance it by correcting a historic injustice and by smashing the Palestinian fantasy that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel.”

The statement from Netanyahu’s office came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Trump is still assessing the impact of

Palestinians fiercely oppose a US embassy move to Jerusalem [Mohamad Torokman/Reuters]

the potential move.

“The President is being very careful to understand how such a decision would impact the peace process,” Tillerson said.

He said Trump’s decision would be informed by feedback from all sides, including “whether Israel views it as helpful to a peace initiative or perhaps a distraction”.

The Palestinians and the Arab world fiercely oppose a move, and the international community has warned that it could spark fresh unrest.

Palestinians argued moving the embassy would prejudge one of the most sensitive issues in the conflict, undermining America’s status as an effective mediator.

Former US presidents have repeatedly waived a US law requiring the embassy be moved to Jerusalem.

The most recent waiver, signed by Barack Obama, expires on June 1. Trump is expected to sign a six-month renewal of the waiver, as he continues deliberating, before it expires. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16

monDAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say about

I SAY...

East Coast arch fiasco

W

e asked only students of the University of Guyana (UG) and the Cyril Potter College of Education to voice their thoughts on the sudden construction of the new arch at the head of the UG Access Road, given that they were not properly notified and the works had resulted in chaos and inconvenience occasioned by the heavy traffic buildup, which had lasted for hours and had sparked widespread public outrage.

Sherece Wilson

Kaslin Kersting

The construction did indeed cause much inconvenience to not only students of the University, but members of the general public as well. As regards the late notice, I think

Tamika Wilson

The whole concept of the arch is not a bad idea. In fact, it is a step closer to beautifying our country. However, while as university students we were informed by mail, the time was too short. Many may criticize the action or lack thereof as poor planning; and while to an extent I agree, I believe the problem was informing the public in a timely

Stephen Thompson

I was not directly affected by the construction of the arch, because my exams were not around that time. However, there are alternative routes that could have been taken to avoid the traffic congestion.

Yes, there was a bit of traffic, and it was only for a few hours.

But the finished product, that is the arch, is a marvel to behold.

Currently we have final exams, so it was very irritating -- especially since Thursday we had a final examination and it had to be rescheduled.

I left my home on Thursday at 7:30hrs and was stuck in traffic until 13:00hrs that afternoon, so it was very inconvenient to me.

the relevant authorities could’ve done a better job by notifying persons in a timely manner. It was just the night before the construction that a member of my class put up a status in a Facebook group, informing us while advising persons to leave early next morning.

I live in Industry, and it was a bit of a problem for me transportation-wise. I usually take a taxi to and from school, and transportation wasn’t a problem the morning, but as my exams finished at midday, I had to walk home because no taxi would carry me in Industry. I can only imagine the frustration of students travelling from long distances to the university.

did not seem genuine. She said that they obviously didn’t think all that traffic would’ve been backed up.

Does this woman live in Guyana, or (does she) traverse the roadways? Did they not factor in the bridge that’s under construction?

It’s just bullcrap! The only reason the road opened up is because the minister visited and saw what happened. At least the Government apologized. I don’t think the company cares, because they were more concerned with their activities than what would happen to people.

manner of the closure and the alternative routes given. We may want to beat down on those responsible, but we must remember that they are human and prone to make mistakes.

As such, I do believe that they honestly didn’t foresee such confusion.

Additionally, as citizens, we didn’t help at all, as it was a “dog eat dog” (situation) on the road; everybody wanted to just get to where they were going, so nobody waited. Perhaps what could have been done was to make the area from Ogle going up the East Coast a oneway upwards only, and the line (Railway Embankment) a oneway downwards only. Then police should have been on the road from the inception, rather than just turn up.

To conclude, no doubt, more should’ve been done to sensitise the public; but, as citizens, we also have a role to play. We can choose to help an already bad situation, or we can -- like so many on that day -- add salt to the wounds.

Cassandra Persaud I just row, because the treatment of the people was terrible. Scant regard was paid to citizens, and the Director of ANSA McAL

Malessa Isaacs Sammy

Firstly, those in authority do a lot of things without notifying us. For example: the Parking Meter Project, and now the Arch. The information was not disseminated with any proper notice or within an acceptable time frame, so alternative arrangements could have been made.

The Arch there could have waited probably until Sunday, when the road is not that

Shomain Wilson

I was caught in the traffic, and was very upset because I missed a number of classes.

The entire thing was poorly organized, and it was very irritating to me. For future reference, I hope that things like this do not occur again.

Jarryl Bryan

They say that to err is human, but the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is an important ministry, and when that error comes from

busy with vehicles, or on a holiday. They did not plan it properly; meaning, they gave no consideration (to) the traffic and how people would be (inconvenienced), considering that it is so close to the finals at UG. I was personally affected, because the Assistant Dean got stuck in traffic and she had to endorse my timetable to be submitted to my boss.

Now I don’t have a signed examination timetable to submit to my boss. Mind you, I work all the way in Berbice.

an entity of such magnitude, a lot of people will be inconvenienced. At present, UG is in the midst of semester final exams, scheduled at various times throughout the day, so I can only imagine a number of students were late for their exams. The Ministry informed the public via its Facebook page the night before the closure, so I think the many commuters stuck in traffic for hours (were) within their rights to be complaining.

Ultimately, I hope their communication apparatus and inter-agency collaboration can be improved, and they can use this as a learning opportunity so that future projects will be more efficient.

Dornel Jasrick McFarlane

I believe governments are elected by the people and to serve the people. The decision (to erect) an arch was not in the best interest of the people, particularly us UG students.

Notwithstanding the period of our semester, we are in exam season, and the Government ought to know that. It was a major inconvenience, and (does) not represent the masses that travel that route. I was stuck in traffic, causing me to be late for a conference that was very important to me.

CANU hunting motor...

The CANU statement has disclosed that, based on investigations, Lall is allegedly out of the jurisdiction. This was revealed during checks for him done at his home. “…As a result, CANU will seek wanted bulletins for the following per-

sons: Naraine Lall, Stephen Vieira and Tazim Gafoor, to be able to complete its investigations. No charges have yet been filed,” the CANU statement has detailed.

CANU said investigations have so far revealed that the truck was hired to pick up and transport the

from page 12

lumber from Naraine Lall’s sawmill, located at Lookout, East Bank Essequibo to the wharf at Georgetown.

CANU has said its investigations have so far revealed a “well planned web of participants”, but investigations are ongoing.

news

17

monDAY, may 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Social Cohesion Strategic Plan

Was it shock?

Rural and interior regions economically disadvantaged Wife dies 2 days after …greater participatory and inclusive governance needed

T

he absence of banks and financing mechanisms in rural and interior regions puts citizens in those areas at an economic and developmental disadvantage, according to the Social Cohesion Strategic Plan 2017-2021.

The Plan, handed over to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo last Thursday, finds that small contractors in Kuru Kururu, Mahdia and Lethem are being disadvantaged owing to unfair requirements needed to access governmental contracts.

It added that although some small-scale contractors may be qualified for projects, they are often being by-passed in favour of more established and “politically-connected” large-scale contactors.

“Quite a few consultations also identified challenges to accessing loans and concessionary financing as seed capital for small-scale contractors. This related both to the absence of banks, and financing mechanisms in particularly rural and interior regions to cater to the financing needs of such small operators,” the report stated.

The issue of Indigenous persons accessing loans was also addressed, as they are being disadvantaged as a result of being unable to provide financial institutions with collateral. “The issue of collateral for persons in Indigenous villages, in a context where land titling is communal rather than individual, was raised in many of the consultations as a significant impediment to accessing bank and other financing, since such institutions do not accept communal titles for purposes of granting loans to individuals who may share communal title to Indigenous lands.”

“The promotion and enhancement of social cohesion requires policy and programmatic interventions that would result in the elimination of disadvantages or levelling the proverbial playing field. The Plan identifies that many of the policy and legislative measures are under the purview and mandate of Government Ministries and agencies and should be a normal part of their functioning. “These constitute the enabling policy and legislative environment that facilitates and regulates economic activities; and that should protect, proscribe, enable, or sanction economic behaviours, as appropriate, towards providing a level playing field for all,” it posited.

The Social Cohesion Ministry has the role of advocating for and monitoring the implementation of appropriate legislation, business and economic policies and programmatic actions.

It also has a role in ensuring partnership and collaboration with the relevant agencies

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton presenting the Social Cohesion Strategy 2017-2021 report to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

and Ministries to target discriminatory policies to ensure unbiased access to economic equity and opportunities.

In formulating the strategic approach to deal with social cohesion in Guyana, a total of 30 face-to-face consultations and a number of media outreaches were conducted by the Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Inclusive and participatory governance

The Plan added that citizens were grossly under-educated as to the workings of Government at all levels as well as what was contained in the Constitution. Also, Indigenous villages complained of not being properly educated on the Amerindian Act and how it was applicable to their protection. This was attributed to the deficiencies in the education system, which did not sufficiently cover the Constitution and governmental system, at the primary and secondary school levels “Participants identified many deficits in the way the current system of representation is functioning, such as insufficient visits to their communities by the heads of political parties; the need for transparent reporting on decisions made in Parliament on national issues; better working relationships should be fostered between political parties to achieve developmental goals; the need for integrity, transparency, and accountability; leaders from political parties, NGOs, stakeholders should partner together and be more public about cohesion; decentralisation of government offices and services; constitutional reform in the interests of the country as a whole and not political parties, and more bottom-house meetings and man-in-the-street participation allegedly, practising racial incitement among ethnic groups,” the Plan revealed.

It urged the need for civic education and awareness programmes on Guyana’s Constitution, the legal system and critical legislative enactments that impact the daily lives of citizens; and the systems of government at all levels; sensitisation

and awareness programmes on the rights and obligations of citizens, and the inculcation of appropriate attitudes of solidarity and habits of understanding, sharing, caring, and support among citizens, locally and nationally.

It also noted that there were many programmatic actions that would need to be taken at the regional, and especially at the community and village levels, to promote habits of inclusion, consultation, participation, and collective decision-making.

There was also the call for political leaders to be more respectful, accountable and hold high morals; more voters’ education, more youth involvement and development at the national level and less political interference.

The Social Cohesion Strategic Plan 2017-2021 was presented to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo by Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton for consideration at the Social Cohesion Day celebration on Thursday last.

(Lakhram Bhagirat)

husband jailed for 2 years

T

he Dorwish family of Queenstown village on the Essequibo Coast was given a rude awakening on Mother’s Day morning after they got a call that their mother was no longer alive after experiencing a shock when her husband was sentenced to two years for the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

Dead is Geeta Dorwish, also called “Saroj”, who unfortunately lost her life at her sister’s residence in Georgetown on Mother’s Day morning. According to the dead woman’s son, Deon Dorwish, his mother ‘took on’ the sentencing of his father.

The son related that his mother and father were “very close” and she could not stand the news that her husband was jailed.

"My mother’s death came as a surprise; she was a confident woman who could withstand anything.

I never saw the weakness in my mom, she had confidence that my father would (not be jailed) …if my father wasn't sentenced, my mother would have still been alive," Deon Dorwish lamented.

The distraught son said it was the saddest news he could have heard on Mother’s Day. He also explained that his mother was recovering from a surgery performed two weeks ago and was suffering from both hypertension and

‘high sugar’ levels.

In the circumstances, Deon added that the family would be most happy if his father would be pardoned for the offence given his age.

Sixty-four-year-old Dennis Dorwish was on Friday, May 6, sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition. Dorwish made his first appearance in 2015 before Magistrate Sunil Scarce and was remanded. However, he was later released.

Police had alleged that on February 10, 2015, Dorwish had in his possession a .22 firearm although he was not a licensed firearm owner.

Police also alleged that on February 10, 2015, Dorwish had in his possession 3 live .22 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence. The firearm and ammunition were found in the backlands of Queenstown where Dorwish has an “awara” farm.

To both charges, the well-known labourer had pleaded not guilty. In making an application for bail for Dorwish, Attorney-atLaw Lachmie Dindyal told the court that the defendant was not a flight risk, as he was happily married and a father of four. Dindyal had told the court that Dorwish was well-known and had a permanent place of resi-

dence. The lawyer went on to tell the Magistrate that Dorwish had no knowledge of the firearm or the ammunition that were found near some "awara" bushes in the backlands of Queenstown Village.

The Attorney had informed the court the firearm that was found by Dorwish was a mere "pen gun" and did not have a trigger.

The Magistrate, however, had said that whether it had a trigger or not, the weapon was a firearm and it was illegal to have one without a licence. The then Prosecutor Haimraj Ramsewack had objected to bail, stating that the offence was a serious one.

During the course of the case, the family changed attorneys, retaining Peter Hugh. Several Police Officers testified in the matter and Magistrate Scarce found the defendant guilty of the offence.

Defence Attorney Hugh had subsequently sent another lawyer to take over since he was recently promoted to Magistrate. The family is, therefore, calling for a thorough investigation to be launched into the matter, and is calling on President David Granger to pardon their father since he is not guilty of the offence, and also the gun and ammunition were not found on him, but on a farm.

Trio wins big in Laparkan Mother’s Day promotion

In photo are Kurt France and Traimaine Critchlow along with Laparkan’s Customer Service Manager and GTPAK service supervisor

A

s Laparkan joins the world in recognising the contribution of mother’s in society, three mothers and winners in the Laparkan Mother’s Day promotion were on Friday awarded silver bracelets.

Laparkan, the leading freight forwarder in Guyana said it is delighted to be part of the Mother’s Day activities.

Shoppers purchasing online or those shipping with Laparkan were automati-

cally entered into the promotion. Emerging the winners from the promotion which commenced on April 10, 2017, were Kurt French, Haimlata Harry-Paul and Tramaine Critchlow.

A representative of

Laparkan took the opportunity to thank the participants and said the entity “will continue to show our appreciation for your invaluable support by doing various promotions that allow us to give back”.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 15, 2017

ARCHIE

Don’t let problems at work overflow into your personal (March 21- life. If you let your loved ones April 19) act as your safety net, you’ll rise above any unscrupulous situation you encounter.

ARIES

Keep an open mind, but TAURUS don’t let anyone pressure or (April 20- manipulate you into someMay 20) thing you don’t want to do.

Be the master of your destiny. Choose what works best for you.

dilbert

Take care of unfinished GEMINI (May 21- business before you start June 20) something new. Punctuality will play a role in how you are perceived by others. Do what you say and say what you do.

Do what feels right.

Making changes to suit some(June 21- one else is not going to work July 22) out well. It’s OK to be different and to follow your instincts.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

It’s up to you to bring about changes that will make your life better. An opportunity that allows you to use your skills distinctively should be considered.

You’ll be offered lots of inVIRGO (Aug. 23- formation -- some good, some Sept. 22) not so good. Take the time to decipher the best way to use what you’ve been given to accomplish your goal.

Emotions will surface LIBRA and take control. Problems (Sept. 23Oct. 23) at home or within important partnerships can be expected.

Stay calm and keep the peace, but don’t lose sight of what’s best for you.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Set up meetings and inSCORPIO terviews. Look for alterna(Oct. 24tive solutions to get what you Nov. 22) want. Using emotional tactics and making inspiring suggestions will raise interest in what you want to do.

A change of plans shouldn’t SAGITTARIUS throw you off your game.

(Nov. 23- Embrace whatever challenge Dec. 21) comes your way in order to prove your competence to others. Romance is highlighted.

SATURDAY’S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Control your emotions.

CAPRICORN Your energy will be better (Dec. 22- spent doing things that will Jan. 19) bring you happiness, not discord. Live within your means and without envy. Aim for peace of mind.

Financial gains look promAQUARIUS ising. Cutting a deal or sign(Jan. 20ing a contract will boost your Feb. 19) income. Investing in something you do well will give you the chance to up your game.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

You must be honest about PISCES who you are, what you want (Feb. 20March 20) and how you feel if you want to avoid being interrogated by someone assessing your ability or questioning a relationship.

monDAY, May 15, 2017

Hamilton wins

spectacular Spanish Grand Prix

There was plenty of incidents on the first lap, leading to Raikkonen and Verstappen colliding and both retiring

L

ewis Hamilton and Mercedes stole a stunning victory in the Spanish Grand Prix from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

A clever strategic move by the team followed by Hamilton attacking and passing Vettel put the Briton in control and he defended successfully to the end.

Vettel had passed Hamilton off the start line to lead for the first half of the race but ended up outflanked by their rivals.

Hamilton’s second win of the season cut his deficit to Vettel in the championship

to six points after five of 20 races.

It was a tense and gripping battle befitting the closeness of the fight between Formula 1’s top teams this season.

Vettel took control of the race with a superb start, sweeping around the outside of Hamilton into Turn One and building a 2.2-second lead with a blistering first lap.

When Ferrari beat Mercedes to making the first pit stop, preventing Hamilton passing by stopping earlier and benefiting

from fresh tyres, the race appeared to be Vettel’s to lose and Mercedes to win.

Mercedes switched strategies, putting Hamilton on a long middle stint on the slower medium tyre, the idea being to attack Vettel at the end of the race, when Hamilton would be on the soft tyre and the Ferrari on the medium.

They then bought themselves some time by delaying the first pit stop of Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas so he could hold up Vettel for a couple of laps. (BBC)

Steyn ruled out of England Test series

Dale Steyn

F

ast bowler Dale Steyn has been ruled out of South Africa’s fourmatch test series in England after being forced to withdraw from his country’s A team tour as he has yet to regain full fitness following a fractured shoulder.

South Africa’s opening bowler had been included in the A team squad for the match

against England Lions at Canterbury in June to test his readiness for a much-awaited return to the test arena but has not sufficiently recovered from the shoulder injury.

Steyn, whose 417 test wickets is four short of the South African record held

by Shaun Pollock, has not played since November when he fractured his shoulder for the second time in 13 months during the first test against Australia.

My recovery is going well but it is taking a little longer than I expected it to,” Steyn told reporters.

“I am able to a lot of things – running, hiking, gym work. But bowling is not one of them and I won’t be ready in time.”

Steyn added he will now target a comeback against Bangladesh in October.

South Africa’s attack could also miss Steyn’s new ball partner Vernon Philander, who is recovering from a groin injury.

Steyn took 15 wickets when South Africa won a three test series 2-0 on their last tour to England five years ago.

The two countries play four tests this year at Lord’s, Trent Bridge, The Oval and Old Trafford in July and August. (Reuters)

19

Chase, an inconceivable prospect A

By Delvon McEwan

pproximately one year into his international career, Roston Chase is living a dream and providing the West Indies with some spectacular feats and inconceivable results, at least on his behalf it is. When Chase debuted for the West Indies in July 2016 against a powerful India line-up, there were many questions surrounding his selection ahead of Guyana Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson in the playing XI. To make matters worse, the 24-year-old rookie only managed 31 runs in that Test match, which West Indies lost by an innings and 92 runs playing at home in Antigua.

Ever since, he has been on firm ground and silenced his critics and his most recent performance in the three-match Q Mobile Test series has justified his selection further as the ‘inconceivable prospect’. He finished as the leading run scorer in the series with 403 runs at an average of 100.75, inclusive of two centuries and two half centuries.

No other batsman surpassed 300 runs on some challenging pitches, as Chase also contributed with ball, claiming six victims in the series.

The lofty all-rounder was determined, shrugging off all challenges – whether hits to the body and other testing times in the middle as his peers easily succumbed – in his stubborn stand to prevent the Pakistanis from creating history in winning their first Test series in the Caribbean.

However, his efforts failed in the penultimate over of the final Test match as number 11 Shannon Gabriel unimaginably attempted a heave against leg spinner Yasir Shah, only to drag the ball onto his stumps, to give Pakistan a happy ending and their most decorated skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq, and most successful batsman, Younis Khan, a memorable farewell.

Nevertheless, Chase’s heroics in a mere 10 months at the international level cannot go unnoticed. To date, he averages 48.53 from 10 matches, with three centuries and three half centuries. His three centuries have all been significant in matches West Indies would have probably been humiliated.

His first century (137* against India) is his best to date. He persevered against all the Indian tricks to remain unbeaten as West Indies held on for a draw. He also took five wickets in an innings of the said match, becoming the second West Indian behind Sir Garfield Sobers to do so in 50 years.

According to an ESPN Cricinfo article dated May 1, 2017, under the headline “My superhero name would be Crisis Man”, Chase is quoted as saying with a laugh after the day’s play: “There’s a little joke in the dressing room, among the Barbados guys, that if it was a superhero movie,

Roston Chase

my superhero name would be Crisis Man. “I relish these situations where we are on the back foot, under pressure. I just like to dig my team out of a hole all the time.”

Chase is not gaudy at the crease by any account, but he is indeed the Crisis Man. At Kensington Oval in the second Test of the series against Pakistan, Chase made his fourth score of over fifty in Test cricket, in his ninth match. At that point, three of his four innings had come after his team was struggling at four down for less than 70, including a match-saving 137 against India in Jamaica last August.

Again, he did so yesterday as West Indies were reeling at 3-47 and were four down before they had reached 70 runs, but the Barbadian stood tall to score his third Test century, finishing unbeaten on 101 and is the only middle order and lower batsman in the West Indies side that featured in this series who is sure of a ticket to England.

The right-handed batsman, who hails from Christchurch, has been West Indies’ best pick in the past two years and the selectors could further justify their operation if they recalled Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels to the middle for the England trip.

Chase, along with the bowlers, was the standout for the Caribbean unit. The former West Indies U-19 Captain, however, he needs to be guided, as he could provide the type of batting that is successful in modern-day cricket.

Judge to rule on Warner’s extradition next month

F

ormer CONCACAF boss Jack Warner will know his fate on July 31 when a judge is expected to rule on the legality an extradition request by the United States.

Warner is wanted in the United States to face charges of racketeering and bribery relating to his tenure as a high ranking official of world governing body FIFA. In the claim submitted to the court by his attorneys, Warner questions the procedure adopted by the Office of the Attorney General in signing off on the US’s request for his extradition in

Jack Warner

May 2015. The former FIFA vice president was one of 14

people indicted by a United States court for racketeering and bribery. The list also included another former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb who is currently under house arrest in the US. Webb pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud conspiracy and three counts of money laundering conspiracy.

High Court Judge James Aboud set the date after listening to submissions from Warner’s attorneys and those of the Office of the Attorney General at the Port-of-Spain High Court on Friday. (Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, may 15, 2017

R

oyal Challengers Bangalore claimed only their third win of the IPL in the final game of the regular season at the expense of Delhi.

Virat Kohli returned to form with a half-century as bottom side Royal Challengers Bangalore ended an Indian Premier League campaign to forget with a 10-run-win over Delhi Daredevils.

Kohli has failed to inspire RCB to hit the heights in the 2017 IPL, but signed off with 58 from 45 balls to help his side to 161-6 after the India captain won the toss at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground.

The classy Kohli and Chris Gayle (48) put on 66 for the second wicket and Delhi were unable to prevent Bangalore from securing only a third win of a dismal tournament.

Harshal Patel, Travis Head and Pawan Negi did much of the damage as the Daredevils, who were guaranteed to finish sixth regardless of the result in the final game of the regular

RCB end disappointing season with consolation win

season, could only muster 151 all out.

Gayle set the tone by taking two boundaries off the first over from Zaheer Khan and struck Mohammed Shami for a couple of sixes before Vishnu Vinod (3)

played on to a delivery from Pat Cummins.

Kohli got in on the act, effortlessly launching Corey Anderson’s first ball for six over long-on with phenomenal timing and clearing the ropes again in a 12th over

Chris Gayle throws his hands at the ball © BCCI

from Amit Mishra which went for 19 and included another six from Gayle.

Gayle, who has endured a poor IPL by his standards, fell tamely to Shahbaz Nadeem to miss out on a half-century, but Kohli had his fourth fifty of the tournament in the 15th over after Head was run out.

Kohli flicked Zaheer over the ropes but was out from the following ball and Negi hit three consecutive boundaries in the last over of the innings, runs which proved to be crucial.

Avesh Khan removed Sanju Samson in the first over of Delhi’s reply, but Karun Nair (26) and Shreyas Iyer (32) made contributions for the home side to put them on course to chase down their target.

Harshal (3-43) got rid of Iyer and bowled Marlon Samuels first ball, but Delhi were still in with a great chance while Rishabh Pant (45 off 34) was at the crease.

They continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, though, and were 119-7 with only 20 deliveries remaining

when Harshal ended Pant’s entertaining knock. Negi finished off the job with 3-10 to

ensure RCB ended their season on a high note. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (20 overs maximum) C Gayle c Khan b Nadeem 48 Vishnu Vinod† b Cummins 3 V Kohli* c Nadeem b Khan 58 T Head run out (Iyer/Khan) 2 K Jadhav run out (Cummins) 12 Sachin Baby c Anderson b Cummins 12 S Watson not out 4 P Negi not out 13 Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 161 Did not bat: HV Patel, Avesh Khan, YS Chahal Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Vishnu Vinod, 4.5 ov), 2-96 (Gayle, 13.1 ov), 3-102 (Head, 14.1 ov), 4-118 (Kohli, 16.3 ov), 5-131 (Jadhav, 17.4 ov), 6-144 (Sachin Baby, 18.5 ov) 4-0-31Bowling: Khan 1 (1w), Mohammed Shami 4-0-31-0 (1w), Cummins 4-021-2 (2w), Mishra 2-0-260, Anderson 4-0-38-0 (2w), Nadeem 2-0-12-1 (1w)

Delhi Daredevils innings (target: 162 runs from 20 overs) S Samson c Kohli b Avesh Khan0 K Nair c Jadhav b Watson 26 S Iyer c Watson b Patel 32 45 R Pant† b Patel M Samuels b Patel 0 C Anderson st †Vishnu Vinod b Head 3 P Cummins c Kohli b Head 7 A Mishra b Negi 7 Mohammed Shami st †Vishnu Vinod b Negi 21 S Nadeem c Jadhav b Negi 2 1 Z Khan* not out Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 1, nb 1) 7 Total (all out; 20 overs) 151 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Samson, 0.2 ov), 2-41 (Nair, 5.2 ov), 3-87 (Iyer, 11.4 ov), 4-87 (Samuels, 11.5 ov), 5-105 (Anderson, 15.2 ov), 6-113 (Cummins, 15.6 ov), 7-119 (Pant, 16.4 ov), 8-135 (Mishra, 17.6 ov), 9-150 (Mohammed Shami, 19.2 ov), 10-151 (Nadeem, 19.6 ov) Bowling: Avesh Khan 4-0-23-1, Chahal 3-0-24-0 (1nb), Patel 4-0-43-3(1w), Watson 4-0-16-1, Head 3-0-30-2, Negi 2-0-10-3

Nadal equals Neymar’s Djokovic record with keeps pressure on Madrid Madrid triumph B arcelona cruised to all three points against Las Palmas as Neymar grabbed a hattrick to keep the LaLiga title race with Real Madrid alive.

A Neymar hat-trick ensured Barcelona kept the pressure firmly on Real Madrid in the LaLiga title race with a 4-1 victory over Las Palmas that keeps Luis Enrique’s side top of the table.

The Spanish giants are locked together on 87 points after Sunday’s clashes – Madrid beating Sevilla by the same scoreline at the Santiago Bernabeu – but the capital club remain favourites owing to their game in hand.

Given Madrid’s advantage, Barca needed to take all three points in Gran Canaria and goals from Neymar and Luis Suarez got them off to the flying start.

Lionel Messi was denied a third by a Mauricio Lemos block and Barca saw their lead halved when Pedro Bigas started and finished a flowing move after 63 minutes.

The hosts’ hopes of a comeback were dashed soon after, though, as Neymar restored Barca’s advantage before completing his hat-trick with a neat finish under Javi Varas.

Victory means Barca must beat Eibar on the final day and hope Madrid lose to either Celta Vigo – their game in hand – or Malaga to be crowned champions, Luis Enrique’s side having

a better head-to-head record should they remain level on points.

Barca – who lost Javier Mascherano to injury in the warm-up – could have been ahead inside six minutes as Messi played a smart ball across the Las Palmas sixyard box, but Suarez was unable to convert at the

Neymar’s hat trick keeps Barcelona slim title hopes alive

back post.

The visitors were then lucky not to be reduced 10 men as Lucas Digne dragged back Jese Rodriguez, the defender only shown yellow much to the relief of Luis Enrique.

With the half-hour mark approaching Las Palmas’ resolve was finally broken, as Suarez and Neymar combined to score two quick-fire goals.

Suarez laid the first on a plate for Neymar to tap into an unguarded net and

the Brazilian returned the favour moments later with a sumptuous pass for the Uruguayan.

In behind the Las Palmas defence, Suarez made no mistake as he deftly lifted the ball over the advancing Varas.

Their advantage should have been three just before the hour as Messi played a neat one-two with Jordi Alba, but the Argentina international saw his shot – which looked destined for the top corner – blocked by Lemos.

Having survived that danger Las Palmas got back into the match as Bigas netted his fourth of the season, the defender intercepting in his own penalty area before surging forward to convert Kevin-Prince Boateng’s low cross.

Thoughts of a turnaround were quickly banished when Neymar completed his hat-trick with two goals in four minutes.

His second of the night came as he headed home Ivan Rakitic’s cross at the back post, the 25-year-old grateful Suarez’s lunge at the ball from an offside position failed to connect.

And he was soon celebrating his treble as he latched onto a beautifully weighted pass from Alba and rolled the ball underneath Varas to complete a comprehensive victory, with Barca now hoping for a favour from Celta Vigo, who face Madrid on Wednesday.

(Sportsmax)

F

Rafael Nadal

or the fifth time in his career Rafael Nadal won the Madrid Open with a straight-sets victory over a spirited Dominic Thiem.

Rafael Nadal’s French Open credentials were boosted further when he claimed a record-equalling 30th ATP 1000 title at the Madrid Open on Sunday.

The ‘King of Clay’ has raised his game since the ATP Tour moved to the red dirt and a 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 victory over Dominic Thiem was his third title in four weeks - strengthening his position as Roland Garros favourite.

In a rematch of the Barcelona Open final on April 30, Nadal was pushed much harder by his Austrian opponent but eventually

prevailed as Thiem paid the price for making too many errors.

The title is Nadal’s fifth in the capital of his homeland and sees him move level with Novak Djokovic on 30 ATP 1000 crowns, a record he could claim outright if he can triumph in Rome next week.

Nadal’s movement was back to his best on Manolo Santana and the fourth seed produced some resolute defensive play when required, while his forehand proved to be a deadly weapon once again.

His backhand shone in the first-set tie-break and, after wasting four set points, the 14-time grand slam champion moved ahead when Thiem blazed a forehand long.

A buoyant Nadal then

moved ahead early in the second and despite Thiem’s best efforts he could not force a way back into the final.

Imperious on serve, Nadal was able to dictate play from the baseline and when Thiem tried to take control the Spaniard’s improving athleticism kept him in rallies.

His fourth win over Thiem in five meetings was confirmed after two hours and 17 minutes as his forehand began to fire in scenes reminiscent of his glory days of years gone by.

Djokovic is now in Nadal’s sights in the ATP rankings, this win putting him in sight of the world number two - who he beat in Saturday’s semi-final.

(Sportmax)

21

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FOR SALE CLAY ROOF TILES 2500 SQ FT. NO REASONABLE OFFER WILL BE REFUSED. TELEPHONE: 686-7120 MX 2000, 1500, 1000 AMP, 4 BASS, 4 MID, 4 HORNS, 4 TWEETERS, MIXER, JUGGLER CABLES AND 1 JACCUZZI; ALL FOR SALE. CONTACT: 253-3070 OR 654-2732 Clean Garden Earth. Also excavating, grading and leveling done. Call 627-9977 Road to Belwasa and A Dip at the Sangam, Indentureship Novels at Austin’s Book Store and Lachmansingh Drug Store. Tel: 226-5053.

flowers Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

immigration Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/ visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 6553105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED BY IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT. PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATIONS (PERMANENT/VISITOR) FOR USA, CANADA, UK, CHINA, INDIA, ETC. SABITA’S IMMIGRATION SERVICES. TEL: 225-6496/662-6045

health Healthworld Clinic – Providing professional psychological therapy for all mental and behavioral health problems. Call (592)-6901824 Mondays-Saturdays 9am3pm. Email; healthworldhc@ gmail.com FOR YOUR HEALTH AND BEAUTY: Natural Choice Chai (Tea) & Moringa Powder, keep yourself healthy and beautiful from the inside out! Add Natural Choice products to your health foods today! Ask for it at your local supermarket. Now available at Flambouyant Supermarkets in Diamond and Eccles, all DSL Cash & Carry branches, The Guyana Shop (GMC) at Robb & Alexander Sts, Bourda, Medi Care Pharmacy in South Ruimveldt, (Royal Castle Building), Ram’s Supermarket at Vreed-En-Hoop and Sangeeta Supermarket in Linden.

optician Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

property for sale WOODEN BUILDING ONLY WITH ALL ACCESSORIES INCLUDING SLIDING DOORS AND GRILLS. IDEAL FOR VACANT HOUSE LOTS. CALL 227-4285 PROPERTY FOR SALE, COVENT GARDEN, E.B.D. LAND SIZE 120x40.

HOUSE SIZE 60X26. 4 BEDROOM, 1 SELF-CONTAINED ROOM, KITCHEN CUPBOARD, CONCRETE YARD AND FENCE. CONTACT: 612-4722/675-9093 TWO (2) PROPERTIES IN DOWDING STREET KITTY FRONT LOT – 2 STOREY 1 FAMILY WOODEN BUILDING, UPPER 3 BEDROOMS; LOWER - KITCHEN, DINING, LIVING, TOILET AND BATH, FULLY SECURED. BACKLOT – 2 STOREY 2 FAMILY CONCRETE AND WOODEN BUILDING, UPPER THREE BEDROOMS ( 1 FULLY SELF CONTAINED; LOWER – 3 BEDROOMS, FULLY SECURED, OPEN CONCEPT BATHS, OVERHEAD TANKS. VACANT POSSESSION GUARANTEED. CALL: 227-6769, SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY.

Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown.

Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 6213249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks.

Get your extra key today.

Property for sale at Patentia Housing Scheme Wales, West Bank Demerara.

A two flat building, well painted, upper flat 3 bedroom, 1 verandah, 1 inside step, 1 outside step, top flat greenheart, bottom flat concrete, 1 living room, dining room, kitchen, inside toilet and bathroom, inside sink with cupboard, place to sit, two tents outside, along with two black tanks.

Price Negotiable. Contact: 610-8963

LAND for sale

6 bedrooms Parfait Harmonie, $17M negotiable – 656-7590, 663-3602

KEY CUTTing

HOUSE AND LAND FOR SALE. LOCATED AT PARFAIT HARMONIE WEST BANK DEMERARA, 25X60 SQ FT. 6 ROOMS UPSTAIRS:4 BEDROOMS , 1 MASTER BEDROOM, 1 TOILET AND BATH, LAUNDRY ROOM, KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM UPSTAIRS AS WELL. HAS A BACK AND FRONT VERANDAH. 2 BEDROOMS DOWNSTAIRS, TOILET AND BATH, KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM AND AN ACTIVE GROCERY BUSINESS. LOCATED 5 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE DEMERARA HARBOUR BRIDGE, 14.5 NEGOTIABLE, CONTACT: 656-7590 Eccles – 5.5 million, Providence – $5.5 million, Farm - $3.5 million, Serious contacts only: 697-6769.

1.5 Acre for housing development W.B.D. Tel: 658-0115 Plot of land used to cultivate RICE, Plantation Better Hope, Essequibo Coast. Size 33.14 Acres. Tel: 6251514

NOTICE APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDER’S CERTIFICATE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF THE MONEY LENDERS ACT. I, CEDRIC JOEL WEEKS OF LOT 8 DEN AMSTEL, WEST COAST DEMERARA, GUYANA IS HEREBY GIVEN NOTICE THAT I HAVE APPLIED TO THE MAGISTRATE OF THE GEORGETOWN MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT FOR A CERTIFICATE UNDER THE MONEY LENDERS ACT, AUTHORIZING THE GRANT TO ME OF A MONEY LENDER’S LICENCE TO CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF A MONEY LENDER UNDER THE TITLE OF CEDRIC’S PAWNSHOP AT LOT Y PUBLIC ROAD, BLANKENBURG, WEST COAST DEMERARA, GUYANA. NOTICE OF ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE SENT FORTHWITH TO THE CLERK OF COURT GEORGETOWN MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT AND A COPY OF SUCH NOTICE SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SUBSCRIBER. CEDRIC JOEL WEEKS (APPLICANT). DATED AT GEORGETOWN, DEMERARA, THIS DAY MAY 4, 2017.

Two storey building. Four bedrooms upstairs, Three downstairs.

Transported property. 27 Austin St. Campbellville. Call: 624-4668 Subryanville Property for Sale.

44 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown. $45m or best offer.

Contact - Mortimer: 625-7669 or Richard: 624-1154 PROPERTY FOR SALE IN ENTERPRISE SCHEME. 1 LARGE FAMILY HOME, 4 BEDROOM, FULLY GRILLED, 2-CAR GARAGE, RESERVOIR, OVERHEAD TANKS AND WATER FILTRATION, ETC. CALL/WHATSAPewwP NAVIN: 1-347-517-7432 Two buildings on lot at 180 Charlotte Street. L 20 x W 30. Contact Tel: 6247341, 227-6817, 226-5183. Price Neg. Eccles: $27M Neg. Enterprise Sec C: $20M Neg. Mon Repos: $30M Neg. South Ruimveldt Park: $20M Neg. Broad Street: $80M Neg. Charlotte Street between Camp & Alexander: $55M Neg. Providence (land): $6.5M Neg. Parfaite Harmonie (land): $4.5M Neg. Contact: 691-1521 GOOD HOPE AND OGLE. CONTACT: 673-5546, 222-3066, 682-7257, 6790987

services Technician – specializes in repairing and servicing to washing machines, pressure pumps, refridgerators, exercising machines, treadmills, stove/ranges, dryers, ovens, pressure washers, solar systems, water heaters.

Tel: 673-9283 Repairs and Spares, Air Conditioning, Car AC, Washers, Stoves. Call Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206

spirituality & ASTROLOGY TWO TIMES GOLD MEDALIST ASTROLOGER AND SPIRITUALIST FROM INDIA; IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS AND NOT GETTING SOLUTIONS FROM ANY ASTROLOGERS, ONCE MEET PANDIT GANESH TO GET ACCURATE REASONS, FOR ALL KINDS OF SPIRITUAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS PANDIT SOLVES, ALSO PROBLEMS RELATED TO STRESS, LOVE OR FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, FAMILY ARGUMENTS AND GETTING LOVED ONES BACK, HUSBAND AND WIFE PROBLEMS, HEALTH

PROBLEMS, REMOVAL OF BLACK MAGIC, EVIL SPIRITS, VOODOO, WITCH CRAFT, BLOCKAGES, SPELLS ETC. LOCATION: LIGHT STREET BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD STREET, ALBERTTOWN OPPOSITE THE GTT TOWER 600-0926 1. STAR ASTROLOGY AND PSYCHIC READER FROM: INDIA. ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED MEETING ASTROLOGERS AND NOT GETTING SOLUTIONS? THEN ONCE MEET INDIAN MOST POWERFUL SPIRITUALIST. 2. MASTER GURU RAGHVENDRA. YOUR PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE IN CONNECTION WITH COURT CASE, LOVE, EDUCATION, SICKNESS, MONEY, EVIL PROBLEM, BLOCKAGES IN LIFE AND MUCH MORE. FOR ALL YOUR PROBLEMS HE HAS THE SOLUTIONS, HE SPECIALIZES IN REMOVING BLACK MAGIC, EVIL SPIRITS, VOODOO, OBEAH, WITCH CRAFT AND GIVES YOU LIFE LONG PROTECTION. 3. CONTACT: - 6305073, 600-4096, ADDRESS: LOT 62 MON REPOS (NEXT TO THE MALL) E.C.D 1. SHIVA PARAVATHI ASTROLOGER FROM: INDIA. ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED MEETING ASTROLOGERS AND NOT GETTING SOLUTIONS? THEN ONCE MEET INDIAN MOST POWERFUL SPIRITUALIST. 2.

PRIEST NARASIMHA. YOUR PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE IN CONNECTION WITH COURT CASE, LOVE, EDUCATION, SICKNESS, MONEY, EVIL PROBLEM, BLOCKAGES IN LIFE AND MUCH MORE. FOR ALL YOUR PROBLEMS HE HAS THE SOLUTIONS, HE SPECIALIZES IN REMOVING BLACK MAGIC, EVIL SPIRIT, VOODOO, OBEAH, WITCH CRAFT AND GIVES YOU LIFE LONG PROTECTION. 3. CONTACT: 6827439, 650-0700. ADDRESS: LOT 12 GT&T STREET ANNA REGINA ESSEQUIBO COAST (OPPOSITE GT&T OFFICE) WORLD FAMOUS INDIAN PALMIST AND SPIRITUALISTT ASTROLOGER, AT EAST BANK GROVE. MEET HIM ONCE FOR ACCURATE PREDICTIONS, FIXING PROBLEMS LIKE HEALTH AND STRESS, ENEMIES, JEALOUSY, RELATIONSHIPS, FININCIALS AND GET LOVED ONES BACK. HE CAN HANDLE AND REMOVE BLACK MAGIC, VOODOO, OBEAH, WITCHCRAFT. FOR BETTER RESULTS, CONTACT 664-2505 OR 609-4493. LOCATED AT 150 TIME SQUARE STREET, NORTHWEST GROVE, EAST BANK DEMERARA. THE MOST POWERFUL ASTROLOGER AND SPIRTUALIST FROM INDIA. If you are having problems, he has the solutions. He solves problems related to love, relationships, happiness, financial, family arguments, getting lover back, husband and wife problems, removal of black magic, evil spirits, voodoo, witchcraft, blockages. Location: Light Street, Alberttown, between 2nd and 3rd Streets, Opposite the GTT Tower. Telephone number: 652-4444 / 600-0926 Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to business. Call: 612-6417, 687-5653 Surinamese spiritualist.

Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc. Call 2236834/600-7719.

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 602-8997 HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081, 3225738, 337-4510, 337-4259, 337-3070, 337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

Ifa Temple – Are you having serious problems and urgently need spiritual help? Call 6210552 now. Email: anew-life@ live.com SPIRITUAL HEALING: REMOVE BLOCKAGES, VOODOO, HEXCURSE, BLACK MAGIC, SPELL, BUSINESS, UPLIFTMENT, PREGNANCY, LOVE & MARRIAGE PROBLEMS, CLEARANCE, ETC. Contact: 612-1975, 683-5228

SALON / SPA “COSMETOLOGY – FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000.

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927”

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

TO LET 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT IN GROVE SECOND STREET, PRIVATE YARD. 648-5092, 669-9390 APARTMENT TO RENT. 2 BEDROOMS (APARTMENT B) LOCATED AT BEST LINE OPPOSITE THE BAKE SHOP. PRICE: - $ 40,000. 668-0032 – D.SINGH, 615-5646 NEVILLE OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT 12x12 SQUARE FEET, WELL GRILLED WINDOWS AND DOORS, LIGHT, WATER, WASHROOM AND PARKING FACILITIES AVAILABLE. LOT 60 BRICKDAM TELE: 226-1836 1 TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT, FULLY AIR CONDITIONED, PARKING AVAILABLE LOCATED AT WILLIAM STREET, CAMPBELLVILLE , CONTACT 618-6623 FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES. Two-bedroom back house upper flat situated at at 64 Seaforth St. Campbellville $50,000 per month.

Telephone: 227-1293. No pets Three storey 75ft’ x 30 ft. building/bond, Open floors, 2 offices, 2 washrooms, driveways. 25 B Princess Street, Charlestown. Tel : 223-0654/225-0605 Three storey 75ft’ x 30 ft. building/bond, Open floors, 2 offices, 2 washrooms, driveways. 25 B Princess Street, Charlestown. Tel : 223-0654/225-0605 THREE STOREY 75 FT’X 30 FT BUILDING/BOND, OPEN FLOORS, 2 OFFICES, 2 WASHROOMS, DRIVEWAY. 25B PRINCESS ST, CHARLESTOWN. TEL: 223-0654, 225-0605 UNFURNISHED BOTTOM FLAT – 2 BEDROOMS, BATHROOM, KITCHENETTE, DINING/LIVING ROOM, PRE-PAID METER. QUIET NEIGHBOURHOOD – KITTY. NO CHILDREN. NO PETS. SUITABLE FOR STUDENTS OR SINGLE WORKING PERSONS. $55,000 PER MONTH. 2 MONTHS SECURITY DEPOSIT. RENT CONTRACT FOR 6 – 12 MONTHS. CONTACT 6930003 (DURING BUSINESS HOURS)

DISTRIBUTION COMPANY SEEKING A BOOK KEEPER / INVENTORY CLERK, EXPERIENCE AND POLICE CLEARANCE NEEDED. CALL FOR INTERVIEW 231-8344, 223-1027 OR 223103 CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANT – 624- 0033 COOK – 624-0033 PUMP ATTENDANT – 624-0033 OR 680-3863

VEHICLES FOR SALE For sale:- 1 Toyota Fielder wagon for sale $1.6 negotiable. 656-7590 JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRACAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST TOYOTA DYNA CANTER 612-1085/680-3863

WANTED WANTED. WAITRESS TO WORK IN A BAR. TEL 697-6769 Applications are invited for One Evening Tutor for Grade 9 Student.

• Must be a CPCE Graduate or currently attending University of Guyana. • Experienced in Science Subjects.

• Two recent references required.

Interested persons are advised to send applications to: jobrecruiter7860@gmail.com

NOT RECEIVING YOUR

DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF

VACANCIES Marketing firm seeking Content Writers. Excellent communication skills (great writers only please).

College diploma/degree/journalist.

Experience preferred. Virtual position - work from home via Skype, GoToMeeting, email, texting, etc.

Modern PC, good internet & power w/ UPC back-up and/or generator is mandatory. M-F 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST. Salary $100,000/ month.

Email resumes to careers@consultpr.net.

ONE ACCOUNTS CLERK, EMAIL CV TO info@digitaltechnology. gy or deliver to: Lot 20 Diamond Public Road, E.B.D addressed to ‘The Operations Manager’ - Able to prepare VAT returns, NIS and PAYE submissions (An Asset) - Proficient in the use of QuickBooks and Excel.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, may 15, 2017

Chance continues to make positive strides

Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash…

Wiltshire, Harding standout performers

‒ aiming to qualify for SA seniors

T

he curtains came down on the Woodpecker Products Junior National Squash Championships at the Georgetown Courts on Sunday afternoon with Shomari Wiltshire and Makeda Harding producing some of the most dominant performances throughout the five-day event.

Wiltshire had a clean sweep of the boys’ under-15, under-17 and under-19 categories while Harding was on the verge of achieving an identical feat but she fell short to Taylor Fernandes (playing her final year as junior) in the under-19 category.

Wiltshire defeated Daniel Islam in three tough games 11/6, 11/8, 11/7 for the under-19 title while Fernandes outplayed Rebecca Low in the final match winning comfortably in straight games 11/4, 11/5, 11/6.

The final results in the Girls’ under-11 saw Beau Fernandes securing first while Christiana Fernandes and Isabella Ramjohn came second and third respectively. In the boys under-11 Mohyryan Baksh took the top spot with Louis Da Silva, Nathan Rahaman and Shiloh Asregado took third to four place spots.

Over in the under-13 division, Kirstenn Gomes, Paige Fernandes and Haley Carpenter were the top three girls while Michael Alphonso won for the boys ahead of Demetrius De Abreu, Ethan Jonas and James Mekdeci.

For the Girls under-15, Abosaide Cadogan came second while Kirsten Gomes

By Akeem Greene

N All smiles! The respective winners and their trophies along with national coach Carl Ince (far left)

and Madison Fernandes came third and fourth respectively; in the boys Samuel Ince – Carvalhal was second ahead of Gianni Carpenter (third) and Lucas Jonas (fourth).

In the competitive girls under-17, Abosaide Cadogan had to settle for second with Gomes in third and Maya Collins, fourth while in the boys under17 & 19, Dainel Islam and Alex Cheeks rounded off the top three.

The most improved girl when went to Gomes while Alphonso was given the male award.

Not surprisingly Harding and Wiltshire were voted the most outstanding girl and boy respectively.

Below is a summary of all the matches that were played on Sunday: Girls’ under-11: Beau Fernandes defeated Isabella Ramjohn 11/4, 11/8, 11/1; Boys Under 11: Louis Da Silva beat Shiloh Asregado 11/1, 11/8, 11/2; Chad De Abreu beat Dhiren Persaud 12/10, 11/5, 11/4; Mohyryan Baksh beat Nathan Rahaman 11/3, 11/1, 11/5. Girls Under

GFSCA tournament

commences on May 28 ‒ 3 categories to be contested

13: Kirsten Gomes beat Paige Fernandes 11/6, 11/4, 11/1; Boys Under 13: Demetrius De Abreu defeated James Mekdeci 11/5, 11/8, 11/7; Zachary Persaud beat Liam Carpenter 11/0, 11/1, 11/3; Michael Alphonso beat Ethan Jonas 11/4, 11/8, 11/6. Girls Under 15: Kirsten Gomes beat Teija Edwards 11/3, 11/1, 11/1; Makeda Harding beat Aliyah Persaud 11/1, 11/2, 11/3; Abosaide Cadogan beat Madison Fernandes 5/11, 11/9, 8/11, 12/10, 11/6; Aliyah Persaud beat Jahcinta Adams 11/2, 11/1, 11/1; Boys Under 15: Jason Gomes defeated Dominic Collins 5/11, 11/9, 11/4, 11/8; Mikhail Persaud beat Osmond Mack 11/7, 11/8, 5/11, 11/5; Shomari Wiltshire beat Lucas Jonas 11/1, 11/1, 11/2; Samuel Ince-Carvalhal beat Gianni Carpenter 11/3, 11/7, 11/4. Girls Under 19: Taylor Fernandes beat Rebecca Low 11/4, 11/5, 11/6; Taylor Fernandes beat Sarah Lewis 11/1, 11/7, 11/3; Boys Under 17/19: Alex Cheeks beat Anthony Islam 11/3, 11/6, 11/5; Shomari Wiltshire defeated Daniel Islam 11/6, 11/8, 11/7.

Prizes were presented to all winners

by Robert Fernandes representative of the sponsors Woodpecker Products Ltd. The tournament was the final junior event before the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships which are scheduled to be held in Guyana from July 1 – 9.

ational sprinter Arinze Chance continues to improve his timings over the last year while running for the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Fast Track team in the twin Island Republic.

His impact at the institution where he is also studying Petroleum Engineering has been a phenomenal recording breaking feat.

At the recent Flacons Games he helped lower the 400 x 400M record to 3:11.75 after his team had initially rewritten it to 3:14.51 in February.

A back spasm and a strained tendon in his hip prevented him from participating in the Penn Relays where UTT clocked 3:20.26. Chance underwent therapy for his injuries and without much training, he participated in yet another record breaking feat, lowering his signature relay event time to 3:09.62 while running the second leg at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Saturday.

Interestingly, the time is approximately six one hundredths of a second slower than Guyana’s current 4 x 400M record of 3:09.00 which was set at this year’s Penn Relays by the team comprising

Determination is one of the key ingredients to the 21year-old success to date

of Jermaine Griffith, Winston George, Kelton Cumberbatch and Alistar McLean.

Given his vast improvement in form, the former Bishops’ High School student is hoping that he can churn out his undoubted talent for his homeland by participating in the South American Senior Championship slated for June 23 -25 in Paraguay. The event will give athletes qualifying tickets for the IAAF World Championships London 2017.

“I have to run the standard times at Senior Championship there [Guyana] in June [ 10th to 11th]; I know have a lot of work to do seeing that I was off from training for

just about a month due to injuries but I am confident because I simply love running in Guyana”, the 21 year-old told Guyana Times Sport on Sunday.

While he also runs the 200M, his speciality rests in the 400M which he has a personal best of 46.81s.

Chance plans on improving that time under the guidance of coach Lester Osouna, to challenge the likes of Winston George who currently holds the National record with a time of 45.25s.

His goals have not stopped at the South American Championships but to also attend the World University Games being held in Taipei, China from August 20 -27.

GFF/Stage Elite League…

Victoria Kings secure play-off spot

‒ Monedderlust relegated

By Michelangelo Jacobus

I Some exciting action is expected to resume among the top softball teams in the country

T

he Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will commence their annual softball tournament on Sunday May 28 at various venues across the country.

The tournament will be played in three categories; Male Masters (40 years old and over), Male Open and Female Open with lots of incentives at stake.

The first prize in the Male Masters and Male Open categories is $100,000 plus a trophy while the losing finalists will cart off $50,000 and a trophy each.

The player of the tournament in each category will pocket $5,000 and a trophy while the player of the tournament will also receive $5,000 and a trophy.

The winning female team will receive $50,000 and a trophy

while the runner-up team will walk away with $25,000. The player of the final and player of the tournament will each get $5,000 and a trophy.

The grounds that will be used include Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC), Carifesta Sports Complex, Everest Cricket Club and Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) in the city; the Ogle/ Industry Community Centre and Enterprise Cricket Club grounds along the East Coast of Demerara; the Jialing ground in Berbice and the Tuschen ground on the West Coast of Demerara.

For more information and registration contact GFSCA Organizing Secretary Wayne Jones on 650-1790 or 685-6908.

n the opening match of Sunday’s triple-header at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ground, Victoria Kings defeated Monedderlust FC 2-1 to secure their spot in the “Big Four” play-offs in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Elite League (season 2).

On a soggy outfield, the two teams produced an exciting match despite the scoreline as the contest was evenly matched in the opening 40 minutes. However, the Kings would have the last say as they scored twice in the final five minutes of the first half with former Slingerz FC captain Tichard Joseph poking home in the 41st minute while winger Akeem Holder scored in the 45th minute.

Monedderlust, who seemingly were playing for pride, came out in the opening minutes of the second half guns blazing. Maybe it was the 2-0 advantage that

VICTORIA KINGS (Green) on the attack in their match against Monedderlust FC at the Guyana Defence Force Ground

Victoria Kings had but their defense switched off and allowed Monedderlust’s centre-back Nicholas Rodney to run through and on to goal to score in the 47th minute, leaving the match delicately poised. The East Coast of Demerara unit had a chance to put the game out of the reach of Monedderlust when their winger was played through on goal but only managed to shoot straight at the custodian.

With 20 minutes remain-

ing Monedderlust scored a goal which was harshly disallowed as the linesman raised his flag for offside, the first of two decisions that were poorly judged.

In the closing minutes of the game, Victoria again spurned two glorious chances to cement their lead with poor shooting.

The victory means that up to press time Victoria Kings were in third position with 14 points while Monedderlust who were

poor throughout the league are now relegated.

Should Buxton United win their match against Top XX they will pip Victoria Kings for third place, it would make no difference as both teams will go through to the play-offs with Fruta Conquerors and GDF already qualifying in first and second place respectively.

A detailed report of the other two matches will be published in a subsequent edition.

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 15, 2017

Brighto Paints presents Q Mobile Test series…

Chase's heroics not enough to save West Indies D

‒ Pakistan secure 1st series win in Caribbean

ominica bid farewell to two legends of the game in a most fitting manner, giving Younis Khan and Misbahul-Haq the most heart-stopping send-off possible.

History beckoned time and again, torturing and teasing them. It made them wait, it made them wonder, it made them despair. But, with six balls left in the game, the series, and their careers, came perhaps its most satisfying moment.

Shannon Gabriel, West Indies’ No. 11, had spent just over half an hour at the crease, and had seen out 21 balls. See out one more, and it would leave Roston Chase, who was batting on 101, to face the last over of the match, the last over of the series, and dramatically raise West Indies’ chances of saving the Test.

Gabriel had kept out those 21 balls by trusting his defence, but now, in one of the most inexplicable moments in Test cricket’s history, he swung wildly, madly at Yasir Shah. The ball took his inside edge and rattled into off stump, sealing one of the greatest days in Pakistan’s cricket history.

This side - Misbah’s side - had done what Hanif Mohammad couldn’t do, what Javed Miandad couldn’t do, what Imran Khan couldn’t do.

He had led his side to its first ever series victory in the Caribbean, a 101-run win sealing his - and Younis’ - careers with aplomb.

Test cricket certainly has a way of rewarding its own.

Pakistan looked like they would make short work of the final session when session when, three overs in, Hasan Ali brought an end to Jason Holder’s obdurate resistance.

It left West Indies seven down with only the tail to give Roston Chase company.

With the pitch playing extremely slowly, what Hasan did to dismiss him might even have been an intentional ploy.

He took the surface out of the equation, hurling a fierce inswinger that made a beeline for leg stump on the full. Holder made a mess of trying to keep it out, and was plumb in front.

But just as Pakistan began to envisage victory, Bishoo and Chase had designs on a grand resistance. They split the work brilliantly, with Bishoo keeping

6 4 25 17 101 2 2 22 3

2nd Caribbean Schoolboys/Juniors Boxing…

Guyanese boxers hit back powerfully on 2nd night

Mohammad Amir burst through a loose drive from Shimron Hetmyer ©AFP

out Yasir Shah and Chase negotiating the faster bowlers, and Pakistan struggled to break that pattern. Ultimately Misbah resorted to pace from both ends, and Bishoo’s discomfort against the seamers eventually cost him his wicket, as he fended a Mohammad Abbas bouncer to silly point.

Chase had been sensational all series, and it would be churlish to take any credit away from him. But he led a charmed life in the last session and you couldn’t help wondering if he was destined to save the game. On two occasions, Hasan Ali dropped him off his own bowling, and when Abbas had him caught in the slips, replays showed he had just overstepped. When Chase drove Mohammad Amir down the ground for an exquisite boundary to bring up his hundred, you could sense the stadium felt it too.

Whenever a wicket fell, there was a sense that the resistance had finally ended.

But Alzarri Joseph picked up from where Bishoo left off, and then Gabriel took over from Joseph. Between them, West Indies’ Nos. 9, 10 and 11 spent 99 balls at the crease, while scoring 12 runs. Runs had simply ceased to matter by then.

The morning session had been dominated by Pakistan, who made significant inroads towards a series win, dismissing Kraigg Brathwaite, Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope, and exposing the hosts’ middle order in the first hour.

Brathwaite was the first

to fall, playing an unseemly shot after getting caught in two minds over what to do with a short Yasir delivery.

The ball stuck in the pitch, and Brathwaite spooned it to point.

But the hammer blow was yet to come, with Hetmyer’s bête noire coming back to snare him one final time. Mohammad Amir got one to tail in to Hetmyer, just as he has done all series. The youngster looked to drive on the up, missing the ball completely. He must now be sick of the sight of his off stump sent cartwheeling.

Hasan pushed West Indies further back against the wall with a dream delivery to capture his first Test wicket.

Having maintained a disciplined, good length all Test, he changed it up in the most unexpected way, hurling an in-swinging yorker destined for Hope’s toes.

The batsman was unable to get

his bat down in time, and the lbw call was so obvious Chase told Hope not to bother with a review.

Two overs into the afternoon, Vishaul Singh - the closest thing to a walking wicket this series - succumbed to a classic Yasir Shah trap. The legspinner pitched the ball into the rough, and the left-hander failed to judge the turn. His inside edge flicked the pad, popping up to Babar Azam at short leg for a simple catch.

Shane Dowrich fell to the same bowler, and the same fielder, although his wicket was altogether more controversial.

His attempt to flick Yasir against the turn looped up to short leg off pad - before which there may or may not have been a tickle of inside edge - and the umpire Bruce Oxenford adjudged him out. (Cricinfo)

GCA/GDA/PAHO U-17 Cricket…

Inclement weather postpones final

SCOREBOARD West Indies 2nd innings (target: 304 runs) K Brathwaite c Hasan Ali b Yasir Shah K Powell c Shan Masood b Yasir Shah S Hetmyer b Mohammad Amir S Hope lbw b Hasan Ali R Chase not out V Singh c Babar Azam b Yasir Shah S Dowrich† c Babar Azam b Yasir Shah J Holder* lbw b Hasan Ali D Bishoo c Shan Masood b Mohammad Abbas A Joseph c †Sarfraz Ahmed

23

b Hasan Ali 5 S Gabriel b Yasir Shah 4 Extras (b 6, w 2, nb 3) 11 Total (all out; 96 overs) 202 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Powell, 6.3 ov), 2-22 (Brathwaite, 10.4 ov), 3-47 (Hetmyer, 17.5 ov), 4-66 (Hope, 29.6 ov), 5-76 (Singh, 35.1 ov), 6-93 (Dowrich, 43.2 ov), 7-151 (Holder, 61.6 ov), 8-181 (Bishoo, 76.4 ov), 9-197 (Joseph, 88.2 ov), 10202 (Gabriel, 95.6 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 15-8-22-1 (2w), Mohammad Abbas 20-9-31-1 (2nb), Yasir Shah 37-13-92-5, Hasan Ali 20-7-33-3 (1nb), Azhar Ali 2-0-3-0, Asad Shafiq 2-0-15-0

T

What a part of GCC looked like after early morning rain on Sunday

he Georgetown C r i c k e t Association (GCA)/ Guyana Diabetics Association/ PAHO Under-17 final was postponed after heavy rainfall in the city on Sunday morning affected the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda from hosting the match.

Key parts of the playing area got wet and were subsequently deemed un-

suitable to allow play for the teenagers, who will have to wait until there is better weather for play.

Chairman of the Competition Committee of GCA, Shaun Massiah said the two teams, reigning champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Transport Sports Club (TSC) will be updated during the course of the week.

Action in the Caribbean Schoolboys Boxing Championship at the National Gymnasium

O

n the second night of the “Nuff Cuff” Caribbean Schoolboys/Juniors Boxing Championship, Guyanese boxers hit back in a bid to retain their status of being the overall winners of the tournament which is being staged at the National Gymnasium.

In the international bouts, six in total, the Guyanese contingent won three out of their five clashes; the three victories all came against Trinidadian opponents. In the first matchup St Lucia’s Kimlyn Martie came out the winner of a closely contested 63Kg fight against Guyanese Emmanuel Pompey. They duo traded jabs and crosses in the early rounds but eventually Martie was able to wrest control from Pompey to be adjudged the winner.

Richard H o w a r d scored Guyana’s first international victory when he produced a dominant display to defeat Trinidadian Abdul Taylor via a well-deserved unanimous decision in the 40Kg School Boys Final. Likewise, Howard’s teammate, Leon Moore won against Tyreek Hosein in the 44Kg School Boys category in an evenly contested fight that saw the duo trade resounding punches throughout the bout; Moore scored with more accurate jabs and crosses to come out on top.

Pre-tournament favourite Nyrell Hosein representing Trinidad, easily overcame Patrick Harvey of Guyana when the two fighters clashed in the 46Kg Schoolboys Category, Hosein showed why he was

touted by his coaches as being a top contender to medal at the tournament when he totally out-boxed Harvey in a one sided affair.

Juan Rodriguez another pre-tournament favourite also tipped to medal, registered Trinidad and Tobago’s second win of the night when he defeated Guyana’s representative in the 52Kg category, Shemar Hutson.

Rodriguez had his opponent rocking at one point with a one-two combination followed by consecutive jabs.

However Guyana had the last hurrah of the night as Omar Pollard emerged victorious against T&T’s Edwin Felix in the 54Kg Category to register the host’s third victory of the night.

Earlier in the local bouts, Vickasy Graham defeated Moses Crawford when they clashed in the 25Kg Schoolboys category, while in the 32Kg weight class Sean Graham claimed victory against Laterell Richards and Shaquancy Wright defeated his opponent Neil Garraway in the 38 Kg clash.

In the heavier weight classes, Junior Hyman lost against Isaiah Moore in the 50Kg bout. In a split decision fight, Jaqwuan Milo pipped Mark Crawford to take the spoils in the 52Kg category.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, head coach of the Guyana team, Terrence Poole said that Guyana is well on their way to defending their title as overall Tournament winners and pointed out that the final night is well set for his fighters to claim medals.

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

MONDAY, MAY 15, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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Pg 22

Pg 22

Chance continues to make positive strides ‒ aiming to qualify for SA seniors A touch of a champion! Shomari Wiltshire about to retrieve the ball against Daniel Islam in a highly competitive match on Sunday at the Georgetown Club (Akeem Greene photo)

Arinze Chance is vastly improving as a 400m runner

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Pg 23

Chase's heroics not enough to save West Indies ‒ Pakistan secure 1st series win in Caribbean

Roston Chase battled to his second century of the series but it was not enough to save West Indies from succumbing to a historic series defeat to Pakistan in the Caribbean.

(Photo by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography)

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