Guyana Times Daily

The Race to LGE 2016

APNU/AFC candidate in Leguan pledges to improve sport facilities for youth Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Aunt charged for trafficking niece Issue No. 2783

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Page 10

Bandit killed during attempted robbery Page 7

Student remanded for smuggling cannabis into lockups

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

“Unprofessionalism will not be P12 condoned” – Dr Norton

Golden Jubilee celebrations

25% housing discount launched P7 – not for land worth more than $3M

Page 9

Page 7

Guyoil Managing Director P9 fired Region 2 cash crop farmers dumping produce P2 – cite lack of markets, express frustration

School tour: These students from the Fort Wellington Secondary visited the TVG studios on Monday during a tour of the city. In photo: TVG’s Supervisor Delroy Dash and Human Resources Supervisor Lisa Ahmad explaining to the young curious minds the operations of the studio and newscast

TV Journalist, PPP/C questioned

by Police in corrupt cop investigation Page 7

Dataram revelations

Self-confessed drug baron accuses “CANU rank” of facilitating drug shipments Page 16

– says drug lords pay $10M to pass cocaine

Rice industry crisis

Leguan farmers yet to be paid P13 ...Govt not looking at PPP recommendations – Jagdeo

2 news

tuesday, march 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Region 2 cash crop farmers dumping produce

– cite lack of markets, express frustration By: Indrawattie Natram

T

he plummeting economy in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), compounded by the lack of markets, has left cash-crop farmers with no other choice but to dump their harvest.

Speaking with this newspaper Sunday at the Suddie Market, a number of cash-crop farmers expressed frustration over the issue. According to the farmers, crops such as boulanger, pumpkin, calaloo and pepper have to be dumped since the purchasing power of many has been reduced. Many largescale farmers related that they are frustrated as every day they are reaping crops but when they go to local markets persons are not purchasing.

According to one such

A pile of boulanger that is put aside to be dumped

farmer of Golden Fleece, Palo (only name given) he returned home with bags of bolangers last Sunday after a meagre amount was sold.

“We planting and reaping

but when we go to the market we don’t make a profit.

Plus we have to pack our vehicles and go to Chairty, it’s a costly exercise, nothing selling and you cannot keep the vegetables, they

will spoil,” a female vendor Aiesha related.

Cash-crop farmers are experiencing grave financial difficulties and are calling on the Agriculture Ministry for assistance with markets for their produce. Region Two economy plunged last year after the rice industry began to deteriorate, following the collapsed Venezuela rice market.

Last week Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt visited several farmers in the backdam where farmers related that local markets are flooded with vegetables and so no one is buying.

Speaking with Guyana Times during the visit, the chairman had said cashcrop farmers are facing difficulty in selling their vegetables at a profit, add-

Peppers that farmers have to dispose of

ing it is “heart wrenching” to see the situation farmers are facing.

During conversation with farmers, the chairman related that concerns were raised by vendors about the current state of the rice industry. He pointed out that the ailing rice industry it is having a very negative effect on the entire Region Two, hence persons cannot af-

ford to spend as they did previously.

During interviews conducted by Guyana Times with market vendors at Charity, Anna Regina and Suddie, they all lamented the economic hardships they are facing.

The vendors related that most activities in the region rest on the rice industry, which is the main economic pillar.

3 Guyoil Managing Director fired news

tuesday, march 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 1 – 09:30h-11:00h and Wednesday, March 2 – 11:00h-12:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 1 – 08:40h-10:10h and Wednesday, March 2 – 10:05h-11:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Sunny weather will prevail throughout the day with cloudy conditions in the morning hours. Partly cloudy conditions can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

By Edward Layne

T

he Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) on Monday announced that it has terminated the services of its Managing Director, Badrie Persaud, following a forensic audit of the State-run petroleum distributor.

The company said in a statement that the Board of Directors and the forensic auditor reviewed the “documented and verified findings” of the forensic audit undertaken by Nigel Hinds Financial Services, for the period November 2011 to May 31, 2015 at a special meeting earlier this month,

Badrie Persaud

the company for some 10 years, was replaced by Operations Manager Reggie Bhagwandin who is set to retire within six months.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Persaud described his dismissal as “long in the making” because of the fact that he was a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections.

The former Managing Director revealed that he requested a copy of the audit report in order to respond to any queries, but was told by the Chairman of the Board of Directors that “the report

“honestly, objectively and efficiently”, having undertaken “unauthorised and inimical actions”, Persaud said the company’s managers were being told that Guyoil was well-managed and there was nothing in the audit that spoke to mismanagement and corruption at the entity.

It is important to note that while the Board of Directors of Guyoil have stated that Persaud was fired based on the findings of an audit report, the Managing Director seemed to have been on the Government’s firing list even before the audit commenced.

Persaud’s dismissal followed a long line of high-

is the property of the stakeholders”, and as such, he could not be furnished with a copy.

According to Persaud, the Board made its decision based on excerpts from the audit report, since the forensic auditor refused to hand over a copy, claiming that he was employed by the Finance Ministry and not the Board of Directors.

Responding to one part of his termination letter, which stated that the Board was no longer confident he would be able to execute his functions

ranking State employees’ since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government took office back in May 2015.

Among them were several Permanent Secretaries; Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Dr Raj Singh; Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Bharat Dindyal; Head of the E-Governance Project, Alexei Ramotar; and Head of the Land Registry Juliet Sattaur.

High Tide: 09:08h and 21:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.31 metres and 2.20 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 15:13h reaching a minimum height of 0.90 metre.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

after which the decision to part ways with Persaud was taken.

“Based on the findings which documented unauthorised and inimical actions taken by the Managing Director, Mr Badrie Persaud, the Board of Directors, at its Special Board meeting, held on Wednesday, February 18, 2016, determined that it could no longer have any confidence in Mr Persaud’s ability to execute the functions of Managing Director honestly, objectively and efficiently,”

Guyoil said.

It said that “in the circumstances, therefore, the Board decided to terminate the services of Mr Badrie Persaud”.

The Managing Director was on annual leave, which ended on Saturday last, and his dismissal took effect immediately.

The Board said that in lieu of notice, Persaud would be paid based on provisions in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, Chapter 99:08.

Persaud, who served

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as D-day voting approaches

W

ith Local Government Elections (LGE) two weeks away, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) remains deeply concerned about the Guyana Elections Commission’s capability to host free and fair elections.

During a press conference held on Monday, the Party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, explained that while the Disciplined Forces would be voting on March 8, the PPP was still awaiting the list of members of the Disciplined Forces which was promised to be delivered some 10 days ago by GECOM. Rohee noted that with the non-provision of the list of voters, it was extremely difficult for the Party to carry out necessary checks and verification in the Local Authority Areas where members of the Party would be contesting.

He expressed that this deprivation served to under-

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

mine confidence in the electoral process and could in the final analysis bring into question the credibility of the results of the elections.

On that note, the General Secretary called on the elections body to conduct a comprehensive briefing session for all contesting parties,

where they should be sensitised on logistical and other arrangements related to the upcoming polls.

Concerns were also raised by the Party, in relation to persons without ID cards being allowed to vote.

Moreover, the Party said private residences being used as polling stations should be scrutinised thoroughly after the voting process is over.

Meanwhile, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally recently made it clear that there would be no room for the rigging of the upcoming LGE. Addressing a small gathering of candidates, voters and members of the diplomatic corps at the launching of the Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) “Vote like a boss” campaign, Dr Surujbally reaffirmed that measures were in place to make elections “unriggable”.

“For you to rig an election, it would have to be a great and grand conspiracy.

Everybody would have to be participating. Just look at a polling station, there is the presiding officer, the deputy presiding officer, clerks, party agents… we’re talking about 80 people at least, are they all involved in the skulduggery? I don’t think so… it is highly impossible,” he continued.

The GECOM Chairman said the Commission has systems in place for everything.

“We have manuals for everything. With that sort of background and content, we can go to International Organisation of Standardisation (ISO)’s certification as one of the electoral management bodies in this hemisphere and the Caribbean that is well run, irrespective of what you might be hearing,” Dr Surujbally said.

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tuesday, march 1, 2016

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Editorial

The State under Burnham

T

he State was invented to stand between man and the law of the jungle. But one of its early conceptualisers called it a “Leviathan”, a very large animal that could literally devour men. For the present generation, the most startling revelation coming out of the Rodney CoI has to be the subversion by the PNC regime of the State as an entity that did start to devour our people, Rodney being only the most famous, at the behest of the “Comrade Leader”, Forbes Burnham.

The subversion began when the 1968 elections were rigged. In June, according to US declassified files, “Burnham stated unequivocally that he plans to conduct the registration and voting in such a manner that the PNC will emerge with an absolute majority in the Guyana National Assembly. Burnham said that he will never again allow the life of his government to depend upon his coalition partner Peter D’Aguiar and that if the voting should turn out in such a manner that he could not form a government without the help of D’Aguiar, he would refuse to form a government. Burnham said that he plans to register 17, 18, 19 and 20-year-old PNC adherents (minimum voting age is 21 years) to make up part of the vote he needs and will direct his campaign in such a way as to attract enough additional East Indian voters to put the PNC approximately on a par with the PPP in Guyana. The additional votes he would need to give the PNC an absolute majority would come from the overseas Guyanese.”

After he had granted himself a majority and had no need to placate his UF coalition partner, he rigged the 1973 elections, using the GDF to transport all ballots to Camp Ayanganna, where ballots were switched to give the PNC an unassailable two-thirds majority. The following year, Burnham issued the grandiosely named “Declaration of Sophia”: “the (PNC) should assume unapologetically its paramountcy over the Government which is merely one of its executive arms.”

The policy defined in the Declaration of Sophia rested on three main pillars. In 1975, the party and the State were fused in a creation known as ‘Office of the General Secretary of the PNC and Ministry of National Development’. This new body was effectively the administrative arm of the paramountcy doctrine. Public funds were officially channelled into the hands of the ruling party.

The Ministry’s main work involved the mobilisation of public servants and schoolchildren to ensure their presence at rallies addressed by Forbes Burnham. The Ministry also organised ‘developers courses’ for senior public servants at which cooperative socialism and the paramountcy doctrine were the principal subjects for analysis. These live-in courses which have been described as party indoctrination were compulsory. David Granger ran comparable courses in the Army.

“A further expression of paramountcy was the shifting of institutional loyalties of the armed forces and the police to party leaders and away from the titular Head of State.

Symbolic of the fact that the aims of the ruling party were the first consideration in the dispensing of justice, the party flag was flown over the Court of Appeal. Public directives were given to judges which were later followed by the passage of the Administration of Justice Act.” The second pillar on which the PNC built its paramountcy doctrine was the extension of the armed forces from 1974 with the creation of the Guyana National Service (GNS) followed in 1976 by the formation of the People’s Militia and a sixfold increase in defence allocation.

The third pillar illustrates the direct political control of State sector workers. This has proved to be the most effective method of keeping the labour force submissive. Publicity surrounding dismissal of workers for political reasons served to produce an atmosphere of caution and fear which was reinforced by the statement of Burnham “If I fire you, you remain fired.”

Guyana must guard against a repetition of history.

Thailand’s Tiger Temple is a Buddhist temple, home to more than 100 tigers (Reuters)

Making a mockery of the system Dear Editor, Mark Benschop is running a politically dishonest campaign. His logo says, “Team Benschop for Mayor,” when he is actually running as a Councillor. Any how you parse the logo it amounts to intellectual dishonesty. Benschop cannot run in the Local Government Elections (LGE) for Mayor, neither can any in his team run for mayor. Benschop and all his team members must first contest as councillors and win as councillors and then the different councillors from all the constituencies, collectively (all 30 of them), will vote for a person to be Mayor.

So when Benschop continues to use his misleading logo, he is behaving in the way the average politician behaves; which behaviour has caused many to reject politicians as liars and tricksters.

Benschop is single handedly responsible for the misnomer that the voters in the LEG will determine the Mayor, yet he continues to perpetuate that lie despite the clarion call for him to cease.

If team Benschop wants to be honest, all they have to do is replace the word ‘Mayor’ in their logo with the correct word ‘Councillor’ and the logo would then be both politically and ethically correct.

But Team Benschop will

never make that timely and conscionable correction, because it is obvious that they are more interested in winning than in being honest. And to think that I admired Benschop who fought so hard to remove a government that he claimed was dishonest in their dealings.

Further, Benschop thinks that the current Mayor and City Council is behaving in shady ways and he is even calling for accountability and transparency. Yet he continues to run a campaign that is steeped in deceit and misinformation.

The reason Team Benschop is using that logo with the word Mayor in it, is because when a person goes into the voting booth in any constituency they will think that they are voting for Benschop, as Mayor and not the local representative per se. So rather than the competence of the individual, local, councillors being scrutinised, Team Benschop is getting a free ride on the popularity of Mark Benschop.

Let me hasten to say that what Benschop and his team are doing by falsifying their campaign, is political genius. No doubt this twisted strategy was designed to win Mark many votes and it might even get him close to the Mayoral position. But what it also shows is that Benschop

is the consummate politician who has surrounded himself with like-minded thinkers.

It also shows what kind of a person Benschop is and what tactics he will employ to govern, should he win as Councillor and get the Mayorship. I also saw that Sherrod Duncan of the APNU/AFC has decided to challenge Nigel Hughes on a statement the latter made. Huge has stated emphatically that the central Government should not contest in the LGE. One needs to be reminded that Hughes forms an integral part of the AFC party and is well respected as an objective and critical thinker.

One would correctly surmise that when he noted his objections to the coalition participating in the LGE, Nigel Hughes was not being trite or flippant.

He would have first examined the realities and objectives of the Local Government and its purpose and he would have spoken out of concern for the maintenance of its integrity.

Like Hughes, I too think that it is a blatant conflict of interest for the central government to want to lead the local government.

Notwithstanding that it was this current government who instituted and passed a bill decentralising the management of the Local Government. So

I am very surprised that Duncan would want to challenge Huges for making a candid and noteworthy observation.

It is very obvious that Duncan is hoping that the prevailing popularity of the APNU/AFC coalition will catapult him into the Councillor’s seat. However, the real test of his personal popularity would have been realised if he had been man enough to contest, like me, as an independent.

Duncan’s missive against Nigel is a desperate shot across the bow. He knows full well that Nigel is correct in his call for the central government to pull out of the LGE. Editor, what is coincidental about both Benschop and Duncan is that they are both vying for the same Councillor’s seat in District 14. The word on the street is that one of them is likely to win.

The M&CC will therefore have as a Councillor from that District, one who has no problem with falsifying the truth to win at all cost, or one who’s allegiance is to the central government and not his constituents.

Either way, the system is being played and made a mockery of.

Sincerely, Wendell Jeffrey, Pastor Independent Candidate

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 1, 2016

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Is the Prime Minister Street vending merely giving lip service? of pesticides Dear Editor, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in the October 23, 2015 Edition of Kaieteur News speaking to the massive salary increases that the Government Ministers awarded themselves is quoted as saying, “we knew it going to be unpopular but that does not justify why we didn’t go to the bottom houses and the grassroots to explain why

we want to make the necessary changes and that we are not here for us but about you.”

During the 2016 Parliamentary Budget Debates, according to February 13, 2016 edition of Stabroek News, the Prime Minister referring to the closure of Wales Estate said: “I still believe that efforts should be made to undo what had happened, that is

that the workers were not told in a timely manner about the impending closure. I still believe that we need to have conversations with the workers and their families to explain what opportunities are opened up for them.”

It seems that the Prime Minister feels he is capable of exonerating the new Government, maybe with the use of words, from any

blunder it commits as it pursues unpopular policies.

Beyond words, the Prime Minister may want to meet with the irate sugar workers and farmers at the Wales location to convince them that the arbitrary, ill-thoughtout decision to close is good for them, their dependents and their future welfare.

Yours truly, Fredrick Yuvraj

Let's not drown our citizens in ignorance

Dear Editor, I was reading the Citizens Report of Feb. 29, 2016 when I came across a patch of nonsense attributed to a quote of the PPP General Secretary. It reads "The Party again raises it concern and reservations with respect to persons without ID cards being allowed to vote at these elections and insist that GECOM should discourage persons from voting without ID cards. There appears to be a contradiction between what the law allows and what has been the practice. It makes absolutely no sense for a person to have been denied an ID card because he or she had no source document, partic-

ularly a birth certificate and, at the end of the day, having been subjected to a royal run-around only to be told that the ID card is not necessary by law to allow the elector to cast his or her vote,".

That piece is so diabolic.

It presents the picture of a person being denied an ID card but subsequently being allowed to vote not having been able to acquire an ID card. This is proffered either wickedly or in gross and or crass ignorance. None are acceptable of a pretender to the seat of Government .

The issue is not about ID cards. It is all about registration. No source document, no registration. No

registration, no ID. No ID card, no name on the voters' list. No name on the voters' list, no opportunity to vote.

Those persons who are allowed to vote without ID cards are registered. Their names are on the voters' list.

They are therefore eligible to vote and will be identifiable by bio-data and picture on the folio, a report derived from the list of electors, which is accessible to every official in a polling station.

There is therefore no contradiction. A person must be registered to be eligible to vote. Such a person would have had an ID prepared for him or her and therefore technically has an ID card, which he or she might not

GDF refutes rape allegations Dear Editor, The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) deployed a Board of Investigation (BOI) to Lethem on Thursday, February 18 to investigate the allegations of rape made by a female resident against the members of GDF stationed at Camp Kanuku, Lethem.

The BOI found no evidence to support that the allegations of rape occurred. However, the BOI was able to conclude that there were several breaches to the GDF's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as verify that some of the ranks under investigation physically assaulted a female in the vicinity of the Republic Bank, Lethem.

The Chief of Staff has since instructed, that corrective action be taken against the Ranks involved, and that the operational posture of the Ranks based at Camp Kanuku be redefined, so as to ensure that the cordial and harmonious relations with the residents of Lethem is maintained.

Sincerely, Major Delbert George Guyana Defence Force

have in his or her possession, for one reason or another, on the day of voting.

Our laws, statutory and precedent, provides for registered persons to vote. It also specifies that they may vote without an ID cards.

Registration is the issue. Let's not confuse the Nation with the falsity that one, who does not bear an ID card, is not registered. Let's not drown our citizens in ignorance, rather let's enlighten them with knowledge.

Yours sincerely, Vincent Alexander GECOM Commissioner

is illegal Dear Editor, Has anyone told the Georgetown City Constabulary that street vending of pesticides is illegal? There are vendors who stand on the bridge at the corners of Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street obliquely opposite City Hall, displaying and selling openly a wide variety of poisons and pesticides.

Indeed just yesterday, I witnessed a senior officer in khaki uniform and a corporal of the City Constabulary standing right next to them and chatting with them. How disturbing!

These rat poison vendors can be seen plying their trade around all of the municipal markets and along the city streets.

This is in spite of the fact that the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board of Guyana has been constantly announcing that given that these poisons are very dangerous to the environment and

human health, especially children and the elderly, the sale by vendors is absolutely prohibited.

What is the purpose of the City Constabulary?

Over the years, street vendors could be seen openly hawking packets of pesticides, making poisonous substances readily available to members of the public, but are never prosecuted by them? Are these vendors their friends?

This is in spite of the significant number of persons committing suicide by consuming poisonous substances, yet the City Council pays little or no attention on regulating the sale of these dangerous chemicals around the markets or on city streets.

I guess they are expecting the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board of Guyana or the national police to come and police the system for them.

Sincerely, Riley Matthews

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Build your parenting

So much

so little time

By Mary Mohler

T

he dissent is likely to grow in the wake of a recent report by the country’s top homework scholar, Harris Cooper, PhD, director of the education programme at Duke University, who concludes that more isn’t always better. In a comprehensive review of some 60 studies from between 1987 and 2003, he found virtually no link between homework and test scores in elementary school.

Once children hit middle school, there is a point of diminishing returns. Performance improves only among sixth- to ninthgraders who limit homework to 90 minutes a night and high schoolers who stop after two hours; for those who toil longer, test scores actually drop. “The bottom line is that all kids should be doing homework, but the amount and type should vary according to grade,” says Cooper. “And no matter what, it’s only good in moderation.”

How much is too much?

So what’s a parent to do when homework gets out of control? Many are pushing back, and succeeding in getting teachers and schools to lighten the burden. But you don’t have to go that far to help your children. Learn what experts say is the appropriate amount, the difference between thoughtful assignments and mere busywork, and smart strategies that will help your children get the most out of their studies – in short, how to help them achieve excellence without all the excess.

For every mom complaining about too much homework,

there’s another frustrated parent saying her child is getting too little. The research is equally mixed. According to a 2003 study by the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, only five per cent of children nationwide are doing two or more hours a day. But other surveys show that students across the board are putting in longer shifts. A 2004 University of Michigan study of 2900 children found that the amount of time spent on homework is up 51 per cent since 1981. “For argument’s sake, let’s say only 10 per cent of students across the country are o v e r l o a d e d ,” says Kalish. “Isn’t that still worth addressing? After all, we’re talking about five million kids who are losing their love of learning.”

The upward trend started in the 1980s, after the government’s “Nation at Risk” report found that students were not reading at expected levels. “Educators came under pressure to teach more, and in some instances began using homework to cover new material rather than review the day’s lessons,” says Cooper.

With 2002’s No Child Left Behind policy, curriculum was ratcheted up further. In the meantime, no one was keeping an eye on how much homework was being doled out. Remarkably, only a third of school districts across the country have homework

policies, and even in those that do, teachers can assign what they want. For middle and high school students juggling six to eight classes, the workload can easily get out of hand.

Cooper suggests that parents ask teachers to follow his rule of 10 minutes of homework per night per grade – 10 minutes in first grade, 60 minutes in sixth

grade and so on – which research shows is optimum for learning.

“There’s room for variation, especially in high grades, where students can opt for advanced placement courses,” he says.

“The best policy is to permit teachers to modify the length of assignments to meet the needs of their students.”

If your child’s at the breaking point

Be alert for the signs of homework burnout: constant frustration, loss of motivation, and a diminished interest in learning. And be prepared to speak up. “Parents are scared they’ll be labelled a troublemaker and their kids a problem,” says Kalish. “But if the

load is heavy at the beginning of the year, it’s not going to get better later on. You have to do something before your child starts to hate school.” Below, her suggestions on the steps parents should take.

Do the research. Check with your school to see if it has a homework policy and whether your child’s assignments are excessive.

Keep a record of homework assignments and how long it took to finish them.

Consult with other parents.

If you think a particular assignment is too hard, send out an email asking if they agree, and if so, suggest that each of them let the teacher know.

There’s strength in numbers, and the teacher may ease up. If not...

Talk to the teacher privately.

Approach him or her in a nonconfrontational, cooperative way. If you get an unsympathetic response or are told that the assignments are within policy guidelines, try saying, ‘But it’s just not working for my child,’ suggests Kalish. “Teachers often have no idea how stressful homework can be, and most will want to work something out.”

Go to the school board.

Before taking this step, attend a parents association meeting and ask everyone to fill out a homework survey, which will preempt the “no one else is complaining” defence.

(Continued) Good vs bad homework

Most experts agree that the point of take-home assignments is to review and reinforce the lessons covered in class that day. Ideally, homework should also instil a sense of curiosity and teach children to study effectively – including how to apportion their time between hard and easy tasks, and test themselves for retention – so that they can become lifelong learners. But the vast majority of teachers have had no training on what kinds of assignments benefit students most. According to Harris Cooper, research suggests the most effective homework should do the following: Mix it up. Assignments should have simple questions here and there rather than group all the tough ones together. Kids will feel the work is easier and enjoy it more.

Address specific needs. Yes, tasks should be age appropriate – for example, shorter assignments in lower grades to accommodate limited attention spans. But the amount and difficulty can be adjusted upward if students are high achievers.

Be spread out over time.

Children retain more knowledge when they review material in brief, repeated bursts over several weeks rather than reviewing it right after learning it that day.

Apply to things children enjoy OUTSIDE CLASS. The best assignments not only develop key skills like reading, writing, analysis, and critical thinking, but they also get students to tackle subjects they really care about. The goal is to keep them engaged. (Excerpt from Parents.com)

By Denise Rowden

I

magine a crowd cheering you on each day as you parent your children. They encourage you, support you, and maybe take over for a bit when you need a break.

As parents, we need all the support we can get. That’s why I talk to parents about “building their team”. Who can be your cheerleaders?

Who can help with your children? If you’re having trouble coming up with a list, we can give you some ideas.

There are probably more people than you think.

The phrase “it takes a village” exists for a reason!

Raising children through to adulthood is a huge amount of work. Work best shared by many people. Often parents feel bad asking for help. But people like to help. Truly.

When you ask the right people, you will receive support.

“Find a support person who doesn’t judge you and is a good match with what you need. And, once you’ve found that support, let them help,” says Janet Lehman, co-creator of The Total Transformation.

Who cares about your kids? Who has an interest in them as people, and concern for their future? Some people on your team may be: • Grandparents • Paediatricians • Teachers • Coaches • Guidance counsellors • Church community • Neighbours • Aunts and Uncles • Godparents Talk to your “team” on a regular basis. Check in with your paediatrician, build a relationship with your school, ask a relative or friend to spend an afternoon with your child.

Like all relationships, these connections take time to build. But it’s worth the effort. You will have more support and resources while you parent. And your children will have more people to lean on and learn from. (Empoweringparents. com)

news

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tuesday, march 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Golden Jubilee celebrations

25% housing discount launched – not for land worth more than $3M

A 25% housing discount launched for Golden Jubilee celebrations

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

L

andowners have until the end of April to make a down payment of 50 per cent of the total cost of their land if they are desirous of qualifying for the discount promotion launched by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), in observance of the country’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.

During a news conference Monday, Junior Communities Minister Valerie Sharpe-Patterson announced that individuals in receipt of letters confirming their house lot allocation, can take advantage of the opportunity to earn an overall 25 per cent discount on the total cost of the land.

Once persons would have paid down 50 per cent of the total cost before April 30, they will then be automatically qualified to pay only 50 per cent of the remaining balance.

“So, if you have an allocation for a house lot that costs $1M and by May 1, 2016 you would have completed paying $500,000 which is 50 per cent, then you have a 50 per cent discount on the balance which would mean you would be paying $250,000…

Minister Valerie Sharpe-Patterson

I do not think you can want anything better than that,” the minister explained.

However, the discounted balance must be paid in full before the end of May. Additionally, the promotion is not applicable to persons whose plot of land is worth more than $3 million.

It is also not applicable to persons in the remigrant scheme or industrial and commercial zones.

Furthermore, homeowners will be benefitting from special initiatives to be launched in observance of the golden jubilee year.

Fifty lucky persons across Guyana will be given a $300,000 subsidy for home improvement projects. The subsidy will be in the form of materials needed to upgrade or refurbish the house.

According to the

Bandit killed during attempted robbery

A

n alleged armed bandit was shot and killed Monday morning by a security guard during an attempted robbery along Second Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

The dead bandit has been identified as Isaiah Lennox Marques, of of Painlayne, B Field Sophia.

Based on information, Carl Hayne and his sister Rayon Haynes were walking along Second Street, Campbellville, when they were held at gunpoint by the now dead 21-year-old man.

During the ordeal, Haynes and his sister put up a fight and in response the perpetrator pulled the trigger of the firearm but it snapped. At this point, Haynes pulled out his service revolver and discharged a round at the armed bandit hitting him to his abdomen.

The injured perpe-

trator was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital by police who were summoned but Marques was pronounced dead on arrival.

He was identified by his father Paul Smith, who noted that his son was last seen alive on Sunday at about 16:00hrs at his grandmother’s residence at Sophia.

An unlicensed .32 revolver was recovered by the police on the perpetrator and an investigation has been launched into the shooting incident.

This newspaper was told that Marques was charged on August 28, 2015 for possession of narcotics. On February 2, 2014, the dead man was slapped with four counts of robbery under arms. Additionally on February 13, 2014 he was charged for breaking and entering and larceny. In 2013, he was charged for robbery under arms.

Minister, officials will be conducting field studies in the various schemes to compile a list of all those homeowners who will be eligible for the subsidy.

Thereafter, a public drawing will take place where the 50 names will be randomly chosen.

Four persons will be selected from Regions 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9; six from Region 3; fourteen from Region 4; and five from Regions 6 and 10.

TV Journalist, PPP/C questioned by Police in corrupt cop investigation

T

he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and television journalist Travis Chase were recently questioned by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to an investigation into a matter of alleged corruption and criminal ties by Assistant Police Superintendent Mitchell Ceasar.

According to a police statement issued after reports surfaced alleging corruptions against one of its ranks, ranks of the Police Office of Professional Responsibility visited Freedom House Monday to question PPP/C members on their knowledge on the situation.

The ranks interviewed both the Party’s Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha, whom they met personally, and General Secretary Clement Rohee, through his Secretary, who indicated that they had nothing of evidential value to offer.

This is despite the fact

that the Party had beforehand released a statement claiming to have knowledge of the existence of audio and video recordings implicating the Police Officer.

Additionally, when the issue first arose through a television broadcast on TV Channel 67, the News Reporter was also inter-

viewed but he too stated he had no evidence to provide to Police.

Chase had initially aired a report claiming to have knowledge of the said recordings.

During a press conference on Monday, Rohee indicated that he will not be re-

leasing his copy of the tape for fear of compromising his sources.

The allegations Reports recently surfaced accusing Ceasar of being involved in acts deemed inappropriate for his profession.

Some of the allegations linked him to criminal activities in the underworld; planting of guns, cocaine and other bits of evidence on persons who are presently before the Courts. Allegations also say the officer uses his linkages to implicate the lives of innocent persons.

For example, he was accused of being paid by a wellknown drug lord to prevent operations from being conducted on his premises and that he spearheaded several murders and disappearances of several persons.

Ceasar was also implicated in the $90 million robbery carried out at the Bourda Post Office, along with several other high-profile executions including that of Courtney Crum-Ewing.

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tuesday, march 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Tucville man jailed for 58 months

A

resident of Tucville, was on Monday sentenced to 58 months in prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with three counts of robbery under arms.

Mike Tyson, 24, father of three, of Lot 563 Constellation Street, Tucville, Georgetown, had initially pleaded not guilty to the first charge, which stated that on July 1, 2015 at Durban Backlands, Georgetown, while in the

company of another and being armed with a gun, he robbed Eason Grimes of a car valued $3.2 million, a cellular phone valued $20,000, a driver’s licence valued $2000, a passport valued $2000 and $34,000 in cash, all to a value of $3,258,000.

The man also pleaded not guilty to the second charge which stated that on July 3, 2015 at McDoom, Georgetown, while in the company of another and being armed with a gun, he robbed Manesh Veersammy of a Toyota

Premio car valued $3.8 million, a GTT phone card valued $200, a wallet valued $1500, two stereo speakers valued at $200,000 and $10,000 cash, all to a total value of $4,011,700.

Finally, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the third charge, which stated that on August 10, 2015 at McDoom, Georgetown, while in the company of another and being armed with a gun, he robbed Lawrence Singh of a Toyota Spacio car valued $2 million, a cellular phone valued $4500 and $10,000, to a value of

$2,014,500.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones during the trial revealed that Grimes’ and Singh’s cars were recovered while Veersammy’s is still missing.

He revealed that after Singh’s car was stolen, a Police chase ensued during which Tyson crashed the car and was captured.

After reviewing the facts of the charges, the Magistrate told the man that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and as such she found him guilty.

Robbery under arms accused on $50,000 bail

A

man who reportedly used a knife to rob a secondary school student was placed on $50,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Alan Wilson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with robbery under arms.

Aubrey Hyman pleaded not guilty to the charge which

stated that on January 27 in the vicinity of Brickdam, while being armed with a knife, he robbed a secondary school girl of a blackberry phone valued $40,000, one gold chain valued $50,000, a flash drive valued $1500 and haversack value $15,000, all to the value of $106,500.

According to police re-

ports, at the time of the incident the student was standing on Brickdam when the accused rode alongside her on a motorcycle and approached her with a knife. It is alleged that he placed the knife to her right side rib and relieved her of the articles before escaping.

The student raised an

alarm and a nearby patrol chased the accused, causing him to abandon the motorcycle. Further investigations revealed that the motorcycle belonged to the accused’s sister and this led to Hyman’s arrest.

The case will continue on March 14.

Lamaha St woman on $25,000 bail

A

Lamaha Street, Georgetown, woman was placed on $25,000 bail when she appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with damage to property and breach of the peace charges.

Shantel Solomon, 29, of

Lot 83 Lamaha Street, stood before the court to answer to the charge which stated that on February 4 at her Lamaha Street residence she damaged one mattress among other items, at a total value of $24,000, property of June Ann Taylor, her neighbour and who resides

in the same building.

It was also alleged that on the same day and location of the incident Solomon behaved in a manner causing breach of the peace for Taylor.

Additionally, Taylor told the court that this has been happening since April 2015

and she wants it to come to an end.

However, for the breach of the peace charge Solomon was placed on self bail and a bond to keep the peace while $25,000 bail was imposed for the damage to property.

The case will continue on March 24.

North Ruimveldt man charged for verbally abusing Police Corporal

A

North Ruimveldt man was placed on $10,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with using abusive language to a police corporal.

Shane Kissoon, 26, of Lot 3686 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is accused of using abusive language to police Corporal Aloma Simpson on February 22 at Croal and Cornhill Streets, Georgetown.

It was reported that on the day of question Kissoon was allegedly “cussing out” another person at the Route 41 minibus park when the uniformed corporal who was in the vicinity warned him about his behaviour.

However, this prompted him to turn his attention to the policewoman and continued his use abusive language to her.

When the charge was read to him in Court, Kissoon pleaded not guilty, telling the court that he was standing and the woman passed and ‘jam’ him which resulted in the confrontation.

He was placed on $10,000 bail while the case was adjourned to March 9.

Eyew tness

More false equivalence...

T

...in politics

he Administration sure has its partisans – who’ll leave no stone unturned – and no shred of logic unshredded. Even if they are supposed to be trained academics. Take Kean Gibson, professor of linguistics at UWI. Reacting to the non-release of the Rodney CoI Report, Prezzie’s dismissal of the said Report (“deeply flawed”) versus two WPA members’ approval, she wrote she’s “always been puzzled by the WPA’s reasoning that it would have been all right to have eliminated Burnham but not the reverse. It is all politics”.

Now that’s a strange statement for even a linguistics professor to make, isn’t it? Gibson makes the elementary “illogical” error folks without an acquaintance with academia frequently commit: equating two propositions that have absolutely NOTHNG in common. Folks in academia, who Gibson might know, call it the error of “false equivalence”.

Let’s take Gibson’s proposition that Rodney or the WPA wanted to “eliminate” Burnham. Even without going into the “equivalence” business, this is simply not true. What’re the grounds for Gibson to so claim? Just after Burnham boasted about his “sharper steel” and made his challenge to the WPA to “make wills”, Rodney, on the other hand, told a Georgetown audience, “They have been accusing us of fermenting violence... We have said that we are not for assassination because politically and ideologically, an assassination is of no value to us.

We do not want to replace one individual with another individual of the same type, whether it be for better or worse...What we wanted was to make the whole system go, and we repeat that now.”

Now to the false equivalence. Citizens have a “social contract” with the State – and when those in charge of the State break that contract by oppressing citizens, the latter don’t just have a right to rebel – they have a duty to do so. But Rodney and the WPA weren’t even rebelling!!

They’d just formed a political party!!

Burnham, on the other hand, in charge of the Government (even through rigging elections) – was obligated to have citizens exercise their political rights to speak out against the Government. If Burnham felt Rodney or any other citizen broke the law...like when the PNC’s headquarters was torched – then Rodney and other suspects could be arrested. And they were! But they had to be freed, since there was no evidence.

It’s absolutely forbidden for a government to orchestrate the assassination of a citizen – and worst of all, using the State institutions that are supposed to protect citizens. And this the CoI concluded.

So, it’s NOT “all politics”. It’s a citizen standing up for his rights versus a dictator ordering an assassination.

...and then none

Your Eyewitness is still mulling over the refusal of the Government to pay heed to some audits and Commissions of Inquiry but ignore others. We just got word the head honcho at GUYOIL’s now been flushed out of the system.

Based on an audit, we’re told. The Government didn’t see fit to release the findings of the audit – just that they acted on it.

But then there was that CoI on GuySuCo, which cost millions and millions and took months and months...The Government even had to offer a few extensions – but when they finally got the Report – they went ahead and did exactly what the CoI said NOT to do. Wales!

And even worse from your Eyewitness’s standpoint is the refusal to accept the Tax Reform Committee’s (TRC) recommendations – even as they knocked off the head of NICIL just on LEAKS from a preliminary report. And then sic’d SOCU on him.

At least the TRC’s recommendations had some relief for the small man. Like your humble Eyewitness. And no “knock offs”.

...on Berbice

The President just announced Berbice is a “sleeping giant”. No, Prezzie...it’s been bled to support Georgetown for so long, it’s actually a “wounded dwarf”.

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

news

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TUESday, MARCH 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Housing Ministry Kumaka residents want Wauna palm oil project resuscitated to clamp down R on defaulters

Junior Communities Minister with responsibility for housing, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson

By Devina Samaroo

T

he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will be moving to clamp down on defaulters within the housing sector.

During a news conference on Monday, Junior Communities Minister with responsibility for housing, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson made it clear that the Government would have zero tolerance for those persons who defaulted on their land allocations, including those who try to cheat the system.

She noted that a major problem t in the housing sector was that of affluent businesspersons purchasing “core houses” which were initially built to cater for Guyanese citizens who ranked within the low-income bracket.

Sharpe-Patterson explained that the opportunists would purchase the reasonably priced houses and then rent them out at exorbitant costs.

“They would somehow satisfy the requirements to get it (the low-income houses) and then rent them out. I can say to you point blank, we are coming after you,” Patterson firmly stated.

She also disclosed that though it was illegal for per-

sons to sell house lots less than 10 years after acquiring them, persons were still engaging in the practice and measures would be put in place to stop this.

“All around the country we have found that persons having been allocated house lots they are selling house lots for gain. This is illegal. Our policy says you cannot sell within 10 years,” the Minister stated.

Moreover, the CH&PA will be going after persons who are yet to take up possession of land they were allocated.

CH&PA Director of Operations Denise KingTudor explained that the idea was to give landowners an opportunity to make some progress in building their homes, but if they failed to comply, then the harsh measures must be taken.

According to the official, if persons who were issued land years ago are yet to take up occupancy, those allocations would be rescinded without hesitation.

However, there will be exceptions whereby persons will be given the opportunity to work out a plan with the agency and given more time to make some progress building.

In other cases where limited infrastructure is preventing landowners from developing their land, they will be given leniency.

It was disclosed that thousands of persons are to be affected by this move given that only 60 per cent of all the land allocated is occupied.

The CH&PA is currently in the process of finalising the list of defaulters.

In fact, the agency has already started sending out letters to landowners, informing them of Government’s intention to repossess the house lots and encouraging them to occupy their land.

Student remanded for smuggling cannabis into lockups

A

student of Chase’s Academy was Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before her charged with attempting to traffic cannabis in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts lock-ups.

The Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, resident, 17, denied the allegation, which stated that on February 26 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts he had in his possession 154.5 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the Court that on the day in question, the teen visited the court lock-ups with the intention of delivering a bag to one of the prisoners, Dellon Henry called “Nasty Man” who is currently before the Courts on a murder charge.

It was revealed that the young man told the Officers there that he had brought three

bottles of water for Henry, however, when a constable examined the bottles, it was observed that it contained the leaves, seeds and stems of what was suspected to be cannabis. However, before the Officer could question him, he ran out of the compound.

He was subsequently apprehended in the vicinity of Brickdam by a policeman who gave chase.

Attorney Mark Conway who appeared for the student, made an application for reasonable bail, telling the Court that his client needs to resume his classes as he has to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination soon.

However, Prosecutor Jones objected to bail, stating that no special reasons were given. The Magistrate denied bail and set the case to continue on March 14.

esidents of Kumaka in the Mabaruma subdistrict, Region One (Barima-Waini), have highlighted the urgent need for the resuscitation of the Wauna palm oil project, which had become dormant.

The call was made during a meeting with Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman at the Kumaka Extension Centre.

The Minister, along with a team, visited the sub-district over the weekend.

According to residents, the project is critical to the development of the sub-region and its people.

One resident pointed out that at this point in time a private individual is trying to secure the land for personal use. This, he said, must not happen.

In response, Minister

A section of the residents at the meeting at the Kumaka Extension Centre, Region One

Trotman stated, “It is not for us to come and tell you that you shall now be selling soft drinks or you shall now be doing palm oil … we will only make it possible for you to realise your dreams, so if you feel that the Wauna oil palm project is it, then so be it.”

The residents were further advised that President

David Granger has tasked his Ministers with placing the hinterland among the priority areas in Guyana. It is against this background that massive infrastructural and transformative projects will be implemented, mainly to connect coastal Guyana and the hinterland.

Specific emphasis will be

placed on the development of the Mabaruma sub-region as it is slated for township status.

“After you would have elected your township, you would be working with the Region and the municipality to craft your developmental plan, and if you believe that Wauna’s restoration is one of such projects that must be resuscitated, we will work with you to see how it could be done,” Minister Trotman committed.

The Ministers who visited the sub-region were Minister in the Communities Ministries, Dawn HastingsWilliams; Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes; Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, and Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 1, 2016

News

Aunt charged for trafficking niece A businesswoman was on Monday released on $190,000 bail

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with human trafficking.

Joyce Lawrence of Samata Point, East Bank Demerara, denied the allegation which stated that between December 12 and 24, 2014, she engaged in human trafficking. It is alleged that she recruited and transported her niece, by means of threat.

The woman also denied another charge, which stated that between December 1

and 28, 2014, while being the employer of the said niece, she unlawfully withheld the young woman’s identification card. Finally, the Court heard that between July 1 and December 12, 2014 at Aishalton Night Club, Aishalton, she engaged in trafficking her niece.

Attorney Euclin Gomes appearing for the accused, posited that the matter was an “unfortunate situation”.

He explained that the complainant is the woman’s niece who lived with her. He claimed the charges were “trumped up” in an act of defiance as the accused conducts her home in a disci-

plined manner, much to the complainant’s annoyance.

He stated that his client only wants what is best for her niece and on that note made application for reasonable bail.

However, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail based on the gravity and penalty that the offence attracts. He stated that in 2014, the accused took the child to work at a night club without parental consent.

The Prosecutor explained that at that time, the complainant was a juvenile, and the accused had enslaved her in her home and taken

away her identification card.

He related that the Police received information about the young woman and when they went to the nightclub, they found the young woman pregnant.

He explained that the accused gave the Police varying addresses, adding that the complainant is currently in the custody of the Ministry of Social Protection.

The Magistrate overruled the Prosecutor’s objections and granted bail.

The matter was transferred to the Linden Magistrates’ Court for March 30.

Aerial patrols being used to tackle piracy – President

T

he reduction of incidents of piracy along the Corentyne River has a direct linkage to constant aerial patrols.

This is according to President David Granger, who was at the time addressing Berbicians at a dinner organised by the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam in observance of World Understanding and Peace Day on February 23.

“Every single week, I meet with the Commissioner of Police and we plan strategies. There are aerial patrols from Charity to Corriverton every single month look-

The Corentyne River

ing for pirates at sea to keep fisherfolk safe,” the President told the gathering.

According to the Head of State, one of the main focuses of the administration is to make the country a safe place and of recent the numerous reports of criminal activities are worrying. “Businessmen being attacked by bandits, sometimes the attack taking place over an hour and the police can’t show up. These are things that bother me.”

He explained that during some of his overseas trips he has been contacted

by Guyanese living abroad who want to return and invest but is only willing to do so when Guyana becomes a safer.

“I want to make Corentyne safe, I want to make the fisherfolk safe from piracy, I want to make the businessmen safe from bandits, our women safe from abuse.”

Noting that the only way forward is through better community policing to tackle these issues, the Head of State said: “We need a form of community policing which combines the interest of the community with regular policing. The order has already been given… to the senior officers to make it happen.

The same way we are meeting here and discussing, it’s the same way the divisional commanders will go out into the communities to meet with residents to discuss making the community safer,” President Granger told those gathered.

The silence is broken, now what!

T

he recent release of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that Forbes Burnham and his military and police dictatorship was responsible for the murder of Walter Rodney is not surprising.

The response from President David Granger that the Report of the Inquiry is flawed is not surprising. What is surprising is that there is no surprise at all.

Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine Guyanese, from all walks of life, including some who are now in control of Government, know that Rodney’s untimely death is connected somehow to the PNC. The confusion is the cover-up of the particulars such as how the plan was hatched and eventually executed. There are also some missing links and unanswered questions. For instance, why was Rodney in the vicinity of Camp Street when he was killed? Why did he have a bomb in his hands? How come a few from the WPA did not testify during the Inquiry?

Further assessment of the Report – if released to the public – by PNC defenders, national and international researchers can bring some additional credibility as to what transpired in the execution of Rodney. It will be misleading to conclude that the search for the real reasons for Rodney’s death will stop with the Report of CoI. A majority of Guyanese did not expect the PNC to accept the findings. The PNC has always denied any involvement in Rodney’s death, opposed or at least had questions about the CoI and terminated the CoI prematurely against the wishes of many. The two latter positions seem to be that PPP was using the CoI to gain political mileage leading up to the May 2015 General Election. That may be so, but if the PNC accepts any involvement in Rodney’s death, that would translate into guilt, tarnishing and thrashing Burnham’s image – one of the forever founding fathers of Guyana. This is sacred ground for the PNC. Equally troubling for the PNC is that history books will have to factor in the killing of Rodney by the Burnham regime during post-independence Guyana. Can you imagine this happening? Perhaps, since the current President is in the mood of national reconciliation. Unfortunately, this issue seems to be low on the President’s agenda. You would think that the findings would provide the President and the nation with a golden opportunity to start the programme of healing and reconciliation instead of mud-slinging. Say look, we cannot deny the findings. We can question some of it. But the main finding is that Rodney was killed when Guyana was governed by the most brutal dictatorship in the Caribbean.

Some of us were forced to follow orders against our wishes in exchange for sinecures. But we must take some responsibility for Rodney’s death. We must now instil trust in our people that our government, our military and our police will not repeat the brutal past.

So far, quite the opposite has happened: denial and more denial. Moreover, the silence from Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who was second in command in the WPA when Rodney was killed, is deafening. The lust for power can do strange things to some people. I wonder what Dr Horace Campbell is thinking, a Jamaican scholar who has been very close to the WPA before and after Rodney’s murder. I wonder what Campbell thinks now since Roopnaraine is with the PNC camp.

Special minds are required to figure out why Roopnaraine and some from the AFC choose to remain silent. To blame the CoI or any other entity for being subjective in pursuing the real cause of Rodney’s death would constitute a double murder of this scholar. The first is physical which already happened and the second is the disrespect for human rights, eschewing and denying that Rodney was not murdered.

We know that the current silence from some quarters on the findings is not an oversight. The Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News – the mouthpieces of the Government and the tabloids of the nation – chose to publish glowing reports on Burnham’s 93rdbirthday. One wonders what will happen when he reaches 100 years. The circumstances and conditions under which journalists and columnists work under at the two tabloids are unfortunate.

Finally, may I ask if it is possible for someone to print over 2000 t-shirts with an explicit logo showing that Rodney was killed by Burnham and distribute them during the 50 years’ independence celebration throughout Guyana, but particularly in Georgetown, free of charge? I accepted a t-Shirt that reads “BLACK LIVES MATTER” (lomarsh.roopnarine@ jsums.edu)

tuesday, march 1, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

News

Squatting areas in Linden to be regularised – Sharpe-Patterson

BY UTAMU BELLE

S

everal squatting areas in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) will soon be regularised, Minister within the Communities Ministry Valerie Sharpe-Patterson has announced. She was at the time addressing the media at a Government outreach in the community held over the weekend.

One such area, she outlined, will be Burjag, located at Wisroc, Wismar. The minister said since the area falls under the Wisroc Housing Co-op, discussions are now ongoing to have those lands transferred to Housing so they can be regularised.

Sharpe-Patterson related that, already, there were applications sent to the Central Housing and Planning Authority. She said the ministry is working to bring the squatting regularisation not only to Linden, but other parts of the country, since there were many requests by residents to do so. This, she noted will form part of the focus for mid-year.

Sharpe-Patterson warned however that this should not be taken in the sense that people should now begin squatting in new areas, especially on Government reserves since those would not be regularised.

11

Minister within the Communities Ministry Valerie SharpePatterson

In meeting with several residents who brought forward a number of irregularities relating to housing, the minister said the issues are not only common to Linden, but country-wide.

She noted that there were instances where people complained of the high cost of land, or having to pay additional costs owing to increases over time.

Noting that Government had made a promise in its Manifesto to reduce the cost of land, she noted that those who would have completed paying 50 per cent of the cost by May 1 would qualify for a 50 per cent discount on the remaining cost.

This, she noted, is in keeping with Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.

She advised that people

should stick to paying the initial cost of land agreed to from the inception and not fall prey to paying additional, based on increased costs.

“In Linden, initially the cost of the land was $58,000, then increased to $92,000, and some people who are low income earners said when they went in to pay some time after, they were told that they have to pay $300,000... If the cost of the land was $58,000 when you entered into the arrangement or the agreement then if they come two years after to complete paying then it must still be $58,000. They must not now get what is the new price, because the agreement started when it was $58,000,” SharpePatterson reiterated.

She also outlined issues relating to persons who fin-

ished paying for their lands years ago and have not yet received their titles.

The minister added that there were also cases where lands were allocated and were re-surveyed, which resulted in them being re-allocated to someone else.

Sharpe-Patterson said this is a burning issue which she is tasked with dealing with.

“The problem right now is that we have no house lots available right now in Linden for allocation. The last I found was 36 and I allocated all 36 at the last public day”, she said.

The minister added that lands were identified at Amelia’s Ward, however but are designated under Lands and Surveys Commission.

These she stated are now being pursued to be transferred to Housing so that the necessary infrastructure can be added.

“So persons can look forward, because in that area we have over 2000... so we will be able by the end of the year, to meet the demands of Linden”.

Stressing the need for more efficiency in the system, the minister stated that in her opinion applications for titles should not take more than three weeks to be processed. This, amongst other issues she said, should be addressed within the administration’s first term in office.

UG student denies being raped

T

he female University of Guyana (UG) student who was reportedly gang-raped Friday last has broken her silence, denying all allegations.

During an interview with University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), the student admitted to being intoxicated but insisted she was not raped.

According to a UGSS statement, the alleged victim recounts no sexual activity during the period of time in question.

Furthermore, the release said the female student is very concerned that she became the target of negative public perception due to the various reported allegations.

A local newspaper reported one day after the alleged incident that a female student was gang-raped by a group of male students.

The article quoted another UG student overhearing a group of male students (suspected perpetrators) describing in graphic details how they committed the act.

Following the reports, both the UG Administration

and the UGSS launched investigations.

The Administration on Sunday issued a statement saying the allegations are completely false.

At the time, the UGSS was receiving similar information but wanted more time to conduct its probe to be certain. Meanwhile, the allegations brought to the fore the burning concern of security on campus. The UGSS president had stressed time and again the need of better security on campus.

“Security has always been a major concern on campus and we, the students, are always the ones who suffer and are affected more at the end,” he stated.

UG in its statement noted that it will continue to place safety and security of its members and visitors to the campus as a high priority.

The university said it is currently pursuing several measures to enhance security and will continue to exercise maximum care and due diligence in providing a secure environment for students and staff on campus.

12 news

tuesday, march 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

“Unprofessionalism will not be condoned” – Dr Norton

T

he Public Health Ministry on Monday officially opened the first leg of its Regional Health Officers (RHOs)/ Directors meeting.

The Health Ministry has a renewed and energetic approach in terms of advancing the levels at which medical care is offered to Guyanese, and the forum is being held with the intent of engaging health practitioners to improve themselves and thus the health services.

Addressing the gathering, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton reflected on 2015 describing the year as “one filled with complications”, but indicated ‘distinctive’ interest would be paid to reaching the sustainable development goals which were needed to improve health care in Guyana.

He reported that while the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) were supportive of Guyana in its health endeavours for improvement, there was room for locals to play a part in developing the sector.

He, therefore, underlined the significance of healthcare professionals improving themselves and the way in which they offer health care to citizens which would in turn see the expansion of medical

Officials from the Public Health Ministry and PAHO/WHO during the meeting

services in Guyana.

Highlighting the importance of the public’s health to the development of the nation, Dr Norton encouraged medical personnel to use the forum as an opportunity to rebuild themselves and their careers.

“The delivery of acceptable, accessible, affordable, timely and appropriate health care services to the Guyanese people is of utmost importance to the Government of Guyana,” he reminded.

Dr Norton reflected on the many instances where there had been reports surfacing about the negligence and unprofessionalism of some medical personnel, which have contributed to the gradual deterioration of the health sector.

He added that in no way would the Government or Health Ministry be tolerating the shortcomings of the medical profession and

if they were made aware of anyone who may be lacking in efficiency in their job, they would be dealt with accordingly.

“Unprofessionalism will at no time be condoned by the Ministry of Public Health, and necessary measures will be taken in all instances to deal condignly with persons who behave in such a manner.”

The Minister informed that in improving the quality of regional health services not only would the patients who visit the medical facilities benefit, but there was an opportunity for the health practitioners to also develop their skills and response, to medical situations.

In terms of skill development, Dr Norton informed that he endorsed the pursuit of medical education since medical professionals needed to acquire a high level of knowledge to

improve their capability of offering better health services to the Guyanese.

He reassured that the Ministry would continue to be supportive, in any way

it could, of persons reaching for higher education in the medical field.

Region 2 residents calling for improved security – request more vehicles for Police

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud at the recent meeting at Affiance community ground By: Indrawattie Natram

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esidents of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are calling for improvement in the region’s security system by requesting more vehicles be given to the police in G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands) to be mobile in fighting crime. Several residents raised their concerns at a recent community meeting held at Affiance

often when there is an incident and residents request police to visit, they are often told there is no vehicle available. The resident said this needs to be rectified as it often gives criminals an opportunity to escape.

“When you call the station, all you hearing is that vehicle not available or if you want them to come you have to buy gas. Why we as residents need to face such?

Police supposed to provide

related that he was robbed and to his surprise the police arrived late. Often persons have to go for police to investigate a crime due to the unavailability of vehicles at stations.

Residents are therefore calling on Commissioner Persaud and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to intervene.

They are calling for vehicles to be made available to ensure quick response to crimi-

Some of the residents at the meeting

calling on Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud to intervene.

According to one resident Nand Kishore, the region needs more vehicles at the various police stations to help fight crime. The resident from Affiance requested frequent police patrolling especially in the nights, outlining that residents need to feel safe. Kishore said that

security for us, not we doing them a favour,” Kishore said.

Another resident from Henrietta said that often youths are seen loitering in the area, making noise, using indecent language and when police are called complaints are taken but no visits are made.

At Zorg, a businessman

nal activities.

It is worth noting that at a recent meeting held with Commissioner Persaud at Affiance community ground, he had promised to send a new vehicle to the division.

Residents are claiming that one vehicle is not enough for the entire district and call for at least two more vehicles.

news

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tuesday, march 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana observes Zero Rice industry crisis Leguan farmers yet to be paid Discrimination Day

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uyana joins the rest of the world today in observing Zero Discrimination Day under the theme “Stand out for fair and just societies.”

Organisations such as the United Nations (UN) actively promote the day with various activities to celebrate everyone’s right

discrimination as a way of governing.

The symbol for Zero Discrimination Day is the butterfly, widely used by people to share their stories and photos as a way to end discrimination and work towards positive transformation.

UNICEF in collabora-

The symbol of Zero Discrimination Day

to live a full life with dignity regardless of age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, height, weight, profession, education, and beliefs.

Many countries proclaim laws against discrimination but it’s still a problem in certain layers of society in every country.

Many have and still use

tion with the World Health Organization Global Health Workforce Alliance is also seeking to develop a plan in ending discrimination worldwide. This venture would be done by removing obstacles that prevent access to health care facilities, which would allow individuals to benefit from all treatments made available

to the public.

This gives individuals a chance to observe diversity and traditions, while promoting tolerance.

Combating discrimination helps in strengthening communities and enriching societies with skills and talents. Diversity helps in reformation of social cohesion around the world.

Zero Discrimination Day gives citizens around the world an opportunity to celebrate everyone’s right to live a productive life with dignity. Individuals should never be discriminated despite their gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin or disability.

By uniting hearts and hands individuals, communities and societies can transform the world, and stand out fair and just societies.

Discrimination is a violation of human rights and must not go unchallenged.

This Zero Discrimination Day, by joining our voices together, we can be part of a resounding call for compassion, tolerance and peace that cannot be ignored.

Caricom explores initiatives to combat youth crime and violence

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ver 100 persons from across the Caribbean gathered Monday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in an attempt to address youth crime and violence in Caricom countries.

Under the theme, “Youth Crime and Violence - Breaking the Cycle: Exploring New Platforms

stakeholders will be engaged in discussions on what can be done to break the cycle, while crafting effective platforms that would promote transformations into the global challenge.

Speaking to those gathered, Deputy Secretary General of Caricom Manorma Soeknandan said the forum is seeking to pre-

only.

Basing on necessary actions that need to be taken in order to curb the levels, Soeknandan added that “sound partnerships and approaches which are multisectoral in nature” would be crucial in attempting to dissolve the global challenge.

Also addressing the gathering was Guyana’s Public

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan during his remarks to the gathering

for Transformation” the mission of the consultation was to derive strategies for the reduction of youth crime and violence through discussions of what are the challenges promoting youth crime.

In the aim to accelerate the fight to eliminate these youth-based crimes, the project originated from a twoyear Caricom/Spain project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The two-day forum designed specifically for schools in some Caribbean countries, will focus specifically on four aspects that surround crime among youths in today’s society that have been putting pressure on individual countries.

Under the broad heading Violence Against Children, Gender Based Violence, School Violence and Youth Gangs and Violence, the

pare young people to live productive and safe lives while contributing to the further development of the region.

She noted that subsequent to the report of the Caricom Commission on Youth Development (CCYD) which was presented to the Heads of Government in January 2010, the severity of youth crime was evidently visible, with it coming in as the number one concern in relation to youths.

Through this, it was made clear that something needed to be done urgently to safeguard the future of youths and achieve social cohesion, economic resilience and integration.

Soeknandan underlined the core value of adults having a continuous role in averting crime, and the burden should not be shifted on to the shoulders of youths

Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan who brought out the point that a culture that makes youths assets instead of liabilities should be the focus in regards to decreasing the levels of crimes evidently present in Caribbean countries.

He noted that there definitely is a need for juvenile reforms in such a dark time, and as such called for legislation to be passed on implementing this.

At the end of the forum, the relevant bodies are anticipating that the actions implemented, both at the policy and operational levels, will work together to prevent youth violence and restore communities to one where peach reigns and factors are in place to promote the growth and productivity of every citizen, especially youths.

...Govt not looking at PPP recommendations – Jagdeo

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esidents in the Essequibo island of Leguan have raised concerns over the increased rate of marijuana and alcohol use among youths in their community.

When Guyana Times visited the island, residents were outspoken about the shortfalls in the rice industry and lack of other forms of employment which have led the younger generation to engage in “ill” activities.

One housewife, Nawatie (only name given) stated that the island was dependent on rice and observed that there were no other industries, such as timber processing, where young people can get jobs at sawmills. Several rice farmers had related that the dry weather conditions had become so dire that only 38-40 acres out of the usual 4000 acres were planted. One farmer, Chitranjan (only name given), posited that there was no capital to re-

invest in the next crop, and also stated that he could not afford to pay employees, many of whom were young men.

Sheik Fazal, leader of the Amsterdam Mosque, told this publication of his concern over increased drug use. He related that the Quran was “against any form of intoxication”, but observed that he was not against the medical use of marijuana.

A resident who gave her name as Ms DaSilva said that something needed to be done to curb the rising inci-

dence of drug use among the youths. She stated that the abuse of marijuana was one of the most significant social issues currently plaguing the island community.

Some residents have called for the establishment of sport club facilities which they opined would allow youths to have recreational activities so that they would have less time to engage in drug use.

Leguan is located at the mouth of the Essequibo River and has a population of about 3000 people.

Zero Discrimination Day

Govt promises to tackle inequitable issues in LGBT community

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence (3rd from left) flanked by Social Protection Ministry adviser and Member of Parliament John Adams (2nd left); SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson (3rd right); Advocacy and Communications Officer Schemel Patrick; SASOD Board Secretary Alana Da Silva and Social Change Coordinator Jairo Rodrigues at the meeting

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s the world observes Zero Discrimination Day, the Social Protection Ministry has promised to address discriminatory issues that were raised by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

SASOD Advocacy and Communications Officer Schemel Patrick during a recent meeting with Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence and the Ministerial Advisor John Adams related that although Guyana’s labour policies support the elimination of discrimination in employment, training, recruitment, and membership of professional bodies, there are gaps that need to be addressed in the Laws of Guyana.

According to the organisation the absence of a ‘specific’ prohibition on sexual orientation, gender identity and health status within the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997, leaves persons within the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and persons with stigmatised health conditions vulnerable to discrimination with impunity in the workplace.

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence after listen-

ing to the concerns raised by the group agreed there should be no discrimination in employment, education and health as she expressed her responsibility to protect all Guyanese and noted her position that everyone is entitled to their rights.

“We can’t have one group benefitting while another is suffering. We (Ministry) do not share the view that the rights of citizens are good for one but not the others,” the minister said.

However, the organisation reiterated the lack of protection in law and policy for persons when it comes to sexual orientation, gender identity and health status.

SASOD called for more action by the coalition government as it built its campaign on social cohesion, equal rights, inclusion and cooperation amongst all people.

Meanwhile, SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson reminded that Guyana has made voluntary commitments to international agreements and has a legal obligation under international human rights law to honour its commitments.

He noted that observation while referring to recommendations from the United Nations Human Rights

Council under the Universal Periodic Review in 2015 to consider de-criminalising same-sex intimacy and crossdressing, and enact laws which protect LGBT people from discrimination.

In addition, he outlined a ‘schizophrenic situation’ regarding Guyana’s laws stating, “How can someone who is transgender go to the police station to report intimate partner violence and other crimes against them when they themselves are persecuted for something as simple as being who they are by cross-dressing?”

This, he explained has a great deal of positive impact in accessing other socio-economic rights for all, and serves as a push for Parliament to consider and amend other gaps in legislation that discriminates against certain groups of Guyanese citizens.

Moreover, the community also recommended that the government implement and support comprehensive workplace equality policies and educational programmes aimed at curbing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and health status in the workplace, both in the public service and private sector.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 1, 2016

Regional

Brazil’s Justice Minister to quit as Argentina settles Lula probe tension grows – sources 15-year bonds battle

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razil’s Justice Minister, Jose Eduardo Cardozo, plans to resign by Tuesday, fed up with rising attacks from his Workers’ Party over a wide-reaching Police probe into corruption that has ensnared a number of party officials, two presidential sources told Reuters on Monday.

Brazilian dailies Folha de S Paulo and Estado de S Paulo, the first to report the Minister’s imminent departure, said leading members of his party have increased pressure on Cardozo in recent days after former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was notified Brazilian courts plan to subpoena his bank, telephone and financial records.

Lula, a five-time presi-

Brazil’s Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo reacts during an interview with Reuters in Brasilia, Brazil on November 24, 2015

dential candidate and twoterm President from 2003 to 2010, is under investigation in the wake of a giant and widening corruption scandal at State-led oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA.

Lula has already faced Police questioning over the financial dealings of his children and friends and now faces questioning of his alleged ownership of a beach-front penthouse tri-

plex and country estate.

The penthouse and country home were allegedly renovated by construction companies involved in the price-fixing, bribery and political kickback scandal at Petrobras, as the oil company is known. Lula has said the properties do not belong to him.

“If this is the price people must pay to prove their innocence, I’ll do it,” Lula said referring to the subpoenas. “The only thing I want is that afterward they give me a good conduct certificate, because I doubt there is anyone more honest than I am in the country.”

A Justice Ministry spokeswoman declined to comment. Aides to Rousseff could not be reached. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

T&T: Prison officer murdered outside his home

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prison officer with 10 years of service was shot outside his Prizgar Lands home Monday morning and later died at the Port-ofSpain General Hospital.

According to Police reports, Fitzalbert Victor, 32, was washing his black

Nissan Xtrail just after 06:00h when the incident occurred. Police said a gunman jumped the fence and shot Victor seven times before fleeing.

Victor worked at the Port-of-Spain Remand Yard. He was the father of one. Victor died about

two hours later while being operated on.

In an unrelated incident, Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the body of a man found Sunday evening in San Juan.

According to Police reports around 18:35h on

Sunday officers responded to a call and went to Upper Lloyd Street, Sunshine Avenue, Barataria where they found the man’s body.

Homicide detectives are investigating both matters.

(Excerpt from Trinidad

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rgentina has signed an agreement with US hedge funds to settle a protracted dispute over its failure to repay billions of dollars worth of bonds.

It will pay the funds who sued the nation about US$4.6 billion to settle claims.

They had bought the bonds at heavily discounted prices after the country’s economy collapsed in 2001.

The previous Government of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, refused to negotiate with the investors, labelling them “vulture funds”.

The agreement is a victory for Mauricio Macri, who was sworn in as Argentina’s President in December.

He reversed the nonpayment stance taken by his predecessor.

Daniel Gallas, BBC South America Business Correspondent, said there was still a lot of work to be done.

He said that after win-

ning over the hedge funds, Macri must now convince his own congress that this was a good deal for the country.

“The previous Administration of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had approved a ‘lock law’ which forbids Argentina from paying out hedge funds in the terms that were negotiated today,” he said.

“If Mr Macri is to deliver on his promise to get Argentina borrowing internationally again, he must get politicians to repeal that law.”

The creditors were led by hedge funds NML Capital and Aurelius Capital Management.

Daniel Pollack, the court-appointed mediator, said: “It gives me greatest pleasure to announce that the 15-year pitched battle between the Republic of Argentina and Elliott Management, led by Paul Singer, is now well on its way to being resolved.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Calls for calm as recount in Jamaica Jamaica records 2nd Swine Flu-related death election continue

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The second patient to have died was a 49-year-old woman at the University Hospital of the West Indies on February 23 (Source: Jamaica Gleaner)

he Health Ministry is reporting a second death linked to the H1N1 virus commonly called (Swine Flu).

At the same time, the number of confirmed cases is now up to 10.

Acting chief medical officer in the Health Ministry, Dr Winston De La Haye, says the second patient to have died was a 49-year-old woman who had “other complicating illnesses”.

She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on February 23.

However, De La Haye says the positive result from a test for H1N1 was received only Monday.

Fifty-year-old medical

Guardian)

doctor, Suzanna Roye, who was also admitted at the UHWI, was the first patient to die from H1N1-related issues.

In the meantime, De La Haye says Jamaica remains on high alert for a possible spread of the virus.

“What we really want to stress is persons to do the appropriate hygiene,” he said.

The virus was first reported in Jamaica in early February.

Swine Flu is a category one illness which means that within 24 hours of suspecting a case of severe acute respiratory illness, medical practitioners must report it to the health authority. (Antigua Observer)

Digicel T&T wins award for broadband speed

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igicel T&T has been recognised by international organisation Ookla as having the fastest broadband and mobile networks in the country. Ookla is the global leader in broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications.

The company’s software and methodologies set the broadband and mobile telecommunications industry standards for accuracy, popularity and ease of use as well as the generation of statistical data.

Sacha Thompson, Digicel CEO commented said: “It’s interesting to

note the development of our network and that’s because we’ve continuously invested over time in both the technologies and the human resources of our company.

Our primary focus has always been to give our customers value for their money.

“This award solidifies everything that we’ve worked for and continues

to encourage us to do what we’ve done since our entry into the Trinidad and Tobago market 10 years ago. We have constantly been on the cusp of technology transitioning our mobile network from GSM technology to where we’re at today with 4G technology.

“We’ve invested in strengthening our signal across the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago ensuring that

our customers are able to take advantage of the full potential of our network and we’re constantly developing products that enable our customers to maximise their spending dollar.”

In January, the company launched its entertainment solution, Digicel Play, which features TV, broadband and landline services. At the launch, Digicel Play CEO Garvin Medera conducted a live speed test using the Ookla website of speedtest.net. The results showed Digicel Play broadband achieving speeds of over 1 gigabit per second.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (right) and the JLP, led by Prime Minister designate Andrew Holness (left) have called on Jamaicans to be calm

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s tensions rise in the absence of a final result from last Thursday’s election, both the provisional winner, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and the People’s National Party (PNP) are urging Jamaicans to be calm.

A routine recount of ballots has so far seen Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s PNP winning an additional seat, reducing the JLP margin of victory to one seat. The preliminary results gave the JLP 33 to the PNP’s 30, but after the PNP’s Dr Winston Green was declared the winner in St Mary South Eastern over the JLP’s Dr Norman Dunn following the completion of the recount in that constituency on Saturday, that changed to JLP 32, PNP 31.

Director of Elections Orrette Fisher has indicated he was unable to say

exactly when the recount would be completed.

With reports of tension in some areas across the island, Simpson Miller has called on supporters of both political parties to remain calm as the constitutionally prescribed processes continue.

“All Jamaicans have a responsibility to ensure that Jamaica’s reputation as a mature democracy is preserved and nothing causes hurt to anyone,” she said, adding that the country has made important economic gains which Jamaicans cannot afford to reverse at this time, and everyone must ensure that they put Jamaica first.

The JLP also called for calm, with General Secretary Dr Horace Chang dismissing rumours that the process underway is resulting in a change in the elected government. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

tuesday, march 1, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

As Europe bickers, Police Syria conflict: UN steps up tear gas on migrants aid deliveries as truce holds fire storming border

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ussia has said that it was only targeting United Nations-designated jihadist terrorist organisations – including the so-called Islamic State (IS) and the al-Nusra Front, which is part of a major rebel alliance – in line with the terms of the cessation of hostilities.

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter stressed that the US-led coalition would also continue to fight IS during the truce.

“Let me make it crystal clear,” he told a news conference in Washington. “There is no cessation of hostilities in the counter-ISIL [IS] campaign. Operations continue unabated.”

People work to fix a damaged shop in Darat Izza, Aleppo province, on Sunday

The relative calm on the ground around the capital Damascus allowed 10 aid lorries carrying blankets and hygiene supplies to enter the suburb of Muadhamiya on Monday

afternoon, Syrian Arab Red Crescent officials said.

On Wednesday, the UN and its partners plan to deliver aid to the rebelheld towns of Madaya and Zabadani, in the mountains

Guo Shengkun, voicing unease about the new counterterrorism law, the draft cyber security law, and a draft law on management of foreign Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

In what sources said was a coordinated move, the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to China, Hans Dietmar Schweisgut, sent a letter expressing similar concerns, dated January 28.

Reuters reviewed copies of both letters.

The cyber security and counterterrorism laws codify sweeping powers for the Government to combat perceived threats, from widespread censorship to heightened control over certain technologies.

Critics of the counterterrorism legislation, for one, say that it could be interpreted in such a way that even non-violent dissidents could fall within its definition of terrorism.

The four Ambassadors said areas of the counter-

north-west of Damascus, and the Governmentcontrolled towns of Foah and Kefraya, in the northern province of Idlib.

This is now a crucial window of opportunity for the UN to get food and aid to the besieged. The truce has, in general, remained intact despite both the Westernbacked Opposition and regime sides complaining of dozens of violations over the weekend, including air strikes around Aleppo.

But it is unclear whether the target was the alQaeda-linked Nusra front, which would not constitute a ceasefire breach since it and the so-called Islamic State are not included in the deal. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Major powers team up to tell China of concerns over new laws

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he United States, Canada, Germany, Japan and the European Union have written to China to express concern over three new or planned laws, including one on counterterrorism, in a rare joint bid to pressure Beijing into taking their objections seriously.

The US, Canadian, German and Japanese Ambassadors signed a letter dated January 27 addressed to State Councillor and Minister of Public Security

terrorism law, which the National People’s Congress passed in December, were vague and could create a “climate of uncertainty” among investors. They did not specify which areas.

The EU Ambassador used the same phrase to describe the law’s impact, and both letters expressed an interest in engaging with China as it worked out implementing regulations around the law, to try to mitigate those concerns.

M

acedonian Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of migrants who stormed the border from Greece on Monday as a deeply divided Europe traded barbs over the biggest humanitarian crisis in decades.

As frustrations boiled over at restrictions imposed on people moving through the Balkans, migrants trapped on the GreeceMacedonia border tore down a metal gate in the barbed wire fence.

A Reuters witness said Macedonian Police fired several rounds of tear gas into the crowd and onto a railway line where other migrants sat refusing to move, demanding to cross into the country.

Greece raced to set up temporary accommodation for a build-up of thousands of migrants stranded in the country after Austria and countries along the Balkans

migration route imposed restrictions on their borders, limiting the number of migrants able to cross.

Many of the migrants, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and North Africa, hope to reach Germany, which last year took in 1.1 million asylum seekers.

There were an estimated 22,000 migrants and refugees trapped in Greece on Monday, some sleeping rough in central Athens, some in an abandoned airport and at the 2004 Olympic Games venues.

Greece’s Migration Minister said without any outlet, that figure could rise as high as 70,000 in coming days.

More than one million migrants passed through Greece last year, prompting criticism from other European nations that Athens simply waved people through. (Excerpt from Reuters)

India to pump almost US$13B into rural development

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Woman held for Moscow child ‘beheading’

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olice in the Russian capital Moscow have arrested a woman on suspicion of murdering a child after she was found apparently carrying a severed head.

The woman, believed to be the victim’s nanny, is suspected of killing the child before setting fire to its parents’ apartment.

CCTV appears to show the woman, dressed in a hijab, walking near a metro station with a head in her hands. A Police rank then intercepts her and wrestles her to the ground.

The suspect has been placed in psychiatric care to determine whether she is capable of understanding her actions, the Moscow

A law enforcement officer stands guard near the Moscow metro station where the beheading suspect was arrested

Investigative Committee said in a statement (in Russian).

A criminal investigation was launched after the discovery of the remains of a child aged three to

four, whose body bore traces of a violent death, in a charred flat on Narodnoye Opolcheniye Street in northwestern Moscow, it added.

“According to preliminary information, the child’s

nanny, a citizen of one of the Central Asian states born in 1977, waited for the parents and elder child to leave the flat and then, for reasons not established, murdered the infant, set fire to the flat and left the scene,” it added in the statement.

Police sources told Russian news agencies that the victim had been decapitated and the head removed from the scene by the nanny.

The suspect has been named by Russian media as Gyulchekhra Bobokulova, from the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan.

Russia’s tabloid news website Life News, which specialises in crime coverage, reports that the victim was a little girl. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

North Korea: US student apologises for poster theft

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detained American student tearfully apologised for attempting to steal a political banner in North Korea from his hotel after being paraded in front of the media in Pyongyang.

Otto Warmbier, 21, an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, was arrested in January for committing what North Korea called “an anti-State crime” with “the

tacit connivance of the US Government and under its manipulation”.

Warmbier said on Monday that he wanted the banner with a political slogan on it as a trophy for a church back home. He said that he was offered a second-hand car worth US$10,000 and was told if he was arrested and did not return, US$200,000 would be paid to his mother.

Warmbier said that he accepted the offer because his family was “suffering from very severe financial difficulties”. “I started to consider this as my only golden opportunity to earn money,” he said, adding that if he ever mentioned the involvement of the church, “no payments would come”.

He said he was also encouraged by the “Z Society” at the University of Virginia,

which he said he was trying to join. The magazine of the university’s alumni association describes the Z Society as a “semi-secret ring society” founded in 1892 which conducts philanthropy, puts on honorary dinners, and grants academic awards.

No details of what kind of charges or punishment Warmbier faced were immediately released. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The Indian economy is doing well despite slowing growth in other emerging and leading economies [Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters]

I

ndia has pledged billions of dollars to help improve the lives of farmers and boost the rural economy, as part of a “budget for the poor” unveiled on Monday.

Arun Jaitley, the country’s Finance Minister, proposed spending nearly $13 billion on rural development, promising higher incomes for farmers who form the majority of India’s 1.2 billion people.

The benefits for farmers could have been prompted by legislative assembly elections that are due in five states in the next few months.

Presenting the annual budget for 2016-17, Jaitley forecast that India’s economy would grow by 7.6 per cent in the year ending March 2016. The Indian Government intends to distribute the benefits of growth among the poorer sections of society, including the vast majority of India’s farmers, he said.

“We plan to double farm-

ers’ income in five years,” Jaitley said.

“We have a shared responsibility to spend prudently and wisely for the people, especially for the poor and downtrodden.”

Jaitley outlined what he called the Government’s “nine pillars” of a “transformative agenda” for the economy.

They include measures to boost education; increase spending on roads, irrigation and other infrastructure; intensify oversight of government spending and reform India’s complicated tax regime.

The Indian economy is doing well despite slowing growth in other emerging and leading economies, Jaitley said. His reference to a recent observation by the International Monetary Fund that India was a bright spot in the global outlook was vigorously applauded by fellow members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16 news

tuesday, march 1, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

Rice industry crisis

Dataram revelations

Self-confessed drug baron Leguan farmers yet to accuses “CANU rank” of Govt not looking at PPP facilitating drug shipments ... recommendations – Jagdeo – says drug lords pay $10M to pass cocaine

By Edward Layne

S

elf-confessed drug baron Barry Dataram is accusing a Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) rank of facilitating the shipment of cocaine out of Guyana.

In a bombshell interview with television reporter Travis Chase, Dataram, who was once wanted by US authorities for conspiracy to traffic cocaine and cocaine trafficking, said the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) may have an interest in this particular anti-drug agent, whose name he refused to reveal.

He said that while he has never shipped cocaine using that particular CANU officer, he has many friends in the drug underworld who did.

“Not me, I never had no dealings with he. I won’t lie pon he if me and he had do business I woulda tell you right now and through my friends them I can’t call he name, but he is one they would gah get extradite too,” Dataram said in the interview.

He also alleged that the CANU officer has a payment plan in place to allow the illicit drug to pass.

“He is the one allowing it to pass, he teking $10 million …half up front and half when it left,” the self-confessed drug baron stated.

Drug underworld

Dataram also detailed how the drug underworld operated and explained the process used by traffickers to get the illicit substance out of the country “Well, obviously you gah get a shipper, you gah get a receiver, you got to get people who doing it already, you can’t just do it right away, however, you want send it, you can’t send it on the first: you gah get people who already doing this stuff, and then you gotta find the man who it is gah go through; remember he don’t come direct and tell you,”

Self –confessed drug baron and controversial figure Barry Dataram Dataram said.

CANU responds

In a statement on Monday evening, CANU Head James Singh said Dataram’s “savagery” against CANU may be as a result of his uneasiness owing to the commencement of his trial for possession of 129.230kg of cocaine that was found in shrimp at his Lot 661 Fourth Avenue, Block X, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) residence on April 16, 2015.

Singh said that CANU welcomed the “frank confessions” of Dataram as to his involvement in the narcotics trade, and urged him and “others” like himself connected to the narcotics trade, both small and large, mules and traffickers alike, to go to the nearest court, police station and/ or the CANU headquarters in Georgetown to provide useful intelligence on past and ongoing investigations and operations.

“CANU welcomes further public confessions of criminal elements. CANU urges the citizenry to stand up, speak out, to have the tenacity to testify against the elements of the narcotic trade; and help the Unit make Guyana a safer place,” he stated.

Singh added that CANU agreed that all law enforcement bodies should operate justly and within the confines of the law, and noted that

this was a welcomed wave of change as Guyanese should continue to adopt this apparently new stance of intolerance to white-collar crime plaguing Guyana.

The CANU Head noted in a previous interview with Guyana Times that any allegation of wrongdoing by any member of CANU would be investigated.

“As I said, I wait to hear what is said and then based on what is said, we would then proceed from there… any allegation made against any member of CANU will obviously be investigated,” Singh concluded.

Dataram gained notoriety in 2007 following the kidnapping of his wife Sheleza and their three-year-old daughter by two Venezuelans, one of whom was later shot dead in a confrontation with Police.

He was then arrested and detained by Police beyond the 72-hour constitutional detention period. His lawyers subsequently approached the court with a Habeas Corpus Writ, but the Police asked for an extension to conclude their investigation into the kidnapping, which they said was drug-related. What followed was a series of court appearances during which Dataram was twice set free and rearrested.

He was finally set free in December 2008.

Then, in July 2015, Dataram, his 19-yearold reputed wife Anjanie Boodnarine, as well as Trevor Gouveia and Komal Charan were jointly charged for 129.230kg of cocaine that was found in the frozen seafood on April 16.

He was also found to be in possession of a quantity of firearms and ammunition. He subsequently secured $4 million bail from the High Court and another $400,000 in bail for the weapons charge.

His 19-year-old reputed wife was also granted bail in the High Court in the sum of $1.5 million, along with the two other accused.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

A

s dry weather continues, many rice farmers across various locations in the country have complained that they are faced with additional hardships since rice millers are yet to provide payments for paddy.

In an interview with Guyana Times Monday, Rajendra Ojha, owner of Leguan Rice Mill Inc stated that farmers are not paid yet due to the difficulties rice millers are also facing.

“If we nah get rain we can’t work, actually it’s about 8-9 months we struggling, abbe owe everything, abbe owe farmers too,” Ojha articulated.

The miller also opined that if the Venezuela PetroCaribe rice deal had continued, the industry would have stood much better chances as millers would have had more funds in their coffers and farmers would have received their payments.

The publication was informed that despite their complaints, millers have been obtaining successes in finding alternative markets for the rice to be sold. Ojha however observed that more assistance should still come from central government.

“The Government said last year they give $23 billion for rice farmers but we nah hear back nothing more - this year budget they say 6

billion.”

“In the PPP Government, they used to help we with some loans but this Government not helping,” the miller declared.

This publication has also learnt that many of the commercial banks have been reluctant to offer millers re-financed loans.

On this issue, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told this publication Saturday that after his meetings with farmers on the Essequibo Coast, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) made several recommendations to the Government on the best measures to sustain the rice industry.

“We made nine recommendations as to how they could help the rice industry survive. They have not even looked at those recommendations; some of these don’t cost any money to the treasury,” Jagdeo explained.

Many rice farmers would have taken out loans with some pledging their homes and other assets which have led to some becoming bankrupt.

The former President explained that this situation has occurred twice in this country and posited that in previous times, loans were allowed to be re-financed.

“We allowed the commercial banks to re-negotiate their loans without a penalty, without it being classified. The banks did that, they gave a write-off on the part of their interest and some on principal and they restored the loan, so people had longer to pay and they saved their houses, saved their equipment.”

“This Government could tomorrow do that, it would not cost them a cent but they just don’t have any desire to do it,” the former President emphasised.

Another recommendation given to Government was to, “waive the taxes on input or

be paid

Mahendra Tularam, a farmer in Leguan”

for Government lands on the MMA [Mahaica Mahaicony Abary] scheme where people have to pay their rentals for the land.”

The former President surmised that helping the rice millers through “credit facilities” would be one of the ways of getting the farmers to be paid on time.

Guyana Times on Friday interviewed several rice farmers in Leguan who all stated that depleted rice acreage coupled with the money owed by millers have forced many to withdraw from their savings while others had to sell-off significant portions of their cattle.

Arjune Raghuber said the miller owes him $350,000 while Mahendra Tularam, 29, claimed that he is owed $730,000. Tularam called for the enforcement of the Rice Factory Act which he feels would compel millers to pay what is owed to farmers. The farmer explained that millers should pay half the amount of money to farmers in two weeks and the rest is supposed to be paid in 42 days.

Farmers have also complained that the destroyed rice crops cannot provide offspring for future cultivation and have called on government to provide seed paddy in time for the next crop.

Efforts to contact General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board Nizam Hassan on Monday proved futile.

GEA accuses local tabloid of spreading lies

T

he Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has dismissed reports in the tabloid-like Kaieteur Newspaper of alleged fuel smuggling involving officials of the Agency, which it said was seeking to malign the efforts of its “committed and diligent employees”.

The newspaper, over recent days, published a number of articles, which alleged that there was a high level of corruption at the entity responsible for overseeing the local petroleum sector.

In its most recent article published on Friday, February 26, 2016, the newspaper stated: “There is a massive corruption

network in the fuel sector which is poorly managed at almost every level – from purchasing to distribution.”

The GEA refuted as quite unfortunate, the claims that the fuel sector was poorly managed and the Agency was part of a network that abetted fuel smugglers.

The Agency also highlighted that the successes of the fuel marking programme recorded from the time of its establishment to date also bore witness that the allegations were incorrect.

“If the programme is scrutinised, what will be revealed is that in 2004, there was significant smug-

pointed out that it has always sought to strengthen its capacity to effectively combat the issue of fuel smuggling.

Cases of illegalities

gling of fuel into Guyana, with about one third of the fuel used in Guyana believed to have been smuggled. The fuel marking programme was established to combat this issue. The success of the programme can be seen from the statis-

tics which show that from 2006 to 2015 the percentage of sites found with significant dilution in at least one tank has progressively decreased from 34 per cent in 2006 to three per cent in 2015,” the Agency stated.

Further, the Agency

The GEA dismissed as “grossly overstated and inaccurate,” a claim by the newspaper that there were at least two cases of illegalities involving fuel daily in Guyana.

Regarding claims that there was some fuel being imported legally which was not declared, as “everyone” was getting a kickback, the Agency called on anyone with evidence to come forward and present it to the relevant authorities.

It is noted that contrary

to the claims by the publication, the fuel inspection unit of the GEA conducts regular monitoring on the Pomeroon, Essequibo and Demerara Rivers to curb fuel smuggling.

“In addition, such monitoring is done at the confluence of the Mazaruni and Cuyuni Rivers with the Essequibo River, and along the Berbice River. This strategy is done at times with the direct support of sister agencies on the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband. Whenever vessels are encountered on the waterways of Guyana, the standard operating procedure for sampling and testing is applied,” the GEA stated. continued on page 17

17

news

tuesday, march 1, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

The Race to LGE 2016

APNU/AFC candidate in Leguan pledges to improve sport facilities for youth

The ground that Trevor Whyte hopes to rehabilitate

Trevor Whyte

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he Leguan Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has nine constituencies and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition is contesting eight.

Trevor Whyte, a farmer from Amsterdam, Leguan, is the party’s Local Government Elections (LGE) candidate in constituency 7 (Dauntless Bank – Amsterdam).

Whyte told Guyana Times that his main objectives are to acquire ground facilities and create a sports centre which he opined will help to curb drug and alcohol abuse by youths on the island. “[There are) no ground that the children could come and play, [no] sports facility… if we get the ground in order then they could come in the afternoon and we could try to get lights [so they could] play indoor games when [it rains].”

“When dry weather come, we could play outdoor games and keep them away from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes,” expressed the candidate.

Whyte promises that he will advocate in getting “respectable people” who will visit the community and train the youth in sporting activities such as football, cricket, and volleyball.

The candidate also suggest-

ed he will also attempt to have basketball court built.

Whyte further posited that apart from budgetary allocations, he will embark on fund-raising activities to ensure projects are completed and sustained. He cautioned that before these proposed developments can be realised, the NDC must purchase a ground cleared from its private owners. He opined that this purchase will see benefits to the “entire island.”

“We [will buy] the ground from the owner and see the ground become a public ground,” stated Whyte. The farmer also stated that apart from sports improvement, he hopes to address the problems of bad roads and drainage and irrigation.

He opined that the current NDC needs the requisite equipment in order to ensure these works could be carried out. Whyte opined that the council which was recently managed by an Interim Management Committee (IMC) should change.

“If the council (changes) we can get machinery and so to get the drainage clear.”

“If you pass the council you don’t have to ask a question; they don’t have anything inside… the island need a bulldozer to grade the dams, the council (has) no tractor… we have to implement as soon as we go into power,” suggested the candidate.

He also related that he hopes to correct a koker which has been blocked for around two months. He further noted that the trenches have become dry and the animals have been getting a limited supply of water.

To this end, Whyte stated that his party has an upcoming meeting where the needs of residents will be heard. The candidate explained that residents will also hear of their plans to overhaul the NDC. “We’ll change the whole thing, the whole system, we’ll change up… it had no progress,” opined the candidate.

Govt promises house lots for as low as $92,000

By Devina Samaroo

G

uyanese can soon expect house lots to be sold for as low as $92,000, as Government forges ahead with its plans to introduce affordable housing options across the country.

Junior Communities Minister Valerie SharpePatterson, who is tasked with overseeing the housing sector, disclosed during a press conference on Monday that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has the capability of offering house lots at an affordable cost.

Asked what she would define as affordable, the Minister declared, “By affordable, I mean a house lot for $92,000.”

She explained that the CH&PA would be able to offer house lots at such a reduced price by simply cutting the expenses attached to developing housing schemes.

According to CH&PA Director of Operations Denise King-Tudor, the costs for house lots are currently so high because there are numerous factors that are being used to determine the price.

She said the price for land was mainly linked to the cost

House lots for as low as $92,000

for infrastructural development – the monies expended behind installing roads, electricity, and water services within the various housing schemes, along with administrative expenses.

She noted too that for the past five years, lands were being purchased from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and that also influenced the cost.

The Minister, therefore, posited that the costs for land can be significantly reduced through the acquisition of cheaper costs for material and seeking value for money.

“I know before, in many of the areas, we did not get value for money…some of the total costs claimed to be expended in some of these ar-

eas, we did not get value for money … so we are going to ensure this time around, if we say we are going to spend $5 million in this particular area to build the road and put in infrastructure, that indeed that is what is spent,” Sharpe-Patterson stated, noting that she was positive less could be spent while getting the same quality.

Meanwhile, the Minister announced that there were currently no available house lots in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and there were no available low-income house lots in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Nonetheless, she assured that works were being done assiduously to ensure the available lands in these

Regions get the required infrastructure so the house lots could be distributed.

In Linden, SharpePatterson disclosed that the CH&PA has already identified lands to accommodate 2000 house lots.

Housing development is also expected to take place in Bartica, Stewartville, Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Providence, Eccles, Herstelling, and Perseverance.

Moreover, the Minister announced that Government was mulling the idea of developing condominiums to cater for other classes of society.

Condominiums are basically building complexes that contain a number of individually owned apartments.

GEA accuses local tabloid...

The Agency added that locally registered vessels that ply routes within Guyana usually have marked fuel since they would have purchased their fuel stock from local, official sources, while locally registered vessels that ply international routes would purchase fuel from international sources and declare same through customs documents as 'ship stores'.

Internationally registered vessels that come into any of Guyana's ports of entry would also declare their fuel through customs documentation.

The 'Venezuelan' vessels that dock at Ruimveldt are moored in an area that is immediately bounded to the west by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and to the east by the Guyana Police Force (Marine Division). Checks made on these vessels in the past have typically shown

that fuel on board is in the driving tanks.

Drums on board usually contain fresh water or are empty with little indication of fuel being present.

Examination of customs documents generally concurs with fuel present on board.

Notwithstanding, the inspection unit has continued to monitor this area and other wharves where international and national vessels are moored. Surveillance activities and other tactics continued to be employed in these areas to combat cases/ potential cases of smuggled fuel.

The responsibility to track the movement of boats and their cargoes is that of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Boats entering Guyana should be declaring with the Customs boat house their cargo and fuel upon entry and departure. Fuel for the vessel’s

own propulsion is usually declared as ship stores to the GRA. The vessel should check with the GRA on departure to declare said volumes on board to determine whether any was offloaded improperly.

According to the KN report, “the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has been bringing in shipments of petroleum products, including diesel, weekly…What is wrong with the transactions is that the vessels have also, according to documents, been bringing in fuel for third parties. In essence, someone is jockeying and riding free on the vessel while taxpayers are footing the bill”. Contrary to what KN has reported, the GEA is a regulatory body responsible for licensing the importation, distribution, marking and testing of fuel. The GEA is not responsible for the freighting of fuel, rather,

from page 16

the oil companies and other importers are responsible for freighting their fuel.

As a regulatory body, the GEA is not directly involved in the negotiation of prices for fuel imports, but serves as a facilitator in the importation of products through the granting of requisite licences where proposed importers satisfy all statutory requirements. The body subsequently monitors downstream operations through the marking of imported products and licensing of sites to ensure legitimacy in the distribution of petroleum and petroleum products.

The GEA emphasises that its employees must carry out their duties with highest levels of integrity and professionalism, and where there is proven misconduct, action will be swift and condign.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 1, 2016

ARCHIE

Play by the rules in order to avoid interference. Use les(March 21- sons learned from experience April 19) to help you cut through any red tape you face. Trust your judgment and protect yourself against loss or injury.

ARIES

Don’t let stubbornness TAURUS stand in your way. A day (April 20- trip will present an opportuMay 20) nity that will encourage you to use your skills diversely.

Someone will disappoint you.

dilbert

Strive to look at things GEMINI (May 21- from a unique perspective.

June 20) Taking a different approach to relationships, responsibilities and whatever task you are handed will impress someone with clout.

CANCER

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

You will be able to outsmart someone trying to horn in on your plans. Improve your professional and personal life by initiating practical changes that will not result in debt.

A change in partnerLEO ships or contractual arrange(July 23ments will be to your beneAug. 22) fit. Express your interest in helping the children or elders in your life in exchange for a small favour.

Initiate talks with peoVIRGO ple you feel can contribute (Aug. 23to something you are trying Sept. 22) to master or get up and running. Success will depend on the team you pull together.

Calvin and Hobbes

Check out an opportunity LIBRA (Sept. 23- to delve into romance, advenOct. 23) ture or travel. A positive suggestion to someone you love will bring about changes that will improve your life.

SUDOKU TODAY’S WORD – ENDURING

Problems with friends, relSAGITTARIUS atives and authority figures (Nov. 23- are prevalent. Stick to the Dec. 21) truth and use your knowledge and charisma to convince others to see things your way.

(ENDURING: en-DYOOR-ing: Lasting; continuing.)

Average mark 32 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 48 or more words in ENDURING? The list will be published Monday.

YESTERDAY’S WORD – DIETERS deer deet deist desert desire deter diet dire dirt dries driest

ides edit eider ester teed terse tide tied tier tire tree

tried tries reed reset reside rest retie ride rise rite seed

seer sere side sire site steed steer stere stir stride

You should be cautious SCORPIO when discussing your domes(Oct. 24Nov. 22) tic situation or making changes to it. You are best off having a foolproof plan in place before you try to sway someone to your way of thinking.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Don’t donate, lend or borCAPRICORN row money or possessions, (Dec. 22- and be protective of your time Jan. 19) as well. You must keep your emotions in check at all times if you want to come out a winner.

Take control and make sugAQUARIUS (Jan. 20- gestions that will help solve Feb. 19) any problem you face or have with others. Having a viable solution and being willing to compromise will help you bring about positive change.

Say little and learn a lot.

PISCES (Feb. 20- It’s in your best interest to March 20) gather information and make a careful and comprehensive assessment rather than make assumptions. Don’t let your emotions take charge.

tuesday, march 1, 2016

Golyn 10/10 Softball cricket….

Top teams secure wins T

he Golyn 10/10 softball cricket organised by the Guyana Softball League (GSL) and sponsored by Golyn and Sons along with Trophy Stall continued last Sunday with several teams recording victories.

Omesh XI steamrolled Unstoppable XI by 34 runs; Omesh XI took first strike and made 108-5 in 10 overs with Travis Drakes scoring 27 (1x4; 3×6s).

In reply Unstoppable were limited to 74 all out in 9.1 overs With Rooplall Deonarine scoring 15 (1×4; 1×6). Vickram Kissoon took 3-5 from 2 overs.

In another exciting match, Mighty Lions defeated Superbet XI by six wickets.

Superbet XI batted first and scored 80-5 in 10 overs with Jitendra Kishore scoring 17(1×4; 1×6).

In reply Mighty Lions scored 81-4 in 7 overs with Dhaniram Samaroo top scoring with a well-constructed 50 (6×6s).

Prem XI edge Riddim Star XI by two runs in the final over. Prem XI batted first and only mustered

64 all out in 9.1 overs as Rajendra Kumar top scored with 13.

Riddim Star XI were on

their way but a tight penultimate over left them under pressure having to make 10.

The last over was also a good one with them only getting eight runs thus leaving them to rue what would have been a first victory in their first match but they will now have to try again in their second outing.

In the penultimate match, Superstreet XI defeated Power XI by 31 runs.

Superstreet XI racked up 113-8 in 10 overs with Seepersaud Persaud scoring 18 (2×6s). Hanoman Sukhanan took 3-17 from two overs.

In reply Power XI were bundled out for 82 in 9 overs with Ravi Laldeo scoring 16 (2×6s) in 9.5 overs. Shameer Khan took 4-7 from two overs to destroy them.

Maracs XI easily defeated Exclusive XI by 6 wickets.

Exclusive XI made 80 all out in 10 overs and Maracs replied with 81-4 in seven overs.

Ming just misses out on podium finish in Mexico

G

uyana’s Calvin Ming just missed out on a podium finish in the third round of the NACAM Formula 4 Championships at the San Luis Potosi race track in Mexico.

Ming was fastest in qualifying on Friday but during the first qualification run on Saturday morning, his lap time of 1:13.637 was only good enough for fifth spot on the grid.

Ming’s team management said the driver arrived in the pit too late to change tyres and only got to the pit

lane when the qualification segment closed.

Things continued to go downhill, as after the first lap Ming had to retire his car because of a failure of the car’s electrical system.

Heading into the second race of the day Sunday, Ming was forced to start at the back of the 15-car pack and managed to battle his way into fifth position for the third and final race of the day.

In the final race, Ming battled hard but finished fourth. (Digicel Sportsmax) Calvin Ming in his Formula four car

Former Bayern boss Hoeness given early release from jail

F

ormer Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness has been released from prison on suspension after serving half of his 3-1/2-year jail term for tax evasion, Bavaria’s Justice Ministry said on Monday.

The former Bayern Munich player, who was sports director for 30 years before taking over as club president in 2009, was convicted in March 2014 for evading 28.5 million euros ($31.14 million) in taxes.

The 1974 World Cup winner stepped down from his post at Bayern and started

Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness

his jail term in June 2014.

From early 2015 he was able to leave prison during the day and work at Bayern’s youth department before returning in the evening. It is not clear whether he will ever return to the club a senior capacity.

Hoeness was initially charged with evading 3.5 million euros in taxes while investing millions of euros in stocks through a Swiss bank account.

But when the trial began the iconic Bayern official, adored by team fans, stunned the court by admit-

ting he had actually evaded five times that amount - or 18.5 million euros.

That figure was subsequently raised further to 28.5 million euros - a figure acknowledged by Hoeness’s defence team.

Bayern have continued to be successful in his absence and are on track for a record fourth straight Bundesliga crown.

They also reached the Champions League last four in 2014 and 2015 and are in the running for the premier European club title this season. (Reuters Sport)

19

New FIFA head Infantino starts work with friendly kickabout G

ianni Infantino began his new job as the boss of football’s governing body FIFA with a friendly football match on Monday, leaving matters such as his own salary for another day.

“I know you can’t believe it, but it’s not (for the) money that I was candidate to become FIFA president,” he told reporters after a match with employees and guests.

The Swiss said he expected the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup, delayed by the wide-reaching corruption scandal that engulfed the organisation last year, to begin before FIFA holds its next congress in Mexico City in May. The 2018 and 2022 tournaments to be staged in Russia and Qatar must be the “best in history”, he said.

Monday’s kickabout, played in freezing mist at FIFA headquarters, featured two seven-a-side matches involving employees and former professionals.

“Team Infantino” included former Portugal forward Luis Figo and former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro.

Infantino, 45, wearing a No. 9 shirt, ran around enthusiastically, but barely touched the ball.

“The hard work starts now, but I wanted to organise a football match with those who make the game what it is,” Infantino said.

He said he had not discussed his salary following his election on Friday. The pay of his predecessor Sepp Blatter, suspended from football for six years, has never been made public.

The reforms voted in by FIFA last week to help it put the corruption scandal behind it included one on salaries being open to scrutiny.

Infantino appeared keen to get the ball rolling to pick a host for the 2026 World Cup. The process was supposed to have begun last year with a decision due in Kuala Lumpur next year.

“Definitely I think we need to launch the bidding process in the next couple of months, probably before the next Congress in May,” Infantino said.

Gianni Infantino

Under FIFA statutes that prevent the same continent from hosting the tournament twice in a row, it will not be staged in Asia.

“Concerning Qatar and Russia, the decisions were taken in 2010 by the executive committee, but since 2010 there has been speculation and allegations and noise.

“It’s now necessary to organise the best World Cup in history in Russia in 2018 and in 2022 in Qatar,” he said.

FIFA has been forced to investigate the decisions on the two tournaments, and an investigation is also under way by the Swiss attorney general’s office.

The reforms passed on Friday include a separation of powers at FIFA, with a new Council due to replace the old executive committee and decide solely on strategic matters.

A separate general secretariat will run day-to-day operations and, crucially, make commercial decisions.

Infantino rejected the suggestion that he would enjoy less power than his predecessor, however.

“I wouldn’t say I have limited powers,” he said. “I was elected on Friday to be the leader of FIFA. The leader is setting the tone, the leader will have to do some convincing work of course.

It’s not a dictatorship - it’s a democracy, it’s a participation.” (Reuters Sport)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 1, 2016

Pakistan overcome hiccups for 7-wicket win

U

The Pakistan players get together after a wicket (Associated Press photo)

AE’s decision to bat seemed a bit like someone doing away with the veggies so they could get to the meat quicker. All their captain Amjad Javed hoped for was “120 to 130” runs; they got 129.

Pakistan tried to sink their teeth into the target and suddenly found it was more than they could chew. The top three fell by the time the fourth over of the chase began, but Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal buckled down and took Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory in Mirpur.

While that margin indicates it was all hunky dory, Javed’s new-ball burst

and the way he could rally his team together had given UAE a strong chance to record their first victory against a Full Member. He took three wickets off his first seven balls to make his team believe, and then made sure they did not waver by slinging his arm around every one of his bowlers while he was at the top of his runup and clapping his hands until they stung.

Pakistan were 17 for 3 when Akmal and Malik got together. They recognised the momentum was with UAE, but knew they could turn it around. They just had to bide their time, to

keep their wickets intact and take the chase deep so that the ball wouldn’t be swinging and their experience could trump UAE’s adrenaline. The first boundary of their fourth-wicket partnership came off the 15th ball and the next one came off the 31st but overhauling a target of 130 doesn’t take pyrotechnics. Just patience.

There was a moment when UAE could have stormed back. With 40 runs to win from 26 balls, Malik dragged a Mohammad Shahzad bouncer from outside off and the resulting top-edge seemed destined for deep square leg’s hands but

Usman Mushtaq, who was brought into the XI in place of Saqlain Haider, dropped it. Malik reached his fifty with a four and a six off the next two balls he faced and along with Akmal sealed Pakistan’s victory with their unbeaten 114-run partnership.

Javed was in uproar when the catch went down. He could have had a match-winning three-wicket haul after all. He dismissed Sharjeel Khan lbw, but replays showed the ball would have climbed over the stumps. Two balls later, Khurram Manzoor was caught behind playing an unwise cut against a rising ball that didn’t give him the requisite room to free his arms.

Javed’s final wicket of the night though came about because of the room he offered to the batsman. Mohammad Hafeez thought he had an easy put away through the covers but failed to keep his drive down much to the glee of one of UAE’s best fielder Fahad Tariq. The one over he saved for the death turned out to be dreadful as Malik and Akmal caned 23 off it to pull ahead.

That Pakistan would need to huff and puff a bit had not seemed likely when they had UAE at 12 for 3 in four overs.

Mohammad Amir was in the thick of things again, bowl-

Infantino begins search for non-European chief exec

T

he victory celebration over, new FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s first major decision in charge of the troubled world football organisation will be to appoint a secretary general, effectively a chief executive, to run day-to-day operations.

Since FIFA was founded in 1904, it has had 10 secretaries general, all from Europe, the game’s strongest continent.

At an event in London during his campaign for Friday’s presidential election, Infantino said: “I am convinced the general secretary of FIFA should not be a European. Why not an African?”

A source close to Infantino said on Monday that this “did not necessarily mean that an African would be chosen, more than he had not ruled out an African”.

That said, there would be a strong African contender in the shape of the Moroccan Hicham El Amrani.

The Paris-educated 36-yearold became general secretary of the African confederation (CAF) on an interim basis in 2010 and was confirmed in the role in September 2011.

He had previously been deputy general secretary at CAF and worked for the Asian Football Confederation in competitions marketing. He graduated in 2004 from the FIFA Masters course, which was created to train future football administrators from around the world.

El Amrani won the Young Leader of the Year award in 2015 from the ‘Leaders in Sports’ organisation partly in recognition of the way he handled the switch of the African Nations Cup to

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Equatorial Guinea after Morocco withdrew two months before the tournament because of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

“He is very, very capable,” said Swiss-based sports business consultant Joao Frigerio, who knows El Amrani from the FIFA Masters alumni association. “There is no doubt in my mind that he can be a great general secretary.”

El Amrani could not immediately be reached for comment.

NOT RUSHING Infantino said on Sunday that he would not rush into a decision about the secretary general, whose role takes on added importance in FIFA’s new, reformed structure.

Although some of FIFA’s reform documents refer to a “CEO”, a source within FIFA indicated that for “tradition reasons” the title of secretary general is likely to continue to be used.

Infantino might also look to

North America, whose administrators played a key role in swinging votes to the Swiss at Friday’s FIFA Congress in Zurich.

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati is an economics professor at Columbia University and well connected politically in the United States.

This could be attractive to FIFA as it tries to improve relations with the U.S. Department of Justice, which has charged dozens of football officials in the Americas with corruption, and is investigating allegations of bribery and corruption at FIFA itself.

A tweet from sports marketing executive Ricardo Fort suggesting Gulati would be a good choice sparked speculation in Zurich over the weekend.

Fort was until recently a senior vice-president for sponsorship marketing with Visa Inc, one of FIFA’s global sponsors.

Fort said his tweet reflected only his personal view, and Gulati was also not reachable for comment.

Although there is no obvious candidate for the role from Asian football, an Asian candidate might also appeal to Infantino as he seeks to build bridges with other confederations, especially after he beat Asian confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa to the FIFA presidency.

The earliest Infantino could present a nomination would be an Executive Committee meeting in Zurich on March 17, but he may decide to wait until closer to May’s FIFA Congress in Mexico City. (Reuters Sport)

ing a first over that went for only one run and following up with a second that had five dot balls and an indipper that squeezed through Muhammad Kaleem’s limp defences. At the other end, Mohammad Sami made Rohan Mustafa pay for driving on the up by summoning some extra bounce. The batsman spooned a simple catch to mid-off and extra bounce

from the seven-foot tall Mohammad Irfan accounted for Mohammad Shahzad.

Pakistan were barely at full throttle. They even rested their fastest bowler Wahab Riaz to give left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz an international debut. But the rest stacked enough balls around middle and off stump to capitalise on the batsmen’s mistakes. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD United Arab Emirates Rohan Mustafa c Shahid Afridi b Mohammad Sami 1 Muhammad Kaleem b Mohammad Amir 1 Mohammad Shahzad c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Irfan 5 Shaiman Anwar c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Irfan 46 Usman Mushtaq c Mohammad Nawaz b Shahid Afridi 9 Muhammad Usman b 21 Mohammad Amir Amjad Javed* not out 27 Mohammad Naveed not out 10 Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs; 86 mins) 129 Did not bat: SP Patil†, Fahad Tariq, Ahmed Raza Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-5, 3-12, 4-41, 5-72, 6-118 Bowling: Mohammad Amir 4-1-6-2, Mohammad Sami 4-028-1, Mohammad Irfan 4-030-2, Shahid Afridi 4-0-24-1, Mohammad Nawaz (3), 3-026-0, Shoaib Malik 1-0-13-0

Pakistan innings Mohammad Hafeez c Fahad 11 Tariq b Amjad Javed Sharjeel Khan lbw b Amjad Javed 4 Khurram Manzoor c †Patil b Amjad Javed 0 Umar Akmal not out 50 63 Shoaib Malik not out Extras (w 3) 3 Total (3 wickets; 18.4 overs; 87 mins) 131 Did not bat: Sarfraz Ahmed†, Shahid Afridi*, Mohammad Nawaz (3), Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-17 Bowling: Mohammad Naveed 3.4-0-28-0, Amjad Javed 4-036-3, Mohammad Shahzad 4-019-0, Ahmed Raza 3-0-20-0, Rohan Mustafa 3-0-20-0, Fahad Tariq 1-0-8-0.

Ambrose tips Windies to win T20 World Cup -Windies dominate Zimbabwe in warm-up match

F

ormer Guyana Amazon Warrior Assistant Coach believes that the West Indies team call can go all the way in the upcoming tournament.

Curtly Ambrose, the West Indies pace legend and the team’s bowling consultant, backed it to win the ICC World Twenty20 2016. The squad, he said, had numerous match-winners suited for the format.

The West Indies is currently ranked No. 3 in the ICC rankings for T20s and won the ICC World T20 2012 in Sri Lanka. It is placed in Group 1 for the 2016 edition along with Sri Lanka, England, South Africa and the top team from Group B. “Look at the team that we have, half of the team are in demand across the world for different T20 leagues,” Ambrose was quoted as saying by the Antigua Observer. “So you may find one guy here, maybe two in this league and two in another league, but we have all at once so we have a great chance of winning this T20 tournament, just look at our squad.”

Ambrose, who picked up 630 international wickets, called on the West Indies’ senior players to raise their games and guide the juniors.

The West Indies will be without Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine but has enough experience and firepower in Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy.

“The senior players – Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Captain Darren Sammy – have to lead from the front,” he said. “From

Curtly Ambrose

my experience over the years, when the senior players – the guys that we expect to really take the mantle and take the team forward – are doing well, automatically the younger players will step up to the plate.”

The World T20 will be held in India between March 8 and April 3.

The West Indies starts its campaign on March 16, against England in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, West Indies trounced Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in their warm-up game on Monday. Set a target of 154, West Indies raced to the total without losing a wicket in 12.4 overs. Johnson Charles cracked a superb 92 and Andre Fletcher 56 not out. Earlier, Zimbabwe posted 153-7 with Vusi Sibanda making 64. Carlos Brathwaite took 3-23, Dwayne Bravo 2-11 and Jerome Taylor 2-35. (CPL.com)

21

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Windies women unable to stop SA

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risha Chetty and Dane van Niekerk both stroked half-centuries, paving the way for South Africa Women’s 35run win against West Indies Women in East London.

Victory was not of much significance, though, as West Indies had already sealed the three-match series having won the first two ODIs. South Africa, opting to bat, compiled a score of 235 for 6, built on the back of two big partnerships. First, Chetty (55) and Mignon du Preez (43) added 72 for the second wicket, before Marizanne Kapp (39) and van Niekerk provided the innings late impetus by stringing together a 64-run fifthwicket stand. Van Niekerk slammed 55 off 48 balls before being run out.

West Indies, in reply, lost their opener Hayley Matthews early in the chase, but Shaquana Quintyne and Kyshona Knight led a recovery with a 57-run partnership for the second wicket.

However, just when they seemed steady, the visitors lost wickets in a cluster to soon fall to 118 for

5. Merissa Aguilleira and Shemaine Campbelle offered the team some hope by adding 52 for the sixth wicket, but Aguilleira’s wicket in the 43rd over left the lower

order with too much to do, as West Indies could only muster 200 for 8 from their 50 overs.

Masabata Klaas and Sune Luus snared two wickets apiece, while Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka and van Niekerk chipped in with one each.

“It was definitely a much better performance today,” du Preez said after the game. “We’re still not at 100%, maybe 80 or 90% there in terms of the way that we executed our skills.

Something that we’ve been talking about is the fact that the top order needs to score more runs and I think everyone that went in (to bat), chipped in somehow and Trisha (Chetty) and Dané’s (van Niekerk) half-centuries really set up a nice total for our bowlers to defend.”

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

South Africa Women 21 A Steyn b Connell 55 T Chetty+ b Selman M du Preez* b Quintyne 43 39 M Kapp b Matthews L Lee c Campbelle b Dottin 6 D van Niekerk run out (Quintyne/Campbelle) 55 1 S Luus not out Total: 235/6 (50 Overs) Extras: (lb 1, w 13, nb 1) 15 Did not Bat: S Ismail, M Klaas, D Devnarain, A Khaka.

Fall of Wickets: 1-39 (Steyn, 8.5 ov), 2-111 (du Preez, 24.5 ov), 3-152 (Chetty, 36.1 ov), 4-163 (Lee, 39.1 ov), 5-227 (Kapp, 49.1 ov), 6-235 (van Niekerk, 49.6 ov).

West Indies Women Bowling: S Connell 7-0-30-1, S King 5-118-0, A Mohammed 6-0-410, S Quintyne 10-0-28-1, D Dottin 7-0-40-1, H Matthews 9-0-46-1, S Selman 6-0-31-1.

West Indies Women H Matthews run out (Devnarain/Chetty/Ismail) 2 S Quintyne b van Niekerk 40 Kyshona A Knight c Chetty b Khaka 18 25 D Dottin b Kapp M Aguilleira+ c Luus b Klaas 40 B Cooper c Luus b Klaas 10 S Campbelle st Chetty b Luus 27 13 S King not out A Mohammed c van Niekerk 1 b Luus 10 S Selman not out Total: 200/8 (50 Overs) Did not Bat: S Connell.

Fall of Wickets: 1-9 (Matthews, 2.2 ov), 2-66 (Quintyne, 18.6 ov), 3-66 (Kyshona A Knight, 19.1 ov), 4-96 (Dottin, 24.6 ov), 5-118 (Cooper, 32.4 ov), 6-170 (Aguilleira, 42.4 ov), 7-173 (Campbelle, 43.5 ov), 8-177 (Mohammed, 45.2 ov).

South Africa Women Bowling: S Ismail 8-0-42-0, M Kapp 101-34-1, M Klaas 10-0-33-2, A Khaka 10-2-28-1, D van Niekerk 4-0-27-1, S Luus 8-0-30-2.

Khouri elected head of Guyana Karate Federation

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he Guyana Karate Federation held its Biennial General Meeting on Sunday last at the YMCA Building, Thomas Lands, with Amir Khouri elected to head the body.

Khouri will serve in the position for the next two years, and will have Compton Dunbar and Roger Peroune as his Vice-

presidents. Bernice Irving was elected Secretary, while Sandra Britton is the Treasurer and Bhagwandin Persaud the Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.

Honourable Life Member of the Guyana Olympic Association, Ivor O’Brien, was the Returning Officer.

The meeting was attended by members of the various affiliated associa-

tions, namely Association do Shotokan Karate- Guyana (YMCA Dojo), Shotokan Karate-Do of Guyana (Shokoguy- National Park Dojo), Guyana WadoRyu Karate Association, Guyana Shotokan Karate International Federation, Guyana Karate College, National Martial Arts Association and Berbice Shotokan Karate Dojo.

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 1, 2016

GFF/Stag Elite League…

Abrams’ hat-trick sinks Monerdderlust 4-0 – Buxton draw with Pele

V

eteran Striker Anthony Abrams netted a masterful hat-trick to lead the 4-0 rout of on Sunday in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Elite League.

Playing at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Alpha notched their second successive win in the League when they easily disposed of their Berbice based opponents Monedderlust in the latest action.

Abrams who has now scored four goals, two games in a row, wasted no time in giving his team the advantage when he netted in the 10th minute.

The forward who played for Slingerz FC in the League Genesis was a major head ache for the Monedderlust backline as he was constantly making cheeky maneuvers to put them under pressure.

Before the end of the first half he was on the pounce yet

Anthony Abrams

again when he scored in the 38th and 42nd minutes to put his side firmly in the ascendency at 3-0. the youthful As Monedderlust side, came out in the second half with much more attacking flare, they still failed to change the score

“Our ambition is for GFC to be the 1st Professional Club in Guyana” – Faizal Khan

line as the Alpha mid-fielders got possession of many of the “long balls” that the defence played.

Dwight Peters then put the final nail in the coffin when he scored in the 82nd to end an undoubtedly dominating performance.

In the following game, Buxton United held off the formidable Pele to end the game nil all. Pele who on reflection would be ruing the fact the countless chances they had to score goals were left begging, saw a much more spirited performance by the East Coast side, as they earned themselves their first point in the League Finale.

The league continues on Friday with matches at the aforementioned venue, where the Guyana Defence Force play Fruta Conquerors from 18:00h and then GFC tackle Slingerz from 20:00h.

Corona Beer Grasstrack Championship Series…

Ramkumar emerges champion rider of first leg

GFC in their matches to date has shown some spirited performances especially with their new signings.

By Avenash Ramzan

By Akeem Greene

fter a day of heated battle among some of the country’s top grasstrack bikers, Ravin Ramkumar emerged as the points’ leader heading into the second round of the Corona Beer Grasstrack Championship Series at the Ogle Community Centre ground on Sunday.

On a day blessed with glorious sunshine and a large and a colourful crowd in attendance, Sheik Yaseen Promotions in collaboration with Corona Beer and a plethora of corporate entities pulled off the first in a series of six championships this year to determine the overall champion grasstrack rider in Guyana.

Ramkumar has already placed himself as a front-runner, amassing 65 points, five ahead of second place Andrew Wong. Ramkumar, a novice rider, had an impressive outing, chalking up one win and three second place finishes in the four professional races. Wong won three races and gained 60 points.

According to the points’ structure, a win equates to 20 points, second 15 points and third 10 points. Points were only awarded in the professional segment.

Other top riders of the professional category were Avo Ramkumar (two third places), Raj Rajkarran (two third and one fourth), Stephen deNobrega (two fourth, one second and one third) and Mark ‘007’ (one fourth).

There were also three novice races, one for newcomers and another for Chappy bikes.

Ravin Ramkumar made a clean sweep of the novice category, while Raj Rajkarran managed two second and

anager of the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Elite team, Faizal Khan revealed that the aim of the club is to become the first professional club in Guyana.

In speaking to Guyana Times Sport Khan said “our ambition is for GFC to be the first professional club in Guyana; Alpha has a professional team already, we want to be the first professional club and we are working towards that in the next four to five years”.

Khan’s comments came at the heels of a discussion centred on the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Elite League.

When questioned on how GFC is able to sustain itself in the league with such an expansive support staff.

He explained that “It’s a huge financial resource on our club, at the moment it’s all donations from members.

“We have some great interest from corporate Guyana which we are being very strategic about as GFC are in a bit of a different position as we own a ground in the middle of the town so our cost are higher… so we want to make sure the sponsors who come on are not just helping us with the team but helping us run the club more efficiently”.

“Underdog Tag” At the end of the League Genesis, GFC finished in the penultimate position with just three wins from 14 matches; eight losses and three draws. As such, some

M

A

Chief coordinator Sheik Yaseen (left) of Sheik Yaseen Promotions presents the first leg champion trophy to Ravin Ramkumar

a third, Avo Ramkumar one third, Daniel Hardeen three fourth, Steve deNobrega one second, and Vickash Ramkumar one third.

In the newcomer race, Hardeen took the top spot, leaving Donald Ally and Andy Rajkarran Jr to settle for second and third positions respectively.

At the conclusion of the day’s activity, chief coordinator Sheik Yaseen of Sheik Yaseen Promotions said the event was a grand success, noting that it lays the foundation for even greater participation of bikers and spectators at other upcoming meets in the series.

Apart from the races, eight persons were inducted into the first-ever grasstrack Hall of Fame in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the sport of grasstrack racing as an organiser and former racer.

The inductees were Terrence Clarke, Kevin Jeffrey, Stanley Ming, Ray Rahaman, Victor Pires, Mahesh Premsukh, Mazar Mazarally and Brian McIntosh. Yaseen explained that all these former bikers were champions during their time, and are all well respected individuals in the grasstrack fraternity.

Corona Beer apart, the other companies on board were Air Services Limited, Palm Court, Jags Aviation, Crazy Auto Works, Regal Stationery, Auto Fashion, Steve’s Jewellery, Trophy Stall, Andy’s Auto Electrical and Southern Tropical Timbers.

The series will continue on May 1 at Hampton Court, Essequibo. Other events are planned for Berbice, Enterprise and Linden, before the riders return to the Ogle Community Centre for the grand finale. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Faizal Khan

pundits of the sport have labeled them as the underdogs but can be a “dark horse” to some of the top clubs in the league.

In response to this notion Khan said “It is important to remember that GFC drew with Slingerz and Alpha last time; we don’t really consider anybody a big team in the league; anybody can beat anybody and get points from anybody”.

As such, he quickly emphasised the importance of having home matches, stating that “we were only beaten once at home and I would be urging the league to allow more teams to play more games at home, because of the fact that when GFC played in our registered home, we were able to pull some good crowds and fans made the difference with the players”.

Philosophy of Youth “What we did in the League Genesis was that we gave a lot of our talented young players’ maximum opportunity to play, win, lose or draw, we always

went with that philosophy”, the manager posited.

In the first half of the league, the Bourda base club sported arguably the youngest starting eleven in various matches.

“The view was that there was no relegation this year and we try to get a lot of talented under-17s and under20s match time and I think it was a good exercise” he added.

Khan highlighted the fact that “players like Cortez Kellman who was a standout player for us in the first half of the league at just 17-years old; Lynden Dorway at 16-years old at left-back started eight games; forward Romario Welcome scored some important goals for us and other youngsters have really matured and the Elite League has turned them from boys to men”.

However, for the League Finale, the club has made some new additions, in signing three African born players Chimda David Ndagwakwa, Yaaseen Mangera and Kenneth Oparaemetuche; left-back Jamal Gibbs is also a new addition.

When quizzed on his overall assessment of the league he said “I think it’s the fantastic performance that those of us watched when the Golden Jaguars played Suriname; the one and two touch football Guyana were able to play, the fitness of players, is a direct result of a competitive regular National League; so far the Elite League is the best thing that ever happened to Guyana and it must continue”. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.

com)

23 Mae’s continue impressive run in Milo football Fernandes knocked out of Windy City Open W tuesday, march 1, 2016

Some of the action during a previous round

M

ae’s Secondary is shaping up to be one of the contenders in this year’s Milo Under-20 School Football Tournament with yet another win on Sunday as Round four action concluded at the Ministry of Education ground.

Mae’s remain undefeated as they enter the knockout stage and have amassed the second largest goal difference in the tournament so far, second only to defending champs Chase Academy.

Nevertheless, Mae’s topped St Roses High 4-1 for their third consecutive win and qualified for the knockout stage at the top of the group.

Darshan Persaud was the man in form during the win with a hat-trick in the 24th, 59th and 60th minutes. Alex Hopkinson was the other goal scorer in the 44th minute.

Shamar Jones scored the

lone goal for St Roses in the 25th minute.

Queenstown Secondary topped St John’s College 3-0 to barely make it into the knockout stage.

Jermin Padmore scored a double in the fifth and 11th minutes while Vickram Chandranand scored the final goal in the 53rd minute.

Meanwhile former champs for the first time in the tournament will not make the knockout stage of the tournament after 1-1 draw with Tutorial.

Zion Gray opened the scoring for Tutorial with a brilliant strike while Travis Parris equalised in the 34th minute.

Charlestown gained an easy walkover win against Freeburg but will be unable to qualify for the knockout stage.

Action in the tournament will continue on March 5-6 at the said venue.

GCA 1st Division Cricket….

Chanderpaul’s 164 highlights tame draw

F

ormer West Indies Test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul rolled back the clock to stroke his way to an attractive 164 to help Everest Cricket Club (ECC) to a draw against the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) first division, two-day competition on Sunday.

GDF batted first and were bowled for 109. Leon Williams got 29 as Javed Rasheed grabbed 5-18, Troy Gonsalves and Shabeer Khan picked up two wickets a piece.

Everest responded with 255 all out with Chanderpaul leading the way with 164; Akshaya Persaud made 26 and Ronaldo Renee 25.

Randy Lindore captured 3-74, Niall Smith 2-50 and Romario Shepherd 2-56.

Trailing by 146, GDF

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

were 56-4 when stumps were drawn on the second and final day. Kevin Ramdeen was not out on 22; Gonsalves had 3-18.

The competition continues this weekend throughout the city.

guyanatimesGY.com

orld number 24 Nicolette Fernandes suffered a first round defeat at the hands of England’s Jenny Duncalf in the Windy City Open in Chicago, USA. The Guyanese squash ace lost in straight sets to crash out of the tournament.

The game lasted 37 minutes with the first set being the most competitive; as Duncalf was stretched during her 12-10 win.

She would go on to take the second set 11-7, before wrapping up the victory in the third set at 115. Duncalf was seeded 13th in the competition, while Fernandes was unseeded.

Prior to the defeat, Fernandes had finished runner-up in both the Granite Open and the Winnipeg

Nicolette Fernandes

Winter Club Open on the PSA Tour in January.

Whether the defeat will affect her ranking would be known today when the monthly update is made by the Women’s International Squash Players Association

(WISPA).

tuesday, march 1, 2016

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

Corona Beer Grasstrack Championship Series…

Ramkumar emerges champion rider of first leg Pg 22

Part of the action on Sunday at the Ogle Community Centre ground (Avenash Ramzan photo)

Fernandes knocked Ambrose tips Windies to win T20 World Cup out of Windy City Open Pg 23

-Windies dominate Zimbabwe in warm-up match

Pg 21

Nicolette Fernandes lost in straight sets to Jenny Duncalf of England

Curtly Ambrose

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