Guyana Times Daily

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2843 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

May 1, 2016

Parika fuel dealer shot dead during robbery

Page 18

Jagdeo meets with eminent ACP decision-makers

PRICE

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Marijuana decriminalisation not a current concern of Govt – Granger P7

…cautions against “copying” practices from developed countries

Page 5

Gunmen escape with $4M as another Corentyne businessperson robbed – employee shot

Page 10

Relocation of vendors

Man stabbed to death at Hadfield Street Page 10

Sophia road deteriorates 2 weeks after major rehabilitation Page 15

Deputy Mayor unmoved by vendors' P17 protest

…says “vendors want change but not willing to help make it”

East La Penitence P8 man accidently shot by businessman Mayhem at Ramada Princess Casino Security P2

One of the many potholes in the recently rehabilitated Sophia Main Road which was closed for nearly two weeks to facilitate repairs

Sale of GT&T shares

Page 3

Ramotar refutes claim on waiver of remaining US$5M

Guyana major land transit point for thousands Cubans Page heading to US 12

officer played a “major role” in robbery – Crime Chief CPA ready to work P6 with Sophia residents to deter truancy – community calls for school bus

2 NEWS

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Mayhem at Ramada Princess Casino

Security officer played a “major role” in robbery – Crime Chief

A

s Police continue their investigations into the robbery at Ramada Princess Hotel Casino, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the security guard whose gun and ammunition were taken away by the bandits, played a major role in the planning and execution of the robbery.

The head of the Criminal Investigations Department noted that the security guard and several other persons are in custody for the fiasco that went down at the gambling facility.

He noted that the suspect who was arrested is cooperating with the Police and from information received; the Police went to the homes of the other suspects but came up empty handed.

Blanhum noted that at two of the houses, Police ranks unearthed wet clothing which indicated that the suspects returned home, changed their attire and left. He noted that Police are working closely with residents in the area with the hope of capturing the remaining robbers as soon as possible.

Ramada Princess Hotel Casino

The Crime Chief also confirmed that the suspect who was arrested moments after the robbery is known to the Police, while adding that one of the three currently on the lam was only a few days ago released on bail on a gun related charge. The others have also had brushes with the law.

Pandemonium broke out at the gambling facility at about 03:45h on Friday after four gunmen stormed the casino and discharged several rounds as they relieved patrons and staff of cash and other valuables.

The gunman captured by Police is loaded into the back of a Police vehicle

During the shooting, Eon Garraway was shot to his left hand, James Gregory was hit to the left foot, Orlando Knights received injuries to the left hand, and Udairan Sookraj was shot to his right hand. They were all admitted to a city hospital.

In addition, Melissa Ferguson, Jermaine Mason and Roshel Fraser were also assaulted by the armed men during the ordeal. Based on reports received, after the men entered the facility, they held a security guard on duty at gunpoint and took away his shotgun and several rounds

of ammunition.

The men then ordered everyone to lie on the ground and escorted the security guard to the cashier’s cage where they relieved the cashier of an undisclosed sum of foreign and local currency. By this time, the Police were alerted about the robbery in progress and responded promptly.

As they arrived at the scene, they were confronted by the armed men, which resulted in an exchange of gunfire. During the exchange, Police Lance Corporal Andrew Richardson attached to

Impact Base, Brickdam Police Station was shot to his abdomen.

He was admitted to a city hospital and reportedly underwent emergency surgery.

Meanwhile, during the shootout, one of the bandits was captured and taken into Police custody. The firearm that was taken away from the security guard was recovered. The other three men managed to escape.

It was reported that the car that was used in the robbery was hijacked at Brush Dam, Buxton, on the East Coast of Demerara.

NEWS

3

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, May 1 – 12:30h-14:00h and Monday, May 2 – 13:30h-15:00h.

Sale of GT&T shares

Ramotar refutes claim of waiver on remaining US$5M

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, May 1 – 11:35h-13:05h and Monday, May 2 – 12:45h-14:15h.

By Devina Samaroo

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 and into the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 0.89 metres per second and 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 11:48h reaching a maximum height of 2.29 metres.

Low Tide: 05:16h and 17:55h reaching minimum heights of 1.01 metres and 0.87 metre respectively.

F

ormer President Donald Ramotar is outright rejecting claims that there was a “side deal” debt write-off with the Chinese Telecoms Company that bought the Guyana Government’s 20 per cent shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T).

“I am saying explicitly that there was no such agreement or transaction. This is another attempt to try to damage the reputation of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government,” he stated during an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday.

Ramotar said it is quite amusing that the Government’s story on the whereabouts of the money has suddenly changed and in this regard, he is demanding that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) present evidence to support whichever of the claims they chose to defend.

Two stories

Saturday, April 30, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

In 2012, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) disposed of its 20 per cent shares in the sale to Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company Limited (HKGT) to the tune of US$30 million.

Former President Donald Ramotar

While pointing out that the information is yet to be authenticated, NICIL claimed that Guyana’s former Ambassador to China, David Dabydeen facilitated the US$5 million debt waiver with the Chinese Company on the grounds that it was not granted the same minority protection rights enjoyed by NICIL (that is, two instead of one, representatives on the GT&T Board of Directors).

Prior to these allegations, Government had exclaimed that it is in possession of documentation proving that the Chinese company did indeed pay off its debt owed to Guyana long before the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections and that the monies were missing.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman during a post-Cabinet press

to “track down” the nature of that transaction since the monies could not be found.

Ramotar, under whose tenure the Government disposed of its 20 per cent shares, has since refuted those claims, insisting that his Administration never received a single dollar from the Chinese company on its remaining balance on US$5 million.

He is also now dismissing the claims that there was a shady debt write-off.

“They are making claims without any basis. It is absolutely untrue… It is not a question of whether or not I am aware of such an agreement, I am telling you that there was no such arrangement to write-off those monies,” he firmly posited.

Evidence

Ramotar contended that the Government will soon trip over its own web of lies if it continues to levy wild accusations against the former Administration.

“They are only contradicting themselves. First they are saying that the have evidence that the money was paid, trying to insinuate corruption. Now they are saying that the money was not paid… NICIL is a public company, Government is the boss of it. The Finance Minister is the Chairman of NICIL,” Ramotar asserted.

01 09 14 19 24 25 25 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

07 10 12 19

06

LUCKY 3 1

2

2

Draw De Line 01

03

04 09 12

13 19

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

The company paid down US$25 million and the outstanding US$5 million was to be paid on October 22, 2014, but it never did despite several written requests by NICIL.

briefing had told media operatives that Minister of State Joseph Harmon had retrieved documents during his recent trip to China and that Government is trying

In this regard, he challenged the Government to bring the evidence to support whichever claims they will be defending.

Guyana’s former Ambassador to China David Dabydeen

Extension

Providing more insight on the sale agreement, Ramotar said the Chinese company had approached NICIL requesting an extension to pay off the US$5 million however no decision was ever taken on the matter.

“There was no decision and it could not have happened without my approval,” he stated.

No payment

In its statement, NICIL conceded that no payment of the outstanding US$5 million was ever received from the Chinese company, contrary to what the Government had initially claimed.

The entity noted that it had written the Chinese company on a number of occasions requesting the money, however to no avail.

“In an attempt to avoid costly and lengthy adjudication of the matter in the English courts, NICIL requested the assistance of the Government of Guyana to encourage HKGT through diplomatic channels, to honour its contractual obligations,” NICIL stated.

NICIL also pointed out that the Chinese company never alleged that the balance was paid. With regards to the “side deal”, NICIL said it is yet to verify the veracity of HKGT’s claim and has since requested the assistance of the Government to verify the validity of those assertions.

4

guyana-times.com

SunDAY, may 1, 2016

Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Crimes and celebrations

I

t would not be hyperbolic to state that over the last two weeks, most Guyanese feel their country is under siege from emboldened criminal elements. It started with the invasion by armed bandits into the grilled home of an elderly rice farming couple; the Munirs, of Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo. Huddled in their second line of defence, their grilled bedroom, they were not spared by the thwarted bandits who descended into animalistic fury when they doused the home with gasoline and burnt the couple to death. Thousands of rice farmers across Guyana who also deal with large quantities of cash at harvest time, trembled in fear in empathy with the couple.

Across in Georgetown, another Essequibian, Mahendra Persaud, travelled to purchase stocks for his family’s store in Wakenaam. He was trailed by bandits on an infamous CG and as he exited from a store he was accosted by one of the bandits who grabbed his bag. When he resisted, he was shot and for good measure, run over by another accomplice in a car. He died and thousands of rural businessmen who have to visit Georgetown for similar purposes, trembled in fear in empathy with the young businessman.

Last Thursday night, four armed bandits invaded the Alesie Rice Mill at Ruimzigt on the West Coast of Demerara, owned by one of the largest millers and exporters of rice in Guyana. They pistol-whipped the guard, torched their way into the safe and escaped with $4 million. Millers across Guyana trembled in fear in empathy with Mr Doerga. This weekend, an armed invasion in the Corentyne was launched against five individuals plucking chicken painstakingly reared over the past months for market. They were robbed of $1 million and a quantity of jewels while one person was shot.

Thousands of poultry farmers across Guyana trembled in fear in empathy with Vanisha Srikissoon and her workers.

But the most brazen and chilling criminal action was the invasion by four armed men in the wee hours of Friday morning of the Ramada Princess Casino at Providence, East Bank Demerara, just hundreds of yards from the Providence Police Station. While Police responded to the criminal assault, three of the bandits escaped while the fourth was captured through his own ineptitude. In several of the above-mentioned crimes of armed robbery, affected persons complained bitterly about the ineffectual Police response that did not include roadblocks. In the case of the Ramada assault, on December 4, 2014, the Providence Police had a dry run when Sterling Products suffered an identical armed invasion. Corporate Guyana trembled in fear in empathy with the owners of Ramada.

As benumbed citizens grope for answers, they are faced with what they consider to be a very anomalous response by a Government that came into office on a strong law and order platform. The presence of Brigadier David Granger as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Disciplined Forces advised by a Navy Commodore (rtd), a Major General (rtd), a Commissioner of Police (rtd) and several other senior members of the Disciplined Forces, had led those citizens to expect the law and order promises would be kept.

But what they see is a Government evidently consumed by the Jubilee Bash to commemorate the 50th Independence Anniversary. In fact, when asked by the Berbice Chambers of Commerce to visit and listen to their concerns on crime, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan replied he was “too busy with Jubilee preparations”. This is by any account a most callous response to citizens, only matched by the Agriculture Minister’s refusal to meet with the 1700 sugar workers of Wales Estate, affected by the closure of the factory.

One irony in the focus on “independence celebrations” at the expense of pressing challenges faced by citizens is the question, “what independence”? The other is the crime upsurge, especially the Ramada invasion, will deter most of the expected international visitors for the jubilee celebrations.

A striking image of the Northern Lights over Kirkjufel in Iceland, taken by photographer Grzegorz Ciepiel (BBC News)

Rural dwellers need fair representation Dear Editor, AFC activist Sase Singh in a commentary in another section of the media and a few respondents to him have called out the coalition APNU-AFC government for discriminating against rural dwellers (Indo-Guyanese).

Specifically, Sase Singh protested that Ind-Guyanese (and he mentioned Hindus in particular) are under-represented on government enterprises, committees, commissions, organisations, boards, and NGOs. Sase has correctly noted that his (AFC+APNU) government is urban centric and has neglected the rural areas.

He chastises the government for not seeking fair rural representation in its policies and programmes and that it makes virtually no effort to include rural folks in its committees or boards.

Rural dwellers make up over half the population. Yet almost all government appointees are urbanites with very few Indo-Guyanese and Amerindians. And the government commits virtually no resources to rural development.

The problem with Sase Singh’s complaint is that he is complaining like he is an outsider and not blaming the APNU-AFC government for this injustice against Indo-Guyanese, and he writes as though he is not part of the government and that he is begging the urban government to put a few Indo-Guyanese on boards.

He is an official of the government serving on a board and is also an advisor

to the government. He also helped brought the coalition to government. Sase is on the executive of the AFC. When the government changed, he replaced others as a columnist with the state-owned media Chronicle. He helped raise funds for the AFC in 2011 and the PNC-AFC coalition in 2015. He campaigned for the PNC-AFC coalition and organised to remove the PPP from office.

So Sase Singh has some kind of authority to make his influence felt on the regime to correct this injustice meted out to rural folks. It is an urban government and the PNC (APNU) and AFC are largely urban parties; one expects them to take care of their urban base and not pay much heed to the rural folks.

But Sase Singh and others like Leyland Roopnaraine, Joe Ragnauth, etc went down from the US and got the rural folks to vote for the PNC-led coalition with assurance that the urban parties would not discriminate against them.

Without the rural votes, the urban based parties would not have won the election. So those who convinced the rural voters to vote for the urban parties should demand that the rural dwellers be given equity in appointments to boards, government enterprises, and ministries.

The neglect of rural areas is not new. It has been going on since before independence. The PPP neglected the rural areas and the neglect continued un-

der the PNC; as an urban party, one cannot fault the PNC for marginalising rural dwellers. The PPP/C is to be blamed for rural neglect abusing their supporters.

To appease urbanites, the PPP/C forsake rural areas.

The PPP/C is largely a rural party – its base of support is rural. Some 95 per cent of its political support is rural. But a large majority of its MPs are urbanites who don’t understand or relate to rural lifestyle and whose attention is devoted to life in their own urban community.

Even those MPs who are supposed to represent the rural areas (list nominees) are themselves from the urban areas. If they are from the rural areas, when they move to town, they imitate urbanites and could care less about the lives of rural folks.

The few MPs who truly cared about rural life were Ravi Dev (ROAR) and Veerasammy Rammayah (AFC) and that is because they lived in the rural community.

Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan, Donald Ramotar, Bharrat Jagdeo, Feroze Mohammed, etc are from the rural areas, but they hardly did anything meaningful for rural development as they themselves live in the urban areas, far away from the voters they are supposed to represent.

Once the rural MPs moved to the urban areas, they forget about the rural folks and focus on improving life for the urbanites to which they become.

They don’t care for the rural poor. They only want the vote of the rural poor and after the elections they could care less about the rural areas.

The PPP/C gets 95 per cent support from the rural areas but when in government doles out only five per cent of the budget to the rural communities.

The PPP/C focused on the urban areas from which it hardly gets two per cent of the votes. Thus, urban areas are developed and enjoys a relatively higher standard of living whereas rural areas are the most neglected in the country with the lowest standard of living.

Yet, the rural areas contribute the most resources to the country - rice and sugar and other agro-industries have been the mainstay of the economy. At one time, they contributed 90 per cent of revenues of the country and get virtually nothing in return.

The PPP/C should learn from the PNC – it gets 90 per cent support from the urban areas and doles out 95 per cent of the budget to urbanites.

The PNC does not pander to rural folks because it knows Indo-Guyanese would not vote for it except when Moses Nagamootoo brought over the rural votes to make it win the government.

What is Sase Singh going to do to get rural representation in government? Rural voters need fair representation.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

NEWS

5

sunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Jagdeo meets with eminent ACP decision-makers O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo met with influential leaders and eminent decisionmakers from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union (EU) to discuss the legacy and future prospects of the ACP-EU Partnership, among other issues.

Under the theme ‘From Lomé to Cotonou Post-2020: a changing perspective in the ACP-EU relationship’, the High Level event aimed for a fruitful exchange of views in order to evaluate experience and debate options for ACP-EU relations beyond 2020, when the current Cotonou Partnership Agreement is due to come to an end.

Jagdeo, a former President of Guyana and a member of the ACP Eminent Persons Group, was part of a panel debate that included a number of influential figures.

He addressed the valuable nature of the partnership between EU and ACP, as underpinned by the Lomé Convention and the Cotonou Agreement.

The Lomé Convention is a trade and aid agreement between the European Economic Community (EEC) and 71 ACP countries, first signed in February 1975 in Lomé, Togo.

The Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and the ACP countries. It was signed in June 2000 in Cotonou,

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo with former President of Nigeria Abasanjo and President of Senegal, Macky Sall

Benin’s largest city, by 78 ACP countries (Cuba did not sign), and the then fifteen Member States of the European Union.

Jagdeo pointed out that for many ACP countries the EU had been the largest source of development funding. However, he stressed

that many elements of that partnership did not work because they were asymmetrically determined by the EU without a full understanding of the realities of many member states of the ACP, particularly the island states.

At the meeting, the Opposition Leader also explored the evolving challenges to any future partnership beyond 2020 when the Cotonou agreement ends.

He outlined too the key elements of the work of the Eminent Persons Group of which he is the Vice Chairman. Jagdeo stressed the necessity of the Heads of State and Government examining the report in their upcoming meeting in Papua New Guinea so as to ap-

prove the key framework to guide the negotiations with the EU for the post-2020 relationship.

The longstanding partnership brings together 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the 28 Member States of the EU under a comprehensive cooperation agreement, covering trade, political dialogue and development cooperation.

The event was co-organised by the ACP Secretariat and the European Commission. It represents a first opportunity to jointly discuss the ACP-EU relationship at this level since internal processes for reflection on the topic were launched by both sides.

Constitutional reform

Govt one step closer to reducing presidential powers … as final report submitted to PM

G

overnment is now one step closer to realising its promise of reducing the powers of the President of Guyana following the submission of the final report on Constitutional Reform by the steering committee on Saturday.

The report was handed over to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo by the committee, established to define the scope of the actual reform process, and formulate the terms of reference and mechanisms for consultation to establish a Constitution Reform Commission (CRC).

Nagamootoo had promised to update the public on government’s next course of action once he received the final report.

It is expected that a constitution reform commission will come on stream and it

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo receives the final report from Convenor of the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform Nigel Hughes. Also in photo are the other members of the committee

is this commission which will effect the changes to the Constitution.

Government had promised they will have consultations with civic society and the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) before making any

constitutional reforms.

Nagamootoo had previously disclosed that the interim report recommended reduction in the powers assigned to the presidency.

He explained that the report contains a long list of areas that should be con-

sidered in the constitutional reform process but it will eventually come down to priorities.

“The interim report is a good document but it goes

into some areas that are very detailed in terms of what ought to be changed in the constitution, not what must be changed,” he explained.

Some other recommendations that were included in the interim report are the geographic system and whether you have enough representation in parliament in terms of geographic constituencies.

Nagamootoo had noted that it is critical that changes to the constitution occur before General and Regional Elections 2020, however he did not say which specific areas should be targeted as a matter of priority.

A six-member steering committee on constitutional reform was established by the Prime Minister in August 2015 with prominent attorney Nigel Hughes as the convenor who had presented the interim report on January 2.

6

SunDAY, may 1, 2016

Page

guyana-times.com

Foundation

CPA ready to work with Sophia residents to deter truancy They came in ships/From far across the seas/ ...They came At least with hope in their heart.

On the platter of the plantocracy They were offered disease and death - Mahadai Das

T

Anu Dev

his Thursday, the 178th Anniversary of that first landing of indentured labourers from India will be commemorated.

One aspect of the entire Indian indentureship experience that hasn’t received its fair share of attention has been that of female indentureds.

This omission spills over into the present in which IndianGuyanese women continue to be generally treated as objects and even then, in footnotes. As a backdrop to considering the latter situation from an Indian female’s perspective, this week I will continue to examine its antecedents during indentureship.

Arriving in Port Georgetown after a voyage of three months, the women were dispatched to the sugar Plantations along with the men. Because the planters wanted the indentureds to produce sugar, as with the African slaves, they also

wanted them to reproduce children. This would lessen the expense of shipping them all the way from India. So we see throughout the indentureship period between 1838 and 1917, planters pleading with the Indian colonial authorities to ship in more women beyond the one-third minimum.

Indian women were therefore in great demand in Guyana and this led to an early re-appraisal of their value by themselves as compared to their previous situation in India.

Of the “one-third” women quota, less than half were married - and as we pointed out, some achieved this status at the depots while waiting for their ships to Guyana. So the Guyanese Indian womanindentured was, in the main, a single woman for a variety of reasons.

A number were young widows, some with children like the grandmothers of Cheddi Jagan, while others would have been “put out” of their homes or ran away from oppressive situations. The historical record is heavy with planter requests

for women of “good character”.

While there would have been some women sent over by the recruiters (“arkatis”) from “the streets”, it is a sign of the times (to this time) that a single woman on her own without a man has to prove she is not “loose”. On the other hand, single men, who were the vast majority of indentured labourers, were never called “loose”.

Another reason for women’s poor reputation was their small numbers which led to men fighting viciously over them and “wife murders” were rampant because of suspected or real “infidelities”. Many could have been women not willing to put up with abusive relationships. Some overseers also used their position to extract sexual favours from female indentureds and this was a spark that led to several protests on the sugar plantations.

Apart from female scarcity obliterating caste distinctions in marriage, women with children were now not rejected any longer. My maternal great

grandfathers on both sides of my family married women with children. In one case, one from an agricultural caste arrived with a child, married a Brahmin with whom she had two children (Sharmas) and then married a Muslim immigrant after the first husband died.

She then returned to India after her second husband passed away and the children were adults. Phoolkoerie was an independent woman.

But indentured women still had to work in the cane fields - even during pregnancy - while not demanded, because of low wages, did so to help maintain their families. If the woman did not show up to work, money was deducted from the husband wages: shifting the task of “persuading” the woman to work to the husband. But it was women who played a key role to allow the Indians whose indenture had expired to achieve economic independence. They planted the “home garden” and “minded” the cows that could be sold to generate an additional income.

– community calls for school bus

By Rennella Bourne

I

n an effort to eradicate the cycle of poverty, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) met with a group of parents from South Sophia, Greater Georgetown, to discuss issues that are preventing their children from attending school.

Sophia, a community known to be poverty stricken, is also said to have a high dropout rate. Traversing the streets of the community daily, scores of children can be found on street corners during school hours.

The meeting was held at Cummings Park Nursery School which was commissioned in December 2015.

The objective of the CC&PA is to minimise the soaring rate of school dropouts.

The agency believes education is the main channel to eradicate the stifled economy in that community.

Child Protection Officer, Gavin Robertson told parents at the small meeting that the Agency is ready to work with the community to have each child present at school at all times.

One parent at the meeting while lamenting the poor turnout, urged single mothers to look out for each other’s children. “People should look out for other people children, if they are doing wrong, pull them up,” she noted.

She said some single mothers have demanding jobs which require them to leave before school hours.

“They will iron their children uniforms and make their lunches yet still the children stay home after their mom is gone.”

Further, she added, “Some children always have to get someone looking over them or else they will grow wayward. That is why we should have concerned citizens that are willing to help one another for the children sake at least.”

It was mounted at the meeting that between two streets, at least 20 children are not attending school nor are they seeking to learn a trade.

The CC&PA is targeting students from nursery and secondary school age in an

effort to have them attend school regularly.

Head Mistress of Cummings Park Nursery school, Cecile WhyteJoseph reported that in her jurisdiction, all the children attend school.

“I do tell the parents even if they do not have snack for their children, the teachers will provide,” she said.

She continued, “In many cases, students come to school and I went into my purse and I bought snack for them.” When questioned

by Robertson about affording this gesture daily, the Headmistress responded, “I cannot deny children education because they do not have snack, I say let them come, they have to get an education.”

Meanwhile, parents of the community are pleading for extracurricular activities to be initiated to curb the high level of juvenile delinquency. They said there is a multipurpose building in the community that is rarely used. They suggested that Government use it to establish a number of classes for the children.

They have also expressed the need for a bus in the community to take their children to school since the regular buses would usually leave them in the morning to secure adult passengers.

President Granger’s ‘Three B’s’ programme – boats, buses and bicycles –which was recently extended to the ‘Five B’s’ programme – boats, buses, bicycles, breakfast and books – has so far distributed seven buses in communities across the country. This initiative was extended to Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The community of Sophia located in the vicinity of University of Guyana have always played a part in many of the institution’s Social Sciences research programme. Students of the University of Guyana acquire their rich findings however nothing has been done to solve to correct this community.

news

7

sunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Marijuana decriminalisation not a current concern of Govt – Granger … cautions against “copying” practices from developed countries

By Devina Samaroo

T

he decriminalisation/ legalisation of marijuana movement is gaining much momentum worldwide however Guyanese President David Granger is cautioning against buying into practices being embarked upon by developed countries thathave the requisite framework in place to support such legislative reforms.

While other countries have taken steps to decriminalise and legalise the drug, the local debate on the issue went as far as the drafting of a “Ganja Bill”, which was to be tabled in the National Assembly earlier in January but this was indefinitely postponed.

Igniting the discussion once again, President Granger made it clear that such reforms are not a current concern of the Government and on a more personal note, he declared that he will not subscribe to the usage of marijuana.

“This is not something that is a preoccupation of the Administration at the present time… (and) I would not counsel the use of marijuana by young people or anybody,” he firmly stated during an interview on ‘The Public Interest’.

He pointed out that the Administration needs to be careful not to adapt policies being practiced by developed countries which have stronger regulatory frameworks to enforce the laws.

On this note, President Granger said a comprehensive study on the decriminalisation/legalisation of marijuana in Guyana

should be done before any decisions be taken.

Given that the overcrowding at the prison is said to be largely contributed by individuals on remand or incarcerated for marijuana possession, critics would argue that it would be in the best interest to introduce the decriminalisation legislation to deal with that problem.

But, President Granger argued that the focus should be on advocating for noncustodial sentences – which is an initiative currently being explored by the judicial and executive arms of the Government.

Previously, the President had noted that Government is already working towards reducing the frequency of tobacco smoking and therefore the decriminalisation of marijuana would be a blatant contradiction.

Divided

Contrary to the President’s stance, the Alliance For Change (AFC) faction of the coalition Government has been strongly advocating for the decriminalisation of marijuana.

AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, with the help of Attorney Mark Waldron, compiled a draft Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015 which seeks to soften the penalties for marijuana possession.

The draft stipulates that persons who are found in possession of the drug for personal use will be required to pay a fine of

$10,000 or to perform community service for a period of time.

AFC parliamentarian Michael Carrington, who was slated to present the Bill to the National

alised that they can make money through the generation of huge financial revenues.

Contentions are that the legalisation of marijuana will also cut a big slice out

Marijuana decriminalisation not a current concern – Granger cautions against “copying” practices from developed countries

Assembly had also expressed his full support of such legislation. He posited that no one should go to jail for ‘taking a smoke’.

Prime Minister and AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo had also spoken extensively on the need for Guyana to move in that direction.

“In Guyana, we are not traversing new grounds. We believe that too many people are in our jails today for the use of the drug. I don’t see anyone in jail for tobacco or alcohol and so we have to be careful that we do not criminalise our young people and condemn them to jail for the possession of marijuana,” he stated while on the campaign trail last year.

Pros and cons

Many analysts have argued that the legalisation of marijuana is catching on because countries have re-

of the business to organised crime.

On the downside, there may be an increase in health-related issues caused by excessive marijuana ingestion.

There will also be multiple expensive court cases where marijuana usage is challenged and there will be appeals to these cases if

they are lost, all of which will also prove to be expensive.

It is also argued that the criminal organisations will simply find additional methods to make illicit funds from the growing, sale and transport of marijuana. For example, cigarette bootlegging (the illegal traffic of a legal substance) is a big moneymaker and there is no reason to believe that some form of marijuana bootlegging will not be added to their profit schemes.

Only recently at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on international Drug Policy, of which Guyana participated, Canadian Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott announced the country’s plans to introduce legislation in the spring of 2017 that would fully legalise adult cannabis consumption.

In the Caribbean, Jamaica took the first step towards decriminalising the drug back in 2015.

Schools will not be closed during Independence Week

G

uyana Times inadvertently published the article headlined ‘Schools across Guyana to be closed for Independence Anniversary week’ which was carried in the April 28 edition of this newspaper.

This newspaper however wishes to explain to its readers that the Ministry of Education has since confirmed that there will be no closure of schools during that period. This newspaper wishes to apologise to readers for any inconvenience caused by the article.

8

news

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

CANU CoI findings likely to be disclosed this week

T

he findings from the Commission on Inquiry (CoI) into the allegations that the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has been colluding with drug traffickers, are expected to be made public sometime this week.

According to President David Granger, this oneman presidential CoI is much shorter and simpler than the other inquiries; therefore he hopes that the findings will be made public this week.

The CoI was established to investigate the claims

Retired Brigadier Bruce Lovell

made by self-confessed drug trafficker Barry Dataram of

the purported involvement of CANU in the drug trade – a claim the organisation’s Head James Singh has since refuted.

Retired Brigadier Bruce Lovell was appointed by President Granger to probe the allegations.

Dataram first made the disclosures during an interview with local reporter, Travis Chase on HGPTV Nightly News.

Dataram already appeared before the CoI and it is expected that the television news reporter will make an appearance before

Barry Dataram

the Commission and testify.

East La Penitence man accidently shot by businessman

A

Castello Housing Scheme man was on Friday afternoon shot dead after a gun belonging to his friend accidently went off at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Nafasie Edghill, 39, of Castello Housing Scheme, East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Reports are the man was

involved in a playful scuffle with his friend who was carrying a licensed firearm in his hand during which the gun went off, hitting the man to the abdomen.

He was rushed to a private medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries.

However, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum gave a different account, while noting that at least three persons are

in custody.

He noted that based on initial investigations, one man reported that he and a friend went to the GSA and while they were exiting their vehicle, his firearm accidently went off and struck Edghill.

Additionally Blahum noted that the licensed firearm holder along with two individuals who were in close proximity at the time were arrested and are

Eyew tness Tipping point…

assisting with investigations.

Guyana Times understands the firearm holder is a prominent businessman in the city.

Meanwhile, when Guyana Times visited relatives of the dead man they were reluctant to speak, claiming that they will be ready to engage the media by Wednesday.

The police are continuing their investigations.

W

...on crime?

hat’d you call the robbery of the Ramada Princess two days ago but an “armed invasion”? Four men enter a casino on the main thoroughfare between the airport and the city, shoot up the place wild-west style, rob patrons and the casino - and then escape! Well...three of them escaped because evidently they hadn’t “cased” the joint thoroughly enough to know the back door can’t be opened from the inside.

That’s so reminiscent of the Sterling Products invasion of less than a year-and-a-half ago. Then a half dozen heavily armed men (there were varying accounts) attempted to rob the company and in the process, shot to death a security guard and injured two employees. Even though the Company was located just 200 metres from the Providence Police Station, and the shooting lateral minutes, all of the attackers escaped. Without any money - but that sure wasn’t because of the police.

The question raised - but never answered - was why road-blocks weren’t thrown up on both sides of Sterling as soon as the shooting started. What’s the SOP for a police station when they get a report - or hear! - of a robbery or a crime where the persons have escaped in a vehicle? Are roadblocks only for shaking down unwary drivers - and making passes after they stop females? A few months later, three of the bandits - including the infamous Rayon Paddy recently incinerated in the Camp St Jail Fire - were charged.

But not before committing other murders and robberies.

The alleged “ringleader” was never caught.

Unbelievably, the Ramada Princess is located not much farther away from the same Providence Police Station. It has to be that these bandits have absolutely no respect for the Providence Police! Or else they have an inside friend?

Anyhow, this time, we read the police DID get to the Ramada - but not before the three bandits that chose to exit through the front door, escaped. NOW we have to find out whether the police that arrived on the scene were from Providence, don’t we?

So we return to the question asked after the Sterling invasion: were roadblocks thrown up on both sides of the Ramada Princess after the cops at Providence Station heard gunshots? And yes! They HAD to’ve heard the gunshots.

But there’s a larger trend here - related to the inability of the police to strike fear in the heart of criminals.

Paraphrasing the Frank Sinatra ballad on New York City, if criminals can get away with armed invasions right next to the Providence Police Station, then they can get away with it anywhere, nuh?

Forewarned, unfortunately doesn’t mean forearmed in Guyana!

...on spunks?

Minister of Public Security and VP Khemraj Ramjattan once again declared the Camp St Jail’s “under control”.

He’d asserted this once before but was disputed by officers of the prison who gave testimony to the CoI investigating the fire that took 17 lives. Now Ministers don’t have any operational roles in running institutions under their civilian control - that’s left to the officers in charge.

But obviously THEY don’t have knowledge of the ground reality in the prison like Ramjattan. But several previous CoI’s into the Prison Service DID say the prison recruitment wasn’t attracting men as bright as Ramjattan. The goodly Minister therefore took serious exception to the Chronoc daring to report that the present state of the Camp St Jail represented a “National Security threat”.

All he would concede was the prisoners now have “spunks”. But didn’t say whether his caving in to the prisoners’ demands after meeting them, gave them the said “spunks”!

...on town Clerk

What will it take to remove this pestilence on City Governance called Royston King? He’s now gone and misspent money allocated for City Archives. US Presidents couldn’t remove the FBI’s Hoover because he “had the goods on them”.

So whose skeletons King knows where they’re buried?

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

news

9

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Ruimzigt Rice Mill robbery

No arrest made – Crime Chief ... crime situation negatively impacting economy – Alesie’s CEO

U

p to late Saturday evening, Police were probing the $3 million robbery at Ruimzigt Rice Mill on the West Coast of Demerara, and are yet to make an arrest.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that they are looking at several leads and are hopeful for a breakthrough soon. He added that based on initial investigations, the money which was supposed to be secured in a safe was actually left in a drawer in one of the offices.

He noted that the Police will continue to investigate the robbery.

However, Chief Executive Officer of Alesie Rice Mill, Jai Keshwani, recalled that at about 23:00h on the day in question, the security officer on duty recognised that several men were hovering suspiciously in the canteen area.

The security guard went to enquire and upon doing so, he was confront-

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

ed and struck to the head, thus causing him to lose consciousness. After regaining consciousness, he found himself bound to another security guard. One of the armed men reportedly stood over them and instructed them to be quiet.

The CEO added that after the robbers left, Police were notified but they arrived at the scene some three hours later.

According to Keshwani, it was later discovered that

the bandits had searched the entire office area, and taken every valuable item they could have located.

Along with the cash, the men took away four laptops, one camcorder, an LCD monitor, two flash drives and a mobile phone belonging to the security officer.

The official confirmed that this is the second time the company was robbed, thus it is concerned about the lack of security in the area.

“As investors, our group is concern about repeated incidents happening in our mill. We really need to know what security measurement is taken by Police department to check such incidents which are causing negative impact on economy of this country.”

Guyana Times understands that Police presence in the area is lacking but plans are afoot to have an increased presence, as well as the establishment of a Community Policing Group.

10

sunDAY, may 1, 2016

guyana-times.com

News

Gunmen escape with $4M as another Corentyne businessperson robbed – employee shot

A

rmed bandits on Saturday morning robbed a Corentyne poultry retailer of more than $4 million in cash and jewellery before escaping on foot after shooting an employee.

This is as bandits continue to wreak havoc on the Corentyne. The incident occurred at about 03:30h at Lot 438 Rose Hall Town.

Speaking with this publication, Vanisha Shrikisson related that three men, all masked and carrying guns and knives entered her yard as she was about to leave home for the Port Mourant Market to ply her trade.

Reports are that at the time one of the victim’s brothers was in the yard along with three workers.

They were all tied with pieces of clothes and placed at the back of the yard while one of the bandits stood guard.

Injured: Samuel Fernandes

According to the businesswoman, the bandits demanded the keys for the house after pouncing on her.

“Dem deh a demand ah key, and I tell dem ah going and get the key, but one ah dem start fuh cuff me in me head and I beg dem fuh leff me alone.”

At the time of the inci-

dent, Shrikisson’s sister-inlaw and her seven-monthold baby were in the house.

“Ah call n tell she fuh open the door and she open it,” she added.

She noted that when the men finally entered the house, they took her to her bedroom and told her to empty a wardrobe, which had $2.5 million, while the other broke into a second bedroom.

“He take all the cash I had, wha we sell and all me jewellery,” Shrikisson related.

The jewellery is estimated to be in excess of $1.5 million.

Meanwhile, Samuel Fernandes, 20, a part-time worker with the businesswoman who arrived late for work, became suspicious after entering the yard.

Shortly after entering the yard, the gunmen were leaving and a confrontation occurred between them and Fernandes. During the con-

frontation, Fernandes managed to pull the mask off one of the gunmen and in retaliation the bandit shot him to his shoulder.

He was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he remains a patient.

Police have since launched an investigation into the incident but up to press time no arrests have been made.

Meanwhile, over the past few weeks there have been a series of robberies along the Lower Corentyne, the most daring being the invasion of a house situated opposite the Albion Police Station on March 13. On April 10, a man was killed when bandits invaded his home at Topu.

There have also been multiple home invasions at Belvedere, Port Mourant, Ankerville, Hampshire, and Rose Hall Town.

River 4 S

atiricus knew slowly but surely Guyana was catching up with America. In culture we now had “summer” vacations, Halloween costume parties, and Thanksgiving Dinners complete with turkeys, didn’t we? All of this was added to the American soul music we always had, of course. “But, thankfully,” thought Satiricus, “They’ve dumped that whining Jim Reeves music I hate so much.”

“In politics, we’d passed the US. We now had a President but with scads more powers than the US. And he had four Vice Presidents, to their one,” smirked Satiricus to no one in particular.

Economically, Satiricus felt sorry for the Americans. “Even our security guards take home $35,000 every month! Cousin Michael is a Bank Manager in NY and he just makes less than half of that with his $15,000 per month.” Satiricus didn’t know why people carried on about Guyana dollar and US dollar. “Jeez! We’re not a colony of America, or anything like that. Are we?”

But Satiricus in his reflective moments - which were thankfully not too often - admitted there was one area we just couldn’t seem to catch up with the Americans. “Hey! People aren’t all saints,” Satiricus earnestly told his friend Cappo as they bent their elbows at the Back Street Bar. “Every country has to have their good people who saved and bad people who stole. And America just got better bad people!”

“They even made movies about their bad people - just to rub it in. My father used to talk about Al Capone with awe,” said Satiricus.

“And remember me an you see “The Godfather”?” replied Cappo. “Me wanda wha mek Guyanese na mek affer people cyaan refuse.”

“But at long last here’s proof we’re making progress on this front,” Satiricus told his friend Cappo “Did you see the movie ‘Ocean’s 11’ Cappo?” asked Satiricus.

“Budday! Three times!” grinned Cappo. “Dat Julia Roberts a wan prappa nice gyaal! She a wan Hindu, yuh know!”

“Yeah...yeah,..That’s not what I’m talking about though. Ocean 11 show how real high class US criminal operate.” said Satiricus firmly.

“Yes, Sato...when dem raab dem three Casino dat was prappa sma’t!” Cappo agreed. Then his face changed as he realised where Satiricus was going with this. “Yuh mean....?”

“That’s right!” said Satiricus as he banged the table. “The Americans may have their “Ocean 11”...but we now have our “River 4, boy!! And that’s only because we only have one Casino to rob. “ “Me cyaan wait till abee get three Casino,” said Cappo breathlessly.

Man stabbed to death at Hadfield Street

A

26-year-old man was stabbed to death outside the White Castle Fish Shop, Hadfield Street, Georgetown in the wee hours of Saturday evening.

Gordon Ross, 26, was reported found with multiple stab wounds to the body and four of his teeth missing. Hospital officials also claimed that he was badly beaten to the body.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told media operatives that an investigation has been launched into the stabbing incident, while noting that none of the man’s relatives have made contact with the Police or the hospital.

He explained that based on reports, there was a crowd at the White Castle Fish Shop and the victim received several stab wounds about his body.

He added that a taxi was stopped and asked to render assistance to the injured man and Ross was taken to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Up to late Saturday evening, no one was arrested for the murder. However, Blanhum noted that they are attempting to make contact with the dead man’s relatives to get information about his background, and more importantly, whom he would have left home with on Friday evening.

However, Guyana Times understands that a man of Rastafarian descent visited the Georgetown Public Hospital on Saturday morning to enquire about Ross but after he was told that the man had passed away, he ran out of the medical facility saying “jah rasta farai”.

11

sunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

12 news

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Guyana major land transit point for Several areas in Linden under water thousands of Cubans heading to the US … as inclement weather continues

S

G

uyana along with other South American countries are major transit ports for Cubans refuges seeking access to the United States via the use of land as opposed to the more excruciating water route they traditionally use.

This is according to NBC Nightly News in its April 30 broadcast where an investigative piece highlighted that there is a new migrant crisis unfolding in America where thousands of undocumented Cubans are now stranded on a gruelling journey they hope would end in the US. “It comes as some in Congress say a long standing immigration policy that gives Cubans favourable treatment needs to change.”

The news outlet revealed that “for decades Cuban refugees had made the treacherous trek by sea, now many

are risking it by land, they fly to South American countries like Guyana, then trudge through Central America into Mexico, but in November Nicaragua shut its border, now Costa Rica has done the same forcing a new bottleneck in Panama.”

In Panama near the border of Costa Rico, Cubans are enduring the journey so that they can get a better life, “they are among the nearly 3000 undocumented Cuban migrants trapped in Panama struggling to reach the US” says the news agency.

Gabe Gutierrez, reporting on the issue in Panama, said the camp he was in has over 1400 migrants alone with more arriving every day.

One of the Cuban migrants who travelled through Ecuador with his

seven-year-old daughter said the only hope that they (Cubans) have is to get to the US. The man says he does not see himself as an “economic refugee but a political one”.

“Many of the migrants say the urgency is due in part to the US and Cuba’s diplomatic ties. Rumours are swirling, the so called wet foot, dry foot policy which allows Cuban immigrants preferential treatment once they reach US soil could soon change but for now the Cubans are risking the journey despite roadblocks” says the news source.

Cubans refugees seeking to migrate to the United States have gone through excruciating lengths to rid themselves of the economic and political hardships facing them in their home country.

everal areas in Linden were under water as the inclement weather pattern continues.

Notably, areas more prone to intense flooding such as Kara Kara, Central Mackenzie (including Republic Avenue and Greenheart Street), as well as Rainbow City appeared to be among some of the worse affected. Scores of people were stranded and several stalls at Republic Avenue and Greenheart Street were under water. The parking area at Republic Bank and the road along Pine Street were flooded and some people could be seen wading through the flood waters.

A gentleman complained of not being able to access his car, which was parked along Greenheart Street, noting that he feared coming into contact with flood waters.

Despite several attempts by the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) over the years to construct drains in a fashion to prevent severe flooding, the situation has however remained the same.

Speaking with this newspaper, Ulanda Johnson, a resident of Rainbow City complained of being tremendously affected by the flooding. She said her daughter ventured into the flood water of her home and was “shocked” by electricity. The woman who

Johnson's flood affected home

said she made calls to the LM&TC said her home was flooded as she’s “never seen before and it’s like nobody cares”. She said she was hit by two separate incidents of flooding at her home.. On the first occasion, the woman stated that her family managed to clean things up only for it to be flooded once more. She recorded massive damage to some items in her home including the vinyl and has blamed the situation on clogged drains in the area.

“We can’t use back the vinyl on the floor not even in the cupboards we can’t use anything because the water from everybody septic tank and everything come right here. I feel it’s the drains.

If the drains keep clean and not just this drain that is on

the road, the big (drain)”, Johnson related.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) Renis Morian visited the Kara Kara area on Wednesday and spoke to residents there regarding the flood situation. Over the years, the community has been faced with severe flooding due to what residents have claimed to be the “negligence” of privately managed Chinese mining company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) in having sediments cleared from the drains situated there.

Residents are calling on the Government’s intervention as it relates to remedying the situation.

13 Sweet Guyanese coconut water recognised on regional markets news

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Workers Unite!

By Ryhaan Shah

F

or the first time in over 25 years, Guyanese workers will participate in a united May Day rally today signalling a return to more cooperation within the country’s trade union movement which had become fractured through the years.

Today’s unified movement reflects the general disenchantment being felt among workers in every major sector of the economy starting with sugar workers, many of whom are facing the breadline Ryhaan Shah because of the closure of the Wales and LBI estates, closures that include no plans for alternative work for the hundreds being made unemployed.

Both unions that represent sugar workers, GAWU and NAACIE, are contending that they never agreed to the full closure of the LBI operations and sugar workers across the country are standing in solidarity with their fellow workers who face an uncertain future.

Public servants, including teachers, are still to receive the pay raises promised during the Coalition’s campaign and the GPSU and GTU are rightly critical of what they see as a betrayal of their interests by the Granger Government.

While the Guyana Teachers Union feels it is in negotiations for benefits and pay increases for teachers in public schools, Minister of Education Rupert Roopnaraine has labelled the ongoing talks only as “discussions”.

With no fully established Ministry of Labour but only a junior Minister assigned to this portfolio within the Ministry of Social Protection, the traditional bargaining protocols between the trade unions and government appear to be irrelevant or in disarray.

The first Minister assigned to labour relations within the umbrella ministry, Minister Simona Broomes, made her presence felt rather infamously with raids that she led personally on Bartica hotels to supposedly root out trafficked persons. She also personally investigated employee-employer relations in city businesses during walkabouts which many felt were beyond her remit as a minister in charge of policy directives.

It does appear that the rules on labour relations are being rewritten with the role of the trade unions being relegated to a much diminished status. For the first time since the country attained self-government, there is no designated Ministry of Labour headed by a fully-fledged Minister with responsibility for the negotiations, collective bargaining and policies that are necessary for good labour relations with Guyana’s thousands of state employees, and unionised workers in private sector companies.

This is a new low for a country that is home to the Father of Trade Unionism in the Commonwealth, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, and to politicians like Dr Cheddi Jagan, Premier and President, who began his political career as a champion for workers’ rights.

General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress Lincoln Lewis has called on President David Granger to have “this grave anomaly corrected”. Lewis maintains that subsuming workers’ issues within another ministry signals the “insignificant” role the President assigns to Guyana’s labour sector.

Both the GTUC and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions in Guyana (FITUG) are calling for a return to the collective bargaining process and for the Granger Government to respect the rule of law, universal declarations, conventions, charters and time-honoured principles that govern the labour movement worldwide.

The current impasse between government and the trade union movement recalls the days when the PNC was last in power.

During the Burnham dictatorship, GAWU, CCWU, GUYMINE, and the umbrella Trade Union Council fought valiantly against the regime for workers’ rights and recognition.

Because they represent such a large body of the electorate, trade unions have a vital role to play in ensuring the country’s hard-won democratic gains are sustained and in place.

Workers’ rights are among the most fundamental of human rights and as leading civil society groups, the unions are often the only institutions that give voice to workers especially when a government appears to be uncaring and neglectful of their concerns as is happening with the country’s teachers, public servants and sugar workers.

Granger has not responded positively to the appeals from the labour union movement to establish a fully functioning Ministry of Labour but has defended his decision to subsume the role of the labour portfolio, saying that it is “well placed”.

The current situation is creating history but not in a good way for a country that has led the region and the world in placing workers’ rights at the very centre of good governance.

Today’s mass May Day rally is a culmination of a week of trade union activities around the country. Perhaps, the thousands who march today will give the President a much clearer picture of the solidarity and fighting spirit that exist among the country’s workers.

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

By Rennella Bourne

I

t is always a proud moment to see Guyanese expanding their horizons in the business sector, as is the case with a farmer who hails from the Pomeroon, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

She has been able to capitalise on Guyana’s sweet coconut water for export.

Recently, entrepreneur Vilma Da Silva of Henville Farm, located in Pomeroon, Supenaam, secured regional markets for her coconuts, exporting four containers filled with bottled coconut water. Da Silva said she is willing to expand operations once the demand increases.

The Henville farm is also a supplier to one of our local markets in Guyana.

Guyanese are more of-

ten inclined to the traditional purchasing of coconut water alongside the roadway.

The farmer who saw the potential of local coconut water being on the shelves of supermarkets, and being a value added product, has not limited herself to local markets.

Dasilva began the operations some two years ago, supplying our local market but later expanded to regional markets.

She started the business under her home, which is still there, but managed to gain international markets and a high demand. Da Silva have improved her resources greatly.

Approximately two years ago, the farmer noted there was an abundance of coconut in her community with very little market. Da Silva being the Chairperson

Vilma Da Silva

of the Pomeroon Women Agro Processors disclosed that she used her position meaningfully to gather markets to sustain families in her community. She further added that she attended several workshop to better her knowledge of the business.

The Henville Farm creates employment for approximately 25 persons in the Pomeroon area.

The distribution operations comprises of 200 farmers who have to meet monthly marketing demands.

Da Silva noted this operation provides a stable income for many families in the community and is proud to be the innovator of such an entity that is providing for many.

Meanwhile, Da Silva was one of the speakers at the recently held Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean Project, where she disclosed the many challenges of initialising her business in the rural area. A word of encouragement was offered by her for investors to invest in the coconut industry.

14 news

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Guyana to seek US aid for renewable energy – President

I

n promoting the vision of a “green” Guyana, President David Granger has indicated the country’s plans to seek aid from United States stakeholders to implement renewable energy initiatives.

The President had announced that he would be taking the proposal to the US Caribbean-Central American Energy Summit in Washington, DC, where he would have discussions with private sector parties and officials in order to garner finances and adequate technologies that would aid Guyana in its cause of creating a “green” country.

Granger was at the time making his remarks at the commissioning of the Eureka Medical Laboratories (EML) Inc new solar-powered building.

In keeping with Guyana’s objective of “greening” the environment, the EML on Saturday officially commissioned the building which is the first medical laboratory in Guyana to offer DNA testing.

The state-of-the-art building located on the premises of

Thomas Street, Georgetown, will be promoting Guyana’s goal of a cleaner and healthier environment by using modern technologies that are in sequence with creating a “green” Guyana.

Granger along with First Lady Sandra Granger commissioned the new building and they credited this development to the ongoing growth of Guyana economically, as well as the country’s ability to keep up with global trends through globalisation.

The Head of State commended the EML for the innovative gesture to “go green”, noting that this “is the model of an energy project that is worthy of emulation.”

Alluding to the recent event where a climate agreement was signed on behalf of the country, Granger said the commissioning of the lab fits in with Guyana’s obligation to achieve one hundred per cent of its energy needs.

The President added that a “green economy must be driven by green technology.”

Noting the significance of what a green environment means to Guyana, Granger

charged the Health Ministry to work with health facilities across Guyana so that more environmentally healthy projects, such as this, would be initiated.

He additionally echoed calls for schools, companies, enterprises and agencies, both public and private, to make the investment in going green for a better Guyana.

“A green economy is a good economy” Granger reminded.

DNA testing

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton, also present at the event lauded the EML for their consistent dedication in ensuring that the medical sector in Guyana is advancing in keeping with trends of the modern world.

Commenting on the fact that the EML is the sole medical organisation to incorporate DNA testing in Guyana, the minister said this proves just how rapidly the EML is using modern technology to offer adequate services in the public domain.

He added that not only

would the DNA testing provide a comprehensive background of ancestry but it is also essential in diagnosing genetic illnesses.

This, Norton said, is one of the needed gestures that would push Guyanese to have a proactive control of their health and wellbeing.

He urged other medical facilities in Guyana to emulate the standard and capacity-building of the EML which will aid in further expanding Guyana on a medical level.

The EML had been established some 21 years ago by microbiologist William Andres Boyle, to offer high quality medical service to the Guyanese population.

Over its years of existence, the laboratory had been constantly developing into what can be described as the premier medical testing facility.

Through rapid development, the laboratory has remained firm in its aim of advancing the country as a whole, whether medically, economically or environmentally.

Younge’s Take

Guyana on its knees

L

ast May, Guyanese from all walks of life took a decision to vote for change while in the process taking a stance against corruption, poor governance and alleged low levels of ethnic inclusivity and unity, according to results released by the Guyana Elections Commission.

Those who voted in favour of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change coalition also voted against executive lawlessness and neglect, a handful of antidemocratic policies, low levels of public consultation on core policies, a lack of meaningful and genuine constitutional and public sector reforms, bureaucratic inefficiency, rising levels of continued crime and criminality, and below par Michael Younge economic performance.

In short, the electorate wanted to give those two coalesced political parties the chance to better the track record of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic by delivering higher levels of standard of living, stronger economic performance, increased public security and safety, higher levels of ministerial integrity, and overall stability buoyed by sound legislative, hemispheric and foreign policy agendas.

The elections came and went. A new Government was installed and began working to deliver on its promises coupled with high public expectation on the part of those who voted for them and others who were still undecided about their ability to run a country.

A well-meaning President David Granger took control of the country and from that point to this date, there has been little meaningful and positive change in the manner in which things are done in the country.

It is even being argued by independents and supporters of all three parties that things have gotten worse in some respects.

The cleanup campaign and its initial momentum which has died a natural death aside, the new Government still does not have a clear, realistic and viable plan for the country's sustained socioeconomic development.

From the press conferences held by ministers and key government spokespersons, the releases issued, to the contracts signed and deals entered, it is clear that a day-today decision-making approach is being used to run Guyana.

There is no serious and well-thought-out or even documented underlying economic or sociopolitical philosophy at work that will benefit the masses and non-supporters of the coalition government in particular.

What is clearer, however, is that government by its very actions and undertakings appears to be executing a carefully thought-out plan rooted in discrimination on the basis of geopolitical considerations and I dare say even race factors. So far, while most right thinking Guyanese are concerned about the situation, Indo-Guyanese are facing the worst hardships as rice, sugar, agriculture and working class retail and wholesale variety businesses are plummeting daily.

But government priorities appear to be holding "big bash celebrations" periodically in Guyana and the diaspora under the guise of commemorating Guyana's 50th Independence anniversary. Every serious government stakeholder is busy jubileeing while the country is sinking deeper because of a lack of executive foresight and vision.

Crime is spiralling out of control too, while unemployment is expanding in almost all of the traditional and now nonperforming nontraditional sectors. The macroeconomic actions of government can also see new forms of crises developing for the banking and finance sectors, the now stagnant and unimpressive private sector and other dependent sectors.

When government awakens, it may be too late because it wasted a significant portion of its tenure going after the PPP/C even though to date the public has been indifferent to many of its trivial, unimpressive and sensational figures because of the melodrama and theatrics with which they are leaked and forced down the throats of the public and media.

Also, government itself is grappling with a structural crisis, internal disharmony among its coalition partners and a lack of confidence in the AFC's ability to deliver anything to the coalition. What is strange is that the government is not listening and has become arrogant... check the postures and rhetoric of the Social Cohesion, Public Security and Prime Minister’s for classic examples.

Things were far better and less ethnically tense under the PPP/C despite its missteps. They were supposed to be better under the new government but so far this is not the case.

Someone needs to give the government some saline or it will not leave a one term legacy that we can all be proud of. It is time to stop the big bash and get down to improving the lives of the poor and ordinary folks in the country. They cannot eat the new multimillion dollar D’Uban Park stadium for survival nor can they live on the starvation wages offered as a "lil raise" by the government. They deserve far better... it is time for the APNU/AFC clan to deliver the Good Life.

news

15

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Sophia road deteriorates 2 weeks after major rehabilitation By: Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal

The condition of the recently rehabilitated Sophia Road

By Merissa Wilson

C

ommuters and residents using the Sophia Main Road via Dennis Street have vented frustration over the already poor condition of the road, which was recently reopened after it was closed for nearly two weeks to facilitate

rehabilitation.

Works on the road began on April 4 last and was recently reopened to the public. However, everyone — commuters, drivers, residents, pedestrians, school children — have raised contentions over the fact that the rehabilitated road is already filled with potholes.

In addition, with the May/ June rainy weather already started, the condition of the road has worsened.

Speaking with this newspaper, taxi driver Oscar Morris, who traverse the road regularly, said the road was in a “manageable stage” prior to the rehabilitation. He noted that he is

disappointed since he was expecting a “proper” road.

Morris added that since the rains have started, there is even more hardships faced by drivers who now have to fear getting their vehicles damaged while working.

“Now I have to worry about my car getting damaged. There are so many potholes filled with water due to the rain. These contractors should have taken that extra time and do the work properly. Nobody was hurried for it.” Morris related.

A minibus driver told Guyana Times Saturday that he is forced to use the access road since some passengers live along Dennis Street.

The man who had been working the route for over 15 years explained he is at a loss, since it takes a longer time to get through the traffic at that point due to vehicles trying to dodge the many potholes.

“I take about 20 minutes just to get through there. I could have made another trip in that amount of time. The ministry needs to look into this matter immediately because these roads are not getting any better.

This project was a failure.” the frustrated driver complained.

Meanwhile, residents have also expressed disgust with the poor rehabilitation, noting that in its current state getting transportation to and from the area is proving difficult.

Susan Joseph a resident in the area stated that the road is a major inconvenience to her and family since taxis are either refusing to enter the area or are calling higher prices.

The woman said she usually works very late in the night and since there are no streetlights in her A Field Sophia area, she prefers to take a taxi to get home.

“No taxi wants to come through here anymore and even if they do you have to pay like an additional $500. This road is horrible and a lot of work needs to be done. I suggest that the ministry closes it down again to complete the work.” Joseph moaned.

In the meantime, vehicles have resorted to using the B Field entrance through Guyhoc, the route used when the road was being reconstructed.

Dennis Street, Sophia, between A Field and the Eastern Highway had been reopened to vehicular traffic mid-April.

The road works saw the completion of approximately 300 metres of timber revetment along Dennis Street. This construction included the installation of steel tie-rods and “hump” structures.

Rehabilitation of roads fall under the government’s Urban Areas Development Plan for 2016, which involves a number of other roads in various areas of the country.

Are we failing our young people by resisting change?

“T

he children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise” You could be forgiven for thinking that this quote came from any headteacher of any number of schools in Georgetown in the final term of 2016, but in actual fact this was the sentiment of the philosopher Socrates circa 400BC. The point being, each generation from then until now, has looked upon its youth in despair and disbelief about the ways in which they conduct themselves.

The problem is, in the 21st century, if the older generations fail to change their own attitudes and interactions with our young people, society could spiral into a much worse plight than we find ourselves in now.

If we don’t stop blaming and misunderstanding young people, how are we ever going to help guide them on a better course? The truth is, we raised this generation and so the blame cannot be laid solely at their feet anyway.

Young people in Guyana are exposed to all that is happening in North America and the rest of the world, and they are experiencing the same types of issues and mental health challenges that their counterparts face; unfortunately without the level of help and support that is available to those further afield. The limited resources in Guyana, of amongst which there are undoubtedly some wonderful projects, are no match for the magnitude of the problem.

It’s an insurmountable task to offer access to support for each young person in need, and though the Ministry of Health’s five year Mental Health plans vision is perceptive in its need to look at prevention and not just treating the problem, how achievable is it in a culture where children’s voices are still so often unheard? In an education system where some still employ tyrannical tactics and is largely allowed to police itself due to lack of application of children’s rights policies? In an environment where individuals have no training in picking up the signs of need and no resource for implementing support at the most crucial time in a child’s life?

“Spare the rod and spoil the child” mentality is not going to affect any positive change. The crisis that exists for young people is manifesting itself in violent crime, self-harm, poor mental health and increased suicides.

Of course there is a real possibility that to slacken the discipline that has long reigned in Guyanese culture may only serve to give the young people more freedom to misbehave or wallow in self-pity, in turn exasperating the problems. However if the rod is continually used as an alternative to well-placed words and a listening ear, it’s not only the rod that will eventually break, but also the lines of communication and subsequently any hope of offering our children a system of support that can begin to shape a healthier mind.

It’s a long road ahead and change has to be led from the top but until the attitudes of parents, teachers, caregivers and policy makers realise that it’s not about what young people should be doing, thinking or feeling but accepting what they are doing, thinking and feeling, and make an effort to understand why, the journey will not begin.

Those adults that already come into regular contact with young children are the key. They are the ones who can affect positive change, by being influential. In order to be influential one has to build a level of trust and respect.

In order to build trust and respect one has to listen and understand, not judge but offer sound, realistic advice.

At a time when reform for the rights of children are only just coming out of its teething stage it’s imperative that the way we offer support and design the delivery of that support be well thought out and well-targeted, because remember, the youth of today are already parenting the youth of tomorrow.

16 news

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Region 3 schools celebrate Cultural Day

A

ll schools on West Coast and West Bank Demerara on Friday observed a Cultural Day in observance of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary.

The aim of the Day was to educate students on the history of Guyana, disclosing how independence was gained for the country.

The cultural heritage of Guyana was displayed in its miscellany. Students of the various schools garbed themselves with clothing of all six races of Guyana, the most popular being Sari and the Dashiki.

All schools were beautifully decorated with the 50th Independence logo.

Some school celebrated the activity with a road march showcasing colourful parades and displaying Guyana’s beauty to the full-

Students of Uitvlugt Secondary School, WCD, performing the folk song “Not a blade a grass”

est.

Floats of the remarkable Kaieteur Falls could be seen while children danced along the roadways sporting the headdress of Amerindians.

The sounds of African drums with its melodious sound were heard as the parade by one of the schools marched along the road.

Schools also showcased

foods of the diverse culture of Guyana. The most popular dish at almost every school was that of the Amerindian cassava bread.

The celebration was culminated at each school with a concert where students sang popular folk songs and told stories of how Guyana achieved its independence.

Guyana Times spoke to a number of students who

expressed how they felt about the observance of the Cultural Day. Allicia Mohammed of Stewartville Secondary School, WCD, noted that she was surprised at how much she learned: “I was mainly interested in dressing up in the clothes, most of us were but I was surprised at how much I learned about Guyana’s history, I must say that I appreciate my country a lot more than I did before.”

Indar Singh of Leonora Secondary School, WCD, explained that the highlight of the Cultural Day for him was hearing stories of our past and how much we fought to get where we are today: “I knew that our foreparents went through much struggle for us to gain independence but I didn’t know how hard they had to fight, I appreciated learning that.”

Niomi Garnett of St John’s High School, WCD, expressed amazement over the various foods she was able to feast on.

“I enjoyed the foods, especially the foo-foo, I never had that before and I really enjoyed it.”

A student depicting Chinese cultural wear

Teachers also noted they were delighted at the idea of hosting a cultural day with the aim of educating the students.

NEWS

17

SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Anna’s

Destroying village economies

Relocation of vendors

Deputy Mayor unmoved by vendors’ protest … says “vendors want change but not willing to help make it” Town Clerk Royston King on Thursday during a meeting with some 400 vendors

“G

ive a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day; teach him to fish and he’ll eat for the rest of his life”. Never a saying more true.

Amerindian communities have progressively evolved with time and so have their needs, which are no different for families in the hinterland than they are for those living on the coast. Yet, Anna Correia economic disparities single out Amerindians from the rest of Guyanese as Guyana’s development continues to evolve unevenly across regions.

But while land is indeed a prerequisite for the successful development of all Amerindian communities, (as it constitutes the basis of wealth for any Guyanese citizen), tenable social and economic policies are also necessary to optimise the use of those lands.

The LCDS funded GRIF Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) Project, was part of a greater plan to promote sustainable economic development through local projects geared towards generating steady village income. Each participating community came up with a Community Development Plan (CDP) to match the potential of its land and the needs of its people. Some villages chose farming, (predominantly cassava), while others chose pisciculture, cattle ranching, tourism projects and one village even opting for mining.

Under the ADF, a technical team led by the then Amerindian Affairs Ministry was responsible for assisting in the implementation of the CDPs presented by communities, providing managerial guidance, technical expertise and funding of up to $5 million per village. The project was scheduled to last for three years starting from October 2014.

However, difficulties ranging from a small overall budget (less than US$7 million), squandering on expenses such as lavish Daily Subsistence Allowances (DSAs) based on UNDP standards, (can go up to $38 thousand per night and per person in Region 2) and stalling the project for an extended period of review under the Allicock administration, were all part of the failure of the ADF project.

Incidentally, lack of support from the Allicock administration forced the Project Manager to resign, causing the project to go months before a new head was recruited. The project lacked vision and direction. It had become a failure.

The attitude of Allicock and his team suggested that they neither understood the dynamics of this project, nor its importance to the Amerindian people. Yet, when the time came to account for its failure, Allicock decided to throw the blame on bad management. But what did Allicock and the coalition actually do to enhance village economies in their almost one year in Government? Absolutely nothing.

In less than a year, the coalition cut $10 000 school vouchers to Amerindian parents, removed reimbursements for fuel used by residents of Region 9 (ordered by Carl Parker, the Regional Executive Officer), discontinued the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), subsequently slashing stipends (up to $300 000 per village) for 1972 Amerindians.

Hand-outs have become the order of the day. A few bicycles here (literally a few), free shoes for children there and used clothes by a charity organisation overshadow sustainable development policies. The HEYS Programme which supposedly replaced the YEAP has been implemented in Region 8 only, and since its commencement last year, the Amerindian beneficiaries were still not paid their stipends. Bravo.

These are all initiatives which inject revenues into local economies, promoting growth and development, increasing the feasibility of village projects. As if this was not enough, the Government as well as Amerindians are forced to source products from places such as Brazil, to maintain initiatives like the school feeding programme. For instance, Amerindians of Region 9 are purchasing chicken and meat from Brazil, despite the existence of the ADF project which was intended for the purpose of building resilient village economies conducive to more self-sufficient communities.

Apparent lack of experience in governing a country, coupled with the absence of goodwill translated by myopic and antipoor policies, guides the failures of the Allicock administration in every programme it was left to manage. These short-lived initiatives serve no other purpose than to render Amerindians more dependent on the State for their subsistence, increasing their vulnerability and reducing their access to socioeconomic rights.

What the Government of Guyana is doing, is back-stepping years of cumulated progress aimed at reducing disparities in Guyana, consequently accentuating poverty and augmenting the future efforts which will have to be pumped into reversing the detrimental effects engendered now.

The ADF project is a first example in this direction.

Send questions & comments to sundayarrow@gmail.com

D

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

eputy Mayor Sherod Duncan said it is unlikely the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GMCC) will change its position on the plans to relocate the Stabroek Market Square to Hadfield Street.

In a telephone interview with Guyana Times Duncan said that while the Council understands the plight of vendors the unanimous decision by the council is that the renovation to the area will bring benefits to the very vendors.

The council is temporarily relocating vendors operating outside the Stabroek Market to an empty plot of land south of Parliament Buildings.

Vendors are contending that no consultation has been made with them as is customary. One vendor voiced her opinion that, “the PPP/C never do us this… Jagdeo used to call we inside and talk to us whether he like we or not.”

At the protest outside City Hall on Friday, vendors claimed, “is we vote for them, we put dem deh, we vote fa change, and this is wa we get?”

However, Duncan is challenging that while GMCC understands the importance of making a living, they have to be willing to compromise: “We are committed to making life better but the vendors want change but not willing to make compromises.”

Duncan continued to this newspaper: “We as a council know that the area is in dire need of recapping. It floods constantly and is in utter chaos. A lot of the lawlessness that is encouraged under the clock seems to be getting out of hand for city constabulary. Pick pockets and chain snatching are too much, we need to fix this.”

Duncan added that the main reason behind the decision is to make the area better, adding that security is a major issue at the Stabroek Market Square.

He noted that everyone will be relocated temporarily as works on the surface are pressed to be completed in time for the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence.

But “the unsupportive vendors are “not seeing the bigger picture.”

On Friday, a group of angry vendors staged a protest outside Ministry of the Presidency before marching down to City Hall.

The vendors feel that this move is “unfair” and “disrespectful”.

said they would be removed for four months to facilitate a clean-up exercise as part of

an overarching plan to secure the integrity and health of Stabroek Market Square.

18 Labour Day Messages SunDAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Urgent need to address remuneration for public servants – GPSU Parika fuel

O

n this May 2016 Labour Day celebration the Executive Council wishes to recognise and honour the contributions, commitment, sacrifice and loyalty of the women and men who remained steadfast during previous the 23 years the country was under the stewardship of the People’s Progressive Party.

Although, their fundamental rights were infringed upon, this did not break the spirit of members; they stood and bonded stronger.

Last May Day the National Elections were before us. The Guyana Public Service Union, wholeheartedly welcomed the outcome in expectation that the antitrade union/policies, which predominated the previous era had come to an end. A view also shared by an overwhelming cross section of members of the Union and public servants alike who experienced “trademark” injustices of the previous administration.

Members and many others looked forward to the

election as an avenue of freedom from the oppressive regime and a new beginning promising development and hope for working professionals.

It is indisputable that the policies of the APNUAFC Government were positive and geared to restore good governance, stamp out corruption and all forms of executive lawlessness in pursuit enhanced national development. It was particularly encouraging to the GPSU and we welcomed the commitment to restore collective bargaining and trade union rights. We are confident that this pledge is genuine. We welcome the restoration of the unification of the Public Service offering full employment and security of tenure to all public servants. We welcome the engagements with the Minister and Ministry of Finance Staff and the financial assistance to enhance meaningful involvement of our members through the process of education, interaction and improved com-

munication. We welcome the commitment to restore fully our sports complex sporting facilities to its original use among other good faith commitments.

Though the period has been short, there remain crucial areas of concern where results have not materialised with the sense of urgency desired. The absence of attention to these much talked about and merited issues has generated some measure of disappointment and displeasure.

Of note are: * Young workers who have been in the vanguard demanding betterment, justice, fairness and the right to be heard are yet to see their expectations realised; * The obvious neglect of those who struggled to help bring about changes; * The poor and the downtrodden, particularly our women, are yet to experience meaningful change in their circumstances;

* Constitutional and trade union rights are still under serious challenge;

* The promised inclusivity which was so attractive and welcomed by a wide cross section is yet to be realised;

dealer shot dead during robbery

* The implementation of Cabinet decision re-classifying Sweeper/Cleaners as full time workers; * Finally, but of significance, the urgent need to comprehensively and adequately address remuneration for public service workers (i.e wages, salaries and allowances.)

During this important juncture of our country’s history celebrating the 50th Independence anniversary, our Union recognises the potential of the leadership of this nation to influence and sincerely garner national unity and give authentic meaning to the country’s motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

This, it is believed, must be pursued with diligence. The Union continues to stand ready to support all nation building endeavours.

The Executive Council wishes to express heartfelt thanks and great admiration to all Public Servants.

As we pursue a new beginning let us find strength together to overcome all challenges.

Conscientious of our achievements, we look forward to the good life, national development benefiting all and together sincerely contributing to a benevolent society.

Dead fuel dealer Seeram Singh

A

Relatives of the now dead fuel dealer

Parika businessman was on Saturday killed when two gunmen attacked him in front of his home.

Dead is Seeram Singh of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, East Bank Essequibo.

Reports are that the businessman was attacked at about 21:00h by the two gunmen who robbed him of three sizable gold chains which were on his neck.

Notably, his gold rings were still on his fingers.

Guyana Times was told

that the 52-year-old businessman was shot twice to his head. He also had three stab wounds to his body.

Relatives told this newspaper that the businessman put up a fight with the gunmen during the ordeal.

The grieving family stated that they are extremely disappointed with the Police’s response to the robbery.

A close relative related that the Police took a long time to respond following the shooting.

Labour Day Messages 19 sundAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Labour Day 2016 represents Workers should stand up in defence of their rights – PPP a new beginning – Govt

T

he Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana salutes all workers on this historic Labour Day, 2016.

It is the work of the people of Guyana that “safeguard[s] and build[s] on the rich heritage, won through tireless struggle, bequeathed to us by our forebears” as stated in the preamble of our Constitution.

It is the people of Guyana’s earnest and constantly renewed commitment to tireless and unstinting work which realises the development, growth and progress of our beloved, beautiful land.

The Coalition Government is pleased and indeed proud that this May Day is being celebrated in a spirit of unity, cooperation and mutual respect. It is how, as an independent and sovereign people, this celebration must always be.

Labour Day 2016 represents a new beginning after too many years of workers

and government being ensnared in an environment of hostility and disrespect.

The spirits of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the pioneer of the fight for labour rights in Guyana, and the other vanguard fighters who have passed, will be pleased that this new day has dawned. Relentless attacks on the GTUC a n d

other labour unions and annual disrespect for the collective bargaining process is no more.

The Coalition Government is proud that in less than one year in office, the annual subvention to the Critchlow Labour College has been restored, the income tax threshold has been twice increased and the minimum wage has been increased to $50,000.

Workers in Guyana are undoubtedly better off today than they were a year

ago. There is more work to be undertaken at all levels to allow for improved conditions, enhanced salaries, more comprehensive and thorough negotiations and establishing collective bargaining is the permanent standard.

The Government remains resolute in standing in solidarity with the workers of Guyana for the realisation of a good life for all and in protecting the right to work as enshrined in the constitution.

“No person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her right to work, that is to say, the right to free choice of employment.” – Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Chapter 12, Part 2, Article 194A. Finally, the Coalition Government reiterates the call for all workers to once again rededicate their efforts and commitment in building a cohesive, progressive and inclusive Guyana for all our people, now and for future generations.

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) salutes the workers of Guyana on the occasion of International Workers’ Day which is celebrated on May 1.

This is a good time for workers to reflect on the long and difficult road the working people have traversed over the decades especially during the dark days of colonial and authoritarian rule when there were no organised labour union nor mass-based political parties to represent the cause of the working people.

From its very inception as a political party, the PPP championed the cause of the working people.

Indeed, the PPP emerged, as it were, out of the bosom of the working class struggle.

It remains until this day the only genuine working class party in the country, having consistently defended the cause of workers both in and out of power.

The PPP takes this opportunity to call on all workers to stand up in defence of their rights and not to allow themselves to be used

as political pawns by those who glibly speak of workers’ rights but in actual fact only seek to feather their own political nest.

The refusal of the current APNU-AFC regime to honour its promises to the workers for substantial salary increases certainly does not auger well for the working people especially when seen against the background of hefty sal-

ary increases for those in the corridors of power.

Already there are indications of a slowing down of the economy which will most certainly impact adversely on job creation and economic stability. The economic and social gains made by the PPP/C administration over the past two decades are already being systematically eroded.

The PPP is proud of its

working class credentials and wishes to assure the Guyanese people that it remains fully committed to the cause of a strong and united labour movement.

In this regard the PPP is pleased with the decision taken by the two main umbrella labour organisations, namely FITUG and GTUC, to have a joint May Day Parade in Georgetown. This is a significant development in the labour movement and augers well for a strong and robust labour movement.

The PPP takes this opportunity to pledge its solidarity with workers globally, a significant number of whom are now put on the breadline in several capitalist countries which are experiencing severe economic and financial crisis.

May the unity of the trade union movement continue to grow since in unity there is strength.

Long live the workers of Guyana!

Long live proletarian internationalism!

People’s Progressive Party

Threats of more unemployment worrying – GAWU

A

s we celebrate Labour Day 2016, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is pleased to extend militant greetings to all our workers, indeed, to all Guyanese.

May Day is one of the few holidays observed internationally and is always a reminder of those of the working-class who have made invaluable contributions to better workers’ lives. It is also the occasion for the working-class to acknowledge its common objectives and recognise the need for solidarity in their eversharpening struggles for a peaceful world and a better life.

Our Union is pleased to take part in this year’s activities which are being held unitedly by the Federation of Independent Trade

Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) after many years. The main rally in the city is one of several activities which have resulted from the improved collaboration and cooperation between the two workers’ bodies.

We are optimistic that this positive development in the relations between FITUG and GTUC will be strengthened in the period ahead.

Labour Day offers another appropriate occasion to express our concerns over some policies being pursued of recent and their effects on the working people of the country. Here we refer to the uncalled cessation of the Education Grant to school children; the removal of subsidies from Old Age Pensioners; the signifi-

cant increases in licences and other fees; the increase in certain taxes as well as the introduction of new taxes. These and other things should be reviewed with a view to restoring those benefits and rescind those measures that will certainly further raise the cost-of-living.

In recent months hundreds of workers have lost their jobs both in the public and private sectors. We must recognise their plight and cannot ignore the fact that many from the public sector lost their jobs unwantedly or due to political considerations.

It is timely to recall that not too long ago the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) advised that youth unemployment was as high as 40 per cent. These new hundreds will swell the jobless ranks and certainly

raise the percentage statistic.

It is opportune also to again draw attention to the threats of more unemployment and possible ruin that await numerous cane farmers and self-employed persons with the planned closure of Wales Estate and the cessation of operations at LBI Estate.

We believe that at this stage and level of our development these are ill-consid-

ered measures. Those who will be directly hit are primarily workers and farmers.

This must be of concern not only to GAWU but to the united Trade Union movement which, hopefully, will be taking up in earnest these matters after the May Day celebrations.

The Trade Union movement, indeed, the working-class and other working people have a number of matters to reflect on, dis-

cuss and seek to resolve.

With the unity being forged, we are optimistic that we can give, in a principled way, the necessary leadership to meet the challenges before us.

The GAWU is sure that together, in our unity, we can overcome obstacles in our way and the Trade Unions can make a major contribution towards a new day and a better society for our people.

20

sundAY, may 1, 2016

guyana-times.com

Meusa wins ECI chess tournament

– prevails on tie-breaker with Khan

T

wo of Guyana’s leading chess players, Wendell Meusa and Taffin Khan, proved their prowess in the Engineering and Construction Inc. (ECI) annual chess tournament, as they finished way above the competition after the completion of the mandatory seven rounds.

Both players accumulated 6.5 points, after chalking up six victories and a draw each. This forced the organizers to implement the tie-breaker, which resulted in Meusa being crowned champion, leaving Khan to settle for the second spot.

Candidate Master FIDE Anthony Drayton, who at one point of the competition was leading the points standing, finished third with five points, followed by six players who were locked on four points apiece.

They were Maria Thomas, former Guyana Chess Federation president Errol Tiwari, Davion Mars, Chino Chung, Ghansham Allijohn and John Wong.

Roberto Neto amassed 3.5

points, while Kristoff Persaud, Obeng Quamina, and Nellisha Johnson all scored three points each.

Calvin Giddings managed 2.5 points, while Jessica Callender and Jayden Taylor finished with two apiece, and Shazeeda Rahim brought up the rear with a solitary point.

The seven-round tournament was played under the Swiss format, and was coordinated by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF).

President of the GCF, Irshad Mohamed, congratulated the top performers and reserved special gratitude for ECI for once again showing an interest in the development of chess in Guyana.

He also thanked the National Sports Commission for providing the National Resource Centre at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, as the venue for the tournament.

Mohamed further stated that more tournaments will be held in the coming months, as the Federation seeks to provide more avenues for players to hone their skills.

A representative of ECI (seated centre) is flanked by the top performers of the tournament. Seated right is overall winner Wendell Meusa, while runner-up Taffin Khan is standing at second left

QC crowned DVA...

With all to play for in the final set, and their band of supporters cheering them on from the bleachers, the two teams once again put on a show that proved volleyball is alive and well in the schools.

In the end, it was Queens College celebrating, after carving out a 1512 success in the final exchanges.

The two schools, located a stone’s throw away from each other, had earned the right to contest the championship game following contrasting victories at the semi-finals.

While Queens College pulled off a major heist by toppling favourites St Roses High, Marian Academy breezed past Linden Foundation Secondary in straight sets.

Queens College won 1513, 8-15, 15-9, while Marian Academy prevailed 17-15, 16-14. In the third place playoff, St Roses High salvaged some pride by beating Linden Foundation Secondary 15-12, 15-11.

While the top three teams were presented with trophies and medals, the top players were also recognised for their individual exploits.

Alexander de Paiva Almeida of Marian Academy was named Most Valuable Player, his teammate Joshua Brazao was adjudged Best Setter, while Queens College captain Omari Joseph was named Best Spiker.

Addressing the players at the presentation ceremony, President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation, John Flores, said the tournament is effectively a nursery for volleyball in Demerara, and by extension Guyana. He urged the players to see this opportunity as a first step to gain-

from back page

ing selection for Demerara and ultimately the national team in years to come.

Flores also announced that a Demerara select team will be named shortly to play a Berbice select soon. A total of 30 male and female players have already been identified to attend trials in the coming week.

President of the DVA, Trevor Williams, promised a bigger tournament next year, as he encouraged the players to sign up with clubs in the county to hone their skills. He pointed out that any sport that encourages the participation of youths is one that is serious about development, and the DVA has embraced that notion.

The tournament started a few weeks back with rivalry among schools in West Demerara, Linden and Georgetown.

Patentia Secondary won the West Demerara leg, Linden Foundation Secondary the Linden segment and St Roses High the Georgetown zone. The other top schools from the respective zonesLeonora Secondary (West Demerara), Christianburg/ Wismar (Linden), and Queens College and Marian Academy (Georgetown)had also qualified for the grand showdown on Saturday.

The tournament was made possible through generous support from Indesco, the primary sponsor for the Georgetown leg; Angcam Marine Supplies, who sponsored the West Demerara leg; Talk is Cheap Travel Agency, the primary sponsor for the Linden leg, Digicel and the Guyana Volleyball Federation. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

SPORTs

YELLOW PAGES

Brathwaite key as Daredevils go No. 2

sunDAY, may 1, 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 Music 2016!! Register - learn to play the recorder, drums, guitar, keyboard, saxophone, violin, steel pan and train your voice at Foundation 7 Music School. Call 225-1151/657-8404

FOR SALE One Toyota Spacio, One Toyota Forklift, One Motorcycle 110cc, One Cement Mixer (Ransom), Vick’s Hardware. Tel: 2642682/649-0707 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 at Lachmansingh Drug Store. Tel: 2265053.

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.

One 6 inch dredge, one 4-cylinder MWM, one 3-cylinder MWM engine in working condition with all other complete equipment in good working condition. 679-3655 2 STOREY CONCRETE HOUSE 35 X 45 ENCLOSED DOWNSTAIRS, SIZE OF LAND 65 X 120, SECTION A DIAMOND HOUSING SCHEME, EAST BANK DEMERARA, CONTACT # 664-5052/617-0583

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

health

Healthworld Clinic – Providing professional psychological therapy for all mental and behavioral health problems. Call (592)-690-1824 Mondays-Saturdays 9am-3pm.

Email; healthworldhc@gmail.com

lAND FOR SALE 1.5 Acre Land in W.B.D. Call #:658-0115 Land at La Grange Public Road, Size 4 Acre, could be used for commercial or housing scheme. Tel#: 625-1514 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)

property for sale GOOD HOPE AND OGLE. CONTACT: 673-5546, 222-3066, 682-7257, 679-0987 Bargain! One 3-bedroom wooden building in Georgetown. Solid greenheart beams, columns & boards. $1.3M Negotiable. Call 227-4285

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

Call: 216-0671; 622-0267; 692-8464

spirituality 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, 3375103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

immigration

services

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

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

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

KEY CUTTing 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.

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

One AE110 XE Limited Sprinter. Very Good Condition; female driver. Tel: 223-0654 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

WANTED One live-in female housekeeper, over 35 years old and from outside of Georgetown. Tel:223-0654 Fast growing food distribution company is looking for a driver and salesperson with a car, experience and police clearance. Call: 231-8344 or 231-8529 Wanted, One Joiner to work in Crown Dam, ECD. Call: 627-3405 or 2224576.

SALESGIRLS WITH EXPERIENCE PLEASE BRING WRITTEN APPLICATION AND CV TO TRISTAR ELECTRICAL BRASSONIC Bldg. (MAIN ENTRANCE 42 WATER ST. G/Town.

231-7101 Vacancy exists for one full-time Pharmacist to work on the West Coast of Demerara in Metenmeerzorg.

Telephone: 275-0733

Ifa Temple – Are you having serious problems and urgently need spiritual help? Call 621-0552 now. Email: anew-life@live.com SICKNESS, EVIL, SPIRIT, RELATIONSHIP, IMPOTENT, REUNITE, LOVERS, PREGNANCY, JOBS, BUSINESS, BLOCKAGE ETC. 612-1975, 683 5228

TO let FOR RENT 1,000 TO 10,000 SQUARE FT. WAREHOUSE SPACE, OFFICE SPACE & SHOP FRONT. CALL: 592-6002040/600-5758 Leonora New Housing Scheme, W.C.D. Garage, Kitchen & Shower.

Tel: 675-5998/268-2277.

NO CHILDREN. Working Persons Only

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

VEHICLES FOR SALE

Classified Ads

One Pitbull Minibus for sale. Excellent Condition. Call:624-5141 or email queries to mckriodax@gmail.com

S

am Billings made a half-century on his Indian Premier League debut, while there were telling contributions from Carlos Brathwaite and Karun Nair in Delhi Daredevils’ 27-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.

Billings had to be patient before being given his IPL bow, but it proved to be worth the wait as the England batsman smashed 54 from only 34 balls at Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday.

Nair (68 off 50) and Billings put on 105 for the third wicket and West Indies’ Twenty20 hero Brathwaite (34 from 11) produced some late fireworks as the Daredevils posted a challenging target of 186-8 after Andre Russell (3-26) had struck twice in the first over.

Robin Uthappa (72 off 52) lacked support, with Zaheer Khan (3-21) the pick of the bowlers and all-round-

er Brathwaite taking 3-47 as the Daredevils bowled KKR out for 159 to join them in

second place on eight points with a game in hand. (Digicel

Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD Delhi Daredevils innings (20 overs maximum) Q de Kock† c Hogg b Russell 1 SS Iyer lbw b Russell 0 SV Samson lbw b Narine 15 68 KK Nair lbw b UT Yadav SW Billings b UT Yadav 54 CH Morris b UT Yadav 0 CR Brathwaite c Narine b Russell 34 RR Pant run out (SA Yadav/†Uthappa) 4 Mohammed Shami not out 0 Extras (b-1, lb-6, w-2, nb-1) 10 Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 186 Fall of wickets 1-1, 2-2, 3-32, 4-137, 5-137, 6-174, 7-182, 8-186 Bowling: AD Russell 4-0-263; JO Holder 4-0-35-0; (w-1); SP Narine 3-0-22-1 (w-1); UT Yadav 3-0-33-3; GB Hogg 4-039-0; PP Chawla 2-0-24-0(nb-1)

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 187 runs from 20 overs) RV Uthappa† c Nair b Morris 72 G Gambhir* c Iyer b Khan 6 PP Chawla lbw b Khan 8 YK Pathan c Mishra b Brathwaite 10 SA Yadav c Iyer b Brathwaite 21 R Sathish c Morris b Brathwaite 6 AD Russell c & b Mishra 17 JO Holder run out (Morris) 0 UT Yadav c Morris b Khan 2 SP Narine run out (Iyer) 4 GB Hogg not out 0 13 Extras (lb-3, w-4, nb-6) Total (all out; 18.3 overs) 159 Fall of wickets 1-21, 2-33, 3-58, 4-94, 5-107, 6-151, 7-152, 8-153, 9-159), 10-159 Bowling: Z Khan 3.3-0-21-3 (w-1); Mohammed Shami 4-0-33-0(w-1); CH Morris 3-0-19-1; CR Brathwaite 4-0-47-3 (nb-2); A Mishra 4-0-36-1 (w-2)

Warner’s dominant 92 leads RCB rout meeting in Hyderabad.

And although Warner fell short of reaching three figures, his 92 from 50 balls at the top of the order provided his side with the platform to make 194-5.

Warner was well supported by Kane Williamson, who, on his first IPL appear-

$5+VAT per word

Call: 223-7230 Ext 35

YOUR

DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF

David Warner became the leading run-scorer in the tournament again with his 50-ball 92

S Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 35

ance of the year, made 50 to further underline his class in all formats of the game.

RCB were well in the hunt thanks to Lokesh Rahul’s 51 off 28 deliveries, but the wicket of AB de Villiers (47 from 32) proved key as they finished 179-6.

(Digicel Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

NOT RECEIVING

One RZ Minibus BLL series in working condition. $400,000.00

One Toyota Picnic (8 Seater) in excellent condition.Mags Rims, DVD Player etc. $1.7M neg. Contact – 6245002

Carlos Brathwaite goes hard during his 11-ball 34 knock for the Dehli daredevils against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Dehli

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2016, Hyderabad…

NISSAN –X Trail 2013 Model Fully Loaded, 2500cc CVT 31,000KM, 8.9 Mil – Negotiable. Serious Enquires Only. Call: 685-3069/644-9141

One Toyota Raum (New Model) in excellent condition. $1.5M. Contact – 624-5002

21

unrisers Hyderabad were indebted to another excellent contribution from captain David Warner as they secured victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore by 15 runs.

The Australian has been in fine form in the Indian Premier League this season, registering scores of 58, 90, 74 and 59 in four of his six innings prior to Saturday’s

Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (20 overs maximum) DA Warner* c de Villiers b Shamsi 92 S Dhawan c & b Richardson 11 KS Williamson c †Rahul b Watson 50 MC Henriques not out 31 NV Ojha† c de Villiers b Richardson 1 DJ Hooda run out (Richardson/†Rahul) 2 A Ashish Reddy not out 2 Extras (lb-1, w-3, nb-1) 5 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 1 94 Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Dhawan, 3.4 ov), 2-152 (Warner, 15.5 ov), 3-160 (Williamson, 16.5 ov), 4-161 (Ojha, 17.2 ov), 5-190 (Hooda, 19.1 ov) Bowling: KW Richardson 4-0-45-2, SR Watson 4-0-331 (1-w), Parvez Rasool 4-033-0, VR Aaron 3-0-27-0 (1w), HV Patel 1-0-16-0 (1-nb, 1-w), T Shamsi 4-0-39-1

Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 195 runs from 20 overs) V Kohli* c Ashish Reddy b Mustafizur Rahman 14 KL Rahul† c †Ojha b Henriques 51 AB de Villiers c Williamson b Sran 47 SR Watson run out (Sran) 2 Sachin Baby c Dhawan b Nehra 27 KM Jadhav not out 25 Parvez Rasool c Henriques b Kumar 10 Extras (b-1, w-2) 3 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 1 79 Fall of wickets: 1-42 (Kohli, 5.2 ov), 2-83 (Rahul, 9.6 ov), 3-90 (Watson, 11.2 ov), 4-129 (de Villiers, 14.4 ov), 5-152 (Sachin Baby, 17.1 ov), 6-179 (Parvez Rasool, 19.6 ov) Bowling: A Nehra 4-0-321, B Kumar 4-0-36-1 (1-w), Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-341, BB Sran 4-0-36-1 (1-w), MC Henriques 4-0-40-1

22

guyana-times.com

sundAY, may 1, 2016

GOA awards outstanding sportsmen and women G

uyana Olympic Association (GOA) held its annual awards ceremony on Friday Evening at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street to honour outstanding sportsmen and women for their contribution in their respective disciplines.

It was Sean Devers who stood out among the awardees as he copped the GOA’s Sports Journalist of the year Award. Though the awards generally go to journalists who cover Olympic sports, Master of Ceremonies Garfield Wiltshire explained that Devers branched out of this usual area of cricket and fully deserved the award.

Among the other awardees were Squash players Taylor Fernandes & Larissa Wiltshire for their outstanding achievement in sport as they played “doubles” to win a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa last year.

Buxton Youth Development group received the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Award for their innovation in sport and Godfrey Wray for his longstanding contribution to sport.

GOA, President K.A Juman Yassin commended all the awardees for their achievements but quickly emphasised the need for funding for sports Yassin said, “A lot of sports organisations are struggling and they need funding: on this Mr. President [David Granger] and Minister [Nicolette Henry] I have been harping for years that they needs to be an implementation of a sports policy.

President David Granger, speaking at the ceremony underlined that important role sports play in paving a cohesive society.

The President explained that, “what I call the populace model of sport is essential if we are to provide our people with the widest range of opportunities to become champions.”

The Head of State went unto say, “I do believe the populace model could emphasis the development of sport at the grass root lev-

el by generating a larger pool of talent from which to select our best athletes; a new model could increase participation of citizens in sport and ensure everyone’s social and recreational development.”

Minister within the Minister of Education Nicolette Henry spoke of the need to have the GOA headquarters completed at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara which is still in its early stages of building.

“This facility I believe will provide our young people where they can actually go and develop their skills in safe space where they can meet and have networking opportunity and certainly build their capacity because we believe that human capacity development is key for any country’s development.” the Minister said.

Special mention was made of Guyana’s only Olympic medallist Michael Parris and also Carl Ince who coached the Guyana Squash team to a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa last year.

GMR&SC Endurance race on today at South Dakota

T

This new innovation will certainly be a test of the local racers character

he Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) will host its second Endurance Race meet of the year today at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri.

The meet which is fast becoming an extreme fascination to Guyanese motor sports fans, will test the racers stamina, deftness and consistency.

For those who may not privy to the aspect of Motor

racing, endurance racing is the form of motorsport racing which is meant to test the durability of equipment and endurance of participants. Teams of multiple drivers attempt to cover a large distance in a single event, with participants given a break with the ability to change during the race.

The likes of Brian TenPow and Shawn Seejattan have shown that they are a formidable pair, but the

pair of Shiraz and Shahab Roshandin along with Anand Ramchand and Adrian Fernandes are all experienced and formidable drivers.

At the last meet in February, the two-hour endurance saw the pair of Rameez Mohammed / Anand Ramchand placing first, while Fazil Yunas / Kenneth Ranbir were second with Shawn Bacchus / Ramana Lalchan were third.

Rain washes out Stag Elite League matches

T

he Guyana Football Federation wishes to advise that, due to the inclement weather, the Stag Elite League Finale matches 45 – 48 scheduled for this weekend have been postponed until a more convenient time.

You will be kept informed of the continuation of the

fixtures.

The scheduled matches would have seen match-up between Alpha United FC vs GDF FC (Game 45), Slingerz FC vs Fruta Conquerors FC (Game 46), Buxton United FC vs Monedderlust FC (Game 47) and Pele FC vs GFC (Game 48).

Mishra reprimanded

D

elhi Daredevils legspinner Amit Mishra has been reprimanded for using “inappropriate language” during the match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Feroz Shah Kotla.

Mishra admitted to the level 1 offence and accepted the sanction.

Though the IPL did not specify what Mishra’s transgression was, it is likely that he was pulled up for his send-off after completing a caught-and-bowled to dismiss Andre Russell during the chase.

Having taken a stunning, reflex caught-andbowled to dismiss Andre Russell, Amit Mishra flicks an instinctive throw at the stumps

19

sundAY, may 1, 2016 | guyana-times.com

SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2016

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

guyana-times.com

QC crowned DVA school volleyball champions

By Avenash Ramzan

Q

ueens College reigned supreme on Saturday by toppling Marian Academy in a thrilling County final to be crowned champions of the Demerara Volleyball Association’s (DVA) school tournament at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

In a hotly contested final, Queens College stormed back from a first set loss to win the twobest-in-three championship game 2-1. Marian Academy seemed on course to lift the title when they raced to a comfortable 15-5 win in the opening set.

Riding high on confidence, the Marian Academy players were no doubt hoping to wrap up the game in straight sets, but found a Queens College unit that simply refused to give up.

In a game befitting of a final, Queens College rose from the first set loss to level the scores with a 16-14 win in the second set. turn to page 20

President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation, John Flores, presents Queens College captain Omari Joseph with the championship trophy in the presence of his teammates. At extreme right is Demerara Volleyball Association president, Trevor Williams (Avenash Ramzan photo)

GOA awards outstanding sportsmen and women

Page 22

The GOA Awardees along with President David Granger ( 3rd from left sitting ), Minister Nicolette Henry (2nd from left) and President of GOA Juman Yassin (4th from left) GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.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 - sales@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.