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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Vehicle users now saddled with added expenses Issue No. 3086

P16

Friday, January 6, 2017

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

MPI to open tenders for pedestrian, vehicular overpasses

Page 7

...as Govt approves amendments amidst strong opposition

Lawrence confident she can function in new Ministry Page 3

...“appointment may not be good for nation’s health – Ramsammy

4th victim succumbs after Linden-Soesdyke smash-up

P9 Region 5 flooding

Farmers, residents’ livelihoods under threat

– call for Govt’s assistance in P10 purchasing fuel

Page 11

Region 2 flooding

Residents calling for high-capacity pumps 28 murders recorded in Berbice for 2016 P2

Linden Hospital P16 CEO reinstated – following petition by staff, GPSU rep

― many areas still inundated Parliament View Mall

Granger defends appointment of sitting Judge as Senior Counsel Page 16

Page 2

Vendors have until weekend to vacate

...M&CC breaching contract, will be forced to take action – Hareshnarine Sugrim

P7

CJIA saw 14% increase in arrivals in 2016 P13

2 news

friDAY, january 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parliament View Mall

Vendors have until weekend to vacate ...M&CC breaching contract, will be forced to take action – Hareshnarine Sugrim

While it is business as usual for many, some stalls located at Parliament View Mall are being dismantled

T

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is breaching its verbal contract with Hareshnarine “Chiney” Sugrim, the owner of the plot of land opposite Parliament Building, who granted permission to the Council to house vendors temporarily, since last year May, and he intends to take action against the Council.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Thursday, Sugrim explained that the first agreement with the M&CC was that the vendors – who were removed from the Stabroek Market Square – be allowed to ply their trade on the plot of land until August of 2016, giving the M&CC enough time to find a permanent location for the vendors.

However, by August, a solution had not yet been arrived at, and as such, Sugrim stated that he had a verbal agreement with the Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia ChaseGreen, that he would allow the vendors to stay no later than December 31, 2016.

“We give them further stay without documentation, a verbal agreement, until December 31. Time gone, they supposed to move!”

Sugrim asserted.

According to the businessman, the M&CC has been utilising his plot of land, now known as the Parliament View Mall, and have not been asked “to pay a dime.”

He stated that now that he has plans for the property, he has to put them off to facilitate the vendors.

His plans, he said, includes the construction of a seven storied parking lot with a food court on the ground floor. “We want to build a seven storied car park right there. They [M&CC] humbugging the development!”

Sugrim further disclosed that he spoke to Chase-Green some days ago, and she informed him that arrangements are being made to remove the vendors.

However, the irate man told this publication that if the vendors are not removed by the end of this week, he intends to begin construction, even with the merchants there.

“We appealing to them to move. We will start making a fence and block up the vendors in there if they don’t move. We giving them until the end of this week,” Sugrim

asserted.

As Guyana’s Jubilee anniversary approached last

year, the M&CC initiated a “clean-up” campaign around the Stabroek Market Square.

This included removing vendors from their location as well as many minibuses from their parking lots.

After being displaced and unable to ply their trade, many complaints arose from the vendors, which resulted in an agreement being made with Sugrim to loan the Council his plot of land to allow the vendors to ply their trade until the M&CC could finalise a permanent location for their relocation.

As the deadline for their

stay on the plot of land closed in, an extension was granted in August of last year for the vendors to continue to vend on the land until December 31, 2016.

However, the time has expired and neither the Mayor nor the Town Clerk has made them self available to this media entity for questioning regarding the identification and selection of the new location for the vendors.

Guyana Times however managed to secure an interview with the Chairman of the Market Committee and

future Deputy Mayor, Lionel Jaikarran earlier this week.

Alternative locations

According to Jaikarran, three areas were suggested to the M&CC in late October to early November last year, and since then no discussion has been made as to which location was selected for the permanent placement of the vendors.

The locations suggested were the old Ferry Stelling, near the Stabroek Market area, Stelling View Mall, known as “Donkey City” and the parking lot of the Ministry of Social Protection.

28 murders recorded in Berbice for 2016

B

erbice recorded 28 murders for 2016, four more than 2015 However, Divisional Commander Ian Amsterdam on Thursday revealed that more than half of those murders – 15 – have been solved.

This represents a 53 per cent solving rate, Amsterdam said at an end- of-the-year press conference held in his office at Central Police Station. In 2015, there were 24 murders, 11 of which have been solved.

According to Amsterdam, of the 28 murders this year, 22 occurred on the Corentyne. He noted that two were committed in the New Amsterdam, Canje area and four on the West Coast of Berbice.

Within the first 10 days of 2016, the Police were investi-

Fayez Narinedat

gating 14 murders. The next 14 murders were recorded over the course of the year.

The first occurred just 10 minutes into the year when 24-year-old Crabwood Creek resident Asif Hafeez, was fatally stabbed at his home by a man now before the courts for his murder.

On January 3, 2016, Anita Baichan, 49, of Hope, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) perished in a fire at her home after bandits robbed her and set the house ablaze. Three men are before the court for that incident.

Then on January 6, 2016, Corentyne businessman Patrick Mohabir, 42, was shot and killed when two intruders entered his Belvedere, Corentyne home and discharged one round at him.

Three days later, a Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice couple, Arthur Dudnauth Rajkumar, 81, and his reputed wife, Dianne Devi Chamanlall, 41, were killed when three bandits went into their home and chopped them to death. Those matters are now engaging the attention

Patrick Mohabir

of the court.

Then on January 16, 2016, Surendra Nauth, 29, of Lot 43 ‘H and J’ Albion Front, Corentyne, was killed at a wedding house after an argument with another man.

Police are still looking for a man who they believe can assist in solvingturn thatto crime. page 12

3 Lawrence confident she can function in new Ministry news

friDAY, january 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, January 6 – 11:00h-12:30h and Saturday, January 7 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

“appointment may not be good for nation’s health ― Ramsammy

Friday, January 6 – 10:05h-11:35h and Saturday, January 7 – 11:20h-12:50h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while partly cloudy skies with light rain showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 10:45h and 23:21h reaching maximum height of 2.39 metres and 2.35 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:11h and 16:49h reaching a minimum height of 0.84 metre at each scheduled low tide.

WEDNESday, JANUARY 4, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

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Thursday, January 5, 2017

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V

olda Lawrence, who was recently reassigned from her post as Social Protection Minister, believes she is competent enough to serve in her new capacity as Public Health Minister regardless of her limited experience and knowledge in that sector.

Lawrence will be taking up her new post today. During a brief interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, the Minister said she is very elated with her new appointment and believes she will manage the Ministry effectively.

“I am happy that the fact you know is that I am a people’s person and I will have the opportunity once again to serve people and to serve them at a critical juncture of their lives, and that is during their illness,” she stated.

Asked about her qualifications for the post, the Minister posited that she does not need to be a medical practitioner to serve in that capacity.

“I believe that his Excellency in his wisdom knows best,” she said.

Meanwhile, Former Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said that while one is not required to be a medical doctor in order to serve as Public Health Minister, he sees the appointment of Volda Lawrence as one where it seems that her loyalty to the People’s National Congress (PNC) may take precedence over the development of all of “our people”.

On Tuesday, Government made public its decision to reshuffle the Cabinet, removing Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton as head of that Ministry and replacing him with Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence.

While the move was said to be a remedy to the management issues of the

Former Public Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Ministry, there have been concerns in some quarters that Lawrence should not have been placed in that position because she is unqualified.

Needs of sector

“The fact that Ms Lawrence is not a doctor does not disqualify her to be Minister of Health. What the matter is... if she will manage based on the need of the sector or she relies on political sycophants,” Ramsammy said.

He said that as a Guyanese who continues to hope for the best for the country, he extends best wishes to all three Ministers in their new portfolio.

“The movement of Dr Norton has been necessitated by what the President describes as an effort to remedy management deficiencies at the Ministry of Public Health. In less than two years, [the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change] APNU/AFC has squandered virtually all the gains made in health under the [People’s Progressive Party] PPP”.

DrRamsammy said the downward trajectory in health as seen in the lack of medicines and essential medical supplies, vaccine coverage, reduced surgical loads, increased maternal mortality rate and increased outbreaks of certain infectious conditions have

been as a direct result of political machinations, adding that Dr Norton is the fall guy.

“The corrupt deals with the “house for a medical warehouse” and the procurement of medicines and supplies from friends and donors of APNU/AFC was not just mismanagement

by Dr Norton. These were decisions driven by the Cabinet”.

Similarly, the former Health Minister said management decisions for the Georgetown Public Hospital, New Amsterdam and other hospitals were driven by political motivations. He emphasised that Dr Norton has taken the fall.

“But now he has denied he mismanaged the sector and has stated he knows little about his new Ministry.

By his own admission the President is abdicating his duty. He has taken a person he himself described as mismanaging an important sector and asked him to manage social cohesion.

It exposes how little regard the President and APNU/ AFC have for unity and harmony in our country”.

Reshuffling no help

Ramsammy said no amount of reshuffling will help as long as these important functions are driven by political considerations.

“I pray that all three succeed for Guyana’s sake.

But I have little confidence that this Granger move will improve status quo. Indeed, there is a rich possibility of worsening the situation,” DrRamsammy said.

After declaring late last year that there would be no changes to his Cabinet, President David Granger in a surprise move, on Tuesday, made some significant changes to his pool of decision makers.

Dr Norton continuously found himself in “hot water” over the past months,

New Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

especially as it relates to the controversial rental of the pharmaceutical bond at Sussex Street, Georgetown, which is billing Government in excess of $14 million per month. The Head of State explained that it was his responsibility to continuously assess the ability of his Cabinet; hence, he found it necessary to look at the way the Public Health, Social Protection and Social Cohesion Ministries were performing and made some adjustments accordingly.

Like her predecessor at the Public Health Ministry, Minister Lawrence had found herself in several controversial situations last year. She came under fire after throwing her support behind an alleged child molester who had contested and was elected in his constituency during the March 2016 Local Government Elections.

This issue sparked much public outrage, particularly among rights groups and activists who staged several protests outside the Ministry calling for Lawrence to be removed from office.

However, she found herself back into the limelight more recently when she counter-protested a vigil held by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) against Government’s move to revoke the lease on the CheddiJagan Research Centre Inc on Friday last.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, january 6, 2017

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

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

Editorial

Actions unjustifiable T

he Red House on High Street is famous for its bright red wallaba shingles. The 19th century, 3-storey colonial style building houses the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre. The edifice has recently gained heightened attention after a rather public battle between the Government, the Opposition and to some extent the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporated (CJRCI) – the organisation with oversight of the activities of Red House.

The Research Centre was established in 1999 to promote research into and publish materials on the life, work and ideas of Dr Jagan. The prime land on which Red House sits was leased to the CJRCI for 999 years for $12,000 per year.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Administration was initially adverse to the small fee being charged and had started engaging the directors of the Research Centre on the possibility of transforming the Red House into a hub for all former Presidents. The Management Committee, objected to this move, and told the Government to find independent sites for the establishment of similar research centres for the other Guyanese leaders.

The CJRCI Management Committee had even proposed to pay a higher lease but Government never responded to the offer. The documents explained that the AG undertook to convey the proposals to his principals and provide feedback but this never materialised. Then followed the actions which can only be deemed as unjustifiable. President Granger, on December 30th announced that the Red House lease will be revoked, based on advice from his Attorney General that the agreement is invalid. The occupants were then given 48 hours to relocate, to make way for the Guyana National Trust, its staff, stores and equipment in that building without, it seems, any thought or consideration for the preservation of the documents and materials housed at Red House. Clearly, the Government was not concerned about the safety of such materials This order, however, was successfully challenged by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall on behalf of the CJRCI. While the matter was still pending before Chief Justice, Yonette Cummings- Edwards on December 30, 2016, Ministry of the Presidency workers descended on Red House where they removed the padlock and tore down the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute sign; even though a court order has blocked officers of the State from entering or removing any artefacts from the premises/building. A major commotion ensued outside of the landmark site as the workmen stripped the building of its identity and barred the gates to the premises.

Even as the matter is still before the courts.

Subsequently, there was vigil on December 30, 2016 by PPP supporters that sparked off a counter-vigil by PNC members including Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence. The move by the APNU/AFC Government is characteristic of authoritarian Administration, lacking respect for the rule of law. By their actions, they also demonstrated their disregard for historical issues.

These developments have sparked immense public outrage, with countless Guyanese condemning the Government for its unjustifiable attack on the legacy of Dr Jagan – who significantly contributed to the struggle for a free, independent and democratic Guyana. Many, from all quarters, believe that this entire fiasco will have serious repercussions for Guyana and that it could have been avoided.

This very Administration has, time and again touted the notion of Social Cohesion, and the importance of bridging the divide that exists in Guyana. The most recent actions over Red House point in a very different direction and does nothing to reinforce the Government’s position on the matter. The Government had stated that by 2021 Guyana should see a clear improvement in relations and interactions among the various ethnic and race groups in the country. They also anticipated there would be a mutually positive appreciation of the cultural diversity of different groups at the national and community levels. This will never materialize so long as we have a Government bent on displaying total disregard for issues of national interest and determined to impose their political will.

An idyllic view of the brightly-coloured buildings of the Italian seaside town of Vernazza (BBC News)

Guyanese Solidarity Movement-New York condemns Red House eviction

Dear Editor, The Guyanese Solidarity Movement-New York (GSMNY) is aghast at the efforts to rescind the lease of Guyana’s founding father Dr.Cheddi Jagan’s Research Centre at Red House and vehemently condemns it as an assault on our natural freedoms. Red House has been a sterling symbol which celebrates our rich Guyanese history.President David Granger’s order to vacate the premises in one day is just untenable and most reprehensible.Adding insult to injury was that he decided to do the eviction during the Christmas holidays when there should be tidings of comfort and joy.The coalition’s decision to evict the tenants at Red House is a travesty.

The GSM-NYcondemns

this unjust act and stands in solidarity with the PPP in fighting this creeping throwback to PNC dictatorship. The GSM calls on all right-thinking and decent Guyanese and well-wishers to speak up against this dastardly PNC action.

Coming so close after the closure of Wales Sugar Estate and the firing of hundreds of sugar workers, it is a striking double whammy on the poor and working class who view Dr Cheddi Jagan as their hero.

Who can imagine the sufferings and misery of so many families now without daily bread to feed their families?

Eviction of the Red House tenants to make them homeless is just as bad as them making Wales workers penniless and hungry.

The GSM-NY is heart-

ened that the Red House lease issue is now before the courts and expects the coalition will respect the rule of law. Those thugs who broke the Red House “Cheddi Jagan Research Centre” sign should be arrested for destroying private property.

The law must take its course to ensure these occurrences do not become a norm like past PNC days of kick down the door banditry.

The peaceful vigil last Friday outside Red House held by the PPP was violated by Minister Volda Lawrence and her group of thugs who sought to provoke conflict, but thankfully did not succeed. It is shameful that the APNU/AFC coalition Government would blatantly seek to violate the laws of Guyana and indulge in such violent activities.

As was explained by Bharrat Jagdeo, Attorney General Basil Williams is wrong to say he was supposed to sign off on the lease between the Government and the Red House Research Centre. Jagdeo said he has not signed off on any lease for the 12-year duration when he was President.

This, Jagdeo asserted, was the responsibility of the deeds registry officials as they are so delegated to do.

The GSM-NY is heartened that more and more people are condemning the Red House violation and commends them for their solidarity in this hour of need.

Rueben Khusial, Secretary, Guyanese Solidarity Movement-New York

CoI into City Hall needed

Dear Editor, Unfortunately, it seems that there is never any good news, uplifting information or stimulating reports emanating from the Georgetown municipality, instead there are only advisories about increased taxation, threats of punitive actions against citizens and measures to stifle entrepreneurship.

Most recent of all we learnt of the intention of the municipality to seek an increase in the already costly fines of $10,000 which have to be paid for littering. This is in addition to the whopping 10 per cent increase in property taxes for residences and businesses in Georgetown. Then came the

bad news of having to pay for parking and for containers offloading in the city. Vendors on the Merriman Mall were forced to pay five times more to rent what has been described as ‘dog kennels’.

While all of these increases have been effected, the services being provided have never been worse. The city floods after just a few hours of rain, persons are robbed on a daily basis in and around the markets, animals are slaughtered in a most inhumane and insanitary way at the municipal abattoir, staff at the municipal stores in Water Street are forced to sit all day in a poorly lit and unventilated room while enduring a constant

drip from the toilet facilities located on the floor above.

Most of the buildings from City Hall to the Solid Waste Building to the South Road Health Centre are all in a derelict state, all of their garbage trucks and other machinery such as street sweepers, loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, tractors, etc, are all in utter disrepair.

In the midst of all of the bedlam and turmoil the Council is seeking to deprive vendors who sell chicken outside of the markets of their livelihoods, have cruelly forced other vendors into a squalid facility that they have the audacity to call ‘Parliament View Mall’, have put some hair styl-

ists under some rickety tents on the Merriman Mall, all of whom are catching hell during this rainy season and paying their workers late every month.

If the President is serious about the provision of ‘a good life for all Guyanese’ which of course include the citizens of Georgetown, then he must order the commissioning of an inquiry into the operations of the Council, ordering of a forensic audit regarding its financial malfeasance and the removal of the incompetent and corrupt senior administrators at City Hall.

Sincerely, Nadine Jerrick

guyanatimesgy.com

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

GuySuCo has Agriculture Road neglected lost its focus

Dear Editor, There is an absolute silence from the Government and GuySuCo on the sugar company’s dismal performance in 2016 when 183,600 tonnes of sugar were produced against an estimated 231,000; a drop of 47,400 tonnes or 21 per cent. This drop would have brought in almost US$24 million or G$4.8 billion in revenue. This amount could have certainly afforded the sugar workers more than a token increase in pay and reduced the burden on taxpayers who have been, and are still, providing hefty annual subsidies to the company. The production in 2016 is the lowest since 1990 when 129,000 tonnes was produced.

The silence is a marked contrast to the mounting self-praise by the company’s CEO, the Board and the Government at the end of 2015 when 231,000 tonnes were produced. The praise was showered on the astute leadership of senior management, non-political interference and dedication by lower-level management and workers. In the same way that reasons were advanced for the good 2015

performance, they need now to say what the contributing reasons for 2016’s dismal performance were. The nation needs to hear, and in particular the taxpayers.

The sugar company was blessed last year with weather that was considered very conducive to harvesting, except for inclement weather towards the tail-end of the second crop; as such, one would not expect weather to be a contributing factor. The type of weather experienced last year through the effect of El Niño was absent from several previous years.

There is every likelihood that labour will be hammered as a factor, but before doing so the company needs to state how many man days were lost from strikes associated to poor working conditions in harvesting fields. When the average cane yield last year was just above 55 tonnes cane per hectare, what could the average cane harvester expect in the cane fields? It will not be fields highly populated with canes, but fields sparsely populated with canes and highly populated with grass and shrubs. This kind of insanitary condition

would have certainly led to disputes, poor attendance, low productivity and ultimately strikes.

Editor, it appears that the company has lost focus on its primary function which is to produce sugar at an economical cost, and which could only come about through growing and harvesting good-quality canes with acceptable yields. The low level of production as experienced in 2016 could only serve management’s thrust to justify closures and downsizing, but whilst it’s being bandied that the company’s operations should be downsized, the executive arm of the company is being expanded. Only recently, there have been newly created jobs at the executive levels and which have been filled at exorbitant cost.

Is it that this company is all about enjoying the perks at the high level and providing jobs for the boys or should it be showing the nation on whose taxes it survives that there is optimism for growth and survival?

Unfortunately, 2016 illustrates the former.

Yours faithfully, Selwyn Narinedatt

Region 8 REO should be commended Dear Editor, I humbly crave your permission to have some space in your newspaper as I firmly believe that the efforts of Region Eight’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rafel Downes needs the highest commendation.

I sought to highlight the numerous good deeds that he continues to do in what many have regarded as the most challenging administrative region in Guyana.

While Downes evidently has some shortcomings, he continues to do a splendid job at executing his mandate as the accounting officer for the people of Region Right thus generating significant admiration and best wishes.

The REO continues to keep abreast with the many challenges faced by residents within his Region thus he has implemented a number of aggressive avenues to confront these challenges. His continued efforts in implementing a number of creative and innovative changes to the Region will certainly bring about ease, with his efforts in ensuring that residents in both subsection one and two are less adversely affected by the increased challenges and difficulties over the past few years.

Despite Region Eight being a gold and diamond mining community, it is evident that with the drop of gold and diamond prices and the fact that there continues to be a rise in unemployment, there is an urgent need for more projects and programmes geared particularly bringing about economic relief.

As such, the economic situations of many are vulnerable thus resulting in increased social ills and challenges. Therefore, the efforts by REO Downes should be highly commended as he has done, and continues to do, a remarkable job.

While the Region’s main source of economic development comes from gold and diamond mining, it’s important to note that they are highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in prices.

Therefore, increases in prices for these will tend to lead to increased earnings aided with investments made by other individuals in a number of areas.

As such, with a number of new innovative measures being implemented by the REO, it’s evident that the residents of Region Eight will certainly see an economic boost as his contin-

ued efforts should be and are being highly praised for his tireless contributions.

Therefore, the Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan along with his Permanent Secretary, Emil McGarrel should also take hats off for ensuring the appointment of Rafel Downes. It’s my sincere wish that the Ministry will recognise his efforts while using them as a model so that other region can emulate his brave and hardworking efforts.

In closing, I would like to publicly thank Rafel Downes for his sterling contributions thus far to uplift Region Eight. His approach: putting political affiliation aside thus focusing on development instead of politics is highly commendable.

It’s no secret that there is still much more work that needs to be done while the REO certainly is doing his utmost best, which is an indication that he is sincere and determined in his efforts to be a servant to the people of Region Eight.

I join with others in thanking him for his service and to wish him continued success in the face of evident adversity.

Sincerely, Marilyn De Costa

Dear Editor, As a concerned resident and taxpayer living in Agriculture Road, I am concerned about some issues of this road that leads to the Guyana School of Agriculture and NAREI. I observed on the exact day of the Local Government Elections a Hymac and dragline digging the trench on the left-hand corner of the road – the trench that’s near the Agriculture School and NAREI. I also saw a small Hymac digging some trenches in Block Eight where my church is located. To be honest, in over 12 years, these people from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) never dug a trench here nor clean the corners of the road that have tall black sage bushes, but came suddenly the day of the Local Government Elections. What were they trying to prove? I guess they were trying to get votes for their personal laziness and incompetence.

My next observation was just as the Local Government Elections were over I note with a great deal of interest, a new road was immaculately built through Market Street that leads up to the BV/Triumph NDC. Now that these new people are in power, they are only concerned about themselves and do nothing for the residents along this road. The trench on the right-hand corner of this road was never dig in 15 years – the BV/Triumph NDC is responsible for this trench. This trench is very dirty and shallow just one hour’s rain will flood the entire place, but no one is concerned at the BV/Triumph NDC. From the Fiber Tech Industry going back, this trench is like the gateway to hell: it is filled with big bushes and trees, a car can drive over it very easily and it harbours dangerous snakes and

alligators.

Not long ago I killed a dangerous12-foot snake that came out of this trench, up my verandah shed. Now with this constant rain, the water in this trench is stagnant – it goes nowhere; the water in my yard drains has not moved for over five days now. I am calling on the relevant authority at the BV/ Triumph NDC to get this trench dug immediately.

We have another hazard along this road: the development of huge potholes from the beginning of this road; just opposite NAREI is a big pot hole like a little trench; the middle of this road is broken in two because of a huge pot hole; if one drives this road when it rains they are left in these holes in cars not long ago a car bounced off a hole and dropped into the big trench, luckily residents saved the driver. The Chairman and administrators of the NDC and the administrators at NAREI drive this road daily, but it doesn’t bother them. Only when the Agriculture Minister is coming to the Guyana School of Agriculture or the President, I will see those at NAREI or the NDC hustling to throw some sand in these potholes.

Why hustle to build when someone in authority is coming? These educated folk can make representation to the Ministry of Public Works to re-surface the bad spots in this road, but they just put a blind eye to it until it got worst.

Most of our roads are bad-

ly damaged because no one is maintaining them. What I see in this country is we leave things to be destroyed when they could have been rescued and repaired before its complete destruction.

Most accidents in this country are caused by bad roads and not speeding alone. When will someone fix these dangerous pot holes in Agriculture Road?

Maybe until a great accident occurred and residents are killed. If we can’t dig trenches and fix basic roads, then how are we going to govern this whole country? Very soon we will have to offer a new degree at the University of Guyana to drive in Guyana – a PhD (Doctor of Pot Holes) I am calling on the NDC to get these trenches cleared or residents will be flooded out; I am calling on NAREI to make representation to get this road fixed immediately. Most of the flooding we now see is caused by negligent and incompetent NDCs; why are we really paying taxes? Guess we are paying to be flooded out.

I am calling on the Minister of Public Works to get the Agriculture Road repaired and other relevant authorities to address this garbage dump by dealing with the residents living there who make this environment a living hell for those walking and driving on the road.

Yours truly, Rev Gideon Cecil

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Foundation

Is my teen’s behaviour normal?

BY MARK GREGSTON

T

he culture has changed, but teenagers haven’t. They are still focused on trying to fit in with their peers and to make sense out of life. But parents can get confused by their changes in attitude and the independence they seek, assuming their teenager is becoming rebellious.

It’s normal for teenagers to fail to do their chores without 10 reminders, to put off their homework, to be emotional, to lose important things, to like music that is too loud, and to sometimes counter or question authority. That’s all pretty typical, though it can be aggravating to parents.

To compare, let’s look at what’s abnormal... sudden profound changes in personality, angry outbursts of profanity, extreme disrespect for people and things, addictions, sudden failing grades, not sleeping or sleeping too much, extreme weight loss, eating disorders, self-harm, running away, or self-imposed isolation.

Do you see the difference? Normal stuff has to do with being distracted, ditsy, trying to fit in, or flapping their wings of independence. It passes in time, as the teen matures. Abnormal behaviour and true rebellion is represented by a growing darkness, hatred, and anger in their soul, which tends to only get worse over time.

A young man we worked with described his own expe-

guyanatimesgy.com

rience from normal to abnormal behaviour this way. He said, “I felt like the things I was doing were pretty normal – schoolwork was boring.

I often fought with my sister and spent most of my time hanging with my friends.

But when my relationship with my parents soured, I began to think things were n e v e r

g o ing to get any better. I became suicidal. I intentionally got bad grades and got in trouble over little things, like going out with friends when I wasn’t supposed to. Then, one day in the middle of a fight, I started cussing out my parents really bad. I had never done that before, and I knew something wasn’t right, and getting worse.”

Rebellion can be a sign that something is seriously wrong in the relationship or that there has been damage to the teen’s feelings of value and self-worth. Another common cause for rebellion

is when a teen is trying to exert their independence in a home where independence is not allowed. They feel boxed in, so they tend to explode. The best thing to do when you see rebellion in your teen is to first look at what may be impeding your relationship. Could it be that you are still treat-

ing them like a child and need to give them a few more freedoms? Or, has something happened in your child’s life, even unbeknownst to you, that is affecting them?

A lady called me the other day. She said, “I’m struggling with my daughter who has suddenly become rebellious. For instance, she was to meet me after the third quarter of the basketball game, but she didn’t show up until after the fourth quarter and had gone to her locker, which I told her was off limits for the evening.”

The mother was quite dismayed, wondering if she should get her daughter into counselling or send her to a therapeutic programme like Heartlight for her “rebellion.”

My response was, “I really don’t think she is being rebellious. Yes, she is forgetful and acting irresponsible.

She is impulsive and maybe gets a little distracted, but it doesn’t seem as though it was an intentional plan on her part to make you upset or go against your rules.” I went on to give her some ideas for helping remind her teen of the rules and established timetables. ***Kids forget stuff***.

They get distracted.

And by definition, they are still a bit irresponsible. Part of the new “normal” today is the shorter attention spans of young people. Yes, they need to obey the rules and remain inside the boundaries you have set, but I want to encourage you to put their behavior into the context of their lives and not label them as a rebel just because they are acting like a teenager. Parents need to recognize the difference between a distracted or foolish child and one who is making a bold “You can’t tell me what to do!” statement. Though both may seem rebellious, only the latter is trying to be. (cbn.com) TO BE CONTINUED

Is guilt affecting how you manage your child’s Part 2 screen time? ― guilt plays a powerful role in how well parents manage children’s electronics use

By Victoria L Dunckley, MD

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onsider the case of Ali, a depressed 13-yeargirl who was addicted to social media, cutting on herself, being bullied online, and failing in school. The father had recently abandoned the family and moved in with another woman and her children. Ali’s mother repeatedly failed to follow through on removing access to the child’s devices at night and in the bedroom despite numerous talks about the links between light-at-night from screens and depression/ suicidal behaviour, social media and depression/low self-esteem, and social media and bullying. In fact, this mom seemed to have a good grasp on the science and research behind these findings.

At the surface, there was the anticipatory guilt about taking something away that Ali used as an escape and to occupy herself.

But under that was another layer that took some time for the mom to admit: she imagined her daughter becoming enraged and hurling spiteful remarks like “I hate you!” and “You’re ruining my life!” (a skill girls this age are particularly good at).

This imagined scene was in turn linked to a fear of her daughter “not loving me anymore” –which was an irrational prediction stemming not just from the divorce but from the mother’s childhood. For this family, there was a lot of conscious and unconscious guilt and anxiety going on that had to be worked through before the mom was able to set appropriate limits. As an aside, children – especially older children and females but boys can do it too – may pick up on these “weaknesses” and exploit them to manipulate parents. This dynamic may be particularly destructive in cases of technology addiction and in single parent homes.

Signs that guilt may be affecting screen-time management But if the guilt is unconscious, how can we know whether it’s affecting us?

As mentioned, because guilt can be so intolerable, we use defence mechanisms to mollify it. When it comes to electronics, one way parents assuage guilt is to rationalise its use: “Screentime is the only time my kids are quiet”; “Electronics allow me to get things done”; “Screentime is the only motivator that works”; “It’s what all the kids do, and anyway my child uses it a lot less than others”; “I only let her play educational games”.

And so on. If you find yourself rationalising your child’s use despite knowing, hearing, or reading that cutting back or doing an electronic fast may be necessary, be open to the idea that guilt may be driving the train.

Another clue to the presence of guilt is if the subject

of screen-time makes you uncomfortable or anxious. As mentioned earlier, this may manifest in avoiding the subject or in finding ways to discredit the information (“If that were the case why wouldn’t doctors know this?” or “If that were the case we’d all be doomed/ addicted/raging” or “That’s what they said about TV in the past, too –and we turned out just fine!”) A knee-jerk response of discrediting the information without looking into it may be a sign that there’s something you’re getting out of screen usage that’s painful to consider.

For example, spending family time together without screens as a buffer may force parents to face problems in a marriage that they’d just as soon ignore.

Overcoming guilt related to screen-time management First, make a superhuman effort to be excruciatingly honest with yourself.

For example, in one family with a nine-year-old boy addicted to video games, after months of keeping video games out of the house the mother reintroduced them while on vacation. At first glance, it appeared as though she’d been lulled into a sense of complacency and thought it’d be safe to try them again.

But after the mother failed to remove the games again when they were clearly causing a relapse, she was forced to do some soul searching. Eventually she shared this: “It’s not just that he’s addicted to the games.

It’s that I’m addicted to him going upstairs to his room.”

This wasn’t just a need for quiet time she was admitting to. Rather, she was admitting that often, she didn’t want to be around her son, who was still struggling with building a sense of self independent of screens and was prone to tantrums. The solution here was not to re-educate, but to find more support –which she accomplished by asking extended family members to do weekly outings with him.

Another mother put this feeling more bluntly: when I suggested she do an electronic fast to help her son’s meltdowns and academic struggles – an essential part of which is spending one-on-one with the child – she responded, “Why would I do that?!”

Okay, perhaps that last mother wasn’t struggling with guilt per se since she announced her feelings without hesitation.

But I tell you this story to show how common it is. Which brings me to my next point: apart from being honest and acknowledging guilt or other feelings may be undermining your screen-time management, know that almost every family experiences some combination (or all) of the points mentioned above. It’s normal. (Excerpt from pyschologytoday.com)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vehicle users now saddled with added expenses

…as Govt approves amendments amidst strong opposition

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

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otor vehicle users will now be saddled with additional financial burdens, with some processing fees skyrocketing

by over 100 per cent while in some cases, new charges have been introduced.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2016 was up for debate on Thursday at the first sitting of the National Assembly for the year.

The amendment, which is part of a list of measures that will bring the provisions of the National Budget 2017 into full effect, was subsequently approved by the Government parliamentarians amidst strong objections from the Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs).

The Bill provides for the abolishment of the requirement for a Certificate

Motor vehicle users will now be saddled with additional financial burdens

of Compliance from the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the processing of a transfer of registration of motor vehicles.

Granger defends appointment of sitting Judge as Senior Counsel

Justice Roxane George receiving her instrument of appointment from President David Granger on Wednesday

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resident David Granger on Wednesday defended his move to appoint sitting Judge Roxane George to the post of Senior Counsel, noting that her appointment should have happened a long time ago.

Justice Roxane George was among seven other senior lawyers who were elevated to the status of Senior Counsel on Wednesday, receiving their commissions of appointment from President Granger.

The appointments were done amid protest by the political Opposition, particularly against President Granger‘s move to have Justice George, a sitting Judge, be granted the status.

President Granger, however, defended his decision, nothing that George, a very qualified and experienced candidate, should have been elevated a long time now.

“She served for years in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions. If this was a normal jurisdiction during those years she would have had the SC long ago,” the Head of State told reporters.

The Opposition’s shadow Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General, Anil

Nandlall had argued earlier that the appointment of a sitting Judge ran contrary to every canon of practice and precedent which dictate that Senior Counsels must be practising lawyers. He said it was for that reason that the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago, Ivor Archie, was forced to relinquish his appointment as Senior Counsel since he was a Judge and not a practising lawyer when he was appointed.

Justice George had told the media on Wednesday that she had applied for the status since 2003. She said

there was a list in 2014 and she was surprised that her name was still there. Her selection, she said, came as a total surprise, since years have passed.

According to Nandlall, the same was obtained when Kamla Persaud-Bissessar was appointed Senior Counsel while being Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

Nandlall outlined that one of the persons appointed has never done a case of substance at the Bar. He went on too to question the rationale behind the omission of certain individuals, which, he said, was glaring.

“On what basis was the current DPP, Shalimar AliHack, omitted? As irregular as I believe it is for a Judge to be appointed, on what basis one was Judge appointed and the other Judges not, especially the Chancellor and Chief Justice?” asked the former Legal Affairs Minister.

Furthermore, Nandall enquired of the consultations done by the coalition Government and/or President Granger in making the appointments, while adding that the slide into authoritarianism by this Administration was moving faster than anticipated.

This measure was praised by Opposition MPs who noted that the removal of this condition eliminates the red tape in getting transactions completed at the GRA. However, the Bill provides for the increase in fees for the transfer of motor vehicles and the introduction of charges for the issuance of drivers’ permits and for letters of authenticity.

To transfer ownership and/possession of a motor cycle, applicants will now have to pay $5000 as opposed to the previous $500.

To transfer ownership of vehicles outside that category, applicants will now have to pay $25,000 instead of the previous $1000, or two per cent of the selling price of current valuation; whichever is greater.

The Bill also introduced fees for the issuance of driving permits issued to licensed drivers residing abroad and

introducing fees for issuance for letters of authenticity for applicants requiring verification of their drivers’ licence.

These transactions will now cost $2000 each.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan supported these measures, noting that it is a “win-win” situation and that the common man will favour these changes.

“To me, if you go ask the average common man whether he is in favour of this Bill, I am sure if he were be able to represent himself here, rather than have representatives of him here, he will tell us differently,” the Finance Minister expressed in response to the slew of criticisms from the Opposition benches regarding these amendments.

Billion-dollar industry

Opposition parliamentarian Nigel Dharamlall said these developments send a “bad omen” for motor vehicle users of the country and he accused the government of creating a billion-dollar industry for itself at the expense of taxpayers.

Dharamlall outlined that with the number of fees increases and introductions since the Administration’s inception 19 months ago, they have raked in billions of dollars from Guyanese.

He noted that it is unfortunate that Government’s concept of generating revenues is to rely solely on taxing the population.

Nigel Dharamlall

“This speaks to the lack of economic planning within this Government for this country. It speaks of elements of gross incompetence on behalf of the Administration.

I also think that with this additional hardship measure that this Government is alienating itself from the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable and that is an unfortunate circumstance before us,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament Adrian Anamayyah in his contribution to the debate, pointed out that the average disposable income continues to be significantly reduced by the onerous burdens being imposed by the Government.

Aside from those amendments, motor vehicle users will also be burdened with higher maintenance cost with the ban on used tyres, and with the advent of parking meters across the city.

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News

friDAY, january 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Man charged for killing Cornelia Ida pensioner Insulting people’s

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he man accused of raping and killing a pensioner of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara (WCD) was sent back to jail on Wednesday, after he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Jaipaul Jitlall, 47, of Anna Catherina, WCD, was not required to plea to the indictable charge which alleged that on October 2, 2016, he murdered Bibi Keneiz.

The 80-year-old woman’s body was found in a hammock in her zinc shack with multiple stab wounds to her

The shack in which Bibi Keneiz was raped and murdered

chest.

Upon investigation, detectives determined that the woman was raped then killed. This conclusion was made after investigators examined the condition in which the woman’s body was found.

She was also found gagged by a piece of cloth that was stuffed in her mouth.

In a release from the Police on December 31, 2016, the suspect had reportedly confessed to the heinous crime. The matter was adjourned to January 10 and Jitlall will reappear at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

Employee charged for Brazilian miner’s murder

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ickhail Agnes, 24, of North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, one of the men who reportedly confessed to luring and killing a Brazilian miner, was on Wednesday charged with the capital offence of murder when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge alleged that Anges, on December 28, 2016, at Chinese

Creek Backdam, Cuyuni River, murdered 33-yearold Francisco Oliveria Da Conceicao of Joselander, Maranhao, Brazil.

The accused was not required to plead to the charge as it was indictable.

The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court and will be called again on January 13.

Da Conceicao on the day of his demise was lured to his mining camp where he

was attacked, reportedly by three men, and dealt several stabs to his upper body including his head, face and hand.

Reports are that the man was at home asleep with his wife when he was awakened and falsely informed by his killers that his dredge was under water.

Da Conceicao left with the men, who then attacked and chopped him to death.

It is unclear what motivated their actions.

The man’s body was later discovered and he was rushed to the Bartica Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The accused was found hiding – wrapped in a tarpaulin – in a truck that was attempting to leave Puruni.

He was arrested and questioned after which he confessed to the crime.

Chef charged with forgery

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chef who decided to "cook up" some false documents which purported to show that she

falsely owned a property was fortunate to have bail granted to her when she appeared before the Chief

Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Dyena Lutan Armstrong denied the allegation when it was presented to her.

It is alleged that on September 5, 2000 and July 22, 2016, she forged a document purporting to be a power of attorney document , granting herself the

power to sell, transfer, convert or mortgage a property on behalf of Michelle Louhutan, knowing same to be forged.

The mother of five had her request for bail accepted and it was granted in the sum of $75,000. She is expected to make her next appearance on January 13, 2017.

intelligence…

E

…on Amaila

ither David Patterson’s suffering from incipient senility or he thinks Guyanese are stupid and don’t remember the facts of the Norconsult Report on Amaila Falls. With the crux of the statement being: “It is the view of the Government that the Norconsult … provides supporting evidence that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project would not be optimal in its current model and presents an unbalanced risk to the Government and People of Guyana,” even the Govt-friendly Muckraker summarised it thusly: “Norway team shoots down Amaila Falls hydro project”.

But as Guyanese could read for themselves – since the report was posted on the Internet by Norconsult – it said noting of the sort, and in fact, asserted the opposite. It succinctly noted: “The only realistic path for Guyana towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential. The fastest way forward is to maintain AFHP as the first major step for substituting its current oil fired generation. AFHP … has a higher plant load factor than the alternatives, a smaller reservoir and a levelised unit cost in the same range as the most attractive alternatives.”!!!

How would Patterson get his size 12 foot out of his mouth? Well, he just attempted to do so, but only pushed it further in!! Patterson had the temerity to now say, “no one is questioning the viability of the project at Amaila”!!! Can you believe this drivel?? So exactly why reject the Norconsult Report? Here we go again: “The question of Norconsult was a question of what happens to the US$80M which the people of Guyana would’ve earned (from the forest protection deal with Norway) and which is still in an account from the IDB”!!!

Doesn’t this fella Patterson realise there’s always a paper trail on these matters? Earlier this year, Raphael Trotman had explicitly given the reason for the Norconsult investigation: “…the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet considered it the best option for an objective re-assessment (of AFHEP). This decision follows up on one taken by the country in Paris, France, in December 2015 to conduct a review of the project’s current financial model, which the Government believes could shackle many generations of Guyanese to debt.”

In case, Patterson had forgotten Trotman’s statement, on pg 10 of its Report, Norconsult had reminded him: “With the aim of possibly bringing the situation out of the current deadlock, GoG, represented by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Natural Resources, and the Government of Norway, represented by the Minister of Climate and Environment, decided at a meeting in Paris in December 2015 to perform "an objective and facts-based" assessment of Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.”

What to do with Patterson’s size 12?

…on silk

Oh, what a tangled web we weave…Or if you prefer the local idiom to the Bard’s – all smart flies do end in the bovine’s posterior orifice! (OK that’s NOT exactly the way it’s said…but your Eyewitness was reminded this is a family newspaper!) Claiming he wanted to rectify the long gap since the last appointments into the ranks of Senior Counsels, Prezzie just picked nine. And what a firestorm he’s unleashed!

One pointed question was why 92-year-old Llewelyn John ? He was passed over by Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte and Cheddi Jagan. Another even more pointed question was why a sitting Judge Roxane George, when that goes against the tradition of the Bar. Prezzie insisted he wanted to elevate women to Senior Counsel. But wouldn’t the two others – not on the bench – suffice? And was the set procedure that Judges – who should know the rule – send nominations to the Chancellor who collates them and passes them on to Prezzie followed?

“And why not Nigel Hughes?” others have asked.

Surely goat didn’t bite him?

…on Moses and Red House

Some say the decision to summarily throw Cheddi Jagan’s papers into the street was also approved by Moses Nagamootoo.

Say it ain’t so, Moses; you Jaganite, you!

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

news

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friDAY, january 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Environmental Tax will encourage responsible behaviour – Jordan

… as Nandlall highlights duplicity in Customs Amendment Bill

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onalcoholic or alcoholic beverages and water stored in metal, plastic or glass containers will now attract a $10 levy, payable by local manufacturers and importers.

This was made possible with the passage of the Customs Amendment Bill 2016 which outlines that any person who fails to pay the levy will be liable to summary conviction to the sum of

$50,000, together with a sum twice the amount of the levy payable.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the environmental levy will be charged per unit on nonreturnable containers of any beverage.

The Bill outlines that for those units which are proven to the satisfaction of Commissioner General as having been returned, reused,

recycled or re-exported, a credit will be allowed towards the next payment due and excess credit will be carried forward to the next period until the credit has been fully utilised.

Under the previous Administration in the year 2013, the Opposition (now Government) was opposed to a $5 levy for importers and local manufacturers of beverages in non-biodegradable con-

MPI to open tenders for pedestrian, vehicular overpasses

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ith the aim of addressing the issues of heavy rush-hour traffic and the ongoing road carnage, the Public Infrastructure Ministry is moving ahead with plans to construct overhead vehicular and pedestrian crossings along the East Coast and East Bank roadways.

The project is funded via an Inter-American Development Bankd (IDB) loan and according to Head of Works Service Group (WSG), Geoffrey Vaughn, this is one of the major projects the Ministry will be embarking on this year.

He was at the time speaking at the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s end of year press conference during which he disclosed that tenders for the construction of the overhead road structures will be opened on January 10.

Vaughn added that tenders for supervision were already opened on December 6, 2016, and are currently being evaluated. “These projects are the first in Guyana and we are hoping that we get them right so we are putting all things in place to ensure that we don’t have any hiccups during this process,” the WSG Head noted.

In the 2017 Budget, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had stated that there will be a number of pedestrian over-passes at strategic points along the East Coast and East Bank Public Roads.

“As a means of promoting pedestrian safety while improving the flow of traffic, we will construct the first ever pedestrian over-passes in the country at Liliendaal, Houston, Eccles, and Peter’s Hall, as well as the first ever vehicle overpass at the Diamond main access road,” he outlined.

Meanwhile, it was outlined at the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s yearend press conference that several of the internationally funded projects were unable to get a start in 2016 but efforts are already apace to have them started.

According to Vaughn, the Sheriff-Mandela Avenue project was one such IDB-funded project that did not get off the ground last year. He explained that Government had decided to have a review of this project with it being nul-

will then move into the other stage of construction,” Vaughn posited.

Expansion projects

Geoffrey Vaughn

lified twice, once in 2015 and then in 2016.

“It was basically sent up for review which has been completed and that should be out for tendering at the end of this month, once we receive all the no objections,” Vaughn noted while adding that the project is currently before the IDB for no objection.

The review was conducted by the WSG Design Unit ,along with the consultant firm Egis in association with SRK Engineer. On the other hand, among the Civil Works Project undertaken by the IDB is the East Bank Berbice Road Project. Vaughn pointed out that they are awaiting the completion of the independent evaluation which is being executed by the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers.

Additionally, there are several IDB-funded studies that are at different stages of procurement and will likely commence as well as conclude this year. These include studies on the rehabilitation of the Linden-Seosdyke Highway; the upgrade of the Railway Embankment road; the upgrade of the alignment from Linden to Kwakwani, and the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River at Wismar, Linden.

“Hopefully, when these studies are completed we

As it relates to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) funded West Coast Demerara Road (WCDR) Improvement Project, 60 per cent of the 30.7 kilometres road works have been completed to date and the contractors are working to meet the 2018 deadline.

Apart from the road works spanning Vreed-enHoop to Hydronie WCDR Improvement project also comprised of several other components. These include road works supervision; monitoring and evaluation consultancy; school road safety education programme; community and driver road safety education, and road safety public relations and communications. The latter three are completed.

Moreover, with regards to the East Coast Expansion Project which has been on hold for almost two years, the WSG Head explained that the US$45 million loan agreement between the Guyana Government and China Exim Bank was signed in November 2016 for works to commence. Vaughn anticipates that the road works will recommence later this month.

The project entails a fourlane expansion from Better Hope to Annadale and twolane upgrade from Anandale to Belfield.

Government had already injected $2.7 billion into the project and complete preliminary works for the four-lane expansion. The works completed including sand filling and removal of utilities.

The contract for these works has been awarded to China Railway for a total sum of US$46 million.The supervising consultant is Shalida in joint venture with E&A Consultant firm.

The environmental levy of $10 will be charged per unit on nonreturnable containers of any beverage

tainers.

But many of the then Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) who argued against the $5 levy for importers of bottles harmful to the environment, threw their support behind the imposition of the $10 fee for all categories of bottles.

Opposition Member Anil Nandlall, during the debate on Thursday, raised concerns that these charges will be imposed without any prior consultation with stakeholders, particularly businessmen.

“You would have heard from the Minister (Jordan), not a single word did he mention about holding consultation with the Private Sector, with the manufacturing sector, with those who are engaged in the importation of goods about this tax, which is 100 per cent, than the tax we sought to impose,” he highlighted. Nandlall pointed out

also that Joseph Harmon, now State Minister, had argued in 2013 that “when a Government says that is has no problem, that the Private Sector has a problem with the tax… that the people have a problem with the tax, then that Government is not listening.” The parliamentarian pondered out loud and challenged Harmon to explain why this concept is not being applied now that he sits in the Government benches.

Nandlall went on to remind that Harmon had expressed that the charges the People’s Progressive Party had proposed would have been passed on to the consumers who he claimed were already overtaxed.

But Nandlall posited that Harmon’s posture was in “2013, at a time when we did not have the 100 tax measures that the Finance Minister said someone told him about.

This is the pre-100 tax era.

If Mr Harmon was saying that in 2013 we were overtaxed, imagine we are now burdened, according to the Minister of Finance, his New York friend told him, with 100 more taxes…you could imagine what is the position now?”

Nandlall also pointed fingers to Khemraj Ramjattan (now Public Security Minister and Vice President) who had in 2013, expressed concerns about the fees being passed down to consumers.

“Well now the $10 will now go to the consumer Mr Ramjattan. What will you have to say to the consumer?

They have to pay?”

Nandlall explained that his arguments were to demonstrate the double standards of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, whose members were staunchly against a $5 levy, but now support $10 levy at a time when the financial burdens on the population are immense.

Nonetheless, the Finance Minister in his rebuttal contended that the taxes will impose responsible behaviour among the population to protect the environment.

“Consumers have two choices, throw the containers in the trash to be crushed or buried in a landfill and in the process lose their deposit or return them to the place of origin where, especially in the case of glass bottles, they can be recycle,” he explained.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, january 6, 2017

News

Region 5 flooding

Farmers, residents' livelihoods under threat – call for Govt’s assistance in purchasing fuel

rainfall continued.

This newspaper had reported that rice lands in Mahaica and Burma were affected by the heavy rains.

In late December, the Region Five RDC Chairman had explained that floodwaters remained in the communities of Trafalgar, Number 30 Village, Foulis, Belladrum and Paradise, but had receded in many other areas.

The Chairman also explained that he, along with Vice Chairman, Rion Peters, and other Councillors of both the RDC and NDC went out over the Christmas holidays (December 25 and 26) to meet with farmers and residents in the various communities. During the late December rains, coastal village areas such as Lima, sections of Heneritta

and Hampton Court, Capoey, Land of Plenty in Region Two (Essequibo Islands); as well as Canals Polder, Region Three were all inundated. Residential and agricultural areas of Anns Grove/Two Friends, Cane Grove, Good Hope, Mon Repos, Lusignan, and Foulis within Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) were affected by flooding last week.(Shemuel Fanfair)

Sandbags were placed to protect rice lands from the rising floodwaters

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s intermittent rainfall continues, several farmers and residents in communities across Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) are fearful as their livelihoods remain under threat. Guyana Times received reports of rising flood waters affecting communities in Mahaica,

excess water is pumped out their lands. Up to Wednesday, farmers were seen draining the excess water from their lands.

Guyana Times however understands that many farmers have complained that continued pumping of water is adding to their expenses.

preview of the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMAADA)and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). The two Agriculture Ministry subagencies are continuously monitoring the flood situation.

Inundated rice lands in Esau and Jacobs, Mahaicony

Linden woman’s murder

2 witnesses testify as trial continues

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Farmers being forced to pump excess water following days of heavy downpours

Mahaicony, Burma and the across villages in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) of UnionNaarstigheid, Profit-Rising Sun and Seafield-Tiempe.

Reports emanating from the region indicate that many rice farmers, especially those in Burma, Mahaica and Mahaicony suffered losses but some others safeguarded their crops by ensuring that

Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal while appealing for relief for the affected farmers, told this publication that farmers are calling on Government to implement subsidies for the purchasing of fuel to offset their losses. He further explained that there is little the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) can do since many of the major drainage systems fall under the

A threatened rice plot in Burma, Region Five

It was over a four-day period – December 2327, 2016 – that torrential downpours across Region Five resulted in rising water levels. Farmers along villages in the Mahaicony area had informed Guyana Times that they were monitoring the high water level in the Mahaicony River and had further explained that their rice crops would be destroyed if the persistent

he trial against Clarence Carter who is accused of stabbing his reputed wife, Leolyn Sullivan, to death at Phase 1B Wisroc, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Monday, January 18, 2016, continued before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The defendant is representing himself in the case.

Two witnesses who were the couple's neighbours were called by the prosecution to testify. The first witness, Melinda Isaacs Moore, testified that on the day in question, she was awakened by the sounds of crying and a loud banging on her door.

Upon checking, she realised it was the daughter of the deceased, Saskia Lewis, and her neighbour Husbert Johnson.

Moore said after she enquired as to what the matter was, Lewis responded, "Mr Clarkey killing us, he killing mommy and he killing us". After venturing outside, Moore said she observed the deceased lying at the back of her yard covered in blood; she then tried to keep the now dead woman awake by calling out her name.

Moore went on to tell the court that someone acquired a vehicle which then took the injured woman to hospital. Afterwards, Moore told the court that she and the said neighbour, Johnson, then went to check on the couple's other children at the home in which the couple shared. There, they were

confronted by Carter who then asked for the deceased.

Moore said she informed him that Sullivan was at the hospital, to which he responded "she got to dead, four months now she got a man in town". Moore said she was then informed by Carter – whom she had known for about 15 years – that the children were upstairs and when she ventured inside, she observed that the house was covered in blood and the louvers were broken.

The witness also testified to seeing the deceased’s daughter, Shemika with blood on her body when the vehicle came to take the deceased to hospital. She also recalled that Carter was bleeding when she spoke to him at his home.

In cross-examining the witness, the accused asked the witness what the deceased was wearing at the time that she observed her covered in blood, to which she explained that she did not see clearly, but observed that it was something short.

The witness stated that she gave the Police a statement on the matter to which she signed her name.

The second witness, Husbert Jones, was also called to take the stand on Wednesday, and he testified that on the day in question, he was awakened by his wife and as he got out of bed, he heard someone screaming, "Help, help, help". He then observed the deceased’s daughter Saskia Lewis in Melinda Isaacs Moore’s

yard. Johnson told the court that he jumped off his landing and enquired from Lewis what was happening to which she noted “Like uncle Carter want kill mommy".

After being told where Carter and the deceased were, the witness said he ran to the back of the yard and stopped about 10 feet away, when he saw Carter on top of the deceased, "launching the last stab". The witness said he observed the defendant with a long Rambo knife, which was about 12 inches in length. Upon enquiring what the matter was, he said the defendant then got up and walked away.

He further testified of assisting the now deceased woman into the vehicle to be transported to hospital and recalled that as he lifted her from the ground, she was bleeding and crying out for her neck. Johnson further testified that afterwards, when he and Moore spoke to the defendant at his home, he enquired about the deceased. After he was told that she was at the hospital, the witness told the court that the defendant's "assertion was, she got to dead".

He also testified that he recognised that the defendant, whom he had known for about 12 years, had blood on his clothes at the time. The witness further stated that he gave the Police a statement on the matter to which he signed his name.

The defendant was further remanded to prison and the trial is slated to continue on January 11.

friDAY, january 6, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

4th victim succumbs after Linden-Soesdyke smash-up ― families mourn their loss

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fourth victim succumbed to his injuries on Thursday after the fatal collision in the vicinity of Loo Creek, Linden-Soesdyke Highway which claimed the lives of three people on Wednesday evening.

Dead is overseasbased Guyanese Louron Mendonca, 23, of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Raul Aaron, 38, of 748 Section C, Lot F, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Alexander “Dave” Primus, 52, a taxi driver of Lot 6 Self Help, Amelia’s Ward, and Dextroy Griffith, 23, of 64 Self Help, Amelia’s Ward, Linden, a mechanic attached to Roraima Airways, were the persons who reportedly died on the spot on Wednesday.

Griffith’s wife, Whitney Plowell-Griffith, 23, who is said to be about four months pregnant, and Mendonca, 22, along with Arletta Kellman, 47, of Speightland, Lower Kara Kara, Mackenzie, Linden were all admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in a serious state, following the accident on Wednesday.

They sustained trauma and broken bones, among other injuries.

PlowellGriffith, who remains a patient of the LHC, suffered head injuries, a broken arm and dislocated hip. She is said to be in a stable condition. Mendonca, who succumbed to internal injuries,

Dead: Raul Aaron

was the great nephew of Primus and one of the passengers travelling in his car, a Toyota Spacio with licence plate HC 5326, which collided head on with motor car PRR 7151, driven by Aaron.

Kellman, Griffith and his wife Whitney were the other occupants of Primus’s car, which was completely destroyed. While information remains sketchy,Guyana Times understands that Primus had attempted to overtake a container truck and ended up in the lane of the car driven by Aaron. At

the time of the collision, it was reportedly raining and visibility was poor. A sonin-law of Kellman recalled driving behind the two vehicles on the Highway, but noted that they quickly disappeared into the darkness.

As he got closer, he realised that two vehicles had collided and he saw his injured mother-in-law. With only one vacant seat in his vehicle, he reportedly collected the injured Kellman and rushed her to the hospital.

The others were picked up shortly afterwards and rushed to the hospital. However, Primus and Griffith, along with the driver of the other vehicle, were pinned and had to be pulled from the wreckage by fire-

Dead: Louron Mendonca

men who were summoned to the scene. One eyewitness told this publication that the bodies were severely damaged and it took the firemen quite some time to pull them from the wreckage.

At the homes of the deceased on Thursday, family members mourned their deaths. Griffith’s mother, Suzette LaRose has not yet come to grips with the death of her only son. A family member told this publication that she continued to be in denial over his passing, refusing to believe that he has died.

“She said she doesn’t accept that,” the family member noted.

Griffith’s mother-in-law, Diane Plowell said he and her daughter Whitney, who is an employee attached to the Bureau of Statistics, Georgetown, would always travel to Linden together.

She indicated that the couple, who shared two children together, aged five and two, were scheduled to celebrate their first wedding anniversary on January 16, just a day before Whitney’s birthday. While the couple worked outside of Linden, they both lived in Plowell’s home at Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

According to

Dead: Dextroy Griffith

Plowell, her son-in-law, who was a skilled mechanic, secured the job at Roraima Airways about three months ago and the couple would travel daily. She said the couple were now starting to build life together and were in the process of securing an apartment in Georgetown to be better able to provide for the family.

“They were going to move first and then the children would follow...A year ago we were planning a wedding, now we are planning a funeral,” she said solemnly.

Plowell added Griffith never liked travelling in the front seat of vehicles, but in this case, not even the back seat was safe. As such, she urged drivers to be careful on the roadways, especially when overtaking on the highway.

“They got to start being careful. I drive that highway, so I know. You have to be careful,” she stressed.

Plowell described Griffith as a very quiet, nice individual who was loving and caring to his wife and family.

“I don’t know how she’s going to move on, or how we’re going to move on. Now when their lives were just starting to get stable...a wrong move to get into a particular transportation cost them. All she’s (PlowellGriffith) worried about now is what will happen to her and the children.”

Griffith is survived by his wife, children, mother and two sisters.

Meanwhile, Primus’s wife, Rachel, told Guyana Times that she last saw her husband, who was also a former Policeman, alive around 10:00h on Wednesday, before he left for work.

“The next call I got was that he crashed. His nephew told me that he crashed. So we were going down to see if we could tow he, not expecting that...My neighbour came to me and she was like, ‘oh my God Rachey, Dave died and they got to cut him out the vehicle.’ I start-

ed screaming and I said it can’t be Dave dead because my husband is not a careless driver,” she noted.

Primus added that her husband whom she had known for 17 years was not known to be reckless. She said her husband was diabetic and would often joke about dying on the bed next to her.

“I would always tell him, Dave, be careful. If you’re tired, come home. Or wherever you have to go, you go and get your rest. Whenever you can, you come home,” Primus said tearfully. She described her husband as a loving and caring individual. He is also survived by his seven children.

Dead: Alexander “Dave” Primus

Deceased’s documents found at Amelia’s Ward

Primus said her husband’s great nephew Louron was staying with the family at Amelia’s Ward, since he travelled to Guyana from St Vincent some time ago to se-

cure his United States visa, which he had uplifted prior to the accident on Wednesday.

The documents, along with his bag, she noted, were discovered at Lover’s Lane, Amelia’s Ward, which led to her belief that the car was raided. Primus said given the distance the documents were found from the accident, she suspected that they were taken there by someone. She said Mendonca also had approximately $60,000 in his possession which he had received from overseas which has not been recovered. She added that only the receipt has been found. Primus said persons were also unable to recover some documents for her husband’s car at the scene.

Kaieteur News grenade attack

Trio committed to High Court trial

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he three men implicated in the June 2016 Kaieteur News grenade attack were committed to stand trial at the High Court.

Alfie Garraway of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown; Leroy Williams of Durban Backlands and Janiel Howard of Section C Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown made their final appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where it was determined that a prima facie case was made out against them, signalling that the prosecution had enough evidence for the three men to stand trial at the Demerara High Court.

The charge read to the three accused stated that on the day in question, they unlawfully and maliciously conspired together with others to cause explosion by way of grenade likely to endanger lives or cause damage to property.

At a future criminal session, the trio’s case will be presided over by a judge and

a 12-member jury panel, the latter of which will decide whether or not the trio is innocent or guilty.

In June last year, a live grenade was hurdled from a grey Toyota Spacio motor car at a vehicle belonging to Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall at the newspaper’s Saffon Street office. This occurred on the first night of the wake for the publication’s late senior crime correspondent, Dale Andrews. Following the discovery of the grenade, persons ran hysterically to safety. Those at the wake had recalled hearing a strange sound, but only assumed that it was the sound of a glass shattering. The grenade had subsequently been found lying next to the right tyre of Lall’s black Lexus vehicle. Based on surveillance footage, detectives arrested a number of persons in connection with the terrorist act. However, the main suspect, Shemar Wilson, called Abdude, remains on the run.

In a statement on the night of the attack last year, Government said that it was

alarmed by the act of domestic terrorism attempted against the newspaper and had pledged its resolute support in defence of press freedom in Guyana.

“We do not believe that the dropping of a grenade, even if a fake device, alongside a newspaper publisher’s vehicle could be considered a joke or a hoax. It was grave and an undisputed act of terror designed to intimidate, harm and create fear,” the coalition Administration had stated.

Similarly, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee had also expressed great concern over the attack, and said that the PPP was opposed to any act of terrorism.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) had stated that the attack had a “chilling effect on press freedom”. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) was just another of many other organisations and interest groups that condemned the attack.

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NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$11.89M Flood Risk Management Project continues in 2017

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n light of the intermittent periods of flooding over the past several days, Government is moving to ensure that a US$11.89 million project that started in 2016 continues in 2017.

This was recently disclosed by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, who revealed that the 2016-2019 Flood Risk Management Project would cost some $2.5 billion in 2017.

He made these remarks late last week at an Agriculture Ministry press

(EDWC) was slated for reconstruction, while there also would be specialised training for staff in hydraulic and hydrology modelling. The Minister added that 2017 would also see an emergency preparedness plan for the EDWC being operationalised.

Speaking on a US$3 million Cunha Canal Rehabilitation Project for 20162019, Holder revealed that for this year, some G$390 million would be utilised to build a bridge along the

The Hope Canal leads to the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC)

conference where he told media operatives that three pump stations on the East Coast of Demerara would be constructed to help provide relief to some 300,000 residents.

“The benefits of this project includes: reduced flooding and improved drainage and irrigation for over 300,000 residents on the East Coast of Demerara. In 2017, the majority of works will be carried out, including the construction of three Pump Stations at Lusignan, Buxton/Vigilance and Hope/ Enmore,” the Minister noted.

Holder further explained that the north-eastern dam of the East Demerara Water Conservancy

Land of Canaan Public Road. He noted that this would further resuscitate the Cunha Canal, pointing out that there this year would also see the rehabilitation of the head regulator at the EDWC. “The main area of focus is to improve drainage in agricultural areas that drain to the Bandarima Creek and Sarah Johanna Canal and increase the capacity of channels draining the EDWC,” the Agriculture Minister disclosed.

On December 23, Georgetown, its outskirts and several other locations across the country were inundated after some 12 hours of persistent heavy

rainfall. Earlier this week, heavy downpours once again flooded the capital city, but the water in most sections receded hours after the rains ended.

Responding to the flood situation back in late December, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had called on Government to implement the necessary measures to bring immediate relief to those affected, by ensuring that steps were taken to minimise damage to and losses of property, livestock and crops. He had also urged the Government to pay special attention to the rising water level in the EDWC which was reported to be above 57 GD level, as well as the Boerasirie Conservancy.

The Opposition Leader had also noted that the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks, Pomeroon River and other inland areas, should receive attention as backwater flows could result in downstream flooding, which is the predominant trend in riverine areas.

Jagdeo added that the defective sluices and silted outfall channels in areas such as Capoey, Cozier, Three Friends, Letter Kenny and Borlam must be urgently addressed and operationalised, as well as those on the East Coast of Demerara, Georgetown and other areas, as necessary. At that time, coastal villages such as Lima, sections of Henrietta and Hampton Court, and Capoey, Land of Plenty in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); the Canal Polders, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); and residential and agricultural areas of Anns Grove/Two Friends, Cane Grove, Good Hope, Mon Repos, Lusignan, and Foulis within Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) were also affected by the flooding which occurred in the days leading up to Christmas.

Berbice recorded 28 murders...

On February 4, 2016, Saitanya Kishundyal, 21, of Rose Hall, Corentyne, was closing the gate to his residence when he was confronted by a man armed with a firearm. A scuffle ensued during which he was shot in the abdomen. He dies a few days later in hospital. The murder is still listed as unsolved.

On February 8, 2016, two unmasked men, one armed with a cutlass and the other with a gun, walked into Jinlai Lai Chinese Restaurant at Number 57 Village, Corentyne and took a box containing a few packets of cigarettes and pencils before shooting dead Sue Di Wong. That murder is

also listed as unsolved.

On February 21, 2016, a bandit was accidentally shot dead by his accomplice. Two men, armed with a handgun and a knife, had entered a fuel service centre at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice, and held up the three pump attendants when one robber discharged a round to scare the victims, but it struck his accomplice in the head.

Police later identified the dead man as Jermaine Jerrick, 35, of Anns Grove, East Coast Demerara. The other bandit is still at large.

On February 24, 2016, a Kildonan villager, Richard Dundas, called “Matrix”, 53,

was hit on the foot with a bottle after an argument with another man. He was treated at hospital for the injury but died three hours after. His assailant is now before the courts.

March 8, International Woman’s Day, saw Bindrawattie Sumwar, 39, also called “Sharda”, of Number 77 Village Housing Scheme, being hacked to death by her unemployed reputed husband after a heated argument. He then waited on the Police to arrive and arrest him.

On March 22, 2016, Khublall Gomes,78, was discovered covered in blood lying in a hammock at his Crabwood

FROM PAGE 2

Creek home. His licensed firearm and money were missing.

The farmer was living alone at the time. Police are still investigating.

Then, on April 10, just four hours before the end of the 100th day of the year, Gowchand Budhu, 58, was shot dead when two men entered his Lot 636 Topu Village, Corentyne home. His licensed firearm was found next to him when Police arrived. The homicide is still unsolved.

On November 1, the body of Fayez Narinedat, of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, was discovered lying on the road with marks of violence. Five men are now before the courts for his murder.

Also recorded in the murders in Berbice last year was that of 18-year-old Dominic Bernard of England, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave about three miles into the backdam at Kildonan, Corentyne on January 8.

Police were able to solve that murder and several persons are now before the courts.

Meanwhile, on December 28, a cosmetologist attached to the National Psychiatric Hospital, at Fort Canje, Lonnette Nicholson-Prince was stabbed 15 times and died. Her prison warden estranged husband has since been charged.

The day after Prince’s death, the body of Mohan Ball was discovered in a trench at Hampshire. (Andrew Carmichael)

“Indian Guyanese sensitivities”

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note the intervention of my friend, Dr David Hinds, in the matter of Red House that has transfixed the nation. So as not to misrepresent his views I quote his letter extensively: “As a student of ethnicity and ethnic politics, I allow for certain normatives in ethnically polarised societies. I am not torn up by ethnic voting nor am I condemnatory of appeals to ethnic solidarity – I see these as normal developments that are products of the logic of ethnic polarisation.

One just has to live with them and try to utilise them in positive ways. But what Mr Jagdeo is doing is going out of his way to create Ravi Dev an atmosphere of ethnic tension when there need not be one. This Red House issue is not one of disrespecting Jagan or Indian Guyanese sensitivities.”

“As a student of ethnic politics”, however, I hope Dr Hinds would concede the salience of the identity of “the leader” in such politics, which, for good reason, is also labelled “identity politics”. The identity of the follower is bound up with that of the group and it is widely conceded by “students of ethnic politics” that the desire to be ruled by “one’s own leader” is one of the driving forces of such politics.

In Guyana, this holds true for both Dr Jagan and Mr Burnham who have come to symbolise “leadership” in their respective Indian-Guyanese and African-Guyanese followings. Those who mobilised in those communities “from within”, so to speak, outside those leaders’ umbrellas, were seen by most in the group as “betraying the cause”. As a self-identified “Rodneyite”, Dr Hinds would have experienced such opprobrium from within the group he situates his political praxis.

The point is that neither Dr Hinds nor anyone else can arbitrarily decide “This Red House issue is not one of disrespecting Jagan or Indian Guyanese sensitivities”.

“Sensitivities” are subjectivities which, by definition, are generated by the subject. Unless Dr Hinds is implying ethnic followers have no agency and are merely reflexively following the music of the pied piper of their group. Let me assure him “this Red House issue” has affected “the sensitivities” of Indian Guyanese such as no other since the January 12 1998 ethnic violence directed against them for presumably being followers of the PPP. Outside of anything Mr Jagdeo may have said.

As such, it is quite inconsistent for Dr Hinds to define “the issue” for the Indian Guyanese since he promised to “allow for certain normatives in ethnically polarised societies”. It reminds me of the instance in October 1992 when Dr Clive Thomas, as leader of the WPA, and Dr Hinds, as of the foot soldiers, did not allow for the “normatives” of African Guyanese and defined “the issue” then, as fulfilling Dr Rodney’s mission to “remove the PNC dictatorship”. They paid the price as I did in 2001, when I misread the “sensitivities” of Indian Guyanese.

In supporting the PNC in its present incarnation, I assumed Drs Thomas and Hind et al, had worked out a modus vivendi with the “sensitivities” of African Guyanese for “cleaving” to the signifier of their group’s leadership. And would have accepted the Indian Guyanese analogous movement.

But I would like to share with Dr Hinds and the other partisans of the Government’s Red House gambit a more specific reason for the Indian Guyanese “sensitivities”. I invoke JL Austin’s proposition of the “speech act” implicit in the Government giving the CJRC two days’ notice to vacate the premises with all of the records of Dr Jagan’s life’s work.

When one writes or makes a statement, there are the words – in this case “move out since your lease is invalid” – which can be analysed for their sense and reference (the locutionary aspect). But there’s also simultaneously the “point”, or one may say, the “move” that was intended by the Government – the illocutionary aspect of the statement – called “speech acts” by JL Austin. If “the move” was to undo an alleged illegality, the conundrum arises to Indian Guyanese as to how that “illegality” would have been cured by including “the papers of other presidents” as Dr Hinds said approvingly of the Government’s offer.

But speech acts have a third, “perlocutionary” dimension – “what we bring about or achieve by saying something”.

And this is where Indians feel the Government was out to humiliate the memory of Dr Jagan – especially when the summary verbal expulsion was confirmed by Ministry of the Presidency’s employees breaking down the sign of CJRC and throwing it on the ground.

news

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friDAY, january 6, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CJIA saw 14% increase in arrivals in 2016 T

he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is looking forward to increased air traffic for 2017. The corporation recorded a 13 per cent growth in income for 2016.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CJIA, Ramesh Ghir, on Wednesday made a presentation on the Airport’s 2016 performance during the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s year in review (2016) press briefing at Transport Ground, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

Income and expenditure

Income for the year 2016 fell short by $9 million from the projected $1.3 billion.

Despite this, the CJIA was able to grow its income by 13 per cent when compared to 2015.

“The income is directly related to traffic, the more passenger traffic, the more aircraft we have in operation; it means more income for the Airport,” the CEO pointed out.

Expenditure at the Airport also increased in 2016, Ghir said. The Airport expended $919 million or 20 per cent more than in 2015. Ghir credited additional staffing and infrastructural maintenance at the Airport as the reasons for the increased expenditure.

“I want to point out that the difference in the income and expenditure here is not profit,” Ghir pointed out.

The CJIA in an effort to improve its management had established its own cleaning unit for some facilities.

Historic passenger movement

The CJIA processed 572,000 returning Guyanese and visitors, a 14 per cent increase in arrivals.

“It is the highest number of arrivals and departures that we’ve had in the history of the airport, and only for the third time that we’ve actually surpassed 500,000 passengers,” Ghir pointed out.

The CEO credited an increase in passengers to the celebration of Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary which was observed in May 2016. The Airport CEO noted that the increase in passenger numbers was also credited to the airline carriers operating out of the Airport.

Copa Airlines almost doubled its traffic with the increase in the number of weekly flights, Ghir noted.

Other airlines such as Suriname Airways, Fly Jamaica, Insel Air and Dynamic Airlines also recorded increased passenger numbers. However, Ghir said that Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) recorded a 10 per cent decline in passenger movement due to a reduction in the number of flights out of the CJIA. Last year also saw an increase in airline carriers

ment. Three proposals have been shortlisted.

The airport had established its own security some five years ago, and this is steadily increasing, Ghir pointed out.

Airport expansion project

CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir

out of the CJIA. Ghir noted that three new carriers – Eastern Airlines, Fly AllWays and Easy Sky also contributed to the increase in passengers.

The addition of the new airlines, along with the performance of existing carriers also resulted in increased seating capacity.

“This has a direct reflection on the price of the ticket.

The more seats available the lower the price, more people travel,” Ghir explained.

Despite the poor performance of CAL during 2016, the airline remains the country’s biggest carrier with more than 50 per cent of the market share, Ghir pointed out.

Meanwhile, Ghir said 2016 saw a shift in arrival destination. While the North American market (New York, Canada, Miami) continues to occupy the majority of traffic, it has declined to 77 per cent from 80 per cent last year.

“Over the years, we’ve seen a decline because we’re getting actually visitors from other destinations within the Region as the market opens up,” Ghir explained. Cubans and Panamanians were identified as new arrivals.

Increased imports and exports

Ghir pointed out that there has been a 20 per cent increase in cargo coming through the CJIA, with 4.2 million kilograms of imports through the Airport, along with a 22 per cent increase in exports.

Imports through the CJIA include hatching eggs, industrial supplies, personal effects and consolidated cargo. The majority of the exports are fruits and vegetables.

Bomb threat simulation

The CJIA conducted a bomb threat simulation in 2016. Ghir explained that the exercise is part of a biyearly emergency exercise requirement. CAL lent its support to the exercise by providing the use of an aircraft.

Ghir said the exercise saw participation from the Guyana Defence Force.

Explosive devices were planted on the aircraft and the GDF and the Guyana Police Force sniffer dogs were used to identify the

devices.

Securing CJIA

The CJIA is seeking to improve its security. Ghir said that advertisements are out for improving CCTV coverage, access control, cargo and screening equip-

The completion of the expansion of the airport project is still projected for December 2017, Ghir noted. A total of a US$150 million has been allocated for the project. Ghir said that 151 Chinese nationals and 271 Guyanese labourers are working on the project. An additional 500 Guyanese labourers are expected to work on the project by the end of December.

The extension of the runway is 57 per cent completed with a projected completion date for June 17.

Ghir noted that excavation

and foundation works were completed, partial completion of sand backfilling and pavement works remain to be undertaken.

Work on the foundation of the new arrivals terminal is about 80 per cent completed and projected completion date is set for May. Work is scheduled to begin in February on the renovation of the existing arrival and departure terminals which will be converted into the departure terminal. This aspect of the project is set for completion later in December.

The new generator and fire station is 65 per cent completed and is expected to be finished in March.

2017 plans

Ghir said CJIA’s plans for the new year include

placing departure tax and security fees onto passenger tickets, eliminating the need for the booth at the CJIA effective in February; establishment of cambio services, car rental service by March; resurfacing the public car park, internal apron, procurement and installation of lighted aerodrome signs and the installation of additional perimeter fence lighting.

The CJIA is expecting an increase in passengers and carriers, as Government invests heavily in other sectors such as tourism and oil production. “One could expect with the entire works taking place that the traffic will continue to grow and maybe in the very near future we’ll have either a European carrier or major US carrier operating in Guyana,” Ghir said.

Capoey Toshao commends community’s flood relief efforts

the main access road fosters economic development into my community, as such, efforts have to [be] put [in place] to save as well as to sustain the livelihood of persons in the community," Henry said.

Alluding to the assistance from the regional administration, Henry said there was no immediate help but that Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt visited the area.

Residents remain hopeful that their efforts would stem the flow of water onto their lands.

Residents pooled their efforts to stem the flow of water into their community

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he Toshao of the Amerindian community of Capoey in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Melrose Henry, has commended the efforts of youths and elders in her community, in their bid to stop the flow of flood waters. Residents were awoken early Thursday morning by flood waters which overflowed from the lake into residential and rice lands, resulting in widespread damages.

In response, and in an effort to protect their homes and businesses, residents both young and old, pooled their efforts to fill hundreds of sand bags which were placed alongside the lake. The sand and equipment were donated by a nearby businessman.

The Toshao explained that she became worried after seeing the damage caused by the rising water, adding that the main access road was also completely covered.

"We cannot allow that,

Sands bags being filled to alleviate floodwaters from the lake

The sand bags were placed at the edge of the lake to prevent further flooding

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, january 6, 2017

News

Bartica Massacre trial

Clebert Reece called as State witness – outlines how fellow gang members executed attack

State witness and gang member Clebert Reece leaving the High Court in Georgetown on Thursday afternoon, escorted by Police

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n yet another twist to the months-long High Court trial into the February 17, 2008 Bartica Massacre, Clebert Reece, who pleaded guilty on November 1, 2016 to manslaughter charges, took the stand on Thursday and testified to being part of the criminal gang that committed the deed, leaving 12 persons dead.

Reece, who was clad in a suit, spoke in a soft tone, which prompted defence Attorneys to complain numerous times of being unable to hear him properly.

Reece, who is also known as “Chi Chi”, explained that on the day before the murderous acts were carried out, he had received threats via phone from “Sad Man”, believed to be gang leader Rondell “Fine Man” Rawlins, and he was later held up by four men armed with AK-47s and a car driver who carried a hand gun at East La Penitence.

According to Reece, they took him by car to the Parika bus terminal in Georgetown, from where he and two other men travelled by bus to Parika. The convicted killer further claimed that he was forcibly contracted to drive the gunmen by boat from Parika to Bartica, and to and from a resting place on a nearby island.

During the period of his many “forced” transits, he had driven the boat which had two drums of gasoline, to an old wharf in Tiger Bay, Georgetown, where he met up with a woman before he briefly saw his family. Reece stated that murder accused Dennis Williams called him via phone and he, along with seven other men, later boarded a boat once again and “Sad Man” put an AK to his back. He was not released, because, according to him, he was the one to fix any problems that arose with the boat’s engine.

During the afternoon session on Thursday, Recce claimed that on the night

of the attack, a vehicle had come back where he and “Sad Man” spoke who reportedly instructed that they take guns and two vests and put them back into the boat at Bartica. Reece told the 12-member jury that “everybody start putting de stuff into de boat”. He stated that he, along with “Sad Man”, Dennis Williams, Mark Royden Williams, “Magic” and “Whiteboy” were all present. Reece said he later heard gunshots.

He said that 15 minutes later they came back to the stelling and had more guns and safes. The State witness claimed that Dennis Williams was armed with a rifle that held 20 rounds and he was present with “Mud Up” and “Chung Boy” when six persons – five Indo-Guyanese and one Afro-Guyanese – were shot.

Reece told the court that some time after, they boarded a boat and headed on a 45-minute journey to Sharima crossing, where they reached a “dark Tundra” pick-up.

The State witness claimed that he did not know what plans “Sad Man” had at this point.

Among the gang members that Reece identified as present were: his cousin Michael Caesar, who also pleaded guilty to the crime; Dennis Williams, “Sad Man”, “Magic”, “Chung Boy”, “Small Friend” and “Smallie” (Mark Royden Williams).

The court later heard that after Reece set the boat adrift at a camp, two safes were opened. One contained raw gold, diamonds, a necklace and a stone, while the other had $1 million inside with a set of keys and a ziplock bag with two diamonds. Reece noted that Dennis Williams was 50 feet away from the camp when the safes were being opened.

The witness added that the men were all armed and were sitting watch-

ing a movie on a portable device. He further added that only he and his cousin knew about the raw gold.

Reece told the court that he weighed 12 six-ounce parcels of gold, which were given (one each) to all of the gang members present.

After leaving the gang, Reece said he and his “child mother” in Georgetown retrieved a $500,000 down payment they had made for the purchase of a motor car to give to “Shem” who was sent by “Sad Man”. It was explained that this money was used to purchase food supplies. Reece was sentenced to 420 years in prison, while his cousin, Michael Caesar was handed a 1080year cumulative sentence.

The men, along with Mark Royden Williams, Dennis Williams and Roger Simon, were allegedly part of the “Fine Man” gang, which attacked the town and fatally shot 12 persons, including Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne. Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas and Baldeo Singh were the civilians killed. (Shemuel Fanfair)

Education Ministry’s senior management meetings conclude today – extracurricular activities, discipline in schools among key focus areas

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takeholders within the Education Ministry over the past week have engaged in a series of high-level meetings to plan the way forward for education delivery for 2017.

This comes against the backdrop of a $43.1 billion allocation in this year’s National Budget.

The meetings, held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), started on Tuesday and would conclude today. They have seen the involvement of officers from the nine programmes in the Ministry: Policy Development and Administration; Training and Development (CPCE, Distance Education and Allied Arts); Nursery Education; Primary Education; Secondary Education; Post-Secondary/ Tertiary Education; Cultural Preservation and Conservation; Youth; and Sport respectively.

The Ministry, in a recent statement, noted that the meetings were geared at highlighting the policy directives from Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry which are “intended to guide the work plan and

Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnarine

performance for 2017”.

According to the Education Minister, there is need for “deeper focus” to be placed on ensuring that there is inclusion of extracurricular activities, such as sports, physical education and music, in the academic curriculum.

Dr Roopnaraine also highlighted the need for discipline in schools to be addressed, noting that the Welfare Unit has to be strengthened in order to “address modern means of carrying out discipline in schools”.

“We are well on the way to taking education in the direction needed,” the Minister

posited.

He also called for the “invigoration” of the ParentTeachers Association (PTA) movement, stressing that combined efforts by parents and teachers were essential in ensuring that the students’ education remained intact.

Meanwhile, Minister Henry noted that the meetings sought to “ensure alignment of programme activities across all programmes; preparation and synchronisation of 2017 work plans in keeping with the 2017 Budget allocations”.

She also observed the importance of improving sector performance, highlighting the need for frequent reporting, evaluation and monitoring.

Among the objectives of the meetings were having an approved calendar of activities; a work-plan in keeping with the programme performance statement; a review of all procurement plans to ensure timely procurement of goods and services to support the programme activities and the submission of the cash flow statements to ensure timely release of funds to support the payment of goods and services to aid the work of the entire Ministry.

8 deaths from boating mishaps in 2016 – MARAD

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ight persons lost their lives as a result of boat accidents and incidents in Guyana’s waters during the course of 2016, according to Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Director Claudette Rogers.

During a presentation at the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s year-end press conference, Rogers disclosed that last year there were six boat accidents resulting in five deaths and three boat incidents resulting in three deaths.

This was compared against six accidents resulting in four deaths and 12 incidents resulting in 14 deaths in 2015.

Additionally, the MARAD Director highlighted that there were no reports of piracy for the years 2015 and 2016.

Rogers pointed out that in light of these continuous accidents and incidents on the waterways, three Maritime Safety Centres have been established and are operational at Bartica, Charity and Mabaruma.

“These centres will assist in regularising the licensing of boat operators and boats in the areas, and improve on maritime safety,” she ex-

plained.

Moreover, the MARAD Director disclosed that the Department continued with its life jacket distribution as part of its promotion of maritime safety.

To this end, approximately 100 life jackets were distributed last year to students in Moruca, Pomeroon River, Watooba, Malali and Husururu.

She went on to outline that 11 of 14 buoys were positioned in the Demerara ships’ channel with the remaining three to be positioned this year.

Further looking back on the past year, the MARAD Director noted that in 2016 the Department focused on wrecks removal, that is, mobilising for the salvaging and removal of two main wrecks in the harbour of Georgetown – the MS ELLISA vessel which sank on June 5, 2012 and DAR B which sank on October 27, 2014.

She continued that during last year, some 1128 vessels were piloted in the Demerara River compared to 944 in 2015, while some 107 vessels were piloted in last year against 90 the previous year.

In relation to dredging, Rogers reported that

continuous dredging of the Demerara main ships’ channel has resulted in a recorded depth of 5.4 metres chart datum. She added with this and a 2.8 metres rise of tide, the Georgetown Port can now accommodate a vessel with an 8.2 metres draught.

“That in itself means also that the vessel can carry an additional 1000 tonnes more cargo loaded,” she said.

Meanwhile, Rogers stated that with the intervention of Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and for the first time in eight years, Guyana has been successful in gaining approval for a nominee to attend the World Maritime University.

She added that an additional 16 cadets have commenced training at the MatPal Marine Institute.

This group, she noted, will further enhance capacity building within MARAD. Moreover, she noted that the US Coast Guard has conducted its bi-annual assessments on the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code at the various port facilities in Guyana, and it is anticipated that the report will be favourable.

Additionally, MARAD officials held training and sen-

sitisation sessions with boat operators in the Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight and Nine on the improvement of maritime safety measures, in keeping with the relevant maritime practices and regulations.

With regard to 2017 projects, Rogers disclosed that MARAD would be employing an architectural engineer to determine the structural soundness of the wharves within the harbours of Guyana. She added that too that the Department would be formulating policies in keeping with the standard requirements for the registration of vessels and crew operating on behalf of ExxonMobil.

In addition, the Department will be implementing port tug services for the docking and undocking of vessels, which will increase operational safety, efficiency and effectiveness for mooring and unmooring operations.

In 2017, MARAD will also push to establish additional safety centres in other regions of Guyana as well as commence works on the construction of a head office.

A plot of land has already been located for this, Rogers noted.

friDAY, january 6, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

US spy chief “resolute” Antiguan Govt to consider ‘right on Russia cyberattack, to disconnect’ from work emails differs with Trump

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he top US intelligence official said on Thursday he was “even more resolute” in his belief that Russia staged cyberattacks on Democrats during the 2016 election campaign, rebuking persistent scepticism from Republican President-elect Donald Trump about whether Moscow was involved.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said he had a very high level of confidence that Russia hacked Democratic Party institutions and campaign staff email, and disseminated propaganda and fake news aimed at the November 8 election.

“Our assessment now is even more resolute than it was” on October 7 when the Government first publicly accused Russia, Clapper told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He said a motive for the attack would be made public next week.

Although Trump called himself a “big fan” of intelligence agencies, he is heading for a conflict over the issue

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on foreign cyber threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, January 5, 2017

because he has cast doubt on their assessments that Russia targeted the election and the campaign of his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“There’s a difference between healthy scepticism and disparagement,” Clapper said. Vice President-elect Mike Pence has used the expression “healthy scepticism” to defend Trump’s criticism of intelligence agency findings.

Lawmakers from both parties are wary of Moscow

and distrust Trump’s praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and efforts to heal the rift between the United States and Russia.

Thursday’s hearing, overseen by Republican Senator John McCain, one of the most vociferous Russia critics in Congress, was the first in a promised series of hearings into allegations that Russia tried to disrupt or influence the US campaign, one of the most bitter in recent history. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

No evidence of New Year mass sex attacks – India's Police

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olice in the Indian city of Bengaluru said on Thursday they had not found any evidence or received any formal complaints of sexual assault at a New Year’s Eve celebration after media reports of “mass molestation”.

Police said they had gone through hours of CCTV footage from the night in Bangalore, a southern IT hub seen as relatively safe for women, and had found no evidence to back up the reports.

“We started looking into the whole video foot-

age from approximately 4560 cameras,” Praveen Sood, the Police Commissioner of Bengaluru city, told journalists.

“It takes time, the whole team was looking at the camera footage and looking for molestation in the video.

We could not find any sign of molestation,” Sood said.

The Police Chief’s comments come a day after six separate cases were registered in connection with complaints of sex attacks.

Local reports featured testimony and photos of victims cowering from their at-

tackers or fleeing for safety while video footage circulated on social media showed women screaming for help.

Police have referred to the interviews and social media accounts of eyewitnesses and women who were allegedly molested to file six separate cases, Sood said.

The attacks in Bengaluru have drawn comparison with last year’s mass sexual assaults at New Year’s celebrations in the German city of Cologne, where Police were also accused of losing control. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

South Korea Minister says China indirectly retaliating against THAAD

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hina is suspected to be taking indirect action against South Korea’s decision last year to deploy a US anti-missile system, South Korea’s Finance Minister said.

China worries that the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system’s powerful radar can penetrate its territory and it has objected to the deployment.

South Korea and the United States say the missile system is aimed solely at countering any threat from North Korea. It is due to be deployed this year.

“China is officially denying it, but we feel their

actions are linked and that there have been indirect responses taken,” Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho told a news conference on Thursday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Sejong City, south of Seoul.

“It’s hard to ask them what they’re up to when they have been denying it officially.”

Yoo did not elaborate on what he meant by “indirect action”, but China recently rejected applications

by South Korean carriers to add charter flights between the two countries.

Yoo said on Sunday the Government was looking into whether China’s deci-

sion to deny the airlines’ applications, which came ahead of a traditional surge in Lunar New Year travel, was related to the deployment of the anti-missile system.

Chinese authorities have not responded to requests for comment on the rejection of the flight applications.

Yoo also said South Korea planned to make efforts to reduce its trade surplus with the United States in response to an assertion

by President-elect Donald Trump that the United States had been hurt by what he considers an unfair trade agreement with South Korea. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he Antiguan Government will give serious consideration to the issue of work emails received outside of working hours, Attorney General and Labour Minister Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin said in response to statements made by union leaders.

While the Minister cautioned against a ‘hard and fast’ rule, given the necessity of certain professions to be on-call 24 hours a day, Benjamin said he was open to discuss the issue.

“If, in fact, it comes up and the unions and the employers want us to look at it, then we will,” Benjamin said. “But I don’t want to make a statement until such time that we can take a look at it, examine it, and make a determination.”

Discussion of the is-

sue began in Antigua and Barbuda after a landmark piece of French legislation, which prohibits employers from penalising workers for not responding to emails after working hours, came into effect on January 1.

Deputy General Secretary of the Antigua Barbuda Workers Union Chester Hughes and General Secretary of the

Antigua Trades & Labour Union Hugh Joseph, both agreed that there needs to be a reasonable expectation of when a worker can respond to work emails.

In particular, Benjamin said that essential service workers would need to be an exception to any mandate nullifying the obligation to respond to work messages.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Brazil sets out security overhaul after deadly Manaus prison riot

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razil’s Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes has announced a plan to reduce violence in prisons, after a deadly riot in the northern city of Manaus.

The authorities say 56 inmates died as rival gangs clashed on Sunday.

Brazil wants to increase co-operation with neighbouring countries to reduce the influx of weapons and drugs into the prison system, said Mr Moraes.

Brazilian prosecutors said one of the factions involved in the uprising had links with Colombia’s Farc rebel group.

“We will set up police intelligence units in every Brazilian capital,” Moraes announced. “They will gather data focusing mainly on drug trafficking and organised crime inside and outside prisons,” added Moraes.

The new security plan has three main points: the reduction in the number of cases of manslaughter; combating organised crime inside the jails, including transnational organisations that smuggle in drugs and weapons; and the modernisation of the prison system.

Moraes called for a change in the law to re-

duce the number of people serving time for minor crimes. He said that 72 per cent of women in Brazilian jails had been convicted of drug trafficking offences and most of them were arrested in possession of relatively small amounts of illegal substances. They should be serving alternative sentences or wearing electronic tags outside prison, said Moraes.

He also announced that President Michel Temer had allocated funds for the construction of five new high security jails. (Excerpt from BBC News)

3 killed, 3 injured in botched hit at T&T birthday party

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olice have described a gun attack at a birthday party in Freeport as botched hit, as the intended target survived with life-saving injuries. Three of his guests were killed and two others injured.

The intended target, according to investigating Police Officers, was Daniel Spencer, who was celebrating his 25th birthday at his small wooden home at Commonwealth Drive, Nelson Road. The incident occurred at 00:30h (12:30am).

The deceased were identified as Elton Armorer, 35; Michael Kent Brown, 25; and Winston Edwards, 39.

The wounded were identified as Spencer; his girlfriend Melika Davis, 20, and one of Spencer’s guest, Ronald Earl, 31.

T&T Guardian was told

the shooting was linked to the murder Kurt Francis, 27, who was fatally shot in the head while at Caparo on December 30, 2016. That murder occurred at 23:10h.

Francis lived at Arena Road in Freeport.

However, speaking with the T&T Guardian while at Spencer’s home yesterday a close friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he knew that Spencer’s

house was shot at by gunmen some time last year.

He said Spencer often got in trouble with the law for fighting and other things, which he chose not to disclose.

Spencer’s sister, Rachel, who stopped by to collect clothes for her brother said that he was undergoing surgery at the San Fernando General Hospital.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

16 news

friDAY, january 6, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 flooding

Residents calling for high-capacity pumps ― many areas still inundated

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espite efforts being made by drainage and irrigation staff and engineers of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), several communities remain under water and up to press time, several canals were overtopping, creating chaos in several communities along the Essequibo coast.

Affected residents living in the agricultural region are calling on Central Government, through the Agriculture Ministry, to dispatch high capacity pumps in an effort to more effectively drain the water from residential and farmland areas.

Residents living in the Windsor Castle, Devonshire Castle, Hampton Court and Lima areas are currently under water since December 24, 2016. Although the pump and sluice in that area are operable, the flood waters have not abated.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, several residents living in Capoey, Golden Fleece and Airy Hall were forced to deal with flooding after

Areas in Airy Hall under water

Lake Capoey overtopped its banks. The canals reportedly cannot accommodate the amount of water and as such overflowed into nearby rice lands and residential areas.

At the Good Hope, Riverstown and Red Lock, the relief structures were opened in an effort to assist

Massive overflowing at Capoey

with draining the water off the land. Dredging has since commenced at Unu Creek in Cullen and according to Region Two Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah, engineers as well as Drainage and Irrigation workers are working overtime to widen the area.

Corrective measures taken

Coonjah assured that necessary corrective measures were taken in the Onderneeming Sand pit area where massive flooding was reported. The water however, continues to

flow into residential lands and calls have since been made on the Communities Ministry to provide proper infrastructure.

Mini excavators were dispatched to various areas along the coast to conduct emergency works which in-

clude the clearing of clogged trenches. Many residents continue to fill sand bags, forming mini walls to halt the flow of water.

No major breaches were recorded to date, however, all pumps are operable except for one at Charity. Residents reported that since the flooding commenced; only Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt and Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah have visited from the RDC. Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson has only visited Queenstown and Dartmouth communities thus far. Residents of Onderneeming are in high praise of the regional engineers, for their prompt actions.

However, Rice lands remain under water and rice farmers are currently monitoring the situation. Several farmers in Hampton Court, Devonshire Castle and Windsor Castle continue to pump water off their lands.

GRIF to enable more training Linden Hospital CEO reinstated opportunities under SBB

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ive key areas of training will be available to persons from all 10 administrative regions under the Business Bureau (SBB).

The training will be financed from funding from the Guyana REDD + Investment Fund (GRIF), towards the cost of the Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) Development Livelihoods for Vulnerable Groups Project, the Government Information Agency (GINA) stated in a release.

The GRIF is being managed by the Inter-American Bank (IDB) and the venture targets small businesses and micro and small enterprises operating in the low carbon sector.

Finance Officer of the SBB, Simon Pollard, said the main purpose of the project is to assist Government in its green economy drive, thereby reducing carbon emissions and deforestation, hence businesses in the low carbon sector will be giving priority.

Training will be conducted in sustainable mining, sustainable forestry, cosmetology, soap manufacturing and skin cream/body lotion manufacturing.

These specialised training programmes will be implemented so as to improve the technical capacity of the project’s beneficiaries to further develop their product lines, while ensuring that the merchandise are of acceptable standard.

This technical knowledge will be disseminated to SBB

SBB Finance Officer, Simon Pollard

clients through sector clusters within the administrative regions, GINA outlined.

Pollard said that the SBB is asking for specialists to conduct the training so that the young entrepreneurs selected will see their businesses grow, and understand clearly how the products are made and contribute to Guyana’s economy.

The SBB is currently advertising for consulting services to conduct training in the five selected areas. It was however noted that advertising is not only being done locally but also on international websites such as the United Nations and the Caribbean Community.

The consulting services are required to develop curriculum and execute specialised training programmes for the MSE Development Livelihoods for Vulnerable Groups Project. Consultants will be selected in accordance

with the procedures set out by the IDB’s policies for the selection and contracting of consultants and is open to all eligible bidders.

Pollard, in explaining the selection process for the training, pointed out that persons must have an established business (however if they have a business idea and need training the SBB will help as far as possible), and be a member of the SBB. He said too that persons will be selected from all 10 administrative regions because the SBB’s mandate is to ensure that every region is touched, and that the Bureau will look at the needs assessment of its clients in relation to the five identified areas and select persons from there as well.

Pollard said that the project has two components – access to finance and business development training.

He explained that persons can receive grants

to the value of up to $300,000 under the Low Carbon Development Grant Scheme, once businesses reach the criteria.

“Our goal is to ensure that after the training these people are fully equipped to see their business become viable, also to see them contributing to the economy, to see them creating jobs, as well for young people and persons within their respective regions,” he said.

The Finance Officer said that there is a follow-up process, whereby officers go into the field to ensure that persons who were trained and will be trained put into practice what they were taught. He noted that there are some instances whereby persons require additional training, in which the SBB is willing to assist.

The GRIF will end this year and Pollard said the SBB is hoping that the GRIF’s 2002 five-year grant funding will be extended with the intention that there will be a phase two of training which they hope comes into effect in the next few years.

Pollard noted that during the last four years, a lot was done and he believes that in the final year, more things will be happening.

For the last half of 2016, a tremendous amount of training was done in all administrative regions.

Training for this phase project will last for five months and at the end, participants will receive certificates.

― following petition by staff, GPSU rep

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ollowing the completion of his annual leave, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), Dr Farouk Riyasat has been reinstated to his post.

Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Representative Maurice Butters has confirmed that Dr Riyasat was reinstated.

Over a hundred employees within the medical institution recently signed a petition against an alleged proposition to have the CEO removed from the post and replaced by a “Junior” medical practitioner. The petition was also supported

by Butters, who had publicly appealed to the Public Health Ministry to look into the situation. According to the GPSU representative, the proposed decision to have the CEO replaced was based on a recommendation by the medical institution’s Board Chairman, Mortimer Mingo, and Vice Chairman Valerie Sharpe-Patterson.

During an interview with the media last month, the GPSU representative explained that he was reliably informed of the decision during a visit to the Public Health Ministry.

Butters noted that he was also informed then that a letter was with the Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Trevor Thomas, proposing the appointment of junior physician, Dr Quincy Jones, who recently returned from training in Cuba.

According to the GPSU representative, he was fur-

ther informed that the information which reached the Permanent Secretary stated that this was a recommendation of the hospital’s Board, but he refuted the alleged claim, stating that there was no such discussion by the Board. Butters had also maintained that the decision was a unilateral one by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board.

“Based on my knowledge, and I was there at the last meeting, this matter was never discussed at the Board”, Butters had said.

Before such a decision is made, the GPSU representative stated that the CEO should be given at least a month’s notice in addition to the position for the post being advertised to be filled.

He added also that the Board was informed during a previous visit by Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton that it has no legal standing, therefore it cannot make policy decisions.

Butters further stressed that staff were not comfortable with the proposed decision, noting that Dr Riyasat is one of the most senior and experienced practitioners at the hospital and to replace him would be an injustice to the people of Linden. He added that through its present CEO, there has been improved relations between management and the Union.

In a letter addressed to Dr George Norton dated November 8, 2016, employees had appealed to the Minister not to support the proposition to have the CEO replaced.

guyanatimesgy.com

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uyanese fashion icon, Sonia Noel, is celebrating two decades in the fashion industry this year and she is going “Beyond the Runway” – A milestone that was not a smooth flow but rather one with challenges, long nights and days and sometimes little time for the family.

Her success has definitely centred on the commitment, dedication and inspiration she gained from many with whom she came in contact with.

Her passion for fashion grew after attending several high-level fashion shows and thought that with so much talent in Guyana, she should promote such. She has worked with a number of local designs who are now the faces of some of their products.

The small town girl who hails from Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) dreamt big and had the belief that nothing was impossible once you set your mind to reaching that goal. That dream started in her hometown and blossomed to the entire world.

“My Home Economics teacher Morna Quamina Lee told me years later that when I stood up in her class at 14 and told her I wanted to be a designer she thought that I was crazy coming from a mining town with such a dream and that it wasn’t possible. She also confessed that she thought I was brave because it was her secret desire to be a designer too,” Noel explained.

As a primary school child, she taught her peers to make dolls’ clothing out of newspaper. Her aunt would go through her wardrobe to gather the pieces that she did not want and altered them for her creative niece.

Although her first love was fashion, not many options were available to her. She wanted to give back to her community and she decided to be a teacher at the Bartica Community High School where she taught for two years. Through the years she was also designing for

herself, friends and family.

I n her early twenties, she took a leap of faith and started her own boutique, M a r i s k a ’s Fashion, named after her elder daughter. She sold imported clothing but continued to wear

outfits that she designed and people became interested in what she was wearing. A few years later, she launched Mariska’s Designs.

H e r designs can be worn at any

occasion, ranging from a normal day at the beach to a ballroom setting.

During her years in business, she has dressed from housewives to First Ladies.

Noteworthy, however, was Michelle Williams’ inclusion in her touring wardrobe of a poncho from Sonia’s “First Resort” collection, during her stint with FELA. Only recently, wife of renowned St Lucian Jazz musician, Ronald “Boo” Hinkson, who attended this year’s 58th annual Grammys as a judge, caused heads to turn in a Sonia Noel designed outfit.

Noel has received many local, regional and international awards for her contribution to the fashion industry and her philanthropic work. She founded Guyana Fashion Weekend in 2007 and Guyana Model Search and Designers Portfolio in

friday, january 6, 2017

2008.

She p r o v e d her mettle by participating in many significant fashion events and exhibitions throughout the Caribbean, US, Canada, Spain, China, India and London. She was featured in numerous publications around the world.

Her inclusion as one of the seven regional designers selected to show in Fashion Engage London 2012, during the Olympics, is another distinctive achievement which serves to distinguish her as pro-actively championing Caribbean fashion.

The Guyanese designer is a peculiar mix of

designer powerhouse and savvy businesswoman.

Back in 2008, the Government of Guyana commissioned her to head the fashion component of Carifesta X, which proved to be one of, if not the most, comprehensive programmes at that event.

Always on the cutting edge, she creates and contributes projects that indulge her humanitarian side. She is forever donating to a cause which includes producing an annual charity show “Style Mission”, which raises funds for a selected charity.

From the dispossessed to the differently able, from the street urchin to the senior citizen, from the cancer stricken to the AIDS afflicted, giving hope to those who feel abandoned, even to providing homes, this caring individual sees it as her duty to give back to her fellow citizens.

Noel has a number of activities and events to mark this major milestone in her life.

Last year, she launched “Conversations and Clothing with Sonia Noel” in Guyana and had a successful tour in the US with this new concept.

Now she is beginning this celebration with “Beyond the Runway”.

“I have been fortunate and thankful for supportive family, genuine friends, great colleagues and God for blessing me with my talents and giving me the vision to use it. I have ? truly ? found my purpose”, she noted. ?

When we hear or see the word runway, we think about models, designers, clothing etc.? When the name Sonia Noel is mentioned with runway, it most definitely has to be about fashion.?

They are so many exciting and empowering things beyond the runway –meaningful things that can motivate and inspire the lives of many with the aim of having a better quality of life.

These exciting programmes will be created for TV, radio and newspaper columns in Guyana and the Caribbean commencing this weekend. Only recently bestowed with a doctorate, Noel has extended an invitation to one and all to join her on this exciting journey she refers to as “Beyond The Runway”.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, january 6, 2017

“Feel the Rhythm of the Drums”

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for Botanical Gardens on January 15

t’s the New Year and the Majek Fingers Drumming School which has been creating some vibes in the United States is preparing to host its signature event titled “Feel the Rhythm of the Drums” on Sunday, January 15, at the Botanical Gardens.

The Drum Circle is slated to commence at 15:00h and the organisers promise that it will be a beautiful afternoon showcasing talent galore. The event serves as an opportunity to showcase the African cultural heritage and more importantly, the skills and talents from citizens across the country. The drumming circle is based on community-building and will be showcasing unity of the art, and among people. The Majek Fingers Drumming School located at John and Norton Streets, Georgetown, was founded by Orlando Primo, the brother of Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo with the mission of providing a culturally focused, educational support to Guyanese in the music industry. One of its main objectives is to provide an understanding of cultural behaviours and cultural transformation, thus helping to sustain the dying musical art within Guyana. Admission to “Feel the Rhythm of the Drums” is absolutely free.

Reigning Chutney King opens recording studio

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ith just a few recording studios for local artistes to record their songs, they are forced to leave Guyana and travel to Trinidad and Tobago to do so, but this is about to change with the opening of Bunty Kris Valarie Janvi (BKVJ) Recording Studio at Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice.

The studio is owned by reigning Chutney Monarch Bunty Singh who started his career as a musician and vocalist. His one aim was to open his own recording studio since there were not many locally. Years ago, chutney singers had to resort to using the Shakti Strings Recording Studio, which is operated by the Samaroo family.

He thought that one day, chutney music should be recorded at the highest standard and that is his only aim. Most of the young artistes are now travelling to Berbice to have their tunes recorded and more importantly, the reigning Chutney King has more time to record his tunes at home which are being played on local airwaves on a regular basis.

Since the establishment of the studio, several known artistes have recorded their songs at BTVJ, including Prince JP who now resides overseas, Haresh Singh, Roger Hinds, Wata Flow and others.

Only recently, Guyana’s own Terry Gajraj recorded two songs at the studio and was impressed at the standard in which they were recorded. He feels that local artistes now have a place to record their songs rather than travelling abroad to do so.

On this note, Bunty Singh and Terry Gajraj will soon release a song they recorded together.

However, apart from the chutney vibes, Singh has started to record soca music and is hopeful that one day the copyright laws are enacted.

Vybz Kartel Birth Night Bash for Club 704

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ne of Guyana’s premiere entertainment groups, Hits and Jams Entertainment has undoubtedly had a slow 2016 in terms of promoting entertainment events and 2017 does not seem promising at all.

Known for pulling off some of the biggest concerts in the past, the entertainment group is now regrouping from the worst possible year for the entertainment industry. Several other entertainment groups have moved away from the “fetes” and concerts and towards hosting concept parties as was seen during the C h r i s t m a s holidays.

This year, with Mashramani back on the cards, the entertainment group is hoping to have a few small parties.

The first is expected to be a Pre-Mash party and a possible J’Ouvert style party leading up to the costume and float parade.

Management of the entertainment group is now in talks with corporate Guyana with the aim of having a band on the road come February 23. Once

all goes well, an announcement will be made.

In addition, the annual ‘Soca Camp Fire’ will be held at the Hits and Jams Water World and a possible Mash Night wash down is on the cards. This will feature local and Caribbean artistes.

After Mashramani, the next big thing would have been the annual Jamzone but HJ

is still contemplating. “As the year progresses, we will see what can be done in terms of entertainment events but as of now, we are keeping things small,” Kerwin Bollers told Guyana Times Entertainment. He added that it is expected to be a tough year in 2017 but hopes that the spending power of the public will be better.

A

s the King of Portmore Empire celebrates his birthday behind bars in Jamaica, his Guyanese fans are all hyped and ready to celebrate at an event called “Hey Addi” at Club 704 on Saturday evening. At this event, the Guyanese ‘Gaza’ fans will continue their campaign titled “Free World Boss 2017”. This event promises to be epic and will see lots of ‘Gaza’ fans walking away with lots of great prizes. On the night of the event, 500 compact discs with the best tunes of the “World Boss” will be distributed, including a few new releases. In addition, lucky patrons can win two air tickets to Jamaica, complements of Fly Jamaica as well as 25 T-shirts with the face of Vybz Kartel will be up for grabs. The T-shirts can be won during a mini karaoke competition that will only feature songs of the Jamaican dancehall artiste.

Apart from all the giveaways, Guyana’s Gaza King, Deejay Garwin, will be in the house and will definitely set the place on fire with his talent and mad vibes. Admission to “Hey Addi” is $2000. Patrons are encouraged to be at Club 704 early to avoid the long lines of Kartel fans that are expected to attend.

19

friDAY, january 6, 2017

Younis stands firm but Australia in control

G

Azhar Ali's run-out ended a stubborn 146-run stand

ood things come to those who wait. For the SCG the pace pair to spin for the first 12 overs of the day. In crowd it was a couple of sessions of full-blooded play that time Azhar evaded a close lbw shout from Hazlewood after waiting more than four hours in the rain. For when on 59, the ball hitting leg stump but not enough to Younis Khan it was a first century in Australia at the end overrule the on-field call.

A couple of other shots fell fractionally short of the of a barren tour. For Australia, it was a rush of wickets to give them a firm grip of the Pink Test with two days left. fielders, and when Lyon was introduced he was able to The wickets were as much due to Pakistan's inatten- gain some appreciable turn. However Azhar's run-out was tion as Australia's excellence, with Azhar Ali and the cap- the only wicket, as Misbah hung on grimly in Younis' more tain Misbah-ul-Haq most due for introspection after falling comfortable company until tea. prey to a run-out and a slog at Nathan Lyon, respectively.

Asad Shafiq fell to a sublime catch by Steven Smith when he was already appealing for lbw, while Sarfraz Ahmed was accounted for by the extra bounce of the new ball in Mitchell Starc's hands.

Play was delayed until 2.45pm by light but persistent showers, reducing the minimum overs to be bowled to 54.

Younis, though, was unperturbed by the break, continuing in a methodical manner on resumption and working his way towards a century. The milestone made him the only man to have a made a century in all 10 Test-playing nations plus Pakistan's adopted home in the UAE. He was, however, complicit in the critical run-out of Azhar, who made it as far as 71 before he was undone by the combination of a ball driven fractionally out of the reach of mid-on - whom he had to wait for - and the strong left arm of Starc, who threw adroitly to the substitute gloveman Peter Handscomb; Matthew Wade being off the field and back at the team hotel with illness.

There had been some reverse-swing for Starc and Josh Younis Khan cuts hard as Peter Handscomb watches on Hazlewood when play began, the captain Smith preferring One of the more intriguing duels in this series has been that between Misbah and Lyon; more or less the inverse of how things panned out in the UAE in 2014. While Misbah has tried to attack Lyon in the old familiar style, balls have been going to hand rather than over the boundary, and so it was again when he swung for the Bill O'Reilly Stand and 5 Australia 1st innings 538/8 dec. Yasir Shah not out could only find the substitute fielder Jackson Bird.

Extras (b-3)3 Pakistan 1st innings (Overnight 126/2) At the other end Steve O'Keefe bowled neatly, challengTotal (8 wickets; 95 overs)271 ing the stumps from wide of the crease, and was going up Azhar Ali run out (Starc/ To bat Imran Khan Handscomb) 71 to appeal against Shafiq when a ball skidded on seemingly Fall of wickets 1-6 (Sharjeel Sharjeel Khan c Renshaw b past the inside edge. Smith was up too, but somehow comKhan, 3.1 ov), 2-6 (Babar Hazlewood 4 Azam, 3.5 ov), 3-152 (Azhar posed himself to claim a one-handed catch via Handscomb's Ali, 53.2 ov), 4-178 (MisbahBabar Azam lbw b Hazlewood 0 leg, which replays showed was the mode of dismissal due to ul-Haq, 65.6 ov), 5-197 (Asad Younis Khan not out 136 the the thinnest of deflections from the bat.

Shafiq, 72.4 ov), 6-239 (Sarfraz Misbah-ul-Haq* c sub (JM Bird) Sarfraz showed his familiar attacking intent but was Ahmed, 82.3 ov), 7-244 b Lyon 18 unable to get over the new ball, offering another chance (Mohammad Amir, 85.5 ov), Asad Shafiq c Smith b O'Keefe 4 8-264 (Wahab Riaz, 93.1 ov) well held by Bird. Mohammad Amir showed rather less Sarfraz Ahmed† c sub (JM Bird) composure than he had done on previous visits to the midBowling MA Starc 21b Starc 18 5-65-1, JR Hazlewood 25dle, swishing Lyon heedlessly to mid-off. When Wahab Mohammad Amir c Warner b Ly 7-53-2, SNJ O'Keefe 18-3Riaz was bowled by Lyon's sharp offbreak in the penultion 4 37-1, NM Lyon 27-2-98-3, mate over Australia were very much ascendant, in spite of Wahab Riaz b Lyon 8 HWR Cartwright 4-0-15-0 Younis' best efforts. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Lynn's six-heavy 98* flattens Scorchers C

hris Lynn bulldozed the Perth Scorchers in the willing company of Brendon McCullum to offer the Brisbane Heat a rich reward - top spot on the table - at the end of the longest road trip of the Big Bash League.

The Scorchers thought themselves well placed at the end of their 20 overs, having put up more than 170 via the power-hitting of the sometime Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. They also had a handsome defensive record to call on.

However Lynn and McCullum made short work of the tally, in the process marking the Heat as a team capable of chasing any total, anywhere, and any time during this tournament.

Eleven sixes. Eleven, seriously. There had been Australian summers in the past where that figure would have been considered a decent tally for an entire season, yet the cool-handed Queenslander was able to put that many beyond the WACA Ground's boundaries in the course of a single innings.

In the process, Lynn hammered his 26th six of the BBL, more than any other team, let alone any other player. The pick of them? Arguably one off Andrew Tye to wide long-on that challenged Mark Waugh's blow off the bowling of the Heat coach Daniel Vettori in a 1997 Test match as the biggest-ever struck at the ground.

Of course it all may have been different when David Willey hung onto a chance at the Prindiville Stand end of the ground off the bowling of Ashton Agar. It was nicely taken apart from the fact the fielder had stood on the boundary rope before tossing the ball back towards the field of play, thus reprieving Lynn to carry on with his long-hitting feats.

While Lynn's effort was pivotal, the fact that much of his innings was played with a negligible required rate to consider was once again down to the Heat's bowlers, albeit without the services of Samuel Badree, left out in favour of Nathan Reardon. Instead the spin responsibility fell upon Mitchell Swepson, who responded grandly.

Crucially, his first over went for a measly two runs and also featured the wicket of Ian Bell. When he followed up by deceiving Shaun Marsh two overs later, Swepson had put the Heat well on the path to restricting the Scorchers to a total within Lynn's ample reach. Swepson did his Australia chances no harm this night.

Victory in Perth catapulted the Heat to top spot, usurping the Scorchers in the process. This was a win for an aggressive team over opponents who pride themselves on restriction of a batting side, and for the moment there seems no way of containing Lynn in particular.

Both sides, however, look sure of a spot in the semi-finals.

The only question is which one will emerge at the end of the minor rounds with the right to a home semi and also the final, should they get that far. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Perth Scorchers innings (20 overs maximum) M Klinger* c Steketee b Wildermuth 14 SE Marsh c Buchanan b Swepson32 IR Bell c †Peirson b Swepson 11 MR Marsh c & b Steketee 70 AJ Turner c Cutting b Buchanan 11 SM Whiteman† c & b Buchanan5 AC Agar not out 13 DJ Willey not out5 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 173 Did not batMG Johnson, AJ Tye, JA Richardson Fall of wickets 1-21 (Klinger, 3.3 ov), 2-41 (Bell, 6.5 ov), 3-79 (SE Marsh, 10.3 ov), 4-113 (Turner, 14.2 ov), 5-146 (Whiteman, 17.3 ov), 6-155 (MR Marsh, 18.2 ov)

Bowling MT Steketee 4-031-1 (w-1), JD Wildermuth 4-0-32-1, ND Buchanan 4-042-2 (w-4), BCJ Cutting 4-034-0, MJ Swepson 4-0-27-2 Brisbane Heat innings JJ Peirson† b Willey18 BB McCullum* not out50 CA Lynn not out 98 Extras (lb-6, w-1, nb-1) 8 Total (1 wicket; 14.4 overs)174 Did not bat AI Ross, JA Burns, NJ Reardon, BCJ Cutting, JD Wildermuth, ND Buchanan, MT Steketee, MJ Swepson Fall of wickets 1-26 (Peirson, 2.3 ov) Bowling DJ Willey 2-0-301 (nb-1), AJ Turner 1-0-3-0, AC Agar 3.4-0-36-0, AJ Tye 3-0-30-0, JA Richardson 1-014-0 (w-1), MG Johnson 2-023-0, MR Marsh 2-0-32-0

20

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

FRIDAY, january 6, 2017

Kagiso Rabada

outh Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Test series by claiming the last six wickets before lunch on the fourth morning at Newlands as Sri Lanka continued their ill-disciplined ways, a Test side irredeemably trapped in limited-overs mode. On the evidence of their tour of England last summer, and now here, in a changing cricketing world their appetite for the Test game cannot entirely be taken for granted.

The chief beneficiary of Sri Lanka's faulty mindset was fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who took four more wickets to finish with 6 for 55 and ten in the match for next to nothing.

Rabada's graceful fast bowling has been one of the delights of the past year.

That said, he is too talented and level headed to become over-excited about the praise that will fall upon him. A gentle shake of the head at a gimme wicket after Dinesh

Rabada takes 10, South Africa take series

Chandimal chipped a stray delivery to square leg served as the perfect image of a morning when several gifts were bestowed upon him.

His realism did him great credit.

Sri Lanka had anticipated a possible Test return to South Africa next year, but suggestions are growing that they might be jilted in favour of India. A 206-run win in Port Elizabeth has been followed by a 282-run margin in Cape Town. Big countries like to win; they also like to feel they have been in a fight.

Far from being a surface that was unfairly doctored to home team demands, this Newlands pitch possessed enough pace and bounce to provide captivating cricket and reward good batsmen and bowlers alike. Vibrant cricket is interesting cricket.

Concentration needed other companions, not least cricketing nous and bloody-mindedness. Sri Lanka, overly given to limited-overs habits, were not up to it.

Rabada has looked a grand fast bowler in the making ever since he made his mark in Test cricket in South Africa's home series against England, his action smooth, his development fast and his demeanour underlining that successful fast bowling does not necessarily have to come with glares and curses.

Sri Lanka, resuming on 130 for 4, retained three specialist batsmen as they sought to delay South Africa's victory. All tossed their wickets aside like picture cards on top of a trump. Within 40 minutes, Rabada had dismissed not only Chandimal, but Upul Tharanga and the captain Angelo Mathews.

If anybody still wondered why Tharanga, a one-day opener, is carded in a Test to follow a group of ingénues and bat at No 7, his innings provided the answer. Met by a posse of close fielders, Tharanga struck three of his first

Abbott's Test career over as Hampshire move is confirmed

K

yle Abbott's international career has effectively been ended following the second Test against Sri Lanka after talks with Cricket South Africa failed to dissuade him from accepting a Kolpak deal with Hampshire.

ESPNcricinfo broke the news of Abbott's signing on Tuesday, of which CSA had no knowledge. The board has spent the last two days in meetings with Abbott's agent, Weber van Wyk, but they were unable to come to any arrangement that will convince Abbott to stay in South Africa, and his contract has been terminated with immediate effect. It was also confirmed that batsman Rilee Rossouw will be joining Abbott at Hampshire, also on a Kolpak deal. "It has been one of the hardest decisions I've had to make but it is the right decision for me," Abbott said after the second Test concluded. "There have been a few evenings where I have gone to sleep wondering if I made the right decision and woken up in the morning knowing I have.

The last few months [since I made the decision], it's about playing with the weight off my shoulders. In the last few months, I have never felt far away from being dropped.

I've now played thinking if

I do, it doesn't matter. I am really enjoying it. If I wasn't committed to South African cricket, I would have done this a long time ago.

"February would be four years since my international debut. Ever since I played in South Africa, at every level, there has always been a quota system. I have never used it as an excuse and I won't now. I need to pay bills, I need to buy groceries."

Faf du Plessis, South Africa's captain, said: "That was not the way we wanted. It was something that we didn't expect and it was out of our control. We did get together and spoke to Kyle and tried to change his mind.

Kyle had already set up what he wanted to do. Then it was just about me making sure the boys were focused on the job at hand. The boys were brilliant. Even Kyle. He wanted to make sure everything was about the team.

I'm a little bit upset that Kyle couldn't get one or two wickets. I would have liked to see him do well in his last outing."

Addressing the broader issues which have led to Abbott's decision to turn his back on international cricket at the age of 29, du Plessis said there were factors that needed to be addressed.

"It's a red flag," he said.

"We have to address it. As the Proteas and as CSA, we need to make sure it doesn't happen. It is always going to be a challenge. The foreign currency is something that will always be there. It's too important and too valuable to say that whatever happens, happens and there will be players to fill the gap. That's not good enough.

"Opportunity, money, transformation. There are a lot of factors guys will look at as their excuse or as their reason. What Kyle's is, I am not sure. Every single reason is a concern. He is someone who has not been sure for a period of time. He wants security."

On the reasons for Abbott not being given the final Test, du Plessis said: "I want him playing for South Africa.

He is not going to be part of our team so if he is not going to be part of our team, it's time to move on. I respect his decision but I don't agree with it.

"Six months ago, I could have understood it more.

Sitting here today, I don't understand it as well. I am extremely surprised. I care so much about him that I want him to play for South Africa, I want him to do well and

balls for four with the air of a man who had no intention of hanging around. His downfall came in Rabada's next over when he cut at a wide one which did not get up and under-edged to the keeper.

Rabada's next two wickets did have intrinsic worth.

Mathews' attempt to drive a back-of-a-length ball of the back foot was exposed by challenging pace and bounce. And the dismissal of Suranga Lakmal was excellent: two hostile short balls in a row, the first of them fended uncertainly to short leg, the second deflecting off the glove to the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. Even then, with four wickets in a spell, Rabada's response was gentle.

Amid all this mayhem, Kyle Abbott's final Test could hardly have been more commonplace. Abbott pounded a challenging line, but to no avail: wicketless in the match, the only figures that mattered being the financial ones variously on

offer from Hampshire and Cricket South Africa.

Rangana Herath collected an unbeaten 35 while South Africa awaited the kill. It came with de Kock's stumping of Lahiru Kumara as he

made room to drive Keshav Maharaj through the off side and, finally, the splaying of Nuwan Pradeep's stumps

by Vernon Philander. And Johannesburg is next, the most demanding test of all.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD South Africa 1st innings 392 Sri Lanka 1st innings 110 South Africa 2nd innings 224 Sri Lanka 2nd innings (Overnight 130/4; target: 507 runs) FDM Karunaratne b Philander 6 JK Silva c Cook b Rabada 29 BKG Mendis c Elgar b Philander4 DM de Silva lbw b Rabada 22 AD Mathews* c †de Kock b Rabada 49 LD Chandimal† c Cook b Rabada 30 WU Tharanga c †de Kock b Rabada 12 HMRKB Herath not ou t 35

RAS Lakmal c †de Kock b Rabada 10 CBRLS Kumara st †de Kock b Maharaj 9 N Pradeep b Philander 5 Extras (b-6, lb-5, nb-2)13 Total (all out; 62 overs)224 Fall of wickets 1-11 (Karunaratne, 5.6 ov), 2-25 (Mendis, 9.3 ov), 3-66 (Silva, 23.2 ov), 4-69 (de Silva, 25.3 ov), 5-144 (Chandimal, 45.1 ov), 6-165 (Tharanga, 47.1 ov), 7-166 (Mathews, 47.6 ov), 8-178 (Lakmal, 51.5 ov), 9-211 (Kumara, 58.5 ov), 10224 (Pradeep, 61.6 ov) Bowling KJ Abbott 15-3-46-0, VD Philander 14-1-48-3 (nb1), K Rabada 17-3-55-6 (nb1), KA Maharaj 16-3-64-1

Brathwaite to replace Russell

Rilee Rossouw

perform on the biggest stage on the world because I think he is an amazing cricketer and that's the place to be. I am disappointed for those reasons."

Hampshire have confirmed that Abbott's county deal is for four years Rossouw is joining the club on a three-year deal - and, with the series already decided, it is understood the selectors viewed Abbott's impending exit as an opportunity to blood another bowler ahead of tours to New Zealand and England later this year. Wayne Parnell is already in the squad as a reserve seamer but, with four seamers being a possibility in Johannesburg, and Morne Morkel yet to recover fully from a back injury, Knights seamer Duanne Olivier, who tops the first-class wicket charts, has been called up.

Several other South Africans are believed to be considering similar options to Abbott and Rossouw."If somebody gives up their right to play for the Proteas, there's not much more we can do," said Haroon Lorgat, CSA's chief executive.

"Instead of crying over spilt milk, we will invest in future Proteas." (ESPNcricinfo)

Carlos Brathwaite will turn out for Sydney Thunders in the BBL

W

est Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite has been drafted by Australia Big Bash League team Sydney Thunders to replace injured compatriot Andre Russell.

Russell was ruled out of the rest of the tournament on Thursday after picking up a hamstring injury in the Thunders six-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars on Wednesday. The injury was the latest in a string of ailments Russell had suffered throughout the tournament, having also been plagued by hamstring and knee problems. Thunders coach Paddy Upton credited the Russell for his professionalism despite undergoing a difficult spell.

"It's been a very tough period of his career with his pending judgment hanging over his head and to also be carrying a long standing injury into this tournament," Upton told Espncricinfo. "It's credit to his professionalism and commitment to his game and Thunder that he's stuck it out."

Russell is also currently awaiting a ruling from the Jamaican Anti-doping body regarding a series of missed drugs tests.

The Barbadian Brathwaite is best known for his outstanding performance in the World T20 final where he struck four sixes in the final over to give the West Indies a thrilling win over England. He, however, also enjoyed some success in Australia with the regional team on tour last year.

“He's a top quality cricketer and person, which ticks the two big boxes when it comes to Thunder recruiting players,” Upton said.(Sportsmax)

YELLOW PAGES friDAY, january 6, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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Guyana’s velodrome closer to reality

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Long serving member of the cycling fraternity, National Cycling Coach, Hassan Mohamed has made it clear that there are a number of benefits in having a velodrome or even a cycling track in the country. Among the positives,

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Mohamed related that it was his vision to have a track right at the National Stadium with an athletic track inside as well as a football field within the 400 meter track.

Director of Sport,

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The prospects of a velodrome could be looking up

Mohamed pointed out that this will help to improve the competition in the local arena and will in turn make our riders better when they go on the international scene.

Another benefit of having this is that it will attract a number of tourists since Guyana will host cycling tournaments, the idea he has scene in Caribbean Islands visited during his career.

“You can’t want someone to break a record on a small track he has to do it on a 333.33 track, Barbados has a 500 meters but it is better than nothing.” The National Cycling Coach said, add-

Christopher Jones said “I would have recognized the call or should I say the louder call for such a facility in the later part of 2016, unfortunately that wasn’t filtered into the request of the 2017 budget allocation but of course in 2017 we are looking at the feasibility for that and of course after a the study a submission will be done for 2018.” However, this is not dampening the spirits of having the track as he noted “there is hope that this will happen.”

As it relates to location, there has always been talks about where it would be, some years ago identifying a

firm whether or not we can see the provision for such a facility being available for 2018,” Jones stated.

It was reported in sections of the media in June 2016, that President of Guyana, His Excellency David Granger says that his government is willing to consider the erection of an international cycling facility at Durban Park and will be making a decision shortly.

In the Caribbean, Guyana is one of the few countries without a cycling track. Trinidad, Suriname, Barbados and Jamaica all have cycling stadiums.

Murray remains on course for Djokovic showdown

S

ir Andy Murray progressed to the Qatar Open semi-finals by beating Spain's Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-4) 7-5.

The top seed was broken in his opening service game by 31-year-old Almagro, ranked 44th in the world, but recovered to take the first set tie-break.

The pair exchanged breaks early in the second set before Murray prevailed.

Murray will face third seed Tomas Berdych in the semis and, if he progresses, could meet Novak Djokovic in Saturday's final.

Djokovic, whom Murray replaced as world number one in November, beat veteran Radek Stepanek 6-3 6-3 in their quarter-final to book a meeting with Fernando Verdasco of Spain in the last four.

Elsewhere, Britain's Aljaz Bedene beat Slovakia's Martin Klizan to reach the quarter-finals of the Chennai Open in India.

And Australia's Nick Kyrgios was beaten 6-2 6-2 by Jack Sock at the mixed teams Hopman Cup, in the tie between Australia and the United States.

Kyrigos was defeated in under an hour and later pulled out of the mixed doubles event with a knee problem.

His injury comes less than two weeks before the Australian Open - the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne. (BBC Sport)

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friDAY, january 6, 2017

WICB/PCL Regional Super50 2017...

Head Coach Esuan Crandon

By Akeem Greene

H

Jaguars focusing on solidifying top order ― Crandon

aving not tasted Championships spoils in a Regional 50-over tournament since the 2005 KFC Cup where they defeated Barbados by seven runs (D/L) at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Head Coach of the Guyana Jaguars Esuan Crandon is of the view that once the team can solidify their top order; they can reap more success in limited over competitions.

Speaking to <<Guyana Times Sport>> after the team’s training session at the National Stadium on Thursday, Crandon revealed that, “this year when we look to select we will be looking at areas such as batting positions especially at the top of the order, we are trying to rectify that area since we have not been successful in that area.”

He further stated that “when we look back and did some research on the numbers in our past tournaments, when our top four did well we won most of our matches so if we can do those things we can win games and even the competition since our bowling is good with the guys restricting teams.”

With rain hampering the training squad progress and considering the tournament begins on January 24 in Barbados and Antigua, the Jaguars had to resort to indoor session at Chetram Singh Indoor facility at La Bonne Intention (LBI) and got their first field session at the Stadium on

Thursday where they conducted a series of fielding drills targeted at team bonding and fitness after most the players would have a two-weeks lay-off and the former Guyana all-rounder feels the guys are showing good signs.

“Judging from yesterday and today, it does not look bad we have about 17 to 18 days to prepare the team and today we focused a lot on group work and other team bonding actives, everything is coming together we just need to continue working hard,” he explained.

Crandon who was a part of the team that won the last title bemoans not copping another since and says that he and the rest of the coaching staff will be doing the best to get the players in the best possible state to win the championship.

“To me it’s very disappointing, as I said to them, in 2017 one of wishes from the cricketing prospective is for us to win this title and see more of our players in the West Indies limited overs team,” said Crandon who took 29 wickets in his 28 matches at List A level.

He further stated, that “myself and the rest of the coaching staff will do our best to prepare this team to perform at their optimum levels… obviously, they have to perform on the field but we got to do a little more to give them the confidence that they can do it.”

Rajendra Chandrika (yellow top) and Bhaskar Yadram undergo a fitness drill under the watchful eyes of Coach Crandon at Providence on Thursday

The training Squad will return to Providence on Monday with the hope of getting their first session on the pitch.

The squad reads: Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, Raymon Reifer, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Keon Joseph, Paul Wintz, Christopher Barnwell, Chandrapal Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Romario Shepherd, Tevin

Imlach, Anthony Adams, Gudakesh Motie, Robin Bacchus, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Vishaul Singh, Jonathan Foo, Sherfane Rutherford, Royston Crandon, Clinton Pestano, Steven Jacobs, Eon Hooper and Kevon Boodie.

Fit again Jacobs seeking to retain place in Jaguars team

By Akeem Greene

T

he name Steven Anthony Jacobs would arise in most cricket discussions when one speaks of players who from their early years as youth cricketers seemed to be on a bullet train into the senior West Indies team. However, a drop in form combined with constant

Steven Jacobs started his career as a talented batsman and hopes he can return among the runs

injuries and perhaps a dip in confidence kept the talented cricketer from reaching the potential he showcased as youngster.

Now at 28 and with the Regional 50-over championship set to begin in just over two weeks in Barbados and Antigua, the player who recently recovered from a lowerback injury that kept him out of national colours for the large part of 2016, says that “he is fit and rearing to go once selected in the team.”

Jacobs, who made his List A debut in 2007, captaining the West Indies Under-19 team went on to play 30 matches to date taking 33 wickets at an average of 22.39 at an economy rate of 3.17. His aggregate with the bat has not been the most attractive with just one half-century. The right arm off spinner who last played for the Jaguars in January 2016, rated his 2016 as a good one and is happy to be fit.

“2016 was a very good year for me in terms of playing for Guyana Jaguars and playing for the Amazon warriors, I actually was injured last year but it is sports and these thing do happen and it’s how you work to get back from it; I think I have done sufficient work over the past couple of months to get back to full fitness and I’m looking forward to 2017,” the Malteenoes Sports Club player stated.

With his years in the nursery the right-hander was more known for this classy batting and tidy off-spin as support but as the cricketer become older, the roles reversed, becoming more a frontline spinner, especially in the shorter formats with the new ball.

Quizzed as to the reason for this, the player explained, “over the years growing up, the team was a very difficult team to make with all the batting stars we had, so I thought the opportunity was there to play as a spinner and it just continued from there, it is not something that I really had like but that is how I would play, I would continue to do work on my batting so when I get the opportunity to score some runs, I will be looking to step up in the

batting order but I’m pretty comfortable now.”

In the last 50-over tournament, the spinner was tied with medium pacer Paul Wintz with 10 wickets each as the second most successful Jaguars bowler. More so in the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), he only accounted for two wickets but had an impressive economy rate of 5.9 in his eight matches.

With such performances which unfortunately would not gain the limelight because of the lack of wickets attached or the match winning spell, the player still sees a future in West Indies cricket.

He explained, “As an off-spinner, over the years I have been among the top spinners in the Caribbean especially economy rate wise, I think if I continue with the same rate and hopefully some match winning performances and once I’m there in the Super 50 team and we can take it one more step, it could help to see more Guyanese in the West Indies limited overs team.”

In the semi-final last year against Trinidad and Tobago, Jacobs had figures of 2-12 from six overs but the team still lost to host by 54 runs which has kept Guyana without a title since they won the 2005 KFC Cup. Cognisant of the drought in titles, Jacobs is confident that regardless of the team selected for the Super 50, they will do well once they play as a team.

He posited, “I think it very important that we win, some of the senior guys have been talking since 2016 that we really want to win the one-day tournament because it’s something that has been eluding us all the time and we have been really pushing to get it; 2017 is a new year and the confidence is with the guys so once we can do the right things we can get it.”

Jacobs, who is part the of the 28-man training squad will have a chance to impress selectors in the some of the practice matches and various drills planned before the final 14 is named for the January 24 to February 18 tournament.

Plans afoot for NSC to adopt national park rugby field F

ollowing the success of the Guyana National Rugby teams in 2016, the sport has captured a particular interest by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and as such, the NSC will now move to “adopt” the facility.

According to Director of Sport, Christopher Jones the teams represented Guyana well and “the Sports Commission will very soon be meeting with the National Parks Commission with the view of sort of adopting the plot of land currently used by the rugby team.”

He noted that there will be a host of improvements on the grounds and it will be easier to facilitate these changes once under the care of the NSC. “We would be doing some infrastructural works there in terms of raising the ground and installing light fixtures for them,” the NSC boss stated.

The Director of Sport went on to point out that there are already interactions between the two interested parties and a positive feedback has been given.

“We would have already made the request from the parks commission, this would have been before the year concluded we are now in 2017 and we are just waiting on them to indicate the best suitable time hopefully by the end of January and once that would be had that's the direction we would be moving into,” Jones indicated.

A major achievement in 2016 was the men’s return to the top of regional rugby after winning the Rugby Americas North Sevens title, dethroning nemesis Trinidad and Tobago in the process while earning qualification for the prestigious 2017 Hong Kong Sevens. The sport also saw the re-emergence of the women’s team at the regional level which was another bright spark for the year.

Rugby players and officials have often complained of having to brave indifferent conditions in the national park since the ground is also used by persons playing other sport including cricket and football which leave the playing area unfavourable for the contact sport.

2 synthetic tracks better than 5

Minister with responsibility for Sport, Nicolette Henry

A

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friDAY, january 6, 2017

Director of Sport Christopher Jones

fter discussions with a track specialist from Trinidad and Tobago, it was disclosed that the advice given to the local the administration is ‘focus on two synthetic tracks for 2017 rather than the five’ as proposed by Minister with responsibility for Sport, Nicolette Henry.

Minister Henry, during her budget presentation for the 2017 year revealed a massive $538 million budget for sports and a sum of $210 Million for the construction of five synthetic tracks across the country.

The Minister recalled that the development of sports in Guyana remains high on the government’s agenda and the synthetic tracks will be laid in Regions 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10.

However, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones pointed out that while the Administration is committed to sport it may not be as feasible to focus on five tracks presently.

“In terms of the synthetic tracks we would have met with the consultant from Trinidad to get guidance from them in terms of how feasible it is to have all five tracks down at one time based on his guidance, I mean these are the experts in these fields that it is wise if we focus on two for 2017, do the preparation work and as we move into 2018, 2019 to complete those,” Jones stated.

Additionally, under the ground enhancement programme, $10M is allocated for the improvement of sporting infrastructure and sport facilities including the installation of internet where events will be streamed via the world wide web.

The government will work assiduously to prepare athletes, to not only participate in the 2020 Olympics, but given the requisite support and tools to compete, Minister Henry explained.

“Budget 2017 makes provision for support to our athletes, to benefit from training and development exposure,” Minister Henry stated.

Guyana’s lone synthetic track is at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara which many deem as being underutilized.

Berbice Cricket Umpires benefit from RHTY&SC

RHTY&SC, MS, Executive Member Sohan Harry makes a donation to BCUA President Joseph Simon

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S planned Calendar of 400-450 programmes activities for the year 2017 was launched on New Year’s Day with a donation to the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA). The Club donated twelve Umpires Polo T/Shirts, Trophies, Medals and other items to the BCUA to assist them to fulfil their mandate in 2017 and lift the level of cricket in the ancient county.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the Club has always enjoyed a cordial relationship with almost every cricketing organisation in the ancient county and has played a major role in assisting them to develop as the RHTY&SC, M.S was committed to lifting the event of Berbice Cricket to a higher level. The donation was approved by the Executive Committee of the Club after a formal request was made by the President of the BCUA, Joseph Simon.

The Polo T/Shirts would assist the umpires to be properly uniformed in matches while the medals and trophies would be used to honour outstanding umpires at an award ceremony. The other items are to be used at the annual umpires get together. The long serving Secretary/CEO hailed the Berbice Umpires as one of the pillars of Berbice Cricket and noted that over the years they have played a major role in making sure that the true tradition of the game is maintained.

Foster urged the umpires to uphold their professional standard and never allow judgement. All cricket clubs, he stated expects umpires to be unbiased and fair and noted that bad umpiring decisions can change the course of a game and even force people to quit the game completely.

President of the BCUA, Joseph Simon expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC, M.S for the timely contribution and stated that the Club over the years has assisted the Association on a regular basis. The RHTY&SC, he noted is committed to the development of Berbice Cricket and has never sought to influence professionalism of umpires. Simon also noted that the RHTY&SC organises numerous cricket tournaments every year and not only are umpires well reimbursed but are paid in advance.

In recognition of Foster’s contribution to the development umpiring in Berbice, the BCUA inducted the RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster as an Honorary Member.

Foster stated that he was honoured and humbled to become an Honorary Member of such a well-respected organisation and pledged his full cooperation towards lifting the standard of umpiring in Berbice.

He also committed the RHTY&SC, M.S to assist the BCUA more during the course of the year with the Berbice Cricket Board being injected and unable to fulfil all of its mandate, Foster stated that the RHTY&SC, M.S would strive to assist Cricket Clubs as much as possible and also arrange tournaments at the junior and senior levels so that new talents can be unearthed.

Bolt’s Coach against wiping out all existing records

G

len Mills, coach of the two fastest men in history – Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake – said he is not entirely in agreement with recent suggestions that track and field’s governing body, the IAAF, closing the book on existing world records and start anew.

The most recent suggestion came from Gianni Merlo, president of the International Press Association, who suggested that such a move would help the sport improve its image, tarnished by recent incidents of doping, most notably the recent scandal involving the reported widespread institutionalized doping of athletes uncovered in Russia.

There have also been incidents involving a number of African athletes who last year were arrested at a hotel in Spain in June 2016.

“If the fight against doping has come to this point, if it is as difficult as we all agree it is, then I think that the moment has arrived to close the world record books in athletics and open new ones,” Merlo said in an open letter to IAAF President Sebastian Coe. However, Mills, who has coached Usain

Glen Mills

Bolt to world records in the 100m (9.58) and 200m (19.19), believes that wiping the slate clean would be a disservice to athletes who are completing clean.

“It is a suggestion that has some merit but in the interest of balance, one is assuming that all records that are there are tainted and I do not believe so,” said the man who has steered Bolt to a historic three consecutive Olympic 100m and 200m titles.

“How do you address the injustice that would be done to those who worked hard to achieve excellence?”

Mills was not alone in his stance against Merlo’s suggestion.

Former Olympic high jump champion Stefka Kostadinova has also hit out as the proposal.

The 51-year-old Kostadinova, who is still the world record holder with a jump of 2.09 metres from the 1987 world championships in Rome, said the suggestion of expunging all existing records would be “unfair to all (athletes) who absolutely honestly reached the peak of their careers.” (Sportsmax)

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Plans afoot for NSC to adopt National Park rugby field

Pg 23

The current state of the rugby field at the National Park in Georgetown

WICB/PCL Regional Super50 2017...

Jaguars focusing on solidifying top order ― Crandon

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The Guyana Jaguars 28-man squad listen attentively to Head Coach Esuan Crandon (white floppy hat) at the National Stadium, Providence following a fitness session

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