Binder1

Amerindian Heritage Month

P13

Exhibition honours Indigenous artists Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2978

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, September 15, 2016

BaiShanLin gold mining, other operations unaffected

PRICE

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Crum-Ewing murder P12 accused freed

Page 3

…as Jagdeo questions, “Why destroy business in a faltering economy?”

Page 7

Gunmen storm 3 homes in Eccles

AFC owes Ramayya nothing P9 – Ramjattan

– ‘bandits’ caught with booty 3 busted with 4409 grams of ganja in car trunk P7 Ex-soldier jailed for shooting at P8 Police

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips share a light moment before delivering a presentation for Senior Command and Staff Course #14. The lecture was aimed at giving ranks an understanding of the environment within which they operate and an opportunity to see how other organisations function in comparison to the Guyana Defence Force

AG tells Private UG student loans repayment slashed by 75% Sector to stop Page 14

playing politics

Page 2

…says PSC had its chance to contribute, dismisses concerns

Illegal P13 aircraft found in Region 9 P7 Woman robbed at gunpoint on Regent St

Man feared dead after P2 plunging into Berbice River

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

SARA Bill consultations

AG tells Private Sector to stop playing politics

…says PSC had its chance to contribute, dismisses concerns

A

PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer

ttorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams has dismissed the overwhelming concerns expressed by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in relation to the “heavily flawed” State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Bill.

Williams maintained that the Bill is in accordance with the provisions outlined by the International Convention against Corruption and that there is no need for the document to be re-examined as petitioned by the Private Sector organisation.

“The provisions were not pulled out from somebody’s back pocket. The last regime had signed on to the convention against corruption and never implemented them… So all provisions in the SARA Bill are taken out of the convention against corruption,” he told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday morning.

He also explained that consultations on the SARA Bill were extensive and indicated that Government is not to be held responsible if the Private Sector representatives failed to participate in the forum.

“The PSC was specifically invited. The Private Sector must stop playing politics. We are using taxpayers’ money to hold these consultations.

When we don’t hold consultations, they made a lot of noise.

Now we are holding consultations and they are not going, they not attending… The PSC, they must stop disrespecting the Guyanese public,” Williams insisted.

Furthermore, the AG posited that the Government is not obligated to observe the inputs by those who participated in the consultations.

“We take all considerations on board (but) there is nothing to say because a submission was made by party A that we are bound to include that in the Bill,” he affirmed.

In a stern warning release last week, the local Private Sector umbrella body urged Government to re-examine the Bill, saying that it provides for harassment and political victimisation in its current form.

The PSC said the Bill is not a good signal to investors who will require access to State resources such as land, licences, access rights, etc, as the Bill provides opportunities for legitimate investors to be harassed and politically victimised.

According to the PSC,

mature and redundant since many of the intelligence gathering mechanisms have already been enacted in the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism legislation and included in the mandate of the Integrity Commission; both of which have not been fully functional to date.

Attorney General Basil Williams

the Bill is also inconsistent with many of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana.

“The Bill has been drafted from the perspective that the Government of Guyana does not know what it owns or what the State has lost over the years and as such, it provides all encompassing investigative and surveillance powers to the Director and staff of the Agency to snoop around into private accounts and financial records of citizens to determine what assets of the State were lost and need to be recovered,” the body stated.

Furthermore, the PSC raised concerns about the magnitude of powers provided to the Director of SARA, who is currently Dr Clive Thomas. “(It) will blur the lines of separation of functions of the Executive and the Judiciary,” the PSC said.

The PSC also believes that the SARA Bill is pre-

Retroactive The concerns expressed by the Private Sector body echoes that of many other civil society bodies, as well as the parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall was among those to question the provisions of the Bill since in its current construct, it “creates an environment that encourages the violation of individuals’ constitutional rights and undermines the rule of law since it confers powers 10 times greater than those of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on a sole individual – the Director of the Agency”.

Responding to these concerns, Minister Williams presumed that the Opposition is fearful for the SARA Bill to come into operation since it will expose the corruption that prevailed under their rule.

“We have news for them.

This Government intends to root out corruption. They should be afraid, perhaps it might be a good reason for them to stay out of public office because this practice of ex-

tracting private wealth from State assets which was practiced by the last regime must be addressed,” he stated.

But Nandlall had previously pointed out that the

SARA Bill, if passed and accented by President David Granger, cannot be used to target former Government Ministers since the law cannot be retroactive.

Man feared dead after plunging into Berbice River

A

n iguana catching expedition with friends turned tragic on Tuesday afternoon after a block maker plunged into the Berbice River and never resurfaced.

Up to late Wednesday evening, relatives were still looking for 25-year-old Elroy Lewis of Lot 72 Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice.

Based on reports gathered, the man left home at about 08:00h to join his friends who then ventured out on their expedition.

About 15:00h, the now missing man and his friends were heading across the Berbice River from Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, when they decided to take a swim in the river. Moments after taking the jump, Lewis was heard calling out for help, but there was little his friends could have done to rescue him.

He went under the water

Missing: Elroy Lewis

and was not seen again. The other men reportedly went in search of him but came up empty handed. Lewis was described as an excellent swimmer which now leaves relatives baffled as to what really occurred. The captain of the boat they were traveling in and the others are being questioned by the Police.

Guyana Times understands that the Police joined the family in search of Lewis.

NEWS

3

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 15 – 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, September 16 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 15 – 15:20h-16:50h and Friday, September 16 – 16:00h-17:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while thunderstorms are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 3:17h and 15:41h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.70 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:14h and 21:34h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.48 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS D

01 06 14 16 23 16 21 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

13 17 19 26

09

LUCKY 3 5

3

6

8

Afternoon Draw

5

0

Evening Draw

Draw De Line 02

05 09 10 12

15 28

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

BaiShanLin gold mining, other operations unaffected … as Jagdeo questions, “Why destroy business in a faltering economy?”

B

a i S h a n L i n International Forest Developers Inc and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are preparing to have a high-level meeting this week with a view to determining exactly how the tax agency came up with a $1.5 billion figure it claims it is now owed.

According to reliable sources, the company is also disputing the GRA’s claim that it has in fact breached the Investment Agreement with the GRA and is adamant that the seizure of its logging equipment was unlawful.

The company’s executives have indicated that the meeting is expected to field lawyers between the two entities.

The Revenue Authority over the weekend swooped down on BaiShanLin’s Coomacka Linden operation where it seized a number of logging equipment, but according to the company’s officials, none of its other operations have been targeted by the GRA, including its gold mining, transportation and real estate ventures.

BaiShanLin – under controversial circumstances had also acquired a 20-kilometre river gold mining concession, in addition to a five kilometers construction area for a Guyana-China Timber Industry Economic and Trading Cooperation Park and acres of land for real estate development.

BK International had also under questionable circumstances sold a 100-acre plot of land to BaiShanLin in Providence, East Bank Demerara, for the construction of the massive real estate project – a project that is currently at a standstill.

The logging company reportedly offered US$9 million for the 100-acres plot but still owes a substantial amount.

During the GuyExpo 2014 trade fair at the Sophia Exhibition Center, BaiShanLin had announced the gated community called “New Life” with a huge display. Prices for homes were from $50 million and reaching over $100 million.

tors particularly from Ituni and Kwakwani in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

“All of that is gone now,” said Jagdeo as he pointed to BaiShanLin’s request for another two years to complete its wood processing plant.

“Why not give them but watch them carefully whilst they are paying their fair share of the taxes,” the former President, now Opposition Leader questioned.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Why destroy business?

Meanwhile, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, under whose administration the Chinese company had been brought into Guyana, has broken his silence on the matter and has since called for Government to release the Investment Agreement to the public.

Jagdeo is of the view that the GRA was acting on direction, “or a pre-conceived notion that somehow they have to take back all of these lands from this company.”

He pointed to the recent commitment on the part of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to set aside some two million hectares of land for conservation.

This he suggested has led to Government now looking to “take back lands from people.”

Jagdeo said he is of the view that BaiShanLin must honour its obligations made under the Investment Agreement and that the State has a right to enforce the provisions of that document but, “this goes beyond the agreement.”

He used the opportunity to also point to the increased hardships that would obtain as a result of the actions on the part of GRA and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and questions “why do you have to destroy business at a time when the economy is already faltering.”

He was speaking to the fact that BaiShanLin had been purchasing logs extracted by local small opera-

Breached agreement

The GRA had earlier this year launched an investigation into the operations of the logging company and had determined that it had in fact breached its Investment Agreement.

to undertake the activities of the project specified in the Investment Agreement with regard to the setting up of a modernised wood processing facility in Linden.

The tax collection body also found that BaiShanLin had also failed to create and sustain employment for 150 persons over three years.

It found too that the company also failed to procure and provide all the investment and other financing required by the undertaking, in the estimated sum of US$150 million over a three-year period from the time of signing of the Investment Agreement.

It was subsequently determined that BaiShanLin breached its covenant

Some of the materials that the GRA seized from BaiShanLin over the weekend

According to the GRA missive addressed to Managing Director of BaiShanLin, Chu Hongbo, it had found that the company had breached the terms and conditions under which tax exemptions were granted as outlined in the Investment Agreement.

According to the Revenue Authority, BaiShanLin failed

with Government in its Investment Agreement “for which the penalty is termination of the Agreement”.

As such, “the residual customs duty and taxes are now due and payable on machinery, equipment and motor vehicles” in the amount of just over $1.5 billion ($1,584,047,052).

4

guyana-times.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

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

Increasing trade capacity

B

ack in 2005, Aid for Trade (AfT) had been proposed unilaterally by G7 in 2005 at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Hong Kong Ministerial meeting.

Ostensibly launched in reaction to the growing gap in exploiting the opportunities in trade opened up by globalisation, the AfT regime is intended to assist developing countries with building their trade capabilities in line with their own development plans. The catchphrase was that "market access must be converted into market presence".

The initiative was adopted by Caricom eight years ago, but it appears to have died on the vine. Part of the reason is that, as WTO members heard in an Aid-for-Trade session of the Committee on Trade Development on May 25 of this year, contributions from G20 had flattened since 2014.

But capacity building in trade is critical since with the freezing of the Doha Round of the WTO, the developed world has focused on creating trading regimes in which the less developed countries are not in a position to benefit from their trade commitments. A good example was the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that Caricom entered in to in 2008 with the European Union (EU). The Caricom nations were, by and large, in no position to exploit the "trade opportunities", unlike the case with the EU nations.

As part of the EPA, the EU had made a commitment to proceed with the AfT and to work with both Government and the Private Sector, especially the latter, to boost their trade capacity. However, only Britain and one other EU nation followed through with their commitment – and this to five of the smallest states.

The WTO has more specifically emphasised that AfT must be deployed to assist developing countries to enter the Global Value Chain (GVC) in which production is spread among any number of countries and value is added at each stage of the transfer. Much of today's global trade is in intermediate goods which are imported, value added and then exported.

The problem is that most value is captured in the design and conceptual stage of the value chain, as well as in the final sales and marketing end of the GVC. However, this is not where most developing countries are located. They are generally located in the lower value manufacturing section of the GVC, and even then, this is true for some, not all developing countries.

The benefit a country gets from participating in the GVC will depend on where a country is lined up in terms of its technological capacities, the depth of its manufacturing capacities, how developed its services sectors are, the size of its enterprises, its managerial expertise and its ability to meet the standards of the international markets to name only a few criteria.

Due to these and other limitations, developing countries could open up, and they could become more integrated, but the quality of their integration may not be of real benefit. Mere liberalisation will not upgrade countries’ technological or services supply side capacities. Nor will Trade Facilitation Agreements – expediting the entry of imports through a range of customs procedures.

So, the focus of AfT to increase trade via the GVC has to be deepening the production capacities of developing countries so that they can garner a bigger share of the value added. We suggest that the impetus must be more directed to engender the movement of our manufacturing capacities beyond being assembly lines, creating a more vibrant agricultural sector – including agro-processing and increased production capacities in a range of services sectors. The latter is crucial because with the entry and exit of intermediate goods between countries, the service component of the GVC has grown exponentially. It now surpasses trade in manufactured goods.

Failure to engage in structural transformation, especially of services, and deepening of production capacities could mean that our countries will continue supplying raw materials or, at best, sites for low valueadded manufacturing tasks. Caricom has to lobby harder for our AfT share.

Children and a teacher being guided by the School Traffic Patrol across the road in the vicinity of Liana Nursery School

Impasse in Region 3 needs to end for the good of the citizens Dear Editor, Kindly permit me a space in your daily newspaper to respond finally to the issue captioned ‘The real story behind the Region 3 Regional Democratic Walkout’ published in the letter column of the Kaieteur News, dated September 10, 2016.

Firstly, I wish to state that the writer is fictitious, uncouth, wicked and naïve in his writings. He should be bold enough to put his name so that he could be identified and should not write as a concerned citizen or a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor. No PPP Councillor would write such a baseless article.

Secondly, the Regional Executive Officer (REO) is the Clerk of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and by law he is mandated to give pertinent information as requested by the Council.

At the July 2016 meeting of the RDC, he was mandated to request from the Business Minister, a copy of the report on a survey which he had reported at a subsequent meeting which was done by the Business Ministry.

Please note that at no time was any report sent to the RDC from the Business Minister as was stated by the malicious writer.

Thirdly, the REO when asked to respond to the issue under “matters arising” pertaining to the letter to the Business Minister, re-

questing a copy of the report as was stated in a previous meeting, he stood up and said that he had nothing to say since a perpetrator was on the television the night before speaking about the issue. I subsequently asked the REO to respond to the specific issue that was before the Council. He again mentioned that he had nothing to say then he picked up his books and walked brazenly to the leader of the APNU/AFC Councillors and told her to leave the meeting with her team. He then went to the Heads of Department who were seated at the back of the room and instructed them to leave also.

According to Public Service rules, the REO is the head public servant inside of any region and should not take political sides when dealing with issues inside of any region.

Mr Denis Jaikarran has been practicing political biasness since his appointment as the REO of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), on October 1, 2015. He would have openly said to me that he is not here to work with the Regional Chairman of Region Three and had also instructed all Heads of departments to stay away from the Chairman’s monthly meetings, and for them not to submit any reports to the Regional Chairman.

The Government is pro-

moting social cohesion and the REO is not propagating this at the administrative level of the region. He continues to carry out the duties and function of the Chairman without his knowledge. Many letters have been written to the President, Minister of State and the Communities Minister on all the issues affecting the Regional Chairman.

To date, all the promises made by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan to visit the region and to deal with the issues have proven futile.

I am publicly appealing to the Honourable President of Guyana, Mr David Granger to make an early intervention into this matter so that Region Three can move forward for the betterment of all its citizens.

I must bring to the attention of the public that this month is designated ‘Education Month’ and the Regional Chairman is not aware of the activities planned for the region, since the Heads of Department are afraid of the REO and hence, no reports have been forthcoming from them.

All Heads of Departments are mandated by the Local Government Act, Chapter 28:09, to report to the Regional Chairman so that policy issues can be addressed in a timely manner. This is not happening in Region Three but is hap-

pening in other regions in Guyana.

Is this the person the writer compares to God, who is denying the Regional Chairman from his roles and responsibilities as mandated

by Region Three?

Fourthly, the writer stated that if the clerk leaves the meeting, there should be no official meeting. I wish to tell the fictitious writer that he knows nothing about conducting a meeting. When the Clerk/Secretary is unavoidable absent from the meeting for some reason or the other, the meeting can decide to continue as long as there is a quorum. The writer should equip himself with the necessary knowledge before he attempts to write on issues he is ignorant about.

Fifthly, The REO never asked to leave the meeting as the writer stated. He left in a haste saying “I have nothing to report on, to anyone”.

In closing, I wish to state that everything that was mentioned, I have supporting evidence to substantiate.

As the Regional Chairman for three consecutive terms, I am willing to work in the best interest of all the citizens of Region Three and the country at large, but, Mr Denis Jaikarran is not allowing me to fulfil my obligations.

Julius Oliver Faerber Regional Chairman Region Three

Where is the transparency, accountability we were promised?

Dear Editor, As a citizen and rate paying resident of Georgetown, I would like to be shown under which by-laws or statutes the Town Clerk of Georgetown, Royston King, has the fiscal or legal authority to be expending the revenues earned from property owners, to pay the expenses of a former Mayor.

Recently, in an unlaw-

ful and dissolute motion moved by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and seconded by Councillor Heston Bostwick, it was proposed to have the services of the City Constabulary Department extended to former Mayor Hamilton Green, with the provision of security guards at his residence.

This is unprecedented as no former Mayor ever, nor

does currently enjoy such a facility.

But that is just the beginning, as the Council also provides a motor vehicle, provides unlimited fuel for it, a chauffeur, a gardener, 24-hour body guards, among other benefits.

How could a municipality that says it is constantly broke and cannot pay its debtors, spend so lav-

ishly on a former Mayor.

Where is the transparency and accountability we were promised and deserve? Is there need for a City Assets Recovery Unit (CARU) or a Special Municipal Crimes Unit (SMCU) to be set up to go after the citizens’ money?

Yours faithfully, Debra Gibson

guyana-times.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

5

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

City Hall just reeks Guyana Market Vendors Union is a legal trade union of corruption

Dear Editor, With each and every passing day, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown display how patently unethical they are, without any fear of consequences or concern for the frustration of the citizenry.

A few weeks ago, the Mayor and Councillors quite correctly ordered the building works on the seventh floor that was being constructed on a building at Robb and Camp Streets to cease.

The Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green at that time had adamantly stated that no permission would be granted for the seventh floor to be constructed, in spite of cries by the owner that a call centre investor might pull out and thousands of prospective jobs would be lost.

The owner was saying that the seventh floor is required by the investors for a lunch and recreation area for three shifts of 2500 persons each.

The Mayor advised that it was her understanding from the City Engineer and what she had gleaned from correspondence she received from him, that no approval was granted for the seventh floor; rather that ap-

proval was granted for just six floors.

Chase-Green had indicated her displeasure that the owner had gone ahead and begun constructing the seventh floor without permission from either the Council or the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) which had also turned down the owner’s request to build the extra floor.

The City Mayor made it pellucid that approval was given for six floors and there would be no more additional floors to the structure.

The owner who is determined to be allowed to build the seventh floor publicly stated his intentions to go over the heads of the Council and CH&PA by formally appealing to the President of Guyana to be granted approval for the seventh floor to be constructed. The design he said was for the ground floor to be used for a mini-mall, the first floor for a fast food restaurant and the remaining floors for the call centre.

And then just like that, strangely enough, without any reason or rationale the Mayor changed her tune and started saying that she

had observed that a 10-storey building can be found on the same Camp Street, opposite the Georgetown Club, and hence there should be no discrimination in the process and asked “How do we say no to seven and yes to 10?”

In a remarkable and unbelievable pivot, she is also now saying this is not the time for the M&CC to be holding up development in the City and the creation of employment, and that it was her understanding, that the Ministry of Housing was talking about the skyline limit, which to her knowledge, is 150 feet, and that the building at Robb and Camp only reached 98 feet.

Thankfully, the building of the seventh floor continues to be blocked through a High Court injunction obtained by the CH&PA, where sanity still prevails and with whom the ultimate responsibility lies for the use of a building.

Who or what would have caused the City Council to change its mind? The City Hall just reeks of corruption.

Sincerely, Deodarie Putulal

Changing coaches is not the answer Dear Editor, The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has made yet another change when it fired Phil Simmons after only 18 months on the job. It seems that the Trinidadian was an excellent coach, but he had difficulties with his employers when he criticised the manner of the selection of the players.

The WICB has changed more than 15 coaches within the past two decades from Rohan Kanhai, Andy Roberts, Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshal, Roger Harper, et al – all outstanding cricketers and good coaches. They even tried Australian Bennett King, who never played first class cricket and who failed to deliver to a failing West Indies team. He resigned after three years on the job, mainly because he had a difficult relationship with the players. Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was captain, said he was

aggressive and vocally abusive to certain players to the point where he even threatened them.

West Indies cricket is now at rock bottom - now ranking 8th in Test and 9th in ODIs, but second in T20s, from the leading team in the world between the mid1970s to early 1990s. It is not only a large number coaches it has changed, but captains as well - from 1928 Carl Nunes to 2016 Jason Holder - it recorded 36 captains, including Clive Lloyd the most successful captain, Rohan Kanhai, Carl Hooper, Alvin Kalicharan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Sarwan among them.

The selectors constantly change the players so much so, that fans like me hardly remember the names of the players as compared to yesteryear in the like of the three Ws; Worrel, Weekes, Walcott, Wesley Hall, Charlie Griffith,

Lance Gibbs, Brian Lara, Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose and others. A large number of fans have lost interest in the game - especially Test cricket, and the WICB and its affiliates have to work out ways and means to improve the summer game which was once a job to hundreds of thousands.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

Dear Editor, The Guyana Market Vendors Union wishes to bring to public attention that it is a legally registered trade union established with the objective of working with vendors at their various places of trading in Georgetown and elsewhere in Guyana with a view to improving their circumstances, including the conditions under which they work.

The Union has twice written to the Town Clerk requesting to meet with him primarily to introduce the leadership and to seek to establish a mechanism for reliable channels of communication in matters pertaining to the welfare of stall holders/vendors. The Town Clerk has responded by requesting that the Union submit a slew of documents as a prerequisite for a meeting. We believe that in circumstances where the nature of the meeting does not go beyond the sta-

tus of a courtesy call, the Town Clerk ought, surely, to be satisfied with a credential attesting to the legitimacy of the Union. That credential has been provided.

The Union is of the view that the conditions outlined by the Town Clerk, in our view, considers it important that nothing stands between him and his fixation with controlling the hapless vendors.

Reference is made in another section of the media on September 10 to an “agreement” reached between “the vendors” and “the council” pertaining to procedures associated with trading, including those pertaining to the disposal of trading waste. The story also alludes to the establishment of a committee of individuals to represent them and to negotiate to improve their standards and to identify and appoint marshals from among themselves to assist

with keeping the area clean and tidy.

While the Union is unaware of this arrangement we wish to make it clear that we are supportive of any initiative that seeks to improve the environment in which the vendors work, while adhering to the standards and requirements set by the Georgetown Municipality.

Accordingly, and against the backdrop of the ongoing unionisation exercise targeting vendors. The Union is already engaging and speaking for its members, and wishes to make clear our intention to continue to do so.

Once again we call on the Town Clerk to meet with us in order to lay the foundation for the start of this important process.

Sincerely, Eon Andrews President, Guyana Market Vendors Union

Sports Ministry should have independent office, more money Dear Editor, The Olympic Games, in many ways, are to unite countries from all angles, learning about different cultures, customs, promoting peace, unity, bridging the gap between nations and the founder ‘Pierre De Coubertin’ saw it as an avenue to assembly political enemies under one roof or bringing political enemies together. This is apart from medalling. One’s participation is on the same level with athletes who attains a medal.

So, whether anyone qualifies with a ‘B’ standard timing, selected for a wild card entry, etc, those are also accomplishments in their own

right which we should learn to appreciate.

There are many contributing factors for any country to make it on the medals list and in my opinion Guyana is far from that task. It is rather unfair for anyone to blame solely the head of the current GOA for Guyana’s failure to medal at the just concluded Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Perhaps the Government of the day can consider allow-

ing the Sports Ministry to once again have its independent office and have more money for sports as a start during the 2017 Budget.

This will be added to what is available from all other sports fraternities that receive funding from overseas towards 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Yours faithfully, T Pemberton

6

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Page

guyana-times.com

Foundation

Lima benefits from GEPAN’s Support Education Campaign (SEC)

L

ima on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, was the fourth community to benefit from The Guyana Empowered Peoples Action Network’s (GEPAN) Support Education Campaign (SEC).

Stationery gift bags were donated to 21 primary school children of the New Housing Scheme on Thursday, September 1.

The packages were do-

out of school is another issue faced by parents, particularly single parents, due to financial difficulties.

GEPAN has also made contributions to primary school students in Kuru Kururu, Linden-Soesdyke Highway; Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara; and Hope Village (Hope Estate), East Coast Demerara.

BY PAM MYERS

H

Group of children from Lima who participated in SEC (Some children’s faces were blurred by request)

local businesses and the private individuals committed to educating Guyana’s future generations.

How to sponsor a child

GEPAN President Anna Correia (in red) with some of the beneficiaries at Kuru Kururu

nated by a member of GEPAN on behalf of the organisation. The group of children were also invited to an afternoon brunch and received goodie bags in addition to the stationery.

Lima is a community located within the township of Anna Regina and is one of the larger communities within that vicinity. The village comprises three housing schemes, two of which were developed in the 1990s, emerging from squatting areas to residences equipped with water and electricity.

However, poverty still affects modest households, particularly due to unemployment. Alcoholism and drug abuse are prevalent among the young men who encounter difficulties finding jobs. Children dropping

Through financial contributions: Only $15,000 is required to sponsor stationery packages for 24 children while $625 sponsors stationery for one child.

Receipts are delivered for all donations made.

Soon, online electronic donations will be possible via GEPAN’s website, http:// hrpguyana.org.

By donating school supplies: Donation of school materials is also possible, and donors are invited to contribute items such as notebooks, pencils, rulers,

Support Education, Sponsor A Child Today!

SEC was launched in August 2016, as an incentive for parents to send their children to school.

The initiative falls within the organisation’s scope of empowering people living in Guyana’s rural communities, particularly single mothers and their children, and consists of donating stationery packages and other school supplies to children attending primary school.

GEPAN’s intention is to expand SEC to include secondary school students and where possible, university students.

SEC is made possible through fundraising events, but, more importantly, through donations made by

How to structure homework and time online

GEPAN Project Coordinator Anna CampbellPersaud, distributing packages

Financial donations can be submitted to GEPAN’s Project Coordinator, Anna Campbell-Persaud who can be reached at the address below.

Donations can also be left at PO Box #101537, located below the GPO head office in Georgetown.

sharpeners, erasers, scissors, pencil cases, markers, and glue. Materials can be delivered to Anna CampbellPersaud. Contact can be made via email: gepan.org@ gmail.com, gepan.sec.org@ gmail.com, or procor.gepan. org@gmail.com.

omework is a part of family life. With the increase in online activity for children and an increase in teachers using the Internet to assign and receive homework assignments, it raises some new challenges for parents. How do you structure homework time while controlling the total amount of time a child spends online? Take a look at the following tips and strategies.

One central location

One of the easiest ways to control online time and create a homework structure is to identify one location for both. Keep computers out of your child’s room and place them in a central location in

your home.

For example, your family might invest in a laptop computer that is used at the kitchen table during homework time. This way parents can keep an eye on online activities and children can use the computer for online homework or research.

Keep tabs on the Internet connection Another option if you have older children is to allow them to have electronic devices and computers in their bedroom, however you control their Internet connection. It’s fairly simple to turn on and off a device’s access to the household Internet connection.

Allow the Internet to be on for a few hours in the evening – time enough

for your child to do their homework and then have free time online – and then turn it off for the evening.

Internet as a reward

Another option is to keep the Internet turned off until your child has completed their homework.

Treat it as a reward. Once homework has been completed, your child can have access to television, video games, or the Internet.

Structured time

Depending on the age of your children, it may be helpful to create homework time and online time. For example, when your child comes home from school, homework time can

begin after they’ve had a snack. They can then work on their homework until dinner and after dinner you might allow your children an hour or so on the computer. This can become complicated as your children get older and may need the Internet for their homework. This is when you might consider transitioning to having a family computer in one central location.

Time control devices

There are also handy devices that you can buy that control the signal or electricity going to a device, like televisions, video games, and computers. Children have to swipe a “debit card” or insert a token to access the device for a predetermined amount of time. You can give your child a weekly set of tokens or time on their card and let them control when they use it.

Structuring homework and online time can be difficult because the two are often intertwined. Create structured homework time and work online time around your child’s needs. (childdevelop-

mentinfo.com)

NEWS

7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Fraud accused Ambassador 3 busted with 4409 grams of exposes APNU/AFC’s ganja in car trunk rhetoric – Jagdeo …“they can’t do due diligence on people they hiring right under their nose”

T

he appointment of a fraud accused Ambassador, Dr Shamir Ally, by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, is but another indication of how the Administration operates, which further exposes the gap in the rhetoric being espoused as against its actions.

This is the view held by former President, now Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who on Wednesday pointed to the fact that the Administration continuously makes lofty statements such as increased due diligence for foreign investors when “they can’t do due diligence on the people they hiring right under their nose.”

He was at the time asked to weigh in on the fact that Guyana has infact appointed an Ambassador who in 2002, had been charged with financial offences by the United States Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).

According to Jagdeo, the APNU/AFC Government, “it has set all these lofty standards” and speaks about good governance measures and the prevention of corruption but “there is a huge gap between the rhetoric of this Government and what it practices.”

He accused members of the Government of being, “totally aloof,” since its members “don’t walk the markets, they don’t walk the street sides, they don’t go in the communities to find out how hard it is, how many people have lost their jobs and try to help them.”

Jagdeo instead accused Government of being engaged in looking to prove the

Fraud accused, Guyana Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Shamir Ally

un-provable.

According to Jagdeo “the Shamir Ally matter is just another one which is indicative of the way this government operates.”

He said the supporters of the coalition APNU will soon come to realise that Government in fact has no interest in their concerns, “they are totally aloof.”

The AFC had over the weekend issued a missive in defence of the Ambassador they had sponsored, and denied he was the mastermind in the US fraud scheme and instead claimed he inherited the accounting system which had landed him in ‘hot water.’

The party said he “vehemently denied the charges, but agreed to pay the US$10,000 penalty under protest.”

Dr Ally and his co-accused had copped an out-ofcourt plea deal with the SEC to pay fines ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000.

He was charged in 2002 by the Commission for “the dissemination of false finan-

cial information” using his company, Acrodyne.

The Guyana diplomat and others were said to be “aware of numerous and significant problems with Acrodyne’s accounting controls, but failed to assure that Acrodyne’s financial transactions were accurately recorded.”

The AFC said that Dr Ally was employed by Acrodyne for a short period, “from February 2, 1999 to May 9, 1999 as the Cost Accounting Manager… On May 10, 1999, he was promoted to Controller and he served in this position for 15 months up to July 10, 2000.”

Dr Ally was fired from Acrodyne in July 2000, circumstances he blamed on a “power struggle, falling revenue/income and a depleting labour force” in the company.

He was later charged along with two other Acrodyne executives, including its President in May 2002, by the SEC with civil action.

Dr Ally, in seeking to provide an explanation, said Acrodyne prepared its quarterly financial reports “based on some actual, and some estimated figures.”

He said the company would, at the end of the year, do an annual stock taking and these reports would be audited and sent to the SEC. He maintains that this system of preparing records based in part on estimates “was Standard Operating Procedure at Acrodyne”.

In March 2003, the SEC had ordered Acrodyne to cease and desist from future violations of the anti-fraud, periodic reporting, and books and records provisions of the Exchange.

Woman robbed at gunpoint on Regent St

A

woman was on Wednesday robbed at gunpoint outside Hanson Trading on Regent Street, Georgetown.

In the midst of a bustling day, two armed bandits jumped out at the woman as she was exiting the store and demanded she

hand over her belongings.

She handed over her handbag which contained an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables.

The bandits then escaped in a white vehicle with registration number PJJ 1106.

The woman, who asked

to remain unidentified, is pleading with the public to help her in recovering her important documents.

Specifically, she needs her record books entitled “Marcia Flight Services”, which contain important data. She can be contacted on 699-1300.

T

hree men are now in custody after they were intercepted with 4409 grams of cannabis during a Police operation on Tuesday evening along the Number 51 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice.

Guyana Times understands that one of the men resides at Tucber Park, New Amsterdam; another at Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown; and the third is from Betsy Ground, Canje, Berbice.

Based on reports gathered, the men were heading to Springlands in a grey Toyota 212 motor car bear-

ing registration number PRR 654 when Police ranks stopped them at a road block.

Upon realising that the men were acting in a suspicious manner, the Police requested to search the vehicle during which the marijuana was found in five separate plastic bags in the trunk of the car.

The men were immediately arrested. They are expected to make their court appearance soon.

Only a few days ago, Police in the Ancient County arrested a New Amsterdam, Berbice man following the

discovery of a quantity of marijuana in his minibus during a Police operation on the Number 51 Public Road.

It was reported that Police ranks, acting on a tip, stopped the minibus and conducted a search during which a black haversack was found.

When the ranks opened the bag, they found several parcels with seeds, leaves and stems.

They were confirmed to be marijuana and weighed, amounting to 1680 grams.

The minibus driver was arrested. He is also expected to be charged soon.

Gunmen storm 3 homes in Eccles

Registrar of Deeds, Azeena Baksh

D

ifferent groups of bandits on Wednesday invaded three homes in the Young Professional Housing Scheme in Eccles, East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

Registrar of Deeds, Azeena Baksh, was terrorised by two armed bandits at about 13:30h. Baksh explained that the bandits en-

The perpetrators who were captured by the Police

tered the yard and held up her security guard along with several workmen before entering the house, where she was alone at the time.

“They tied the guard up, they tied the contractor up.

Then they pointed the gun to the guard and told him to call up to me to ask for water.

So I came downstairs to give him the water and that’s how they came into the house,”

she told Guyana Times.

The men held her at gunpoint and demanded jewellery and other valuables, but after being robbed last year, she had none at home.

After realising that there were no valuables in the home, Baksh reported that the gunmen threatened to kill or kidnap her if she does not hand over something valuable. CONTINUE ON PAGE 11

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

IN THE COURTS

Chinese couple fined, deported

A

Chinese couple was on Wednesday morning fined and deported when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer fraud charges.

A tearful Yang Fengqia, 31, and an allegedly sick Yao Liwei, 37, of China both pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

They admitted that on September 10, 2016, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri, East Bank Demerara, with the intent to defraud R McFoy, a Customs Service Agent of Caribbean Airlines, they presented two People’s Republic of China passports bearing numbers E50174580 and E73433258 respectively, in

Yao Liwei

Yang Fengqia

favour of themselves with a forged Canadian visa inserted.

Attorney Paul Fung-AFat, who represented the defendants, made a petition for leniency on behalf of the couple, telling the court that the defendants were both sorry for their actions, adding that Lewei is currently suffering

from an infection and would like to return to his homeland to seek medical attention.

The prosecution contended that both defendants admitted to paying a male US$2000

for the fake visas. The court also heard that the defendants were outgoing passengers at the CJIA when they presented themselves with the passports to Customs Service Agent R McFoy at the Caribbean Airlines counter.

However, prior to them arriving at the airport, Canadian officials had informed customs about information they received in relation to the fake visas. As such, officers were on the lookout.

The defendants were fined $100,000 each or will face a default of four weeks imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine.They were ordered to be escorted to the airport and be deported.

Alleged thief remanded

Ex-soldier jailed for A shooting at Police

man accused of attempting to snatch a gold chain was on Wednesday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Keon Thomas, 20, of Lot 183 Calender Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on September 9, 2016, at Lombard Street, Georgetown, he attempted to steal one gold chain valued $67,000, property of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Tanisha Daniels.

The prosecution told the

T

wenty-nine-yearold Joel Benjamin of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, will be spending the next three years behind bars for discharging a loaded firearm at Police.

The ex-military man was arrested on July 20 for possession of firearm and ammunition and discharging a loaded firearm at the Police. On July 21, 2016 he appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce where he pled guilty to the possession of firearm and ammunition without being the holder of a valid licence and was jailed for three years.

However at the time, he pleaded not guilty to dis-

Joel Benjamin

charging a loaded firearm.

On Wednesday, during the continuation of his trial, the man changed his plea to guilty. As such, he was sentenced to three additional years in prison.

Keon Thomas

court that the item was recovered and was returned to the VC. The defendant, who suffers from a speech impediment, was unable to address the court and was remanded to prison. The case will continue on September 29.

"Professional" car thieves remanded to prison

T

wo men known as being ‘professional’ car thieves were on Wednesday remanded to prison when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Michael Baptiste, 33, and Alvin Narine, 41, of Lot 66 Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown; both pleaded not guilty when Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the charge to them.

They were jointly charged for the offence which alleged that on August 5, 2016, at Sheriff Street, Georgetown,

they stole one Toyota Primo motorcar valued $2.4 million and transmission parts valued $2.4 million; property of Mahendra Ramcharran.

Baptiste faced an additional charge which alleged that on August 15, 2016, at Alexander Street, Georgetown, he stole one Toyota Primo motorcar valued $2.6 million.

The prosecution’s case was not presented in court; however, they objected to bail stating that the defendants are a flight risk. The matter was adjourned for October 19.

Eyew tness Falling out...

D

...in AFC

r Veerasammy Ramayya has resigned once again from the AFC. While his departure from that party is working out to be one of the longest "parting is not such sweet sorrow" routines, there's a reason for this. Ramayya, you see, Dear Readers, is a bell weather for the AFC in Berbice. And, in this case like a good "bellwether", as he goes so goes Berbice.

But while AFC leaders like Nagamootoo and Ramjattan don't want to acknowledge this – the fellas from the PNC who call the shots in the coalition know the worth of Ramayya. And they're the ones who've intervened in the past to deter Ramayya.

The problem is all about egos...the egos of the AFC top layer. Both Nagamootoo and Ramjattan are from Berbice, but in the decades they've spent in "town", they've imbibed and absorbed the contempt most "town people" hold for Berbicians. The two of them have tried their darnest to "talk town" – did you hear Ramjattan and his "gonnas"? Or Nagamootoo curling up his vowels? Never mind their periodic outbursts of "haul yuh ass" and "shut yuh so-and-so..." elicit the old disdain – Ramayya reminds them too much of what a "real" Berbician is like.

To wit – blunt and direct and focused on getting the job done rather than just spewing fluff and nonsense to impress people. Ramayya is right – it was his grassroots work since 1992 that made Berbicians overcome their aversion to "splitting" the vote from the monolithic PPP machinery. Since Ramayya had stuck with them through thick and thin...BERBICIANS took his endorsement of the AFC carpetbaggers seriously. Ramayya had been around – and they took the chance. And AFC was able to get the seats to create a "draw" in Parliament in 2011 and then to take the entire prize in 2015.

But right after the elections, the AFC "champions of the working class" reflexive action was to keep Ramayya out of Parliament and place a newly minted "lawyer" who could presumably enunciate like "town people".

Nagamootoo used Ramayya's demand for a better job than an office boy to suggest he was in it only for the money. Yes, that's right! These pots who had just given themselves a 50% boost in salaries were calling the kettle Ramayya "black"!!

But your Eyewitness thinks the AFC leaders have overplayed their hand. Ramayya has four years till 2020 to tell his story in his inimitable way over the Berbice TV stations of how he – and Berbice – were wronged. Come 2020, there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in Georgetown when the election results from Berbice trail in!

However, "too late" shall be the cry!

...among old comrades

Have you read about the cat fight between two old comrades in economics from the WPA? Doctors Clive Thomas and Maurice Odle. It's getting real down and dirty...more the pity it's between two old geezers.

Imagine if we could've passed them off as female mud wrestlers!! Would've been a better draw than that fight at the Mall!

Anyhow, this just goes to show the difference between practice and theory in economics. They say that who can, "Do" and those who can't, teach.

In economics, the "do" is making money...like that billionaire economist George Soros. The man just can't help making a bundle at every turn of the economy.

Thomas and Odle were always theoreticians – teaching about the number of widgets that could be balanced on the tip of a needle. Now that both got real jobs, courtesy of the PNC – Thomas heading SARU, Odle heading NICIL – they're busy burying hatchets in each other's backs!!

The difference a few dollars in your pockets make!!

...of one at City Hall

Well, at least one Councillor on the Town Council has the testicular perspicacity to take on the wannabe Caesar, Royston King. And image she's female!!

Shame on all the men around the round table at City Hall!!

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

NEWS

9

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

AFC owes Ramayya AG disregards Opposition on AML/CFT status nothing – Ramjattan concerns – as FATF/ICRG team begins onsite inspection L eader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan has refuted claims made by former Executive Member, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, that the party owes him some $15 million.

Dr Ramayya on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party once again and claimed, among other things, the AFC owes him the money, which he used from his personal account to fund the party’s campaign during the 2011 General and Regional Elections.

The former Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Regional Executive Officer (REO), noted that the money came from a property in New Amsterdam which he sold in 2011.

However, when questioned about the allegation made against the party, the AFC leader told reporters on Wednesday that the party does not owe Dr Ramayya anything.

“We don’t owe him a dime, absolutely nothing!

During the campaign, we paid the people we supposed to pay and they all got their monies so I don’t know (about) his claim of $15 million,” Ramjattan stated.

Nevertheless, the leader of the AFC has confirmed that the party’s General Secretary David Patterson has received the resignation letter from Dr Ramayya but noted that he is yet to see a copy.

In the resignation letter dated September 13, 2016, the former Region Six representative pointed out that his contributions and investments did not resonate deeply in the party.

This is the second time Ramayya has resigned from the party. In August last year, he tendered his resignation, claiming that the coalition had no respect for him as he wanted to serve the people of Berbice but was offered a mundane job in Georgetown.

“They offer me $180,000 to sit in an office in Georgetown and take complaints from people and report to Khemraj. I want to work for the people of Berbice and serve them,”

Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel Charles Fung-A-Fat, Senior Parliamentary Counsel Joann Bond, Gonzalo Gonzalez Lara, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, FIU Legal Advisor Yonette Ramao, CFATF Adviser Roger Hernandez and FATF Secretariat Senior Policy Analyst Kevin Vandergrift AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan

the politician had stated.

Nevertheless, Dr Ramayya had rescinded his decision earlier this year after he was given the post of Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six, a position which he also resigned from last month.

However, Ramjattan explained to media operatives that he had anticipated the resignation of the embattled Region Six representative.

“I think we did what we had to do for him, gave him the Regional Executive Officer’s position and he got it,” the AFC Leader posited. Ramjattan indicated that he would want to review the letter before further commenting on the issue, noting that “I might be unpleasant with the remarks in the view of what has happened.”

Moreover, the AFC leader said there will always be a place for Dr Ramayya, whom he still considers his friend, in the party if he wishes to rejoin in the future. Ramjattan acknowledged that Dr Ramayya worked hard for the party.

The former AFC Executive Member has claimed that the party has “wolves in sheep’s clothing”, claiming that he was pressed by some party members to resign so that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) can get back into office.

“I still believe strongly that some of the people working with the Government in high offices are closely connected with

Former AFC Executive Member, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

the PPP and to destroy me in Berbice is to win back the Indian people. That is their intention. They have to pressurise me to make me walk out from that office,” he stated.

Dr Ramayya had further outlined that the AFC has been turning a blind eye to corruption; something which was highly politicised during the 2015 elections campaign.

He stated that high levels of corruption exist in every sector in Region Six, and this was his main reason for resigning both from the party and the REO post, in which he served his last day on Wednesday.

“But they will never make me corrupted to walk out. I walked out on my own. I could have seen where they could have transferred me to another region. That would have been an ideal excuse that I refuse to go to a next region so I have to leave the job. But my vision is far greater than that. That is one of the reasons I never voted because I never disappointed the people; the Afro-Guyanese, the IndoGuyanese, I have never lied to them,” Dr Ramayya told reporters on Tuesday.

Furthermore, the Region Six politician explained that he no longer has connections with the AFC. He, however, maintains that there is need for a third force in Guyana’s political arena and believes that the AFC can no longer claim to be so.

A

ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams posited that the previous Administration made no progress in implementing the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations and, therefore, has no authority to condemn the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) in this regard.

He made these comments in the presence of the Financial Action Task Force/ International Cooperation Review Group (FATF/ ICRG) team and Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Compliance Team on Wednesday morning at a news conference.

“We have within a year of coming into Government, we have satisfied all recommendations on the action plan and satisfied the recommendations in follow-up

report under the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF),” he stated.

Williams expressed confidence that the country would soon qualify to exit the FATF and CFATF process.

The Attorney General explained that once Guyana exited FATF, by that very fact, it exited CFATF’s.

However, Guyana must first exit the FATF/ICRG review process before it begins the process to exit FATF and CFATF. The FATF/ ICRG team is expected to visit the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU); the Bank of Guyana; Guyana Securities Council (GSC), money transfer agencies and the commercial banks.

The team will be looking to ensure Guyana is implementing the FATF recommendations and if the political will exists to sustain the implementation of those rec-

ommendations.

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had predicted that this onsite visit would be a disaster, since there were “two gaping holes in the system”.

Firstly, he said, the country does not have a Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for the purpose of the AML/CFT requirements.

Also, Government has created a huge bureaucratic organ called an AML/CFT authority, which is supposed to composed some 20 persons, 10 of whom are holders of certain offices like the Director of Public Prosecution (DPPs); the Police Commissioner; the Heads of CANU and GRA , etc, and the other 10 to be appointed by Parliament.

He said it could be difficult since Parliament took some 15 months to appoint the Director and the Deputy Director of the critical FIU.

10 NEWS Police still investigating ‘bogus’ medical school THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

… NAC advises students to check website for registering

A

cting A Division Commander Marlon Chapman on Wednesday stated that Nalini Budhram, the administrator of the North Shore Medical College, is still under investigation for allegedly defrauding students at the college.

Chapman indicated that the investigation is still open and they are seeking legal advice on the matter.

The administrator had held two students hostage in a locked building after the Police turned up to arrest her.

Scores of other students had showed up at the building and pounded on the locked door, demanding refunds while claiming that she was operating a bogus medical institution.

Meanwhile, Director of the National Accreditation Council of Guyana, Deborah Jack is advising all perspective students to visit the Council’s website in order to

ascertain whether a school is legitimate or not.

Jack told Guyana Times that while the Council does not have any authority to restrict persons from registering any institution, it does act as a precautionary instrument for perspective students.

“She is not slipping through the cracks,” Jack said, when questioned on why nothing seems to be happening on the case or why the public was not informed of Budhram setting up another school in the country after there were several reports of her defrauding students in the past.

A source at the Education Ministry had disclosed that the administrator was instructed not to open her school until her registration was processed.

“I was informed that the school’s registration was incomplete and they were supposed to wait until it was completed. She was told not start

K Singh being escorted out by Police

teaching until everything was processed,” the source stated.

In 2009, former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had accused Singh of operating a fake nursing school, which went under the name “Inter-American Nursing School.” He had stated that hundreds of students were scammed into releasing large sums of money to her.

She was arrested and placed on bail. However, sometime

later, the Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended that no charges be laid against her.

Four years later, another medical school surfaced – this time under a different name and under the same woman with a different name. In 2014, another set of students took to the streets in protest against the woman and her school – insisting that they were being scammed.

It was reported that Singh, who went by the name Gita Kisson, never turned up to supervise their examination.

In both instances, the Education Ministry and the Public Health Ministry were notified but nothing was done to seriously address the matter.

Jack warned that any school which is not listed on the Council’s website is not registered and therefore not accredited. She stated that students should be wary of these details which are listed on the website because it would prevent similar situations from reoccurring.

The Council advised students to be cautious of fraudulent institutions, stating that they should pay attention to if they are finding difficulties in locating the institutions. It stated that fraudulent schools could be spotted by these simple pointers: the awarding of the degree does not make sense with the biographical information supplied; it is dif-

ficult to find the location of the institution itself; the degree is based largely on life experience or prior learning with little or no coursework completed at the awarding institution; the institution is accredited by an agency which you are not familiar with or one with no accreditation information; the institution is not listed by any reliable sources for recognised institutions and the accreditation information is vague or absent on literature about the institution or programme.

The NAC has been established by an Act of Parliament Act number 12 of 2004 The National Accreditation Act. It is the principal body in Guyana for conducting and advising on the accreditation and recognition of educational and training institutions, providers, programmes and awards, whether foreign or national and for the promotion of the quality and standards of education and training in Guyana.

Mother of 1 dies days after being brutally raped

A

lmost one week after a 21-year-old mother of one was allegedly raped by the driver of a route 42 minibus in the vicinity of Barama Company Limited, Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD), she succumbed to her injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

Guyana Times understands the woman boarded the minibus around 03:00h on the morning of September 4 at the junction of the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and requested to be dropped off at First Hill, EBD, but instead the driver went in another direction.

She reportedly told relatives that after she realised that the bus was heading in the wrong direction, she fought with the driver but she was choked and thrown out of the vehicle. The driver then reversed the minibus, collected her, took her to a lonely spot and committed the act.

After being raped, she was taken to another location in Land of Canaan, where she was thrown out of the vehicle.

She was subsequently rescued by someone who was head-

ing to masjid and taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, but was later transferred to the GPHC. While in hospital, she gave a description of her alleged rapist to Police. He is said to have low-cut hair with gold teeth in his mouth.

Speaking with Guyana Times, from her First Hill, EBD home, the dead woman’s mother, Jacqueline, explained that she along with her reputed husband, her now dead daughter, her boyfriend and another daughter went to a wedding on the night of September 3.

The woman and her reputed husband returned home in the wee hours of Sunday without the others. The aggrieved mother explained that soon after, her two daughters arrived without her now dead daughter’s boyfriend.

“As they came in the house, my daughter asked if her boyfriend was at home… I tell she that we left him at the wedding but she was under the impression that he came home with us… she left the house in search of Jason (the boyfriend),” she noted.

As she spoke with her daughter in hospital, the now woman related that after she did not find her boyfriend,

she boarded a bus and went to Diamond to see her son.

After doing so, she took another bus and travelled back to the Soesdyke/Linden Highway Junction.

It was after exiting that minibus that she entered another to take her home when tragedy struck. The frustrated mother noted that after seeing her daughter’s condition, she went to the Kuru Kururu Police Station and was told that they could not handle the matter and she needed to make a report at the Timehri Police Station.

“When I make the report, the Policeman visited my daughter but later explained that they couldn’t do anything because, my daughter could not provide them with a bus number, a colour of the bus or the name of the driver.”

She further related that although her daughter vaguely remembered that the bus was pink and white, the CID rank told relatives that it was not sufficient information to make an arrest and that they will have to wait on the postmortem examination report to further investigate. The post-mortem is set for Friday.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

NEWS

11

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

GBTI honours Early Savers Club members By: Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal

How long can the chaos on our roads continue unchecked?

H

ow can the continuing display of complete disregard for human life continue on our roads?

For years now I have been waiting for something drastic to be done to educate, police and deter the carnage on the roads of Guyana and it seems that no matter how many husbands, wives, daughters, sons, sisters, and brothers are tragically lost on the road, the demons behind the wheels continue to wreak havoc and play Russian roulette with all of our lives.

Whether we are forced to take a bus, are innocently and safely driving our own cars or walking on the street, we are not safe. How on earth can the blatant indifference for another human life continue? Equally disturbing is the way so many quietly accept, or worse still, are those that encourage from the passenger seats. Drivers need to stop and really consider the consequences of dangerous driving and take a look at their road habits.

For those of you who continue to risk our lives, I have to ask; is it for a dollar? For kicks or to prove how good a driver you are? You are operating a lethal weapon and you jump behind that wheel with no thought for the lives you are risking with your unbelievable manoeuvres on the road. The way you weave in and out of traffic only to stop a metre down the road. Why? God forbid that tomorrow it is your mother, sister, brother, uncle, aunty on the road, so if it is your disregard for strangers lives that perpetuates the unjustifiable way you behave, think on...

Everywhere you turn we witness driving at unsafe speeds, reckless driving, tail-gating, quick stops without signalling, undertaking, and complete contempt for traffic laws. There is no adjustment for many when conditions change such as wet roads or poor visibility. Driving at night is even more concerning as many roads are not well lit and some drivers don’t seem to realise they can actually flick a switch to lower high beam lights. In a county where livestock sleep on the road and pedestrians have no choice but to share the lane for walking, it is imperative that more care is taken by drivers.

The stresses that come for those forced to share the roads with the selfish and thoughtless dangerous drivers are increasing. In a place with a reputation for being relaxed, why is it that you are expected to go through the traffic lights with five seconds still to spare before the green light shows? The honking of horns is a constant nuisance and most times unnecessary. The impatience seems to only exist on the road as in so many other areas, people act as though they have so much time to spare and waste. The rush, and hustle and bustle on the roads is a stark contrast.

The grief and pain when dangerous driving take lives unnecessarily stays with a family and community forever and the ripple effects of the loss of life or serious injury cannot be easily measured. Why do we continue to accept the craziness on the road? How can a parent cope with knowing their child is no longer here and the driver leniently pays a fine, possibly serves a minimal sentence, and then proceeds to climb back behind the wheel ready to chance the same thing? When sentences are short or non-existent, what is to stop the chaos? We most certainly cannot rely on the grace of human nature or common sense.

There are not enough words to describe the concern so many of us have about the state of dangerous driving and the volume of loss of life on the roads in Guyana and its time we raised the volume of that concern. Our children need to be broken from a culture of reckless, irresponsible driving and taught the value of human life, their own as well as their fellow citizens. Complaining to our friends and family has done very little to save the lives of so many loved ones over the years. It is time for something to be done. There seems little comprehension of the seriousness of the situation from too many and it is going to take a huge, concerted effort to make necessary changes. The responsibility lies with us all to take more care, to speak out and to push for that change.

T

Early Savers recipients of GBTI’s bursary awards

he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Wednesday held its annual Early Savers Club Bursary Awards, honouring 15 students who are members of their early savers club that excelled at the 2016 National Grade Six Assessment examination.

The ceremony was held at the GBTI Corporate Office in Kingston, Georgetown, in the presence of Chief Executive Officer John Tracy, Manager of Administration Sean Noel, and Assistant Chief Education Officer of Secondary Leslyn EdwardsCharles.

At the simple ceremony,

Noel in his brief address, encouraged the students to be continually motivated by success and to follow a path that would only lead them to where they would like to be.

Edwards-Charles, delivering her main address, urged the students to remain focused on the subjects that would direct them to their dreams which in turn would make work easier for them.

However, she noted that she will not divulge in the debate of how many subjects a student should sit. She further urged the students to remain grateful for all that they have received and make GBTI proud once more in the next

five years to come out on top at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams.

The students awarded this year were Anthony Ferreira, who gained 568 marks, Aryan Singh with 568 marks, Jonathan Arjune with 543 marks, Muhammad Boodhoo with 545 marks, Harshani Danpaul with 517 marks, Jonelle Hopkinson with 514 marks, Lemuel Assing and Alieya Ali with 542 marks each, Rebekan Gharbaran with 520 marks, Vinaya Chatterdeo with 555 marks, Anjali Maharaj with 557 marks, Monesh Ramrup with 510 marks, Vishnu

Surendra with 517 marks, Kelly Sankar with 518 marks and Mliyah Doodnauth with 521.

Among the awardees were two boys – Singh and Ferreira – who copped the country’s top spot, together securing places at Queens College.

Singh highlighted that he would like to become the Chief Executive Officer of a bank, while Ferreira noted he would like to become a technological engineer. Ferreira added that he would like to pursue his tertiary education overseas and he is currently looking at universities that are best suited for him.

Gunmen storm 3 homes in ...

At this point, her brother-in-law arrived at the home and this startled the bandits, who fled the scene empty-handed.

“I think they got scared and they jumped the back fence. By then, my sister called the Police to come… the bandits had already gotten away by the time they arrived,” she stated.

Another group of bandits stormed the home of Attorney Paula Nicholson.

Prompt response from the Police resulted in the perpetrators being captured as they were ransacking the house. Speaking

The window through which the bandits gained entry into Attorney Paula Nicholson’s home

to Guyana Times, the Attorney explained that her daughter was at home alone when she noticed that two armed men were attempting to break into the house.

“I got a call from my daughter and she said that there were some suspicious activities taking place at the back of the fence. I told her if she believes she’s under threat to secure herself in a room, which she did. In addition to doing that, she called 911 and the Police responded immediately,” she related.

Nicholson said when the

FROM PAGE 7

Police arrived at the home, the bandits attempted to flee the scene but were apprehended. The Attorney expressed gratitude to the Police for their quick response.

Guyana Times was reliably informed that another house in the area was robbed. In July, the Vice Chairman of the Community Policing Group, as well as his neighbour, was robbed by armed bandits.

Just last week, thieves gained entry into another resident’s home by drilling a hole through the wall.

12 NEWS Crum-Ewing murder accused freed I

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

n a tense courtroom, the family of the late Courtney Crum-Ewing burst into tears as the man accused of killing him walked away a free man on Wednesday, following a ruling by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Regan Rodrigues, also known as “Grey Boy”, was in August 2015 charged with the execution-style murder of Crum-Ewing, during the height of the election campaign after Police found the murder weapon in his possession.

But in her ruling, the Magistrate said there was insufficient evidence to prove he was guilty of murder.

Magistrate Latchman explained that while the gun, which was used to kill Crum-Ewing was discovered at his home, the evidence presented by the pros-

Murdered: Courtney Crum-Ewing

Regan “Grey Boy” Rodrigues

ecution was not compelling enough for him to stand trial in the High Court.

Though the murder charge has been dismissed, Rodrigues is still serving a three-year sentence at the Camp Street Prison after he escaped lawful custody.

Rodrigues, as he was ex-

iting the courtroom, turned to the emotional family and expressed his sympathy for their loss but informed them that he was not responsible for executing the crime.

Forty-year-old Courtney Crum-Ewing, a father of three, was gunned down on March 10, 2015, while urg-

ing residents of the Diamond Housing Scheme, on the East Bank of Demerara, to vote in the upcoming General and Regional Elections that year.

Crum-Ewing was shot five times – three bullets went to the head, while one struck the back of the neck and the fifth bullet entered under one of his arms.

All the bullets were fired from behind and at close range, except the one that hit under his arm and exited his shoulder.

It was also reported that the bullet wound to the back of the man’s neck was at point-blank range and gun powder residue was also found on the collar of the back of the shirt he was wearing.

This newspaper was told that two .38 warheads were removed from the dead man’s head.

Upsurge in road carnage

Acting Top Cop pleads for use of 5Cs – to set up “Operation Safeway”

T

he recent upsurge in road fatalities has jolted the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to move towards the establishment of “Operation Safeway”, a road safety awareness initiative.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, at a specially convened press conference on Wednesday, made a special call to motorists, appealing for them to abide by the traffic rules and regulations, and giving close consideration to the 5Cs – Caution, Care, Common Sense, Courtesy and Consideration.

He said the recent spate of deaths, resulting from numerous accidents, was unacceptable.

“As we see it, there is a very high degree of callousness regarding the attitude towards other road users, in particular pedestrians. We note that there is a decline in the application of the five Cs that are well-publicised, but are seemingly becoming something of the past.”

Ramnarine said it was never too late to speak to fellow Guyanese, “to call to their sense of self preservation and basic respect, for not only each other, but the very rules and regulations regarding their behaviour while driving vehicles on the road”.

“It is clear to us that while we, in the Force, are continuing to do so much, there is need for the driving population to have their own concerns awakened in this regard,” he said.

The statistics as laid out by the Traffic Department shows a 33 per cent increase in fatal accidents for this year – some 89 fatal accidents compared to 67 for the same period last year.

The country has seen a 19 per cent increase in deaths – 96 so far for this year compared to 81 for the same period last year. Of the 96 dead, 29 were pedestrians; 19, motorcyclists; 11, pedal cyclists; nine, passengers or occupants of vehicles and 14, drivers.

He said private vehicles

were found to be the most involved in road accidents, with some 63 instances, representing 71 per cent of the total so far for this year.

Of the 89 fatal accidents, Ramnarine said, 14 were the result of drunk driving and 17 lives were lost, including three children and 13 pedestrians. Fifty of the fatal accidents were as a result of speeding and led to the loss of 56 lives, including six children and 21 pedestrians.

Drivers in 43 of the fatal accidents were charged, while inquests were advised for 22, with 15 awaiting advice.

The acting Police Chief also pointed to the youth of the drivers who have been involved in the accidents.

Seventy per cent of them were between the ages of 18 and 33.

In expanding on “Operation Safeway”, Ramnarine said the initiative would see a build-up of traffic Police in areas that have become prone to traffic accidents.

Traffic Chief Deon Moore explained that the new oper-

ation would target especially the East Bank Corridor, Linden-Soesdyke Highway, the East Coast and other parts of Region Four among other strategic areas.

Over the past few days, several accidents have occurred, leaving several persons, including young children, dead. On Tuesday, two young children were killed and their parents hospitalised after the car they were travelling in slammed into two parked vehicles on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

Then, on Saturday evening, a four-year-old, travelling with family members, was killed following a collision at Garnett and Sheriff Streets, Georgetown. The child was travelling in a Toyota Allion PMM 1426, when a Tundra, driven by a 19-year-old, slammed into it killing her instantly.

Then, on Monday, an accident on the Corentyne left a group of friends dead.

Reports reaching the Police suggested that the men were under the influence.

Obesity M

ost people think about malnutrition as under nutrition (not getting enough to eat). But malnutrition really means “bad nutrition”. Over eating is a form of bad nutrition. When people over eat, they become overweight and then obese. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that in 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults (39 per cent), 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 600 million (13 per cent) were obese. They also estimated that 41 million children under the age of five were overweight or obese in 2014. Obesity in Guyana is growing. The Dr Frank Anthony World Bank reported that in 2010, 29.3 per cent of adult females were obese; by 2014 this has increased to 31.6 per cent. In 2010, 14.4 per cent of males were obese by 2014 this has climbed to 19.01 per cent.

A simple explanation of overweight and obesity, is that there is an energy imbalance. That is, the daily intake of calories is more than the amount of calories that we expend. This results in a net gain of calories in the body, which is then stored as fats.

To get a rough idea whether someone is obese, overweight, normal weight or underweight, a measurement index was developed called the Body Mass Index (BMI) – it is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in metres (kg/m2).For adults, WHO defines overweight and obesity as follows: * overweight is a BMI that is between 25 and 30 * obesity is a BMI that is equal to or greater than 30.

Using the results of the BMI, doctors can calculate the relative risk of persons developing various diseases, cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), diabetes, reproductive disorders, pulmonary diseases, hepatobillary diseases, musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis and various cancers (including endometrial, breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, gallbladder, kidney, and colon). Generally, if you are overweight then you are at risk, but if you are obese your risk is even greater.

Interestingly, fat is distributed and stored in various parts of the body. Studies have shown that intra-abdominal and abdominal subcutaneous fat (belly fat) can put the individual at greater risk than subcutaneous fat present in the buttocks and lower extremities. These deposits of fat are measured using the waist to hip ratio. In women a ratio > 0.9 is abnormal, while in men a ratio of >1.0 is abnormal. Many of the complications of obesity, such as insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and hyperandrogenism in women are closely linked to intra-abdominal fats or upper body fats.

Overweight and obesity are global public health challenges. One way of addressing these challenges are that people have to be more careful with what they are eating. To begin with, people should reduce the amount of salt, fats (trans fatty acids) and sugars. These are generally harmful. People should increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes. These are generally good and are in relative abundance year round in Guyana. Meats should generally be lean and it is preferable that you add more fish to your diet.

In addition, it is important that persons exercise regularly. Some people get very little exercise, which can be detrimental to their health. It is recommended that adults aged 18 to 64 years should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week.

For addition health benefits, this can be increased to 300 minutes per week. Muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major muscle groups on two or more days a week. Persons older than 65 years should strive to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week or as much as their health conditions allow.

Governments must create an enabling environment.

The Government must urgently complete the STEPS survey, to measure obesity, inactivity and other harmful risk factors in the population. Based on the findings of this survey, the Government should develop programmes to reduce overweight and obesity in Guyana.

NEWS

Amerindian Heritage Month

Exhibition honours Indigenous artists

Indigenous Peoples' Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock sharing a light moment with Dr Frank Anthony

I

n recognition of the contribution that Amerindian artists have made to the art world, the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry hosted an exhibition at Castellani House on Wednesday. At the event, special homage was paid to late Archaeologist and Anthropologist Denis Williams who in 1974 founded that Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology.

Among the items exhibited on Wednesday were paintings, other type of iconography and motifs.

The event’s opening ceremony occurred on the lawns of Castellani House, where patrons were treated to traditional songs translated as “My Little Brother”, as 10 young dancers moved in togetherness amid light chants, decked out in native garments. As officials were led to the art house, there it was noted by many speakers

to recreate so much of our rich heritage,” the Minister opined.

Also present at the exhibition was former Culture Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, who also noted that artistic works showcase belief system of Indigenous people.

“This exhibition is a good way in how we can communicate some of that culture to the next generation… using some of the paintings, you can examine myths and

beliefs,” he noted Reflecting on the contribution that Denis Williams made to Guyana, Dr Anthony opined that Williams built a lot of cultural intuitions.

“We [now have] National Trust that is in charge of our monuments, preservation of historic buildings,” the former Culture Minister expressed, adding that he hopes the work of the Walter Roth Museum can also continue.

This year’s exhibition was led by artist and fellow Archaeologist George Simon. The event concluded with several Indigenous artists being honoured for their outstanding work.

One female patron told Guyana Times that the preservation of culture guides the pathway of children. She further noted that a nation which doesn’t preserve its culture is one that will be “a society of barbarians.”

Illegal aircraft found in Region 9 T he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Tuesday received information of an illegal aircraft at the Yupukari Airstrip, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

NAMILCO hosts health drive in Agricola

A brief cultural presentation held on the lawns of Castellani House

Several artists were honoured for their outstanding contributions to Guyanese art

that the preservation of art is key in the development if Indigenous culture, as many Amerindians are skilled artists.

Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, who gave the key address, observed the special place that artists have is showcasing their imagination. Allicock added that artists are as rich as the resources in the ground.

“Artists put to work there imagination and skill

13

thursday, september 15, 2016 | guyana-times.com

On Wednesday, a Joint GDF and Police patrol was conducted in the area and a twin-engine Cessna aircraft was discovered at approximately 09:50h.

Investigators from the GDF; Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are in the area conducting investigations.

T

A section of the gathering at the health drive

he National Milling Company (NAMILCO) recently held a health drive at the Agricola/Mc Doom basketball court which attracted 232 patients.

tablets.

The peer educator revealed that the large number of persons focused on having their blood sugar and blood pressure tested, and those who had alarming re-

Organiser Pravesh Bhola leads by example in donating blood

The event, which was organised by NAMILCO’s peer educator Pravesh Bhola in collaboration with Sterling Products peer education group, saw patients being given the opportunity to receive HIV, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood sugar and blood pressure testing; body massages, as well as Filaria

sults were given the necessary recommendations.

Bhola expressed appreciation for the members of the peer education group for making the day-long activity a success.

The organiser urged that person should use healthoriented products to aid in living a healthy lifestyle.

14

guyana-times.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

News

UG student loans repayment slashed by 75% T

he Government of Guyana has opted to grant a further reprieve to indebted students of the University of Guyana (UG), by slashing accumulated arrears by as much as 75 per cent if the monies in full are repaid by the end of next month.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Finance Ministry, which indicated that the decision came about as a result of a Cabinet decision made on Tuesday last.

According to the Finance Ministry, the extension of the waivers has been approved for those indebted, but currently with payment schedules for their student loans.

Persons who wish to bring their accounts up-to-

date will be granted a 50 per cent reduction in the accumulated arrears of interest, “If their accounts are brought up-to-date by October 31, 2016.”

The Ministry has cautioned “if, however, a borrower defaults, subsequently, the interest waived will be restored in full to the account”. The Ministry said borrowers whose accounts were current for at least three years at July 31, 2016 will benefit from a 50 per cent reduction on all future interest once the account does not go into arrears, but cautioned too that in this instance “if the account lapses into arrears, all interest waived will be restored”.

According to a missive issued by the Ministry’s

Student Loan Agency

Public Relations Office, “borrowers whose accounts were current for at least two years at July 31, 2016, will receive a 50 per cent reduction on the interest accumulated prior to the

repayment due date of the loan.”

This reduction, however, will be given in the form of a monthly credit against future payments, but, “if however, the account goes

into arrears, all interest waived will be restored to the account”.

The move to provide a reprieve for UG students in arrears was first raised in the context of Guyana’s 50th

Independence Anniversary when Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had indicated before the Independence anniversary, “we are hoping that we can be generous in the Jubilee year… to students and waive interest and so forth…So, there are considerations for passing or excusing or not insisting on payments for some things, but I would prefer the Minister of Finance to make those announcements”.

The reduction was recommended by an audit of the UG Student Loan Agency among other interventions, “to streamline the agency and set clear conditions for loan applications guarantees and repayment”.

Ramjattan to new Prison Officers: “Give us your best”

The new batch of Prison Officers after undergoing the Basic Recruit Training Course at the Cecil Kilkenny Prison Officers’ Training School

T

he capacity of the Guyana Prison Service has been boosted as over three dozen recruits graduated from a two-month training programme.

Thirty-seven of the 38 recruits who commenced the training programme completed the course at the Cecil Kilkenny Prison Officers’ Training School in Lusignan on Wednesday.

The other recruit was forced to drop out of the course after he was injured by an inmate on August 7.

The course focused on basic and advanced prison doctrine, professional ethics and behavioural training.

Addressing the new Prison Officers and other invitees, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan called on the recruits to give their best in executing their duties.

“For the sake of the (Prisons) Service, for the sake of the community out there and those held in custodial environments, you have to give us your best,” he remarked.

The Minister further pointed out to the recruits that despite being young and inexperienced, they needed to learn quickly and do so even with the limited resources provided. He continued that even without adequate resources, Prison Officers should, instead of taking the “don’t care a damn” attitude, play a role in helping prisoners to address their “offending behaviour”, so that they could be prepared for reintegration into their communities.

Against this backdrop,

the Public Security Minister charged the new Prison Officers to ensure that there was a balance between maintaining security within the prisons and displaying humanity towards the prisoners.

“Keeping a proper balance between security and control in the prisons on the one hand, but maintain humanity and justice on the other. It is very important that we know the two hands as it were – proper balance between security and control, and humanity and jus-

tice (are) very vital for a public service that is as vital in the public security sector,” the Minister remarked.

Moreover, Director of Prisons, Carl Graham, told the recruits that the hardships they endured during the training would mould them into excellent Prison Officers. To this end, he urged them to hold the prestige of the Prisons Service uniform, whether they were on duty or not.

“The training you had in this course, use it in the most meaningful way when you go back to the prison, use it to set an example of what a good Prison Officer should be when you are in your social life, use the values and discipline to develop yourself, your family, the Prisons institution and more so, our blessed land,” the Prisons Director posited.

Additionally, Chief Prison Officer (Training) David Shepherd, who is the Officer-in-Charge of Training, reminded the new Prison Officers that this was the beginning of their ca-

reers, and noted that the training they underwent should be the foundation of a new lifestyle, one which reflected discipline and integrity.

Meanwhile, the best student among the batch, Rodlyn Jack, committed on behalf of her fellow recruits to give their best in performing their duties. Jack took the prize in the female-dominated best student category.

The first and second runners up in that category are Shemika Samuels and Anikie Whinfield. The spot for Best Shot (Ranges) went to Raydon Phil, while Nathalia Montooth copped the runner-up prize.

Wintley Campbell secured the Best Drill prize, while the first runnerup was Ron Reynolds.

Campbell took the prize for Best Dressed Male, while the female prize was copped by Sarafina Pitt. The Most Improved Drill prize went to Tascta Glasgow (female) and Curtis Lesfloris (male).

OAS celebrates anniversary of adoption of Inter-American Democratic Charter

T

he Organisation of American States (OAS) on Tuesday celebrated the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter (IADC) during a ceremony held in the Hall of the Americas of OAS headquarters in Washington, DC. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro opened the event with welcoming remarks and the list of keynote speakers included Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister of Canada; Alejandro Toledo, former President of Peru; Alvaro Colom, former President of Guatemala; and Thomas Shannon, US under

Secretary of State for political affairs.

Dr Elliston Rahming, Bahamas Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OAS and current chair of the OAS Permanent Council, delivered closing remarks, during which he described the Inter-American Democratic Charter as “a unique instrument which has no comparable arm in any other international organisation.”

Rahming said the InterAmerican Democratic Charter “came into being at a time when democracy was beginning to take root in the Americas following decades

Dr Elliston Rahming, Bahamas Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OAS and current Chair of the OAS Permanent Council; Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister of Canada; Alejandro Toledo, former President of Peru; OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro; Alvaro Colom, former President of Guatemala; Thomas Shannon, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs; and Steven Griner, Director of the Department of Sustainable Democracy and Special Missions

of dictatorial and authoritarian regimes.”

“It came about because democracy was considered to be, and still is, the truest expression of the will of the people,” Rahming declared. “The enactment of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, therefore, allowed for the promotion and consolidation of democracy to become firmly established among OAS member states.

The Charter, with its various provisions, is an instrument that both encourages and accompanies member states in their quest for that system of government...” (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

Obama says US ready to Delhi battles major Chikungunya outbreak lift Myanmar sanctions I after Suu Kyi's visit

US President Barack Obama talks to the media as he meets with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, September 14, 2016

M

yanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi called on Wednesday for the lifting of economic sanctions against her country, and President Barack Obama, in their first White House meeting since she became her country's leader, said the United States was ready to

do so.

"The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time," Obama said, with Suu Kyi sitting next to him in the Oval Office.

Suu Kyi's trip capped a decades-long journey from

political prisoner to national leader after her party won a sweeping electoral victory last year.

With Suu Kyi no longer an Opposition figure, the United States has been weighing a further easing of sanctions against Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, as Obama looks to normalise relations with a country Washington shunned when it was ruled by a military junta.

As Suu Kyi arrived at the White House, Obama issued a statement saying he would reinstate Myanmar to the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which provides duty-free treatment for goods from poor and developing countries.

Myanmar was removed from GSP benefits in 1989 following pro-democracy uprisings a year earlier that were brutally suppressed by the ruling military junta.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Brazil’s Lula and wife charged with corruption – Globo TV

B

razilian prosecutors filed corruption charges on Wednesday against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his wife and six others in the sprawling Petrobras kickback scandal.

This was the first time Lula, still Brazil’s most popular politician despite corruption accusations against him and his Workers Party, was charged by federal prosecutors for involvement in the massive graft scheme at the state-run oil company.

Lula’s case will go before crusading anti-corruption Judge Sergio Moro, who has jailed dozens of executives and others involved in the scheme.

Lula could face arrest for receiving a luxury apartment

Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva looks on as he attends a meeting with members of the Workers Party (PT) in Sao Paulo, Brazil September 2, 2016

on the coast of Sao Paulo from one of the engineering and construction firms at the centre of the bribery scandal. Lula has denied owner-

ship of the three-floor condo in Guarujá.

Federal Police urged prosecutors last month to bring charges against Lula and his wife, accusing them of receiving some 2.4 million reais (US$747,896) in benefits from the builder OAS in relation to the apartment.

Lula, a charismatic former union leader who was a two-term President from 2003 to 2010, has separately been indicted by a court in Brasilia for obstruction of justice in a case related to an attempt to persuade a defendant in the Petrobras scandal not to turn state’s witness.

Lula’s fall, and that of the leftist party he founded in 1980, has been dramatic.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

South African national park to kill animals in response to severe drought

R

There are about 47,000 buffaloes in Kruger national park

angers in South Africa’s biggest wildlife park are to kill about 350 hippos and buffaloes threatened by the impact of a severe drought. The national parks service says the numbers of hippos and buffaloes in Kruger national park, about 8000 and 47,000 respectively, are at their highest-ever levels.

Isaac Phaahla, a spokesperson for South African National Parks said the drought had caused a shortage of food for the animals, though there was sufficient water.

The southern Africa drought has been called the worst in 35 years. Water restrictions have been imposed in major cities in South Africa

and millions of people are threatened by food shortages in neighbouring countries.

“We do not call it a cull.

We call it an offtake. It’s a management tool and we want to understand what impact it will have. Our aim is to have sustainable usage [of resources] and populations,” Phaahla said.

A drought in the early 1990s reduced Kruger’s buffalo population by more than half to about 14,000 but the population rebounded. The hippo population was reduced to around 2,000 but has since quadrupled. One motive for the killing was to stop the animals suffering, the park said.

Meat from the killed animals may be distributed to poor communities on the park’s perimeter if veterinary authorities give the go-ahead.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

ndia's capital Delhi is battling one of its worst outbreaks of the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus – with more than 1000 cases reported across the city. The BBC's Ayeshea Perera explains the outbreak in Delhi and why Chikungunya is worrying so many people.

More than 1000 cases of the illness have been registered in the city.

Local media have reported that 10 people in the city have also died of Chikungunya-related complications, although this is

yet to be officially confirmed.

The illness is largely nonlethal although the World Health Organisation says that in older people it can contribute to the cause of death.

India's Health Minister JP Nadda told reporters that the Government was investigating to see if the virus could be linked to the deaths, as many of those who died were already suffering from other illnesses such as kidney disease and high blood pressure.

The larger problem, how-

ever, seems to be the effect the debilitating nature of the virus is having on the population of the city. The Indian Express newspaper reported that a number of Public Sector projects were missing important deadlines as the virus had severely depleted workforces. The report added that many migrant labourers from other Indian states – who make up the bulk of Delhi's construction workforce – have been forced to return home. This has also hit their personal incomes. (Excerpt from BBC News)

North Korea able to produce 20 nuclear bombs – experts

N

orth Korea will have enough material for about 20 nuclear bombs by the end of this year with enhanced uranium-enrichment facilities and an existing stockpile of plutonium, according to new assessments by weapons experts.

The revelations came as North Korea accused the United States of pushing the Korean peninsula to "the point of explosion" after it dispatched two huge bombers in a show of force against North Korea.

The American supersonic B-1B Lancers flew over South Korea on Tuesday as the US pledged its "unshakeable commitment" to defend its allies in the region, following North Korea's fifth and largest-ever nuclear test conducted last week.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves to officials in this undated photo

The North has evaded a decade of United Nations sanctions to develop its uranium enrichment process, enabling it to run an effectively self-sufficient nuclear programme that is capable of producing six nuclear bombs a year, arms analysts say.

The true nuclear capability of the isolated and secretive state is impossible to verify.

According to South Korea, the North is preparing for another nuclear test – a sign it has no shortage of material to do so.

North Korea has an abundance of uranium reserves and has been working covertly for more than a decade on a project to enrich the material to weapons-grade level, the experts say. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

New York Attorney General probes Trump's charity

N

ew York's Attorney General has disclosed that his office is investigating Donald Trump's charity to determine whether it has abided by state laws governing nonprofits.

The disclosure came on a day Democrats in the US House of Representatives called for a federal investigation into a donation the Trump Foundation made to a political group supporting Florida's attorney general after her office said it was considering legal action

against Trump University.

"My interest in this issue really is in my capacity as regulator of non-profits in New York state," Eric Schneiderman, the New York attorney general, told CNN on Tuesday. "We have been concerned that the Trump Foundation has engaged in impropriety from that point of view."

Schneiderman has been at loggerheads with the Republican presidential nominee over the Trump University real estate programme, which he has called

"straight up fraud".

The Trump Foundation has faced a series of damaging stories, including by The Washington Post, which reported over the weekend that the White House candidate himself had not donated to his own charity since 2008.

The newspaper found other irregularities, including that Trump spent US$20,000 of money that had been set aside for charitable purposes to purchase a six-foot painting of himself.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16

thursday, september 15, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Rave Designer…entrepreneur T

he eye-catching jewellery created by Deborah Ann Mathias, the owner of Rave Designs, encompasses a truly appropriately named brand. But how did a former Burrowes and University of Guyana Fine Arts student move from creating art to owning her own business? Here in her own words, the divorced mother of two boys, who is also a director in her family’s advertising business where she once worked as a graphic artist, shares more of her story: What made you decide to start your own business?

At the age of 30, I was divorced with two kids and had a very demanding job. When I considered that the salary I was earning could not afford me a home for my family, I decided to start my own business. I announced to my kids that I was going to be working from home and would have more time to spend with them; however, one month later my younger son said, ‘Mum, now that you are working at home, we see you even less than when you were working at an office.’

How do you juggle business and family life?

I love my family very much, but I haven’t a clue; for me, it has been faith, support from my mum and late dad and enjoying what I do.

Where were you when you launched your business?

Depends on which business you are referring to.

My first business was started when I was 13 years old, I used some money I had earned from an after-school part-time job to finance some fabric and sewed up some short jumper suits, which was the style at that time. However, Rave Designs was launched at the Umana Yana 2011.

Where do you source the raw materials to make your jewellery?

I make an effort to always use local materials, but if needed, I sourced from various countries.

What is your best-selling product and how would you describe it?

My jewellery is made from local semi-precious stones, natural seeds and recycled material.

My best-selling products are the semi-precious pieces, which are well received by the public.

What lessons have you learnt throughout this process?

The value of persistence and maintaining a positive mental outlook.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about starting their own business?

Start with something you like; if you don’t know anything about business, get training in the field.

What are your goals for your business venture?

Improving on efficiency and capacity building.

Where do you see your type of business going in Guyana's economy?

At present, there is little local demand for my art; how-

ever, in a globalised economy where anyone has access to the Internet, the possibilities are endless. (Mathias currently retails her products online and at Makin’ Style Boutique, Queenstown, Georgetown) Do you have any employees?

Presently, I am assisted by family members and when needed, some contractors that I employ seasonally.

What do you believe can be done for entrepreneurs such as yourself, especially in starting up a business?

In Guyana, there is a need for more tangible resources available to artisans and entrepreneurs. The lending institutions are only interested in what works traditionally and a general refusal to seriously consider art (music, art and craft, fine art, etc) as the economic giant it is. At some point, there needs to be a push to gain momentum in the worldwide art community and give our artists and artisans the ability to earn internationally. There is a learning curve and it will take time and effort, but our artists are being left behind.

What’s the single most important trait for entrepre-

Market statistics Cur

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Calculated at 94% purity, September 13, 2016

Selling

GBP

$271.55

$274.99

CAN

$156.22

$158.03

USD

$205.98

$208.44

EURO

$231.05

$234.01

Digicel simplifies credit borrowing in Jamaica

I

f banks introduced a line of credit accessible by one SMS request and nothing more to existing account holders, they would probably make millions.

Telecoms giant Digicel is aiming to achieve just that with DigiLoan, a credit advance service that allows customers to top up their account by dialling a short code. Digicel’s Guyana website indicates that in Guyana, the amount offered is GY$141 and the cost is GY$9.

The move comes as competitor FLOW expands its own loan product across markets after starting use of its mobile Lend app for android prepaid phone users in Antigua in April. Marketing started in Jamaica on September 12.

“We have simplified the process and it is now easier for customers to access a DigiLoan right at the time they need one,” Digicel Jamaica CEO David Butler

told the Jamaica Observer.

“This creates a higher level of convenience for users. Customers can simply reply ‘Yes’ to an invitation originating from the 127 short code and then proceed to borrow credit,” he added.

The previous method involved five steps, although it also offered varying amounts to be borrowed. Now, with one step, consumers can get $90 for which they pay an additional $10 with the total amount deducted from their account the next time they purchase air time.

The company reported a global subscriber base of 13.9 million in the nine months ended March 31.

Over two million of these are in Jamaica.

The improvement in ease of access is expected to result in a jump in revenue.

Butler said DigiLoan is available in some markets, but the features and terms of service vary by market.

(Jamaica Observer)

European Commission plans free wi-fi in public spaces

T

he European Commission wants free wi-fi to be provided in public spaces across its member states within four years.

The goal was announced by the President of the European Union's executive body, Jean-Claude Juncker, in his annual state of the union address.

He also wants at least one city in each EU country to have deployed a 5G mobile network by 2020.

However, one expert cast doubt over whether the public would benefit.

European officials have struggled to deliver an earlier promise to abolish mobile roaming fees.

The new pledges may not

apply to the UK because it may have quit the EU before the end of the decade.

Juncker said digital technologies were "permeating every aspect of life", so everyone should be able to get online.

"Everyone benefiting from connectivity means that it should not matter where you live or how much you earn," he said.

"So, we propose today to equip every European village and every city with free wireless Internet access around the main centres of public life by 2020."

A factsheet for his Wifi4EU plan states that it applies to parks, squares, libraries and public buildings.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Investors’ Guide

Cambio Rates Buying

neurs?

Tenacity.

Who’s your dream mentor?

Maya Angelo Who’s your single biggest influence?

My Mum, strongest woman I know.

How do you define success?Of course, there is a financial element to success, but if I attain a reputation for producing great pieces of wearable art and that reputation can be transferred to my future generations in the form of a creative brand that they can be proud of and continue to grow, I would consider that success.

What’s your biggest inspiration?

My Indigenous background, affords a cultural legacy from which I can gain motivation for my art.

If you could do only one hobby for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?I would like to develop teaching material for young children using local materials.

Because I believe we need to learn more about each other, our different cultures and our challenges.

Contact: quintexadvert@yahoo.com/641-0920

Business News

USD

$1328.50

Gross

$256,526

Net

$238,570

Indicators as on September 14, 2016 Indicators Crude Oil

US$ per barrel $47.10

Price

USD

Change % -2.59

Change %

Rough Rice

$217.14/ton

+133

London Sugar

$560.00/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1322.60

$1323.60

Low/High

$1318.60

$1326.70

Change

+0.00

+0.00%

Business Concept – Aid for Trade (AfT) The World Trade Organisation (WTO)-led Aid for Trade (AfT) initiative encourages developing countries’ Governments and donors to recognise the role that trade can play in development. AfT helps developing countries, and particularly least developed countries, trade. Many developing countries face a range of supplyside and trade-related infrastructure obstacles which constrain their ability to engage in international trade.

In particular, the initiative seeks to mobilise resources to address the trade-related constraints identified by developing and least-developed countries. (WTO)

Fed jitters and oil pull Wall Street lower; Apple rallies

W

all Street edged lower on Wednesday as investors stewed about future interest rate hikes and cheaper oil dragged down energy shares, although Apple surged to its highest level this year.

Speculation about the timing of the Federal Reserve's next interest rate hike has shaken major stock indexes following contrasting comments from Fed officials.

The S&P 500 remains down almost three per cent from before a steep selloff on Friday, even though interest rate futures indicate expectations for a rate hike at the Fed's September 20-21 meeting are still low.

"What you're seeing is a little preview for what will happen when the Fed does raise rates," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Cornerstone Financial Partners. "People are starting to make changes

to their portfolios."

Apple jumped 3.6 per cent and briefly touched a 2016 high, with its market capitalisation topping US$600 billion for the first time since April, as Wall Street bet the technology company's newest iPhone would help shore up falling sales.

Its rally helped push the S&P 500 technology index up 0.58 per cent, making it the session's strongest sector.

Oil prices dropped two per cent following data that showed large weekly builds in US petroleum products, sending the S&P energy index down 1.15 per cent.

ExxonMobil declined 0.72 per cent, the heaviest drag on the S&P 500.

After spending much of the day with gains, the Dow Jones industrial average ended down 0.18 per cent at 18,034.77 points and the S&P 500 gave up 0.06 per cent to 2125.77.

The Nasdaq Composite added 0.36 per cent to 5173.77.

Monsanto agreed to be bought by Bayer, but its stock rose just 0.62 per cent to US$106.76, well below the offer of US$128 per share, due to concerns about regulatory approvals.

Vitae Pharmaceuticals shares more than doubled to US$20.85 after Allergan said it would buy the company for US$639 million. Allergan rose 1.78 per cent.

Ford fell 1.94 per cent after the automaker said 2017 financial performance would decline from this year's levels.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.11-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.03-to-1 ratio favoured decliners.

The S&P 500 posted one new 52-week high and three new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 45 new highs and 41 new lows. (Reuters)

17

news

thursday, september 15, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Delayed witness protection legislation

Non-implementation hindering justice system – Justice Kennard

F

ormer Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard has registered his concern over the delay in the implementation of the witness protection legislation.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, the retired Justice opined that the lack of such legislation was hindering successful prosecutions, pointing out that witnesses were often fearful for their lives and opted against appearing in court. “[The justice system is] affected by a lot; you have a lot of dismissals of a lot of cases; people are afraid to come forward, in the event that if they give evidence and somebody [is not convicted], the … [person] will get at them,” Kennard stressed.

He added that in years past, there were very few persons freed in high-profile cases.

“People must feel secure that they are being protected because we are having only 30 per cent of convictions; when I was a young prosecutor, [about] two persons [would] get off per session; people were not intimidated: they would go forward,” the retired Chancellor of the Judiciary noted, adding that a proliferation of weapons was all the more reason to have the legislation passed.

“Crime is on the increase; everybody getting guns so people [have] to be protected and I’m sure that Mr Ramjattan (Public Security Minister) would ensure [its

Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

Minister

implementation],” Justice Kennard further pointed out.

It was announced last year that key witnesses testifying before the courts of Guyana would have been guaranteed protection by the State, if Parliament approved the passage of the Witness Protection Bill 2015.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who held the Governance portfolio at the time, had revealed in November last that the Bill was before a parliamentary sub-committee. Trotman had announced that Cabinet approved a draft Witness Protection Bill 2015 for submission to the National Assembly.

However, it is not yet clear as to why the Bill has been stalled.

Had it been passed and implemented, the legislation would have provided the legal framework for Government to establish the Witness Protection Programme, which would see persons having access to safe houses and new identities, where and when neces-

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, retired Justice Cecil Kennard

sary.

Minister Trotman had explained that the Programme would have formed part of a wider ongoing crime and security initiative under the Caribbean Community (Caricom). He noted that sister countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Barbados, were currently involved in the Programme, with witnesses from one country being provided with a new lease on life in another country.

“I have no doubt that Guyana will avail itself of the opportunity to [be part of the Programme],” Trotman had related.

The Minister had also noted that if the Witness Protection Programme came “on-stream”, Guyana would have eventually gained support from nations such as the United Kingdom and United States, with regard to the requisite training for officers, construction of facilities and assistance in the alteration of witnesses’ appearances.

Several farm-to-market roads need repairing – Naitram … Region 2 tractor, rome plough out of order

R

egion Two (PomeroonSupenaam) coalition Councillor and Alliance For Change (AFC) activist, Naitram, said he empathises with the struggles rice farmers are enduring due to an “inactive” Region Two administration. Naitram made this comment on Wednesday at the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) statutory meeting. The Councillor said a number of all-weather roads leading from farmlands are in deplorable conditions and no effort is being made to maintain them.

During his address to fellow Councillors, he informed the Council that the region's tractor and rome plough are currently out of order and require urgent maintenance works. Naitram, who is the coordinator for the Agriculture Ministry in the region, said that despite several reports made to the relevant authorities about the state of the machinery, the situation remains the same and rice farmers are suffering.

“The dams need repairing, farmers are suffering, most times they are stuck, where are we really heading? Harvesting has commenced and no efforts of maintaining the farmers’ dams are being done,” Naithram lamented.

He also mentioned that the tractor and the rome plough were supposed to be fixed weeks ago.

“There are a set of work-

Region Two Hopkinson

REO

Rupert

ers at the region's workshop, there are engineers, so much workers, they are just not pulling their weight, they are not being mannered when err, we have been raising matters over and over at the RDC level; nothing is done, why aren't the workers responsible,” Naitram questioned in the presence of the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson.

He also explained that often, proposals are made to the RDC highlighting issues and yet no actions are taken. He then called on the region's REO to be more proactive in dealing promptly with the issues affecting the region. Naithram stressed that Region Two is an agricultural region and rice cultivation is its backbone.

Naithram therefore called on the REO to give priority to the maintenance of the farmer's road.

In responding, Hopkinson told Councillor Naitram that monies are available and as such, if he saw the need for the roads to be repaired then he should

AFC Councillor Naitram

hire temporary workers to assist in the process.

Hopkinson said he cannot do everything on his own and other persons in authority need to also make suggestions and recommendations on the way forward.

He also told the Council that he is of the opinion that persons within the administration are making efforts to sabotage the development and production progress.

People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Showkat Ali speaking on the matter said if the machineries are constantly out of order in the region, which is hampering development, then a full-time mechanical engineer should be employed to examine the machines. He also informed the Council that several dams were chipped under the Water Users Association (WUA) to assist farmers. The REO however promised to make necessary follow-ups from the engineer on the state of the various dams.

(Indrawattie Natram)

18

guyana-times.com

thursday, september 15, 2016

ARCHIE

Don’t share information that you don’t want made (March 21- public. Your reputation will April 19) depend on the way you handle personal matters. Learn from experience and protect yourself against insult or injury.

ARIES

Get involved in something TAURUS you feel passionate about in (April 20- order to gain confidence as May 20) well as boost your reputation.

A short trip will be informative. A spiritual awakening is apparent.

dilbert

Use your charm to wiggle GEMINI your way into a position that (May 21will be more rewarding finanJune 20) cially and intellectually. A partnership looks promising if you initiate the changes you want to see.

You’ll learn through the CANCER experiences you encounter to(June 21- day. A spiritual or philosophJuly 22) ical awakening will help you make a life-altering decision.

Follow your heart and start something new.

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Financial matters should be handled with care. You may feel like taking a risk, but the information you are given regarding a joint venture will fall short of your expectations. Romance is highlighted.

VIRGO If you keep your life sim(Aug. 23- ple and your mind on what’s Sept. 22) important, you will find a way to dodge any negativity and emotional manipulation that comes your way.

Calvin and Hobbes

Stay balanced and take LIBRA a long look at all the ins and (Sept. 23outs of any situation you face.

Oct. 23) Do your homework in order to avoid being manipulated by someone trying to take advantage of you.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Your original way of doing SCORPIO things will catch on with your (Oct. 24- peers. Setting trends and enNov. 22) couraging others to explore new possibilities will put you in a profitable position.

Keep an open mind, but SAGITTARIUS don’t let anyone push you (Nov. 23into something that will Dec. 21) jeopardize your reputation or detract from your happiness.

Put your needs first.

Let your memories take CAPRICORN charge and help you learn (Dec. 22- some valuable lessons from Jan. 19) your past. Nothing will work well without the support of the people you care about.

solution for Last Published Puzzle Don’t let someone’s inabilAQUARIUS ity to be straight with you get (Jan. 20- you down. You will find many Feb. 19) other opportunities to collaborate with like-minded people and engage in projects with those who share your vision.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Stay calm and refuse to be(Feb. 20- come stressed and angry over March 20) something you cannot control. Personal satisfaction will come from self-improvements that make you feel good.

thursDAY, september 15, 2016

19

Aguero hat-trick helps Man City to 4-0 win

S

ergio Aguero struck a second hat-trick of the season as Manchester City dominated Borussia Monchengladbach in their Champions League group opener.

In Pep Guardiola’s first group game in charge, Aguero pounced to prod in an Aleksandar Kolarov cross and added a penalty when Ilkay Gundogan was fouled.

He rounded the keeper for his third in front of around 32,000 fans, a figure hit by Tuesday’s postponement.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho completed the scoring, firing in from 12 yards.

Monchengladbach, who saw nearly half their fans fly home before kick-off due to the rearrangement, offered little and it seemed a matter of time before Aguero added another treble to the one he hit against Steaua Bucharest in qualifying.

Monchengladbach keep-

er Yann Sommer also produced two close-range saves to deny Aguero, as Guardiola’s side fired 23 attempts at goal against opposition which finished fourth in last season’s Bundesliga.

City’s Champions League record features two exits at the group stage, twice going out in the last-16 and a clubbest semi-final place over five seasons.

Guardiola’s remit will be to take them further and his record of reaching at least the semi-finals in his seven Champions League campaigns - including two triumphs with Barcelona offers hope for the club’s following.

A g a i n s t Monchengladbach, his side were far from the passheavy machine he built in Catalonia - instead they were efficient, seeing less of the ball than their visitors in the first-half but using it slickly to carve out chances and put the game to bed.

Sergio Aguero now has nine goals in five matches this season

“It was the most dominant performance of my time here, considering the importance of the game,” said the former Bayern Munich boss.

Perhaps Guardiola’s only gripe will be the chances his side passed up, debutant Gundgoan and Raheem Sterling both guilty of missing one-on-one opportunities.

Aguero was not in such charitable mood.

The Argentine, now 28,

has 25 Champions League goals if qualifiers are discounted. For a marksman of such standing, it is perhaps surprising he stands 68 behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nonetheless, he looks set to be as prolific as ever in his sixth season in England.

Aguero will of course miss Saturday’s meeting with Bournemouth and a League Cup tie at Swansea due to suspension as City seek to extend their 100%

record in all competitions so far.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho’s powerful finish late on perhaps shows his confidence in filling the brief void but the movement of Aguero to arrive at the near post and open the scoring underlined the natural instinct that City miss in his absence.

Guardiola punched the air as his talisman slotted away the penalty before half an hour and the ease with which Aguero walked around Sommer for his third was the finish of a player in peak form.

Aguero will not be the only one high on confidence.

Defender John Stones produced an instinctive block in the area moments before the penalty award and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo’s low save from Lars Stindl before the break will do him no harm.

But the addition of Gundogan - signed for £20m

from Borussia Dortmund and injured since May could be critical in aiding Guardiola’s passing style through the City midfield.

“He is an amazing player and we are so happy to have him here,” said Guardiola of the Germany international after the win.

Gundogan was the only change to City’s team from Tuesday’s postponed fixture as David Silva was rested as a precaution following a complaint in training on Wednesday morning.

The debutant’s contribution was to complete 88% of his 41 passes in the 80 minutes he was on the pitch, playing with “such intelligence” according to his manager.

In truth, Gundogan should have had a goal to celebrate but besieged keeper Sommer kept out a closerange effort.

It was perhaps the only thing missing on an excellent night for City. (BBC Sport)

Caricom still pushing Ramnarine calls for independent body to WICB’s dissolution

D

espite a deafening three-month silence from CARICOM relative to the push for the dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Vincentian Prime Minister and head of the sub-committee on cricket, Ralph Gonsalves, is adamant that CARICOM is still resolute in its position.

Gonsalves earlier this week following his participation at the Brexit symposium, held at the UWI Cave Hill campus. His comments came against the background of seven former members of the WICB, describing the Dave Cameronled administration as one which operated as if ‘untouchable’.

“I think the heads of government all agree that the current management of the WICB leaves a lot to be desired. CARICOM continues to hold the position that West Indies cricket is a public good and cannot be administered solely by a private entity. There has to be an interface between that private entity with other authority systems within our region,” said Gonsalves, who reiterated the position that governments had no designs on the administration of regional cricket.

“Two legal opinions have been put before us at

oversee TTCB elections

F

Dr Ralph Gonsalves says Caricom still wants the WICB gone

the last CARICOM meeting in July and as head of the Prime minister’s sub-committee on cricket, we intend to pursue those particular opinions and to follow through and take the steps, which I believe would be supported wholeheartedly

by CARICOM.” Gonsalves’ optimism seemed a direct contradiction to earlier comments

by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who broke ranks with CARICOM and rejected the notion of dissolution of the WICB. In addition, despite CARICOM’s position of cessation of ties with the board, the WICB still managed to successful host two Test series within

member states.

However Gonsalves, who is also one the region’s top legal minds, is confident that his sub-committee would have the blessing of the over-arching body to pursue the matter in a court of law relentlessly.

“We have to test this matter in the courts if the West Indies Cricket Board does not want to change, it is as simple as that.

If I read the mood of the Caribbean people correctly, this is what they want,” insisted Gonsalves.

“We were just waiting for this season with the Indians to be over and we start to proceed with the matter,” he added.

(BarbadosToday)

ormer WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine has called for an independent committee to oversee the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) elections.

A team led by Ramnarine will be challenging incumbent president Azim Bassarath for various positions on the TTCB board, but with a month to go before the elections the former player representative has raised serious concerns regarding the state of affairs heading into the contest.

Ramnarine addressed some of those concerns in a letter to the current Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board secretary Arjoon Ramlal.

“On August 22, 2016, we sent you a letter in your capacity of Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TT CB) requesting an urgent meeting on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 01:00h.

Our overwhelming reason for doing is our concern about the fairness of the upcoming TT CB elections

Dinanath Ramnarine

and the need for an independent group to oversee the electoral process especially because the present TT CB executive members are likely to contest the various positions and that therefore demands that the elections are fair and totally transparent,” the letter published in part by the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday said.

“In addition, as you are aware it is our stated posi-

tion to contest the elections in the various zones and at the TT CB level. We also raised the issue of the 12 undemocratic and illegal outgoing votes held by the present executive.

Your failure to respond to us unfortunately indicates that the TT CB is intent on pursuing a course of action intended to put Trinidad and Tobago cricket in disrepute.” (Sportsmax)

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

thurSday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Golden Jaguars’ squad for CFU 3rd round games announced

H

ead Coach of the Men’s National Team (Golden Jaguars), Jamaal Shabazz has announced a provisional list to face Suriname and Jamaica in the 3rd Round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2016 Scotiabank Caribbean Men’s Cup Championship on October 8 and 11 respectively.

The squad consists of 55 players including 19 overseas from various countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, England, Finland, USA and Australia.

The national team will commence weekly training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 16:00h to 18:00h and on Saturdays, 09:00h to 11:00h at venues to be announced. However, the first training session was held on Wednesday at the GDF

Jamaal Shabazz

Ground, Camp Ayanganna.

Guyana will face Suriname in Suriname and the Jamaica game is scheduled for Guyana but due to the unavailability of the Guyana National Stadium on the date of the match, the National Track and Field Facility is being considered.

A CFU team of inspectors is scheduled to visit Guyana to certify the National Track and Field Facility.

The Third Round commences on October 5 and in addition to the Guyana match, the other matches to be played on that day are: Haiti vs French Guiana

at the Stade Sylvio Cator Stadium (Haiti); Curacao vs Antigua and Barbuda at Ergilio Hato Stadium (Curacao) and Trinidad and Tobago vs Dominican Republic at a venue to be announced.

Fifth Place playoff will be held from November 7 – 15 and the Final Round in May 2017. The top three of this tournament will qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Guyana Provisional Squad; Guyana based players - Andrew Murray (Alpha United FC), King Solomon Austin (Alpha United FC), Richie Richards (Alpha United FC), Kester Jacobs (Slingerz FC), Eon Alleyne (Fruta Conquerors FC), Vernon Mills (Slingerz FC), Gregory Richardson (Pele FC), Devon Millington (Slingerz FC), Daniel Wilson

Gregory Richardson

(Alpha United FC), Dwight Peters (Alpha United FC), Quincy Adams (Slingerz FC), Trayon Bobb (Slingerz FC), Dellon Lanferman (Alpha United FC), Colin Nelson (Alpha United FC), Dwain Jacobs (Alpha United FC), Tichard Joseph

(Slingerz FC), Pernell Schultz (Alpha United FC) and Hubert Pedro (GFC).

Overseas based players – Akel Clarke (Central Couva FC), Walter Moore (FF Jaro FC), Samuel Cox (Wealdstone FC), Christopher Nurse (Puerto Rico FC), Sheldon Hiolder (Caledonia AIA FC), Neil Danns (Bury FC), Brandon Beresford (Rhoster Rhinos), Anthony Whyte (Sigma FC), Kadel Daniels (Dulwich Hamlet), Marcel Barrington (Margate FC), Jake Newton (Walton and Hersham FC), Shaquille Agard (Durham United FC), Julien Edwards, Adrian Butters (York Region Shooters), Amos Ramsay (Caledonia AIA FC), Kai Mc KenzieLyle (Barnet FC), Warren Creavalle (Philadelphia Union FC), Sherif El-Masri and Corey Thomas.

Sharapova appeal verdict to be WDFA Stag Beer League given in 1st week of October Henry, Macey lead Eagles to 10-1 thumping of Vegae Boys

M

Maria Sharapova

aria Sharapova will find out in the first week of October if her two-year doping ban will be overturned, says the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The five-time Grand Slam winner was banned by the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

The Russian, 29, who said she had been taking the drug since 2006 for health problems, appealed against the ban.

She maintains she had “not tried to use a performance-enhancing substance”.

Meldonium became a banned substance on 1 January 2016. (BBC Sport)

O

rlanzo Henry and Chris Macey both netted helmet-tricks to lead FC Eagles to a comprehensive 10-1 over Vegae Boys over the weekend in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Stag Beer League.

Playing at the Den Amstel ground, Henry netted in the 4th, 59th and 68th while Macey made his conversions in the 21st, 55th and 71st. Orlanzo’s namesake Collin Henry secured a double by easing his way to goals in the 25th and 29th and Daniel Clarke in the 30th, Stephon Griffith 50th were the other two scorers; Shamar Marcus in the 73rd scored for Vegae Boys.

In the other matches, Quessey Alleyne goal in the 8th minute led Pouderoyen to a 1-0 conquest over Golden Warriors.

Similarly, Young

Eon King (left) and Lloyd Prince

Achievers beat Stewartville 3-0 on the bank of double by Lloyd Prince and Eon King; Prince netted in the 15th and 85th while King scored in the 54th.

On Saturday, the matches will continue with Jetty

Gunners facing Wales then Uitvlugt locking horns with Beavers FC. The following day, Stewartville come against Vegae Boys which then will pit Den Amstel against FC Eagles.

Neymar to launch singing career

B

arcelona star Neymar used his Twitter account to announce his plans to launch a music career. As with anything he publishes on social media, the tweet instantly went viral, totaling 4,500 likes and 2,500 shares in just the first hour. He promised to release a song Wednesday through his Facebook, but gave no further details. Neymar has posted several videos singing with established Brazilian musicians in the past, and once revealed that he was even taking piano lessons.

Striker is the latest on a list of Brazilian footballers to try his luck with the microphone. He is definitely not the first Brazilian footballer to release a song. In 1977, Pelé composed and recorded a tune of his own, produced

by Sergio Mendes. In 2006, the football king launched a

Brazil and Barcelona striker, Neymar Jr will entertain fans using the microphone

full album and, more recently, recorded a song for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Sócrates and Romário, two of Brazil’s brightest stars from the 1980s and 1990s, also released albums.

The former sang country music, while the latter had a hip-hop effort with a former teammate. Neither was well received by critics or

the public.

Most recently, Ronaldinho was featured in a song by a famous Brazilian sertanejo singer, Wesley Safadão. In about a month, the video counted more than 12 million views.

Considering Ronaldinho’s lack of productivity on the field, maybe he should start considering a career change.

(Plus55)

YELLOW PAGES thursDAY, september 15, 2016 | www.guyana-times.com

CAR RENTALS Need a car to rent? Then call 611-1018 for the best cars at great prices.

Progressive Auto Rental: Cars from $4000 and up. Tel: 219-3900, 643-5122

dentistry Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

Driving School Shalom Enterprise Driving School 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. You can obtain an International Drivers Permit Covering 131 Countries. Tel: 2273869, 644-7052, 659-3381

EDUCATION REGISTER - learn to play drums, guitar, keyboard and train your voice NOW OR in the Summer. Call 225-1151/ 657-8404

FOR SALE Powerline Battery Water/wholesale. 1 litre and 0.5 litre sizes. Tel: 680-3863 Clean Garden Earth. Also excavating, grading and leveling done. Call 627-9977 Road to Belwasa and A Dip at the Sangam, Indentureship Novels at Austin’s Book Store and Lachmansingh Drug Store. Tel: 226-5053.

For sale by lot: Lot (1): 2 bath tubs, bathroom fittings and fixtures & toilet set; shower fittings - $150,000 and Lot (2): 1 Dell desktop computer & HP scanner $25,000. Call 225-2676 or 601-5285.

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

immigration Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc.

Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates.

Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED BY IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT. PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATIONS (PERMANENT/VISITOR) FOR USA, CANADA, UK, CHINA, INDIA, ETC. SABITA’S IMMIGRATION SERVICES. TEL: 225-6496/662-6045

Formerly Globe Cinema, Corner lot, Church and Waterloo Street Size 125 ft x 133 ft Tel: 610-2234 One land 100/50 at Good Hope Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara for sale. Priced six million dollars. For more information, kindly call 623-0156 or 695-3150 (serious inquires only) Transported Land for Sale at Logwood Enmore, ECD. Contact Tel: (592)-6225824 or (592)-671-5395.

property for sale A PAINTED TWO FLAT BUILDING AT PATENTIA HOUSING SCHEME, WALES, W.B.D, INSIDE TOILET AND BATHROOM, TWO SHEDS, TWO WATER TANKS. PRICE NEGOTIABLE. CALL: 687-1493, 658-9953 Transported property in excellent condition. Recently renovated 2- storey property; Concrete and wooden structure with modern amenities. Each floor has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and 1 kitchen also concrete yard with 4 sides of fencing. Back lot, Dowding Street, Kitty. $ 30M negotiable. Call 614-2722 for viewing. Serious inquiries only.

House Lot, Diamond New Scheme between 2nd & 3rd Ave. Contact: 6381529 Eccles: $27M Neg. Enterprise Sec C: $20M Neg. Mon Repos: $30M Neg. South Ruimveldt Park: $20M Neg. Broad Street: $80M Neg. Charlotte Street between Camp & Alexander: $55M Neg. Providence (land): $6.5M Neg. Parfaite Harmonie (land): $4.5M Neg. Contact: 691-1521 GOOD HOPE AND OGLE. CONTACT: 673-5546, 222-3066, 682-7257, 6790987 House for sale leonora market housing scheme, west coast demerara. 2 Floor, 3 bedroom, 2 shower, 2 kitchen, yard, double garage, tel: amar 225-3737, 651-7078

services House plans & estimates, weeding of grass and spraying done within 48hrs.

Call: 216-0671; 622-0267; 692-8464 Repairs and Spares, Air Conditioning, Car AC, Washers, Stoves. Call Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Start an Internet café on the Coastland using services from wechatting.com. Ask about our interior internet and GSM cellular options.

Call 672-4090/622-6239

WANTED SALES GIRLS WITH EXPERIENCE PLEASE BRING WRITTEN APPLICATION AND CV TO TRISTAR ELECTRICAL, BRASSONIC Bldg. (MAIN ENTRANCE 42 WATER ST. G/Town. 231-7101

TO let

KEY CUTTing

House for rent, 2 bedrooms, fully furnished. Triumph Village, ECD. Contact: 697-3405 or 222-5549

Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 621-3249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks.

Get your extra key today.

FOR RENT. ONE THREE (3) BEDROOM TOP FLOOR APARTMENT. ONE TWO (2) BEDROOM BOTTOM FLOOR APARTMENT. LA GRANGE PUBLIC ROAD. TEL: 619-0673

optician

SPACE TO RENT FOR BOOKSTORE/ FOOD COURT OR CLOTHING AND COSMETICS STORE, 15X30 FT. LOCATED SATRO BUILDING. CONTACT: 642-7743

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda.

Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-MeerZorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

health Healthworld Clinic – Providing professional psychological therapy for all mental and behavioral health problems. Call (592)-690-1824 MondaysSaturdays 9am-3pm. Email; healthworldhc@gmail.com

lAND FOR SALE Land for Sale: 100x50 Sq Ft. Uitvulgt Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara. $1.5 Million negotiable.

Contact Parveen on 680-4630.

3.3 ACRES FARM LAND, LINDEN SOESDYKE HIGHWAY. TEL: 679-1151 Land at La Grange Public Road, Size 4 Acre, could be used for commercial or housing scheme. Tel: 625-1514

spirituality Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to business. Call: 612-6417, 6875653 Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc. Call 223-6834/600-7719.

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 602-8997 HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081, 322-5738, 322-5788, 337-4510, 337-4259, 337-3070, 337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

Ifa Temple – Are you having serious problems and urgently need spiritual help? Call 621-0552 now.

Email: anew-life@live.com

taxi services

21

sports

Belle Vue beat St Cuthbert’s Mission by 4 wickets

GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 225-7878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

VACANCIES Vacancy exists for one (1) SALES CLERK-Age 18-28. - Sound Secondary Education - Experience in Sales.

Send applications to: 35 North Road, Georgetown. Telephone: 225-8831 Cashier for Supermarket. Tel: 624-0033 One (1) Cook. Tel: 624-0033 One (1) Maid. Tel: 624-0033 Driver for Water Truck. Tel: 680-3863 Security In-store; Day Duty. Tel: 6803863

VEHICLES FOR SALE 1 TOYOTA IPSUM (7-SEATER) IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION WITH MUSIC (5800 W): CONTACT 653-1003 JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRA-CAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

Players from the Belle Vue Sports Club and St Cuthbert’s Mission Cricket Team pose with Hafeez and Floretta Ali at the presentation ceremony

B

elle Vue Sports Club journeyed to the Amerindian settlement of St. Cuthbert’s Mission and beat the hosts by four wickets in a hard fought 25-overs aside match on Indigenous Heritage Day 2016.

The match was specially arranged by the Rockaway Group of Companies whose Chairman, Hafeez Ali has adopted Belle Vue Sports Club and has a sporting interest in the Indigenous community of St. Cuthbert’s Mission.

Ali and his family were special guests of the community on the auspicious day and celebrated the occasion with the feature cricket match and donations to the community where all visitors were given a meal while being entertained.

The day started in brilliant sunshine with the visitors winning the toss and bowling. St Cuthbert’s began cautiously on the two paced track and heavy outfield which was sandy and lacked grass for most parts.

In the fifth over with the score on 23, Julio Ferriera was caught at mid-on off Dyal Rajpat for four. Rayon Ganpath came at number three and immediately stamped his authority by blasting two sixes and two fours in an attacking 26 to give the innings some momentum. He witnessed opening batsman Stallone Simon, who is a school teacher in the village, bowled by the lanky Royston Austin for 15 at 45/2 at the end of the eight over.

When the attacking Ganpath was adjudged LBW to medium pacer Krishna Singh at 67/3 in the 10th over, Belle Vue were back in the game and put the brakes on the home team. Another school teacher, Avenash Poonsammy became Austin’s second victim at 77/4 in the 12th over.

Captain Timothy Andrews came and stabilized the middle order but found the going tough and was soaking up deliveries and not scoring freely due to tight bowling. At the other end, Clinton Wong (02) and Alfiaz Dundas (0) were removed in the 17th over which was bowled by seamer Sarfraz Baksh with the score on 88/6 before a sharp shower sent the players off

for about an hour.

Upon the resumption, Belle Vue wrapped up the hosts tail with only Andrews, 11 showing fight.

Anand Persaud bowled after the rain to claim 3/7 from two overs and five balls to see the home team limited to 105 from 22.5 overs.

Persaud was well supported

by Singh with 3/10, Austin 2/10 and Baksh 2/20 with Rajpat claiming one.

The eventual victors were made to work hard for their runs as the home team showed great fight in defending the runs on the board and their home territory. Belle Vue eventually scrapped home with

Rajpat was dismissed at 56/5 in the 14th over Imran Khan stroked 10 and added 40 runs with Bennette in eight overs before Royston Austin came and blasted a maximum to seal the deal after it was getting too close for comfort.

At the presentation ceremony that followed, Bennette received a cricket bat for his efforts while Persaud was named best bowler and collected a trophy. The Rockaway Group of Companies presented cricket gears and uniforms to the male team from St. Cuthbert’s while the female team got uniforms and four softball bats. Hafeez

Timothy Andrews (right) making the presentation on behalf of St Cuthbert’s Mission to the Alis of Rockaway Group of Companies

four wickets and 11 balls to spare as St Cuthbert’s used six bowlers smartly with Andrews returning to take 2/12 with his medium pace while there was one each for Alfiaz Dundas (1/10), Ronnie Simon (1/14), Julio Ferriera (1/18) and Avenash Poonsammy (1/20).

It took a brave innings of 36 not out from Man of the Match Kerwin Benntte to guide Belle Vue home after they were struggling at 30/4 in the ninth over with Rockaway boss Hafeez Ali (0), Sahadeo Hardaiow (3), Colin Boucher (6) and Krishna Singh (2) all back in the hut. Dyal Rajpat (14) and Bennette added a crucial 26 for the fifth wicket from 35 balls to put the run chase back on track. When

Ali also presented the St. Cuthbert’s football and volleyball teams with uniforms and balls while the Belle Vue Sports Club received tee-shirts.

The St. Cuthbert’s community through their male cricket captain, Timothy Andrews, presented the Chairman of the Rockaway Group of Companies, Hafeez Ali with a hand carved ornament in the shape of a bird while Mrs. Floretta Ali was presented with handmade jewellery and a knitted shoulder bag.

Andrews thanked their special guests for the memorable day while an emotional Ali (Hafeez) thanked the wonderful hosts for the opportunity and said the day’s event will not be the last.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

thursday, september 15, 2016

Caricom needs to act now to save West Indies cricket I

n the wake of the sacking of West Indies head coach, Phil Simmons former England International player Monte Lynch is urging Caricom to act now and not take a back seat and continue to watch on.

Lynch an accomplished first class player of 18,325 runs from 359 first class matches weighed in on the issue during an interview with Guyana Times Sport yesterday. “Mr. Mitchell and Co. needs to get their act together and sort this out, governments need to get involved and sort this out, don’t take a back seat and watch what is going on and ignore it because the time has come now for somebody to do something about it. If u look at the regime and how it has gone you will not sit back and watch on.”

On Tuesday in a WICB release that reached the media the Board detailed its reason for Simmons’ removal which are differences in culture and strategic approach. According to the said release, the decision was made on Saturday, September 10, in a meeting of the Board of Directors in Dominica.

The full print reads, “Effectively immediately, the WICB today announced

it has separated from the Head Coach Phil Simmons.

In a meeting of the Board of Directors, on Saturday, September 10, this decision was taken.

According to Lynch, Simmons was doing reasonably well but due to the standard of cricket in the Region when he took over the team’s progression would have taken some time.

“I would say he was doing reasonably well. Obviously it is different because there were no system in place for him. Regional cricket is at a low and coming into it I’m sure he would have been surprised to see the standard of the Leeward Island’s cricket, the Windward Island’s cricket, the standard of cricket here (in Guyana) has deteriorated so much. I had a blessing in 1983 where I came and play cricket and it was under Clive Lloyd in a team without much big names but yet we won through team spirit and I think Simmons, given the chance, would have done well because he had the respect of the players and that is the first thing you need and I think that was going reasonably well too.”

Lynch, who represented Gloucestershire and Surrey in his hay days is of the

Monte Lynch

view that in order for the Regional team to progress the system must be sorted out immediately. He said that there was an academy in Barbados for six years, that academy produced one decent Test player, in Kraigg Braithwaite.

He went on to inform that he knows four players from Guyana, who were there and came out with zilch; Trevon Griffith, Ronsford Beaton, Brandon Bess and Rajendra Chandrika and they have come out with nothing basically, so that needs to be sorted out and all the (players) technical work needs to be done when they are in

GTTA to invest in youthful senior team

their academies.

In addition, he made reference to the Curly Ambrose’s sacking as bowling coach shortly after the team triumph at the World T20. “Looking back at the board’s decision to remove Ambrose as the bowling coach on the basis that they needed a coach who is more technical. It shows what system we are dealing with because a player supposed to learn the technical aspect from the youthful part of his career while at the Test level they must be able to take wickets and score runs.”

In general the sacking of Simmons was no shock for

Lynch because of the rocky relationship shared between Simmons and the Board.

“Firstly I think it is very sad, I don’t think it would have come as a surprise to many people when you see the way the board handle things is either their way or the highway. I don’t think if you hire somebody you should look to dictate to them as far as the selection of the team and other concerns, I know you have selection committee and things like that but I think they could have worked in a closer proximity and got things sorted out”, said the former right handed batsman.

According to the former TDO of Guyana’s cricket, he knows Simmons intention was for the best interest of West Indies cricket but unfortunately that is not the case. “I know things didn’t start on the right foot but knowing him and speaking to him here when West Indies played Australia, he had good ideas and he was looking forward for a bright future with West Indies Cricket.”

He further lamented that the culture of cricket here is lacking professionalism and that must improve among the players and administrators if crick-

GFF/NAMILCO Thunder Bolt Flour Power National Under-17 League

Den Amstel tame Beavers 3-0

H

Members of the National Men’s team: Shemar Britton, Nigel Bryan, Elishaba Johnson, Kyle Edghill and Coach Linden Johnson along with Godfrey Munroe

T

he senior national team which represented Guyana at the Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Championships in the Dominican Republic earlier this month and secured a bronze medal, is under the radar of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) since the Association is seeking to invest in the players due to the possibility of them representing the country at Olympic Games.

President of the GTTA Godfrey Munroe made this disclosure stating, “The team got a bronze medal in and I think they acquitted themselves quite well in the championship.”

He added “the association is quite pleased by the performance because this a junior team in a senior championship and if the calibre of the teams that they play , the results that they got showed that we are on a good path and we will be

looking forward to invest in them as possible candidates for Olympic games.”

The team comprised of National men’s champion Nigel Bryan, National 21 years and under Champion and Caribbean Junior Bronze medallist Shemar Britton, National Junior Champion Kyle Edghill and Elishaba Johnson.

Britton finished highest in the Men’s category by virtue of reaching the quarter-finals while Nigel Bryan finished in the round of 16.

In the 21 years and under Edghill and Johnson lost in the quarter-finals.

Their performance was commendable for such a young unit, considering high calibre players were missing such as Chelsea Edghill Caribbean 21 years silver medallist due to her scholastic commitments, Trenace Lowe Caribbean Team Silver medallist and women’s doubles gold medallist in addition to Natalie

Cummings who is currently in Brazil training on a scholarship engagement.

GTTA head further stated that “We are quite enthused we did not get to send a full complement of teams, I think our girls might have been better medal prospects but this was a developmental meet for us”.

The other absent senior seasoned players were national Men’s Champion Christopher Franklin, Mathew Khan who has a high ranking in the USA and has indicated his availability to the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) to possibly represent Guyana; Edinho Lewis among other players and based on resource availability.

The other countries which participated in the event were Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica host Dominica Republic, Puerto Rico Curacao and St Lucia.

et in the Region is to move forward. “A lot of it is attitude, I came down here five years ago and got involve with cricket in Guyana it lasted 1 ½ months. I spoke with Otis Gibson when he came down here (Caribbean) and like Simmons it is difficult when you come out of a professional setup, like Otis with England and Simmons with Ireland, to find things done haphazardly, it is difficult to accept and the professionalism as well, we lack that here.”

On players’ development the Georgetown Cricket Club coach vented his disgust to see the void between players here and elsewhere.

“Spoke with Fudadin about Alistair Cook who is now the England skipper and the level he’s at. Both players played at the same youth world cup. Another example is Steven Jacobs and Virat Kohli, who played in the same youth world cup.

There is such a big void between your development, look where those players are and look where ours are now. Joel Garner went on air the other day to say playing T20 is the issue but according to Lynch that’s a feeble excuse since everyone else plays T20, the system is wrong.”

ost Den Amstel inflicted a 3-0 thumping on Beavers FC in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) leg of the Guyana Football Federation/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association league continued on Monday.

Edward Dash, Murtland Peters and Reuben Dainty were the boys who did the talking with their boots.

Dash opened the scoring in the 12th minute while two minutes later Peters doubled the scores to end the first half 2-0.

The battle continued to ensue in the second half but Dainty erased any chance of a Beavers’ revival when he

Romello Johnson

netted in the 54th minute.

The matches continue this Saturday where Wales FC tackle Beaves from 12:00hrs.

In Berbice, A second half double off the boot of Romello Johnson speared Monedderlust to a 3-1 win over Lichfleid Nuggets.

Monedderlust’s Brentnol Frank scored the opening goal in the 20th but six minutes later Tyrone Pompey netted the equalizer.

However, Crawford added the finishing touches when he netted in the 65th and 68th respectively.

Matches are set to continue this weekend throughout the various associations.

The Milling Company which has been in existence since 1969 and are urging sportsmen and women to consume their heath oriented products such as Maid Marian Harvest High Fibre Whole Wheat Flour, Maid Marian Wheat-Up Breakfast Porridge, and Maid Marian Multigrain Flour among many other products.

Mix Up walk away with champion of champions spoils

M

an-of-the-match Mahendra Sankar with 17 games and Clarence Whitehead 16 led Mix Up with 87 games to beat Specialist with 78 and Masters on 69 in the final of the Champion of Champions Domino Competition which was played at the Dynasty Sports Club. Ken Wahl and Trevor Smith got 16 and 15 games respectively for Specialist while Rodwell Phillips made 15 and Ellen Smith 14 for Masters.

Mix Up were everything but mixed up as they were crowned to walk away with $175,000, while Specialist

Mark Wiltshire accepts the top prize on behalf of Mix Up from President of the GDA, Faye Joseph as members of the champion team look on

collected $60,000. President of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Faye Joseph congratulated the winners and thanked the sponsors. The

tournament was sponsored

by Dynasty Sports bar, Big Boss Trucking Service, Faye Joseph, Strikers Sports bar and Roderick Harry.

guyana-times.com

thursday, september 15, 2016

23

Green Machine’s finances hanging by a string

BY AKEEM GREENE

W

ith 16 days until the Guyana National Rugby team, the Green Machine play Mexico in the final of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s Championship and 2019 World Cup Qualifier on October 1 in Mexico City, the local ruggers are in a financial constrain according to President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Peter Green.

Green in speaking to Guyana Times Sport revealed that “we are on a string budget, the preparations that are ongoing is based on what we have left over from our funds; the Green Machine has a lot of heart but I am getting worried now because how long can we keep going, we can-

not keep scratching around for money”.

The team which is currently in preparation for their quest to reach Japan in 2019 have been plagued with financial troubles in the past but their current hurdle could have an adverse effect on their courageous endeavours.

Green further stated,” this is a very physical game, these guys are dedicated, but the cost of travelling from where they living is expensive and they are not even getting timeoff and the sort of responses I’m getting is that these guys are only playing for ego, the only thing that will beat the Green Machine is our selves our, own people.”

However, despite the gloom the President said that they have received support from their govern-

President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Peter Green

ing body RAN to attend to ensure they play the game.

He disclosed that, “Remember the under-19s took a big chunk out of us but we had to send them but at the very moment,

Jhagroo family dart honours at stake T

he Jhagroo family of the United States of America has sponsored a dart tournament which will be held at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) on Sunday September 18, 2016.

The event comes in the light of a packed season of aiming as the Guyana Dart Association (GDA) tries to intensify competition to better its players.

This tournament will be open to all financial members of the GDA and a number of cash prizes will be up for grabs.

It will be a league tournament featuring Open, Doubles and a Team tour-

Sudesh Fitzgerald

nament; while a luck of the Draw will also be played if time permits.

Registration will commence at 13:30h and games will start at 14:00h.

Some of Guyana’s

top dart players namely; Sudesh Fitzgerald, Luis Merlano, Marvin Yaw, Lallchand Rambharose, Nicholas Seetaram, Adrian Damon, Terence Joseph, Mary Correia, Jaswantie Hiralall, Victorine Chandro and Melissa Smartt are expected to participate in the competition.

Fitzgerald won the last single tournament held under the GDA umbrella as well as the luck of the draw which he did with Adrian Damon earlier this month.

He will be looking to continue his mastery as Guyana’s top dart player while his competitors must find a way to stop him on Sunday.

GCA/ New Building Society 2nd Division

Police trounce Diplomats by 156 runs

– Leitch hits blistering ton

E

ight of the nine matches that were scheduled to be played in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ New Building Society 40 over second division tournament were postponed to a later date due to persistent rain last weekend.

Five matches were set for Saturday while four were on for Sunday until constant rain on Saturday forced eight games to be pushed back to later days.

However, that was not the case in the clash between Police and Diplomats and the former certainly made hay with the little sunshine on Sunday. They handed Diplomats a thrashing by 156 runs at the Eve Leary Ground.

Kevin Leitch, known more for his off-spinning attributes hit a scintillating

Kevin Leitch

unbeaten 128 which contained four fours and 15 sixes. The right handed batsman, who in recent times has shown good signs as an emerging batsman collaborated with Kevin Leacock (48 not out) in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership worth 205 runs.

The pair of Leitch and Leacock joined forces at 39-4

after Diplomats made early inroads after inviting Police to bat. It was a bold effort as the two batsmen did not just repair their team’s innings but also took them to a competitive total which ensured them victory.

With such an excellent batting display the Lawmen powered to 239-4 in 25 overs then returned to dismiss the opposition for 83 in 20.3 overs. Vishal Jaigobin’s 4-14 from 4.3 overs and Stephen Harris 4-28 from five overs were the architects of destruction in the Police operation to rout Diplomats.

Action in the tournament will continue this weekend with matches expected to be played on Saturday and Sunday at various venues across the city. The full weekend fixtures will be published on Friday September 16.

RAN our governing body has stepped in and they are paying the airfare and accommodation for three days in Mexico for 26 persons, 23 players and three officials”.

The GRFU head had

previously stated that the national men’s 15s team will need in the neighborhood of $15M to blanket all expenses for the all-important away game. In addition, he emphasized, that his men will need to travel to the high altitude country at least 10 days prior to the encounter in order to acclimatize but “that costs money.”

The playing conditions stipulate that the game has to be played in Mexico and Guyana must foot the bill since the championship rules dictate that the team with the higher seeding during the last edition of the tournament is rewarded with hosting the final; Mexico finished second last year.

Mexico and Guyana earned their way into the Rugby Americas North

Final by winning the North and South Zone qualifiers respectively.

Las Serpientes completed a comfortable 39-3 and 75-10 wins over the Bahamas and Bermuda before being challenged by Cayman Islands but still managed to win 34-24.

Guyana also had two convincing wins out of three; they started off by defeating Barbados 49-17 which was followed by a 23-5 win over They then snatches a 23-18 win against Trinidad and Tobago.

The local ruggers have leaped nine places to 46 (their highest world ranking ever) after three wins in the tourney and should they defeat Mexico they will face the South American B Championship winner in November. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

Regal Sports Softball tournament

Herstelling Rangers win, mixed fortunes for Speed Boat

H

erstelling Rangers had a perfect record while Speed Boat won one and lost one when the Regal Sport Softball Tournament commenced last Sunday at the Gandhi Youth Organization ground, Woolford Avenue Georgetown with four matches in the open category.

East Bank Demerara team, the Herstelling Rangers first defeated Speed Boat by five wickets. Batting first, Speed Boat were restricted to 107-9 from their 15 overs with Riaz Esau and captain Shazim Hussain making 14 runs each as Michael Alexander and Amir Khan claimed three

wickets apiece. Set 108 to win, Herstelling Rangers responded with 112-5 from 13 overs. Zameer Hassan got 27 and Rawl Reid 18.

In their second game of the day, Herstelling Rangers bowlers were once again on target which allowed for a commanding sixwicket victory over Ariel.

Ariel took first strike and were bowled out for 77 with Ariel Persaud getting 20 and Dharam Persaud 17. With the ball, Reid and Kishore Ramsarran snared three wickets apiece for Rangers who raced to 78-4. Shameer Fazal cracked 22 and Vijay Persaud 20.

In their second match of the day, Speed Boat re-

bounded to beat Ariel by 10 wickets in their second encounter of the busy day.

Ariel, who suffered their second consecutive defeat managed just 119 all out with Shazim Hussain claiming three wickets for Speed Boat who crashed the hapless Ariel bowling to all parts of the ground on their way to 120 without loss in only five overs. Anand Bharat struck 61 while Beepaul Bandhoo made an even half century.

The tournament continues this weekend with matches in the Open and Masters (Over 45 years old) categories at the Carifesta Sports Complex and GNIC grounds.

thursday, september 15, 2016

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

Green Machine’s finances hanging by a string

Pg 23

Part of the action in the team’s practice at the National Park (Paul Vanvield Photo)

Caricom needs to act now Golden Jaguars’ squad to save West Indies Cricket for CFU 3rd round games announced

Pg 22

Pg 20

Monte Lynch

Gregory Richardson

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyana-times.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.