Guyana Times Daly

Gunman robs, terrorises

Region 2 RDC unanimously rejects increase for Ministers Security officer at CJIA fired for stealing passenger’s money

‘Baby killer’ turns self in to Police R amjattan holding firm to Diwali date decision

Region 5 farmers to

wednesday, october 21, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Child labour high in Guyana – Social Protection Ministry

Aunit to focus specifically on the issue of child labour is expected to be established by the Social Protection Ministry after a recent survey has revealed an alarming high number of Guyanese children are involved in worst forms of child labour.

The findings of the 2011 National Child Labour Rapid Assessment Survey were released by the Social Protection Ministry on Tuesday. The survey found, among other things, that children and young workers in Guyana are involved in the worst forms of child labour, including prostitution.

According to the Ministry, the study was conducted in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Linden, Corriverton, Black Bush Polder, Number 58 Village, Charity, Kwakwani, and Ituni. It was done among three categories of children: 15 years and younger; 15 to 16, and 16 to 18. A total of 532 children and young workers were involved in the survey, which was done during the period April 4 to 15, 2011.

During the survey, the enumerator spent one week focusing on child labourers who were involved in daytime and night activities. The night visits were done at hotels, nightspots and places where child la-

bour activities were deemed prevalent.

The findings released by the Ministry detailed that many of the youths who participated in the research in all three categories, were involved in selling and agricultural activities. It was also highlighted that hidden evidence of prostitution activities were found in all of the age ranges.

Additionally, another troubling fact was that a small percentage of the children and working youths sustained illness and injuries while working. “These occurred while the children and young workers were involved mainly weeding, begging or carrying out sexual activities. Also found was many children and young workers involved in carrying heavy loads and operat-

ing machinery. Some were also exposed to all-weather conditions, chemicals, pesticides, glues, dust, fumes and gases at their places of work,” the Ministry stated.

Furthermore, it was noted that most of the households that the children and working youths were from were headed by single females who had more than one dependant and most times more than one working child. The release added that guardians/parents reported the main reason for the children and young individuals working was to help support their families.

According to the study, 67 per cent of the children in the 15 years and younger category were males, with 40 per cent of this age group not in school and 36 per cent of them employed on a full-time basis. One primary level child in this group had never attended school, the report stated.

In the second category, 15 to 16 years, 77 per cent of the child labourers were males, with 49 per cent of them not in school. While a significant per cent of the children in both categories (19 per cent and 23 per cent respectively) were involved in rice farming, eight per cent of them in both groups were involved in prostitution and stripping.

turn to page 9

'Baby killer' turns self in to Police

Two days after reportedly killing one-yearold Arianne Gill, suspect Marc Angoy on Tuesday turned himself into Police at the Grove Police Station, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in the company of his lawyer.

Angoy, 45, of Buzz Bee Dam Craig, EBD, was subsequently escorted to the Cove and John Police Station where he is being interrogated.

The suspect reportedly went berserk following a split with his lover – Gill’s grandmother Shellon Norton – and opened fire indiscriminately at the woman’s housing, killing Gill and injuring Ashley Wellington.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that after intense interrogation, Angoy confessed to the shooting incident, claiming that he wanted to get back at the woman.

This publication understands that Angoy reportedly told investigators that he and the child’s grandmother started talking while he was in prison a few years ago. The communication started via mobile phone after he accidently dialed her number. Ever since, the duo has been together.

In addition, he allegedly told the Police that he sold marijuana to support Norton financially and he was the

Murder accused: Marc Angoy

reason for her being the person she is today. Angoy reportedly said that despite all that he has done for her, he was upset that she took out a restraining order against him.

A Police source said that the suspect stated that it was with that in mind that Angoy secured a .22 pistol and went to the home of the woman and opened fire. He also allegedly told Police that his intention was never to kill an innocent child – a crime that he will have to live with for the rest of his life.

The file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Norton said that after hearing the gunshots, she saw her daughter with her granddaughter in hand running towards the kitchen area, as the suspect continued to discharge the firearm. Gill’s mother was in the kitchen and she too ran for cover.

On Sunday, Norton stated that she knew that Angoy was capable of hurting people since she had endured his abuse for three long years. She had taken out a restraining order against him, to prevent him from going within 100 yards of her. Norton stated that out of fear, she never stayed at her home in the night and would spend the nights at a cousin’s place in Buxton.

She said that she was physically, emotionally and mentally abused and made a decision to end the relationship which did not go down well with the suspect. In September, he reportedly threatened to kill her and she immediately left the interior.

Guyana Times understands that the injured 12-year-old is recuperating and is expected to be discharged shortly.

Reports stated that Gill of Lot 38 Eastville Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was shot three times by Angoy. The child’s grandmother said that she was in the house when she heard a gunshot and immediately checked on her one-year-old grandchild and her 12-year-old daughter.

Junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes

wednesday, october 21, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, October 21– 11:00h-12:30h and Thursday, October 22 – 12:30h-14:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, October 21– 10:05h-11:35h and Thursday, October 22 – 11:30h-13:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather:

Winds: East to East North-easterly ranging from 2.23 metres per second to 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:39h and 23:09h reaching maximum heights of 2.20 metres and 2.26 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:58h and 16:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.92 metre and 1.05 metres respectively.

Plunging auto sales Tax collections dip $300M on imported vehicles

...signal consumer “loss of confidence” in economy

By Kristen MacKlingaM

uyana’s economy continues to suffer tremendously with both the Private Sector and Government entities recording massive losses in tax collections in comparison to the same period last year.

According to the MidYear Report released by the Finance Ministry, excise tax collections from motor vehicles declined by $309.7 million dollars this year on account of decreases in the number and value of imported motor vehicles.

A source at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday told this newspaper that the effects of the declining economy have severely affected the purchase and importation of new vehicles.

According to the source, at present, the PTT series for motor vehicles is yet to be exhausted and it does not appear that the new PUU series will commence anytime soon.

Every year, there are two series per year. In 2013, the PRR series went quickly and the PSS series began as a result of the high influx of motor vehicles into Guyana.

However, according to the source, it was expected that the PTT series would have culminated some time in September, but due to the ongoing troubles in the economy, this does not seem likely.

“The PTT series most likely will go beyond the timeframe … we at GRA had anticipated. Normally, a series ends after 9999 vehicles have been registered and it was expected that by September, the PTT series would have ended and the PUU series would start. But, according to our registration records, the PTT series will go beyond the end of the year,” the source said.

Guyana Times was told that the suspicion is that registration is slow because the slow growth of the economy. This has resulted in persons not having the spending power or confidence in the economy as was previously demonstrated. Cars are not as large

a purchase as houses, which have suffered an even steeper decline, so it means that individual car buyers are not confident of their income flow from jobs or businesses to make the investment.

This suspicion has been confirmed as auto dealers on Tuesday expressed their frustration at the flattening economy.

Speaking with this newspaper, auto dealers throughout the country said that they were facing difficulties owing to the downturn in the economy. This has had an adverse effect on sales for many of these businesses resulting in a number of owners having to reduce interest rates on vehicles as well as reduce monthly instalments for customers.

Malik Rasheed, a representative from Trans Pacific Motor Spares & Auto Dealers, told this newspaper on Tuesday that for the period of January 2015 to October 2015, in comparison to the same period for last year, sales have dropped at the company at an average of 30 per cent.

“Economy-wise when we compare last year to this year it has slowed up a lot and not just for us car dealers but other businesses too…Because of the slow market we have opted to reduce out down-payment rates to 20 per cent on vehicles and we have reduced our interest rates so that people now have three years to pay for their

vehicles. But with such low down payments, we are hardly gaining any profit, in some cases we don’t make any profits, but we are trying to keep our relationship with our customers,” Rasheed explained.

He emphasised that both the GRA and the Government of Guyana needed to ‘look into’ this situation as soon as possible and to address it for the betterment of all Guyanese.

“We have our promotion running until the end of this year and we are doing all we can to attract and keep customers at the same time, seeing with them. We hope that things pick up soon because we may end up operating mostly on losses. The GRA and Government need to look into the various issues affecting the economy especially for us auto dealers,” he added.

Best Buy Auto Sales owner Richard Singh told this publication on Tuesday afternoon that he has noted a decline in sales for his company.

“There has been a bit of decline and we have seen some patches with ups and downs in sales. Sales are not what it should be at this point in time…We still have our loyal customers and we

are just hoping that things get better because the truth is that the sales aren’t as they are expected to be,” Singh stated.

Guyana Times understands that during the past months many business proprietors throughout the regions in Guyana have been complaining that the standstill and inevitable state of the economy thus far has badly affected profits.

In some cases, persons had to be laid off to ‘cut costs’ as some businesses were not making profits and/or any ‘turn-overs’.

Meanwhile, according to the Mid-Year Report, the country’s economy declined some 2.5 per cent in the first half of this year when compared to the same period in 2014. The report outlined that initially, Guyana’s half-year growth was estimated to be at 0.9 per cent. However, with the passage of time and the benefit of actual first-half performance figures in a number of sectors, the country’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded a growth of 0.7 per cent in the first half of 2015, with non-sugar GDP recording a growth rate of 0.8 per cent. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

According to the Mid-Year Report released by the Finance Ministry, excise tax collections from motor vehicles declined by $309.7 million

Editor(ag): Michael Younge

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Violence in schools

In spite of the prevalence of violence in our schools, the authorities here have not come up with effective strategies to address the issue which seems to be getting out of control at the moment. Just a few days ago, a 16-year-old boy of Richard Ishmael Secondary School was stabbed by another student during an argument over damaged headphones. According to reports, the victim received stab wounds to his neck and chest whilst his assailant received injuries to his the jaw.

Also, not so long ago, there was a video in circulation on social media showing two male students from Christ Church Secondary School being involved in a fight in the school building. Then there was another case in which a 15-year-old student was stabbed with a pair of scissors by a classmate. Over the past few years, there have been many other instances of students violently attacking other students and in some cases even teachers with bottles, knives, etc. over some form of disagreement.

There are reports that several students, particularly males, are forming themselves into gangs and attacking others groups both from the same school and even other schools. And from all indications, teachers and school administrators seem incapable of dealing with the problem. Infact, many have been asking what is the Education Ministry doing to curb these regular occurrences of violence.

The truth is that this is not the responsibility of the Education Ministry alone to address such issues as it could be viewed as a reflection of what the society has become. Hence, it would take a great deal of effort by all stakeholders, including, parents, teachers, social workers/ councilors and community leaders to come up with tangible solutions.

We believe that school violence in its various forms can be prevented or minimized as far as possible, but the necessary action must be taken by those involved. The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) has pointed to research which shows that prevention efforts – by teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and even students – can reduce violence and improve the overall school environment.

No one factor in isolation causes school violence, so stopping school violence involves using multiple prevention strategies that address the many individual, relationship, community, and societal factors that influence the likelihood of violence. According to the CDC, experiences, knowledge, and skills of young people can influence their likelihood of becoming involved in violence. Therefore, strengthening young people’s abilities to effectively solve difficulties that arise and their opportunities to participate in prosocial activities can significantly reduce the risk for violence.

One strategy for addressing these individual risks are universal, school-based violence prevention programs, which have been proven to reduce rates of aggression and violent behaviour among students. These programs are delivered to all students in a school or a particular grade and focus on many areas, including emotional self-awareness, emotional control, self-esteem, positive social skills, social problem-solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork.

Further, positive relationships between students and their peers, teachers, and families can be critical assets in promoting youth’s well-being and preventing school violence. Several strategies to enhance these relationships have been found to be effective in reducing violence.

CDC has pointed to the US model where many school-based programs and policies are utilized to help teachers build healthy relationships, model nonviolent attitudes and behaviours, and contribute to a broader positive school climate, which in turn lowers the risk for school violence. These approaches teach educators effective ways to manage a classroom, resolve conflicts nonviolently, promote positive relationships between students with diverse backgrounds, and create positive studentteacher relationships so that students feel comfortable talking with teachers about violence-related issues.

Also, as stated earlier, there is also an important role for parents to play in preventing violence in our schools. Prevention approaches that involve the family, especially those that start early, can have substantial, long-term effects in reducing violent behavior.

Importantly too is that schools can take numerous steps to promote learning and to reduce negative outcomes, such as violence. These include supporting effective classroom management practices, promoting cooperative learning techniques, providing educators with training and support to better meet the diverse needs of students and providing opportunities to actively engage families among others.

Noise nuisance laws?

Dear Editor,

It is becoming quite clear that citizens of this country do not understand the true meaning of the term 'noise nuisance'. In my neighbourhood, Lusignan, on the East Coast of Demerara, the usual culprits are vehicles equipped with mega stereos and amplifying gadgets, and from stereo sets owned and stationed in homes of some residents.

The trend seems to be popular, since people from different geographic parts of the country are plagued with the same problem. After a tough day at work, and a taxing day at school, it is not fair for law abiding citizens to be faced with an onslaught of pure lawlessness at the hands of these repetitive offenders.

Sub Sections 1 and 2 of Section 175 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, clearly shows how out dated this law is. Urgent revisions are clearly needed to address the loop holes which can be uncovered if it is assessed thoroughly. Revisions are also needed to include the numerous additions which were birthed over the years, through technology and urbanisation. Key stakeholders are vital to the process,

and steps should be taken to allow some form of representation from their agencies.

It is ironic, that laws were set up to implement order, and to protect the citizens of this country, yet when we exercise our rights to upkeep and enforce them, we suffer verbal abuse, sometimes escalating to that of physical threats.

Last November, I took my neighbour to court because they kept having these gatherings at their residence. While I have no objections of what they do in their home, it becomes a problem if it affects my ability, and that of my family, to function.

They party the entire day throughout the night, into the wee hours of the morning, always sporting raunchy behaviour and speech, with the icing on the cake being the obstreperous music they would have blaring from stereos in their house, or vehicles owned by their family, which are always parked on the reserve at the front of their home. This is a habit repeated almost every week. As an adult, this is not the environment I wish for my young, impressionable nieces to be a part of. Not an environment I wish for any

family to be a part of.

What upsets me even further, is the fact that they got away with a measly $7500 fine. For an act that they commit almost every week, I found that to be most dissatisfactory.

Why aren't these offenders given a more serious punishment? If they are to pay a fine for the 'first' offence, why isn't it considerably more? This brings me back to the fact that our laws in general need to be revised, and revised ASAP.

As it relates to the laws governing noise nuisance, I can confidently say that it is hogwash - utter nonsense. Why do we have them when they are not enforced? Why do we waste time and energy pursing the matter in court when it fails to deter the trend? My neighbour and his family are bullies, who use intimidation to freely do as they please. Nothing changed. After the court case, they were quiet for a couple of months, but the cycle now continues. Tell me, was justice served?

We all deserve to have peace and quiet, serenity at home. We all deserve to be free to exercise our rights as citizens of this country, not be condemned to live in

fear when we speak freely. Police Officers need to be more cooperative and proactive – follow up is needed. The Government needs to remember that they are obligated to the people of this country. The Social Sector Committee and bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency should remember their core values and Mission Statements, and have a heavier presence. Finally, the people need to realise that they are not living in their private bubbles, but in communities. They need to exercise consideration for the people living around them. People who are victims also need to speak up and speak out. If we stand united, we cannot be ignored.

I anxiously await to see the plans to be undertaken by the Public Security and Legal Affairs Ministers, and indefinitely His Excellency, President Granger in addressing this growing problem. I highlighted my plight on the Ministry of the Presidency's Facebook page, but to this day I still received not even an acknowledgment of my complaint.

Sincerely, PC

Singh

Ban these super bikes and super cars

Dear Editor,

I am pleading with the authorities in charge to place a ban on these super bikes and super cars on our roadways. They are a complete nuisance to our environment, people's sanity and most importantly, they pose a great danger to our lives. The owners of these super vehicles think they own the roadways and have

no care or consideration for anyone. They race with these vehicles all hours of the day and night and don't seem to have any form of compassion as to how it's affecting the residents who have to bear the brunt of these annoying vehicles. It has truly become a nightmare living on the East Coast, as the East Coast highway seems to

be the venue for drag-racing for these individuals who seem to think or rather know they are above the law. Don't these people realise they are placing not only their lives but those of innocent people at risk when they race with these vehicles? Don't they realise the disturbance they are causing when racing these vehicles at all hours of the day and night? Has lawlessness fully taken over our society, whereby people can no longer distinguish right from wrong? How do we expect to uphold decency in this country if we allow such insufferable things to continue?

Regards, S Khan

Evelyn Buhagiar, of Pacifica, sits next to two pumpkins during the 42nd annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off in Half Moon Bay, California October 12, 2015 (Reuters)

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Freddie goofs on Professor Raymond Smith

Dear Editor, ‘Disgraced columnist Freddie Kissoon has goofed again’ (October 19) – my correction was not published in the other media. Freddie misidentifies the reputable Anthropologist RT Smith, penning: “... the news of the death of one of Guyana’s most learned and prolific scholars, Professor Raymond T Smith… .” Professor Smith was a white Englishman; he was not Guyanese. Yes, he was a scholar, unlike Freddie, who aspired but could not be one.

According to Smith’s website, “he was born in 1925 in England and served in the Royal Air Force before finishing his studies in social anthropology at Pembroke College in Cambridge. Smith, unlike Freddie, graduated with a PhD in anthropology in 1954 and then worked at the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. It was there that he began his field research into economic and kinship studies in the West Indies and particularly in British Guiana”.

Sources say Freddie applied for work at UWI but was rejected as the university was looking for competency but idiocy.

Smith was a Lecturer and researcher at the UCWI (now UWI) when he did research in West Coast Berbice for his doctorate – thesis titled “The Negro family of British Guiana that later became a book”. Later, together with Chandra Jayawardena, the brilliant Sri Lankan who unlike Freddie wrote several scholarly articles in accredited peer reviewed journals, Smith did extensive research on sugar and rice workers on the West Coast of Demerara. He then wrote

his book British Guiana Smith, unlike Freddie, did real field work and gathered authentic data; Smith did not manufacture data like Freddie. Both Smith and Jayawardena did seminal research work on Guyana, something Freddie has failed the nation and researchers like myself are grateful to these two outstanding scholars.

Smith has written extensively on ethnicity, kinship, ethnography, urban poverty, race and class, gender, social change, etc. He knew the pluralist Caribbean well. He lived in Jamaica and spent time in Guyana. He studied both Indians and Africans and their tense relations.

Raymond Smith understood the history and culture of Indo-Guyanese and their struggle for acceptance/respectability in the society. He recognised that Indians were victims of racism, not very dissimilar from what existed in apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia. Also he empathised with Cheddi Jagan who Smith recognised was engineered out of office by the Americans and British who embraced the opportunistic Forbes Burnham. He was sympathetic with Jagan’s politics to empower the poor and working class and the struggle for the restoration of democracy; Smith studied and wrote about class conflict. He knew Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party were robbed of office by the US.

Smith, after moving around for a while in academic circles, settled down at the University of Chicago from where he retired as Emeritus Professor in 1995. Smith also taught at McGill University, Montreal; Freddie should know about McGill as several Guyanese

studied there. It is interesting that Freddie said he studied Smith’s work, but he never quoted the scholar’s writings (especially on ethnic relations) in any of his articles – that is odd!

Smith did not pursue any recent research on Guyana and did not undertake any recent trips to Guyana (not since the restoration of democracy in 1992). Thus, it is not known whether he feels Guyana was better off under colonialism. But few would disagree with Freddie that Guyana and most former colonial societies are economically and socially worse off today than under White rule.

Freddie said Smith’s book titled British Guiana was required reading. Freddie claims he studied History and Philosophy. Smith was not a historian or Philosopher; he was an Anthropologist. I did several courses in Anthropology at CCNY and undertook ethnographic studies on Indians in Guyana as well as examined Miskito Indians of Nicaragua and Honduras; my research supervisors –Professors Fremont Besmer and Williams – recommended that I consult Smith’s work on “Negro family life in Guyana” as well as MG Smith’s work on Indians in Guyana (Cultural Pluralism and Ethnic Politics). Those are required readings for anthropologists (or political scientists), not historians, on Guyanese ethnographic or political studies.

One can’t quite understand why Freddie is engaged in all of these name droppings to gain credibility and impress people. That is all a fake as Freddie got caught again.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

What recruitment agency?

Dear Editor,

A recent news item in at least one section of the media informed that the Government of Guyana has engaged a recruitment agency to conduct the “search” for suitable candidates to head the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). The article did not name the recruitment agency neither did it give any information about the methodology to be employed in the conduct of this search.

Could the Minister of Business advise how the recruited “recruitment agency” intends to conduct this search and whether this post will be advertised?

Investment promotion and facilitation are critical to a country’s development particularly at this time when the global economy and trading patterns are undergoing significant change. There are scores of countries currently in active pursuit of investment in their economies. Just last week there were more than 30 countries aggressively touting the advantages of their investment climates and incentives to US businesses at the Florida International Trade and Cultural Conference and Expo held at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Centre. Among those countries were Britain, Germany,

France, Bahrain, China, Peru, Brazil, Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica. Haiti, Macedonia and Sweden, which I cite as examples given the geographic spread and varying size of their economies.

Guyana needs investment in new sectors of the economy. One sector that received significant attention at the conference was the creative industries.

Two papers, one entitled “Toward Financial Impact: Import/Export of Caribbean Creative Industries” presented by Trinidadian Marielle Barrow, of the Washington, DC-based organisation Caribbean Intransit and the other; an Inter-American Development Bank study done by Ramesh Chaitoo entitled “The Entertainment Sector in Caricom: Key challenges and Proposals for Action” were among the papers discussed at the panel that focused on ‘The Importance of Culture in the Global Economy.’

According to Ms Barrow, Guyana has significant potential for investment in, and development of its creative industries sector. She has visited Guyana but is of the view that unlike Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, Guyana is still to place significant emphasis

on the structured development of this sector.

The Government of Guyana must ensure that the search for a new Chief Executive of Go-Invest is conducted in such a way that as many suitable candidates as possible can be considered for the position. This will only be possible if the methodology of the search ensures that the vacancy is well advertised.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

Page Foundation

Part 1: When your child says “I don’t care”

BY JAMES LEHMAN, MSW

Are you facing the new school year with dread because you have an unmotivated or underachieving teen or pre-teen? Is your child’s answer to everything, “I don’t care” or “It doesn’t matter?”

In Part I of this two-part series, James Lehman explains why your child does have motivation – and how you can coach them to better behavior.

The first thing to understand about teens and pre-teens who seem to have no motivation is this simple truth: It’s impossible to have no motivation. Everybody is motivated – it just depends on what they’re motivated to do.

I think it’s helpful to see that rather than being unmotivated, these children are actually motivated to not perform and to resist their parents. In other words, they’re motivated to do nothing.

Parents often think that if they can find a new way to encourage their child, he or she will magically start achieving more. I don’t think it’s like that at all. In fact, I think the problem is that these children are motivated to resist, withdraw and under-perform. In effect, instead of acting out, they’re acting in.

Think of lack of motivation as an action problem – and the action is to resist. These children are making excuses; they’re pushing their parents away. At school, they’re motivated to resist studying and homework. They’re also motivated to resist their

teachers. Look at it this way: these children are motivated to say “I don’t care,” either with their words or with their actions. They’re saying those words; they’re telling you what they’re doing – they’re not caring.

How can parents motivate their teen or pre-teen?

Once you realise that your adolescent is motivated to do nothing, it will become obvious to you right away that he

they use it like a soporific or a drug. “I don’t care” also helps them deal with their anxiety. Fear of failure? “I don’t care.” It’s hard to do? “I don’t care.” It dismisses everything.

Frankly, you can’t make your child care. Let’s be honest, the old saying, “You can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink” is true. But understand that while we can’t make our children drink, we can certainly try to make them thirsty.

actually puts a lot of energy into doing that “nothing.” He puts a lot of energy into resisting you, to withdrawing from you, to making complaints. When you talk to an adolescent who’s an underachiever, what you hear are a lot of errors in thinking.

“I can’t; it’s too hard; it doesn’t matter; I don’t care.” In fact,

“I don’t care” is their magic wand and their shield – it takes off pressure and makes them feel in control all at the same time. The words “I don’t care” empower them. When they start feeling anxious about their place in life, it soothes them to say it doesn’t matter;

9 ways to get through to your underachieving child or teen Look at what your child likes: Look for things that can be used as rewards for your child. Make a point of observing what your child likes and enjoys now. And don’t take his word for it; he’ll tell you he doesn’t care about anything; that “nothing matters.” But look at his actions – if he watches a lot of TV, plays on the computer, if he likes video games or texting, you know what he likes. Ask yourself: does he like going to the movies? Does he like going fishing? Does he like taking

walks? Take an inventory of the things he enjoys and write it all down on a piece of paper. (While I usually recommend that parents sit down with their children and draw up this list together, in the case of children who tend to withhold, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Don’t ask a child who uses passive aggressive behaviour; because he won’t tell you –remember, withholding is his way of maintaining control.) Later, you can use these things as incentives.

Take the goodies out of his room: I think underachieving children should not have a lot of goodies in their rooms. Look at it this way: their room is just a place for them to withdraw. If you have a child who holes up in his bedroom, the computer should be in the living area –and if he’s going to use it, he should be out there with other people. He also shouldn’t have a TV or video games in his room, and if he’s not performing, don’t let him have his cellphone, either. I also want to be clear and state that it’s important to realise that there’s a difference between being motivated to do nothing and being completely withdrawn. A child who won’t attend to his work or do his chores is different from someone who’s depressed. If your child won’t come out of his room, doesn’t seem to care no matter what you take away, and is often isolated and withdrawn, you have to take that seriously and seek professional help. (empoweringparents. com) TO BE CONTINUED

As parents and teachers, you are the first line of support for children and teens. It’s important for you to have an open line of communication with them and build a sense of trust. When your children and teens are having difficulties, you want them to feel comfortable turning to you for help.

Just as important, is the ability to identify when your children are struggling emotionally. Children and teens tend to internalise their feelings. If something is troubling them, they may not speak up and ask for support. Sometimes, they don’t realise that help is available. So, it’s essential for parents and teachers to be able to detect when something is wrong and how to approach your children and teens.

Getting your children to open up and talk to you can feel like a challenge. The following tips can be helpful in starting a conversation and understanding what’s going on in their lives.

Make them feel safe

You want to put children and teens at ease so they feel comfortable talking to you. It

is essential to make it clear why you are talking with them. Children especially are fearful that they may be in trouble or are being punished if they are pulled aside to talk. Reassure them that this is not the case that you are there to offer support. Parents might consider scheduling a time to talk one-on-one on a regular basis, such as having lunch with your child or teen weekly or biweekly.

Listen to them

Take the time to actively listen to what your child or teen has to say. Many times, all children or teens want is someone who will listen to them. Try to understand their perspective before offering suggestions. Sometimes your own anxiety can prompt you to try to fix everything. But in many cases the best help you can offer is to listen attentively.

Affirm and support their need for help

If a child or teen tells you they’re feeling sad or upset, for example, tell them you’re proud of them for sharing their feelings. Let them know you appreciate the courage it took for them to talk with you and for trusting you to help them. If your child seems to need more help than you can provide, consult with an appropriate professional. You may want to start by talking to the school psychologist.

Be genuine

Try to avoid speaking from a script. Teens can tell when you’re not being genuine. If you are open, authentic and relaxed, it will help them to be the same.

Don’t be afraid to say I don’t know As a parent or teacher, it is okay to admit that you don’t have all the answers. However, if a child or teen asks you something, you should make every effort to find an answer or someone who can help.

Warning signs of suicide: Suicide is preventable

The two most important steps in preventing suicide are recognising warning signs and getting help. Warning signs may include significant alcohol or drug use, a sudden drop in school performance or talking about death or hurting oneself. If you believe your child or student is in crisis, call 911 immediately and stay with him or her while help is on the way. (www.apa.org)

92 Cuba trained Guyanese doctors jobless

...Govt unaware of situation – Dr Norton

By Alexis Rodney

Two months after they graduated from the Guyana-Cuba Medical Scholarship programme, some 92 doctors are unsure of how soon they would be given the go ahead to begin practising in Guyana.

In fact, while they have already passed through orientation and underwent the required three-day Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM) programme, they are yet to receive any information from their employer –the Government of Guyana (GoG) on the way forward.

On Tuesday, a number of the newly-trained doctors complained bitterly to Guyana Times about the un-

clear future they were now facing.

“We are being given the royal run-around by the au-

thorities,” one doctor who wished not to be named told Guyana Times on Tuesday.

The doctors, who are all

Region 2 RDC unanimously rejects increase for Ministers

Councillors of the Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) from both the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) have unanimously rejected the salary increases for Government Ministers.

At the statutory meeting for the month of October, the issue was raised by Regional Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah and discussed by the Council.

Coonjah, during her address to the Council, said that it was disappointing that the Government saw it fit to increase the salaries when rice farmers across the country, particularly those in Region Two, have been calling for help.

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt in his address to the RDC said that the disrespect shown to farmers by the Government was worrying.

Ramdatt said such disre-

spect came at a time when rice, coconut and other crop farmers and the business sector in the region are struggling to survive.

According to Ramdatt, the new Government is yet to deliver on its “immediate” promises and the increase in salaries for Ministers is a” pure example of insult to citizens”.

Following the presentation, the Council moved a vote and unanimously rejected the salary increases, calling on President David Granger to reverse the decision.

Amid the massive public outcry, President Granger sought to defend and justify the decision to have hefty salary increases for Ministers.

According to the Head of State, the salary increases will eventually translate to good governance. State Minister Joseph Harmon had stated that the salary increase decision was made to ensure Ministers and Government officials are paid an attractive salary so as to discourage them

from being corrupt. Minister Harmon defended Cabinet’s decision to increase its own pay by millions of dollars, declaring it “justified”. The Minister’s statement sent shockwaves throughout the country, given the fact that Government and its Ministers have only been in office for four months.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams had stated that the process of increasing the salaries was ‘transparent’.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman had asked Guyanese to trust the Government and to understand that the decision by Cabinet to increase its own salaries was justified.

In the Official Gazette published on September 25, it was revealed a Cabinet Minister would be given a hefty sum of $10,439,124 annually. It is further detailed that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would be benefiting from in excess of $20 million per annum, while the other Vice Presidents would each receive $11,135,064.

scattered across the country, graduated at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in August. After taking the Hippocratic Oath, they were assured by Government, which was represented by Health Minister, Dr George Norton and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, that the Government was “committed and resolved to providing opportunities, facilities and services equally, to our citizens on the coastlands as well as in the hinterland”.

Some two months after, however, according to the students neither the Health Ministry nor the Public Service Ministry (PSM) can give them any assurances.

After completing their six years in Cuba, upon their return to Guyana, the students were required to complete a one-year stint at hospitals across the country. During that time, they were being paid a stipend. However, according to them, the last time they were paid was in August of this year.

At that time the PSM, which was responsible for them during the one-year period, related that they were being placed into the hands of the Health Ministry.

“Many of us have families. Some have children, some have spouses. It is not fair that some of us still have to depend on our parents… grown people depending on our parents, after they supported us for six long years,” another doctor said.

Astonishing

According to the doctors, the issue before them is their signing of a contract, which will in essence seal their commitment to the Government and the people of Guyana.

The doctors explained that if they did not sign a contract, they cannot just simply show up at any medical institution to work. “It would be illegal,” they say.

The situation has reportedly caused a number of doctors to seek alternate sources of income.

“We don’t have money, what’s there left to do?” another questioned

Speaking to Guyana Times on Thursday, Dr Norton said he was taken aback by the revelation, since it was the first time he was hearing about the issue. He said more than likely, that issue would fall under the purview of the PSM.

Efforts to contact the PSM and new Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Morris Edwards have all proven futile.

At the graduation, Minister Harmon said he looked forward to the continuation of the programme. He praised the graduates and noted that the local health-care sector had been given a further boost with the addition of the newlytrained doctors.

The Public Health Minister, who himself had benefited from the training programme, in his charge to the graduates, urged the new batch of doctors not to see their graduation as the end, but the beginning of much more to come as he noted that it was his belief that service delivery required continued training.

This latest batch of doctors began their training in 2008. They returned last year after a one-year training at medical institutions around the country.

Some of the Doctors during the graduation ceremony in August of this year

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt (right) and Regional Vice Chairman and Juliet Nandranie Coonjah

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

wednesday, october 21, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wanted bulletin issued for Berbice River murder suspect

The Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for Haman Kumar Bowham, called “Roy”, for questioning into the murder of Curtis Harris who was killed on October 10 at Gateroy Village, Berbice River.

Police stated that the 33-year-old suspect’s last known address is Lot 94 Theatre Alley, New Amsterdam, Berbice. It was reported that Harris who was an alcoholic was killed following a cutlass fight while imbibing at his home on the day in question.

On the day of the incident, Curtis Harris, 58, a cattle farmer, reportedly went home drunk and began to shout at the carpenter who was renovating

his home. This led to a fight between him and the suspect, during which Harris was allegedly chopped on the right arm.

He reportedly collapsed and was transported by his son via boat to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he died before receiving medical attention. The suspect has since fled the scene and was seen in the area since.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Haman Kumar Bowham called “Roy” is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 225-8196, 333-2191, 3332151, 333-2485, 911 or the nearest police station. All information received will be treated with strict confidence.

Security officer at CJIA

fired for stealing passenger’s money

Asecurity officer attached to a private agency who was contracted by an airline was fired for stealing a quantity of US currency from an outgoing passenger at the

Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The female officer was reportedly processing the passenger at Gate 1 around 17:21h on Friday last when she swiped the cash from

the passenger’s wallet, and placed it in one of her gloves.

When the victim realised the money was missing, she immediately alerted staff in the vicinity. The securi-

Eyew tness The fatted calf…

…for Presidents?

And here it was your Eyewitness thought that the new Government was “one for all and all for one”. Why! Nagamootoo, a man of great literary erudition and wit, had actually referred to the “Three Musketeers”! But sadly as the exploits of the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition are exposed, it’s clear it's “all for ourselves and our own” – when any fatted calf’s being divvied up.

Whether it's their Cabinet or Board appointments… it’s been literally “jobs for the boys – OUR boys”. Even the “inside” sisters had to complain. Then, of course, there’s the infamous “salarygate” that's still playing out. Here, while one puny, starving calf was thrown at the public workers – who’d been promised a hefty, fatted calf – a whole herd of rotund 50 per cent calves were sacrificed for the Ministers. Crazy!

And now comes Pressie’s promise to make President’s College into the “top” science school in the country!. What the heck’s going on? What happened to the other secondary schools in the country? Are they chopped liver? How far will this taking of the “favourite son” bias be taken? What next? Spending a billion dollars to spruce up Georgetown while the rest of the country sinks into swamp?

ty officer was subsequently searched and the money was discovered. It was returned to the passenger.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the incident was reported to CJIA’s management by a relative of the passenger on October 18 and an internal investigation was immediately launched. Upon viewing the airport’s security footage, the story given by the relative was confirmed.

Meanwhile, the head of CJIA’s Security Department was in contact with the passenger’s relative, and on Monday last, the relative was informed of the findings of the investigation and action taken against the security officer. The matter was reportedly to the Police and an investigation was launched.

Man remanded for gun, ammo possession

Aman was on Monday remanded to prison after he was charged for possession of a gun and ammunition.

Natolan Martin appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to the charge which read that on October 17 at East La Penitence, Georgetown, he had in his possession a .38 automatic pistol with six matching rounds.

Martin pleaded not guilty to the charge. Bail was refused and he was remanded.

If we remember our history, education was supposed to pull us all out of the cane fields (or whatever other fields into which we were dumped). All of us. But while we supposedly reached the Promised Land with “universal education”, we all know the fly in the ointment is that some “education” isn't worth squat because of the state of some schools. In Guyana right now, our school system’s more “separate and unequal” that in the worst days of Jim Crow in the American South.

The schools in Georgetown are so far ahead of all the rural ones, it’s mind boggling that of recent, we do get some top fliers from the latter. But that’s simply a case of the exceptions proving the rule. In the previous Administration, one Education Minister promised that all the secondary schools in the country would be brought to the same level as the “top” ones in Georgetown. And there would be no dog-eat-dog fight to her into the latter. Children would be able to become somebody right in their own backyard.

Never happened. And going by the promise to bring back President’s College to what its founder – the great elitist Burnham – had envisaged, it ain't never gonna happen. In its heyday during the People’s National Congress regime, more resources were expended on President’s College than ALL THE OTHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS COMBINED.

But this cannot last much longer, can it? How long is long? Not long!!

…not for sugar

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry has submitted its report on what they see ahead for the Sugar Industry – meaning the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the cane farmers of Guyana. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that ain't no fatted calf will be sacrificed for them. From where this Eyewitness stands it’s not even a matter of another “seven lean years” for the beleaguered sector – it’s time for some radical surgery.

The only reason the Government didn't start cutting the patient right after they went into office was because there was only so much humiliation they could heap in the heads of Ramjattan and Nagamootoo. Even though Granger had said the industry was going to be closed, Nagamootoo had persuaded him to change his tune. Until the election was over at least.

So to save face, the British’s old ploy of forming a CoI to “investigate” and recommend what has already been decided was launched.

But GuySuCo won't be shut down in one fell swoop. This will be “death by a thousand cuts”!

…for Nagamootoo’s junkets

Seems that news of the Asset Recovery Unit looking into the ownership structure of Ogle airport has made those “fat cats” propose a “flag carrier” to facilitate Nagamootoo’s junkets!

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

Murder suspect, Haman Kumar Bowham called “Roy”

BBCI toll fallout

Berbice River taxis, Minibus Association seek truce

Even as the Administration has introduced a river taxi service at the Berbice River, causing much conflict between the boat and minibus operators, the Government has now sought to have a truce between the parties.

Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry Annette Ferguson has indicated that a meeting with the Route 56 Minibus Association saw a proposal being submitted for review and consideration.

“They (the Association) suggested that Government should seek to have a schedule of the river taxis made available, so they can go back to working between the hours of 09:00h to 14:30h, then commence working from 17:00h… that’s the kind of arrangement they had while the pontoon was being operated,” Minister Ferguson explained to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

She added that when the pontoon was providing ferrying services, minibus operators worked around its schedule.

This kind of arrangement, once implemented, will see both types of services being able to have a fair share of what commuters spend daily on transportation.

The Association pointed out that for years, minibus operators plying the Georgetown-Patentia or Parika routes, have coexisted with the operations of the Stabroek to Vreeden-Hoop ferry services.

The move to reintroduce water taxis to cross the Berbice River was made after Government was unsuccessful in getting the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) to reduce the toll to cross the Berbice River Bridge by $300.

The reintroduction of the boat service across the Berbice River had also seen hire car operators on the New Amsterdam side of the river re-establishing a service from the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling, which is considered a lucrative route to operate. Hire car operators around New Amsterdam charge $100 per drop, but those operating from the Stelling charge $140.

However, this sparked a protest from minibus operators who ply the New Amsterdam to Rosignol route who claimed to be losing significant revenue as a result of the stiff competition against the heavily subsidised Governmentoperated ferry system, which sees pensioners, schoolchildren, nurses and teachers travelling free of charge.

Child labour prevalent...

Interestingly, among the older working individuals (16 to 18 years), one per cent was involved in sex work with the majority (40 per cent) being involved in retailing. During the 12 months prior to the survey, 12 per cent of the working children and young workers suffered illnesses and 42 per cent said the injuries were work related. Of that number, 49 per cent had to stop school to recuperate.

The younger children, the survey outlined, were paid $6000 per week and worked mostly for less than 32 hours per week, while the older children (16 to 18) worked for $8000 weekly but for longer hours. Moreover, it should be noted that not all of the children in the younger age group were paid.

In light of these troubling findings, the Social Protection Ministry has detailed some actions to be taken to tackle the is-

sue. “While the findings of the survey are troubling to say the least, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Social Protection, will take urgent steps to address this problem since were aware of the debilitating effects of child labour. Our nation’s children and youths are our future and they should be provided with the best possible opportunities to ensure they achieve their full potential,” the release stated.

In addition to the establishment of the Unit, which will be expected to create strategies to address this phenomenon, including the poverty factor, other planned measures include: enforcement of the requisite laws that cover child labour; removing working children off the streets and ensuring they are in school; and providing more funding to facilitate labour inspections.

wednesday, october 21, 2015 |

Gunman robs, terrorises Providence teen

Amother and her teenage daughter are now traumatised after they were terrorised by a lone gunman in the wee hours of Tuesday morning at their Providence, East Bank Demerara, home.

According to reports, Elisabeth Thomas was at her Lot 856 New Housing Scheme, Providence home

with her 15-year-old daughter when the lone gunman removed three louvers from a window to gain entry into her home.

Thomas told this newspaper at about 02:00h, her husband, who is a sand truck operator, left home to go to the sandpit.

She said that she heard an unusual sound and was

awoken just to see a man jumping over her bedroom wall.

“I ask who is it and the man said “don’t get up or I gon shoot you” and he come down from the wall,” she stated.

The woman added that at the time she was on the bottom of a double bunk bed, while her daughter was fast asleep on the top bunk.

According to the traumatised woman, the gunman ordered the teenager out of her bed to join her mother on the bottom bunk.

“He said he want all the money and gold, and that he has two persons waiting outside. So he hold my daughter, wrap her hair around his hand and pulling and dragging her. He was cuffing and choking her too, asking for money,” the woman said.

Thomas told Guyana Times that she handed over the valuables she had in the house in fear for her daughter’s life. These included two cellular phones, a laptop, jewellery and a quantity of cash.

The woman further stated that she got on her knees and begged the bandit not harm her daughter. “He put us to lie on the floor and lock the room door then run out through the back door,” she told this newspaper.

According to Thomas, the entire incident lasted for about 30 minutes. However, she could not say whether the man indeed had accomplices waiting outside since she and her daughter remained in the room for about 20 minutes before they came out and alerted neighbours of the robbery.

The incident has left the woman and her teenage daughter traumatised and scared for their safety. Moreover, Thomas claimed that this is not the first time a robbery has occurred in the area. She noted that there are no safety measures for residents there, pointing out that street lights are not even installed in the area.

One of the rooms that the gunman ransacked

Mid-Year Report “flawed” – Dr Luncheon

…Guyana’s oil prices tied to PetroCaribe, not world market

Former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon has described as “flawed” the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration’s analysis regarding the fluctuation of oil prices on the world market and how the benefits were passed down to the public here.

The recently-released Mid-Year Economic Report said that under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, the benefits of the global decline in petroleum products were not being passed on to the consuming public.

It also stated that while overall “Customs and trade tax collections remained stable at $5.9 billion, in the first half of 2015… Excise tax collections totalled $15.2 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion. This resulted from a $3.2 billion increase from petroleum products.”

The report continued, “Increases in petroleum products were due to increase in excise tax rates applicable on imports of

gasoline and diesel oil in 2015 when compared to the rates applicable in 2014. During the period January to June 2014, the excise tax rates applicable on gasoline and diesel oil were 20 per cent and 15 per cent respectively as compared to 50 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively, from January 20 to June 31, 2015.”

This essentially means that the previous Administration had more than doubled the taxes on gasoline (20 per cent to 50 per cent) and increased by almost 100 per cent the taxes on diesel (25 per cent to 45 per cent).

But in an invited comment, Dr Luncheon rubbished this claim, noting that while the Government’s analysis may seem reasonable, Guyana was not purchasing fuel from the world market and as such, the domestic price for petroleum products has to be taken in the context of the PetroCaribe Agreement, where Guyana and other Caribbean countries were buying fuel from Venezuela at a concessionary rate.

He explained that when

Former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon

world market prices skyrocketed, signatories to the PetroCaribe Agreement were still enjoying relatively low oil prices. As such, he said it would have been unreasonable to ask the Venezuelans to lower their price when world market prices declined, adding that the agreement had a direct impact on the fuel price adjustments locally.

The APNU/AFC Administration has been continuing with the policy of excise tax adjustment although since the change in

Government, the economy has flattened out and badly needs stimuli from all quarters to get it moving upwards.

Dr Luncheon said the new Government was now in a better position to lower the excise tax rate on fuel, since the PetroCaribe Agreement with Venezuela has collapsed and Guyana would now be procuring its fuel at the current low world market prices.

Cheaper fuel will significantly bolster productivity in the manufacturing sector; reduce the input cost in the agriculture sector, including for rice and other crops, and help to jumpstart the ailing local economy by allowing for a greater circulation of cash.

Many businesses bypass the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and generate their own electricity, and lower fuel prices would have a direct buoyant effect. GPL bought most of its fuel from Suriname at the world market cheap prices, and it also was allowed to make huge profits, since its rates were approved by the Public Utilities Commission two years ago when fuel was more than two-and a half times costlier.

All of these pressures have helped to dampen business activity in comparison to competing economies even in the Region.

To add salt to the fuel ‘wound’, the Mid-Year Report also revealed that Guyoil, which was formed specifically to induce competition in the consumer petroleum market by selling gasoline at the cheapest possible prices, also refused to pass on savings at the gas pump and raked in record amounts.

Quality adjustments

Satiricus was surprised the Government wasn't telling the citizenry the truth as to why they took the bigtime salary increase. Satiricus knew TrotMan had confessed the decision “wasn't an easy one”. “Gosh darn it!” exploded Satiricus, “You should think so!! It just wasn't fair!” Satiricus knew that the truth was never going to be told and this was because all these men and women in the new Government were “quality” people.

And quality people didn't let on when they did noble deeds. This was part and parcel of being “quality”. When TrotMan had been asked to describe the 50 per cent salary heist hike, he’d said honestly, “Fifty per cent is not astronomical, a hundred per cent is astronomical; 50 per cent is fair and five per cent is shitty.”

Now Satiricus knew that people knew what TrotMan said sounded bad. But that was a measure of the quality in TrotMan who was very much a quality person. Quality people could bear any burden so as to serve the people.

Satiricus hoped all the quality people in the Government wouldn't be angry with him for telling the truth about their noble deed. And the truth was that ordinary people could not understand abstract ideas.

During the election campaign, all the quality people now in Government had told the people that all they wanted to do was to make the people “live the good life”. But every where they went, people would ask them “Is wuh is good life?”

So after the election all the quality people, who were now members of the quality Cabinet sat around their quality table with Pressie as Chair, not Naga Man, who didn't know how to “chair” to decide what to do.

“I know wha we can do,” said Naga Man as he put up his hand like the bright quality boy in the class.

“Wuh?” asked Pressie, who could chair meetings, sharply. “De people don't know wha is de “good life”.” said Naga Man, “They not quality people. So let we tek a 50 per cent raise and den we can SHOW dem wha is de good life!”

“That is simply brilliant Naga,” said Pressie, “But it’s not easy living the good life. You, Naga, will have to spend $1.7 million in salary and $400,000 in perks even though the Government will pay for your house, food, clothes, car, chauffeurs, maids, guards and first class tickets to fly to Texas and Toronto. You think is easy spending all that money when you are a quality person and you don't have any expenses?”

“It's a dirty job, Pressie, but somebody got to do it.” said Naga Man. “I am willing to tek de money so the people will learn how to live de good life of quality people. But all of us will have to be willing to join me in this sacrifice. If you willing, show yuh quality hand!”

Pressie interrupted. “Naga, is how many times I tell you. I have the burden to chair this Cabinet meeting. All in favour say Aye!”

“Aye!!!!” Screamed the quality Cabinet in unison.

“The quality Ayes have it!” Said Pressie.

Sophia chopping spree suspect captured – after two years on the run

After almost two years on the run, Shawn Fordyce, the man who chopped his wife and three daughters at Sophia, was arrested in Georgetown and is expected to be slapped with several attempted murder charges.

According to reports received, the man was arrested on Tuesday morning at North Road and Church Street, Georgetown.

On August 2, 2013, Fordyce went berserk and chopped his wife, Dorothy Blackman-Fordyce; and his daughters 20-year-old Latoya

old

and

Attorney Wanda Fortune. Fortune sustained about three lacerations to her back and another to her head, while Wilson was chopped once to her neck; her mother sustained two chop wounds to her head, which has left her with a fractured skull and the 12-year-old sustained wounds to both her hands.

It was reported that the suspect used a cutlass and chopped his wife before turning his attention to the others. The man had fled the scene and had been on the run until his arrest on Tuesday.

Wilson, 12-year-

Donette Fordyce

Attempted murder suspect: Shawn Fordyce

wednesday, OctOber 21, 2015

GRA strengthens enforcement division to tackle smuggling – Finance Minister

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is currently in the process of strengthening its Law Enforcement and Investigative Division (LEID), as the authority moves to seriously tackle the issue of smuggling.

In a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Finance Minister Winston Jordan explained that the GRA is now focusing on several additional areas of tax collection and law enforcement, to ensure compliance with the laws.

shifting staff and strengthening the various departments, and that these necessary changes will become visible in the coming weeks.

beef up enforcement and anti-smuggling activities, because smuggling is still big business in this country.”

to commend the GRA and its staff.

The Finance Minister explained that at the moment, the GRA is in the process of

Referring to a recent meeting with GRA’s Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur, Minister Jordan explained, that “I particularly asked him to

The Minister is of the view that it is time that revenue agencies have a significant part of their staff in the fields, rather than operating out of air conditioned offices. He however, paused

With regard to stamping out smuggling, the Minister explained that an assessment of the Berbice AntiSmuggling Squad (BASS) was done, and it was discovered that it was a duplication of the LEID, “so we have now moved to strengthen that LEID, both in terms of training and staff, and to have a major presence in that area.”

Speaking on gold smuggling, Minister Jordan related that over time, if one were to do an assessment or take a careful observation of this sector, the findings would state the obvious.

Police nab two after high-speed chase –

narcotics, cash found; MMC guard injured

Police on Tuesday arrested two “known characters” during a high-speed chase along the East Bank Demerara (EBD) Highway, which resulted in a MMC security guard receiving injuries after the vehicle in which he was travelling turned turtle.

Road, Eccles before ended at the Atlantic Petroleum Gas Station, Eccles.

According to a staff at the gas station, the white Allion existed the street at a fast speed turning left onto the Public Road. The female staff member further related that she then noticed a

The incident occurred sometime around 13:00h in the vicinity of Eccles, EBD.

Guyana Times understands that a blue SUV motor vehicle, in which two plain clothes officers were travelling gave chase to a white Toyota Allion motorcar, which the two known characters occupied.

The chase started at the Eccles Industrial Site Access Road and proceeded into Old

blue SUV giving chase.

The woman recalled that one of the officers from the SUV fired a shot into the air, causing the Allion to stop in front of the gas station.

The officers exited the SUV and went to the car, she said. “They went and search the guys in the Allion. They (Police) then lock-up the car and take the guys that were in it to their vehicle and left… There were two guys in the Allion,” she said.

The motorcar bearing registration number PSS 9566 was left in the vicinity of the gas station when this newspaper visited shortly after.

Civilian injured

During the chase, four ranks attached to MMC Security Force Inc were travelling in the company’s open back pick-up along the Eccles Road, when they ended up in the midst of the high speed chase. In an attempt to get out of the way of the vehicles involved in

the chase, the vehicle toppled at the junction of Eccles Industrial Access Road and the East Bank Public Road. One of the guards sustained injuries to his head and was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre for treatment.

An official from the security company later told Guyana Times that the injured guard was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was given an X-ray and administered saline.

“He seems to be doing fine... He said he took a hard hit in his head but the X-ray showed no damages or broken bones. Right now (late afternoon) he is still at the hospital and is conscious,” the official said.

When contacted by this newspaper, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the Police was involved in the chase.

He disclosed that the two men, identified as Howard Rambarose and Lloyd Sadloo are known characters to the Police. Blanhum noted that on Tuesday, the

Police received a tip about some suspicious men moving around in a motor vehicle in the Eccles area.

According to Blanhum, the plain clothes officers responded to the report which led to the chase and ultimate apprehension of the two men.

Keeping it real

Nexus between ministerial salary and good governance?

The current imbroglio around the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition Government’s decision to increase salaries for its Ministers, and the blitzkrieg of protest following this decision saw Government officials scrambling to defend the decision. Two things seem clear. One, this was a conscious and collective decision made by the Granger Cabinet, with full support from the AFC.

Two, President Granger, our learned historian, has come out in strong support of the salary increase. The buck stops with Granger. If Granger feels that objections are being raised by disgruntled members of the opposition, then he surely does not have his fingers on even his supporters' pulse. If the reactions in Guyana are not loud enough, then one simply has to look at social media responses and the negative reactions to this surprising move. Clearly, the honeymoon period for the new regime is over.

The PPP, while in office, may have contributed in several ways to make corruption seem normal after they did not move to extirpate the endemic corruption under the PNC regime and secondly in their own practices. Granger seems to be gambling that because the perception of corruption was so strongly associated with the PPP Government, it will not stick to his regime. However, as neutral voices have rightly queried, what authoritative body is monitoring ministerial workload? How was this pay scale determined? And how is it justified by cost of living adjustment? If we follow the logic, Granger is telling us that PPP Ministers before May 11 were underpaid, while the new Government seems hard-pressed to prove widespread corruption cases under the previous regime.

Clearly, like most Third World countries, corruption does have a toll on the Guyanese economy, though it is difficult to quantify the extent, even with longitudinal studies over many years. To make sense of this, the Corruption Perception Index produced by Transparency International (TI) in 2014 ranked Guyana at 124, Haiti at 115, and Suriname at 100 and the US at 17, all out of 175 countries and territories. It is interesting to note that some of the fastest growing economies of the world, such as Indonesia, India, Brazil and China, are also deemed the most corrupt in the world, according to TI.

But how does Granger defend this untimely and unexpected move to allocate a large 50 per cent increase in salary for Ministers, with a mere five per cent given to civil servants. According to Granger, the pay increase will promote “good governance”. Since we cannot read his mind, Granger is probably thinking that if Ministers are paid handsomely, the tendency for public officials to engage in malfeasance and graft and accept bribes from citizens will be minimised because they [ministers] will not be tempted to steal from the cookie jar.

On the surface, this seems plausible. But is this really true? Does a high-paying job deter corruption and the temptation to engage in corrupt practices? Corruption exists in society because moral values have collapsed. Rich or poor, people are always tempted to steal. Measures of corruption and poor governance are more correlated with per capita income and with the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Richer countries, on average, have less reported corruption and better functioning Governments. The same holds true for countries with high levels of HDI, a measure that includes levels of health and educational attainment as well as a logarithmic measure of income. In other words, very high levels of human development are associated with low levels of corruption.

According to the World Bank, governance refers to “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development". In broad terms, governance is about the institutional environment in which citizens interact among themselves and with Government agencies/officials. A number of multilateral organisations, including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, have conducted studies that have reflected on the elements of good governance, and on their relation to development.

In its report, Governance for Sustainable Human Development, the UNDP, as well as the World Bank, has identified some key factors that contribute to good governance, namely respect for the rule of law, transparency in government, government responsiveness and accountability, consensus-building, and, effectiveness and efficiency. A central feature of transparency in government requires that Government officials publicly declare their asset before they take office. An increase in salary not based on desired experience or ministerial performance (we are told that APNU/AFC Ministers have more responsibility and the salary structure is out of touch with reality) is frowned upon and smacks of Burnhamite arrogance.

The conclusion is clear. Salary increases may have little or no influence on good governance. Corruption is a common barrier to economic development. Instead of allowing funds to flow safely and efficiently between groups, corruption adds overhead costs to projects and usually demands bribes for bypassing bureaucratic red tape. In effect, Granger claims to be using the public coffer to combat corruption. There is no guarantee that this will work because the correlation is difficult to establish. What the Granger Government should be focusing on is realistic measures that have a more direct impact on corruption, such as improving the rule of law, transparency, creating an effective Ombudsman, and better mechanisms for detecting and punishing corruption.

Another conclusion can be drawn: The problem of corruption in the developing countries like Guyana cannot be solved simply by applying anti-corruption structures that work in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries or those with high HDI. The experience the latter countries have acquired in terms of legislation, public procurement codes, institutionalised procedures, multiple check points, and control procedures, for example, is valuable, but may take generations to develop in Guyana.

A reduction in corruption is tied to economic development – which this Government is ignoring.

However, arguing that a salary increase can lead to good governance without creating institutional changes in the way we are being governed is like building a house without its foundations.

Dr Baytoram Ramharack

The Allion motor car that was left outside the gas station located in Eccles

Lloyd Sadloo

Howard Rambarose

Dynamic Int'l Airways to boost Guyana’s agri sector

Although Dynamic International Airways faced some turbulences as it commenced operations in Guyana, the airline will soon expand its services which will see Guyanese in the Diaspora benefiting from fresh fruits and vegetables produced in Guyana.

At a press conference held at Duke Lodge,

Kingston, Georgetown, local representative of Dynamic International Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia disclosed that the visiting team would have had successful meetings with several government officials and was extremely pleased with the outcomes.

Gouveia stated that one of the most important discussions was held on how

Dynamic International Airways can boost the agricultural sector. He stated that the airline can carry a maximum of 10 tonnes of cargo but this would mean that the products will have to go through tight scrutiny even if it means physically examining the goods.

He nevertheless stated that during the discussions, the Government commit-

Ramjattan holding firm to Diwali date decision

– hundreds of Essequibians sign petition for change of date

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is holding firm to his decision that Diwali will be observed on November 10 despite the uproar from a majority of the Hindu community, who are claiming that the official date should be November 11.

In another section of the media, Ramjattan stated that he had received a letter of complaint from the

Veerat Sabha as it relates to the November 10 date for the festival of Diwali. He had reportedly sent the letter to the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), Dr Vindhya Persaud who claimed that the date was November 11, the darkest night of the year. It was also mentioned that Ramjattan contacted pandits and a leader from Trinidad and Tobago, who all support the November 10 date. The Public Security Minister also shared that

in support of November 10, he has received some 89 signatures from pandits nationwide.

He clearly stated that under the law he is the one who holds the authority to make the announcement as to when holidays should be celebrated and had done nothing else than stated, another media entity noted.

However, thousands of Hindus living along Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) have signed on to a petition, supporting the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha on celebrating Diwali "the festival of lights" on November 11.

The Executive Members of the Essequibo Praant of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha have also noted their dissatisfaction at the recent announcement made by the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to change the date from November 11 to November 10. This recent

ted to having the necessary scanning equipment in place by the time the initiative actually kicks off.

Gouveia stated that this initiative will auger well for the local farmers who have had tremendous challenges in exporting their products. This he added will give farmers a sense hope. However, he could not say when the operations will commence.

Chief Operations Officer of the Airline, John Mullings added that he was happy at the way discussions went and is optimistic about the agricultural initiative. He stated that the aircraft is a Boeing 767 and has a lot of space, explaining when the initiative materialises, it means that Guyanese in New York will benefit from fresh fish, vegetables, fruits

and other produce.

In the same way, he added that Guyanese at home will also benefit since the business community can take advantage of the cargo service.

With respect to the permission to transport cargo, James Swollen, another member of the dynamic team explained that the Airlines had secured permission from the relevant authorities in the US since 2011 but that document had to be amended.

“It is not a case that we got the document from DOT overnight, we have had the document since 2011”. The amended document was submitted to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and once clearance is given, the operation will start.

Meanwhile, Mullings ad-

mitted the there were some turbulences when the airline started its operations here but was happy to announce that the Guyanese market has flourished which is testimony to the fact that Guyanese have been loyal to the airline. As a result, he stated that they are ready to invest further in Guyana since they recognise the potential, viability and loyalty of the Guyanese market.

“Our viability in Guyana and other destinations have helped the company to add ‘International’ to the official name as a reflection of our transition into a long haul”, Mullings state.

The airline presently travels five non-stop flights to the US and this is expected to increase as the Christmas season approaches.

declaration has caused serious controversy among pandits and Hindus.

According to President of the Essequibo Praant, Pandit Kydar Persaud, he is encouraging Hindus throughout Guyana and the Essequibo Coast to light their diyas on November 11. The prominent pandit gave an explanation that Diwali occurs annually on Amawasya (new moon) of the Hindu month of Kartik.

President

It is the 15th day in the dark half of Kartik and it is the darkest night of the year. According to the pandit, that would fall on November 11 in Guyana.

According to another praant member who is also the Vice President of the Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir Mandir, Reema Natram also noted her disappointed over the move.

From left: Chief Operations Officer John Mullings; local representative, Captain Gerry Gouveia and James Swollen

of the Essequibo Coast Praant of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Pandit Kydar Persaud

Dr Vindhya Persaud

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Venezuela leader wants economic zone for Caribbean and Latin America

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is advocating the establishment of an economic zone

for the Caribbean and Latin American. He says the economic zone should be part of a production and economic plan

aimed at curbing the region’s high import bill.

During a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell in Grenada over the weekend, the Venezuelan leader also suggested the establishment of a commerce and purchase agreement with Caribbean countries. “I insist that we need to create an economic zone in the region. We need to produce locally,” Maduro said. “We need to have a production and economic plan. Venezuela, with all its challenges, we are still importing billions. We need to curb this.”

During the talks, Prime Minister Mitchell also lamented his country’s high import bill compared to the high level of food production. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Antiguan Govt targets 2030 for climate change readiness

Antigua and Barbuda has given the international community details about its plan to adapt to climate change. The targets include insurance for farmers and standards for the importation of vehicles.

Last week, Antigua and Barbuda gave the United Nations Fund for Climate Change, a detailed plan on exactly how the country will play its part to mitigate against climate change in coming years.

The plan was presented ahead of next month’s important climate talks commonly known as COP 21. They will be held in Paris. Antigua and Barbuda’s officials indicate they want to increase the country’s seawater desalination capacity by 50 per cent, over the next 10 years.

The document says as well that by 2030, the Government plans to have all buildings improved and prepared for extreme climate events, includ-

ing drought, hurricanes and the flooding, which recently affected Antigua.

In communicating its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution, the government indicated that by 2030, an affordable insurance scheme should be available for farmers and fisher folk as well as for residential and business owners to help them cope with losses resulting from climate variability.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Tivoli Enquiry: Man said to be of unsound mind shot 10 times – PME

The man of unsound mind said to have been killed by lawmen in an apartment in Tivoli Gardens was shot 10 times, the Tivoli Enquiry heard on Tuesday.

The post-mortem examination was referenced by Lord Gifford, the Queen’s Counsel representing the Office of the Public Defender, during his questioning of witness Lancelot Bailey.

Bailey said he couldn’t tell the number of shots fired but that he heard a lot of shots fired on the night of May 24, 2010. He had testified earlier in his Examination-in-Chief that the man, 31-year-old deCorey Wright, was killed in

his (Bailey’s) apartment and that two soldiers brought down the body wrapped in a sheet from his house.

Bailey said that as far as he knew, Wright ?never had a gun and that there was no gun inside the apartment. He described Wright as a peaceful man and said he was a cabinetmaker before he got ill.

Earlier under cross-ex-

he never saw any gunman in the community leading up to the operation to apprehend then don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke nor did he see any gunman on the day Wright was killed. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

T&T Govt to probe $40M bill for 3-day event

Planning and Development Minister Camille RobinsonRegis says the new PNM Government is probing a three-day event under the former People’s Partnership Government which cost taxpayers an estimated $40 million.

She raised the issue during her brief presentation to the Standing Committee of Finance in the House of Representatives on Monday.

Later in an interview with reporters, RobinsonRegis said: “We have clear evidence of the Americas Competitiveness Forum cost-

ing in the region of $40 million for probably about three days and our competitiveness index did not improve.”

She added: “$40 million was spent on a three or fourday forum, additionally, the corruption index increased and so we have that to grapple with in that ministry.”

Robinson-Regis said there were “also instances of other activities taking place that are not above board in the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) and we will be examining all those areas.”

In the Standing Committee former planning

and sustainable development minister Caroni Central MP, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie made several unsuccessful attempts to raise questions on the matter.

House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, who chaired the five-day meeting, repeatedly told Tewarie he was seeking to raise questions under the wrong head. That prompted Tewarie to say: “This is not a school. It is a Parliament,” causing the Speaker to demand that he withdraw the comment. After some moments Tewarie later withdrew the remark. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Clinton emails reveal foundation donor lobbied for Haiti hotels

Adonor to the Clinton Foundation reached out to then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s office to promote a Haiti hotel project that later received support from the US Government and former president Bill Clinton, according to emails released by the Department of State.

Richard L Friedman, a Boston hotel developer emailed Cheryl Mills, Clinton’s Chief-of-Staff, to tout the project on May 17, 2011, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

“We had a good meeting

with Jean-Louis, Marriott executives, [the Overseas Private Investment Corporation], etc regarding building hotels in Haiti – I am pursuing this vigorously and hope to be able to develop two to three hotels with Marriott as Manager,” wrote Friedman. “I am talking with Commerce and Export/Import Bank today.”

Friedman said he recently had a discussion with Hillary Clinton at the White House and asked Mills to forward her a note for him. It is unclear what

he and Clinton discussed, and portions of his email have been redacted by the State Department due to “personal private interests.” The note he asked Mills to send to Clinton is also redacted.

“I will keep you informed about our progress in Haiti –we are going to need all the help we can get,” Friedman wrote Mills. Friedman contributed between $1000 and $5000 to the Clinton Foundation and gave $2300 to Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2008, records show. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

IDB and CDB fund Sustainable Energy Facility for Eastern Caribbean

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) have signed off on the Sustainable Energy Facility, a US$71.5 million loan and grant package that will fund renewable energy and institutional capacity projects in six Eastern Caribbean countries.

The signing by Presidents Alberto Moreno of the IDB and Dr William Warren Smith of the CDB took place this morn-

ing at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami, ahead of the start of the annual Caribbean Renewable Energy Conference. The IDB noted that Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines are island states with small and isolated electricity markets, lacking the scale necessary to import cheaper fossil fuels, such as natural gas, and inadequate development

of renewable energy potential. And it said the SEF can change the energy matrix of those countries and increase energy security, which is critical for these economies to be competitive.

“This operation has the potential to trigger a radical transformation of the energy matrix of the Eastern Caribbean,” said Christiaan Gischler the IDB’s team leader of the SEF. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

amination from Deborah Martin (representing the Jamaica Constabulary Force) and Peter Champagnie (for the Jamaica Defence Force) ? Bailey said

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (left) with Grenadian Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell (right) during the former’s visit to Grenada on Saturday

Eritrean envoy to Israel calls for arrest of lynch mob

The Eritrean Ambassador to Israel has called for a thorough investigation and subsequent arrest of those who shot and beat an Eritrean migrant who later died of his wounds in southern Israel.

Tesfamariam Tekeste told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that he asked the Israeli Foreign Ministry for a full investigation into the incident in the city of Beersheba after he was notified of it by the Eritrean community.

Haftom Zarhum, a 29-year-old Eritrean migrant, died in a Beersheba hospital on Sunday night after he, mistaken for an accomplice of a suspected attacker that killed an Israeli soldier, was shot by a security guard and kicked by bystanders.

A video published online following the incident purported to show the Eritrean being kicked by several people as he lay bleeding on the ground.

“I was very saddened when I heard the news.” the

Eritrean diplomat told Al Jazeera.

Israeli Police have not yet made any arrests two days after the incident.

The private security guard who shot the unarmed Eritrean was questioned by the Police and later released, Israeli Police Spokesperson Mickey Rosenfeld said.

“We have arrested no one at this point, but we are still looking for people for questioning over this incident,” Rosenfeld told Al Jazeera.

Footage released online from the bus station clearly showed faces of some of those who participated in the lynching, which Al Jazeera’s reporter in Israel Elias Karram said, included two Israeli officers. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Migrant crisis: Arrivals to Greece top 500,000

The number of migrants who have arrived in Greece this year has topped half a million, the United Nations said.

The rate of people arriving has risen to 8000 a day, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees said, with many hoping to beat winter weather.

Most migrants then head north from Greece, but bottlenecks are forming in some Balkan states.

Slovenia is to deploy its Army to its border after being overwhelmed by numbers entering from Croatia.

The number of migrants reaching Europe has reached record levels in 2015:

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says more than 650,000 arrived so far this year, compared with 280,000 last year. The UNHCR says the number of migrants arriving by sea this month is already more than five times

higher than the total for October last year

At least 3135 have died making the journey – compared with 3,279 throughout 2014

Most travel from Turkey to Greece, and while summer months usually see the most arrivals, the number of people reaching Greece increased in October.

UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said European Union countries –

who last month agreed to relocate 66,000 migrants from Italy and Greece – urgently needed to establish welcome centres as part of the deal.

“Obviously Greece is doing what it can, it’s pulling in additional Police,” she said.

“But we need to repeat over and over again that it is of utmost importance here that reception conditions be established and be adequate to this enormous task.”

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Hong Kong ‘forced shopping’ attack sees tourist killed

AChinese tourist has died in Hong Kong a day after being beaten up during a so-called “forced shopping” tour.

Operators of such discounted tours try to recoup costs by pressuring tourists to buy goods at selected stores.

Police said the victim, 54, intervened when a fellow tourist got into a fight with a tour guide after refusing to buy anything at a jewellery shop.

At least four people have been arrested and the Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) expressed regret over the incident.

“The HKTB has zero toler-

ance for any act that impacts the hospitable image of Hong Kong, particularly acts of violence,” it said in a statement.

The victim, a male building contractor from northeast China, was found lying unconscious outside the shop in Kowloon on Monday morning.

He tried to mediate in a fight between two womenbelieved to be the tour leader and one of the tourists - before he and the female tourist were attacked by a group of men who dragged them onto the street and beat them, police said

The two women, aged 32 and 53, have been arrested,

Around the world

Canada's new Liberal PM Trudeau under pressure to perform

Canada's Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau, having trounced his Conservative rivals, will face immediate pressure to deliver on a swathe of election promises, from tackling climate change to legalising marijuana.

Trudeau toppled Stephen Harper's Conservatives to win a majority on Monday, giving him the freedom to start implementing his campaign pledges largely unimpeded.

The 43-year-old son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was swept to victory with 39.5 per cent of the popular vote in an elec-

tion that saw the highest voter turnout since 1993.

The win marked a turn in political fortunes that smashed the record for the number of seats gained from one election to the next.

The centre-left Liberals had been a distant third-place party before the vote.

Trudeau campaigned on a promise of change, striking a chord with Canadians weary of nine years of Conservative rule. Harper resigned as party leader after the defeat.

"When the time for change strikes, it's lethal," former Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said in a television inter-

view.

Trudeau, a telegenic father of three, also returns a touch of glamour, youth and charisma to Ottawa.

Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper asked "Is Justin Trudeau the sexiest politician in the world?" while an Australian news website was more direct: "The votes are in and Canada has come out of its election with a super hot new leader."

The Liberal leader will have to quickly start delivering on his promises to change policy, beginning with a United Nations climate change summit in Paris in December. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Delhi readies for India-Africa summit

Massive efforts are underway to spruce up the national capital, ensure uninterrupted power supply and arrange foolproof security ahead of the upcoming four-day India-Africa summit, one of the most “important events” being hosted by Delhi in the last three decades.

Representatives from 54 African nations, including Heads of State of some 40 countries, and the African Union are expected to participate in the summit. They will put up in hotels across the city. This would be the third India-Africa Forum Summit.

Lieutenant Governor

Najeeb Jung Tuesday held a review meeting ahead of the meet, starting on October 26, with all stakeholders, including Delhi Chief Secretary and other city and central Government officials, Police Commissioner and civic body heads among others.

Jung emphasized that a 24X7 control room should be set up in such a way that all the nodal officers of different organisations should be connected in the event of any emergency situation.

“Hit teams and snipers teams from NSG are being deployed. Personnel for body shield group

Xi Jinping visit:

“will be lifted to

and evacuation groups for VVIPs have been earmarked. Mass-evacuation plan by deploying CAT Ambulance and other logistics have been charted,” an LG house release said. Jung exhorted that from the national perspective and from the Delhi perspective, “this is one of the most important events that Delhi will be hosting.”

“Power companies should be sensitised for ensuring uninterrupted power supply at the all places connected with the summit. All tourist spots should also be spruced up and provided required security cover,” he said. (Excerpt from Times of India)

UK-China ties

new

height”

along with two men, one a 44-year-old Hong Kong resident and the other a 32-yearold mainlander. Police say they are still searching for two other suspects.

On the mainland, the man’s death prompted calls for a boycott of travel to Hong Kong.

China has introduced measures aimed at stopping the practice of forced shopping, but they have had little effect.

Tensions between Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese have been rising as the number of mainland visitors has increased. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China’s President Xi Jinping has said he believes his visit will lift UK-China relations to a “new height”.

The United Kingdom and China were becoming more interdependent and a “community of shared interests,” he told MPs.

Earlier Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, took part in a procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where a state banquet will be held later.

The visit comes amid job losses in the UK steel sector, with cheap Chinese imports among factors being blamed.

Tata Steel has an-

nounced the latest in a series of cuts, with 1200 jobs going at its plants in Scunthorpe and Lanarkshire. Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will raise the steel issue in talks with Xi.

Addressing peers and MPs in the Royal Gallery at Westminster, the Chinese leader said that although his four-day visit had just started, he was “deeply impressed by the vitality of China-UK relations”.

“Although China and the UK are located at opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, we have a long shared deep mutual affection,” he said.

In an 11-minute speech, the President quoted Shakespeare as well as ancient Chinese proverbs, and referenced the involvement of Chinese troops in the Normandy landings in World War Two. He was introduced by Commons Speaker John Bercow, who praised Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and “the innate human right of freedom”.

BBC China editor Carrie Gracie said this would be perceived as a “bit of a dig” at China on the issue of human rights. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Eritrean Ambassador Tesfamariam Tekeste

The number of migrants reaching Greek shores is at record levels

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh welcomed President Xi as he arrived at Horse Guards Parade

wednesday, october 21, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Republic Bank launches 8th Apprenticeship Programme

Republic Bank

Guyana Limited on Monday welcomed its eighth batch of youths for the Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme at a simple ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

This new batch comprises 31 young men and women from various schools across Guyana. Over the next seven months, the ap-

prentices will experience classroom and on-the-job training across the Bank’s network of branches, thus enabling them to be more marketable in their career pursuits.

They will also be exposed to community care and will learn how to understand the needs of the less fortunate through the “Care-A-Van” as-

pect of the Apprenticeship Programme.

A day of fun and relaxation is also part of the experience when the group visits a local resort and enjoys a day of team building.

It is important to note that this group of individuals will be the second set of apprentices to benefit from the Competency Based Education (CBE)

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Hands off religion – Diwali date is a matter for Hindus to decide, not Government

Iwill celebrate Diwali on November 11, in spite of Ramjattan’s edict that Diwali 2015 is November 10. I am hopeful our Hindu brothers and sisters will come together and celebrate Diwali on the same day. I absolutely think that this is a matter for Hindus and not for the Government to dictate.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

programme which was introduced in 2014.

At the end of the programme, successful apprentices will receive a National Vocational Qualification Certificate as a Certified Bank Clerk, issued by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET). The certificate can be used when seeking employment for certain entry-level jobs.

Republic Bank Guyana Limited Managing Director Richard Sammy, in his address to the apprentices, said the Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme was specifically formulated to aid the development of young men and women and to facilitate their successful transition from school to the work environment. He added that since the programme’s launch in 2008, 188 students have been enrolled from every community served by the Bank in Guyana.

He believes that this programme offers young people a unique experience and affords them an opportunity to be positively impacted, both personally and professionally. This initiative also supports Republic Bank’s quest to build successful societies.

To the apprentices, Sammy advised them to be actively involved and committed to the programme in order to attain success. He told the individuals that it was their responsibility to embrace this opportunity for self development.

The Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme was introduced in Guyana in October 2008 after being part of the Republic Bank Limited Trinidad and Tobago Power to Make a Difference initiative for more than 20 years. The programme was developed to bridge the gap between the end of the participants’ school life and the start of their career.

A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) decided arbitrarily, disregarding the advice of the largest Hindu organisation in Guyana, to gazette November 10 as Diwali Day. The Dharmic Sabha advised the Minister of Security that the date for Diwali ought to be November 11. Instead, Mr Ramjattan decided he does not need advice from the Dharmic Sabha and has officially designated November 10 as Diwali Day. Other smaller Hindu groups have also been ignored. The Minister decided that another group of Hindus who recommended the November 10 date is good enough for him.

I am not a Hindu scholar and I will not encroach on the business of those who must decide which day is the legitimate Diwali date. I do know that Diwali is also a gazetted holiday in India and several other countries around the world. In India and the other countries where Diwali is a holiday, the gazetted holiday for 2015 is November 11. Guyana this year will have a gazetted Diwali Day as November 10th, different from India and different from other countries where Diwali is a holiday.

I am aware that there is a group of Hindus in Guyana who believe that the day should be November 10. But whether the holiday should be November 10 or November 11 is not the business of the Government to decide. This is a matter for the various Hindu groups in the country, to decide on. As a Minister in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, I cannot recall that the designated day for Diwali created any kind of controversy. Hindu groups dialogued and came to an agreement and we acted in accordance with their advice.

APNU/AFC has adopted a new and perverse approach to deciding on which day to gazette as Diwali Day. It sees the Dharmic Sabha as a PPP group and, therefore, it must be excluded in the discussion. But in so doing, it is interfering with religious freedom and practice. This is unfortunate because Guyana in 2015 stands proudly as a country where religion and faith are freely practised and Government stays out of their business. It might be true that many Hindus support the PPP, but it does not mean that the Dharmic Sabha is a political group. We must keep politics out of religion. The authoritarian manner in which APNU/AFC has decided on the date for Diwali constitutes a grave encroachment on religious freedom in our country.

The way Ramjattan and APNU/AFC have handled the designation of Diwali Day 2015 is another example of the arrogance that characterises the APNU/AFC Government. It is another startling insight into the germination of a dictatorship. APNU/AFC is acting the part of a dictatorship, much in the manner its parent body, the People’s National Congress (PNC), of the period between 1964 and 1992, behaved.

The Dharmic Sabha and other organisations representing the vast majority of Hindus in Guyana have decided that the holiday is unimportant and it is the religious significance of Diwali that is preeminent. Consequently, they have decided notwithstanding APNU/AFC’s designation of November 10 as the holiday that they will celebrate Diwali on November 11 together with Hindus in India, other Asian countries, Africa, the UK, the US and many countries around the world. I will be celebrating Diwali with them, as I have always done.

I support those Hindus in Guyana who are boldly resisting dictatorship from the very beginning, just as they resisted the Burnham and PNC dictatorship between 1964 and 1992. In those years, the dictators discriminated, harassed and divided the Hindu community. It’s déjà vu as even in this early period of the APNU/AFC Administration, it has already initiated a strategy to divide the Hindu community.

The effort to divide the Hindu community is only the start. They are already doing so in the Muslim and Christian communities. It is not singling out Hindus; it is a strategy to divide our people by inserting themselves in our internal affairs. It is an old PNC and dictatorial strategy. I am, therefore, elated that the majority of Hindus are standing firm and refusing to be intimidated and harassed.

It is a clear signal to APNU/AFC that our people will not allow them to consolidate a dictatorship in our country. We will not allow a replay of the PNC dictatorship in Guyana. Hindus in Guyana will proudly defend their religion, as will all other religions in our country. It is not too late for APNU/AFC to reverse a wicked strategy, but it is too arrogant to even consider this possibility. Civil resistance has started for certain in Guyana. APNU/AFC beware.

Republic Bank’s eighth batch of participants for the Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme

Linden heart patient succumbs

Thirty-three-year-old Orin Sutton, the Linden taxi driver who was in desperate need of emergency heart surgery, succumbed to his condition around 22:00h on Monday at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI).

Sutton, a father of three, whose family had tried unsuccessfully to garner funds for him to undergo a heart valve replacement surgery to the tune of $2 million, was scheduled to do so since October 11. Since they only managed to secure $500,000 through fund-raising, an additional $1 million was requested from the Public Health Ministry, which has not since been granted.

According to a family member, they were unsuccessful in securing the additional funds to assist in offsetting expenses.

Several public assistance projects, including a radio telethon by community station 104.3 Power FM were conducted in an effort to assist.

Sutton was recently re-admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital. He had suffered from the condition for most of his life; however, he was only made aware of it recently, when it was detected by the CHI.

In September, Sutton’s cousin, Dinesha, had visited Guyana Times for assistance in reaching the general public to acquire donations for the now deceased man’s surgery.

His cousin shared that he took ill one day and family members rushed him to the Linden Hospital Complex, which referred him to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Denisha mentioned that they had waited for an entire day and a night without any

Police nab two...

The Crime Chief further disclosed that during the arrest, the ranks unearthed one kilogram cannabis along with $400,000 cash.

Rambharose, 22, of Lot 6 Second Street, Meadow Bank, Greater Georgetown, was previously charged with the $1.7 million armed robbery of Leroy Hinds at Ramchand Auto Sales, Sheriff Street, Georgetown, on July 14, 2014. The incident saw his accomplice, Kevin Fields, shot dead. Rambharose was also charged with the June 30, 2014, armed robbery at Medicare Pharmacy, Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, where Nalinie Kawall was robbed of $833,000 cash and other articles with a total value of $955,000.

However in February this year, the 22-year-old had the two charges dismissed against him after the Virtual Complainants in both matters failed to attend court.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old

Deceased: Orin Sutton

word from the hospital officials about her cousin’s condition. They then took him to the Woodlands Hospital, where they were referred to the Caribbean Heart Institute and they became aware of the severity of his condition and knew immediate help would be needed.

The young woman stated that they have been slowly trying to raise the funds for the surgery, but whenever he falls ill, they have to rush him back to the hospital which then “sucks up” the money.

from page 12

Sadloo of Lot 6 Quamina Road, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was charged back in April for the multimillion-dollar heist at the Bourda Post Office, Regent Street, Georgetown. He was the lone gunman, among three, who was caught after they grabbed several bags containing $90 million in pension and public assistance funds that was being escorted into the Post Office.

Sadloo has been in and out of the courts since 2008. Back in January, he was remanded to prison after he was charged with three counts of armed robbery. He was accused of robbing Vidya Narine of a quantity of items and cash amounting to a total value of $596,000, on December 19, 2014 at Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown. He also allegedly robbed Clifton Thomas of $36,000 and Latchman Narine of items and cash amounting to a total value of $60,000.

The man was also charged with refusing to

cooperate with the Police and submit his fingerprints as required for identification purposes while in custody on January 6, at the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost. In January 2014, he along with another was charged for attempted murder after an argument between the two over marijuana led to a shoot-out.

A resident of Eccles Public Road told Guyana Times that he was sitting in his yard when he heard a crashing sound. He said that on checking he saw the security service vehicle toppled on the road. The man said he immediately called the Fire Service.

“After I saw fuel coming out of the vehicle I called the Fire Service and I told the security men to move away from the vehicle because if it ignite, then the situation would be much worse,” he related. At the scene, a fire tender was on standby as the men tried to get the vehicle on its wheels to allow the free flow of traffic.

Ramjattan holding firm...

Natram urged Hindus to be united and not to be sidelined by the November 10 date, as according to beliefs and date, Diwali is November 11. The Vice President said that over 200 members from her mandir have supported the Dharmic Sabha’s call for the date to change to November 11 as it is correct according to Guyana zone timing.

On Monday, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha said that it believes that their religion is being trampled on, in a high handed, dictatorial manner by the Government of Guyana.

The organisation said that it is disappointed at the announcement that the Public Security Minister changed the date for Diwali. As published in the Official

Region 5 farmers to push value-added production

Cash crop farmers in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) are being urged to boost production and diversify into value-added products, as this is necessary to boost agricultural development in the region, and lift the bar on poverty.

This is according to Director of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Dr Udho Homenauth, in a statement released by the Agriculture Ministry.

Dr Homenauth was at the time addressing a large gathering at the Bath Community Centre ground, Region Five, for the official launch of the Woodley Park/ Bath/Experiment Cash Crop Farmers Association.

He advised the farmers and those gathered that “our focus is to increase export of not only primary products, but also a great emphasis is placed on value-added production as we are projecting that our export of non-traditional crops will increase by 20 per cent by 2020”.

The NAREI Director stated that with the formation of the Association, it is expected that production of not only primary produce, but value-added products will increase.

Dr Homenauth has committed the support of NAREI to this particular group as it is recognised that, “when you have a group you have a lot of bargaining power. Being a part of a group is beneficial in so many ways as no one farmer can supply the demands of a market,

that’s why you have to work together in a group.”

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Country Director for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Reuben Hamilton Robertson, echoed Dr Homenauth’s request for more emphasis to be placed on value-added production.

“We cannot continue to look at producing primary products and expect to lift ourselves out of poverty on a sustainable basis, and so the message that I want to leave with you is that together you are strong, together you share a vision and together success can only come to help you to lift yourself and your families out of poverty,” the FAO representative stated.

With regard the Association, the FAO Representative advised that the time has come, “when we need to join together like what we are seeing here this afternoon to make a difference.”

Hamilton further advised that agriculture can lift people out of poverty as he committed the FAO’s cooperation with the Government through the Agriculture Ministry and other stakeholders for the development of agriculture locally.

Speaking on the reasons for the establishment of the Association, founder Abel Seetaram said that the cash crop farmers were stifled under the former Government, although most of the shallot and celery on the market are from Bath Settlement.

The intention of the

group is to ensure that agriculture stays on top in this region as Seetaram explained that the Association will focus on the schools for the resuscitation of agriculture plots, as well as working with other organisations and the Agriculture Ministry of to better the lives of cash crop farmers.

“We are going to ensure that representation is done right across the board by providing a level playing field,” he committed.

He stated that the group was officially established one month ago and has a total of 50 members. He took the opportunity to encourage farmers who have not yet joined to consider doing so. “I want everyone to support this group if we are going to take cash crop farming forward in Region Five.”

During the official launching, a mini health fair was also held which saw the participation of the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), NAREI, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Berbice Office.

Region Five has approximately 800,000 acres under cash crop cultivation, and 4000 acres of coconut. With almost 40,000 heads of sheep and goats, along with pig production, the region has become the top pork and beef producer in the country. Despite being the country’s largest rice producing region, Region Five has close to 60,000 heads of cattle.

from page 13

Gazette, Ramjattan changed Diwali from November 11 to 10.

Diwali is a day specially set aside for the worship of Mother Lakshmi, the remover of darkness and ignorance, and mother of light and wealth. It is celebrated by Hindus throughout Guyana. The festival is intended to foster togetherness and peace among all.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

Long-term investments will pay off. Real estate deals or a home or side business can be lucrative. A disciplined attitude and a strict budget will improve your monetary situation.

A personal or professional partnership will go through some troubling times. Communication will be required to resolve a personal problem. Be clear and concise about your expectations and goals.

Look after yourself. The healthier you are, the easier it will be to deal with life’s demands. Proper diet, moderate exercise and sufficient sleep will keep you in tiptop shape.

Delve deeper into topics of interest. Creative pursuits like music, language or art will provide a welcome diversion to your everyday routine. It’s never too late to learn something new.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Frustration and uncertainty will lead to depression. Ask a trusted friend or relative for advice if you are feeling troubled. A discussion group or seminar will be inspiring. Indulge in something unique.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If current events have you stymied, consider reconnecting with someone you found motivating in the past. The advice offered will help you move forward. Romance is on the rise.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Take time to listen to someone who has much experience. The information you gather will offer valuable insight into something you’ll want to pursue and will lead you in an exciting direction.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Stop making excuses or blaming others for your lack of progress, and take control of your life. Your future success and happiness are your responsibility.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Consider what you can do to make your home environment more enjoyable. Being responsible, considerate and courteous will help to curb any problems you face within your family.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Don’t live in the past, or you will miss a golden opportunity. It’s up to you to be aware of what’s happening and to take advantage of whatever comes your way.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

You may be known for your honesty and integrity, but your status will suffer if you surround yourself with questionable people. Avoid controversial people who could jeopardize your reputation.

Free your mind of the everyday concerns that bring you down. Find an activity that involves all ages and include friends and family. Some lighthearted entertainment will be refreshing for everyone.

CANCER

GEMINI

Peanuts

Calvin and hobbes

dilbert

arChie

Pistorius under house arrest after 1 year behind bars for killing girlfriend

Oscar Pistorius, South Africa’s double-amputee “Blade Runner”, was released on parole late on Monday, just short of a year into his fiveyear sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.

The disgraced Paralympic gold medallist must serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest and still faces an appeal on Nov. 3 by prosecutors who argue that he should have been convicted of murder, not culpable homicide.

Pistorius, 28, who was found guilty of the lesser charge for firing four shots through a locked bathroom door that hit Steenkamp, will be confined to his uncle Arnold’s home in a wealthy suburb of the capital, Pretoria.

Pistorius had been expected to leave prison on Tuesday, and his early release took media by surprise.

Family spokeswoman

Anneliese Burgess said on Tuesday that they were glad to have Pistorius home and that the athlete would observe his parole conditions closely.

“The family is happy that Oscar is home, but they want to make the point that his sentence continues,” Burgess said outside the house.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said officials at the capital’s Kgosi Mampuru II prison, formerly known as Pretoria Central, had acted to avoid a media scrum at its gates.

“The handling of the actual placement is an operational matter of the local management, and how they handle it is their prerogative,” department spokesman Manelisi Wolela said in a text message. “They carry it out in the best interest of all parties concerned.”

The DCS later said in a statement that “the privacy of offenders may not be invaded”, in response to media

requests on the specific details of Pistorius’ parole conditions.

A lawyer for Steenkamp’s family, who publicly questioned the verdict in August

“Whether he remains incarcerated or not, it makes no difference to them now because Reeva is still not coming back.”

Oscar Pistorius

said they were indifferent to his release in view of their loss.,

“To them it doesn’t matter whether he was released yesterday a few hours earlier or a few hours later,” lawyer Tania Koen said on Talk

Koen said the Steenkamps will not be issuing a further statement about Pistorius’s release.

“They are focusing on their work with the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation. The fight

against gender-based violence was a passion of Reeva’s and she was due to speak about it on the day of her death,” Koen told Reuters.

A neighbour who declined to be named told Reuters it was sad Pistorius was freed having served less than a year in prison.

“This is hardly a prison,” she said of the leafy suburb of Waterkloof, where Pretorius is under house arrest.

But Dewald Reynders, a former athlete who said he trained with Pistorius in the past, welcomed the news.

Reynders said he’d known Pistorius since 2004 and had seen what effect the media scrutiny had on the then teenage boy.

“I’m glad he was released quietly last night. He shouldn’t have to go through all of it over and over again.”

A bouquet of flowers was delivered to the house although it was unclear who had sent it.

The athlete, whose lower legs were amputated when he was a baby, was freed in line with South African sentencing guidelines that say non-dangerous prisoners should spend only one-sixth of a custodial sentence behind bars.

“I’m hoping to catch up with him some time this week,” Pistorius agent Peet van Zyl said, adding that he understood Pistorius had not been training during his year behind bars. Pistorius will be allowed to leave the house on occasion.

“The conditions are strict and he will be able to leave the house to go to work, go to church or to buy groceries,” said Karen van Eck, an attorney with Clarke and Van Eck Attorneys.

But as his job is competitive athletics this could prove challenging for him, as events far from the house are likely to be off limits, said Van Eck.

Blackwood looks to build on patience and restraint

The strikes down the ground are high and sweet. His pull is whiplash-quick and the cut severe. So it’s not his strokeplay Jermaine Blackwood seeks to sharpen in Sri Lanka. It is his instinct to survive. “If I’m at the crease for a long period of time, I’ll be making runs,” is his belief.

Blackwood has been among West Indies’ brightest emerging talents over the past 18 months, in which he has put together an encouraging record spanning 11 Tests. He averages 42.47 from 20 innings so far, and has runs

against quality Test attacks. His maiden innings of 63 against the likes of Tim Southee and Trent Boult suggested West Indies had unearthed a good batsman. His excellent turn against James Anderson, Stuart Broad and England in the middle of the year, confirmed it. He hit 311 runs at an average of 77.75 in that series, having struck a first Test ton, then hit the winning runs in a chase that leveled the series.

A relatively lean series against Australia followed, but Blackwood has rebounded in

Sri Lanka, hitting 92 from 135 balls in the second dig in Galle, while his team-mates floundered around him. Blackwood says it was restraint that allowed him to unlock his attacking game, after having fallen for 11 in the first innings.

“I made a mistake in the first innings playing to a ball outside the off stump that I shouldn’t be playing to,” he said. “After I get out I go back and rethink my innings. I got out there in the second innings and told myself I’m not going to play any balls outside the off stump early up. I did that and in the end I got a good result. I was trying to push into a century but in the end I get out in the last. I thought it was a good innings.”

It is the kind of restraint he seeks to refine and reproduce. Sometimes hailed as a disciple of the destructive school of Caribbean batting, Blackwood said he is learning to incorporate prudence into his attack.

“There’s one major issue that I’m still working on - shot selection early up in my innings. Once I’m past that early phase it’s quite easy for me. I used to play a lot of shots and loved to feel the ball on my bat. When I reached Test level I realised it’s much dif-

ferent because you get less bad balls in Test cricket than you do in first-class. So I need to learn to be much much patient. Once I’m patient I’m adapting to that very quickly.”

?Blackwood was among the few West Indies batsmen to survive long spells from Rangana Herath, and even ventured two straight sixes and a four in one Herath over, near the end of the Galle Test. His team has come to Sri Lanka with a poor reputation for playing slow bowling, but Blackwood is undaunted by

Sri Lanka’s top spinner.

“Herath is a wonderful bowler, but a bowler is a bowler,” he said. “Once he bowls a bad ball, I’m going to hit any bowler. If we can bat him out, it’s going to be much easier for us.

“Right now my defence is pretty good, as you can see. Last game Herath was bowling brilliantly and I was batting easy. For me it’s about staying patient and batting more sessions. If I do that I’m going to score more runs. I just need to control my tempo while I’m batting and trust my defence.”

Blackwood has not made a limited-overs debut yet, but said Tests had always been his dream format and remains his “pride and joy”. He wants a hundred in his next match, as every batsman does, but he has high hopes for his batting statistics as well. He averages 45.66 so far in 2015, with one hundred and four fifties from 14 innings.

“I do want to get my Test average for this year up to 50,” he said. “For that I’m on the right track right now. My gameplan is very simple. If I see a ball to hit, I’ll hit it. Choosing the right ball to hit - that’s what I’m working towards.” (Cricinfo)

Radio 702.

“There’s one major issue that I’m still working on - shot selection early up in my innings”. (Associated Press photo)

Jermaine Blackwood

Mobile Wizards softball cricket bowls off to exciting start

– victories for Well Woman XI, Leonora Primary, Crossbreed XI, Zeeburg Warriors

B y A keem G reene

In brimming sunshine and before a large and vociferous crowd, softball cricket returned to West Demerara, with the title sponsors Mobile Wizards on hand.

The games began with Well Woman XI of Georgetown and Aroaima Warriors battling it out, with the former using their vast experience to outplay the girls from Aroaima by 52 runs. Well Woman batted first after losing the toss and scored a challenging 105 all out, with Zola Telford topscoring with 30 (2x4s, 1x6). Some outstanding fielding by the Aroaima Girls had the crowd buzzing in anticipation of a close contest, but it was not to be as the Warriors folded for a paltry 53. Only Shellon Hope looked confident in her brief stay at the wicket, compiling 13 before becoming one of the three run-outs that took the fight out of Aroaima. The wickets were shared among the Well Woman XI bowlers.

The second match raised the bar as Leonora Primary School boys showcased their enormous talent in all the departments in defeating Meten-MeerZorg (MMZ) Primary by 66 runs. Leonora Primary batted first and were soon in trouble, losing two quick wickets in the second over, but a rallying partnership between Aryan Battoon (38 – 1x4, 3x6s) and Irfan Hack (16 – 1x4) took them to a more secure target. Thaddeus Lovell, who is a very exciting player, contributed 16 (1x4, 2x6s), helping to push the score to 122-7 in their 10 overs. Shamor Thurman who took 2-15 from two overs was the best bowler for MMZ Primary.

In their turn at the crease, MMZ were never allowed to settle as the bowling and dazzling feeling of the Leonora boys shocked them. One such highlight was the dismissal of their skipper Akeem

Hyman, with the fielder running some 20 yards and diving full length to come up with the catch inches from the ground. The whole crowd erupted at this point. MMZ Primary were all out for 56 in 9.4 overs with Aryan Persaud (3-6) and Rajesh Kawal as the destroyers.

The third match saw Crossbreed XI of Leonora humiliating Brickery XI of East Bank by some 53 runs. Crossbreed XI batted first and made 1159 in 10 overs, with Bryan Sookram 23(3x6s) topscoring. Anil Mangar (312) was the top bowler for Brickery XI. Brickery XI in reply were limited to 66-5 in 10 overs, as all of the bowlers of Crossbreed XI bowled superbly.

The fourth match saw Zeeburg Warriors batting first against Vipers XI and rattling up a massive 131 in 10 overs, with the hardhitting Zaman Baskh hitting a belligerent 73 which included 10 sixes, which set the tone for the massive score. In reply ,Vipers XI were staring at defeat as early as the fourth over and at one point were 468; only a face-saving partnership of 45 saw them to 96 as Zeeburg’s Mahendra Singh with 3-15 and Akash Jitlall, 3-16 destroyed them in the early overs to quell any chance of victory. The tournament continues next weekend with the other eight teams in action at the same venue. Meanwhile, in the hit-the-wicket game, Thaddeus Lovell of Leonora Primary and Nagendra Ramdial were the winners and were presented with their prizes after the games. The Trophy Stall has joined the rank of sponsors for this tournament and donated a number of trophies.

In the opening remarks, Guyana Softball League (GSL) President Rahaman Khan stressed on the need for businesses in each area to adopt communities and build closer ties with the residents in order to understand their

needs.

The tournament, which has attracted some 31 teams so far, is seen as the revival of softball cricket in the West Demerara. Teams from

West Demerara and East Bank Demerara still desirous of participating can contact the following persons, as the registration period has been extended due to the tournament

being round robin : Halim Khan – 612-8367; Selena Azeez – 268-2458/6460568; Leonard Harprashad – 646-0568; Ammiel Azeez – 629-0844; Ravendra Ramgobin – 276-1381; Asif

Azeez – 657-22220; Mobile Wizards (Parika) – 2604967. The teams will be placed in the second zone, as the first zone has been filled. (akeemg@guyantimesgy.com)

The various teams before the start of play

YELLOW PAGES

wednesday, october 21, 2015

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Devil’s XI, Speed’s XI register softball wins

Devil’s XI and Speed’s XI recorded victories when the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) hosted two softball matches on Friday night at the Bourda Ground.

Devil’s XI overcame Speed’s XI by 18 runs in their encounter, before Speed’s XI turned the tables on the Guyana Media XI. Batting first, Devil’s XI posted 147 all out off their allotted 15 overs. Garvin Devanand led with 31, while Sahadeo Hardaiow made 27 and Parmanand Sanicharan 21. Speed’s XI were bowled out for 129 in 14.4 overs in reply. Arjune Persaud scored 30; Robert Mohan, 22 and Orin Porter, 17. Man-of-the-Match Lakhan Mohamed grabbed 4-22, including a hat-trick.

In the second match-up, Speed’s XI rebounded to beat the Guyana Media XI by eight wickets. The Media

XI took first strike and were sent packing for 71 in 14 overs. Zaheer Mohamed struck 17; Rene Stoby, 16 and Diquain Murray, 11. Porter claimed 3-15, while Arjune Persaud had 2-8, Riyas Khan 2-11 and Doodie Ramdeen 1-10. Speed’s XI replied with

73-2 in

Porter was given the Man-of-the-Match Award.

Froome delighted with 2016 Tour de France course

Britain’s defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome has welcomed a “great” 2016 route which should help his bid for a third victory.

The course for the 2,187mile race, which runs from 2-24 July, was announced in Paris on Tuesday.

The 21 stages feature 28 categorised climbs, visits to Andorra, Spain and

tively sealed Froome’s first Tour win.

“The beautiful thing about the Tour de France is that it’s not specifically about one stage - I think it’s going to take a complete cyclist - but the stage that certainly stands out for me is Mont Ventoux,” said Froome, who won the Tour in 2013 and 2015 . “I know how difficult this

type and largely becomes a climbing contest, punctuated by a couple of opportunities for the sprinters and the two time trials.

“It’s so hard,’’ said British sprinter Mark Cavendish, who is third on the all-time stage win list with 26. “For 21 days, it’s going to be full gas.”

Among the highlights are a brutal 183km

Switzerland, and two time trials.

“It challenges every aspect of cycling - time trials, mountains, a technical descent,” said Team Sky’s Froome.

“It’s such an amazing, special race. I’m still 30 years old and feel I have a lot left in my legs.

“It suits me better than this year’s Tour,” he added, in reference to a course featuring two time trials that total 33.5 miles, compared to one short individual time trial in the 2015 race.

The 103rd edition of the Tour will return to Mont Ventoux on Bastille Day - 14 July - three years after the famous victory that effec-

climb is and how much time can be won or lost.”

The race begins at Normandy’s iconic Mont Saint-Michel and finishes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

After leaving Normandy, it heads south to the Pyrenees, via a tough fifth stage to Le Lioran in the Massif Central.

That is the most challenging day in a relatively sprinter-friendly first week, which opens with a dash to Utah Beach that should put a sprinter in yellow for the third time in the past four years.

But once the race reaches the Pyrenees on stage seven, the Tour reverts to recent

eighth stage from Pau to Bagneres de Luchon, followed by a monumental day in Andorra, stage 17’s finish on the Emosson Dam in Switzerland and a penultimate stage from Megeve to Morzine, via some of the Alps’ most testing climbs.

“The favourite will be Chris Froome. He’s the most complete rider. He’s the stronger,” said 25-year-old Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who finished third in 2014.

“But it will also be good for Nairo Quintana.”

The Colombian climber, also 25, won the Giro d’Italia in 2014 and finished second to Froome at the 2013 and 2015 Tours. (BBC Sport)

BaBy serVICes

nine overs. Dereck Ramotar cracked 17 not out; Kawal Dubay, 16 and skipper Kamal Seebarran, 14. Avenash Ramzan took 1-14 and Shahrukh Imran had 1-19.

Devil’s XI skipper Rohit Coonjah (right) receives the winning prize from Georgetown Cricket Club’s Greame Ali

Chris Froome

“Brawl at the Mall” boxing card…

Boxers engage in tree planting exercise

Boxers participating in this weekend’s “Brawl at the Mall” boxing card were joined by Sport Minister Nicolette Henry and Miss Guyana Earth 2014 Stacy Ramcharran on Tuesday morning for a tree planting exercise at the Merriman Mall in Georgetown.

The Minister, boxers, models, and Ramcharran braved the early morning sunshine to plant a few trees along the Merriman Mall, as part of efforts to tackle the issue of climate change.

The tree planting exercise also served as part of initiatives to spruce up the Merriman Mall, which has been undergoing a transformation over the past few weeks.

Both Minister Henry and Ramcharran lauded the organisers of the boxing card, Next Generation Boxing, for taking up the initiative in collaboration with the Giftland Mall and the Guyana Boxing Board of Control.

Aleem Hussain of the Giftland Mall said preparations were moving apace

for the eight-fight card on Saturday, which will be headlined by a title fight between Clive Atwell and Dexter Gonsalves.

Hussain promised a ‘Las Vegas boxing experience’, noting that Guyanese would be treated to an exceptional evening of boxing and theatrics.

The boxing card, which will be the first to be staged at the spanking new mall at Liliendaal, Georgetown, will comprise four amateur and a similar number of professional fights.

Atwell and Gonsalves will face off for the FECABOX Super Lightweight belt, and the winner of the bout is guaranteed a spot in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Top 20. Meanwhile, apart from the main fight, Imran “Magic” Khan, a highly successful amateur boxer, will make the move up to professional ranks and will face David Thomas in a fourround lightweight contest, while Terrence Adams and Keeve Allicock will open the professional segment with

a four-round featherweight showdown.

In bout number three, Anson Green and Quincy Gomes will trade punches in a six-round junior welterweight clash.

On the amateur side, Orin Bancroft of Forgotten Youth Foundation Boxing Gym will take on Travis Hubbard of Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym in a Youth Lightweight fight; Tefon Green of the Guyana Defence Force will trade punches with Dexter Wray of Republican in an elite flyweight showdown; Glenroy Smith of Essequibo Boxing Gym will confront Clifton Grayham of Republican in a welterweight bout; and Nandkumar Singh of Republican will battle with Kelon King of Forgotten Youth Foundation in a lightweight fight.

Admission to the venue is $1000 for adults in general seating, while children will be admitted upon payment of $200. (aramzan@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Inter County Softball attracts more sponsors

The tournament dubbed Parsun Outboard InterCounty Softball has attracted two more sponsors.

Top Brandz Distributors and Choke Gas Station of LBI, East Coast Demerara Public Road are the newest business enterprises to come on board and will sponsor the Demerara A team and Demerara B team respectively. These businesses are aiding tremendously in the re-launch of inter-county softball cricket after some 14 years. These two businesses are complementing some of Guyana’s most renowned companies such as Digicel, ANSA McAL, Crown Mining

Supplies, Tony Auto Spares, and Trophy Stall.

The organiser of the tournament, Parmanand Persaud is grateful for the support of the various enterprises and is hoping for more support as the tournament is set to bowl off this weekend at the Everest Cricket Club and will span two days, October 24 and 25. Two teams from each county and one each from Bartica and Linden will vie for Championship honours and a first prize of $500,000 and a trophy. Based on the magnitude of support being given, patrons can expect lots of prizes from the various business enterprises. Organisers have said that the event was a family-oriented one and this is the reason behind the 09:00h start. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

RHTY&SC cricket teams to host Christmas Village

The Ancient County of Berbice will be hosting its first Christmas Village during the upcoming festive season.

The eight cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sport organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) and the Tourism Ministry have come together to host the historic event as part of an effort to spread the meaning of Christmas, to promote social cohesion among residents and to provide clean entertainment for families.

The cricket teams will also use the opportunity to promote their “Say Yes to Sports and Education” message. The Christmas Village will be hosted in the com-

cheque for an undisclosed amount. The Ministry will also assist the RHTY&SC with technical support to ensure that the Christmas Village Project is a huge success.

The Village would consist of a large depiction of the Nativity Scene, while the entire compound will be transformed into a festive atmosphere with lights, Christmas characters and decorations.

The cricket teams will also be joining with the GuySuCo Training Centre to construct a 20-foot Christmas tree, while other attractions will include games for children, a horror house, a photo studio, a Christmas exhibition and

a huge success, and will attract numerous local and overseas tourists to the township and most importantly promote social cohesion among residents.

He expressed gratitude to the Ministry for its cooperation and made special mention of Minister Cathy Hughes and Tourism Liaison and Planning Officer Catherine Martin.

The RHTY&SC, he stated, will extend all its organising experience to make the event the best-ever hosted locally and extended an invitation to corporate Guyana for them to come on board as sponsors or set up Christmas themed booths. Interested persons can contact the RHTY&SC

pound of the Rose Hall Town Primary School from December 20-24.

The Club has established a working committee headed by its long-serving Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster to plan for the event. Other members include Ravin Kissoonlall, Keith Hicks, Elizabeth Brusch, Gregory Butcher, Neville Beaton, Mark Papannah and two members of each of the Club’s cricket teams.

The Tourism Ministry on Friday last committed to co-sponsoring the event and handed over a sponsorship

numerous booths that will sell items for the festive season.

The cricketers will also use the occasion to promote the importance of youth involvement in sport and staying in school to complete one’s education.

Twelve lucky children will win toys for the holidays on each night of the Christmas Village, while three families will receive a holiday food hamper, compliments of the Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets First Division team.

Foster expressed confidence that the event will be

Secretariat on telephone number 337-4562 or email foster_hilbert@yahoo.com. Meanwhile, Martin expressed the Ministry’s delight at working with an outstanding organisation, whose track record speaks volumes. She expressed confidence that all the event’s objectives will be fulfilled, and hailed the cricket teams and the management of the RHTY&SC for their visionary proposal to the Ministry. The Ministry, she stated, will support such projects as they fall within its mandate.

Professor Baveghems honoured for “dedication and commitment”

Head of the Best of the Best Martial Arts School at Houston, Greater Georgetown, Professor Quacy Baveghems, was recently honoured by the United States of America Martial Arts Academy.

Baveghems received the award from Master David Persaud for his “dedication and commitment in giving his students the best training in the country”.

He was also honoured by Grand Master Jose Torres of the North American Federation of Martial Arts (NAFMA) at the NAFMA World Championship.

Baveghems said he was honoured to receive the accolades, noting that he would continue to deliver high-quality training to his students.

His trip was made possible through support from the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown, Chief Constable Andrew Foo, Education Ministry , National Sports Commission, Tony’s Auto Spares and Toucan Industries.

Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster receives the sponsorship cheque from Catherine Martin of the Tourism Ministry

Professor Quacy Baveghems displays the awards

A representative of Choke Service Station is making the presentation

Top Brandz Distributors Marketing Representative Anna Hanooman handing over the sponsorship

Amateur boxing to return to Linden on Saturday

An exciting night is anticipated on Saturday evening when amateur boxing makes a return to Linden as Commander of 'E' Division Kelvin Brutus joined forces to support the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym and Fresh from the West Greens business with a ten bout boxing card set for the News Silvercity Secondary School hard court.

Georgetown-based boxing gyms Harpy Eagles and Forgotten Youth Foundation will journey to Linden to take on Linden's Pocket Rocker Gym in what will see some of the country’s promising box-

ers at the youth and junior levels match skills against each other.

Superintendent Brutus noted that he was impressed by the efforts made to promote boxing in Linden and the police at Linden will give their support with sponsoring meals and medals while also giving logistical support to its preparations.

In addition, Brutus also informed that he has seen the drive behind organiser Orlan Rogers to get boxing back to Linden.

"We know that this individual has been in this community for a while, some youths from Victory Valley and the surround-

ing communities are being currently trained by him to do boxing at the Community Centre ground in Victory Valley. So we want keep that partnership and we want to be pa part of the endeavor in the future as well because it is so, meeting that will be useful for us and useful as well for the community. We have never been involved in boxing we have been in football on more than one occasions, in cricket and circle so this is our first venture in the area of boxing," Brutus stated.

The first set of boxers will touch gloves at 19:00h.

GFF donates to InterMinistry/Cooperation futsal tourney

Slingerz boss to appeal GFF fine, will play tonight in protest

Owner of the Slingerz Football Club Javed Ali has decided to appeal against the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) fine of $200,000 for the “No Show” against the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on October 12.

Nevertheless, Ali also noted that his side will be play in tonight’s game against the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ground.

The two sides will meet in the opening game of the planned double header from 18:00h. Alpha United will meet Pele in the second match from 20:30h.

Ali noted that initially, his intention was to pull his club from further participating in the Stag Elite League, citing an unfair treatment and punishment handed down by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

“I believe that the punishment wasn’t justified because it was not a case where the club blatantly refused to play because to us and the evidence we have, we don’t have an ineligible player, plus they didn’t give us the stipulated 48 hour notice. We could not have gotten a replacement for some of those players, that’s why we couldn’t play.

“I was upset after getting the news that club was fined because we met with the GFF and nothing of

the sort was discussed,” Ali stressed.

On October 12, Slingerz FC was scheduled to play the GDF but after receiving notice from the GFF that four of their players was ineligible, the club could not have taken the field with the reason being that the notice provided by the GFF was insufficient.

However, the GFF interpreted their actions as a forfeit of the GDF match and the Normalisation Committee (NC) of the GFF deliberated on the non-appearance of the club and noted that Slingerz FC violated Article 4 (19) of the Rules and Regulation of the League.

According to the rules that govern the League, “a No-show is when a team willfully does not appear at

a game without a specific agreement approved by the GFF,” a press release stated.

The League rules also state: “Should a club be found guilty of deliberately withdrawing itself from the game, the rules state that “a 3-0 loss, a 3-point deduction from their standings and a League fine of G$200 000, of which 50% is awarded to the aggrieved club”. Ali said that he wants to make his case clear that “I provide employment for all of those players who also got their responsibilities to take care of and they depend on me, so the club will be participating in the League but under the conditions of a protest”.

According to a release the club has so far written to the GFF’s General Secretary Deidre Davis, outlining the grounds of their further participation in the league, which will be played under protest. Slingerz FC also said that an appeal will be sent to the league’s Appeals Committee.

However, it was stated by the General Secretary that presently, no Appeals Committee is in place, with such only happening by the end of October.

The General Secretary also informed the club that the decision handed down will remain in place and the club is free to file an appeal.

Commander of ‘E’ Division Kelvin Brutus (right) hands over the cheque to Orlan Rogers

Javed Ali

Boxer Clive Atwell (with shovel in hand); Sport Minister Nicolette Henry (red top) and Miss Guyana Earth 2014 Stacy Ramcharran (third from right) at the tree planting exercise on Tuesday morning (Avenash Ramzan photo)

Slingerz FC in action during the Stag Elite League

Oscar Pistorius, South Africa’s “Blade Runner” released on parole just short of a year into his five-year sentence for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013