Guyana Times

05 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2895

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, June 24, 2016

PRICE

Parking meter project

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

President Granger calls for greater transparency, says proposed rates too burdensome

Number P16 10 Village residents want electricity

Page 3

…Jagdeo calls for scrapping of initiative

Bandits jailed for 16 years in Land Court Judge robbery case Page 2

Opposition yet to receive draft of National Youth Policy – Dr Anthony Page 9

NGO donates $40M Page 11 in medical supplies, equipment to Public Health Ministry

National Events Department to be established P10

UG students to host walk against domestic P16 violence

The Hope for the Nation Foundation, headed by Dr Abdel Bari, on Thursday donated the medical supplies and equipment to the Public Health Ministry, much to the appreciation of Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings

Reduced 2 guilty, 1 freed parliamentary for sexual assault sittings fly in the of 17-year-old face of democracy – number one accused – PPP/C MP jailed for 29 years

Teacher accuses P11 Education Officers of victimisation

Page 7

Barama rape trial

Page 8

molestation of 3-year-old

P2

Mother remanded for 'wilful neglect'

2 NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Bandits jailed for 16 years in Land Court Judge robbery case T he three young men who were last week found guilty of robbing and battering Land Court Judge Nicola Pierre and her spouse, Mohamed Chand, have each been sentenced to 16 years for the crimes they committed against the couple.

Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul handed down the sentence Thursday at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court despite the trio’s pleas for leniency and denial of involvement in the above-mentioned crimes.

Damion Millington and Warren Mckenzie, both 22 Damion Millington years, along with 18-yearEach young man was old Nicholas Narine, 22, sentenced to four years were found guilty of two and it was ordered that the counts of robbery under time run consecutively. arms and two counts of feIn explaining why this lonious wounding. sentence was derived

Nicholas Narine

at for each young man, Magistrate Ally-Seepaul stated that this was because of the serious nature of the crimes which resulted in the severe in-

juries suffered by both the Land Court Judge and her husband as well as the fact that a weapon (a firearm) was used in the robbery and attack. The value of the items which were stolen had also been taken into consideration.

Pierre got a broken jaw during her mercilessly beating while the bandits were executing their robbery. Meanwhile, her husband had to undergo surgery to have one of his eyes removed.

On July 9 last year at Montrose, East Coast Demerara, the perpetrators armed with a firearm, assaulted and robbed Pierre of a quantity of gold and diamond jewellery, a nugget of gold, and a quantity of gem stones, among other items, including sev-

Warren Mckenzie

eral Nintendo games, a total value of $1 million.

Additionally, Pierre’s husband, Chand, was robbed of five wrist watches, a Samsung Galaxy S5 cellular phone, US$8000, a wedding ring, four ‘Oakley’

sunglasses and one brown leather wallet, a total value of $2.6M. Initially, five men were charged for the crimes but two of them were found not guilty.

Police find gun in bag dropped by man

T

he police have unearthed a .32 pistol from a bag that was disposed of by a man along Cemetery Road, Georgetown.

According to reports, at about 21:00h Wednesday, police A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) were

on patrol when they saw a man drop the bag he was carrying and made good his escape.

The ranks collected the bag and upon checking, they found the firearm.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

Molestation of 3-year-old

Mother remanded for ‘wilful neglect’

T

he mother of a 3-yearold girl who was sexually molested last Saturday was remanded to prison when she made an appearance in the Springlands Magistrate’s Court in chambers before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh on Thursday, charged with ‘wilful neglect’.

The mother, whose name is being withheld to protect the child’s identity, was not required to plead to the charge of “wilful neglect in a manner wholly to cause unnecessary suffering and injury” to the child.

Police prosecutor Inspector Godfrey Platter told the court that the woman is an alcoholic and has five children ages 2 to14 years.

He said between Saturday 18 June and Sunday, June 19 she went on a drinking spree. She returned home at 20:30h on Sunday and retired to bed with her children. Platter said the accused woke about 01:30h the following day and discovered the 3-year-old infant missing from the bed.

Upon checking, she found the child on the floor of the

house bleeding profusely from the vagina.

The matter was reported to the police and the child taken to the hospital.

The prosecutor asked for bail to be refused on the grounds that the state of the infant’s health was unknown as she remains hospitalised.

Magistrate Singh remanded the mother to prison until Monday 27 June, 2016 when a medical report on the child’s progress is expected to be presented.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam said as police continue their investigations, two other persons are in custody.

He noted that the woman’s four other children will be placed in the care of a relative This publication understands that the woman’s husband and father of the children, who is a fisherman has been at sea for some time now and it is unclear if he is aware of the incident.

He is expected home in four days.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 24 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, June 25 – 08:30h-10:00h.

President Granger calls for greater transparency, says proposed rates too burdensome

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, June 24 – 06:45h-08:15h and Saturday, June 25 – 07:25h-08:55h.

…Jagdeo calls for scrapping of initiative

A

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with light rain showers expected in the late afternoon. Thundery rain showers are expected to return in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to South-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide:06:56h and 19:27h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.52 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:29h and 12:59h reaching minimum heights of 0.68 metre and 0.57 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016

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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Daily Millions

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Parking meter project

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head of his address to the Councillors of the Georgetown Municipality next week, President David Granger has called for greater transparency to prevail in relation to the highly-controversial parking meter project which, according to City Councillors, is shrouded in secrecy.

The President also expressed concerns of the proposed rates for parking being too burdensome on citizens.

State Minister Joseph Harmon disclosed on Wednesday that in light of mounting concerns over the initiative, Cabinet ordered that the contract between the Town Council and National Parking Systems/Smart City Solutions (NPS/SCS) Inc be reviewed by the Finance Ministry and Attorney General’s Chambers.

Harmon had cautioned that Central Government is limited in its intervention since it is undemocratic and outright unlawful to interfere in matters under the remit of the City Council.

Prompted for his take on the situation, the President during the taping of his weekly telecast, the “Public Interest” on Thursday, said

Mayor Patricia Chase Green checking out one of the parking meters in the presence of Councillor Oscar Clarke while on a recent trip to Mexico

he is deeply concerned about the issues being raised in relation to the project.

“Obviously we want to protect the national interests…I am disappointed that there are members of the public who feel they were not consulted…The whole purpose of having democratic elections is to have democratically run councils,” Granger stated.

He noted that his Government cannot do much but insisted that transparency and accountability prevail.

“As far as the Government is concerned, we would insist that there is greater transparency…we cannot overrule the council which is a legal body but we can ask for transparent procedures to prevail,” he stated.

In his address to City Council next week, the President plans to also urge the Council to continue in its efforts to foster urban renewal.

These include the sanitation projects, cleaning of canals, solid waste management, the clearing of

D’Urban Park, among others.

Granger said he will also urge the Council to focus on developing housing programmes in a joint effort with the Housing Department.

“I would also urge them to look at minimising slums and squatter settlements, together with Central Government to embark on a programme of housing which would help indigent families move out of the blighted areas of the town and go into decent housing,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has joined many in calling for the parking meter programme to be scrapped immediately.

During a news conference on Thursday, Jagdeo explained that apart from the controversial nature of the project, the proposed fees are extremely exorbitant and will only add to the financial burdens of the people of the country.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

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

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

Editorial

Social media S

ocial media is a world within a world and for those who were born in the 21st Century, technology is only but a natural phenomenon. Cell phones, iPods, and video games are practically inevitable for teens and young adults. Along with these technologies come social media networking, which is part of the daily routine for many. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have millions of visitors daily. Facebook alone has over 500 million users which make it the most popular social network website on Earth. Research conducted by Facebook shows that 50 per cent of its users are active users who log on daily and spend over 700 billion minutes per month on the site.

There is no doubt that social media and social networking are here to stay; however, added to these ‘natural’ luxuries are risks and dangers.

While these sites’ open dialogue allows individuals to express themselves, there must be some amount of user censorship not necessarily by the domain host but rather by individuals themselves. Creating a profile, giving details about yourself, hobbies and educational background are all acceptable; however, for many every aspect of their day, work and lives are posted. Like driving, the users of social media should be cognisant of the five C’s – caution, care, common sense, courtesy and consideration – as many of the things posted can arise in the future to haunt thrones. Only recently, it was observed locally that a number of young persons were posting on social media their intent to resign from their current place of employment. Common sense – one of the 5 C’s – would inform that such information is personal and should not be posted on a social network, as such behaviours can stymie future employment.

What if the situation changed and that person needs to stay at the current place of employment? What if an intended employer does a social media search and sees such uncouth behaviour? It is thought-provoking that an employee can overlook his /her posting on any social networking site and talk their way out of potential employment. It seems as though these consequences are often not in the minds of teens and young adults when they take to the social media world to express themselves. Interestingly, many young persons do not take into account or acknowledge the dangers of such postings on social networking sites since to them, all the social sites seem innocent.

Recent research has shown one of the greatest impacts of social networking is on the social skills of people. According to a BBC report, while on one hand, social networking sites seem to bring people together and connected; on the other hand, it creates social isolation. Research has shown that older generations of networkers learnt how to communicate and interact long before networking was even a thought, but much of the younger generations do not interact socially. According to the report, social networking has created a serious breach in the ability of young people to communicate and interact with each other.

It is clear that there is evidence suggesting that social networking can be risky to a dangerous extent, but it is an area that cannot be ignored, as it is the driving force of the world today. Like the many pleasures of life, social networking can be beneficial in moderation; however, unfortunately, moderation and the social media world do not coincide in society. As such, all one can hope for is that young people have a deeper understanding and be conscious of what they are posing on social media, taking into consideration its impact today, tomorrow and years ahead.

A mother takes her child to school as the Mahaicony River overflows its banks and inundates the area

We do not deserve any apology! The beat will go on Dear Editor, President Granger made a controversial call when he decided not to have any young persons in his cabinet. When the news broke that he will not place any youths at the helm of any Ministry, there was a huge uproar and outcry. The drumbeat was so loud that at his birthday bash a few weeks later, the President addressed the issue. I was there in Congress Place on the night of his birthday celebrations. I heard him say that he was 69 when he became President and that the young people need to learn to wait their turn.

He was on to something.

Look what kind of trouble the young Sherod Duncan is causing the old PNC folks at the Georgetown Municipality. It is obvious that the old heads think that they are not answerable to young people; no matter their elected status. In fact, the comment by Councillor Oscar Clark – an old PNC

staple - reflects the collective sentiments of many folks.

Ask any old PNCite and they will tell you that the young people need to “know their place.” Clark knows full well that he will lose no stripes among his party stalwarts. He will be greeted at the next PNC function to the popping of champagne and loud cheers and kisses.

Editor, just imagine briefly if the President had put a Sherod-kind of person/s in his cabinet. Imagine the kind of administrative scandal that would have erupted when it was found out that Minister Joe Harmon was in China with BaiShan Lin and BK. All hell would have broken loose.

A person with the mindset of Duncan would have wanted all the yet unanswered questions to be answered. Harmon and President Granger would have gotten no rest. That person/s would have been a thorn in the President’s side, much like Sherod is a thorn

in the side of the Mayor and her selected team.

So for whatever it is worth, like it or not, you would have to admit that the President was very visionary when he left the youthful thinkers out of his cabinet.

As unpopular as it was, it was a calculated decision and the President is getting the last laugh. What these leaders know is that come 2020, all those who are now complaining and fussing; all of those who now do not deserve any apologies from their elected officials; all those who have been displaced and disenfranchised by their elected leaders, when the call is made at election time, all of them will don their yellow and green jerseys and bandannas, and flock to the streets in syncopated gyrations in their numbers, and then to the voting boots. And if given a chance they would vote twice. These leaders know that.

For 50 years Guyanese have been a masochistic (like being beaten) bunch of people. Just look at our country.

We have the largest land mass and we are the richest in natural resources. We have the hardest working class, yet we are the poorest, sickest and most humiliated among our Caribbean counterparts. Trinidad and Barbados still have benches where they put Guyanese to sit before deporting them.

Citizens in no other country in the Caribbean are treated like we are. And to think that it is the same two parties that have ruled us for all these 50 years; PPP and PNC. Yet, come 2020 we will run to the voting booths and we will pick one of those two parties, again. Even the youths. So you are right comrade Oscar Clark; we do not deserve any apology!

The beat will go on.

Yours faithfully, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey

Behaviour of APNU/AFC Councillor distasteful

Dear Editor, The behaviour of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) councillor, Deochan Singh of Hope West Enmore is utterly disgraceful. This councillor has been behaving in a manner which is deemed as psychotic and most time appears to be under the influence of something.

He is unwilling to work with the council for the development and betterment of Enmore, but portrays a

different side to the public.

Deochan Singh known as “Sharma”, is usually disrespectful to the chairman and councillors.

He even alleged that a minister ordered him to obstruct and break up the meeting. He also receives support from his APNU/ AFC friend Anand Persaud, also known as Gilbert, in his bid to create confusion at the Council meetings. Both of their behaviours are immature, unprofessional and distasteful.

These are the quality of persons that the APNU/AFC Government has representing their interests at the Council. Is this the better life? Is this what we want for our communities? Are these the people we want our children to look to as leaders? Singh was allegedly fired from the Enmore estate for stealing but somehow still made the cut on the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the coalition.

It is time for us to deliv-

er a higher calibre and quality of leadership to those who elected us at the last historic Local Government Elections.

It is time for Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and his regional counterpart to take action against Singh and others who are deliberately upsetting the work programme and progress of our beloved NDC. Yours truly, Concerned citizen

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

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Feasibility of Warrou Hamilton Green language project questionable has a record of being difficult to work with

Dear Editor, We witness with relief a semblance of will from the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry to safeguard the cultural heritage of Guyana’s first peoples, by investing two million dollars in the revival of the Warrou language. Such an initiative from the Allicock administration was long overdue.

After the Arawak Language Revival Project was implemented in September 2013 in Capoey, Region 2, the then Amerindian Affairs Ministry through its Projects Department, was looking into the project’s expansion to allow native Warrou villages to benefit from the same opportunity. One is subsequently happy to see that despite a long wait of over a year, the Allicock administration has finally decided to proceed in this direction.

However, it is difficult to guarantee the feasibility of the project by handing over a cheque of a lump sum of two million dollars to the beneficiaries. This does not

necessarily provide assurance that younger generations will assimilate the language and other aspects of their cultural heritage with which they are unacquainted.

When I drafted the Arawak Language Revival project in 2013, the Ministry was fully responsible for implementing and monitoring all activities. These included specifying a timeframe with deliverables, ensuring that a teacher was assigned and paid every month and providing learning material for both the teacher and participating children. The teacher was also tasked with submitting monthly progress reports to the Ministry’s assigned Projects Officer, based on the information he would have collected as well as evaluations conducted. This represented a pilot project for Amerindian language preservation.

The unit responsible for implementing and monitoring the project was the Projects Department under the supervision of the Project Coordinator and the above

mentioned Projects Officer then assigned to Region 2, both of whom are still employed at the Ministry.

Unfortunately, supervision of the Arawak Language Revival Project was poor due to insufficient commitment from the unit and the Ministry. The overall cost for implementing this pilot in 2013 was some $2 million per year. It is subsequently difficult to imagine how the same sum can now cover other activities such as “craft”.

Now, it appears that the Allicock administration is limiting its responsibilities, by simply handing over money without a sustainable plan to ensure that positive results are guaranteed in the Warrou language project.

The Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry ought to have taken example from the pilot, strengthening its weaknesses – principally managerial issues from the Projects Department – so as to optimise results for the Warrou project.

Laziness and laxity

however, seem to have defined the laid-back and laissez-faire attitude of the Ministry in dealing with indigenous affaires. To date, no one knows the implementation status of the Arawak Language Revival Project, nor if it has been renewed or scrapped. We have seen no progress reports from the Ministry, despite that the subject teacher confirmed having faithfully submitted his monthly reports to the Projects Department.

Consequently, the Warrou project seems to be more a matter of form than substance, and therefore limits appreciation for the Ministry’s investment which is seemingly nothing more than a short-lived handout.

Hopefully, technical expertise would guide similar future initiatives, to enhance chances of a successful learning experience both for Amerindians and for the Government of Guyana.

Sincerely, Anna Correia

I hope the AFC is taking note of how the Deputy Mayor is being treated by APNU bullies

Dear Editor, Clearly the ‘Old Timers’ at City Hall do not understand what the real beef is by the new councillors and the citizens of Georgetown, regarding the implementation of the proposed parking meter system in our capital.

It is not about whether the Council has the legal authority to or whether it should be implementing a parking meter system, but rather it is all about the clandestine, crooked and unacceptable manner in which they are attempting to go about implementing it.

First of all, the Georgetown Municipality is not a law unto itself, but rather is subject to the fiscal laws of Guyana and therefore it was and is mandatory, that the tender procedures

be followed which requires ads to be put out locally and internationally for bids to be submitted and considered in a transparent way for the installation of a parking meter system. It is unacceptable whether done during the life of the last Council or the present Council that Cush could walk in with a proposal costing tens of millions of US dollars which will tie the hands of the City Council for the next 50 years.

Secondly, all councillors in a municipality are equal, and therefore it is objectionable and intolerable that only a few councillors are allowed to have possession of the contract document, whilst the others are only allowed to have a peek at it in the office. This document should not only be made

completely available to all councillors and officers of the Council, but to Cabinet, Members of Parliament and the citizens of Georgetown.

What is so classified about a parking meter contract?

The councillors should not even entertain a discussion on the subject until they are in possession of the document and are able to peruse it thoroughly.

Thirdly, how could the finance chairman say that he is getting like Harmon and that he has no apologies for disregarding tender board procedures, for sneaking away stealthily on this infamous trip to Mexico and Panama and for concealing information from his colleagues.

In a decent and democratic society he would have

been removed forthwith from chairing such a committee. But then again his arrogance is well known, if we can recall the debacle with his altercation with former Parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon and the haughty and callous approach he took when dealing with striking workers after he was just sworn in as finance chairman and councillor.

I hope the AFC is taking note of how the Deputy Mayor is being treated by some APNU bullies and I hope the Government will pull these errant councillors and mayor in line.

Sincerely, Sean Moniz

Dear Editor, Not a single Guyanese should be in the least bit surprised that a competent, qualified and decent officer such as Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority Myrna Pitt has resigned from her post.

Had she not done so then she would have spoiled the long and odious record of the Chairman of the CH&PA Board Hamilton Green.

If one were to look back at the various ministries he headed, one would see the difficulties experienced by the permanent secretaries, departmental heads and other technical staff who were all certified, capable and experienced.

But one does not have to look so far back, one just has to look at the last twenty one years that he spent as Chairman of the Georgetown

Municipality, to see the long list of casualties including town clerks, city engineers, city treasurers, etc.

Note however, that his getting rid of all of these senior staffers did not make things any better at City Hall, in fact it made things far worse, with the Council being at its apex in corruption and irregularities when he finally left a few months ago.

It should also be noted that most of the victims were women.

How could the government give this cruel octogenarian more opportunities to destroy the lives of honest public servants who do not agree to dance to the tune that he is playing?

Sincerely, Mark Roopan

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

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By Alexa Joy Sherman

PLAY POINTER: Release the reins

Of course you want to protect your child, but if you control every move, they can still get hurt –developmentally. “An exaggerated safety focus of children’s play is problematic because … they might need challenges and varied stimulation to develop normally, both physically and mentally,” noted Norwegian researchers in a recent Evolutionary Psychology article. So yes, keep them off precipitous mountaintops and away from sharp objects, but try not to freak out when they decide they want to plunge down the giant slide at the county fair or even (gasp!), play tag on a concrete sidewalk that hasn’t been padded like most of today’s indoor (and even outdoor) playgrounds.

And instead of worrying about what a mess they’re making by tearing up the couch cushions to build a fort, provide a space and materials that don’t matter and give them the freedom to do it their way.

Likewise, resist the urge to instruct kids on how to do everything. In a study published last year in the journal Cognition, when researchers presented preschoolers with a toy, the more operational instructions they gave, the fewer new discoveries the

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Foundation children made about additional ways to use and play with it. “Ideally, much of play involves adults, but when play is controlled by adults, children acquiesce to adult rules and concerns and lose some of the benefits play offers them, particularly in developing creativity, leadership and group skills,” says Ginsburg. Also, resist buying toys that do all the work for the child. “Simple, inex-

pensive toys, such as dolls, jump ropes, blocks, balls and buckets are more effective in allowing children to be creative and imaginative than more expensive toys, which can make play a more passive and less physically involved experience,” Ginsburg notes.

PLAY POINTER: Ease up on electronics

The AAP discourages more than an hour of screen time a day for children over the age of two, citing research associat-

ing media use with obesity, sleep issues, aggressive behaviours and attention issues. But kids aren’t going to tune out if you’re still plugged in. So don’t just tell your child the electronics are off-limits – use them less frequently yourself.

“Make TV shows or video games into special activities, rather than time fillers that become daily habits,” advises Almon.

When you do turn on a

show or game, select those that are educational and entertaining, interactive and engaging (check out sites like parents-choice. org and bestkidsapps.com for ideas). Once you feel that your child has had enough screen time for the day, have a box of special toys or games sitting nearby –and when he (or you!) feels like tuning in, open up the box and create your own show instead.

PLAY POINTER: Take them out

According to University

of Michigan researchers, the average American child spends just four to seven minutes engaging in unstructured outdoor play each day – yet studies have found that playing outside is associated with lower levels of childhood obesity, optimal vitamin D levels (which translates to better brain and physical health), fewer ADHD symptoms, improved longdistance vision, even high-

er standardised test scores.

“Parents are so proud that their children know all the names of the animals of the world –but do they know the names of the animals in their own backyard?” asks Almon, who recommends outdoor activities such as feeding the birds or lifting up rocks to observe the bugs beneath. “Start with the things that are close to home – look up the names of the flowers that your child can actually see growing or the stars they see when they step outside at

night,” Almon says. These types of playful outdoor experiences open up a whole world of learning and wonder at which books and lessons only hint.

PLAY POINTER: Explore the educational options

Certain types of schools tend to be much more experiential than others, says Almon, who notes that five in particular put a lot of emphasis on handson activity: Montessori (montessori.edu), Reggio Emilia (reggioalliance. org), Waldorf (whywaldorfworks.org), Tools of the Mind (toolsofthemind.org) and HighScope (highscope. org). “Plenty of other preschools and kindergartens are fighting to keep play-based programmes in place, too, even if they aren’t formally associated with one of these labels,” notes Almon. You just need to, well, do your homework before deciding which one will meet your child’s needs – but ideally, whichever one you select will encourage learning through play and provide activities that go beyond core subjects like math and reading and include the arts, music, creative projects and recess.

PLAY POINTER: Act for play

Pushing for more play has become a full-fledged movement that needs the full participation of every parent. “Share the evidence with other parents, teachers, school officials and policymakers about how important it is for children to have recess and other free, creative activities built into the school day,” says Almon. If you don’t have well-maintained parks and play areas nearby, start lobbying for them. If safety is a concern, band together with other parents and law enforcement officials to step up the monitoring of public spaces. You can even organise communitywide events such as a “Play Day” (see ipausa.org) or an “Ultimate Block Party” (ultimateblockparty.com).

The more parents push for play, the better the chances that children will once again be allowed to be children. If you’re still on the fence about whether or not play is really that important, just imagine a world without creative minds, leaders and innovators – the Steven Spielbergs, Steve Jobses and Mozarts in the making –and, for the love of childhood, act accordingly. (newparent.com)

L

earning a new language takes time and dedication.

Once you do, being fluent in a second language offers numerous benefits and opportunities.

Learning a second language is exciting and beneficial at all ages. It offers practical, intellectual and many aspirational benefits In today’s world, there are over 7000 languages and learning at least one will help you in life massively. Although it has been proven that it is easier for children to learn a second language, it is certainly never too late to learn, and the benefits definitely reward the effort and dedication.

Whatever your age, being bilingual certainly has its advantages, especially in today’s global society. Here are the top benefits of learning a second language:

Better job prospects

In today’s business dominated society, being bilingual can only be an advantage and gives you a competitive edge when searching for jobs, or maintaining your current employment.

Brain health

Medical studies have shown the positive effects learning a second language has on the brain.

Studies showed that learning a second language significantly delayed the onset of many brain related diseases such as Alzheimer and dementia, compared to those who can only speak their native tongue.

Travel and leisure

Learning a new language opens up a world of new opportunities. If you choose to learn a commonly spoken language, such as Spanish, French or German, you can travel practically anywhere in the world and not have trouble with translations.

Improved first language

As we go about our everyday lives, we rarely give a second thought to our own grammatical structure and vocabulary. However, when learning a new language, many people find they have a greater understanding of their first language.

Improved understanding of the world

Learning a new language gives you a greater global understanding of the world we live in. Even by learning a few phrases, never mind a whole language, you will access many fascinating cultures around the world and understand the differences between the two countries.

You will have access to a whole new array of film, music and literature, and a greater understanding of the history and culture of the nation and ultimately a better understanding of the way the world works, including politics and security. (Excerpt from omniglot.com)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Reduced parliamentary sittings fly in the face of democracy – PPP/C MP

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he reduction in the number of sittings in the National Assembly since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) took office in May 2015, has disallowed Members of Parliament (MP) from representing their constituents on burning issues.

This is according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MP, Dr Frank Anthony who explained Thursday that “no legitimate reasons” have been given on the delayed observance of sessions.

“The National Assembly should function, and when you have delays in the sessions you are not told why, then that flies in the face of democracy,” the former minister opined.

He noted that it is

PPP/C Member of Parliament, Dr Frank Anthony

through the parliamentary process that citizens are allowed the freedom of expression on many issues. The MP pointed out that the recent travels of Government ministers to New York and elsewhere have not yielded much in return.

“Here it is people have been elected to perform their duties and Parliament is not being held because of some whims and fancies of

the Government, I think the people of the Government like to travel too much, you see of recent, delegations going abroad and we are not seeing them reporting what they went there to do,” Dr Anthony emphasised.

“You see ministers going to New York to do what, what have they brought back, what tangible results?” questioned the PPP MP. He related that his party is desirous of bringing a number of issues to the fore, but cannot engage Government, due to reduced sittings. He surmised that Government should also have legislative matters which they would want to have addressed.

“We have motions we’d like to bring, we have questions we’d like to raise and one would assume that

The National Assembly has hardly been meeting since the opening of the 11th Parliament in June 2015

the government would have had legislation that it would like to get passed - to bring legislation, you have to bring them to Parliament…things like the insurance bill, pieces of cyber legislation; one would have thought that they are

17% increase in electrical fires – Fire Chief advises safe use of electricity

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ith a 17 per cent rise in electrical fires documented, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is advising safer use of electricity, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

GINA quoted Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle as saying that 135 external electrical fires have been reported this year compared to 115 for the same period last year.

He asserted that most of these fires are observed to be stirring within the newly established villages, including Diamond (East Bank Demerara), Parfaite Harmonie (West Bank Demerara) and Cummings Lodge (East Coast Demerara).

“We’re still at the stage where persons are using drop cords or two or three households sharing the same power which is somewhat illegal also,” Gentle highlighted.

The Fire Chief noted

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle

that electrical fires not only cause destruction to buildings but can result in the loss of lives through electrocution, thus emphasis is being placed on the need to use electricity safely.

“If you need to use electricity, use it correctly, use it properly. Have a hired certified electrician to do your electrical installations,” Gentle advised.

Though there has been an increase in electrical

fires, the GFS reported a six per cent reduction in malevolent locations of fires and a 10 per cent decline in buildings being affected by fires.

However, documentation shows an increase of “fire calls” totalling 1405 for the year but according to the Fire Service, this was due to the “dry spell” period endured by Guyana recently, where grass fires and bush fires erupted at various locations in the country.

Additionally, there has

also been an increase in “crank calls” to the Fire Service where Gentle explained the difficulty in detaining these callers because of the use of mobile phones. Nevertheless, it was stressed that falsely reporting a fire is a criminal offence.

interested in getting these things done,” Dr Anthony

reasoned.

When questioned if the Parliamentary Opposition would actively advocate more sittings, the PPP member declared that his Party sees no problem with meeting on a regular basis.

Dr Anthony responded: “Of course, that’s our constant thing. If they want to keep Parliament every week, we are there, if twice a week, we could be here, we don’t have a problem with that. I think the government has a problem because they don’t want to keep parliament – they’re the ones who have been the major stumbling block.”

President Granger calls...

Since the signing of the contract for the Parking Meters Project, many persons, including councillors, over the past weeks have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the deal, which they claim appears to be a shady one indeed aimed at exploiting the local populace.

Reports indicate that some 300 parking meters will be installed across the city, charging $125 every

FROM PAGE 3

15 minutes for an expected yearly income of approximately $100 million to $200 million.

Moreover, minibus and taxi operators will be expected to pay $100 every time they park in their respective parks.

Those employees who park outside their offices for eight hours per day will end up paying roughly $80,000 every month.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

IN THE COURTS Barama rape trial

2 guilty, 1 freed for sexual assault of 17-year-old — number one accused jailed for 29 years

N

ine years after a 17-year-old girl was found naked and crying on a bed in Barama Company Limited, East Bank Demerara (EBD), after being raped, a mixed jury on Thursday found two of the accused guilty, while the third accused was freed.

After lengthy deliberations between State Counsel Siand Dhurjon and defence Attorneys in the Demerara Assizes, the mixed jury returned their verdict to presiding Judge, Justice JoAnn Barlow.

Paul Abrams, Claude Craig and Holston Melville were all accused of raping and sodomising the 17-yearold in 2007, while she was employed at Barama Company Limited, Land of Canaan, EBD. Abrams, the number one accused, was sentenced to 29 years in prison, as the

jury by way of a unanimous decision found him guilty of buggery and indecent assault.

Abrams’ Attorney, Bernard De Santos (SC) told the court that his client was married and is the father of four children. However, Justice Barlow said that society expects better from its men, especially when placed in a supervisory role, based on the fact that Abrams was the teen’s Supervisor at Barama.

Justice Barlow also highlighted that the jury did not find him guilty of rape because the facts showed that he and the VC had “an arrangement” but he negated from the arrangement and imprisoned her, then violated her in the worst possible way.

The number two accused, Craig, was only found guilty of indecent assault by a jury

which was split 11 to one.

However, Craig was found not guilty on the account of buggery.

Attorney Nigel Hughes in his representation of the number two accused told the court that his client was 39 years old, a father of four with the youngest being two years old. Craig is gainfully employed and the sole breadwinner of his family.

Hughes said that while his client is deeply remorseful, he understands that he must be penalised for his actions and “when we are young we tend to have a lot of free time on our hands.

It seems as if everyone that night had a lot of time on their hands,” the Attorney said.

Justice Barlow sentenced Craig to four years imprisonment as she highlighted that he showed no mercy when he found his co-work-

er naked and crying.

Meanwhile, the third accused, Melville, who was also represented by Attorney De Santos was freed after the jury found him not guilty of buggery and indecent assault.

On the evening of December 5, 2007, the then 17-year-old female dryer operator was working the night shift when her Supervisor, Abrams, asked her for assistance and led her into a room, where he proceeded to rape and sodomise her.

Abrams reportedly then locked the young woman in the room and later returned in the company of Melville who also reportedly proceeded to rape and sodomise her.

After some time elapsed, the two men left the room, locking the woman in, once more; it was then Craig entered and reportedly sodomised the young woman.

chain, gold and diamond ring and three gold bands. They had fled the scene on bicycles.

The duo was subsequently apprehended by the Police after Hohenkirk reportedly chased after them with her vehicle and knocked them over.

The court’s ruling was made in the absence of the number one accused Tambico McKenzie.

McKenzie will now spend the next four years eleven months behind bars while his

accomplice Evans will serve three years, after being found guilty as charged.

After the final sum of the case was made, Magistrate Latchman said the court was satisfied with the evidence and testimonies submitted, and she believes the defendants planned and indeed robbed Hohenkirk of her belongings.

However, it was revealed by the prosecution, that McKenzie is no stranger to the court since he had spent

a small stint in the Camp Street Prison for assault.

This was taken into consideration by Magistrate Latchman before handing down the sentences. Evans was granted a lesser prison sentence based on the fact he spent over a year on remand.

Robbery duo jailed for 2015 Caneview Avenue robbery

T

ambico McKenzie, 29, a construction worker of 29 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, and William Evans, 24, of 444 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme were both found guilty on Thursday by Magistrate Judy Latchman for a 2015 robbery under arms charge.

It was alleged that on February 6, 2015, while at South Ruimveldt Park, the duo armed with a knife, robbed Marissa Hohenkirk of her Apple iPhone, one gold

Teenagers remanded for robbing senior citizen

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wo teenagers were remanded to prison on Thursday for allegedly robbing a 70-yearold man, while being armed with a knife.

Andrae Bobb, 17, and Darren Franklin, 18, both denied the charge when it was read to them by City Magistrate Faith McGusty.

The facts in the case stated that while being armed with a dangerous weapon at Quamina Street, Georgetown, they robbed Esrick Fyffe of one radio valued $2000 and $1690 in cash.

Bobb told the court he is employed as a gas station pump attendant and lives in ‘C’ Field Sophia, Georgetown, while his accomplice said he resides at Middle Road, La Penitence.

Police Prosecutor Ceon Blackmore, objected to bail on the grounds that they pose a flight risk.

They will return to court on July 18.

Eyew tness

Vanity...Vanity...

W

...is it all Town Clerk's Vanity?

hatever else we may think of the poet Shelley (too much of a libertine?) he certainly gave rulers who act as if their reputations will live through eternity, something to think about with his poem "Ozymandias". He tells of the vanity of the Pharoah we know as Ramses II - also called Ozymandias - who back in 1300BC ordered a gigantic Sphinx with his face sculpted on, to announce his glory.

Shelly tells of a modern day traveller who reports of the irony of the ruins - into which this statue has been reduced in the sands of the desert - contraposed with the words still visible on its base: "Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Thousands must've died to build that statue - but to what end? Wouldn't Ramses II have been better served if he'd allowed those who perished for his vanity, to live?

Well...it does seem we have some modern day Ramseses alive and well in Guyana. Look at all the monuments being created at the cost of billions and billions of dollars - even as thousands are being thrown onto the breadlines with the economy heading southwards. There are the Independence Arches, D’Urban Park Stadium, Carifesta Ave (soon to be Ave of the Caribbean) and finally, Presidential Park - just to mention some that just came into your Eyewitness's mind.

Towards what end are these being built? With what we know to be the state of global warming - going up...up...and awayyyy!! - how many years do our leaders think our coastland, (already under six feet UNDER sea level), will be ABOVE water? Aren't all the monuments being built in a worse situation than with Ramses's statue in the sands? At least that was visible to a forlorn and probably lost traveller? Who's going to see the busts of our Presidents at Merriman's Mall under 50 feet of Amazonian-muddied Atlantic water?

Your Eyewitness is sure there's some rhyme to this apparent madness for building monuments.

There were, after all, these visitors for Jubilee who had to be persuaded that things were better. But the Presidential Mall? Was this project commissioned from "on high" as were the others in and around Georgetown? Or is this just the work of the Svengali behind the Mayoral Chair - no other than our once and future Royston King?

For him to be strutting around so cockily - what with dragging vendors out from Stabroek Market and dumping them into muddy waters over in Hadfield Street and then this latest parking meter escapades he has to have friends in high places, nuh?

Vanity of vanities...all is vanity!

...and The Lady Mayor

Your humble Eyewitness isn't being snide. You do know the official title of a "Lord" is prefixed with the article "the", nuh? Like in "The Lord Harrington" or "The Lord Mayor"...with the female equivalent being, like, "The Lady Mayor Chase-Green". Anyhow Lady Chase-Green (you drop the "The" when referring to them") seems quite recalcitrant about how she went about procuring those parking meters for Georgetown.

But you can't blame her, can you? Did you REALLY think Lady Macbeth consulted her servants when she decided to do the dirty? (Murder most foul!!) But you gotta hand it to this young'un Sherod Duncan...he certainly rejected being treated like the hired help - just because of the title "Lady" being conferred on the good lady.

Folks will just have to give their support to Duncan on these matters when he refuses to genuflect to Her Lady Mayor and calls a spade "as spade".

Or a rip off a "rip off"!

...in rice

OK...OK This fella Doerga knows hemp. But surely he's trying to score (cheap) political points (or smoking something!) by claiming the PPP should've shipped a lower grade of rice to Venezuela. We were getting twice the world market price and we shoulda shortchanged them?

Jeez! No wonder Venezuela cancelled the contract!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Opposition yet to receive Disrupted RDC meetings draft of National Youth Policy – Dr Anthony affecting Region’s D response – Chairman Region 5 flooding

Councillors disallowing the Regional Chairman from speaking earlier this year

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egion Five (DemeraraMahaica) Chairman Vickchand Ramphal is blaming disruptions of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meetings by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regional Councillors for hindering the ability of the region’s administration to provide services for flood-affected residents and farmers as the months long flood situation persists in the Mahaica and Mahaicony areas.

He made these comments while on a visit to Big Baiboo, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday.

Ramphal stressed that since he is being prevented from presiding over statutory meetings, the RDC cannot make decisions to alleviate the many problems facing the region, including the stalled work programmes and the extended period of flooding.

“At the regional level, we are having a lot of difficulty; the meetings (are) being broken up by the APNU/ AFC Councillors, preventing me from having our statutory meeting. At that meeting is where we make decisions for our people in

Region Five, fix all the problems that are happening in the region… if they continue to break up these meetings then we will not be able to deliver the services to the people that the Regional Democratic Council offers,” the Chairman expressed.

Ramphal however related that his party is currently employing efforts to ensure that requisite services are rendered to those affected.

“We are trying our best to have this situation changed, we are working, we are making representations at all levels so that you the people can receive the services that you deserve,” the Region Five Chairman assured.

For the last six months, the RDC has been unable to hold its monthly statutory meetings because the coalition Councillors are demanding an apology from the Chairman, premised on claims that Ramphal disrespected President David Granger for failing to show up for an event on January 15, where the President commissioned two buses under his ‘Three Bs’ initiative.

However, Ramphal is arguing that he was never invited to the event, and as such, there was no need to apologise.

At the most recent meeting last week, when

Ramphal attempted to speak, his voice was buried by the APNU/AFC Councillors, when they continuously hit the tables and engaged in periods of singing. Beneath the choruses, Ramphal observed that Councillor Carol Joseph who led the disruption, was being disrespectful to the entire Council and the region at large. Some of the other Councillors then joined her in banging on the table with identification plates.

Upon the meeting’s adjournment, the Chairman expressed that it was a time for them to work together for the people of the region, but his words were once again covered by the sounds of drumming and singing.

As the standoff between the Councillors on both sides continues, residents in many of the region’s communities, especially those along the Mahaicony River have been battling floods since early April.

Earlier this week, over 200 angry residents from Region Five took the streets in Number 30 village to protest Government’s inaction in alleviating the flood crisis. This compelled both Government and the Opposition to meet with residents and listen to their concerns.

espite Government’s announcement that a draft of the National Youth Policy has been finalised and completed, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is yet to receive a copy of the Policy draft.

This is according to former Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony.

In August 2015, Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment Aubrey Norton had announced that the National Youth Policy draft had been completed and was awaiting review from the President and Minister of Education.

Earlier this year, the former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, issued a call to Government to make the policy available so that it can be appropriately assessed. However Dr Anthony, in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times related that to date, the Party has not received a draft, of the document which outlines the plans for the development of young people as proposed in President Granger’s party manifesto. “We have not been invited to any discussions on the youth policy,” he stated.

According to Dr Anthony, under his tenure, the PPP/C had prepared a draft of the policy after widespread consultations, and as far as he is aware, it is the same policy that the now Government has revised.

“When the

Former Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

PPP was in office, we had a draft policy that was done with assistance from the Commonwealth Youth Programme, and a number of other external consultants. So there was a draft that we did, and I understand the new Government took that and is revising it, but we haven’t seen what has come out of what they have revised,” he related.

He explained that the draft that the PPP/C had procured was compiled off of the input of persons nationwide and covers a wide range of youth-related issues. “What happened is that there were a lot of consultations. We had people from across the regions, and young people talking about what they would like to see in the Policy. We also had a questionnaire which we sent out to people to get their thoughts. So from the ideas that people put for-

ward, we were then able to prioritise some of these ideas in the policy itself.

The one that we had drafted included things about job creation, youth funding, and what young people wanted to do…for example start their own business and things like that. So a lot of that was included in the plan,” he stated.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan during the presentation of Budget 2016, revealed that allocations were made for youths: “There is significant allocation of resources for training at both the technical and vocational levels and in youth entrepreneurship.

This budget allocates resources to deal with youth unemployment in a holistic way. Training will be done in literacy and numeracy, counselling and guidance and youth small business development.”

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guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

News

National Events Department Starr Computer launches to be established – President Business Centre

F

ollowing the mass of confusion that reigned during the rollout of activities for the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, government has taken a decision to establish a National Events Department, a special agency which will be tasked with ensuring a smoother coordination and execution of major national events.

During the recent recording on ‘The Public Interest’ on Thursday, President David Granger confirmed that key stakeholders in Government agreed that such a department will prove to be necessary and beneficial, particularly in light of the shortcomings which prevailed during the Jubilee Anniversary celebrations.

“We have made moves.

We learnt a lot of lessons from the Independence Anniversary celebrations… so we are looking at an agency which has the ability to coordinate the work of several ministries, a multiagency department,” Granger said.

He explained that it would be better to have one agency tasked with managing the activities of the respective agencies and ministries in relation to the planning, organising, and controlling stages of the event.

Earlier this month, re-

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The National Events Department will be tasked with ensuring smoother coordination and execution of major national events

ports surfaced of the idea to establish a National Events Department under the Ministry of the Presidency.

Reports indicate that the idea was first touted during a meeting between the President and several high-ranking officials, including Junior Education Minister with responsibility for Culture Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry.

Henry was responsible for managing the activities for the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations but even while she hailed the events a success, many criticised her efforts, noting that there were many mishaps which plagued the national events.

One of the major disasters was the seating arrangements at the flag raising ceremony at D’Urban Park, which eventually led to Members

of the Parliamentary of the Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), to leave the event early.

The Members of Parliament (MP) complained of being left standing for more than 15 minutes, awaiting proper seating and after no progress was made, they depart.

Criticisms were also levelled in relation to the decorations for the State Dinner, and the appropriateness of punching holes through the National Flag, the Golden Arrowhead.

Additionally, there were concerns about the aptness to use disposable dishes instead of silverware at the State Dinner.

Reports indicated that there were also seating arrangements issues at the State Dinner.

ith the aim of enhancing small businesses in Guyana Starr Computer Inc on Wednesday launched their Business Centre, on the second floor of their Brickdam location.

The Business Centre is seeking to provide start-up businesses, small to medium and corporate businesses with IT Solutions in the areas of Mobility, Point of Sale, Security, Training and Cloud Computing.

President of Starr Computer Mike Mohan in the presence of the media opened the Business Centre at a small ceremony to honour the tech company’s new venture.

Mohan spoke extensively

One of the POS systems

ness cannot afford to operate the way they did 10 years ago, it is business-

Staff of Starr Computer at the launch

of the importance and relevance of technology, before getting down to business and explaining what will be some of the benefits of the Business Centre.

Mohan said: “That busi-

es that adapt to technology that will be more productive, efficient, and provide better customer services.

Technology in Business, transforms businesses.”

According to Mohan,

companies in Guyana are not realising their true potential, since they are utilising traditional methods of operations.

An exciting new product demonstrated at the launch was a video Doorbell buzz for entrances to buildings, offices or homes. All is needed is the press of a button which alerts you with a ring on your cellular phone with a live video feed.

The Touch Screen POS Solutions, portable printers, portable point of sale equipment, biometric systems among others were some of the exciting new products on display.

General Manager Rehman Majeed, said he: “Has seen a heightened demand by local companies seeking advice to enhance their current POS systems so as to be more productive and to respond better to customer needs.”

Region 2 PPP/C office joins in picket against GECOM

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Supporters of PPP/C picketing in front of GECOM, Anna Regina

he People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) branch office at Anna Regina on Wednesday joined with the party and hosted a peaceful picketing in front the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) branch office at Anna Regina.

The picketing commenced at 10:00 hours with party supporters demanding the immediate resignation of Gecom chairman Dr Steve Surujbally and for a recount of ballots from the May11, 2015. The exercise was headed by PPP/C Member of Parliament, Cornel

Damon followed by Region Two chairman Devanand Ramdatt and supporters.

As they walked in front the Gecom office, they chanted for the Chairman of Gecom to go!

The placards read, "We need reform at Gecom”, “Recount my vote now”, “Steve is time to leave,” “Cheated but not defeated”, Gecom must come clean on 2015”. Election and PPP/C say May, 11 elections was rigged".

According to the supervisor of Anna Regina PPP/C branch, Vishnu Samaroo, the picketing was a joint ef-

fort to pressure for the immediate resignation of Steve Surujbally.

Samaroo said the People's Progressive Party/ Civic supporters are calling for answers, noting that they were cheated at the recent elections. Samaroo is contending that the PPP/C won the recent election but Gecom failed to represent the people and provide authentic information to the public regarding the results.

At the last elections PPP/C won the entire Region Two with 11 seats in the RDC while the APNU/ AFC got five seats.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

NGO donates $40M in medical supplies, equipment to Public Health Ministry

By Rennella Bourne

H

ope for the Nation Foundation, a new local NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), on Thursday donated $40 million in medical supplies and equipment to the Public Health Ministry.

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, expressed her gratitude to the NGO for its generous donation to the health sector, and noted the supplies and equipment would definitely go a long way.

The handing-over ceremony was done at the Ministry’s bond at Diamond, East Coast Demerara.

According to Cummings, “continuously improving the quality of healthcare services nationally is a task which cannot be undertaken solely by the Government of Guyana. As such, we wel-

come the support provided by partners such as the Hope for the Nation Foundation.”

Among the items donated were beds, support rails, nasoenteric feeding tubes, syringes, paediatric manual resuscitators, commodes and fluid dispensing connectors.

“The Ministry of Public Health, under the current Administration, is committed to ensuring that health needs of all its citizens are met. The Guyana Government is eternally grateful for your support and we at the Ministry of Public Health are very enthusiastic about this donation,” Dr Cummings said.

She applauded Hope for the Nation Foundation for the efforts towards developing the health sector in Guyana. “I am pleased that the Foundation’s main areas that they choose to focus on are promoting health and fighting diseases.”

The Foundation

The medical supplies and equipment donated to the Public Health Ministry

President, Dr Abdel Bari related his optimism to work with the health and other social sectors of Guyana.

Dr Bari disclosed that the idea to do something for Guyana was long in mind, but “about a year and something, specifically in May, we had some Guyanese come from North America.

Guyanese who came during the [Independence] celebration were met and the idea was finalised of doing something for Guyana here”.

He continued: “We get together with the guys from Cross International which is the largest donor foundation in North America. Basic areas that they are willing to

work on are the needy, the less fortunate, medical, help of the poor and the disadvantage for women and children.”

According to Dr Bari, they had done some research and found Guyana to be one of the top countries which should be receiving help from Cross International. As

such, the Hope for the Nation Foundation was formed.

The objective of the Foundation is to work with Government and other NGOs along with religious bodies, women’s organisations, organisations for the differently abled and the educational system.

It is also aiming to help Amerindian villages. “We plan to take to the Amerindian villages, tarpaulin and shovels also basic things that they can use which would enable them to be independent. The scope is very big for Hope for the Nation Foundation,” Dr Bari said.

Public Health Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Colette Adams, noted, “The Hope Foundation is one of the many foundations that have stepped forward and assisted us and we are grateful to them for their assistance.”

Teacher accuses Education Officers of victimisation

A

former teacher of Cotton Field Secondary School in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), David Marslowe, is accusing two Regional Education Officers of victimisation, after he reportedly approached the Chief Labour Officers over unpaid salaries.

Marslowe visited Guyana Times on Thursday and made complaints against Regional Education Officer (REDO), Region Two Baramdai Seepersaud and Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) District Education Officer (DEO) Immanuel Bridgewater.

According to Marslowe, with 15 years of teaching experience at the Cotton Filed Secondary School in Essequibo, he applied for temporary transfer to the Houston Secondary School in 2012 to be able to attend the University of Guyana (UG).

“In 2012 I applied for secondment to pursue studies at the University.

However certain problems I encountered and that would have stopped me from going to UG. I wrote to the Vice Chancellor and so on,” he said.

Marslowe relayed that an application for a permanent transfer was made in September 2015 and submitted to the Region Two (ag) REDO Baramdai Seepersaud but no response was given.

According to Marslowe, “Last year September I applied for a transfer and never received a reply. The transfer was from Essequibo to come over to Georgetown because my family, everybody is over this side. This year January, the acting REDO, Miss Seepersaud, she

David Marslowe

called the Head Mistress at Houston Secondary where I was seconded to, to say that she was made to understand that I’m not teaching, I’m not going to work but I’m still being paid.

Every month you’re supposed to send a work certificate to the region. The head teacher has to prepare that.

It’s supposed to go from Houston Secondary to the Department of Education in Georgetown and they are expected to send it to the region so you can be paid.”

The teacher of 15 years asserted that he was not paid for January and February, voicing that every time he called Seepersaud, she would tell him a new date to expect his salaries. Eventually, in March, he sought the assistance of the Chief Labour Officer John Adams and during the budget debate meeting, Marslowe through the intervention of Adams was able to meet Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine where he discussed the matter with him.

According to Marslowe, Minister Roopnaraine advised Adams to have a discussion with the (ag) REDO highlighting that it was not right for her to hold his

(Marslowe’s) salaries.

“I did not even get a letter from her saying sir I hear x, y z and as a result these are the actions that are being taken. Nothing was said,” Marslowe told Guyana Times.

After the Chief Labour Officer met with Seepersaud, Marslowe was able to acquire his salaries for January and February and a promise was made by Seepersaud to Adams that the action would not be repeated; however, this promise was not upheld since he was not paid for March.

“On the 4th of April when school reopened, I went back to Essequibo to find out about my salary for March month. I was given an advance, I applied again for a transfer. When I applied for the transfer, it was given to me… She also said to me that with effect from May, because she would have granted me the transfer in April, Region Two would not be paying me anymore. On the 5th of April, I took in the transfer to Mr Bridgewater, the (ag) DEO. He collected it,” the teacher voiced.

He indicated that after the document of transfer was submitted, he never received a response from Bridgewater, though he called on numerous occasions to conduct a follow up. However, on April 22, he decided to go to Bridgewater’s Office located at 68 Brickdam, Georgetown. “When I went, Mr Bridgewater shout at me. He chased me out of his office in front of everybody.

I went back the Monday morning which would have been the 25th and he said to me, sir, Ms Seepersaud called me and told me not to accept you in the region. So

I said sir I find that strange that Miss gave me a transfer and now she’s calling you to say, you’re not to take me. Something is wrong.”

Marslowe was then informed by Bridgewater to return to Essequibo by May 3 and he was sent away without any letter to show that he was rejected. “I told him, sir, I don’t have any where to go, where will I go?

He said he don’t concern.”

According to the teacher, when he tried to contact Seepersaud, he was told that he would have to travel to Essequibo since she refused to have any discussions over the phone.

After not being paid for the month of May, and not being financially stable to travel back to Essequibo, Marslowe opted to send a written plea to President David Granger, who in turn

responded, advising that he would forward the complaint to the Education Minister. Marslowe was never contacted by the Education Ministry and after many calls, was unable to reach any member of authority at the Ministry.

Attempts to speak to Minister Roopnaraine on the subject were unsuccessful.

12 NEWS

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

GPSU struggled for Guyana’s Independence – President Granger

T

he Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has been hailed by President David Granger for being an integral part of the struggle for Guyana’s Independence.

The President was delivering brief remarks before the unveiling of plaques at the organisation’s headquarters on Thursday, in commemoration of the country’s 50th Independence anniversary, observed on May 26, 2016.

The GPSU’s mission is to represent the interest of persons working in the public service. President Granger said there was absolutely no way Guyana could have freed itself from the clutches of colonialism without the unflinching work of the Union and public servants.

“I think we can mark the 50th anniversary of our country by expressing collectively, our pride in the work that the GPSU has done over the past nine decades and the work of the public service itself. It has not been an easy route that the Union has traversed over the nine decades... The struggle for Independence itself was not without the massive contribution of public servants,” the Head of State told the small gathering.

Speaking on the conditions that prevailed during colonialism, President Granger said very few people knew and understood the struggles endured during that time.

“We were coming out of a colonial period and very few people know what that meant.

People think there was some golden age, when everything worked, but it’s quite the contrary. Colonialism was an era of degradation, and ordinary Guyanese had to struggle to achieve Independence.”

President David Granger unveils the GPSU’s plaque for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary at the organisation’s head office on Thursday

“The Chief-of-Staff was foreign, the Police Commissioner was foreign, the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Bishop of the Anglican and Catholic Churches were foreign, and the Governor General of Guyana was foreign,” he recalled.

According to the Head of State during that period, no Guyanese could have aspired to reaching any high-ranking position within the country.

“In the 1960s, even to get someone to become the Postmaster General, the Union had to threaten to strike, because the assistant to the Postmaster General was about to be superseded by a foreigner and the Union, the GPSU, drew the line and said no”. That was the only way a Guyanese was able to become Postmaster,” he said.

Guyanese were being kept down under the British Empire, the President said, and the GPSU, then called the British Guiana Civil Service Association (BGCSA), was part of the organisation that was part of the struggle

for independence.

He said when the country commemorated the 50th anniversary of Independence, it was not just a ceremonial occasion, but a landmark which showed that public servants were part of an organisation of making Guyana free.

In his remarks, GPSU President Patrick Yarde said Government and the Union were partners in the social lives of those who work for the country.

“There is much that we could reflect on at this time.”

He said it was intended to underscore the relationship the Union had with Government, at a time the country was celebrating its Independence anniversary. Moreover, he said, it was important to note that the two institutions were significant players in the lives of the nation’s public servants: “the Government as the employer and the Union as the legitimate representative of workers in the public service”, Yarde explained.

“We, the Union, serve public servants in different capacities. In this regard,

you will know of the important nature of the discourse between Government and the Union regarding the welfare of public servants,” he said.

Yarde added that the history of the Union would show that its role extended beyond workers’ representation, adding that the GPSU has publicly identified itself as a patriot and contributor to the building of the nation.

Union members and other supporters gathered on Thursday for the event, exactly 50 years after former Prime Minister Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham carried out a similar exercise, when he too unveiled the plaque to celebrate a new independent Guyana. The Union this year celebrates 93 years of existence.

Mechanic shop shooting

2 in custody, vehicle impounded

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wo suspects are now in custody as investigations continue into the shooting of a teenager during a robbery on Sunday afternoon.

According to A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander Clifton Hicken, one of the men in custody is likely to be released on bail, having been detained for the lawful 72 hours while the second suspect remains in custody and is currently assisting the Police in their investigations of the robbery.

In addition to arresting the suspects, Hicken also related to Guyana Times that there is also a car that has been impounded.

Commander Hicken went on to indicate that the Police have in their possession CCTV footage from the scene and are using it to help crack the case.

During the brazen robbery on Sunday, around 14:00h, 15-year-old North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary School student Jahmaul Lewis was shot in his face while sitting on his bicycle in front of the mechanic shop, just a few yards from his home in South Ruimveldt.

According to reports, three armed bandits used a white Toyota car to circle the block three times before rushing into the mechanic shop.

Eyewitnesses say Lewis was the first person the bandits would have met and a confrontation between the two resulted in the teen being shot in the face.

The men escaped with a small quantity of cash and cellphones.

Lewis was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he is currently nursing a gunshot wound. Police are still continuing their efforts to crack the case, Commander Hicken outlined.

Culture, Identity and Cohesion

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ccording to President Granger, Social Cohesion is now the official goal of the APNU/AFC coalition. While there have been valid complaints by many citizens who are still hazy about what is the end game, intuitively they accept that “cohesion” cannot be a “bad thing”. The commemoration of 50 years of our Independence poignantly brought to the fore Ravi Dev rueful thoughts about “what could have been” if we had not been as divided as we have been during that time.

Guyanese do not need experts in sociology or politics to also apprehend that while social cohesion is a state of affairs that is desirable, there are no silver bullets to getting there. In other words they understand efforts must take place simultaneously in a whole number of dimensions - at a minimum including social, political, economic and cultural ones.

Starting with the last, the cultural problematic is fundamental because it plays such a key role in forming our individual and collective identities. Who we “are”. When we were brought to labour in the plantations the Europeans - in our case, first the Dutch and then the English - invented both “race” and “culture” to “keep us in our place”. Which is to say, subservient and second class at best. The Africans were described as “savages” who had no “culture” and as such their “bestial practices” were to be extirpated as a salutary practice. They were to be “thankful” and grateful for being “exposed to civilised culture”.

The problem, however, is that when one is imitating a “standard” that is intrinsically yoked to the physical characteristics of “race” then it becomes absolutely impossible to ever reach that standard. Even those “Coloureds” who because of the rape of African women, had “half” or “ three quarters” white “blood” could never become completely “civilized”. This did not stop many from trying, even into the present. This one-sided clash of the dominant “white European” culture with the “African” did produce a hybrid culture - called “Creole” - that was the lived experience of the ordinary African, who stubbornly retained aspects of ancestral culture.

Persons become individuals with distinct identities through their own experiences and inculcated beliefs to form their memories that act as narratives of their “selves”.

But man, unlike other animals, is enmeshed in social relations in which his identity develops and in turn those social relations are generally mediated by cultural norms in both the public and private spheres. In a society that is culturally homogenous, these are quite integrated but if the two cultures are different and clash, as with ordinary Africans, this can cause dissonances for the individual.

For ordinary freed Africans, this strain to emulate white/ European culture was much greater than the Coloureds, since they were seen by others as an intermediate group.

They were relegated to the lowest strata who could only move up by becoming educated, acting “proper” in imitating white behaviour and marrying “fairer” to join the coloured. This constructed identity out of the values and beliefs of the culture form the framework for the individual’s interpretation and organisation of new experiences. This would become very relevant when new immigrants would be introduced into the society to provide cheap labour on the sugar plantations. And form a new basis of comparison.

It is of more than passing interest that when the Portuguese from Maderia were brought as indentured servants they were not then, nor later, classified as “European” - even though they were phenotypically that.

They were “Portuguese” to the British and seen by the freed African people and later indentureds as such - never white, notwithstanding the pretensions of the ones who later moved up the economic and social ladder.

While they imitated the ruling British/European lifestyle, their Catholic variant of Christianity also served to distinguish them culturally. Many of the ones in the lower economic oracles intermarried with Africans and adopted Creole Culture. There were very few men among the Chinese who were brought as indentured labourers and most intermarried with locals and adopted Creole Culture even while contributing their cuisine to the new land.

(To be continued)

news

13

friday, june 24, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Jagdeo criticises Govt for “sucking up” to foreign diplomats …scolds Ministers for being lectured on how to run the country

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overnment ministers are being accused of sitting like “compliant children” being lectured by foreign diplomats on how to manage the affairs of their own country.

Former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday lambasted the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government for sucking up to the advice being given by international representatives and for continuously shifting its policies to accommodate the likings of those from the foreign service.

“It pains me as a former President and a patriot to see the grovelling of our Government, the sucking up to people who are junior people in the international community, hanging on to their very last word as if it’s gospel,” he posited.

Jagdeo noted that most of the times, the advice being given is “loud and pure nonsense”, and is coming from junior representatives of the international community who know nothing about the country nor have its people’s best interest at heart.

“We can’t put junior officers up on a pedestal from the foreign service of any country and then like compliant people, all the ministers, sit like compliant students and get lectured about

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

how we run our country, when their countries are sometimes in a mess more than ours,” Jagdeo emphasised.

As an example, he pointed to the fact that Finance Minister Winston Jordan keeps referring to the IMF report to prove that the economy is performing soundly when in reality, the situation is quite different.

“They quoted IMF figures to say there is no crisis in Guyana in the economy when your entire private sector is telling you to the contrary,” he highlighted.

The Opposition Leader noted that the international community is indeed important to the development of the country but posited that interactions must be done in a better way.

“I believe that as part-

ners we should listen to them, it must be done inhouse in a manner which is decent, in good faith, but it can’t be lectures. If it’s good for the country then we should welcome the advice and assistance but we must not feel obligated that everything they say to us we have to pursue,” Jagdeo said, noting that Government leaders must have the courage to stand up to these foreign diplomats.

“We have to determine our own foreign policy and what’s good for us,” he emphasised.

Jagdeo further explained that he has had interactions with several Presidents of the United States, past and present, however those diplomats never demonstrated any of the arrogance being displayed by those in

Guyana.

Moreover, he stated that instead of lecturing the Government on what needs to be done, the diplomats can use their influence to provide the necessary resources to assist in dealing with the particular situation.

Throughout the years, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been taking firm stances against what they describe as diplomatic interferences in Guyana’s politics.

The party had strongly objected to the involvement of the USAID LEAD-funded project, “Vote Like A Boss” education awareness campaigns across the country, citing that the project was perceived as inducing electors to vote along specific lines.

Last year, the PPP/C slammed the United Kingdom for its interference in Guyana’s politics after the outgoing British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre raised concerns about the prorogation of Guyana’s Parliament.

There was also the incident where former Education Minister Priya Manickchand delivered a “feral blast” against the US Ambassador Brent Hardt at a US Embassy Reception in 2014. At the time, she was acting in the capacity of the Foreign Affairs Minister.

Opposition Leader lashes out at President Granger’s corruption policy – cites DDL and fuel smuggling as glaring examples

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pposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo has lashed out at President David Granger’s policy on corruption, and said that the current state of affairs is a very far cry from what he has been publicly advocating.

Jagdeo said the Head of State needs to put his words and expectations into action, to realise his policy on corruption and transparency. He was at the time addressing journalists at his weekly media conference.

“The president has been talking about stamping out corruption. His goal is that he wants to be transparent… and I agree with the President. He said commercial contracts should not be secrets and that agreements made under the PPP are not state secrets. I agree with him. Then he says “that’s the way I do business... Above board and transparency”, but clearly, the President is living in a bubble. Because all that is happening in Government runs contrary to what he is saying”, Jagdeo said.

He said if President Granger is serious about what he is saying about stamping out corruption, he still

needs to give answers to questions about the alleged discrepancies at the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) where he had been asked to allow for an investigation to be carried out.

“We are asking him to look into the DDL and make a pronouncement on it”, Jagdeo said. That situation saw tax waivers being given out and the liabilities coming from the treasury because of the “opening of the door for other claims”.

“That will cost the treasury $60 billion at minimum”, Jagdeo noted while stating that no one can yet say who made the agreement.

According to Jagdeo, while Government has been accusing the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration of corruption, there is really nothing that the party has done to come at least close to that amount of money in revenue.

He spoke also of the fuel smuggling racket that is in the media, alleging that many Government ministers are benefitting immensely from this.

“They remove the CEO of Guyoil to facilitate the wide-

spread theft that is taking place. There are about four different schemes going on”, Jagdeo opined. He spoke also of the issue involving former Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Vickram Oditt and another local businessman Augustine Jackson who alleged that he was coerced into using his vessel to carry out the smuggling of fuel by the former GuySuCo chairman and another man.

Oditt maintains, however, that the allegation is false.

Jagdeo said President Granger needs to take stock of the fact that many of the ministerial persons who have now been placed at Guyoil are now involved in the “racket and are siphoning off the fuel.”

“Everybody knows this.

This is a large-scale theft that is running to billions of dollars that has been happening over the last eight months or so”.

He said it is easy for President to find the truth, if he launches a ministerial enquiry, and allows the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to look at it.

“He will come and talk about fighting corruption and everybody knows that some of them are benefitting. Those

who have contributed to campaign financing are involved.

This is their payback”, Jagdeo said.

Discussions underway for common South American passport

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ationals of South American States will possibly have the opportunity to travel freely around the continent now that discussions are underway to develop a plan for the establishment of a common South American passport.

While not privy to all the facts, State Minister Joseph Harmon disclosed that discussions among several countries have commenced on this initiative.

During a post-Cabinet news conference on Wednesday, Minister Harmon noted that Guyana would be participating in an upcoming South American Citizenship Conference from June 28 to 29 when the initiative would be further discussed and developed.

He reminded that nothing was yet concretized and therefore, he did not have much detail on how such an initiative would work in existing circumstances.

Guyana, also a member state of Caricom, already utilises a Caricom passport which allows for visafree travel among member states.

“So it might very well be that not necessarily the issue of a new passport, but the fact that the passport

which you have as a Caricom country might give you access to these other countries without the necessity for visas and so on. This is just my thinking on the matter; these are just discussions taking place, discussions on citizenship,” he explained.

Harmon added that he did not believe that a decision would be arrived at anytime soon.

“I don’t anticipate that we will come out with a blueprint… say by 2017 we are going to have these passports,” he stated.

14

guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

News

Overcrowding allegedly forces Region 5 flooding… infected patients to sleep on Govt “out of touch” to declare flooding floor at GPHC – Dr Anthony had ended – Opposition Leader … authorities failed to notify Health Minister

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n light of recent reports that patients with infectious diseases are being forced to stay in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital, Opposition Shadow Public Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has lambasted hospital officials, saying that poor management is a factor of these issues arising.

Earlier this week, it was reported that patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) were forced to stay in the A&E Unit of the medical facility due to overcrowding; some were even forced to stay on the floor.

Photographs taken at the hospital were also circulated on the Internet and it has once again sparked outrage from the public.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Dr Antony stated that the situation is deplorable and as such he is urging the relevant authorities to have it rectified. “It is very deplorable because the Georgetown Public Hospital is our national referral hospital. And what I understood is happening there is we have patients who came to the Accident and Emergency for attention, and my understanding is some of the doctors examine the patients and they felt that those patients were sick enough to warrant hospitalisation.

However; they couldn’t find beds in the hospital itself and therefore patients were literally waiting for a bed to become available so that they could get into the hospital and that is a deplorable situation and we need to fix that,” he stated.

Dr Anthony went on to explain that he was even more appalled when he learnt that patients with infectious diseases were staying among

Shadow Public Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

non-infectious patients, which put the later at risk for contracting these diseases. “My understanding is that some of these patients have tuberculosis and that is outrageous. If you’re putting infectious patients with noninfectious patients… you’re basically putting those patients and the staff that’s working there at risk. So we need to find another area where we can treat those patients. My understanding is that they would have rectified the situation but common sense would have told you that this ought to have been done for quite some time,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton has responded saying that while the authorities have not reported the issue to him, he intends to have the situation rectified as soon as possible.

According to the Minister, while he has not yet received a report of such a situation from the hospital authorities, he will not doubt the reports as it is not an uncommon issue. He related that while the hospital has the capacity to house more beds, it cannot do so as the hospital has to follow regulations in relation to the acceptable space between the beds. “There is

no doubt that the number of beds available for patients at the GPHC has been greatly reduced after the reconstruction of the new in-patient facility. This was further reduced when the decision was made to increase the space between two beds to suit accepted standards,” he stated.

Dr Norton stated that he will ensure that the situation is rectified in a timely manner as this is unacceptable.

“All efforts are being made to correct same as soon as possible,” he declared.

Earlier this year, there was a similar situation of overcrowding; however, in that instance, mothers were forced to take to chairs and the floor with their newborn babies due to overcrowding in the maternity ward. Early in April, a photograph capturing a mother with her newborn under a bed surfaced in the media, prompting an investigation, but the hospital could not account for when the photographed incident occurred.

The overcrowded maternity ward is in dire need of significant improvement, both in the infrastructure and the treatment given. Earlier in the month, Minister Norton had announced that the issue of mothers sharing beds would end soon as the facility is currently being extended.

— as Ministers visit flood-affected communities

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hile Public Infrastructure Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson visited flood-affected areas of Trafalgar, Number 28, Number 29 and Number 33 villages to assess the situation on Thursday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in a press conference spoke out against the declaration that flooding had ended in Guyana. He also decried Agriculture Minister Noel Holder’s response to the crisis.

“Just a month after the [A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change] APNU/AFC Government declared that it had ended flooding in Guyana as part of their one-year achievement, many of the people in Region Five are un-

A pontoon with an excavator working to reduce flooding in Region Five

will not make these token visits, they [need] to understand what is happening – the hardships of people [as] they will be on the ground to render assistance, they should also be balanced in their outreach – Region Five is made up of many people; PPP supporters, APNU supporters. They should go to all areas to ensure that peo-

A working pump at Baiboo, Mahaica

der water… some very callous statements [have been] emanating from the Government, particularly the Minister of Agriculture saying that this is an MMA problem, it’s not for central government to intervene,” the former President expressed.

Jagdeo opined that the Administration should ensure that all areas are given assistance, rather than a few “token” locations.

“I hope that Government

ple receive support at this very difficult time,” he noted.

Jagdeo also commended Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal for his efforts in attempting to address the concerns of his region despite the stalled Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meetings.

Jagdeo pointed out that the Regional Chairman has alerted the Civil Defence Commission, Agriculture Ministry and other relevant

agencies to bring solutions the ongoing crisis, as was reported by Guyana Times.

“If the region was functioning we would have had a better outreach, and maybe the APNU and PPP Councillors could have worked together to ensure that some of the problems which people are experiencing could have been avoided.

But it just shows how out of touch this Government is when it had declared that it ended flooding in Guyana,” the Opposition Leader expressed.

Meanwhile, this publication learnt on Thursday that the flooding at Baiboo, Mahaicony has receded somewhat but not completely, as the pump is only functioning in one section of the area. It was reported that the area was inundated, which affected residents and farmers’ crops and livestock.

Also on Thursday, the Government Information Agency (GINA) quoted Minister Patterson as saying that a pump at Trafalgar which drained the area needed to be maintained better so that excess water could be removed from the land. He also told GINA that two new pumps in that area will be working continuously along with a pontoon and an excavator.

friday, june 24, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

Leave campaign ahead in Migrant crisis: 4500 rescued UK's EU referendum vote in Mediterranean in 1 day

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T

he UK's EU referendum is proving close but the Remain campaign appears to be failing to pick up enough support outside London to win.

At 03:45 BST Leave were ahead by over 500,000 votes, with the English shires and Wales voting strongly for Brexit.

UKIP's Nigel Farage said: "Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom."

The pound surged as polls closed before falling to its lowest level since 1985, on signs of a Leave victory.

Scotland and Northern Ireland appear to have opted for Remain and London has voted emphatically to stay in the EU. Unlike at a general election the results in individual areas do not count – it is

The last nationwide referendum took place five years ago, when voters rejected an attempt to change the way MPs are elected

the overall number of votes cast for one side or the other across the country that will determine whether the UK leaves the European Union.

Polling expert Professor John Curtice said there was still a while to go but at this stage Leave were "undoubtedly the favourites" to win the referendum. He estimates that the finishing post for one side to win is 16,813,000 votes.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who at the start of the night predicted that Remain might "edge" a win, told supporters: "Dare to dream that the dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom."

At a Brexit party, he told supporters: "If the predictions are right, this will be a victory for real people, a victory for ordinary people, and a victory for decent people."

he Italian Navy and Coastguard say they have rescued about 4500 migrants from dozens of small boats in the Mediterranean during the course of Thursday.

A woman's body was recovered from one of the vessels.

More favourable weather conditions have resulted in a major increase in the number of people leaving North Africa.

Many of the unsea-

T

ed the news, saying only Congress should write laws.

But the President said the deadlock was "heartbreaking" for millions of people.

"They are Americans in every way but on paper," he said at the White House, adding that reform will happen, sooner or later.

"Congress is not going to be able to ignore America forever," he said.

Texas led 26 Republican-

led states in challenging the programme, which would have given the right to work to millions of people.

The deadlock between the eight judges was only possible because of the death of the ninth, Justice Antonin Scalia, leaving a vacancy that is still unfilled.

This is the first tied decision produced by the court, as the Senate continues to block Obama's nominee, Judge Merrick Garland.(Excerpt from BBC News)

German Police shoot dead hostage taker in cinema

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masked and armed man barricaded himself in a German multiplex cinema with dozens of people inside before being killed by Police, officials said.

No hostages were injured at the complex in the western town of Viernheim, 75 kilometres south of Frankfurt, Hesse State Interior Minister Peter Beuth said on Thursday.

"The assailant moved through the cinema complex, according to the information we have now, and appeared confused," he said.

"There were hostages inside and there was a strug-

gle [with Police] until in the end he was dead."

Beuth added: "We have no information that anyone [among the cinema-goers] was injured."

A Police spokeswoman in the nearby city of Darmstadt confirmed that "all the hostages were unhurt and led out of the building".

Initial reports had referred to dozens of wounded people and several shots fired, and Police dispatched heavily armed special units to the site equipped with helmets and bulletproof vests.

"There was an acute

threat situation," Viernheim Police said in a statement.

Later accounts said that several people had been hurt by tear gas during the Police raid, but this was also denied.

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Germany, where gun ownership is prevalent, but firearm sales and storage are subject to strict regulation.

In the worst case in recent years, 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer went on a rampage with his father's gun at his former school in 2009, killing 15 people before turning the weapon on himself. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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Brazil's interim President Michel Temer attends a meeting with his economic team at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, June 22, 2016

razil's interim President Michel Temer, whose party is under fire after recent scandals forced three of his Cabinet Ministers to quit during his 40 days in power, pledged not to interfere in the sweeping corruption probe known as "Operation Car Wash."

The two-year graft investigation into Petrobras is the driving force behind Brazil's political turbulence. It has seen scores of top executives and politicians jailed amid allegations that billions were paid in bribes and stoked popular anger at Brazil's ruling

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Officer Caesar Goodson drove the van in which Gray rode before he died

he died.

The verdict is a blow to prosecutors, who have yet to win a conviction connected to Gray's death.

Gray, 25, was arrested in April 2015 for running away from Police Officers. He died a week after sustaining a spinal injury while in the back of a Police van.

His death sparked civil unrest in Baltimore, part of a wider national debate

class.

At the centre of it all lies Odebrecht, a firm that spans 15 divisions spread across two dozen countries and has 130,000 employees. It is responsible for most of the building behind the Olympics that will start this August in Rio de Janeiro.

If the firm's executives decide to tell all, few doubt that little of the political establishment will be left standing. Many senior politicians were named in documents seized at the company's offices as apparently receiving bribes. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Colombia and FARC rebels sign historic ceasefire

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he Colombian Government and the FARC rebels have signed a historic ceasefire deal, bringing them closer to ending more than five decades of conflict.

The announcement is seen as one of the last steps before a full peace deal is signed, which is expected within weeks.

Colombia's President and the FARC leader shook hands in celebration.

The longest-running insurgency in the Western Hemisphere has killed an estimated 220,000 people and displaced almost seven million.

Thursday's announcement in Havana caps formal peace talks that started three years ago in the Cuban capital.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Timochenko shook hands in celebration. Also pictured is Cuban President Raul Castro, who helped facilitate the deal

But it does not mark the start of the ceasefire, which will only begin with the signing of a final accord.

Colombia's President, Juan Manuel Santos, has previously said he hoped to sign that accord by the end of July.

Thursday's announcement includes: A commitment that reb-

Freddie Gray death: Baltimore officer cleared of murder altimore Police Officer Caesar Goodson has been found not guilty in his trial for the murder of detainee Freddie Gray.

He was cleared on a second-degree "depraved heart" murder charge, the most serious charge sought against the six officers charged in the case.

Goodson drove the van in which Gray rode before

United Nations figures.

An agreement between Turkey and the European Union to halt migrants from travelling to Greek islands has reduced boat arrivals by 98 per cent during the first five months of the year, compared with the same period in 2015, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says.

But arrivals in Italy continue at about the same rate as last year, the IOM added. (BBC News)

Brazil's Temer vows not to meddle in “Operation Car Wash”

Top US court blocks Obama migrant plan

he US Supreme Court has announced it is split on President Barack Obama’s plan to shield millions of undocumented immigrants living illegally in the US. The divide comes as a blow to the President's 2014 executive action which he enacted without Congress and will now be assessed in a lower court.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan applaud-

worthy boats were spotted about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Libyan coast.

"We saved a total of about 4500 people in about 40 rescue operations," a coastguard spokesman told AFP news agency.

He added that the operations were continuing and the number might rise.

More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to

on police brutality and the death of unarmed black men at the hands of police.

At the end of the fiveday trial, Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams also acquitted Goodson on charges of manslaughter, assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.

The Judge said the State had failed to show that Goodson was aware he had injured Gray or that he

needed medical care.

Prosecutors had argued that Goodson was criminally negligent when he failed to use a seat belt to secure Gray and intentionally gave him a "rough ride" while transporting him to the Police station.

The van made six stops during the ride to the police station. Goodson was the only officer present at each of the stops. (Excerpt from BBC News)

els will lay down arms within 180 days of a final peace deal The creation of temporary transition zones and camps for the estimated 7000 rebels That no civilians will be allowed to enter Farc camps, to guarantee rebel security UN monitors will receive all the group's weapons "Let this be the last day of the war," said FARC leader Timochenko at the announcement.

The rebels have also agreed to put the final accord to a popular vote in Colombia, which was a promise made by Santos.

The President said at the ceremony that this was a "historic day".

"We have reached the end of 50 years of death, attacks and pain. This is the end of the armed conflict with the FARC," he said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

friday, june 24, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Number 10 Village Kitty Market construction ongoing …“It was delayed because of the weather” – City Engineer residents want electricity

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esidents of Number 10 Village, Branch Road, De Hoop, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, have renewed their calls for the area are to be connected to the national grid to access electricity.

During visits to the area on Wednesday, residents told Guyana Times that they were grateful for the potable water and roads which they received some time ago, but receiving electricity was a must.

They said they were promised power more than 24 years ago.

One woman told this publication that they too wanted to enjoy luxuries like citizens in other parts of the country.

“Abbe got to get washing machine, abbe hand get pain,” the woman lamented.

Kitty Market under construction

By Ramona Luthi

Number 10 residents among them Purwantie Harriprashad (light blue top) say they have been promised light for decades

Another housewife explained that she has been living in Number 10 Village for 19 years and the solar panel which she used to generate electricity cannot supply power to heavy-duty equipment such as a washing machine.

“I would like to have some current because de children got to study to go

to school de next morning and I have a lot of clothes to wash and I would like to have a washing machine,” another woman pointed out.

“You nah get fo sleep properly in the night, de children clothes so plenty, you got to wash with yo hand,” observed Purwantie Harriprashad, another resident.

Bandits break into vehicle of overseas-based Guyanese

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n overseas-based Guyanese who recently returned home on vacation fell victim to the country’s current crime situation, after his car was broken into on Wednesday and an undisclosed sum of cash and other valuables stolen.

Reports are that around 14:00h, Dr Rudy Jadoopat parked his vehicle a short distance from the popular M&M Snackette in the vicinity of the Demerara

Harbour Bridge, Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara and went into the Snackette to make a purchase when the bandit(s) struck.

Reports are that upon return, Dr Jadoopat found a window of the vehicle smashed and a number of items, including his cellular phones, cameras, important documents and an undisclosed sum of cash, along with other items missing.

It is suspected that the perpetrator(s) had been trailing the overseasbased Guyanese and as he stopped, the opportunity was used to break into the vehicle.

The police were summoned and have since secured the footage from surveillance cameras in the area, which they are reviewing for clues and the possible identities of the bandit(s).

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ity Engineer Colvern Venture on Thursday confirmed that construction on the Kitty Market has resumed, adding that the delay was caused by the rainy weather.

According to Venture, a section of the Kitty Market has to be redesigned and after this is done, the new completion deadline will be announced. He told Guyana Times that work had been halted for a short period because of the unfavourable weather conditions.

“The work is ongoing right now. It was stopped a little because of the rain and it was delayed because of the weather, but work is pressing on,” he said.

His comments come on the heels of media reports that works were allegedly

stalled because the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was cash strapped.

Venture refused to disclose the total cost of the construction on the Kitty Market, thus far.

Rehabilitation on the Market began early in the year by the M&CC. At the time, it was relayed by Town Clerk Royston King that after consecutive meetings with stallholders and stakeholders, it was agreed vendors would be relocated nearby and works would commence.

He added that the City Engineer’s Department would be conducting the restoration of the historic site in various phases so as to not completely displace vendors.

It was also highlighted to the public that the project was scheduled to be com-

pleted in three months. King noted that there were many technical aspects to be completed during the period, with decisions being made to retain the historic architectural design of the structure. The construction of a new sanitary block for the Market was also slated to be done during the restoration process.

At the beginning of the restoration process, many vendors expressed happiness that attention was finally being given to the Market.

However, long before the stipulated deadline of May month-end, vendors had begun complaining about the delay in works which would make it impossible for the deadline to be met and hence ,the extended time period that they would be displaced.

UG students to host walk against domestic violence

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n an effort to foster greater awareness of some of the social ills plaguing society, students of the University of Guyana (UG) will be hosting a ‘WalkA-Ton against Domestic Violence’ on Saturday June 25 and Guyanese are encouraged to join forces and speak out in one resounding voice to put an end to domestic abuse in Guyana.

Participants are asked to assemble at the Bank of Guyana at Main and Church Streets, Georgetown at 06:00h.

The walk which is expected to commence at 06:30h, will proceed East along Church Street, then South onto Vlissengen Road, culminating at the Square of the Revolution.

There will be a grand rally at the Square of the Revolution with feature addresses by Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence and Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, among others.

The initiative is being executed in collaboration with the Social Protection Ministry.

The event’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Anil Persaud, explained that domestic violence is a predominant issue throughout the country, disregarding race, age, religion, or any other distinguishing factor.

“Some of us may not know much about the issue and it’s complexities but what we all do know is that domestic violence is unacceptable and it must end if we are to see the brighter future everyone dreams of. So, we’re hosting a walk-a-ton and rally with the hope of raising awareness, sensitising the public and hopefully making changes in people’s lives all around the country,” he expressed.

Persaud is encouraging persons to participate in the event to help make it a success.

“We need you to come out

and represent the thousands of women, men and children that face domestic violence every day but see no way out because their voices aren’t heard. We spend a lot of time helping ourselves to relive our own stresses and burdens and don’t get me wrong, we really should, but let’s make Saturday morning a time for helping others and paving the way for new initiatives and a bright future for youths like ourselves and families like our own,” he stated.

Participants are asked to wear red and purple.

guyana-times.com

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benefit concert titled “ROKATUKS” to raise funds to offset the medical expenses for popular actor/comedian Henry Rodney will be held on Saturday, June 25 at the National Cultural Centre, Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

The concert, under the directorship of veteran journalist and thespian Ron Robinson, was put together by friends of Rodney. There will be performances by the “Nothing to Laugh About” crew, The Reactors, Simone Dowding, Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine, the National School of Dance, Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson, Free Souls Dance Movement, Sheron Cadogan-Taylor, Leslyn Bobb-Semple, The National Drama

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Bindu Kholi

opular television personality Joel Ganshaam will be celebrating his birthday in grand style on July 16 at a party called “29 ½ Birth Anniversary”.

The event, which is expected to be glamorous, will be held at the Le Meridian Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown. The birthday party is by invitation only and it will be done in two phases.

The first will be the grand meet-and-greet segment at the Aura Lounge on the roof of the hotel followed by the cake-cutting ceremony at the poolside. A special stage will be erected and decorated over the pool for the grand celebration.

After the cake-cutting ceremony, there will be live performances by several local artistes, bands and also lots of dance pieces by members of several prominent dance troupes. But adding the icing to the cake will be special guest appearances by two famous and glamorous young ladies

Company, and many other local talent.

The beloved comedian has been ailing for a while now and has visited many local doctors, but after a variety of examinations and tests, his health still seems to be deteriorating rapidly.

Consequently, arrangements are being made to fly him to Trinidad for urgent medical prognosis and treatment. Rodney has been an entertainer for over 30 years, and has performed both locally and abroad.

The actor has brought many to stardom and is very much loved for his kindness, humility and, of course, his many talents, which include singing, songwriting and poetry and teaching (St Joseph High School and Apex Academy are among the schools blessed to see him in action in the role of teacher).

Please support this fundraising venture. Tickets for the event cost $1500 and $1000, and are available at the National Cultural Centre.

all the way from the USA and India.

Gracing the event will be Bollywood actress Padmini Kohapure who made her television debut portraying Pallavi Modi in the Sony Entertainment Television India series “Ekk Nayi Pehchaan”. This was just the stepping stone as she played several roles in a number of movies, including “Zindagi”, “Dream Girl”, “Muddat” and “Pyari Behna”.

In addition, Bindu Kholi is expected to grace the occasion with her presence.

Both women have been close friends to Ganshaam over the years.

Already billboards have been erected in celebration of his birthday, thanks to BM Soat. The party was planned by his many friends throughout Guyana and the Diaspora.

When asked about the title of the party, the television personality said, “No one wants to ever hit the 30 mark in life, so I stop counting at 29 ½.”

Bollywood actress Padmini Kohapure

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

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ore than a week ago, one of the most versatile selectors in Guyana celebrated his 26th birth anniversary quietly with his family, but this will all change in a matter of hours.

The boss himself, Clifford Leslie, popularly known as Selector Diamond, will be celebrating his milestone with partygoers as he hosts the “Controlla” party this evening at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown.

The event will be “maddddd vibes” as several well-known DJs and selectors will be in the house “shelling it down” with the

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

best in all genres of music, ranging from Dancehall to Soca. Patrons can come and experience a highenergy party that will

leave t h e m breathless at the stroke of 02:00h.

Those expected to set the place on fire

s the curtains on “Painting the Spectrum 12” are pulled, SASOD will host its first party in Region Three on Saturday, June 25, dubbed “West Side Pride Party”. The event will be held at the Aracari Resort Banquet Hall, Versailles, West Bank Demerara and will commence at 19:00h.

Admission to the event is absolutely free and finger foods will be available in galore, free of cost. At the event, there will also be free, on-site HIV counselling and testing all night, which is supported by Peace Corps Guyana.

However, “Spectrum Night” will take place on the penultimate night, which is Tuesday, June 28, and is expected to be edgy and attention-grabbing.

“Spectrum Night” is a special evening where persons are invited to take to the stage to showcase their talents through remarkable performances in the form of poetry, song, dance, fashion and music.

The final night of the film festival – Thursday, June 30 – will see the screening of the film “Fit” from the United Kingdom.

Produced by the campaigning group Stonewall for distribution in secondary schools, and supported by governmental bodies, this film aims to tackle homophobia.

The main characters are at school – though the actors mostly look a bit older than that – and they are gay, straight and bisexual. Writer-

are Gully Ras, DJ Energy, Selector Carl, DJ Shizzle, DJ 50 and Scene Up. In addition, patrons will have a chance to meet and greet the birthday boy as he intends to have a grand time with his supporters who have encouraged him throughout the past years.

Admission to the event is $2000 between 21:00h and 23:00h and $3000 after, but ladies will be admitted free before 21:00h. “Controlla” is powered by Heineken, Street Styles and Future Entertainment Group.

Remember it’s Selector Diamond’s Birth Night Bash this evening at Palm Court…

director Rikki Beadle-Blair does an interesting job of showing that, though race and class prejudice seem to be relatively dormant, ugly homophobia is alive and kicking, and “gay” is the ubiquitous term of abuse.

As customary after the final screening, the traditional “Painting the Spectrum” will follow to bring the festival to a close. This activity is a form of creative expression for Spectrum’s attendees to leave their marks of support, messages of hope and inspiration for a Guyanese society which is more accepting and respectful of sexual and gender diversity.

There is no charge for admission to attend the film festival. Drinks and snacks will be on sale. In this last week of the festival, the bar will also feature special Spectrum-themed cocktails and mocktails. All proceeds go towards SASOD’s LGBT Emergency Shelter and Community Centre Fund.

The film festival also offers free, on-site HIV counselling and testing every night, which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – Advancing Partnerships and Communities (APC) Guyana Project.

The films are intended for mature audiences. Person must be 18 years and over to attend. SASOD reserves the right to refuse admission to persons who do not have identification to prove that they are not minors.

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its and Jams Entertainment will be launching Summer 2016 the right way with the second edition of the Sun, Water and Sand (SWS) weekend.

HJ Water World is where the action will be this Caricom weekend starting on Saturday, July 2 with the “Caribbean Food Festival”, which will feature food from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and, of c o u r s e , Guyana.

T h e dishes will include main courses as well as some desserts. Tickets will be sold at the venue for just $2000 each. It is important to note that these tickets will only give patrons a sample of the food and not an entire meal.

Bajan Soca artiste King Bubba will be performing on Sunday, July 3 for “Soaka on the Beach – the Water Guns edition”, which will be an ideal wet fete complete with bubbles and a foam machine.

Gates will be opened from 12:00h, but everyone is free until 13:00h after which patrons will only pay $1000 for admission. The water guns will be given to paying patrons upon entry into HJ Water World.

On Caricom Day, patrons can “Cool Out” with their good friends and stocked coolers. Admission is just $1000 per person and $1000 per cooler. Coolers should be of a moderate size – extra large coolers will not be allowed into HJ Water World.

Please be advised that all food, drink (except for at the “Cool Out” event), firearms and sharp objects are strictly prohibited from entering HJ Water World. Patrons will not be allowed to enter the pool areas with glass bottles or if they are seen to be intoxicated.

SWS Weekend 2016, YOU DON’T WANNA MISS…

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ll roads will lead to the Gravity Lounge, Camp Street, Georgetown for yet another concept party on Saturday evening, this one titled “Summer Lovin”. The event is promoted by the GCC Hockey Team as an annual fundraiser.

The event is one of the many held by the group throughout the year. Those who have been to one of the events organised by the hockey club can testify to the fact that it is fun to maximum. This is so because of the hyped atmosphere and great music.

This time, as usual, the Boom DJs will be heating their consoles with the best music to keep the partyholics on the dance floor. In addition, patrons can select from a wide range of cocktails that will be available.

This is one of the events you do not want to miss especially if you are a hockey fan. Admission is $2000.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016

guyana-times.com

Mahendra Ramkellawan

Amit Sooknanan

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n just about a week’s time, all roads will lead to the Bath Settlement Ground, West Coast Berbice for the “Clash of the Titans” Berbice edition. The event is set for July 2 and will see some spectacular performances by several high-level artistes out of Trinidad and Guyana.

Those expected to perform include Ravi B and the Karma Band, Veekash Sahadeo, Amit Sooknanan, Rick Ramoutar, Venessa Ramoutar, as well as Kystal (Party Done).

The local performers are the Shakti String Orchestra featuring Pooran Seeraj, Steven Ramphal and Youland Nedd among others. The Fire Fest Dancers will also add some spice to the event. Mahendra Ramkellawan will also make an appearance at the show that is expected to be off the hook.

General admission tickets for the event will cost $1500, while VIP tickets are also available. The event is sponsored by Comfort Sleep, NP Fried Chicken, Team MMR, Crown Vibes and others.

The emcee for the show will be television personality WR Reaz.

Vanessa Ramoutar

Veekash Sahadeo

Rick Ramoutar

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ueen of Queens The HGPTV Play Ground in Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara will definitely come alive on July 3 when Father Moey, in collaboration with the Region Four Regional Democratic Council, presents Queen of Queens on July 3.

The event will see at least 10 villages from the East Bank, East Coast and Georgetown competing in maypole plaiting to determine the best of the best. The villages confirmed to participate are Plaisance, Buxton, Enmore, Beterverwagting, Bare Root, Anns Grove, Mahaica, Mahaicony, Soesdyke and St Pius.

Each group will bring to the event its own traditional dance and an individual dance piece. The groups plaiting the maypole will also be judged for their outfits, plaiting style and timing among other criteria.

The main attraction of the event will be the competition among the maypole queens from the various villages. Each queen will be required to introduce themselves while promoting their villages at the same time. This will be followed by the intelligence segment. After these segments, the judges will tally their scores and a winner will be announced.

However, apart from the maypole plaiting, there will be several dance pieces by the Crystalite Dancers, X-Factor Dance Group, Devina Stars Dance Company and other groups that will definitely add some flair to the event.

The kids are not left out since there will be

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packed afternoon with lots of activities, including Merry-go-around, bouncy castle, and face painting. Adding some excitement, most definitely, will be Super Ray One Man Band, Stereo Sonic Music System, and Determine Sound System.

Admission to the event is $500. Gates open at 15:00h, with the maypole plaiting commencing at 16:00h.

he parking lot of the Leonora track and field facility will come alive on Saturday, July 2, for Guyana’s biggest car and bike show and vehicle sound-off.

Come out and get a chance to see some of the best vehicles compete in the many categories.

The Avengers, Red Jet, Dark Siderz, Wreaker, Star Cars, TRex, Xclusive and Massive are among the showstoppers that have already confirmed their participation.

For the first time, the competition will see vehicles being judged in over 35 categories, including best graphics, best lights, best interior, best theme, best antique, best air brush, best motorbike, best technician, cleanest engine, cleanest vehicle, best looking sound, lowest vehicle, best rims, biggest vehicle group, bus with the most girls, cleanest hire car and the cleanest working bus.

When it comes to sound, the vehicles will be judged for loudest bicycle, loudest CD cart, loudest single 12”, loudest single 15”, loudest pair 12”, loudest pair 15”, loudest inclusive sound, cleanest inclusive sound, loudest vehicle with door panel,

and loudest working bus.

In addition, the judges will be looking for the loudest car – mini extreme (one side); loudest car – mini extreme (two sides); loudest car – extreme (trunk); loudest car – extreme (top and trunk); loudest SUV/minivan – mini extreme; loudest SUV/ minivan – extreme; loudest bus – mini extreme; loudest bus – extreme and Mr Hype (any vehicle).

Those who wish to participate in the competition will pay $5000 as a registration fee. Registration forms can be uplifted at Raj Auto Music – Ogle, East Coast Demerara; Auto Stop – Sheriff Street; Massive Audio, Parika; Chris – Ogle, East Coast Demerara; Massive – New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop and Westsiderz Ent Centre – Vreed-en-Hoop.

Admission to the event is $1000 in advance and $1500 at the gate, while vehicle passes will be available for $1000.

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friDAY, june 24, 2016

Amazon Warriors rounding off camp Caribbean Airlines confirmed with practice matches at Providence as official airline carrier for CPL

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he Guyana Amazon Warriors will end their week long encampment with two practice matches against a Guyana Select XI at Providence.

The first game will be this evening under the lights from 18:00 Hrs while the second game will be a day game beginning at midday tomorrow.

The squad minus captain Martin Guptil and Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, got together on Monday and had daily practice sessions and match simulation exercises under the guidance of Head coach Roger Harper and Assistant coach Esuan Crandon at the Guyana National Stadium.

Guptil is currently playing in the Nat West T20 Blast in England while Zampa is part of the Australia team in the Ballr Cup Tri-Nation Series. Both players will join the team in St. Kitts ahead of the opening game on next Thursday.

The 16 players will now get much needed match practice ahead of departure for St. Kitts where they will play their first match this season against the St. Kitts Patriots at Warner Park on

Thursday June 30.

The Warriors will first have to be cope with the strong Guyana Select Team which has been named as their opponents for the two warm up games. The Select XI will be led by Guyana Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson and includes Test opener Rajendra Chandrika and seven other players with first class experience as well as West Indies under 19 World Cup winning team players, Keemo Paul and Tevin Imlach.

Throughout the tournament, the Warriors will play matches during the day and under the artificial lights and the two practice matches will serve as ideal preparation.

The Amazon Warriors second game will be against defending champions the Trinbago Knight Riders on Saturday July 2 from 21:00 Hrs at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain before returning home for four matches at Providence.

At home the Warriors will open against the inaugural tournament champions Jamaica Tallawahs on Thursday July 7 from 19:00 Hrs.

Their next mission will be a return clash against the St. Kitts Patriots from 12:00 Hrs on Saturday July 9 while they host the Trinbago Knight Riders also in a return fixture from 19:00 Hrs. The final home game will be against the Darren Sammy led St. Lucia Zouks on Tuesday July 12.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad reads; Martin Guptil, Dwayne Smith, Christopher Lynn, Jason Mohammed, Christopher Barnwell, Sohail Tanvir, Anthony Bramble, Rayad Emrit, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Stephen Jacobs, Adam Zampa, Stephen Katwaroo, Paul Wintz, Assad Fudadin, Shimron Hetmyer, Orlando Peters and Muhammad Ali Khan.

The Guyana Select team reads; Leon Johnson (Captain), Robin Bacchus, Rajendra Chandrika, Keemo Paul, Gajanand Singh, Kevon Bodie, Tevin Imlach, Sherfane Rutherford, Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Steven Sankar, Gudakesh Motie, Raun Johnson and Totaram Bishun.

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aribbean Airlines is the official airline carrier for the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL T20) 2016 and will be instrumental in connecting enthusiastic cricket fans and teams participating in the events throughout the Caribbean and North America.

As official airline partner, all teams and officials travelling to CPL matches and related activities will travel on Caribbean Airlines flights to and from events.

Colville Carrington, CEO (Ag) of Caribbean Airlines stated: “Caribbean Airlines understands the value of sport to the Caribbean and cricket has always been a uniting force for both teams and fans within the region. CPL matches will be held on various days throughout the Caribbean and for the first time, matches will be played in Fort Lauderdale at the Central Broward Stadium from July 28th to 31st. CAL is delighted to support this exciting tournament”.

Commercial Director, CPL T20, James Stewart noted, “Once again it is a pleasure to

"The Biggest Party in Sport" heads north to the United States of America and Caribbean Airlines is once again the official carrier of players, officials, sponsors and fans

welcome Caribbean Airlines as the Official Airline of the Hero CPL. Getting around the islands of the Caribbean is notoriously challenging and we rely heavily on the friendly and reliable services of our airline Partner. With the League now hosting games in Fort Lauderdale, CAL are for the first time taking our players to the USA, and I am sure many fans will be flying the “CPL Express” for the matches there. We are also delighted that once more CAL planes will be carrying the “Hero CPL” logo as they make their way around the Caribbean and North America - the best pos-

Former India captain Anil Kumble appointed head coach

Final 4 decided in Guinness L National football championships

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Part of the action in the evening matches (file photo)

he final four teams have been decided in the Guinness Greatest of the Streets National championships after eight riveting matches at that National Cultural Centre Tarmac on Wednesday.

It will be Sparta Boss against Wisroc then Team 25 against Channel 9 Warriors as the four teams battle for the two places in the grand final on Friday at the same venue. The winner of the final will represent

Guyana in St. Lucia at the regional championships.

Sparta Boss reached the semi-finals after they defeated Beterverwagting (BV) ‘B’ 4-0 due to respective doubles by Devon Millington in the 11th and 12th then Gregory Richardson (13th and 14th).

Wisroc defeated Showstoppers 1-0 thanks a Clarence Huggins goal in the 20th; similarly Channel9-Warriors eased pass North Ruimveldt 2-0 as Joshua Fiffee in the 4th and Kemo

Lawrence scored in the 7th scored the winning goals.

In the other match, Team 25 made light work of Stewartville Gunners in their 2-0 nill win, with Quacey Johnson and Keron Smith scoring in the 2nd and 20th minutes respectively.

The winning team will pocket in excess of $300,000 along with bragging rights and most importantly the opportunity to represent the country at the Regional street futsal tournament.

sible sign of CPL’s significance to the region.”

Caribbean Airlines looks forward to flying the teams and customers to various games throughout the region to experience the excitement of this premier cricket league.

Caribbean Airlines offers an all-inclusive in-flight experience with complimentary authentic Caribbean meals and signature cocktails. Also, all passengers first checked bag always flies free and economy passengers can pay just U$$30 for a second checkedbag, which is one of the lowest rates in the global airline industry. (CPLT20)

egendary spinner Anil Kumble has been appointed the new head coach of the Indian cricket team for a period of 12 months, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Thursday (June 23) at the board’s inaugural cricket conclave in Dharamsala. The 45-year-old former legspinner fended off competition from 56 other applicants, including Ravi Shastri, India’s former team director, to the top post.

After Duncan Fletcher’s contract had expired following the ICC World Cup in 2015, the post of head coach was left vacant with Shastri being appointed team director for subsequent tours. Kumble takes over the side from Shastri, whose contract expired after the World Twenty20.

Kumble’s name for the role was put forth by the three-member advisory committee comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, headed by Sanjay Jagdale, the former BCCI secretary, who interviewed the shortlisted applicants about their goals and ambition for the future of Indian cricket. Kumble’s presentation on taking Indian cricket forward and potential steps to achieve top ranking in every format is said to have been the clincher in his appointment.

“He (Kumble) has been a

Anil Kumble fended off competition from 56 other applicants to the top post

match winner of India,” board president Anurag Thakur said during the announcement. “It was not about Indian or foreign coach. It was about who is the best for Indian cricket.

We have kept it very transparent. Their presentations... how they can take Indian cricket forward. We have the largest cricket fans in the world. We have the strongest economies.

I think Indian cricket deserves the best and we have Kumble with us. His record speaks for himself, as far as winning matches for India is concerned. “ Despite not meeting two important criteria set for the aspirants - not having any previous coaching experience at first-class or international level and not being a certified coach - Kumble brings with him a wealth of internation-

al experience, having featured in 132 Tests and 271 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) during an illustrious career than spanned 18 years. He has also served as a mentor for Indian Premier League franchises Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians besides serving in administrative roles as the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Thakur confirmed that the composition of the support staff, including the batting, bowling and the fielding coaches will be revealed later. BCCI secretary, Ajay Shirke also ensured that Kumble’s appointment will lead to no conflict of interest repercussions pertaining to his role with ‘TenVic’ Kumble’s player management firm that manages the interests of several Karnataka players among others.

“Conflict of interest has become a fashionable word. All the concerns regarding that have been addressed. There will be no conflict of interest when he takes over,” Shirke said.

Kumble’s first assignment will be India’s four-Test tour of West Indies, starting July 21.

He will join the team at the pretour camp at the NCA, starting June 29. (cricbuzz.com)

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Browne is new chairman of selectors; Lloyd to serve as special ambassador

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21

sports

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Clive Lloyd

F

ormer wicketkeeper, coach, and talent manager, Courtney Browne will be the new Chairman of Selectors for the West Indies Cricket Board. Browne has been on the senior men’s selection panel for almost six years and he has had oversight for selection for the women’s and under 19 programmes for the last two years while being regional talent manager for the same period.

Before joining the selection teams, Browne served as Chairman for the senior selection panel in Barbados and also served as an alternate selector for the West Indies senior men’s team. Before becoming a selector, he was the wicket-keeping coach at the High Performance Centre in Barbados.

Browne thinks that with the increased exposure to matches in various

formats “players will now have an opportunity to be seen.” The comprehensive technical programmes being offered by the WICB “will give players so much more chances to solidify their skill sets.”

The new appointment will take effect immediately and will run for two years. Browne is awaiting his final results following his recent completion of an MBA in General Management/Business Administration. He also has an Executive Diploma in Project Management.

The England-born Barbadian played 20 Tests and 46 one-day internationals for the West Indies over ten years. He was the wicket-keeper.

CLIVE LLOYD The WICB, effective October 1, 2016, will appoint the former Chairman of Selectors, Clive Lloyd, as a special Ambassador.

While in this role, Lloyd will be responsible for being a spokesperson for the Board at special events in and out of the region.

Lloyd will end his stint in the current role on September 30, 2016. “The time as Chairman was quite rewarding and I am hoping my contribution would have added value to the current system.” For the period up to the end of that contract Lloyd and Browne will ensure there is a smooth transition and hand-over.

About the new role, Lloyd said “I made every

Courtney Browne

attempt to serve with distinction and I was pleased to contribute to the game again. I look forward to the new role. The details of that arrangement will be discussed and will be released shortly.”

The former captain has served the WICB in multiple roles. Among his most noted was captaining the 1975 and 1979 teams to victories in the World Cup. This significant appointment coincides with Lloyd’s 50th anniversary of representing West Indies Cricket. He made his test debut against India in December 1966.

The President, Dave Cameron, thanked Lloyd for his service and for the selfless contribution made to West Indies Cricket.

Cameron noted that “we are satisfied that Clive’s upcoming role will serve as another great opportunity to promote the best of West Indies Cricket.” (WICB)

Sports Clinic observes Rehab Week with open invitation

A

s the Ministry of Public Health celebrates national rehab week it is looking to increase awareness of its sports clinic facility at Castellani House and also to encourage sportsmen and women to utilise the facility.

In an invited comment about the annual rehab week, Physiotherapist Beverly Nelson who has been involved in the event since its beginning, 13 years ago, said the entity’s aim is to raise awareness and also give awareness about the individuals who provide the services at the clinic.

This year’s occasion is presented under the theme, ‘Celebrating and Reconnecting Rehabilitation Services,’ according to Nelson. The week-long activities to observe rehab week started on Sunday June 19 and will conclude today.

However, Nelson who is a prominent figure at the institution said she is encouraging all athletes including the special ones to make

Beverly Nelson, Sports physiotherapist and Manager of the Ministry of Public Health Sports Clinic

use of the facility which opens every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 15:00 Hrs and is supervised by a specialist doctor on both days.

The clinic, which reopened less than a year ago also provides several services under its umbrella; Physiotherapy services, oc-

cupational therapy services, speech and language therapy, audiology service, Open door centre, Cheshire Home and the sports clinic.

Nelson also informed that since the reopening of the clinic, the response has been good.

In addition, as part of its rehab week commemoration, the entity has included Guyana Blind Cricket team into its weekly programme.

The team went through several exercises under the watchful eyes of the staff of the clinic.

Ganesh Singh, a senior member of the blind cricket team which is preparing for a Regional West Indies Cricket Council tournament, set to begin in Trinidad and Tobago on July 9, said it is a privilege to utilize the facility because the players of the team neither the association cannot afford their own gym and training facility.

The facility is located at Castellani House Homestretch Avenue and all are invited to utilize the area at no cost.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

friDAY, june 24, 2016

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2016...

“I think every professional wants to play CPL,” says Tanvir

By Akeem Greene

P

akistani all-rounder Sohail Tanvir who had stints with the St. Lucia Zouks and the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the past believes the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a tournament any professional cricketer would want to play.

“I always say crowd in Caribbean and crowd in rest of the world is totally opposite side, they come here and take it as a party, they enjoy the cricket even after they enjoy themselves, the music, drinks, it is a lovely atmosphere, I think every professional would want to play CPL”, the player said in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport on Thursday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The festival atmosphere is not the only reason Tanvir is of the view that cricketers would want to play in the “Biggest Party in Sport”, since the globetrotting T20 cricketer alluded to the fact that the management of the tournament

is commendable.

I think CPL is growing very nicely, of course when you start you learn as a management, I didn’t play the first one, I played in 2014 and 2015; the best thing is, the players are secure where money is concerned, salary caps are concerned, because as a professional when you go play some leagues you want to be secured you will get paid on time,” the 31 year-old said.

He added, “If you talk about cricket quality, the quality is good; of course you cannot compare it with the IPL, because the IPL [Indian Premier League] is a bigger market but as far as other things are concerned, it is beautiful.”

With the experience of 214 Twenty20 matches under his belt, Tanvir was the Warriors best buy at the players’ draft in February, racking in US$160,000 believes it give him confidence rather than pressure to perform.

Honestly it depends how you take it, personally I feel it will give me confidence, I

Tanvir’s experience playing in various T20 leagues around the world makes him a smart buy by the Guyana Amazon Warriors

started with the low price and last year I performed well and got a higher price, knowing it’s because my performance, it will definitely give me confidence, I won’t feel any pressure; yes expectation is high when you buy a player at a high salary cap, so I will try my best to fulfil those expectations, the former purple cap winner at the first edition of the IPL explained.

The all-rounder has

played 19 matches in the Caribbean League, picking up 14 wickets at an economy rate of six runs per over.

However, his most memorable performance would be his 19-ball 50 playing for the St. Lucia Zouks against Barbados Tridents in 2014 which allows him to have a strike rate of 154.6.

Considering all of this exploits in the past, the player was quizzed if he can replicate those performances in the Warriors’ title quest.

“You cannot guarantee results , what you guarantee is your effort, your commitment towards the team, I believe as a professional it is your duty to give 100% for your team and sometimes you will get good results and sometimes you don’t but as an individual you must be satisfied that you put it all out”, Tanvir responded.

He further stated, I will definitely try to lead the attack and be the best bowler of the tournament!”.

Home advantage “I played here be-

fore against the Amazon Warriors and far as the pitch is concerned, it is a bit on the slower side... I think it suits me a lot because I’m a bowler who has different variations; with the newer ball I try to swing it, with the older ball I try to use my cutters which I think are ideal for these conditions and that’s why I think I have gotten success in the last two seasons of CPL” the marquee explained in regards to the conditions at Providence.

The Warriors play four home matches and the cricketer believes the management got the correct combination for the matches.

He said, “Overall as a bowling unit, we got three to four spinners, I think the coaching staff and management knew about our fixtures and that we would play four home games and they selected the team accordingly, every area is covered so it’s about applying yourself now.”

In his overall assessment of the camp thus far

he said, “the atmosphere is very good, the guys are working hard with the coaching staff and putting lots of effort in though the weather is a bit dicey; at the moment we are gelling together because we have players like me, [Adam] Zampa, [Martin] Guptill; players from different cultures, so it is good we have time to know each other and gel together.”

CPL in the United States

This year six matches will played in the Florida and already the consensus is that is a great move for the expansion of the sport.

Tanvir firmly concurred with the idea of having matches played in the United States, stating, “I think it is a beautiful idea; definitely a good step in terms of promoting cricket in the USA, as a cricketer I would want the game to spread worldwide like football, so it’s a good step taken by CPL and I would hope it would help promote cricket in USA.” (akeemg@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Rupununi is a gold mine of Guyana beaten on opening day, talent – Howard Mc Intosh Barbados had mixed fortunes A T

he FIFA’s Regional Development Officer, Howard Mc Intosh, concluded a successful threeday visit to Guyana after being involved in multiple meetings with key stakeholders across Guyana, including Lethem and Georgetown.

The visit, which began on Sunday, 19th June, 2016, saw Mc Intosh witnessing the finals of the Stag Elite League Finale at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora and visiting Lethem, Region 9, where he met several stakeholders and opened the GFFNAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Tournament. He was accompanied by the President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde. In brief remarks at the opening of the Rupununi Football Association’s (RFA) leg of the GFFNAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Tournament on the Monday, 20th June, 2016, Mc Intosh said “the Rupununi is a gold mine of talent that must be harnessed with urgency.”

He expressed his appreciation to the RFA for the grand welcome extended, which included being serenaded by groups of participants displaying multiple welcome signs then garlanded by traditional ornament. President of the Guyana Football Association (GFF), Wayne Forde, noted the importance of the hinterland to the national development of football and committed to the development of football in the regions.

From left: Howard Mc Intosh, Wayne Forde, Christopher Jones and Olato Sam

“Without the strategic involvement of the hinterland communities, Guyana’s national football programme will continue to labour wastefully and therefore without the support of the GFF and, more importantly the Government of Guyana, the hinterland football programme will be unable to achieve its human development goals and deliver on its patriotic contribution to national life and the advancement and aspirations of its players.” He concluded his address byappealing to all stakeholders to partner with the RFA in the interest of the development of the sport of football; “we all have a moral obligation to our young people and we must honour that obligation. They are not only the seeds of our future but rather the harvest of our present and we must cultivate them wisely.” Among the key stakeholders met during the one-day visit to Lethem on Monday, 20th June, 2016 were personnel from the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Republic Bank respectively; teachers and stu-

dents from the St. Ignatius Secondary School and the Executive of the Rupununi Football Association (RFA).

During these meetings, development initiatives and integration strategies for hinterland teams into the national programme were discussed as well as general football development in the region.

On Tuesday, 21st June, Mc Intosh and Forde met with representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Department of Sports respectively to discuss the implementation of a national schools’ football programme and access to land for building football pitches across Guyana. Present at that meeting were the Ministry of Education’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Olato Sam and the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.

Additionally, the team held a meeting with the CEO and representative of NAMILCO to discuss the development structure of the National U-17 tournament.

Mc Intosh departed Guyana on Wednesday, June 22, 2016.

fine all round performance from female world champion Hayley Matthews helped to dismantle a feeble Guyana team as defending champions Barbados secured an easy opening victory in the WICB Regional Girls’ U-19 Invitational T20 Championships in Trinidad.

Matthews claimed 3-15 from her quota of four over and then returned to make a scintillating half century (55) to inspire her team to a comfortable win.

After winning the toss, the Guyanese were invited to take first strike and were restricted to 69-9 when their 20 overs expired, Matthews was supported by Shai Carrington and Aaliyah Alleyne who took 3-10 and 2-15 respectively.

Guyanese openers

Deborah Vanderstoop 19 and Mandy Mangru 16 were the only players to reach double figures, before Alleyne removed both batters.

In reply the players from the Land of the Flying Fish were in a bit of worry, losing two early wickets but Matthews stared them home.

Shakiba Gajnabi and Plaffiana Millington were the lone wicket takers for Guyana.

In Guyana’s second game of the day, they lost host Trinidad and Tobago by four wickets. Guyana was restricted to 49-7 in 20 overs, before T&T made 50-6.

Defending champions, Barbados was defeated by eight wickets by the Windward Islands. Barbados made 49-6 in 15 overs while Windwards responded with

50-2 in 11.1 overs.

T&T won for a second time when they defeated Windwards by 10 wickets.

Windwards made 39 all out in 17.3 overs while T&T made 40 in 5.2 overs.

The tournament continues today with round 3 matches in the morning and semi-finals in the afternoon.

Round Three; Trinidad & Tobago vs Barbados – National Cricket Centre (09:30 Hrs) W i n d w a r d Islands vs Guyana – Gilbert Park (09:30 Hrs) Semi-finals; First vs Fourth – Gilbert Park (14:30 Hrs) Second vs Third – National Cricket Centre (14:30 Hrs) The final will be played tomorrow.

Trophy Stall supporting volleyball development in Demerara

T

he Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA) continues to make good on its promise of development with an upcoming B Division Tournament which will see new teams, new names and new talent.

The teams expected to take part include; Timehri Airport Males, Timehri Highflyers Males, Plaisance Males, St Cuthbert’s Males, Vanguard Females and St Cuthbert’s Mission Females.

Action begins with the first leg on June 24 at the

Airport Playfield, Timehri at 17:00 hrs and the second leg on July 9 at St Cuthbert’s Mission to decide the winner.

DVA President Mr. Trevor Williams expressed gratitude on behalf of the DVA to Mr. Ramesh Sunich for coming on board and supporting the development of volleyball in Demerara. The emerging B Division competition provides much needed exposure and competition for new teams in Demerara which in turn gives us all the

opportunity to take volleyball right across the expanse of Demerara. Mr.Sunich of Trophy Stall also expressed his delight at being onboard with the DVA as he sees his sponsorship as a way of giving back to the sporting fraternities and looks forward to a fruitful relationship with the DVA. The DVA invites the general public to come out and support their local emerging stars and enjoy exciting games as this tournament kicks off.

guyana-times.com

fridAY, june 24, 2016

CPL signs Stadium Agreement with Ministry of Education T

eam Operations Manager of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Mr. Omar Khan recently met with the Minister within the Ministry of Education, Hon., Nicolette Henry, Permanent Secretary, Alfred King and Legal Officer, Kelly-Ann Hercules-Payne to sign the Stadium Agreement for the 2016 edition of the Caribbean Premier League.

This is the fourth year the Guyana National Stadium will be hosting the CPL. The stadium will feature four big matches on July, 7th (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Jamaica Tallawahs), July 9th (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, July 10th Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders and July 12th (Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St. Lucia Zouks).

These four matches will no doubt attract thousands of Guyanese to the National Stadium.

Guyana is regarded as one of the countries in the Caribbean with the largest cricket fan base.

Following the recently held WICB Tri-Nations Series, the management of the Stadium is working along with the CPL organizers to improve the state of the pitch. Already a number of international

cricketers are in Guyana preparing for the upcoming competition. The inclement weather has not deterred training as the Stadium has the best drainage system in the Caribbean.

While at the Ministry, Mr. Khan presented Minister Henry and PS King with Amazon Warriors T-Shirts.

The CPL 2016 Line-up Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis will line up for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots alongside West Indies duo Samuel Badree and batsman Lendl Simmons, Australian international Brad Hodge, retained players Evin Lewis and Tabraiz Shamsi as well as Canada’s Nikhil Dutta (ICC Americas) for the coming season.

Australia’s two-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner Shane Watson will join his former international team-mate Michael Hussey as well as West Indies World T20 captain Darren Sammy at the Zouks. They will team up alongside the likes of Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher as well as South African paceman Morne Morkel and batsman David Miller. highly-decoratThe ed former ICC Cricketer of the Year Kumar Sangakkara, will return to the Jamaica Tallawahs af-

ter helping them seal the inaugural trophy in 2013 and he will join the electrifying Chris Gayle, Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and local favorites Andre Russell and Chadwick Walton.

Talented duo Christopher Barnwell and Versammy Permaul will be aiming to provide the local backbone for New Zealand star top order batsman Martin Guptill for the Guyana Amazon Warriors as they bid to go one step further and seal the coveted CPL title which has eluded them on two occasions in 2013 and 2014. They will be joined by the hugely talented Dwayne Smith and Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir who has moved from the Patriots.

The recently re-named Trinbago Knight Riders will welcome back the number one ICC WT20 international bowler Sunil Narine and he will be joined by left arm spinner Sulieman Benn and Pakistan wicket-keeper Umar Akmal. Proteas batsman Hashim Amla and Dwayne Bravo, Kevon Cooper as well as former Black Caps captain and ‘marquee’ player Brendon McCullum who will be making his first appearance this summer at the biggest party in sport.

23

EBFA/Stag Senior League

Outstanding teams & individuals rewarded

Grove Hi Tech President Kevin Anthony receives the winner’s cheque from Stag Marketing Assistant Richard Singh in the presence of other Club officials

A

nsa McAl’s Trading Stag Beer Marketing Assistant Mr. Richard Singh yesterday handed over $600,000 worth of prize monies and trophies to the top four teams and outstanding individuals of the recently concluded East Bank Football Association (EBFA) sponsored Stag Senior League.

At the presentation, Singh congratulated the teams for their individual and collective performances that made the league a success whilst noting that Stag was pleased to once again be associated with building the sport on the East Bank.

“We are proud to have continued our commitment of community building in the form of this league which has provided exposure for dozens of players who have worked hard at their trade. Fans have enjoyed the matches and we

want to also compliment them for their continued support.”

Singh stated that they will continue this commitment of building communities through sports pointing out that they have been partnering with other football stakeholders including the Guyana Football Federation through the Stag Elite League as well as the West Demerara Football Association for their senior league among others.

“This is real commitment to holistic development and we at Ansa McAl will continue in this vein in the coming years.”

EBFA President Franklin Wilson expressed gratitude to God for allowing all stakeholders to work towards the success of another league. He said that Ansa McAl’s partnership over the years has fueled and sustained the sport to

the extent that players can look forward to an annual league.

Wilson also complimented Grove Hi Tech for retaining the title while he congratulated Herstelling Raiders for their second place finish in only about three years of existence.

Grove collected received $300,000 for their efforts, Herstelling Raiders $150,000, Kuru Kururu Warriors $100,000 for placing third and Agricola Red Triangle $50,000 for their fourth place finish.

Kuru Kururu Warriors was voted the Most Disciplined team and received the Fair Play trophy while Grove Hi Tech won all the individual prizes. Denzil Crawford was the Highest Goal Scorer netting 7 goals; Trevor Jones was named the Most Valuable Player and Michael Matthews, the Best Goalkeeper.

fridAY, june 24, 2016

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

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2016...

Pg 23

Pg 22

“I think every professional wants to play CPL,” says Tanvir Guyana Amazon Warriors fast bowler Pakistani Sohail Tanvir

CPL signs Stadium Agreement with Ministry of Education Guyana Amazon Warriors Team Operations Manager Omar Khan and Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry after signing the Stadium Agreement at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport

Rupununi is a gold mine of talent – Howard Mc Intosh

Pg 22 Launch of Rupununi Football Association (RFA) leg of the GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Tournament in Lethem

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